The second episode is wonderfully done; I believe I had to squee and cheer for Lelouch at several places (or the entire episode? Hmm...). It's awesome how he's back in his game; I'm sure everyone missed Zero. Even losing his memories hadn't rusted his genius. I love how he's so arrogant, so confident of himself and his ability; he really is back.

Oh, and I love his entrance as well. Trust him to be always have a grand arrival.

The Lelouch and Kallen conversation was pure win as well. Actually, Kallen isn't as bad as I first thought she would be. I like her more now, I think.

On another note, I don't know when Suzaku will die, but I promise I'll throw a party and treat myself to a chocolate cake when he does. That hypocritical bastard is still as terrible as the last season, if not worse, and he's even on the emperor's side now. I don't know how he's able to look at himself in the mirror; gracious, he still wants to change the world from within? He can't even start by changing himself to begin with. I'm more than embarrassed for him and his supposed principles.

And did Suzaku really think that erasing Lelouch's memories will do anything of value? Gosh, what an idiot. 'Seems like he didn't learn anything in Lelouch's one-year break.

I'm so happy that Diethard and Rakshata are still alive. Yay for those people who are willing to lend Zero a hand. Sayoko is there, too, which is fab!

And I think I have an idea what Rolo's Geass is. Or maybe not.

How come it seems like the emperor can still turn off his Geass, even when he has it in both eyes? And why do the others not remember that Lelouch has a sister Nunnally and not a brother Rolo? Surely it would have been improbable for the emperor to, well, have mass-Geassed everyone - including Shirley, since he couldn't have known that she knew about Lelouch, too, right?

Oh well. I guess those will be answered in the next turns.

At least it's established that Lelouch and Suzaku are both crap shot. XD

Is it me or does Lelouch's laugh remind me of Light's from Death Note? Hell yeah.

The beginning felt oddly like an alternate universe, especially with Lelouch having a brother Rolo. Whatever happened to Nunnally? :O Nonetheless, I really can't express how happy I am just by seeing Lelouch alive and smiling and all. I knew he couldn't have died in the last season, but still, I had to cheer for him as I watched the turn.

I love how they easily picked up from the conclusion of the first season and how Lelouch regains his memories quickly. C.C. was awesome, and I love how she and Lelouch see each other again after one year in their timeline. I also like how the first turn mirrored the first stage of the first season; the parallelism worked well, like it's reminding the audience how exactly Code Geass started.

Rolo has me curious; so he is working for the Emperor? And, I haaate Suzaku more than I can say. Will he really never die in the series? That should be so unfortunate. Hmp.

‘Posted a new one-shot just now.

Oversleep

“No wonder half of your students hate you,” Misaki commented. 

Narumi elevated an eyebrow. “Because I get more sleep than they do?”

Fandom: Gakuen Alice.
Title: Oversleep.
Characters: Narumi, Misaki
Genre: General/Humor
Rating: K+.
Chapter(s:( 1.
Status: Complete.

I got the concept of Oversleep from the first chapter of my favorite fan fiction, Mischief Equals Mayhem. I meant to make edits to it (as an unhealthy distraction from a writing homework), but I only succeeded at crafting a spin-off from it. But I still think it’s great, so yay me.

I kept thinking of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest while writing this. Really, Narumi sounds so much like Algernon.

One reason it’s utterly random is because I hadn’t intended to post it, and I just wrote what came to mind. Hooray for a flash of genius.

Narumi needs more love.

'Joined a Death Note contest in Deviantart. The requirement is to write a review of Death Note and its awesomeness. I took the chance and participated. The following is my lovely entry.

By the Whims of the Death Gods
a Death Note review
(spoilers ahead)

Death Note tells the story of Light (Raito) Yagami, a seventeen-year-old genius whose life drastically changes when he chances upon the Death Note. The black notebook, despite its unassuming appearance, has the deadly ability to kill, requiring only a name and a face. Dropped in the human world by the bored death god (shinigami) called Ryuk, the Death Note proves itself a most destructive weapon when Light decides to use it to kill criminals, intending for himself to be the god of the new world he will create – a world purged of evil.

Distinguishing itself from the run-of-the-mill stories of heroes who possess hearts of gold, Death Note introduces Light Yagami, the cunning young man who will stop at nothing to make the world a better place. Light is intelligent, disgusted with how the world is turning out, and bored out of his mind. That he seeks to punish the wicked using the Death Note is a noble intention by itself, but his method of passing judgment is hardly orthodox, and gains the sympathy of neither the police nor his adversary, L.

Playing opposite Light (at this point dubbed Kira by the public), L is the mysterious detective in charge of the Kira investigation. World-renowned for his unparalleled ability in solving cases (and taking only those that interest him), L takes Kira head-on, and challenges the latter to a mind duel – a clash where the one who is found first pays with his life.

Fast-paced, suspenseful and gripping, Death Note sets the bar high for the anime of the generation. With its compelling characters and well-contrived plot, Death Note keeps its viewers on the edge of their seats each time Light tries to draw the suspicion away from himself while trying to find out just who exactly L is. Light, despite the terrible things he has done to get away with what he's doing, doesn't fail to deliver with his strategic mind and measured smiles. L, despite his peculiar, deceptive appearance, never lets down with his likewise brilliant counter-offensive. Both manipulative, cold and calculating - Light and L dare each other with an almost childish, egotistical desire to win. It's the striking combination of similarities and differences between them that makes their characters believable and interesting.

Yet, without this already compelling rivalry between Light and L, Death Note still manages to fascinate. Through the development of Light's character alone and the presentation of his choices when he takes possession of the Death Note, the series shows the ultimate peril of having the Death Note: It can destroy the one who holds it.

The realistic portrayal of Light and his descent to madness in search of justice is an interesting perspective to consider. That Light begins as an innocent and virtuous young man illustrates that some evil come forth through good intentions; and that some good, through bad. Those same virtues and ideals, no matter how good they are, ultimately caused Light to choose the path he treaded and take the course of actions that he did.

The death god Ryuk, with his odd sense of humor and obsession with apples, does not fail to make light of the grim atmosphere in the series. In a direct contrast to his considerably good nature, he fittingly ends the series by writing Light's name in his notebook. With this, he keeps his promise that he will take Light's life when the time comes.

Death Note ends in a cruel loop; Kira was born because of a death god's whim, and Kira dies because of the same god's whim. While not intended to symbolize anything, these circumstances underscore Light's unsuccessful attempt to become a god himself - because from the very beginning, his fate has been in the hands of the same god he wished to equal.

What he wished to change changed him, and ultimately, Light Yagami lost himself to the Death Note.

Death Note is a remarkable glimpse at the human folly, a look at the nature of man and a twisted concept of justice that sprung from the righteous ideals. Prompting its audience not only to choose sides, it also initiates one to think and reason with himself for or against the alternatives that face the characters in the series. Thought-provoking and a very intelligent watch, Death Note is undoubtedly genius at its finest, and while it does not answer its questions about morality and murder point-blank, it imparts with its audience a message worth thinking about:

Absolute power corrupts - absolutely.

~

I do hope I win something. Preferably the first prize. Mwahahaha.

I just finished Code Geass.

It was intense, and I think I blanked out for the rest of its twenty-four-minute length. The kiss between C.C. and Lelouch was beautifully done. I thought having been shown her memories, Lelouch has a deeper connection with C.C. now.

 

At Kamenijima. 

 
 

C.C. being burned at the stake, as shown in the flashbacks.

  

C.C.'s past.  

 

"You're not alone." 

(Lelouch to C.C.) 

  

C.C. surprised by Lelouch's words.

 
 

"If you're a witch, then I am a magic king."

Oh gosh, that is such a lovely conversation. 

 

"You must win, Lelouch. You have to conquer your past." 

 

Lelouch♥C.C.

 

 

"C.C. Don't die." 

 

The only traitor I can see in the episode is Suzaku.  

 

Lelouch finally revealed to Suzaku and Kallen.

 

Lelouch stunned by Suzaku's words.  

Just for the record, I hate Suzaku to the very end. Haaaaate him to tiny little bits. I often use dislike, but not this time, because I really hate Suzaku.

 

There are still so many questions laid out in the open, and they had to end it at that! What happened to Nunnally? Did Suzaku die, or did Suzaku die? (I'm sure Lelouch couldn't have died, since there's no point in extending the series to a second season without the main character.) What about the Japanese? I'm pretty sure they fell to Britain... ugh.

"Humans... exist to chase happiness. What Lelouch was looking for is just that bit of happiness. It's not something special, the root of his actions. They are very tiny wishes, which are obvious in anyone. These dreams, these words - who can renounce them? Who has that right?"

C.C.

"However. No matter who, no matter what the wish is. One cannot bind others and the world to himself. If one allows the thoughts of others to go beyond that of the world, his existence is merely one which is drifting by the waves."

"It is a fact that people exist to pursue happiness. All the wishes - they are born from despair."

Seriously, what a cliffhanger!

I better get started on the second season soon.

There's not much to say aside from the fact that this episode is genius! Lelouch reminds me so much of great military tacticians, like Julius Caesar and Alexandre the Great. Awesome people.

There's no turning back now, for Lelouch Lamperouge.

Lelouch annihilates Cornelia's forces with the help of his Geass, and the Order of the Black Knights take over the Ashford Academy. Kallen reveals her identity to her classmates so they would trust them, and somehow this seems to assure Milly and the rest that they would be safe.

 

Lelouch while talking to Cornelia.

Cornelia is battling to avenge her sister, of course, and I somehow pity her; she does love her sister very much.

Suzaku, meanwhile, grabs hold of his Lancelot and goes out to avenge Euphemia's death.

 

 

Suzaku on his way to exact his revenge.

We all know that emotions wreck rational thoughts, and when Suzaku confronts the Gawain, he once again falls into the trap set by Lelouch and Rakshata: the Gefjun Disturber, which disables his Lancelot completely. Oh he never learns. 

Villeta, who has regained her memories, shoots Ohgi and renders him useless. Cornelia, in her confrontation with the Gawain, is attacked from behind by Darlton, whom we learn to be under the Geass. She falls to Lelouch's feet, while Darlton is annihilated by the Gawain itself.

Back in the school, when everyone leaves Nunnally, we see V.V opening the door to where she is, and says he is there to fetch her.

'Can't talk right now; gotta watch episode 25 pronto!

Let me just say I didn't cry over Euphemia's death. I found it surprising, actually, since I cried when Shirley lost her memories. I guess I really don't like Euphemia. Huh.

 

Euphemia in a Knightmare.

 

So Euphemia was in some Knightmare when Kallen found her. Of course Kallen wanted to kill her, since she's supposed to be a traitor. Upon the destruction of her Knightmare, Euphemia, still under the control of the Geass, jumps off and arms herself with a gun she found lying around somewhere and fired at Kallen.

 

Lelouch from his own Knightmare, looking down at Euphemia.

Lelouch, having made up his mind, jumps down and decides to finish everything.

 

Zero firing at Euphemia.

Euphemia doesn't die just yet, because Suzaku arrives and actually saves her. I didn't like it, but I guess it had to be dramatic and all. Suzaku also wanted to kill Zero, but C.C. comes to Zero/Lelouch's rescue.

 

C.C. to Lelouch's rescue. Yay.

Anyway Suzaku backs off because he has to take Euphemia to the doctors. He manages to bring her there alive, and they somehow get to talk despite her weakness. He is confused when it appears like Euphemia doesn't remember anything.

 

Euphemia still under the Geass.

So, well, let's just cut to the chase. Euphemia dies, and Suzaku looks ridiculous.

 

Even if I liked Suzaku, I'd still say he looks ridiculous here. Because he does.

Meanwhile, Lelouch is fully aware that he has to say goodbye to everyone soon, since he can't control his power any longer. Oh, sigh. What's to be of Nunnally and his friends now? Only C.C. can stay with him, since the Geass doesn't work on her.

 

C.C. embracing Lelouch.

I'm all for this pair, but somehow C.C. words crept me out.  I remember Mao and how he had turned out, and I kind of realize that C.C.'s words aren't exactly to be trusted. She promised Mao, too, that she'd stay by his side, didn't she?

Anyway, it appears like she knew Lelouch's mother, the late Queen (?) Marianne. This is all so puzzling for me; isn't it episode 23 already? Two more and it's over! Why are they still posing a ton of questions and introducing new characters?

 

V.V. It seems he knows about the Geass, too.

V.V. tells Suzaku of the Geass, and Suzaku is furious upon knowing this. He then gets to talk to Lelouch, with a coldness fitting for the best friend who killed uh, his love interest. He asks Lelouch if he had ever been so furious at someone he could kill him. Lelouch says yes. (By which he is referring to his mother Marianne and her death.) It's obvious that Suzaku has an intent to kill his best friend, whom he now knows as Zero.

This just strengthens my argument: That Suzaku is a big hypocrite. Heck, I thought he said that changing the system through means like Zero does it leads nowhere? But now he himself wants to kill Lelouch for killing Euphemia? How does that make him any different from Zero? Unlike him, at least Zero has always been very straightforward about his intentions. Hah.

 

Lelouch is amused after he and Suzaku finish talking.

In the subbed that I watched, Lelouch said, "If you wish to fight me, then I shall entertain you. Because we're best friends." And then he laughed evilly, which was a fabulous ending to a good episode.

I swear, I will never side with anyone but Lelouch. ♥