Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:22 pm Post subject: Shinigami Powers
Okay, I wanted to have some sort of discussion on what people here think are some of the specific powers some of the characters inherited when they became shinigami.
I think that the only ones that are obvious are Tatsumi (a shadow master... er, kagetsui I think it's called in Japanese) and Watari (who can bring inanimate objects to life).
But what about other characters?
Take Tsuzuki for example... some people mention that his control over 12 shikigami are his special shinigami powers. But that doesn't sit well with me. I think that's just due to his personality. Once you get to know him, it's hard to hate Tsuzuki. He even tells Hisoka that in order to gain a shinigami, you must gain it's/his/her trust and become friends (rather than playing a master/servant relationship). Tsuzuki gained all of their loyalty because of his love for them and his natural caring personality.
As for my opinion, I believe that the power Tsuzuki gained from becoming a shinigami was the power of seduction. Sound strange? Well, lemme explain.
Before becoming a shinigami, it is shown that Tsuzuki was hated and abused by people in his life... superstitious people who thought him some sort of demon because of his eyes. But now, it appears that he's loved by everybody, with several people attracted to him (and I swear, I've read several comments in the manga about his eyes). What changed? Well, first of all, I think it's because people actually got to know him instead of making judgments and just fell in love with his personality. But what is it all of a sudden with all of the perverted, sexual attention Tsuzuki seems to be receiving?
I think that that's his power: the ability to draw people in and become obsessed with him... kind of like a Siren. Yet I don't think he's actually aware of this ability (or if he is then he hides it well... and Tsuzuki is pretty good at that). So many people seem to have an unhealthy, unnatural obsession with him... Muraki, Enma, Hakushaku.
Tatsumi and Watari also had an instance in which they were extremely attracted to him (book 4, page 20). Tsuzuki was taking off his clothes, and he was kinda drunk and looking very sensual and hot, and Tatsumi and Watari started blushing (Watari: "Yutaka Watari, snap out of it! Tsuzuki's a friend! A guy friend!" & Tatsumi: "I... I just got turned on by a man... I wasn't gay earlier... But Tsuzuki is so...").
So why aren't they chasing and humping after him? Because they truly love him as a person after getting to know him. Even Hakushaku shows a genuine liking for Tsuzuki (in book 9), even though it rarely shows up with his extremely hormonic attitude.
Hijiri showed some sort of interest towards Tsuzuki. Saya and Yuma are just loving fluff-balls anyways... Wakaba as well, though not as obsessively so. You could explain Terazuma's attitude as a sort of sexual denial and frustration (LOL... I laugh at that one... what a weak argument). Hisoka's a tough one though. There are instances you could use as an argument, but that's usually because Tsuzuki was going for that sort of reaction (he says something that makes Hisoka blush). He seems to be very repressed, especially sexually so (makes sense considering his past and his avoidance with issues of intimacy)... I mean, he's a teenage boy! Where did all the hormones go (do shinigami even have hormones)? Also, Hisoka obviously sees Tsuzuki as the family he never really had, and that might overpower any other feelings he has. They're so dependent upon each other anyways that maybe it's just not an issue. Who knows?
Anyways, that's my thoughts on what his shinigami power could possibly be. And I think it would make perfect sense. I mean, it seems to be a constant theme that the characters in YnM get screwed over one too many times. This would only further compound upon Tsuzuki's problems. This sort of Siren/seductive power would only work for those people who are manipulative, cunning, and like to seduce and trap others against their will. Tsuzuki just doesn't have that sort of personality, and I don't see him willingly use it. The characters' shinigami powers that are gained generally seem to reflect their personality, as if someone watched them and selected which the powers that would best fit them... someone like Enma. If Enma thought Tsuzuki worthy of punishment (which is the viewpoint he appears to hold), and assuming he's the one who give shinigami their powers, I'd see him giving Tsuzuki a power that he'd hate. A power that more coincides with Tsuzuki's darker side (which might have something to do with a demonic heritage). A demon could wield that power. Tsuzuki the human couldn't and wouldn't.
Of course, the attraction that people have towards Tsuzuki might be explained by his (possible) demonic side. Maybe that's a power it has. Yet, if so, why was he initially hated and driven away by people rather than obsessed over? Who knows...
As for Hisoka, I think the powers he gained were those of control and protection. He's actually able to control his natural empathic powers very well (unlike when he was alive), but he has extremely powerful protective abilities (blasting people away from him, the ability to more easily learn and apply defensive attacks, such as healing and that one binding spell circle thingy he attempted to use in book 2 on the demon-possessed Tsuzuki). Hisoka hasn't shown any other obvious powers from what I can tell. He already had high defensive spiritual abilities when he was alive (that coincided with his empathy), and so it'd seem only natural to give him powers that can further strengthen and develop those abilities.
So what are your thoughts and speculations? Do share.
And have a great day! _________________ Sometimes a willow faces a strong and forceful wind. It bends and some of its beautiful leaves may be blown off, but it does not break. It blends and flows with the power of the wind and ends up stronger for it. -- Yume Kazerei
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:00 am Post subject: Re: Shinigami Powers
willag wrote:
I think that that's his power: the ability to draw people in and become obsessed with him... kind of like a Siren.
Argh! I just came up with a fic idea just from reading that! I already have 2 ideas going aside from my main project. This will stay rolling in my head until I'm forced to write it down.
Anyway, I never thought about Tsuzuki having power of seduction but it makes a whole lot of sense. Tsuzuki does seem to have this amazing ability of attracting people without even trying and some of them do become overly obsessed with him.
Or it could have something to do with his overwhelming sense of compassion. Muraki does comment on it--even though he is amused by the 'hypocracy' of it.. _________________
Muraki is amused by a lot of things- it's one of the greatest qualities in psychopaths, I've noticed. XD _________________ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ J ☆ I ☆ H ☆ Y ☆ E ☆ ♥ ☆ ♥
many thanks to Rhea, because she is the Goddess of Photoshop. 8D
Or it could have something to do with his overwhelming sense of compassion. Muraki does comment on it--even though he is amused by the 'hypocracy' of it..
Tsuzuki's compassionate nature is bound to create a few admirers, how happy and euphoric do you feel when someone understands you or shows you sympathy and kindness, obviously you'll feel close to them, bonded, some people even develop crushes.
That's what I believe. Powerful people are attractive, docile (the only word I can think of) people draw love. Tsuzuki is both of these things.
Docile:
He's childlike nature draws affection-maybe even the maturnal affection, and he seems so non threatening and gentle that it's natural to feel easy around him, people naturally like to be in that kind of presence, where they can be more themselves and relaxed without worry.
Powerful:
At the same time he's also the sort of character that can turn very serious at the flick of a switch. When the moment arrives he'll protect and fight, and numerous characters have expressed how mesmerized they feel, when Tsuzuki comes to their rescue. Watching and seeing that power must be amazing.
I feel it's expected to find a handsome person with a lot of power in a kind and seemingly harmless shell a real turn on.
At the springs we saw Tsuzuki in a pose and look that we have yet to see other characters, yeah I really like that picture-so I'm not surprised at the reactions he got-if was just standing there happy and normal without a care in the world-theeen that would be different-because he wouldn't have done anything to solicite that sort of reaction.
Aaaanyway, O///O, I believe Tsuzuki's sort of unconcious seduction was learned and earned with time as a shimigami as oppose to simply appearing in the transaction of becoming a shimigami. Tsuzuki appeared to be quite angsty, needy and down when he first became a shimigami, the genki mask he created seemed to be only after awhile of becoming a shimigami, a coping mechanism, I doubt in that earlier state he was seductive to anyone O.o. And Tatsumi's attractions are linked in many ways to he's own issues.
Furthermore he couldn't have been too seducing with he's partners to lose so many. And I think each relationship Tsuzuki has that possesses obsessive qualities towards him are all essentially individual, Muraki's is much more complex-and they seem to be linked in someway, the counts obession with Tsuzuki could easily be mirrored by Saya and Yuma's obession (and many other female characters) with Hisoka, though the count is more explicit.
And the above statements concludes why I think Tsuzuki is fawned over all together.
All in all, I think it could be possibly a power, though I think it's as simple as Tsuzuki's character development and the situations he encounters.
P.S Terazuma is like, I have no comment on that, lol. (funnily enough I have thought that myself) _________________
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I think Tsuzuki KNOWS what he's doing. He's been teasing the entire time, cutely and seductively and everything. Scary. *hides* _________________ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☆ J ☆ I ☆ H ☆ Y ☆ E ☆ ♥ ☆ ♥
many thanks to Rhea, because she is the Goddess of Photoshop. 8D
Well not everyone is turned on by power--and Terazuma doesn't like that he's inferior (I mean, c'mon, who does like that?) AND that Tsuzuki is (in his eyes) a lazy bum who doesn't use his vast powers as efficiently as he could.
He may also feel threatened by the power difference--though that still doesn't stop him from picking fights XD _________________
Well not everyone is turned on by power--and Terazuma doesn't like that he's inferior (I mean, c'mon, who does like that?) AND that Tsuzuki is (in his eyes) a lazy bum who doesn't use his vast powers as efficiently as he could.
He may also feel threatened by the power difference--though that still doesn't stop him from picking fights XD
I don't think all people are turned on by power, but they can be unconciously attracted to it, especially in a man like Tsuzuki. I think the Terazuma idea is rather silly, but just to add I think you can be attracted to people you hate or dislike or feel inferior to, and being attracted that person would in turn make you hate em more I imagine.
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