Air 12 (final episode)
Topic: Air
Haruko tells Misuzu that she thinks everything that happened was a trial for her to become her real mother. It allowed them to do everything from the beginning. Misuzu begins to feel pain again. Haruko becomes worried and tries to help her. She asks her where it hurts and she says that it?s her wings. Haruko remembers what Yukito told her about Misuzu and tries to convince herself that it was all a lie. She tries to cheer Misuzu up by asking her if she?ll go to the festival. Misuzu says she wants to go to get a baby dinosaur. Haruko replies that there?s probably a store selling the chicks. She says they?ll go tomorrow and have a fun day while pleading for Misuzu to get better. On the morning of the festival she wakes Misuzu up. However, when she looks out the window she finds that it?s raining. She take Misuzu out anyway, even though she doubts they?ll be holding the festival. Still, she prays for a miracle. She gets frustrated because Misuzu didn?t do anything to deserve this and she waited patiently. As the two sit outside under a shrine roof, she remembers the last time she went to a fair with Misuzu. She couldn?t make her happy that time either. Misuzu asks where the dinosaur babie are. Yukito/Sora begins to chirp, getting Haruko?s attention. She sees some things sitting in the shrine including the blue dinosaur toy of Misuzu?s that she threw. She wonders why it?s there. She wakes Misuzu up and shows it to her, which gets her excited. Haruko tries to help Misuzu reach it, but she says she?s getting too tired. She tells Misuzu that her friend (Sora) is there as well and that they should all be happy together. She agrees to try harder and is able to get it. Haruko tells Misuzu that it?s a birthday present from her and asks if she?ll accept it. She does and really likes the present. Haruko thanks got for it. Later they go back home. Misuzu sees Haruko sleeping and realizes that she hasn?t slept in a while for her sake. When she wakes up, she apologizes, but Misuzu tells her that she can sleep. Haruko asks if Misuzu?s pain will get worse when she dreams. Misuzu says that doesn?t happen anymore. Haruko is pleased. Misuzu wants to sleep so she can recover. They both go back to sleep. When Misuzu wakes up later, she silently apologizes for lying because it was the only way to get her to rest. She thinks about Yukito and decides to write in her diary. When Haruko wakes up the next morning, she finds Misuzu asleep at her desk. She asks if she?s in any pain and if she remembers her. Misuzu replies with a good morning, relieving her. Haruko looks out the window and sees that it?s a nice day. Misuzu tells her that she had a dream. Haruko responds with the same question about her hurting in her dreams and Misuzu tells her again that its alright. She also says that it?s the last day of her dreams. After confirming Misuzu?s health, Haruko is incredibly relieved. She cries tears of joy. Misuzu tells her not to cry in a mock imitation of her. Haruko agrees since there?s nothing to be sad about. While Haruko does her hair Misuzu explains her dream. This time it?s about a dinosaur with wings. It was flying around saying ?gao.? Misuzu was flying even higher then it with her pure white wings. Haruko is glad that she had a nice dream. But Misuzu says that it was the saddest dream in the world. She?s now happy that her dreams are over and she?ll be happily by her mother?s side forever. They go out for a walk (well Misuzu?s in her wheelchair) and take in the scents of summer. Misuzu says that it smells a lot like her mother. Haruko thinks that would be a bad thing. Haruko asks Misuzu if she wants her to guess what she?s thinking. Misuzu agrees to that. Haruko?s guess is that she wants juice, which is correct. She wants that Peach drink that she likes so Haruka buys it for her. She wants to get one for herself too so Misuzu recommends the Gel-lun juice. She buys it and attempts to suck it out, finding it to be pretty disgusting. Misuzu tells her to drink it by squeezing and she likes it a bit better that way. Misuzu then asks her to go on ahead by herself and to take Sora. She wonders why but goes anyway. Misuzu then tries to get out her wheelchair and walk to them, worrying them both. She says not to come no matter what because she?s going to do her best. She?s doing a good job. Misuzu asks if she?s done enough because she?s done her best. She?s starting to feel pain again. She still tells Haruko not to come. She?s busy freaking out, hoping Misuzu is lying and she?ll recover. Misuzu apologizes and says that she?ll end her goal today. Haruko doesn?t want their life together to end. Misuzu says it?s enpugh because they?ve done everything that she needs to be happy. Haruko won?t accept her answer because she still wants to do more with Misuzu. Misuzu says that her goal this summer was to be happy and she?s glad that she tried her hardest. She wanted to be happy and didn?t want to be alone. She says she?ll now go to her goal and looks up at the sky. Haruko refuses and Misuzu hugs her, saying that she reached it. Haruko starts to cry and thinks of all Misuzu taught her and all the things she could?ve done with Misuzu as Misuzu dies. She begins to temporarily live with Misuzu?s father and eventually runs out of tears to shed. She says she still lives with Misuzu but tells him that he probably doesn?t understand what she?s talking about. He says that he does. Haruko says that she has faith that she?s Misuzu?s mother even though she?s not a great one. She now works at a daycare center so that she can be surrounded by families. As summer ends, Misuzu?s father has to go back home. She sees a crow and asks if it?s Sora. She says if it is she?ll have to scold him. She tells him that he has to go to the sky because he has wings. She says that it?s an unreachable place for humans so he has to go there. She explains that people?s dreams and wishes go to the sky. She feels that people can live peacefully that way. She hopes that they?ll be able to meet again and wishes the crow luck as she leaves. It turns out that the crow is Sora/Yukito. He looks at the sky and notices that it?s always been filled with a sad blue color. Misuzu returned there and is still alone so he?s going to search for her and someday bring her back to welcome a new beginning. He takes off into the sky. The little boy on the beach remembers the story of the girl in the sky. They realize that the sun is setting and go to check what?s beyond the shoreline because the girl wanted to know for a long time. She doesn?t remember saying that, but the boy says that he had a felling that she was thinking it. She says that it?s true. Misuzu and Yukito are sitting on a ledge and Misuzu waves to them. The boy waves back. He thinks to himself that those two had cruel times but they can start a new beginning. He runs after the girl and takes her hand. That was a very good ending. It was rather sad, which was to be expected, but it was also quite helpful. Amazingly, I understood most of what was going on, but the one thing I didn?t get was the very ending. How exactly did the little boy know the story and read the girls voice. I presume he (and possibly the girl too) is some sort of supernatural being. I also don?t get why Misuzu and Yukito were there. Maybe the boy was just imagining them, as the girl didn?t seem to acknowledge them and he did say something about having a vision of the past. That?s something that we?ll probably never know unless a sequel is released.

Afterthoughts: Air was easily one of the greatest series ever made. I had heard a lot of hype about it for my Newtype magazines, but then again they tend to hype anything, so I passed it off as just another bishoujo game turned anime. I did find the artwork to be quite impressive though and saw that it was a rather short series, so I picked it up to blog. The first episode totally blew me away. The opening theme was incredible, the animation was great, the storyline was distinctly original, and Potato was impossibly cute. As I watched each week, the depressing yet hopeful plot moved me and constantly put more questions into my mind. Though in the end it still fully didn?t make sense, I?m very satisfied with what I got. As for favorite characters, mine was of course the ball of fluff Poatao. In the lines of actual human characters though I?d have to go with Haruko. She really interested me from the beginning. I didn?t really respect that her character would redeem herself, so I was really glad when it happened. As usual, I wind up growing attatched to the character who like the main character has to overcome an adversity within themselves yet their?s is overlooked because they?re not the main character. Haruko always truly wanted to be a good mother to Misuzu but was so scared that her father would return that she instead avoided her. She was hurt that she wasted so many years that the two could?ve spent together. I?m so glad that she was able to try and savor her time with Misuzu. Misuzu really needed it so it helped them both find happiness for a while. Of course the real key to Misuzu?s true happiness is Yukito. Hopefully some day he?ll find her, and possibly he already did. Once their life begins anew, Misuzu won?t have to worry about being alone ever again. Though Air?s ending was merely bittersweet, I greatly enjoyed it. This is a series that I recommend to anyone and everyone.

Air 11
Topic: Air
Note: I?ll be calling Sora, Yukito from now on.

When Misuzu wakes up in the morning, she remembers the events from the night before. She tells Sora that she dreamed about someone she loved and wants to assure that Yukito really came back, that he gave her something important, and that she can?t give up. She says that she can do her best on her own. She decides to try and go outside even though it hurts her to walk. She needs to take a rest but buys some juice first. Haruko comes up from behind her. Yukito remembers that she lived with them but not who she is. He watches her walk off with Misuzu. When they get home, Haruko comments that Yukito?s gone. Misuzu says that if he has nowhere else to go he?ll come back eventually. Haruko tells her that she was having a hard time as well trying to make it possible for the two to stay together. She tells Misuzu that because she?s not her child, someday she?ll be taken to the Tachibana residence. She explains that that?s why she ignored her. If she loved her then she wouldn?t want them to be separated. She?s now realized that that was pointless because she really does love her. She wants to officially make Misuzu her child. Misuzu replies that she didn?t have to do that because she wants to try and do her best by herself and not bother anyone. She then collapses. Haruko takes her to her bed and tells her that she didn?t realize how sick Misuzu really was. She?s surprised that her feet can?t even move. She plans to take Misuzu to the doctor, but she says it won?t help. She explains how she and Yukito discovered that she has her illness because her other self in the sky is carrying a burden by herself. This made her body freeze. Haruko thinks that?s just a fantasy. Misuzu tells her that they should go back to living without bothering each other. Haruko doesn?t want that. She asks Misuzu if it?s because she?s angry about her leaving her alone for so long. She says that Misuzu doesn?t have to go to the hospital if she doesn?t want to and she?ll take care of her and that they can do their best together. However, Misuzu?s already asleep. The next morning, Haruko makes her breakfast, but she doesn?t like it. She assures that next time she?ll do better, but Misuzu says she doesn?t want any because her cooking is never good. Haruko explains that children always grow up eating their parents cooking, whether it?s good or not. Misuzu starts to cry and tells Haruko that she?ll get sick too if she?s friendly with her. Haruko asks if that was a dream as well. She then tells her that she?s not scared of getting sick and would in fact be happy. She gives Misuzu more to eat and she likes it now. The next day, Haruko cuts Misuzu?s hair. They discuss that she?s young for a mom. During an open house at school when all the parents were there, Misuzu tried to answer a question she didn?t know to be cool. When she got it wrong she cried and Haruko hit her. She explains that she hit her because she said ?gao.? They discuss that Misuzu?s grown up a lot since then and says the phrase much less. Then she falls asleep again. Haruko messes up while cutting Misuzu?s hair, freaking Yukito out. When she?s done it comes out pretty short. Misuzu is surprised when she wakes up. She says that she feels like a small child again, Haruko?s child. They plan to start their relationship from scratch now. Misuzu talks about all the places she wants to go; the summer fair and the beach. Haruko agrees to do fun things with her and says that they can fill her diary up with things. Before going to bed, Misuzu tells Haruko that she?ll remember her smile. Haruko doesn?t know what she means, but Misuzu?s asleep again. In the morning, Misuzu winds up waking up first. When Haruko wakes up, Misuzu asks her who she is. She tries to tell Misuzu that she?s her substitute mother, as all she can remember about her real mother is that she went far away. As she watches Misuzu play cards, Haruko decides that she?s going to try and make Misuzu remember her. She doesn?t care that she has to be ?Obasan? for now. She gets Misuzu a wheelchair so that she can go outside. Misuzu replies that she?s having more fun playing cards by herself. Haruko encourages her that this is fun too so she agrees to go out. While they?re out they meet up with the man from last week?s episode, Misuzu?s father Keisuke. Keisuke is mad at Haruko because Misuzu can?t be in large crowds. Haruko tells him that she?s her child. She got permission. Keisuke argues that Misuzu is his and Ikuko?s. Haruko is mad at him for dropping Misuzu off with her just because she was too much trouble and then coming back for her. He says that he can?t leave her here where she?ll get sicker. Haruko is mad at him for being so formal. Misuzu is scared by her yelling. Keisuke misinterprets Misuzu using ?Obasan?. He goes over to Misuzu and tell her to thank ?Obasan.? She does so. Haruko pleads that he doesn?t take Misuzu. She knows that it?s both their faults that Misuzu was alone for so long so now she wants to take care of her. She asks if he?s still going to push her around because of their arguments. She tells him that she?s sure she wants to be with Misuzu more. Keisuke asks Misuzu if she wants to keep living with her. Haruko asks if he can give her three days to make a decision. He agrees, but Haruko secretly doubts if she can regain their lost time that quickly. Haruka watches Misuzu play with her dinosaur cards again and asks if she likes dinosaurs. Misuzu shows her the Maiasaur, which means ?good mother dinosaur.? Haruko laughs and says it?s like her. Misuzu then shows her the velociraptor, meaning ?speedy thief.? Haruko compares it to Keisuke but wonders if she?s really the thief. They soon go for a walk to the beach, though Misuzu repeatedly says that she doesn?t want to. Haruko gets angry and leaves her on the middle of the road. The heat is making Misuzu dizzy so she tries to turn around the wheel chair to o home. However, she winds up falling out. Yukito frantically calls so Haruko runs over. She takes Misuzu home and realizes that she?s not cut out to be a mother. Then she hears Misuzu and Yukito again. Misuzu wants her to get a cicada out of her room. She gets it out, makes sure Misuzu is okay and decides to go. However, Misuzu hands her the deck of cards. Haruko asks Misuzu if she can stay and Misuzu says yes. She then decides not to ask for too much as long as she can stay with Misuzu. She plays with Misuzu and takes care of her until the third day finally comes. She asks Keisuke if she can take Misuzu one last place and he allows it. They go to the ocean. Misuzu?s asleep so she doesn?t know this, but Haruko continues to talk to her. She regrets that they didn?t do this more often. Keisuke then shows up and takes Misuzu. He thanks Haruko for helping her grow. She gives Keisuke Misuzu?s favorite stuffed animal and juice. Haruko asks Yukito if he has to follow her but then sees Misuzu waking up and trying to leave Keisuke. She does her best to walk back, calling Haruko, Mama. Haruko runs towards Misuzu and hugs her. Yukito watches Haruko and Keisuke discuss the matter. He understands that Haruko was the person who was by Misuzu?s side all this time. After all this time only one episode of Air remains. I?ll only be writing one more Air essay. This was a particularly great episode. I?ve always been a fan of Haruko (regardless of the fact that I always forgot her name) and secretly hoped that she wasn?t the terrible person that she was shown to be earlier on. I always wanted her to be a real mother to Misuzu. This episode settled all that. Now Misuzu really has someone to care for. From the preview, she seems to be enjoying her new life, but without Yukito, I wonder just how satisfied she is. As long as he?s in Sora he?s with her, but I?m betting the real Yukito will make an appearance sometime next week. Other then that, I can?t make any predictions since the preview barely told us anything.

Air 10
Topic: Air
Misuzu tries to think of a name for the crow and eventually decides on Sora. She shows Sora the place where she always gazes at the sky and sees Yukito sitting there. She goes up to him, says hello, and taps him but he doesn?t respond so she sits down next to him. She comments that it seems like they?re friends when they sit like this. She watches some kids play in the sand and wishes that she had someone to play with. When they leave, she waves goodbye (I?m guessing these two kids are the ones silhouetted on the opening theme, considering the way they have their hands when they?re walking home.) Misuzu?s mother is now back and wonders what Sora is after Misuzu brings it home. Misuzu tells her that he can?t fly and he followed her home. Her mother is amazed that it became her friend. Misuzu tells her that she named it Sora and is going to keep him, but she?s told that she can?t. If she wants a pet she should get a cat or a dog, because a crow is too depressing. Misuzu doesn?t agree. She thinks it?s cute. When she has him say hello, he pecks her mother in the eye (and I burst out laughing.) Obviously, she?s angry. Misuzu decides to secretly keep Sora in her room for the night and tells him that they?ll apologize tomorrow. The next day is the day before summer vacation. Misuzu?s considering asking someone from school to play with her but decides to practice with Sora first. After she?s done, she tells Sora that she?ll be back at noon and to wait for her. Potato shows up (at very long last!!!) and seems to freak Sora out. Sora flies into the school, causing a big ruckus. After making it out, Sora is discovered by Kano, who?s playing with some bunnies. Kano tells him to stop pecking with her scarf because she still can?t take it off. If she does, she won?t be able to use magic as an adult. She moves Sora off the road so it doesn?t get hit by cars. Later, Misuzu comes out of school crying. Sora?s made it back to their meeting place. Misuzu tells it that she?ll be alone this summer. Nobody wants to be with her because they no she?s not normal. She tells Sora that she?ll find something fun to do by herself. She wipes away her tears and decides that for her free assignment she?ll make a diary and write about everything that was fun. Misuzu sees Yukito again at the same place where he was yesterday, now sleeping. She seemingly doesn?t remember him but decides to go up to him because she doesn?t want to be alone. She plans on asking him to play and tries her best to smile and act natural. Yukito wakes up, screaming about Ramen. This scares away all the birds who were sitting on him. Misuzu asks him if he?s alone. They eventually go back home, and her mother, who doesn?t remember Yukito either, isn?t too happy that Misuzu bought someone else home. Yukito is rejected as well. However, she eventually lets him. She sits outside with Sora and mentions that even though Yukito is being friendly toward Misuzu, she hasn?t had any attacks. She wonders if the two could become friends. Because of her illness, she hasn?t had any. Misuzu gives Yukito a new shirt to borrow and when everybody leaves, Sora is left with the house. A man comes to the house and is surprised that there?s nobody home. The man leaves and Sora follows him. Misuzu?s mom finds Sora on the street and almost kills him with her motorcycle. She grabs Sora and takes him with her. She mentions that there will be a festival soon. It will be the tenth festival since a time when she took Misuzu to one and she talked to chicks saying ?gao.? She thought that if she bought up a chick then it would turn into a dinosaur. She says that a chick bought at a fair isn?t even likely to grow up and she had to try and drag Misuzu home. She explains that even though Misuzu was raised to be obedient she just stared at her longingly that one time and said, ?I want this.? It?s revealed that Misuzu?s real parents weren?t married and always fought. When her real mother died, her father gave away Misuzu. It was troublesome, but when she raised her, Misuzu?s ways made her happier. In some ways, she doesn?t want Misuzu?s real father to come back because then she?d have to live in solitude again. The reason that they live separately in the same home now is so that it?s not as painful for her if Misuzu has to leave. She hasn?t even been able to give her presents and pretends to forget her birthday every year. She throws a random dinosaur toy and declares that it?s too late for them to ever become a real family. Yukito remembers seeing something similar to his current situation before, but he doesn?t know what. Meanwhile, Misuzu is making a mess of things in the kitchen. A young girl is with her mother, praying that her sister Saika gets better. She asks her mother if there?s a god and she assures her there is. Sora flies over to the dinosaur toy. The mother says that God is watching over Saika and Maika now and he?ll definitely grant her wish. She notices the dinosaur toy moving but didn?t see Sora pushing it. She believes God made it move by itself. They decide to put it in the shrine. Sora flies away. Tohno finds Sora and wonders if it?s running away. She comments that Sora?s a pretty smart bird. She wants Sora to come to the station with her and meet Michiru. She says it can eat as much food as it wants. Sora runs away and Tohno realizes that he has somewhere to return to. She tells Sora to do its best so that someday it can fly. Misuzu?s mother takes her home from school because she had another attack. She?s a bit annoyed that she always has to pick her up. Misuzu apologizes. Her mother asks if she?s always fine when she?s with Yukito and is surprised that she?s not better. She then has to go back to work. Misuzu tells Sora that though her mother was angry she always comes to pick her up. She figures that Yukito is waiting for her and is probably worried. She decides to go back to him and pretend she just forgot to come sop that Yukito thinks she?s a normal person. Seemingly though, she doesn?t go because she?s sleeping at her desk when Yukito gets home. When her mother gets home she hears Misuzu crying. Yukito doesn?t know what to do, being that he still doesn?t remember anything. Yukito leaves and Misuzu angsts about it to Sora since she wanted to spend more time with him. She?s a bit happy that he?ll still walk her to school though. Misuzu?s also been getting weird back pains. Yukito fights with Misuzu?s mother about taking her in and not giving her love. She says that she?s known it was a bad thing for a long time. She decides that she?ll go to Tachibana?s house and negotiate to make Misuzu her child, though she lies to Yukito and says that she?s going on a hot springs tour. Yukito gives Misuzu even more bad news when he tells her that he has to distance himself from her. They both say that they had fun over the summer and then he leaves. Misuzu is once again alone. She realizes that she won?t be able to do her best anymore and becomes desperate. Then she realizes that she should go on a voyage as well. Yukito doesn?t want her to come but tells her to do her best. She says that she will because she?s a strong girl. However, as soon as he leaves her loneliness begins to hurt her badly. She knows that even if she tries her best she?ll just cause others pain. She thinks that she should?ve given up before and not loved anyone. She starts to cry and then goes to sleep, not caring if she ever wakes up. Yukito?s puppet does wake her up though. Yukito realizes that he was happy being by her side and seeing her smile so he returns. Sora then comes to a realization that he was once a human named Yukito Kunisaki. Misuzu says that she?s healthy again and calls for Yukito to come back. Sora reverts to his original form. The two are happy to be with each other again and hug. Misuzu tells him to stay by her side forever. He tells her that because she?s a strong girl she?ll be able to reach a goal that nobody?s ever reached before. She tells Yukito that she doesn?t want to go anywhere but he replies that he?ll be by her side forever and he?ll never forget her. Misuzu?s confused by his words (as am I.) His memory is then starting to blur again. Misuzu asks him to wait, and he tells her that they should both try their bests. Misuzu agrees with him and they hold hands as Yukito disappears. She gets out of bed and Sora watches. Just wow! This was another incredible episode. It was rather painful to see Misuzu and Yukito go through the same suffering twice. Hopefully they?ll soon be able to find happiness, though I?m not counting on it, considering what happened to Kanna. All the insight we got on Misuzu?s ?mother? who?s name I can never remember was quite interesting. She has a very screwed up life as well and a lot of similar fears to Misuzu?s. Also, I take back what I said about Misuzu being weak. She?s physically pathetic and very emotional, but like Kanna, she?s very strong willed considering the terrible situation she?s in. She?s definitely stronger then her mother, because though they both have the chance of eventually being alone, at least Misuzu attempts to form relationships. I wonder what will happen now that Misuzu?s father is being put into the picture. I?m extremely curious as to what will happen if she chooses to go with him. Form what I?ve heard, I?m pretty sure there?s only two more episodes. This means that the incredible Air is coming to an end. I?ve grown quite emotionally attatched to all the characters in such a short time, so I must once again wish them the best ending they can have. Still, I suggest keeping tissues at hand for the probable upcoming heartache.

Air 09
Topic: Air
I hate having to do a speed entry for Air. It amuses me to make them ridiculously long. Oh well. Kanna, Ryuuya and Uraha leave with Kanna's mother, who gets shot by an arrow. Before she dies, Kanna wants to show her how she progressed in her beanbag game. However, she keeps messing up, which frustrates her. Her mother tells her that she's good. She believes that anything her mother says is true and wants to keep trying just so she can truly be good. When her mother dies, Kanna recieves the same curse she has. The three are forced to leave. When they're sitting together, Kanna asks the other two if they have any wishes. Ryuuya wants Kanna to escape alive and Uraha wants to live with Kanna and Ryuuya forever. Ryuuya agrees that that's a good idea and the two fantasize about what it would be like. Kanna breaks the mood by saying that her dream was fun. She tells them not to move no matter what and to live happily forever. She kisses Ryuuya and heads into the sky, flying for real. She's shot and vanishes. Ryuuya and Uraha obey Kanna's orders and go live together. One day, they use magic to find out what Kanna is dreaming now. SHe dreams of Ryuuya's death, which desrves them. Uraha knows that some day Ryuuya will have Kanna's curse. She could stop it with her magic, but he couldn't. They decide to have a child so that one of their decendants can inherit Ryuuya's will. That decendant is Yukito. Wherever he is, he can't remember what he was doing, only that he was with someone very important to him. Somewhere in (I'm pretty sure) that same world, Misuzu discovers a bird and decides to keep it. Yep. That was very short for my Air entries. It was quite a good episode and everything is now making sense. The origin of the puppet is known, as are Yukito's objectives. I also now see where the events of the Kanna arc fit in. Now I'd love to know where the heck Yukito is supposed to be. By the way, Potato comes back next week. Everyone can celebrate!!!

Air 08
Topic: Air
Ryuuya wants Kanna to confirm his thought that she?s a messenger of the gods. He thinks that since she is she?d be living a better life then she currently is. Kanna replies that just having wings doesn?t make her one. He asks where her wings are and she says she has them concealed and that normally she takes the form of a human. Then Ryuuya puts his arm around her and she freaks out. He says it?s because she has a good figure. She scolds him and asks if he always does that. Then another girl, Uraha, shows up laughing. She?s amused by the sight of Ryuuya embarrassed. He tells her to stop sneaking up on them. She tells Kanna that since she called Ryuuya-sama today too it looks like she?s taken an extremely strong liking to him. She replies that she?s just teaching the good-for-nothing manners, but her flustered behavior hints otherwise. Uraha teels Ryuuya that this is the first time that there?s been someone like him. Later, when the three are inside, Uraha gives Kanna some ice that she found in the cellar. She said that finding it was unusual since summer is at its height so she had to report it. Kanna seems interested. Ryuuya says it?s a serious crime to go in the cellar without permission. Kanna agrees because it?s dangerous. Ryuuya gets a sweat drop and says he knows that they?re in this together. Kanna tastes it and offers some to Ryuuha. Uraha says it?s also a serious time to taste something offered to Kannabi-sama but has some anyway. She?s happy that they?re sharing ice together, but to Ryuuya they?re like a half-dead family who?s trying to avoid starvation. Kanna asks him what a family?s like. Uraha says that simply put? then goes behind her and sticks to her. Kanna yells at her and she hides in a corner. Kanna says she can come closer and she sticks to her again. The cycle repeats but this time Ryuuya joins in the sticking. She freaks out and they both go to the corner. Uraha then seriously tells her that family means to live huddling together. A bit later, when Uraha and Ryuuya are alone, Ryuuya asks her since when Kanna has been living like this. She explains that she?s been this cheery ever since he took this post. He replies that what he really meant by his question was how long she?s been living here. Uraha doesn?t know since she?s only been there for about half a year. She says that she?s heard that for as long as she could remember, Kanna?s been forced to move from place to place without anyone to talk to. Later Ryuuya is on guard duty and another guy comes to relieve him. Ryuuya asks him why he looks scared and he says that since he got there he was worried that the gods would punish him if he was near Kannabi-sama for no reason. Ryuuya is pretty sure that doesn?t happen. Ryuuya goes to see Kanna, who asks if he dreams. He says he does sometimes, but doesn?t get why she asked. She explains a dream she had of the distant past. She was younger and in the darkness. She couldn?t see anything and didn?t know if her body was there so she was scared but couldn?t cry. She says that sometimes she sees the shadow of a person, but it disappears if she tries to chase it. She asks Ryuuya if he knows who the person is. He replies that it?s probably her mother, but Kanna says that she doesn?t remember her mother. He says that in dreams you remember a scene that you?ve seen somewhere so she can dream about things she doesn?t remember. She figures if her body remembers then it?s not a bad dream. Still, she wants to see her because being alone is more painful then she thought it would be. The next day, it?s decides that the Kannabi no Mikoto will move to the north shrine on the sunset of Saturday on the Taisho. Ryuuya asks if they?ll serve her but the answer is no. They?ll continue to follow the orders of Kaikon. Kanna had already heard this and was acting calm about it. Ryuuya asks her if she?s okay with being separated from him and Uraha. She?s angry at him for thinking that she?s that weak. She?s lived alone before so she can do it again. He asks if she?s sad and wants to see her mother. She replies that even if you want to see someone if you can?t then there?s nothing you can do. Ryuuya then asks if her mother died and Kanna says she didn?t. That night he goes to talk to the two girls and sees Uraha packing to leave on a journey. She says that the two of them are going to take Kanna away before she has to leave. He asks her why she worries about Kanna so much and she asks him the same thing. Ryuuya answers jokingly that there?s no one worth teasing as much as she is. Uraha agrees. Ryuuya wakes Kanna up and tells her that he?ll risk his life to help her find her mother but it?s her decision if she?ll become his master. She agrees and orders him to lead her to her mother. He swears that he won?t stray from her orders. The three then head out on a journey. Uraha looks back at the palace and sees that it?s on fire. Ryuuya thinks that they should distance themselves from the palace as soon as possible. They?re surrounded by guards so Ryuuya puts his sword up to one of their necks. He asks him why they?re after the Kannabi no Mikoto. He says he doesn?t know. They were ordered to find her. He asks who ordered them and what they want to do with her. He says it was their leader and he doesn?t know what will happen to her. Kanna?s angry that he was trying to kill the guy. She says she doesn?t want to be protected by someone who kills people without regret. She orders him not to kill anyone. He asks her if she thinks they?ll be able to survive if they don?t kill people. Uraha says that for Ryuuya it would be easy, though he?s not sure. They next day, Uraha gets a kimono that she found hanging to dry and gives it to Kanna. She left some payment in its place. Ryuuya thinks it looks good on her. Uraha is amused because when she was changing, Kanna said that she didn?t wind Ryuuya to see her in clothes that didn?t look good on her. Kanna yells at her for telling him. As they eat, Ryuuya comes up with another ridiculous metaphor to describe them. Uraha then plays with some beanbags that were in the kimono. They?re for playing Otedama, but they?re made of cloth instead of rock to prevent children from getting hurt. Kanna tries playing too, but isn?t very good since she?s putting too much force into her throws. Uraha says that she heard Kanna?s mother was being held captive in Kishnu on a holy mountain. Kishnu is very far from where they are and they?re still being pursued, so they have to travel quickly but cautiously. It?s so far been a month on their journey and Kanna?s improved her Otedama skills a little bit. Still, she messes up a lot. Sitting around, it?s stupid metaphor time again. This time it?s about regretting taking care of a kidnapped princess. More fitting then Ryuuya?s other stupidities. They?ve gotten close to Kishnu so soon they won?t live this way anymore. They then notice a bunch of people dancing around a fire. They?re all happy because they believe that their wishes will reach the heavens. Kanna asks who will take them to the heavens. She says that though she has wings, she can?t fly. She?s been trying since she was young. He wonders if her wings will reach the heavens if she wishes for it. Ryuuya says they will if she wishes with her heart. Uraha agrees and hugs Kanna. When the group approaches the mountain, Kanna comments that it?s too quiet. Ryuuya says not to put her guard down. Uraha notices a shield around on the mountain and leads them to the place where she thinks they should be going. Then they get attacked by monks who don?t want women by the holy mountain. They also wonder what a county samurai is doing there. Ryuuya (in a metaphor) basically tells them that he was tricked into coming there. Then he takes out his sword and they do battle. Kanna warn him of an approaching attacker. While attempting to fight him off, he remembers that he?s not allowed to kill anyone. However, he gets hurt. Kanna and Uraha run up to him, but he tells them to stay away. One of the monks asks him what he plans on doing and says that they won?t allow him to see the Yao Bikuni. After that he loses consciousness due to his injuries. Kanna and Uraha are glad when he wakes up the next day. Kanna is regretful that she told him not to kill since that was the cause of Ryuuya getting hurt. Ryuuya tells her that he?ll be faithful to all his orders. If she tells him not to die, he won?t die. Kanna tells him that she doesn?t order this, but she wishes him to live. He promises he will. They then head to the mountain again. Uraha senses that Kanna?s mother is probably there. Ryuuya breaks in and a voice tells him to stop. She says if he pulls her into a war then he won?t leave here alive. He tells her that he is the protecter of Kannabi no Mikoto and asks if the voice is her mother, which it is. She?s surprised Kanna?s there. Uraha takes off Kanna?s kimono and her wings are released. Kanna?s mother orders Ryuuya to take Kanna away from the mountain immediately. Kanna is upset to hear this. Proof that Air is an amazing show is that I enjoyed an episode in which none of the normal cast appeared or even were mentioned. I have no idea how and where this fits with the main storyline, but instead of focusing on my confusion like I would with most shows, I enjoyed every minute of this. Kanna is a great character and is a lot like Misuzu. She has weird dreams and, as seen in the preview, the problem of always being alone. However, unlike Misuzu she?s a very strong girl. Misuzu?s claimed she?s strong but sure doesn?t act it. Kanna on the other hand is. She was perfectly fine with leaving her life behind and angry at Ryuuya for thinking she wouldn?t be fine with it. Interestingly though, it seems that this could be more of a facade as she?s showed many signs of weakness. She believed that Ryuuya?s injury was her fault and was certainly quick to leave with him when the opportunity came up. If she wanted to, she could?ve said no and accepted her fate as it was. Next week?s episode should be quite interesting and probably end this arc.

Air 07
Topic: Air
Misuzu is okay now so Yukito asks her what happened. She said that she just got dizzy and tripped. She apologizes for making him worry. Yukito asks her if she needs to go to the hospital, but she says she?s fine now and just needs to rest. Yukito says it?s alright if she misses one day of her supplemental classes. Misuzu asks Yukito about his job and he says he can take off. Yukito looks at Misuzu?s journal, which is full of pictures of and writings about him. Misuzu tells him not to look at it, and Yukito gets a huge sweat drop and asks if she could?ve written about anything else. He tells her to write about what she wants to do rather then what she did and he?ll make everything she writes come true. She says she wants to go to the ocean with him because she?s never been there before. He tells her that they see it all the time, but he?ll take her anyway. Yukito remembers his mother saying that she couldn?t take ?that child? to the ocean. Later he tells Misuzu?s mom about what happened and to see her. She says that since she smells like alcohol it will only make her worse and asks Yukito to have sushi with her. He gets annoyed and hits it out of her hand. He then asks her why she took Misuzu in. She replies that she was forced to. Yukito?s mad that she isn?t getting the love she needs. She says that she doesn?t know how to have parent-child relationship because she?s not a real parent and goes back to eating her sushi. Yukito spends the not by the water, watching the stars. He thinks more about the girl. She first dreams of the skies, but the dreams go back in time and eat away at the girl. She feels a pain that shouldn?t be there and gradually forgets everything. After her last dream, the girl dies. Anyone who gets close to her dies as well. When Yukito?s mother met her, she told her to leave, which is why she lived. Before then though, she told her about the flying girl, who?s in a similar situation. (This sounds a lot like Misuzu. Yukito seems to think so too.) The next day, Misuzu?s mother leaves to go on a hot springs tour, leaving Misuzu in Yukito?s hands. Yukito blocks her path and tells her that his mother met a girl with the same condition as Misuzu once and she?ll soon forget both him and her and probably die. She thinks it?s a joke and leaves. Yukito brings Misuzu a drink and tells her that her mother will be gone for a while. Misuzu says she loves her. Then Yukito tells her they?ll go to the ocean. He helps her walk there, as she?s very weak. She has another attack, and apologizes to Yukito. She says they can go to the ocean tomorrow. Back in her room, she tells Yukito her latest dream. This time it was actually a happy one. It was a bright night and she was watching a festival. She then asks him if the person he?s looking for is connected to his dreams, which he doesn?t know. Misuzu tells him that she believes her dreams represent her other self, who?s suffering right now. She thinks that if she dreams then she?ll understand that girl more and possibly be able to save her. She knows her dreams aren?t coincidental because she wanted to make a friend this summer and when she met Yukito they started to occur. She says that she?s feeling better and gets up, but she falls right away and her feet are unable to move. Yukito thinks they should call Hijiri or a hospital, but Misuzu disagrees. She says a doctor won?t be able to heal it because her dreams are doing it to her. She then tells him of another dream where she was traveling in the forest for days. She was okay because she had a precious person by her side. When she starts to say that she?s becoming like the girl in the sky, Yukito yells at her. She says she?s strong and she?ll be alright, so Yukito leaves the room. Suddenly, he has a vision of being attacked by a swordsman and collapses. Misuzu comes to help him but he says that nothing?s wrong. Misuzu doesn?t believe him because of his expression. He convinces her to go back to bed though. When he goes into the bathroom, he notices that he has a scar on his back. He goes back to Misuzu?s room and she?s having some kind of nightmare where she?s getting hurt. When she wakes up she tells Yukito that she?ll get better soon and that she wants him to stay by her side. Yukito asks who else she wants with her, but she says she only wants him. Yukito tells her that he plans on leaving, because if he stays then both of them will die. Misuzu pretends not to mind and says that they had a really good summer. Yukito agrees. As he?s about to leave, Misuzu tells him about a dream where she was locked up in a room all alone. She asks to go with Yukito, but he says that though he doesn?t want to leave he has to distance himself from her so she can recover. She waves goodbye and he tells her to hang in there. She says she will because she?s strong. While waiting for the bus, Yukito dreams about his mother again. She tells him that the doll moves because of something beyond his wish. Inside the doll are wishes that aren?t granted and he has to use it. It has the power of his grandma and great-grandma. When he has the doll he can forget abut the flying girl if he wants, but he?ll inevitably meet her someday. If he puts his heart into the doll he can save her. When she goes into the doll, she vanishes. Yukito wakes up to some little kids poking him. He asks them to teach him how to make his puppet show more amusing. They say that it should do more then walk and be part of a story. He impresses them with a dance he makes it do. He goes back and has the puppet wake up Misuzu. He tries to amuse her with her new tricks, but she falls back to sleep again. He realizes that he was just happy being around her and wants her to laugh by his side again. He somehow goes into the puppet, where he realizes that he wants to relive everything from the start and be with Misuzu forever. Misuzu wakes up and can?t find him. Then the story warps into the past. A girl named Kanna falls from the sky and meets up with this low class guy. It turns out he was ordered to protect her. Holy crud! This episode was loaded with foreshadowing and revelations. Since Misuzu is or is like that girl being discussed (or maybe possibly is her), that could mean both the deaths of Yukito and herself. If that happened, it would be totally insane. It looks like I?m not going to get my happy ending. Also the episode screams that the flying girl and Misuzu?s other self are the same person. Knowing that Misuzu has this condition also basically clears up her klutzyness. It was probably the cause of her constant falling. On another note, I?m starting to really dislike Misuzu?s mother. She?s such an obnoxious person, possibly as bad as Fate?s mom. I mean, I know she doesn?t know how to be a real parent, but she could at least bother to try rather then spending all her time getting drunk and asking to hear Yukito?s ?erotic confessions.? By the way, the Misuzu storyline completely blows the Kano and Tohno storylines away. The only problem s, they went from barely any Potato to no Potato at all. More reasons why Air is so depressing.

Air 06
Topic: Air
Here?s my latest Air essay/summary. If only I put this much time into my school work. Tohno is living with Yukito. Michiru is mad that Tohno wasn?t there yesterday, and says that she wished on the stardust that she would return. Misuzu is watching he three of them sadly. Misuzu later tells Yukito her latest dream. This time she?s in a forrest at night and talking to someone. She doesn?t know who it was though. She asked him ?What?s an ocean?? and they discussed the ocean. Back with Tohno and Michiru, Michiru is being a pain. Yukito comments that he envies her though. Tohno then tells him that she had a dream about her father about when she used to watch the stars with him. She says that after her sister died, her mother and father began to fight and her father left and remarried. He gave her the stardust as a parting gift. Yukito has a talk with Michiru (and the adorable Potato is there too!) in which Michiru is surprisingly serious. When he leaves, he sees Tohno?s mother at the Karishima clinic. She?s starting to remember Tohno?s existence. Yukito invites Tohno to leave her dream world and experience the real world. She agrees but wants to leave a message for Michiru before she leaves. He tells her to keep following, and he takes her to her house. He says that Michiru didn?t want to see her sad. He then gives her a choice of following him on a journey or going back to reality. She heads to the door, but hears her mother gardening. She goes up to her and her mother finally accepts her. That night, Yukito is with Michiru. She says she has to go home, do Yukito says he?ll walk her. He asks her where she lives, and she just tells him she has a home to return to. She mentions the girl in the sky who has feathers with memories and constant sad dreams. Michiru had her give her one of the feathers to comfort someone on earth so that both that person (namely Tohno) and flying girl might become happier. She says that humans can?t live with out memories, but they can?t live with memories alone. She also says that you have to awaken from your dreams eventually because if you don?t then the dreams become sadness. She decided to return the feather because of these facts. She tells him that she?s actually Tohno?s sister Michiru- just a fragment of a dream. Later, Tohno says that even after he left, she went to the station every day to pick up her father. That?s where she met Michiru. That?s aound the time when her mother started calling her Michiru. She said that it was a sin for her to wish for a little sister, because if she didn?t then nobody would be as sad about all that happened. She decided to invite Michiru to her house. Tohno?s mother asks Michiru?s name. She?s reluctant to tell, but Tohno wants her to. When she does, Tohno?s mother is really happy. She says that Tohno always wanted her little sister to eat her mothers hamburgers, so Michiru does so, and she likes them. After dinner, Michiru gives Tohno her stardust. After pouring it into the bottle she turns around, but Michiru?s gone. Yukito says it?s nt to late to find her though, as the stars aren?t out yet. They find her on the edge of a building. Tohno doesn?t want her to go, but she says she has to. Before she leaves, she tells Yukito that she?ll give flying girl her fun memories and tells Tohno to smile. She says that for her, goodbyes aren?t painful when she?s smiling. Once theyre both smiling and they say good bye, she disappears. The next day, Yukito sees Tohno. He?s worried that she bought him another rice ticket, but she actually got a letter from her father, who wants her to visit. Her father and his new wife had a daughter, giving Tohno a younger sister. When she gets there, the girl she meets looks like a younger Michiru. She also likes to blow bubbles but isn?t good at it. Tohno says that she?ll teach her and offers her friendship and stardust. She tells her her name and asks what the girls is. They don?t tell you, but I?m pretty sure it?s Michiru. ^_^ Yukito goes home to pick Misuzu up, but sees her laying on her floor, not waking up. Great episode. It was so sad though. I almost cried during the scene where Michiru left. Poor Tohno. At least she has a new little sister to be with now. I wonder if we?ll be seeing any more of her throughout the series. Now the story is moving to Misuzu?s plotline, which looks to be an angsty one. I wonder what?s wrong with her. Annoying Japanese t.v. stations! They should seriously just marathon entire shows in one day so that people don?t have to wait to get the next episodes. BTW, I didn?t cap Potato this week because I couldn?t really get any interesting shots of him. :(

Potato!
Topic: Air
I love Potato so, enough that I made a Potato wallpaper for my computer. It's so cute!!!

Air 05
Topic: Air
Name correction: Due to misreading the subs, I accidentally called Michiru Kamio, which is actually Misuzu?s last name. Sorry. Now it will be correct.

Yukito dreams about living wit his mother when he was a child. Misuzu walks in to get him up in the morning. They talk about Kano and the feather. Misuzu says she had a mysterious feeling when she saw it. She also comments that Yukito?s been out of it. He tells her it was because of a dream and not to worry. He then asks if she still has her flying dreams. She says yes. In her latest dreams she?s struggling to climb the sky. While doing this, she hears voices of people trying to restrain her. Because of their echo, she couldn?t climb anymore. After the explanation, the two split up. Yukito manages to actually impress two little kids with his puppet. He?s happy until he realizes that they didn?t pay him. While waiting for Misuzu, he runs into Tohno and Michiru. He asks if they?ve seen Misuzu but Tohno says she hasn?t. Tohno gives him yet another rice ticket and a bottle containing stardust. She also gives a one to Michiru and keeps one for herself so they all match. She says that her father gave her the stardust when she was little. They go through lockers to look for Misuzu?s stuff and confirm that she?s left already. Then Tohno takes Yukito to the astronomy club. She?s the only member though. She said that she also bought Michiru there for the first time because she wanted the three of them to see the stars together. She also says that she thinks Michiru likes him. Yukito doesn?t believe that. She says that she definitely does because she always talks about him. Tohno then says that she understands her because she?s half of her. They?re always together. She asks Yukito if he?s ever experienced the joy of living for others. He replied that he did in the distant past, in reference to his mother. Michiro leaves and Yukito walks Tohno home. He comments on her being tall. She asks him if he dislikes tall girls, which he doesn?t. Tohno likes being tall because she?s closer to the sky. Once they get to the house she tells her mother that Yukito?s a new member of the astronomy club. Her mother apologizes to Yukito for having to walk her home. Then she tells ?Michiru? to come in, confusing Yukito. He goes home and sees Misuzu, asleep in her room. He wakes her up and is a bit mad at her for not telling him her classes would be going later then usual. They watch t.v., but Misuzu turns it off because she wants to play cards. For some reason, she starts to cry. Her mother comes in when she hears this and tells Yukito to step outside for a moment. Then her mother explains to Yukito that Misuzu?s always like that when she makes friends with people and that none of the doctors she?s been to could explain it. She said that it also happened when she was at school and she had to pick her up early, the actual reason why they didn?t meet up. Yukito says that he?ll try distancing himself from her. Misuzu realizes the reason right away the next morning. Yukito asks her if she has any friends, and she says she doesn?t. She then tells him that Haruko isn?t her real mother, she?s actually an aunt. Her mother actually left her with Haruko. Because she didn?t really want Misuzu either, Misuzu decided that she would live separately from her even though they?re under one roof. Then Yukito meets up with Michiru. She?s worried because Tohno isn?t there. As they wait, Michiru attempts to blow bubbles but can?t. Yukito takes the wand and bows one, which impresses her. She quickly saddens again though, so Yujito suggests that they go to Tohno?s house. Michiru doesn?t want to go, so he heads there on his own after picking up Misuzu. When he gets there though, her mother claims that she doesn?t have a daughter and closes the door. Then Kano?s sister shows up and asks him why he?s there instead of work. They discuss that Tohno?s mother has a condition and convinced herself that Tohno is really her second daughter who died. However now her condition screwed her up so much that she believes that none of her daughters exist. Later he talks to Tohno. She says that her mother was upset that Tohno was closer to her father, so really wanted her younger sister Michiru to be born. Last night though, she had a dream about Michiru being a miscarriage and this morning she asked Tohno ?who are you?? This was the best episode to date. Last week was a bit of a disappointment, but this week? wow! We?ve gotten more insight on Tohno and Misuzu?s storylines. I feel so bad for Misuzu, that nobody wants her. She?s definitely not normal, but what difference does that make. She?s a really nice person. I absolutely need to see next week?s episode.

Air 04
Topic: Air
Misuzu saves Yukito by pushing Kano off him. Her sister apologizes to them and tells Kano?s story. The summer after their mother died, they went to a festival. Kano wanted a ballon because she thought she could fly with it. Her sister told her that it wouldn?t work but bought her one anyway. When she was about to take the balloon though, a guy bumped into her and it flew away. She explained that she told Kano that her mother was up in the sky because she and her father didn?t want to tell someone as young as her that she was really dead. One day they found this feather. After that, Kano started acting strange and was scared of bright lights. She frequently tried to slit her wrists, so her sister tied the bandanna on her. The next day, Misuzu tells Yukito that she had a dream where she was flying again, except this time she was sad. Yukito then meets up with Kamio again, who?s gathering garbage. She says she has a hobby of collecting things and Yukito tells her it?s stupid. They see Tohno and her mother walking, and Kamio comments that Tohno looks sad. Yukito calls her over, and asks if Kamio told him who she was with. Yukito says that he knows its her mother because he helped her the other day. When he finally gets to work, he sees Kano, completely normal again. He discovers a letter from her saying that she?s going to the sky, asking to make sure her sister doesn?t overwork herself, and apologizing for hurting him. He, Misuzu, and Kano?s sister go to look for her. They find her near where the feather is, somehow bleeding without external injury. Yukito takes the feather and puts it on Kano. He uses his powers and hears the voice of a woman named Shiraho. She said that her first child Yakumo was born with a strange mark on his right arm. He caused a feather to fall from the sky. Then bad things began to happen. Her husband left to go to war. She fled to another village, and most of the people there died from a plague. The people believe that she bought the plague and she?s told to sacrifice her child. She refuses and sacrifices herself instead. Then they hear Kano talking to her mother. She?s offered the chance to come with her, but then her mother changes her mind because she doesn?t have any feathers. (Huh?) Then Shiraho sings a rather annoying song. In the real word, Kano wakes up and the mark on her arm disappears. She thanks Yukito for the advice he gave her for when she meets her mother, but he tells her it was her magic. Her bandanna blows away towards her mother. Okay. This episode made absolutely, positively no sense. Are Kano and Yakumo one in the same? I thought Yakumo was a boy? It?s impossible anyway because she?s not the oldest child. I?m hopelessly confused now.