Fruits Basket

[Veritas]

It's been stated in Hana to Yume that 132 is going to be the last chapter.

Regarding its conclusion, I think Furuba started to suck a while ago. Not suck hard, but just not up to what it was when it began. It just feels like Takaya lost her way and started going through a checklist of what has to happen before the manga ends and throwing it in there with no explanation.

Curse broken? Check.
Everyone paired off? Check.
Akito falls in love with Tohru just like everyone else? Check.

I've always withheld formal judgement on Furuba. The premise is really quite stupid, objectively, but the characters are endearing and it's so well told (for the most part) that it's flourished. I suppose I was expecting more from something that had such a good outset.

I had noticed the art style change. They look pretty alien, especially Kyo for some reason. I know she wants then t look more mature, but even Shigure and Ayame, etc. don't look like that.

To answer your questions arichang, 131 is my favorite chapter, followed by 99 when Hana-chan rescues Tohru. The manga never made me cry, but I cried watching episode 15 when Momiji was talking about his mother, and at the end of 25 and the beginning of 26.

[Hidari]

Originally Posted by Veritas

It's been stated in Hana to Yume that 132 is going to be the last chapter.

Not exactly right, they talk about "the beginning of the last straight line towards the end of the history" (in reference of the chapter 132). Maybe it's the last, maybe not, they keep this in secret : p Answer the 5 sept

Originally Posted by arichang

And all of their eyes are just... dead. o_o

Interesting ^^

Spoiler:

About that, there is one reason that can explain this
Remember one thing : all the 13 cursed CAN'T do anything on their own. At the end, they want to do something, but, "the wheel is moving". And only thanks to Tohru the wheel stop ;p That's why they seems "dead", they're accepting the fact that they can't do anything. In one way, in their mind, they already know that nothing can save us. : )

And here is my question. Is it normal for Momiji to grow that much in less than a year? I didn't even recognize him. At first. Though, admittedly, I don't dislike the new look... I was just beyond startled.

Hum, remember that Momiji is not totally a human ^^" So maybe that's a part of his curse that he grows so much in a year XD

it some form of self-sacrifice on his part? I almost thought Momiji looked up to Tohru as a sort of sisterly figure.

I think too that's a form of self-sacrifice in the way that Momiji is one of the cursed (with Haru and Rin) who is really brave (I dare to defy Akito to protect Tohru), and he goes against his curse by himself (Vol 19 when he said "I will do everything to stop thinking that “that is not used to seek a solution, because nothing will never change”).

What part of Tohru, was, in any way at all, motherly? All Tohru ever did was smile and act careless. I mean, I love her... I really do. But, I just can't see what's so special about her... that would make Yuki make such a conclusion.

She's always worried about the others, like a mother/sister. In the case of Momiji, he sees in her a sister because he "lost" his real sister. In the case of Yuki, who's "motherless" in one way, Tohru become a mother. And that's similar with the others characters.

Wouldn't that make him, really... heartless? He loves her?

I think he become heartless only because his love can't be "real" if Akito doesn't stop to be a God ^^'

Oh... and what does anyone think about the thing between Hatori and the teacher (what's her name?

Mayuko and Hatori.. i think that it can become a couple since he's free : ) (i hope !) And Shigure.. he brings them closer maybe to thanks Hatori for being is friend Oo

Which is your favourite chapter in the whole thing? And whose story do you think is the saddest?

Hum.. my favourite is the one where Yuki is finally free and kiss Machi. ^^
The saddest... the story of Momiji <cry>

Veritas -->

Spoiler:

Takaya-Sensei never lost her way ^^'' All things that she did were in purpose and worked ^^ I can't understand you when you said there's no explanation oO

Curse broken? Yes, exactly as it was predicted oO
Akito falls in love with Tohru just like everyone else? Not right ^^' She's still really shy : D And why Akito "lost" against Tohru ? It was explain during their confrontation on the forest ^^''' And don't forget, Tohru is as a light for all the cursed, why not Akito ? After all, even if she's god, she's still a shy and desesperate girl ^^ Tohru sees the Human Side on them, that's why she's so special and can become friend with all of them

[arichang]

I agree with SleeplessHeart--the anime was a much better tear-jerker. However, since the manga sort of, I don't know... continues the story and we find out more about the characters... It's like I like them both for different reasons. *shrugs*

And to be honest, that's actually kind of how I felt... that Takaya-sensei sort of... lost it. It just stopped being her... you know? I mean, I get the whole she wants to make them all mature and everything... but we're talking about a total change in art style--you read the first page of the first volume and the first page of the last volume... and you tell me if you'll be able to recognize it and say, "Oh yeah! Takaya-sensei!"

It ended up feeling as if it was someone else altogether drawing it.

And, like I said... their eyes are dead. However, they weren't... not at the beginning anyway. And even back then, they knew they couldn't do anything. So why is it, they grew deader and deader (haha. that's not a word, is it?) as the manga went along? And it's not just they became more... dead... they just stopped looking themselves. I have to admit, sometimes I got confused because I thought it was Tohru talking, when in fact, oh, wait, no... it's Kagura.

And really... am I the only one who got annoyed by Akito's repeated emo outbursts? They were almost ridiculous... they just kept.... coming and coming. About 50% of the latter part of the manga involved Akito screaming and shouting and crying and cursing the world and being all emo... and I don't know, maybe I should blame the scanlation group, but the words being screamed and shouted often didn't make any sense to me. I always end up reading it three times to get it. *shrugs* It just got bloody annoying, s'all.

I understand Akito's gone through hell... but seriously?

Takaya-sensei... stop with the screaming!



And GOSH they waste a lot of black ink in the last few volumes.
A LOT OF BLACK INK. o_o

Hum, remember that Momiji is not totally a human ^^" So maybe that's a part of his curse that he grows so much in a year XD

OH COME ON... you've got to be kidding me! o_o The fact alone that Momiji looked like an elementary school student in the beginning was abnormal. Ay... nevermind... why am I arguing about this? We're talking about a manga that involve talking animals for pete's sake. =____=

Spoiler:

I think too that's a form of self-sacrifice in the way that Momiji is one of the cursed

Oh. don't misunderstand... by self-sacrifice, I meant along the lines of he loved Tohru, but because he knew that Tohru loved Kyou, he would give Tohru to Kyou. Momiji self-sacrificed by allowing his mom to forget, yeah, I understand that part... one of the hardest sacrifices to make... But... did he sacrifice his "love"--as in romantic love--for Tohru? Did he actually feel any? For Tohru.

She's always worried about the others, like a mother/sister.

Friends get worried about friends too, I beg to differ. As I read through the manga, and watched the anime... I really just think Tohru just happened to be there at the right place at the right time. She didn't do anything special, she just did what anyone else would do in the situation. The only thing special about her is the fact that, well, she's shameless, stupid and annoying enough not to know her place but is excessively nosy--which, in this case, I have to admit, is a very, very good thing.

But one thing I disliked about Takaya-sensei' portrayal of Tohru is how... perfect she is for every single one of the zodiac. It's just a bit... unrealistic how everyone just finds a reason to fall in love with her. (Not romantically or anything, you know what I mean) I mean, really... especially that bit when Hatori asks her, "What do you think snow will melt into?" and what does she answer? ..... I didn't like that bit.

I know it's her role to be like that... but that doesn't stop me from being a little peeved at how a perfect angel could exist on the planet.

And really.... everyone else looks as them as human, too. It's just that they themselves feel as if they have to hide it. I mean... yeah, it's freaky... but take Kana for example. Did she run for the hills when she found out about Hatori? No one looks at them as monsters... because they don't know they're "monsters". It's not the first thing you'll think of a person. And because they're so cautious, they never really get to experience a lot of people who KNOW they're "monsters" and be accepted--they're too afraid to even venture out and try it.

Human side... they are human... they have no "other side".



About Akito... I'm really confused about that now. Seriously. Maybe I should re-read the manga... but that bit really confused the hell out of me. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Shigure had sex with Akito's mom to spite her for having sex with Kureno, right? That's what happened, right? o_O ... Why did Akito even sleep with Kureno to begin with? Did she start hating Shigure because he started acting too much like her dad? And who is she really in love with at the end? Shigure--which I think impossible for what Shigure made her go through--? Or Kureno--for always being there for her since she was a child--? ... and really... what does Kureno see in her?! I feel really sad for Uo-chan. -___- What does Kureno think of Uo-chan anyway? T___T

For me, I cried watching the anime... most for Momiji's and Hatori's stories... in the manga, I only cried once... and that's while reading Hatori's story. Though I did get choked up while reading Kyoko's story.

So, for me... the saddest story would be Hatori's story. Momiji being a very, very close second. But of course, I really, really, really felt Kyoko's pain.

The most memorable chapter for me would be the "Something Like Cinderella" chapter... it made me laugh so frigging hard... but at the same time, I found it terribly sweet when Tohru realized what she felt for you-know-who. ^_~

[Veritas]

Originally Posted by Hidari

Spoiler:

Takaya-Sensei never lost her way ^^'' All things that she did were in purpose and worked ^^ I can't understand you when you said there's no explanation oO

Curse broken? Yes, exactly as it was predicted oO
Akito falls in love with Tohru just like everyone else? Not right ^^' She's still really shy : D And why Akito "lost" against Tohru ? It was explain during their confrontation on the forest ^^''' And don't forget, Tohru is as a light for all the cursed, why not Akito ? After all, even if she's god, she's still a shy and desesperate girl ^^ Tohru sees the Human Side on them, that's why she's so special and can become friend with all of them

You're misunderstanding me. Of course the curse was going to be broken, but it was never explained why or how it was broken. Did the spirits just get tired? Did they feel bad that it was screwing up these people's lives? Did you have to make an unselfish wish for it to be broken? And, if so, why wasn't Haru's curse broken when he asked for Yuki to be moved out of the main house, and why did all of the remaining curses lift at the same time?

For that matter, why did the curse manifest as it did? To keep the animals spirits away from other people, thus the curse not activating when the jyuunishi hugged each other? This is what I mean when I say it seems Takaya lost her way. Too many huge questions that were just left unanswered or completely ignored, like she had no way to explain them.

I wouldn't mind Akito losing to Tohru if it wasn't such an abrupt turnaround. Akito was a really messed up person, and may have been weak if you got right down to it, but she was used to having her will be absolute in the Sohma household. Seems like she gave up to Tohru without a fight.

Losing my train of thought.

[Checkered Blood]

I gotta ask. Last I heard of the ending, it seemed that out main character buddy wasn't doing so hot, what with the laws of gravity and nature working against her. So...she doesn't die, does she? ><

And will SOMEONE tell me how to put up the stupid spoiler boxes??

[arichang]

Originally Posted by Checkered Blood

I gotta ask. Last I heard of the ending, it seemed that out main character buddy wasn't doing so hot, what with the laws of gravity and nature working against her. So...she doesn't die, does she? ><

And will SOMEONE tell me how to put up the stupid spoiler boxes??

o_O .... saw what? Laws of gravity?

What exactly did you hear anyway?

and spoiler boxes are like this:

[ spoiler=WHATEVER]BLAH BLAH BLAH[/spoiler]

(without the space between the [s ^^^

Spoiler for WHATEVER:

BLAH BLAH BLAH

^_~

[Veritas]

Originally Posted by Checkered Blood

I gotta ask. Last I heard of the ending, it seemed that out main character buddy wasn't doing so hot, what with the laws of gravity and nature working against her. So...she doesn't die, does she? ><

And will SOMEONE tell me how to put up the stupid spoiler boxes??

Spoiler for for those who aren't keeping up with the manga releases in Japan:

No, she doesn't die. Just went to the hospital for a while and recovered so she and Kyo could tearfully confess their feelings.

[AnimeFangirl]

Originally Posted by Veritas

You're misunderstanding me. Of course the curse was going to be broken, but it was never explained why or how it was broken. Did the spirits just get tired? Did they feel bad that it was screwing up these people's lives? Did you have to make an unselfish wish for it to be broken? And, if so, why wasn't Haru's curse broken when he asked for Yuki to be moved out of the main house, and why did all of the remaining curses lift at the same time?

According to the story, it's been over a thousand years since the curse was placed and now it's wearing out. Shigure said it's the first time since all 12 juunishi have been alive at the same time, and he thinks this is because it's time to say goodbye.

[arichang]

Originally Posted by Dorfl

According to the story, it's been over a thousand years since the curse was placed and now it's wearing out. Shigure said it's the first time since all 12 juunishi have been alive at the same time, and he thinks this is because it's time to say goodbye.

That makes me wonder though... what's Tohru's role in all this? Did she actually play an active part in the freeing of the jyuunishi... or is she dispensable? As in, let's pretend she isn't the main character of the manga for one second... and let's pretend she never met the Sohma's... they would still have been freed, right?

Since, you know... the curse was "wearing out"... after a thousand years... which still brings us to question... why? Why after 1000 years? Why not after 500? After 2000? And, really... why the curse at all?

I understand the curse of the cat, maybe. But the rest of the animals? Why only the Sohma family? I know the bit about God blessing the animals who came by granting them a year each and letting them bestow upon those born in their years their "characteristics"... but the Jyuunishi weren't even born in the year of whatever animal they were cursed with, were they?

[Aquapearlofvoice]

Currently I own 1-14 and I love this series it has everything I love in it action comedy, romance, and other things but the most part I like about it is the art and how it was created I also like the ending pages where they explain everything about the Zodiac Legend. Plus I love the art work pages its intersting to see some of the art thats put into the manga.

[horsdhaleine]

omg! i watched the tv series years ago, but i just recently bought the japanese mangas ( well, i'm missing 1 0r 2 vols) i was browsing them last night and it's so different! it's much more mature and dark i think... okay, i'll just comment again after thoroughly reading it...

[SiegeFox]

I've bought all vols. And I enjoy reading the Manga series (Fruits Basket) It's true it is alot better than the series on Tv and it gives you alot more info about the series. More people should read the Manga series. ^^

[hikaru_masha]

All I gotta say is that I've read it and I understand everything perfectly. I tought everything was well explaind, well for the most part. Don't forget people, its not over...

In all honesty, if you are that lost and confused, if you find that this manga makes absolutely no sence at all, you may simply just not be mature enough to read it. Read it again in a few years, you will get it. As for the whole "i love you...as a mother" comment, I sooooooooo saw that comming a mile away! He was never actually in love with her, he loved her. If you can't tell the difference, try rereading it and see what happens.

as for momiji, it had nothing to do with the fact that he was a rabbit(for the record...rabbits grow insanely fast). It was all symbolic. at the beginnin he was short, but not that short. it was the way he acted and the way he was portrayed that made him seem alot smaller than he actually was. He did infact have a growth spirt(may of the other characters did aswell) but, if you nottice allong through the manga, it wasnt just "hey in 1 volume he's a shrimp, the next he's a giant", he actually grew a little as the stroy coninued on. However in the last few chapters there was a jump in size, but by that point, time had jumped also. we hadnt seen him in a bit. PLUS he was nolonger acting like a child. He grew up inside aswell. He became more mature. so if you include all those factors, yes it makes sense. It's quite normal in animes with progression plots, especially in lolita characters. (Don't say "well what doe she know, anyways?" I have seen hundreds on animes alone, not to mention all the mangas.) It's not just in anime either, but any cartoon, animated film, or comic . Its the same logical principles!

A much easier exapmple of this momiji incident, watch host club. Take special notice of honey sempi...sometimes he looks more like a child, other times he just looks like a short person. It's not totally the same situastion, but you get my point. Alot of times things get amplified to better illustrate the idea.

Even Kyo looks like he's 12 sometimes when he's being immature.

Read it again take note of when he looks most like a kid....when he's happy. When does he look more grown up? When he's serious. BASIC ANIME LOGIC!!!!!!

If you are this lost, maybe anime isnt for you. Alot of you are going to think im wrong and call me wrong. that's fine. I stick by my statement. Watch 100 animes and/or read a bunch of mangas like this one and tell you don't think I'm right. If you still dont see it, then so help you God, you have a rotting brain and can no longer put things together yourself, you need the AUTHOR to tell you EVERYTHING in the story! Try thinking for yourselves for once.

There is nothing wrong with this story, the problem is the readers.

[Klashikari]

whew... that's a old thread XD (duh, shame on me, i didn't spot it, altough i'm a furuba fan ~~)
alright... i will take the occasion of this bump to answer a bit ^^

Originally Posted by arichang

That makes me wonder though... what's Tohru's role in all this? Did she actually play an active part in the freeing of the jyuunishi... or is she dispensable? As in, let's pretend she isn't the main character of the manga for one second... and let's pretend she never met the Sohma's... they would still have been freed, right?

who knows? *shrug*, probably no one, even tayaka herself probably.

to understand the whole story, i guess we need to compare each jyuunishi from their respective beginning and past, with the very end of the story.

we can take example on yuki and kyo :
yuki was tortured by akito, abandonned by his parents. even with all the "prestigious" he could have, he didn't have the only thing he wanted : someone who cares really about him, and the fact he could be useful to anyone (the little story with yuki, helping tohru when they were children is the perfect proof).

Kyo is kinda similar : he was closed minded about his situation. he didn't really look for anything, since his own world was sealed because of the curse of the cat.
his first fustration come from he wasn't wished to be born by anyone, ever. and because of the silly zodiac tale, he took yuki as the source of his unhappiness and all.

tohru doesn't have anything special, that's a fact (haru says it litteraly to rin). though, it's because of that, that she was able to change the jyuunshi life, slowly and surely.
she didn't mind their problems at all, she was there for them. (akito was commenting she was probably a goddess or a devil for being pure like this etc).
any "sane" person will probably see tohru as an uninteresting girl, along being clumsy and stupid.
though, her kindness and her presence were the key for their development.

what would happen if tohru wasn't in the story?
hummm let's see : yuki and kyo would keep fighting like idiots.
momiji would be alone, kisa wouldn't have the will of confronting her problem with her classmates etc. etc.

she change their life, without anything special, that's all. there is nothing more to add

Since, you know... the curse was "wearing out"... after a thousand years... which still brings us to question... why? Why after 1000 years? Why not after 500? After 2000? And, really... why the curse at all?

again, this is not explained, and it doesn't matter... really.
the important thing in furuba is the character development , how they ended like this.

i think takaya didn't explain the whole curse, because it wasn't important at all : what does matter? the origins, or the finality?

I understand the curse of the cat, maybe. But the rest of the animals? Why only the Sohma family? I know the bit about God blessing the animals who came by granting them a year each and letting them bestow upon those born in their years their "characteristics"... but the Jyuunishi weren't even born in the year of whatever animal they were cursed with, were they?

why the sohma? it was said several times, vaguely, that it was in their blood. again, this isn't that important, isn't it?

for the jyuunishi, we would need the accurate date for this ^^"

[Asameshimae]

Originally Posted by Veritas

Regarding its conclusion, I think Furuba started to suck a while ago. Not suck hard, but just not up to what it was when it began. It just feels like Takaya lost her way and started going through a checklist of what has to happen before the manga ends and throwing it in there with no explanation.

Curse broken? Check.
Everyone paired off? Check.
Akito falls in love with Tohru just like everyone else? Check.

Yeah I aggree completely, every since the decursing began, the plot just seem not that interesting anymore and feel more like a rush to the end and trying to close all the loop asap.

Maybe Takaya Sensei is just to tried after like 10years doing to same series.

[Forbin]

So how did the final pairing ended up? Did Rin end up with Shigure or with Haru?

[The Sandman]

I'm just going to put my entire post in spoiler space now to save time. Click below to find some answers:

Spoiler:

Rin ends up with Haru. Shigure gets with the person he genuinely loves,

Spoiler:

Akito

.

Oh, and my personal opinion is that Chapters 129-131 were possibly the best in the series. What's running now is basically tying up loose ends; those three chapters were the true climax of Fruits Basket.

CLICK AT YOUR OWN RISK! EXTREME SPOILERAGE LIES WITHIN!

Spoiler:

Essentially, Kyou and Tohru finally confess to each other, and then hug...only to find that Kyou's curse has been lifted. Akito, feeling that it is finally okay to let go, accepts the departure of the cat, starting a chain reaction that releases all of the remaining Juunishi, including Akito herself. Yuki, who is about to confess to Machi (and reveal the curse) is the final one released, just before he could tell Machi. As the spirit of the rat leaves, Yuki sees, for a moment, the beginning of the curse. That, I won't spoil, because I can't think of a way to do it without weakening it too much. Suffice it to say the truth of the curse is both simple, poignant, and fits very well with the series.

What makes me sad inside is that we Americans will have to wait until 2009 to read this.

[BlueJar]

All too true Sandman. I have watched the anime and read all the manga; in truth both have great points, but all in all I prefer the manga because it adds reference to the story.

[hikaru_masha]

i prfer the manga too.....the anime finnishes too quickly and leaves alot of things untold. And does anyone else HATE that theme song? the worst i have ever heard on an anime!

[Trinity Black]

Here, in Brazil, we've just got the Furuba 16, and it's about the life (and death, of course) of Tohru's parents. Do you guys know when will Furuba end? I mean, is she still writing, or the series have already ends? I don't know how are things going in USA about Furuba, but I know that there's a lot of people who read online, and in Japanese... Well, this is my first post on this forum, so, if I did not made myself clear, please, say so. Thanks^^