*.:~Two Heartbeats AND a Red Sin~ :. *

Well, here it is, the final episode of the first season. I think the series has been an okay adaptation so far. The adapted character design is good but it’s clearly hard to keep up with the quality. I hope that the second season have better budget and better animation to boot. The OP and ED songs are surprisingly good and fit the series really well. They are definitely one of the better elements of the series. I also think that the voice acting, despite some inconsistencies are generally okay. My main concern is where things will go from here. I don’t think that the writers should rush season 2 if the manga is still not complete. I was a bit concerned with the last few minutes of the episode but after thinking about it, I don’t think this will have much impact on the storylines that haven’t been told yet. Episode 13 A flashback reveals how Ichiru first met Shizuka and how the two interact with one another. Ichiru didn’t like it when Shizuka took over Maria’s body because her behaviour and appearance are not Shizuka-like. Ichiru also wondered why Shizuka doesn’t want to turn him into vampire so Shizuka explained that it’s because doing so would make him her servant. This means he can’t say anything that he wants to say. Besides, Shizuka believed that the existence of vampires itself is a sad thing just like the vampire servant who was killed by the Kiryuus. She also explained that the man in question was actually a food for a caged beast that was her. But the man was actually observing her with interest so she had no hesitation to turn him into vampire. Unfortunately for Shizuka, the man was killed by the Kiryuus, who wanted to exact revenge on her. In the present, Ichiru cries as Shizuka lets out her dying breath. She wonders if he really likes her and asks the guy if he’d like to come with her. At the same time, Zero feels a painful sensation as Shizuka disappears into thin air. Ichiru explains that it’s his Level E reacting but now it’s too late since Shizuka is dead. Ichiru is also jealous that even until her death, she still won’t make him into a vampire. Zero thinks that’s because Shizuka knows that being vampire is anything but pleasant but Ichiru doesn’t seem to care. He also has lost interest in being jealous of Zero because he thinks the one standing in front of him now is just a Level E. As Zero lies in pain, he begs Yuuki not to look at him. When Yuuki returns to the room with Kain, however, she finds that Zero is no longer there. Instead, Cross tells him that Yagari has taken him to the council. Meanwhile, Kaname remembers the time when he first met Shizuka. Back then Shizuka felt sorry for Kaname because he’d become the next Kuran leader. Back in the classroom, Yuuki suddenly study hard in her class and when she’s asked about it, she claims that she’s doing it for Zero, who can’t attend class just yet. At the same time, Kain and Aidou reports to Kaname what they saw that night. They also inform him that chairman seems to be protecting Zero. When Kaname pretends that Zero was the one who killed Shizuka, Aidou becomes nervous but he doesn’t have the courage to confront Kaname about what he saw. That night, however, Aidou asks Kain what he knows about Shizuka. Kain explains that from what he’s heard, Shizuka was a vampire that couldn’t be controlled and a danger to both vampires and humans Aidou then reveals what he knows about Shizuka. Shizuka had a vampire fiancee but she had an ex-human vampire by her side. Shizuka loved that servant but the servant’s name was on the liquidated list of the Hunters’ association. It was the hunters from Kiryuu family that killed the servant even though he hadn’t turned into a Level E. This means, normally he wouldn’t be on the liquidated list. In revenge, Shizuka killed Kiryuu family as a revenge. Aidou believes that the senior council are after Hiou Shizuka because she’s a dangerous factor. He continues to tell Kain that Shizuka comes to this school because there’s something that she wants and she’s not the only one who goes after it. At the same time, Kaname finds himself having problem controlling his newfound power and ends up breaking the glass window inadvertently. Meanwhile, Yuuki is in the middle of sitting by the fountain, worrying about Zero. Kaname then comes over to tell Yuuki not to blame herself because that’s the last thing that Zero would want her to do. Meanwhile, Yagari and Cross are at their wits end because no matter what medicine they’ve given Zero, his Level E still goes uncontrolled. When they hear noise coming from outside, they decide to check it out. Unknown to them, Kaname has sneak into the prison to check on Zero. He’s surprised to know that Zero still has his own consciousness. He then tells Zero that inside him is a pure-blood that can cure him. Kaname urges Zero to bite him but reminds him that he’s not doing it for Zero but for Yuuki. Despite his initial resistance, Zero eventually sucks sucks Kaname’s blood, causing the other vampires to be alerted. Impression That BL-like scene comes way earlier than it should have been in the manga but I guess this is a way to attract the BL-lovers? Leaving that aside, the season finale is not that bad but I really miss the time when a season ends in a nice happy note instead of on a cliffhanger like this. I guess the writers in Japan start to take note of US TV Series’ tendencies to end on cliffhanger (ie. Supernatural). At any rate, this episode basically answers part of Shizuka’s past. She turns out to be a human and Level E lover as well. Shame on her, what would the other proud pure-blood think? J/K. In her own crazy ways, I think she actually cares about Ichiru but since Ichiru has low self-confidence, he keeps interpreting her refusal to turn him into vampire as something negative. I kind of want to see him turned into vampire then gets roasted in the sun. Moving along, I still don’t understand why both her and Kaname wants to obtain each other’s power. I also wonder why Shizuka thinks Kaname is one unfortunate person for inheriting the Kuran clan. As for Kaname, I think he was slightly redeemed in this one. I still think he’s dangerous, ambitious bastard but at least he cares about Yuuki to the point that he was willing to give his blood to Zero. I still don’t like the fact that he basically lied with a straight face to his subordinates about who killed Hiou Shizuka. This means that not only he endangers Zero’s fate, he also absolves himself from any kind of responsibility for killing her. I kind of wish that Aidou had confronted him right there and then but I don’t think that guy will have the guts to do it.

This is slightly better than episode 11 mostly because it’s filled with actions and surprising twist. There’s also a good character development for Zero here and the story actually moves forward. At least now Kaname actually has some kind of purpose in the story apart from being a mysterious guy who saved Yuuki a few years ago. Although after watching this episode, I wonder how the writers will conclude the series this season. IIRC, the story that comes after this one is a rather minor story involving the council of ancients. I think that’s a story that can easily be solved in one episode. In that case, I guess the first season will just end like a normal episode. The difference is that instead of waiting for one week for the next episode, the viewers have to wait for one season to watch the next episode. As Shizuka shows Yuuki her real body, she informs the prefect that in order not to become a Level E, all Zero has to do is drink her blood. Shizuka, however, wants to drink Yuuki’s blood first because she needs power to escape from her pursuer. Before Shizuka can do so, however, Zero has arrived and asks her to get away from Yuuki. Despite Yuuki telling Zero that Shizuka can save him, Zero doesn’t want to stop until he sees Yuuki crying. Upon seeing this, Shizuka realizes that Zero has been tamed by Yuuki and becomes unhappy. By using her voice, she instructs Zero to hold Yuuki. Because she was the one who turned Zero, Zero can’t disobey her order. Shizuka then bites Zero’s neck, prompting Yuuki to ask her why she’s being cruel to Zero. In response she tells Yuuki that it’s a punishment because Zero is too close to Yuuki. Before Shizuka can bite Yuuki, however, Zero manages to move his hand on his own and strangles Shizuka. Shizuka tries to restrain Zero again using her voice but Zero shoots his own leg to regain his free will before firing a few bullets into Shizuka’s body. Despite this, Zero can’t kill Shizuka because she manages to deflect her bullet using her own piece of garment. Ichiru then interrupts their fight by throwing his sword at Zero. Shizuka, however, doesn’t like Ichiru’s intervention, telling her slave that it’s not time for him to appear. Before Zero can chase after Shizuka, Ichiru already blocks his way so Zero hits Ichiru’s mask with the sword and tells Yuuki that the man in front of him is his younger brother. While Zero and Ichiru are fighting because Ichiru is being an insecure loser as usual, an injured Shizuka is greeted in the darkness by Kaname. Shizuka wonders why Kaname is Cross High School so Kaname tells her that it’s to return a favor and because this is the place where he can get the appropriate pieces. Back in another room, Ichiru continues to bitch about his inability to get noticed by anyone. As Ichiru loses his sword, Zero realizes that in contrast, Yuuki’s eyes is focused on no one but Zero. At the same time, Shizuka is killed by Kaname when the later punch his hand into her body. Shizuka, however, is not surprised because she wanted to do the same thing to Kaname and turns Yuuki into an assassin. Kaname assures Shizuka that her death won’t be in vain because he’ll kill the pure-blood vampire who ruins the fate of other pure-blood vampires. In her dying breath, Shizuka tells Kaname that he’ll receive a new power for killing her but his future will be shrouded in darkness. At the same time, Aidou arrives at the old mansion and realizes that Kaname has killed Shizuka. In the other room, Zero and Ichiru smells a very strong blood but before Zero can go there, Yuuki has stopped him. She knows that after Zero kills Shizuka, he intends on killing himself. Because of this, she tells him that she doesn’t want him to die. Zero is touched and hugs Yuuki, telling her that he doesn’t understand why she’d go this far for him. However, while he intent on dying before, he has no desire to do so again so he asks her to stay in the room after telling her that he’ll be back. At the same time, Ichiru finally finds Shizuka’s dead body in the other room. Impression I was amused to see Ichijou enjoying the party and giggling with his fangirls while everyone else is on their merry-brood-round. If one doesn’t know better, one would think he’s a very genki human. It’s be nice if half of the cast are as cheerful as him but that’s not going to happen. Moving along, I wish the writers tell us why Shizuka want to cause Zero a lot of pain because at the moment, she comes across as a psycho vampire who’s just hellbent on destroying Zero and his family. I actually don’t like her character design in comparison to Kurenai Maria so I wasn’t sorry to see her killed by Kaname. And while Kaname is not exactly a nice character, I figure that the only person who can kill Shizuka is someone who’s equally cunning and neither Zero nor Yuuki is capable of any kind of backstabbing. I actually like characters who can take care of themselves and can give the villain a taste of their own medicine. If only I like Kaname more, he’d come across as an anti-hero to me. At the moment, however, I just think that what he did was quite clever and useful for Yuuki/Zero. At the same time, I also dread the possibility of him becoming stronger and more dangerous to others. Come to think of it, I still don’t understand why both Kaname and Shizuka want to kill each other. Is this because Shizuka endangers Yuuki or is it because they both want to use her? Or is there another reason like a pure-blood who kills another pure-blood will gain his/her power? If that’s the case, what is Kaname intend to do with this additional power? He was talking about destroying the pure-blood who has ruined the fate of other pure-blood. But then Shizuka was also talking about how Kaname has been looking for it since he was a kid so that kind of threw me off. Moving along, I can’t help but laughing at Ichiru instead of sympathizing with him. I really can’t stand characters who need to be validated by other person to feel whole in his/her life. Plus, I fail to see how his insecurity is the fault of other people (which include his parents, Yagari, and Shizuka). The good thing about that completely pathetic scene is that it brings Zero to his senses. He finally realizes that Yuuki really cares about him that it’s time for him to stop moping around and act like he has no one to look out for.

This has to be one of the worst ever episode for the series when it comes to character design. My analysis back in the first episode about how the character design can easily turns ugly in the hands of lazy animators turns out to be correct. When I see an episode like this, I wonder if it’s because the budget is so small that the animators refuse to labor on their craft more than necessary or if they just lose interest in what they do. It’s probably hard for animators to be excited about each series that they do so I wonder at what point does the hobby turns into nothing more than a job that needs to be completed. Anyway, for some reason Ichiru sounds a lot like Zero in this episode so does this mean Miyano Mamoru voices both characters? That would be weird but kind of amusing as well since both are supposed to be twins. Ichiru sounds more like Tamaki from Ouran High School Host Club though, albeit an evil one. Episode 11 Zero wakes up only to find that Ichiru is still alive. In addition to this, he finds out that Ichiru is actually delighted when he and his parents got slaughtered by Shizuka. Ichiru explains that he feels put down in that family since their parents often think that he’s useless. When he was a kid, Ichiru encountered Shizuka, who was crying on top of a Sakura tree. It was then that the two felt immediate bond. In the present time, Ichiru tells Zero that eventually he feels nothing for his parents and realizes that the love he feels for Zero is actually hatred. Although he wants to kill Zero, Ichiru feels that it’d be better to let Zero suffer as the later degrades into a Level-E. Before Ichiru gets out of the room, however, Yagari storms in. Ichiru tries to attack his former teacher but Zero stops him, causing the blade to almost stab Ichiru. Before that can happen, however, Yagari uses his own body to shield Ichiru. Although the injury is not serious, Zero has no choice but to carry Yagari back to Cross so he can get treatment. Zero then leaves again to look for Ichiru. Instead finding him, Zero encounters Yuuki, who offers him to drink her blood so Zero roughly press her body to the wall before sucking her neck from behind. Yeah, it’s not sexual at all. Afterwards, Yuuki remembers how Maria told her that if she wants Maria to save Zero, she’d either have to give herself or deliver the corpse of Kaname. Meanwhile, Zero has finally calmed down thanks to Yuuki’s blood. Before he can go off to confront Maria and Ichiru, however, Cross finds him and asks him to guard the student party. At the same time, Yuuki is informed by Yori that she has a present. It’s a white gown from Kaname. Meanwhile, Cross tells Zero to enjoy the night and to not be bound by his future. Their conversation comes to a halt when Yuuki comes by, dressing in the white gown. Upon seeing Yuuki looking excited, Zero wonders why she’s always smiling. Yuuki tells him that it’s because she wants to see him smiling too. Inside the party, Yuuki asks Kain if he knows Kaname’s whereabouts to Kain tells her that Kaname is at the balcony. When Yuuki finds Kaname in the balcony, he asks her to dance with him as a thanks for the dress so Yuuki complies. Instead of listening to the beat of the song, however, he just dance slowly because he wants to remember of the time when the two of them used to dance. Gross. She was a little girl back then you creep. Yuuki is embarrassed about this so she tells him that back then she was just started to learn Waltz so she wonders until when he’s going to treat her like a child. Kaname claims that’s not his intention so Yuuki brings up the fact that Kaname was the one who tempered with her memory the other night. Kaname tells her that he’s not treating her like a child. He just wants to protect her. While this happens, Yuuki remembers how Maria asked her to kill Kaname but Yuuki decides not to do this and instead run away from the guy. At the same time, Kain and Aidou finds a place where Shizuka’s real body is stored. Before they can do anything however, Seiren arrives to tell them not to do anything. Kain, realising that Kaname has a plan of his own suggests to Aidou that they don’t do anything for now since they can’t fight a pure-blood like Shizuka. Impression The part where Ichiru claims that he was willing to kill his family because he felt unappreciated still feels unnatural. It’s not like anyone in the family was abusing him. It’s not their fault that he has such a low self-esteem. Even if he can’t become a hunter, he can still get other jobs. I highly doubt that he’d be looked down by others just because he can’t be a vampire hunter. After all, it’s not like he lives in a middle-age period where vampire hunting is the only respectable job in the country. In fact, most people do not even know about the existence of Vampires. What I’m trying to say is that should Ichiru gets impaled with a stake one of these days, I doubt that anyone will feel sorry for him. He decided to betray his own family and kill them for no good reason other than a pathetic insecurity. I guess one can claim that he’s been manipulated by Shizuka to go against his family but until we see the flashback which suggests this, there’s no excuse for what he’s done. At least Shizuka has a reason for wanting a revenge while Ichiru has none whatsoever. I’m glad that Yuuki finally decides to confront Kaname about his creepy, controlling behavior. I’d have bought him claiming that he just wanted her to be safe if all that he did that night was putting Yuuki to sleep so she won’t be in danger. However, he did more than that. He modified her memory so that she won’t remember not only the incident but also Zero. That’s a violation of her right to decide what she want or does not want to remember. I also didn’t like the way he ordered Zero around like he’s some kind of personal slave who is still alive because of he still has some kind of function for Yuuki. On the other hand, Zero is also not faring better this episode. After taking Yuuki’s blood, he was being quite rude towards her instead of thanking her. I guess he’s embarrassed about the whole thing but the whole pissy act gets a bit tiring after a while. Both Yuuki and Cross have tried their best to make him happy. The least he can do is to be nice to these two people who have been nothing but good to him. I really hope that in the future, the series will develop him beyond his moody personality traits.