THAT Animeblog

Ghost Hunt Ep 20 - “Naru is….Naru is…Oh god, the revelation!”

Posted by [Impz] on February 22nd, 2007 | Category: Ghost Hunt

A bit of face distortion and I can label Ghost Hunt as the third season of Higurashi, after Manabi Straight.

As expected, Mai is not dead as yet. We also realize a very important clue to who Naru actually is and his purpose to come to Japan. Lin’s purpose with Naru is also addressed (well, hinted) too. There are tons of surprises in this episode and that itself is a major understatement!

Episode summary

Mai woke up screaming in terror until she was slapped by Ayako. As she woke up, she felt total fear as everyone came in to comfort her. Bou-san rushed in and asked her about the dream as Mai re-accounted it. Bou-san apologized for forcing her to remember it. Naru came in to give some red tea to Mai as she calmed down. The next day, Yasuhara proposed that it might be the spirit of Suzuki and the other assistant sending her a message of their impending death. In other words, it was telepathy. John mentioned whether the spirit liked young people, as all the caretakers who came one week ago were safe and were of middle-aged. The two missing people were young.

Naru then asked Ayako how much he could trust her and she replied first in annoyance about the lack of faith but corrected to say that she was confident of repelling spirits. He told Ayako to stay with Masako, John and Bou-san to protect Yasuhara, Mai protected by Lin while Naru has no defense. Lin immediately objected to it and tried to make other arrangements but it was all rejected by Naru as it was too dangerous. Lin continued to lecture Naru, saying how he would answer to the professor if anyone happened to him and told Naru not to make his parents worry. Naru told him that Lin could leave if he was not happy but Lin reminded him that he was here to supervise him, leaving Mai shocked. Yasuhara offered to leave in order to settle the situation.

Lin explained that the blueprint of the room seemed to be centered on a space in the middle of the house. Lin proposed that the rooms and walls were building out of this space, as Naru wondered what this unknown space that they could not reach was. Naru proposed that the space was not a hidden room but in fact a basement in order to hide something from others. Madoka and Yasuhara came over to give information once again through the window. Naru said that it was dangerous but Madoka said the surroundings were places where kids played and there were no missing children. They first informed that there were 12 chimneys when they viewed the house from outside when there were only 11 indoors. They also talked about the owner of the house being weak, having two servants.

The servants often complained that the room was extremely smelly and the name “浦户” (name on the note) was in fact his nickname. Mai was starting to freak out with the information, with Masako stepping in. She simply tapped on the shoulders of Mai, telling the spirit to move along as Mai returned to her senses. It seemed that it was the residue of memories by the maid in the dream. A loud sound emitted that was completely different as the lights went down. When it returned, a lot of words written in blood appeared everywhere and Naru asked Masako whether she was confident about suppressing the spirit in her.

Masako said she did but Mai stopped her, saying that Naru did not understand the feeling of death and that feeling in which you were carried off to die. Naru’s look at her seemed to imply that she said something really awful but Naru asked Lin to do a less reliable method which was to get the spirit out in the open through a ritual. As the ritual started, Suzuki appeared and it seemed that she had not realized that she had died. Naru asked whether the name “浦户” had anything to do with her disappearance as she seemed stressed. Naru asked the last question on where she was when prompted by Lin, as she pointed at the wall.

Bou-san realized that “浦户” (Urado) was in fact Vlad or Dracula. Mai started to freak out with vampires, but Naru told her that there was no living person who would suck blood. His Romanian surname Drăculea (transliterated as “Dracula” in foreign languages of the historical documents where his name is mentioned) is a diminutive derived from his father’s title Dracul and means “Son of the Dragon” but also could mean “demon”. He was an all conquering warlord who was sadistic to impale his victims and enemies onto stakes, leaving them to die. The master of this house, being a well traveled man, would have read the novel before.

The novel Dracula was often related to Countess Erzebet Báthory, who believed that by soaking herself into the virgin blood of women, she would retain her beauty. Urado probably admired those of good health and wanted such sacrifices to extend his life instead. The note that said “everyone who came in died” was perhaps a message for others who were about to come. It also seemed that people from the hospital, people of his clan were not spared for his aim to stay healthy even if it was a futile attempt. It was proposed by Bou-san and Ayako then that the son of the master realized the atrocities of his father and tried to seal the place by making a whole maze around that area. Naru added that the man was probably still somewhere around, trying to grab people to extend his life in the spiritual form.

The next day, they went to check out the blank space in the map where the thickest chimney was, and it seemed that there was a hidden path behind the wall where a dead body of the missing person two months ago was found. A conference was set up, as Naru broke the news to Igarashi as she tried to disbelieve it. However, Naru proved beyond doubt that the body found was behind thick walls and it was nearly impossible for the body to be there. Igarashi tried to ask Davis for help but it seemed that Dr Davis was a fake and he was asked by Minami to help. Eventually, they rushed out. Naru then told everyone to pack up as this place would not be possible to exorcise.

Thoughts

To start off, there are a few parts that I am unable to translate effectively, but 90% of the summary should be close to spot on. I think my Chinese is getting a little rusty with all the complex words used. Ha Ha.

One thing I liked about Ghost Hunt is definitely the fact about referencing real people who have links with the paranormal. This episode is no different as they stated about the common Vlad III the Impaler as well as a lesser known Countess Erzebet Báthory. That point is not lost to me, which I think is a very strong point of Ghost hunt. I also like the idea how the ghost hunters explored the possibility that the people died due to being envious of health.

First and most importantly, we learn a lot of new things about Naru, even revealing a lot of this mysterious man. First, Lin addressed his father as professor, which I speculate to hint at Dr Davis. It will make sense since Naru has been looking at the man with the “HAH, I know you are fake” look most of the time when Naru is seen after an introduction of Davis in the previous two episodes. It does point to the fact that Naru is in fact the son of Dr Davis.

However, that is not all. It’s also hinted in Lin’s lines that he is in fact here for a mission and that is in fact to test his abilities in Japan. This will also explain why Naru is in fact not well versed in Japanese due to the fact that he has been overseas for a while. This, by the way, assumes that the professor is in fact Dr Davis, but I presume it is for now. With that assumption set in place, that will also mean that Naru’s mom HAS TO BE JAPANESE. I do not know what the implications of this is, but I think that it does open out a whole lot of mysteries on his parentage.

Warning: I might have misinterpreted the two since they did not exactly state that his parents is a professor but the information went on two different lines.

Lin is in fact one of the caretakers of Naru to supervise and monitor his progress as a ghost hunter. My next question will hence be an interesting one. Does Madoka know Dr Davis? The obvious answer is yes and I believe that she is also someone who is closely related to his parents and perhaps the person who teaches Naru about Japanese culture.

Back on the speculations, it is obvious now the motivation of where the missing people have gone. However, I do wonder how they will close this case since it is totally impossible for them to really leave the scene. I mean, they have one whole episode to conclude this series and to me, it will be vehement if they do not resolve such a wonderful arc. I believe that the conclusion will have something to do with the whole demolition of the house, or perhaps that “empty space” that they noted. It is still curious on why Naru said they cannot get rid of the spirits in this case.

This episode also deals with a rather philosophical situation. It is perhaps the quest of eternal life, the promise of utopia corrupting the minds of man. It is a very sad tale as you think of how desperate this man got while attempting to find a way to improve his health. He even killed his own family, the people from the hospital in order to survive. Is it really that worthwhile to have eternal life at the expense of all? What is it all for since everyone will die? Isn’t it ironic that he has gained eternal life of sorts but he cannot even rest after dying?

I do have many other thoughts but I prefer to leave others to explore them for themselves. Very good arc, definitely the best arc cemented by this episode. I want the conclusion soon!

150 Comments so far

na2niet February 22nd, 2007 5:32 am

Im the frist one hehehehehe! yahoooo! see Mai is only dreaming!but I don’t like the kind of dreams she has,geez must be real scary!see yah! I have to work first,bye see yah!
na2niet February 22nd, 2007 5:34 am

correction ” FIRST “
lys February 22nd, 2007 6:00 am

Err, I don’t think Urado killed his own family? Did he? His son was still alive, well, alive enough to build the maze around the house, and the house belongs to the grandfather of the wife of the ex-prime minister right? Or something. I always get a little confused about this point.

Anyway … Impz, come over to the manga side. heh heh heh.

BTW, what were the words spirit-Sakura wrote on the wall when she left? My katagana is bad. Did they knock down the wall from that place where the words were?
laboosh February 22nd, 2007 6:01 am

well i was waiting for ur comment, its a very good one as usual, finally i understood wt was happening.
i absolutely agree with every thing u said.
i was curious bout the way naru looked at mai wn she started to yell at his face,it was like he knew exactly wt does it mean to be near death.
and it seems tht lin z not only his visor bt also in a strange way his guardian(body guard).
well maybe (narus’) mom died in a mysterious way( and her spirit came to him)(hehe, very big imagination) and tht he was with her wn she died and came to japan to find out the truth(just speculating).
i think tht if they found out a way to deal with the matter mai z gonna have a big role with it(hoping so). and for god sake lets see more of narus’ expressions,i donno i thnk its about time to see more facial expressions.
anyway its really the best arc till nw, cant wait to see wt will happen the nxt ep.
ok i talked too much XD thts enough
C YA^___^
YamiKakyuu February 22nd, 2007 6:06 am

hmmmm Impz youre getting so close….
Since I actually dont have an enligh trans of vol 7 I really had no idea what was going on here so the dracula stuff was all new to me!
@lys: yes Impz needs to come to the manga-side!!!
Impz February 22nd, 2007 6:19 am

@lys: His immediate family is not killed but his relatives are since they work in the hospital that he has set up. You can say that he still has a little bit of humanity in him not to touch his son. Maybe. My katagana is non-existent too but I think it’s writing Urado since it’s implied to be so. I do not know though and requires someone with Japanese abilities to tell me.

Manga side? NO WAY! *razes down shrine of Mai x Naru*

@laboosh: Perhaps his mother is no longer alive and he is in fact tasked to find out about her death. That is a bit of a long shot though to be honest.

I am actually curious why there is such a painful look on Naru’s face when Mai said about feeling the emotions of someone that is dead. If anything, something that can affect an ice man like Naru is probably very close to his heart. I can only speculate that it has to do with someone close that died. His mom, perhaps?

@Yami: die. die. die. Close in what by the way?

Any speculations on why Naru looked so pained when Mai said those rash words?
lys February 22nd, 2007 6:42 am

Impz dear, you’d better not ask us Manga readers to speculate. hahahaahaha.

Anyway, ‘I can only speculate that it has to do with someone close that died.’
lys February 22nd, 2007 6:43 am

Impz dear, you’d better not ask us Manga readers to speculate. hahahaahaha.

Anyway, ‘I can only speculate that it has to do with someone close that died.’ this is very close. ‘His mom, perhaps?’ this is way off.

I thought those who work in the hospital were his employees? Didn’t know they were his relatives. My bad, I must have missed something.

@yami, I’ll try to do a translation for v7 onwards, if you want. I just need some time. Arrgh.
Onizuka-GTO February 22nd, 2007 6:45 am

lolol. “frist”

I’ll like to frist too… :p

Anyway, great summary.

I can’t wait for ep21.

I believe Urado has become a ghoul, it still wants immortality, and has obtain it after “death” by consuming the blood and bodies of the young.

All we need now is some holy bullets, to kill that dammn ghoul. :p
beingmeyuki February 22nd, 2007 7:51 am

great summary as usual Impz! I finally understand the parts that were hard to translate:p i thought it was sweet and unusual for Naru to bring tea to Mai and ask if she was okay. Also, Ayako and Bou were sweet to Mai almost like she was their daughter^_^ I thought this episode had a lot of revelations which also lead to new speculations.

About Naru’s look of pain at what Mai said, the only logical explanation probably is that someone very close to him died. i do know a little of the manga side but not enough:p but from what i know some of your speculations Impz hit a little close to the truth.Close but not too close. Since Naru is head of SPR Japan, my guess is that Lin watches over his progress and guides him as his assistant.I agree that Madoka probably knew Naru’s parents.

Urado must have been desperate to stay alive to kill all those people. Does he really imbibe on the blood? It’s scary to think that this vampirish thirst for blood has made him into a monster. I feel sorry for the two assistants who died. Since only SPR is left, for sure the next probable victim would be taken from them. I really wonder how they will close this case…
D.J February 22nd, 2007 10:00 am

Unless there is an escaltion in activity, then SPR should be relatively safe. After all they have been careful to stick together. Which is probably why Lin was getting so upset, because Naru was leaving himself open to attack like that.

The fake Davis’s group didn’t appear to stay together (morons) and that is probably why they were being picked off.

As for preferring young people, I guess it would make more sense. Wouldn’t their blood be preferable for eternal life rather than that of an old person?

I squeed so loud when Naru brought her tea! I was beaming I tell you! (Rebuilds the shrine to NaruxMari love!)

Again I think everyone here has already hit the nail on the head as to Naru’s expression. He must have suffered the loss of someone close to him and maybe that is why he takes Mai’s thoughts into consideration without argument this time.

As for being the son of Dr Davis. Either he is Davis’s son. Or Davis was a friend of his parents, and they are the ones Naru lost, and Davis ended up becoming his guardian after making such a promise to his parents.

Maybe they worked for Dr Davis and died whilst doing a job for him and he therefore feels responsivle for Naru, hence the reason he has Lin there to guide him. Since we know Lin is an Omyouji and for the type of work Naru is doing then he would be the perfect man to protect him. If this is the case, then I would also say Madoka works for Davis too and as you guys suggested there to help Naru with Japanese culture.

Okay a lot of speculating, but hopefully some of it makes sense.

I know in the Steven King book Rose Red the house ended up being destroyed, so maybe you are right Impzy and this will end up being how they conclude this arc if they can’t exorcice the place. But being a priest, if what they are dealing with is demonic in origin, shouldn’t John be of some help here?

This is by far the best arc, and I’m already lamenting that we are nearly to the end of this series. I want a second season !!!!!
Riz February 22nd, 2007 10:14 am

I couldn’t help but nod my head when I was reading your speculation. I pretty much have similar ones and I definitely can’t wait till they conclude this arc

About that blueprint being centered around the middle of the house… mm I guess it would make sense that all the trick doors and hallways were made so the victims if they managed to escaped wouldn’t be able to go out.

u_U What a sick man that guy is… I pity him in a way that he’d go through such lengths to gain eternal life.

thanks for the summary, Impz!
bo February 22nd, 2007 10:55 am

The one thing I didn’t get in this episode: Why did Naru group Bou-san, John, and Yasuhara together? John’s already proven himself to be a capable exorcist in his own right, so I fail to see why Yasuhara needs TWO heavy hitters looking out for him. I mean, the numbers are even, so they could have easily grouped Ayako/Masako, John/Yasuhara, Mai/Bou-san, and Lin/Naru. Or shaken it up a it and gone with John/Mai and Yasuhara/Bou-san, doesn’t really matter. But suddenly Naru wants to go solo when he’s got perfectly good numbers working for him…it’s rather strange. Did he even explain it at all (my Japanese oscillates between bad and non-existent)?
ohphive February 22nd, 2007 11:01 am

Naru brought Mai tea
ohphive February 22nd, 2007 11:03 am

no way!!!!!
i typed up this long a** reply and it’s not even showing!!!!!

:((((((((((
MinervaArnauld February 22nd, 2007 11:17 am

Hello there… and thank you Impz for the help with the posts.
As for what Tsuzuki wrote on the wall was Vurado= Vlad so the relationship with Vlad the impaler and Bathory second. Yup hohoho… vampires rule, though I think he is into the bathing side of it and maybe he just got damned for all the crimes he committed. Poor Tsuzuki that had to go through that, but at least she helped them find one of the bodies.
Dunno if this is a spoiler but I am wondering why is it that normally when they show some kind of psycho like this they are owners of some charity organization where to get the victims from O_o’
Anon February 22nd, 2007 11:20 am

Maybe he did that to keep up the charade with Yasuhara being the boss of SPR? This is most likely wrong because the other teams have pretty much left the place and they don’t really need to have false identities around themselves.
LKK February 22nd, 2007 11:44 am

I’ve wondered a lot about how Naru assigned the pairs and left himself unprotected. Naru is certainly capable of simple math. He knew there were enough protectors (exorcists) to be divided among the protected (non-exorcists) making sure everyone had a guardian. Therefore we have to assume that he had a reason for assigning the protectors as he did. Possible reasons I can think of (1) he thought Yasuhara would be the most likely next victim and therefore wanted him to have 2 protectors; (2) Naru was intentionally setting himself up to be the next victim. I think reason number 2 is the more likely reason.

Why would Naru set himself up to the next victim? One possible reason is simple curiosity. Naru may want to meet Urado. Naru is interested in the supernatural on an intellectual level. Meeting a blood-bathing ghoul would be a unique experience to say the least. However, while Naru is a curiosity-filled man, he’s also a cautious man. I think there’s another reason Naru has set himself up to be the next victim.

He’s been very concerned about people’s safety throughout this case. I think Naru is hoping that by setting himself up as the obvious target, he will keep the others safe. In other words, Naru is setting himself up to be such a tempting target that Urado won’t want to go after any of the other people.

Naru’s confidence in his ability is such that he would believe he could escape Urado if he had to. But more than that is Naru’s desire to keep people safe. I believe that Naru would risk himself if he felt that doing so would ensure the others’ safety. I believe that is the reason Naru distributed the protector & protected assignments unequally. He’s willing to sacrifice himself if it means the others will be safe.

Fortunately for Naru, Lin saw through his plan and pounded some sense into the silly boy’s brain.
ohphive February 22nd, 2007 1:06 pm

So, as I was saying earlier,
Naru + Mai =
ohphive February 22nd, 2007 1:07 pm

no way, just how many times are they gonna cut off my comment??????

The way Naru came into the room after Mai’s scream made him seem like a sickly spoiled little boy who’s come to see his fav. playmate. Weird huh.

The whole professor/parents moment made my scream “I KNEW it!” inside my head. I have to say I’d always thought maybe Naru would be Dr. Davis’ son. But that could just be hindsight bias. (hah psych classes can be proven to be useful at times) The one problem I have is that if Dr. Davis is his father, and assuming Davis is his real name (I think they mentioned his full name in the first episode of this arc) then Naru would be at most 1/2 Japanese (ok I guess Dr. could be 1/4 Japnese and if Naru’s mom is Japnese too then Naru inturn would be 9/16 Japnese, correct me if my math is wrong here). From the animation though he looks as asian as it gets in this series, only second to Masako. And I don’t know if they ever mentioned it in this series, but in most anime series if a character is of mixed blood, the other characters would most definitely point it out at one point or another. So I’m assuming Naru does not look mixed. So

D.J– I might have to agree w/ you and say Dr. Davis is Naru’s guardian and mentor, but not necessarily biological father. Although that would just make the whole story that much cheesier. Bleh, I can already taste that bad after taste in my mouth.

and there’s the whole thing about Naru’s expression when Mai yelled at him. I don’t know if the Chinese subbers twisted the meaning of some words, but since I watched the same version as impz, what I got from the Chinese subtitle was that Mai was asking Naru if he knew what it FEELS like to die, and how scared one would be. She wasn’t asking if he knew what if felt like to WATCH someone else die. So I was thinking maybe Naru has had a near death experience before. But then I changed my mind. I remember someone mentioning before that the Naru Mai sees in her dreams is Naru’s brother. So here’s my theory:

Naru’s twin brother died. And since they both have those powers, and because of their bonds, both biological and psychological, Naru experienced the death with him. Therefore our poor Naru is traumatized both by the experience of death and the loss of a close person.

D.J — “I’m already lamenting that we are nearly to the end of this series. I want a second season !!!!!”

I feel the same way! But it sounds like the anime’s already catching up with the manga, so if we do get a second season it’s probably gonna take a bit of time.
laboosh February 22nd, 2007 2:42 pm

to ohphive ur comment z gr8,
well i thnk tht urado after his death cant bath in blood or drink it so maybe he takes the power of life from his victims by sucking their energy of life,do u remember in the second ep in this arc (i thnk) wn he was walking and a yellow or greenish thing came out from his mouth(i really donno).and wn some1 kills all his family will he still have mercy in his heart and not killing his son, i dnt thnk so, bt maybe there was a way where he made use of the survivel of his son.
and z naru stupid to make himself the victom, even if he’s sure of himself,we all know tht he cant exorcist any one,or can he???
well have to wait and find out.
oh yeah can any1 plz tell me where i can download the manga plz, um dayin to read it(in english), i always love to know wt will happen instantly.
P.S they already done 26 ep of GH, and i cant imagine them stop this anime
D.J February 22nd, 2007 4:01 pm

“Naru’s twin brother died. And since they both have those powers, and because of their bonds, both biological and psychological, Naru experienced the death with him. Therefore our poor Naru is traumatized both by the experience of death and the loss of a close person.”

-ohphive, that is a really interesting theory. And yes given what Mai was saying that would go along better with his reaction if he had felt what it was like to die.

“I feel the same way! But it sounds like the anime’s already catching up with the manga, so if we do get a second season it’s probably gonna take a bit of time.”

I was afraid of that. Oh well, I’ll just have to enjoy what we have left and rewatch it endlessly! ^-^ At least with SaiMo I know I have another season to enjoy.

laboosh, you’ll probably have a hard time finding this manga online anywhere since its been licensed over here and is currently in bookstores.

I’m trying to talk hubby-sama into it at the moment. Of course I also want Koukou debut if they ever bring it out over here. It will help ease my pain when Hana Kimi finally ends. Ahh but again I’m getting off track.

LKK - “Why would Naru set himself up to the next victim? One possible reason is simple curiosity. Naru may want to meet Urado. Naru is interested in the supernatural on an intellectual level.”

I think that this is a very interesting statement and perhaps his curiosity for the supernatural is linked in with whatever happened in Naru’s past. So much so that he will go to any lengths to get the answers he’s looking for, even if that means putting his life in danger. But what makes Naru so great is that he isn’t willing to sacrifce the safety of other for his quest. Maybe he’s not so much of a narcissist after all.

And I agree he definetely believes in his ability. He doesn’t really ever show any fear for any of the weird things that they have seen. After all didn’t he stare down that one ghost all night?
YamiKakyuu February 22nd, 2007 6:47 pm

~happily reads everyone’s theories~ ^_^
MinervaArnauld February 22nd, 2007 7:01 pm

oh lucky u DJ that u have a hubby that can treat you for the mentioned goodies. I think with lots of effort there could be a “not so legal” way to obtain the scanlations but… sigh sigh too much work.
I also wanted to mentioned something that really caught my attention in the episode… Naru bringing tea. Okay u have a girl screaming in the middle of the night, what does Naru do? run to the source of the commotion? get the police? call someone else? … the answer is: MAKE SOME TEA! ^_^ I think that was sweet of him, but kinda weird. I wonder if they had the teapot ready when that happened otherwise it would be weird to go to the kitchen make some tea and come up again. Naru’s quirks are really something:D
MadHatter February 22nd, 2007 7:08 pm

Hehehe. Lurker posting for the first time. (By the way, Impz thank you so much for all the summaries!)

Just read the comment about Naru having a twin brother etc. That’s actually a very good theory. (Or is it real? o.O Gotta find the manga…) I was thinking more along the lines of Naru actually having the same abilities as Mai, only to a more advanced level. Maybe he’s had it ever since he was a child and was prone to more “bad dreams” than Mai ever was. If that was the case, then he surely would have been traumatized by that. (Think Haley Joel Osment from Sixth Sense.)

I’m not too sure about Dr. Davis being his father. That seems a little too farfetched for me. He’s prolly more of a family friend, with Naru’s parent being a colleague of sorts. Madoka surely knows Naru’s parents, with her being Naru’s teacher and all.

(Really gotta find the manga… But then, I like anime-Mai more than manga-Mai. It’s the hair, really. >
MadHatter February 22nd, 2007 7:12 pm

(continuation… ohphive-san, you’re not the only one experiencing cut replies. T.T)
MadHatter February 22nd, 2007 7:20 pm

(crappy thing. what’s wrong with this? Or is it just me?)
(I’m so much more partial to long hair. And I’ve gotten used to anime-Mai…)

Hmm, about Naru risking himself that way… I agree with everything LKK said about that. He seems the type to make sure everyone is safe even if he had to disregard his own safety.

The house is probably too possessed. Urado had been killing people for such a long time now that he had made a very strong connection between the house and himself. I can even see the relative (was it the grandson?) trying to exorcise Urado but failing, so instead he built a type of maze around the original house to keep Urado from harming anyone. (Although the earlier comment that the maze is so no one can escape from Urado also makes sense… Maybe that’s why Urado didn’t kill his son? So he can continue having more victims by having his descendants bring people over?) Perhaps the house is a cage of sorts.

Eh, so much speculations… At least the next episode is only days away, as opposed to waiting for months for the next manga chapter, even though it is raw and I can only understand 1% of it. I’ll take whatever I can get. ^^
Impz February 22nd, 2007 7:48 pm

@ohpive and madhatter: I will have to ask my site admin on why > and < and = are problematic. I guess it is perhaps some strange html thingy that is causing it to be cut off

@DJ: It will definitely seem plausible that Naru might be taken care by the professor and his parents are close mates of Dr Davis. If anything, we know likely that Naru is either 1. his protege 2. his child. So there is nothing really much about Naru, even though his mysterious abilities are really interesting. There might be genetic inheritance of power. Oh my, the wild speculations!!!

@BO: I believe that John is not a character that can repel spirits per se. He is more of a santicifying character and he cannot really detect spirits like the others. If you see the works that he has done, it is generally on animated or stationary cursed objects, rather than spirits. Hence, even though Bou-san is definitely the strongest in terms of repelling spirits (other than Lin maybe), John is somewhat vulnerable even though he can still perhaps protect himself. It is but one of the safest measures.

@ohpive: nice speculation on Naru’s brother dying. It will make perfect sense also with the dream too. I cannot but agree that it will fit the plot nicely here if anything.

@DJ: I will think about why Naru actually allowed himself to be hurt. In my opinion, you realize beneath that “hell, i don’t care what happened” look, Naru is in fact a very kind soul that often thinks of others compared to his own safety. Remember first the ceiling incident. Yes, you can predict that there is little pain when the ceiling fell down but the very fact that Naru used his own body to protect Mai clearly shows that he is really one that protects others over self. Hence if you use that form of mentality to deduce his actions, it will actually make perfect sense for him to do it.

@madhatter: I blame this commenting box. Anyway, I believe that a few theories will fit the psychic of this psychopath. First will be that any evil man will at least have some form of compassion for his son. Hence, he is allowed to leave.

Second will be similiar to yours. It is twisted because his son, with the requirement to manage such a huge household, will have to recruit more people and possibly young people. Hence, even in his spiritual form, he is still able to haunt the place and steal the very souls.

Third will be even more warped. I believe that he has already controlled and brainwashed his son into being a total psycho that tries to hide his crimes in which he can conduct his secret activities without being persecuted. That is rather warped though and I think that it’s highly impossible.

@Minerva: I am actually curious about the tea. Red tea is perhaps known for cooling the nerves of someone and it is actually drank more by the Englishmen. Yes, i am hell bent on speculating that Naru is from England.

*cough*
Briar February 22nd, 2007 8:43 pm

Firstly: Wahahahahaha! Impz has officially sanctioned my wild theory on Naru being Dr Davis’s son! *totally hysterical with joy*

Secondly: “It is still curious on why Naru said they cannot get rid of the spirits in this case.”
I recall that Naru says that it requires some manipulation of time/space to get the victims into a room that has been completely cornered off. And that it requires an immerse amount of power to do that. Maybe that’s why they couldn’t get rid of the spirit… because it’s too powerful.

Thirdly: There’s so many great comments that I wanted to talk about, but it’s hard to pick them out one by one. Here’s some that I have an instant reaction to:

@ Dream-Naru being Naru’s twin brother: Nooooooo… that would totally ruin my theory that Dream-Naru = Real-Life-Naru, therefore Naru + Mai = Fated To Be Together. Therefore, I stand by my conviction that Dream-Naru and Naru are the same person, only that Dream-Naru is the subconscious manifestation of Real-Naru.

Evidence, you ask? Well, I recall someone asking why everyone went to comfort Mai when she woke up petrified with fear, but Naru goes and make tea. My theory is that Naru knows to make tea because he is also Dream-Naru, and for some reason Dream-Naru couldn’t help Dream-Mai, but he knows what’s happening. So when Mai wakes up, Naru knows that she is terrified (and the reason for her terror) and therefore goes immediately to do something that he thinks will immediately calm her down… ie the red tea.

I’m actually not sure on whether Naru knows he’s in Mai’s mind (ie I think it’s subconscious), but whatever the case Naru and Dream-Naru are one and the same.

@ Naru looking weird when Mai asks whether he knows what a person dying feels of: yeah, I think it’s more of himself having a near-death experience rather than someone close to him. But that may be because of the version of fan-sub I’m watching (I think it’s the same as Impz and ohpive).

@ LKK’s theory on why Naru didn’t assign a protector to himself: Can I say, WOW for that theory. I didn’t think of it, but having read your theory, it makes perfect sense. Naru is not as nonchalant as he seems to be.

I want the next episode, NOW!
Impz February 22nd, 2007 9:59 pm

I think that the point about Dream Naru being real Naru and using the evidence of the red tea is a bit flawed. I personally believed that it is the loud scream of Mai that has waken everyone up. If you notice, Naru, with or without dreams, is often the first few people to arrive at the scene. Hence, I believe that he already had Masako and Ayako to protect Mai (who is perhaps the most vulnerable to be attacked other than Yasuhara and Naru himself).

Hence, it does make sense for him to be the latest, yet bring some red tea to calm her. It is actually pretty logical, since we know that Naru is in fact someone who thinks about others yet has no idea how to show it. It is his way of consoling Mai since it is clear that Mai has the ESP ability for telepathy, ESP and dream sequences for foretelling.

I have to disagree with you on the fact that Dream Naru = Real life Naru even though I can see how that proposition is done. I will await to be proven wrong on this.

Naru is hardly nonchalant by any means in my opinion. It is clear from his many actions that he thinks about everyone before deciding. Even if it is a harsh decision, he always listens to Mai’s explainations, even trusting her on some things due to her “gut feeling” (that’s when we didn’t know she had esp). These little facts should know that Naru is just inexperienced in expressing his emotions.

That’s all.

To add on, I think it still seems a bit queer with the link between the father and the son of the mansion. I think there is definitely something going on between the two of them. To add, Igarashi seems to be totally useless except to …do something that Lin can do?

What the hell -.-
ThirteenSugars February 22nd, 2007 10:37 pm

Wow, so much excitement over the current arc of Ghost Hunt. I believe the last entry has the most comments of THAT’s entries so far but please do correct me if I’m wrong. Let’s see if this entry will surpass last entry’s comments. (lol) Hmmm, it actually also makes me wonder exactly how many of the GH commentors are male.

I have to say that everyone’s speculations about the current case might just all be true. The vampires, the organs, the headless rodent which actually reminds me of when I dissected a live frog…which I have a feeling I’m going to be in h%** for. Anyway, they’re all pretty interesting. ^^ And I definitely agree with almost everyone here with most of the speculations.

There is just so many great theories that it is difficult for me to address each one, but most of them do concur with mine ^^. However, I still stand on my speculation that Naru is Dr. Davis. And unless a manga reader steps up to tell us who the real Dr. Davis is, I suggest that no one shoot down this speculation of mine because I can guarantee that ten thousand angry angels will bring death upon thee. ^_-

Speaking of manga readers, I myself am very tempted to purchase the manga. VERY. But I’m enjoying myself so much just being like this.

Anyway, I’m very thankful episode 20 turned out just fine. I also think that Mai’s powers are becoming more of an empath rather than a medium. (Mai is in a league of her own after all. ^^)

~Briar~Actually, even if dream-Naru really is a twin brother of real-Naru, it still shows that Mai x Naru are fated. I mean for a dead twin brother to only visit this specific girl’s dreams who happens to know and secretly like his living twin brother could mean that she is very special. As she could be the only person who can connect to his living twin brother’s heart. This only shows that love moves in mysterious ways. So don’t worry. ^^

I also agree, with a slight difference, with LKK’s guesses on why Naru divided the group the way he did. 1)I think that he predicted either Mai or Yasuhara will be the next victim, so just to be safe, he assigned two exorcists, John and Bou-san, to protect Yasuhara while Lin, the most capable exorcist, to protect Mai. And 2) He is intentionally setting himself up as bait so he himself can confront the spirit/culprit.

(But we all know Naru wanted his beloved sweet Mai to have the best protection so he assigned Lin to be with her, and decided to use himself as bait to be more certain that Mai will remain safe.) As stupid as he is to make himself the bait, we really can’t blame him. After all, he is in love with Mai. Guys in love tend to make stupid decisions. Heck, even the tea-scene should be love-proof enough that Naru knows the best things that will calm down Mai, and he knows that only his tea will be good enough for her.(Any opposing word from anyone will surely find herself/himself resting in peace. ^^)

This brings me to my refutation of Impz’s comment about it. For some simple consoling-act, it sure is an extra trouble of Naru to make and bring Mai some tea, wouldn’t you think so? And if that isn’t enough of a love hint for you to still be in denial, I’d say you’re one of the most astonishingly dense guys out there, Impz. Only a blind, deaf, dumb and dead person will not notice that obvious act of love. ^^ As an addition, let me point out that when Masako, being a professional medium aside, gets the weakening-feeling every time she feels a dark spirit/aura near, Naru hasn’t really done anything extra special to soothe her.

He probably assigned Ayako to be with Masako because if Ayako fails to protect Masako and something happens to Masako, it’d be JUST FINE (lol). And yes, us Mai x Naru love-love supporters have accepted the challenge the Masako x Naru love-love supporters have made. I don’t visit this place for a couple of hours and Impz has already dared to abolish the sacred shrine of our beloved couple. Unforgivable! That is clearly a declaration of an all out-war!

Anyway, back to the topic. This episode kind of helped me develop another wild speculation. Madoka mentioned there were no missing children at all, and Urado didn’t kill his son. Could it be possible that his son was very sick back then but that even the hospital Urado owned couldn’t do a thing and so he became desperate to cure his boy so much to the point that he became so obsessed with life and good health that lead to him going nutty and murderous. If that’s the case, the son building a maze around the house would make sense. Because other than the son’s love for his father, if the son thought that it is his fault his father became nutty, he would probably feel responsible in protecting his father, albeit in a very twisted way.

The episode also left me a question. Exactly who is the girl that experienced the sort of death Mai experienced in her dreams? And that out of all the victims, why is this girl’s spirit the only one asking for help the most?

(Btw, did Na2niet just ask Impz out on a date in the last entry? I didn’t know THAT commentors are allowed to flirt with THAT bloggers. Dagnabbit, you should’ve said so in the first place. So which of the THAT bloggers are hubby-sama material and would love to cuddle up with a Three-S girl while watching GH? Lol j/k )

As for people whose comments are getting cut. Try just typing your comments on Notepad or Microsoft Word then just copy and paste it to the comment box. ^^ Hope that’s a helpful advice.

Maybe THAT can have its own live chat room too.
Manda February 22nd, 2007 10:53 pm

I am being spoiled as currently a good friend of mine arrived from Tokyo this week and as he is a huge anime fan he has been busily translating some raws and manga for me.

@Impz From what I gather from the manga your insights are ALMOST dead on. You have a spooky talent my friend for never having read the manga. This episode was riveting to say the least and Mai’s powers are growing at an alarming rate. Who knows, but Masako and Mai’s relationship makes a turn for the better, although her little battles gain intensity, you can really tell that they are beginning to relate as fellow colleagues and are starting to have one of those friendships that only a girl could understand. They are competitors in love, but Masako begins to respect Mai’s abilities and opinions more and more. Impz as usual your insight is amazing. Here’s to ep. 21!!!
Briar February 22nd, 2007 11:23 pm

“Actually, even if dream-Naru really is a twin brother of real-Naru, it still shows that Mai x Naru are fated. I mean for a dead twin brother to only visit this specific girl’s dreams who happens to know and secretly like his living twin brother could mean that she is very special. As she could be the only person who can connect to his living twin brother’s heart. ”

But somehow, I feel that Mai’s feelings for Naru is at least partially stemmed from the appearance of Dream-Naru in her dreams. She is attracted to BOTH Dream Naru and Real Naru. And for the sake of Mai x Naru hysterial-fandomness, Dream Naru and Real Naru has to be the same person.

*rebuilds shrine of Mai x Naru*
*adds protective barriers and throny walls to keep out villians*

Anyway.

“Exactly who is the girl that experienced the sort of death Mai experienced in her dreams? And that out of all the victims, why is this girl’s spirit the only one asking for help the most?”

I think she was a maid who was killed by the evil spirit guy. As for the reason, maybe it’s because she’s closest in age to Mai… or maybe they are just plain compatible. Actually, all of the ghosts are asking for help, but maybe this particular ghost has hidden powers or something. I’m just wildly speculating here.
ThirteenSugars February 23rd, 2007 12:16 am

~Manda~ Ooooh, I’m jealous. I like your friend. Mind if I borrow him and ask him to do a little bit of translations for me too? Namely SaiMono stuff. ^^

I certainly agree about your comment of Masako and Mai’s friendship that only a girl could understand even though they’re competing for the love of the same guy (But obviously, Mai has already won this competition even though some may still deny it). It’s like one’s worst enemy can also be one’s ultimate ally when facing a huge obstacle.

~Briar~ Okay, I won’t argue with what your opinion of Dream-Naru is as I’ve already known who Dream-Naru really is. Plus, you’re a Mai x Naru love-love supporter. ^^

As for the spirits, I agree with you that they’re all asking for help. But that’s not what I’m wondering about. It’s just that, if you think about it. The maid’s spirit seems to be the one who calls out for help the most.

1. In Mai’s nightmare, I assumed that she experienced how the maid died.

2. In the beginning of the episode, the maid’s voice calls out for help.

3. When Igarashi communicated with the spirits, her assistant kept on writing the same words the maid’s voice were saying in the beginning of the arc.

I know this may not be significant but I was just curious, though your speculation that she might be the same age or is more like Mai seems to pacify my curiosity.

*****
Btw, Saiunkoku Monogatari 39 is out already. ^^ I didn’t know it’ll come out so soon. ^^
*****
MadHatter February 23rd, 2007 1:00 am

Maybe the maid was the first one to die? Or the last one to die by the hands of Urado when he was alive? Hmm…

I knew someone who was really literate with Japanese, but I was too embarrassed to ask her to translate stuff for me even though she said it was okay. ^^; I think it’d be better if I actually learned Japanese though. Might be more satisfying that way. (I’m the lazy type, so there’s a slim chance this will happen at all. -_-)

@Impz: I understand why > etc. might do that now, thank you. ^^ I’ll steer away from them from now on.

As for Mai having a crush on Naru, Mai doesn’t strike me as the type to have crushes just like that. She feels attraction for Naru, but I don’t think she’ll let herself acknowledge that and let it develop into something bigger until after some time has passed.

The thing about Igarashi being useless. Well, it’s not like everyone in the ghost hunting/expelling business are all-powerful. Most of the time, you get people like Minami - totally fake - or you get people like Igarashi - could do some stuff, but not much.

The theory about Naru actually being Dr. Davis himself: That’s such a cool theory! XD And I can totally imagine that happening. Although Dr. Davis was reported to be American (? or at least someone from the West), and therefore caucasian, he could be a person who’s doing a job like Yasuhara’s. Mwahaha. Wonder what Bou-san would say to that? ^-^

About ThirteenSugars’ theory why Naru had Lin watch over Mai: ^^;; I sincerely doubt it. I’m a NaruxMai fan as well, but that’s a bit of a stretch. Probably because Mai is so spiritually sensitive, Urado might decide to go after her next (what with abilities like that adding some “yummy factor” or something of that sort). This might also tie in with the theory that the maid had some spiritual abilities. *shrugs*

The entire red tea debate: I agree that Naru did it out of worry, and that it was totally out of the way for him to do so. He was carrying his blanky for goodness’ sake. This could also cement the fact that he has the same abilities as Mai, and is the Dream-Naru. The moment he woke up, he rushed to the kitchen and got something to calm Mai up. (Maybe he was hoping to wake her up as well, but Ayako beat him to it? ^^)

I want ep 21 already… And even if I do find some manga, I doubt they will be as up-to-date as the anime (the ones in English). T.T Geh.
ohphive February 23rd, 2007 1:32 am

Yay! Thanks for anyone who show support for my theory

“I believe the last entry has the most comments of THAT’s entries so far but please do correct me if I’m wrong. Let’s see if this entry will surpass last entry’s comments. (lol) Hmmm, it actually also makes me wonder exactly how many of the GH commentors are male.”

I was thinking the same thing! I vote for a poll to see how many ppl come to THAT for Ghost Hunt entries, and how many ppl who watch the show are male
Just a suggestion, cuz I really am curious, hehe. I got the impression that most of the ppl leaving those loooong comments are female.

“But somehow, I feel that Mai’s feelings for Naru is at least partially stemmed from the appearance of Dream-Naru in her dreams. She is attracted to BOTH Dream Naru and Real Naru.”

Briar– I do agree with you on that. However it doesn’t have to contradict Naru x Mai. I don’t know how many ppl have seen Ashita no Nadja, an anime I didn’t finish. I hope no one would mind me spoiling it, it also mainly revolves around the main character’s feelings toward two brothers. One was the one she fell in love with at first sight, the other was the brother who she initially thought was her love at first sight. They turned out to have completely opposite personalities, and I think she ended up picking the latter (the nice and sweet one).
Hmm…I think the point I was hoping to make by bringing that up was that even if her feelings are based on two completely different people, she can still pick one at the end. And if my theory is correct, meaning the DreamNaru is already dead, then it’s a much easier choice for Mai to make. Actually, she doesn’t have much of a choice in that case. All will be well. Heehee
Briar February 23rd, 2007 1:43 am

“~Briar~ Okay, I won’t argue with what your opinion of Dream-Naru is as I’ve already known who Dream-Naru really is. Plus, you’re a Mai x Naru love-love supporter. ^^”

x_X You won’t argue because I’m right, or you won’t argue because I’m wrong??? o_O It’s no fair tantalizing me like that!

PS: If those rabid Naru love-love comments doesn’t clue people in, I would just like to say that I’m one of those females GH watchers with loooooong comments.

Yay, MadHatter agrees with me regarding the red tea!

And ohphive (sorry for misspelling your name on my earlier comment), the reason I’m so adamant about Dream Naru = Real Naru is to preserve the sanctity and purity of love between Mai and Naru. I personally feel that it’s just more romantic if they are the same person, as opposed to twins or otherwise. Even Naru being a figment of Mai’s imagination would be more romantic than twins…

But ok, I’m just being me. I’m eccentric.
na2niet February 23rd, 2007 2:18 am

Its the first time I saw Naru in Pajama(nice color pajama)at least is not BLACK!hehehe

Im just wondering!when the Team Naru arrived there in the first place!Igarashi said that Suzuki is missing when she woke up at 7 am right?(ep 19)that same day or what? and the next thing I know that she’s dead!of course she’s now a ghost!so when Suzuki was being killed,that same day when Team Naru arrived is that so!I don’t know anymore!

*ThirteenSugars -I’ll Kill you,I’ll kill you!would you like to be my date as well?hek hek,hey I’m just kidding on what I said on Impz!nothing serious!believed me!but I did invite Impz before to my house,but he directly refused my offer!huh huh !sob sob!

*D.J - Naru’s twin brother?who’s that ?gezz your mind had gone too far!

*MadHatter - I agree with your theory!that maybe that Dr.Davis is also spying there ,for some reason I don’t know!

but I have a feeling that Dr.Davis (fake)has a big part in the next episodes!think about,why he’s there for?
ThirteenSugars February 23rd, 2007 3:04 am

~MadHatter~ I couldn’t help but chuckle about your comment of mine. I must apologize for misleading anyone who reads it. I didn’t mean to sound that Naru specifically assigned Lin to be with Mai. I forgot to add that it could’ve been vice versa too. That Naru would’ve assigned Bou-san and John to be with Mai and Lin to be with Yasuhara. I just pointed that out to back up my speculation, which somewhat agrees with LKK’s, that Naru probably figured the next person who might disappear could either be Yasuhara or Mai. And that either way, just to be safe, he wanted both of them to have enough exorcists’ help to protect them just in case something does happen. As for the rest that followed, they weren’t meant to be theories; more of just me building up support for the Mai x Naru love-love pairing. ^^

On a serious note, i must agree about your comment of Mai’s feelings for Naru being more than a crush though.

OFF-TOPIC COMMENT
~Ophive~ Definitely a female here. ^^ I’m just as curious as you are although I already have a hunch that most of the GH commentors, long or short posters, are female. ^^

~Briar~ I won’t argue anymore because I don’t want to shatter your fantasy of DreamNaru = RealNaru with the reality especially since I can see that you’re quite happy and adamant about it. Plus, I don’t wanna spoil. ^^

As for me, though it’s not the reality, I prefer my fantasy that DreamNaru is Naru’s dead twin brother visiting Mai because DreamNaru knows she is the ONLY girl who can get through Naru’s heart. I’d like to think that DreamNaru knows that there is an exceptional bond that connects Mai to his living twin brother. To me, it just makes Mai more special and I find that very romantic. ^^

And I must say, though you and I differ in our perspectives when it comes to DreamNaru, you’re doing a good job of preserving the purity and sanctity of the love of our beloved couple. You can be as eccentric as you like. ^^

As for tantalizing people, (chuckles) I wouldn’t have picked the nickname ThirteenSugars if it doesn’t reflect a little bit of my personality.

~Na2niet~ Huh? What? What? Why do you wanna kill me? I must warn you. You can try but you’ll only hurt yourself in the end. As for a date, I must apologize. Unfortunately, I do not swing in any direction but straight,

As for DJ’s mind, I have a feeling she hasn’t gotten too far. Her mind is just fine unlike mine as it seems to be beyond anyone’s reach, reveling every minute of sweet insanity.

As for Impz, how could you refuse Na2niet? Didn’t you know that every time a girl asks a guy out, she is sacrificing her pride on the altar of dignity? And to think she invited you to her house. I’m certain that to be turned down is quite ego-deflating. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

(lol of course I knew you were just being silly. I was only teasing with my comments. Although, please correct me if I’m wrong to assume you’re a girl.)
END OF OFF-TOPIC COMMENT
na2niet February 23rd, 2007 3:37 am

I’m blushing to death ThirteenSugars!how could you!how could you!huh huh huh!I do loved the Naru x Mai pairing ideas,but Naru is such a boring guy!I like the character of Bou-san I do prefer Mai for him!he he!but I do love Yasuhara x madoka they’re very cute!

*ThirteenSugars!I can be a girl for you tsk! tsk!and Impz to tsk!I can be a man for D.J & MadHatter!
faei February 23rd, 2007 4:24 am

go Bou-san x Mai!!.. XD
na2niet February 23rd, 2007 4:38 am

yahoooo,I have one supporter!

*faei-thanks
ThirteenSugars February 23rd, 2007 5:37 am

OFF-TOPIC COMMENT
~Na2niet~ (rofwlmao) I must apologize if I’ve ever given the impression that I’m a guy. I’m pretty sure I’m a straight girl and not a guy/trap like Impz. ^^ I’m also quite certain DJ is a girl who has a hubby-sama, lucky her. As for Madhatter, I’m pretty sure too that that is a male character from Alice in Wonderland but GH commentor-MadHatter is…is…(Help me out here, would you, MadHatter? Lol ^^) But regardless of one’s gender, I’m afraid I’m not a date-able person as it would go against my plan of staying out of love’s way.

Anyway, I’m a Mai x Naru, Masako x Yasuhara, Ayako x Bou-san and Madoka x Lin-san supporter. ^^

Hmmm, I seem to have a knack for killing people by making them blush too much. Goodness! My sweetness can really be deadly.

*****
And correction, SaiMono 39 isn’t out yet. S^M was just trippin’ with us.
*****
END OF OFF-TOPIC COMMENT
alkanphel February 23rd, 2007 5:41 am

< and > and = probably don’t work because the comment system doesn’t support escape html character checking.

And the previous Ghost Hunt post doesn’t have the most number of comments
lys February 23rd, 2007 5:55 am

I’m also a girl, and my hubby refuses to watch Ghost Hunt and SaiMono with me. He falls asleep on watching GH. I so absolutely love Ghost Hunt! And I am all for MaixNaru!!!! I’m somewhat glad that I kinda read the manga, because I’m not so spooked out by the anime!! Else I’ll never be able to watch the anime all by myself!!!

We’ll have to make this GH post the most number of comments yet!
ThirteenSugars February 23rd, 2007 5:57 am

Awwwe, I’m flattered that Alkanphel is actually reading my comments too. (lol)
Impz February 23rd, 2007 7:11 am

hahaha, it has one of the highest post count if I am not mistaken, though the main two articles are naruto-related. Ghost Hunt entries are more consistent though, and you can blame Alkanphel for writing those naruto entries. I refuse to go in if I can.

Lol, most number of comments @_@ ???

Hah, it seems like only me and na2viet are males here, if I am not mistaken. That said, I have a few arguments with some deductions from some commentors. Yes, I realize that I cannot agree with it.

@13sugars: I cannot agree that Dr Davis is in fact Naru. If you think it in the fact that Lin is asked by a professor to take care of Naru, does it make sense for a professor (Davis) to protect another professor (Naru). If Naru is indeed a professor, the hint of having such a young teacher that is definitely not British (Madoka) and asking Lin to protect him makes no sense.

From the hints given about Dr Davis’s background, it is clear that he has strong powers of ESP as well as telekinesis. In that case, he should also have enough spiritual energy to repel spirits away. That will make Lin’s worry for Naru’s safety look queer, if Naru is so accomplished.

Hah, on a side issue, I guess there is another person out there who is staying away from love’s end. Meh, I prefer my money and job than love for now.

@ohpive?: Not sure if I am responding this question to ohpive or the wrong person, but the maid’s cries is pretty obvious. The reason why the maid is evoked the most is because she is slain very near the area that the mediation of spirits take place. I speculate that since maids (young women) are mostly the ones getting killed, the strong congregation of spirits have merged into one solid body, hence creating the invoking of a maid in the spirit form.

I mean, it has been repeated various times before about the maid massacre that has been confirmed this week.

@Manda: I got it mostly right? That’s amazing. I am bad at guessing usually, ahaha~

@Madhatter: You just reminded me that not all ghost hunters are as capable as Naru and his gang. I do wonder though about Igarashi’s ability. I mean, her assistant is used to evoke a simple way of ghost possession using text to write. I feel that she’s a charlatan of sorts, only able to carry out the weakest of abilities.

That said, I embarrassed myself earlier with my deduction of Ayako being fake, but it is clear she does have some form of ability, amidst weak compared to the rest.

There is actually something that disturbs me about the ability of Mai. To confirm it, the spirit that is felt by Mai is in fact the spirit of the maid right? Is it so or is it of Suzuki? I am a tad confused with it.
ThirteenSugars February 23rd, 2007 8:07 am

OFF-TOPIC COMMENT
(rofwlmao) I never would’ve thought that Na2niet is a male. I had the impression he is a girl because he somewhat writes like one. (Btw, that was not meant as an insult. But I’ve been laughing too much that I’m getting teary-eyed.
ThirteenSugars February 23rd, 2007 8:14 am

I forgot to add in my off-topic comment that if it is true that only 2 males are commnting actively here, though you may not count Impz (because you’re the blogger not because you’re a trap :P), then it’s no wonder there’s so many ladies’ comments. We thrive to see what the opposite sex will say. Probably (lol j/k).
LKK February 23rd, 2007 8:36 am

@thirteensugars “1. In Mai’s nightmare, I assumed that she experienced how the maid died.”

I disagree. I think Mai’s nightmare was Suzuki’s death or possibly Minami’s assistant’s death. I don’t it was the maid’s death. However, when Mai was possessed in episode 20, that was one of the household maids.

@ impz “From the hints given about Dr Davis’s background, it is clear that he has strong powers of ESP as well as telekinesis. In that case, he should also have enough spiritual energy to repel spirits away. That will make Lin’s worry for Naru’s safety look queer, if Naru is so accomplished. ”

Yes, it’s true the Oliver Davis has strong powers of ESP as well as telekinesis. He has pscyhometry, the ability to read the past by touching objects. However, this power has no connection to repelling spirits. Nothing has been said or hinted about Davis’s ability to exorcise ghosts or to communicate with the dead. I would not assume that he can do that because there’s been no indication that he can.

@impz “There is actually something that disturbs me about the ability of Mai. To confirm it, the spirit that is felt by Mai is in fact the spirit of the maid right? Is it so or is it of Suzuki? I am a tad confused with it.”

Are you talking about Mai’s possession in episode 20? Or during her nightmare in episode 19? Like I said above, I think Mai’s nightmare in 19 was either Suzuki or Minami’s assistant. I think the incident in 20 was from the maid. (By the way, I think Mai’s very first vision — the body in the bathtub — was still another person. There are lots of ghost flitting around in this mansion. Urado has been killing people for nearly 100 years, you know.)
ThirteenSugars February 23rd, 2007 8:53 am

~LKK~ I really just assumed and was actually looking for someone to confirm whose death was it that Mai experienced. Thanks for clarifying it. ^^
LKK February 23rd, 2007 9:05 am

@ ThirteenSugars: I don’t think it’s ever fully explained whose death Mai experienced in her nightmare. I just made a different assumption than you did based on the fact that Suzuki’s and the assistant’s death were closer in time to when Mai had her dream. I think she was seeing the near past rather than the distant past.
MinervaArnauld February 23rd, 2007 10:38 am

@LKK: Mai gets possessed, no doubt there. But wouldn’t it still be irrelevant? Either way Atsugi, Suzuki and the others died the same way. the thing i still want to see is how exactly is that these spirits take them away? Maybe this two servants are still around in spirit form to aid their former master, but still how do they do it? Unless as Mai dreamed they somehow become paralized and taken away without making a sound. Now just a question, then Urado just used the maids and stuff like that? Then how did he transport people from the hospital?

Impz: True that tea was the best of things to warm her up and bring her to her senses. As they say tea makes wonders for the soul as well. I just found it odd that he would have a cup ready that fast, and that he knew it was nothing serious beforehand. Naru is just surprising.

Thirteen sugars: I knowwww Naru being Dr. Davis is a must, besides that would explain why Lin was so concerned that Naru bent a spoon. Then how he fainted in the classroom. Maybe he used his PK to soften his and Mai’s landing?… there are many clues along the way.

In a final note, I wonder what would happen were Naru possessed with one of those spirits. Besides I would think that if you want a strong and young body your best shot would be to take over one of that sort.

OFF TOPIC:
My Lin-fangirl self speaking… why didn’t they show him in PJs… or does that mean he never sleeps or that he sleeps naked O_o
beingmeyuki February 23rd, 2007 10:50 am

wow so many interesting speculations! but i’m getting a little confused…

@LLK: what different incidents do you mean in episode 19 and 20? wasn’t episode 20 a continuation of the dream from 19?

as for Naru not having a bodyguard when he assigned, i think he may be capable of fending off for himself considering Madoka seems pretty confident that he can save her if ever she’s in danger.

it’s possible that dream-Naru and Naru are not the same person since Naru doesn’t seem to know about these visions and asks Mai about her dreams. if he were dream-Naru then he wouldn’t need to ask Mai about what she saw in her visions.Also if Naru did have a twin who died, it could be one of the reasons why Lin seems so overprotective of him.
D.J February 23rd, 2007 10:56 am

Aww thanks for the back-up Thirteen sugars ^-^

No I haven’t lost my mind na2niet, but I am pretty goofy in nature there’s never a dull moment around me that’s for sure. And I’m definetely female. Hubby-sama and I have been married for 5 years now. I currently live in the United States since this its where my husband was born and raised. But I was born and raised in England.

So to add weight to Impz’s theory, yes we Brits find red tea to be very calming. I have a cup before work every morning and if my day. I try to get a mid-afternoon cup but it depends on the my surgery schedule or whatever tests I might have to run in the afternoon. I love the days where I have to catch up on the boring tech work, then I can relax with a nice cuppa whilst I tie off backplates ready for autoclaving. And of course I have to have my evening cuppa! My favourite blend is English Breakfast or I simply adore a good Assam. Sadly the latter is expensive over here so I mother usually brings over a ton when she visits from good ol blighty. Course I do love a good green tea once in a while.

Minerva - technically hubby buys all my anime or manga, since he drives and I don’t. But I earn more! LOL! ^_^ Guess that degree in psychology comes in useful when it comes to pay. But since I do things like tie the laces on his hockey pads since he sucks at knots, he says I deserve to be spoiled.

Ahh five years and curled up with him every morning is still my favourite place in the world.

Sorry for the disgusting sweetness people. But don’t give up on love! Trust me I dealt with my fair share of frogs before I got my prince.

I think Naru brought her tea, because it calms him and since he’s not so good with expressing feelings it was the best way he could think to offer her some comfort.
LKK February 23rd, 2007 11:18 am

@ beingmeyuki : “@LLK: what different incidents do you mean in episode 19 and 20? wasn’t episode 20 a continuation of the dream from 19?”
The incident in episode 20 that I was referring to was later the next day when Madoka was explaining more of the case history. As Madoka talks, Mai begins to feel a ghostly presence and is eventually possessed by the spirit of a maid who worked at the mansion and was eventually killed by Urado. Masako uses her powers as a psychic medium to persuade the spirit to leave Mai’s body and to pass on.

As a side topic, this is the first time we’ve witnessed Masako demonstrate another of her psychic abilities. It harkens back to the doll house arc, specifically episode 6. If you remember in that episode, Masako says that there are 2 ways to exorcise spirits. One is Jourei which means to talk to the spirit and help them through the issues they have from a past life. The other is Jorei which essentially means to kill the spirit. In episode 20, we see Masako use the first type, Jourei, to exorcise the maid’s spirit from Mai’s body and to help the maid’s soul pass on and escape the house.
D.J February 23rd, 2007 12:38 pm

LKK, it makes you wonder just what other talents Masako has. And loathe as I hate to admit it since I’m a Naru x Mai supporter…

The best explanation for why he gave Mai more protection than Masako is basically because he has more faith in Masako’s power than he does for Mai and hers.

Of course that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like Mai, simply that she is just more inexperienced when it comes to Masako.

It would be interesting to see a snippet of Masako’s show ne?
MinervaArnauld February 23rd, 2007 12:53 pm

@DJ: I KNEW HAPPY MARRIAGES DO EXIST!!!! Man you are so lucky cause yeps there are plenty of froggies out there and a limited production of princes but hey you got one of a kind prince u so lucky! Btw u said surgery.. are u a med Dr.??? OO wow!
If the tea was indeed red tea, earl grey, english breakfast (drools) then we could say 1) he carries the tea round 2) he must be from England.
As for why Mai needs more protection I wouldn’t say is about trust but about control. Mai’s gift is quite unstable so that could leave her more open to attacks. Then it would make sense Lin was given the duty to protect her. Finally why I think Naru left himself “unprotected”? I would say first and foremost because he is simply Naru… he doesn’t need what we poor mortals would need, not to mention he would maybe use PK to try catch the sewer creature.
LKK February 23rd, 2007 1:18 pm

@ D.J: “LKK, it makes you wonder just what other talents Masako has. … It would be interesting to see a snippet of Masako’s show ne?”
The manga goes into Masako’s powers a little more than the anime does. (No big surprise there.) According to Naru, John, and Monk-san, Masako is really good at Kuchiyose which means channeling the spirits in order to convey their words. Apparently Masako is especially good at foretelling and guessing.

I always picture her TV show as some sort of psychic version of The Antiques Roadshow for some reason. In my imagination, the audience member seeking advice brings in some momento of his dearly departed. Masako channels the dead person’s spirit and answers audience member’s question. I have no manga support for my vision of Masako’s TV show. But whenever I think of what her show must be like, that’s what comes to mind. LOL
D.J February 23rd, 2007 1:52 pm

@Minerva, yes they do and yeppers, he’s a one of a kind. I’m the happy bouncy one and he’s the cool aloof one unless he’s in a goofy mood, so we compliment each other greatly.

Dr? lol ahh hell no, I’m not that dedicated. I actually only did my psychology degree to please my parents, if I had it all to do again I’d probably go for art. But I am a research tech looking into addiction and parkinson’s disease. Our lab houses rodents and its part of my job to do things like implant blood pressure monitors and ekg monitors, so we can monitor the effects of medications produced for such diseases. One of the drugs I’ve worked on which is do to with cocaine abuse looks very promising and will save lives once its gone through all the testing loops. So far it looks very promising. Which helps with the guilt when it comes to my little guys. I feel like I’m wracking up such bad karma with the poor little rats, but if its going to save lives I feel like its a worthwhile cause and at least I know I make every effort to make any pain they might feel as minimal as possible. I know there are some labs out there that really don’t give a crap about the poor animals they house.

And yes, control over their powers is a much better way of putting it.

LKK, I really want to get the manga, maybe if DeepDiscount has a good price on it I can convince him…

LOL the image in my head of her show now makes me giggle.

And YAY another English Breakfast lover. Seriously, its damn good tea, I just need a cup of that and some chocolate hob nobs. Tea and bicciess YUM!
na2niet February 23rd, 2007 3:51 pm

Oh! geez if I’m the only one male here,I do prefer to be a female as well! I see some commentors!are already reveal their genders!as for Impz thanks for saving me!your an angel!
I am too a Naru x Mai supporter!I do believed in good pairing ideas!I would be sad if Mai goes to somebody else!but in some reason its kinda little funny!because its obvious that lots of commentors are not agree with that!as for Mai’s clairvoyance ability I do believed,she can do lots of help in this case of GH!

(clairvoyance-The faculty of clear-sightedness, the supposed paranormal ability to see persons and events that are distant in time or place.
Clairvoyance-may be roughly divided into three classes— retrocognition and premonition; perceiving past and future events; and perception of contemporary events happening at a distance, or outside the range of normal vision. Clairvoyance may include psychometry, second sight, and crystal gazing.)

*ThirteenSugars-(LOL)you don’t need to apologized!as for my gender I wont tell!as for my loveless life,its a pity because nobody likes me!hek hek hek!

*D.J-I was just kidding,for what I said,from now own I rather shut-up! and hey!were neighbors!I mean before,I’m from Belgium!

*LKK-you have a good history research of some what name Urado,thumps up!

*MinervaArnauld -Lin naked?geez!hehehehe what it would be!
ThirteenSugars February 23rd, 2007 4:08 pm

~DJ~ Well, I hope you get great results. I deal with a lot of patients with Parkinson’s disease almost everyday, and believe me, it is very difficult to do since your patience gets really tested. ^^

And tea, well, unfortunately, I have no idea how to drink it. I have no idea what to mix and do to make it tasty and nice. I’ll just stick with a tall mocha frappuccino from Starbucks. Surprisingly too, it’s the only sort of coffee my body can actually tolerate.

As for love, it isn’t that I don’t believe it. I do. I see it everyday and I’m even happy some people experience the kind that lasts for a lifetime, but I have my own reasons why I don’t want it and must not fall for it. It doesn’t give one a good feeling every time one has to turn down a decent guy when he asks you out. And it is a struggle to fight one’s feelings of crush/infatuation/attraction for a particular guy too, but one has to do things like that especially if one has a vow like mine.

But of course, that doesn’t mean I do not want a steamy hot love affair ^_- (lol j/k j/k) Though, if it was Lin-san or Seiran, then I really wouldn’t mind. Unfortunately, they are anime. (lol)

~Lkk~ Oh, I see. I guess it wouldn’t really matter either way. ^^

~Beingmeyuki~ “as for Naru not having a bodyguard when he assigned, i think he may be capable of fending off for himself considering Madoka seems pretty confident that he can save her if ever she’s in danger.

It’s possible that dream-Naru and Naru are not the same person since Naru doesn’t seem to know about these visions and asks Mai about her dreams. if he were dream-Naru then he wouldn’t need to ask Mai about what she saw in her visions.Also if Naru did have a twin who died, it could be one of the reasons why Lin seems so overprotective of him. “
I back you up on this one 100%. ^^

~Na2niet~ A loveless life eh? I’ll tell you the same thing I told Impz. I’m certain you’ll find the right girl, or guy, who will make you feel deliriously happy and in love. Maybe you and Impz should realy try to hit it off then? ^^

~Minerva~ Do not worry. I’ll stand by my Naru-is-Dr. Davis speculation to my last breath. Well, at least until the truth comes out that I’m right. (lol) ^^

As for nakedness being Lin-san’s nightwear… (Sighs~Oh Lin-san, I’m gonna treat you so good, you’d never gonna wanna let me go. But please, don’t be gentle ^_-) Kyaaa!!!
na2niet February 23rd, 2007 4:25 pm

*ThirteenSugars-(LOL)Jesus!your right they’re only anime,but what is that for your trying to imagining Lin-san!
Me and Impz?oh great that would a disaster!you said I’m a man,how could you imagine that? who is the gay then ,me or Impz!yeeeeeeeeey,Impz is a gay!hek hek hek!

Naru-is-Dr. Davis?I don’t know!
lys February 23rd, 2007 5:15 pm

Towards the end of this story arc, Mai’s abilities were listed out. At least in the manga. Let’s hope they show it in the anime too.

I like English Breakfast too. With lots of sugar.

BTW, what type of tea do you think Mai makes for Naru everytime in the office? Japanese green tea? Or English Breakfast or what?

I agree with LKK that in the nightmare, she was seeing the near past, not the distant past. The two servants in spirit form probably just grabbed any victims who are young and alone in the house and drag them through time and space into the sacrifice room to be killed.

One problem with the anime is that there were a lot of rather meaningful conversations lost in the story, and some of them tells you more about the characters.
MinervaArnauld February 23rd, 2007 7:19 pm

DJ: what a nice combination! Seriously i wish they made that kind of guy in serial line and get one online *______*.
As for the rats don’t worry I know what you mean, in my lab we used to knock em out first with phenobarbital.. well lethal dose so they never felt a thing. Though I must say that when the heart was removed and it still beat i swear i almost squealed, at that point i didn’t know it could do that O_o

na2niet: hey one can daydream can’t we ^_-

13sugars: uhhh yeah… but don’t be possessive there is a lot of material to share there. Besides Lin san seems to have very good physical condition. *____* *drools*. It is a pity we still don’t know anything else about the mystery man.

lys: i thought it was green tea cause of the leaves, but i could be wrong. mmmm…. i’m thinking about some gen-macha yummy! or maybe some english breakfast with cream and two tsp of sugar!
No as for the conversations, it is highly unlikely i buy that manga, i already have boxes filled with other ones so very hard to move around with all that >_
Manda February 23rd, 2007 7:19 pm

D.J As a cancer patient of two years I admire your work immensely. Without the experiments done to ensure medications I would probably be writing my blogs out of a hospital room. Hopefully soon one will be developed that will enable me to be cancer free. Many experimental drugs have helped me have an almost normal quality of life. You Rock.

Anywho, I just love Masako and Mai lately. They have been giving me some great moments. Her powers are progressing so fast and certainly some side effects are in the making.
Briar February 23rd, 2007 7:46 pm

LKK says: “I disagree. I think Mai’s nightmare was Suzuki’s death or possibly Minami’s assistant’s death. I don’t it was the maid’s death. However, when Mai was possessed in episode 20, that was one of the household maids. ”

I have to respectfully disagree as well. Recall that in the dream Mai has, she was wearing a kimono. I’m fairly certain Suzuki and esp. the male assistant do not wear kimonos. I think the person who was killed in episode 19 in Mai’s dream IS the ghost who possessed Mai in episode 20.

PS: We’re well on our way to hitting high score on post counts!
Impz February 23rd, 2007 8:13 pm

About Masako, being a celebrity and a proven medium means that she is likely to have much more powers than we expected. The ability to soothe (I do not like to use the word kill) the spirit in order to remove the spirit’s need to remain in the world is an ability that is very elementary.

It is perhaps to a lower magnitude (unlike the case in the doll incident where she fails to calm down the spirit) in which she is able to affect her.

Naru is right to place Masako, Mai and Ayako together. I am sure either of them (Masako and Ayako) will be fine fending off the spirits, but one of them to protect Mai altogether is rather risky. I mean, if you are looking to protect the people who are likely to be the most vulnerable, the arrangement will be so.

My assumption of Masako’s other abilities is definitely telepathy (though probably forced telepathy rather than how Mai uses it since she is not in control compared to Masako), foreboding of situations, the ability to inhabitate spirits within her body and lastly to empathize with spirits to predict outcomes.

As I repeated above, Naru cares more about others.

@LKK: I had the same absolute vision. Masako will be sitting there in the “medium’s seat” while there will be a weekly victim that is supposedly possessed as she removes the trouble. Either that or she goes out to the live action and tries to detect spirits or something.

Oh god, that can be so lame but Masako rocks!

@DJ: To please your parents? That kind of sucks because I do not do anything with the first reason being to please someone. I aim simply to please myself, which is why I am studying my Masters soon and PhD later. However, when I do study PhD, that will be the likely end of this blog even though it will be a distance away.

@Lys: On the spirit part, rewatching episode 19 and 20 gave me a whole new understanding. The dream, per se, is telepathy toward Suzuki or Minami’s spirit, as it can only be possible to feel the death of a spirit that has died early on. The residue of spiritual energy will make sense that Suzuki’s spirit is the most recent.

The possession of Mai is a maid that resides in the room that they are in, if I am not mistaken.

@Manda: I always love Masako. Masako = win. Masako x Naru = win. The rest = lose.

I just had to say that
D.J February 23rd, 2007 10:49 pm

@na2niet, its okay I didn’t take any offense. Cool! I actually had to go to Belgium on a school trip when I was younger. You have some fantastic architecture. And the chocolate, c’est bon! ^-^

@Thirteensugars, Parkinson’s is a very difficult disease to cope with and I applaud you for your efforts in dealing with people afflicted with this horrible condition. Hopefully one day we’ll be able to find a cure for it. Until then its great that people like you are there to help them through it.

It must be very tough to keep to your vow and I wish you all the best in continuing to be as strong as you have. I know it must be tough. I know I couldn’t resist hubby-sama. Literally I couldn’t he made it very easy to fall in love with him, and I had been very hurt in a previous relationship but he kept on being persistant despite me being scared and I’m so glad I risked my heart again because it was totally worth it.

But I’m glad you get to drool over Seiran and Lin! ^-^ It would be hard not to, they are very drool worthy after all. I just want Lin to speak more. I’ve loved Ken Narita’s voice ever since I watched InuYasha. Sesshoumaru just had this really yummy voice, so when I first heard Lin speak I was drooling. YAY Sesshoumaru-sama is back!

Ahh tea is easy. For the most part I cheat and use teabags! But I do actually brew my vanilla tea from Mauritius in a pot since it comes in leaf form mainly. ^-^

@ Minerva,Yep he’s an awesome combo. And I know exactly what you mean about the beating hearts, I had to remove some for a Troponin study we were doing. I already had the blood samples so we could test for it, but we needed the hearts as proof of damage if it was asked for. And yes thank god we get to sac them with pentobarb first. I don’t think I could do what I do if I knew they were suffering.

@lys, YAY another lover of English Breakfast. It is a great tea. I take mine with a dash of milk and no sugar.

@Manda, thank you. We researchers come under a lot of flak for the things we do. But without what we do so many people would die, or have a very poor quality of life. I’m glad research has made your life easier and I hope someday that research will aid in curing you of cancer so that you don’t have to suffer at all. ((HUG)) I’m very happy you don’t have to post from a hospital room!

Another thing people don’t realise is that animal research has also saved the lives of animals themselves. Without it, vets wouldn’t know what medications were safe for your pets!

@Impz, unfortunately my upbringing wasn’t very pleasant. Hubby always comments its a miracle I’m not a basketcase, and its an even bigger miracle that I’m an extremely happy person and not depressed all the time. My one regret is not standing up for myself sooner and doing what I wanted, instead of doing whatever would get me left alone.

Thankfully I’m much happier now and have much more supportive people around me, who spoil me rotten and have let me understand that its okay to think of myself sometimes over what other people want. Maybe one day I’ll get off my ass and get into an art class ^-^ Good Luck with your Masters!

Ooooooh no, don’t ever say the blog is going away! *Shoos away evil thoughts like that*

Yes the Mai-Masako action is great, they are so funny together.
ThirteenSugars February 24th, 2007 12:23 am

Hmmm, I just thought I should post again just so we can change the uhh “cough” provocative number into a number that will increase the comments here. ^^

~DJ~ Fortunately for me, I haven’t met any guy who is irresistible for me. It seems that the ten thousand angels guarding me are steering me away from such temptations. And the guys who I meet who I find almost irresistible are either gay or taken. Thank goodness they are! ^^ As for my job, at the end of the day, when I think about it, the priceless feeling that you helped out someone is worth all the difficulties.

And yes, Lin/Lord Sesshoumaru with Ken Narita’s voice is really a candy treat for a girl’s ears. I’m very weak when it comes to drop-dead gorgeous male voices.

~Minerva~ People like you are truly inspirational.

~Na2niet~ OMG! I love Belgium chocolates! They are soooooooooooooooooooooo GOOD! What do you guys do to your chocolates. They are just so YUMMY!^^

~Impz~ (sobs) Why? Why must you close the blog? Was it something I said? Was it something I did? Tell me what I should do so THAT Anime Blog can stay open forever? You’re breaking my heart…

(lol j/k) But it really is a sad when the time comes. I guess some best things are really not meant to last.

I do admit that Masako and Mai’s kitten-fights are amusing but there is no way Masako can compare to how perfect Mai is.

But anyway, I actually wonder if Madoka is also a superior of Lin. Or are they on the same level? I’m quite curious about that.
ThirteenSugars February 24th, 2007 12:26 am

Correction–>~Manda~ People like you are truly inspirational.
MadHatter February 24th, 2007 1:47 am

na2niet: eh, it’s too weird now, sorry. -__- In my mind, you’ve been labeled a hermaphrodite. *scrunches nose* too weird for my taste. ;P

Impz is a trap?! O.O …Madhatter comes from a totally different source. ^^ I’m sure it wouldn’t take long for you to figure it out. But yes, I do love tea (with 50% milk and tons of sugar) as well as top hats. And I already have found my other half by the way, so regardless of my gender, it’s pretty pointless. ^^

Fake Davis has prolly already left the house, and if theory is correct, Urado will only be after young spirits. Boosts up the yummy factor. *nods*

Now that I think about it, ThirteenSugars-san, Lin would be the most capable out of all of them right? (Excluding Naru that is… if he even has any abilities -.-) And since Mai is the most sensitive right now, there’s a huge chance that she’ll be the next one. (I was gonna say the two assistants also exhibited abilities, and so Urado wants those with abilities more, but then Minami’s assistant didn’t show any. He was only very nice. ^^; ) I support MaixNaru too, you know! (Would it be weird for a guy to support love couples? O.o?)

^^; Most guys just don’t want to take the time, that’s why it’s generally assumed that posters for anime blogs etc. are female.

I like the DreamNaru being the twin brother as well. It better cements the MaixNaru idea. Mwahaha! I can just imagine Naru’s twin telling him off through one of Mai’s dreams. “Ah, you call him ‘Naru’? Short for ‘narcissistic right? Haha! That suits him so much!” then proceeding to tell Mai stuff to blackmail Naru with.

lys: I have no idea how someone can fall asleep through GH… Maybe he hasn’t watched any of the later episodes? -.- But then again, I’m the type who scares easily, so something like GH gives me enough adrenaline rush.

About Naru being Davis: It could be very possible. Just because Lin said “professor” doesn’t mean he meant “Dr. Davis”. Like I said before, Naru’s parent might be a colleague or a friend, or if we go with Naru actually being Dr. Davis, then Dr. Davis doesn’t exist at all, which means Naru isn’t technically a professor. (Naru might’ve had a Yasuhara-type front for him while Naru tells him what and where to go. Naru might’ve also told the fake to say that he is a professor researching the supernatural as he’d get more people to respect/believe him that way.) Can’t Madoka have stayed in England (or America? whichever) in the past? There are many explanations to be given as to whichever circumstance, unless it’s something that’s almost impossible. (Like Naru is actually a girl. Gasp! It’s a spoiler! O.O …Furuba got away with that one, though. -_-)

Hmm… If I go with my theory that Mai will be next because of her sensitivity, then if we say that Naru is very accomplished, Urado will go after him as well. Maybe this was why Lin objected so much. Naru might’ve been trying to make himself bait (as other people have commented) in order to find out more about Urado, and Lin saw through his plans. It could also be that most of Dr. Davis’ accomplishments are just rumors. He might’ve just found the missing person, and from that people started assuming everything about him. *shrugs*

(I thought the ghost they summoned was Suzuki, by the way? o.O?)

Mai’s nightmare might’ve been a fusion between Suzuki’s, Minami’s assistant’s and the maid’s. Remember how she was dragged in her pajamas, and only later on does she change into a yukata? She might’ve been experiencing the first part as Suzuki/assistant, then later on as the maid.

Minerva-san just said something that made something click in my mind. This is just my theory, but maybe when Naru said that the house cannot be exorcised, he meant because there were actual human beings who were doing the killings. They might be doing it in the name of Urado (as a sacrifice of sorts), or they’re just doing it and using Urado as a cover. Either way, the situation would still be rather dangerous for everyone. (Maybe I’ve been watching too much CSI. -_-)

…I’d comment more on the other replies, but there’s already been too much in just the almost one day I didn’t check in, and I’m falling asleep. ^^;; I’ll try to check in tomorrow (or today -_-) and try to post again. Week’s been pretty hectic, and I might’ve to do a lot of things tomorrow as well, so no guarantees. ^^ Just in case, I’ll see you guys next episode, definitely.
noblsheep February 24th, 2007 5:28 am

oof i’m late…

@13sugars: Anyway, I’m a Mai x Naru, Masako x Yasuhara, Ayako x Bou-san and Madoka x Lin-san supporter. ^^

MASAKO X YASUHARA? MADOKA X LIN? i have to dream about that tonight. and kitten-fight is the cutest way possible to descibe what Masako and Mai are doing. *hug*

@Impz: since you like Masako this much, i really think you should pick up the manga. Mai is nicer-looking in the anime, but manga Masako is all kinds of hot. :p and i wouldn’t say that Ayako’s powers are weak. me thinks the right word would be “circumstancial”.
Impz February 24th, 2007 6:37 am

Hmmm. No, stop tempting me with manga because I refuse to pick it up at all. Rawr you all manga readers, especially noblsheep who is using an effective lure. Honestly, I am just lazy to read. Viewing is an easier activity for me.

Wahahaha, Masako x Yasuhara isn’t good. Masako x Naru is way more fitting to any other pairing in Ghost hunt.

Perhaps. I believe that Ayako’s powers are more of creations, prevention and repelling, rather than destroying. That is perhaps why I tend to see her as less effective.
D.J February 24th, 2007 7:24 am

Hmm mebbe one of these days we’ll get to see Ayako be more effective. Although I guess the fact Naru trusts her to protect Mai along with Masako must mean he believes she is useful. ^-^

I am getting so badly tempted to get the manga. My birthday money is burning a hole in my pocket especially since we didn’t spend a lot at the Wings game last night. But it really would be cheaper for me to buy it online from DeepDiscount… temptation is BAD!

I do have to agree with many here though, that I prefer the way Mai looks in the anime to how she looks in the manga. (I haven’t read it but I have seen scans of the first volume).

@ThirteenSugars, yes there is nothing like the feeling you get when you help others or do something for others. Hubby-sama has often commented that he wishes I’d be meaner to other people. For the fact that it would be easier on his wallet, and he says its because I’m so approachable he has to growl at guys who decide they want to pick me up in the store. He has his she’s taken glare perfected by now I think. ^o^ He says I really need to learn the words “NO” and “GET LOST”

@Impzy, Naru x Mai all the way *Grabs Impzy’s Naru x Masako banner and runs away with it, bwahahahahaha*

Ahh time for morning tea. I think I’ll have some Assam this morning.
Manda February 24th, 2007 9:30 am

Hmmmm, We must remember that Mai is becomming something of a commodity for the froup, and as such, they protect her not only for her own sake but tend to follow her around waiting for her insights and visions. And yes our heroine is completely unaware. But Masako seems to be noticing this and it is giving way to her trusting Mai more on a spiritual level if not making her want to have a girls night of shopping and karaoke.
lys February 24th, 2007 9:31 am

@DJ, we will see Ayako’s powers in the next arc.

Masako looks really good in the manga as compared to Mai. But I still prefer Mai. Mai x Naru forever!!

I think somewhere it was mentioned that Lin’s powers are really amazing, and with him around, no need any exocists or even Masako, because Lin can also communicate with spirits. I can’t remember where it was mentioned.

I just love GH, every story tells you a little more about each character!
MinervaArnauld February 24th, 2007 9:47 am

@Manda: You rock! It is awesome that we get to have you around chatting, and not from a hospital room. *hugs*
You will be cancer free believe me afterall you are strong to have made it this far. It must sound strange coming from a complete stranger like me but you are truly inspirational just as 13sugars said and motivating to keep on the research.

@DJ: I know what you mean it is hard at first… though that is why i stick to yeast in that case ^_^ Basically the organism is easy to use and most of the genes found in it can be found in mammalian cells. Basically the research entails finding the effects of certain medications as mutational agents. I guess apart from getting a treatment out of it, that it is a safe treatment with veeery little or no side effects for the patients. I wish the gov would put some more into research you know.
As for the animal testing you’ve got no choice at some point do to the medical trials. I know… poor animals but you gotta do it. So i hope the people releasing the animals from the lab would desist to do so >
MinervaArnauld February 24th, 2007 9:52 am

oky the posts are getting cut or blocked again
MinervaArnauld February 24th, 2007 9:53 am

DJ cntd Finally girl… you have a good body guard though i guess he is right that you should kick them away from you so to avoid escalation Oo sometimes you find guys that don’t even care your man is around.

Impz: good luck on getting your masters degree. I am also thinking on getting a PhD but gotta get all the exams done first. So meanwhile you have social life it is nice to have you here and that you are always keeping up with the shows.
And noooope it is not strange to see a guy supporting love pairings. I like the NaruxMai pairing. dunno i just find masako to be too manipulative of Naru (she knows something, maybe that he is Dr. Davis) and she is using that to go out with him. Sorry I don’t aprove of blackmailing >
MinervaArnauld February 24th, 2007 9:53 am

While Mai is just as nice and caring, though it would be bad that dream and real Naru are not the same person and she is falling for the one in the dream Oo

13sugars: yeah well u got me confused up there @_@.
Either way I think it is really admiring you are working with this disease. it is not an easy task so not many want to go into it.
Back to topic: I also support MaixNaru pairing, they are an item, at least in my opinion. Though i think he is just waaaay too.. how to say it… Narcissistic to see the affection Mai has for him.

Madhatter: I would say the people helping Urado would be his descendants, albeit unknowingly. by perpetuating his lineage there will always be someone in charge of the mansion’s upkeep and such, so providing fresh blood into his lair. I think the only “physical” being that is doing all these is Urado himself, and he is still lurking around the house (though i wonder how he hasn’t been seen). While the servant’s spirits are still around bringing the victims. Otherwise how did the body they found end up behind that wall, unless they threw it down the chimney but that would be unlikely.
don’t feel bad CSI is good, though sometimes over the top but still one of the best sci shows out there.
LKK February 24th, 2007 10:41 am

@ MadHatter : “but then Minami’s assistant didn’t show any. He was only very nice.”
That’s something the anime cut from the manga. In the manga, there’s a scene where the assistant says he senses something in a nearby room. The assistant apparently does have some psychic abilities. There’s no reason to believe that the assistant is lying, in my opinion, even though Minami and Davis were frauds. My gut feeling is that Minami and Davis were deceiving Minami’s assistants as well as everyone else.

@ MinervaArnauld : “I think the only “physical
D.J February 24th, 2007 10:43 am

@Minerva, with as mazelike as the house is, and given how long he’s been there I would say its probably pretty easy for Urado to get around without being seen. Since he knows the ins and outs of the place better than anyone else.

Yep he’s a very good bodyguard, and sadly there are guys who totally ignore his growling. I usually try to ignore guys who are hitting on me or walk away all together. Unfortunately sometimes they tend to follow. I just can’t seem to muster up the courage to tell someone to go away. I’m sort of meek in those situations. My meekness though he says is one of my cute traits sometimes, especially when after 5 years he can still make me blush!

He and my best friend are always being actively perverted around me, just because they think its funny to watch me go red and squeak for them to stop.

@Madhatter, YAY another tea drinker. Now I don’t feel quite so alone. Everybody around me here drinks coffee. And no I don’t think its weird for a guy to comment on love couples! Its nice to hear the views of the opposite gender! Just so long as you are for Mai and Naru! j/k

Hmm and you raise a very interesting question about the people actualling doing the sacrificing and their motivations. Maybe Urado promised them eternal life if they helped him? CSI is a great show btw, but I do find the Sara/Grissom relationship a little bit creepy. I don’t know why but it just gives me the wiggins.
A chicken passeth by February 24th, 2007 11:01 am

“Unless as Mai dreamed they somehow become paralized and taken away without making a sound. Now just a question, then Urado just used the maids and stuff like that? Then how did he transport people from the hospital?”

We’ll probably learn in the next episode, but two ways.

One can only occur if the hospital were still in operation, by means of a slow-acting drug that induces a near death-like state, rendering a victim catatonic, unable to speak, unable to react and unable to remember himself, but perfectly able to follow (and will follow) simple commands. Google: Haitian Zombies - there is a formula that does it.

And now that the denziens of the Hospital are dead, here’s the second way: simple possession and control. Which is why nobody notices any of the missing leaving. The possessed person can walk out of the room, away from a search party, a function or his playmates, and just disappear without anyone being so much the wiser, and can be made to give any ol’ bogus reason if anyone sees them in the process of going off.

I think Mai’s dream about Minami’s assistant is a big giveaway of the process. The assistant was simply walking towards darkness in a zombified state, not listening to Mai’s warnings. Mai’s dreams are NOT abstract - they always seem to echo actual events - so I believe this can be taken at face value.

(While we’re on the subject of Minami’s assistant, I suspect that the assistant’s somewhat possessed already when Mai bumped into him before she had that dream. Even if Minami’s group isn’t unified, there is NO REASON WHATSOEVER for the assistant to be on his own - earlier, we never see him leave Minami’s side. The fact that the assistant apologized on behalf of Minami - making Mai wonder why such a nice guy was working for an arsehat - kinda sounded alarm bells. If he was in with Minami on the scheme, he’d probably just say nothing. If he wasn’t, he’d have alerted Mai and co. in secret, not just give a cryptic apology out of nowhere.

Then again, I could be reading too much into it. The guys who have seen this story in the novels and the manga probably know better.
cat February 24th, 2007 11:23 am

you know, we’re ignoring the fact that maybe maybe maybe MAYBE urado might not be dead! he could’ve achieved eternal life or something and he could have ghost servants at his beck and call. assuming he drank their blood and all, the wandering souls would be bounded to urado. i mean, drinking the blood of your enemies was an act of dominance for many tribes centuries ago. so that makes urado The Master or something.

here’s what i think is happening. naru thinks its impossible to exorcise the house because the main cause of it is urado, who might not be a spirit in the first place.

but that’s a longshot. then again, who knows, ehy?

and i think its impossible for davis to be naru’s dad. naru’s name is shibuya kazuya isn’t it? although naru being davis himself would be quite cool and possible.

sheesh i just wanna know what happens! i hope they don’t scrap the case in the end.
A chicken passeth by February 24th, 2007 11:39 am

“Vlad” (not quite his real name, maybe - we already know “Vlad” is Vlad Tepes, another person entirely unrelated to this case, except serving as the culprit’s inspiration, along with Elizabeth Bathory) - yep, probably still alive (undead?) and is the night gaunt we see walking around and going “I do not want to die.”

Shibuya Kazuya is most certainly not his real name, by the way - Lin is not the humorous type, and Madoka is not in on the Narcissist joke, but both refer to him as Naru anyway, and Naru was certainly taken aback when Mai called him that in Episode 1. I highly suspect the pseudonym Naru (Kazuo Narumi) uses in this arc is in fact *his real name*. >_>
Impz February 24th, 2007 12:22 pm

@a chicken passeth: You have made an excellent point about the assistant. Under the assumptions that you have made, it does seem queer that the assistant actually is fine with such atrocities and lies. I do wonder whether possession will be the reason why he stopped. For some reason, I got a feeling it’s more like he actually initially accepted the offer. However, after seeing the occurrence, he returned to his roots and decided to be nice.

Alas, it is too late for him.

There is in fact speculation of Naru being his real name, since Madoka who knows him earlier on also calls him Naru. That should give some clue that it’s either his real name or perhaps a nickname given a long time ago. Who knows.

@Cat: Hmmm, it will be interesting if he is not dead but it does not make any logical or paranormal sense. I mean, it is impossible for him to be alive without eating, drinking and the likes. The quest for eternal life is a noble but flawed venture that will be unachievable for a very long time, if even if it is achieved. However, I will be willing to be proven wrong and acknowledge your point if he is indeed alive. However, the facts seem to prove that he is alive only in the spiritual sense, not flesh and blood.

I wish I can think more carefully but it’s 322am after viewing anime and work. Can’t think.
D.J February 24th, 2007 12:24 pm

“And now that the denziens of the Hospital are dead, here’s the second way: simple possession and control. Which is why nobody notices any of the missing leaving. The possessed person can walk out of the room, away from a search party, a function or his playmates, and just disappear without anyone being so much the wiser, and can be made to give any ol’ bogus reason if anyone sees them in the process of going off.”

@A chicken passeth, that does make a lot of sense and would again feed into vampire mythology, since one of their supposed powers was hypnotism was it not?
A chicken passeth by February 24th, 2007 12:45 pm

@DJ:
Oh yeah - it certainly is, at least in European vampire myth. This hypnotism is part of the reason why vampire bite victims do not normally bleed from the bite wounds - however it requires direct eye contact…

@Impz
Y’know, Minami’s assistant didn’t quite apologize for attempting to fake’em out. He just apologized for Minami’s rudeness, that’s all. Which means, he’s *still technically okay* with trying to dupe everyone.

Nope, very fishy for someone trying to turn over a new leaf. Unless someone wants to tell me the assistant’s not in on the scheme at all, which isn’t possible since he sticks to Minami like glue.
LKK February 24th, 2007 1:02 pm

@A chicken passeth : “Y’know, Minami’s assistant didn’t quite apologize for attempting to fake’em out. He just apologized for Minami’s rudeness, that’s all. Which means, he’s *still technically okay* with trying to dupe everyone.”
Minami’s assistant disappeared before Davis and by extension Minami were revealed as fakes. We cannot conclude that the assistant knew Davis and Minami were fakes based on his brief conversation with Mai in the hallway.
Ricaryx February 24th, 2007 2:30 pm

Are you kidding me? 90 comments? I couldn’t read all of it. LOL Banzai!

Anyway, I think it’s about time they reveal more stuffs about the characters like Mai and especially Naru. The season is about to end. Dr. Davis being his pops is really plausible. Imagine the look on Bou-san’s face once he finds out that the son of his idol is the one whom he makes fun of every now and then. I don’t know how they will do the last arc, but I think I’m going to be dissatisfied if they couldn’t “beat” the ghost this time. I couldn’t even believe that Suzuki and the other assistant are dead. Somehow, I’m still in denial. -_-

Hmmm…It looks like MaixNaru bond is getting stronger. >] That was so cute with the tea. He just walked in and then everybody got quiet haha Talk about a sweet awkward moment.

Speaking of awkward, I find it so awkward to hear fake Dr. Davis speak in fluent English at the end. Something about it doesn’t go together with the japanese dubbing. I don’t know why.
D.J February 24th, 2007 2:35 pm

@Ricaryx, you aren’t the only it felt so weird to the ears! The opening of Black Blood Brothers was the same, for a moment I wondered if somehow I’d downloaded the wrong file!
Impz February 24th, 2007 9:17 pm

@Chicken passeth: Nice thoughts and to be really honest, I never thought so much about his assistant since he was really a minor character that I believe has no direct impact on the story. Still, your speculative thoughts on the motivation and intention of his assistant has sparked more insights in my head. It does make sense that it is queer for someone to turn over a new leaf just by information. I guess he knew, felt guilty yet continued to do it.

@Ricaryx: What bond? There’s no bond. Masako x Naru’s bond is so tight! <3...Honestly, I do like a Madoka x Naru too. Actually, I thought it sounds ok with Raymond Weiss (is that his name) speaking English at the very end, even though it is a little queer when you have Japanese all the way and you have fluent English inserted. I guess it's a slight disorientation of language use as it happens with dissonance of audio impact.

I personally found it reasonable, but that is perhaps due to my exposure to various languages constantly in language shift.

@DJ: Hypnotism ? Arrr, I never knew about vampire lore too much.

@13sugars: Can you send me an email with the email you used to thatblog@gmail.com? I have some stuff to discuss pertaining some issues concerning a certain request. It’s nothing bad, really
ThirteenSugars February 24th, 2007 9:31 pm

omgosh! I thought so too. But the thing I find weird is that, I’ve always thought Dr. Davis is English, from England and all that. He sounded quite like an American to me. But please correct me if my assumption is wrong. (lol)

(I need to read the last 22 comments. So much new ideas and speculations came out. ^^)
ThirteenSugars February 24th, 2007 9:34 pm

:O A request? From me? You know, Impz…I must warn you. I’m not cheap ^_- (lol j/k couldn’t resist making that joke. :P)

Sure thing.
Tohri February 24th, 2007 11:19 pm

Hello! I’ve found your blog while searching for GH stuff in Google and I’ve been lurking through it for the past few days. Sorry about the lack of feedback, it’s just that English is not my mother language and I feel shy before so many intelligent people that gather here ^^. (And so, forgive my bad English)

But I feel I need to thank you for the hours of enlightment about the series. And not just you, but everybody who entered and left a little of their ideas as well. So many theories, so many great thoughts. I’ll never see GH the same way from now on. You guys are amazing.

^^ Thank you. I’ll go back to lurking again.

Ps: *lifts banner* NaruxMai! NaruxMai! NaruxMai! XD
Impz February 25th, 2007 8:00 am

hahaha, it’s all right, Tohri. This place is for you to comment, to read and to enjoy this series more. Don’t feel shy to speculate since some of these “intelligent” people often slam my theories.

*takes voodoo doll out to curse*

hahaha, just joking but I am glad that you enjoyed it. It’s good that a lurker bothered to comment, which means I am doing the entry well.

*burns that banner* vile stuff, my friend, vile stuff
cat February 25th, 2007 9:09 am

yeah i guess that’s true, chicken passeth by. but if shibuya kazuya isn’t naru’s real name, how’d he get cursed the other time? i think it was ep 8. using enmi probably requires the full name of a person.

i hope urado makes an appearance in the next episode. alive, too, so that i’ll be right. heh heh heh.
lys February 25th, 2007 9:22 am

In my humble opinion, I think that Minami’s assistants probably didn’t know that they’re working for a fake boss. He probably believed that the Dr Davis really couldn’t help them. I felt that he was simply apologising for them being unable to help (as he honestly believed that the contact lens case was not able to give a reading).

I also don’t think that Minami’s assistant was possessed when he met Mai, Ayako and Masaka. Why can’t he be wondering on his own? It’s after dinner, maybe he’s just going back to his room. Naru didn’t tell anyone outside his team to stay together, did he? And Minami certainly doesn’t seem to be a very reliable boss.
Briar February 25th, 2007 9:35 am

“I personally found it reasonable, but that is perhaps due to my exposure to various languages constantly in language shift.”

Got to laugh at this. I totally agree. I had no problem at all with the language shift because I do language shifts every other sentence myself.

@ Tohri: Hey, don’t worry. English isn’t my first language either. And what you wrote is great English already.

@ A chicken passeth: “I highly suspect the pseudonym Naru (Kazuo Narumi) uses in this arc is in fact *his real name*. >_> ”

I’ve long suspected (since episode 1, actually, due to the reaction he had when Mai called him Naru) that “Naru” isn’t just any casual name Mai gave him. But I didn’t think that Kazuo Narumi is his real name. That’s really possible. But on that note, I have to wonder why he would change his name. Does Kazuo Narumi mean anything in particular that he wanted to avoid using it? If he’s Dr. Davis or Dr. Davis’s son, it would actually follow that he has a Western name (ie. Davis) instead. And using a false name AND using a false name for the company he established seems a bit weird. Most people have pride in their work and want to be remembered for it. Unless, of course, he already accept and think of Shibuya as his own name.

I do think that your theory is a big possibility. But it will certainly ask as much questions as answer them!

*takes ownself off before I continue on my rambling and disorganized thoughts*
LKK February 25th, 2007 9:35 am

@ cat : “if shibuya kazuya isn’t naru’s real name, how’d he get cursed the other time? i think it was ep 8. using enmi probably requires the full name of a person.”

You’ve forgotten a key part of the curse in the spoon-bending case. It is *not* necessary to have the victim’s name in that type of curse. A description of the person is sufficient to identify the victim. If you remember, the girls who were dragged by getting caught in the train were not cursed by name but because they were sitting at the specific desk. The curse was on the desk not on the person. Therefore it is not necessary to have the person’s name to have a curse on the person.

One thing the anime added from the manga was the scene in the hospital where the teacher tried to curse Naru a second time. That scene didn’t happen in the manga. Also in the manga, we are never shown a curse doll with the name Shibuya Kazuya on it. There is no definitive evidence that the teacher used the name Shibuya Kazuya in her attempt to curse Naru.

I believe that the teacher used a description of Naru, something like the boss of the investigators, to make her curse doll of Naru. That would be sufficient to send the curse after Naru.

I do not believe that Naru’s real name is Shibuya Kazuya. I also don’t believe that Narumi Kazoa (or whatever fake name he’s using in this case) is his real name either. If Naru has been using a fake name like Shibuya Kazuya for at least a year, I don’t see why he would suddenly use his real name this time. I think Narumi is just as made up a name as Kazuya is.
Briar February 25th, 2007 9:39 am

“but if shibuya kazuya isn’t naru’s real name, how’d he get cursed the other time? i think it was ep 8. using enmi probably requires the full name of a person. ”

Wasn’t Mai the one who was cursed? He was injured/involved only because he was trying to save her.

Actually now that I’ve thought about it, he was cursed and ended up staring at the female ghost all night, wasn’t he? *smacks head* Faulty memory…

But names are something that one identify one with. So if everyone thinks of Naru as Shibuya, and Naru himself thinks of himself as Shibuya, I think maybe the curse will work as well. Not knowing much about curses, I can’t say.

On the other hand, maybe Naru knows that Shibuya wasn’t his real name, so the ghost wouldn’t be able to truly hurt him, which is why he is so calm about it. Just a thought.

(I’m unconvinced either way, actually. On one hand I think Narumi may truly be his real name; on the other Cat has such a convincing evidence that says otherwise…)
A chicken passeth by February 25th, 2007 9:42 am

“yeah i guess that’s true, chicken passeth by. but if shibuya kazuya isn’t naru’s real name, how’d he get cursed the other time? i think it was ep 8. using enmi probably requires the full name of a person.”

Not really - since the teach was perfectly able to curse “anyone sitting at table A”. I have read about such talisman curses in Chinese lore - and IIRC you CAN curse someone through a commonly used nickname or false name, rather than his real name - tho using the real name works better.

This explains why the sickle wielding spirit didn’t even try to touch Naru - Naru was a direct target with a different real name, so all the spirit could do was glare menacingly at him. In comparison, the same curse, with Mai’s real name, affected Mai *PHYSICALLY* as the ghost child tried to pull her into the drain.

(Luckily it would seem the sensei, expert as she is, didn’t quite know she can put curses on everyone in the party without even going through the trouble of getting to know them. She could put a curse on “That Monk Guy”, “The Priest”, or “The Entire Kazuya Research Party” for example, and it would *just work*.)
bellie February 25th, 2007 11:23 am

maybe Naru has been in an unfortunate adventure in the past. Taking the family part along, maybe he almost died but his mother saved him and died instead. And I also think it wasn’t Naru’s real name.

btw, LOVE the anime
isabel February 25th, 2007 3:25 pm

ARIGATOU! no, seriously.
Whispered.Hope February 25th, 2007 7:30 pm

Uwa, 105 comments, and I read it all xD You guys have interesting ideas. I’m not going to go into Naru’s parents or Naru’s real name or anything, but I just found it funny how the fake Davis starts speaking English and everyone automatically understands him. Are they all pro at English now? xDD
Impz February 25th, 2007 7:50 pm

Oh ya! Now that you said it, it is probably a little problematic. I will expect them to at least have an expression of “HUH!!! What the hell is he saying” RATHER than knowing it.

I guess that is because I am too used to code switching that I miss this fact. That is probably the dissonance that some of the others experienced Hmm, I wonder if anyone went like @_@ after listening to Raymond speak since my knowledge is that most Japanese suck at English big time.
noblsheep February 25th, 2007 7:56 pm

@13sugars: well, since he’s fake, it doesn’t really matter whether he’s english or american… he never spoke loud enough for anyone other than Minami to hear him previously anyway.

@bellie: can you say harry potter any more loudly? lol.

@Briar: maybe we can think up a list of western names that “Naru” might be a nickname for?
Whispered.Hope February 25th, 2007 8:11 pm

Yeah! I mean, I can understand Naru knowing what he said, if only a bit, and then maybe Lin, too, but for everyone else? Most Japanese do suck at English, unless they spent some time overseas or are learning it harcore xD

That voiceover is isane, which was how I noticed it xD It’s actually the same English-speaking person saying the Japanese lines as well, ne? I could hear the English in the accent.
LKK February 25th, 2007 9:31 pm

@ noblsheep : “maybe we can think up a list of western names that “Naru
ThirteenSugars February 25th, 2007 10:45 pm

~Madhatter~ ^^ It’s nice to know that you like GH just as much as we do here. Also, your perspectives on it are really interesting. It’s nice to know what the opposite sex think. And yes, I like your speculations! This just proves that great minds think alike! ^^ (lol j/k)

Btw, it’s not weird for a guy to comment/like an anime love couple. As a matter of fact, in my opinion, guys like that are adorable, especially when they get scared a little too. It sometimes brings out women’s protective instincts. And besides, you’re a Mai x Naru love-love supporter. Everyone certainly understands. ^^

~Noblsheep~ ^^ I thought it was cute to address it as kitten-fights what with the two of them being so cute and all. Of course, Mai is way cuter! She’s the only kitten for Naru.

As for the voiceover, that’s the thing for me. I almost didn’t think about it but the accent-thing jerked my mind to think, “Whoa, he just spoke in a different language but with an American-accent!
Impz February 25th, 2007 11:16 pm

@ Naru x Masako is not a delusion. It’s the truth and nothing but the truth! Wahahahahaha!

On 13sugars’s comment about Naru, I think rather than being dense (he’s definitely extremely sensitive toward others), it’s more like he does not know how to handle girls. In fact, I think he has little exposure toward gals and the only few (the one that he is close to) is Madoka. Hah, he is like totally owned by her too.

Urado possessing one of his descendants will make logical sense, though i still believe that he is in a total spiritual form rather than possessing someone.

To all, I have just added a “Top commentor list” at the sidebar for a bit of ego-boost and encourage others to comment more too. The official site news will appear in my saimono post too It will also be reseted every month, ahaha~
ThirteenSugars February 26th, 2007 12:03 am

OMG! My face hit my laptop screen so bad that my front teeth actually hurt…

I shall rephrase it then. In my humble opinion, due to the fact that Naru has very little exposure to matters of the heart and girls like Mai, he has very little knowledge of how to express his true feelings when it comes to dealing with such affections other than his somewhat surrogate mother, Madoka. ^^

But yes, Madoka owns him.

Btw, is the Top Commentor list, an overall account of THAT Anime Blog’s commentors’ comments?

If so, then…Dang! I do go to this place way more than an average blog-viewer should. (lol) Maybe that is unhealthy and I should try to lessen my visits. Or maybe I should change my nickname now and then…My teeth hurts. (sighs)

And yes, Masako x Naru love is a delusion. Impz, you are delusional :P. As for what your-so-called ego-boost, it can actually be termed as bribery (lol :P), which actually makes me think that you can probably be just as twisted as I am. I’m just a lot sweeter though. ( ^^ j/k)

Truthfully though, that list is a very sweet way to let us, commentors alike, know that we are appreciated. So thanks.
alkanphel February 26th, 2007 12:33 am

13Sugars: Hahaha I don’t think you’re the top commentator in the blog, I probably have more comments than you. That top commentator list probably only counts comments from when it was started.
lys February 26th, 2007 1:00 am

In my very humble opinion, I really really doubt that Naru is really narcisstic. I mean, after all that is what Mai calls him. And if you think about it, Naru is simply confident in what he is good at, and he knows what he is good at. I don’t think he’s in love with himself. Besides, let’s recall. Why did Mai call him a narcissist? She commented to him that he’s good-looking, good at what he’s doing and something else (I forgot). When someone cute (as in Mai) tells you you’re good looking, what would your response be? Naru is certainly not a humble person, but perhaps his response is because he’s slightly embarassed and can’t think of anything better to say? Remember he also turned away when he said that. So after which Mai concluded that he’s a narcissist so that she comes out with the nickname for him. (I honestly think it’s just an excuse for the author to use the nickname Naru)

And I have to agree with thirteensugars that Naru probably doesn’t know how to interact with girls as smoothly as that other smart aleck kid whathisname?

And I have a theory! Maybe Naru himself have a crush on Mai??? After all, she practically ignored him on their first meeting, while her other classmates were like trying to get his attention, and he didn’t like that?
Briar February 26th, 2007 1:25 am

Hey, my name’s up there!

“@Briar: maybe we can think up a list of western names that “Naru
Impz February 26th, 2007 1:25 am

@alkanphel: To correct alkanphel, it is for this month only. The counter will reset every month.

@Lys: No, Mai is having a crush on Naru but Naru is fated to be with Masako. Smart aleck kid = you mean Yasuhara? I mean Yasuhara is good with Mai, much better fit imho.

I seconded your thoughts that Naru is hardly a narcissist. His actions proved that he’s hardly someone who cares that much about his appearance.
na2niet February 26th, 2007 3:23 am

Naru is Naru!alright!

*ThirteenSugars-I’m expecting your the number one of Impz’s list of top commentors!he said it will be post soon!as for the our Belgium chocolates!I think they put lots,lots,lots of sugar in it!what do you think?hehehe

*D.J-whats up?

*Madhatter-I was just trying!
lys February 26th, 2007 8:26 am

I have to disagree with you Impz. Naru is fated to be with Mai. Come to think of it, why don’t you like Naru x Mai? Well, besides the fact that Masako is pretty cute too, but so is Mai. And Naru and Mai has got so much more chemistry that Naru and Masako!
beingmeyuki February 26th, 2007 10:16 am

First of all, WOW! I hadn’t been able to visit for a couple of days due to crappy internet connection and when i come back, it’s 119 comments! amazing!

About Shibuya Kazuya not being Naru’s real name, if it really isn’t, how come that he was still haunted by that vengeful spirit? Wouldn’t it only be effective if your name was used? Maybe Shibuya Kazuya is his Japanese name or perhaps if he were adopted, it could be his adopted name or his pre-adopted one… Then again it could be an alias to hide his true identity, a famous one?
cat February 26th, 2007 11:00 am

“Not really - since the teach was perfectly able to curse “anyone sitting at table A
D.J February 26th, 2007 11:15 am

Wow it went comment crazy in here!

@na2niet, Alas I have caught my third cold in the last 3 months, I am sick of being sick. Other than that nothing too much, what’s up with you? But I did get to go to a RedWings game for my birthday so this weekend hasn’t been all bad.

@Thirteensugars, “(sighs) I’m so jealous. I want my own hubby-sama/bodyguard/servant.”

I hope one day you get one! ^-^ I earn mine through the cooking, cleaning and laundry. He does take care of the yard though, and the dogs ears, since our Labbu’s have icky ears right now.

Hmm I don’t think I can think of one western name that you might shorten down to Naru. I thought that maybe if dream Naru was a twin, then maybe it was the twin’s name. But that doesn’t make sense since Madoka calls him Naru.

Or perhaps it was his twin’s pet name for him (if dream Naru is his twin).

Dream Naru could very well be just a figment of Mai’s imagination so to speak. Basically her mind conjured him up to aid her in comprehending her dreams. The human brain does this all the time, when faced with something it isn’t sure of, it will do its best to make sense of it.
Briar February 26th, 2007 7:52 pm

“Dream Naru could very well be just a figment of Mai’s imagination so to speak. Basically her mind conjured him up to aid her in comprehending her dreams. The human brain does this all the time, when faced with something it isn’t sure of, it will do its best to make sense of it.”

Yep, that would be my backup theory. If Real Naru isn’t Dream Naru, then Dream Naru must be a figment of Mai’s imagination. And it’s significant that she conjured up NARU would at that time when she first dreamt of him, she didn’t really like a lot. Which also supports my theory of Mai x Naru, because that means that Mai is fated to be together with Naru, right from the beginning.
na2niet February 26th, 2007 11:23 pm

*Briar-you are indeed a big fan of Naru x Mai!yes they were fated to be together as anime always like that!except I guess for Ryuuki & Shuurei?most of the fans believed always in destiny,as they called it so!thats why we always like to have a perfect pair of characters!but how about,if we refer it in realistic views!not all people have their happy ending!thats what I find the Saiunkoku most interesting one!because I do always not believed of what they called fate!

as for Mai X Naru fan,don’t get angry!I do like Mai also for Naru!
ThirteenSugars February 26th, 2007 11:49 pm

~Alkanphel~ Had your comment been a dare/challenge from another commentor to be the top commetor for the next month (I’m too lazy to add the ‘ta’ in the word ‘commentor’ to make it ‘commantator.’ ^^), I would’ve taken you on. But the fact is, you don’t really count since you’re one of THAT’s bloggers just like Impz is. And I’d also like to point out that you’re ahead of me by how many months. ^^

Plus, my going and commenting here is probably becoming an unhealthy habit for an average blog-viewer. Hmmm, maybe I’m obsessed or maybe I’m harboring a secret crush on THAT Anime Blog itself that I myself don’t realize. (lol j/k)

~Lys~ I respectfully disagree on your first comment. There was an episode (I can’t remember which one) where Ayako made a move on Naru to which he responded that he is only used to looking at the mirror, or something like that. And though he may not be a total narcissist, he certainly is a little bit of that. And Mai, with her more-than average sensitivity and perceptivity (and that sweet bond that ties her to Naru), came to a conclusion that Naru, perhaps, is a little bit of a narcissist, but not a cold-hearted person, from the moment she met him, thus the pet/nickname she gave him which coincidentally happens to be his, or at least one of them, real name.

And if you’re referring to Yasuhara, I certainly agree that he is smoother when it comes to dealing with “flirting.
Briar February 26th, 2007 11:54 pm

“where Ayako made a move on Naru to which he responded that he is only used to looking at the mirror, or something like that. And though he may not be a total narcissist, he certainly is a little bit of that. ”

I was under the impression that he was joking, though, albeit in a very dead pan way.
ThirteenSugars February 27th, 2007 12:24 am

~Briar~ (lol) You may be right, but I guess we’ll never really know. ^^
Impz February 27th, 2007 2:17 am

I felt the same way that Naru is joking, but as we all know, Naru is a really bad joker.

@13sugars: The naruto thread are writing a lot as usual. Very scary, ahaha~. I do not dare to go in since I know little about Naruto. I leave that to alkanphel to deal with it.

@Cat: I like your idea and it’s possible if Dr Davis is his father. He is hence like mixed blood since he looked distinctly Japanese. Interesting.
D.J February 27th, 2007 10:40 am

@Briar, YAY GO MAI x NARU! Hopefully by the end of this we’ll get some conformation about the theories we all have. But yea if her unconscious mind is conjuring up images of a nice Naru then on some level she really likes him. Despite what she says in reality! ^-^

Now on the current topic…

I don’t think Naru is much of a narcissist either. I do think he has poor people skills though.

No wait I take that back, in the first episode he was very good at manipulating those girls to get information. LOL the only one who didn’t fall for his charms is Mai.

Hmm I guess instead what I should say is, that if he knows someone on a superficial level he can communicate very easily with them. Because there is no real relationship there, its easy for him. And he doesn’t really have to reveal too much about himself.

Its when he gets to know someone on a more intimate level he seems to have some difficulties. He’s particularly closed up about himself.

Although one telling thing for me that he likes Mai is the fact he does seem to take pleasure in teasing her. ^-^ And he is starting to open up to her a little bit and show her more of his emotional side. Such as the coin trick, and the smile. I think Naru feels, more than he lets on, he just keeps a tighter rein on his emotions than most of us do.

Aah, I’m babbling, must stop…

@ThirteenSugars, well in that case I will just wish for your continued happiness! ^-^
D.J February 27th, 2007 4:43 pm

Oh Impzy, you are going to LOVE episode 21.
laboosh February 27th, 2007 5:08 pm

wow guys wt a gr8 comments oh my god i read all of them in one time, 13 sugar, DJ,cat,briar,na2niet, alllll gr8 comments and really really interesting, just want to say smthin tht just popped in my head. do u remember in ep.1 wn masako asked naru if she saw him b4, and he said no, well maybe she saw his twin brother once, which adds to the reality tht naru really had a twin, and tht he (naru) was with his brother wn he died.^__^ (hehe a wild thought)
@13suger, um with u allll the way NaruXMai forever
laboosh February 27th, 2007 5:11 pm

sorry which CONFIRM the reality tht……..
D.J February 27th, 2007 5:21 pm

@laboosh.

You,know that is a very good point! And it definetely adds credence to the theory of Naru having a twin.
na2niet February 27th, 2007 5:38 pm

*laboosh* arigatu!yes!I remember that one hah!it seems that Masako already saw Naru before!quite like that!yah! your very good in remembering scenes!I think I have to consider 13sugars idea,its also possible!that Naru has a twin or a brother?

hmmm very interesting!so what would be the kind of Naru’s twin or brother?a bad one or a good one?if he has twin or brother?As I know mostly in anime the who’s fighting each other is either a brother to brother /sister to sister!I mean mostly of the enemies are related to the mean character!thats anime alright!

And there’s some more most of the anime mean character,loses their parents?

*D.J* where did you find ep 21 of GH?alstublijt!I couldn’t find it!your making me nervous!I am very curious who is the monster?culprit or devil? or dracula!whatever!pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase!
na2niet February 27th, 2007 5:46 pm

*D.J*If you won’t tell me!at least you tell me how to have voodoo!I like to be expert on it!from now own!hek
David Johnston February 27th, 2007 7:08 pm

Of course that Mai got the dream by being possessed by a dead maid explains why there was no Dream Naru in the dream. It was not an exercise of her psychic power and hence didn’t fit the pattern of her psychic dreams.
D.J February 27th, 2007 7:36 pm

@na2niet, I usually catch them on youtube as they come out. And then later download them so I can rewatch in better quality and see if I can catch anything I missed.

But I couldn’t possibly say anything or that would spoil it for everyone.

I will just say that I really enjoyed the episode. It maintains the scare factor of the previous episodes and well as I said Impzy is going to love it.

Voodoo? You could always read up on it on wiki. Although I wouldn’t mess with those kinds of things, it can be very dangerous! After my friends experiences I stay away from things like Ouja boards, voodoo and the like.

And it would be very bad to curse someone in case they send it back to you.

@David. You know I think that is the best explanation yet as to why Dream Naru wasn’t present when she was possessed.
ThirteenSugars February 27th, 2007 9:46 pm

~Impz~ Ah, oh well. At least we, commentors, tried. Had I not dropped Naruto then, I would probably be one of the ‘Narutards’ there. ^^ But I’m much happier being a GH-fanatic now.

~DJ~ I actually find myself agreeing with your comment of Naru being too careful to show his true feelings, especially to Mai. After all, if our assumption that someone close to Naru had died, his reaction of not wanting to get too close to another person and his cautious show of feelings to that person would actually make sense.

As for your, “Oh Impzy, you are going to LOVE episode 21,
D.J February 27th, 2007 10:30 pm

So does liking Naruto make a me a Narutard? Even I’m scared of posting in the Naruto sections, its really scary in there. I prefer the intelligent conversations going on in here.

@ThirteenSugars, we can wave the Mai x Naru banner anyway, and there is definetely a lot of cute involving Mai and Masako. I won’t say any more in case I spoil things.
ThirteenSugars February 27th, 2007 11:26 pm

~DJ~ (lol) I’m sorry if my statements sounded a bit offensive like that. That’s not what I meant to say. ^^ What I meant to say is that, had I not stopped watching Naruto, I’d probably be just as addicted and as scary as most of the Narutards out there dropping tons of comments of whatever Naruto thread there is.

Come to think of it, I haven’t even set my eyes in the Naruto thread. Maybe this is a good time to do that just to see how scary it really is since you and Impz seem to claim it is so.

As for episode 21, I’ve already acquired and I’ve been contemplating whether I should watch it before SaiMono 39 or not for the last oh, 30 minutes or so? (I’m really praying that this anime will also have a second season.)
na2niet February 28th, 2007 1:44 am

*D.J~ thank you for reminder,I’m scare of what you said!so its kind of pretty to practice voodoo, don’t worry I’m not a witch,though I was trying,Dracula would fine!hek!

*13sugars~I have watched ep 21 at youtube,waaaalaaa!jeez its pretty interesting????????

*laboosh~ thanks for the site! you mean 13sugars?right?

*Impz~ as always were counting on your summary that explain what we don’t understand!I guess I have to go to Japan,to study Japanese!hmmmm (hek)

has anyone,who can give me little detail about Naruto?
Impz February 28th, 2007 2:16 am

Unlike Saimono that has a huge stack of material, Ghost Hunt is unlikely to see 26 episodes. I will be surprised to see any second season for it, as much as I hope for it. It’s probably the kind of show that will be sweet with simply 26.

that said,I finally got my hands on Ghost Hunt Episode 21!
noblsheep February 28th, 2007 5:22 am

just finished ep 21. scared the wits out of me at one point. can’t wait to see what Impzy has to say about it!

*”go Impz” banner waving*
ThirteenSugars February 28th, 2007 5:43 am

Hmmm, I think I’ll wait for Impz’s entry to come out and save my comment/rant/thunder till then. ^_-
D.J February 28th, 2007 6:49 am

@na2niet, well being a witch isn’t so bad if you are a good witch ^-^ People think bad things of Wiccans mainly because of the salem Witch Hunts, but being a wiccan doesn’t necessarily make you evil.

But like I said with things like voodoo and the ouja you can put yourself in a dangerous situation. With the ouja board in particular, if you don’t know what you are doing you can leave yourself very vulnerable to evil spirits.

OFF TOPIC!!!!!
Hmm as for an explanation of Naruto. Its about ninjas. Naruto is a young ninja who dreams one day of being Hokage (the leader of Konohogakure - the village hidden in the leaves) he gets put in a team with the girl of his dreams and a boy from one of the clans most prestigious villages, Naruto is the idiot of the group and isn’t even close to the talent of his teammate Uchiha Sasuke. As for the girl Haruno Sakura, like most girls her age, all she can think about is Sasuke.

They go on missions, gain new jutsu’s (Special attacks they can peform) along with their team leader Hatake Kakashi. A former ANBU (elite ninja) and now a Jounin (high level ninja) when we first meet the kids they are Genin level.

Naruto will grow and become less of an idiot, Sakura will become stronger, no longer wanting to be rescued and having to see the backs of her teammates. Sasuke, well, who knows what’s going to happen to him.

Thats how the series starts off, I won’t spoil the rest if you want to check it out. I recommend the manga over the anime. The anime is pretty good, but the manga is better. Sasuke has a goal in life, and its this goal that is set to tear the team apart.
END OF OFF TOPIC

@ThirteenSugars, oh your comments didn’t sound offensive at all. You are right there are plenty of narutards out there, its why the Naruto threads are really scary and full of unintelligent conversation.
And I’m afraid anything intelligent in there gets lost underneath all the crappu.
Impz February 28th, 2007 6:55 am

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, NARUTO!

*melts*

Honestly, the series is pretty decent when it started. I just got lost by the fillers.

I am also done with my ghost hunt post for ep 21!
alkanphel February 28th, 2007 7:08 am

NARUTO ROXX!!!
Briar February 28th, 2007 7:40 am

Hey Impz, maybe you will want to pick Naruto up now that the fillers have ended. After all, you will have to find some animes now that Saimono is almost finished and Ghost Hunt has only 5-6 episodes to go. Or maybe… pick up Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto again? *hint hint*

And how did you get epi 21 so fast??? I’m pretty I’ll only be able to get it tomorrow. *cries*
Maria May 10th, 2007 7:26 am

“Naru’s look at her seemed to imply that she said something really awful” Doesn’t describe his look correctly. He looked like someone that died once and just remembered how he died!
yi June 10th, 2008 4:01 pm

Dr.Davis is not naru;s father he is naru himself

naru real name is oliver davis and dream naru is his dead twin

For all who are wondering how to get raw/subs from this blog, it will not be answered. Please use your good sources to figure it out.

Also, please refrain from using smileys with the "<" and ">" characters. Your comment WILL be cut off if you do. Styling html such as <em>, <strong> and <p> can be used. Please use spoiler tags (<spoiler></spoiler>) around any spoilers you may post.

Do note that most comments will not be deleted as we believe in freedom of speech. However, comments without any constructive criticism and only made of vehement personal insults will be deleted at the author's discretion.