Just started episode 3 of Yatagarasu and I wonder, is Hamayu a kin'u as well? She looks like the princes' sister.. or mother? She told Asebi she's not into the crown prince, to consider her just a spectator. And her lady-in-waiting told her to remember her role. To do what, kill the crown prince? Protect him? Reveal sth? I'm intrigued already 😊

Also, who is poisoning the crown prince's well water? I assume the empress, (his mother in law), but it seems many people don't care for him

Six-sentence Sunday (or something)

Updated The Snow So White, The Sun So Bright . Two chapters have been added. I can’t ignore this story at all. The urge to continue this is making me mad.

Some of the kitchen and service crew only saw him in passing as he was always in the kitchen. Once a week he managed to meet them for a drink, but he never did instigate a long-lasting conversation with any of them. Except for the young woman who was bold enough to engage him into one-sided talking. Her almond eyes reminded him of someone he met years ago from the Northern Territory. Nazukihiko knew that he was considered beautiful even with the standards in the Outside World. Still it didn’t warrant them to make an advance on him nor act on befriending him. There was a notion of a phantom wall between him and the humans. The reason he was quite surprised that this young woman had managed to strike a conversation with him every time they met weekly. And now that it was going to be put to a stop, there was no hard feelings inside him.

“It is so unfortunate that I wouldn't have any chance to get to know you more, Nazuki-san.” There was a tinge of sadness in her voice that he couldn’t shake off. He gave her a smile and sipped his sake that was too sweet for his taste.

“No, really. What are you going to do after this? I heard that you are going back to your hometown?”

“That’s the plan, yes. How about you, Setsuko? Will you stay here until you are done with your apprenticeship?”

“I have to. My parents are expecting me to work after my stint at the restaurant. Here I am, hoping that I can continue here.”

“I don’t see why not.”

A kitsune in the wild.

Wakamiya met someone particular in the Outside World, but it is not who or what you think it is.

The young man tried to repel another blow, but then the sheath fell apart — it was not even possible to fight back. One of the Yamauchi-shu hit the young gentleman on the leg, and he lost his balance.

Immediately the second one broke his arms and knocked him to the floor.

Coming to his senses, the young master saw that the third guard had put a sword to his throat: obviously, he wanted to kill the heir with his own hands to be sure.

The young gentleman was grabbed by the hair to expose his neck, the blade was already approaching, and he held his breath, as if suddenly...

“I see you are having a great time!”

There was a thunderous laugh, and something flew into the window. The shoji frame flew to pieces, the shutters broke — and sunlight broke into the gloomy room, illuminated only by sparks of flames.

Someone landed heavily on the floor for a moment, but the next moment he skilfully jumped off and cut off the head of the guard who dared to direct the sword at the heir. Splashing the young master's cheeks and not letting him catch his breath, the man shook the blood from the sword and took it back to make.

Episode 10, Assassinating the Crown Prince, anime vs the original work by Chisato Abe

On the 29th of June last year, the 13th episode (“Ravens Shouldn’t Wear Kimono”) off the Yatagarasu series, “The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master,” was shown on TV, before it went on to its monthlong pause due to Olympics for the second cour.

We have here two adaptations (manga and the anime) from the original work of Chisato Abe, “The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master” ending, of Yukiya uttering different variations of the “well, if you want to die, then die on your own, but please not on my watch (without me)” to Wakamiya.

From the book :

He didn't look away from the young master.

"Please ... give up the status of an heir."

The young gentleman slowly nodded.

"Is this a joke?"

"No." Yukiya obviously didn't play a game on him. “Fortunately, you and your brother have a good relationship, so why should you climb to the top? If the court wants Lord Natsuka's accession to the throne, give them this pleasure. Why do you jeopardise your life by trying to become a Golden Raven? I'm not saying it because of hatred for you. I wouldn't want you to die here.”

They both fell silent, and under the warm breeze the surface of the pond was covered with ripples. Without taking his eyes off the prince, Yukiya confessed.

The young man didn't say anything. Yukiya continued, “I don't know why you're called the Golden Raven. I don't know what lofty ideas you are guided by and for what purpose you want to become a ruler. But is it really so important to sacrifice your life for this?"

Something flashed in the eyes of the young master. And yet... The words that sounded after a long silence did not answer Yukiya's question.

" ...If you take away my right to be a Golden Crow, nothing will be left."

He said it quietly, and Yukiya, a little offended, closed his eyes. To be honest, he had already fallen in love with his master. Of course, deep down he annoyed the gentleman: he was wilful and taciturn, so there were too many problems to openly express his love. But he couldn't hate him. He realised that he was asking too much and did not wait for promises. And yet, was he so wrong when he felt that he was betrayed?

Now he realised that he was expressing his desires. But the last thing he wanted to be was like Atsufusa, so he didn't show he was offended.

Well, then I can only say one thing: it's my fault.

It's a pity. To put it so with an indifferent look, Yukiya felt terribly sorry for himself, because he couldn't be a trusted aide of this person.

"Then die wherever you want, just so that I don't know and have nothing to do with it.”

Excerpt from “The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master” (Russian) by Chisato Abe

From the manga:

Wakamiya: Even so… If you take away my status as a Golden Raven, nothing else remains.

Yukiya: (Ah, I shouldn't have come to a place like this.) If that's the case…

Yukiya: Then, I can only say it serves you right. Please just go ahead and die as you wish.

From the anime (Episode 13: Ravens shouldn’t wear Kimono) :

Yukiya: I’m saying this because I don't want to let you die! Please give up on the throne. I’ll stay here if you do. If you become just another court raven, not a golden one. I’ll serve you.

Wakamiya: If you take being the kin'u from me, I’ll have nothing left.

Yukiya: Then get yourselt killed without me. And out of my sight, if you please.

The anime split the dialogue from the original work’s concluding scenes so they could show that Yukiya stayed until Wakamiya had chosen a consort. That is, during their intimate talk the day after Wakamiya’s assassination and the day Yukiya said goodbye.

Though it was implied that Yukiya stayed until Wakamiya had chosen his wife in the original work, meaning after six months was up completing a yearlong service, it felt like it happened on the same day.

Also Sumio in the anime appeared during Yukiya’s farewell scene. But what is remarkable is the way Wakamiya stopping Sumio stating his opinion regarding the duty and the reason a true Golden Raven exists.

Wakamiya/Nazukihiko would like that Yukiya should find it out for himself.

Be careful, Yukiya, of what you wish for. You might probably get it.