Work Text:
Musings:
- It was clear that Mizu, at the end of S1, has let her hair (just bangs lol bc of the low budget) down and so it's very likely that she was not alone in going to London but has accepted or the very least tolerated help from others (ehem Taigen,Ringo,Akemi,others)
- It's more realistic and in keeping with the show's vibe and story that Taigen and Mizu continue this dynamic of being around each other but doesn't really realize their feelings for one another-- BECAUSE (let me explain) there's still a lot of development that I'd like Taigen and Mizu to go through before they actually have names for what they feel.
- I feel like Taigen has to be accountable for what he has done to Mizu when they were kids. He is a man of honor and I think the more he is with Mizu he also realizes how wrong he was of thinking of her as a demon, a dog. BUT I THINK it's really important that he recognizes this, he takes accountability of this, and apologizes for this and most especially, makes amends.
- A lot of people would like to opt out of the TaiMizu ship because it's Mizu falling for her bully but I digress in making that general conclusion. There is a lot of nuances to that. Taigen was literally a kid absorbing everything he had heard from adults around him and that is why he thought of Mizu like that. We see that the next time setting we see them meet again is during the duel in the Dojo and they're both grown-ups. Taigen and Mizu both were fighters and they're "fighting" no longer really falls under the "bullying" definition. We also see that it's not just mere violence that comes in their dynamic but Taigen was protecting his co-samurais while Mizu was attacking their dojo. I think that kid Taigen was a bully but I think it is a disservice to Taigen's story to make it his whole personality and we see that the story also paints him as nuanced character.
- Personally, I think it would be Taigen's guilt and pursuit of honor that will make him decide that he'd help Mizu considering that it will absolve him of his past mistakes. And in the journey of helping Mizu, he fully knows her and falls deeper for her but also, maintains a certain type of restraint because he is not that kind of person that will take advantage of making a romantic move while Mizu let's him inside her sphere and considers him only as a comrade. So despite his feelings growing bigger and bigger for Mizu, he shuts it up.
- I think there will be new characters introduced in the upcoming season and I hope that there will be lots of them, this will also not only add layers to the story but propel that narrative forward in terms of the relationship of each character towards one another. Taigen might get jealous or competitive for Mizu's attention as they meet other people. I was thinking it would be really nice for Mizu to meet someone like her and/or who may be Japanese but lived with half-bloods-- like Mizu's maid-- people who were also tasked to take care of other half-bloods and did so willingly because they were just good people. I think this will really stir up feelings from Taigen and also will be a catalyst on how he realizes that the real demon was them who ostracized and discriminated the halfbloods.
- I think it would also be nice to see Mizu see a possibility of her blending in a community so it would be nice if they find out about small communities that are accepting of the half bloods.
- While I'm so obsessed with TaiMizu ship and I have probably read all the fics here, I think that it is OOC for Mizu to actually admit her feelings and sleep with Taigen. She's a determined woman and also, a person who just does not want to have any good feelings to avoid anymore hurt so naturally, she'd just not welcome any gesture from Taigen. She does notice it though and she also starts feeling things but she shuts it down. She thinks she hides it perfectly well but her need and want of Taigen comes out from the way she would always banter with him, she would spar with him. At the very least, she allows herself this.
- I think Taigen will find out about her secret in season 2. And I think this would also add to that layer of why Taigen cannot just be upfront about his romantic feelings for her because he promised that nothing would change and he would feel like having feelings for her is stepping that line.
- BASICALLY, THE WHOLE SERIES WOULD BE MIZU AND TAIGEN PINING FOR EACH OTHER. JK. BUT I MEAN.
- i think the only way Mizu will open her walls is when Taigen really does something that will get to her heart (like Mikio had done when he gifted Kai to her)
- In my head, I imagined that while killing the last white man, Taigen gets a severe injury protecting Mizu or helping her and when Mizu kills the last white man, she rushes to Taigen who looks dying and she cries. She realizes that her satisfaction may not be borne from killing the four white men but by seeing Taigen live.
- Taigen lives and this is how he gets the courage to try confessing his feelings for her on the way back to Japan.
- Mizu, sober from all the adrenaline and stress from all that fighting and seeing that Taigen was okay and feeling a little embarrassed about how she reacted when he was dying, wore a mask. She was not as cold but she was trying to be distant, scared of how much emotions she showed and scared she'd be rejected if she shows any more than what she has already showed.
- So both idiots are back to pining but this time, no more arguments, just friendly banter and thinking of what to do once they are back in Japan.
- They both parted ways when the ship docked.
- Taigen went on to be a samurai under Akemi's reign.
- Akemi took Taigen in because she knows she can trust him. Taigen is happy for Akemi and her husband. Akemi's husband on the other hand then got a little bit jealous and this jealousy will also be a nice device for Akemi and her husband to grow close together.
- As a samurai, Taigen would need a new sword but also this was just an excuse to see Mizu again.
- Taigen is shocked to see that Mizu was no longer in a samurai clothing but in her kimono. She let her hair down and obviously, she's not wearing her bindings because her curves are more prominent. She was practicing with her sword alone and Taigen felt a little playful (a little turned on) and jumped in front of Mizu, deflecting her sword with his own. Mizu was shocked and they sparred for a few more seconds until Mizu was able to pin him on the ground. "Looks like Edo's greatest samurai isn't so great after all"
- Taigen couldn't find the right banter and only had the truth to say: "you;re beautiful"
- BTW, this last scene was inspured by that scene in Princess Mononoke.
- Moving on to Akemi's story, I really love for her to actually have a nice relationship with her husband. I think Akemi's husband also has a lot of potential to have a great story.
- In S1, we see that the shogun's wife told their eldest son to lock out the others as they were escaping in a passage way, I was hoping that the second son was merciful enough to go back and let them through just out of empathy but this would also have an effect as those people then pledge their loyalty to him. This will be a great device in the story of how the second son gets to be the next shogun.
- I would also love to see how Akemi plays everyone. She is smart and I really love to see her at the top. What I would also like to see tho is that as she only dreams of being great, her husband is actually very loyal to her and also wants to see her be great and actually supports her. I think this will also be a nice consolation that Akemi actually has a really good husband while ending up as the ruler of their society.
- For Ringo, I would love to see him train more and be able to also understand his strengths as he journeys with Mizu and Taigen. I want him to be able to wield his weapon of choice and be really good at it.
- In my head, after Mizu kills the four white men, she will come back to Swordfather and may decide to make swords again and it will be Ringo who will bring Mizu her first student, knowing Ringo who is such a lovely and friendly person, he befriended a young man who wanted to be a samurai and recommended that Mizu teach him.
Anyway, that is all for today, thank you for indulging me and also, don't come for me, I'll cry.
ALSO: if you want to make fanfics from these musings, you are more than welcome! Don't forget to tag me because I'd love to read them.