I think we're supposed to be struck by the tragedy of Makie's life, it's just hard to care when she's always whining and running. Rin is actually usually a LOT more competent on her own...she survived on her own for two years and, for her youth and naivette, did surprisingly well when she took off on her own. Honestly, I think she's just had it so rough that when there's a guy around, she wants to be taken care of a bit(perfectly natural, really) And, let's face it, even when he's giving her his tough love routine, Manji tends to coddle the girl a lot. And Anotsu...well while I wouldn't say he feels guilt over the past, he does recognize that he has a certain responsibility to her and it-combined with the fact that she's kind of like this cute wounded kitten trying to scratch him-makes him inclined to take care of her.
As far as the Itto Ryu goes, Magatsu has never struck me as caring a bit about anything but keeping anotsu alive and getting the chance to kill some samurai. In Last Blood(or was it the next arc? I get the titles confused sometimes), I had the impression that the ONLY reason he was involved was to make sure ALL that happened with Rin was kidnapping(lets face it, without him there, she probably would have fared as bad as Hyakurin did in Beasts)-there was a distinct impression of both controlling the situation and REALLY not wanting to be there. From his reaction, he though the poison was hogwash...probably thought Manji would show up, kill the others and that would be that, or something along those lines(in the fight, he was just kinda wandering around, hoping he wouldn't have to fight anyone but not wanting to take off before it was over, and it was clear that, despite what he said, he felt more obligated to fight than any real need to). From Manji's reaction when he showed up, he clearly doesn't view Magatsu as being remotely a threat to Rin...the almost-PG version of what he was thinking that was "What the hell? YOU have her? Damn, I may have just as well left her with a babysitter! Stupid punk! I got things to do here!" (Incidentally, one of my favorite scenes is when they meet again after vol 2. Best way to tame 2 psycho swordsmen? Be a girl half their size and ask what their doing. Course, it only works if they both have serious sister complexes. Hmm...I should post the scene to scand_daily...)
Even in book 2, I think we kinda knew that Magatsu was just blowing hot air about killing Rin to stick it to Manji, but in the flashback to her parents' deaths when he tried to help her mother, I think we knew that it wouldn't have happened...he just wanted Manji to think it would. I don't think he COULD hurt or kill a woman unless she was actively trying to kill him and he couldn't just fight her off*which is basically limited to Makie)
Rin, I think, is safe from Anotsu unless she gets to be good enough to really be a threat to him. HE definately has a feeling of responsibility for her, and an awareness that she has every right to kill him, he just won't let her.
I've wondered a lot about how Magatsu and Anotsu met...they've referred to "all these years" at times, which leaves me with the idea of a young(12~) Magatsu deciding he'd beat up some skinny uppity samurai kid and getting his butt kicked, and keep on trying until they somehow became friends. But it's obvious Anotsu is the only reason he follows the Itto Ryu, and that, now that it's more than just fighting and killing people who piss you off, he's not interested any more. He only came back because he though Anotsu needed him. I get the feeling the only other one he actually likes is Abayama(who wouldn't?) but beyond that, he really couldn't care.
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As far as the Itto Ryu goes, Magatsu has never struck me as caring a bit about anything but keeping anotsu alive and getting the chance to kill some samurai. In Last Blood(or was it the next arc? I get the titles confused sometimes), I had the impression that the ONLY reason he was involved was to make sure ALL that happened with Rin was kidnapping(lets face it, without him there, she probably would have fared as bad as Hyakurin did in Beasts)-there was a distinct impression of both controlling the situation and REALLY not wanting to be there. From his reaction, he though the poison was hogwash...probably thought Manji would show up, kill the others and that would be that, or something along those lines(in the fight, he was just kinda wandering around, hoping he wouldn't have to fight anyone but not wanting to take off before it was over, and it was clear that, despite what he said, he felt more obligated to fight than any real need to). From Manji's reaction when he showed up, he clearly doesn't view Magatsu as being remotely a threat to Rin...the almost-PG version of what he was thinking that was "What the hell? YOU have her? Damn, I may have just as well left her with a babysitter! Stupid punk! I got things to do here!" (Incidentally, one of my favorite scenes is when they meet again after vol 2. Best way to tame 2 psycho swordsmen? Be a girl half their size and ask what their doing. Course, it only works if they both have serious sister complexes. Hmm...I should post the scene to scand_daily...)
Even in book 2, I think we kinda knew that Magatsu was just blowing hot air about killing Rin to stick it to Manji, but in the flashback to her parents' deaths when he tried to help her mother, I think we knew that it wouldn't have happened...he just wanted Manji to think it would. I don't think he COULD hurt or kill a woman unless she was actively trying to kill him and he couldn't just fight her off*which is basically limited to Makie)
Rin, I think, is safe from Anotsu unless she gets to be good enough to really be a threat to him. HE definately has a feeling of responsibility for her, and an awareness that she has every right to kill him, he just won't let her.
I've wondered a lot about how Magatsu and Anotsu met...they've referred to "all these years" at times, which leaves me with the idea of a young(12~) Magatsu deciding he'd beat up some skinny uppity samurai kid and getting his butt kicked, and keep on trying until they somehow became friends. But it's obvious Anotsu is the only reason he follows the Itto Ryu, and that, now that it's more than just fighting and killing people who piss you off, he's not interested any more. He only came back because he though Anotsu needed him. I get the feeling the only other one he actually likes is Abayama(who wouldn't?) but beyond that, he really couldn't care.