Perfect Enemy, Furuba

POST-VOLUME-15 MANGA SPOILERS.

Mechanical pencil doodle of Kureno (left) and Shigure (right) Sohma, cousins of a similar age (mid to late 20's) who have been, seemingly since birth, vying for the romantic favor of their family head, whom only they and two other family members know is actually a woman: Akito Sohma.

While Kureno is more of a caretaker and emotional crutch for Akito, and loves her in an innocent, nurturing way, Shigure shares a far deeper and perhaps darker connection to the woman who (CHAPTER 136/END OF MANGA SPOILER WARNING) eventually becomes his wife. He and Akito see each other as equals and have been deeply connected spiritually, emotionally, and physically since her birth--even since the night of her conception, when Shigure, along with a small handful of other family members, inexplicably awoke from a beautiful dream of the future Akito, crying in both sadness and joy. But Shigure has a rather offputting aloofness at times, which the child Akito interpreted as rejection. In insecurity, she chose Yuki and then Kureno to be her closest companions instead of Shigure--and Kureno became her lover as well, when she became a teenager. Shigure saw this as personal betrayal because he had, in his mind, always made it blatantly clear that he adored and even worshiped Akito, and that his single goal in life was to become closer to her as her lover and soul mate. In jealousy, and a weak moment, he slept with Akito's mother, Ren Sohma, who looked precisely like an older and more "feminine" Akito, professing that this was probably as close as he would ever get to the woman he really loved. Rightly, Akito saw his revenge as cruel and foolish, and cast him out of the house. Until very recently, they have lived in separate homes, both estranged and fiercely attracted to each other. They have finally made peace and reconciled, and become lovers as they always should have been. Kureno has now moved on to Arisa Uotani, a young woman who does not see him as a crutch so much as an equal other human being. Both current pairs, in my opinion, convey to the younger female readers of Fruits Basket just what a "healthy" romantic relationship should be. Kudos to Natsuki Takaya.

However, it is never resolved whether Shigure ever forgave the sweet, guileless Kureno for what he perceived as "stealing" Akito for so many years. I believe that, while Kureno is able to move on from the past readily, Shigure, a good but essentially less kind person, clings to his anger and insecurity for several years to come. I believe this to be true because these two male characters are essentially antithetical and always will be.

"Why should I welcome
Your domination
Why should I listen
To explanations
I'm not pretending
To make it simple
Try to be something
Experimental
You don't turn me off
I will never fail
Things I loved before,
are now for sale
Keep yourself away
Far away from me
I'll Forever stay
Your perfect enemy

No longer waiting
Remove illusions
No more complaining
Forget confusion
No more compassion
Not sentimental
I am now something
Experimental
You don't turn me off
I will never fail
Things I loved before,
are now for sale
Keep yourself away
Far away from me
I'll Forever stay
Your perfect enemy"
--t.A.T.u.