Quote by Zangetsu-ssl
Question 1:
As you know all HiME's have child's and a person they love/protect. If something happens to the child they
person they love/protect dies (well, technically
disappear) and vice versa. Also if something happens to the HiME then both the child and the person they love/protect
dies. Now, Akira was protecting Takumi
(Mai's little brother) and Shiho was protecting Tate... as we know both of them get defeated. This eliminates both
of Mai's closest friend (Takumi in a way could
be interpreted as a friend of Mai though he really is her little brother).
When John Smith (the guy in charge of the 4th Publicity Sector of the Seares Foundation) tell's Natsuki that her
mother was 'purged' (presumably killed),
Natsuki seemed to have lost her ability to be a HiME...
'I called out to Duran many times in my heart. But... Duran didn't answer me.'
Episode 22, 7:35 - 7:42.
Here's the million dollar question, if all of the people that Mai was close with were killed/disappeared... who was
she really protecting? 'Coz a HiME can't operate without someone they need/want to protect.
You are forgetting something important here. . .
You are referring to the Key of the Himes ... though i know the key technically Doesn't/was not mentioned in the
Anime. But here are my 2 cents on the matter.
The key ( referred to the most important person to the Hime ) refers to anyone that the HiME values highest in your
heart. That's so far what we do know before we review and had watched the anime. Unfortunately, a shocking
realisation hit us (my fellow pals). The Key need not be anyone. It can be anything the Hime herself truly values.
That' also means the feelings and beliefs of the Hime herself ! A Hime can have multiple Keys and can even switch
them depending on the affection. Natsuki 's example been a solid base there. So, the real question is, what is
Mai's Key ?
ok, to make thing simple, let's refer the "Most important Person" as key ?
I'm doing this in a Spoiler Format. Breaking them from Begining to the end and summarized. Thank god you sure are
lucky i am Hime-Fan.....arhh, don't care, you own me a drink! ;)
Spoiler (show)
The Story had lead us on a run wondering WhO is Mai's most valued person all the while. But if we notice enough,
there are lots of leaks and minor hints on the Main Heroine and charactor of the story, Mai, that it need not to be a
living Person but can be a Belief and a self value as well. Mai cherish Life most knowing
that from her own past experiences. ;)
Here's Hint one. The Flashback. ( Esp. 2 Time: 20.47 - 20.50) , (21.25 - 21.34). It can also mean she loved her
mother more than anyone else in the world but that only serves to uncover our dear heroine's true heart and that is
her desire to protect all life of which serves only to deepen her love for it, knowing that it is a complex yet fragile
gift and belief. However, at those point of time,what we know is ...something bad happened and Mai's mum
died.
Hint 2. The Resolve (Esp. 3 Time : 5.15 - 5.35), (5.40 - 5.43), (7.10 - 7.17)
This steels her resolve to fight for what she believe in and is also the point of time of which comes the impending
decision Making.
Leak 1. The Decision (Esp. 3 Time: 7.20 - 7.25)
Notice what she said, despite Natsuki's Warnings. ;)
Leak 2. Clearer and clearer (Esp. 3 Time: 10.23 - 10.32)
Mai's mum and her last words. The Truth of the matter and the steel of her resolve in her new beliefs, viewing the
world from a different perspective.
It is here we came to know that Mai's love was to protect everyone, technically, to protect her beliefs, that is,
Life is precious and must be cherished/love equally. If it means ending her life for it, she will do so knowing it is a
value one must not throw it away and take it for granted. At this point, one of my pals
also came up with a solid basis that Mai's Key is her Mother. (I'll leave that for the moment) and the group
of us had a hot debate over it for 7 weeks before coming to the conclusion and the final answer was concluded.
To confuse us further and lead us into a tangled web on the search for the answer, the clip shows the spark of grueling
and increasing crush between Mai and Yuuichi Tate. (Eps 3 Time: 16.00 -16.07), the Sister's Love for her Sibling
(Eps. 3 Time: 17.01 - 17.20). Yet, they leak yet another !
Leak 3. The Purpose ( Eps 3 Time: 18.30 - 18.50) ;) ENough said. She just wants to enjoy an ordinary life with her
brother (Sort of make up for her past) and becoming Hime will endanger all who are close to her. At this point,
Mai' doesn't know she made the right decision in coming.
Hint 3. Doubts and questions (Eps 3. Time: 18.40 - 19.03)
Mashiro Kazahana knows something we had yet to know then. She knew it was selfish to ask Mai to accept her Fate Cause
both share quite the same and parallel beliefs ... only that Mashiro Kazahana knows the rules and had found the answer
only too late.
Leak 4 (Eps 13 Time: 12.58 onwards.)
Mr Evil Reito Kanzaki, host of the Osidian lord, executes his plans on grabbing her love for him, not realising that her
true love/value lies deeper. Also, this episode serves as the breaking point as of explaination on Mai's true key.
Cause, now, we will have 3 Men and one Girl that Mai loves all dearly. Haiz~~~ So complicated. Golden Triangle eh ? All
the more the producer wants us to throw us off on Mai's true key. She loves Takumi and Mikoto in a
motherly/sisterly way while developing romantic feelings for both Tate and Reito.
Hint 5 (Eps.11 Time: 9.40-10.15)
The conversation with Nagi Homura and Mai's Hesitation. For power or be consume by power ? Facing a threatening
decision yet again on her choice of becoming a Hime.
Leak 5 (Eps 14. Time : 17.05 - 18.10)
Conversation with Mikoto. .. .. Forgot ^_^' ... Lol. Just know it it there.
The Big Revelation(Eps 24 Time: 4.18 -5.30)
Only to find out the purpose of her belief, what it means to her truly. And that is to find true love... *Sob*
All the while, the key was, Love of herself and Beliefs..Beliefs as in, she believe that The love of Life is the
greatest Gift and thing she value.Of which is thus comes the strength of her Child. Which is also why she CHoose to
ForFeit and tOok a big Gambit on becoming a Hime during the Bonding Contract in the Cave.. (Epsiode 3 Time : 7.36 -
7.38) when she cried out Kagutsuchi 's name, because she simply cannot allow her belief to die,knowing it is right
and she wanted to Protect everyone with the strength and power offered then even if it means forsaking her own life and
destiny. Funny thing is, It is her destiny to do that !
I'm sorry if that's all i can remember writing all this infront of my lappy for the past 1hr and my collegues
are bugging me to eat. I sincerely apologise if i miss out some important points to buckle up some loop holes i made up
there but i do hope it partially answer your burning question. ;)
So the answer to your Million dollar question, is, Mai's Key, is, the Key for the
Love of Life. ;)
Of course, new findings and your opinions are most sincerely welcome. Mine is based on the Research we put up for 4
months work, about 20 months ago. I'll try to get back to you when i am home. But i doubt so since i think, newer
posters and more experienced MTers will have answered your question. ^^V
Er... Drinks ? I am sooo thirsty.... -_- ... Hungry too ! :D
