This is a tribute to Norio Koga; a character who deserves much attention, I think, in the fabulous manga called Shadow Star Narutaru.

I'm not much for writing fanfiction because they're essentially semi-original stories that use other people's characters. I'd rather write my OWN original story with my OWN original characters. Making up characters is half the fun of writing.

There are times, however, that I really like a character I see in an anime or manga. Usually, though, I just take their essence and change their name to make them mine and write my own original story, pretending it's not a fanfiction, even though it essentially IS... In THIS case, however, I won't. I didn't. Both the character and story were so perfect already. I'm a bit envious, but I know that I never would have come up with this character to start with. It doesn't cross my mind to use things like hermaphroditic, androgynous, or homosexual characters when I'm writing, so I can't be too jealous; I never would have come up with this story if left to my own. I do, however, thoroughly admire it and want to write SOMETHING about it. A tribute's just as good as coming up with it on my own, to my mind. It's nearly the same, but a little different take.

So this is Norio's life and death; a BEAUTIFUL, POWERFUL, PAINFUL life and death. If he were a girl, then what happens, I think, just wouldn't be the same... Even if he were a girl that had some sort of fertility problem. The fact that he's a guy is what I think makes it so powerful. We, as human beings, are attracted to certain things, intrigued by certain things, fascinated by certain things. I think that one of these certain things is immorality. We know it's bad, we know it's wrong, and so it has an appeal. It has an appeal because it's so distasteful, because it's against society.

Me myself, thinking of Norio...he's such an amazing and brilliant character. If you've ever read the manga, then in Chapter 46 when he visits one of Tsurumaru's many girlfriends, you can kind of feel the pain and feel the resentment when he sees her with her baby. I don't think he's necessarily "gay;" I just think he's a girl trapped in a body that LOOKS like a girl's, but really ISN'T… I don't think he really wants to have a relationship with Tsurumaru other than the one they have right now, one of deep friendship. If he were a girl, he would wish so. But he knows he's not, and so he accepts his situation as it is. I think he has a tragic death that really DOES go deep. Cutting off his earring, slashing his "Achille's heel," naming his shadow dragon "Vagina Dentata," which was told of in some folk tales to "discourage the act of rape," and even the failed soul transfer at the end that comes out as a baby, which I think was his wish... It's all so brilliant. When I first read it, I was really amazed that he was letting that happen while protecting Tsurumaru. I couldn't believe it at first. Like, "What the HECK! You're gonna let them DO that to you...? TRY TO ESCAPE! TRY TO GET AWAY! WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE DOOIINNGG!?" But then, I realized the beauty of his friendship and his love that he feels for Tsurumaru.

I have a lot of respect for Mohiro Kitoh, the mangaka of this manga. If you haven't read this manga, I recommend it wholeheartedly. It's the best manga I've ever read, and perhaps the best THING that I've ever read. It's just that powerful, and really makes you think. Don't read it if you're faint of heart; you gotta be somewhat tough. But read it. It'll change your life in SOME way, whether minimal or not. I cried from Norio's death to the end, and then I cried at the end. Then I thought about it a little, and then I cried some more. I've never cried so much after reading something before. You don't think it'll be like that because it starts out with a 12-year-old girl and a cute little star thing, of course. But gradually, she loses her innocence as the people around her show THEIR lack of innocence, and all of the people dear to her she loses in the end. It's really sad, but sadness is another certain thing that attracts us, I believe. And in its very sadness, it is beautiful; the LAST thing that I think is what attracts us.

Sorry for the rambling; and if you read this, thanks.

Enjoy.

Part I

I look like a girl, but I'm really a boy—

And so I can never take part in the joy

That women have of being wife,

That women have creating life.

I wear an earring in each ear;

You couldn't tell, unless you're near

Enough to touch my very chest,

That I don't have a woman's breast—

Which you would need

To child feed—

And that I'm not a girl.

My hair is straight—no curl,

And it is very long.

My muscles are not strong,

And I am very thin.

It's pale and soft—my skin.

My legs and face both have no hair,

And what I tend to always wear

Is nevertheless—

Though not skirt or dress—

Of a girl expected,

Although I've been rejected

By either sex, 'cause I'm between;

Society is mean.

I, even so, collaborate

With he whom I can tolerate;

We both live here,

This warehouse dear—

The edge of town;

It's brown.

People do I truly hate,

But him I can appreciate

Because he doesn't of me speak

As if I am some sort of freak,

And that I am some sort of queer

Is something that he doesn't fear.

He, himself, is something new,

For what it is his goal to do:

He wants to plant as many seeds

As he is able—so he breeds.

So far, he has a quarter score,

But he still hopes for many more.

I, myself, of this don't care;

I, myself, can't child bear.

Even so, it bothers me,

'Cause stupid girls I hate to see—

And there is also one, it's true,

Who wonders what I plan to do—

If I will with him always stay,

Although it surely hurts this way.

She is nothing like me, though;

She had his kid not long ago.

That is something I can't do,

And neither can I bid ado.

So even if they come and go—

And they might have his kid, I know—

I try to but ignore they're here,

Although I may just shed a tear.

None, however, has he kept,

After, with them, he has slept,

So I have been with him the longer,

Though their bond with him was stronger.

Lately, though, I fear the worst—

It seems with love he has been cursed.

Not just interest, not just lust—

Something deeper I don't trust.

Will it tear him, now, from me…?

I guess I have to wait and see…