*In-depth on Hotohori*
Hotohori's a real sweetie. Really. I definately think so. He sacrifices so much for Miaka and the rest of Suzaku seishi. It's just that he's stuck w/the job of being emporer, so he doesn't have that much time on his hands and he can't always accompany Miaka (We all know he would if he had the chance). He always wants the best for his country and for his people. (Okay, I admit sometimes he can be a bit clueless about what's going on in the kingdom, like when they visited Tamahome's village.) But basically, you get the point.
Hotohori's narcissism can sometimes be a problem. When Miaka chose to love Tamahome instead of him, Hotohori was quite shocked (and very sad) because he always thought of himself as being "the perfect man?" Cuz in the beginning, he told Miaka that he was sure to make her fall in love with him, but that didn't happen so I guess he feels much more disappointed. (The manga pics of him standing outside lookin' really lonely while Tamahome and Miaka were kissing were sooooooooooooo sad!)
I can't believe Hotohori died at the end! (Hey, I warned ya there'd be spoilers!) He had so much in store for him! I mean, he just married and was about to have a son whom he could love and teach and stuff and he just died! (And for Miaka too, I might add.) Well, I admit he was being pretty stupid when he tried to take on Nakago all by himself. I mean, Nakago's like, way powerful. None of the Suzaku seishi can beat him alone, and even with all their powers combined together, they still can't (I think) beat him. We understand that Hotohori's pretty pissed off at Nakago for trying to take over his country and putting Tamahome and Miaka's relationship in jeopardy so often (isn't he sweet?), but that's not really gonna change the fact that Nakago's much stronger than him. *Sob* the manga pics of Hotohori about to die was sooooooooooooooooo sad!!!!!!!!! There were like, happy flashbacks of him when he met Miaka, him hugging Miaka, etc... I haven't seen the anime episode where he dies yet, so I don't know how it's like in the anime.
Well, at least Hotohori's wife and kid get to see him in the second OVA. He's still dead, so he's like a spirit, but he can still fight. And he takes the body of his young son to apologize to his wife, Houki, for dying on her and Boushin. (Isn't he sweet?)
Back (to the Hotohori Mini-Shrine.)!