Soldiers Rhapsody: Dearka/Yzak

[ex_gaignun]

Quick look into Gundam SEED

Like a lot of Gundam series, there are such things as space colonies where humans can dwell, these "colonies" in SEED are called PLANTs, which are hourglass-shaped and 10 kilometers in diameter. Originally, they were built for manufacturing purposes, but eventually Coordinators moved to the PLANTs to live after rising tension between Coordinators and Naturals.

Naturals are normal human beings just like you and me. Coordinators are people who's physical and mental capabilites are broadened through genetic enginering. They have the ability to learn faster and are better protected against illnesses compared to Naturals. The genetics, though, can only be done while still in the fetus stage.

The first Coordinator was a man named George Glenn, who, after addrsssing the world what was done to him to make him so succesful in everything he did, sent them directions on what exactly to do to make a Coordinator. Much like this world, people don't like ideas like that, so this is what started the trouble as more Coordinators were born. Some Naturals having a you can say jealous inferiority complex, while some Coordinators having that better than thou complex in return.

One of the biggest starts toward Gundam SEED's war was George Glenn's assasination. Because of the tensions that were around before that, naturally, military training and forces start to arise. Mobile Suits as well. The strongest of the MS being Gundams. But in SEED, Gundams aren't called "Gundams", but rather G units. Kira Yamato first calls it a Gundam because of the first lettes of each word on the OS screen. Which is General Unilateral Neuro-link Dispersive Autonomic Maneuver system. Orb, which was a neutral nation, allowed the Earth Alliance (Natural army) to build the Gundams on a colony they owned. ZAFT(Coordnator forces) caught onto the plan and 4/5 of the Gundams were stolen, Heliopolis being destroyed. That's how the series starts out.

The series has amazing character development throughout it. Unlike some series where there is more story or fighting rather than focusing on the characters, SEED takes in all of it making it one hell of an addicting series. xD



The Characters
Note: The links all link to official images and screenshots. :)

Uhh. XD Spoilers.

We never get too much of a good look into the out-of-war lives of Yzak Jule and Dearka Elthman, so we don't really have a good feeling about how they grew up, and in what environments. What we do know is that both of their parents, Ezaria Jule (Yzak's Mother) and Tad Elthman (Dearka's Father) are on PLANT's Supreme Council under their leader, Patrick Zala (who is the father of Athrun Zala, who while not really connected to this FST, was one of the 4 of the Klueze squad, made up of also Yzak and Dearka)

Yzak Jule comes off in the first episodes as a leader-type, but we soon see that he's got one hell of an attitude and short temper. Most of the time this temper is taken out on Athrun Zala, who is his rival. Back in the academy days when they were in training, Athrun always came out on top, while Yzak had to settle for second best all the time to him. Even at the very end, Athrun was the best of the graduates, Yzak right behind him. He seems like a pompus Coordinator who's totally anti-Natural who doesn't even get along well or care much for anybody around him, but you see as the series goes on that he really has the best interests in heart. And that while he stayed with ZAFT until the very end, he was doing so not because he agreed with Patrick Zala's ideals, but beacause as a soldier, he wanted to protect his home. And after certain things happened, you see the impact on him with the idea of losing his teamates and friends, meaning despite what he does or says, he really always did care for them, and yes even Athrun. XD

He pilots the Duel Gundam, which he stole on ZAFT's raid to Heliopolis. And from what series suggests, though I said what I said above, he seldom got along or actually communicated much with Athrun or his other teamate Nicol, the only person he really got along with or never exploded at was Dearka, who also had the most impact on him later on in the series.

Along the way, Yzak obtains an injury in a fight with Kira Yamato and the Strike Gundam, he gets a big-ol scar on his face, and the vengeance-drive he had after that made him the most bitter he was in the whole series, however through the said changes his character goes through, in the end revenge on him didn't matter when things were getting ugly and all of PLANT was in jeopardy.

Dearka Elthman doesn't get too much to himself in the beginning of the series. When he talks or does something, it's usualy in agreeance to Yzak or something to that acccount. He does come off as a sort of bastard that Yzak originally came off as, only difference being Yzak is obnoxious about it, while Dearka is more cool and smooth.

We see more of his assholish tendancies after he gets captured by the opposing side in the series. Though a prisoner, he couldn't keep his snide remarks down to the crew of their enemy, the Archangel. Because of one of these remarks to a girl named Miriallia Haww about her crying, he almost got killed by her in a rage. Mainly since he asked if she was crying because her, as he put it, "stupid Natural boyfriend" got killed or something, which was ironically exactly why she was crying.

While he was a prisoner on the Archangel , he missed a lot of things going on outside with the actual war. By that time the Archangel had defected itself to Orb after it was given a death-mission by the Earth Alliance and found out about it. He winds up getting let go because of Archangel's broken ties to the Alliance, but helps them out in Buster. He gets a better sense of what was really going on around him then. And once Orb gets destroyed, they start their own defection alliance, to stop the war rather than choose sides, Dearka staying to help out that cause. He stated though they were still fighting the Alliance, so that was one reason why he had stayed, so the statement says that he still wants to fight them, I'd say as a reason to not look totally unfaithful to ZAFT and PLANT.

He becomes less of an ass to put it simply at the end of the series, and fights for what he believes in, despite the obvious pain he had to go through facing Yzak. And compared to what he was in the beginning, that's a really big step. And on a fun-related note: They made Dearka defect in the series only because models of his Gundam, Buster weren't selling well. XD



Dearka x Yzak

Dearka and Yzak have a very obvious close relationship, whether you like yaoi or not. Looking at it from one way, they are friends, much like Kira and Athrun who eventually have to face troubles with one another, but even through that, Yzak and Dearka overcome them in the end and hold no grudges. Gundam is a real pool full of pairings and fandom, which is admittedly a turn off a lot of times for people, but I'm only sticking to these two. When you look at this from the pairing point of view, you can say they are hinted at slightly, always together, able to stand eachother while Yzak barely has much faith in anybody else. Both of their reactions when facing the reality that they are on opposing sides, and how much it hurt them both at the thought of hurting the other. I mean heck, at the end of the series, and in the still-airing sequel, Gundam SEED Destiny, Dearka, who as I mentioned above defected to the neutral side, went back to PLANT and ZAFT and is once again fighting with Yzak. Not to mention the second opening has them posed looking at eachother and smiling, and the second ending has them facing eachother (the end sequence is a scrolling image so the characters line up with the "counterpart" person they're supposed to be with :D).

They still are a fandom pairing though, but what in Gundam ISN'T? If you take a look anywhere on the net, there is almost every pairing imaginable, when only Athrun/Cagalli, Tolle/Miriallia, and Mwu/Murrue were absolutely canon in SEED. But my basis on liking Dearka/Yzak isn't because "They're hot and I want to see hot men do it!" but because they'd make sense in the series. http://yzak.nu/deepemotion is my obsessilove shine to them, and if you look at the official images in the media section, well look how many of them there are! =D

And it's not as if, as I have said, there isn't anything to go by in the series as well. Yzak and Dearka usually stayed around one another when it came to the group events between the Klueze squad, Dearka almost always agreed with what Yzak said, may it be in regards to Athrun or any other matter. Whenever Yzak threw one of his tantrums and stormed out of the room, Dearka followed right behind him (it would have been nice to see how exactly Dearka planned on calming him down >D). Yzak had Dearka on the mind before they re-met eachother in Mendel colony, because since Yzak thought he was dead, that there was another pilot inside of the Buster Gundam, which infuriated Yzak. "How dare you use Dearka's unit!" And Yzak's total shock when Dearka let him know it was him was heartbreaking. :( He couldn't believe it, and even said he was happy that he was alive, but since he was fighting for a side ZAFT was ultimately against, that he wouldn't be forgiven for this.

Yzak acted bold about it, because Dearka wanted to talk him without being in a mobile suit, by pulling a gun on him. But Yzak wouldn't shoot him regardless, and Dearka left the colony after they talked without any kind of resistance from Yzak to stop him or hurt him. Yzak's face when Dearka gets into Buster and leaves is so sad. :( And then after that when they meet in the battlefield they still don't try and attack one another. And there's big time obvious angst going on. In one of the SEED video games, that have all these extra cut scenes has a really nice scene of Dearka staring angstly into space thinking of what Yzak said and did, and then talks to Athrun about it (Athrun eventually defected to the neutral side as well), since Athrun and Kira fought one another after being old time friends. The only difference between both sets of friends was that Kira and Athrun tried not to fight, but tensions and anger and deaths around them lead them to go at eachother for the kill. Yzak and Dearka avoided hurting one another the time they were apart.

At the end of the series when Dearka comes close to dying, Yzak in the episode gets the big dramatic reacion over it, and even saves him in what is my absolute favorite scene in the entire series, since Yzak is down a gun, shield and armor, but still stays to protect him. Together they both survived it.

After the series Dearka goes back to PLANT with Yzak, and in Destiny he's still there with him, the sequel takes place 2 years after, so they've been back and together for that long. XD ;; And yes already in Destiny there are hints for them, since Dearka is his second in command so obviously getting the favorite treatment. Well not really, XD But Yzak TRUSTS HIM enough to give him the responsibility, so you can look at it both ways. There was a hint that they faced more problems after the first war, as Yzak told Athrun in one of the episodes, which means that Yzak and Dearka had to face them together, so in any case that counts for sticking together and getting through it and getting always closer in the process.

And I think that's it. XD;; They both influence the other greatly, and as a pairing they have their own differing traits that it makes the idea very interesting in terms of a relationship. ^_^ So if you ever get into the SEED fandom, or specificaly enough, into the DeaYza fandom, harass me! I always want to meet new fans since the fandom needs more of them. :)



This was .. very stressful for me at a lot of points, especially when I realized the deadline was growing closer, and I barely had anything to work with. My biggest problem with the entire thing was not because it's a fandom pairing, but because of ways to portray it. If you look at Athrun x Kira in Gundam SEED for example, that would be easier to work with, because they're both boys, and while I'm not going to say they're "girly", they look like they'd have more of a gentle relationship. Where as with Dearka x Yzak, when you think of them you don't think of sappy love songs, even if this is a pairing FST. >_>; You think of a more .. I can't think of a better word than lustful or something to that liking, but actual feelings toward one another would definately be applied.

Either way, I was stuck, and I want to thank bittercherries the most, for sending me a few songs she thought would be good for it, that led me to go on a huge-drive to find a few more songs, and to kelroni for sending me a good song as well and being approval to the song I wanted to use as Dearka's. XD AND for being my super awesome Dearka in the RPs we have done so far. XD And thank everyone else who so much as gave me a word of advice toward the FST, since every little piece of help really helped me with finishing it okay. :D I just hope it came out okay overall so I don't dissapoint my fandom. ^_^;







These are in series order, if you have any problems with downloading, please say so so I can reupload. Also feedback is appreciated on the whole thing, and please comment if you downloaded. :D

[1] Sting - Children's Crusade
download :: mirror :: lyrics

The soldiers in Gundam SEED are still so young. Yzak and Dearka are just 17 themselves. - Young men, soldiers, nineteen fourteen, marching through countries they'd never seen. Virgins with rifles, a game of charades, all for a children's crusade // And stained in the blood of a whole generation

[2] Linkin Park - Faint
download :: mirror :: lyrics

This song reminds me of Yzak a lot. XD - I am a little bit of loneliness, a little bit of disregard, handful of complaints but I can't help the fact that everybody can see these scars

[3] Velvet Underground - I'll Be Your Mirror
download :: mirror :: lyrics

More of a Dearka song, and how he deals with Yzak's temper. Constantly. - I'll be your mirror. Reflect what you are, in case you don't know.

[4] Sting - Inside
download :: mirror :: lyrics

In a war, one of the comforts for escaping the fighting is a romance. Yzak doesn't seem like the type who's too in touch with his feelings. Love is percieved as a bad thing, but he wants it anyway. - A violation, a mutilation, capitulation, love is annihilation. // Annihilate me, infiltrate me, incinerate me, accelerate me, mutilate me, inundate me, violate me, implicate me, vindicate me, devastate me

[5] Alanis Morissette - Can't Deny
download :: mirror :: lyrics

Dearka is the more optimistic of the two and has a better temperment. But his character is more complex than he lets on - I'm not like an open book 'cause I've got something in mind // Give me love, I know that you can, I like the strength of a confident man. It's in my blood and all through my veins, you feel it once and you're never the same

[6] Tool - Parabola
download :: mirror :: lyrics

Everyone doubts what they're fighting for, and everyone suffers some form of pain in a war. While people around him had emotional pain, Yzak gets the physical type. That and since the former songs were more about blooming feelings, this pertains to both injury and the next step. - This body. This body holding me. Be my reminder here that I am not alone in this body, this body holding me, feeling eternal. All this pain is an illusion.

[7] Nine Inch Nails - Closer
download :: mirror :: lyrics

Like I mentioned about Dearka/Yzak being compared to the more gentle say Athrun/Kira pairing, this is the a better description of their relationship than what I could give. - you let me violate you, you let me desecrate you, you let me penetrate you, you let me complicate you // I drink the honey inside your hive, you are the reason I stay alive

[8] Wicked - As Long As You're Mine
download :: mirror :: lyrics

Stepping off of the lust factor and into the romance one. - And if it turns out it's over too fast, I'll make every last moment last, As long as you're mine:

[9] Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia
download :: mirror :: lyrics

Dearka and Athrun have gone MIA right after Nicol was killed, but they're just MIA, so they could come back, not too much time has passed yet to call them dead. - I walked the avenue till my legs felt like stone, I heard the voices of friends vanished and gone // The night has fallen, I'm lyin' awake, I can feel myself fading away. So receive me brother with your faithless kiss, or will we leave each other alone like this?

[10] Coldplay - A Whisper
download :: mirror :: lyrics

Eventually, only Athrun returns, but he's soon promoted and leaves, leaving Yzak alone anyway, while the deaths of Nicol and Dearka are still setting in. - I hear the sound of the ticking of clocks who remembers your face, who remembers you when you are gone

[11] Korn - Alone I Break
download :: mirror :: lyrics

"How can you attack enemies who can't even move?" Yzak is starting to see the uselessness of war, especially since he has nobody to fight with or for. Dearka was taken from him without as much as a question, a death like that breaks people. - Now I see the times they changed, leaving doesn't seem so strange. I am hoping I can find where to leave my hurt behind // Heart stops, I stand alone. Can't be on my own

[12] Adema - Betray
download :: mirror :: lyrics

The fated reunion. The songs lyrics sound from this POV more like a back and forth song. - I cannot change the fact, that you're not coming back, so depressed, I'm your slave // Betray me, you're not the one, to be trusted with my love // I had to leave, so I could breathe. I hate to fight, that's not what I want

[13] Thrice - Kill Me Quickly
download :: mirror :: lyrics

As the war turns into a complete spiral, both of them fear meeting again under the circumstances to fight one another. - 'Cause I'm sick of the stabbing, I'm sick of the breaking, I'm sick of the bleeding until we fall down, sick of this circle of death that we dance through // But I need your heartbeat to haunt me, your cold lips to breathe a promise that, tomorrow we'll wake up somewhere new.

[14] Final Fantasy IX - Melodies of Life
download :: mirror :: lyrics

A more slow-tuned song as the series reaches the end and everything looks bad. Nuclear weapons threaten to destroy PLANT, while in turn a gamma ray threatens the entire Earth. Through the war and worries they are dealt, what they had before it all happened was just as important. - I was wandering without a destination, I continued to search without any clues. Making the memories you gave to me into a song to heal my heart

[15] Pearl Jam - Save You
download :: mirror :: lyrics

Dearka comes close to getting killed in the final battle, and despite being unarmed and almost as vulnerable, Yzak doesn't leave and stays to save him. - You helped me when I was down, I’ll help when you’re down // And I’m not living this life without you, I’m selfist and clear. And you’re not leaving here without me, I don’t wanna be without my best friend, wake up to see you could have it all

[16] Lacuna Coil - Wave of Anguish
download :: mirror :: lyrics

The OVA for SEED was released with the last DVD, which portrayed Yzak as on PLANT's council, Dearka with him seemingly as a bodyguard. Destiny changed their positions, so I hope they didn't ignore the OVA but somehow tied it in instead. After the backing of Patrick Zala, the need for more members was needed, and Yzak found himself with all sorts of responsibilities. - I don't understand this wave I'm in, wrong place, no money, just responsibilities

[17] Hikaru no Go - Get Over
download :: mirror :: lyrics

Between the OVA and Destiny, new chairman Gilbert Dullindal doesn not punish the children who were taken into a war started by adults, because he wants them who have seen the uselessness and pain of war to build the future. - You support me now, and I support you now. So let's wander and live towards the future together

[18] Alicia Keys - Fight
download :: mirror :: lyrics

Yzak said himself that they're only in ZAFT again because it's the only thing the could do to protect their home. To make sure the same things don't happen again, especially in his and Dearka's case. - Is it really not right to fight for you? I didn't come all this way just to loose. I didn't give you my heart so you could break it, we're gonna make it, even if I have to fight for you.

[19] Shania Twain - You're Still the One
download :: mirror :: lyrics

After the things they went through, and faced with the situation now, they're still together as they were, now stronger than ever. So here's a dose of sap! - Looks like we made it, look how far we've come my baby. We mighta took the long way, we knew we'd get there someday // They said, "I bet they'll never make it", but just look at us holding on

[20] Seki Tomokazu - Ookami no Namida
download :: mirror :: lyrics

Yzak's image song. While he has an official image song on the Gundam SEED CDs, this song would be my Yzak character's song. When I first got into the fandom, my friend sent me this song, and made as a side remark that it could be "a song about Yzak and Dearka", since Seki Tomokazu is singing it. And if you didn't know. Seki is Yzak's voice actor in the series. :P So I heard the song and looked at the lyrics and it's actually really good. XD So this holds sentimental value to me. - With my own hands, I want to make destiny. With my own eyes, I want to discover eternity. // If there were a time when I could no longer protect you, would we learn tears then? ...let's become wolves...

[21] Fullmetal Alchemist - Returnable Memories
download :: mirror :: lyrics

Dearka's image song. I've loved the beat of this song since I first heard it. There's something about the music before the song starts that's so amazingly cool. I went to double check the lyrics when I was making the FST, and lo and behold, I thought it'd make perfect for Dearka's song. - i can't forget your warmth that i lost that day, and into these hands it shows you have surely left an impression on me. // if we can gain happiness, then it doesn't matter the suffering

[22] Ayashi no Ceres - One
download :: mirror :: lyrics

I wanted a sort of "ending theme" sounding overture for the last track of the FST, so I went to my fandom roots before SEED, Ayashi no Ceres. This song was the hands down choice for this, as much as I love the second ED better. - Deep within my rusted memories, I feel like you cried out to me, just as if our very cells yearn for each other. // If by chance we're ever separated, I'll probably be a mere shell of who I was

Again, thanks to anyone, please comment if you download or if you just have an comments as a whole about the FST, since it did take a bit of work. XD