Kabitzin on December 17, 2009 · in Darker Than Black 2

Summary:

Like any teenage girl arguing with her mom, Suou jumps out of the car and (along with July) meanders along the highway.  July notices one of Madam Oreille’s twins’ Observational Spirits, but they ask him to keep their existance a secret.  In a very convenient coincidence, Misaki pulls over for some booze coffee, and sees the kids on the side of the road.

Misaki shares some buns with the two of them and knows she’s got a lead on Mikhail now.  Meanwhile, a stressed out Makimiya Asako is making some origami, and Mao catches a glimpse of her shapely ankles.  This reminds him of the time he met Asako many years ago, before the Gates appeared.  When Misaki heads over to Asako’s place to question her about Mikhail, we find that Asako is anti-Syndicate.  Then in a flashback, it turns out that Mao met Asako one more time, at a university in Moscow.

Meanwhile, Hei’s got Youko drugged up and ready for questioning.  Things go really smoothly, and Hei doesn’t even smack Youko around as much as Suou.  Youko’s really just concerned about protecting Mina from whatever disaster results from Izanagi meeting Izanami.  Youko mentions the old Observatory, the 18th research building, and the fact that Izanami will kill contractors.  Hei takes this to mean Yin, and he promises Youko that he will stop Yin.

In the flashback we see a reserved Shion and genki Suou making some origami with Asako.  Mao’s also there to observe Mikhail, and this is when he comes into possession of his black cat body (stupidly leaving his real body on a bench nearby).  When Asako takes Shion to the bathroom, Shion’s gas gets so bad that his fart blows up the entire laboratory and kills Suou.  That’s when Asako finds Mikhail putting Suou’s body in the ME machine.  Oddly, Mao takes this opportunity to get freaky on Mikhail’s face, and this gives Asako the chance to grab Suou’s body.  Shion stayed with Mikhail, and Asako took Suou’s body back to Japan for cremation.  Mao suspects the whole operation was a setup.

Misaki is pleased to get all this info, and that’s when Hei appears to grab his young minions.  Misaki has decent moves, but still gets dagger-whipped to the ground.  Fortunately, those steamed buns made a real impression on Suou and she implores Hei not to beat Misaki anymore.  We also learn that Hei forgot to lock the door on the torture room, and someone crept in and tortured Yuoko to death.  Mina finds Yuoko’s mangled body, and swears revenge on Hei.

Back at the aquarium of Suou’s fake memories, we see Shion telling Mikhail about how he made a tiny whale that Suou would definitely like.  Shion thinks Suou has to learn the truth, and mentions her pain will be the orange of the crescent moon.  Suou, however, is happy with Hei and asks that she call out to her like that time he did with Yin (awkward!) at the dock.  Hei kindly mentions that he never knew the original Suou so she is Suou to him.  Elsewhere, a glowing lady that looks a little like Yin in an outfit like Xing’s appears in a field of flowers.

Reaction:

The one thing that really bugged me the most about this episode was Mao’s ankle fetish.  I mean, I’m all for suspension of disbelief, but no woman carrying twins, walking up stairs, and catching rays from the midday sun is going to have slim ankles.  Asako would definitely have had major cankles going on back then, making it impossible for Mao to recognize those ankles when he saw Asako again at the university.

I’m eager to find out exactly what Shion’s power is.  It’s hard to know which members of that family are real now, and which are Shion’s creations.  We never did find out what Shion’s remuneration was, and he stopped cross-dressing, too.  I also thought that Shion finished paying off his remuneration, so I guess the bandage and wheelchair are permanent… sorta.