Rika, Sougen, Saki, and Kamika get caught in Isaka’s weak crow Jinchi as Hazama and his buddy try to bog down reinforcements. Makina has a lot of trouble with Kowaku, because he can shift into any shape (e.g. mist, flammable gas) and easily get extra friendly with Makina. However, realizing that Keisei is in danger, Makina cleverly retreats from her battle and catapults to the orphanage. Although Keisei was able to force Ena out of Ouri, the stab wound weakened Keisei enough for Akasha to slam Keisei against the wall and pluck out the CP’s left eye (CP eyes are especially potent) for his cube.
Thanks to the Shouma, Keisei is not done yet. The CP poisons himself and Kowaku, and breaks through Akasha’s Zadan with his Sutra-wrapped fists and Sutra-staff. This leaves Keisei near death and Ouri agrees to take over Makina’s contract. Keisei asks only that Makina smile for him so he can tell himself he saved her from a living hell, and Makina acquiesces. With new strength, Makina is then able to defeat Kowaku’s crappy new form (merging with Akasha’s captured corpses); unfortunately, the untrained Ouri is not able to handle Makina draining his life force. As Makina defeats Kowaku by crushing his brain (hidden in the beads of his necklace), Akasha gives Keisei a consolation prize by healing Ouri’s wounds.
Reaction:
Wow, this episode was clearly the crown jewel of season 1. Keisei’s death was so brilliantly laid out, especially the end where Makina has to choose whether to smile for him or hope that he can become a shikabane and continue to “live” on. Although Keisei couldn’t keep his promise to Makina, he was able to die with the people most important to him and he passed with no regrets. Even Akasha was so moved that he will probably end up redeeming himself (and getting killed by Shichisei) in season 2. It really was amazing that Keisei could fight so hard and so brilliantly without having any lingering attachment to the world. Ouri better be incredibly cool in season 2 or I am going to be really pissed off.
The tactics displayed in this episode were very clever. Even Makina was using the explosive gas to propel herself all the way to Keisei’s location, and I thought spitting the shikimi pesto into Kowaku’s mist was brilliant. We still don’t know what Akasha’s “truth” was, but Keisei’s line about not needing a truth that would make him kill his own SH has pacified me enough to wait for the answer. I noticed also that the cat insinuated that Keisei’s death was Ouri’s fault and that Ouri wanted to die. Who the heck is Ouri?! And talk about a crappy 16th birthday…
Shikabane Hime: Aka 12
Summary:
Rika, Sougen, Saki, and Kamika get caught in Isaka’s weak crow Jinchi as Hazama and his buddy try to bog down reinforcements. Makina has a lot of trouble with Kowaku, because he can shift into any shape (e.g. mist, flammable gas) and easily get extra friendly with Makina. However, realizing that Keisei is in danger, Makina cleverly retreats from her battle and catapults to the orphanage. Although Keisei was able to force Ena out of Ouri, the stab wound weakened Keisei enough for Akasha to slam Keisei against the wall and pluck out the CP’s left eye (CP eyes are especially potent) for his cube.
Thanks to the Shouma, Keisei is not done yet. The CP poisons himself and Kowaku, and breaks through Akasha’s Zadan with his Sutra-wrapped fists and Sutra-staff. This leaves Keisei near death and Ouri agrees to take over Makina’s contract. Keisei asks only that Makina smile for him so he can tell himself he saved her from a living hell, and Makina acquiesces. With new strength, Makina is then able to defeat Kowaku’s crappy new form (merging with Akasha’s captured corpses); unfortunately, the untrained Ouri is not able to handle Makina draining his life force. As Makina defeats Kowaku by crushing his brain (hidden in the beads of his necklace), Akasha gives Keisei a consolation prize by healing Ouri’s wounds.
Reaction:
Wow, this episode was clearly the crown jewel of season 1. Keisei’s death was so brilliantly laid out, especially the end where Makina has to choose whether to smile for him or hope that he can become a shikabane and continue to “live” on. Although Keisei couldn’t keep his promise to Makina, he was able to die with the people most important to him and he passed with no regrets. Even Akasha was so moved that he will probably end up redeeming himself (and getting killed by Shichisei) in season 2. It really was amazing that Keisei could fight so hard and so brilliantly without having any lingering attachment to the world. Ouri better be incredibly cool in season 2 or I am going to be really pissed off.
The tactics displayed in this episode were very clever. Even Makina was using the explosive gas to propel herself all the way to Keisei’s location, and I thought spitting the shikimi pesto into Kowaku’s mist was brilliant. We still don’t know what Akasha’s “truth” was, but Keisei’s line about not needing a truth that would make him kill his own SH has pacified me enough to wait for the answer. I noticed also that the cat insinuated that Keisei’s death was Ouri’s fault and that Ouri wanted to die. Who the heck is Ouri?! And talk about a crappy 16th birthday…
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