Darker than Black ep.09

June 3, 2007 | 14 Comments

I've been kind of disappointed with the last 2 episodes of this series. I especially dislike this one because the ability of the Contractor is starting to remind me of those freaks from Speed Grapher. I just think the new ability is a bit out there even for a show about people with super powers. At any rate, I hope we'll get to see more character arc. I've been wanting to know more about Yin, for example, but we never have a story about her. I suppose this episode was meant to give Misaki a background story. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be anything surprising about her background.

Misaki arrives in a tunnel and meets a man called Richard Lau. Upon seeing the guy, Misaki asks him if he's going to provide her with information about a Contractor. Richard confirms this but is only willing to do so if Misaki can guarantees his safety. In response, Misaki tells him that this would depend on what the guy has to say. Misaki, however, becomes interested when Richard informs her that he has information on VI-952. Because of this, she promises to provide protection for him, even to the point of providing a new family registration. Having said that, she still wants him to give her the information first. Before Richard can say anything, however, Misaki notices that the guy's jacket has blood on it. Richard panics and tries to get the jacket off his body but it seems the blood has gone all the way into his shirt as well. All of a sudden someone snaps their fingers and Richard's back explodes, killing him instantly.

Before something can happen to Misaki, however, her two male colleagues arrive in time. Misaki tells them that she's okay and want them to contact the police chief. Later on, the detectives believe that the ability is probably a substance transfer ability. It is also confirmed that the dead man is Richard Lau, the right-hand man of someone called Wang Shao Tang. While the three detectives are talking, they see a man wanting to enter the area but is blocked by the police. Misaki who glances at the man realises that the guy is none other than her own father. Misaki's father, Kirihara Naoyasu, turns out to be the Chief Superintendent of the Police Bureau. Naoyasu informs Misaki that this is the 9th victims and all of the victims are members of the Hong Kong mafia. He believes there's some kind of internal struggle within the organisation. Much to Misaki's surprise, her father is aware that the suspected Contractor has the messier code of VI-952.

Since the working hours are over, Naoyasu suggests that he and Misaki go out to have a meal. Misaki reminds him that the incident hasn't been solved but because Naoyasu orders her as Chief Superintendent, Misaki agrees to have dinner with him. Misaki, however, has one condition and that if she can choose the place. Naoyasu agrees but later on is annoyed when they end up having a Chinese meal at a hotel owned by Wang Shao Tan. Misaki claims that she just wants to eat in this hotel. She then changes the conversation and asks her father what it is that he wants to talk about. Because of this Naoyasu congratulates Misaki and informs her that there'll be an announcement of her promotion as police Superintendent soon. When Misaki is hesitant about the promotion, Naoyasu asks her why she wanted to become a police in the first place. He believes it's because she wants to help the weak. He thinks she can save more people with higher position.

After dinner, Misaki and her father part ways. Before Misaki can leave the hotel, however, a woman calls her name. The woman turns out to be Alice, Misaki's friend. It seems Alice thinks that Misaki is there to attend her birthday but becomes disappointed after she understands that Misaki wasn't even aware of it. When Alice's bodyguard reminds her that they must be going, Alice decides to introduce the guy, Wei Chee Shun to Misaki. Alice then invites Misaki to go inside because she'd like to show her a place that the police can't get into. Despite her hesitation, Misaki agrees to follow Alice so she goes through various floors and lifts filled with many cameras. After they arrive at the penthouse, however, Alice assures Misaki that there's no camera here since this is where she and her father live. While in the lift, Alice teases her friend about her love of greasy foods. She reminds Misaki that at this rate she's going to get fat.

Misaki argues that she's going to be okay since she moves her around a lot everyday. This causes the two of them to laugh about it. Later on, Misaki is horrified when Alice forces her to wear a high-slit Chinese dress. In response, Alice tells her that this is Misaki's punishment for forgetting her birthday. Alice also takes out Misaki's glasses and asks her to go to a party without it. As they look in the mirror together, Alice praises Misaki, telling her that the dress suits her. She also marvels at the fact that the daughter of Wang Shao Tang hangs out with a police detective. This comment leads to a flashback of the time when Alice first met Misaki in high school. Back then Alice was smoking cigarette on the rooftop of the school and was caught by Misaki. Misaki ordered Alice to stop smoking but Alice claimed that it's none of her business. Misaki retaliated by saying that it is her business because they're classmates.

In order to get her cigarette back, Alice asked Misaki if she knew who her father was but Misaki told Alice that Alice's father had nothing to do with this. She also told Alice that only weak people relied on cigarette. In response, Alice told Misaki that the kind of person that she is has nothing to do with her. Misaki retorted that it does because Alice sits next to her and she smells awful thanks to the cigarettes. Alice backed down after hearing this and later on, she became embarrassed when Misaki waved her hands before she left school. Back to the present, Alice introduces Misaki to her father. Upon seeing Misaki, Wang Shao Tang praises her Chipao. Because Misaki is confused, Wang explains that he's referring to her Chinese dress. After Misaki left, however, Wang asks his daughter why she took Misaki. Alice claims that Misaki is her important friend but Wang is unhappy that Misaki, who's Japanese, is wearing the Chipao while Alice wears a western dress.

Before Wang left his daughter, he wants her to be careful so Alice also tells him to be careful as well. Because Misaki doesn't have her glasses, she can't really see the other guests at the party. She's startled when a waiter offers her a drink and the waiter turns out to be Saitou. Saitou praises her infiltration but wonders if the dress is not too provocative. He then informs her this appears like birthday party for Wang's daughter on the outside, it's actually an emergency meeting between the Yakuza leaders. Their conversation, however, comes to a halt when they hear the sound of stomach grumbling. Saitou immediately recognises the sound as that of "Li-kun" (Hei). He explains to Misaki how Hei has big appetite. Because of the grumbling noise, however, Hei is punished by the manager and is ordered to wash the dishes. Saitou laughst to see this but is ordered to do the same after the manager caught him 'flirting' with Misaki.

Unknown to anyone else, the security cameras have been turned off and there are bodies of the dead guards inside the surveillance room. Meanwhile, Saitou finds out from Hei that at one point he got lost and got into an area where there are many 'scary people'. Saitou laughs and tells Hei that he's not supposed to use the elevator since only the owner of this hotel and his daughter cxan use it. The conversation then turns about Misaki. When Hei said that she's pretty, Saitou tells the guy that appearance is deceiving and that she's actually scary. While this happens, Wei invites all of the Yakuza leader to have a meeting with him. Misaki, who notices this, wants to follow them but is stopped by Alice, who promises to give her an information about VI-952's identity in exchange of her not going there. Misaki agrees to follow Alice so the later takes her to a greenhouse. Inside the greenhouse, Alice shows Misaki stone flowers.

Alice explains that they are actually real and came from the Gate. Alice then shows Misaki the bees that hover on top of the flowers. She picks up one of them and allows it to sting her hand. She explains that pain and sadness will disappear if she does this before suddenly turning around, trying to sting Misaki with the bee. Misaki tries to evade and ends up falling into the ground and finds the dead body of Alice's father. At the same time inside the board room, Wei declares that Wang Shao Tang won't be coming. He then slits his own wrist and lets the blood to splatter all over the Yakuza leaders. Wei then snaps his finger, causing the Yakuza leaders to die instantly. At the same time, Alice tells Misaki that Wei is actually VI-952. She then points a gun at Misaki and tries to kill her. Before she can do this, the lights go off, allowing Misaki to hide herself behind a wall. Much to her surprise, she finds Hei hiding behind her.

Preview

Impression:

It's obvious now that the series really want to emphasise the 'foreign' nature of the Contractors. Most of the Contractors in the series have been foreigners and this one is not an exception. What annoys me the most, however, is the ability that Wei possesses in this episode. It's just a bit ridiculous even for this series. I can't even fathom how a blood can turn into some kind of explosion which destroys someone else's body. In addition to this, I still have no idea why Alice suddenly went insane. Granted, she has this mysterious air about her right from the start. However, for her to suddenly kill her own father seems out of the left field. Does this mean that she and Wei have been working together to get rid of the guards and her own father? But what's the purpose of doing this? In other notes, I'm amused to see the 'fat' joke is now applicable to Misaki as well. I'm sure she and Hei would have a lot to talk about if they go to restaurant together.

© memento 2003