Kekkaishi ep.03

October 23, 2006 | 12 Comments

Opening Theme: 「Sha la la - アヤカシ NIGHT」 (Sha la la - Ayakashi NIGHT) by 宇浦冴香　 (Uura Saeka)
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Well, 3 episodes into the series and the quality still holds up so I think this is going to be a good series to follow. The writers have also stop rushing through the story now and as a result, the pacing is considerably better. I think this will appeal to people who like Spirited Away or Inuyasha. Some of the creature designs in this series looks really good and seem to be based on old Japanese folklore monsters. The characters are also more developed now that the introduction is over. I like how the writers slowly reveal Yoshimori and Tokine's background and what actually happened between their family. As a side note, this week marks the appearance of the real OP. The OP is spoilery just like other Sunrise comedic shows like Yakitate!! Japan and features some characters which won't appear until later on in the story.

When Tokine was a little girl, she wanted to go patrolling with her father, Yukimura Tokio. However, her father told her that she's not ready for it even though she could do some spells. He admitted that Tokine has a good skill and if he were a Lord and Tokine were his Kekkaishi, he'd reward her. Unfortunately, he's not a Lord. Back then Tokine claimed that she doesn't want a reward, she just want to help him. Upon hearing this, her father smiled and told her that he could not possibly bring his beloved daughter onto the battlefield. This is why he was willing to do this on his own until Tokine enters junior high. He admitted that unlike Tokine, he doesn't have the Hoin mark on him. However, he'll do his best on the job in order to protect Tokine and her mother, both of whom are important to him. In the present day, Tokine wonders why she's thinking about her father inside a class. Because of this, she casts aside her thoughts and focuses on her study.

On their way back home, Tokine asks Yoshimori how is his mother doing these days. Yoshimori is annoyed about this because the question came out of nowhere but he told her that his mother occasionally comes home only to leave as soon as she arrives. He's been told that she actually works as a Kekkaishi in other place. Upon hearing this, Tokine remembers that even though Yoshimori's mother is a great 「術者」- Jutsusha (magic user), she seems to dislike work request coming from an organisation called「裏会] - Urakai. Yoshimori, however, doesn't seem to know what 'Urakai' actually means. Speaking of Urakai, Tokine's grandmother receives a visitation from a girl who claims to be from the organisation. When Tokine's grandmother tells her that no one has told them that she is coming, she informs her that she was sent at the last minute. She actually wanted her pet to deliver a letter of confirmation but the creature is too slow.

Upon seeing the letter, Grandma Yukimura believes that the girl comes from Urakai. Having said that, she orders the girl not to use her power in the street. Later on when Tokine returns to her house, she meets the girl whose name turns out to be Kasuga Yomi. When Tokine asks the girl about her job, she tells her that it's a secret but it's similar to field research. In addition to this, she's always wanted to come here because Tokine's father used to be very kind to her. Tokine is surprised to know that the girl knew her father. Apparently Tokio used to cheer the girl up when she was depressed and therefore she thinks it's unfortunate that someone as kind as Tokio has passed away. Later on inside her room, Tokine remembers how one night her father came back injured accompanied by 2 Shikigami. Upon seeing the Shikigami, Tokine's grandma recognised them as Sumimura family's Shikigami and proceeded to go after after them.

Outside the house, Yoshimori's mother, Sumimura Sumiko, apologised to Tokine's grandmother but when she arrived at the scene, she's too late but she has terminated the Ayakashi responsible for it. Having said that, Sumiko didn't understand why Tokio had to force himself doing this all by himself. Being the ungrateful wench that she is, Tokine's grandma simply slammed the door in front of Sumiko's face. Before he passed away, Tokine's father managed to warn his daughter to be careful when facing 'them'. In the present day, Yoshimori arrives on the school ground for patrol. When he finds out from Tokine that Hakubi is checking the back of the school, he asks Madarao to look around. Madarao, however, prefers that they wait around until something happens so Yoshimori purposedly tells his dog that it must be nice to have Hakubi. Madarao is pissed off to hear this so he immediately sets out to sniff out every single paranormal activity in this area.

After Madarao left, Yoshimori tries to offer Tokine the chocolate cake he's just made. Unfortunately, before he can give the cake to her, Tokine already senses something nearby so he has no choice but to run along with her to investigate. When they get closer to the area, however, they can't find anything until something falls from a tree. That 'something' turns out to be Yomi, who immediately panics and claims that this area is not the subject of her secret research. Yoshimori reminds her that she just blabbed it all to them, causing the girl to become depressed. When Yoshimori asks Tokine if Yomi is her acquintance, she explains that the girl is from Urakai and is currently staying at her house. Tokine asks Yomi if the vibe that they felt not too long ago was her. Yomi absent-mindedly tells Tokine that it was indeed her power....but then she realises that as a Jutsusha, she should not reveal this....oops, she just reveals that she's a Jutsusha.

Yomi eventually introduces herself to Yoshimori and the tree of them end up having a picnic on the school ground because Yomi offers them to drink the tea that she brings with her. Upon seeing the tea, Tokine asks Yoshimori to show that cake that he's brought with him. Unfortunately, since there are only 2 cakes, Yoshimori gets none whatsoever. Yomi is surprised to know that the 22nd Sumimura family heir actually made a cake and proceeds to tell him how she got to know Tokine quite well after the two met yesterday. The next day inside the school, Yoshimori becomes angry when his friends start talking about his mother and decides to walk around the hall. While he does this, he realises that his classmate, Kanda Yurina, is starring at a tree outside. However, when confronted by him, she claims that she didn't see a thing. After Kanda left, Yoshimori realises that there is a human spirit underneath the tree, suggesting that maybe Kanda can see it as well.

That night while preparing to hunt Ayakashi, Yoshimori remembers how Tokine's father once asked him if he would mind occasionally playing with Tokine. Tokio also assured him that he'd keep it a secret from Tokine's grandmother and everyone else. As he sets out of the house, Yoshimori realises that Tokine's father was a kind man. Inside Tokine's house, Tokine goes over to her father's altar to let him know that she won't be defeated by him and will do a good job tonight. Meanwhile in the school ground, Yoshimori is startled when Yomi suddenly appears from the bush. Upon finding out that Tokine has not arrived, Yomi decides to ask Yoshimori to have tea with her. Yoshimori agrees since there is something that he'd like to say to Yomi. As it turns out, Tokine has not left her house because she can't find her Tenketsu (the staff). While this happens, Yoshimori is having a picnic with Yomi and is presented with a Lotus-shaped Wagashi.

Instead of eating the food, however, Yoshimori asks Yomi if she'd mind not talking about Tokine's father in front of Tokine. Yomi is surprised to hear this request since she didn't say anything bad about Tokine's father. Yoshimori explains that while he can't remember it very well, he knows that Tokine's father died a violent death in front of her. He believes that when Tokine remembers her father, she also remembers the bad things that happened to him. However, because Tokine is proud of her father, she's very devoted to this work. Having said that, Yoshimori is worried that Tokine pushes herself a bit too hard. Yoshimori suddenly becomes embarassed and asks Yomi for another cup of tea. However, as soon as he drinks the tea, Yoshimori falls unconscious. Madarao starts to growl at Yomi who is surprised to know that someone as kind as Yoshimori could be the legitimate successor to the Sumimura family. She then stands up and summons an Ogre called "Yoki".

Meanwhile, Tokine eventually arrives at the schoo ground but she falls onto a trap that Yomi has prepared. Yomi points out that Jutsusha like Yokina seems fairly weak as Yoki covers the hole with a large stone. Hakubi who is not trapped is shocked to see this but before he can do anything else, Yoki already impales the dog with its tail and makes a grab for the dog. Yoki then stuffed Hakubi into its meat but the creature then tells Yomi that just like the one before it, Hakubi disappears as soon as Yoki ate it. Upon finding out about this, Yomi wonders if the dogs keep their real body elsewhere. She, however, assures the Ogre that it doesn't need to eat the dog since Karasumori power is enough to make it stronger. Yoki becomes excited to hear this and wonders if he can run faster and be smarter too. Yomi assures the Ogre that once this happens, no one can make fun of them anymore. Yomi then tells Tokine that as long as she doesn't get in her way, she won't kill Tokine.

Tokine who hears this tries to destroy the rock using her Kekkai but fails to do so. Yomi informs her that she already sealed the rock with charms to protect it from magical power. Tokine, however, manages to get out of the whole by digging a whole sideways and escaping from an area that is far from the rock. Yomi praises Tokine but she points out that she has another hostage. Tokine immediately realises that Yoshimori is the hostage in question. However, before she can do anything else, Yoki's tail already attacks her so Tokine has no choice but to create a Kekkai to protect herself. Yomi assures Tokine not to worry about Yoshimori since she needs him to approach the Sumimura. However, she thinks she can destroy the Yukimura once she gets rid of Tokine. At the same time, Yoshimori finally awakes and finds himself inside a green-coloured area. Back in the school yard, Yomi orders Yoki to destroy Tokine's Kekkai by crushing it with his leg.

Upon seeing Tokine's resistance, Yomi asks Tokine if she is doing her best because this was her dead father's job. Yomi thinks that such thought is trivial. She lets Tokine know that the truth is, she hates Tokine's father. Yomi thinks he was a pathetic Jutsusha but he got to protect this area simply because of his bloodline. However, it's clear from the start that it's impossible for him to handle. Yomi claimed to laugh when she found out that the job overwhelmed him. Tokine becomes angry upon hearing this and tells Yomi that her father did his best for their sake. Yomi, however, thinks that even if he did his best, Tokio was still a weak person. She tells Tokine that her father always had this stupid grin even when others make fun of him. In other words, she thinks Tokine's father died in vain and without any meaning. The episode then ends with Yoki becoming stronger and Tokine almost unable to maintain her own Kekkai.

Impression:

This episode makes it clear why Tokine is very devoted to her job as a Kekkaishi. It was because her father used to be one as well and he died while patrolling at night. I was surprised to know that her father didn't actually have a Hoin in him. It makes me wonder if he has any power at all to create Kekkai. And if he doesn't, then how did he manage to stay alive prior to his death? That is, of course, assuming that Ayakashi was the one who did him in. I wonder if someone else actually killed him. After I found out that Yoshimori's mother was the one who brought home Tokine's father, I can't help but thinking if there was something going on between the two of them. But since this is a Shounen anime/manga, I don't think there's some kind of affair between the two of them. It was nice to know, however, that Yoshimori and Tokine are not the only two people who get along with each other. As it turns out, it's just the elders who dislike each other.

As far as villain goes, Yomi is actually quite an interesting one. To begin with, her character design reminds me a lot of Haku from Spirited Away. However, her 'fake' personality is a lot similar to Ritsu from Fruits Basket. What I meant by this is that she gets panic whenever she realises that she's said something wrong and yet she can't seem to stop herself. Unfortunately this personality is just a cover because in reality she seems quite ruthless. On the other hand, her cruel words about Tokine's father can also be interpreted as her own insecurity. After all, she did tell her pet, Yoki, that after they become stronger, no one else can make fun of them. This suggests that the reason why she hates Tokine's father is partly because he reminds her so much of herself, who I think is also quite weak and often became the brunt of the joke of those who are stronger. This is why she was impressed to hear Yoshimori's request. Because even though he is very strong, he is also a kind person.

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