Kekkaishi ep.12

February 19, 2007 | 3 Comments

Playing catch up can be so tiring. I can't believe that I sometimes let myself get behind in terms of episodes especially since I hate having to catch up on post. Anyway, I've done episode 12 and 13 now and hopefully I can do episode 14 and 15 soon. But not that soon, I'm afraid. At a time like this, I wish the broadcast is on break once again so I can catch up with the rest of the episodes. I am not even sure about the number of the last episode that went on air. I think episode 16 is supposed to be aired tonight but don't quote me on that one. Anyway, this is basically a continuation of episode 11 and while there aren't that much movement, what are shown are pretty good.

The episode begins with Kouya laughing at Madarao's attempt at hiding his tail. He then boasts about how his tail is stronger and this means a win for him. Before Kouya can kill Madarao with his claw, however, he suddenly convulses in pain. As it turns out, Madarao has been injecting a large amount of poison into Kouya's body in small doses ever since they started to fight. A flashback then reveals that the little needles that Madarao threw at Kouya contain this poison. Madarao tells Kouya that his poison can kill the already dead one more time and that he's spent the last 400 years improving this skill. Kouya is angry to hear this and tries to stand up but he passes out due to the poison. Madarao thinks that this is the end and is ready to close his eyes as well. Much to his horror, Kouya manages to stand up again. Madarao suspects that it's due to Karasumori's power and believes that there may not be anything he can do to stop Kouya if that's the case.

Before Madarao can close his eyes, however, Yoshimori approaches him and asks the dog if he's just going to die. He reminds Madarao about the promise the dog made. Because of this Yoshimori ordered Madarao not to die and leave his master behind. Madarao scoffs upon hearing this, claiming that Yoshimori is not his master and this is not his battle. Yoshimori, however, shows Madarao a cooly calculated face while telling the dog that it's his battle because Madarao went on a rampage on his backyard. Because of this, he won't let Madarao die while he is on the watch. Upon hearing this Madarao realises that although Yoshimori is not Hazama Tokimori, sometimes the boy says things that made his heart beat fast. Madarao then summons enough power to stand up again and sarcastically tells Yoshimori that his new master is very demanding. A flashback shows that Kouya was hoping to return to the mountain with Ginro/Madarao.

However, because Ginro's body was already weak, the dog passed away. Kouya was left in a state of grief that he ended up blaming humans for Ginro's death. In his anger, Kouya tried to kill a Samurai but ended up getting killed by the Samurai's sword. In the present time, Yoshimori tells Madarao to attack Kouya while he distract Kouya's attention. Madarao, however, has another plan and tells Yoshimori about it. He's sure Kouya will respond the way he expects because Kouya is that kind of character. Yoshimori agrees to follow Madarao's plan but on the condition that he lets Yoshimori stands in front of him so he can slow down Kouya's attack. Madarao warns Yoshimori that a single mistake will killl him but Yoshimori is sure that he won't let Kouya to kill him. In return he wants Madarao to ensure that he won't miss. Because of this Madarao summons his most powerful poison into his tail and prepares for Kouya's eventual attack.

In order to block Kouya's attack, Yoshimori creates 3 kekkai in front of him. Although Kouya manages to penetrate all 3 Kekkai, his movement is slowed down considerably and in the end, his tail is completely trapped by the jelly-like Kekkai. At this point Yoshimori asks Madarao to attack so Madarao's tail appears from behind Kouya and impales the dog from behind. After Kouya collapses, Madarao asks Kouya what he thinks of his new master. Madarao also tells Kouya that helping humans is not as bad as Kouya thinks. Before Madarao can finish off Kouya, however, Kouya's three loyal helpers appear and demand that Yoshi fights them instead. Much to their shock, however, Kouya tells them to get lost. Although they're sad about it, the followers decide to follow Kouya's order. They thank Kouya for everything, prompting Kouya to tell them that he had treated them badly for 400 years and yet they've stayed with him all of those times.

Kouya thinks his followers are hopeless because they don't realise that they belong in lukewarm place and lead a lukewarm lives. Because of this, he orders them to get lost already and wishes them well. After the three left, Kouya asks Madarao to quickly finish him off. However, Madarao has used up all of his energy so he asks Yoshimori to do the job. Kouya, however, puts an end to that idea, telling Madarao that he doesn't want a human to finish him. All of a sudden Yoshimori senses a strong power from the dogs. At first he thinks it's Kouya regaining his power. He, however, quickly realises that it's Madarao who's getting stronger. At the same time, Madarao realises that he's getting a boost from Karasumori's site. With him finally regaining his power, Madarao focuses all of it on his tail and stabs Kouya with it, ending the life of the dog for good. Before he pass away, Kouya asks Madarao if Madarao thinks he's strong and Madarao confirms this.

Upon hearing this, Kouya asks his friend why no matter how many humans he ate, there's always more of them even though they're so weak. In response Madarao tells him that there are many kinds of strength. However, that doesn't change the fact that Kouya was really strong. Kouya thinks that's fine and besides he has no place to go anyway. In his dying breath, Kouya tells Madarao that he wishes to return to that mountain again. After Kouya disappears, Yoshimori asks Tokine what is this feeling he experiences because it feels like death is coming. He points how when Kouya asked Madarao to kill him, all of a sudden Madarao gained power. This makes him wonder if Karasumori site was responding to Kouya's wish to die. As Kouya disappears into dust, Madarao tells his friend that he doesn't mind Kouya's straight-forwardness. Having said that he thinks Kouya is foolish because Kouya could have made a home to go back to if he wanted to.

After Yoshimori destroys the remaining of Kouya's hair, he is surprised when Tokine throws him a bundle containing all of Madarao's beads. By the time Tokine warns him about Madarao's seal, Madarao already out of control and tries to stomp Yoshi with his leg. Yoshimori wonders what happens to Madarao so Tokine reminds him that Madarao is still an ayakashi. Upon hearing this, Yoshimori realises that Karasumori's power changes Madarao. Hakubi can only sighs, realising that someone at Yoshi's level couldn't have possibly understood this. Tokine is also annoyed to know that Yoshimori undid Madarao's seal without knowing what it means but she tells him that he needs to string those beads together and put them back on Madarao's neck. Yoshimori quickly uses his Kekkai to entrap one of Madarao's legs before jumping into the dog's body and uses Nenshi to control the dog and string the beads together. Unfortunately, he seems to miss one of the beads.

Tokine tries to throw said bead to Yoshimori but Madarao's tail knocks her aside. As she hears Madarao's scream, Tokine realises that the dog is in pain. Hakubi confirms this and tells her that sealing always produces terrible pain, making it feels like being torn in two. Because Madarao can't stand seeing Madarao in pain anymore, he decides to fly next to Yoshi to deliver the remaining bead. He then orders the boy to loosen the Nenshi a little bit to make room for the last bead. After the bead is in, Hakubi tells him to tighten the Nenshi until it reaches its original strength and then tie it to make a loop. Much to Hakubi's horror, Yoshimori doesn't know how to do this. He realises now that Yoshimori undo Madarao's seal without knowing how to put it back. Because of this he scolds the boy, letting him know that being sealed is a painful process. Meanwhile back inside Madarao's dog house, Toshimori notices something strange and notifies his grandfather.

At the same time, Hakubi asks Yoshimori to do this right as Madarao's master. A flashback then reveals Hakubi asking Tokine to stop Madarao from moving once Yoshimori is ready with preparation. In the present, Hakubi asks Yoshimori to cancel his Kekkai so he can concentrate on his Nenshi. Once this happens, Madarao runs around like a wild dog. Thankfully Tokine manages to stop his movement by using a well-placed Kekkai to hit the dog's head. When Madarao is stunned for a while, Yoshimori tightens the Nenshi, releasing Madarao's soul back into the air. When everything is complete, he's confused because he feels like he's sitting on someone. That someone turns out ot be spirit dog Madarao. Yoshimori apologises to Madarao for his incompetence but before he can say much, his grandfather already runs to the site to scold him. The episode then ends with Yoshimori cleaning up the school while Madarao looking depressed while seeing his new master.

Impression:

It's kind of ironic that Kouya's madness was partly triggered due to Ginro/Madarao's death. I mean he always detests humans but if Madarao's death didn't happen after the two of them were driven out of their mountain, he might not have turned into the monster that he was in this episode. I do wonder why Madarao turned so quickly against Kouya even when they were still wild dogs. I knew the story claims that he was falling head over heels for Hazama Tokimori but I think that's a really selfish and artificial reason. While I'm sure there are cases where a person forget about their best friend after they meet their significant other, I highly doubt that the person would actually forget said friend completely.

Preview:

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