天下制覇

The return of the only male on the show with an appreciation for female flesh and the exit of a character that never even got a real fight scene.

As I sort of expected, the animation and art quality for this episode was atrocious. Character faces were disproportionate, painfully obvious drifting stills all over the place, lame pan-ins and outs and pretty much the entire episode was talking heads and flashbacks.

Anyway, Sousou (and Cao Cao) have some choice words for Kannu after Hakufu’s defeat, and then we go over to Nanyo, where they’re just now learning about Hakufu trying to take on Kyosho by herself. Shuuyu runs off yelling that it’s not true until Saji shows up and stops him.

Sousou is meanwhile at his usual emotional pier hangout while Shiba-I is talking at him. He’s starting to lose more and more of himself to Cao Cao. Back with the Nanyo folks, they’re filling in Saji on everything that’s happened when Seito’s messanger to them arrives… the same girl who killed whose-his-face… Bunwa’s boyfriend… way back in episode two or three. She tells them about Kannu’s capture and defection before Saji puts the moves on her and reveals that he knows that she’s the fake who framed Nanyo.

Ryomou and Saji accompany her back to Seito to meet with Koumei while Shuuyu goes back to his home to talk to his aunt about Hakufu and we get a brief flashback of Hakufu receiving her earring, along with marshmallow people. Saji is meanwhile up to his old tricks and hitting on Ryomou while they talk about the past and how Saji manipulated Kannei to flip out.

Over at the Seito shrine, Ryuubi is saying a prayer when Saji shows up and immediately pulls his underwear salesman trick, resulting in traumatizing Ryuubi and getting a broom in his face, along with more marshmallow people. Koumei shows up and puts an end the especially bad art and then describes their own situation to Nanyo pair, as well as Seito’s own machinations in the recent events.

She goes on to describe the battle of Chi Bi/Red Cliffs and the Shu Empire’s past, saying that Nanyo and Seito must ally in order to win, and even gives them the Dragon Jade as a sign of good faith.

Back at Sousou’s emo pier, he apparently lost control of his dragon completely and basically exploded, throwing everybody back. Shiba-I says that Kannu is needed to make sure his dragon stays under control, so Ton heads back to the school where a handcuffed Kannu is having flashbacks to all the times she reprimanded Ryuubi and Ryuubi’s various declarations of friendship and dragon erupting etc etc.

Kakouton and Kannu chat for a bit about Sousou’s life, before Kannu breaks her cuffs and the two take fighting stances, both talking about their loyalty to their masters and how that’s the basics of being a fighter. Later, Kakouton is hearing Cao Cao’s voice and telling it that he will protect Sousou… who then shows up behind him with Cao Cao in complete control. Kakouton tries to attack the demon king, but his arm is completely crushed and Cao Cao swings his sword… end ep.

Next episode preview FINALLY has the long awaited return of Ukitsu, as well as flashbacks of young Hakufu. Pretty sure it’s a Koukin episode though, probably ending with the ‘return’ of Hakufu. She is the Phoenix King after all.