天下制覇

Not in the sweater vest!

Impressions:

Wow. Are there really only two or maybe three episodes left? Why does it feel like this show is still trying to figure out where the plot wants to go? Oh right, because there’s a crazed evil bisexual warlord still roaming around who hasn’t done anything but beat up a giant shark and grope Ryuubi.  Man, who hasn’t groped Ryuubi? That’s not exactly particularly compelling evil overlord behavior. Saji just makes entirely too lame a villainess. At least Shiba-i had a crazed loli dedicated to her and crazy Sousou mixing things up. Also, she wasn’t opposed to running people over with a car. Saji, on the other hand, has shown to be weak to a Sonken’s love power and a stiff breeze.

Once again, too, the fight scene was pretty unspectacular. Pretty much all of the fights this season have been mediocre at absolute best. Dragon Destiny at least had a great scene every third episode or so (and at least one episode animated by mentally deficient lungfish between them). The quality on average of the art and animation this season has flattened out a bit, but along with no lows come pretty much no high points either. No awesome Hakufu vs Kann-u showdown, no Teni vs Ryomou/Chou-un craziness, hell… Ryomou hasn’t even donned the maidsuit and handcuffs (wink wink nudge nudge) once this season yet. That has got to be some kind of mistake or crime. Nor for that matter, have any of the dragon girls actually used their dragons yet. That’s just… disappointing.

*sigh* Oh well, maybe they’ve just been saving the budget up for an awesome finale. Leave me alone, I need to rationalize this and/or go into denial a bit longer. For at least two more weeks at any rate.

Goei chatters on the phone with some random person. Yes, she’s doing well, etc etc. Hakufu’s a bit down because Ryomou’s still missing. Goei perks up her spirits and sends her off to go get ready for school, forgetting something important. Hakufu strips and takes a flying leap into the bath… completely devoid of bathwater.

Sonken apologizes on the walk, but Koukin assures her that it’s not her fault. Koukin’s in a bit of a poor mood all around. Hakufu gets a little cranky that he always takes Sonken’s side, but they ignore her and just keep walking. She trots ahead and stands in front of them at a stairway. She starts to put it together that the two are… but Koukin interrupts her… Ryofu’s at the top of the stairs.

Hakufu happily runs to her while Sonken warns Koukin about Ryofu again. Ryofu walks off with Hakufu in hot pursuit. Koukin and Sonken just watch them go.

Hakufu keeps following Ryofu through the city, eventually losing track of her. Ryofu finally stops and asks Hakufu who she’s looking for. Hakufu glomps Ryofu and says how happy she was to see her again. She was worried about Ryofu and Ryomou.

Hakufu asks her if she knows anything about Ryomou, but Ryofu lies and says that she doesn’t. Ryofu asks if Hakufu might know anything, so Hakufu drags Ryofu off to Ryomou’s various hangouts. Montage of harassing people changing and harassing arcade machines before going to the riverside angsting spot. Hakufu recounts her past with Ryomou, all the happy memories and yet more montage. Hakufu was happy to make Ryomou just a little more happy.

Ryofu asks if Hakufu likes Ryomou, to which Hakufu happy replies that she’s an important friend… just like Sonken, Koukin, Ryuubi, etc etc etc. They’re all important friends. Ryofu says that she’ll bring her to where Ryomou is.

They board the bus and Hakufu happily chatters at Ryofu, who just stares impassively. Ryofu brings Hakufu to Rakkyo’s ruins and heads inside, saying that Ryomou is here. Hakufu looks around while Ryofu just keeps walking. Hakufu chases after her into a ruined building and then into a classroom. Ryofu smirks at Hakufu and points to a tied-up Ryomou. Hakufu struggles to figure out what’s going on. Ryofu tells her that she’ll be taking Hakufu and all the others.

Hakufu suddenly remembers what Ryuubi told her about being possessed, along with Rikuson’s warning of Saji Genpou’s control. Hakufu accuses Ryofu of not being Ryofu. Ryofu drifts backwards and Saji♀ steps out of the shadows. Hakufu recognizes her as the girl she carried home. Saji♀ says that she’s happy that she could meet Hakufu like this, and says how much she needs Hakufu to complete Ryomou’s power. She places her hands on Hakufu’s shoulders and kisses her. Hakufu’s eyes go dark.

Outside of Rakkyou, Saji♂ admires the flowers while thinking of Ryofu. He thinks about the illusions and control of Saji Genpou, but that there’s nothing that he can do.

Koukin and Sonken search for Hakufu, but can’t find her or reach her on the phone.

They eventually come to an area under a bridge where Hakufu approaches them, but it’s obvious immediately from Hakufu’s sarcastic and arrogant words that it’s not really Hakufu. Sonken warns Koukin as Hakufu goes on about the idiots she has to deal with. Sonken quotes some Sun Tzu at her… good tactic, Sonken.

Koukin finally figures it out that it’s not Hakufu and we’re finally all on the same page. It’s the same as Ryuubi, Saji Genpou is in control. Hakufu runs to the side and Koukin follows her. The two start fighting, but are relatively evenly matched. Koukin gets Hakufu in an arm lock and catches her other arm. He yells at her to wake up, but she tells him how much he’s hurting her and tries to kiss him.

Sonken yells at him to watch out, and he releases her. She pulls off his sweater vest (noooooooooooooooooooooo! Not the sweater vest!) as she hops backward. A pity, she remarks, his kiss would have been delicious. Sonken accuses Saji♀ of being cruel and just playing with them, but Saji♀ admits (through Hakufu) that it does amuse her. It’s fun to watch all of them fight each other. Koukin tells her to release Hakufu, but Saji♀ will envelop the world in darkness. Sonken yells at Koukin that he has to reach Hakufu’s heart and release it from Saji♀’s illusions.

Hakufu attacks again. This time, Koukin takes a few hits and is slammed into a pillar. Sonken puts herself between them and refuses Koukin when he tells her to run away.

She, Sonken Chuubou, will protect her ‘brother.’ Hakufu laughs and releases a chi blast at her. Saji♀ calls Sonken a real idiot. She can’t fight or stand up to Hakufu at all.

Sonken admits that she might be an idiot, but she will stand against Saji Genpou. Her eyes glow with power as she calls Saji♀ a pitiable person. She knows what happened to Saji♀ in the past and feels sorry for her. This pisses Saji♀ off and Hakufu releases a huge blast of power, destroying some cars but leaving Sonken relatively unharmed. Saji♀ declares that everybody fears her and that Sonken needs to run away now.

She refuses again and says that this is for Hakufu’s sake. She cannot run away. She moves forward as Hakufu releases another chi blast, but Sonken grabs Hakufu’s hand and begs her to wake up. Sonken begs for the kind soul to return and places Hakufu’s hand on her breast. Yellow energy is released and Hakufu’s eyes return to normal. Saji♀/Hakufu both collapse.

Hakufu wakes up with Sonken and Koukin over her.

Hakufu says that she heard Sonken voice calling out to her and apologizes in tears to the two for beating them up. She chibi-glomps Koukin while crying her eyes out.

Ouin carries Saji♀ away.

Tears all dried, Hakufu notices that Koukin’s pouring blood from his arm. Hakufu cleans it up and uses her ribbon to bandage his arm. He thanks her. Sonken’s lost in thought, but Koukin thanks her. He admits that he doubted that she was really Hakufu’s sister, but she really showed that they’re true siblings (ha) today. Sonken tells them that she has something to tell them about herself.

Preview:

Party at Rakkyou, yo! I’ll bring the beer.