天下制覇

Better subtitle than Sonken Chuubou, secret wife.

Impressions:

Screw it. Sonken’s really Shoukyou, Saji’s Ouin, I’m betting next episode, Ryofu will be revealed to be the real Sonken, just because.

This is what so many of the other ‘fight’ episodes could have and indeed should have been. Screw the magical beads or Kann-u love power, finally some people actually beating each other up. There’s no way in hell that Hakufu should be able to come anywhere near even ground with Ryofu without her dragon though. Even with her dragon, I’d say that a fully healthy Ryofu should have the overwhelming advantage. Hell, with her dragon fully turned on, she was about even with Kann-u, who was taken down by Ryofu. I demand the transitive law be enforced here! 

It wasn’t all great though. I nodded off a few times during Sonken’s sob story at the start. Nobody cares, Sonken/Shoukyou. You really don’t even have a purpose in this show other than eye candy, and you’re not even good at that. You wanted to get close to Koukin without revealing that you’re destined to marry him… whatever. There couldn’t be an IkkiTousen plot that I was less interested in. I guess at least that’s a good reason as to why you’re completely useless.

The whole Sousou thing towards the end is just confusing though. I cower in fear of a potential Hakufu/Sousou/Ryofu teamup to take down the possessed Ryomou/Saji. It’s got to be a better ending than Dragon Destiny though. After all, they can’t kill Ukitsu again. Those jerks.

Hakufu and Ryofu

Sonken drops the bombshell. She’s not really Hakufu’s sister. What a shock. Her true name is Shoukyou (Xiao Qiao). Koukin realizes what that means… and she confirms it… that she is destined to be Shuuyu Koukin’s wife. Hakufu happily congratulates Koukin and starts teasing him. The two get into an argument, which makes Shoukyou laugh. Koukin turns back to her and asks her what the hell is up with all of this.

Flashback. Choushou and Shoukyou meet. Shoukyou is worried about her future and destiny. Basically, Shoukyou is just worried, and Choushou gives her a plan. She’ll talk to Goei for Shoukyou, but Shoukyou is not allowed to use her real name.

Back in the present, she humbly apologizes to them. Shuuyu still doesn’t quite get it. Shoukyou admits that she knows Koukin already has feelings for someone and didn’t want to cause problems. Hakufu’s shocked to learn this and wants to know where this mystery person is. Koukin basically facepalms. Hakufu easily gets distracted and tells her that she’s still her precious sister, and Koukin backs her up, saying that she’s still Chuubou to him.

Back to <em>important</em> things, they’ve got to go rescue Ryomou. Koukin puts his foot down and says that he’s going too, he wants to protect her. Hakufu’s a little embarressed about his feelings, but Shoukyou tells her how important Ryomou and her friends are, and that’s why Koukin wants to go too. Hakufu declares that they’ll all go together then. Koukin remarks on how similar the ‘sisters’ are, but wonders again to himself what was up with the Ryofu/Shoukyou encounter earlier.

Saji’s got Ryomou strung up in front of some kind of weird portal along with spells and scrolls strewn all over the place. She continues pulling the power out of Ryomou.

Hakufu’s group arrives at Rakkyou, but a tree falls in their path. Kakouton comes out from behind it and warns them to watch out as Myosai’s wire attacks him. He dodges it and jumps to safety.

She’s been formenting all sorts of trouble at Kyoshou. Koukin tells him that it’s because she’s being controlled by Saji. Kakouton’s a bit confused, and Hakufu does a bad job of explaining it, mostly just saying that they have to beat her.

Myosai attacks, but Kakouton grabs Myosai’s weight and tells them to go ahead and deal with Saji. They’ve got to save their friends and take down Saji. Saji hears this through Myosai and is not happy. Koukin tells the girls to go on ahead. He’ll help Kakouton deal with Myosai. Kakouton releases the weight and attacks. Saji’s having trouble hanging on. Ryomou collapses in front of her.

Hakufu and Shoukyou come to Rakkyou proper and call out to Ryomou.

Ryofu steps forth and bows before Saji. Ryofu’s memories flash through her mind as Saji summons them and the true instincts of a toushi.

The building explodes and Ryofu stands in front of Hakufu and Shoukyou.

Saji comes out and tells them that what they knew wasn’t the true Ryofu Hosen, just a false creation. This is the true Ryofu, the pinnacle of toushi. Ryofu attacks Hakufu. She tries to counter, but her memories make her hesitate and Ryofu punches her through Rakkyou’s gate. Ryofu keeps attacking, throwing Hakufu back. Shoukyou tries to help her, but Hakufu has to throw her out of the way as Ryofu attacks again and tackles her into the school. Ryofu keeps attacking. Hakufu blocks and cries out at Ryofu. Shoukyou tells her that she needs reach Ryofu’s heart, but Hakufu yells back that she has no idea how as the two keep fighting.

Saji collapses and Ouin comes up to her. He tells her that the power is too much for her. Saji hugs him, saying that that’s why she needs more and more power. So that nothing will hurt her anymore. He should know what it’s like. He remembers her saying that she wanted Ryomou’s power, and when his master told him about the power and danger of Saji Genpou’s illusions.

He lays down Ryomou. Saji tells him that she’ll soon have the power of Ryomou’s dragon, but Ouin tells her that’s enough. He reminds her that he’s there for Ryofu, and now that Ryomou’s dragon is gone, he’s done.

Ryomou wakes up as they argue. He’s done protecting her now. She tries to tell him that he promised to help her, but he leaves anyway. She tries to follow him, but is overcome by her seizures and collapses.

Hakufu is thrown through yet another wall. Shoukyou cries out to her, but Ouin stops her, telling her everything’s going to be fine. He cops a feel on her and Hakufu yells at him for not being around while they were all in trouble while Shoukyou takes cover behind her. He apologizes to them and confirms that it’s really Saji Genpou pulling the strings.

He’s got one more thing to do, and puts on his magatama. He is not Saji… he’s Ouin Shishi. His hair changes and he goes to super toushi level 2. Ouin tells them to go inside as Ryofu approaches. This is something that he’s got to do. He turns to Ryofu.

Myosai knocks Koukin to the ground. Kakouton’s trapped under a tree. This fight went well. Myosai moves to finish them, but a bemused voice talks to Kakouton. Sousou appears behind Myosai and hugs her. He tells her that he heard her voice.

Ryofu attacks Ouin. He impassively takes her block and grabs her, falling backwards. She struggles against him, but he silently tells her to remember their times together. Ryofu bites his shoulder and keeps struggling as he talks to her, talking about toushi and Ryomou and everything that Ryofu did for them. Ryofu stops struggling, and says that he’s right. She loved that about him. Those were Ryofu Housen’s true feelings. Ouin welcomes her back.

Saji has completely lost control of everything. Everybody has turned against her. Ryomou tells her that it’s because her power cannot change their true feelings. She says that Saji knows that. Ryomou tells her that Saji is the real one that wants to be saved. Saji thinks about it… but the dragon’s power is flowing out of the… portal thingy. It coils around Saji, choking her and breaking her hairbands (DEEP). She begs to be saved as Hakufu and Shoukyou run in. Ryomou yells at her to stay back before she gets pulled into the energy. The dragon takes Saji over and she turns to Hakufu.

Preview:

Where’d Ryomou get her maid costume from?