Episode 11--Curtain Call (Kaaten kooru--the same phrase in Japlish =))

We see teenage Raikou and a dark-haired girl, both in school uniforms, standing before a building's front gate. [His hair wasn't as bright red then.] She tells him that it can't be helped, she's giving up; she can't do anything with her strength alone. She thanks him for all his help. He grabs her hand, says that he can become her strength if she'll just wait a little longer. She bows respectfully and firmly pushes him away, says that his words are more than enough; she thanks him again, says she'll see him tomorrow and runs off.

And we see Raikou now, standing on a traffic overpass with Gau. I've put you through a lot, he says regretfully, I got you involved, even hurt, and use you as an outlet for my feelings...why are you crying? Because, it's just--says Gau.

Raimei, in a bright orange dress, is heading determinedly out of the hospital, leaning on a crutch and arguing every step of the way with Saraba. The Fuuma woman tells her that her injuries aren't yet healed, and that it's pointless to hunt him with any sword except Black Gamon--that will just be petty revenge, she insists. Outside on the sidewalk, Kouichi does his best as well, but Raimei won't be deterred. (When she asks Miharu if he at least doesn't understand how he feels, he becomes very interested in a plane passing overhead. =) They're all still on the sidewalk when a young man rushes up and begs hospital staff to tell him if this person--he has a photo-- is staying at this hospital. (The kids can't see it, but it's Gau and the photo is of Raimei.) Please, he begs, both my friend's honor and my life depend on this! They say it's against hospital policy to give out info on patients. Someone else who hates losing, remarks Kouichi, and Raimei angrily says that it's not about that; she knows the reason he only wounded her was to humiliate her. She storms off. Raimei-san!--calls Kouichi, and Gau, hearing the name, compares her to the photo and rushes after them, calling them to wait. They tear off at full speed. Even the shinrabanshou Rokujou Miharu is here! and the four-eyes!--blurts Gau, and Miharu observes that this must be someone from Nabari. Is he Kairoushuu? they'd better ask some questions...Miharu pulls his innocent-little-devil act to scare Gau into thinking he's given the kid a heart attack, and while he's panicking Raimei and Kouichi easily collar him. =)

Back in Raimei's hospital room, Team Banten, Saraba and Juji interrogate the prisoner, but he's quite willing to talk. I'm Megaro Gau, Raikou's aide, he tells them. So you are Kairoushuu then, says Saraba, and Raimei, glowering, asks what business a friend of Raikou has with them. He asks if she still plans to stand in Raikou's way, and she says of course, as soon as she takes Kurogamon back-- Don't do it, he cries; there are things you don't understand. I know what really happened, the Shimizu clan's past and its truth. --I already know what happened, says Raimei impatiently, and Gau stands and faces her. You don't understand the circumstances, he says. Raikou-san was only trying to protect you, he had no choice but to kill your uncle. --Oh, now she's really riled up. Protect me?! You have no clue how kind my uncle was! do you have any proof? None, he says, and he draws a kunai dagger and holds it to his own throat. My death will be your truth, he says steadily; I'm prepared. --Let's hear what Gau has to say, Raimei, says Miharu very quietly, and everyone settles.

Raikou-san said I shouldn't tell you any of this, he begins, but I couldn't accept it, and by making a promise I got him to tell me...

Back on the traffic bridge: Raikou says bitterly that he thought being a Shimizu was nothing to be proud of. We see teenage Raikou again, talking to his mother, Kourin. He wants to save a friend, he tells her-- the dark-haired girl we saw him with. Her parents were killed by an evil corporation; she's seeking revenge, and she's very dear to him. Kourin returns to her reading, saying coolly that if this corporation isn't within Nabari, it's nothing they can meddle with. But as clan leader and my teacher, you know I've learned all the skills, he protests; why can't I save someone when it's within my power? The surface world has a much better organization, called the police, says she. Our only work is to watch over the world of Nabari and uphold the law here. He clenches his teeth and heads for the door; Kourin calls after him that a sword is only used to bring judgment, not to save people.

I never saw her again, says Raikou, and a week later I heard the news of her death. (We see the classroom, with a vase of white flowers standing on her desk.) I had a dark and empty feeling...I began to hate my mother. We see him talking to his uncle, who seems very understanding. He tells Raikou that there's already a group within the clan who'd like to see his mother, the clan chief, reconsider how the Shimizu do things. Do you really think, he asks the boy, that the way we just look at the real world without lifting a finger is right? Weren't you unable to rescue someone precious to you? Your grandfather and I have been talking about this since the previous leader, your father, he says. --But I think my mother's way of thinking is right, says Raikou uncertainly, and his uncle retorts sharply that she was chosen only because of her skill with the sword; she's only an outsider to the Shimizu. To just follow the rules is nothing but cowardice. What's wrong with taking up your katana to save someone? We carry this power for justice, whether for Nabari or the real world. That's what it means to be a Shimizu in the modern age.--Uncle Iroku's stirring speech moves young Raikou, and he smiles.

That night, a group of men --led by Iroku-- walks on Kourin at her reading and demands she resign as clan leader at once. She laughs, and asks Raikou if he thinks his uncle is right. He doesn't reply. She says that the Shimizu will never interfere in the outside world, and asks Iroku if he's still angry that she defeated him in the leader election match; she'll fight him again here and now if he likes. Bring it on, he snarls. Raikou looks conflicted; two men enter, supporting his father, who looks ill and weak but determined. Iroku draws his katana and glares at Kourin: I'll show you I'm serious! Uncle, you said there'd be no bloodshed, cries Raikou, and his father tells Iroku to stop before he does something stupid. Brother, don't you know how I'm suffering? can we let an outsider lead the Shimizu clan? says Iroku, and his brother evenly replies that it's nothing to do with that; you're simply jealous. You've always wanted recognition for your strength, but that's no reason to assume the burden of the whole world. Iroku is furious, and with one point-blank blow--so fierce that it hurls his body and the paper wall behind him into the yard outside--slays his brother. Soumei!--screams Kourin, as Raikou goes blank with shock.

Kourin races into the yard and lifts her husband's body in her arms, turns in rage to Iroku. Coward! she cries. Is this what you believe a Shimizu should do? --the group he led is aghast; Iroku is shaking and wild-eyed. Raikou, he says, are you looking at me that way too? He swings and slices the reading candle in half; it falls to the straw mat. Iroku rants about his anger at spending his whole life in his older brother's shadow, saying that when the shinrabanshou reappeared five years ago he should have tried to take it. He sets his sword to Raikou's throat, pushing him into the wall; Kourin pulls him back, and he throws her aside, saying he would have become leader if not for her. --I would have shown every ninja that using the shinrabanshou was the right thing to do! I could have changed this senseless world! he yells, and swings at Raikou, only to have his mother throw herself between them, giving her life for his. Your true intentions are clear now, she gasps; are you satisfied, Iroku? She and Raikou slide to the floor together; with her last breath she tells him to take the White Gamon and take care of Raimei, and she's gone. Raikou, orphaned in the space of five minutes, sits stunned for a moment; the straw mat has caught fire and it spreads to the walls, a brawl erupts, and Raikou runs to the room where the White Gamon is kept. He rushes back to the burning room, confronts his uncle, cuts him down as he cowers and begs for mercy---and it's this scene that little Raimei, awakened by the commotion, sees, and remembers to this day.

--Raimei loved our parents and even our uncle, Raikou tells Gau; she carries the Shimizu pride. I could never let her know what had really happened, so I took the full blame for all those terrible things. It's painful to have her hate me, but we both understood this road would bring us pain. Please keep this promise, Raikou says; don't tell this to anyone. Gau is unabashedly wiping his eyes, overcome by the tragedy. But this way your sister will never understand you, he protests, and will continue to hate you. Raikou smiles calmly. I don't mind, he says; the me that exists now is the Kairoushuu's Shimizu Raikou. I won't hesitate, even if my own sister stands in my way. But...poor Gau is torn. Let it go, says Raikou, and his brown eyes narrow coldly. Break this promise and I'll kill you.

Back in the hospital room, Gau, story finished, looks into a ring of stunned faces.

And Raikou, contemplating the empty circle he cut in the amaryllis field, turns to see Raimei standing there in her orange dress. Raikou, give me back the Black Gamon, she says quietly. He realizes Gau must have told his story, and tosses her the katana. You're breaking your promise then, he says; if you want Black Gamon, then you're not leaving Nabari, and you want to face me again. I didn't make any promise, she retorts, drawing the blade; I want to show you I'm not so weak! They clash, but as they duel she goes on--not so weak that I can't bear the burden you've been carrying! I didn't see it or hear anything about it--I was just a kid! He sweeps the blade out of her hands, she faces him without it: why did you try to take on everything yourself? she demands. She attacks him with her fists, beginning to cry: I loved them, but I love you just as much! He stares at her stricken as tears spill down her face. What kind of idiot do you think I am? cries Raimei. Why, damn it? --She breaks down sobbing as it begins to rain. He strokes her head and says he's sorry. She asks him to come home, but he says it's too late for that; he killed their uncle, and it's because of him that their parents died. He swings at her, yelling for her to take Black Gamon and fulfill her Shimizu duty. They fight --and quarrel--in fierce earnest. Is it so great being with the Kairoushuu? she challenges, and he replies that it certainly is; what about her? why is she involved with the hijutsu instead of watching over it objectively as she should? She says she's not traveling with the shinrabanshou, only staying at Miharu's side to defend him from from others' greed. What becomes of the hijutsu is up to Miharu, she tells him, and in her resolute face he sees their mother's. If that's so, then I'll no longer hesitate--this is over, he says. He strikes downward with full strength, but suddenly, from nowhere, Gau is between them and takes the blow. I've come to take my punishment, Raikou-san, he says. I broke our promise...please forgive me...he falls into the flowers, the siblings falling to their knees beside him, both in tears. Please let this be the end of it...there's nothing left to hate, right? Gau asks, reaching up to touch his face. She's your family...no matter the decision, or the sacrifices you've made, having siblings is a good thing, isn't it? that's all I wanted to say...the weakening voice fails and his hand drops back, leaving a streak of blood. Gau!--Raikou folds onto him. No!!

Raikou and Raimei in a hospital waiting room. They've finished treating him, but they're not sure when he'll wake, says Raikou. Don't blame yourself. --Were you really trying to kill me? asks Raimei and he says he's not sure. He looks in at Gau. Gau's only family was his mother, and he lost her to a violent young man, he says. He wanted revenge, but he was beaten. It was on a day near spring. I killed a man in the real world with these hands... (we see the body in the snow, Raikou with his katana, battered and bruised Gau looking on) and I brought him to the world of Nabari. Gau wanted to know how he could reply to this unreasonable world...he was exactly like that girl I lost... Raikou closes his eyes, wonders what Gau thought of his story. No matter what path I choose, I only involve and hurt those dear to me, he says bitterly. I suppose he despises me now.
Raimei speaks up. If he'd despised you, he wouldn't have gone out of his way to find me, she says. And if you followed our mother's way, Gau-san would have died. Raikou gasps and a tear streaks his face. Gau-san, his sister tells him, cares for no one more than you. --Raikou, overwhelmed, buries his face in his hands and sobs.

We see the flower field, the stone lantern, and the White Gamon, standing struck into the earth. I will continue to follow the Kairoushuu and support our leader, says Raikou's voice, but I will grant Gau's wish as well. As for Shiragamon...I'm leaving it there.

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