A towering, Gothic-style building with a coiled-snake emblem over the door. ["Daya" literally means "serpent medicine".]--A grey-haired man lies in a four-poster bed; a young woman leans over him and wipes his brow, worried at how much he's sweating.
Are you still dizzy, Headmaster? she asks. He assures her that he's not and in fact feels better than he did this afternoon. She's relieved; another, slightly older woman in the same grey uniform (she appears to be black, or at least of color, unusually enough) says he needs sleep, and chides him that he'd better not try to get up and work
as he did yesterday. If I weren't in this state of health I could have talked to them, he frets...they urge him not to worry, saying the Student Council will take care of it.
Hanabusa and Thobari carry their respective bags out the front door; she's off to help with the cleaning of fossils that were unearthed at an excavation site, and Kouichi, Raimei and Juji are waiting at the gate for him. Take care of Yoite-kun and Miharu-kun for me, she says, and is surprised at his sigh.
You aren't going to see them? are you two still fighting? Hana smiles and says it'll be all right; she's sure those two will come here again. Why does she think so, he asks, and she says "it's just the kind of thing you know after living for 40 years." Amused, he says he supposes someone as immature as himself would never understand. =)
They have a sweet goodbye kiss at the gate and Thobari flusters spectacularly when he realizes the kids are staring, hurrying them off down the lane ("Romance!" sighs little Juji in a flurry of pink hearts.)
Kouichi examines the invitation to the Kouga summit meeting ("Opinions on the Future of Nabari", it says). Even the Kouga are making difficult decisions, he remarks, inviting other ninjas to their village.
Thobari tells the kids that as fellow students they'll be free to speak their minds and offer opinions, while he'll be negotiating for the Kouga kinjutsu scroll. (Kinjutsu, repeats Raimei thoughtfully, remembering her promise to Miharu.)
Meanwhile, Team Kairoushuu's car is being hauled out of the river, and Yukimi says in disgust that thanks to Raikou-kun's Super Driving Technique, they're on standby until they can get another car. He scowls at Miharu: you're a VIP we've been assigned to protect, he says, so when we're among the Kouga don't say you're the holder of the hijutsu.
What should I do then?--asks Miharu, and Yukimi mutters that he doesn't have to do anything. Raikou reminds him that they're invited guests, and asks him what he knows about the Kouga kinjutsu, Daya. He says he's read that it's a powerful medicine. That's right, says the samurai. The instructions for it are written in the Daya scroll; it can heal incurable diseases,
and ["if made incorrectly" or "if mixed with something else"--I don't know which translation is closer] it's a deadly biotoxin. It's been said that it can even save the crumbling life of a Kira user (Miharu glances over at his favorite Kira user, a blanket-wrapped bundle at the foot of a tree), so perhaps it also has the power to safely remove the shinrabanshou from its owner.
Does this interest you? he asks.
You're doing this for Gau, right? Miharu says. Raikou sighs, and says that's right; he's not sure it's what Gau wants, but if it will make Gau look up to him again he'll do anything. --He smiles warmly at Miharu; his brown eyes are kind and gentle. I don't want to lose him again, he says. Are you friends with Yoite? --Miharu hesitates: do we seem like friends?
Well, there are several definitions of friends, but that doesn't seem to describe you, says Raikou. Would it be fair to say that Yoite is someone important to you? More important than anything?
Miharu is deciding how--or whether--to answer when a little silver-haired girl walks up to them: she's wearing the same grey school uniform with pink bow that we saw on the headmaster's two aides earlier. She addresses them directly: Kairoushuu, right? I'll take you there, please follow me. And you are?--asks Yukimi. She shows her ID: I'm from the ninja village of Kouga, and a student at Alya Academy:
Kurookano Shijima. She looks thoughtfully from Yoite to Miharu, smiles --she has unusual golden-amber eyes--and says it's time they were going.
They walk through the academy's well-groomed grounds. A private, escalator-style school, says Yukimi; though it's not very big, most of these kids could get into well-known universities. So this is Kouga's face in the outside world, huh? Shijima says that aside from a few specially enrolled students, no one knows this place trains and raises ninjas. They're like any other students of the outside world.
--she glances back at Yukimi. I notice you're looking around a lot; I hope you aren't considering anything stupid, she says. He laughs uneasily and says it's just a habit he's developed because of his career as a writer. [Well, he's telling the truth, actually.] You're trying to memorize where the buildings are, she contradicts him; kindly stop being so irritating.
They reach the building where the "special classes" (i.e., shinobi training) are held ("the egg of Kouga-nin", she calls it); she says it doubles as a dormitory and leads them inside. As they enter, a group of suits walk past, talking in impatient tones about the "annoying old geezer" and saying that though he'll keep his position for now, it would be no surprise if he died soon; they ought to name a successor...--I suppose the timing's not good, says Shijima.
Is someone ill?--asks Yukimi, and she tells them that the Headmaster, Kouga's leader, has an incurable disease, which is why everyone is so anxious. --Miharu suddenly realizes that the students in the upper balconies are glaring down at them in a quite unfriendly manner. Those kids are staring us down, mutters Yukimi. Along them is the older of the two women we saw tending to the headmaster: really, Shijima, she calls, even on the headmaster's direct orders you shouldn't have
done this without telling anyone. --It's fine, Katarina, says the younger woman, whose name is Subaru; with this all preparations are complete. [--You're saying 'but the Kouga ninjutsu can cure incurable diseases, so what's the big deal', right? Not so simple. Wait and see.]
Shijima takes them to their room, says they'll be called for later and should relax till then.
Miharu watches her walk away, remarking that she reminds him of someone but he can't think who. Yoite has a scuffle with Yukimi, who reminds him that they aren't to act on their own. [Yoite, BTW, cannot put on a necktie properly, which we might've expected of someone who's been wearing the same sweater for 12 episodes now.]
Yoite says he wants to go quickly and find the kinjutsu scroll. --We have plans for things like that, sighs Yukimi irritably. Isn't it best if we don't start a fight? That's why I want to go alone, retorts Yoite, but Yukimi forbids him.
It's because they're children, isn't it? you don't want them killed, says Yoite. Yukimi turns and gets right into his face: quit messing with me! do you think you really are a Death God? --Yoite just gazes at him impassively until he looks away, then says "good night" and leaves with Miharu.
Yukimi slugs the wall and cusses. Raikou observes "they clearly know we're after the scroll, yet they welcomed us here." They obviously have something up their sleeve, says Yukimi,
and Raikou, settling on the bed with a book, calmly says that Nabari is a world of secrets. Well, we couldn't pass up a chance like this, says Yukimi, opening the window and leaning out for a look around--and the first thing he sees is Thobari in the window right next to his, having a cigarette. They stare at each other, gulp, and Yukimi hastily closes the window. Raikou looks up from his book: Yukimi-senpai? is something wrong? The blond snickers. It's suddenly gotten a lot more interesting, he says.
--next door, Thobari, who also slammed his window, is shuddering, saying "it's suddenly gotten a lot more complicated". Kouichi helpfully tells him where to find the bathroom. =)
It develops that, indeed, Team Banten and the Ash Wolves were the only ones invited to this meeting (I can't imagine why), and things at the discussion table are, um, tense. As the host delegation--Katarina, Subaru and Shijima--calls a close to the first day's proceedings, Thobari stands up and yells across the table, Rokujou! What are you thinking?! Please leave, request the hosts, and Thobari, still shouting that he has to talk to Miharu, is
toted out by two Alya students. Miharu looks distressed; the kids look back at him wistfully as they leave.
The women report to the bedridden Headmaster, who says "so, nothing was finalized". Again Subaru tells him not to worry, saying firmly that "we'll protect you and this school no matter what". Suddenly, in barges a young man dressed in the school's grey; he has red-blonde hair and a patch over his right eye. Kannuki-sensei, gasps Subaru in surprise. He rushes up to the headmaster's bedside and says he wants to call a meeting at once, to declare his successor; at this rate,
Kouga and the academy will be dragged down along with you, he says. Subaru angrily says the headmaster is in no condition to attend a meeting. All the more reason, Kannuki retorts: what will happen if he dies? it's only his medicine that's keeping him alive! If he's unable to speak, the Teachers' Committee will make the decision. --Of course, remarks Shijima, as vice-headmaster you'd be the next in line to succeed him. She smiles: even the ownership of the kinjutsu scroll Daya would be yours. --That's what you want, isn't it? demands Katarina.
--suddenly Shijima hears something, goes to the window and throws it open: clinging to the wall, eavesdropping, are Yukimi and Raikou. They smile charmingly. I need to buy a ballpoint pen, says Yukimi; know where I could find one? --Well, the wall doesn't have any, she says dryly. ("I did mention that, senpai," says Raikou.) --As they drop to the ground, she tosses them a map of the campus.
Very generous of you, we could take advantage of this, grins Yukimi. Don't take us too lightly, they say.
In Team Banten's room, Raimei is saying that she hadn't expected to see Raikou again so soon, while Kouichi remarks that even though Yoite wasn't at the meeting he's sure the assassin is here. Juji says she's in shock: Miharu-kun was brainwashed and set on the path to evil, and the hijutsu will bring the end of the world. She begins to giggle nervously as Thobari enters. He doesn't have good news either: they told him to keep his questions for tomorrow, and the Headmaster is stil bedridden, he tells them.
Juji asks him what Miharu plans to do. He sighs and says that, honestly, he doesn't know if Rokujou has a plan, or whether or not he truly believes in the Kairoushuu ideals. Tomorrow we should ask him directly, says Kouichi. Even if he's on that side now, he's still our friend. That's so, says Thobari, but--- Kouichi fixes him with a still, level gaze, and his voice drops as it did when he killed Frosty. Should he fail to answer us, or should it turn into a fight, then that's just the way it is, sensei. --Everyone falls silent, and Kumohira closes his eyes. Rokujou, he says, just what are you planning?
Meanwhile, over in the Ash Wolves' room, Yukimi is looking over his notes. The Student Council vs. the Teachers' Committee; the Headmaster's illness; and Daya. Raikou, drying his hair, says there seems to be a lot of dispute among the people in charge of Daya. How's the plan to steal the hijutsu scroll? asks Miharu. Working on that now, your Majesty, grins Yukimi.
He calls for Yoite to come in and join them, saying he'll be angry if they have to make decisions without him. --Yoite's room is dark; he stands looking out the window. Miharu steps in and wraps a long white scarf around his neck, saying Hanabusa-san asked him to
bring it--she thought you looked cold, he says. I don't need it, says Yoite, handing it back; don't push any more of your unnecessary feelings off on me. Miharu's jaw sets with determination and he tosses the scarf back around Yoite's neck, smiling at him. A look of ineffable wistfulness crosses Yoite's face and he leaves the scarf on. --It's so dark here when night falls, says Miharu, as they look out together. I welcome the night, Yoite says; it steals the shapes of things and swallows them in darkness. He wishes his existence could disappear that way, and Miharu bows his head.
Late that night; all asleep. An Alya boy creeps into the Kairoushuu room and attacks Yukimi, who defeats him easily. ("Your tea and cake should have been tampered with!" "I wouldn't be a ninja if I couldn't handle that degree of drugging.") Raikou enters armed with a sansetsukon, a three-section staff (he's very proud of it). They call to Miharu and Yoite, but their beds are empty with an unconscious assailant at the foot of each one.
Yukimi and Raikou race into the hall, dodge a flurry of kunai daggers, and decide, ah, hang the plan, we were going to make our move tonight anyway; let's just go and find the scroll.
Yoite and Miharu are fighting in the corridor. Yoite takes out an Alya boy with one of his long kicks and points at him, but Miharu draws down his hand, saying 'you mustn't use Kira, you're shaking already'. Ahead of them another Alya student is forced into the hall with a katana's point at his throat; it's Raimei and Juji. Tell us! who's giving your orders? demands Raimei, while Juji threatens him with a syringe, saying it'll go badly for him if he won't talk. The kid, terrified, says that Kannuki-sensei ordered them to capture all the Banten and Kairoushuu students. A teacher? you're not lying, right?
they ask, and Miharu bursts out: Raimei! Totally forgetting her prisoner she throws herself at him and grabs his shoulders: are you OK? Is Yoite protecting you? Pretty much, he says. She's starting to tell him how depressed Thobari is when the Kouga delegation arrives on the scene, asking angrily "what have you guys done to our students?"
They attacked us in our sleep! cries Raimei, but Subaru says coldly that it seems talks about the future of Nabari were pointless; all you wanted was Daya from the very start.
Ask Kannuki-sensei for yourselves, says Raimei, but too late; Subaru draws a slingshot and begins firing explosives, Shijima lunges at Yoite, and battle is joined. Miharu tries to divert his side down a staircase, but Katarina pushes him down the stairs, and Yoite and Raimei freeze as he disappears into the darkness.
And we see Kannuki watching through the half-drawn curtains of an upstairs window, with a more-than-half-crazed grin.
...go on to next episode.
Alone, later, he asks himself: what should I be doing? He looks toward the window, but there's nothing there but the silhouette of a cat.
Headmaster, he says, your school is done for...
..go back to Episode Guide mainpage.