Episode Guide to Gensomaden Saiyuki

4. Crimson Tears/Crimson

(manga Vol. 2, chapters 7-8)

After an unexpected dunking, the SI is invited to rest at the house of a girl named Shunrei. They learn from her aunt that her fiance was a youkai who left her after the minus wave struck this village, and she waits in sad patience for his return, keeping his room and clothes spotlessly clean. Gojyo is visibly shocked to learn that his name was Jien, and leaves to talk to her. Goku demands more information from Hakkai, who discloses that Jien is the name of Gojyo's missing full-youkai half-brother. Sanzo remarks that Gojyo is a "taboo child"--the result of a forbidden demon/human cross. [See Gojyo character notes for more on this.]
Gojyo does some dual-purpose flirting with Shunrei, hoping for info on his brother ("I'd just like to know what the guy looks like that would make such a pretty girl cry.") He's reminded of the tears his youkai stepmother always shed at the sight of him, and of his brother's crying the night he had to kill his own mother to save Gojyo from her jealous rage. (Shunrei thinks his red eyes are "as beautiful as the sunset"--clearly, she's still hoping for little hanyou of her own someday. =)
The next day Shunrei hears that a demon pack attacked people in the area last night and one of them had silver hair, like her Jien's. At once she races off to find them. Alerted to the danger, the SI give chase and rescue her from a rowdy gang of youkai, in the process learning that Jien isn't involved and that her lost sweetheart can't have been Gojyo's oniisan (who doesn't have silver hair). When Shunrei wakes the next day the SI are already gone, but her aunt tells her that they said not to give up hope, that their intent is to set things right between youkai and humans again.
Meanwhile, Kougaiji meets with Lady Gyokumen Kyoshu, who says she desires the whole world, and wants Kougaiji to call her "mother" since she intends to become his father's wife. Kougaiji, passionately loyal to his imprisoned true mother, clenches his teeth and bides his time...

Revised notes--Gensomaden 4

Two important conversations that need to be noted:
When Gojyo asks Shunrei if she has a picture of Jien and she says no, he continues, "he was a youkai, wasn't he?" and she very defensively and protectively retorts yes, but "is anything wrong with that? He was a good and kind man and I believe in him." And only then does Gojyo reveal he too is youkai.
The final scene: Gojyo sighs that it's such a bummer nice girls always have boyfriends, and so help me, it's Hakkai who asks, "what about nice boys?" Gojyo grins and replies "they travel into the wilderness, heading west." Man, there are volumes of fanfic in that. =)

Oh, and in the manga it's auntie who compares Gojyo's eyes to a sunset.

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