The episode starts off with a brief repeat of the battle scene and the ending scene of Tsuzuki in the nurse's office.

Hisoka and Hijiri went on a little sight-seeing tour. Hijiri was sad that Tsuzuki couldn't make it because he had wanted to treat him to dinner, and Hisoka was surprised that Tsuzuki would turn down food.

Tsuzuki meanwhile was at the school, where he had someone retrieve a hatchet (which looked more like a meat-cleaver to me). The person who got it for him was totally unaware of his dark motives, and thought Tsuzuki was just being a dedicated school nurse and working after hours.

At Hijiri's house Tsuzuki asked Hisoka where Kazusa was, and Hisoka reminded him she was still in JuOhCho. Hisoka then told Tsuzuki he had gotten Konoe a spicy souvenir since he hates sweets. Tsuzuki said it was a good idea, then went off to have a shower. Hijiri went to get Tsuzuki a change of clothes, but Hisoka stopped him.

In the shower Tsuzuki obviously suffered. Sargatanas was surprised he was still resisting him, but told Tsuzuki quite plainly that he couldn't win and he would have Tsuzuki kill all those he loved with his own hands.

Hijiri was staring out the window of his room when Tsuzuki entered and asked him for a thank you. Simple words were not enough, and when Hijiri offered him anything Tsuzuki told him he wanted his body. He wrapped his arms around the boy, and then ripping his shirt open he pushed him away. Yelling that he wanted Hijiri's life, Tsuzuki made short, messy work of him with the hatchet. Hijiri slumped against the wall, his blood everywhere, on the floor, on the curtains, and all over Tsuzuki. Licking blood of his fingers Tsuzuki said the contract was fulfilled.

Back at EnMaCho, Hisoka reported to Konoe, Tatsumi, and Watari that Sargatanas had indeed taken over Tsuzuki's body. For proof he pointed out that Tsuzuki's usual emotion was absent and he had forgot the chief liked sweets. Their discussion was interrupted when suddenly the building trembled with an incredible force.

Suzaku and Byakko were attacking under Tsuzuki's control, who was under Sargatanas' control. He demanded Kazusa be handed over to him since the contract stated she was his now, but then Hijiri appeared before him and told him he wasn't dead yet. The devil was surprised, but then Hijiri pulled off his wig to reveal that he was Hisoka, and it had been Hisoka that he had killed.

Deep within the building Kazusa clung to Hijiri, terrified by the shaking, and Hijiri gently tried to calm her down.

Back outside Hisoka mentioned how killing the contractor was a violating act, but Sargatanas only laughed and said the contract didn't matter, and he would first kill Kazusa and then Hisoka. Byakko then attacked Hisoka, and Suzaku continued to attack the building. The Shinigami tried to defend EnMaCho but there wasn't enough time to call everyone in.

Hisoka ran up to where Konoe and Watari were discussing matters, and in the room where Hijiri and Kazusa were Hijiri told Kazusa to stay put then ran off. Hisoka told them he would use Reibaku to separate the devil from Tsuzuki, but Konoe objected, saying it was too dangerous and could hurt Tsuzuki, and possibly even reflect back at Hisoka. Hisoka counter-argued that he couldn't let the devil continue to do as he wanted and there was no other choice. Konoe reluctantly agreed.

Sargatanas entered the hall where they were, and immediately Hisoka began chanting. A large ball of energy surrounded Tsuzuki and forced him to his knees. Suddenly Hijiri appeared, grabbed Hisoka's wrist, and told him to stop because he didn't want Tsuzuki hurt. Hisoka said he had to or else Tsuzuki would remain in the devil's power. Their argument ended when Tsuzuki broke free from the Reibaku, his power too strong to be contained by it. Energy burst forth and Hisoka barely had time to push Hijiri to safety before he was hit by the full force of it.

The devil laughed and told Hisoka he'd kill him with Tsuzuki's own power. Hisoka told him to shut up and that he would not be killed by him and Watari added that they would rescue Tsuzuki no matter what. The devil laughed, and asked if they even thought Tsuzuki was worth saving, and called Tsuzuki a black lamb abandoned by God. Shocked, Konoe asked if the devil had looked into Tsuzuki's past, and the devil grinned and said he had seen everything. Hisoka fell to his knees, and when Watari ran to his side Hisoka told him he could feel Tsuzuki's presence. The devil continued, saying how easy it had been to take control of Tsuzuki; all he had to do was show him his past and he surrendered. Konoe clutched at his head and begged the devil to stop, but the devil paid him no heed and went on about how Tsuzuki had watched over and over the sin that he had committed, and would do so until he died. Konoe again asked him to stop, but the devil yelled that no one could rescue him.

Hisoka stood up and slowly walked forward, and when the devil saw he told Hisoka nothing would work. Hisoka only replied that he would keep trying until something finally did work. Hisoka sent a blast of energy at the devil and tried Reibaku again. The devil yelled at Hisoka, calling him a fool, but then he heard Hijiri call out for Tsuzuki to come back to them.

In the darkness of his mind, young Tsuzuki ran and cried, saying that he was sorry. Bloody hands reached for him and asked why he had killed them. An adult again, Tsuzuki cried for forgiveness, saying he did all he could. Sargatanas appeared before Tsuzuki and told him there was nowhere to run, and that no one would forgive him. Tsuzuki fell to his knees and cried, but then Hijiri, bathed in golden light, appeared before him and told Tsuzuki he liked him. Tsuzuki looked up in surprise and wonder, and Hijiri went on, saying that Tsuzuki had protected him. Sargatanas had no idea how Hijiri had appeared because it was not of his doing. The glowing Hijiri placed his hands on Tsuzuki's shoulders and told him not to worry about the past, and asked him to come back.

The devil's seal on Tsuzuki began to break, and Tsuzuki's power burst forth. Sargatanas was forced from Tsuzuki, emerging out of his back as Tsuzuki fell to the ground. Sargatanas was enraged, but before he could attack Byakko and Suzako appeared and finished him off quite quickly. In the Shikigami's fury the roof was damaged and pillars of stone fell towards Hijiri. Kazusa appeared out of nowhere and ran to him, calling out his name. The rubble fell all around them and Hijiri knew no more.

Konoe and Tatsumi walked along the hall, talking about how since Tsuzuki had been controlled by the devil he wasn't being blamed for the events that had occurred.

Hijiri woke up in the hospital-like area with Watari and Hisoka at his bedside. He asked about Kazusa, and they told him that she had died when one of the pillars fell on her.

Tsuzuki stood outside on the edge of the water, and Hijiri came up behind him and asked if he wasn't going to say goodbye. Tsuzuki told him he didn't know how to face him because he tried to kill him after promising to protect him. Hijiri quite plainly told him he didn't need Tsuzuki's protection and that he should relax. Hijiri hugged Tsuzuki and asked if he would come to his concert where he would play the Devil's Trill.

Later on Tsuzuki still stood by the water, and asked Hisoka who stood beside him if Hijiri had left yet. Hisoka told him that he had warned him not to make promises so freely, and Tsuzuki told him he had been right. He said as a Shinigami he killed people, but he wanted to protect them as well; he had never meant to lie, he really wanted to protect them. Hisoka told him he understood and not to beat himself up over it.

At Hijiri's concert Hisoka, Tsuzuki, and Kazusa stood and watched as he played the Devil's Trill flawlessly. Later on in his dressing room Hijiri found flowers from an unknown person, and realized it meant that the Shinigami had come and watched. Hijiri wouldn't give up the belief that he would see them again some day, and dedicated every song he would play in the future to them.

Comments: Evil Tsuzuki almost makes up for the complete lack of Muraki in this arc. When he "kills" Hijiri and everything goes black and white except for the blood which remains a bright blue it's beautiful to behold. Plus I can never find fault with a Tsuzuki shower scene. ^_~

/ BACK