KING OF SWORDS, PART ONE

In the House of Candles the Earl was quite distracted by all the Tsuzuki pictures on his computer and didn't notice when a candle almost burned to nothingness suddenly flared back to life. Watson did notice however, and brought it to the Earl's attention.

Tsuzuki was just about to dig in to the large assortment of sweets he had spread out on his desk when one of the GuShoShin entered and told him and Hisoka that they had been called down to the chief's office. They went, and there Konoe and Tatsumi told them of how the Earl had noticed lives that were nearly extinguished flaring back to life lately and wanted it investigated. What the nearly-deceased all had in common was they had been on a cruise ship owned by the Kakyoin group, and Tsuzuki and Hisoka were to get on the ship at the next port and investigate. When Tsuzuki asked what was to become of all the sweets he hadn't had a chance to eat yet Tatsumi told him not to worry, they would eat them in his absence (to Tsuzuki's dismay).

On board the cruise ship Queen Camellia Tsuzuki got a job as a dealer and Hisoka posed as Hibiki Azumi, the son of a rich man who no one had ever seen. Knowing the man he was pretending to be the son of, the owner of the ship struck up a conversation with Hisoka. He asked about the GuShoShin, which Hisoka was holding, and Hisoka explained that it was a new toy his company was manufacturing. After the owner left GuShoShin commented that he was glad he didn't notice Hisoka was a fake.

At the dealer table Tsuzuki tried to take notice of all those playing; an old politician named Wakabayashi Shouzou, Houjo Kanako who was an actress and rumoured to be Wakabayashi's lover, but Wakabayashi cut him off angrily wanting to get back to the poker game. Tsuzuki won the game, and Wakabayashi slapped Tsuzuki's hand when he reached for his chips and stormed off angrily. Abiko Tetsuhiro, a nice young medical student, made sure Tsuzuki was alright, worried that the rings on Wakabayashi's hand might have hurt him. Tetsuhiro warned Tsuzuki, since he was new on the ship, to watch out for the ghost of a woman who roamed the ship at night.

In the ballroom Hisoka bumped into a young girl, who asked him to dance. After the dance they went out onto the deck and she told him she was glad to see another young person on the cruise and introduced herself as Kakyoin Tsubaki, but told him he could call her Tsubaki-hime.

A waiter brought a bottle of wine to a silver-haired man who sat in a private room, and a commotion below caught the silver-haired man's attention. Tsuzuki was trying to explain to the guards in english that he had no money then slipped in to japanese to explain he wanted to see Hibiki. They were trying to tell him in english that the area was VIP only. Suddenly a wine bottle flew through the air and hit Tsuzuki squarely in the face. In english Muraki told the guards that Tsuzuki was a friend and he wanted them to back off. The guards, identifying Muraki as the VIP, all turned and left. Muraki told Tsuzuki he thought he would dodge the bottle, and that he wanted to molest him even more. Tsuzuki was in shock that he had ran into him here.

Hisoka walked Tsubaki-hime back to her room, where she told him how her doctor told her not to overexert herself but she couldn't help it.

Back in the private room Muraki poured Tsuzuki a glass of wine, and told him it went well with Tsuzuki's eyes. Muraki was amused that Tsuzuki was surprised to see him alive, saying he wouldn't die that easily. Tsuzuki wanted to know what he was planning, but Muraki told him he was here as a doctor. Muraki flirted with Tsuzuki in his crazy little way, but then when he stood up to leave Tsuzuki told him they weren't done talking. Muraki said that he wasn't there for the same reasons as him, that he was the caretaker of the ship's owner's daughter.

Hisoka couldn't believe it when Tsubaki-hime told him that Dr. Muraki was her physician, but then Muraki himself entered the room. Muraki didn't expect Hisoka to be there, and Tsubaki-hime was rather confused by the fact that they seemed to know each other and the fact that Hisoka was giving Muraki quite the glare.

Walking down the hall, Tsuzuki overheard Wakabayashi talking with the owner, Kakyoin. Wakabayashi demanded to win at the tables or else he'd tell people what was really going on on the ship.

In bed, Tsubaki-hime asked Muraki if he knew Hibiki, and he told her he knew many people. He then gave her her medicine and tucked her into bed.

Tsuzuki and Hisoka were in their room when they heard Kanako scream. They ran to where everyone was crowded outside Wakabayashi's room (everyone being Muraki, Kakyoin, Tsubaki-hime, Kanako, and Tetsuhiro), and when Tsuzuki asked what was wrong Kanako pointed a trembling finger towards the room. Inside the body of Wakabayashi sat in a chair surrounded by candles, covered in blood, with a small envelope at his feet.

The next day they all gathered in a room (joined by the manager Akiyama) and Muraki gave the results of the autopsy; Wakabayashi had been poisoned and then his heart had been removed. One of the people in the room had to be the suspect, and Kanako instantly accused Kakyoin. Kakyoin argued that he would never kill someone on his own ship, then Tetsuhiro suggested that the ghost might have done it, adding that he heard a woman's footsteps in the hall. Kanako called him stupid for suggesting such a thing. Tsuzuki opened the envelope that had been found and within was a tarot card, the ace of wands, and a letter addressed to Tsubaki-hime, telling her it was from the only person who truly loved her. Tsubaki-hime had no idea what was going on, but when she saw the tarot card that was with the note she was scared, pointing out that the ace of wands meant the beginning. Kanako demanded to know if that meant more people would be killed, and Muraki suggested they all stay on their guard.

Tsuzuki and Hisoka later on mentioned to each other that they both suspected Muraki. As Tsuzuki was standing there, Muraki approached him with a huge bouquet of roses for Tsuzuki, which Tsuzuki refused. Muraki told him to try not to offend him or Muraki would reveal the Shinigami's identity to everyone. He then suggested they play a game of poker, but instead of betting with chips they use Tsuzuki's body. Tsuzuki was taken aback, but then recovered his composure somewhat and asked what he would get if he won. Muraki told him that then he would give Tsuzuki information.

Muraki's hand beat Tsuzuki's, and untying his tie he advanced on Tsuzuki who now belonged to him for the night. As Muraki pinned him to the wall tears filled Tsuzuki's eyes but he didn't go back on his end of the bargain. Before anything could happen though, Hisoka appeared and challenged Muraki to another game of cards to save Tsuzuki. Muraki agreed, saying waiting would only make his passion greater.

During the game Muraki told them he had an alibi for last night, but that probably wouldn't make them less suspicious as he had performed the autopsy and could have lied about the time of death. When they showed their hands, Muraki faced defeat to Hisoka's straight flush and turned to leave with dignity. Tsuzuki told him to wait, asking about the information he had promised. Muraki then told them a girl named Irene had once boarded the ship then mysteriously vanished. Tsuzuki still suspected Muraki, and Muraki asked him if he would believe him if he died.

The next morning as the Shinigami were getting dressed Tsubaki-hime pounded on their door, saying Muraki hadn't come for her morning check up and his door was locked and there was no reply from within. They ran to his room and Tsuzuki pounded on the door. Kanako, Tetsuhiro, and Akiyama who had a key came and he opened the door. They entered and Tsubaki-hime went over to his bedside and screamed. Muraki lay there, his face marred with blood but peaceful in death, holding the bouquet he had tried to give Tsuzuki, and cards and stray roses scattered all over the bed.


Comments: My poor summary does this beautiful episode no justice at all. This is my favorite episode! No question! Every time I watch it I have to watch the scene with english -and- the poker scene more than once. :D Lucky Tsubaki-hime gets to be tucked in by Muraki.. God he looks gorgeous at the end when he's lying amongst all the roses.


/ BACK