At the very beginning we see a repeat of the scene from the previous episode where Muraki showed Professor Satomi the picture of Tsuzuki.

Hisoka had a dream where he calls out for Tsuzuki but his partner disappears into the mist. When he woke up Tsuzuki's bed lay empty.

Sitting outside Tsuzuki flashed back to when Muraki commented on his watch, and reflected that he does in fact wear it to hide the scars of his numerous suicide attempts. His train of though is cut off by Hisoka's appearance, who walked over and asked Tsuzuki if he wanted to have his fortune told. Later on the two were walking down the street, and Hisoka handed him food, and when Tsuzuki said it was yummy Hisoka commented that he must be ok if he liked it. He then called Tsuzuki unfair for being so nice to others but never revealing anything about himself. Tsuzuki countered saying that he was ok with being a hypocrite if it meant other people won't reject him. Hisoka was hurt by his words, taking it to mean Tsuzuki didn't trust him. Watari chose that moment to appear floating in midair, and told them it was time to get to work, since he found some info on Muraki.

Outside his restaurant, Oriya was practicing with his sword when Muraki stopped by to tell him that he was about to begin his final preparations, and that no one would be able to stop him.

Watari lead them to the college where Professor Satomi worked as he heard that Muraki had taken a class from him in college and visited him once a month. Watari had no sense of direction however and the three Shinigami found themselves lost in the highschool section. Maki and Mariko ran into them and offered to show them to Professor Satomi's office.

In his office Professor Satomi was looking and the old picture of Tsuzuki, still unable to believe it was true, but right then who appeared at his door but Tsuzuki himself. Professor Satomi denied having seen Muraki in ages and quickly ushered the three of them out of his office. Once they left, Muraki appeared from behind a curtain in the office, and Satomi asked for him to get Tsuzuki for him to use as a sample for cloning. As Satomi rejoiced at his good fortune, Muraki watched Tsuzuki leave the campus from the office window.

Back at the rundown house Tsuzuki sat outside the bathroom as Hisoka had a bath, listening as Hisoka told him that he sensed fear and shock from Satomi. Tsuzuki decided that they should keep an eye on him and watch for Muraki. Hisoka then asked if Tsuzuki wanted to hear their fortune from that morning, and when he replied yes told him that their compatibility was zero. Tsuzuki was taken aback, but then Hisoka told him that means they've hit rock bottom and they can only go up from there.

Later on that evening the two of them were walking around a market area and ran into Maki and Mariko near a shooting gallery. Tsuzki thanked them for the directions earlier and offered to win them a prize but failed miserably. Hisoka picked up a gun and hit a stuffed bear on his first try.

A while later Maki and Mariko were walking along a deserted area with their newly acquired prizes when they ran into Muraki. He asked them if they had seen a man in a black trenchcoat and when they mention they met Tsuzuki he told them they were poor girls for seeing Shinigami, and something rather nasty appeared beside him. Hisoka was giving Tsuzuki pointers on shooting when they heard the girls' screams. Running to where they were, they found Mariko sitting there helpless as Maki was mauled by bird-like creatures. Muraki, his eye ablaze, told Tsuzuki he came to pick him up.

Hisoka ran to Mariko's side, but Tsuzuki fell to his knees as Muraki told him that once Mariko saw a Shinigami she was fated to die. Muraki told him to come with him, and the creatures advanced while Tsuzuki sat there doing nothing but muttering it was his fault again. Suddenly Tsuzuki's shadow shot forward and killed the creatures as they leapt for Tsuzuki. Tatsumi appeared (it was his shadow magic) and told Muraki he wouldn't allow him to harass his co-workers any longer. Muraki and Tatsumi exchanged pleasantries, then Tatsumi attacked, saying he'd gladly destroy anyone he didn't like, and he didn't like Muraki. Muraki commented that Shinigami are harder to capture than he thought then disappeared in a flash of light, saying they could continue it another day.

Tsuzuki woke up in a hotel with Tatsumi at his bedside. He asked about Mariko and Tatsumi told him they escorted her home. To Tatsumi's surprise Tsuzuki then started to cry on his shoulder, saying it was all his fault. Tatsumi told him it wasn't, and that he shouldn't cry since he was a man. Tucking Tsuzuki into bed he told him to get some rest. Outside the room Tatsumi vowed to not forgive Muraki easily for tormenting his friend.

In a different hotel room Hisoka thought about the terror he had felt in Tsuzuki when Muraki had killed that girl, and wondered how he could help Tsuzuki since he had never comforted another person before. Tatsumi entered the room, and Hisoka asked him to watch over Tsuzuki tomorrow when he and Watari went to visit Professor Satomi. He added that Tsuzuki would probably prefer his company anyway since they had known each other longer. Tatsumi corrected him, saying it wasn't how long he'd known Tsuzuki and that Hisoka understood him far better and could help Tsuzuki the most.

Tatsumi agreed to look after Tsuzuki however, and the next day he took Tsuzuki shopping for souvenirs some of their co-workers had requested. Tsuzuki told Tatsumi that he could continue without him because if he didn't get back to work Hisoka would yell at him, but Tatsumi pointed out that it was all Hisoka's idea, and that they would be contacted if they were needed.

Watari told Hisoka he had a plan to prove that Satomi and Muraki were in cahoots. Satomi found a bag of hair on his desk and wondered aloud if Muraki had stopped by, and then behind him Watari spoke up, saying that didn't go along with his previous statement that he didn't know Muraki. Satomi threatened to call the police and Watari told him to go ahead, and that Satomi would have more explaining to do. Watari asked him if he knew where Muraki got the hair samples from, and then told Professor Satomi to read the paper. He and Hisoka left the office, leaving Satomi in a state of shock.

Tsuzuki and Tatsumi had tea at a restaurant, and Tsuzuki reminisced about all the times they had gone there when they were partners. Tatsumi was glad to see him smiling again, and Tsuzuki said he didn't want any more bad experiences in Kyoto, and vowed to protect Mariko from Muraki.

At Mariko's school an assembly was held to introduce three new teachers and a student. To Mariko's horror they were the four Shinigami (Tatsumi teaching math, Tsuzuki teaching history and social studies, and Watari teaching chemistry), and she became fearful that they were here to kill her next.

In his office Professor Satomi stood, surrounded by a pile of newspapers, reading an article on the recent serial killings and how the girls were all missing a lock of hair.

Once again in the secret lab, Muraki stated that Tsuzuki was a gentle man for going to such lengths to protect a stranger, and that his gentleness would be his downfall. He then addressed the floating head as Saki, asking if it is not so?

Comments: This episode obviously has lots of eyecandy for the Tsuzuki/Tatsumi fans, and even thought I'm not one myself I really enjoyed their scenes together. Another thing this episode has is signs of the reversal of roles between Hisoka and Tsuzuki, plus we finally get some action and Tatsumi really kicks some ass with that shadow magic of his. >D

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