Nabari no Ou, Episode 12

Miharu heads off by himself to find Yoite, his grandmother commenting on how much he’s changed as he goes.

Miharu is, however, traveling under the premise of going to see Raimei, who is now out of the hospital and is staying in a hotel owned by a Fuuma ninja. She offers to let Miharu stay with her, but he turns her down, and she realizes that he intends to go see Yoite. Miharu also reveals his intent to join the Kairoushuu, and Raimei says that she’ll support him as long as he is doing so just to help Yoite. She also states that she believes it is ok to use the Shinrabanshou to help someone out. Before parting ways, Miharu asks Raimei to get the Banten scroll, to which she agrees.

While walking by himself, Miharu supposes that if he did not exist, those around him would be happier as they would not be in contact with the Shinrabanshou. Shortly thereafter, Miharu runs into Yoite, who is hiding in an alleyway. They go to a park, and Miharu tries to comfort Yoite when he appears to shiver. Yoite is, as usual, irritated at the attempt at contact. Miharu tells Yoite that he has to promise him two things – first, that he release his friends from the kira technique, and second, that he survive until Miharu can use the Shinrabanshou.

Afterward, Yukimi comes along in a car and gives the pair a ride to the library. Here, Miharu runs into Kato, the seemingly clumsy ninja from the kill Mr. Frosty arc, who recognizes him and asks him if he needs help. Miharu says that he wants to read Kotarou’s book, but Kato quickly realizes that he wants to see the Fuuma scroll. He lets Miharu take it, telling him to return it when he’s done reading it, but Kotarou appears after his departure, and we learn that he knows exactly what is going on, and that it is as he has planned.

Miharu meets the Kairoushuu and gives them the Fuuma scroll as a sign of his loyalty to joining them.

Back in Banten, Kouichi asks Kumohira if it is a good idea to not go looking for Miharu. But Kumohira tells him that Miharu is probably meeting with Yoite. Kotarou makes an appearance, along with an invitation from the Kouga ninja for both Kouichi and Kumohira.

Miharu is preparing food for the Kairoshuu, and Yukimi makes a fuss over how good he thinks the food is; he has had a bit too much to drink. Hattori questions Miharu about why he has decided to come to the Kairoushuu, but Yoite steps in immediately, smacking away the hand that Hattori had extended. Everyone reacts with shock, but Hattori does nothing about it, and Miharu tells him that he thinks that the Kairoushuu have more in common with his way of thinking about the Shinrabanshou, since the Banten ninja don’t want him to use it.

Yukimi begins to rave a bit in his drunken state, mocking Kumohira for not being able to kill even though he is a ninja. When Miharu says something about what he’s done as only being him running away, Yukimi makes a remark about suicide being a real manner of running away, and Yoite is visibly upset. Amatasu, Yukimi’s elder sister, scolds him for drinking too much, before the group realizes that Yoite is crying. Yoite quickly leaves the room, and Miharu follows. Miharu catches up with him, and Yoite admits that he cannot taste anything any more; that, truly, his senses are beginning to feel, but even with that and his success at killing his feelings about killing others, he still sometimes cries and he dislike this. Miharu attempts to touch him, stating that he’ll catch a cold out in the night, but Yoite smacks his hand away, and tells Miharu that he’s wrong to think that he followed because of wanting to save Yoite, that he only wants to save his friends.

Hattori is off in his car once again, and the blind lady (don’t know her name!) remarks that Yoite isn’t long for this world. Hattori says that that is why he lets him do as he wishes, even though the blind lady suggests that Yoite should behave better since Hattori is the one who saved him.

Miharu and Yoite are sitting at opposite ends of a bench, not facing each other, still outside. Miharu is thinking to himself, and admits that he originally agreed to help Yoite because of his friends… but that now it’s different, although he doesn’t know why.

The next day, Miharu is brought shopping for a school uniform by Yukimi and Raikou. Raikou looks at ugly suit coats despite the best attempts of the sales staff, and Yoite sulks in the corner. Miharu expresses confusion at needing a school uniform, and is told it is necessary for his trial at the Kouga ninja school. The invitation from before was about some open slots for students, and the Kairoushuu also received one.

Back in the car, Raikou inists on driving… and they immediately crash into a ditch.

Impressions:

Fairly calm episode, and seemingly uneventful, but the development in Miharu and Yoite’s relationship seems significant (don’t worry, I don’t mean it in a BL-ish manner…). Also worth noting is that Raimei truly is just in favor of supporting Miharu, and thus isn’t exactly an ally of Kumohira’s, although she does care about both Miharu and Kumohira. So long as Miharu doesn’t plan to take over the world or hurt people, she’ll support his decisions.

I liked that the bench scene shot was almost exactly the same as the bench shot in the ending, the only difference being the incense burner. The animation was, as usual, pretty good, although we got some more artistry than usual. This shot in particular was impressive:

Damn, that’s good.

And not exactly related to the episode, but it’s funny how this show has ended up being my most-anticipated week to week. The last time I felt such urgency for the next week’s episode was probably with Bleach before the Soul Society arc ended (although I probably would’ve felt that way about Kanon had I not started watching it after about twenty episodes had aired…). I really love this show, and I’m dying for the domestic manga release.