Nabari no Ou – 06

「選択」 (Sentaku)
“Choice”

After regaining consciousness, Kouichi and Raimei still feel shaken up from Yoite’s attack, but quickly seek out Kumohira, who has just returned to Banten. Kouichi informs him that they’ve searched all over the city, but there aren’t any traces as to where Miharu may have been taken. Upon hearing that, Kumohira blames himself for sending the others back earlier and decides to head straight to Iga, but Kouichi and Raimei insist that he calms down and gets some rest for now. Kumohira refuses to rest and starts worrying about what he’ll do if Miharu is killed, which causes Kouichi to adamantly tell him to calm down and realize that Yoite could have easily killed them, but didn’t. Because of this, he believes that the Kairoushuu definitely won’t kill Miharu either. Realizing this, Kumohira apologizes and decides to rest for a bit, while thinking things over.

While spying on them from above, Yukimi informs Toujuurou over the phone that Yoite isn’t around and Yamase is also off somewhere. Toujuurou tells Yukimi that Yoite is probably close to his limit already, so it’ll be troublesome if they don’t “complete” him properly. Yukimi is more worried about Yoite’s unpredictable behaviour though, such as his random killings, but Toujuurou reminds him that in order to change the world, you have to be an evolutionist and a criminal. Yukimi says he’ll abide by the leader’s decisions, but rants a bit about how he’s a writer on the surface world, but now has to gather information. In any case, Toujuurou orders him to find look after Yoite and tells him to contact his secretary for more orders.

Meanwhile, Miharu is “accompanying” Yoite and asks him if he uses the Kira, a technique that kills himself in the process, for the Kairoushuu’s sake. He also wonders if he wants the hijutsu even if it means he’ll die, to which Yoite replies that he’s not alive, so he doesn’t fear dying. The two of them eventually make their way to some old, abandoned train cars, where Yoite says he simply wants to talk to Miharu and that this doesn’t concern the Kairoushuu. Yoite says that he wants Miharu to grant him his wish—the wish to have never existed in the first place.

Miharu interprets this as wanting to die, but Yoite says that he wants him to change his past so that he was never “born” into the Nabari world. He tells Miharu that he doesn’t have to understand, but Yoite wishes he could never use the Kira in the first place. Hearing that, Miharu feels that he understands, but says he can’t use the hijutsu because the wisdom is too much for him. While his head may be overflowing with information and it’s been drilled into his mind that he has to obtain this power, Miharu feels that he can’t do anything as he is now. Yoite says if he’s able to clear that obstacle, he can obtain the highly sought after wisdom.

When Yoite questions what Miharu plans to do with the hijutsu, he simply says that he’ll do nothing but get rid of it right away and return to a normal lifestyle. Yoite is a bit puzzled by this and tells him that the Shinrabanshou is his and that he should use it. Miharu simply says that Kumohira once said that the universe’s laws aren’t something that people should change, but Yoite says people have done tons of selfish things already. Miharu reverts back to his apathetic ways at this point, so Yoite questions if he has anyone important to him that he may want to save, or if going on without any love is his personal rule. Hearing this, Miharu says that it was a promise, but he doesn’t recall with whom. Yoite then lectures Miharu on his indifference and says that if he really doesn’t care either way, then to obtain it and use it for his sake. If he can’t do that, Yoite suggests handing the hijutsu over to him. Miharu says that he can’t even if he wanted to, but Yoite mentions how the Fuuma ninja are also gathering the kinjutsu to develop a technique that will extract the hijutsu. Miharu however says the user may still die while trying to master the Shinrabanshou.

Yamase later arrives and tries to retrieve Miharu so that he can redeem some credibility, but Yoite decides to kill him with his Kira and makes Miharu watch. Shortly after, Miharu manages to run away, but Yoite quickly catches up. After coughing up some blood, Yoite surprisingly says that Miharu is dying more than he is. He then provides Miharu with three options. One, no longer concern yourself with the hijutsu if it’s separated from you. Two, use it for your own sake. Three, use it for my sake. However, Yoite adds the stipulation that if Miharu chooses either one or two, that he’ll kill his friends right away with the fragment of life force he’s shot into each of them. Hearing this worries Miharu and he questions as to why, so Yoite says it’s because he’s apathetic and wouldn’t think about suicide or revenge should that happen anyway.

Miharu is reminded of the words that Kumohira, Kouichi, and Raimei said to him before, but before he can decide, Yoite dispels the Kira that’s been affecting the vision in his right eye. Yoite explains that he’s the only one who can do so and that his lifespan isn’t very long, so he needs Miharu to hurry up and obtain the hijutsu and grant his wish. Placed in a difficult position with no real choice to begin with, Miharu chooses option number three, so that no one dies for his sake. According to Miharu, this was the easiest choice since he was always troubled by people being nice to him when he had nothing to offer in return.

Enthused by his response, Yoite tells Miharu that this is their secret and to consult with him about anything before he disappears from this world. He also claims that he’s going to help make him the Ruler of Nabari. The two then head back to Miharu’s house, during which Yoite says to just continue collecting the kinjutsu as they have been. Since kinjutsu are unlike any normal technique, Yoite feels that they should have a hint as to how to use the Shinrabanshou. According to Yoite, with great risk to the user’s mind and body, a kinjutsu is a technique that comes at a really high cost, but is unparalleled by other techniques, just as the Shinrabanshou is. Yoite explains that while the Kairoushuu are collecting the kinjutsu to develop a technique to extract the Shinrabanshou, he’s only interested in finding a technique to use it. Exhausted from talking so much, Yoite takes his leave, but not before Miharu confirms that they’ll meet again. Kumohira, Kouichi, and Raimei later drop by Miharu’s okonomiyaki store and are surprised to find him there. Kumohira breaks out in tears of joy and is all over Miharu, but gets punched in the process.

Returning to his apartment, Yoite finds Yukimi there, who doesn’t question where he went, but just wants to confirm that he didn’t kill Miharu. After confirming that he didn’t, Yoite questions Yukimi if he’s alive, since no one recognizes him. Yukimi reiterates that he’s alive, since he’s alive and breathing, but Yoite wonders if he’s concerned about anyone or willing to do something for someone else’s sake. In the surface world and the Nabari world, he feels that all he can do is injure people, but Yukimi says that’s just how some people have to live. Offering him a cup of hot lemonade, Yukimi says that alive or dead, the entranceway is open here. He also mentions the saying, “when it rains, taking shelter from the rain is the right thing to do; when it feels gloomy, going home is good” before going back to filing his report. In response to this, Yoite says he has a bad feeling about that, but Yukimi simply says that’s why he hates kids.

Next Episode:
「決する心」 (Kessuru Kokoro)
“Determination”

As suspected, Yoite didn’t kill Miharu (…wouldn’t that have been a crappy ending?) and instead, his motives and personality were revealed. While he’s not the indifferent type of character Miharu is, we find out that he’s quite the self-pitying type. I find it interesting how the main characters in this series are probably two of the most powerful ninjas in the Nabari world, but neither seem to want any part of it. On one side, we have the anti-hero Miharu, and on the other side, we have the anti-villain Yoite. How should we deal with a premise like this and make it all the more interesting? Put them together that’s how! Now don’t take this with any sarcasm (although I’m sure it comes off that way), as I’m actually quite pleased with how Nabari no Ou strives to be different from typical storylines. While I’m sure there will be plot twists down the road, I like how they’ve situated it so that these two characters are together early, which helps make the story more appealing right from the get-go. The fact that their “relationship” (if you will) is unknown to their respective factions will probably lead to more interesting encounters later on too.

In Miharu’s case, I can still see him becoming a hero-type character after he overcomes his indifferent mindset and actually strives for something. With that said, I’m quite fond of his apathetic personality, so I hope they don’t rush pull a 180° turn on his character too soon. In Yoite’s case, his mental hurdle of getting someone to recognize his existence (Naruto vibes anyone?) will undoubtedly cause a change in his character as well. With that and his shortened lifespan in mind, I get the feeling that Yoite won’t survive until the end of the series; however, that’s not to say I want to see him killed off or anything. It’s just that the premise has been set up for Yoite to find a purpose in life, have someone recognize his existence, befriend our protogonist Miharu, and potentially die trying to save/help him. Given Nabari’s somewhat unorthodox style, I’m hoping to be shown otherwise, but that’s my impression after six episodes. There are still a lot of episodes to go, so I could be way off, which makes this series all the more exciting to follow.

As for episode specifics, I’m suspecting that the person Miharu made his promise to is his mother, but that’s not really founded on anything aside from my initial reaction. Miharu’s eye was healed as well thanks to Yoite, so as expected, he didn’t stay blind in one eye for that long. ^_^ I found it interesting how Yoite’s Kira seems to persist for what I would presume to be indefinitely, after he has “shot” a fragment of his life force into his opponent. If that’s the case, I wonder how long Kumohira, Kouichi, and Raimei will remain under the influence of his technique. Given the way things are now, unless I’ve misunderstood how it works, he can still kill any of them whenever he wants. Because of this, our master of apathy Miharu, has actually shown that he isn’t so indifferent after all. From Miharu’s point of view, he simply doesn’t want to drag anyone into anything; however, his act of cutting people off and bearing the burden alone is evidently seen as a form of kindness. For example, the Fuuma ninjas noticed this back in episode 2.

Comedy-wise, Kumohira and Miharu never fail to amuse and it was actually nice to see Miharu punch him for a change. =) If Miharu’s our indifferent character, Kumohira is undoubtedly our overly emotional one. When those two get together, it’s almost like watching a Manzai routine, with Miharu being the tsukkomi (the one who delivers jokes/jabs) and Kumohira being the boke (the one whose expense the jokes are taken from). They really are like a comedic duo and I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of watching their antics.

Next episode it looks like we’ll see the introduction of the Togakushi clan and their female leader. Undoubtedly, their kinjutsusho is the next target, but I wonder if it’ll be snatched away in the very next episode. Also, I wonder who’ll get to it first. The Fuuma or the Kairoushuu? Either way, I can’t wait to find out.

P.S. As you’ve probably already suspected, this is late because raw availability has dropped. I’m not sure how long this will continue for, but it seems like things are worse than expected for now. Stay tuned.

Cast:
– Rokujou Miharu (六条 壬晴) / Kugimiya Rie (釘宮 理恵)
– Yoite (宵風) / Saiga Mitsuki (斎賀 みつき)
– Kumohira Thobari Durandal (雲平・帷・デュランダル) / Namikawa Daisuke (浪川 大輔)
– Aizawa Kouichi (相澤 虹一) / Hino Satoshi (日野 聡)
– Shimizu Raimei (清水 雷鳴) / Fujimura Ayumi (藤村 歩)
– Yukimi Kazuhiko (雪見 和彦) / Tsuda Kenjirou (津田 健次郎)
– Hattori Toujuurou (服部 柊十郎) / Nakata Jouji (中田 譲治)
– Shiratama (シラタマ) / Shindou Kei (真堂 圭)
– Yamase Masami (山背 正実) / Kusano Tooru (草野 徹)
– Naoko (直子) / Takizawa Kumiko (滝沢 久美子)