Please note the SPOILER warning, many key elements and developments of the anime, Kannaduki no Miko are revealed in the following paragraphs, do not continue reading if you do not want to know the various plot twists.

Kannaduki no Miko - Episode 10: An invitation to love and die

Himeko performs the ritual alone, the energy crackles and hurts her, but she endures until an image of herself run through by a blade flashes through her mind and breaks her concentration. She forces herself to start again. The ritual is dangerous and agonising with only one priestess performing it and Himeko cries in pain as she chants relentlessly and Kazuki looks on helplessly. The swords show cracks but none break and as Himeko collapses, Kazuki forces her to take a rest.

Souma practices with Tsubasa’s sword and his moves and fighting style start to resemble Tsubasa’s. His strength increases as he works with the sword but the scales on his back grow too. Souma returns to the Oogami residence and we see he has decided his course of action when he approaches Kazuki and gives him a peaceful smile (so different from his confusion and anger at their last confrontation).

Himeko is back at the mansion vacuuming Chikane’s room, she looks around at Chikane’s possessions and photos and thinks that Chikane knew everything about her, taught her everything and always protected her. It is because of Chikane’s compliments that Himeko was able to enjoy photography, because of her encouragement that Himeko was able to date, because of Chikane’s support that she was able to face her responsibilities as the Solar Priestess.

She has always thought of Chikane as an angel, but the Chikane of that fateful night was frightening as a devil. Himeko touches a photo of Chikane and wonders which one is the real Chikane, angel or devil. She cries and we see a blood splattered masked figure with black flowing hair in the purple robes of the Lunar Priestess holding a sword, kneeling in a pool of blood as the Orochi energy swirls around (not sure if this is a scene that flashes in Himeko’s mind).

Himeko looks up and murmurs Chikane’s name, but then wipes her tears with a determined look on her face. She changes into the Lunar Priestess robes, determined to find out the truth about Chikane (is she angel or devil?). Himeko goes back to the cave and begins the ritual again.

At the Orochi site, Chikane is surrounded by dark energy that reveals to her the darkness carried by the other acolytes as the energy enters her body through the lunar sign on her back. Miyako was a nun forsaken by the God she worshipped (her church was bombed by enemy fighter planes), Girochi was a war orphan as a child and a defenceless victim of violent conflict, Corona was forced to have sex in order to get her big break as a singer, Reiko attained commercial success at the expense of her true creative aspirations, Nekoko was subject to medical experiments from a very young age (lots of injections given to a strapped down child).

Powerful and sad scene, all those antics of the Orochi acolytes fail to amuse now. The Orochi obviously manipulates them by exploiting their real pain and sense of betrayal. The Orochi is now suffusing Chikane with all the power and darkness that used to fill the other acolytes, so that Chikane is now bearing all their despair and agony, in addition to her own pain.

In the cave, Himeko struggle to control the energy and call for the revival. An alarmed Kazuki runs into the cave towards Himeko and stops as an incandescent beam of white light bursts upwards. We see the beam pass right through Chikane and the orb of Orochi energy hovering above her. It then streams through space to release a huge mech after crashing into the moon.

A sword appears in a ray of light in front of Himeko and Kazuki says that it is the Solar Priestess’s sword. Its manifestation is proof that the Sword God has been revived. She reaches for the sword but energy crackles around it and injures her hand, leaving a red circular mark on the back of her hand. At the same time, the sword of the Lunar Priestess appears in front of Chikane and she grasps it with a smile.

Back at the Oogami residence, Yukihito bandages Himeko’s hand and admonishes her for implusively performing the ritual alone (without supervision and when she had not had a chance to rest properly). He also mentions that the injury is caused by her rash action (so it might be that trying to hold the sword in her weakened state was what caused her hand to be hurt). Souma calls Himeko out to talk in private.

Souma tells Himeko that she is strong, surprisingly so because he always thought that Himeko could not fight and needed to be protected. But he was wrong, Himeko decided and acted to revive the Sword God all by herself, she fought all alone in a momentous battle and won, she was the one who gave him the power and determination to fight but he was too arrogant to know it before (he is remembering Himeko’s solar light boosting his strength when he fought).

Himeko says that is not true, the ritual was so excruciating, frightening and draining that she wanted to give up many times, but she received strength from everyone’s support. Souma understands that everyone is strengthened by others and he says that he wants to fight Chikane with the giant mech of the Sword God. Himeko says she cannot allow that. Souma protests that Chikane has turned evil but apologises when he sees Himeko upset.

Himeko says she knows it is wrong, but she did not revive the Sword God to fight Chikane, but because it is her means of meeting Chikane and finding out the real reason behind her behaviour. Souma gallantly accedes, saying that he can still help her control the mech and Himeko can decide whether to fight or not after they meet and talk. But Himeko is worried that boarding the Sword mech will put him in danger. Souma assures her that he has the aid of Kazuki’s advice.

Souma says there is something he wants to tell her, but only after everything is over. Himeko says she will be waiting to hear it. Souma then cheerfully tells her that he will be her weapon and armour and they will not lose. Souma kisses her on the forehead and Himeko blushes, smiling softly. Souma gives her a brotherly kiss and Himeko accepts his offer of aid and his plutonic gesture with a peaceful smile, no more dramatic tears, and she seems happy about keeping their relationship at this neutral stage.

Himeko returns to the mansion and is surprised to see light coming from the music room, which she enters to find Chikane in her uniform, playing the piano serenely. Chikane finishes the tune and turns to greet a stunned Himeko. Chikane notices the bandage on Himeko’s hand and gently examines it as she learns that the injury was gotten during the revival ceremony.

Himeko blushes at the attention and ministrations as Chikane redresses the wound, but her delight disappears when she remembers Chikane’s assault. Chikane asks her what is wrong but Himeko demurs and says it is nothing. Chikane looks at her kindly and Himeko blushes again.

Chikane cooks for Himeko and waits on her, refusing to let her aggravate her injury by doing anything. Chikane scrubs Himeko’s back as they bathe and brushes her hair. They both dress in night gowns and Chikane plays the piano for an enamoured Himeko.

Himeko was at first surprised and uncertain at the return of the routine of happier days, but she realised she only thought she had to be disturbed by Chikane’s sudden appearance and her usual gentle behaviour, when in actual fact Himeko was simply ecstatic at spending time with her kind Chikane again. She knows she should be demanding answers but fears to break the spell, she just wants to enjoy their time together. She wonders if the illusion is their happy time together or the horror of that night.

Himeko still cannot accept that Chikane had consciously violated her. She cannot reconcile the gracious and thoughtful Chikane with the violence and ruthlessness Chikane displayed that night. Himeko is not trying very hard to figure it out either, she is escaping reality.

Chikane notices that her room is spotless and Himeko says that she could not clean the whole mansion but she could do Chikane’s room, in case she came back, but she did not go through her things (respecting Chikane’s privacy). Chikane looks startled but then smiles and tells Himeko that she need not worry about such matters ( not sure if she means respecting her privacy or cleaning the room). She flops on the bed and comments on its softness and warmth, enveloping her with the gentle fragrance of the sun, of Himeko. Chikane turns to gaze tenderly at a blushing Himeko.

The clock strikes twelve (midnight) and Chikane is alone in her room staring at the moon and sun pendants that Himeko bought and then holding them close to her heart. There is a knock on the door and Himeko comes in clutching a pillow, her face half buried in it. Himeko timidly requests to spend the night with Chikane (eyes peeking from behind the pillow and her face adorably red, very cute). Chikane is briefly disconcerted but then smiles and accedes, Himeko is delighted.

They lie on the bed facing each other and Chikane asks if her hand still hurts. Himeko says a little but she is fine, Chikane looks contrite and says she must have caused it, hesitantly cupping the injured hand in both of hers. Himeko says the pain and suffering mean nothing because Chikane has come back. Chikane actually looks genuinely saddened at this statement, as Himeko stammers that Chikane’s return is all that matters. As Himeko cries in Chikane’s arms, Chikane marvels aloud at Himeko’s resilience and efforts. Himeko notes that the warmth and security of Chikane’s embrace makes her feel safer than she has ever felt anywhere else in the world.

Morning breaks and Himeko awakes to find herself alone in Chikane’s bed, she wanders the empty mansion and ends up outside the main door, crying at the cruelty of her dream. At the call of her name, Himeko turns to see Chikane standing at the entrance with an overflowing grocery basket. Chikane has just returned from her grocery shopping and Himeko jumps into her arms, repeatedly calling the other girl’s name.

Himeko implores Chikane to tell her that the previous night was not a dream, that she is real. Chikane wipes away her tears and says that Himeko can hear and touch her, so she must be really there. Himeko hugs her and is tremendously relieved that Chikane did not disappear again without word. Chikane asks if Himeko was lonely when she was not around and if Himeko is happy with her return. Himeko replies in the affirmative.

Chikane asks if Himeko still likes her, and Himeko says she does, very much so. Chikane looks down and there is a pregnant moment of silence before she roughly pushes Himeko away. Chikane tells Himeko that a black moon will arise that night to swallow the world. Chikane looks kindly at Himeko and whips out an invitation card, with the edge barely touching Himeko’s neck.

Then Chikane, still holding that same serene expression, uses the sharp corner of the card to pop the top two buttons of a thunderstruck Himeko’s pajamas, mercilessly exposing her breasts. Chikane announces her decision to kill Himeko tonight as she slots the card in Himeko’s cleavage, saying this is their private party and Himeko must turn up this time (as opposed to their aborted birthday party).

Then she smiles softly and bids Himeko good day using her usual polite and gentle phrase. Tears roll down the cheeks of a motionless Himeko as Chikane walks away in silent laughter, the Orochi energy emanating from her lunar symbol.