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 9: Road to Hell

Yukihito and Kazuki return to find everything in shambles; Souma seriously injured, the mansion deserted and Himeko crying silent tears in the aftermath of that fateful night. Souma relates what happened and is upset that he could not do anything, Kazuki realises that the reason the Sword God could not be revived was because Chikane subconsciously did not want the ritual to succeed.

Kazuki also tells Souma that the dark scales on his body is from using the Orochi power to protect rather than kill Himeko and the more he uses the power against its intended purpose, the more the scales will consume his body until he becomes truly evil or is possessed. Souma says if it is a choice between destroying the world or himself, he will protect Himeko and the world, but he has no means to fight and win now.

Himeko is reliving the memories of happy times with Chikane and has not moved since they brought her to the Oogami residence. Kazuki drags her away against Souma’s objections to be more considerate. Souma blocks their path and Kazuki tells him that Souma’s role is not to cry with Himeko, he has his own destiny to fulfil, while Kazuki’s duty is to guide the priestess to the truth. He tells Himeko that she will have to revive the Sword God by herself or else the world will be destroyed by the Orochi.

He opens a box to reveal Chikane’s purple robes and Himeko cries, saying that she cannot do this or anything else without Chikane. Kazuki says that is not true, she is the only one who can do this task now. He asserts that it is cruel and painful but this is destiny and they have to make their own decisions, find their own ways to fight and win.

We cut to the Orochi gathering, where their newest member is not receiving a warm welcome. Miyako gloats to a comatose Tsubasa that they can now attack the world at full strength until the end of the world. Corona is offended by Chikane’s indifferent and solitary air, which she takes to mean arrogance. Girochi approaches cockily, scornfully calls her a pervert and unleashes his chains to wrap themselves lewdly around her body as he warns her to stay away from his Himeko. Chikane without batting an eyelid, takes her knife and stabs his hand, right through the middle of his Orochi mark (her lunar sign flares again). All the acolytes are shocked.

Himeko returns to the mansion, sees Chikane sitting on the top of the stairs with a bemused expression on her face. Himeko, wonders of wonders, reddens and sobs as she runs towards her asking her why? (Himeko seeks comfort from the very person who caused her suffering in the first place, she still sees Chikane as her kind friend) But it was just an illusion and Himeko wakes from her dream in tears, wondering where Chikane has gone to.

Cut to Chikane who apathetically tells Girochi that she will not kill him but from now on it is only between Himeko and herself, no one else is to interfere. When Girochi objects, Chikane casually pushes the knife in deeper and tells him to be quiet like a rock and his injured hand turns to stone, rapidly followed by the rest of his body. The other female acolytes (sans Miyako) are incensed and attack her at the same time, Corona with lipstick (no kidding), Reiko with fountain pens (really not kidding) and Nekoko launches a giant syringe at her (omg).

Chikane looks at them coldly and says that she will carry all their darkness too, her lunar mark glows incandescently as the missiles hit their mark, but the smoke clears and we see Chikane protected by her mech.

Himeko prepares lunch for two, hopeful that Chikane is waiting to keep their usual lunch appointment in the rose garden. She runs to school carrying the lunch basket but is stopped by a crowd of Chikane admirers as they question Himeko’s late arrival and demand the whereabouts of Chikane (oh my, has the assault only been last night? Seems longer, but everything happened so fast that Himeko only missed one morning of school).

Himeko refuses to believe that Chikane did not turn up in school and when the students grill her on the reason for Chikane’s absence, insisting that Himeko must know something, Himeko flashes back to the violence of the previous night, and tearfully declares that Chikane has to be in school, she has to be waiting for her (in the rose garden). The students are affronted at Himeko’s audacity and insolence at addressing Chikane in such an intimate manner (Himeko calls her Chikane-chan as opposed to Miya-sama).

As Himeko gets increasingly hounded by the other students, we hear a sharp rap and see Makoto purposefully limping towards Himeko and without a word, grabs her hand and pulls her away from the crowd (cool). Their escape is blocked but Makoto’s fierce demeanour makes them back down.

We cut back to the Orochi site and see a tiring Miyako fighting a nonchalant Chikane, who has already turned the other three girls to stone. Chikane, in the heart of her mech, notches an arrow and we see her huge red mech with outstretched arm, hand in a fist but with its extended index finger pointing right at Miyako, as its armour shifts into a shape of a giant bow and the mech’s other arm draws back with an arrow shaped laser (very cool).

Miyako is aghast at Chikane’s strength and wonders if this is the power of the awakened Lunar Priestess. Miyako is angered that Chikane would endanger Tsubasa’s plan of destroying the world and swears to stop her. Miyako calls for the bird that rescues all the acolytes before they get blown up with their mechs, but Chikane handily dispatches it and enters the stunned Mikayo’s mech to face her directly.

Chikane smiles at a frightened Miyako and gently frames her face with her hands, asking if Miyako understands that all their darkness are but insubstantial shadows under the moon. Chikane’s hands travel to Miyako’s neck and she bids farewell as outside we see the red mech crush the head of the other mech. Only one more to go and Tsubasa is awake and alert as he insouciantly waits his turn.

Amazing, no wonder Chikane is so strong. As the Lunar Priestess, her power is derived from the moon, one side bathed in light and the other shrouded in shadows. Because of her ever present pain and sorrow she has never been able to fully utilise the light portion to revive the Sword God, but her despair and hopelessness triggered the dark half. She does not have an Orochi mark because her lunar symbol is representative of a much bleaker power.

Back at school, Himeko and Makoto sit on the grass and Himeko hesitantly asks Makoto if her leg is better. Makoto’s leg is still in a cast and she says that it will take time to heal, but in the mean time, she will help manage the track team. Himeko says that she tried to go to the hospital many times but was always too scared to risk Makoto’s displeasure, but instead of blaming her, Makoto rescued her from the other students.

Makoto says that she felt the same way, her injury was such a setback that she took her frustration and pain out on Himeko when she came to visit, she felt bad but could not apologise. If she did not happen to see Himeko being bullied, she would not have been brave enough to approach her. They make up and Makoto says she can tell that Himeko is going through a difficult time, Himeko is startled and embarrassed (cute yelp and reaction) when Makoto says that her feelings are written on her face, because she is so honest.

Makoto contemplates a while before saying that when Himeko is exhausted and at the end of her line, she can look for Makoto, and she will do anything for her, but the two of them cannot be tired so soon, they still have work to do. Himeko reddens and cries in Makoto’s arms, Makoto blushes and tears too as she holds Himeko tightly and tells her to do her best and win.

Makoto obviously does not know everything that happened, she probably does not even know about Himeko being a priestess, much less her complicated relationships with Souma and Chikane. But she does not ask for details, she just knows that Himeko is hurting deeply and confused, and she encourages her as a good friend would. They both regain a precious friend and Himeko gets much needed solace and advice.

Himeko returns to the mansion and finds a letter addressed to her, sent by Otoha in Tokyo . Otoha writes that Chikane’s uncle is recovering, the family business is progressing well and Chikane’s father should be able to return together with her sometime early next week. She then asks after Chikane, writing that Chikane is strong and independent and never appears to need help but Otoha still thinks that someone should look after her. What the young mistress of the house needs is someone by her side caring about her feelings and thoughts, someone who is able to empathise and take good care of her. Otoha goes on to say that Chikane is waiting for Himeko to fill that role.

Otoha is the only person who truly worries for Chikane’s well-being, the only person who sees her as subject to the same concerns and hurt as ordinary people. Chikane has emotions and troubles too but because she is so competent and composed, no one worries about her being able to handle everything and no one cares about her personal feelings, no one but Otoha. But she is unable to be Chikane’s confidant so she decides to entrust the task to Himeko, telling her to please care for her, look after her, protect her.

At the Orochi grounds, Chikane and Tsubasa fight. The battle is so fierce that both mechs turn to stone and shatter. They abandon the mechs and charge each other, Tsubasa with a sword and Chikane with her knife. Their respective marks glow, they clash and we see a flashback of the blood splattered masked purple robed figure holding a sword and then of young Tsubasa stabbing his father. Chikane’s knife breaks, but Tsubasa has a slash on his chest, right across his Orochi mark.

Tsubasa laughs and says this situation is amusing because the essence of Orochi is a grudge, a physical form of deep hopelessness and black hatred that manifests as a desire to destroy the human world and Chikane has now taken on all eight roles of the Orochi. He says that Chikane resembles him and it is like looking in a mirror. When she dismisses his observation, Tsubasa mentions Himeko and Chikane glares.

He says that Himeko’s current loneliness will be amplified if she sees with her own eyes that her opponent is Chikane. What will Himeko do when she has to fight Chikane? Tsuaba walks to the edge and says he wants to see if Himeko will ascend to the highest heavens or fall to the deepest hell. Chikane questions his intentions but he bids her farewell as the priestess of both the moon and Orochi and steps backwards into thin air.

Chikane steps forward in surprise as he falls. Tsubasa utters Souma’s name and swings his sword high into the air. Chikane looks down sombrely and the ball of swirling Orochi energy hovers above her and laughs sinisterly. Souma is practicing outdoors when Tsubasa’s sword lands near him.

Himeko goes back to the Oogami’s residence and picks up Chikane’s robes, she recalls Kazuki’s words of her duty and destiny, Makoto’s words of encouragement, Otoha’s words of hope that Himeko is one Chikane is waiting for, and finally Chikane’s gentle greeting in the past. Himeko hugs the robe and cries, wanting to see Chikane again, wanting to talk to her and ascertain her true feelings. We cut to Souma holding the sword and thinking of Tsubasa. Then cut to Chikane looking up at the swirling Orochi orb.

Very nice lead up to the show down, all three getting ready by arming themselves with weapons that will be their greatest aid in the upcoming fight, but which is also a reminder of their greatest sorrow. Himeko with Chikane’s magic enhanced priestess robes, Souma with Tsubasa’s sword infused with his energy and Chikane with the power of the Orochi.

Finally we see Himeko, wearing the purple robes of the Lunar Priestess, walking into the cave. She meets a waiting Kazuki and with a determined expression, asks to do the ritual.