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 11: Dance of swords
Himeko, dressed in the purple robes of the lunar priestess, holds the invitation card and ponders Chikane’s statement to kill her. Souma, similarly garbed in religious robes, covers her hand with his and softly tells her not to worry, that he will protect her. Himeko thanks him and grasping his hand, thinks that this night is exactly one month from their birthday (oh wow, it has only been a month since their birthday was on the first episode. This fulfils the prophesy of the title, a month of unchecked rampage, destruction and desolation, unheeded and undeterred by any deity, this was a month the world was forsaken by God) .
As the sun sets, Chikane shoots an arrow at the Orochi’s urging and eight balls of energy appear in the sky. They dissipate and the moon starts to glow red, the earth shakes and eight beams of light shoot up from various parts of the world. At the same time, Himeko holds her Solar sword and calls for the Sword God mech (Kenshin Ame no Murakumo) to descend to earth. Himeko and Souma board the Sword Mech and Souma is pained by the scales on his back but tells Himeko to concentrate as Chikane approaches on the open palm of her red mech.
People panic at the quakes and run, Yukihito helps them escape. The foremost Himeko bully at school trips on the stairs but is rescued by Makoto (she calls out “Miya-sama” but it is Makoto who has grabbed her hand. Unexpected but very nicely done, hero-worshipping Chikane is useless to both Chikane and the worshipper, to find the hero within oneself and support in others, is the true way of living. In times of crisis, people will either rise to the challenge or fall into despair, like the Orochi acolytes did. However, these people are willing to fight rather than surrender).
Souma feels the power from the red mech and confirms that it is the Orochi facing them. Himeko cries out to Chikane that she did not come to fight but to talk. Chikane states that the party tonight is only for two, but Himeko brought Souma along. Chikane smiles and tells Himeko to approach alone if she wants to talk, she will be waiting. Chikane enters her red mech and all the mechs of the acolytes appear, Souma tells Himeko it is useless to continue her persuasion now, they have to stop the Orochi first.
All the Orochi mechs attack and Souma manages to defeat them but the power of the Sword mech is overwhelming and he struggles to hold onto consciousness. As the use of his Orochi power to control the mech takes its toll on him, Souma recalls Kazuki telling him that taking charge of the Sword mech will be more agonising than what he had to endure when he was controlling his old mech (Souma misled Himeko into thinking that Kazuki gave him advice on successfully manoeuvring the Sword mech, when in actual fact Kakuzi’s advice was to warn him that he will be overcome if he continues to use his Orochi power and that it will be worse if he tries to control the Sword mech).
Souma feels the pain of the dark scales growing rapidly over his body but he tells himself to hang on, else Himeko will have no protection. As Souma and Himeko attack Chikane’s red mech, the impact causes a blast and the Orochi intones that it is now its turn. All the scattered pieces of the defeated mechs combine to form a giant Orochi mech while a ball of energy forms in the air, containing the shape of a foetus with horns, a winged tail and yellow eyes.
They two mechs fight but the Orochi mech towers over the Sword mech. Himeko is afraid that she is too weak to defeat the Orochi. They are only hanging on because of Souma’s power and determination, at this rate she will not be able to meet Chikane and she does not know what to do. Souma tells her that he cannot beat the Orochi but that Himeko still has a chance to stop Chikane, so he will clear the way for them to meet.
Himeko is worried that it will be too much for Souma but he says that they came for this purpose so he will not fall before he fulfils his promise (not sure if he means the promise not to lose or the promise to talk after the battle). They charge the Orochi mech, Souma drawing on the power of Tsubasa’s sword and his own energy while Himeko’s Solar mark shines.
The Orochi mech chops off the right arm of the smaller mech. The maimed mech goes on one knee and using its remaining arm to swing its sword upwards. The sword pierces the heart of the Orochi mech and a light that leads to Chikane appears in front of Souma and Himeko. The Orochi power devouring Souma urges him to kill the priestess as he stands menacingly behind an unsuspecting Himeko. His eyes have turned red and the dark scales have grown over most of his body, including parts of his hands and face.
Souma stretches out a hand towards Himeko and pushes her towards the light, telling her to go meet Chikane and not look back. Himeko hesitates and then runs into the light, silently promising Souma that she will return for him. We see Souma standing still as a statue, completely covered by the dark scales.
Running in a tunnel of light, Himeko’s limbs suddenly get entangled by Girochi’s chains and her path is blocked by a multitude of Miyako’s mirrors, all showing Chikane’s image asking Himeko to enter and be killed. Himeko angrily shouts at them not to get in her way and light pours from her symbol to break the chains. She draws her sword, shatters all the mirrors around her and deflects the barrage of lipsticks, fountain pens and syringes heading her way.
Himeko emerges from the tunnel of light to enter an unfamiliar place and she turns to see Chikane, who welcomes her to their party. Chikane tells her that they are at the Lunar Shrine, the home of their past lives, the home of their souls. Himeko does not remember anything and Chikane says that Himeko is better off that way. Chikane says the location does not matter, it is an illusion created by Orochi’s power, she waves her hand and their surroundings change to the rose garden in school, then to the mansion. Chikane asks where Himeko prefers, the music room, Oogami’s residence or maybe the beach they went to before?
Himeko tells her to stop and the surroundings change back to the Lunar Shrine. Himeko says she does not want to play games, she came to find out the truth, the Chikane she knows is strong, compassionate and splendid, not someone who would do such awful things. Himeko asks if Chikane hates her that much, or if the Orochi used its power to change Chikane.
Chikane agrees to tell Himeko’s body the truth. Chikane draws her Lunar Sword, which emanates purple fumes, and charges Himeko. The Solar Sword parries the thrust and glows with the bright light of Himeko’s energy. Chikane attacks aggressively while Himeko barely manages to defend herself.
They are locked in a position of crossed swords and Chikane leans in close and tells Himeko that she loves her. Himeko is gasping with the effort of halting the descend of Chikane’s sword and her concentration wavers as Chikane says that she loves Himeko’s eyes, deep as outer space and gentle as spring.
Chikane presses her advantage and breaks the hold, swinging her sword. Himeko backs away desperately. Chikane swings wildly and says that she loves Himeko’s hair, like silk waving in the wind. Himeko moves too slowly and Chikane’s sword cuts off a lock of her hair.
Chikane steps right in front of Himeko, her eyes soft and inviting as says that she loves her lips, sweet lips that give sweet kisses and guard each breath she takes. Chikane’s sword slices through the air as Himeko ducks. Chikane continues her litany with sincere eyes and blushing cheeks, saying that she loves Himeko’s pure voice that echoes in her heart, all the while slashing at a rapidly tiring Himeko. Chikane’s sword hilt slams into Himeko’s stomach and the blond drops to her knees, gasping for air.
Chikane bends down, her hand caressing Himeko’s back as she says that she loves her body. Chikane moves to encircle Himeko’s waist with her arm and says to a reddening Himeko that she loves her narrow waist that might break from supporting such beauty. She loves the warmth of Himeko’s breasts and Himeko gasps as she feels Chikane’s hand on her chest. Chikane rests her face against Himeko’s chest and says that the thing she loves most about Himeko is her heart, fragile but pure, filled with kindness and willing to forgive anything.
Himeko screams in pain as Chikane suddenly grabs her injured hand and squeezes until the bandage reddens with blood. Chikane looks at an anguished Himeko with tenderness and declares that she loves her, adores everything about her. Chikane stands and releases Himeko’s hand, saying that the only thing she wants is Himeko, an eternal night with just the two of them, but the world is full of filth and people that keep coming between them. So she is eliminating it. Himeko is shocked.
Chikane says that they are priestesses of the sword and the more they seek each other, the more they will cut and hurt each other, this is the way of the sword, the only way they can love each other. Chikane promises to carve more truths into Himeko’s body, so Himeko should make her mark on Chikane’s body too. Chikane invites her to dance with their swords till the end of time.
The Orochi gloats at the entertaining fight between the two priestesses and intones that love is only ego and possessiveness, the end of the human world is near. Himeko is still only defending herself and getting injured in the process. Chikane tells Himeko that she is taking the fun out of the party by making her dance alone. She asks if Himeko is bored with Chikane as her dueling partner and wants to know what she must do in order to ensure Himeko’s participation.
Himeko implores Chikane tearfully for the real reason behind her lies because she can see that Chikane is not enjoying this fight at all, Himeko is able to sense the grief behind Chikane’s smiles. She says that Chikane once said she will never stop Himeko from doing what she wants to do (this was way back at the station, when Himeko just found out that she is the Solar priestess and wanted to leave town).
So Himeko feels the same way too, that if this is what Chikane really wants to do, then Himeko wants to support her (she probably means the sword fight rather than destroying the world). But faced with a Chikane trying to provoke a fight, Himeko is filled with pain rather than a desire to fulfil her request and she knows that it is because that her heart realises that Chikane’s words are not her true sentiments.
Himeko hugs a startled Chikane and says that she believes Chikane is not being honest, that she will never willingly hurt those who care for her. Himeko says it is fine if Chikane does not forgive her or decides to kill her, because Himeko believes that she is somehow at fault, but Himeko begs Chikane to tell the truth first because Himeko does not want to die knowing that Chikane is suffering from her withholdment of the truth.
Chikane, with an utterly serene look on her face, tells Himeko that she understands. Both stand and face each other, Himeko looks relieved and happy. But Chikane turns to face the open entrance of the shrine and her bow appears in her hand. She notches an arrow and aims at the round Earth, which is clearly visible in the distance. Himeko is horrified when Chikane shoots and the Earth is encased by a malignant red glow that seems ready to explode at any moment.
Sudden laughter erupts from Chikane and she says that if Himeko is satisfied, they will continue with their dance. Himeko is stunned and as she stares at Chikane’s gentle expression, images of her friends flash in her mind: Otoha, Makoto, Yukithito, Kazuki, Souma and finally Chikane. Himeko wails in desolation and grabs her sword in a two-handed grip.
She attacks Chikane desperately, madly slashing at a cheerful Chikane, who smiles in satisfaction as she parries and cheers Himeko on. Chikane deftly avoids all the wild swings and lunges in with a swipe that cleanly cuts the string around Himeko’s neck. The pink seashell pendant that Himeko always wears flies through the air and Chikane’s eyes involuntarily follow its airborne arc. We hear the wet sound of a blade passing through flesh and bone as blood splatters all over Himeko’s shocked expression. The seashell lands on the wooden floor and the view zooms out to show Himeko’s sword embedded in a motionless Chikane.
