Togainu no Chi

Il Re (Episode)

Il Re (Episode)

Plot

Rin prepares to fight Il re which turns out to be Shiki but gets defeated quickly, Akira comes to the rescue as the military begins to bomb the place. Shiki saves Arbitro and questions him about Akira. Rin and Akira take shelter in a abandoned warehouse, where they agree to meet Motomi at the church. At first, Rin refuses to go, but Akira promises to not betray Rin and asks for his trust. Gunji and Kiriwar show up, and in order to escape, the two of them split up. Gunji goes after Akira, while Kiriwar goes after Rin. Before Akira is killed by Gunji, Nano comes to the rescue and carries him off to where Keisuke is. A flashback shows Akira and Nano's first meeting. Emma and Gwen show up and try to capture Nano, but are killed. Shiki shows up while Akira gets Keisuke and prepares to escape. 

Synopsis

The episode begins in the Coliseum, where Rin stands ready to face Il Re. Arbitro watches from his private box, flanked by Gunji and Kiriwar , and with Kau sitting on the ground beside his chair. He announces Il Re’s entrance, and the doors open to reveal Shiki. Rin draws a blade and assumes a fighting stance.

Outside the Palace gates, Akira talks to the guard about having business inside. The guard refuses him entry and says the Palace is closed for a private match between Il Re and a challenger. Akira jumps the fence and takes out the guards before running inside.

In the coliseum, Rin and Shiki prepare to fight.

Akira fights his way through the palace guards and rushes to the black doors. Rin warns Shiki he’ll die if he doesn’t take Rin seriously, and Shiki replies that he’ll send Rin to his friends. Rin swings at Shiki, and they fight. Eventually, Shiki knocks Rin’s weapon aside and holds his blade to Rin’s throat. He asks if he should put Rin out of his misery, and Rin closes his eyes.

The doors to the coliseum open as Akira arrives. In his box, Arbitro wonders what Akira is doing here. Akira jumps into the arena and asks Shiki if he’s Il Re before he draws his knife. Akira says he won’t let Shiki kill Rin, and in response, Shiki comments, “I see trash comes in sets of two.” He points his katana at Akira, but before they can fight, the room shakes and crumbles as the military begins to bomb the Palace. Akira grabs a silent Rin and they escape as the roof begins to cave in.

Arbitro orders Gunji and Kiriwar to capture them. Gunji claims “the bigger one” before Arbitro clarifies that Akira must be unharmed. Arbitro unbuckles the belts on Kau’s arms before they both run.

Outside, Akira looks back and sees fighter planes flying over the Palace, dropping more bombs. Rin remains mute, and his face is still obscured by his bangs. Akira drags him onward.

Inside the Palace, Arbitro attempts to escape and is nearly crushed by one of his statues, but Shiki rescues him. Shiki demands to know why Arbitro is after Akira. Arbitro lies that he wants to capture him because he interrupted Il Re’s battle, but Shiki isn’t fooled. Shiki points his sword at Arbitro and orders him to tell the truth. In response, Arbitro asks why he’s so interested, but Shiki says he wants to know why Arbitro wants him unharmed. Arbitro says “Null Nicole” (or Anti-Nicole) as an answer.

In the city, Akira and Rin continue running; Rin doesn’t respond when Akira asks if he’s okay. They find a dark place to hide out. Akira reaches out to touch Rin, but Rin swats his hands away and yells for Akira to kill him. He becomes frantic as he shouts this repeatedly. Akira shakes his shoulders and tells Rin to calm down.

Rin asks why Akira couldn’t leave him alone, and accuses Akira of saving him for his own selfish satisfaction. Rin explains that he wanted to fight Il Re because of his friends, and that he wanted to die. Akira replies that he doesn’t want that to happen, and Rin questions why Akira cares after Rin betrayed him. Rin admits that he would have killed Akira and Keisuke to get their tags.