I’m anticipating the fights too much after the awesomeness of last episode’s battle.

Summary:

At the shelter within the school grounds, it’s revealed that the white-haired girl is still alive. Meanwhile, a groop of high ranking military personnel appoint Kakisu as the one in charge of Sentan Island, where five more bombings have occured involving white-haired children. He’s known as the hero who survived the Battle of Barador 17 years ago, though he claims he simply survived through luck. Back on the International Postal Ship Zanbani, the crew’s pilot decides they should take a detour to avoid a government patrol, but Captain Ishu decides that they should just take the shortest route to save time.

Akiyuki’s given some tea which should calm the Hiruko down, and tries to take off what he probably thinks is a bandage but has his hand slapped away by Nakiami; it is in fact an Exsanguination Needle which inhibits his Xam’d awareness. He keeps saying that he’s not this Xam’d person. At this point, Akushiba arrives and tells Nakiami that Ishu wants to see her. Back on Sentan at the school, Haru meets her sister and father and asks her father (who is also a doctor) if anyone knew the white-haired girl, but he apparently forgot to ask. On their way out, they spot Akiyuki’s dad, who’s been looking for him everywhere so much one of his shoes has worn out.

On Zanbani, breakfast is made and Akiyuki sits down only to be punched by that little brat Hinokimaru (aka crotch punch boy) and told to get off because it’s his seat. It turns out that he and his mom (or at least that’s what he calls her, her name seems to be Yunbo), are followers of Ruikonism. Akushiba tells Akiyuki he needs to get to work with the crew of postal workers, but of course Akiyuki says that he should get back to his family on Sentan Island. Akushiba takes him to the pilot about this, but he’s just directed to the Captain, the only one who’s decision counts. Nakiami talks with Ishu about keeping Akiyuki on the ship, as she had previously said it’s the last time (although she’s done this type of thing quite a lot) that she would take a Xam’d on the ship. Though it’s putting everyone in danger, Ishu knows the reason that Nakiami shouldn’t let him go. On the way to the Captain, Akiyuki meets some of the rest of the crew: another young child and the mechanic, Kiselji.

Akiyuki eventually meets Ishu, and respectfully asks that he be let off at the next port so he can make his way back to Sentan Island. Ishu punches him in the face for not introducing himself; at the same time, the pilot gets an alert about a ship breaking off from the patrol and Akiyuki takes of the Exsanguination Needle in anger. His arm starts to mutate and the patrol ship drops a flying Humanform Weapon that abducts Akiyuki. In the cockpit, the Captain tells the pilot they’re getting out of here, only Akushiba notices that Nakiami’s on the Beat Kayak (flying mini-jet) to try and get back Akiyuki. There was also something mentioned about her using a time-catapult, whatever that is. She manages to get onto the back of he Humanform Weapon, save Akiyuki and get off. Ishu then proceeds to blow one of it’s wings off with her portable cannon and it’s destroyed.

Afterwards, Nakiami tells Akiyuki “thinking” is the only way to gain symbiosis with the Hiruko. Akiyuki thanks her for saving him again, and drinks the disgusting tea. On Sentan, Haru pays a visit to Akiyuki’s mother, to tell him that she should keep believing her son’s alive and also tells her that Ryuzo’s been looking for Akiyuki as well. She takes one of Akiyuki’s arm bands and leaves. Ryuzo takes a look at some sort of object from days long past; he was in the Battle of Barador, and seems to know more about the Humanform Weapons than we would first think. At the military base, the mother Xam’d is being taken to another location. Commander Kakisu tells his assistant that Sentan Island’s going to have to learn to fend for itself; he’s later given a report on the bus explosion, and is surprised to see that Akiyuki Takehara, a missing person from the explosion, is the son of a doctor who serverd at Barador. While going to sleep, Akiyuki’s told by Akushiba about another Xam’d that was brought onto the ship, Raigyo Tsunomata, who’s Hiruko drove him over the edge.

Next Time:

Postal Ship training for Akiyuki and a deeper look into the mysterious religion.

Thoughts:

I’m a complete stickler for action so I was dissapointed that the battle (more of a rescue really) was so short. This episode wasn’t as good as the first two, but mostly because it’s trying to establish his growing raltionship with the ship’s crew, who are all interesting and quirky in their own right. Except Hinokimura, rude boy need’s a spanking from his mom -_-. Speaking of which, how deep soes the religion of Ruikonism go? It seems to be connected to everything, even the military, as the Ruikonists were apparently wiped out (possible genocide?). I continue to enjoy the way the show’s looking at familial ties; something about Haru’s mom was mentioned and we’ll definitely look deeper into that, but also the fact that Fusa knows that Ryuzo’s looking for Akiyuki seems to bother her, in a good way (whatever that means). We even look at the fact Kakisu’s mom was originally from Sentan Island, and I believe that there are connections between both Akiyuki’s and his own family.

There’s also the nature of the Hiruko, which I think may be the “will” or whatever of the power Akiyuki’s obtained. It’ll beintersting ti see what type of psychological route the writers takewith this, or even if Akiyuki’ll be able to control it; it’s similar to Bleach, when Ichigo had to fight the Hollow within for control of his body (I only make this comparison as the mask and whole melting white stuff in the first episode reminded me of Bleach too) though this seems like it’ll become more of a partnership than anything else, with Nakiami mentioning the Hiruko has it’s own life. I’m all for him going crazy and wrecking everything for a while as in my opinion, crazy + powerful = good. Also taking note of a possible love triangle due to the conversation between Akiyuki and Nakiami at the end (she looked so surprised bordering on happy when he said her name ^_^) plus Haru. I’m all for love power on any show (except for Code Geass where all love seems to equal either craziness, yaoi, memory manipulation or tables). Next episode seems to indicate less action, unfortunately. I want MOAR Xam’d battles!

Move befo’ I kick yo’ ass, fool!