During lecture, Tsuzuki is talking about how it's normal for boys/men to be attacked/molested on the streets in the Meiji Era. He almost spills his background when some students ask how he knows these weird facts. Hisoka stops him by throwing a book at him and flexes his knuckles. {Hisoka: "Sensei, stop wasting our time on pointless facts and hurry up with the lecture." Tsuzuki (SD-ed into puppy and cowering in the corner): "S..sorry~"} The class laughs at Tsuzuki for letting his younger brother walk all over him. Mariko can't stand it, and wonders how they can laugh at shinigami.

Tsuzuki and Hisoka follow Mariko on her way home. She almost gets hit by a car, and Tsuzuki rescues her in time. Instead of feeling gratitude, Mariko yells at Tsuzuki and blames him for making her life a living hell. She runs off and leaves Tsuzuki kneeling on the ground. Hisoka tells Tsuzuki not to mind her harsh words, and Tsuzuki replies that he has resolved to protect her no matter what, even if she only ends up hating him.

In the secret lab, Muraki is talking to Saki. He has a flashback to the time when he first met him. Muraki had been in his teens, and he could only gape in shock as his father introduced him to his new "brother." He won't forgive his father for making another woman pregnant on the same day he was also conceived. Still, Muraki tried to get along with Saki. That is, until their father passed away, and Muraki saw Saki smile at the funeral procession. When Saki tried to kill Muraki with a Japanese sword later, Muraki confirmed his long suspicion that Saki had killed their father and Muraki's mother. Before Saki had the chance to kill Muraki, the servant Sakaki shot and killed him instead. Back to present, Muraki tells Saki's severed head that he has lived for the past 16 years just so he can finally punish Saki and kill him with his own hands. Tons of CG feathers appear from the ceiling as Muraki starts his maniacal laughter fit. [Ahh, there's just something about villains. *_*]

Just as Professor Satomi begins to suspect Muraki of killing the girls mentioned in the news, Muraki shows up in his office. Satomi quickly hides the newspapers. Muraki asks Satomi to help him with a trap.

One afternoon in class, Tsuzuki accidentally gives himself a paper cut. The girls in the class go crazy trying to be the one to walk him to the school clinic. Eventually, Tsuzuki goes to the clinic (by himself) so the girls won't fuss over him, even though the wound heals right away. When he opens the door to the clinic, however, he sees Muraki. Muraki says he is substituting for the clinic doctor, but also uses the chance to taunt Tsuzuki. Muraki switches the topic and asks Tsuzuki to go see a Noh play with him that night since he has extra tickets. Someone, using the school intercom, asks Mariko to go to the office for a phone call from her mother. After Mariko leaves the room, Hisoka realizes the voice belongs to Satomi. [A little slow, aren't we, Hi-chan?] Back in the clinic, Muraki starts touching a non-resisting [doushite?!] Tsuzuki, saying that if Tsuzuki refuses to go with him, Mariko will die. Just as Tsuzuki starts to object, Hisoka bursts into the room to tell him Mariko has been taken.

That night, at the Noh performance, Tsuzuki reminds Muraki to keep his promise not to harm Mariko. Muraki agrees, but wants Tsuzuki to answer some questions for him. Muraki starts to explain the Noh play until Tsuzuki interrupts and demands to know what he really wants. Muraki shows him a picture that has Tsuzuki from 72 years ago. Tsuzuki doesn't remember. Muraki explains the time Tsuzuki spent at his grandfather's hospital, where Tsuzuki was insane most of the time. Tsuzuki did not eat, drink, nor sleep for a long time, merely wasting away and waiting to die. Muraki then goes on to say Tsuzuki's purple eyes is a sure sign that he's not human. The assumption is further confirmed when he found, in his grandfather's research papers, evidences of non-human genes in Tsuzuki's body. Tsuzuki slowly holds his injured wrist. Muraki turns and asks if Tsuzuki is really human. The scene changes into that with a black background surrounded by more CG feathers. Muraki finally kisses Tsuzuki, whose eyes are glazed over. Tsuzuki has regained the memories of his life before death.

Tsuzuki and Hisoka are in a bar/cafe, and Tsuzuki gets really drunk. He confesses to Hisoka he's not reallly human, and wonders what he is. He recalls the time in his childhood, when he was bullied because he was different. Unable to deal with the memories, Tsuzuki runs outside and starts banging his head against a wall. [O_o;;] Hisoka runs after him and tries to stop this self-torture, and Tsuzuki switches to banging his head against a box instead. Hisoka finally grabs him, and feels the full blast of Tsuzuki's memories and pain. {Hisoka: "Difference, persecution, loneliness, and guilt for just being alive..."} The young Tsuzuki knew he was different, but he only wanted to be with normal people, and to *be* human. Hisoka holds up Tsuzuki by the collar and says that Tsuzuki is human, and he will even vouch for it.
{Hisoka: "You are human! I can vouch for you."
Tsuzuki: "Hisoka..."
Hisoka: "You've always been a human. So, don't cry anymore."}
Hisoka gently wipes away Tsuzuki's tears and holds him. The two stay there as it starts to snow.

Later, Tsuzuki is sitting in Hisoka's lap. He asks if he's human, and Hisoka answers yes. Tsuzuki smiles. Mariko suddenly walks past them and collapses. Hisoka drops Tsuzuki, whose head hit the ground hard, and rushes over to her. [*ouch* >.<] They take her back to Enma-chou, and Watari says she will be fine after some rest. Tsuzuki decides he will stay and watch over her that night.

Afterwards. Hisoka is practicing kendo. Watari is working on his computer stuff and Tatsumi's with him. Tsuzuki is sleeping on a chair next to Mariko's bed. Muraki from elsewhere, summons Mariko awake and orders her to kill the one who made her suffer, the one she hates. Mariko's body starts changing.

Tsuzuki starts to wake up, and when he looks up, Mariko the Centipede smashes him against the wall. Tsuzuki recognizes the monster as Mariko just as she charges at him again. Meanwhile, Watari and Tatsumi are telling Chief Konoe about Muraki's plan. The alarm sounds suddenly and they rush toward Tsuzuki's direction.

Tsuzuki dodges Mariko's attacks, but refuses to fight back. He has several flashbacks to the people from the previous episodes, and thinks to himself that he doesn't want to hurt anyone anymore. When he opens his eyes, he realizes Suzaku has appeared to protect him. Tsuzuki asks Suzaku to stop, but she won't because it is her duty to protect her master. Tsuzuki screams as he feels/hears Mariko's painful cries under Suzaku's flames. {Mariko: "It's hot! Pain! Someone save me! YOU MURDER!!"}

Everyone shows up and wonder what has happened. Hisoka feels Tsuzuki's emotions and almost doubles over. Tatsumi comments on how Tsuzuki has finally lost it. Hisoka then starts to run towards Tsuzuki, but Tatsumi stops him because it is too dangerous. Suzaku is protecting Tsuzuki like a mother bird protecting her chicks, and she will attack anyone who gets too close. Hisoka feels Tsuzuki's thoughts again, this time with a hint at goodbye.
{Tsuzuki: "Someone died again. I can't change anything. I can't take this anymore."
Hisoka: "Tsuzuki.."
Tsuzuki: "Thank you all."}

Hisoka starts to run forward, but Tatsumi again stops him. Watari suddenly sees feather falling from the sky. They look up, and Muraki suddenly appears from above with a whole bunch of feathers around him. Muraki picks up the dazed Tsuzuki and they both disappear as Hisoka tries to jump up to the top of the crumbling rocks. {Hisoka:"Tsuzukiiiiiiiiii~~~~~"}

[Impression for the Preview: Yes, it's your turn to save your princess, oh Hisoka the knight in shiny armor! XDD]-------------------------------end