Aisuru to iu koto...This thing called love...

By the edge of a river in the setting sun, Toko walks hand in hand with Eiki, saying "Putting a price tag on life, why did that have to be invented..." Eiki replies "The birthplace of life insurance is said to be England. Life insurance was called the last love letter..." Toko, looking at Eiki holding the insurance certificate "Last love letter?" "Yes...putting a price tag on one's life, for the sake of one's family left behind, a present of insurance money filled with love...that was the originally what it was meant for...but without realizing it, it has become a target for criminals & exploited..." Eiki takes out his lighter, lighting the corner of the insurance certificate. Toko says "Exchanging the lives of the one you love with money, those left behind can't start life all over again...that's why I think this world is icy (inanimate)..." As the paper burns, Eiki says "If one can't live life over, what can people believe in..." dropping the paper onto the ground. Toko tells him "I...only have you..." Eiki looks at her, not saying anything. Toko half pleads, looking back at him "Times where we can't meet anymore...there'll be no more of those right?" Eiki nods, not replying. Toko continues "Then, give me something as a good luck charm..." Eiki pauses thinking, then reaches for the chain he's wearing around his neck. Taking it off, he puts it on for Toko. Fingering it, Toko says "Me too..." & takes the pale green muffler wrapped around her neck & puts it around him. Wordlessly, they hug each other...

With the setting sun turning Eiki & Toko into silhouettes against the lake, detectives Kanbara, Yuikawa continuing their watch on them together with Shono...the expression in her eyes as if they could shoot daggers..."

The next day at the police station, Kuramoto strides into the investigation department "Alright! Let's start the meeting..." Kuramoto goes to the table in front the men & as he's about to start, Ujou strides in walking to the place next to Kuramoto. As he's about to take a seat, Kuramoto points towards the other detectives "Your place is over there..." Ujou stops, staring at Kuramoto who condescendingly tells him "When this case is solved, whether or not you can make a comeback, show me..." Shono swallows, watching...detectives Kanbara & Yuikawa look at each other...Matsuura gives Ujou a look as if to say "Bear with it...". Ujou, without saying a word, takes a seat with the detectives doing the grunt work. Kuramoto starts "Let's begin...the watch over Egi Toko & Hirokawa Eiki will be split into two teams. The ideal would be to arrest Egi Toko in the act..." Ujou listens, the look on his face saying 'that's stupid'. Kuramoto not noticing, continues "The contract that Hirokawa Eiki bought, making Egi Toko the beneficiary, has been cancelled yesterday. This is the same situation as the men in her past were in...now it's how Egi Toko plans on killing Hirokawa Eiki, putting that plan into effect..." Both Ujou & Shono look tense...

At the Ice Storm, Ujou sits alone, smoking & drinking as if to ease the tension he's feeling. Ide, making a drink, puts an empty glass in front of him & fills it "It's called Alaska...'gin' the husband, 'liqueur' the wife...a drink that's like a husband & wife well suited to each other..." Ujou looks at her, not saying anything. Ide smiles "My treat..." Taking a sip, Ujou thinks of his wife, Masako...

Masako, in her shop, looks pensively at the flame of the aroma candle burner in her hands...

In the light of the setting sun by the edge pond in Ryokuchi Park, Shogo's placed flowers on the spot where Nanami died "The person that snatched your future away from you...I'll definitely find out who it is..."

In Eiki's apartment, his cell phone on the table rings. Eiki stares at it & then picking it up, going to the window as he answers it "Hello..." The digitized voice answers "We start..."

In her apartment, Toko touches the necklace she got from Eiki, thinking about him...in his apartment, Eiki about to leave, grips tightly to the muffler given to him by Toko, tense... afraid...

Toko comes out of her apartment & gets into a white car. As she puts on her seat belt, she throws a glance into the rearview mirror & then starts driving. As she leaves, Kanbara tails her, reporting into headquarters "Machida investigation department, the woman's moving...we're following her..."

Eiki, dressed in a black coat with a hat pulled down over his ears, gets into his car & starts driving off. Yuikawa reports "Machida investigation department, the man is moving...we're following..."

At the Machida Police Station, Shono, Ujou & all the other detectives come running out of the building & into their separate cars, driving off...

On the roads, Toko glances in the rearview mirror to see Kanbara tailing her. Shono joins them, speeding up & recklessly cutting in between Toko & Kanbara. Kanbara warns her "Shono! Watch it!" Shono replies "Understood..." & eases back...

Eiki looks in his rearview mirror to see Yuikawa trailing him. Ujou says "No. 2 back off, no. 1 will take over..." As Yuikawa replies "Understood...", Ujou's team speeds up & cuts in between Eiki & Yuikawa...

At the police station, Matsuura listens to the detectives reporting in "No. 3 reporting, continuing to follow Egi Toko..." "Understood..." "No 4 reporting, following Hirokawa Eiki..." "Understood..." On the table is a map showing the route north of Machida City with markings of the routes both Toko & Eiki are taking. Matsuura says to Kuramoto "Going at this rate, looks like they might be taking the highway..." Kuramoto, not replying, stares intently at the map...

Night. Eiki pulls along the side of a road & stops, looking in his side view mirror to see the car trailing him pullover as well. His cell phone rings & answering it "Hello..." It's Toko "It's me..." Eiki asks "Where are you now?" "Kofu..."

Toko, also pulled up along side of a road, turns around to see a number of cars trailing her, waiting for her next move. Eiki tells her "We carry on as planned..." Toko having a change of heart "Let's stop this..." Eiki asks "What's wrong? getting timid..." "I'm worried about you..." "Those trailing are all gathered at your end...during that time, I will get in contact with the criminal...identify the true character with my own eyes..." "Waiting for you to kill you!" "Toko! This is our test...if we don't get thru this, the both of us can never be happy...these past 5 years has only been the pain of continuing loss & suffering for you...the criminal intends to keep tearing your life to shreds...has to be stopped by our own hands..." Toko asks "Can you be sure, that we can meet again?" "Uhm..." "I understand..." Eiki, with tenderness, says "Toko......I love you..." Toko replies "I......love you too..." Hanging up, Toko starts her car & behind her, the row of cars get ready to trail her. As Toko drives on, Shono in the car behind, looks ahead with determination. As Toko takes a turn, the police report in "No 3 to HQ, Toko's heading towards Kofu..."

As Eiki turns off, the police report "No 4 to HQ, Hirokawa's taking the Kanetsu Expressway..." As an office responses "Understood..." Matsuura comments to Kuramoto "They're taking different highways..." Kuramoto merely stares at the trails of Eiki & Toko on the map, not responding...

Eiki pulls into a rest area & stops in the parking lot. As he gets out of the car, Ujou, Yuikawa & another car pulls up. Eiki walks pulls up his coat higher around his neck & heads for the men's room. Yuikawa radios Ujou "What now?" Ujou watching "We wait..." "Understood..." Ujou stares at the entrance to the restrooms & after a while, he sees Eiki coming out. In the darkness, Eiki gets back into his car & drives off. Ujou radios to the others "Let's go..." Driving, Ujou stares at the car in front. In Eiki's car, Shono, dressed in a black coat with the hat pulled over his ears, glances into the rearview mirror, a hint of a smile on his face...

Back at the rest area, Eiki gets into a parked car when the cell phone rings. Eiki, looking at the phone, answers "No one's around any more..." The digitized voice replies "Good, I'll tell you our meeting place..."

Toko pulls into a service area, gets out of her car & locks it. As she walks towards the building, Shono gets out of her car & follows Toko. Kanbara radios her "She knows you, don't get to close..." "Understood..." both women disappearing into the building. A short while later, Toko reappears with a cup of coffee in her hand, Shono no where to be seen. Kanbara radios Shono "Oi, Shono, what are you doing? Egi's out already..." There's no answer from Shono. Toko gets into her car & Kanbara, still seeing no sign of Shono "Oi, Shono! Answer! Shono!" As Toko starts driving off Kanbara mutters "Can't be helped..." & then radios "Shono! We're leaving you behind! Everyone, let's go!" Toko drives out of the parking lot, a convoy of 4 cars behind her. Shono appears, pulling off the concealed mike on her & runs out, getting into a taxi...

As the police trail "Eiki" & Toko, they report in "No. 3 to HQ, Hirokawa's heading towards Yuizawa..." "No. 4 to HQ, Egi's passed through Nagano..." "No. 3 to HQ, Hirokawa's heading pass Nagano..." No 3 to HQ, Egi's..." On the map, the lines showing their routes, heading up north towards the coast & then turning towards each other. Finally after their long drives, Shogo & Toko arrive at a spot by the beach. Getting out of their cars, they walk towards each other. With a look of surprise on his face, Ujou watches & then radios "Surround them!" Lights flash & Shogo turns around, shocking all the detectives. Ujou runs up to him, grabbing him by the shoulder "What's the meaning of this?! Where's Hirokawa?!" Toko although worried, calmly replies "He's gone to meet the criminal..." Ujou glares at her "Where?!"

Eiki enters a dark room, looking around & on his phone "I'm here...where are you?!" The digitized voice replies "Turn the phone off. & then put on the blindfold there..." Eiki looks around "Blindfold?" & sees one on the table. The voice tells him "Do as I say..." Eiki switches of the phone & immediately it rings again. Looking at the phone, he sees Toko on the display panel. After a pause, he switches it off completely, not answering...

Toko hangs up, not getting through. Ujou, barely containing his anxiety, tells them off "Do you know what you are doing?! He's bait!!" Toko, trying to get in touch with Eiki again retorts "I know!" Exasperated, Ujou looks around & then realizes Shono's not with them. To Kanbara "Where's Shono?" Kanbara replies "She disappeared at that service area..." Ujou's surprised "Disappeared?" & then thinking "Surely she's not..."

Toko, not getting any response from Eiki's cell phone, runs & gets a radio receiver from her car. Adjusting it, she listens with an ear piece...

In the room, Eiki sits, blindfolded, the muffler that Toko gave him around his neck. Under the tag stuck onto the muffler, a mike lies hidden, transmitting the sounds to Toko's receiver. Footsteps approach & Eiki stiffens. The criminal inserts a key into the ignition & turns it, starting the engine. Toko listens & then says "Cruiser?" While the others stare at her, Toko suddenly says "Kanazawa Nishihama Marina!"

As the cruiser heads out to sea, Eiki still blindfolded, asks, as if to himself "Where are we going?"

Ujou, Shono & Toko take off in a helicopter & head out to the open sea. The pilot says "Shono Tsukiko making contact..." Ujou grabs a headset & puts it on...

Shono, walking along the pier at the marina, gets into a boat "Going on a different route half way, my apologies...I wondered if in the end, the criminal's invitation would be the sea where Hisamatsu died...it's just as I thought...right now I'm on a boat heading out towards the area" Ujou replies "Alright, we're heading out there too..."

In the helicopter, Ujou asks Toko "Who's with Hirokawa?" Toko doesn't reply, not knowing the answer. The pilot says "We've managed to get the signal..." flipping a couple of switches "Please use the headsets..." Shogo & Toko take the headsets & put them on as the helicopter flies out further over the ocean...

Eiki asks "Where are we going? How long do I have to keep the blindfold on?" In the helicopter, Ujou, Shogo & Toko hear Eiki say "I'm taking it off, alright?" Eiki takes off the blindfold to see a harpoon pointed in his direction. Getting up slowly, he approaches it. On the helicopter, everyone listens, tense. Eiki looks at the person, at the harpoon & says to the figure "So it is you..." Ujou mutters "Who?"

Eiki says "Give yourself up..." The figure walks towards him. With the harpoon in her hands, pointing it at Eiki, Ujou Masako asks "How? How did you know it was me?"

On the helicopter, Ujou, shock registering on his face as he recognizes the voice......

Eiki tells her "The film Hiyama left behind..." Masako asks "Film?" Eiki replies "There was one picture of you..." "There's no possibility of that...he never took any photos other than those for work..." "No, there was..." Eiki remembers going through Hiyama's film negatives & the shock of finding one of Masako, asleep in bed. Eiki tells her "One morning, without thinking, he took a shot of the woman sleeping by his side...that moment Hiyama's feelings were perhaps one of happiness..." Masako says in disbelief "So he took my photo..."

Ujou listens, frozen...

Her voice quivering, with tears in her, Masako says "If he was that happy me, then why?!?" Masako recalls being with Hiyama, laughing & kissing "I loved him...crazy over him..." Flashback to Hiyama pouring over his photographs & Masako talking away "While you were away I got a boating license. We talked about it right? Going on a trip to the Amazon River, you said you wanted to take photos of the Indian life there. I was hoping that you'd take me along with you, I'll definitely help..." Hiyama replies, irritation in his voice "Shut up!" Masako, unhappily replies "Sorry..." Later on, looking at his photographs of school teachers, she sees a stack of Egi Toko's photos on top of the magazine article. Masako tells Eiki "He was attracted to her...I knew that...he loved her to the point of giving up his life for her..." Masako gives a torn up insurance certificate at Hiyama. On it, Egi Toko's name is written as beneficiary. "For the sake of a new woman, you're giving up your life for a new woman in exchange for money??" Hiyama mutters "Uhm...but I just cancelled it..." Masako says "Cancelled it?" Hiyama tells her "Be happy...making you happy, I can't do it..." Two months later, Masako goes to Hiyama's apartment. At the foot of some stairs, she sees a stack of newspapers, one reporting the news of Hiyama's death. As she looks at it, tears rolling down her face, she pulls up a magazine from under the pile. Looking at the article Hiyama did on Toko, she scrunches up the page "This woman snatched away Hiyama's life..." Back in the present, Masako, face wet with tears, rather shakily says "From that moment on, I watched Egi Toko...for the sake of giving her the same loneliness & despair..."

In the helicopter, all three listen in silence. Shogo asks "Who is that woman?" As if frozen, Ujou, not replying, tears in his eyes as he listens to Masako telling Eiki...

"Trying to cure her depression, Egi Toko started seeing a psychiatrist. I passed myself off as a patient, got close to Shibata..." Flashback to her meeting with Shibata in his office. Shibata asks "Where your relationship went wrong, think about it & try to talk about it..." Masako, pretending to be patient suffering from depression "Why can't I give my life up for him?" Shibata asks "Give up your life?" Masako says "For example...life insurance..." Shibata laughs "Using that as a bargaining tool, that's stupid..." Masako continues "But a love that one risk one's life for...if one doesn't do that, it can't be conveyed to the other person...other than placing one's life in the other person's hands..." Masako tells Eiki "The Shibata sensei that was suffering over his relationship with Egi Toko...couldn't believe it when he did as I said...for a year after that, I kept watch over Egi Toko & Shibata's romance...that was the first time I killed someone..." Flashback to Masako going to Shibata's hotel room. Inside, Shibata asks "About Egi Toko, what...?" Masako asks "Before that, how about having something to drink?" Later with Shibata lying on the sofa, Masako cleans up the coffee cup that she used & puts sleeping pills all over the table, leaving the room.

Back in the present Masako says "The crime of snatching away someone's life...deep inside me, I wasn't aware of it..." Eiki asks "Ikenaga Sonoe's existence...did you only discover it after that?" Masako replies "A woman that was watching Egi Toko with the same expression as I did..." Flashback to Ikenaga Sonoe walking to school. Seeing Egi Toko, she greets her with a smile but passing her, the smile disappears. Masako explains to Eiki "After checking around, I discovered that she used to date Shibata...she thought that Egi Toko was involved in Shibata's death ...in order to take revenge on the woman Egi Toko, that snatched away the life of her lover, she transferred to the same work place..." Masako watching both women from a distance.

Back in the present, Masako tells Eiki "It was...exactly...like watching myself..." Eiki asks "Tearing Egi Toko's life to shreds, what did you get out of it?" Masako answers with a question, half taunting him "What do you think?" Eiki retorts "Hell!" Masako laughs "Hell..." & then shakily explains "But...that's a place that confirms that I am alive...Egi Toko's suffering is something to live for..." Eiki yells "You're mad!" & as he lunges for her, Masako lets fire the harpoon...

Toko, tense, as all three on board the helicopter listen...

Eiki, lying on the floor, breathing heavily, looking at the metal rod sticking out of the wooden table. Masako rummages about for another rod to reload the harpoon "No...in the depths of hell, a part of me said 'Stop already!'..." Eiki gets back up onto his feet. Holding onto the loaded harpoon, Masako smiles at him "Conscience...I wonder..." Eiki, looking at her, backs away as she continues unsteadily "By some chance, maybe I could get out of this hell..." Pointing the harpoon at Eiki, Masako shakily says "That's why...I married Ujou..."

On the helicopter, Ujou, a look of shock on his face. Toko shocked, turns to look at Ujou. Shogo, equally stunned, also turns to look at Ujou. Ujou, shaking, listening...

Masako tells Eiki "It was a quiet wedding, followed him then he transferred to another location...after that, even now I can't quite believe it...there was quiet happiness..." Flashback to married life with Ujou sitting down at the table after a bath "I'm hungry..." as Masako happily serves him dinner. Masako, emotionally unstable, explains to Eiki "I was afraid...there was no possibility that this happiness would go on for long..." Holding out trembling hands towards Eiki, Masako adds "...because I am a murderer......this kind of happiness, wasn't meant for a woman like me...my premonition became real...my husband was transferred to Machida..."

Ujou listens, not moving...

Masako putting both hands to her head, screams "I couldn't be happy!!!"

Ujou grimaces in agony, listening...

Masako, eyes wide, emotionally agitated "In that city...Egi Toko was there..."

Toko, listening, tears rolling down her face...

Masako, tears in her eyes continues "If I went there, the revenge in my heart would revive...I was afraid of what I would become..."

Ujou finally understanding, recalls the time when Masako tried to leave him "What's with that? Are you leaving?!" Masako, about to go out the door turns around "It's no use...we can't be together anymore..." Ujou grabs her violently...

Masako continues "We lived apart. After that, from the loneliness, what saved me...was an ironic thing...the "Hell" that I finally managed to throw away..." pointing the harpoon at Eiki...

Ujou, with tears on his face, grimaces in pain & frustration...

Flashback to Masako watching Hisamatsu & a smiling Toko in Kanazawa "I hated it...that smile of Egi Toko's...I hated it..." Hisamatsu reads a business card "Rose Live Insurance, Investigation Department..." Sitting across from him at a table, Masako, passing herself off as an insurance investigator says "In Egi Toko's past, there were two men that made her the beneficiary of their life insurance policies. After that both men died, & she was able to get large sums of insurance money..." Masako calmly takes pictures of Hiyama & Shibata out of her bag, putting them on the table in front of Hisamatsu. To Eiki, she says "Hisamatsu used his own life to prove the innocence of the woman he loved Egi Toko...after that, when she told him off, he cancelled the contract...just as I planned..." Masako says, laughing...

On board the helicopter, Toko listens, anger on her face...

Masako continues "That was the significance of their perfect love. From there, planning to cause Egi Toko to fall into the depths of despair...I was totally absorbed in it..." Flashback to being on board Hisamatsu's cruiser in Kanazawa. Hisamatsu says to Masako "Let's hear it...you're not an insurance agent are you..." Sitting down on the edge of the cruiser, he asks "What are you?" Masako turns around, raises her hand & bringing down a metal rod, striking Hisamatsu on his head. Pushing him overboard, she flings the rod into the water, starts the engine & reverses the cruiser over Hisamatsu. Hisamatsu screams & the propeller churns up the water, red with blood...

Toko listens in silence, tears streaming down her face......

In the moonlight, Masako swims to the shore, breathless with the effort. On all fours, trying to catch her breath, all of a sudden she hears "Are you alright?" Turning to look, she sees Ikenaga Sonoe frantically running up towards her "What happened?! I'll go get help!" running off. Masako's voiceover "Going on like this, she'd only be in the way..." As Ikenaga cycles home & coming across the bar blocking her way, Masako grabs her & pushes her down the steps by the river. Masako's voiceover "In order to put the suspicion onto Egi Toko, I sent an anonymous letter to the police..." Ujou, receiving the letter, opens it "The criminal is within the Eiwa Jogakkan..."

Back in the present, Masako tells Eiki "If it was him (Ujou), I believed that he would thoroughly investigate the whole thing..."

Ujou listens, disbelief & hurt on his face...

Masako continues, a tone of wonder in her voice "To be suspected as a murderer by the man you love...there's no pain greater than this, I wondered..." Eiki asks "If your aim was to frame Egi Toko, why didn't you put her name on the letter..." Masako replies "I wanted to urge the police, little by little...to become suspicious of her...as if strangling Egi Toko with silken floss of suffering..."

Flashback to being in the school compound, Toko on the cell phone, Masako, her voice digitized "A cursed woman like you that men will give up their lives to love...I know..." Toko asks frantically "Where are you?! Where?!" Masako, speaking into a cell phone with a device to change her voice attached "Deceive those around you...deceive the man who loves you... understand?!" At the worksite, Masako drives the bulldozer, barely stopping an inch from a screaming Eiki. Masako's voiceover "I also wanted to test...whether or not you would believe in her..." Toko, appears in front of Eiki tending to his leg "If you stay by my side, you'll lose your life..." Eiki grabs Toko, holding onto her tightly. Masako watches, hidden from above a pile of rubble. Masako tells Eiki "Your love looked like it was perfect...just a little bit more..." Barely containing his anger, Eiki asks "Why did you have to kill Sakota Nanami?"

In the helicopter, Shogo, equally tense & angry, listens as Masako replies "She was an intuitive child...if she hadn't seen me in town, she wouldn't have had to die..." Flashback to Ryokuchi Park, at night, Nanami questioning Masako "I saw you talking with Hisamatsu at the restaurant in Kanazawa...just what on earth are you doing in this city?" Masako turns away from Nanami, not replying. Nanami continues "I've asked around, why would Ujou's wife meet with Hisamatsu?" Nanami doesn't notice Masako taking a pick out of her pocket. Masako turns around & before Nanami can react, stabs her right in the chest. Nanami screams...

Shogo closes his eyes in pain...

At the park, Toko drops the cell phone into one of the trash bins. After she walks away, Masako comes out from behind the bushes & takes it out of the bin, putting it in her pocket. Looking around, she goes back behind the bushes hidden out of sight. Her voiceover says "Sullying Egi Toko's name with murder isn't my objective..." Eiki comes by, trailing Toko & seeing Eiki, remembers Ujou introducing him to her at the Ice Storm "My wife..." Eiki greets her "Pleased to meet you..." Masako watches the both of them leave to search for clues in Toko's apartment. Her voiceover says "The both of you would definitely prove Egi Toko's innocence...after that, Egi Toko's real suffering would be waiting..."

In the helicopter, Toko listens to Masako telling Eiki "I want to see Egi Toko's suffering when she loses you..." Toko's heart stops as she realizes what Masako's planning to do...

On the cruiser, Eiki stares at an emotionally hysterical Masako saying "Suffering...suffering...suffering...in the end, she'll definitely choose death..." tears streaming down her face. Unable to say a word, Eiki can only stare at Masako. Laughing & crying, Masako says "If Egi Toko died this way, my hell would finally be over...my life could finally start over..."

Tears roll down Toko's face...

Masako adds, hysteria in her voice "...bring up a new life...my husband's waiting for me..." Turning to the console, she stops the engine. Lifting the harpoon, she aims it at Eiki...

Ujou, tears on his face, pain in his voice "Masako, stop already..." Toko, doesn't say anything, as if understand his pain...

Masako strides towards Eiki, harpoon pointing at him. Eiki backs up, edges around the table "Wait...wait...can't I ask you something!? You said that you were waiting for Toko's & my love to become perfect...you said that just now didn't you...then what about your live!?" Masako, rather unsteadily asks "...my love?" still pointing the harpoon at Eiki. Staring back at her, Eiki asks "To what extent do you love him!? You can only love your own memories can't you?! Your memories with Hiyama! Living the past 5 years wrapped in the hatred that you feel for Egi Toko who stole Hiyama away from you...that's the proof!!!" Unable to answer, Masako moves towards Eiki who backs up out of the cabin into the open deck...

In the helicopter, they listen to Eiki's voice "Loving someone is a test of strength..." Out on deck with Eiki backing up away from a crazed Masako, Eiki continues "Being loved by someone is getting acceptance from others...to what extent one's existence in this world has meaning...to find these out...a love like that, even if it ends in failure...loving with all one's strength...being equally loved in return...those people can go on living life with confidence...I finally understand...this is what Toko's taught me..."

With tears in her eyes, Toko listens to Eiki saying "I know...the man that you want to start your life over with, he loves you from the bottom of his heart..." On deck, Eiki tells Masako "But the most crucial part of you...doesn't love him...that doesn't work...it isn't only loving others but also being loved by others..." Masako, face wet with tears, looks as if she's moved by Eiki's words...

In the helicopter, Ujou hears Eiki says "He needs to be loved by you..."

Eiki tells Masako "If you really love him, then throw away this hatred that you're carrying now..." Seeing Masako hesitating, Eiki reaches out to her "Come on...give yourself up...make up for your crimes...for his sake..." Masako, tears on her face, shakes her head & grips the harpoon tightly & says "Die..."

In the helicopter, Toko freezes & Ujou screams in pain "Masako!!!"

On the cruiser, Masako pauses, as if for a spilt second, hearing something & then stiffens her resolve, pointing the harpoon at Eiki. Suddenly spotlight shines at them & they turn to see another boat approaching "This is the police! Freeze!" Eiki, seeing Masako looking at the boat, approaches her. At the last moment, Masako turns around & staring Eiki right in his eyes, pulls the trigger. The bolt flies out from the harpoon & into Eiki's left shoulder, the tip coming out through his back. Stunned, Eiki reaches for his shoulder, falling backwards towards the bow of the cruiser...

Shono, on the other boat, stunned shouts helplessly "Eiki! Eiki!"

Eiki, in pain, pulls out the bolt from his shoulder, inch by inch, grimacing in pain. It drops to the floor with the muffler Toko gave him. Unable to help himself, Eiki falls overboard into the ocean...

On the helicopter, Toko screams "Eiki! Eiki! Eiki!!!!"

As the helicopter continues flying, the pilot finally says "I can see it!" Anxiously, Ujou looks to see 2 boats in the water below them. Masako turns around & looks up at the helicopter. Above Ujou looks at her in total despair...

As Eiki's suspended just below the water's surface, blood streaming away from his wound, his voiceover says "This is my 28 years...why was it such a short life?...a world with no more suffering awaits me...so sleepy I can't stand it...I want to sleep..."

From the helicopter, Toko rips off the headphones, slides open the door & jumps out the helicopter into the ocean! In the darkness, with only the search lights from the helicopter & boats above, Toko swims towards Eiki. Grabbing a hold of Eiki, she swims back to the surface...

From above, Shogo watches anxiously as Toko holds on to Eiki, struggling to stay afloat...Shono looks on as the people from the marina help an unconscious Eiki on board......

Ujou gets on board the cruiser & going to Masako, puts both his hands around her neck in anger. Tears roll down her face as she lets him do it. Ujou, gritting his teeth, feeling the warmth of her neck, lets go & crying, puts both arms around her, embracing her...

As the boat carrying Eiki & Toko speeds back to shore, Shono radios for help "There's a casualty coming in, get an ambulance ready!" "Understood..." On board, Toko gives Eiki mouth to mouth resuscitation, alternating between pushing down on his chest repeatedly & breathing in Eiki...

At the marina, Shogo, arriving first anxiously for Toko & Eiki to come in. As Toko tries to revive Eiki, she cries in desperation "Please! Breathe! Please!" getting no response from Eiki. Shogo & Shono both watch helpless & then look up to see the other cruiser arriving with Ujou & Masako...

The marina staff tells Toko "It's no use...there's nothing you can do..." Toko cries, holding onto Eiki's face "Come back! I'm here...here! Come back! Come back please!" Paramedics arrive & checking Eiki's condition, shake their head. Stunned, everyone watches as they zip him up in a bag & carrying him away. Toko standing & watching, suddenly whispers "Eiki..." & running after the paramedics "Wait! Wait!" & unzipping the bag she tells Eiki "You can't die! You can't die!" & starts CPR on him. Shogo, watching tells her "Toko, stop it...let him sleep..." Toko shakes him off "No..." & then to Eiki, she cries "Love you...I love you! Said we'd meet again didn't you?! You promised! I can't just love you...I need to be loved by you too! Then come back to me! Dying for me I won't forgive you! I'll never forgive you! Come back! Come back to me!" With Eiki only moving each time Toko pushes down on his chest, Toko cries "Live! Live! Live! Let's live together! I love you! I love you!" All of a sudden, Eiki moves & choking, coughs out water...

Stunned, everyone watches, moved by the sight. Ujou, holding on to a handcuffed Masako says in a hoarse whisper "Did you see that Masako...love is the life of human beings...that's the life you snatched away...the life that lives inside you...together with that life, coming back to me...I'll be waiting..." Masako listens, tears rolling down her face her only reply...

Shono puts a blanket around Toko's shoulders. Toko turns to look at Shono & both women exchange a look of understanding, Toko as if to say 'thank you' & Shono as if to say 'take care of Eiki'. As Eiki's taken away in the ambulance with Toko, Shono looks on "Goodbye...Eiki..." Then reporting to Detectives Kanbara & Yuikawa, she says "The suspects been arrested. Let's send her back to Machida...". Kanbara gives her a pat on the shoulder & they get into the car...

As Ujou helps Masako into a waiting police car, he sees Kuramoto approach him. Both man look at each other & then Ujou reaches into his coat pocket, takes out his police badge & hands it to Kuramoto. Without a word or look of malice on his part, Kuramoto takes it. Ujou says "Taking her to the Tokyo Police..." Kuramoto nods & Ujou gets into the car with Masako. Kuramoto turns & walks away, not saying anything. Inside the car, Ujou takes a key out & unlocks one side of the handcuffs on Masako, putting it around his wrist...

As the police cars all leave the marina, Shogo left alone turns around & looks out to the sea "Nanami...it's over at last..."

In the ambulance, as the sun shines its rays through the window, Toko & Eiki hold on to each other's hands tightly. Eiki pulls off the oxygen mask, looking at Toko. Without a word, she leans over & kisses him...their warmth melting the world of ice........

.....owari

Final thoughts.....

As far as acting went, I thought this episode was brilliant.....Nakamura Toru (Ujou) & Nakajima Tomoko (Masako) just outstanding with their performances. However, as far as storyline goes, I had this sense of cynical disbelief. First, killing Shibata, the doctor, with an overdose of sleeping pills....I don't know...but how much sleeping pills can one put into a cup of coffee & not have the guy taste the difference??.....& while I understand that emotional jealousy, rage, revenge etc can produce unbelievable strength in people, Masako, looking rather frail & pregnant, could kill Hisamatsu & then swim back to shore....hmmmm, I wonder.......& how did Toko know that Eiki had fallen overboard? Jumping out of the helicopter & finding Eiki just like that. Also Toko reviving Eiki, time must have stood still or something in order for Eiki to come back to life after such a long time, chotto shinjirarenai........but then again, I guess one has to remember this is dorama after all.......

I loved the theme of Fire & Ice throughout.....the brilliant orange hues of fire & sunrays contrasting with the blue tones of ice.....as if Eiki's passion chipping away at the ice that's got Toko trapped.....Ujou's fire melting the ice in Masako's heart....both men freeing their women from the chains of ice.......