http://xat.uguu.us/snapshot20070608175046.jpg

And once again, sola's plot threw a curve ball (or two) that I wasn't quite expecting. But now that we know Yorito is really a phantom made of origami paper by Aono, everything starts to make sense (like why she could control him).

golem... sure he is like a paper golem :heh: Golems don't need to be flesh and bone :) like who had played nethack... knows it ;).

And, OMG! the truth about Yorito is revealed. I did not expect him to be a creation of mere origami paper brought to life by Aono. However, I guess the power she possessed over origami and her love for origami probably did hint at this and we probably overlooked it. And, Yorito learns the truth of Aono.

Then, Matsuri stabbing Yorito in the same place he (a la proxy for Aono) stabbed Matsuri... and with Takeshi's "magic sword." I don't know why, but I considered it equal justice for what Matsuri did. Why? Aono felt it, and boy did she feel it. That right there she definitely deserved. I believe I saw Aono clutching herself where Yorito got pierced. So that proves that Aono created Yorito, and that they are definitely linked together.

And, the very end, between Matsuri and Yorito, where they first met in the start of the series, was bittersweet and touching. She kissed him again, and this time longer. If my translation is right, I believe she said, "I've always loved you. Always stay by my side." or "I've always loved you. You have always been by my side." (Yes, my Japanese is rather terrible. :p)

Therefore...
- Yorito can die per se
- Yorito can never age
- Yorito (present version) is and was never human, just acts, feels, and thinks like the old Yorito

What will Mana think when she learns the truth? She's learned one new shocking truth after the other. And, I think we have 3 more episodes then 2 DVD episodes before the series ends. What happens next?

At the last scene with Takeshi, Mayuko and Matsuri, I know Takeshi asked Matsuri, "Is this alright?" for returning the sword. And, Matsuri said something that I didn't quite understand. I wonder what's going to happen next.

The preview is even more cryptic. But, poor Koyori... Mana is abusing her. XD I think I heard 3 karate chops! 3!! Mana, why are you so cruel to poor little Koyori? >_<;;;

So we now know what happened to their house in the past is a case of a natural disaster...now the question is, is that what happened AFTER Aono becomes a Yaka, or something else, since it was very clear that Matsuri already know Aono at that point of time.

Of course, now this plays into one of a person's biggest fears (concerning Yorito), that is, to discover that his existence has been nothing but a lie.

On a surprising note, this episode somehow managed to actually tie what I've said once (and octoberasian pondered about) about Yorito and Aono.

Other than that, this also explains that most of Aono's powers goes into 'recreating' Yorito. It's seems to be very, very obvious that Yorito's existence is entirely tied with Aono now.

There's only one thing I don't quite understand yet: The properties of Takeshi's sword. Is it specially made for things of the supernatural or...? Last I recalled Matsuri couldn't do anything to it.

It's confirmed: Yorito died under the collapse, in case some people still think that it wasn't him down there. It is also explained why the hell Yorito "screamed like a pansy":rolleyes: before reaching Matsuri and Aono in the previous episode.

It does look like one more between Matsuri and Yorito's lips as well. ;) I'm quite certain some people won't be happy that Sola threw them off in a completely different direction though. Yorito IS the male protagonist for some reason after all.

Yorito is a bit negative about himself in this scene; he goes on about how he's not human; how he's not the real Yorito. Matsuri brings him to his senses in that regard by affirming that he is himself, and despite not being human, he definitely still exists. He can still kiss her and hold her hand. As far as Matsuri knows, he's the Yorito she loves.

Yorito is a recreation of the original's (and more likely Aono's) memories. Even with that, he is also his own self. The base is there, but this Yorito has manifested into something almost completely sentient (something not entirely to Aono's liking).

She's not returning the sword; she's asking Takeshi to teach her to use it. This is the last twist of the episode, and will probably be a key factor in the next episode.

Probably what she plans to do with the sword has something to do with what the sword can do.

Thank you for clearing that up.

Now... I wonder... Why must Matsuri learn how to use the sword?

EDIT @Kct: The sword is unaffected by Yaka powers. Even Matsuri couldn't disintegrate it. It managed to "disassemble" Yorito as well since the origami is Aono's Yaka power. Therefore, who would she use this on?

Is it to fight against Aono one last time? In Ep.9, it looked like they somewhat reconciled indirectly with Aono not killing Matsuri. It wouldn't make sense then for both of them to fight again unless there is another reason that's not obvious at the moment. And, it looks like Matsuri will be avoiding Aono from now on.

Unless, there is still that surprise character that someone else brought up in the Ep.9 Discussion Thread. One, it made me wonder who revived Mayuko? I'm still wondering that after Ep.9. I'm sure Mayuko would remember who revived her. But, she didn't recognize either Matsuri or Aono. It's kind of weird.

Well, this series is getting well known for its twists and turns, and especially surprises. It'd be interesting and unexpcted if the biggest twist the creators/writers could throw out is Mana being the "trump card" in this series. What would happen if that was true.