[Boukenxha]

Spoiler:

I agree with wonteak that Matsuri needed to weaken Aono before she can do her sacrifice. The cut scenes to Mayuko and Takeshi were more or less a commentary that Matsuri had a strong resolve in what she's planning to do, so it's not likely (though not impossible) that she will change her plan midway. Just after she stabbed herself, in another flashback scene involving Takeshi teaching Matsuri the sword's usage, we also saw her determined look as she emphasized "to return Aono to human." And lastly Yorito doesn't look at all shocked that Matsuri impaled herself.

As for Matsuri plunging the sword into Aono's kami bunshin (lol)... I observed that it was aimed somewhere in the abdomen area. Matsuri was also stabbed earlier by Yorito in the same area and she survived. When Matsuri stabbed herself for the sacrifice, it appears to be aimed higher up, I'm guessing at the heart. Maybe the heart is where the life essense of the Yaka lies... just my guess though.

Anyway this episode had me on the edge of my seat from the start to finish trying to figure out what Matsuri is really trying to do. And what's more we finally got the centuries ago flashback that I've been dying to see. It also nice that in between the tension we've got back some of the old Matsuri playfulness which I really enjoyed in the first half of the series ie. the movie pretense interlude. This is easily the best ep for me so far.