Miken: Lazy blogging style to speed things up as I try to catch up on everything~ XD;;
I haven’t blogged this in over a month, but that doesn’t mean I’ve given up on it. I’ve just lost a ton of interest with my favorite character gone. Plus, Teito’s hard to stand as the protagonist and Hakuren’s only *this* much better…I shall now spend my time being more attentive of the Bishops since…well…I don’t find them annoying yet.

Kapitel 10: That Is But One Form of Atonement

Teito is found to be generally angsting over Mikage’s death, and Frau and Castor meet with sentience of the Eye of Mikhail as he possesses Teito, earning themselves a nice illusory trip to hell and back. Once the priests are tired with Teito’s moping around, they lead him back to the hall where Mikage died, leaving our lead to finally crying over Mikage’s last words as Frau tells him to live in order to protect the life Mikage sacrificed himself to save.

At this episode, I’ve started to realize that this show has met the “hump” where the first exciting arc ends and you go “what next”. To be honest, I finished watching Gundam 00 Second Season, started marathoning Higurashi no Naku Koro ni and did a bunch of other stuff before even thinking about catching up on this. Still, this anime is far from bad…it’s still sticking to what it does best.

Miken’s Enjoyment Level: 7/10

Kapitel 11: Atonement for Loved Ones Is…

A little dab of angst over how to atone for Mikage’s death and Castor suggests that Teito take the exam to become a bishop, thus giving him full means to move in and out of districts with little obstacle. Thus, the studying begins! Teito manages to make Frau look like a dimwit by remembering all the little excerpts from the bible whereas Frau took 3 years to learn the stuff. Some hands on training with a Bascule proves problematic and Castor creates a doll in the image of Frau, with a Kor as it’s soul. The doll does some hilarious antics and Teito finally uses the Bascule properly when the doll goes too far and starts chasing after the nuns. Unfortunately…that causes the limiter on the doll to break, giving Teito a bigger problem when the Kor takes form. Labrador thankfully saves Teito in the nick of time and gives him some nice tea to heal his broken heart. A breakdown later and some reminiscing about Mikage lead Teito to decide that his form of atonement is to reveal the truth of the world even if Mikage would’ve never forgiven him for doing so…and the Eye of Mikhail seems to agree too.

With the introduction of Hakuren, our soon-to-be replacement BFF, the series is probably going to start building up again soon. Still, I was genuinely amused by the Frau doll~ Ahahaha, I loved the quip with the nuns about how the doll was “just a regular pervert” and another responding “So it IS Bishop Frau!”. Other than that…*sigh* More powering up and angsting as usual.

Miken’s Enjoyment Level: 9/10

Kapitel 12: The Darkness Called “Pain” Treads Ever Closer

We start off with a random guy accepting 3 wishes from a shady (but pretty!) fortuneteller. Of course, he kinda forgets the whole “in exchange for your soul” part of the deal, he goes crazy and…he sprouts Kor wings. Back at the church, Teito and Hakuren strike up a rivalry. Later, we are introduced to Assistant Archbishop Bastian as he exterminates a Kor during some sort of demonstration. For the record, the Assistant Archbishop excels at healing-based Ziaphon (as does Labrador). Meanwhile, the guy from the opening scene’s walking around, spreading terror like the Kor-possesed man he now is. Naturally, though, Frau is nearby and ready to extinguish the Kor as usual. Of course, this time, he doesn’t stop short at anything, killing the man along with the Kor. When Teito moves his room to the area set aside for applicants, he finds his roommate to be none other than…….Hakuren!! Also, the receptionist at the area where Teito and Hakuren prepare to train with their Bascule collapses of an unknown ailment, and the two somehow agree enough to lug the guy to the infirmary together. After the two race back to class, Teito realizes how to use the Bascule — the Zaiphon are triggered by words, and since the military type was brought on by hate, then the Bascule would probably respond to his desire to never lose anyone dear to him again…Though he still fails to make more than a smoke cloud. Even though he gets laughed at, Teito still recieves the support of both Hakuren and Bastian. Then, Teito fills his heart with thoughts of Mikage and overloads on power~ Of course, when Hakuren finds out that the staff Teito was using was Frau’s…he goes into jealous fanboy mode, since Frau holds the record high score on the test. Meanwhile, the receptionist from before is found dead and Aya-tan schemes.

I still don’t like Hakuren all that much…*sigh* Still too attached to a certain character. >_>;;
The episode really didn’t feel like much to me except for setting up Hakuren and Teito as well as the exam. Dammit Ayanami, I may hate you for killing Mikage, but do something already!!

Miken’s Enjoyment Level: 6/10

Kapitel 13: Down the Path of Light I See…

The aftermath of Aldo’s death continues as Teito sees Frau posing dramatically atop the church, later suffering a flashback as he roams the church. When he returns to his room, he accidentally wakes up Hakuren, who later flatly states that Teito isn’t ready to open his heart to him.In the library, while researching his past and the Eye of Mikhail, a gust of wind IN THE MIDDLE OF A CLOSED BUILDING blows his page to an article about “Verloren”, and then the words on the book come flying off and Teito sees another vision, waking up with a jolt. Then, Hakuren and Frau enter the scene become fast friends through bribery, though Bastian confiscates Frau’s porn. Later on, Teito goes to return Frau’s now-broken staff and unfortunately hears  that he won’t be let out of the church if he doesn’t master the use of his Zaiphon. Teito interprets Frau’s knowledge about the eye as suspicious and runs off. He flashbacks once more, this time remembering the war and how the Father entrusted the Eye to him. He breaks down and declares that he doesn’t want to love anyone anymore since his loved onse have the sad penchant of dying for his sake. Out by the fountain during sunset, Frau and Teito confront one another, with Teito asking Frau if the church is planning to use him too. Of course, Frau soon realizes that Teito doesn’t remember the times when the Eye took over and gives a response that causes Teito to attack, but the kid’s easily pinned to the side of the fountain. Frau declares that he has to protect Teito, but he doesn’t know how long he’ll be able to stay with him. He wills Teito to become stronger…words reminiscent of the Father who raised Teito. Frau later tells Teito to protect the Eye that Father entrusted to him…and a moment later, Teito realizes that he never mentioned the Father to Frau, to which Frau replies that he’ll find out. Lastly, some kind of shadowy hand stalks Castor…probably the work of one of Ayanami’s subordinates.

I liked the ending of the episode, but I can’t remember much of the first half clearly…Frau definitely has his share of secrets…and since I haven’t read past 20-something in the manga and I have a horrible memory, I’m quite curious as to what his past entails.

Miken’s Enjoyment Level: 8/10

Kapitel 14: A Reason to Fight Together….The Right to be Called Brothers in Arms

Thanks to the nature of the exams, our 3 bishops have a dillema with finding the military soldiers within the mass of people planning to take the exam to become bishops, though Frau takes it upon himself to protect everyone. Later that night, Castor takes Teito out for some training so he can be ready to use a Bascule without breaking it. The task? Running around the church atop an enchanted path while maintaining a shield in a race till he doesn’t mind losing to the numerous annoying Frau dolls. The people from the military (Haruse and…?) spot Teito, but don’t attack on account of the dolls being bodyguards too. When Teito gets back to his room, Hakuren wakes up and sees the mark on his back signifying Teito’s purpose as a battle sklave. Teito then spills the beans on why he’s taking the test [for Mikage obviously]. Hakuren also spills the beans on how he decided to become a bishop after his mother was infected by a Kor even though the rest of the family refused to acknowledge that she could have to protect the family name, locking her up instead. Luckily, the passing Bishop (Frau)  happened to jump into the room and heal her. Thus, he has decided to go against family tradition and has joined the church. More training later, Castor lets Teito use a pro-level Bascule with nice results while Hakuren hides until called upon to join in. In the dark hallway back, Teito’s ambushed and Hakuren is thrown out a window, causing Tieto to jump out after him. Luckily the master of Deus Ex Machina himself shows up to save them. Frau reveals that the being is a Wars — a Kor that has gotten all 3 of its wishes granted, in this case, Aldo. The Barsburg soldiers manage to get away too, but not before calling Frau a murderous traitor. In a bishop meeting, we learn more of the Wars and the Archbishop brings up the possibility of a Warsfiel (black sorceror) being involved since Aldo didn’t make a contract with a Kor. When Teito and Hakuren wake up…next to each other…Teito decides to be an ass in order to stop Hakuren from getting closer to him, but Hakuren refuses to back away. Teito still won’t shake hands, though Mikage’s spirit talks some sense into him. Then…Frau wakes up from within a casket. More talk about how Wars and Kor are trying to resurrect Verloren ensues. Out in the hall, Teito declares that he’ll become Hakuren’s friend once he’s strong enough to protect him. Finally, we have Frau flashbacking to when Labrador told him to “never let go of Teito’s hand”. and complaining about how his right arm felt like it was burning the night before.

Still love the “OH YEAH!” sound effect…Man, this show doesn’t even try to mask its subtext. Mmmm…summaries getting longer and personal opinions getting shorter. I liked this episode far more than the last couple — we got a nice bit of fighting, the dolls are back~, and I’m starting to warm up to Hakuren as a character.

Miken’s Enjoyment Level: 8/10

Next time on 07-Ghost! – “That Day, I was With Him”

Miken’s Anticipation Level: 6/10