Shakugan no Shana 16

Episode title: Enpatsu Shakugan no Uchite

Wow... an awesome conclusion to the flashback/birth of Shana as Flame Haze arc... or the "why Shana likes melon bread so much" arc. ^_^ Incidentally, I finally bought melon bread for the first time and ate it for breakfast. It was not as bad as I always thought it would be, but not as good as Shana claims. Of course, if were Wilhelmina getting the melon bread for me, it would be a different story. ^_^

Anyway, back to the story: it was battles galore: Wilhelmina vs. Orgon's knights, Mirihim vs. Orgon, Shana vs. Tenmoku Ikko, and Mirihim vs. Shana. Plus we got flashbacks to the last days of the previous Enpatsu Shakugan and her relationships with Mirihim and Wilhelmina. Also, we learn about Tenmoku Ikko's origins. And alas, Shana and Wilhelmina part ways.

Pics (click to enlarge) and story details to follow:
Wilhelmina in serious battle mode
Shana gives it her all
Trying to hit Tenmoku Ikko's weak spot
The Tomogara Bel-Peol realizes one of her minions is lost
The previous Enpatsu Shakugan, Mathilde-Saint-Omer
Wilhelmina before she donned the maid outfit
Mirihim and Wilhelmina's obligation to the Enpatsu Shakugan
Mirihim and Shana battle
Pics of Shana's childhood
Ooh... ah... kinda makes me wanna get more melon...bread
One last childhood scene
Tender partings
This week's eyecatch

Details (spoilers):
Wilhelmina makes quick work of Orgon's knights. She tells him a new Enpatsu Shakugan is in the process of being born, and because he knows, she can't let Orgon escape. He is incredulous at the thought that she'd think that he'd run (he has a big head and overestimates his own abilities). But Wilhelmina says it won't be her or the new Enpatsu Shakugan who'll defeat him... Orgon gets hit by rainbow colored energy and Shiro the skeleton walks up (I guess he could heal himself after being cut in half by Tenmoku Ikko). Suddenly, flesh appears, and Shiro turns into a long-haired bishounen. Orgon is surprised to see him and the bishounen calls Orgon his former teacher. The bishounen is actually a former tomogara called "Niji no Tsubasa Mirihim" (Rainbow Wing Mirhim). Mirihim quickly destroys Orgon (off camera). In among these scenes, there are flashbacks to the previous Enpatsu Shakugan saying goodbye to Wilhelmina so that she can fight her final battle.

Inside the buildings, Tenmoku Ikko and Shana face off. Vine is still squirming around so Tenmoku Ikko devours him (I think... the video is kinda dark). Tenmoku Ikko reveals that he'd become a Mistes on his own, taking his own life and inbuing his spirit into the armor and sword. His quest was to find and fight the strong. Shana sees that his will is similar to hers. She'd decided to become a Flame Haze on her own will and thus welcomes this battle. Shana is thrilled with the power of a Flame Haze, makes a tactical error but escapes, then decides to stake the duel on one powerful blow in what she hopes is his weak spot. Gathering her energy, she strikes.

Meanwhile, Mirihim and Wilhelmina face each other after he's killed Orgon. He says that he has one last duty to fulfil... that he's lived on this long for this purpose... as it is for Wilhelmina. He heads toward the building where Shana is at. Wilhelmina says softly that it's different for her. She calls him a bastard... back then and now (she loves him). There's a flashback that shows that the Enpatsu Shakugan Mithilde Saint-Omer has defeated Mirihim in battle. She says as the victor, she can lay conditions so that he can live on. She makes him promise that he'll eat no more souls, cause no more mischief, and that he'd help give birth to the next Enpatsu Shakugan. She smiles and walks away. Wilhelmina is there and tries to touch Mirihim but he tells her not too. He says that both of them are bound to the last oath and he turns into a skeletal form. (Note: though Wilhelmina loved Mirihim, he loved Mathilde instead.)

The Tendou Kyu begins to fall apart. Shana regains conciousness, and she sees that she's defeated Tenmoku Ikko. She takes his sword so that together they can fulfill both destinies. She feels Shiro's presense and Mirihim appears. They battle, and while doing so, he teaches the way how Tomogara fight. They attack each other at full force and Shana is the victor. In the end, he smiles and Shana shouts something, but is lost in the noise (I imagine it's something like, "itcha dame!" or "shinja dame!" or "ikkanaide"... basically something like "don't die").

Wilhelmina is waiting outside and runs toward Shana when she emerges safely. "I'm looking at the new age," she says. Later, they are at a seashore watching the sunset. There are flashbacks to Shana's happy childhood with Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina says that they have to part, but Shana should be alright. She has one last melon bread for Shana and begins to warn her about eating too much sweets, when Shana half hugs her. Wilhelmina puts her arms around Shana and says, "I'd like to be hugged de arimasu." Of course Shana complies.

The scene returns back to the present with Yuuji and Shana sitting on a bench eating melon bread. "So why do you like melon bread so much?" he asks. "I'm not gona tell!" she says and runs off. End of episode.

Ah, that was a sweet arc. I'm sad to see it finish, and I'm sad that I won't be able to see Wilhelmina Carmel... she's my favorite character so far. Fortunately, it looks like she'll return later (the fourth arc after this) ... though it looks like it could be as an enemy...