灼眼のシャナⅢ（Final）/Shakukan no Shana 3 Episode 17
Shakugan no Shana III (Final) – 17

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:

At an emergency Flame Haze meeting in Europe, the dire situation is discussed with Flame Haze Hildegard quietly wondering if the entire blame will be lain at Sophie’s feet. In the U.S., Chiara succeeds in getting a little closer to Shana by offering her fruit from a cup, while they wait for Gods of Earth Flame Hazes Westshore and Southvalley to arrive at the New York airport. They escort them to East Edge’s bar/Outlaw facility, where Shana delivers Centerhill’s message to the three surviving Gods of Earth members. After hearing that, as well as seeing Shana’s resolve, they agree to toss their lot in with Shana.

In Japan, Tanaka, Kazumi, Ike, and Ogata visit the Sakai home. As they leave, Tanaka and Kazumi stop as Yuuji, having returned to his human form, is there, and waves goodbye to Ike and Ogata, neither of whom remember him. Yuuji refuses to enter his home (his parents wouldn’t know him), revealing that he’s come for Kazumi. Tanaka strongly objects, so Yuuji agrees to walk around with them, answering all questions. Kazumi agrees to go with Yuuji, even though Yuuji plans to turn Masaki City into a war zone in a final battle with the surviving Flame Haze.

Yuuji promises to protect everyone, even citing the fact that he’s ordered the Tomogara to stop consuming humans. He goes on to explain the reasons for creating Xanadu.  During Yuuji’s speech, Tanaka realizes that in his own way, Yuuji is fighting and moving forward for what he believes, as is Shana and even Kazumi. Thus, he makes the decision to inform Yuuji that he will inform Satou about everything Yuuji has said, destroy Margery’s bookmark, and then expect Yuuji to protect him. They shake hands and Tanaka leaves. Yuuji escorts Kazumi to the roof, where she sees the various leaders of Bal Masqué (save Hecate) standing on either side of a black path that leads to a hovering Seireiden in the distance.

Thoughts/Review:

It has been so long since I’ve watched the first Shakugan no Shana series, but I’m trying to remember if the term “Outlaw” came up then.  I remember East Edge being there, and I seem to remember his bar being used by Flame Haze, but beyond that, I don’t remember anything else about him. ^_^;

Regardless, it appears we’ll get to see him and the other two “Gods of Earth” Flame Haze do their thing soon.  That should be interesting.

I didn’t expect Yuuji to show back up in Japan in “normal form.”  I also didn’t expect him to suddenly want Kazumi for his plans.  Well, I can now see where Kazumi will be using the Hougu that Pheles gave her. I hope I’m wrong, but I smell the death flag on Kazumi.

I find it interesting that Yuuji appears to have won over both Kazumi and Tanaka, although Tanaka is apparently going to do one final act for the Flame Haze by making a last report. Yuuji’s speech, while sounding good, made me want to puke. He probably believes all that crap, but as things always happen, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and that’s what I see happening here.

It is also interesting that Yuuji is just as determined as Shana is, therefore another confrontation (which I believe we saw in the first episode) is in order.  Question is, does Shana have to kill herself and Yuuji to stop him?  That would totally suck for an ending, so I rather discount it, but one can never tell with Japanese writers. ^_^;

So, where was Hecate at the end of the episode?  One would think that all three Trinity members would be there for Kazumi’s arrival. Come to think of it, why does Yuuji need Kazumi at all?

Thus, another “calm before the storm” episode comes and goes with the “fun” soon to begin again.