Hayate no Gotoku! Can’t Take My Eyes Off You episode 09
ハヤテのごとく！ CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:

Hayate’s bad luck continues as he accidentally walks in on Hina, who’s only in a towel. Nagi enters the hotel room and sees them in a compromising position, making matters worse for Hayate. Rika, Izumi, and Risa show up as well, causing Hayate to wonder if this is the work of the kuro-tsubaki. When they learn of Ruri’s (fake) kidnapping, they want Jack Bauer on the case and leave to accomplish this. Hayate tries to follow, but runs into Chiharu and Kayura in the hall. Hayate catches Rika and company in the lobby, but a cop mis-translates Hayate’s Japanese so that they think he’s a bad guy. Nagi has Hayate flee, when he runs into Yukiji. After telling her about the pocket watch, she steals it and wins big at the casino since the kuro-tsubaki gives you great luck at 8 o’clock. However, she’s immediately robbed of her winnings and the clock by thugs.

Nagi is angry with Hayate for losing the kuro-tsubaki since Ruri may be in trouble, so he leaves to find it. After Maria gives her words to consider, Nagi sends her after Hayate as Nagi will go on her own to the meeting. Isumi and Sakuya enter, saying they’ll accompany Nagi. Hayate meets Yukiji, and they are joined by Rika and Risa, who’ve lost Izumi. Izumi is in the trunk of Yukiji’s rented car, which has been taken by the thieves, and calls Hina for help. Meanwhile, Nagi, Isumi, and Sakuya head for the meeting with those who want the kuro-tsubaki. Their limo pulls up to the meeting location, which happens to be a giant tree in the middle of the desert, a tree which causes Isumi to go alert.

Approaching the tree, a strange-eyed woman asks for the kuro-tsubaki from one of the tree branches. She’s not pleased when Nagi says it was stolen, and summons Shidou and Ruri to find it. Shidou takes off in flight and Ruri stops when Nagi calls out to her. One of their bodyguards says that they have word from Maria that the kuro-tsubaki has been found, so the woman grabs Nagi as a hostage. Isumi reacts to attack, but suddenly, the tree, Nagi, and the non-human woman are gone. Isumi vows to make this creature pay for kidnapping Nagi in front of her. Meanwhile, Hayate rescues Yukiji and Izumi from the gangsters, backed by Hina. They attempt to flee, but when Ruri arrives and learns that one of them has the kuro-tsubaki, she beats them down. The last thug braces for Ruri’s attack when the kuro-tsubaki turns into a sword. Hayate manages to keep Ruri from impaling herself, but is impaled instead.

Thoughts/Review:

Man, I could not for the life of me figure out what Isumi called the female, humanoid creature. It sounded like “mamuno,” but that’s not a proper word. So, if anyone knows, let me know, please. ^_^

Anyway, I was completely wrong about Izumi, Rika, and Risa not showing up in Vegas. Now, everyone is in Vegas except for Saki and Wataru, but I expect them to show up as well since Wataru’s mother was last seen in Vegas.

Speaking of Izumi and company, I didn’t realize that the series 24 was that well known in Japan.  Though I’ve never watched that series, I did know the name “Jack Bauer,” and as such, I did have a good chuckle at the trio wanting to get him in on the Ruri kidnapping.

The Engrish was horribly bad this time as well. I will admit that it was amusing having the cops misunderstand Hayate’s words and actions, but it was also a laugh just hearing the Engrish spoken. Of course, the Japanese had to have the thugs cussing a lot, which would be authentic, but it made me laugh since it was from Engrish rather than English.

Getting back to the plot, the “demonic” woman (or whatever she is) I half expect to be Ruri’s mother by the time all is said and done. That doesn’t mean she truly is Nagi’s sister, though she might be. I kind of expect it to turn out that Ruri isn’t related to Nagi at all.  Either way, I hope we see a fight between her and Isumi before all is said and done.

As to Hayate getting stabbed at the end, well that could explain why in the first episode, Nagi is alone in the desert, noting that Hayate isn’t her butler any more. Obviously, I don’t think Hayate is dead, or at the very least, not dead forever.

I’m sure there is more I could comment on, but being rather pressed for time, I’m drawing a blank. On the whole, I’m enjoying this anime despite the poor character designs and somewhat awkward pacing of the episodes at times.