Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle
Episode #40
Black Steel
"I found a book in the library. The past of someone I knew was written in that book."
It's night. Thunder strikes. Several men, one whom resembles Kurogane are metres away from several large demons. Elsewhere a woman kneeling near a giant mirror prays.
The next day, a young boy, who appears to be the Kurogane we know, is laughing and climbing a tree. His mother, the woman from the night before cries to him to come down as it's dangerous. Just then the man who resembles Kurogane returns home. Turns out he's Kurogane's father!
They all head inside and with a group of town officials discuss the fighting the night before. We find out that an old god had died where the town is now built and that the demons are attacking in an attempt to get that power. Kurogane's mother appologises for her shield failing but his father comforts her, assuring her that even if there was no shield that he would be able to defend the town.
Kurogane's father then begins to play with his son and dares him to climb the tall tree out back. As he runs to climb it, his mother panics and screams for him not to do so. This seems to be too much for her and she collapses. Kurogane sees this. It becomes apparent that his mother is very sick.
Later that day, the family servant spots Kurogane fishing with a group of town children. When Kurogane gets home later that night, he's busted big time. His father demands to know why he was fishing like a common boy yet Kurogane refuses to answer. His father commands him to sit in front of the house until he decides to tell him why he was doing it.
As time passes, his mother comes out and tells him that his father is angry at him because he loves him. Kurogane cries.
As Kurogane sleeps in his bed, his father tells his mother that Kurogane had heard from a man in the villiage that the fish in the lake were nutritious and that he was trying to capture one for his mother due to her being weak. His mother looks down at her son and smiles.
The following morning, Kurogane watches his father perform a special sword attack. Kurogane claims that he wants to become stronger just like his father. When asked why he wants to be stronger, he hesitates and then answers he wants the strength to protect the villiage and everyone in it.
Time moves forward and Kurogane is now older and has learned how to perform the special attack and uses it to destroy a demon. As he does so the family servant comments on how his father said that Kurogane would be able to defend the villiage all by himself. They both head back home where his father has just returned from battle. Seems the demons are attacking moreso these days and Kurogane's father and men are just home for a rest and to get a new sword as Kurogane's father's sword was destroyed. He requests the family sword (which looks like the one Kurogane had to give Yuko in Episode 2) which his Kurogane's mother blesses for protection and then they all leave to return to battle.
After they leave, his mother collapses. Kurogane calls for the doctor but his mother tells everyone that she must be taken to the prayer room so she can protect everyone. They take her there and Kurogane sites outside on guard.
As she prays a portal that looks identical to the ones Fay Wang Reed uses, opens in front of her. A hand with a sword extends through it and slays her. Kurogane runs inside only to see the portal close and his mother die in his arms.
He has no time to mourn however as almost immediately a giant demon enters the villiage. In his mouth is a man's arm, holding the family's sword. The arm belonged to Kurogane's father.
The sword falls from the hand, Kurogane picks it up and madness takes him.
Morning comes. The villiage and demon have been destroyed and Kurogane sits breathing heavily, holding on to his departed mother. As he sits there, oblivious to the outside world, a troup of riders ride into the ruins. One of the riders is Amaterasu, the Empress of Japan. She proclaims that her sister had a vision about the death of this villiage's priestess. Kurogane fires a powerful sword attack at them all in response and an attempt to protect his mother. Souma, Amaterasu's guard deflects his attack and demands to know why he would attack the Empress. Amaterasu observes that he has lost his mind and places her hand on her sword, preparing to kill him.
Suddenly a voice calls out from behind her, it's her sister, Tomoyo (!). She requests that she attempt to deal with the situation first. She walks up to Kurogane. He attacks her as well with a special sword attack though she deflects it with her magic and throws him against a pillar and holds him there with several magic rings. She kneels down and closes his mother's eyes which had been open the whole time.
The rings fade away, Kurogane falls down to his mother and cries.
Elsewhere, tears begin to flow from Syaoran's eyes. He's standing in a library in what looks like a trance, with an open book in his hands. Sakura is next to him and notices him crying. Fay tries to take the book away from him but says that he won't let go. Kurogane places his hand on the book to try to remove it. As soon as his hands touch it it begins to glow, Syaoran wakes up and collapses. Kurogane catches one of his arms and is shocked when Syaoran begins to cry in earnest and tells Kurogane how sorry he is.
My Original Impression
Monday, July 31 2006
Wow, not only did this episode give us an almost complete background story for Kurogane, but it also hinted at a connection to a major player in the Tsubasa world and with some of the best animation yet for this series! The animation was stunning throughout but some scenes just really effected me. Kurogane's facial shift into madness being one such example of creative and emotional storytelling.
This episode could have easily stood on it's own, but the last two minutes drop a twist on the viewer that not only enforces the emotional impact of Kurogane's story, but also gives another character a chance to express himself in a way we havn't seen before and even makes the viewer rethink what he had just seen.
Very original and completely effective on every level.
5 stars all the way!
Today's Crossovers
Again, I'm going to have to ask for help. I have a feeling Kurogane's mother is from another CLAMP series but I'm not sure witch. Anyone know for sure? Also were there any other characters in this episode that I havn't listed below? Make sure to let me know and give me a name so I can give you credit right here!
 Amaterasu: Now I correct me if I'm wrong (please do!) but I think Amaterasu is from CLAMP's first series, RG Veda. Again, I could be wrong.
 Souma: Souma's back in a younger version of the one we've seen before.
Originally the character starred in RG Veda.
 Tomoyo: If you don't know that Tomoyo is from the classic Card Captor Sakura series by now, I havn't been doing my job or you havn't read my other episode guides. ;)
Shopping Guide
 
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