Mai-HiME #23 Bullet Summary

The episode begins with Midori being confronted by Mikoto at the door to Miyu's tank room. This is obviously happening before the end of the previous episode. Mikoto says she's there to destroy Miyu under her bro's orders. Midori looks at the key in the lock beside the door, then Mikoto comes charging. Midori yanks the key out, runs into the tank room, closes the door behind her and locks it from the inside. Mikoto continuously strikes the door from the other side to try and break it open.
Midori runs to Miyu's tank and cold boots her. She says she wanted to let her sleep forever if it was possible. As Miyu is booting up, a prompt appears asking Midori if she wants to erase Miyu's previous memories, so Midori can be set as her new master. It doesn't show it, but Midori chooses not to.
Mikoto finally breaks through the door. She runs towards the tank, but Midori stops her with her axe. Midori says she won't let Mikoto destroy Miyu, because Miyu's their only chance. Mikoto isn't listening however and summons Miroku out of the ground. He's a big fella, with a big sword. As the sword is coming down on Miyu's tank, Midori calls Gakutenou, who jumps in the way of the sword to protect the tank. For some reason this causes Mashiro's mansion to explode. Now they show the last part of ep 22 again, where Nagi tells Mai that she should go check it out.
Mai flies down into the tank room and finds Midori in bad shape. Then she sees Mikoto, and becomes happy that she's alive. Midori tells her to watch out. Mai sees Gakutenou on top of the tank, then stares at Mikoto while thinking back to what Nagi said about proving her seriousness. Mai asks Mikoto if that huge thing is her Child. Mikoto says it's a power the Black Prince gave to her.
Gakutenou sizzles and crumbles to pieces over the tank. Mikoto walks to the tank and strikes it with her sword, but it's too late. Miyu grabs the end of the sword, tosses Mikoto back, then proceeds to get out of the tank. The ladies stare in awe. Of course Miyu apparently can't fight without proper clothing so she runs away.
Midori apologizes to Professor Sasaki, but says he'll probably praise her for what she did. Then she collapses to the ground. Mai tends to her. Another pillar rises up in the underground cave.
Mikoto turns to leave when Mai calls out to her. Mai says she's happy that Mikoto's still alive, but why is she doing this? Mikoto says she was raised for the sake of her brother, and can love no one but him. Mai says that's not real love. Mikoto turns around and asks Mai what is, then? Her brother said he loves her; he's happy when Mikoto's around. That's why she fights for him. After saying this, she runs away.
Now we switch over to Catfight Night at Zen Garden. Shizuru has just materialized her naginata. Yukino didn't know Shizuru was a HiME. Come on! You see all this other crap, but you couldn't see THAT!?
[Natsuki runs in.]
Natsuki: Shizuru!
Shizuru: Natsuki! ...Were you listening just now?
[Natsuki looks ashamed. Shizuru tries to touch her face.]
Shizuru: Natsuki...
[Natsuki recalls violation thoughts!]
Natsuki(screaming): No!!
[Natsuki quickly backs away from Shizuru, who's very sad now.]
Shizuru: You're the only one I wanted to keep this from... this evil love; a love that isn't accepted... and I knew, but...
[Shizuru, now crying, takes in a breath and directs herself towards Yukino.]
Shizuru: Kikukawa-san, the time is near. We should end this.
[Shizuru points her naginata in Yukino and Haruka's direction.]
Natsuki: Shizuru! Don't do it!
[Haruka grabs the end of Shizuru's naginata with her left hand.]
Haruka: What is this? My god, I never thought you'd sink this low. You threaten us with this thing in retaliation for seeing your own weakness? You're a dispicable student president; do your worst!
[Yukino tries to hold Haruka back.]
Yukino: Don't do anything to her, Haruka-chan!
Haruka(to Yukino): Be quiet!
Haruka(back to Shizuru): What's wrong? Cold feet!? Then get out of here before you shame yourself any further! I won't let you lay a finger on Yukino!
[Shizuru smirks.]
Shizuru(to Haruka): You can leave now; this doesn't concern you. You're so noisy.
[Shizuru calls Kiyohime. It appears behind her. Natsuki grabs Shizuru's shoulder.] Natsuki: Shizuru! Don't do this! Shizuru!
[Yukino is tugging at Haruka, who's trying not to feel intimidated by Kiyohime.]
Yukino: Haruka-chan!
Haruka(at Kiyohime): Yeah, so what!?
Yukino: Please, just run away!
[Natsuki tries to call Dhuran multiple times, but no response.]
Shizuru: Natsuki, I will protect you. Kiyohime.
[Kiyohime roars. Yukino steps in front of Haruka and summons Diana. Its tentacles erupt out of the ground and charge towards Kiyohime. Shizuru uses her naginata to chop them all to pieces. We don't get to see all of the next part, but it seems Kiyohime yanked Diana out of the ground and crushed it in the air. While it sizzles in Kiyohime's grasp, Yukino is in shock.]
Yukino: No! Haruka-chan is-
Haruka: Huh? Me?
[Green flash on Haruka's chest. She begins to dissolve.]
Yukino: Haruka-chan!
Haruka: What...this...
[She glares angrily at Shizuru. Shizuru stares back with a faint smile.]
Haruka: I see now.
[Haruka stands up and begins walking slowly towards Shizuru.]
Yukino: Haruka-chan!
Haruka(to Yukino): You watch this. (now to Shizuru) Fujino, you probably think you've beaten me, but unfortunately, I'm Suzushiro Haruka. I will not be beaten. I am righteous. Man's worth cannot be determined by some petty magic trick!
[Haruka lunges upward and headbutts Shizuru in the jaw, knocking her out of one of her sandles. Haruka turns around and throws Yukino her arm band.]
Haruka: Yukino!
[Yukino catches the band.]
Yukino: Haruka-chan!
Haruka: Yukino...[shows flashback from ep 12]...I'm...
[Haruka disappears. Another pillar rises up in the cave. Hey, uh, six pillars? Akane, Akira, Fumi, Midori, Yukino...are they counting Alyssa? or maybe Natsuki?]
[Yukino mourns over Haruka as Natsuki looks on. Offscreen, Shizuru chuckles.]
Shizuru: Ah, that was amusing. How pitiful; to think she could get back at me with that.
[Shizuru laughs, then turns to Natsuki.]
Shizuru: I have nothing left to hide. Natsuki, I love you.
Natsuki: Shizu...ru.
Shizuru: Yes, I'll get rid of the other HiME-no... -everything- that you dislike. You just wait. (I hope Julia's been eating its wheaties.)
[Shizuru walks away, as high as a kite.]
Natsuki: Wait! Shizuru! Shizuru!
[Scene switches to Kokuyougu. Baddies are watching Shizuru on the monitors.]
Nagi: Ooooo, scary!
Reito tells Nagi to tell Shizuru the locations of Natsuki's enemies, and why Ichibanchi is called Ichibanchi. Nagi says "Yes sir!...say what?" Reito says he fully understands that this world is already useless, but as long as those old ladies (from ep 17) are around, things will just keep repeating the same way they always have. He says the future needs to be created by a young man. Nagi asks him if he's the Black Prince, or Kanzaki...no, Minagi Reito. Reito lets out a chuckle.
Mai has taken Midori to the hospital, where we are now. Midori is shown in bed resting, with Youko sitting beside her, and Mai standing at the foot of the bed holding the mysterious envelope Midori gave to Youko in the previous episode. In it (I assume) was a letter addressed to Mai. Midori begins to read the contents of the letter aloud in a voice over while various things are shown on screen.
- Sakomizu and another teacher leave a sign in front of the school gates saying that it's closed until further notice.
- Natsuki is weakly walking down a sidewalk in the city, then collapses.
- Shiho is in bed knitting.
- Tate is walking to the hospital and stops to look at the park where he and Mai talked in episode five.
- Reito and Mikoto are drinking tea served by Fumi.
In the letter, Midori tells Mai how the pillars work: everytime an MIP disappears, a pillar goes up. When 11 pillars are up (ie: when there's only one HiME left), the final door opens. That last HiME gets the power of the HiME Star, and can use it however she wants. The last HiME also becomes the Black Prince's wife. Midori goes on to tell Mai not to betray her feelings of love for whoever her MIP is, since their life is on the line.
Mai apologizes to Midori, saying the way it is now is fine (pushing Tate away). She thinks back to what Mikoto said earlier about what real love is, then starts writing a hiragana Yu (for Yukariko, her next victim, nah I'm kidding, it's for Yuuichi) on the window. She quickly rubs it out when she realizes what she's doing, and asks herself why everything ended up like this.
Youko asks Mai if Midori wrote something helpful. Mai says yes. Youko says that's good, and compliments Midori for doing something teacher-esque. Mai smiles and looks over at Youko's desk. She sees a piece of clothing on it. Youko says it's something Yukariko forgot yesterday when she came to rest there. Youko says it was the first time Yukariko had ever used the infirmary; up till then she had never been sick or hurt. A now concerned Mai asks about the arm injury Yukariko supposedly sustained in ep 18. Youko says she didn't treat anything like that, nor did she see any scars when she checked her out yesterday. Mai is shocked.
Switch to the art room, Ishigami is whining over Nagi while Yukariko looks on. He tells her not to look at him like that. He says he's the guy that hurt her, so hate him! He says she still has some fighting left to do. Yukariko says she can't hate him, then materializes her bow. She aims an arrow at him and says she loves him. LIGHTNING STRIKE SCENE CHANGE!
Miyu is shown in a raincoat standing at the lake she froze. Where did she get the coat!?
Hospital. Tate is leaving Shiho to go do some shopping. Shiho asks Tate to promise to meet her in the park in front of the hospital at 3pm. Tate eventually gives in, and says he won't be back till then. As he's leaving the hospital, he sees Natsuki being brought in on a stretcher.
Natsuki is having a bad dream about Shizuru, then hilariously wakes up to find Tate in the hospital room with her. He tells her what happened, and she says they should have just left her there. Tate wants to know what the hell is going on.
In the church, Yukariko is praying. Mai walks in and says she wants to ask her something. Yukariko says okey dokey.
Back to Tate and Natsuki. Tate's told her about the bridge incident with Mai. She asks if he loves Mai. Tate doesn't know for sure. Natsuki tells him how HiMEs and MIPs work. Tate asks about Takumi. Natsuki says Takumi disappeared because he was another HiME's MIP. She says Mai's MIP probably changed at that time. Tate recalls the bridge scene in his mind; realizing what this means. He darts out of the room. As he runs down the hall past the elevator, Shiho is coming out of it. Then they show him running outside in the rain. Does he know where Mai is or something? Running aimlessly in the rain won't help much.
Now we're back to Mai and Yukariko. Mai says all the fighting started when Yukariko said Nao attacked her. Yukariko said that was make-believe. Mai gets pissed and materializes her rings. Yukariko says if Mai wants to defeat her that's fine, but she doesn't wish for Mai to commit a sin for the sake of her MIP. (As Yukariko is saying this, the screen shows Ishigami regaining consciousness in the art room.) Mai says all this is happening because of Yukariko's lies. Yukariko asks Mai if she plans to defeat everyone and be the final HiME. Mai says yes, she'll win, she'll bring Takumi back, and then he(Tate)... She chokes up. Yukariko asks if that's what she really desires. Mai thinks back to when Takumi asked what she really wanted, then Yukariko summons Vrus and it starts its illusion ability, spacing out Mai in the process. Something behind her starts making noise at this part. I can't tell what it is. Maybe a door slamming? Looked weird.
Natsuki returns to her dorm room. That was quick! As she enters, she runs into a cobweb, then gets grabbed and strung up. Nao appears and welcomes her back.
Shiho is shown going to the park in her wheelchair. She says today is the day she and Tate first met. As she's going down the ramp on the stairs, she slips and falls out of the chair into the mud. The music they had playing in this scene made it look quite funny. Shiho gets no love.
Back to Natsuki and Nao. Nao says her wound continues to hurt. No matter how many men she does in, the pain won't go away. She puts her claws up to Natsuki's face and says, "looks like it's no use unless I do YOU in."
Back at the church, Mai is getting hit hard by Vrus' power. Yukariko says there is always one thing that a person truly desires. Only one thing. She asks what Mai's one irreplaceable thing is. As Yukariko was saying this, Tate was shown running in the rain. He stops at a clock; it's 3pm. He thinks back to Shiho, but then shakes his head and keeps on running. Shiho is then shown at the park clutching her bag and looking very cold. She starts to cry. Shiho gets no love!
Back to the church one last time. Yukariko tells Mai not to be afraid of her pure, desired, world. I don't think she can hear you Sister.