Episode 17

**Memories of Stone** (石 (いし) の記 (き) 憶 (おく) , *Ishi no Kioku*) is the seventeenth episode of the *Orient* anime series.

## Summary

Uesugi Bushi win, but Akihiro is disappointed he didn't do much. Kuroko states that's normal as only people who have trained together can join the blade energy chain and he must go back to his squad. Shiro appears and states he let the oni's in the castle. He also reveals he has Tatsuomi Uesugi's Kitetsu Blade. Kanetatsu attacks, but Shiro easily deflects his attack. Meanwhile, Kojiro and Tsugumi are searching for Musashi's sword.

The Uesugi Bushi form a blade energy chain and hold Shiro. Kanetatsu prepares to attack him, but feels he lost the connection to the energy. As he turns, he sees the bushi has been infected somehow. The infection then reaches Kanetatsu and Shiro explains that he forcibly cut their blade energy connection. Seiroku Inukawa appears and tells Shiro that he shouldn't reveal his allies techniques. The Uesugi Bushi attempt one more time, but Seiroku again cuts out their blade energy. Seiroku tells Shiro to deal with the Uesugi Bushi, however, Shiro refuses and heads to Musashi, as he finds him more interesting and special. Shiro notes that Michiru kinds reminds him of the Goddess and tells Musashi to leave as he is about to kill everyone. Musashi doesn't want to leave as his friends are still there. Shiro then uses his technique and sends Musashi to Awaji island, switching him with one of the Yamata no Orochi heads.

Musashi and Michiru are send to a location that Yataro explains its the heart of Awaji island. Musashi recognizes him as Michiru's father, and refuses to hand over Michiru. Yataro decides to kill Musashi and obtain the Goddess, noting that Musashi probably doesn't know what happened with the Goddess previous vessel. Believing to be Jisai, Musashi asks Yataro if he knows Jisai Kanemaki, however, Yataro doesn't know him. Michiru then awakens and begs her father to not kill Musashi. Yataro wonders why she isn't following his orders. Michiru isn't sure and knows what she has to do, but knows that doing it, she won't be able to talk with him anymore and lose all the warm feelings she has when around him. She still wants to help Yataro, even though he was never kind to her. Yataro takes out his sword and asks if she knows a way to save Musashi and still serve Yataro. Michiru states she will research and find a way to get the Goddess without killing Musashi. Yataro is happy that Michiru got his passion for research and is not just a mindless doll, and states she is truly his daughter. Musashi feels something is off and as Yataro draws out his sword, he pushes him away. Yataro tells Michiru goodbye and turns her into stone.

Meanwhile, the Uesugi Bushi can't do anything against the enemy. Seiroku guesses that Kanetatsu is proud to get "tatsu" to his name and that dragon tattoo, but he finds it ugly and proceeds cutting it. Yataro states he silenced Michiru as she failed and was shedding pathetic tears in an attempt to buy his sympathy. Yataro explains he haven't killed her and the stone form is her true nature. She is an oni child. He implanted a Kitetsu fragment in select children, which they assimilated in their bodies. The daughters that were combined with the Kitetsu of Orochi's offspring, have been particularly talented, however Michiru was a failure. She didn't had power more than an average human and was one of the many he cast aside, as those who have no value to their parents, shouldn't exist. Musashi doesn't agree and thinks that Michiru is amazing and he would have killed her if he didn't had doubts. Yataro agrees that she is special and brings Michiru back to normal. However, Michiru doesn't recognize Musashi. Yataro explains that her memories have been reset. As she can wield Kitetsu Blades, he do require her body, but not her feelings. That angers Musashi, who attacks Yataro, but is unable to draw any blade energy. Yataro states its pointless, as it isn't his blade. Michiru being a doll, starts supporting her father, saying she loves him and he should win. Musashi is angry, but is unable to do anything against Yataro. He prepares to kill Musashi, but Michiru stands behind him and stabs him with crystals she grows from her body. Yataro realizes that some of her memories are still there. Angry, Yataro states he will keep erasing her joy and sorrow, until she stops defying him.

Shiro is bored and hopes something interesting happens. In that moment, Naotora Takeda and his Bushi arrive. Naotora looks for Tatsuomi, but Shiro states he took him. Naotora then attacks Shiro. As they are running out of time, Seiroku tells Kanetatsu he will be killing him next time. Seiroku then switches places with Musashi.

Musashi awakens the next day with Kojiro and Tsugumi next to time. They explain that some of the bushi are deserting, after Uesugi had lost. Kanetatsu then finds Musashi and states they need his help and the power of the Goddess to defeat the Kishin.

## Characters in order of Appearance

* Musashi
* Michiru Saruwatari
* Akihiro Shimazu
* Kuroko Usami
* Kanetatsu Naoe
* Masaki Amakasu
* Shiro Inukai
* Kojiro Kanemaki
* Tsugumi Hattori
* Seiroku Inukawa
* Sanae Satsukigawa
* Keiji Yabunaka
* Kiyohide Teramoto
* Haruhisa Shimazu
* Shige Tanegashima
* Mamori Tanegashima
* Yamata no Orochi
* Yataro Inuda
* Naotora Takeda