Hiiro no Kakera - 02

The long awaited second episode answers few questions, but shows the deepening relationships between Tamaki and her protectors.

We learn some things about the Onikirimaru seal.  The Onikirimaru seal is protected by two other seals: the seal that is the Tamayori blood and five seals that are known as the artifacts, which are kept in locations called the Seal Grounds.  The Onikirimaru seal is weakening, causing the gods to be restless, but even more worrisome is that the seals are being disturbed somehow.  However, no one seems to know exactly what the history or seal is, and as Takuma says, they're just tools to be used Tamaki is not a fan of this mentality, and enlists their help in finding more about the history and what her role is.  In the process, they unwittingly confirm that she is definitely the Tamayori princess.

As for the questions, several popped up while watching this episode.  First is, of course, who the shadowy group of people are and what are their intentions.  At the end of the episode, it's made to seem like they are the ones who orchestrated the attack on the group to see the power of the Shugogo house.  However, it almost seems like it was Baba-sama, Tamaki's grandmother, who was behind the attack in order to draw out Tamaki's powers.  This leads me to my second question: why is Baba-sama being so secretive about the whole process.  Then there are the voices that Tamaki is hearing, both in her dreams and in the book she touched.  Lastly, there's the looming question of what exactly is the Onikirimaru seal.  I'm also very suspicious of Tamaki's teacher, Fiona.  Whenever a teacher like that shows up, they're almost always part of the antagonists.

All in all, it was a nicely balanced episode, with some funny parts in trying to name the spirit fox which shows the group's growing relationship, as well as action and mystery mixed in.  I only hope that Tamaki does get some powers; I hate the damsel in distress trope.  However, I do like the fact that Tamaki wants answers and is not satisfied with things the way they are.