Episode 07

You Can't Survive Underwater (のではきられない) is the seventh episode of the Orient anime series.

Synopsis
Musashi and Kojiro are out to obtain the Kitetsu Blades they'll need to fight oni, but a mysterious ritual involving the mystical swords might prove to be an unexpected hurdle.

Summary
At the merchant market, Musashi gets excited seeing all the Bushi. Tsugumi explains that they are using Kitetsu sen as currency and Kitetsu Blades are main attraction and are usually saved for last day. While they eat, a Bushi asks them from which band they are, but Kojiro says they haven't decided a name yet, causing the Bushi to laugh. Tsugumi asks them why they wish to hunt oni and Musashi states it's their dream and want to have the best band. Tsugumi can't understand the idea of being the best, but tells them they need to decide who will be the captain in order to know who orders they should follow. Musashi states it must be Kojiro, since he himself doesn't even have a family name. Kojiro wonders if this is really okay and he expected Musashi to want it, but Musashi says he is fine as long as they have their dream.

The Kitetsu Blades auction starts and 25 swords from Ryuzoji Band are shown. Musashi wonders how he can choose one among them. A woman tells him, its the one you fall in love with the first glance, introducing herself as Mitsuru Osafune, the head of Ryuzoji Band. Looking at her, Musashi gets attracted to her, annoying Tsugumi as he previously didn't react to her at all. Musashi says he never picked a Kitetsu Blade before, and Mitsuru states its important rite similar to as coming of age. Everyone then stands in front of the sword they want. Musashi chooses Enma's Oodachi, a sword that Tsugumi finds looking plain, but Mitsuru comments to herself that he has a good eye. Kojiro is indecisive and in the end choses a sword no one wanted, Vorpal Cherry Blossoms, as it reminds him of himself, making Mitsuru to comment he chose well too.

As they wonder what to do, Mitsuru tells them to pick the swords. Musashi picks his, and then an aura surrounds him. Mitsuru then explains to Kojiro that Musashi and the rest are going through the sword's trial, and the auction is a ritual where the sword chooses its master. Kojiro then picks his sword, his pulse quickens, and feels like something is coursing through his body. His life then flashes before his eyes and after overcoming it, the sword lights up with wings of glowing stone erupting from the user's body. As Kojiro passes the trial, Tsugumi congratulates him. Kojiro states he feels like the sword is now part of his body. Kojiro notices others passing too, but having different glowing colors around them. Mitsuru states its the color of their souls, and the minerals in the katana shine to match the color of the soul. There are five colors and depending on the color you can use different powers. Kojiro's color is blue, which is quite ordinary color, but they want to have at least one red in their band.

Musashi still goes through the trial. He finds himself in dark space and then sees his village and the final moments of Jisai Kanemaki, who tells him something, but he couldn't hear him. Moments later, a woman appears in front of him, but he can't hear her. She then hugs him and Musashi finds her warm. The woman then turns larger and muscular and grabs Musashi's arms, stating she doesn't need him. Black spikes then come out of Musashi's body as he gets surrounded by dark aura, and then fails the trial. Mitsuru have never seen a trial like this, but had heard legends. Musashi then tries with other swords, but ends up failing with them as well. Mitsuru tells him he can't use Kitetsu Blade, and whose with burnt-out color are rejected by all Kitetsu Blades. Musashi states he will train, but Mitsuru states you cannot change the color of your soul and he should give up being a Bushi.

Musashi wonders what is to be a Bushi. He recalls other Bushi telling him that while he can't hunt oni, he can still be useful in the castle. Kojiro and Tsugumi come and hearing that Kojiro had passed it, Musashi is happy about it. A Kishin then appears and sends his lesser oni from the sky. Musashi then gets scared, realizing its because he now knows he can't do anything against them. An oni attacks him, but Kojiro protects him, using his new Kitetsu Blade. Kojiro then proceeds and kills an oni, saving a mother and child, who thanks him. Kojiro then realizes its thanks to the sword, that he can now save people and who would be grateful. The bull oni are defeated and Mitsuru and the rest celebrate and congratulate Kojiro for his first fight. Looking at them, Musashi realizes that wanted to hunt oni, so that he can be with Kojiro. The Bushi then head towards the Kishin and Tsugumi suggests they go to. They realize Musashi can't come and go without him.

Musashi wonders on what to do in order to fight and recalls he actually used a Kitetsu Sword earlier. Shiro then appears and states he saw his trial from earlier and his trouble with the black lighting aura. Shiro then reveals he has black aura too, saying they have things in common and that Musashi belongs with them.

Trivia

 * The chibi extra at the end of the episode adapts the Bonus Chapter from Vol. 04, Tsugumi's Report.