After the action-packed episode 15, episode 16 starts off with a new opening sequence and also a new ending sequence. Here’s a link to the opening sequence:
http://www.ninenines.net/ninesblog/index.php/anime/2008/shana-second-op2/

Since Mami Kawada performed both the opening and ending songs previously, this time it’s KOTOKO performing these two songs. Just like from season 1 when Mami Kawada did Hishoku no Sora for the first opening, and KOTOKO did Being for the second opening. And the song titles are “Blaze” for the OP and “Sociometry” for the ED. Unfortunately, they’re not as great as “Joint” or “Triangle”, but I guess it’ll grow on me. Besides that, this new opening is crazy. It reveals so much. It looks like Yoshida and Shana are entangled even more in personal pains. Yuji gets himself a weapon (the Blutsauger from season 1 to be exact) and he looks like he’s kicking ass. Shana is up against the usual Bal Masque guys, and they even show her fighting Sabrac too. Looks like this season’s going to have an epic finish.

Anyway, back to the story. So it’s the disassembly of the school festival and with the disappearance of Konoe, so does everyone’s memory of Konoe as well (except for the main characters who aren’t affected by the Fuzetsu). Shana sees it as part of the way things are, but Yoshida is somewhat disturbed by it. At Bal Masque, Hecate returns the bracelet that Konoe was wearing back to Bel-Peol. Turns out, that bracelet was actually part of her chain. They report back that they were unable to destroy Yuji to liberate the Reiji Maigo. Bel-Peol isn’t too worried. She’s confident they can kill Yuji at any time. The mad scientist agrees, claiming he can collect more data this way. Hecate charges up the armored creature and it starts to come to life.

Finally, that Konoe character is gone. Annoying as hell. Anyway, the episodes are starting to wear thin. It’s going to be 24 or 26 total episodes, and they’re barely scraping the surface of what’s going on with Bal Masque and Sabrac. Let’s get on with it. Too bad this episode is what I consider an “aftermath” episode.

Back at the campus, Sato tells everyone that Margery wants to examine Yuji some more. Noticing the uncomfortable look on Yoshida, he tells her that she doesn’t have to go. This leads to a flashback showing Pheles giving Yoshida a cross-like memento. The same one she was clutching towards the end of episode 15. Turns out, this item is a Hougu that Pheles believes suits Yoshida well. This Hougu, when used, will summon Pheles, but at the expense of the user’s power of existence. Therefore, if Yoshida summons Pheles, it will be at the expense of her life and also everyone’s memory of her as well.

This explains further how Yoshida has that item with her, what it does, and why she had such a strong reaction to the concept of disappearing from everyone’s memories. I doubt she’ll use this though, but she should. It would be good storytelling.

After being examined by Margery Daw at Sato’s place, she discovers that Hecate placed a seal on the Reiji Maigo. The seal is apparently acting like a transmitter. She further explains that Pheles inadvertently summoned the Silver when she was trying to call out Johan, which Bal Masque did not appreciate. She goes on to explain that Johan even managed to restructure the residuals of Margery’s spells on Yuji to materialize himself from Yuji. And in conclusion, she reasons that Bal Masque is still after the Reiji Maigo. The transmitter may be a way to track down the Reiji Maigo after Yuji is destroyed. Alastor throws in that the town of Misaki seems to be a place that attracts Tomogaras and Flame Hazes. Whatever that means.

I guess Alastor’s idea of the city attracting goodies and baddies together is a precursor to an epic battle in the city in the episodes to come. I wouldn’t mind seeing an all out war similar to the Claymore series, if and only if the animation quality stays top notch. Kinda like the new intro where Shana is going after Sabrac. Now that’s good animation quality.

The next day, Yuji’s father is leaving again. He and his wife head off to the airport. As they leave, Shana tells Yuji that Wilhelmina has a task for him. They abandon Yoshida who is currently with them. Ogata meets up with Yoshida as she’s still contemplating her role in the world of Crimson Lords and Tomogaras and whether or not to use the Hougu to summon Pheles if ever came down to it. At Shana’s place, Wilhelmina tells Yuji to help sort out the reports sent in by Flame Hazes. At this time, Yuji asks Shana to borrow the Blutsauger, the sword used by the brother of the incestual siblings back in season 1. Alastor agrees. Elsewhere, Bal Masque continues to experiment on the apparent Silver armored being.

That evening, Yoshida decides to toss the Hougu, but she is stopped by a Fuzetsu that Shana casts. She sees Yuji swinging the Blutsauger around and Shana teaching him how to wield the sword. With all the training he’s had with Shana, he doesn’t have too much trouble with the sword. Yoshida at that moment decides she wants to be where Yuji is, and as Pheles points out, if she wants to be part of the group, she will have to use that Hougu.

Yuji still looks like a pansy, but he’s actually able to wield the sword. I remember in the first season, Sato and Tanaka had no chance in hell of even holding it up in the air. Yuji is actually swinging it. And judging from the opening sequence, he’s going to be quite agile with it. Must be all that training. And next episode looks boring.