Hell Girl

Season 3: Three Vessels

Episode 26: The Path Left by a Soul

Akie's father Takasugi was the one who summoned Yuzuki. He wants to send Azusa to hell because she took away Akie's life, the joy of his own life. Yuzuki was eagerly awaiting for Takasugi to pull the string, but Takasugi backed out, saying Azusa would go to hell after she dies anyway. Angered by this, Yuzuki pays no heed to Wanyudo's warning and decides to send Azusa to hell herself. Ai Enma appears to stop Yuzuki from violating the laws of underworld, but Yuzuki attacks her in a fit of rage by her new-found powers. The Lord of Hell then steps in taking the form of a spider. He decides to send Yuzuki to hell for breaking the rules, but Ai and her companions intervene just in time to save Yuzuki. When Yuzuki asks why Takasugi refused to pull the string, Ai shows her the truth: Takasugi saw Azusa taking care of her paralyzed father, who would have no one in the world to rely upon and die if he sent Azusa to hell. Seeing this, Yuzuki breaks down into tears as she realizes that Azusa's life mirrors that of her own, when no one offered any help and she alone had to look after her ill mother. The Lord of Hell reappears and says that in return for saving Yuzuki, Ai will have to be the Hell Girl forever. With Ai's second kiss she transfers her memories to Yuzuki, whose soul is finally freed. As the credits roll, Ai returns in her sailor uniform, sending people to hell again, showing that the cycle of hatred still has not been resolved. After the credits, Azusa meets Tsujinobashi's son at the airport and stabs him with a knife before she suddenly disappears. The people at the airport scream in horror and flee as they witness the murder of Tsujinobashi's son. It turns out that Takasugi's servant Haruko sent Azusa to Hell for Akie's sake.