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This is a summary of the events in Witchblade, and Masane and Rihoko's relationship
thus far. Be aware that spoilers (up to episode 13) are present, and unmarked.
Masane and Rihoko have a beautiful relationship that is the heart of Witchblade. When
the show begins, they are on the run from the Child Welfare Division, who wish to
separate the two of them because Masane does not have a job or home, and cannot provide
the kind of home for Rihoko that they believe she should. However, they are unable to
avoid the CWD, and before long, the two are captured, and seperated. Masane is thrown in
jail, where she is attacked, and the supernatural weapon that she is in possession of,
the Witchblade, is awakened as she fights for her life. Masane easily defeats her attacker,
a robot-human hybrid known as an "Ex-Con", and escapes from custody to search for her
daughter, though she does not get far before being shot with a tranquilizer dart and
abducted. Meanwhile, Rihoko escapes from the custody of the CWD, and with the forced help
of a photographer named Tozawa, begins her own search for her mother.
The drugged Masane is taken to an underground facility run by a company called Douji, who
were in possession of the Witchblade before Masane got a hold of it, and want it back.
They explain to Masane that the Witchblade belongs to them, and that because the
Witchblade chose her as its wielder, so does she. In exchange for her help fighting the
Ex-Cons, they promise to give her enough money to live a good life with Rihoko. Masane
reluctantly accepts, and, with the help of Douji's executive in charge of the Witchblade
project, Takayama, is quickly reunited with Rihoko.
For a little while, Masane and Rihoko live happily - Rihoko cons her way into leasing an
apartment in Tozawa's complex, and she takes care of her mother, who does her best to
fight the Ex-Cons, and representatives of the National Scientific Welfare Foundation
(NSWF) who want the Witchblade for themselves. Though there are small problems along the
way, Masane and Rihoko are able to stay together and live happily, until they are once
again approached by the Child Welfare Division, who still wish to take Rihoko away from
Masane. Only, this time, it is because they have confirmation that Rihoko is not
actually Masane's biological daughter.
Masane and Rihoko again run away from the CWD, but again, Masane is racked with guilt.
She does not want Rihoko to live a life in fear, on the run, which will prevent her
from doing normal things, such as going to school. So the next time someone comes for
Rihoko - this time, Rihoko's biological mother - Masane puts on a brave face, and tells
Rihoko that she will be better off with her real mother. Rihoko is devastated, but Masane
convinces her daughter that she doesn't want her anymore, and Rihoko, wanting her mother to be
happy, agrees to live with her biological mom.
More To Come
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