An elderly dollmaker, Kyogetsu, tells her daughter-in-law Inori, who is dressed unusually and sitting completely still that she looks just like a doll. That night, Inori wonders how she didn't notice the kind of person Kyogetsu is when Kyogetsu berates her for being outside at night. Inori says that she was feeding the koi in the pond, but Kyogetsu tells her that the household has servants for tasks like that. Kyogetsu tells Inori to take a bath before bed so as not to catch a cold. Before she can, however, Kyogetsu notices that Inori has put on weight and forcibly submerges her in the pond outside to make her apologize. In the sunset world, Ai and her grandmother notice that something is up. Inori goes to her husband Yukio's room and Yukio asks her if something is wrong. Inori says that she is terrified of Kyogetsu, but Yukio says that Kyogetsu believes a bride of the Ujie family must be beautiful and that an upcoming art exhibition has her on edge. Inori agrees that Kyogetsu is one of Japan's most skilled dollmakers and says that despite Kyogetsu's cruelty, she's happy to be with Yukio. The two turn in for the night and Yukio says that if Inori is so uncomfortable with not doing anything, she can cook breakfast in the morning. The next morning, Inori does so, but finds Kyogetsu sitting with Yukio. Kyogetsu orders Inori to join them and to sit still like a doll. Inori once again tells Yukio how afraid she is, but Kyogetsu overhears and has her shut in a side room. Kyogetsu finished sculpting a doll of Inori, but says it isn't finished since Inori herself is not feeling despair yet and a doll that does not express despair is not fit for funeral garb.
In the sunset world, Ai receives a message from Inori as she expected. Inori says that she wants her life back, remembering better times at the orphanage where she grew up. Tsugumi has a vision of Inori. Meanwhile, Ai leads Inori to the sunset world. Inori is frightened at the sight of the straw doll due to it reminder her of how Kyogetsu treats her. She tells Ai about how at first sight, Kyogetsu offered to adopt her and that the other children in the orphanage pressured her to accept. Inori also says that she doesn't want to be a doll. Ai explains the deal that the straw doll represents. Hajime and Tsugumi arrive and eventually meet Inori. Tsugumi tells Inori to just run away and says that she knows when someone contacts the Hell Girl. Hajime tries to get Inori to reconsider damning Kyogetsu, but Inori says that she doesn't care about the price because she doesn't want any fallout from her actions hurting the orphanage, of which Kyogetsu is the main benefactor. Inori says that the nuns at the orphanage, who are the closest thing she has to family, can never know because Kyogetsu would stop funding the orphanage. Kyogetsu's servants find Inori and lead her back to the house while Hajime and Tsugumi debate whether Inori would be right to untie the thread. Kyogetsu once again punishes Inori. Kyogetsu then says that Inori's eyes are finally like a doll's as Ai, Ichimoku Ren and Hone Onna look on. Inori goes for the straw doll and Ai appears. Inori tells Ai that she does not want to be a doll when Yukio appears outside the door and asks who Inori is talking to. Inori unties the thread and Ai rides forth to claim Kyogetsu's soul.
In her workshop, Kyogetsu works on the head for Inori's doll when the head suddenly comes to life and asks how Kyogetsu got so old. The head, speaking with Hone Onna's voice, says that Kyogetsu envies the agelessness of dolls. Frightened and enraged, Kyogetsu grabs one of her tools and destroys the head, but also stabs her hand. Kyogetsu screams as her arm becomes a puppet's arm. A doll of Ren appears behind Kyogetsu and comments that she's headed for a messy end. Kyogetsu breaks the doll and her other arm becomes puppet-like. Wanyuudo, also in doll form, tells Kyogetsu that people aren't dolls. Kyogetsu kicks him over and her legs become puppet legs, causing her to fall over. Kyogetsu breaks out laughing and says that people are hideous compared to dolls, which she considers perfect creations and the dolls move to prop Kyogetsu up. As Kyogetsu's face becomes that of a puppet, she says that she decides whether dolls come to life or capture death, so she is their god. Ai's minions appear in human form and Ren says that their work is done. Ai comes in through the door with a bright light shining behind her and banishes Kyogetsu to Hell. On the boat to Hell, Kyogetsu says that Ai looks just like a doll. Kyogetsu wants to make a doll of Ai in a funeral shroud, but Ai tells Kyogetsu that she will only make dolls of herself and the boat is rowed through Hell's gate.
In the world of the living, Inori says that she will be a devoted wife to Yukio, but Yukio tells her that she need only be a doll. To her horror, Inori realizes that she has sold her soul for nothing. Outside, Hone Onna says that Inori is trapped in a living hell. A candle with Inori's name is lit.
This episode contains examples of:
- Admiring the Abomination: After waking up on the boat to Hell, Kyogetsu has no fear, only awe of Ai's otherworldly elegance, even calling her a "beautiful creature".Kyogetsu:: You're beautiful. You look as perfect as the finest doll. I would very much like to sculpt a doll as beautiful as you, a doll fit for the finest funeral shroud.
- Cruel Twist Ending: Kyogetsu has been sent to Hell and Inori is free to live happily with the man she loves...wait, what? He also wants her to do nothing but sit still like a doll? Oh, dear.
- Deconstruction: Of the premise of the series. Inori banishes Kyogetsu to Hell, but Yukio is just as bad. Not only has she sold her soul, but her life has not gotten any better.
- Despair Event Horizon: Inori pulls the thread during one of these. Then she has another one when Yukio shows his true colors and she realizes that she has no way out.
- Dull Eyes of Unhappiness: Invoked. Kyogetsu wants to make Inori into a doll with this feature and uses psychological torture to try to achieve that end.
- Ironic Hell: Ai describes Kyogetsu's punishment in Hell:Ai: You can make [dolls] for eternity, but not of me. They will be of yourself dying in endless repose.
- Karmic Transformation: Kyogetsu's Hell-banishment entails this. As Ai's minions appear in doll form and calls her out on the things she's done, she attacks each of them in turn. As she does so, more and more of her body transforms into that of a helpless puppet, mirroring her efforts to make Inori into a helpless doll.
- Laughing Mad: Kyogetsu begins cackling madly during her Villainous Breakdown.
- Living Doll Collector: Kyogetsu seems to be starting on this. See Mad Artist below.
- Mad Artist: To satisfy her doll obsession, Kyogetsu treated Inori abominably to push her over the Despair Event Horizon and then make a doll in her image.
- Marionette Motion: Subverted during the Hell banishment. Kyogetsu's mouth moves like a puppet's, but she can barely prop herself up.
- Puppet Permutation: Kyogetsu is briefly turned into a puppet during her Hell banishment to get the point across about how she tried to make Inori into a doll.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Wanyuudo delivers this one:Wanyuudo: Your doll obsession is your own business, but remember: people aren't dolls!
- Villainous Breakdown: Kyogetsu has one during the Hell banishment:Kyogetsu: People are worth nothing compared to my dolls! They're all shallow, depraved, ugly creatures! Dolls are perfect creations: the come to life or capture death by my hand! Their fate is chosen by me! I AM THEIR GOD!
