Ghost Slayers Ayashi is a Japanese anime series, created and written by Shō Aikawa and produced by Bones. Directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori, it featured character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto and premiered across Japan on October 7, 2006 on TBS's 6:00 pm doroku timeslot, which has previously occupied other noted anime Blood+, Fullmetal Alchemist and both series of the Gundam Seed franchise. It received its satellite television premiere across Japan on Animax on November 14, 2006, and also received its English language television premiere on Animax's English networks across Southeast Asia and South Asia, Animax Asia, from January 2009. While originally scheduled to air for 52 episodes, the series' length was shortened to 25 due to its low ratings and ended its run on March 31, 2007.
Episode 1
Torii Yōzō, the South Edo Magistrate, promises to recognize the legitimacy of the Bansha Aratamesho if Ogasawara and the others can recruit a man called Ryūdō Yukiatsu into the organization.
Episode 2
Yukiatsu helps the other Ayashi to protect Ōta from the Yōi.
Episode 3
The samurai residential quarters of Edo are under attack by the second Yōi. Meanwhile, Yuki must choose between a life with Ōta and Tae-san or a life as an ayashi.
Episode 4
The Office of Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement is investigating a series of missing persons around the circus area in Yotsuya. The South Edo Magistrate are also pursuing the same case.
Episode 5
Tamahei, the Okappiki, suspects that Yukiatsu might have murdered someone in Edo 15 years ago.
Episode 6
The serpent Yōi runs wild in Edo. Torii plans to use Atl as human sacrifice to appease the Yōi.
Episode 7
Yukiatsu tries to draw out the Ayagami from the serpent Yōi, but finds he is unable to do it. The only thing to do is to try to take the Ayagami from Shichi in order to subdue the Yōi. To change the serpent Yōi into a good spirit, Kumoshichi fuses himself with it.
Episode 8
The Office of Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement is given jurisdiction to investigate the case of missing people around the Kabuki playhouses. Saizō is adamant to investigate the case without Yukiatsu's help.
Episode 9
Saizō is possessed by the Mask Yōi and her dance is drawing all Yōi into Edo. Ogasawara orders his Ayashi to terminate Saizō.
Episode 10
After Ryūdō confronts Saizō and saves her from the Mask Yōi, Saizō manages to destroy the Yōi herself.
Episode 11
Ryūdō and Ogasawara travel along a highway outside Edo, slaying Yōi to make a safe path for an important official to travel through the area.
Episode 12
The Western Ones use the Killing Stone to summon a vast number of Yōi in the Nikkō region. Meanwhile, Ogasawara is told he must kill his old friend Kanō to prove his innocence.
Episode 13
Tamahei, the policeman, explains to Kai Shūzaburō, a young painter, about the Bansha Aratemesho. His story recaps all the previous episodes.
Episode 14
After a woman is murdered in the brothel district, Shūzaburō and Atl come under suspicion from a special branch of the police called the Arson/Thievery Investigations.
Episode 15
The Arson/Thievery Investigations continue to investigate the murders. Eventually the Office of Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement discover that the killer is a Yōi which uses human bodies as a chrysalis.
Episode 16
The government officials supporting the Office of Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement come under attack by an elusive gunman, and the ayashi investigate. Meanwhile, Abi meets a tribesman from his past.
Episode 17
Saizō and Edo Gen are help captive by the mountain tribesmen, who reveal that their true target is Torii Yozo. Meanwhile, the other ayashi investigate the tribesmen and Abi searches for his sister.
Episode 18
The attack on Torii fails. Abi continues to seek his sister, but eventually learns that she resides in the Other World and has become a demon.
Episode 19
Two people, a boy and an aging man, appear in Edo, both claiming to be called Ryūdo Yukiatsu. The ayashi investigate this and in doing so discover more about Ryūdo's past.
Episode 20
Yukiatsu must decide whether he wants to return to his family permanently. The Ryūdo family sword transforms into a giant yōi and Ryūdo fuses with Kumoshichi to defeat it.
Episode 21
The Western Ones create a new Yōi which travels to Edo and attacks a series of young girls, transforming them into heartless killers. Atl and Saizō act as bait for the Yōi but in the end it chases Edo Gen instead, and is later killed by Ryūdo.
Episode 22
The ayashi hunt down a sake-based Yōi which dwells in the water systems. Meanwhile, Atl meets a samurai who will soon be forced to commit seppuku so she tries to open a gate to the Other World which will lead him to safety.
Episode 23
The Ayashi receive a plea for help at the Inba Marsh construction site, but Atobe orders Ogasawara to not take action because Torii is supervising the construction and his failure could provoke his downfall. However, Ogasawara does not stop the other Ayashi from going there instead.
Episode 24
Atl's dissatisfaction with the Human world reaches its peak, and she summons a massive Yōi which falls under the Western Ones' control. To complicate matters, Yuki discovers that Genbatsu has joined the Western Ones.
Episode 25
To complete their master plan, the Western Ones use Atl's power to summon another gigantic Yōi deep into the Ayashi's lair, but Yuki and his companions bring forth the full power of their ayagami to stand against them.
