Why?
Why, Bizan?!
Ashura still sleeps.
We must wait a little for the occasion of her waking.
What?
Izumo?
You're awake?
What a relief! Shame on you far worrying us!
Right!
I'll get your stand-in ready, or else there'll be no show tonight.
I'll leave you young people to do what's best.
You’re no use to me dead. Or to my play.
What?!
Ow!
Keep still!
You're bleeding again!
That's fine.
At least that blood won't rush to my head.
Don't be silly!
I'm sorry I got you hurt.
Don't worry.
Te me...
...what am I?
Am I...
...a demon?
Don't let them fool you.
'M scared!
I can't bear it!
Tsubaki...
Inside me...
...it's not me.
Something's...
...something's hidden...
It makes me think...
...I shouldn't have tried to remember.
Don't worry. I feel the same way.
A long time ago, I saw a side of myself that terrified me.
I was a demon!
If you're one...
...so am I.
Izumo...
Sorry, Izumo.
But Nanboku Tsuruya IV can only write what he sees.
Like the demon nun asked... I gave you a bed for the night.
So what's the story you're going to show me now?
We're on fire!
The mark...
Izumo!
Tsubaki!
Izumo!
Tsubaki!
As the red, hot blood...
...flows from your body...
...mine drinks it in!
Where am I?
Izumo...
I killed a girl here.
Five years ago...
...as Lieutenant of the Demon Wardens, I spent my days killing demons.
'Izumo the Demon Slayer', they called me, and I was proud of t.
Then one day...
Those eyes said it: I was the demon.
They were right.
The demons cowered before me.
I was...
...Izumo the Demon Slayer...
...but suddenly I was terrified.
That child’s eyes frightened me more than could stand.
Was no match.
I couldn't fight her.
Izumo...
The next second, a voce echoed in my head...
'Kill me. '
Kill me.
Kill me...
... if you can.
'Kill me...
'... if you can. '
Kill me...
...if you can.
Because if you don't...
'Because if you don't... '
Kill me.
Now.
Now!
Quickly!
That was...
That girl...
...her eyes...
They were...
Your eyes!
That was...
...me?
No! How could it be?
She couldn't have changed that much in just five years!
Hey!
I'm burning!
Tsubaki!
Izumo!
What's happening to me?!
I don't want to be a demon!
Tsubaki!
Don't worry. It'll be all right!
We're together.
I'll never eave you alone!
Izumo!
Tsubaki!
Tsubaki...
Tsubaki!
I hate you...
...Squire Izumo.
If I am to turn demon...
...then that s my fate.
Fate?!
Don't be stupid!
I've taken your case... all of it!
This a happened because I fell in love with you.
Tsubaki...
Tsubaki!
No!
Tsubaki! Tsubaki!
Your part is done.
Now if you profane our sight any longer...
...you will deal with me.
My 'part'?
Bizan! What have you done to Tsubaki?!
You still don't understand?
We have done nothing. It was you.
What?!
The child you cut down five years ago was indeed Tsubaki.
Ashura is barn into this world in the form of a child...
...who does not age, does not die...
...who only waits to meet the one who will kill her.
What brings Ashura's rebirth is a surge of emotion.
In rage and fear at her murder, she transforms into a young woman.
And when that woman...
...falls n love, she becomes a demon.
That is Ashura!
The stronger the man...
...and the greater his passion...
...the stronger Ashura becomes.
Izumo! Your very strength has brought disaster!
What?!
Tsubaki!
That is her woman's name Now she is Ashura!
You shut up! I'm talking to Tsubaki!
Tsubaki!
What's gong on?!
Answer me!
Ashura, my queen! Have you awoken?
So this is Ashura?
Jaku... this is no time for you to speak.
You have done well.
So I was only your attack dog?
I won't just walk away!
Squire Jaku...
...can you kill that man?
Stop his breath for me here and now...
...and you may enter my castle.
Izumo! The love of your life is a demon...
...to her last drop of blood.
Quite the love story!
Jaku!
Don't make me madder than I am.
What'll you do, wounded like that? You can barely stand.
Right now I'm in no mood to show mercy for old times' sake.
You will die.
You mean...
...it wasn't for real before?
I was simply...
...being kind.
Then you shall rue that kindness in Hell!
Did you see, Ashura?!
With one stroke, I am human no more!
I am a demon who slays demons!
You can become Ashura, but you can't cut the thread that binds us!
If my love for you has made me a demon...
...then this body, humanity, demons...
...and you, Squire Izumo...
...I now curse.
Humans and demons, may you al fall into Hel!
I hate you...
...Squire Izumo.
You hate me?
And you curse Squire Izuma?
Fine! If I have won Ashura's love, then my allure is real.
What more could a man ask?
But if you have become a demon, I will not stand idly by!
Will you cut me down again?
Certainly those wounds...
...are not enough to kill you.
Were my head to fly from my shoulders...
...I would not lie still!
Great!
Fascinating!
Pease pardon those indignities.
They were all meant to waken you from your deep sleep.
Are you still alive?
Bizan, why did you join with this man?
I sought a powerful man...
...to make you all the stronger.
At first I thought it would be Jaku...
...but one more powerful appeared. I was too hasty.
Jaku was only a pitiful worm.
Was that it?
Was that why you joined with me?
Jaku!
For a worm, you are tough.
Yes, I am a worm.
But no ordinary worm!
You don't kill me that easily.
Ashura!
Give me...
...your strength!
Jaku...
...what is it you seek?
Izumo.
I will...
...kill him.
My queen!
Squire Jaku...
...receive new life from the dark power.
What caprice is this?
That man...
...is sure to come to me.
My queen...
...do your thoughts yet dwell on him?
Ridiculous!
Ashura's rebirth...
...will not be complete while that man still breathes.
So you have revived Jaku...
...to kill Izumo?
Tell the demons and the ogres...
...lurking in Edo's dark...
...Ashura is awake.
Set fires. Burn it all!
Let fire rage a thousand years!
O castle risen upside-down! Ashura's castle!
Come with me and we will proclaim the Ream of Darkness!
Demons!
Demons! Demons!
Goodness me!
Master! It's horrible!
Edo's full of demons!
Oh, dear!
Well!
Things are getting interesting!
Let's just get out of here.
It'd really help the story if you were eaten by demons...
He means it.
Magotaro...
Oh, sir!
You get yourself eaten!
See ya!
Master...
Izumo... take me with you.
Could live a thousand years and not see this demon story again.
Want to witness the whole thing.
'The rushing torrent...
'... breaks on the rack, and becomes two streams.
'We think we must part, but soon I know we will meet again. '
The public will love this!
Let's go!
This is between me and her.
I see...
Welcome, Izumo Wakuraba.
It is easy to cross to the demon castle, but hard...
...to return.
What does that matter? I have no intention of returning.
Then I'll write...
...the whole story!
Izumo!
Your name will live forever!
Not now, damn it!
Out of the way!
The lights of Edo make great stars!
This is strange!
Where are you?!
Izumo Wakuraba...
No man who dares set foot in Ashura's castle of demons...
...can expect to eave it alive
Izumo... consider this castle your grave
I'm afraid not. A Demon Slayer has no grave...
...in this world, or any other!
Wait!
You? Man, you're tough!
As long as you're alive, I'll never die.
One side, Jaku!
I don't have time for you right now!
Not this time!
You've gotten better.
You won't kill me the way I am now!
Sorry. I can't let you kill me here.
I've got a lady waiting.
Izuma...
...you win.
Finish it.
Right through the heart.
Put me at peace!
I will.
Rise to Buddha.
Say your prayers!
Sucker!
Bizan!
You seem to have forgotten how obsessed Jaku is with you.
Let go of me!
I hate to be alone. I just can't face dying by myself.
I hate to ask, but will you come with me?
Come, Bizan! Run us both through!
You're enjoying this, aren't you. You're a pain in the neck!
That's it!
That's the face I wanted to see!
Izumo! The power of Ashura is in my blood!
No mere man can ever break my grip!
This is the final curse of Jaku!
Do your worst Bizan! Run us through!
Bizan...
What?!
Sorry couldn't go with you, Jaku.
What the hell.
It was just demon life.
My queen! Why?!
Bizan...
...you labor under a delusion.
You brought Jaku back to accompany me into death?
Jaku...
Destruction is salvation?
To be saved, the demons must be destroyed?
Is that the way of Ashura?
My queen...
...though we leave our bodies the love for you within us...
...will last forever!
I will await you in Hell.
Sorry I'm late.
Not at all.
'Tsubaki'...
Nothing of her remains in me.
Then what did you mean by stopping Bizan?
If it meant anything at all...
...it meant a means to hate you all the more.
You hate me that much?
Enough to kill you.
Perfect!
We're alone at last!
I'll enjoy this tryst to the full.
Heaven's flames burn man's city.
This blood rages hotter than those flames.
Will you now quench...
...its seething?
With pleasure.
I'll use all the skill I have to send you...
...out of this word.
Brave words!
Yes... your sword cuts well.
But that will not suffice to cool the burning within me.
What I want, Squire Izumo, is your soul.
You fight well, Ashura.
I knew you would.
But Izumo the Demon Slayer...
...would not wish you to be disappointed in him.
I hope you mean that.
What da you say now?!
You left your mark when you transformed.
If by that mark you are Ashura...
...then I am a demon, too!
Your shoulder and my palm...
The opposites of our fate bind us fast!
That's right. Your hairpin!
You sad you wanted my soul...
Will you accept this...
...'Tsubaki'?
Izuma...
This time...
...will you take me all the way?
I promise.
'Promise'?
I will run you through...
...with al the love there is between us!
'The rushing torrent... '
'Breaks on the rock. '
'And becomes two streams. '
'We think we must part, but soon...
'... I know we will meet again. '
Funny, isn't it.
The last time we did this, you were holding the hairpin...
...at my throat.
Izumo...
What?
Your blood...
...was delicious.
Demon!
Tsubaki!
Ashura: 'Your blood... was delicious. '
This world, the next, or that of the demons...
Each is its own paradise.
Be my eyes.
Everything you’ve seen I'll write into plays.
All right, Emishi?
Ashura sinks her teeth into Izumo's neck.
Like petals from a flower, the castle may be fallen...
...but their love is eternal.
'The Sad Tale of Ashura'
Izumo Wakuraba Somegoro Ichikawa
Tsubaki Rie Miyazawa
Bizan Kanako Higuchi
Nanboku Tsuruya IV Fumiyo Kohinata
Kunnar Takashi Naito
Jaku Atsuro Watabe
Directed by Yojiro Takita
© ASHURA Film Partners
Subtitles Ian MacDougall
Ripped by: SkyFury