Kyoto
Department of Justice
What's the matter with you?
Oh, Oki-san.
Justice Minister
Oki Takato
You have business at the justice department today?
I brought a report regarding the execution of Kumoh Tenka.
It looks like the chaos is slowly subsiding.
Finally, huh?
Please stay on alert.
Aye, aye.
Geez, that guy is always so casual.
Who was that?
That's Hirari, from the Shiga prefectual police.
He was born with one arm
and was chosen to be in the police militia during the Satsuma Rebellion, despite his youth.
I've heard rumors about him. So that's who he is...
It seems he's always had these strange dreams.
Dreams?
A woman, who he doesn't know, appears in them.
She's as fleeting
as a bubble.
Laughing Under the Clouds
600 years ago
Omi, a landshrouded by clouds,
the grudge spells of evil spirits,
curses, exorcisms, onmyo magic and fanatics, all flourishing in the pandemonium.
Kamakura Period
It is night in old Kamakura...
Otsu
I've been looking for you.
Who are you fools? Don't you dare touch her.
Who are you?
Just stay back.
Are you all right?
Please be my wife.
Huh?
I fell in love at first sight. Please be mine.
What's wrong with him?
Oh no!
That was an important clue about the Orochi.
Thank you very much for saving Botan.
Guardian of Omi
Sasaki Kiyotsuna
I am Sasaki Kiyotsuna, of the Sasaki family, Guardian of Omi.
This is the head of the Kumoh Shrine, Kumoh Kagemitsu.
First Head of the Kumoh Family
Kumoh Kagemitsu
Get away, damn it!
I don't accept this!
I won't hand Botan over to a random stranger!
No, I haven't been handed over.
Oh? So you'll hand her over if you know who I am?
I'm Abe no Hirari, from the Abe family of onmyo mages.
That looks like an Abe sword.
I have heard of you.
Even though you are from the Abe family, you have absolutely no aptitude for onmyo magic.
Yeah, I can't do any magic at all.
I'm like the black sheep of the Abe family.
No one expects anything from me.
That's why...
If there's something I really want, I'll get it myself.
Too close! Get away! Botan will be tainted!
If you are from the Abe family, then you must have the same mission as us.
Oh, to eliminate the Orochi?
As I thought, you are also...
Honestly, I'm not interested.
But I would do anything for you.
Please do it to fulfill your duty.
If that is the case, then we welcome you.
Sasaki, sir!
It is getting late. You should spend the night here.
Botan, will you pour—?
You men can pour for each other.
Who were those people that attacked Botan?
That group worships the Orochi and wants to revive it.
Oh, that's terrible.
Well, I won't let them lay one finger on Botan, no matter what.
What made you fall for Botan?
Well, if I had to, I'd say it was her eyes.
I love those honest eyes that look at you directly, filled with pride and faith.
There are no lies in Botan's eyes.
It might just be that she hates to lose, ya know?
I'd say that too!
It's over for him.
Botan...
How do you see that man?
He doesn't seem evil, but...
It is possible that he is the vessel.
Be on your guard.
That man, the Orochi's vessel...?
Who's there?
Botan! Are you all right?
Yes, somehow.
A sneak attack from the Orochi supporters.
Not good. We're surrounded.
Where's Hirari-dono?
I can't believe that man.
He just ran out there!
There's no resistance.
Are these corpses?
Quite right.
As expected. Even the black sheep is still an Abe, huh?
Onmyo Mage
Ashiya Mangetsu
Ashiya Mangetsu...
I see, so this is your magic.
Hirari, I thought you had no interest in your duty.
I never thought the famous Ashiya family would support the Orochi.
You're an unlucky fellow.
For the sake of the Ashiya family...
Rot in hell!
This is...
Onmyo magic!
Swords are useless in this fight now.
Hirari-dono, please stay back.
Don't say that! At least, I can be your shield.
Why are you so fixated on me?
This ain't a game.
Useless guys who can't use magic should get outta here!
It's the Kumoh family's duty to be the shield.
I won't let you go.
There's no reason for me to be stopped by you.
I don't like this.
I don't want to see the woman I love getting hurt.
It seems that you misunderstand.
I was created to fulfill my duty.
I am Abe's familiar.
I am not human.
I am a demon in the service of your father.
I do not feel pain.
Love and attachment are meaningless.
You think all that nonsense will make me give up?
It's not nonsense!
Sasaki-dono, I leave that man to you.
That man makes me so mad!
Are you serious about Botan?
If I weren't, I wouldn't put my life on the line like this!
She's Abe's familiar, you know.
Familiars shouldn't be able to use Onmyo magic.
She is not a normal familiar.
She is a special familiar called out by the full force of Abe's Onmyo mages.
Botan is the only one who can seal the Orochi.
However, the chant for the sealing ritual takes time.
The Kumoh family is the shield that protects her.
There is no place for you.
Don't be absurd.
I finally found her...
I'm sure she's the one I fell in love with that time...
Don't think about living.
Swallow your tears. Throw away your optimism.
Show no mercy to yourselves, nor to others.
You were...
The first person who ever looked at me.
Although, you probably don't remember.
What happened? The enemy retreated too easily.
Have you learned your lesson yet?
Release!
Please... Don't make me worry.
Stop! This is embarrassing.
That guy...
Leave them be for now.
It is unfortunate, but love between a human and a familiar cannot be.
Once Botan fulfills her duty, she will disappear.
Even fleeting love can make you happy when you are head over heels.
What a nice view.
Omi is beautiful.
This place is said to be especially beautiful.
Sasaki-dono also loves Omi.
Because he and his family protect Omi, it is very safe.
If the skies were clear, it would be breathtaking.
It is the influence of the Orochi.
I don't want to leave behind any regrets,
but before I disappear, I'd like to see a sunny Omi.
When you disappear, I will die.
I won't let you go alone.
What are you saying? If you're in love with me, you should say,
"I won't let you disappear."
I don't want to lie to you.
I will die soon.
If I'm going to die anyway, I want to die next to you.
Hirari-dono...?
Botan, smile for me.
Then, I'll be able to smile too.
What are you...?
What are you doing?! I thought you guys were taking a long time.
But I can't believe you were here, fooling around!
Damn it shorty! We were just getting in the mood!
Huh?
What do you mean, "in the mood"?
You did that on purpose, didn't you?
Hmm? Did what?
You suspect I'm the Orochi's vessel, don't you?
How did you know?
Botan, do you suspect me too?
O-Of course she does.
I see.
That's a little sad.
Hey, where are ya going?
To wake up from this fleeting dream.
What's with him?
Hey, Sasaki, old man...
Hirari-dono?
Thanks for everything.
This is unexpected. Are you giving up on Botan?
This is a nice place. It's too comfortable.
Isn't it? I feel strongly that I want to protect this land as Guardian of Omi.
You want to protect it? Really?
Are you sure you haven't given in to your own desires?
Accusing others of being the Orochi, lying to those around you...
You know very well that I'm not the vessel.
The Orochi is inside you, isn't it?
Well, even though it's invaded so far, you still haven't lost yourself.
Ashiya's sneak attack was a diversionary tactic.
Because no one would expect the Orochi itself to be attacked.
Thanks to that, Botan and Kagemitsu trust you completely.
You would not understand the terror of having the Orochi take over your body!
What's going on?
He's the Orochi's vessel!
We were right!
Don't resist!
No! He's the Orochi!
Believe me! Botan!
Who will you believe? Me or this man?
Sasaki-dono, it's not that I doubt you...
It's just...
That man would never lie to me.
What?! What are you saying, Botan?
Master?
S... ry...
No... No way...!
I'm...sorry...
Get down!
This can't be!
Botan, can you form a barrier around this area?
I'll do it immediately!
Get a hold of yourself! The Kumoh family is the shield, isn't it?
Protect Botan!
What will you do?
"Don't think about living."
"Swallow your tears. Throw away your optimism!"
"You are..."
"bait for the Orochi!"
After I was adopted by the Abe family, that's what I was taught.
I was taught how to die as bait.
This is my fate.
The Abe family went that far?
Leave the stalling to me.
How can you still smile?
It's thanks to you.
Botan, I'm leaving the rest to you.
After I realized I was bait, I despaired at my dark future.
At that time, a woman looked at me as a person for the first time.
It's because you were there, I was able to smile in this world that didn't feel real...
Don't let that man die.
Poko!
Let's split up to confuse it!
You protect Botan!
Botan said, "Don't die!"
"Don't die"...
I've always wanted someone to tell me that.
Especially you.
I'm going to cry...
All right! Just a little more!
Don't falter, Botan.
Continue with the spell.
I won't let anything hurt you.
Don't die.
Didn't I ask you to smile for me?
I definitely won't die.
I'll never lie to you.
Sasaki Kiyotsuna!
How you have fallen!
No! It's not working! You'll be swallowed up!
Guardian of Omi,
is that all your feelings for Omi amount to?
I don't want to die... I'm scared... Just a little longer...
Just let me stay like this a little longer...
Raise your head, Guardian of Omi.
You will protect this land with your last breath!
Be proud!
I will take on your feelings.
No matter how heavy they are, I will live on with you in me.
The Orochi has stopped moving?
The chanting is complete.
I will begin the sealing ritual.
Seal!
Is it over?
Botan!
Look, Botan.
The sunny Omi you wanted see is almost here.
It's numb from the Orochi's poison. It doesn't hurt.
Thank you.
Because of you, I could seal the Orochi.
I didn't do anything.
In fact, I ended up surviving...
Good job.
The young child from that time has grown so big.
You remember me?
Of course I remember.
You haven't changed at all.
How many years do you think I've had this unrequited love?
That will end today too.
Now that I've fulfilled my duty, there is no reason for my existence...
We will not see each other again.
Botan...
Let's meet again.
Even if you let go of my hand now, I will find you without fail.
I love you.
Next time, live your life with me.
You really are an idiot, speaking of love to a familiar.
Don't think you'll catch me easily.
Yeah, that's why I want you to wait for me, Botan.
I'm waiting!
On that hot, hot summer day...
Was meeting you a dream or reality?
If that was a vision, I'll laugh it off scornfully.
Next time, by your side...
Episode 7
Fleeting Laughter
let's have a fleeting moment of laughter.
Again?
Where are you?