Zakuro!
Be careful, Zakuro!
Persimmon branches are delicate!
I know!
Besides...
Persimmon trees are...
You know?
Persimmon trees are...
Uh...
Got it!
Susukihotaru?
Wait...
Where did you go?
Zakuro... Zakuro...
Zakuro... Zakuro... Zakuro...
You mustn't carelessly climb persimmon trees.
Zakuro.
Persimmon trees are...
...connected to the underworld.
Crimson Brilliance
Mother...
Cow milk again...
Once you've gotten used to it, it's not so bad.
Right?
Yes.
It's absolutely delicious.
Right...
But a little salt might make it more palatable.
Ah! I can't do this!
Are you finished?
I've lost my appetite!
Zakuro,
please accept this.
Huh?
I wasn't sure if you had any preferences,
so I went with something without any pigment.
Huh?!
Ah! But I heard you are half fox spirit and half human, so...
I thought you liked to eat candles.
Are you out of your mind?!
Stop looking down on us!
Seriously!
I'm about to pop a vein!
Zakuro?
I am a full-blooded fox spirit,
and I have never eaten a candle.
Huh?
But that's what it said in the books...
Er... Were the books wrong?
You did some research?
Yes.
After what happened a few days ago,
I realized that I know absolutely nothing about spirits.
I couldn't let spirits scare me forever.
I needed to understand Zakuro, so I could help out, as her partner.
That's why I did some research into spirits.
And you came up with the candle idea?
No wonder she was mad!
What? Why-
Don't worry, big guy.
It was a valiant effort.
Agemaki!
Agemaki's so nice!
Th-Thank you...
Good boy. Good boy.
Good boy.
Well, well.
He's frozen stiff!
What's wrong, big guy?
So Agemaki didn't mean any harm by that.
I didn't know you were such a flirt.
You looked pretty happy with that Riken fellow.
Don't say that...
What's wrong?
The persimmons have all fallen...
Did you have that dream again?
Zakuro!
Susukihotaru!
Kushimatsu is calling for you!
Some humans have requested that we conduct an inquiry into a certain spirit.
You've heard about the new train station?
They plan to build a large hotel nearby.
Hotel?
It's the Western term for board and lodging.
Ah...
But a spirit has been appearing in the area.
It appears to be harmless, but everyone is scared.
They'd like for us to look into the matter.
In that case, we simply need to speak with the spirit in question.
Hey.
That should suffice.
I'm counting on you.
Yes, ma'am!
Yes, ma'am...
Ooh!
Busy place!
Look over there!
It's a train!
My, it's so big and black!
Westernization is such a joke...
Jesuit posers everywhere I look.
Oh! Look over there, Zakuro.
There's the train station...
Well, I believe that our hotel will
be the first of its kind in Japan, indeed...
We've imported these large, ornate pillars from Paris as supports.
We've also incorporated a number of ideas that aren't found in Japanese architecture.
The amount of incurred travel expenses was nothing to sneeze at...
Thus, we would like you to exterminate this spirit.
Exterminate the spirit?
We had heard that it's harmless.
Oh? It's caused a great deal of harm.
Our workers are so scared, they can't do their jobs.
But it hasn't done anything wrong, yes?
I'm sure that we can talk this through-
Talk this through?
Is that even necessary when dealing with spirits?
Oh, I wasn't referring to you young ladies, of course...
Hey now!
Ah! Zakuro, restrain yourself!
Well, you're free to dispose of the spirit as you deem appropriate.
I trust that you can handle this matter.
That guy really pisses me off!
Well, since this is a mission, we don't really have a choice.
Then let's split up and get to it!
Off we go, Sir Ganryu.
Come now.
Hold on a second!
Hurry up.
I'm not finished with my preparations!
Shall we go?
Yes!
I guess we should also...
Zakuro?!
We'll be acting separately.
You can't be serious!
Don't leave me alone!
What if I run into a spirit, and...
I'm sure that you'll find it scarier with me.
After all, I love to eat...
candles!
Zakuro...
Don't worry.
I'll stick with you.
Let's get to it, big guy.
What's wrong?
There's a disturbance in the ley lines.
That's strange.
This area should be...
Thank you very much.
U-Um...
It's a mystery.
Huh?
You were able to fight so well with such delicate hands...
That's because Zakuro was there.
Zakuro?
Yes.
Before Kushimatsu brought us here, we lived in different regions.
Back then, I didn't have the power to fight.
But once I met Zakuro...
Once I spent time with Zakuro...
I was able to realize the spiritual power I possessed.
It was the same way for Bonbori and Hozuki.
Zakuro means the world to us.
Look, Sir Ganryu!
Acrobatics!
My, that's not fair.
Wait for me!
Could you please cut that out, Bonbori?
We don't have time to play around!
He can tell?
It might have been coincidence.
Uh, what's wrong?
Sir Ganryu!
What are you doing, Hozuki?
Sir Ganryu.
Bonbori?
Marvelous!
You're so right!
Uh, what are you talking about?
Sir Ganryu, now-
That's...
Sir Ganryu!
Yes!
Zakuro?
Zakuro!
You're such a scaredy-cat, big guy.
Put your back into it.
Your back...
Please refrain from touching me in weird places!
Mamezo...
What's up?
"What's up"?
Shouldn't that be obvious?
This is...
Huh?
Uh...
Man, I'm flattered...
Never dreamed that you would throw
yourself on me in a passionate embrace...
Whoa!
Er...
S-Sorry!
Agemaki!
What is this spirit?
Ah!
It's getting away!
After it!
Zakuro...
Calm yourself.
We aren't here to fight.
We've come to talk with you.
I see...
It appears I have no choice.
What is this?
That spirit seems frightened.
A monster that large is frightened?
That can't be so.
Mamezo!
Gotcha!
There you go!
Will a smack to a head with no topknot
yield a hollow sound or the yelp of a Western dog?
Now, don't forget to pay for the show as you leave.
Prepare to be bewitched.
Hey!
Ah, wait!
Am I a flower?
A butterfly? An ogre?
Stop, Zakuro!
Misery in the world.
Is violence the answer?
Dash of rouge turns to
blade in hand.
Zakuro, what are you...
Do praise my efforts.
Hey!
Bravo, bravo, bravo!
Now, Sir Ganryu.
Come this way.
Huh? What?!
Zakuro!
Let's go!
Just what is the meaning of this?
Hey, give me that thing.
Huh? What thing?
The thing from this morning!
This morning?
Oh!
You mean this?
Mamezo.
Gotcha!
Huh?
Don't be scared.
I'll return the darkness soon, I promise.
What is that shadow?
The smaller shadow is his true form.
What?
He cannot show himself without darkness.
The light reveals his true, meek form.
Come here.
I see now.
What is going on?
I believe that there used to be a small shrine in this vicinity...
A shrine?
Now that you mention it, there was something like that.
Was that your home?
He lost his home.
So he tried to chase the humans away by scaring them.
Westernization has changed this area.
It's bright as day, even in the dead of night.
The darkness...
The spirits' dwellings are vanishing.
Humans feared spirits,
but they also respected them.
Until now...
That's why we could coexist.
I understand that Westernization has its benefits.
But if something important is sacrificed in the process-
Don't be ridiculous!
I don't need Spirit Affairs lecturing me.
You're siding with the monsters?
I should have expected as much from mere spirits!
It was a mistake to ask for your help!
What's that?!
Hey, now!
You shouldn't say that after requesting that we conduct an inquiry.
No!
I requested an extermination!
Now, how are you going to clean up this mess?
Spirits really are just...
Shh, they might curse you.
Ugh.
I wish all those spirits were gone.
That's right.
So terrifying...
Hey, now!
Cease that immediately!
What is all this commotion?
Lieutenant Hanadate!
I see.
I understand the situation.
We will restore the shrine.
Lieutenant Hanadate...
You can't be serious!
We've gone to great expense...
The army will share responsibility with Spirit Affairs.
As compensation, we will provide a piece of military land.
Naturally, we will reimburse any construction costs that have been incurred.
Huh?
Do you find that satisfactory?
Yes, absolutely!
That would be a welcome alternative to this accursed land.
Lieutenant Hanadate...
Are you sure you should decide something so important on your own?
Yes. It's absolutely vital that we do this.
In order to build a future with the spirits...
Young half-spirit lady.
I believe your name is Zakuro?
Uh, yes.
Thank you.
Westernization certainly is important,
but we can't forget the other important things.
You were the one who helped me
to remember that,
Zakuro.
Lieutenant Hanadate saved us just now.
He's wonderful...
Huh?
Oh, is that so?
This Lieutenant Hanadate sounds very competent.
Yes, he sounds like a trustworthy human,
judging from what Zakuro and the others have told me.
Lord Amaryoju, feel free to use your nose.
There are humans who are willing to compromise.
I feel that I should follow suit.
I'm sure that there are better methods than changing how you drink tea.
That's so, isn't it?
Oh.
Susukihotaru was kind enough to tell me
that this was one of your favorites.
But that's just as foreign as cow milk.
Ah! I mean, uh...
I always thought that humans were completely worthless,
but I guess there are exceptions.
You mean Lieutenant Hanadate?
Say...
Why are you willing to fight for us worthless humans?
Because this is where I belong.
Huh?
Honestly, there are all kinds of humans.
Worthless ones...
Wonderful ones like Hanadate...
And wusses like you...
Zakuro?!
Hozuki, big news!
Whisper, whisper.
What?
Zakuro and Agemaki all alone?
Next time:
Tragic Past.
Should we... prepare to be bewitched?
Oh, Bonbori, you're so shameless!
Tragic Past
See you next episode!!