Why...
I don't understand.
So...
So why does it hurt so much?
Zakuro...
My dear Zakuro...
Mother...
Hollow Touch
Mother...
Mother.
I've missed you so much...
I've longed...
Longed to...
These are...
Mother's memories.
The Village of Oracles...
The place where half-spirits are born.
Why can't we go there?
And why is Zakuro there?!
Kushimatsu!
Those who command fox spirits and wield godlike powers...
Those are the Oracles.
Once, in the Village of Oracles,
I served Zakuro's mother, Lady Tsukuhane.
Lady Tsukuhane was a maiden of rare power.
The Village Chief desired that power, and took her as his bride.
However, once an heir, Lord Omodaka, was born,
she was confined deep in the mountains, away from the village.
I come here every night,
but you have yet to produce a second child.
I'm very sorry...
Please wait!
U-U-Um...
How is Omodaka doing?
That is none of your concern.
I know you're there, Kushimatsu.
How cruel.
There is no need for you to...
It's fine.
I am the most powerful maiden in the village.
To be bestowed upon the Village Chief...
For the sake of producing an heir.
That is all...
Lady Tsukuhane...
But...
I wish I could see Omodaka...
Experience the soft sensation of holding him in my arms...
Once more.
On occasion, Lady Tsukuhane would leave her hideaway
and ascend the nearby hill.
There, she could see the Village Chief's home,
where Lord Omodaka resided.
Omodaka...
Omodaka.
Huh?
What?
No way! Wait!
Ow...
This is a surprise.
I've never heard of a girl falling out, when you cut down a tree.
You must be a monkey of a tomboy, to climb such a tall tree.
What was that?
How rude!
Given your dress, I took you for some kind of heavenly creature.
But having heard you speak, I was clearly mistaken.
This is nothing my power...
Ah, um, nothing I can't handle!
What's wrong?
N-Nothing.
I don't recognize you.
Where are you from?
Ah...
Um...
Will I see you again?
Huh?
I'm Enaga.
And you?
Tsukuhane...
My name is Tsukuhane.
Where are you going?
I-I'm sorry!
U-Um...
I borrowed something.
So I'm going to return it!
Nothing more!
Lady Tsukuhane's encounter with Enaga
was like a breath of fresh air,
after a life lived in bondage.
What's this?
I've never washed anything before...
Even so, this is bad.
The one who marries you will have a hard time.
Yes...
Well, I wouldn't mind a bride who doesn't know what she's doing.
With Enaga's help,
Lady Tsukuhane was introduced to a whole new world.
Sorry for making you help.
It's the harvest season right now.
Don't apologize.
I'm having lots of fun.
Sayuki!
Where are you?!
Sayuki...
Hey!
Let me go!
Calm down!
What's wrong with him?
Oh, his pregnant wife was spirited away.
Tsukuhane!
The humans believe that girls who are
spirited away give birth to half-spirits.
In reality, the Village of Oracles was displaying its power,
through a periodic fox spirit ritual.
Release me!
I am...
Why are you here?
I know she's here!
The girl who was kidnapped from the human village!
I beg you!
Please...
Please return her! Her loved ones are-
You intend to side with those inferior humans?
It is foolish to feel pity for ones disgraced!
Father?
That's enough!
Go back inside, Omodaka.
Omodaka?
Are you there?
Omodaka?
Omodaka?!
Omodaka!
Take her away.
Please wait!
Let me see Omodaka!
Omodaka!
Let me see your face!
Let me hear your voice!
Omodaka! Omodaka!
Omodaka!
What's wrong with you today?
"Heavenly creature"...
Hmm?
You mentioned it when we first met.
What did you mean?
Oh, it's a fairy tale.
A man was entranced by this beautiful woman
who came from the sky, the heavens.
So he stole her raiment and hid it.
The woman, no longer able to return to heaven, became his wife.
But she still ended up returning in the end...
Humans are fools.
You're wrong!
Humans aren't fools!
Humans are wonderful!
Humans look so happy when they smile...
So gentle when they pat children on the head.
They live every day to the fullest.
Humans are wonderful.
We are the real monsters.
We are the disgraced.
We?
Enaga?
What are you...
No...
There are so many things I haven't told you...
I'm...
Tell me everything.
Enaga accepted Lady Tsukuhane,
and Lady Tsukuhane gave herself to Enaga.
And then...
Lady Tsukuhane, how are you feeling?
Good... I'm feeling better this morning.
Lady Tsukuhane?
Are you sure about this?
Yes.
If I stay here, he will...
Besides...
Let's go!
Tsukuhane!
I finally found you!
We're finally together.
Why did you disappear, Tsukuhane?
Enaga...
I said that you could tell me everything!
That I would accept everything about you!
Let's find somewhere far away to live.
With your son, Omodaka...
Enaga...
Lady Tsukuhane!
Enaga...
Enaga!
It's fine...
What?
This is what happens to humans who fall in love
with heavenly beings...
No...
You're wrong!
I never knew what it meant to fall in love
until I met you...
Tsukuhane...
And I'm carrying...
I'm carrying your child!
I see...
That's wonderful...
Enaga!
How you've fallen.
What a disgrace.
I'm...
Don't talk to me!
You'll get your stench on me.
Isn't that right, Omodaka?
Omodaka...
You have no right to use my name.
He's the one who told me...
That you were meeting with this human.
Of your disgrace.
O-Omoda...
I said to stop using my name.
A disgrace like you could never be my mother.
The fox spirit ritual...
Performed to transform their child
into a half-spirit.
The child was born?
Yes, sir.
Give it the same treatment as the other half-spirits.
I will ensure that it lives in humiliation.
Yes, sir!
Chief!
The lake...
White lotuses!
Th-This is...
This energy...
Does it belong to the newborn baby?
Tsukuhane!
After her!
Capture her and bring them back!
Tsukuhane...
And her baby!
I'm sorry, Kushimatsu.
I've forced you to betray the village...
You shouldn't worry about me.
More importantly...
Yes...
Her power is tremendous!
If we leave her there, the village will attempt to use her.
Omodaka.
Mother...
Yes.
I betrayed your mother.
And I killed her.
Your mother looks the same as she did in life.
The resemblance is strong...
Lord Omodaka...
What do you think?
Your eyes...
What?
Right now, your eyes resemble Zakuro's eyes,
when she was speaking of her friends from Spirit Affairs.
You will serve as the maiden at the wedding ceremony.
B-But should a mere half-spirit be given such an important role...
Will you defy the Chief?
No, sir.
Good.
As the Village of Oracles searched for Lady Tsukuhane,
fox spirit rituals were performed, to create more half-spirits
with power like Zakuro had.
Many women were sacrificed...
That can't be!
But none of the half-spirits were like Zakuro.
These newborn half-spirits were considered failures,
and treated like tools.
Unforgivable...
That's wrong!
You are familiar with the jade pendant that Zakuro wears?
Yes, she said it was from her mother.
It serves as a seal on Zakuro's power.
That pendant...
The years passed,
and Lord Omodaka became Chief of the Village of Oracles.
Lord Omodaka was far stronger than the previous chief,
and Zakuro's power had grown to the point
where the pendant could no longer restrain it.
So it became increasingly difficult to hide from the Village of Oracles.
Lady Tsukuhane chose to return to the Village of Oracles...
In return for Zakuro's freedom.
And Lord Omodaka agreed.
But we didn't know when he would betray us.
My fear of the Village of Oracles sensing Zakuro's power
drove me to move around constantly.
Taking into custody half-spirit children hiding in human villages...
You girls...
It was Lady Tsukuhane's request.
Her way of atoning?
However, Zakuro's power continued to increase.
You girls were affected by her power.
That was when I met Lord Amaryoju.
Now, girls!
He suggested that I stop running, trying to disguise their power.
And that I should, instead, teach them pride in their abilities.
Thanks to Lord Amaryoju, we were given positions at Spirit Affairs.
But that may have been a mistake.
Lord Amaryoju...
It's the reason Zakuro is now...
But it was also
the reason we could meet and fight together!
There's no point in regretting what has already passed.
For now, we must take back Zakuro.
That should be our priority!
However, to reach the Village of Oracles, you must cross the barrier.
Barrier?
A talisman, containing the magic of the Oracles.
That is the only link between the Village of Oracles and the human world.
Magic...
This is...
It was left behind by the Black Widow.
We can make it.
If we take this and ask Lords A and Um...
Kushimatsu, you cannot go.
A fox spirit, against a village where fox spirits are tamed...
You stand no chance.
But...
I swear...
No...
We swear to save Zakuro!
Kushimatsu!
Have faith in us.
You all...
These kids are much more reliable than you think.
Isn't that right?
I'm counting on you.
It's not fair.
Sister gets all the glory!
If they gave me a chance, I could do even better.
Exactly, Daidai.
L-Lady Rangui!
Don't worry.
Lady Rangui?
M-My sister isn't...
I don't care about Byakuroku.
I'm here for you.
M-Me?
You're here for me?
Hurry!
Before the sun rises!
Zakuro...
You've always been the one who protected me.
But now, it's my turn to save you!
And then...
Whatever your response may be,
I must tell you how...
I may be a wuss who puts on airs and is generally unreliable.
Always depending on you to protect me.
Nevertheless, I want to be by your side!
That's why...
Next time: Looming Crisis.
Agemaki Kei!
Looming Crisis
Prepare to be bewitched!
See you next episode!!