Here!
Have a cookie!
Th-Thanks...
There's lots more.
Lots more...
Yep! Eat lots and lots!
Everyone!
I've brought a little snack.
Oh, these are sweet buns from Tsurumaru's!
Lord Amaryoju asked me to buy some while I was out.
I'll go get everyone!
Everyone!
The two of you have grown really close.
It's snack time!
Yes.
I must thank Zakuro.
After all, she makes the other spirits look tame by comparison.
Was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?
Honestly...
He's just a wuss!
Doesn't he understand?
I forgot to grab the sweet buns...
Who's that?
Oh.
She's looking for the blond.
Zakuro, sorry about...
Tae!
Young master!
Wha-
Young master,
I've missed you so...
Eh?
Ah...
A Feline Home
It's so quiet.
Is it true?
A woman threw herself on Agemaki?
Yes, I saw it with my own eyes.
My...
Yes, Zakuro was noticeably...
Huh? What?
Nothing.
Uh...
Have you calmed down now?
Yes.
Please forgive me.
It's been so long since I've seen you,
I couldn't contain myself...
Ah.
An old flame?
You're one smooth operator...
Wait!
It's not like that.
Uh...
Mitsuogi.
M-Mitsuogi.
Why is this happening?
This is Tae. She works in the Agemaki household.
Charmed, I'm sure.
Uh...
She works with me for Spirit Affairs as my...
assistant!
Oh?
So what brings you here today?
Well...
The master sent me...
My father?
Yes.
You never come home when he asks for you,
so he ordered me to go in person and bring you back.
Zakuro, come here.
What?
Come on.
So? What do you want,
young master Kei?
Uh...
Zakuro!
That's Assistant Zakuro to you.
Sorry!
I'm begging you!
Please accompany me to my home!
Huh?
Why me?
Well...
I'm begging you!
Ramune Confeito Sugar Candy Shaved Ice Confeito Sugar Candy Bamboo Leaf Candy Golden Sweet Potato Confeito Sugar Candy Water Candy
Stamp this.
Eh?
You owe me one for each time you insult me.
And you owe me two more if you want me going to your home.
Thank you.
This is business.
You don't need to thank me.
Ah...
Uh...
In that case,
if I were to throw in another...
Huh?
While you're at my home, would you be willing to hide your ears...
Maybe?
Huh?!
I'm really in pain from binding my ears.
Sorry.
I'll stamp another ticket.
Confeito Sugar Candy
Bamboo Leaf Candy
Ah, bamboo leaf candy, too?
The deal was for one.
I didn't realize it would hurt so much.
Um, young master?
Is it really necessary to go to such extremes?
That is...
To bring your assistant along?
Yes. More or less.
And Tae, could you keep this a secret?
If you insist...
Thank you, Tae.
It's nothing.
What is this?
A Jesuit castle?
Welcome home, young master.
Welcome home.
I'm back, everyone.
We've been waiting for you.
Yes, I see you've been doing well.
My dear brother!
Kumiko!
Kumiko, this is Zakuro.
Hello, mysterious lady.
Hello...
Come in.
This is a guest room.
Make yourself at home.
The whole place stinks of Jesuits.
I knew you'd say that.
What's wrong?
I'm getting a headache from binding my ears...
Huh? Sorry!
Want to loosen them for a bit?
Uh-huh, I'll do it...
Excuse me.
Um...
Ah...
It's Tae...
Beloved brother!
Wh-What is it, Kumiko?
Let's play!
O-Okay!
Let's go outside!
What is it?
Did you need something?
Um...
What is your relationship with young master Kei?
Relationship?
Oh, I'm his assistant-
That's not what I mean!
Huh?
You seem rather intimate with young master Kei...
Well...
A-Are you going out?
Huh?!
Of course not!
Of course!
She's starting to irritate me...
Say, what's so special about that guy?
He's just a wuss who keeps putting on airs.
Besides-
Don't say such things!
The young master treats us servants with kindness and respect!
You wouldn't know,
but he's a very kind person!
Sorry for making you wait alone.
Wh-Why...
I know!
Huh? Know what?
I don't know!
Huh?
You know? You don't know?
Hey...
Can I ask you something?
Why did you bring me here?
Does it have to do with the fact that there's a spirit in this house?
Why did you bring me here?
Does it have to do with the fact that there's a spirit in this house?
Huh? It's still around?!
Still?
Wh-Where?
Hey!
It's impossible!
I haven't seen it since...
Since what?
Since Itsue disappeared!
Itsue?
Huh?
Young master.
Dinner has been prepared.
The master, madame, and Miss Kumiko are all present.
Oh, I'll be right there.
We will be waiting for you.
Why are you sighing?
Zakuro, I have something I need to tell you.
Please forgive me!
Huh?
I find it splendid that young ladies,
such as yourself, are assisting in the punishment of those spirits!
Women will play a larger role in our new, westernized society.
Work hard as Kei's assistant!
Yes, I will do my best
as his assistant.
She's a very talented assistant...
Is that so?
Western Clothing
That's splendid!
Western Food
Hates Spirits
When I heard about the new Ministry of Spirit Affairs,
I see...
I knew my son would be perfect for the job!
So what am I supposed to do with these?
Well, when a man of powerful position, such as myself, makes a request,
Just do as I do.
These are peculiar chopsticks.
Here, like this.
it generally resolves itself very quickly.
And so, Kei was sent to Spirit Affairs.
I can eat this with my hands?
I don't like the fact that he's working with spirits,
but if Kei and the rest of you can rein them in,
then it's for the best.
However, those spirits have been growing intolerable lately.
It was a mistake to let those spirits run wild for so long!
The empire is undergoing a period of westernization!
But those old-fashioned monsters are...
While we're here,
you should tell Zakuro some of your war stories.
That's right.
Tell her the one you're so proud of.
Oh, that's right!
An excellent idea!
It was twenty years ago.
Back then, I was a young lad who
was ready to charge fearlessly into the face of danger.
Ah, to be young again...
I asked someone to prepare a peach in secret.
It's nice and cold.
That Tae girl?
Huh?
Uh-huh.
Did you tell her that you were sharing this with me?
She's probably crying right now.
Huh? What do you mean?
A secret.
Delicious...
That goopy brown stuff...
It was beef stew.
It upset my stomach.
What kind of flowers grow here?
It smells wonderful.
Thank you for putting up with everything.
So...
Have I fulfilled my duty as your assistant, young master?
Th-That was so I'd have an easier time introducing you to my father.
So, I mean...
To make up for it, I'll stamp more tickets...
I'll do the rest of them.
My father is very prejudiced, isn't he?
Uh-huh.
Is he the reason you're so scared of spirits?
That may be one of the reasons.
But I was a coward to begin with.
You're not even trying to hide it anymore.
You said there's a spirit in this house, right?
It's probably the spirit I saw when I was young.
My father, being who he is,
yelled at me for being scared of a spirit.
I returned to my room in tears,
only to find that my pet cat, Itsue, had disappeared.
I couldn't find Itsue anywhere.
I thought that the spirit had taken her.
So I begged as earnestly as I could.
I promised to apologize for anything I'd done wrong.
To give up any of my other treasures in return.
So don't take Itsue away from me...
Again and again...
On my knees, I begged.
But Itsue never returned.
The combination of my father yelling at me and Itsue disappearing
led to my fear of spirits, I guess.
But if the spirit is still around, I...
Ow!
You're such an idiot.
Eh?
Itsue! Itsue!
Zakuro, I just explained that Itsue is...
Itsue!
Zakuro!
She's here.
Right here.
Itsue's been in this house the entire time.
What are you talking about?
Huh?
Show him.
This spirit!
Zakuro!
You still don't recognize her?
This is Itsue.
Huh?
When a cat is loved, it becomes a cat demon.
When you were young, she appeared before you
because she wanted to thank you for being kind to her.
This is...
Itsue?
It's Itsue.
It's Itsue's voice.
Itsue...
Sorry for being scared.
Forgive me...
Ah.
Itsue? Itsue?
Don't worry.
She returned to her normal form.
She can't stay transformed very long.
She's next to your feet right now.
Where?
It's useless.
Humans can't see her in her normal form.
Though there seem to be exceptions...
Itsue's here, even if you can't see her.
She'll always be in this house.
Thank you.
Thank you, Zakuro.
Hey, why don't we wait inside, while they prepare the carriage?
Well...
I'm trying to avoid my father...
Hmm...
Anyway, I still don't know why you brought me here.
Well, you've seen how my father is...
I can't deal with him.
You can't deal with him?
That's it?!
What? You're one sorry wuss!
And...
I wanted you to understand how my father is.
I knew that you might be disappointed,
but I didn't want to hide it from you.
Because you're my cherished partner.
Wha...
Young master! Young master!
Tae.
You're leaving so soon?
I'll come back from time to time.
Promise.
Zakuro.
Kei must have forced you into this.
I'm very sorry.
Oh, not at all...
But Kei seems to enjoy himself when he's with you.
It's been a long time since I've seen him relax.
I must thank you.
Please take good care of Kei.
And forgive my husband for being so discourteous.
Huh?
Your family is really something.
Hmm?
You mean my father?
No.
Huh?
I'm not telling you!
But...
I'm glad that I came.
Good for you, Itsue.
What?
Susukihotaru and Agemaki will be all alone next week?
It will be crazy!
Nosebleed crazy!
Nosebleed crazy?
Nosebleed crazy!
Next time:
Fickle Rain
Prepare to be bewitched!