OTOGI ZOSHI
Traveler, you must not look back
Wander on where the wind takes you
The steps you take will guide you on your way
Journey on into the unknown
There's a voice you cannot forget
Though it may bring you to tears
You must live with all your might
Just think of your homeland
And all your grief will vanish
Throw old notions by the wayside
Go, go, until you've slashed through the sunset
Look up toward those distant memories
Go, go, until you've smashed through the sunset
So you're here again?
I have made up my mind.
It is the Heian Period in Japan.
In order to recover the final missing Magatama, the Magatama of Fire...
...Hikaru and her companions are headed deep into Chinzei territory...
...where the Kumaso clan led by Shuten Doji have their stronghold.
ACT EIGHT RED DEMON
You can tell we're in the south.
It's still somewhat humid, even this late in the day.
Yes, it is.
Are you all right?
Yes.
Hey, what are you doing?
There's something around here that smells amazing!
Man, you thinking about food again?
It's that way!
Hey, wait up!
My homeland...
Sadamitsu!
I thought I smelled something delicious and I was right!
I picked a whole bunch of them, enough for you too!
All right, I'll have one later. Huh?
Lady Urabe.
Do you know if there are any yellow- haired soldiers among the Kumasos?
I've never heard of such a thing.
Why do you ask?
Uh, no special reason.
So is that it?
So that's the Kumaso stronghold, huh?
Let's get a closer look to make sure.
Good idea.
All we can do now is try to find out as much as we can about this fortress.
Yes, you're right.
I have never seen that kind of architecture before.
Could such a diverse culture have taken hold in this part of the country?
Look how big it is.
That means there must be a sizable force in there.
What are we gonna do?
What's this? All this light and sound?
Could it be a gunpowder shell?
What's that?
It's something that I once read about.
A ball of fire that explodes with a tremendous flash of light if thrown...
...the gunpowder shell!
I knew that this technology was invented overseas, in China...
...but I never dreamed that the Kumasos had it as well!
This is no time to be blown away. We're retreating!
Here comes another one!
Run!
Heian-Kyo Onmyo-Ryo
At this time of year, the crispness in the air following a rainfall is quite sublime.
Indeed.
Seimei, the Minister of the Right and I have taken the...
...trouble of coming here to the Onmyo-Ryo for a reason.
We feel that it's time to decide on a date...
...for the new Emperor to ascend the throne.
Indeed. When would be a good day, Seimei?
The next Tsuchinoe day would be most opportune.
Tsuchinoe?
The day that the previous Emperor collapsed?
You would have his successor mark...
...this joyous occasion on such an ill-fated day?
Yang is produced in a yin environment, that is when...
...yin and yang can achieve perfect harmony.
Layering yin over yin would do little to enhance the quality of this balance.
Is that so?
What do you think, Minister of the Right?
Hmm, let me see...
Such is the opinion of Seimei.
I don't see that we have a choice.
I suppose you're right. All right, then that's what we'll do.
With each change of the seasons, there should be one rare flower...
...among all the temporary blooms.
How fragrant are the hydrangeas...
It is just as I once read in a document from China.
They are making these by mixing saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal.
I might be able to come up with a similar device...
...if I can get ahold of those materials.
Really?
Of course, I shall need some time, but yes.
In order to get into that fortress and take back the Magatama...
...it looks like we're going to have to throw them into a state of chaos.
If it's at all possible, l'd like you to try.
Yes, my lord.
After all, this is the last Magatama.
I do not wish to see the people in the capital suffering any more than you do.
Boo!
Hey, Kintaro, you said you were born on Ashigarayama Mountain, right?
Uh-huh.
So where's your mother?
Mother? I don't have one.
Don't have one?
Where were you born, Sadamitsu?
I was born in the capital, but my father and mother are both dead.
Is the capital a cool place?
That's right, you've never been there, huh?
So is the capital a cool place or not?
Well, I guess you could say it's pretty cool.
The women are hot, and the sake's damn good.
This time of year, the hydrangeas should be in bloom too.
Hydrangeas? Can you eat those?
Flowers, they're flowers!
If push came to shove, I guess you could eat them, though.
That reminds me, when I was a kid I used to go over to Suzaku-ln...
...all the time to see the hydrangeas.
They'd be blooming all over the walls...
You never saw anything prettier.
But the priest there was scary.
If he caught you there, he'd whack you good.
Hey, pay attention, you!
Oh, hell...
Still, I guess neither one of us has a place to go home to...
What's so great about having a place to go home to?
Good question. I guess I don't know the answer...
Look, I've made one!
So this is a gunpowder shell!
I am astonished that you were actually able to make one.
It doesn't look like it'll taste any good.
It is not something to eat!
Well, then, would you show us how powerful that shell is?
Very well.
It will explode in a moment, so please take cover now.
So far we haven't heard a peep from that thing!
Perhaps there's a flaw in the connection between the fuse and the saltpeter?
You mean it's no good? Then I'll go get it for you!
No, wait! You'd better give it a few more minutes...
I just hope the kid's not planning to take a bite out of that thing!
Surely not!
Oh, no, just as I feared!
Still, I was right! That was the right design to use, wasn't it?
This is not the time to be overcome with joy!
Hey, Kintaro! Are you alive?
That tasted really bitter.
Sadamitsu, I wouldn't try it if I were you!
The bastards from the capital will only come to destroy us if we stay here.
It all comes down to whoever strikes first!
Hey, just think about it.
We've got a powerful ally.
It's the chance of a lifetime.
As long as he's on our side, we can't go wrong.
So come with me!
Looks like you're still clinging to the memories of your past.
You told me that you were happy here.
But it's clear that at this point in time, your heart is somewhere else.
Am I wrong?
I shall rule the entire world!
What do you think?
Amazing!
Well done, Urabe! That was prodigious.
Thank you very much.
So this is the power of the gunpowder shell...
Now, how can we use these gunpowder shells to our advantage?
Our strategy will be to throw the fortress into a state of chaos.
These gunpowder shells are merely the supporting cast.
The most crucial role will be played by this!
And what is that?
This cylinder represents the core of our strategy.
To prevail when vastly outnumbered...
...one must exceed the enemy's expectations.
Are those things gonna work, though?
But of course. My extensive testing will certainly bear this out.
Our attack on the fortress shall be called "Operation Scarlet Dust Storm!"
What's the matter?
It's nothing, man.
Normally, it'd be impossible to capture that fortress with just the five of us.
However, if we manage to recover the last Magatama, we will be able to save...
...the lives of countless people now suffering in the capital.
We're going to split up into two groups.
Tsuna and I will infiltrate the fortress.
I'm counting on the rest of you to divert the enemy's attention as best you can.
Hold on a minute.
Let me go with you this time.
But why?
Because I'd like a turn at playing the hero for once!
Here!
There's no stopping him. I'll be off, then.
You three! Back me up, all right?
Lord Raikou!
Lord Tsuna!
You have your own job to do!
Yes, that's right...
Let us launch our attack!
Operation Scarlet Dust Storm, begin!
Here they come...
But we shall give them measure for measure!
Out of the way, Sadamitsu!
No one's coming out to fight us. What the hell's going on?
I have no idea.
It might be a trap. Let's not let our guard down!
Unbelievable firepower!
How many troops do they have inside the fortress?
Kintaro!
Are you all right?
I'm fine! Come on, let's keep pounding them!
Kintaro...
Here comes another one!
The Magatama!
My name's Usui no Sadamitsu.
Are you Shuten Doji?
Hey, hey, what the hell is that?
Okay, so you're no gentleman!
They've stopped their attack.
What does this mean?
What could have happened? Lord Raikou!
Where can it be?
Who are you?
Can't you tell by looking at us? We're the women of the fortress!
Allow me to identify myself. I am Minamoto no Raikou.
I am a warrior from the capital. Please, do not be frightened.
We have come here to recover the Magatama of Fire.
Recover the Magatama?
A likely story!
We know you're planning to kill us all and take over these lands!
No, you're wrong!
We came here for one reason, to take back the Magatama...
...and save the suffering people in the capital.
We have no intention of killing you, none whatsoever.
What do you know...
We heard that the warriors from the capital were barbarians...
...but there are some like you, too...
Please, I need you to tell me...
What kind of place is this?
Is this not the Kumaso stronghold?
Yes, this is the Kumaso stronghold.
But we are not members of the Kumaso clan.
Even so, the Kumasos have treated outsiders like us with kindness.
It was here that I met my husband, and was blessed with my child.
As a woman, I could not be happier living here.
Hey, pretty good.
Not many people could hold their own against me, even in the capital!
What, you're waiting for me?
All right, let's do it!
So there are no Kumaso soldiers here?
The only soldier here is this girl's husband, lvan.
Ivan?
Go on, explain it to him.
Ivan is a soldier who came here from another land.
Another land?
Then that's where you got your gunpowder technology...
That's right. That is something lvan taught us.
But my husband is a modest, kind-hearted man.
Lord Shuten favored him not just for his knowledge...
...but for his personality as well.
I do believe that my husband is happy here.
But lvan is always looking towards the sea.
I suppose he wants to return to his homeland.
Not exactly pretty, the way you fight!
I see.
And where is Lord Shuten Doji now?
That's the thing, he's gotten all crazy in the head, our Lord Shuten.
We can't wait for him to go back to being his old self.
We feel so bad for lvan, having to protect the fortress alone...
Alone, you say?
Take that!
Ivan!
You're not hurt, are you?
You're safe, aren't you?
Sadamitsu!
Taisho! What's going on here?
This man's name is lvan. I was told he came here from another land.
You mean, you're married to this guy?
Yes.
Ivan only wanted to protect the place everyone will be coming home to.
Everyone?
Shuten Doji is on his way to the capital.
He has gone to burn Heian-Kyo to the ground.
Is that true?
And what about the Magatama?
Shuten Doji has taken it with him.
Let's leave this place together.
I know Lord Shuten will forgive us.
I will follow you wherever you go. Even if it's beyond the sea...
No, you're wrong there.
Your husband's homeland is here now.
It's Chinzei, because you and the baby are here.
My homeland!
I sure wish I could be in your shoes!
Having a woman who loves you so much...
I mean, I hardly ever think about my homeland...
...but I guess I'm starting to appreciate having one now.
I feel like going back to Suzaku-ln to see the hydrangeas like I used to!
Taisho! No time to be bummed right now.
Let's hurry back to the capital.
To our own homeland!
Right.
Damn that Shuten! How dare he attack the capital!
No time to lose! We're going back to the capital!
The capital is in peril.
Shuten Doji and his troops are now within striking distance of Heian-Kyo.
Hikaru and her companions race desperately back to the capital...
...now on the brink of destruction.
To be continued...
Outside the window, the rain is falling, shutting us in.
If you feel bad about today, then come pick me up.
That's what I want to say, but I can 't...
The dreams that I wished upon a star are all coming true, one by one.
Yet I just can 't seem to catch up with you.
The dreams that I wished upon a star are all coming true, so...
I want to get closer to you.
A young warrior, Minamoto no Raikou, returns to the capital with a Magatama.
Perhaps the suffering of the people of Heian-Kyo will be over soon.
That mournful and elegant melody coming from her flute...
Could it be that she's calling to me?
As soon as this battle is over for good, then I shall...
Act Nine, Darkness.
Don't miss it!