I have met countless patients and carried out countless operations.
Every one of those patients sinks into my memories as a single page of a medical chart.
However, from time to time...
Is that you, Pinoko? You snuck a cellphone into my bag again?
What's wrong?!
Doctor.
Help me.
Pinoko?!
Lady Yurie!
Pinoko!
Visited Memories
BlueFixer Subs Presents
Black Jack
Utagau hodo ni shinjiru mae ni sono mae ni As much as you doubt it, before you believe it, even before that...
Ushinau hodo ni motomeru mae ni sayonara wo As much as you would lose it, before you seek it, bid it farewell.
Kono mama zutto egao wo mitsumete itai dake sa I just want to see you smile like this forever.
Kioku to iu ryouude ni kimi wo daite Holding you in these arms called memories.
Tabidachi wa ima shikkoku no toki We set out now, when it is darkest.
Haruka no yami no mukou ni To go to a place beyond the darkness.
Mada kyou wa naku mashite kinou ni wa tooku We're not there yet today but it was even more distant yesterday.
Darkest time just before the sunrise. Darkest time just before the sunrise.
Hito ni namae wo tazuneraretara tabibito to When people ask your name, call yourself a traveler.
Tatta sore dake kotaete hoshii sore dake wo That's all I want you to answer. Just that.
Yukue mo tsugezu wakare no kotoba mo nokosanaide Tell no one where you're going and leave no farewells.
Dokoka he kiete shimatta dake no hito to Be someone who simply wandered off somewhere and disappeared.
Samishiku wa nai shitteiru kara saigo wa itsumo hitori to It's not lonely because, you know, in the end you're always alone.
Dakara kokoro wo tojite koko ni tadoritsuku So close your heart and reach this place.
Darkest time just before the sunrise. Darkest time just before the sunrise.
Tabidachi wa ima shikkoku no toki We set out now, when it is darkest.
Haruka no yami no mukou ni To go to a place beyond the darkness.
Samishiku wa nai shitteiru kara saigo wa itsumo hitori to It's not lonely because, you know, in the end you're always alone.
Tabidachi wa ima shikkoku no toki We set out now, when it is darkest.
Haruka no yami no mukou ni To go to a place beyond the darkness.
Even after carrying out an examination at a hospital with all the newest equipment, I couldn't find any abnormality in Pinoko's body.
At 16:45 Pinoko's condition settled.
She fell asleep as though nothing had happened.
However, even if the test showed no abnormalities, the spasms that attacked Pinoko's body were real.
Those spasms closely resembled those of a patient suffering a heart attack.
Doctor! Your patient is...!
I keep telling you there's nothing wrong with me!
Call my Doctor! Doctor!!
I'm hungry...
Saionji General Hospital
This is...!
Honestly! I was so hungry!
Though, if it means you'll treat me to a dinner like this then maybe getting sick once in a while isn't so bad.
Is there really nothing wrong with you now?
Suddenly my heart started beating really fast, but I'm perfectly fine now!
Who are you?
Is someone there...?
Sister...
You are...!
Why...?
Sister...
Wait!
Takao...
Yes... Lady Yurie...
The dance...
Huh?
Takao... Bring the flute!
I'm going to practice!
I will practice the dance!
L-Lady Yurie...!
This is pointless... No one can cure me.
8:05, Pinoko was struck by another unexplained spasm attack.
Doctor...
Work hard...
You have work... I'll make you some coffee...
This is a sedative. It will help you settle down.
I have to discover the cause of these spasms.
This was the fifth attack. The symptoms were all the same.
And, no matter how much I analyzed the results of her examination, I couldn't find a single medical irregularity anywhere.
Pinoko... What on Earth is happening inside your body?
That's right, the night I first met Pinoko... it was a cold rainy night like this.
It has been ten years since then.
Could you keep it down?
I have a patient sleeping.
I've called you over and over.
There... There's a patient only you can save, Doctor!
Go away.
I can't take any jobs at the moment.
Doctor, you're the only one! The only one who can save Lady Yurie!
Just like you saved her from that teratoid cystoma ten years ago!
They won't go away! The tumors won't go away!
We cut them off again and again but more tumors keep developing all over her body!
Please! I'm begging you, help us!
I must return to Lady Yurie's side.
Doctor, we will be waiting for you.
Teratoid cystoma?
She was a patient I would never be able to forget.
Medical Chart #427...
Please... Throw it away.
Three days later, I took Pinoko and went to see that patient.
I hadn't accepted this job simply because I had been moved by Takao's words.
The medical charts Takao brought with him showed the precise times of a series of spasms.
And... There was one fact there that I had to pay attention to.
However, what gave me the final push was...
Pinoko, what's the matter?
Please... Save her...
Huh?
My big sister... Please, save her...
When Pinoko said that to me.
It says West... Garden.. Temple... There and there too.
Why are they all West Garden Temple?
It's read "Saionji."
This is the area where the Saionji style began.
Saionji...
Having one hundred thousand members nationally, they are the largest school of dance in the country.
Further, they are also the center of the Saionji Group which owns banks, hospitals and businesses.
They are said to hold great power in both the financial and political worlds.
This hotel district is called Saionji Village.
Things are quiet here now.
But when the Shikinensai Festival comes around it's overflowing with people and quite lively.
That is the main hall and dormatory of the Saionji School of Dance.
This area we're in is already Saionji land.
Dr. Black Jack...
I'm so glad. I'm so glad you've come.
Wow, you're a cutie. I'm Pinoko.
May I see the patient?
Also, could you take care of this girl while I perform the examination?
What?!
I do believe you promised.
First, listen to everything the doctor tells me!
Second, don't go wandering off on my own!
Third, don't meet the patient!
That's what it was.
All right then, take Pinoko to the parlour.
Understood.
Looking at her medical chart the patient should have been in no condition to leave the hospital.
Yes...
She is in here.
Welcome, and thank you for coming, Dr. Black Jack.
I am the head of the main branch of the Saionji family, Saionji Yurie.
Ah! I'm so bored!
Just for a little while...
I don't know what Takao has told you, but I have one condition before you take this job.
I have no intention of asking you to save my life.
In two months, there is the Shikinensai Festival.
You need only make it so that I can dance there.
Lady Yurie!
I desire nothing further.
Will you take this job, Dr. Black Jack?
One hundred million.
My price will be one hundred million yen.
You should be able to handle that.
Very well.
Then I will ask you to handle this.
Now then, Takao.
Yes?
It's time. Get ready.
Oh, wow! What a huge mansion!
Huh?
Sister...
Fly. Become the white heron.
Fly.
Pinoko!
Doctor!
Is she always doing that sort of practice?
Yes.
Looking at the patient's condition, you should know that that's downright suicidal.
This is all so that she can dance The Ascent of the White Heron.
At the Shikinensai Festival which is run by the Saionji Family...
Said to bring peace to the world, It is an important ceremony carried out once every ten years inviting many important people.
For the rite danced by the Saionji family head there...
So that she can dance The Ascent of the White Heron.
Everything is in preparation for that day.
And what are you going to do if she can't dance?
Not yet...
The White Heron can't fly yet.
Dr. Black Jack, you need only make it so that I can dance.
So that I can dance The Ascent of the White Heron...
I've prepared a room for you, Doctor.
I'm sorry, but could I get a ride back to the village?
I'll look for an inn there.
It looks like I wasn't wrong in what I was thinking.
It's clear that Saionji Yurie and Pinoko's spasms are occuring at the same time.
The time from onset to cessation.
The common values in heart rate and blood pressure.
Medically, it's a ridiculous theory but...
Now, I am certain.
Why? Because these two were once the same person!
Yes, it was a night with heavy rain like this.
To be precise, it was my first encounter with both Yurie and Pinoko.
There's nothing else we can do but rely on you, Dr. Black Jack.
Even if you are unlicensed.
I've heard you are highly skilled.
Countless doctors have run away from me, unable to do anything.
What about you, Doctor?
Can you remove the object inside me.
As long as you have the money.
Then it's a promise.
Please, remove this awful cyst.
Teratoid cystoma.
Sometimes, what should have been born as twins is instead born with only part of one fetus imbedded in the body of the other.
But, in the case of this patient's cyst all of the organs necessary for a human were present.
Further, this cyst possessed a power which had kept many doctors away.
What?!
Don't cut me!
Don't cut me!!
Suddenly, some sort of power began to violently resist me.
Don't cut me!
I see, you don't want me to cut you.
Is that it? Is that right?
If you have the will to live...
I will keep you alive!
The operation was a success.
Was it?
Do you want to meet the one I cut out of you who should have been your little sister?
Please, throw it away.
As midnight approached, the rain turned to snow.
I pulled out the parts stored in bio-fluid and connected them one by one.
And so, a new life was born.
Leaving Pinoko at the inn, I departed to examine Saionji Yurie.
On the grounds, there was already an operating room with the latest equipment.
Also, though it was limited, a research room had been prepared as well.
To think I would meet you again...
If you find anything lacking, please contact me.
I work at the hospital so ask me for anything.
Analyzing the patient's data, after operating to remove a malignant tumour a new one appeared elsewhere three days later.
Many world famous doctors have operated on her.
It happened even though the operations had been carried out nearly perfectly.
It was analyzed from an oncological and immunological perspective.
Though many different approaches were tried no hint as to the cause could be found.
Look! You got killed!
Even now, new tumours are developing at an alarming rate.
What is going on inside this patient's body?
I must discover that as soon as possible.
What's the matter? Are you not feeling well?
Bored! Bored! Bored! That's what I am!
Have you forgotten our promise?
But! But! You're always out working so late!
There's nothing for Pinoko to do!
We're like a husband and wife who've gotten tired of each other!
Want to go for a walk once you're finished eating?
Yeah! Let's do that!
I thought this might happen so I borrowed a car from the old man at the inn.
So he told me... Oh, turn to the right here!
So, there's a stone path in the woods, and...
If you follow it all the way...
This place seems kind of...
I wonder why.
It feels so... familiar...
I-It's a ghost! Ahh!
How rude!
I'm no ghost! I'm Matsunojou the oyama!
You're gay?
An oyama!
It's a male actor who plays female roles!
You two sightseers?
Hate to tell you this but since the ceremony is getting close visitors aren't allowed.
Uh oh!
It's good to see worshipers come out on such a cold day.
Would you like to come in for a cup of sweet sake?
The gentleman gathering vegetables who is now hiding behind you is welcome to come in as well.
This White Heron Temple has had strong ties with the Saionji family since long ago.
You saw the dance stage out on the lake.
That is where the head of the Saionji School of Dance will dance during the upcoming ceremony.
Please, look at this.
There is a legend that a heavenly maiden who had taken the form of a white heron descended on this land.
That's right! The heavenly maiden got together with a human and twins were born, but...!
They say one of the twins was slain by humans and she was unable to return to the heavens.
To bring together the heavenly maiden and the soul of her dead baby and return them to heaven!
That is the ceremony, The Rite of the Ascent of the White Heron.
But there's another story here, you see...
Due to the curse of the dead child, should twins be born to the Saionji family one will never grow up.
Hey!
Wow! You were that preist's son, Matsunojou?!
That's right! He practically disinherited me when I ran away from the temple.
My luck ran out when I decided to become an actor...
I went around around never gathering much attention.
Oh, there it is. Right there.
Snack Matsunojou
Now, I've come back to my hometown and am working as a mama at a snack bar.
Thanks for the ride.
If you feel like it drop by some time.
Snack Matsunojou
I'll give you lots of free service!
See you later!
Saionji twins...
They say the family head is sick.
Yeah, the rumors say it's pretty bad.
Okay, that's it.
Now let's have the receivers go first.
Then the new head will be Lady Midori.
Yes, she is an incredible dancer and Yurie's equal.
And Midori's father is Lord Tachibana.
It seems he's scheming various things in the background.
Oh, my...
Pardon me.
Were you unable to eat again?
How was today's practice?
Lady Midori carried out things without a hitch.
I see...
Then it's about time.
Lady Yurie...!
I'll wear the chrysanthemum kimono.
Ready my ceremonial kimono.
Lady Midori has been handling so much lately.
You must be so proud of her, Lord Tachibana.
Sorry to keep you waiting. Let us begin the meeting now.
The subject of today's discussion is...
Hold on a moment.
Before we begin the meeting I have something I wish to ask of the family head.
It may be rude of me to say this, but your health does not seem to be well of late.
I hear rumours of you letting a strange doctor into the mansion to treat you.
Can you dance The Ritual Ascent of the White Heron in that state, I wonder?
How can you say that?! Your reckless remarks offend the family head!
No, I will say it.
As you know, the Saionji School recieves special treatment from the government for performing The Ascent of the White Heron.
That is how we've gathered many supporters in the financial and political worlds.
If the ritual were to be canceled the Saionji family would lose its influence!
Then what do you want us to do, Tachibana?
Now, now. Thinking about that is our responsibility as directors.
I understand.
To prepare for the worst case scenario, I will hand down The Ascent of the White Heron to Midori.
You'll pass that dance which is only handed down from parent to child to my Midori?
B-But, its a tradition that The Ascent of the White Heron must be preformed by the Saionji family head!
I realize that.
Should the time come that I am unable to dance The Ascent of the White Heron, I will step down as family head.
Call Midori here.
I will begin her training now.
Midori, I will now hand down The Ascent of the White Heron to you.
I will show you the dance now.
Burn this scene into your memory.
Yes, I will humbly watch.
Takao, play the flute.
Yes Ma'am.
This is the dance, The Ascent of the White Heron
Devote yourself to it.
So, she only meant to show us her strength...
Why must you push yourself so hard?
You don't understand.
The Ascent of the White Heron...
I...
Are you there?
Yes, I'm right here.
Right here. I am here.
Stay there. Always stay with me.
You haven't eaten in days.
I've given you a calorie transfusion but the drop in physical strength is harsh.
At this rate, not only will you not be able to dance, you'll die of malnutrition.
Is your position as family head worth more than your life?
Will I...
Will I be able to dance The Ascent of the White Heron?
Well?! Dr. Black Jack?! Answer me!
I have to return the White Heron to the heavens! I promised!
It will set us free from the curse of the twins!
Certainly, the family head's dancing was impressive.
However, Midori, you too bear the blood of a Saionji.
You will definitely dance The Ascent of the White Heron.
Go ahead.
This is the Saionji family tree which has been recorded back as far as the Heian Period.
This is...!
The legend of the twins I told you before?
I'm pretty sure I've heard there's some old documents on it in the shrine, but...
Well... Until the ceremony is over you won't be able to get into the temple.
You can't win me over with freedom!
Oh! My heart is dangerous!
Everything is always so tedious and boring!
Well, I do owe you one.
It's a wonder that I'm still alive!
I was practically disinherited when I ran away from this place so I'd rather not run into my dad, you know?
Still, sometimes I come out here to do things like gather vegetables to serve in the shop.
It's this way.
That right there. That's the main shrine.
But can we get in?
You see, there's a way we can sneak in.
You damn fool!
D-Dad?!
You're incorrigible!
I see, so you are Lady Yurie's doctor?
Go ahead, please, enter.
This is the main shrine where the ceremony will take place.
If this will be of help to Lady Yurie...
Could this be the document you are looking for?
It is an old document on the ancestors of the Saionji family.
You should understand its link to the legend of the White Heron.
The Saionji family's history begins with a princess born of noble blood.
That princess was caught up in a struggle between warriors.
She was chased from the capital and fled to this distant land to save her life.
She arrived at this temple far from civilization.
The divine maiden who descended from the heavens in the form of a white heron.
Surely, that represents one of high status who came from the capital.
With time, she was joined with one of her companions and became pregnant.
However, she was unfortunately found by her pursuers and her companion was slain.
The princess was spared the death penalty due to her high stature, but...
To prevent any later problems it was ordered that her child be slain on birth.
However, fortunately or unfortunately, the princess gave birth to twins...
In those days, the birth of twins was rare.
She was granted the mercy of being allowed to keep one child if she offered up the other.
The princess was faced with the cruel choice of deciding which baby was to die.
The princess chose a child.
However, that choice came in the form of casting herself into the lake along with her child.
The surviving child became the ancestor of the Saionji family.
Ever since, whenever twins are born to the Saionji family, one is always taken away to the heavens within five years.
They came to believe in the curse of the twins.
The ceremony, The Ascent of the White Heron, is a prayer rite to break the curse of the twins for the Saionji family.
Doctor!
A curse?
Twins carrying the destiny that only one could live.
The destiny that the Saionji family can not escape.
I've no interest in curses, but...
Rarely, there are families where twins are born often.
The Saionji family is one of them.
And, without exception, one of the twins always dies within a few years.
Yurie and Pinoko were originally meant to born as twins.
But what if Pinoko was able to escape from that fate by being born as a teratoid cystoma?
That's right, there has to be a reason.
A reason why only one of the twins dies.
And that should give me some clue on how to treat the patient.
Takao, play the flute.
Y-Yes Ma'am!
Yurie's condition worsens by the day.
And, even the practice which she would never skip...
Lady Yurie!
...was rendered impossible by her condition.
Pinoko, it doesn't look like I'll be making it back tonight either.
Right, right. Nothing to worry about.
I'm working at Matsunojou's place as a hostess again tonight.
Doctor, you just keep working hard...
Pinoko?!
Oh no! Pinoko! Pinoko?!
Pinoko!
Save my big sister...
At the lake...
At the lake?
I am fine...
I can still...
Dance...
Pinoko?!
-Pinoko! Pinoko hang in there! -Yes, we have an emergency case!
My promise with you...
To make the White Heron fly...
I will return it to heaven!
If I do, then surely we will be...
Dr. Black Jack.
I made a promise.
To that girl. To that other girl inside of me.
I was always all alone.
Until I met that girl.
Don't cry.
Who're you?
Don't cry.
Who are you?
I am me.
Me?
Yes, me.
I went because that girl was with me.
When the White Heron flies the curse will be broken?
Yes! I'm sure it will be broken!
Then fly. Sister, become the White Heron and fly.
Yes, fly! I will fly!
But, time would not wait forever...
The cyst continued to grow.
One day, I...
We can't stay together like this.
In the legend, the princess cast herself into this lake along with her baby.
Come on, tell me. What should I do?
I want to stay with you forever.
Give me an answer! Please!
Let the White Heron fly. Return it to heaven.
It's a promise.
Good bye, Sister.
I had that girl cut off so that I could dance The Ascent of the White Heron.
Please... Throw it away.
She was my irreplaceable little sister. But, I...
She's alive.
What?
That girl is alive.
She's alive?
She doesn't remember you.
However, she asked me to save you.
So you need to survive as well!
Live and fulfil your promise!
You and Yurie weren't in the manor so I thought, maybe...!
Doctor, is Lady Yurie alright?!
She has severe cyanosis. I can't feel a pulse either.
Doctor, somehow, save Lady Yurie...
Save Lady Yurie, please!
Saturation is over 80%.
Due to ventricular fibrillation we cannot take her blood pressure.
Unfortunately, we can only watch for now.
I'm going to operate!
S-Say what?!
With her like this, it's impossible!
After removing all eight tumors I will carry out a transplant.
Further, taking the patient's condition into consideration I will complete the procedure within 60 minutes.
That's ridiculous! This is a major operation that would normally take six hours!
There's no way the patient's body will hold up!
Besides, what are you planning to transplant?
The operation begins in 15 minutes!
Hurry up!
I will be head surgeon!
It was a certainly dangerous gamble.
Yurie's strength had already declined to the point it was unsafe to operate.
Even so, it was certain that if the tumors were not removed immediately Yurie's life would be extinguished.
And, at that moment, Pinoko's life would end as well.
Scissors.
Forceps.
The curse of the twins. I had formulated a theory about it.
The chimera phenomenon unique to twins.
It occurs when the twins' systems are mixed together across the mother's placenta and a special substance is created.
I theorized that substance had become special antibodies in Yurie's body and her body was attacking itself.
Had Yurie and Pinoko been born as twins...
The special antibodies would likely have killed Yurie at a young age.
All tumors have been removed.
How is the time?
32 minutes have passed.
Okay, we will now carry out the transplantation.
R-Right!
H-He's so fast! I can't believe it!
However, in Yurie's body there was the teratoid cystoma known as Pinoko.
Most likely those special antibodies were only compatible with Pinoko.
In other words, the teratoid cystoma was protecting Yurie from the antibodies' attack.
In that case, there is only one way to save Yurie.
That is to put a piece of Pinoko's body back inside Yurie.
The procedure is complete.
The time was 59 minutes and 42 seconds.
Her vitals have stabilized.
How wonderful! Truly, Lady Yurie is the only one who could dance The Ascent of the White Heron!
Dr. Black Jack.
What you said that night... Was it true?
Is that girl... really alive?
Yes.
Where? Where is she?!
What would you do if you found out?
I would...!
This isn't like you!
This isn't like you.
You two live in separate worlds now. That isn't going to change.
Doctor!
Where'd the doctor go...?
Wait...!
Are you...?
I'm Pinoko! The doctor's wife and super nurse!
Oh, you must be the Doctor's patient.
I'm glad you got better.
If anything else happens, just call the doctor!
Good bye, Sister.
Doctor!
I got a message from Matsunojou!
The procession is lined with tons of lanterns! There's so many people walking!
Take a look, see, isn't it amazing?!
Kaeritsuita machi wa... The town I returned to...
Omokage no kakera mo misezu Wasn't how I remembered it at all.
Garasu no jouheki ga zutto narande iru dake There was nothing but glass walls going on forever.
Matte ite hoshii I want you to wait for me.
Ano hi nomikonda tsubuyaki ga For the whisper I swallowed that day.
Matte ite hoshii I want you to wait for me.
Ima mo azayaka na kizuguchi wo hiraku Now, the wounds open, still fresh.
Kousou biru no sukima kara sashikomu tsuki no hikari The moonlight pokes through the gaps in the highrise buildings.
Omae mo dareka wo sagashi tsudzukete iru no ka? Are you still searching for someone too?
Eien ni kawaranai yasuragi wa tabi no kanata Unchanging, peace lies at the end of our journey.
Sora no hate ni shika nokotte inai no ka Does it only remain beyond the skies?
But I'll be back again. But I'll be back again.