Let go of me!
Where the heck are you taking me?
Dammit. Bro!
Betrayed this world
And it simmers within
Rupturing my innards
Swelling a reddish black
Until the sun burnt skin ruptures
There is a light in the depths of the seething darkness
Confirming each other's voices in the distance
As if to stroke with wet fingertips
I'd like to touch you one day
There is a light in the depths of the darkness
Confirming each other's voices in the distance
As if to stroke with wet fingertips
I'd like to touch you one day
#22 The story of Nui
What rotten luck. Just when I was almost at Daigo's castle.
You're stuck here too? If you're leaving Daigo, you better hurry.
An amateur like you should get away while you still can.
Not me, though. I'm going to get rich out of this mess.
I have something to do here, too.
You sure? There's a war brewing. What could you need to do here?
That's what I'm trying to find out.
-Bro! Let me go, you jerks. -What's going on?
Let go of me. Hey, I said let go!
You big jerk!
Don't scare me like that.
Dororo.
I'll get you back.
30 Asakura soldiers attacked, but retreated without much of a fight.
They must've been checking our defenses.
The main army has crossed Tatesugi Pass, and should reach here in a day or two.
I will stop them here. They will not take a step into our territory.
You are well enough to get up, Young Master?
Shouldn't you stay rested?
These are mere scratches. You two are in a much worse state.
Yes, sir.
I'm fine, though. My sister always hits me harder than that.
Yeah.
By the way, where is she?
She wasn't with you?
No. But nobody will tell me why.
The doctor will know.
No, please wait Young Master!
You fool! Why did you come with me to go fight?
Why didn't you stay and rest?
You should've told me...
If only I had known...
And you wouldn't have gotten hurt. I'm coming in.
-No, Young Master! -Move!
No. What if you catch the disease? We can't let that happen.
You spoke well, Hyogo.
Forgive me, Young Master.
This disease, and now this wound.
I will not be able to witness the fulfillment of your ambitions.
The prosperous land of Daigo that you will one day establish.
But I know you will one day achieve it.
I believe in it.
Hyogo, you can still use your right arm, right?
-Yes. -Good.
Protect Young Master with all that you have until your last breath.
Yes.
I will avenge you. I will.
Everything that you tried to protect with your life.
I will protect.
I swear it.
Dang it, come on.
It's no use.
Bro...
Please bro, stay the bro you are.
You...!
The castle is busy preparing for the war.
Now is your chance.
Why are you the ones being protected by him?
There is a hidden tunnel down this way.
You can escape from the castle in it.
Are you sure about this? You're...
I will not let another young child be sacrificed to protect us.
For how long have you traveled with my son, Hyakkimaru?
It must've been a harsh journey.
And with just you, a young child.
Won't you tell me about him?
Why? Isn't it too late for that?
Have you forgotten what you told him?
He was abandoned by his one and only mama, and with those words.
No eyes, ears, arms, legs, anything.
But he still tries really hard to take back what is his.
Why does he have to go through all this, huh?
Uh oh...
I see the rain has cleared.
My lady, I didn't expect to see you here.
The rain wasn't that heavy over at Banmon.
Do not worry, my lady.
His lordship will win and return safely.
Serve your lord well. You may go.
They're gone now. It's okay.
Mama...
Let us hurry.
It's a dead-end.
I chose Daigo's people and the land over Hyakkimaru.
That cannot be undone, no matter what I do.
I do not regret what I did as a lord's wife.
Do you really mean that?
Mutsu, I have brought you your medicine and food.
Mutsu?
Mutsu...?
Wow, so this is where it leads.
Be careful now.
Uh, hey...
Thank you.
When I heard there was a child with him,
I felt ever so indebted to you.
I didn't do anything special...
Hey, can I tell bro that you helped me escape?
Well...
Later.
Young Master, sis is gone!
Bro's mama.
I'm going, too.
I wonder how it's going at Banmon.
I wanted to be over there too and win some honor.
What's that?
It's a...
Ghoul!
My son, my child! Where are you?
-Please... -My son!
My child!
You came with me on impulse, but are you sure about this?
Bro probably won't forgive you.
-He might even... -If...
If he chooses to kill me.
That will be the path I must take.
I feel like I finally understand something.
I wanted to see him again. One more time.
I will know what I must do when I see him.
-The river! -It must be the rain.
The water is surging down from the mountain.
Come on, turn!
We're gonna crash!
Young Master, the person the guards saw, it was my sister.
We must hurry.
Hey, stop it.
Don't eat me, I don't taste good.
What? Hey!
Stop it, jeez!
A horse?
Dear, dear. How lively it gets the moment you wake up.
Priest!
You really are a lucky young'un.
The people here found you after you happened to be washed ashore.
Where am I?
Hey Priest, was there a lady with me?
-I know, but... -Yahiko.
Dororo is up.
Finally. Slept long enough. You okay now?
Yeah.
Is that...?
Why is she...
When we told her about the invalids here, she asked to help.
We're lucky to have her. We're short of hands.
So hey, isn't she Lord Daigo's lady?
No, no way!
Okay then.
These are all people who don't have a place to go.
Some had their savings confiscated for the war.
Some had their villages burned because of epidemics.
We all have nowhere to go, so we just stick together here.
All because of Daigo.
He didn't do it out of spite.
He did it because he believed it would save the land.
You always talk like you understand everything.
As for me, I'd tell that lady off if I could.
-Jiheita. -I know.
But I feel so miserable just sitting here like this.
We're always tossed about at the whims of the samurai.
I can't bear it much longer.
There.
I heard you lost your mama, too.
Cheer up.
Drifting downstream with Daigo's lady. What a dramatic entrance.
What are you going to do now?
I'm thinking.
Eat up. You don't need your mama to live.
We won't be able to move on for a while. Seems like the castle is in an uproar.
I can imagine.
When my son was born, I am positive I heard him cry.
But right after, there was a white flash.
When we could see again, he was already...
I felt he was the most precious thing in my life.
Bro might turn into a demon if we don't stop him.
The demonic flame in him is getting stronger and stronger.
But I can't do anything about it.
No...
But maybe...
It's Daigo!
Daigo's army is coming!
-How was it? -Never seen anything like it.
A full-blown army is up by the two pines, getting ready for war.
All the soldiers that were left behind have joined them.
By the two pines? That's just up that north cliff.
So what, is there another enemy besides Asakura?
I'm not sure.
But they're all really shaken, like they're scared.
Scared?
They're saying a demon is coming.
A demon...
Don't recoil, attack!
Don't let them reach the castle.
The twelfth demon.
The demon who could not devour Hyakkimaru.
You were denied what was yours...
Take me instead.
I give unto you my whole body.
Please, protect this land and its people!
-Mutsu! -Sis!
Stand back.
No, you must not touch me.
Are you making a deal with the demons? I never wished you to!
I may not be able to fight with you, but my soul will stand with you and Hyogo.
For the people!
Sis...
No, why?
-What's wrong, Mutsu? -Sis!
The contract between Daigo Kagemitsu and the demons...
It can only be fulfilled...
with the body of Hyakkimaru, Daigo's heir.
Hyakkimaru!
It might not be bro.
Even if it is, he's probably just headed for Daigo, and not...
Hey, that thing you told me about when bro was born.
Could you tell it to him when we meet him?
So that he knows that his mama...
really cared for him.
Tell him, won't you?
Give back Dororo.
Back off!
Those are mine!
Hyakkimaru!
To complete the contract and protect the prosperity of Daigo.
I will obtain your body, Hyakkimaru!
Born into this world
There is no salvation
The distorted shape of the heart
Yet it beats courageously
There is no turning back
Even from the path of evil
Witnessing the withering seasons
We search for the truth
In our ugliness
We don't even recognize the pain
As we peel back the skin
We are forever tormented by our stupidity
But if the dawn never comes
Through the painful night
You who distrusts nothing
You will be able to love this accursed world
Now that we carry the world on our shoulders
It's time to take it back
"Mutsu and Hyogo"