"Sou sa maiagare hoshi yo That's right, soar high, o star" "Ichido dake kagayaite futari o terashite Shine just once and illuminate the two of us" "Unmei no sora o kakeru hito-suji no hikari ga The single streak of light dashing across the fateful sky" "Futari o kaete yuku yo It's going to change us both" "Tashikameta no wa kowai kara ja nai The reason I double-checked wasn't because I was scared" "Shoujun wa ano ryuusei ni shibotta I've set our sights on that shooting star" "Marui renzu ni hitai o yoseta We crowd our foreheads around the round lens" ""Hajimaruyo" kimi ga yoko de tsubuyaku "It's going to start," you murmur next to me" "Sotto iki o tometa Quietly, we hold our breaths" "Futari te nigitta And join hands" "Wakatterunda mousugu kitto kiseki ga yatte kuru We know that soon, a miracle is sure to come along" "Saa maiagare hoshi yo Now, soar high, o star" "Ichido dake kagayaite futari o terashite Shine just once and illuminate the two of us" "Unmei no sora o kakeru hito-suji no hikari ga The single streak of light dashing across the fateful sky" "Futari o kaete yuku yo It's going to change us both" "Cha pter Four Life-Size Dolls" "We meet again." "That's a big horse..." "It is a horse, right?" "Yukiwa." "That's what I call him." "You can understand what I'm saying?" "I see." "Named after the snow ring (yukiwa) pattern." "What are you doing out at this hour?" "I followed the river." "I sensed an unpleasant aura." "Tezcatlipoca..." "Diabloma..." "It seems there's a faint trace of that aura about you as well." "I sure envy you, Yukiatsu." "You always have such fine ladies flocking to you." "She's probably fifteen or thereabouts." "What's a foreigner doing wandering around here?" "I have a bad feeling somehow." "About both the girl and the horse." "Youi?" "Who knows?" "I just think it'd be better if you didn't get too involved with them." "That again?" "What'll you do if you get drawn back into that world again someday?" "The truth is, you accepted that Ayashi job because you're hoping it'll happen." "That's the impression I get from you sometimes." "At forty years old, you could be retiring already..." "It'd be pathetic to still be running around looking for a place to belong." "Na nkai" "Why..." "A dragon..." "A dragon's aura..." "Master Yukiatsu." "Come, everything is ready." "I'm going to soak in that?" "Watch." "Don't worry." "It'll probably leave a light burn scar, but it will definitely erase the tattoos." "Lord Ogasawara." "We have had another incident." "In that show tent area, is it?" "In Yotsuya, there are still show tents in violation of the Reform." "These two days past, people have been going missing in this area." "They could be kidnappings, but there are no connections." "And there are stories of people seeing a suspicious shadow." "You think it's a Youi?" "These are people who gather to see the seedy shows there." "Is this not a situation that we should take with a grain of salt?" "We have our orders already." "We will investigate whether or not there is a Youi." "Ryudo." "You have become an Ayashi." "We cannot have you forever being mistaken for a vagrant." "Show this document, and it will vouch for your status." "You are my steward." "Rejoice." "I don't care about my status." "It's just a matter of not being pursued as a vagrant, right?" "That is not true." "If you do not have the status to be called a warrior, you will not be permitted to carry this." "Well, I think I'll decline." "You're right." "You have the protection of your Ayagami." "I have no intention of using that power ever again." "I feel like it calls to the Other World..." "Make sure you erase the tattoos later." "All of you, you know about the city ordinance, don't you?" "!" "You're to live simply and frugally!" "That is the key principle!" "Anything that beguiles the public, such as plays and shows, and street stands that draw unduly large crowds, are all prohibited!" "Well, don't get too rowdy." "Clear things away immediately when any officials come by." "By the way, what's going on with that thing?" "Are you referring to the kidnappings, Sir?" "You idiot!" "Keep your voice down!" "If it goes on for much longer, the town magistrate won't keep turning a blind eye." "That bastard!" "Wandering out here!" "Yuki!" "You bastard!" "Tamahei!" "Not good!" "Hold it!" "Not good!" "Hold it!" "Hey, Ryudo!" "Hey, hold it right there, Yuki!" "Yuki?" "Ryudo?" "Ryudo, are you in here?" "They're just life-size dolls..." "Who's there?" "!" "You're..." "Sorry." "There's someone sort of after me..." "After you?" "Yeah." "Come to think of it, there was no reason for me to run anymore." "I see." "You don't have a proper dressing room?" "I don't care, as long as I can be with Yukiwa." "You're a foreigner, aren't you?" "I don't know what reason you have for being here, but are you being forced into this place because of your origins?" "Leave now." "But..." "Leave!" "Come, come have a gander at what we have here!" "Across the ocean, they have horses that are 30 hands tall!" "And they're terribly wild!" "But our star stunt rider, Ouma, can handle them with ease!" "Here we go!" "Ride!" "Ride!" "Ride!" "Ride!" "What's wrong, Yukiwa?" "!" "A trick?" "!" "So, that horse has caught your eye as well." "This equestrian show put up its tent seven days ago." "The kidnappings in this area also apparently started around that time." "They've advertised it as a foreign horse, but it could be a Youi." "That girl is a foreigner, too." "The Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement has acted rather quickly." "Yeah, they're an eyesore." "This estate has lax security." "Long time no see." "Hanai!" "Among those of us who studied together under Master Uchida, you're the most successful." "I am nothing of the sort." "Please, come inside." "I'll decline." "I'm a nameless student of Western learning." "But you're the adopted son of a retainer to the Shogun now." "You've heard about me, haven't you?" "That you frequent the estate of the Lord of Kai, the South Magistrate..." "Lord Torii doesn't hate Western learning as much as everyone thinks." "He thinks seriously upon the future of the world under Tokugawa rule." "Is there something the Lord of Kai wants?" "The case being looked into by the Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement..." "The Dutch from Nagasaki and Korean emissaries are the only people allowed in Edo, when they are permitted." "However, all other foreigners are forbidden to travel freely within the nation of Japan." "Only we Japanese live in our nation to begin with, and foreigners who attempt to mingle among us will always stand out, bringing themselves to the attention of the town magistrates." "You want to say that foreign girl is under the magistrate's jurisdiction?" "But the kidnappings are still continuing." "And that horse looks to be delicious, too." "It is not as if we are certain that the kidnappings are a Youi's doing." "The South Magistrate's investigation of the foreigner comes first." "Say, Ogasawara, you used to study Western learning, didn't you?" "The South Magistrate hates Western learning and a couple years back," "I heard he had all the students of Western learning arrested." "You're going to do whatever a guy like that tells you?" "It is because I have studied Western learning, and because I am familiar with foreign affairs, that I know they are a dangerous presence." "I do not know the particulars, but a foreigner who hides her skin color to sneak in cannot be trusted!" "You know, Ogasawara, you're still young, so maybe you think that there's only one right way, but..." "There is no one righteous way!" "I do not need an old man to tell me such things!" "Don't do this." "Do you also think it doesn't matter what happens to this foreign girl?" "Say, Kumoshichi..." "The foreign girl!" "The foreign girl!" "Why are you so obsessed about that?" "!" "She has hidden her skin color and learned the language, trying to live in this country." "She should just be left alone." "And the reason you come to her defense like this..." "That's because you see her as someone who isn't equal to us, right?" "Just because you were looked down upon as a vagrant, surely it does not mean all who are looked down upon are in the right!" "In spite of repeated decrees, shows and street stands have continued to attract crowds." "Such acts flout the authority of the Reform!" "Therefore, today, as of this moment, all tents and street stands will be removed!" "N a nkai Eq u estria n Show all tents and street stands will be removed!" "Na nkai Eq uestria n Show Every owner will be questioned at the town magistrate's office!" "Every owner will be questioned at the town magistrate's office!" "Surrender quietly!" "This is by order of the South Magistrate, Lord Torii of Kai!" "Yukiwa, come, hurry!" "I'll take care of them." "Settle this quickly!" "This way." "Dolls made for exhibition?" "They're called life-size dolls." "They really look alive, don't they?" "Why make such things?" "Well, now that I think about it, it's rather eerie..." "What's wrong, Yukiwa?" "Leave that horse here and run!" "The purpose of this crackdown is to find you!" "I can't!" "Yukiwa belongs to me!" "Numerous strange kidnappings have been happening in this area." "It's hard to believe it's the work of men." "It started after that horse came here!" "Are you trying to say that Yukiwa is a monster?" "I want to help you!" "Are you trying to say that Yukiwa is a monster?" "I want to help you!" "I'm sure you've probably suffered a lot of hardship." "And that hatred has resulted in a Youi..." "You see us as alien beings as well." "Alien?" "The same as these dolls." "We may look the same, but you think inside, we are unfamiliar and eerie..." "That is how you see us." "I just feel sorry for you!" "Sorry for me?" "Why?" "It's because I'm a foreigner, right?" "But it's not as if I'm a soulless doll..." "No mischief now, Ayashi girl." "You know who we are?" "I'm Tatsusuke Honjo." "I do some work for Lord Torii that..." "Well, that cannot be done too openly." "Lord Torii has business with that girl and horse." "Cases involving Youi are the Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement's job!" "Well, that's pretty much how it is." "What?" "Will you not withdraw from this case?" "What is this?" "!" "It's not some trick..." "Inside?" "Hey, those are..." "Fight Youi with Youi!" "That is our way!" "Ouma!" "These are the Youi behind the kidnappings." "Take care of them." "We cannot." "What?" "There is a very strong being here..." "Its aura drives us mad..." "It disturbs our blood!" "You and I are different." "People are all each different from one another to begin with." "Everyone is a foreigner." "That's why I want to help you." "Gi" ""Gi"?" "Gi "Gi"?" "Gi "Gi" refers to a mask." "It means "falsehood", "to deceive others"." ""Gi" refers to a mask." "It means "falsehood", "to deceive others"." "Falsehood?" "Meaning, it's empty?" "!" "So, Ayagami can't be drawn out from that thing?" "!" "Get back, Ryudo!" "There has to be something..." "Something!" "Ryudo!" "Watch out!" "Get back!" "This, too is an alien thing!" "What was that?" "!" "That character is his name!" "Y u ki" "Y u ki The character "yuki" in "Yukiatsu"" "Y u ki refers to the authority of ancient kings." "Y u ki The authority to behead a wrongdoer at any time..." "The authority to behead a wrongdoer at any time..." "A giant battleaxe!" "Youi!" "I'm a monster, too!" "Let's get along!" "Nagaku nagai tabiji ni On that long, ageless journey" "Boku wa kimi ni koi shita I fell in love with you" "Kisetsu meguri shigure-zuki The seasons turned to the month of autumn rains" "Kokoro o sotto nurasu Gently dampening hearts" "Toki ga nanika kaeru nara If time can change things" "Douka douka sotto shite Please, please be gentle" "Kimi to aruku ima dake This one moment as I walk with you" "Shizuka ni tomatte ite Stay quiet, be still" "Mizube no hotori ni tsuzuita Winding Road The winding road following along the water's edge" "Konna futari ni wa oniai nandarou It's probably fitting for a couple like us" "Hitotsu no kasa ga kanashii The lone umbrella is sad" "Mada kimi ga suki dakara Because I still love you" "Sunao ni uketomerarezu ni I couldn't accept it graciously" "Kono ame ni nagasarete Let this rain carry you away" ""Subete ga uso da" to mou ichido hohoende Smile once more and tell me, "It was all a lie"" "Preview" "If I'm a dragon, then you're a cloud." "The darkness Yukiatsu harbors." "You have taken the life of another before." "Next Time" " Cha pter Five The Tale of a Murderer" "Next Time" " Chapter Five The Tale of a Murderer Chapter Five:" "The Tale of a Murderer."