"She's been stabbed in the chest!" "Is she breathing?" "!" "Mizue!" "Who are you?" "!" "Identify yourself!" "You look suspicious!" "I suppose you're right to call me suspicious." "If we don't set up more barriers in the back rooms it'll become" "dangerous." "Act One" "Yo, yo, at midnight evil spirits stalk" "As if they're from another world" "Come to rhyme rhymes" "Can you hear them?" "The sounds resonating from the darkness" "Scared senseless, but you pretend not to be interested" "Your curiosity grows day by day" "So let's go check them out, here we, here we go ya'll" "The mysterious and dangerous evil spirits" "Hell is probably full with evil spirits" "Those that can't get in march in a line" "Waiting on stand-by in this world" "There aren't any spaces left for them" "No wonder, no matter what the season is, it's always hot" "Purposely heating you up with hot verses" "That make you sweat" "You might as well let us hear you all sing!" "HA!" "It's just like a scene of a fire" "The excitement in the air heats up this island country" "DANGER!" "The tension keeps building COME ON!" "(This Japan is about to explode!" ")" "HA!" "It's just like a scene of a fire" "The excitement in the air heats up this island country" "DANGER!" "The tension keeps building COME ON!" "(This Japan is about to explode!" ")" "Half an hour earlier" "Huh?" "Hey!" "Medicine peddler!" "Today's the young lady's wedding day." "You won't be able to sell any medicine." "Look, the medicine peddler is coming." "Yeah, it's the medicine man." "It's him all right." "Kayo!" " How long are you going to take?" "!" " Coming." "I'm almost ready." "Honestly!" "Of all days!" "Oh, my!" "A delivery?" " Did we order something?" " No, I'm a medicine peddler." " Did we order something?" "Wait, look, this isn't a good time." "I mean..." "Because of the wedding ceremony?" "Yes." "Exactly." "Lady Mao is being married into the Shiono clan." "Oh, well..." "I guess it doesn't concern the likes of us servants." "Their escort should be arriving in half an hour." "It's so bright." " Sasaoka..." " Yes?" "Close the shoji screens." "But my lady, it'll shut out the breeze." "That doesn't matter." "It will only be for a short time." "Right away." "A wedding, huh?" "That makes it even better." "Huh?" "I have the perfect medicine for a bride." "Wow!" "Let me see!" "Oh, my!" "Also..." "There's this." "Who the hell are you?" "!" "Get out of here!" "People like you aren't welcome here!" "Right, Kayo?" "If you want some water, get it yourself." "Well, I..." " I just..." " If you don't hurry back to your post, you'll hear it from Master Katsuyama again!" "You don't have to be so cruel." "You'd better get out of here, or I'll throw you out myself!" "Damn it!" "What a pervert." "I hate him!" "That's pretty harsh." "But he's always trying to touch me." "Anyway, let's see some stuff..." "All right." "Just a moment." "There're so many!" "This one here's for..." "And this one here..." "No way!" "You should sell these to Lady Mao." "You know what?" "The groom, Lord Shiono is..." "See?" "That's unfortunate for the bride." "But what can she do?" "I mean, the Shiono family will be assuming our debts." "You'll be leaving shortly." "Father..." "Mother..." "Be sure to treat your new parents with respect." "Yes." "And take good care of yourself." "Yes." "You don't say." "Sure, Lord Yoshiaki is a good man and all, but he's not good when it comes to money." "And he sure seems to be under Lady Mizue's thumb." "And don't get me started on Lord Yoshikuni." "Why do you think the younger Lord Yoshiaki took over the house?" "I get the picture." "I better stop talking or I'll get scolded by that Sato again." "Let me show you something good in return for letting me in." "I can't wait!" "It's just a rat." "That scared me!" "Come to think of it, there seem to be a lot of rat traps around." "Lots of rats here." "Why not just get a cat?" "A cat?" "I suppose." "But somebody here can't stand them." "Kayo!" "I've just spoken with Yahei." "How could you be goofing off at a time like this?" "!" " He told on me, that snitch..." " I was just recommending" " We're not interested!" " some rat poison..." "Kayo..." "Go and fetch some water." "The water jar is completely empty." "All right!" "Honestly!" "I apologize for causing trouble." "I'll be leaving shortly." "My Lord." "Lady Mao." "The escort has arrived." "Grandfather..." "Sorry, dear." "I hope you're treated well." "Uncle..." "Do your bit." "The fate of the Sakai family is in your hands." "What's taking Sato so long?" "!" "Now, of all times!" "Mao, it's time to go." "By the way, who's the one that dislikes cats?" "Wh-Why do you ask?" "Never mind." "What the hell?" "!" "Rats..." "Rats are a good omen for fertility." "They will follow you to your new home." "Yes!" "Indeed!" "It is that effective?" "She's been stabbed in the chest!" "Mao!" " Someone help!" "Is no one here?" "!" " Is she breathing?" "!" " No, she isn't!" " Lady Mao!" "Damn it!" "Where's the intruder?" "!" "This is not the work of an intruder." "Moreover, you can't kill this enemy with a sword." "Who are you!" "How did you get in here?" "!" "K-Kayo let him in!" "I..." " You look suspicious!" " I mean..." "I suppose you're right to call me suspicious." "We can't leave it like this." "If we don't set up more barriers in the back rooms..." " Barriers?" "!" " it'll become" " What nonsense are you on about?" "!" " dangerous." "Enough Odajima!" "Get a doctor, quick!" "Hey!" "She's stopped breathing, right?" "We need a monk rather than a doctor." "Right?" "Don't you think?" "Yoshikuni!" " It's your fault that this happened!" " You, over there..." " What do you know?" " Please calm down, my lady!" " What do you know?" " Yoshikuni!" "Yoshikuni!" " Nothing yet." "Nothing yet, huh?" " It's all your fault!" " How convenient." "Mao!" "Don't move." "If you try escaping like before..." "At least let me set up seals for spiritual protection in the back." "Seals?" "!" "If you let me set up a barrier now, we may still be able to prevent it." "Shut up!" "Shut up!" "You're only saying that so you can try to escape!" "Why not tie him up more tightly?" "This fellow has some strange physical abilities." " You're going to break my arm." " Good!" "You deserve it!" " You're going to break my arm." "Did we check his belongings?" " Lady Mao might have been poisoned..." " Hang on a minute." " Lady Mao might have been poisoned..." " Didn't you say she was stabbed?" " Hey!" "Where are his belongings?" "!" " Here it is!" " Open it!" "Yes, sir!" "What is this medicine?" "Various types." "There's no poison." "Various types, huh?" "What is this thing?" "Just a kid's toy." "This is the last piece." "What's this box?" "Move!" "It's pretty heavy." "Hey!" "What's with this katana?" "!" "Why does a medicine peddler possess a katana?" "!" "For killing, of course." "What?" "!" "Demonic spirits..." "For cutting them down." "Demonic spirits..." "For cutting them down." " Lady Mizue..." " Y-You insolent fool!" "Still talking that nonsense!" "What demonic spirits?" "!" "How dare you!" "What's the trick to this?" "There's no trick." "No hidden mechanism either." "Can you unsheathe it?" "It's not yet possible." ""Not yet" again, huh?" "One must first know the "Shape,"" "the "Reasoning" and the "Truth" of the demonic spirit to unsheathe the sword." "You're an interesting man." "Not at all." "There's nothing remarkable about me." "I can't stand this anymore!" "To the guardhouse with him!" "Wait!" "You can't do that." "We can't let this get out." "Master Katsuyama!" "This matter is of great concern to our house." "Lady Mizue..." "Lady Mizue..." "Lady Mizue!" "Hey, get the doctor." " Sir!" " Yahei!" "Call Dr. Tsubouchi to the house." "Right away, sir!" "Hold it, Yahei..." "You'd better not step outside." " Shut up!" "Enough!" " The barriers aren't complete." "Listen, don't say anything unnecessary." "Just tell him Lady Mizue is feeling ill, and bring him here." "Yes!" "Send a messenger to the Shiono family as well." "My lord, it's still too early for that." "Why?" "What would they think if they learned of Lady Mao's sudden death?" "Even worse, what if the lord were to find out what happened?" "It would be better to buy some time by saying she has suddenly taken ill." "Forgive my impudence, Master Katsuyama..." "What is it?" "!" "Concealing the truth might lead to further complications." "What?" "!" "We cannot control what people will say." "Is it worth hiding the truth only to complicate matters?" "But we have to!" "Can't you see that?" "I'm afraid I disagree with you." "Best to be honest and seek help not only from the Shiono clan, but from everyone." "Had we always been honest, the Shiono..." "I know what you're plotting." "Why don't you come out with it?" "I'm merely concerned for you." "If you're saying this is some plot then Master Katsuyama, do make clear what it is that I'm plotting." "I won't fall for that!" "Um..." "I'm here to light the candles..." "Kayo..." "Go and light some candles around Lady Mao as well." "What?" "!" "Now, get going!" "But, the body..." "What about it?" "!" "You'd better not think of disobeying me!" "Hurry up and do it!" "I'll go with you." "Elder master..." "Yes?" "May we light the candles?" "You may enter." "Forgive my intrusion." "Master Odajima?" "What is it?" "Do you really think this is the work of demonic spirits?" "Don't be silly." "They don't exist." "Don't you worry." "I'll catch the culprit in no time." "Okay." "M-Master Odajima?" "!" "It was nothing." "Forgive me." "Hey." "Did you hear something?" "No, nothing at all." "I-It's just you, Odajima!" "Don't frighten us." "What's the matter?" "Nothing." "Is Yahei back yet?" "Why is he taking so long?" "The doctor probably has" " Our problem is serious!" " many things to tend to." "I don't care about his other matters!" "Serious?" "But it was you who said not to suggest anything was serious." "Well, in any case, he's taking too long!" "Odajima." "Did you see anything?" "What do you mean, sir?" "A cat." "There are no cats here." "This is the missing servant." "Yahei!" "How did he...?" "!" "Wh-Where did he come from?" "It's coming!" "You!" "Do not get in my way." "Where are the others?" "!" "Someone else is here!" "Where?" "!" "The elder master and Lady Mao are in the back room!" "Hey, wait!" "Wait!" "What is it?" "It's dangerous to be alone." " You're better off with the others." " How dare you speak that way!" " You're better off with the others." "Fury!" "It's alright." " It cannot enter." " "It"?" " It cannot enter." "I don't know what tricks you're playing, but I'll get to the bottom of this!" "Its presence has faded." "What was that?" "!" "I couldn't make out its form." "I've told you already." "It's a demonic spirit." "If you step beyond the barrier, you'll fall prey to it." "But the barrier won't hold forever." "If we leave it as is we'll end up like them." "Demonic spirits must be cut down." "But in order to unsheathe the Taima sword, the conditions must be met." ""Shape," "Truth," and "Reasoning"" "must be displayed to the sword." "First, the "Shape."" "Fur?" "It's a Goblin Cat." "The shape of the demon is determined by human fate and karma." "Now for your "Truth" and "Reasoning."" "You must tell me everything!" "Oh, hold on a moment." "To be continued..." "The colors of flowers that are embedded in the sky" "My love that changes shape" "Eventually even when I have to let go of all" "I will only think of you" "On a random spring eve" "We exchanged our first kiss" "Wrapped in a dreamlike state" "I will only think of you" "Entrusting all that I am to you" "I will finally lay to rest"