"In this hut, I sojourn for the night, thanks to the generosity of the owner." "On this night... the moon slices open the darkness... and illuminates the blossom of an eternal pledge." "The Star-crossed Mound Chapter Two" "These boorish Tosa samurai..." "They sure hold themselves in high regard!" "Edo's now called Tokyo?" "!" "Balderdash!" "To survive as a samurai these days, you've got to turn to thievery..." "How's that making the world a better place?" "You wretches saw, didn't you?" "This man as well?" "!" "Roger!" "Head out!" "Who might you be?" "I-I'm Ooka Daizou from Tosa." "Feed..." "Feed me." "As you wish." "Please enter." "What's wrong with this woman?" "Even though she saw me holding a bloody sword, the color of her face didn't change at all." "Here is your portion." "It doesn't matter." "When dawn breaks, I'll find a chance to slay her." "Then I'll take all her valuables and leave." "Please feel free to rest here for the night." "However, I have one stipulation." "What?" "There lies... a room deep within the house." "This is where I repose, and is always unsightly." "I request that you never glance inside." "No matter what your reason may be, you must not peer inside." "Where'd that woman go?" "This is enough..." "Kuromitsu..." "Any further..." "The head just" "That man was the one who decapitated you." "Not knowing where he hides... must cause you indescribable grief." "That man... entered this place through his own inclination." "Perhaps, he is prepared to face retribution for his iniquity." "That means I have no need for restraint." "Do you not agree?" "Have you awoken?" "Where..." "Where am I?" "What would you achieve even if you knew?" "More importantly, even your name is a mystery to you, is it not?" "My name?" "!" "Are you implying that I do not know my own name?" "!" "Very well!" "I mean..." "I am Benkei..." "Benkei." "A delusion." "You are Kuro." "Kuro?" "But that is the name of my master..." "Look upon your corporeal state." "This is..." "Why do you desire such a siren, Kuro?" "That siren... who drains the blood of corpses." "Kuromitsu!" "Indeed." "Ever since I first locked eyes with her, I have craved her." "When I glance her way, energy flows even to my outermost limbs!" "I will do anything for that woman!" "That thought alone drives me!" "You have a servant named Benkei, do you not?" "Benkei." "That lowly grub?" "Compared to the embrace of Kuromitsu, my journey with him seems almost foolish!" "When he challenged me, he was merely an imbecile with brute strength!" "Then, I shall ask this only once." "What name do you take?" "Me?" "My name is Kuro!" "Incorrect!" "What is the meaning of this?" "!" "What..." "What am I?" "!" "Your name is..." "My name is...?" "Your name is..." "My name is...?" "My name is...?" "Welcome." "We appreciate your presence here." "We are the Overlords!" "My blood is draining from my body." "It's phenomenal." "How can being drained of blood lead to such unadulterated pleasure?" "The end of time?" "It is a place in this world where none can follow." "I can travel there with you..." "Kuromitsu?" "I too had this power... bestowed upon me." "It is a reminder of my past..." "So long ago, I have almost forgotten it." "Now, you must follow my example." "Pierce my neck with your teeth and imbibe my blood." "If you do that..." "I will emerge as an immortal?" "Very well." "Yes, like that..." "Drink!" "Drink!" "Drink my vitality and yours will..." "Are you in pain?" "None at all." "Then, why do you weep?" "You are now... akin to me." "However..." "I might have..." "I might have dragged my beloved down a heinous, dangerous path." "Kuromitsu." "Have I not already affirmed that I will not regret this transformation?" "That there is no cause to worry" "What halts you so?" "Dearest Kuro!" "Do not fret!" "This is the natural reaction when blood coalesces." "Bear the pain..." "Bear the pain for it will soon pass!" "Do not lose your senses!" "Dearest Kuro!" "Was it painful?" "You might well be immortal, but I suspect you experience pain like everyone else." "Countless days have passed since our fates became inexplicably entwined..." "You are the inkling of immortality that's finally within my grasp." "Can you fathom how long I have waited for this very moment?" "Show me the testament of immortality through this punctured stomach of yours." "Show me its manifestation!" "Impossible!" "You breathe yet, Yoshitsune?" "!" "Dearest Kuro!" "Kuromitsu." "Are you injured?" "You should not move yet... or else, your wound will open again." "Our blood... has not yet merged sufficiently." "What is this power I possess?" "It is your blood." "All this power is because of your blood." "My blood..." "The secret of immortality is... blood?" "If I drink the blood of an immortal..." "I shall possess the power of immortality?" "If I drink the blood of this harlot..." "I shall become immortal?" "!" "Benkei?" "!" "Where have you been?" "Forgive me, my lord." "I never imagined events would take this course, so I journeyed as far as Hiraizumi." "Come, our pursuers are closing in." "We cannot delay a moment longer..." "Lady Kuromitsu..." "Do you know of a path down the mountain that will hide us until daybreak?" "I do." "Let us attempt this route." "However..." "Are you troubled?" "What ails you?" "Dearest Kuro!" "Why, Benkei?" "What reason have you...?" "Kuromitsu..." "Are we to be separated?" "Dearest Kuro!" "When did I fall into slumber?" "That maiden..." "Where is..." "Kuromitsu?" "Fin" "Next Chapter" "Asuka Next Chapter" "Next Chapter"