MEIJI YEAR 5 (1872)
Want it... Want it...
Not enough...
Give it back...
Hurry up...
Want it... Want it...
No wonder they call this the "City of Spirits."
Demons parade through the streets every night.
I suppose I should ask. What are your names?
Magatsume...
That name again?
Pardon. Am I correct to assume... that you stepped in to save my life?
Yeah, more or less.
I see. You have my heartfelt gratitude.
It's only proper that I introduce myself.
My name is Himawari.
"Sunflower," an unusual yet charming name.
That's what my mother named me. She said it was the perfect fit.
I'm quite fond of it myself. So please refer to me as "Himawari."
I must say, you have impeccable manners.
I'm turning eight this year, so I must embrace maturity.
Lest I dishonor my mother.
What seems to be the problem?
Nothing.
I happen to have a daughter a year older than you.
Now you've got me wondering about her.
Excuse my bluntness, but how old are you?
I just turned 50 this year.
You certainly don't look it.
I get that a lot.
Are you here by yourself?
Oh, no. I was accompanying my mother, but we got separated.
So you're lost?
My mother might think that I've already gone home.
I know how to make my way back from Nishioji.
Could you please guide me there?
Sure.
Then let us be on our way... dear uncle.
DEMON SOBA
Hey, Kadono-san!
Great weather today, ain't it?
Now alls I need is some customers and things'll be hunky-dory!
It's only been a year since you opened. They'll come in time.
Golly, I sure hope so!
Your shop's been 'round for 5 years, ain't it?
Yes.
Guess it'll take me just as long to win over the hearts of these Kyoto folk.
Oh! My tummy knows what it wants for dinner. Demon Soba!
I appreciate your business.
Nomari. It's time to get up.
Okay!
Jeez. There's no need for me to come wake you if you're not actually asleep, you know?
But I want you to wake me up!
Well, go and wash your face.
Okay!
Thanks for breakfast!
Chew your food carefully, okay?
I know.
Did everything go okay yesterday?
I didn't get hurt.
No. That's not what I meant!
You can get arrested for carrying that sword around, right?
It's fine, nobody saw it.
But, Daddy, you need to be careful!
I'll do what I can. But it's tricky.
There've been a lot of demons lately, huh?
Daddy...
Everything's okay.
Here's your lunch.
Thank you!
Well, off to school I go!
Be careful.
I will!
Nanako-chan! Good morning!
Oh! Good morning, Nomari-chan.
What should we play today?
Let me think...
I'm really a family man now, huh?
Great grub as usual!
Thank you for coming.
Still open?
No, I'm sorry, but we're closed for...
Oh, it's just you.
Yeesh, what kinda welcome is that?
Your best friend is here to pay a visit!
Since when are we best friends?
C'mon. Ya really wanna get uppity with me?
Remember the kind soul who helped find this spot and filled out all the paperwork needed to open your shop?
Who exactly was that again?
Tell me. Mister Jinya Kadono.
Kadono... Jinya Kadono...
Aw, phooey. I just can't get used to callin' ya that name.
Mind if I stick with good ol' "Jinya"?
Whatever suits you.
Alrighty, Jinya. Whip me up some kitsune soba.
You want the same thing, right, Heikichi?
Master Akitsu. Can't we eat someplace else?
Why must we give business to a shop run by a literal demon?
Hey. Watch your mouth.
You're lucky nobody else is around.
I know how to keep a secret.
But we're supposed to hunt demons, aren't we?
Demons are people who have sunk too deep into the emotional abyss.
And we must carefully discern the good from the bad.
Because it's what a noble tsumogami shaman does?
Because it's basic human decency.
We're blessed with the ability to turn emotions into power,
which means we have to respect them more than anyone else.
It's tough being a mentor, huh?
You said it.
Ah. You'll have a visitor soon.
She's got a job for ya.
Nomari.
Mm-hm. I'll go wait in the back.
I've already told her all about you.
Her master is an old friend of mine, ya see.
So help her out, wouldja?
My name is Jinya Kadono. I hunt demons for a living.
May I ask your name?
Kaneomi. That's what I go by.
Kaneomi was a swordsmith from the late Sengoku era. And that sword is his work.
One of the Yatonomori Kaneomi.
You know of it?
Please tell me about your request.
There is a bridge over the Kamogawa River.
It's called the Gojo Ohashi Bridge and a demon appears there every night.
The demon is known as Jishibari. I wish to capture it.
Capture?
Correct.
That demon stole something very precious to me.
And I would like to get it back.
But I've already been outmatched by Jishibari once before.
Hence why I've come to the famous demon hunter.
Please help me subdue her, Kadono-sama.
Out for revenge, huh?
Would you like to know the details?
You don't have to share unless you want to.
I appreciate your compassion.
I'm prepared to pay upfront. I trust 60 yen is enough?
Truth be told... the demon that we're hunting looks identical to me.
Have you heard of the Twin Shizukas?
Yes. It's a type of white flower that grows naturally in the shade of the fields and mountains.
It looks remarkably similar to another flower named shizuka,
except for the fact it has two stalks, which is how it became known as the "twin" shizuka.
You're quite the flower expert, Kadono-sama.
But no, I was actually referring to a Noh theater play by Zeami Motokiyo.
It tells the tale of a woman from the Katte Shrine in Yoshino who goes out to gather offerings for the altar,
but becomes possessed by the ghost of Shizuka Gozen
and then must perform a dance for the Shinto priests of the shrine.
Because her body is possessed by Shizuka Gozen, the woman is able to dance just as she did.
However, in the middle of the performance, the ghost of Shizuka Gozen also appears behind her.
The possessed woman and the ghost of Shizuka Gozen...
...the Twin Shizukas.
At that point, the woman should have been free from the possession.
Yet she continued dancing.
So what exactly caused her to move that way?
Unfortunately, I'm not a learned man. Little riddles like those are beyond me.
And besides...
...we have our own Shizuka Gozen to deal with.
I shall reclaim it today.
Goodness me. You really do like wasting effort, don't you?
Brought some backup this time?
I am Jinya.
Oh my! You're him?
I've heard so many stories.
I'm Jishibari. I've come here to hunt humans, as per the order of Magatsume-sama.
I assume Magatsume is the master you serve?
Nope. Wrong.
Then wh-?
Are you really here just to chat with me?
Fair point.
I'll save my questions for after I've cut you down to size.
Kadono-sama. That demon is most devious.
Please keep your wits about you.
I appreciate the warning.
Chains?!
Jishibari means "bindweed." And I share that name... with my power.
Wow. Do you have eyes in the back of your head or what?
Dart.
That was a little too close!
Skyedge.
Ah. I had nearly forgotten you were a demon as well.
Now then, where were we?
Good evening, dear uncle.
It's you again...
Thank you for saving me last night.
I must give you credit. Not just anyone can overpower my little sister so decisively.
This goes beyond my expectations.
Your little sister?
I'm talking about Jishibari, of course.
I realize that I may not look the part, but I'm actually the oldest child in the family.
I see.
Then I presume those demons from last night were following you rather than attacking you?
Correct.
My mother left me in charge of them, you see.
But I must say, even though it was a misunderstanding,
I was pleased you were worried enough to step in and save me.
It made me truly happy.
Did I forget to mention it?
My mother's name is Magatsume.
Big Sis...
I'll be honest, I don't think I'm strong enough to capture this guy.
Then listen up.
Oh. I like the sound of that!
Dear uncle. My sister and I will fight you together now. I assume that won't be a problem?
Suit yourselves.
Okay. Let us begin.
Do it now.
Gotcha!
Dart!
Kadono-sama!
True to form.
My dear uncle isn't the type of person who can stand by and watch other people get hurt.
I've got you now.
What did you just do?!
Take a guess.
Dart!
I've restricted your little charge attack.
Kaneomi-dono! Pull back!
I can't!
My legs have been frozen!
That flying slash is another pain in the neck.
I'll bind that, too.
I'm sorry. I'm only getting in the way.
That's okay.
It seems she has the power to restrict us from doing one thing for each chain that get wrapped around us.
Yep!
You stand no chance of winning now.
What?
You're such a simpleton.
Say again?!
Don't!
Invisibility.
He's right in front of you!
Dammit!
Let's leave it at that.
But...!
You still need to fulfill our mother's orders.
Letting you perish here is not an option.
Yeah, I know.
Goodbye, dear uncle. My sincerest apologies, but we must be on our way.
I'm not letting you escape!
Watch your back!
Kadono-sama.
That chain was the one she used to bind you, wasn't it?
I'm sorry.
Don't be, it's fine.
I'm the one who screwed up.
Magatsume, huh?
Good grief. Things never go my way.
DEMON SOBA
Thank you for dining with us.
Thanks, chef!
I'm home, Daddy!
Welcome back. How was school?
Today we did writing practice and arithmetic?!
I'll learn quick so I can help at the shop!
I have a bit of downtime now. Shall we have a cup of tea?
Really?!
I'd like an order of tempura soba next, please.
Enough. That's your third bowl.
But I'm paying you generously.
That not an excuse to overeat.
More to the point, why are you still hanging around?
If you intend on hunting Jishibari down, then I figured I would live here with you.
After all, there's a good chance she might come to assault you instead.
You realize an eligible bachelorette freeloading at a man's house
isn't going to fly with anybody around here.
I'm still your client, given that I paid up front.
And considering how poorly things went last night... it's only fair that you humor me, no?
What do you say?
Daddy! What's this all about?
You wanted tempura soba, right?
So you're okay with me staying?
Huh?
Then I look forward to making the best of life here.
Ah. And make that a large serving.
Daddy! I want an explanation!
She is quite close with our dear uncle, it seems.
Huh? What'd you see?
I find myself feeling a little bitter... Mother.