Uh... um...
This is Jiro!
This thing really working?
Yeah, hear ya loud and clear.
You okay?
Well... sorta, I guess.
Sorta? You're making me worried.
Ah, sorry.
I got carried away and kinda massacred the guy.
I see...
Well, don't worry about it.
KEEP STILL!
OWCHIE! NOT SO ROUGH...!
Fortunately, seems Ichika captured hers alive.
Shit, really?
And Reiji?
No word yet.
All right...
We'll go check on him now.
Good, thanks.
Don't do anything rash.
If things go south, I want you out.
Right.
How did I not notice?
If I keep possessing Jiro...
Or worse, if I keep expending spectral energy in fights...
Hey!
Jeez!
What the hell, freakin' ass!
Someone had to get your attention!
We can relax after we rip into ol' four-eyes
for making us play babysitter.
Now let's go.
Yeah...
Wow...
You always did have a talent for evading
at the last possible millisecond...
But you seem to've outdone yourself, Reiji.
Shunjin...
The body has a way of remembering...
You got me with it countless times.
It is your signature move.
Shinji...
So I'm just "Shinji" now, huh?
I'm hurt!
Gone are the days I get to be called "bro", I see.
They're long gone.
I lost my brother that fateful day.
The day he failed the Rite of the Sword.
The day the Hell Tempest swallowed his soul.
My brother's dead.
You mustn't run from the truth, Reiji.
I'm no illusion.
The Hell Tempest never swallowed my soul,
nor did my life come to an end.
I was Shinji then, and I'm the same ol' Shinji now.
But since your faith in me is lacking,
I suppose I'll have to prove it to you!
I already know the truth!
From the very first swing!
With every meeting of our blades...
The truth echoes...
...and stings!
The same ol' Shinji, eh?
Then why...
Why side with the mononoke?
Merely a matter of convenience.
I could remain incognito,
while pushing back against the Bureau.
Everything...
It's all your fault, Reiji.
And it all began back then.
Phew!
I got that one, right, Bro?
Magnificent, Reiji.
Shinji!
Uh... y-yes...
Fathe—
How many losses does that make now?
You are the older twin, have you no shame?
You are the elder, the heir to the Kirihara family!
Whoa!
Now don't misunderstand me, Reiji!
You're clever...
I don't have to explain the pain of losing to you.
Or the terror of being struck and berated by our own father!
But...
That wasn't the worst of it.
You wanna know what was even more painful, Reiji?
It was knowing that...
...from that day onward, you deliberately lost to me.
Don't be ridiculous!
I did no such thing!
Oh, but it's called unconscious intentionality!
Otherwise, Father would've caught on.
But...
Your swings and strikes told me everything.
Eventually, I went from losing to almost being on equal footing...
Then I became the one who was always winning...
Suddenly, I'd almost forgotten what it was like to lose.
What's more...
You would lose, but flash that shit-eating grin.
At first, I thought it was just your way of being nice.
So I tried even harder.
I swung and parried till my hands were raw.
Till I sweated buckets and painted the floor with my blood.
I practiced my form tens of thousands of times.
And still...
Despite everything...
You remained exactly one step behind me.
Never more...
Never any less.
I'd turn around and there you'd be.
And with that grin you'd always say...
You're just too good, Bro!
Don't you understand?
I was never really one step ahead.
You were patronizing me!
I may be the older twin,
but you're the one who inherited the Kirihara fighting spirit.
But you wouldn't understand...
The pain of that excruciating truth!
Of having it rubbed in your face every day!
The hopelessness!
That's why, Reiji...
I wanted to grow strong.
To be a worthy heir...
To be a worthy brother...
And above all...
To find worth in myself...
I was willing to use anything...
To do anything.
Just cut the crap!
So that's why?
That's why you murdered our own Father?
Kirihara-ryu...
Onikubi-otoshi!
That's it...
That's a good boy, Reiji.
Resent me, hate me, show me your contempt!
Forget pity!
I wanna see the real Reiji!
No, that's not enough...
Not even close...
I want more... more...
More... more... more... more... more!
Give me more!
You wanna kill me...
Just do it!
Why...?
Why did it have to be like this?
Was it me?
Did I really change him?
Was it all my fault?
Did I really turn him into a monster?
Goodness, that was close!
Forgive me, Reiji.
I very nearly ended your life.
But I could never kill you while you're so shaken and unnerved.
Oh well, I've said everything I needed to say.
This's enough for today!
So long, Reiji.
It had been so long, it was so good to see you!
But next time...
Let's make it a duel to the death, okay!
Again...
It's just like that night...
Left behind, alone!
Damn, I feel like crap!
That stupid hulking bull...
That was like whack-a-mole on steroids.
That exhaustion...
This's more than ordinary physical injury.
There's no other explanation...
Hey, um, could we chat?
Huh? What about?
Well...
There's somethin' I've been thinking about—
Stop, it's gonna have to wait.
Hey, smart-ass!
I barely got a word—
Well, if it isn't Rago...
It's been far too long.
Life appears to be treating you well...
...old friend.
Amagi?!
Oh, that's interesting...
You know all about me, then.
It appears Rago's past has already been shared with you.
Who knew you were such a candid and sensitive soul, Rago.
Which makes it all the more ironic...
The very human to whom you open your heart
is the one you must devour.
Huh?
Oh!
Did you leave that little detail out?
Then again, in a way it is quite obvious, no?
Two beings inhabiting a single vessel...
It's difficult to imagine a case in which that is viable.
Even with the best intentions,
humans and mononoke are but oil and water.
In fact...
Any attempt to employ your spectral powers
will only feed upon his vital energy.
Until you snuff out his life completely, that is.
Hey, Rago...
'Member what we did to that dumbass bull?
We're gonna do it again.
Wha—?
Have you been listening to any of this?!
I heard it all!
And?
And?!
The more you use my power,
the more vital energy I—
Yeah, I get it.
But if we let fear get the best of us,
what's that gonna solve?
I mean, I don't love the idea of being your lunch...
But I sure as hell don't want this guy to be the way I go.
If I have to lose a little life to fight him, then so be it!
If you weren't such
a short-sighted fool, I'd say you have a point...
You defy explanation, boy.
Enough with the insults!
Still...
Your naivete is glaring.
Alas, in your current state,
fighting is the least of your concerns.
Jiro!
Remember, he is your host.
I mustn't extinguish him quite yet.
At least, not until I tear the two of you apart.
Dirty bastard... I swear it, Amagi,
if you so much as lay another finger on him...
You'll lose far more than one spindly arm!
Such confidence...
You're no threat to me in that human husk...
But it'd be terribly inconvenient if he hastened both your deaths
because of his wasteful use of your precious spectral energy.
So...
I'm willing to strike a deal.
Swear to me absolute loyalty.
Give me your word that you will follow me,
swear you will do exactly as I say.
Then, and only then, will I let the boy live.
So, what will it be...
Rago?
For the last time...
I demand, here and now, your total and absolute loyalty.
Ah, finally made it!
You...!
Yo, Rago.
Good to see ya!
Fashionably late I see, Koga.
Yeah, well...
I had some extra baggage.
Naruko, dissolve the spectral zone,
then reabsorb the energy at once.
'Kay.
Excellent...
All is ready.
Rago...
Prepare to be extricated from that mortal shell of yours.
You mean right this second?
Removing mononoke from mere mortals
is actually quite simple.
Once I apply a concentrated forcefield of spectral energy,
a portal of sorts shall appear,
allowing you safe passage beyond the boy.
But creating a portal will...
How observant!
Yes, the more you resist,
the greater physical risk to the vessel.
In his current state,
the slightest bodily stress will mean almost certain death.
You really mean what you say?
Hm?
If I really do your bidding,
you swear you'll let 'em go?
We'll wheel him into surgery as soon as we arrive.
Glad to hear. Take good care of him.
Ichika.
You go with them, and get in touch with Usami.
Got it!
Kusumi?
Where are you now?
Just reached the western perimeter.
We secured the site, so no media access to worry 'bout,
and all relevant parties have been notified.
I finally get a chance to breathe...
And now, I receive a request from you for backup.
I'm losing my patience.
I suppose I'm out of excuses.
We've confirmed the barrier has dissipated.
We're going in.
With just the regulars?
No, I shall lead the team personally.
Which is why I'll be bringing along Himezuka and Inui.
The Black Cloak elite?
Division 1's best and brightest?
You can thank Tokieda for managing the impossible
and convincing leadership to let them assist.
Though in this case, we don't have much choice.
From now on, we do things my way.
Find out Jiro Azuma's whereabouts, and get back to me asap.
Understood.
Kusumi...
I take full responsibility.
Just get 'em outta there.
Himetsuka, Inui... Let's roll.
-Roger! -Righto!
Dammit!
We clawed and battled, but in the end, those bastards won!
I get Jiro all mixed up in this, and this's how I repay him?
At this point...
There's no way I can...
What the hell is going on?
J-Jiro?
Dammit fur face...
Think you could give me a hand?
This fight...
It was always a team effort—you and me.
You've lost it...
...if you think I'm gonna let you do this alone!
What are you waiting for, Rago?
The portal is ready for your departure.
Enough dawdling and jump through.
Or... do you prefer to perish alongside your vessel?
Hey, hey... Easy there, okay?
Rago here's gonna be my buddy, right?
What...?
The hell is this?!
Ready, doggy boy?
Hime, I think he's ready for...
Daddy Big Dog...
Axe Kick!
Too slow!
Perfect timing!
Nice teamwork, Hime!
That was all right, I guess, but...
How many times do I have to tell you to stop
with those cringy battle cries, Daddy Big Dog!
Thank you for the compliment!
W-Wh...
Who are these guys?
Annoying...
Pretty cocky there for two stupid humans!
You see...
I don't have time to entertain losers like you!
Late as usual.
Bungling Bureau clowns.
I'll be taking this now, thank you very much.
I bid thee adieu...
-Inu! -Right!
-Oww... -Whoa, whoa...
Not so fast there, big boy!
Jeez, you're going to pop those stiches!
Oh, thank heavens!
You all right?
Am I in...
...heaven?
You're in the hospital!
I'll go let the Chief know you're awake!
That would be helpful.
I see...
So it's already been a day...
Yep, and Usami and I've been here with you the entire time.
You could show a little appreciation!
And to think I was the only one able to capture my target...
Talk about pathetic.
You're right.
It is pathetic.
All I can say is sorry.
Oh... Well, I didn't mean it like that.
So, what about Jiro and Rago...?
How do you feel, Rago?
You wanna know how I feel?
You stick me in here, and you gotta ask?
Oh, come now.
I provided you a comfy bed and some tantalizing chow.
Aren't you going to eat?
No thanks.
I see.
Then we won't be needing her.
Wait—!
Such fragility.
And still, this inferior species is convinced they reign supreme.
Have you heard of anything more idiotic or ridiculous?
So that's why you think mononoke should take their place?
Not take their place.
Simply returning this world to its rightful state.
A world where the strong are revered and respected.
Where the laws of nature can unfold as they should.
I just don't get it.
Why go through all this trouble to rope me into all this?
If you wanna go to war with the humans,
then why not just go and do it?
Eons ago, I did.
After you decided to seal yourself in that stone,
I reassembled my comrades,
and we revolted.
But we lost.
It was humiliating,
but the failure opened my eyes.
Alone, humans are weak.
But together,
that is when they reveal their true strength.
Needless to say, the humans have us outnumbered.
We must use other means to reclaim victory.
For the few of us to stand against the many of them,
a single awesome and overwhelming power is key.
And that power, my friend, is you, Rago...
After all these years, the Bureau has lost its way
and forgotten why it banded together.
With you fully recovered, it doesn't stand a chance.
May I ask what is so funny?
Huh? Naw, it's nothin'...
You must be pretty desperate
if you're asking for help from some pussycat.
But, fine...
If you think I can help, sure, why the hell not?
How very accommodating.
Not like I've much of a choice.
I don't love it, but a deal's a deal, right?
W-What...?!
Oww...
Why'd ya have to do that?
If you had better aim, you could've killed me, idiot...
Oww...!
You ass, hey!
A little gentler, or you'll kill me for—
Silence.
Rago...
Now where is your tail?
Heh...
Well, you were so rough with me back there
when you pulled me out of the kid.
You ripped it straight off!
It got left behind with Jiro...
...along with all of my spectral energy!
I'm just a fuzzy bundle of cuteness now.
You're lookin' at one ordinary kitten.
Hmm? What?
Wouldja feel a little better if I acted a bit more feline?
Meow meo—
Argh!
I am not the joking type.
Then how 'bout you take better aim this time...
Not that I wanna die.
But all I've got now is the speed and reflexes of a cat.
Lookin' death in the eye is kinda scary.
Shit...
It's all on you now...
Jiro...