01x05 - Kaname Ishi

[bunniefuu]

OTOYA

OTOYA
Miss Nanoka hasn't come back.

It's already been 10 days.

I know.

MAO

MAO
I'm worried about Priestess Shoko's prophecy.

I need to look into this.

I'm leaving now!

Just a minute, Miss Nanoka.

FUNA UOZUMI

FUNA UOZUMI
Drink your smoothie.

NANOKA KIBA

Yuck! It's so awful
I feel it in my bones!

It's as if every single cell in my body
is being slowly crushed.

Nanoka?

Are you feeling sick?

Maybe it's because I didn't have to
drink it while I was on the other side.

The nastiness of the smoothie
is taking its toll.

It's good for you.

Is it really?

I feel better when I don't drink it.

SHIRAHA
Shiraha!

SHIRAHA

What is it, Kiba?

I'd like your help again.

Sure. What is it?

HARUKA, HITOMI, YUI NAKAGAWA
Are Nanoka and Shiraha a thing now?

They might be.

She went to him,
knowing that he liked her.

I'd rather rush back and
tell them what I found, but...

The accident on the deserted shopping
street keeps bothering me.

The Great Kanto Earthquake happened
on September 1, at 11:58 a.m.

The sinkhole accident
I was involved in as a child

also happened around noon
on September 1.

MAO

THE KEYSTONE

LIBRARY

LIBRARY
You want to know what the deserted shopping alley

on Fifth Street was like
during the Taisho period?

Yes, specifically around the time
of the Great Kanto Earthquake.

Back then, this area was mostly fields

and apparently wasn't
a part of Tokyo City, so...

I think we should look
at local history records.

Oh, there was a shopping street
located near the freight train tracks.

I see.

That street

really did exist.

But...

During the Great Kanto Earthquake,
it was completely burned down.

So there was a fire.

That huge fire...
Could that have been...?

Let's borrow a few of these books
and split up the research.

Tell me exactly what it is that
you want to know.

TOUCHED
He's so helpful!

He's so helpful!

Shiraha...
I can always count on you!

You're...

...just like Otoya!

SHIKIGAMI

For you, Kiba.
- Huh?

Uh... My treat.

You're sure?

TOUCHED
He's so sweet!

This is fun.

That hits the spot.

I know why...

It's because that guy is
always so mean to me.

Why can't he be a little kinder?

Oh! I have to get back to reading.

THE GREAT KANTO EARTHQUAKE

THE GREAT KANTO EARTHQUAKE
This was self-published.

FIFTH STREET MYSTERIES
A collection of testimonies

compiled by a local historian of the time.

"Immediately after
the massive earthquake,

fire tornadoes tore through
the shopping district."

"Streets were swallowed by flames
and thick black smoke."

"Some even claimed to see
a giant cat looming in the haze."

A giant cat?!

There's no way...
Was it the Byouki?

But... then....

What was the monster I saw back then?

Morning, Kiba.

Thank you for yesterday, Shiraha.

Don't mention it.

Oh, by the way...

I read all of the local histories
of Fifth Street.

He looks sleepy.

Did he stay up all night?

The legend of the keystone
caught my attention.

Keystone?

A sacred rock said to quell earthquakes.

People back then believed that a giant
catfish beneath the earth would

thrash about and trigger earthquakes.

They thought that the gods could pin down the
catfish with a keystone to stop earthquakes.

Supposedly, it was a massive rock
that couldn't be found

even after digging for
seven days and nights.

That sounds like
an awfully random legend.

Apparently, there was a giant rock
buried under Fifth Street too.

The locals called it

PROTECTION AGAINST EARTHQUAKES
the "keystone" and worshipped it.

THE KEYSTONE OF FIFTH STREET
the "keystone" and worshipped it.

Did it say where?

The text doesn't say exactly...

But they said it disappeared during
the Great Kanto Earthquake

and left a gaping hole.

It disappeared after the disaster?

Then there were the usual stories

of a swarm of rats fleeing from the Fifth
Street area the summer before the quake.

And also...

There were vampire attacks.

What?

Several incidents were reported
in the Fifth Street area.

The cases were never solved.

Apparently, there was a mysterious
bloodsucking monster that appeared,

k*lling several people.

Did I go off on a tangent?

It's an earthquake.

There've been a lot lately.

Remember that rather strong one
three days ago that

caused a landslide in the foothills?

I went to check it out...

An odd western-style building
stood at the location

where the locals enshrined
the keystone.

A western-style building, you say?

I don't recall ever seeing it before.

Keep still, please.

Oh, he was right.

Master Mao, that's a Christian
church, isn't it?

What's it doing here?

I thought I'd explored this town
top to bottom, but...

I don't remember any church like this.

He said an earthquake triggered
a landslide in the foothills, right?

Oh, Master Mao.

The sacred rope has been severed.

This was a barrier!

It must have snapped
during the landslide.

A barrier is placed within a city
that already has a barrier.

And now, a hidden church.

Could it be...

Could the Byouki be...

...in that church?

The smell of blood!

Master Mao.

This is...

This blood appears to be
oozing out from the floor.

You must be Mao, aren't you?

She knows my name!

Mao... Your body...

Give me... Your body...

Give me... Your body...

Give us... Your life...

Ayakashi!

Master Mao!

They're sucking my blood!

These ayakashi suck my Byouki-cursed
blood, but don't die...

They must have
the Byouki's blood in them.

Or maybe...

Are you the guardians
of the Byouki's barrier?

The blood oozing from this floor
is the blood of the Byouki.

You've been drinking that blood
and protecting this place.

That may be true.
They're Flea Ayakashi.

Mao...

We have waited an eternity for you.

I'm certain now.

Are you under here...

Byouki?!

Mao!

Give us... Your body!

Master Mao!

Otoya!

It's sucking all the blood from my body!

Your body is all that we need!

W-What the hell is that?!

Nanoka!

My sword!

R-Right!

W-What is that they're drinking?!

My blood.

Nanoka, how did you find me?

I went to the clinic and one of the patients
told me you might be here.

Are you okay, Otoya?

My clothes are torn.

You look okay.

Let's retreat for now.

While they're distracted by my blood.

I've never seen him in
such bad shape before.

Is this how you create a barrier?

Yeah.

It won't take them long to follow
the trail of blood here.

Now's probably not the best time
to bring up the earthquake.

And Nanoka.

You saved my life back there.

Thank you.

Aren't you overreacting?

It's just... I never thought
you were the type to say thank you.

Master Mao.

Oh, isn't that?

Huh?! You're drinking that?!

I need some rest.

You're taking a nap?!

Even without pushing himself
like he did today,

he still has to replenish himself
with kodoku from time to time

or his body will give out.

Give out?

He's lived 900 years.

His body has reached its limit.

What do you mean?

His wounds take longer to
heal than they used to.

So if he drinks kodoku juice,
he recovers?

Yes, Master Mao was cursed by
the most evil kodoku, the Byouki.

So his body is like kodoku itself.

We finally tracked down
Byouki's whereabouts, but...

What? Where?

That church back there.

They built a fake church over the spot
where this town's keystone was enshrined.

Most likely, the Byouki is beneath it.

Keystone...

It disappeared during the Great Kanto
Earthquake and left a gaping hole.

They're here!

MAO

W-W-What do we do?!

It will be alright.

We've put up a barrier.

A-Are you sure?

I can't sleep with this racket.

Feel better?

I can't move.

My body won't budge.

Nanoka...

What now?

Huh?!

H-Hey! What're you doing?!

Miss Nanoka.

That's my blood.

Huh?!

The Flea Ayakashi are after me.

Why smear it on me?!

I need you to draw
the ayakashi away from here.

After nightfall,
lure them to that church.

So you're saying...

By that time,
I will be ready for them.

You're asking me to be a decoy?!

You simply need to keep running.

Nanoka, you're the only one
I can rely on.

I'm just a fragile young girl,
you know!

I will come with you,
Miss Nanoka.

Otoya...

TOUCHED

That's Otoya's...

How's this, Otoya?

Yes, it will do.

You're flying!

Nanoka, just keep running.

Don't try to fight them.

I wouldn't fight them
even if you told me to.

Stay away!

Miss Nanoka's eyes...

Watch out!

Get away!

Huh? It passed right through her!

It's as though the people here
are living in a different dimension.

I don't understand what's happening,

but they can't attack
the people here.

Wait... I don't see
the other ayakashi anymore.

There were vampire attacks.

Several incidents were reported
in the Fifth Street area.

Apparently, there was a mysterious
bloodsucking monster that appeared,

k*lling several people.

Don't tell me!

I have to stop them!

Miss Nanoka!

That means the ayakashi
made it outside the barrier!

Are you alright?!

I'm afraid he's gone.

Oh, no...

Forgive me.
I'm going to borrow this!

Otoya! Take her with you and run!

Not necessary.

This protective talisman makes her
invisible to the ayakashi.

Wow! That's convenient!

Master Mao's blood on you
has attracted the others.

Place one of those convenient
talismans on me, too!

If I did, you wouldn't be a decoy,

and other people would be attacked.

Geez!

Nanoka, you're the only one
I can rely on.

Making me do this...

He doesn't care what happens to me!

Mao...

I hate you!

It's almost time.

I can't die now.

Not until I confront the Byouki.

Miss Nanoka,
we're almost at the church.

Once this mission is over,

I'm gonna beat the crap out of Mao!

They're ignoring Master Mao's blood
on Miss Nanoka

to pursue a thicker scent of blood.

Mao?!

He's wearing those
blood-stained clothes again.

Mao!

It's okay, Miss Nanoka!

But...!

Huh? It's a doll?!

You are already

trapped within my barrier.

Mao!

The Water Maw...

...shall devour you!

Be gone evil spirits!

A turtle?

That's Genbu.

All things in this world
belong to one

of the Five Elements of Onmyodo:
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water.

Each element influences and
interacts with the others.

Those Flea Ayakashi
are winged insects belonging

FIRE
to the Fire Element.

WOOD, FIRE, EARTH, METAL, WATER
Genbu is a spirit beast of the Water Element.

WOOD, FIRE, EARTH, METAL, WATER
Water extinguishes fire.

OVERCOMES
In other words, Water overcomes Fire.

Master Mao created a barrier of water around
the church using salt and soybeans.

The ayakashi cannot escape.

You're right.

It's devouring them one after the other.

The church!

That's the...

...keystone!

The Byouki is under there!

The church disappeared...

The Genbu's katashiro...

My spell was defeated.

But the keystone is cracked.

Only the tip of it.

The rest of the massive rock lies
deep underground.

I couldn't reach the Byouki.

I was so close...

In any case, that keystone

will disappear after
the Great Kanto Earthquake.

Huh?! Hey!

Pull yourself together, Mao!

Otoya said his body
has reached its limit.

Tell me he's not going to...

He's sleeping!

I guess he got disappointed
and dozed off.

Sleeping in a place like this...

Wake up, Mao!

That hurts.

Morning!

It's gotten hot, hasn't it?
- Yeah.

The people aren't see-through.
- Bye, auntie.

Be careful now.

I can hear their voices.

The town is back to normal.

NEXT TIME



I've been missing for a month...

Where were you all this time?

I'm really sorry, Grandpa.

Miss Nanoka,
I've brought your smoothie.

What is it?

Oh, gosh...

Just seeing Mao's face
makes me feel so relieved...

That's...

The monster I saw that day?!

Next time: "Memories of That Day."