02x11 - Ephemeralness and Fire

[bunniefuu]

Hell's Paradise

A faint flower was blooming
unnoticed by anyone

Not a burning red,
but flickering serenely in red

I've been pausing for a long time
dragging my past at my feet

If I break free from this ambivalence,

will I be able to bloom by its side?

The future is slipping away
between my fingers

What mistake did I make
to pay this price?

Always hurting myself

and hesitant even to a small joy

I want to stop now

The flower just bloomed in dignity

and that was all I needed to be happy

I just wanted to protect this one flower

Wishing to be strong, I

picked up the vulnerability
I had once cast away

Can't break free from the ambivalence

In ambivalence, I become myself

Like rooting strongly into the soil

like swaying ephemerally to the wind

I'm slowly loosening myself to bloom

Hell's Paradise

So depending on the matchup,
it may make sense for me to protect you.

Ephemeralness and Fire

We're both shinobi,
but you and I are nothing alike.

Nothing's more important
to me than my life.

I'm not risking it for anything.

I agree.

My goal is to make it back home alive.

To live and see my wife.

I don't intend to risk my life.

Enough.

Mission complete. Let's get out of here.

Don't leave anything behind.

Gabimaru.

You've been acting strange.

You've stopped k*lling on every job.

You used to k*ll everyone in the way
before getting to work.

What does it matter?
We were hired to steal this.

Is that it?

Has getting married changed your thinking?

A mere marriage wouldn't
cause a change of heart.

Oh, welcome home.

D-Darling.

Uh, yeah.

You're not hurt today.

I'm relieved.

L-Lately, I haven't been
hired to k*ll anyone.

I see.

That's good.

I'm glad.

It's not a change of heart.

I'm at a loss.

My whole life, I've only lived
as a shinobi, and yet...

I don't know how to face her.

I-I like chestnut rice.

Huh? Oh...

I see.

I don't know how to face her.

So, what is it this time?

k*lling.

Gabimaru the Hollow,
without blood or tears.

That is my true face.

Welcome...

Stay where you are.

My face looks awful.

I'd only scare you.

Stop.

You'll be soiled.

Y-You're not afraid?

Of course not.

You're not an ogre or a ghost.

Whatever your face looks like,
you're still my husband.

I still don't know how to face her.

But I don't ever want
her expression to be clouded.

Yui...

My goal is to live and see my wife.

I don't intend to risk my life.

So...

I'll risk everything else instead.

My beliefs.

My reason, my common sense.

Even my humanity.

Gabimaru probably using plan B.

Gabimaru

Yuzuriha

What? Plan B?

When human and flower merge, human
turns into flower if flower's tao wins.

But if balanced,
human gains flower's power.

Just like Tensen.

That's what my brother did.

Yes, but he beat flower's tao.

Tan entered body through flower,

but only very small amount,
so achieved balance.

His body same as Tensen now.

In other words, if we control
the transformation,

we can regenerate just like them.

There's something
I'd like to confirm.

Mu Dan's tentacle.

I can use this to turn
myself into flowers.

It should be easy to control this little.

Too dangerous.

Balance happens by coincidence.

Normally, turn into flower,
even if small amount.

But Chobe did it.

How?

Probably because on verge of death.

Tao consumed by breathing, thinking,
everything involved in living.

But when dying, do nothing. No thoughts.

So tao focus only on regenerating.

I see.

No see!

Brother special.

Beat flower's tao even when unconscious.

Sense of self strong.

Desire to live strong.

My brother is special. Give it up.

You'll just end up like the others.

If you stab yourself with that,
you'll turn into a flower and die.

Chobe was different from the others
because he had something to lose.

Because he had someone to live for,

no matter what it cost him.

Abandon humanity to make it home alive.

That is...

Plan B.

It defies common sense.

Gabimaru

Yuzuriha

But Gabimaru could do it.

No, I'm sure he will

if that will get him closer to his wife.

Gaining the ability to regenerate
hasn't changed much.

My opponent hinders me.

My regeneration and tao
are being weakened.

My endurance has only increased slightly.

We both have to avoid fatal blows
to our tanden in particular.

But that's all it would take.

That would be enough...

to k*ll Ran.

Before my body is consumed by flowers.

You're a freak.

You're still fighting after dying once.

You've even abandoned your humanity.

For an uncertainty.

You're a fool.
I don't have time for this.

Maybe you're right.

But there are places only fools can reach.

Calmness and logic won't get you there.

Sometimes, you can only
rely on your experiences.

You're self-serving,
but you're also clear-headed.

You've probably never known
anything that's made you a fool.

You bet I'm clear-headed.

I don't fight anyone I can't beat.

But...

I'll make anyone who tears
my favorite clothes pay.

Those aren't even yours.

My fire tao can't strike a fatal blow
against Ran's water tao.

But for your earth tao, it'd be possible.

Isn't hindering tao ineffective
if the difference is too great?

Plus, unlike Mu Dan, they retain
their intellect while transformed.

I'm not sure any coordinated attack
we throw together will work.

That's why we have to do it.

Honestly, it's a gamble,
but we don't have a choice.

It's for my wife.

Yes, yes. This again.

I'm kind of relieved you haven't changed
despite abandoning your humanity.

Ninjutsu! Such impressive
training and study.

Ninpo: Demonic Firebug.

Ninpo: Pyro Bridge.

Ugh, I was trying to tear that off.

That's plenty.

Ninpo: Ascetic Blaze.

Hot! Move!

The result will always be the same.

I know what you're trying to do.

Your imperfect teamwork is pointless

but beautiful.

A desperate battle. Ninjutsu.

Refined by imperfect humans,
the crystallization of kung fu.

I've got plenty more,
including ones that can k*ll you.

Very well. Show me everything you have.

This is all part of my training.

It will feed my doin.

Did you have to provoke them?

This is fine.

It's the only way we can win.

Oh, come on.

Fine, I'll do it.

Tao consumed by breathing, thinking,
everything involved in living.

Transforming must consume
a lot of tao as well.

In other words, once the transformation
is dispelled, their tao will be exhausted.

They might even have less than us.

Is that true?

Yes.

Kishikai use lots of tao.

Can't maintain a whole hour.

An hour...

That's a long battle.

Are you done already?

Yeah, I've done enough.

I know you respond to external stimuli
the same way humans do.

Even to light.

So extreme flickering should
temporarily excite your nervous system.

Excessive focus due to excitement

robs people of their judgment
and sense of time.

It's an old trick used by shinobi
during interrogations.

Could it be?

I was buying time and waiting for this.

That's a long battle, but
if you can hold out for an hour...

We'll have a rare shot at winning.

Their transformation will fall apart.

After transformation ends, no strength.

Normally, we're powerless
against the god-like Tensen.

So I'll drag them down to
a level I can reach.

That's their actual body's tao.

Now's the time to strike.

They dispelled the transformation
before they ran out of tao.

They're restoring their tao
through circulation.

Yuzuriha!

Destroy Ran's tanden using hindrance
before they can recover!

She can't.

I can see that she's severely wounded.
She can barely stand.

If she focuses her tao
on her weapons, she'll die.

She's not prepared to risk her life.

You're right. I care about
myself first and foremost.

There's no point if I die.

But...

I think I'd die from stress
if I let you live.

I have to do what I want to do.

There's more to life
than breathing, you know?

Very well.

I've had enough.

I have to do what I want to do.

Breathing isn't all there is.

B-Brother...

My poor brother...

Are you all right?

Are you?

I've just been pierced by a pillar.

It's not hindering me.

It'll take time, but I can regenerate.

But it's not perfect, right?

The more you regenerate, the more
you'll turn into a flower, like the Hoko.

It's limited regeneration.

If it continues
to consume you, you'll die.

An even worse hell
could be waiting for you.

Still, I had to do this
if I wanted to return to my wife.

Seriously, you're astonishing.

If you're fine, then let's go.

You're joking, right?

Let me rest!

There's no time.

We'll go after Sagiri and Mei.

It's currently unclear
who will reach the sluice gate.

We may need to get there first.

Then go without me.

I'll catch up after I rest.

Are you sure you're okay?

Oh, you're worried about me?
I'm surprised.

If your wife finds out,
she'll be mad at—

She's not that petty.

I'm totally fine. Just go.

I'll be waiting.

Yuzuriha.

What?

What now?

Thank you for saving me.

I mean it.

Ugh, I screwed up.

This is deep.

It's not like me to get hit.

Rin-pyo-tou-sha-kai-jin-retsu-zai-zen.

But I never show anyone how I truly feel.

I'll live and die by myself.

Do I need a reason to
want to make it back alive?

I'm young and don't want to die.
That's all.

Sorry, Saya.

Your big sister tried really hard
to live for the both of us.

But this might be the end.

When you're struggling,
think about things you like.

Think only of a pet cat,
the one you love,

your family, and beautiful sights.

How unexpected.

No, it's natural
for incomplete tao to win.

Where are you going?

To report to Rien.

You should do as you wish.

Are you sure you should
be leaving us here?

It doesn't matter.
You said you didn't want to fight.

You're not going to avenge your friend?

No.

They were weeded out.
That's part of our training.

That is the way of the sage.
You know that, Mei.

The Tensen are truthseekers.
We have no bonds or feelings.

You followed by example, too.

After leaving Horai, you hid
and watched the island decline.

Why did you return now?

I finally understood life. Was taught.

I see.

I'm jealous.

What was that sound?

This seems bad.

On the other side, even today

Someone is unraveling,
yet they still stand

A stab to the chest, this loneliness

Points and lines,
breaking off and vanishing

My shattered mask

It's more than I can bear

But I must keep on living

Tomorrow awaits to greet me

It's endless

And so fragile

Is it better to believe
hearts don't exist at all?

Radiant and soft

Was the hand

I squeezed back on that day