01x02 - Anta ni wa Karada ga Aru ja Nai ka

[bunniefuu]

I always thought fish were formed weird,
but I see why now.

They're formed that way
to live in the water.

It must feel so good to move so freely.

Maybe "good" comes from the form...

You look good under the water.

Who's there?

Truly, nothing lasts forever.

Always changing, its
very nature is fleeting!

Hm?

Oniyasha?

Oniyasha?

I forgot. You can't swim.

I can't breathe...

But I need to learn more about
the forms of fish

and about "good"...

Now then, it's about time to go back.

And I don't mean to the underwater palace.

And just who are you?

...yasha...

Oniyasha...

Oniyasha!

Sir, why did you do that?!

Turtle...

He's alive.

I thought you had gone to the other side!

Turtle... Turtle...

I think it might be too late for him.

Turtle... Turtle... Turtle...

Wait!

Ishiya!

Yes?

Dance for me!

That's why I didn't want to dance!

I didn't say anything.

I thought you dance pretty good
with just your arms.

Oh, is that so?

Nice to meet you. My name is Ishiya.

Oh, my name is Kogane.

Thank you for looking after Oniyasha.

Shouldn't you go get him?

Hello! Will you dance for me?

Huh? Are you messing with me?

I'm so sorry!

I wanna see you dance!

What?!

He means well!

Dance for me!

Ever since that day,

he's been asking everyone
to dance for him.

You've got it rough.

No one will dance for me.

Of course they won't.

I just want to experience "good" again.

"Good"?

If only I could see that dance again.

Then let's go ask them.

But it was...

What was it?

It was a yokai.

A y-yo...yokai?!

Hey.

What are you kids doing here?

Oh.

Hmph.

It's a human.

Yep.

Of course I'm human!
Don't piss me off.

We're sorry.

Those are some nice
clothes you're wearing.

Supple skin too.

Must be eating good, huh?

If you're done ghost hunting,
you can leave.

I'm not leaving!

I have something to ask!

Sir?

I feel nothing.

You brat! Are you messing with me?

He means well!

It doesn't seem like it to me!

He's always like this.

Then why don't you correct him?!

I'm sorry!

You here?

What?

So you're entertaining kids now too?

Go back home, little boys.

We'll be back tomorrow.

Come on, let's go.

- I'll be back tomorrow!

- Sir...

What a strange kid.

What?

I had no idea...

Kogane!

You dance?

I'm just average.

But you're a natural.

I do like it, but...

Kogane!

So what? Get away from me!

What strange kids.

Again, from the top.

Yes, sir.

Can't they hide better than that?

I'll go get them.

Leave them.

Let the young boy be.

Yes, sir.

Don't you want to perform too?

Me?

You have a beautiful voice.

A powerful one, at that.

How kind of you to say. Thank you.

But I cannot because of my leg.

If you can't dance, can you just sing?

You could sit.

That's my biggest problem.

Unfortunately, that causes me pain,
so I cannot.

Oh, sorry.

Please, don't be.

This is what I consider normal.

Right.

I haven't felt that "good" feeling since.

Again.

How do I feel it again?

Again.

Again...

Again.

How can I see that dance again?!

We were invited to dance for the shogun.

If only you could come with us.

You bore me.

Enough dancing.

Will you dance for me again?

What are you doing?

Here, some burdock in exchange.

Wait a minute.

I might have a friend coming over later.

So, I can't today...

"Friend," huh?

All you do is lie there.

Are you well?

I'm just tired.

But I'm dying for some dango.

I'll bring you some from town.

Hey, show me your dance for a change.

Well...

I've never seen sarugaku before.

There's no point in me showing you.

Why's that?

I have no talent.

What?

I've never thought of my dance as "good."

What even is "good"?

I don't understand anything,

like why people would want to dance.

But I thought of your
dance as "good" once.

If I could see that dance again...

maybe I could understand what "good" is.

What nonsense.

Look around. I have nothing.

No money to spend.

No strength to fight back against men.

All I have is a body bought with burdock
and a shaky dance.

But there's something only I can behold.

Why do I dance?

To live as a human being.

As a performer, that's my only choice.

"No talent"?

Don't make me laugh.

You have a body.

A body?

Leave.

But...

Leave!

If I had danced for the shogun just once,

maybe I could've endured this misery.

Just once,

if only I could've danced on that stage.

Just one bloom...

If I had just a single flower.

Wow...

Good.

But you have a quirk in your footwork.

Is it because of the shirabyoshi?

Kan'ami, Na'ami from Ebina
is here for you.

Try to grab the overall
flow in your dance.

Okay.

The leader just praised him.

He did.

We need to go thank her.

Thank who?

Our teacher, of course.

Sir, I noticed you haven't gone recently.

Did you say something to anger her?

I...

Come on. I'll go with you to apologize.

But...

You just need the intention
to make amends.

I told her I would bring her some dango.

Let's go get some, then.

It's so lively in town.

Sir?

The dango here is so good.

We're proud of it.

Well, if it isn't the young dancer.

What a surprise. Having some dango?

That's right.

Look, your father gave me this.

He said it's payment for
teaching you dance.

I haven't seen you around lately.

I've been waiting, you know?

Miss, are you a shirabyoshi?

Why, yes.

Wow!

Will you dance for me?

I'll give you dango on the house.

Will you?

I'll give you a dance, then.

What is it?

Sir?

- What are you doing?!

- Thief!

Wait! Give it back!

Are you okay?

Give me back my money...

You're really asking us?

Yes, we would like Kanze Troupe
to perform for us.

Imakumano Minazukie...

That means the shogun
will be in attendance.

Kanze Troupe's sarugaku performance
in front of the shogun?!

Stop! He has guests...

Oniyasha. It's been a while...

Sir!

Her dance changed,
and it's all your fault!

Why did you give her money?
She had nothing!

That's why it was good!

Sir, please calm down.

Let go of me!

Oniyasha.

You made someone dance for you.

Therefore...

Her art must be compensated!

He's finally calmed down.

He must've gotten tired
and fallen asleep.

It's like he was the lion
in the lion dance.

Yeah, no kidding.

We should get some rest too.

Shouldn't we watch him?

He's asleep. It's fine.

You're right.

I've never seen him
go against the leader.

I lost my temper.

But if I can't see that dance again,

I won't ever know what "good" is.

I have to apologize to her.

Oniyasha. Oniyasha.

Why are you here?

Nobody noticed he was gone?

Sorry! We never expected him
to escape from there.

It's my fault.

She's lost even her body.

What do I do?

What can I do?

Just once,

if only I could've danced on that stage.

Just one bloom...

If I had just a single flower.

A single flower...

Does she mean a stage where daimyo,

the shogun, and aristocrats would watch?

In that case...

You shared your dance with me.

Now, I will use my body...

to dance in your place.

When you cross over...

I hope...

I hope...

your wish...

will come true.

Do I smile?

Do I rage?

Do I cry?

What am I supposed to do?

A wild crowd dancing...

I see now.

When we're saddled with...

such feelings of helplessness...

and we don't know what to do with them...

Humans use their body...

to dance.

Let me memorize this expression,

and the creak of my muscles and bones.

I have a body!