Original subtitles

All right, we end there.

You okay, Reiji?

Y-Yeah.

Good match, men.

You've come a long way,

Shinji.

I'm honored to hear those words, Father!

I owe it all to your guidance

and the excellent opponent to my right!

You're lucky to have each other.

- FIRST AID BANDAGES GENTLE ON SKIN

- Ouch... Looks like I've got another scar to add to my collection.

Sorry, Reiji, I kind of lose myself in the heat of the moment.

It's no big deal.

As the family heir, you've got to be strong, Shinji.

If I can be your stepping stone to success, then I'm all in.

Hey, hey, don't be ridiculous!

You're no stepping stone!

It doesn't matter that I'm supposed to be head of the family,

we'll always be brothers!

And if I screw up,

I know you'll always have my back, right?

Wha—?!

Hey, don't look so excited!

I'm counting on you.

Reiji.

Okay.

That was then...

That's how we used to be.

Growing up as twins, the world around us was the same.

But eventually it sunk in. Somehow...

Shinji was always just a little bit better.

He was always one step ahead of me.

I looked up to him.

I followed his example.

Eventually, I didn't just give up on trying to beat him.

I stopped trying to catch up.

I figured I was destined to be in his shadow.

And I was just fine with that.

Tonight, the Rite of the Sword commences.

I presume you are ready...

Shinji.

Yes.

The Rite of the Sword is the final test

of the Kirihara-ryu Sword Arts.

The ritual also establishes you

as the new head of the Kirihara family.

The woods behind the house conceals the cave, Wind's Hollow.

In the farthest recesses of the cave is the sword,

the blade protected by the Kiriharas for generations.

The supernatural...

Hell Tempest.

Long ago, it became possessed by a mononoke.

The task is to overcome the spirit within and recover the sword.

This is the Rite of the Sword.

I remember witnessing the ceremony with my brother when we were young.

We had no idea what we were seeing, but we could feel it.

The malice and sinister mononoke powers sealed within

grow stronger with each passing year.

Resist its curse with all your might!

Understood.

I shall do my best!

Careful, Shinji.

I've got this!

I'll exorcise that spirit and be back with the blade in no time!

All right...

Shinji Kirihara...

Reporting for duty!

Just as he promised...

Shinji wouldn't be long.

But...

Run, Reiji! You're no match for—

Father!

No...

It's overtaken him...

My brother!

The Hell Tempest's won!

Father was right...

You're no match for me now.

That's why...

You must become stronger.

Reiji...

Train as if your life depends on it.

So one day you can kill me!

He's crying...

W-What..? What are you saying?

Isn't he possessed?

W-Wait! Where are you going?

Why?

Why are you leaving me here?

Why, Shinji?

Shinji, Shinji...!

It's no use, Reiji.

You're still too weak.

You've a long way to go before you've a chance at killing me.

He's nothing more than a figment of my imagination.

Facing this illusion

won't help me understand my real brother.

He's been a mystery since he left.

That's why...

I've got to see this through, see him with my own eyes.

Besides...

We'll always be brothers!

I promised him.

And if I screw up, I know you'll always have my back, right?

I'm counting on you, Reiji.

I don't know much about hallucinations,

but I'd say that was a dream I won't be forgetting.

Thanks to you...

I feel like a veil has been lifted.

Ichikaaaa!

Ichikaaaa!

Sorry.

It's gonna take a little more than an illusion to get to me.

I'm not that little girl anymore!

Oh.

Ichika's out too.

And both under ten minutes.

Splendid, splendid!

Are you all right, Ichika?

Of course I am.

This kinda stuff is nothing.

Well...

That leaves Jiro and Rago.

I sure hope they're all right...

They don't seem great at handling this sort of thing.

And their situation's unique to say the least.

The Lotus of Delirium works to bring

its subject's emotional insecurities and traumas to life.

But they're two souls fused into one.

Wonder what it's cookin' up for them?

Shit!

This guy's huge and fast!

Seriously, what is this thing?!

Do you really wish to know who I am?

What?! You can talk?!

Then listen and I shall teach you.

What the hell's this?

What's wrong, Fuyo?

Dammit.

I lost control of the Lotus!

What?!

And the cause?

I can't say for sure, but I'd say it's Rago.

This is really not good!

Not good how?

Ultimately, the Lotus of Delirium aims to destroy its occupant

by using their own memories against them.

I can't intervene or abort.

They'll have to break out on their own...

Or the Lotus will crush them!

Whoa, whoa, whoa...

What is this place?

Don't tell me we're in that thing's gut now.

H-Hey, Jiro, isn't that?

W-Wha...?

Hold up, that's...

There's no question.

That's the death obsidian that imprisoned me!

But what's that thing doing here?

Thank you, you blessed us with another bountiful harvest!

With your grace, we could pay our annual land dues!

And Mama is feeling so much better!

It is all thanks to you, Master Rago!

-Huh?! -Huh?!

Ah, just shut it, kid.

Day after day after day.

Don't you ever get bored?

Huh, Jirobei?

Oh, Master Rago!

Many moons have passed since you allowed me to gaze upon thee!

'Tis a blessed day indeed.

Quit bowing. It's irritating.

Besides, it's not like I had anything to do with it.

Your crops were good 'cause the weather happened to cooperate.

And your mom wasn't that sick to begin with.

No no, you don't understand!

Word has it in other villages, oni and mononoke have been

killing innocents and destroying fields.

But none of them come to harm our village

because you protect us.

Humph, I'm not trying to protect anybody.

I just happen to like this place,

and the other mononoke are too chicken to get close.

Nothing more to it than that.

That's more than enough for us!

Your mere presence here is our saving grace!

I'm so glad our local deity happened to be you, Master Rago!

Well, I better get back to work.

Here this is for you, I hope you enjoy it!

See you tomorrow then!

Do me a favor and don't!

Hey...

Don't tell me, is this...?

Precisely.

These are my memories from before I entered the death obsidian.

Which means...

That giant demon is...

It was 1730.

Year of the Eighth Shogun, Yoshimune Tokugawa.

In those days, mononoke of all walks of life...

from oni and goblins to mountain sprites and local deities,

were known to humans.

They feared and revered us.

My, how the time has flown by, Rago.

Huh?

I'm glad to see you are well...

Old friend.

Well, well...

If it isn't, Amagi.

Death obsidian, eh?

You always had such eclectic tastes.

It's practically poison to us, no?

That's the whole point.

It keeps those pesky fools outta my hair.

Huh, I see.

What's wrong, Rago?

You haven't said a word.

Yeah... It's his voice... I've heard it somewhere.

Now I remember... I'm positive.

Huh?

When I was pulled from that rock,

he was the guy on that light-emitting slate!

W-Wha...?

So?

What brings the god of the holy mountains

to this humble little village?

It seems in recent years,

the humans have intensified their mononoke hunting efforts.

Yeah, so what?

The pesky fools got cocky,

and now, they're getting their just deserts.

That's not what I mean.

The humans have become more active, more organized.

Organized?

They're being backed by...

The shogunate.

Over the last several years,

they've been forming an undercover anti-mononoke force.

The Oniwaban.

Those fools, in the name of "peace"...

Ruthlessly murder mononoke in packs.

I've many compatriots and acquaintances who've already become victims.

And some have been foolish enough to join their human oppressors.

The situation is deplorable.

Huh, so you came here to warn me?

I should say not.

I want you to join us.

Join us in our crusade against the Oniwaban.

It is our nature to feast on humans,

flood the rivers, burn the mountains.

It is what makes them fear and worship us.

But the humans are attempting to upend this natural order.

And I will not allow that to transpire.

It is why I am traveling the land,

looking for mononoke willing to rise up.

Should you lend us your—

The answer's no.

What?

You fellas do what you want...

I'm not joining anyone's cause.

Don't come begging me for help.

You fool!

Can you not grasp what is at stake?!

This concerns all mononoke!

Who cares?

If that Oniwawa or whatever gets really bad,

I'll take care of myself.

You speak foolishness...

So your answer is to join the humans?

That's enough.

Rago, your logic I do understand.

But we also mean what we say.

Join the humans, or become the hunted.

But know that a mononoke of your power will not be ignored.

I shall return tomorrow.

You may give me your answer then.

Do me a favor and don't, jerk!

They spoke the truth.

I didn't fully grasp what was at hand.

I underestimated the Oniwaban.

But even more so...

I was ignorant of Amagi's ambitions.

I'm a man of my word.

Now give me your verdict.

I must admit, this village has grown on me.

The land is fertile,

the water is clear, and the air is so fresh.

Most of all...

The local food is divine.

I need the sustenance for the battle that lies ahead.

Besides, what fun is recruiting

if you don't indulge in the regional delicacies?

My apologies, Rago...

It appears...

I've left only a scrap for you to savor.

A... ma... gi!!

I expected no less...

From the Black Star of Doom.

But this power— this overwhelming force...

I made the right choice in returning to retrieve you...

Looks like all that survived is you and me,

and that power-suppressing death obsidian.

My comrades and I may've gorged on every last one of the villagers,

but you've vaporized my comrades

and every last pebble in this village.

Which means the humans will hold you responsible.

They'll never count you as an ally.

In a way...

It was you who brought carnage to their doorsteps.

I...

killed them.

It was because of me.

Now then, let's hear it.

Do you kill me,

and turn the humans and mononoke against yourself?

Or do you join me to crush the Oniwaban!

Choose, Rago!

With this level of destruction,

it's only a matter of time before the Oniwaban come after you.

Your mere presence here is our saving grace!

Whatever you choose, conflict will be unavoidable!

Why not, then, assure that friends will be by your side?

I'm so glad our local deity happened to be you, Master Rago!

I can't stand it...

You and those humans,

you all think you can tell me what to do.

I'm sick of it all.

Wait, Rago!

What are you...?

I told you.

I side with no one.

Don't do something you'll regret, Rago!

I take care of my own problems.

Rago! Stop!

So long.

That's how I fused with the death obsidian

and sealed myself away.

This is how I took responsibility...

By choosing not to ally with either side.

This was my...

Took responsibility my butt!

You were trying to look cool while walkin' away from the whole mess!

Jiro, you're here!

Of course I am! What're you half asleep?!

Oh, sorry.

Jeez, quite freakin' out, okay?

I can't say anything 'bout the old you...

But you're not alone anymore!

That's a choice this you made.

You made it that way the day we met.

The day you saved my life.

Humans, mononoke, allies, enemies...

Did you think of any of that crap when you were saving me?

I've done some dumb things, but this...

Huh?

It's just hit me, how stupid all of this is.

Huh? What do you mean?

Well, think about it.

Here I go off swearing I'd never side with anyone,

and lo and behold,

I end up fusing with a little brat like you.

I refuse to accept this!

This...

Shall not come to pass!

Yikes, I totally forgot.

We still gotta take care of this guy!

I stay alone... I side with no cause!

With you gone, I could reclaim my sweet solitude.

If you die...

I can return to my slumber!

Just so ya know,

I've got no intention of dying alongside you.

Took the words right outta my mouth!

It's no use, I can't get it to budge!

Oh... Now this is bad...

Everyone, move out!

Aaagh, I thought we were worm food.

Jiro!

Ah, dammit. How could we be the last ones?

Good. At least the training part was a success.

Good. At least the training part was a success.

ALL THIS EXCITEMENT'S MADE ME A TOTAL KLUTZ

Now, whether it was an ordinary success

or a major success...

That all depends on what they saw.

Yup.

Major success, no doubt about it.

A mononoke by the name Amagi, eh?

Sounds like he's high up in the enemy command.

We should get going on writing up that report to the higher—

Won't be necessary.

Huh?

A nice little wildcard just landed itself in our laps.

I think we need to pocket it for just the right moment...

Would be a waste not to, am I right?

KUSUMI