01x01 - The Traveling Demon

[bunniefuu]

[suspenseful music plays]

[dog barks]

[dog barks]

[dog barks]

[suspenseful music continues]

[grunts]

Hey! Can't this thing go any faster?

Perhaps planning trysts with two ladies
the same night was a bad idea.

-[banging]
-[grunts] What now?

[ox moos]

Look there!

[suspenseful music continues]

[man] Milord! A strange oxcart approaches.

[ox shrieks]

How strange could it be?

There's no ox pulling it!

This must be something demonic.
Stay inside, Lord Narihira!

-[man grunts]
-[ox grunts]

[people shout]

[tense music plays]

[groaning]

What do you want with us?

Well? Answer!

[tense music continues]

I seek the Imperial Palace.

I am in the midst of a week-long journey.

Clear the way, please.

My Lord, flee while I draw its attention!

[woman laughs]

[man grunts]

[man groans]

[tense music continues]

[whimpers]

[man yells]

[music fades]

[rock music plays]

ONMYOJI

[rock music continues]

[music stops]

EPISODE ONE:
THE TRAVELING DEMON

[Narihira breathes shallowly]

That cursed oxcart.

I beg you, Hiromasa,

k*ll the demon before it harms another.

Don't worry, leave it to me.

I'll find a way to protect the capital
and its people, I promise.

BUREAU OF ONMYO

[man] An oxcart moving without an ox
is rather peculiar.

Could one of your onmyoji help me?

I don't have any experience
dealing with the supernatural.

[gasps]

Our duties include observing the stars,

keeping track of the lunar calendar,
and practicing the art of divination.

Demons, not so much.

Although Seimei Abe
should be able to help.

He is rather uniquely qualified.

He sounds perfect.
Do you know where I can find him?

I'm guessing you haven't heard
the rumors about him?

What rumors?

He's a fox's offspring?
Could that be true?

[suspenseful music plays]

Pardon me!

Is there anyone here?

It's like a wilderness.

[man] To sprout, then wither away.

All living things are akin to a flower.

To nurture one
and enjoy it only in full bloom

seems an affront to nature,
wouldn't you say?

Uh... Oh... Seimei Abe, I presume?

Please forgive the intrusion.

My name is...

Oh...

[frog croaks]

Lord Seimei?

-[Seimei chuckles]
-Hm?

-Hm?
-[frog croaks]

Are you mocking me, sir?

[tense music plays]

Hm.

My name is Hiromasa Minamoto.

I don't mean to be rude,
but I have a favor to ask.

-[hissing]
-[Hiromasa yells]

[water splashes]

-[gentle music plays]
-[snake hisses]

[laughs]

[grunts]

[gentle music continues]

[Seimei chuckles]

[Hiromasa] Am I looking
at the real Seimei Abe right now?

-Can you not tell?
-[Hiromasa] Why else would I be asking?

Forgive me. I did not intend
to turn you into a soggy rat.

Care for a seat?

No, thank you.
I would only soil your veranda.

Well, whether it is soiled or not
is in the eye of the beholder.

And I have no opinion on the matter.

Not sure what you mean,

but if it's all right with you...

Ah.

Mitsuyo. Mitsumushi.

[magical chiming]

My word!

Four days ago, a fellow officer,

one by the name of Narihira Ono,

witnessed a mysterious oxcart.

[intriguing music plays]

[Hiromasa] He says it moved
without an ox pulling it.

It appeared in the middle of the night

at the corner
of Suzaku Avenue and Hachijo Street.

When it got to Shichijo, it vanished.

[intriguing music continues]

Narihira's been bedridden ever since.

[Seimei] I see.

Unless something is done,
it poses a threat to others too.

Please, sir, If you can help,
I'd appreciate it.

What a trifling thing to ask me.

In what way is it trifling?

Something sinister is in the capital
and people are suffering!

The capital already has
a man there to help.

[gulps] Who do you mean?

Why, the emperor.

[gasps]

Look. Insult me, but not his grace!

My, you seem in quite the hurry.

You must be ready to leave.

[intriguing music continues]

Uh, what is this?

Your wet clothes, obviously.

[Hiromasa scoffs] Asking you for help
was a mistake!

I can handle one Demon Princess on my own!

Good day!

[music fades]

A Demon... Princess?

[tense music plays]

[man] I hear Lord Hiromasa
went to the fox child to ask a favor.

So, both the Emperor, and Emperor Daigo's
grandson are bewitched by him?

How truly tragic.

[tense music continues]

-[Seimei blows]
-[gasps] My word!

[Hiromasa sputters]

What are you doing here?

I changed my mind
about protecting the capital.

I-Is that true?

No, of course it isn't.

I'm here to see your demon.

[grunts]

Was she riding in the phantom oxcart?

[Hiromasa] Yes. When confronted,

she replied she was heading
to the Imperial Palace.

Then what?

She also said she was
in the midst of a week-long journey there.

If she reaches his grace,
it would be disastrous.

She won't pass here.

Hm? How do you know that?

[tense music plays]

The Demon Princess will appear in Shijo.

[Hiromasa] Why do you think Shijo?

[Seimei] She said her journey
to the palace would take seven days.

Four days ago,

the oxcart appeared in Hachijo,
and vanished in Shichijo.

That's one avenue traversed in one night.

If she was in the eighth block
four days ago...

[Hiromasa] I see.

I'm impressed, Lord Seimei.

[tense music fades]

How do you plan
to go about slaying the demon?

It is not so simple as merely slaying it.

One must see their souls are cleansed
and then exorcised.

Exorcised?

After we've seen her,
all will become clear.

What will become of Narihira?

[Seimei] He suffers
from an exposure to miasma.

He'll recover after a few days rest.

I'm glad to hear that.

[eerie whooshing]

She's here.

[eerie whooshing continues]

[tense music plays]

[oxcart wheels rattle]

[oxcart wheels stop]

You who skulks in the shadows,
show yourself to me.

She knows!

Our presence here
cannot be perceived by her.

She must be speaking of someone else.

[tense music plays]

How dare you threaten our capital?

I don't need that fox child's help.

I will personally see to it
that you are disposed of!

Narihira?

You had to force my hand, Hiromasa.

I refuse to be indebted to that little...

[Narihira whimpers]

-[both gasp]
-My Lord!

[Narihira groans]

-[dog barks]
-[man grunts]

[screams]

-Narihira!
-No, wait!

[dog growls]

[gasps]

[grunts]

-[gasps]
-[dog growls]

[whimpering]

[tense music continues]

[grunts] Narihira!

[tense music continues]

[music fades]

He's dead. What a fool.

Why didn't he let us take care of this?

[melancholy music plays]

[music fades]

"Tonight, we gather our troops
and retaliate at Suzaku Gate."

That's what the emperor ordered.

With a nobleman's death,
he is forced to act, it seems.

The fact this demon is here
may have something to do with me.

What makes you say that?

[Hiromasa] I received this six days ago.

When this oxcart trouble began?

I was just about to depart Suzaku Gate

when I was approached by a dog.

[gentle music plays]

[Hiromasa] I think the dog from that day
and the demon dog from last night

are one and the same.

[Seimei] "Receiving your love
only makes my heart ache."

"How can I smile
when visits are not made?"

Be honest now. Have you
been toying with a woman's affection?

No!

I'm no casual lover.

Or I wouldn't be,
if I had the opportunity.

-[Seimei] Thought so.
-What?

[Hiromasa sighs] Well,
do you know what it means?

Deciphering poems isn't my specialty.

[Seimei] It speaks of a woman
scorned by a man, much to her anguish.

[Hiromasa] Really?
I wonder if that man is me.

[Seimei] The man
that she refers to is not you.

How do you know that?

You stepped out of my protective barrier
last night.

[Seimei] But you were not noticed
by the Demon Princess, were you?

[Hiromasa] You're right. I wasn't.

[Seimei] Had Lord Narihira
stayed quietly in his abode,

his hubris would not
have cost him so dearly.

When you received the letter,
had anything of note transpired?

[Hiromasa] Well, I reported
to the Imperial Court as usual that day.

I received the emperor's
hand-copied Perfection of Wisdom sutra,

then...

-[Seimei] That's it.
-Huh? What is?

If he wrote the sutra,
it would smell of incense.

The dog mistook you

for the emperor.

[gasps]

Rest assured, Your Grace,

I promise Seimei Abe and myself will
see to it that the matter is resolved.

Tonight, keep your men
clear of Suzaku Gate.

"How can I smile
when visits are not made?"

I shall do as you ask,
and I am grateful for your discretion.

Grateful?

[oxcart woman] It is the seventh day.

"Receiving your love
only makes my heart ache."

"How can I smile
when visits are not made?"

Now I shall go
and see the one that I love.

[wind howls]

[Seimei] So, did you obtain
that item we discussed?

Yes.

A lock of the emperor's hair,
as you requested.

Did he... say anything else?

That he was grateful for my discretion,
which I found odd.

This woman from his past,
I'm sure he wishes to keep it private.

Oh, right.

I can't believe
what a foolish man you are.

Where'd that come from?

No matter how hard you work
for the sake of others,

involving yourself with me
will only yield distasteful rumors.

Rumors don't mean anything to me.

I was told I'd be cursed
if our eyes ever met.

Yet here I am, right as rain.

[Seimei laughs]

And what's so funny?

-They truly have no effect on you.
-Huh?

Rumors. They're like curses
that you create yourself.

"Spell" can be read as "curse"

and the shortest one is a name.

Moon, mountain, willow, road.

A name binds
the fundamental state of all things.

Once it's named, even that which is unseen
can be bound with a curse.

A man who has fallen in love with a woman.

A woman who has fallen in love with a man.

To name it gives the emotion its form,

creating a curse.

[gentle music plays]

Our Demon Princess
may also be shackled by such a curse.

[gentle music continues]

If you impede me,
you know what will happen to you.

[tense music plays]

An onmyoji?

I do apologize, but I cannot
allow that man to go with you.

Why would you get in my way?

Is my love involved with this?
Does he wish to have me exorcised?

[sputters]

[oxcart woman] Why would he
do such a cruel thing?

I have already debased myself.

All for the sake of seeing him once more.

[oxcart woman cries]

[oxcart woman roars]

[oxcart woman] Does he really
have that much hatred for me?!

[men gasp]

[dramatic music plays]

[oxcart woman] I have come too far
to have you stop me here!

[dog growls]

[tense music plays]

-[dog snarls]
-[Hiromasa grunts]

[dog yelps]

[Hiromasa grunts]

[tense music continues]

Tell me! Is it because
I k*lled the man who interfered?

[gasps] My love told me...

He told me he would return for me!

What would you have me do
if not yearn for him?!

I have waited so very long
for him to come back.

I cannot allow you to take him away.

However, I can convey
your true feelings to him.

[oxcart woman gasps]

[gasps]

[magical chiming]

[oxcart woman whimpers]
No, don't look at me!

-Not when I look like this.
-[dog whines]

[oxcart woman cries]

I'm sorry for how I treated you,

Rindo.

-[Rindo gasps]
-[romantic music plays]

You still remember me after all this time?

[romantic music continues]

[Rindo] That day when I first met you,

I was still young and innocent.

I had no idea
you would one day become emperor.

[romantic music continues]

Rindo!

Huh?

[Rindo] Those days, those nights,

they meant everything in the world to me.

[romantic music continues]

[emperor] I'm leaving them with you.

Think of me when you look at them.

I will return for you.

[Rindo] After you left,
day in and day out,

I held you in my thoughts.

I told myself again and again,

"Surely tomorrow.
Tomorrow, you'll be back."

[romantic music continues]

I was so lonely.

I missed you more than I could bear!

And the next thing I knew,

I turned into the horrible demon
that you see before you.

[emperor] Even now, you are beautiful.

[Rindo gasps]

[romantic music continues]

[Rindo cries]

My darling, I love you with all my heart.

[romantic music continues]

[water splashes]

[grunts]

[romantic music continues]

[Hiromasa] You know, Seimei,

I didn't expect a demon
could be both wretched and endearing.

[Seimei] Endearing?

[Hiromasa] Well, after waiting so long,
she turned into a demon.

Tonight, the princess
was finally granted her only wish.

You granted it and saved her soul.

[Seimei] You give me too much credit.

-I simply deceived her.
-[Hiromasa] You what?

Using that lock of hair,
I placed a curse upon it,

thus summoning
a convincing illusion for her.

What do you think now?

Am I still a noble savior in your eyes?

You are. An illusion or not,
his words were no deception.

You really do have a pure heart.

You must, considering
you were also deceived.

Well, then again, you also
mistook me for a frog, didn't you?

Are you going to bait me like that
all the time now?

Hardly. This business
between you and I is finished.

I am done doing favors for you.

[Hiromasa] Fine. I won't bother you again.

[man] No!

[groans] It's gone! All of it. It's gone!

Seimei! Someone bring Seimei!

[gentle ballad plays]

[music fades]