01x02 - Bewilderment

[bunniefuu]

It possesses enormous power,
and brings endless pleasure-

and destruction-to those who are destined.

The Witchblade.

At this moment, one woman has awakened.

Just before the sh*t,
my chest feels like it's gonna tear open

I shout out countless times, break out

It's not over,
rush through the endless night

Hot blood flows through my body

The moment it ultimately rots away

it's all over,
fragments of an empty dream come to mind

I can never go back,
I can't remember a thing

I've been reduced to struggling,
and my voice won't carry

Uncontrollable impulses

Give me your XTC,
let me feel it one more time

This body heats up, and I shout out
your name in the darkness

Give me your XTC, I don't need false love

I will accept it, sin and punishment

Slash through the destiny
I've been set up with, Blade

"Bewilderment"

Mom!

Hey, did a woman come this way?

You mean my mom?

No, a strange woman
wearing armor or something.

I'm sure she ran this way...

Did you see my mom?

Huh? Oh. Sorry, but this
is as far as I go.

There're police all over, so ask them.

I can't ask the police! Please!

I just need to get inside,
so please help me!

Forget it! Besides, you escaped
from the Dept. Of Child Welfare!

I'll get in trouble if I help you.
It's the law, y'know?

Nope! Can't use the same trick twice!

Fine! I'll look for her myself!

Hey, stop! It's too graphic for kids
to see! You won't be able to sleep!

-My mom!
-I said stop!

Tozawa! What're you doing?!

Yikes!

Why do I always find you
sneaking around?!

Good question. I wonder why?

Isn't it too early to be on the scene?
You have some information?

Don't be silly! But is this related
to all the murders? You only-

Shut up!

Who's the kid? Don't tell me you-

Oh, I just started babysitting!
Well, thanks for all your hard work!

Any other time, I'd teach him a lesson!

Phew, that was close!
Nakata would kick my ass in a fight...

Hey, if you don't like the cops,
I'd stay away from there for a while.

Yeah...

You'll find out about your mom in time,
so go back to Child Welfare.

Never!

You got anywhere else to go?

No...

It's me, Segawa.

Enter.

We have her, sir. She's in the guest room.

Did you find out who she is?

According to the police database,
she has a Lost ID.

In other words, all her records
were lost during the Great Earthquake.

The government opened
a new ID file on her.

That's rare. That usually happens
with children and the elderly.

She lost her memory during
the Great Quake six years ago.

I see.

When she was brought to the hospital,
the only thing confirmed

was that she was the mother
of the infant she was with.

There was nothing in her
maternity record book about her identity?

No. And no family members
came to claim her.

But what's most interesting is
where they were both rescued...

Naru Point-the epicenter of the disaster.

I believe that's where
she encountered the Witchblade.

Although who knows whether
that was a good thing or bad...

-We're here.
-Where are we?

My office-cum-sleeping quarters.

It was an expl*si*n,
but do they know the cause?

Nothing definite has been determined.

Inside sources say the suspect
smuggled in expl*sives...

That hasn't been-

We understand there were
very few guards on duty.

-Yo.
-Welcome back!

What's with the kid?!

Some stuff came up...

Hello.

So you brought her here?

Yeah.

Are you crazy?!

I couldn't help it! I don't wanna
get caught up in any trouble!

I found a story I wanna follow!

Ridiculous!

You should've stayed out of headlines
and stuck to taking pictures!

Pictures like this one!

This one's gonna be a big scoop!

And when it breaks, I'll pay you
the rent many times over!

I just want one month's rent... Now!

Err... nope. Can't, right now.

Naomi! If you're so concerned, come here!

Cripes, you're a fortune-teller!
What's the use if you're gonna be shy?!

Maybe you should change careers.

It's not NaOmi... It's Naomi...

Thank you for the meal.

You're spending the night at my place.
You can't stay with him.

Don't even got a bed.

Now listen. You're going back
to the Child Welfare tomorrow!

Eh?!

No! Please! Don't tell them!

I'm not listening to your pleas!
Well, it's time for bed! Come here!

Please! I'll help with
the cooking and cleaning!

Yeah, right! Child Welfare
would sue me if I did that!

-Come on! Quit being dumb!
-No!

-I said come out!
-No!

No!

Hey! Stay still!

C'mon! Let go! Settle down!

Then stay there! I'm going to
call Child Welfare tomorrow anyway!

Cripes! That's one little
bag of trouble you brought back!

She's pretty gutsy, to defy you.

Well, guess I'll get some sleep
and develop my big story tomorrow.

Your luck will run low in the afternoon.

" st Floor Out Of Order
(Building Management)"
Your luck will run low in the afternoon.

" st Floor Out Of Order
(Building Management)"
I've always liked to have fun.

" st Floor Out Of Order
(Building Management)"
Well, good night.

" st Floor Out Of Order
(Building Management)"
You too, kiddo.

You too, kiddo.

Good grief... Such a stubborn child.

Mom...

I'm freezing now.

Eh?! What's going on?!

You're awake?

I brought you some breakfast.

Umm... Where am I?

You're in the VIP room
of Douji Group Industries.

Douji?

We rank in the top ten internationally.

Umm... Why am I here?

Director Takayama will explain
to you after breakfast.

Forgive my rudeness. I am Segawa,
Director Takayama's assistant.

Please enjoy your breakfast.

Umm-!

It seems the tranquilizer
hasn't quite worn off.

I suggest you take it easy for a while.

If you need anything, just call me
at extension . Excuse me.

Riko!

Riko...

Yes, I have her.

Who cares how she got here?
Just come get her.

Yes, thank you for contacting us!

Rihoko-chan's been found?!

Yes! Whew, what a relief!

Sakurai-san!

Father is back.

Oh no!

It is one year since the chairman
of the non-profit organization NSWF,

Furumizu Tatsuoki, appeared in public.

He's come to check on the progress
of the Dept. Of Child Welfare,

which he helped the government establish.

NSWF has focused its work in
areas that benefit children,

and Mr. Furumizu is
lovingly nicknamed, "Father."

-Bye-bye!
-Bye-bye!
-Bye-bye!

Any word on the Witchblade?

Not yet.

Let us hurry.

-Bye-bye!
-Bye-bye!
-Bye-bye!

Two of the victims in the
Pulverizer Murders worked at the NSWF.

Just past the NSWF facility
where I found the kid was a monster.

And even Detective Nakata of
Special Investigations showed up...

Are they all connected?
Nah, couldn't be...

Where are we going?
You said you'd explain...

We will, but we need to
go somewhere else for that.

The director will join us.

This way, please.

Don't you think it's wise to listen first
and try to grasp the situation?

You're the director?

Yes.

I understood that I'd get
an explanation of all this.

-We have searched hard and long.
-Huh?

For that.

Do you remember
what happened last night?

Somewhat...

Has that ever happened before?

That was the first time! What was that?!

What is this thing?! If you know, tell me!

The Witchblade.

The Witchblade?

The most powerful w*apon of all.
It's existed since ancient times.

The one who possesses this
has the power to control the world.

To that end, battles over it have
been secretly fought for millennia.

I've never heard about-

What benefit is it to boast
about the existence of treasure?

I can tell you more about its past,
but it has nothing to do with you.

In any case, its final owners
were the Douji Group.

However, it was lost in the
Great Earthquake six years ago...

At the epicenter of the disaster,
Naru Point.

That's-!

Yes, where you were found, it seems.

You know a lot about me.

I had you checked out. Including about
your as*ault of a police officer.

That was...

Whatever, but that's a rude tone
to use with someone you just met!

There's no mistake you encountered
the Witchblade during the Quake.

But why me?

You should ask the Witchblade that.

Ask?

From what we know, not just anyone
can don the Witchblade.

And throughout history,
only women have been able to do that.

Women?

But simply being a woman isn't enough.

Most women are incompatible with it.

We don't know what
conditions must be met.

In any case, you were
chosen by the Witchblade.

Hold on a sec! I don't know
what's what anymore...

I expect not.

Enough! Let's cut to the chase!

Basically, this belongs to you, right?
Take it off! You can have it back!

-I'm afraid we can't.
-Why not?!

We're still researching how to remove it.

But if you insist,
we can cut off your arm.

Get serious! Do something
about this thing!

There's no need to be troubled.
It's a power worth having.

-I don't need its "power"!
-Not for you. For us.

I told you, it belongs to us.

Since it cannot be removed,
you belong to us, too.

W-what the hell are you talking about?!

From now on, you will work for us.

Thanks, but I prefer to
find my own employment.

Let me off! I've had enough explanations!

I know this has nothing to do with me now!

Oww! Let go!

You cannot escape. As long
as you wear the Witchblade,

you will battle,
regardless of what you want.

Battle? Battle who?

You'll find out soon.

Forget it! Let me go home!

Home to where?

You escaped from the detention center
amid all the confusion.

You brought me here!

You're guilty of breaking
child welfare laws, obstructing justice,

destruction of property,
and running from the law.

Your daughter would cry if she heard.

Don't tell me you have Rihoko, too!

She ran away from
the Child Welfare Center.

Huh?!

Naturally, we're looking for her.

Idiot! Why didn't you tell me that first?!

How long are you going to glare at it?!

Eat it! Or I can't clean up!

-Umm...
-There's time!

-Update on last night's expl*si*n
at the South Asagaya Det. Center.

It has been learned that a woman
being held at the detention center

is currently missing.

There is also a possibility
that she was buried in the rubble,

and a search is currently underway.

Was that about Mom?

Who knows. They only said "woman".

She escaped in the confusion, right?
That's what I'd do.

You're right. Mom can run fast...

Is that so?

Mom ran away... I just know it!

Let me off! Let me off!

-We've arrived.
-Eh?!

Our company's prized lab.

Lab?

Kid!

Mariko-san! At least knock, will ya?

-That girl is gone!
-Eh?

"Thanks for letting me
stay the night. Rihoko"

First, I wish to see with my own eyes
what this Witchblade is like.

What's happening?!
Hey! Hey! What's going on?!

Let me out! Hey! Open up!

I've had enough of this!
Open up! What's going on?!

What is this?!

Hey!

What are you planning to do?!

What will it be? Are you sure
we can begin so suddenly?

I don't care. Begin.

Riko... I'm sure she's looking for me...

This is her completed form...

I feel it... I feel it!

If you get lost, let's meet
under the Tokyo Tower!

I murmur, "I love you,"
with all my emotion

All my feelings until yesterday
now overflow and dissolve quickly

If only this one last prayer
could make it through...

Thank you for giving us the words
to ascertain each other, God

Tomorrow, we'll reach out
and hold hands harder than normal

Tomorrow, we'll reach out,
hug, kiss, and love each other