01x03 - Ashiya Doman

[bunniefuu]

[somber music plays]

[woman cries]

Huh?

[somber music continues]

Kujo!

Please forgive me.

[Kujo] Everything's fine.

And it's all thanks to you, Lady Fujiko.

Why thanks to me?

[suspenseful music plays]

[Kujo] Tonight, I'll play the biwa
for you again.

[music fades]

[rock music plays]

ONMYOJI

[rock music continues]

[music stops]

EPISODE 3:
ASHIYA DOMAN

[Seimei] Hm? Are you not tired
of coming here yet?

Believe me, it's not as though
I want to be here.

[Seimei] I won't do it.

You could at least
listen to what I have to say.

[Seimei] I said
I was done doing you favors. Hm.

[woman] Please, sir. Please save my lady!

My name is Koume.

Three years ago,
my master departed this world.

I have been looking after his wife,
Lady Fujiko, ever since.

And you're here now
because something has happened to her.

Yes. You see, she...

[Seimei] A moment.

Listen, you, don't tell me
you brought her to me

without knowing anything about her story.

She said it was spirit-related.

Although distant, Madam Koume and I
share the same bloodline.

It was only right I honor her wish.

[Koume] After hearing you two
were friends, I simply had to ask you.

-Friends?
-I-I never said that, all right?

For some reason, that's what everyone
at Court has been saying about us.

[Seimei sighs]

-[Seimei] Please make this quick.
-Of course.

The matter in question,

it pertains to a young girl Lady Fujiko
is rather partial to who plays the biwa.

[Koume] When her husband passed away
those three years ago,

my lady was beset
with a terrible sense of grief.

[biwa music plays]

Huh?

[Koume] Hoping to mend her broken heart,

a friend of hers brought someone along.

Princess Kujo.

[biwa music continues]

[music fades]

[Fujiko] That playing of yours
was quite sublime.

[Kujo] Oh, I...

I'm so glad you approve of my...

[both] Oh!

[gentle music plays]

[Koume and Fujiko giggle]

-Have you hurt yourself?
-Uh, no, I'm fine.

Sorry about that.

She is so adorable!

Once that regal demeanor
she has performing melts away,

she's as sweet as honey.

Really?

I've wanted to ask Princess Kujo
to perform for me for some time.

[Koume] It was thanks to her

that Lady Fujiko
was able to make a full recovery.

Does that conclude your story?

If so, please depart.

If that had been the end of my story,
I wouldn't be here now.

[Koume] One month ago, Princess Kujo
suddenly stopped showing up.

No one had any idea as to her whereabouts.

[Fujiko] Kujo...

[woman] Cheer up, milady.
I might be able to help.

[Koume] A female onmyoji
had come to see her.

And even though Princess Kujo
did indeed return soon after...

Please. Continue.

[Koume] Well, the girl arrives
at the estate in the dead of night,

looking as pale as can be.

Not only her, but Lady Fujiko
also seems to be unwell as of late.

[Seimei] If you thought me
to be a physician,

I am afraid you have mistaken me.

[Koume] But I haven't mistaken you!

I was told specifically
to seek out Seimei Abe and no one else.

[Seimei] Who told you?

[Koume] It was a mouse.

[Hiromasa] Oh, come now.

[Koume] I'm not lying! It was
a strange creature with bat-like wings.

Very well. I'll take this case.

-[Hiromasa] You will?
-[Koume] Oh, thank you so much!

I'm surprised how quickly
you went and changed your mind.

I realized who was involved.

Something untoward must have happened
to Princess Kujo.

This is obviously a riddle
sent for me to solve.

Riddle, you say?

Yes. I cannot decline this challenge.

We shall go there tonight and observe.

[Koume] Lady Fujiko has explicitly forbade
anyone else to see Princess Kujo.

Do take care.

And be sure not to get caught.

[Hiromasa] Nothing
out of the ordinary, it seems.

The music is beautiful, regardless.

-Don't get too comfortable.
-Why?

Beauty is a curse.

You and your curses. Why can't you
just accept that the music is beautiful?

Even if the same notes are heard,

some may liken them to a sweet persimmon,

while others may find their taste bitter.

[Hiromasa] That's true, I guess.

[Seimei] In other words, it is not
the sound itself that is beautiful.

The beauty is created
within the ear of the beholder.

-By that person's very soul.
-[Hiromasa] Hmm.

[Seimei] If your soul is stirred
by the sound of that biwa,

then a curse called beauty
has been created within your soul.

[Seimei] The purer the sound,
the easier it is for a curse to take root.

The sound of your flute
has that same power.

Why do you have to make things
so confu... Uh...

[Kujo moans]

-She's hurt!
-[Kujo gasps]

[tense music plays]

[Hiromasa groans]

[tense music continues]

-[Fujiko] Kujo?
-[Kujo gasps]

Yes, Lady Fujiko?

[music fades]

They're gone now.

[grunts] Sorry about that.

I didn't mean to blurt that out.

[sniffs] Is that incense I smell?

It's quite pungent.

What's that?

It's dirt.

[Hiromasa] That was
where Princess Kujo was sitting.

The dirt there also smells like incense.

We're heading back.

Did you figure something out?

[Seimei] More or less.

We'll resume this tomorrow
when our guide arrives.

What guide?

[Seimei] What's this?
A paltry fish I presume?

-[Hiromasa grunts]
-[Seimei] Oh.

[tranquil music plays]

You're eating both of them yourself?

[Seimei] They're your gift
to me, aren't they?

Well, yes, they are. Oh, never mind.

Thanks for the drink, Mitsumushi, Mitsuyo.

[tranquil music continues]

By the way, Seimei...

[Seimei] Yes?

I don't mean to pry, but do you and those
two young girls live here together?

[Seimei] Oh, they're not girls.
They're Shikis.

[Hiromasa] What are Shikis?

[Seimei] Beings I summon to serve me.

Their true identity lies there.

-[Hiromasa] The wisteria flowers?
-[Seimei] Yes.

Then that means you've been living
in this huge mansion all by yourself.

Aren't you lonely?

-Of course I'm lonely.
-[Hiromasa gulps]

Even so, humans are solitary creatures.

Whether there are others here or not,
the end result is the same.

[tranquil music fades]

So what I'm hearing
is that you are lonely, then?

[Seimei] Hm.

[Hiromasa] What is it?

[Seimei] Our guide is here.

Uh, they are?

-[squeaking]
-[Hiromasa] Uh...

[mouse squeaks]

My word!

I have to say,

I've grown rather fond of this mouse.

Have you now?

-[mouse squeaks]
-Oh!

This is where that female onmyoji
you spoke of lives?

[suspenseful music plays]

Well, look at that. You actually came.

As if I had a choice.

That's her? I didn't think
she'd be so young.

[Seimei] Looks can be deceiving.

Last time we met,
she was an 80-year-old man.

[woman] Care for a drink?

I am afraid it is not to my taste.

[woman] How about you, then?

-Oh, I guess I...
-It's not to his taste either.

Come on, you're no fun at all.

How about a rousing game of sugoroku then?

[Seimei] We would rather not
lose our bodies like Lord Kaneie.

-[woman] That wasn't my doing, you know?
-[Hiromasa] Uh...

[Seimei] But you were the one
who incited it.

[dripping]

That is how she created
that winged mouse Shikigami of hers.

Seimei, who is this person?

A cunning onmyoji.

One who swindles
and devours people's souls for fun.

Lady Doman Ashiya.

[Doman snarls]

[Doman] Why'd you drag this man
along with you?

[Seimei] Even I don't know
the answer to that.

[Doman chuckles] Really?
There's something even you don't know!

So, what about the biwa girl?

[Seimei] You used a resurrection spell.

[Doman] Well done.

What's a resurrection spell?

[Seimei] It returns a dead person's soul
to their body.

-In other words, that girl is deceased.
-She's what?

[Seimei] The dirt must have come
from the ground she was buried in.

And that pungent incense
was to mask the stench of death.

Is that true?

-[growling]
-[Hiromasa groans]

[creature growls]

[Hiromasa] Uh, right.
I-I-It's my turn, isn't it?

What reason would you have
to do such a thing?

[Doman laughs] That woman told me
she wanted to see her again,

so I made her wish come true, that's all.

Yes, by reviving the girl's soul

and forcing it back into her corpse
to make it move.

That woman likely has no idea.

You may be right about that.

[Seimei] If we leave the girl as she is,

it will drain
all the life force from that woman.

It'd be quite the sight

to see a dead person
dragging around another dead person.

How can you even say that?

[Doman] It's all just a game.

I place the curse, and Seimei undoes it.

I get to relieve
a little bit of my boredom,

and Seimei gets his praise.

We all get something out of it in the end.

Toying with people's lives
is just a game to you?

[creature growls]

The only reason there is
to live on this mortal plane

is to entertain ourselves.

I'm just trying
to enjoy the time I have left

until I need to leave it behind.

I know you feel the same, Seimei.

Seeing how you and I are so much alike.

This game is over.

[Doman] I guess it is.

What did you want as your prize?

[Seimei] Regarding the matter at hand,

I would like you
to cease your current activities.

You want the resurrection spell undone.

Yes.

It was a fun game, but it's over.

[Hiromasa] Seimei!

[laughs] Very well.

But first,
you'll have to identify the curse.

I wonder if you'll know what to do
to crack that shell open.

[Hiromasa] So what happens now?

Are curses and spells different?

[Seimei] Curses are created when someone
wishes fervently for something.

The spell is in wielding the curse.

[Hiromasa] Meaning...

This happened because Doman turned the
woman's wish to be reunited into a curse,

and the resurrection spell
was derived as a result of that wish.

So what do you plan to do now?

I'm going to make the woman
realize the girl is deceased.

Once she knows,
she will understand the folly of her wish

and the resurrection spell
should be lifted.

Even so...

What is it? What's wrong?

"Crack the shell open." Huh?

[tense music plays]

[Fujiko] Are you serious?

[Seimei] I'm afraid I am.

You expect me to believe

that Kujo is dead?

Everything I have told you is the truth.

[Fujiko] Kujo is most certainly alive!

[Seimei] No, she is not.

Please, Lady Fujiko, if you don't
put a stop to this, you'll die as well!

What?

But this can't be.

If you are so certain in your belief,

then surely you would have no objection
to us meeting her tonight.

Please, my lady.

[Fujiko cries]

[Kujo breathes heavily]

[tense music plays]

[groans]

[music fades]

[Fujiko] Thank you
for coming tonight, Kujo.

[Kujo] My lady, who are these gentlemen?

[Fujiko] They are my guests.

[Kujo] Oh.

It is a pleasure
to make your acquaintance.

You as well.

Um, Lady Fujiko, is something the matter?

[moans softly]

[Kujo] When you're sad, I can tell,

'cause it makes me sad too.

Shall I play the biwa, like I always do?

[Fujiko] No, that won't be necessary.
But thank you.

-Seimei, are you sure about the girl?
-I am.

She had me fooled.

You both see now, don't you?

She truly is a kind-hearted little girl.

It does not matter if she is kind or not.

But it should!

Um, what is everyone talking about?

[Seimei] The spell I'm about to cast
exorcises the dead.

It has no effect on the living.

[gasps]

[Seimei chants]

[Fujiko gasps]

[screams] Hot! So hot!

Oh, hot! Hot! It burns! [moans]

-Please, stop this!
-Seimei!

[Seimei continues chanting]

That is enough!

[Kujo screams]

[Fujiko whimpers]

How could you?

Why did you interrupt me?

I couldn't watch.

Can't you do this
without making her suffer?

-Ordinarily, there would be no suffering.
-Uh...

The curse has yet to be lifted.

My lady, do you wish to be with this girl
despite knowing she's deceased?

[Hiromasa] No, surely she wouldn't.

Even If she is,
what difference does that make?

[Doman] You wish to see her, do you?

And what if the girl happens to be dead?
Do you still wish it?

Yes.

All I want is to be reunited with her.

[gentle music plays]

She and I, we are content
with the way things are.

So please, just leave the two of us alone,
I beg you!

Just because it's your wish,

do you think that you and you alone
get to decide someone's fate?

-I...
-You're wrong.

It's not just her.

I also wish to stay by Lady Fujiko's side
for as long as possible!

Kujo...

-[Seimei] No need to be brave.
-[Kujo gasps]

Moving a corpse around
is an arduous endeavor.

Even now, you must be
wracked with pain, aren't you?

Is that true, Kujo?

No, I... I'm fine.

[gentle music continues]

[cries]

Why did you not tell me this?

It was never my intent to make you suffer.

[Kujo sobs]

I didn't say anything
because all I wanted was to be with you!

That's it! "Cracking open the shell."

The two halves must match
in order to close.

Such is the same with this curse.

Unless they both give up their wish,
the curse cannot be lifted.

But if you're not able to lift it,
Lady Fujiko will die, won't she?

[Kujo gasps]

-Even so, I still...
-What you just said, is that true?

She'll die because of me?

-Yes.
-[Kujo gasps]

[music fades]

Kujo,

I don't mind at all.

[Kujo] Well, I do!

I will not accept
me being the cause of your death!

[Fujiko inhales sharply]

It's thanks to you
I can be here with you now.

And because of that,
I can give a proper farewell.

[Kujo] I was only good
at playing the biwa.

[gentle music plays]

[Kujo] Even so,
you loved me like your little sister.

[gentle music continues]

And for that, I'm grateful.

[Fujiko sobs]

You're wrong. It was I...

I was the one who was blessed to have you.

[gentle music continues]

[Kujo gasps]

[gentle music continues]

[gasps]

[Fujiko] You led me
out of my labyrinth of grief

and brought light back into my life.

But I was selfish,

only thinking of my own loneliness,
never realizing the pain you were in.

[cries] I am so sorry!

Lady Fujiko...

listen, I have something to ask.

[gentle music continues]

Will... Will you be fine
without hearing my biwa?

No! I don't want you to go!

But I have to.

Besides, I played so much for you,
the memories should last forever.

[cries]

It's not fair.

When you put it like that... [cries]

...what else can I do but say yes to you?

[gentle music continues]

[Fujiko] Even so,

I don't want this to be goodbye forever.

So someday,

when I've gone over to the other side,

will you play the biwa for me
like you always have?

It would be my pleasure!

[gentle music continues]

[Kujo cries]

[Kujo] I'm ready now.

[gentle music continues]

[Seimei chants]

[Seimei chants]

I had a truly happy life.

[gentle music continues]

[Kujo] And it's thanks to you,
Lady Fujiko.

[gentle music continues]

[Fujiko sobs]

Whoa.

[Fujiko sobs]

[gentle music continues]

[Hiromasa] Tell me, Seimei,

have you ever
brought someone back from the dead?

[Seimei] No one can do such a thing.

That girl only had
the appearance of living.

If she were truly alive,

there is a spell
that could have prolonged her life.

But I would abstain due to its hefty toll.

What about cursing someone?
Have you ever done that?

I'm far too occupied
to waste my time on such things.

You seem to have the time
for Lady Doman and her little games.

[Seimei] I once ignored her,
and paid dearly for it.

I don't think you and Lady Doman
are alike at all.

What makes you say that?

Well, for one thing,
you're a lot more kind-hearted than her.

You know, when you interrupted
the exorcism spell I was performing,

I was so irritated I almost turned you
into a toad right then and there.

[Hiromasa] What?

[Seimei] Since I didn't do it,
I suppose I am kind-hearted.

[Doman] Hiromasa Minamoto,

quite an interesting man, I have to say.

Looks like we'll finally have some fun,
won't we, Seimei?