01x07 - Home

[bunniefuu]

This is the first time we've gone on

an excursion with everyone.

But I grew up in the mountains,

so I'd have rather gone to the beach.

Ah, Kabane-kun, want some chocolate?

You sure seem to be

enjoying yourself, aren't you?

And this isn't an excursion.

Shiki, congratulations.

You're going to see your parents.

It's not like I'm going to get to see them.

We might be able to track them down, that's all.

What's going on? I thought you said

you didn't care about your parents.

Did you have a change of heart or something?

Stop grinning at me!

The truth is, I do actually care about them.

I've just been running away from this,

afraid of what to do if there was

a harsh reality in store.

But I'm fine now.

I have this place, a-and friends, too

And hey! Don't you say anything to them!

"Episode 7: Home"

"Episode 7: Home"

The place where we're going

is where you were born, right?

"Episode 7: Home"

And we're going to meet up

with your uncle there.

And we're going to meet up

with your uncle there.

Yeah. Before I came to stay with Inugami-san,

I lived in the city with my uncle.

And before that, I lived

around here with my mom.

"Ye Olde Daikoku Mercantile"

"Ye Olde Daikoku Mercantile"

Wow! There's so much stuff here!

"Mogami Goods"

Wow! There's so much stuff here!

I'm going to the inn to get us settled.

You guys do whatever you want to pass the time.

Okay!

Hmm, which one should I get?

You're already buying souvenirs?

"The Legend of Nishikigumo"

Kabane-kun, what do you have there?

Some kind of book.

Oh, that's a famous old folk tale around here.

What kind of story?

"Once upon a time, not too far from here,

there was a poor young man by the name of Shige.

One day, as Shige was returning home from work,

there was a spider going through

the food at his place.

The kindhearted Shige

shared his food with the spider,

saying "There isn't much here,

but make yourself at home."

The next day, when he awoke,

beautiful golden spider webs extended

throughout Shige's run-down shack.

Shige sold the spider silk, became rich,

and lived happily ever after."

Hmm

You'll find stories like that everywhere.

Shiki, is something the matter?

No

That kid was looking me over hard.

Huh? That's surprising.

I didn't think you were the type

that children found endearing.

What did you just say?!

"Delivery available"

"Delivery available"

Oh, here you are.

Shiki, I just happened to

run into Tademaru-sensei.

Huh?

It's a little earlier than we planned on.

Hey, Shiki, long time!

Uncle!

How long has it been? Ever since you left,

you don't write very often.

Huh? How cold!

Oh, can it.

Shiki

Let me start from the top.

I'm Tademaru Akio.

I'm Shiki's father's younger brother.

I'm also a bit of a folklorist.

Folklorist?

A scholar.

Huh? Amazing!

Ha-ha, just a small-time one.

Also, despite being all human,

Uncle knows about us Kemono.

Huh?

I have no intention of

jeopardizing your existence.

Inugami-san would be angry with me if I did.

Are you Shiki's friends?

They're simply the people I work with.

Hmm? Huh?! Why do you say it like that?!

Is that all they are?

Inugami-san, would you be quiet?

Kabane-kun, let's eat all of

Shiki's share of the snacks later.

Wow, talk about surprises!

Imagine, little Shiki growing up

to be so even-tempered

What kind of child was Shiki?

Oh, he was so rambunctious,

I didn't know what to do with him.

Always getting into fights. I was right

to let Inugami-san take him in.

Uncle! Those stories aren't

the reason why we came here!

Sorry, sorry.

You're here about your mother, aren't you?

Back then, I was still a student,

and I tagged along with my brother,

who was researching the folklore of Kinshigo,

when we went into those woods.

Folklore?

The Legend of Nishikigumo. You don't know it?

That old tale?

I thought it was made up.

Old tales are one kind of folk material.

Much of it springs from things

that happen in people's lives.

So maybe the origins of The Legend of

Nishikigumo were based on something.

With that thought, my brother

and I went into the woods

and Shiki

that's where we encountered your mom.

I've told you everything up to now, right?

But from here on are some things

that I've kept from you.

Let's step away.

Hmm? Oh, mm-hmm.

I hope Shiki is all right.

I think he'll be fine. He had

a determined look on his face.

Okay Ah, Shiki!

How come you guys are

the only ones who get ice cream?

I want some, too.

How did it go, talking about your mom and dad?

Hmm? Oh, yeah, well, you know

They're dead. Both of them.

But you don't have to look so depressing.

Honestly, I had the feeling they were.

It wasn't that great a shock, really.

Uncle told me

Your dad passed away while you were

still inside your mom's tummy,

and your mom got sick and

passed away when you were five.

The reason why you're carrying

the trauma that you are

is likely because you saw

your mom's dead body up close.

I really am sorry. I couldn't

bring myself to tell you.

To be honest, it's a relief. It's like

a weight's been lifted from my shoulders.

I'm glad we came here.

Thanks, Inugami-san.

I hope you find your parents, too, yeah?

Shiki, you're not acting like yourself.

Huh?

You're unusually cheerful.

I don't think it's natural.

It's as if you're trying too hard--

Shh! No, Kabane-kun, don't say that right now!

Shiki is doing the best he can

to put on a brave face!

The truth is, he's fighting back tears!

We have to pretend not to notice!

We do?

Yes, we do!

--What

--Now, now.

Shiki, where's Tademaru-sensei?

Oh, I left him by the river bed.

He said he wanted to be alone.

He looked like he was getting ready to cry.

I see.

"Mannen-ya Inn & Spa"

This is so awkward.

The other two aren't talking.

But what do I even say at a time like this?

--Wah! The full monty!

--Hi there. Forgive the intrusion.

Huh? Aren't you?

Nobimaru. I wish you would have said something

if you were going out of town.

It took quite some doing

for me to catch up to you.

Who's this guy?

Ah, it's just us in here at the moment, right?

Okay, I guess there's no need to hide anything.

A kitsune?!

Please don't worry. Even among kitsune,

I'm the least of the least.

I can't even hide my ears and tail.

Least of the least?

You didn't seem that way to me.

Well, let's put that aside for now.

What's the matter?

You all seem to be feeling down about something.

What would you say to going out

and exploring the local area after this?

I hear there are fireflies at the waterfront.

Wow! Amazing! How pretty!

I've never seen fireflies before!

Hey, Shiki, aren't they pretty?

I guess. This isn't my first time seeing them.

Shiki

Hmm? Is something the matter?

No, it's nothing.

Hey, let's go and look at them

even closer! Come on, come on!

--It was worth it to suggest we come here.

--Yeah, over here, over here! Amazing!

--Nobimaru, thanks. You were right,

I don't think we were in good spirits.

--Yeah, over here, over here! Amazing!

--Nobimaru, thanks. You were right,

I don't think we were in good spirits.

--Look!

--Nobimaru, thanks. You were right,

I don't think we were in good spirits.

--Isn't it pretty how this firefly moves around?

--Nobimaru, thanks. You were right,

I don't think we were in good spirits.

--They all move the same.

But I didn't know what to do,

so this was very helpful.

I'm honored. I overheard about Shiki-kun

while I was spying on you.

This is fortunate for you, isn't it?

Hmm? Fortunate?

Oh, am I mistaken?

Both you and Shiki-kun are

looking for your parents, right?

If Shiki-kun's parents were still alive,

while your parents were dead,

that would upset you, wouldn't it?

Would you be able to sincerely

congratulate Shiki-kun?

What would I be upset about?

I don't understand what you mean.

You don't? I guess you

aren't ready for that yet.

You're a tough case. You aren't giving me

much to take advantage of.

Shiki, did you find something?

Hmm? Oh, no, it's not that big a deal.

It just seems like I've seen this tree before.

When I was a kid, I used it

as some kind of marker

Let's see, at the haunted tree, turn right!

At the monkey rock, turn left!

What could have suddenly come over him?

I don't know. But I think something is up.

Huh?

Shiki? Kabane-kun?

That's right. I went past

a lot of landmarks like this

Cross the turtle's back!

and then, when I reached the end,

Mom would be at work.

Shiki, would you hold down the fort for me?

I don't wanna!

Mommy has to go to your uncle's place to work.

Be a good boy, okay? And no matter what,

you mustn't follow me.

But I would secretly follow Mom,

and wait in the forest many times

for her to come back.

But that one day, I couldn't

wait for her any longer

and behind that door

I saw something that was

absolutely horrifying.

Your trauma likely comes from

seeing your mom's dead body up close.

No it's not!

It was

something far more horrendous--

something that made me nauseous

Shiki!

What is this?

This is pretty deteriorated,

but it's definitely an artificial

insemination catheter.

Artificial?

This isn't a medical facility, so why would?

Come to think of it,

there were some troubling Kemono Incidents

in some of the older reports.

Kemono Incidents?

There was something that once made

the rounds of the humans' marketplace.

It was called "healing silk."

It could act as a stand-in for missing cells,

and even be woven into organs.

It was clearly something

beyond the human's capacity.

But it also wasn't 100-percent

Kemono doing, either.

It was thought that some kind of

man-made action was at work, as well.

Inari-sama suppressed it

before it became public,

but she put a certain person on her blacklist.

A certain person?

Yes? Inugami-san? How did you find me?

This was originally your brother

and his wife's home, right?

Do you have a moment?

There are grown-up matters to discuss.

Tademaru Akio.

That was the name that

Inari-sama put on her blacklist.

Tademaru

If all he wanted to do was pair with

a Kemono to make a little money,

she might have tolerated it. However,

he tried to use Kemono powers--

twisted by artificial means, at that--

to obtain enormous fame and fortune.

With merchandise such as that

on a massive scale in the marketplace,

there was no telling when the existence

of Kemono would become widely known.

It looks as though that healing silk--no,

that golden spider webbing must have

been created in this laboratory.

Ah, that's the same name as Shiki's uncle.

So, is that right, Shiki?

What I saw at that moment

Mommy!

Shiki, can you hear me?

Are you all right? Take it easy.

Your mother is safe.

Really?

Mm-hmm But she's been badly hurt.

We can't take her to a human doctor.

It's going to take her some time to recover.

The two of you will probably

be apart for a while.

But I promise you, I'll take care

of things. Can settle for me?

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm!

I'll put up with anything! Uncle,

save my mommy!

Yeah, I promise.

After that, I

Is Mommy better yet?

It might be a little longer.

Is Mommy feeling better yet?

A little while longer.

Is Mommy?

At some point, I stopped asking.

I somehow got the feeling that

Uncle wasn't telling me the truth.

But I didn't pry. When I thought that

an unpleasant reality might be in store,

I became afraid to ask.

I turned away from facing the truth.

Either they're dead, or they abandoned us

and are ditching responsibility.

But that couldn't be right. There's no way

Mom would have abandoned me!

I should have trusted Mom

and questioned the situation!

But instead

I!

Nobimaru, was it?

Yes?

I'm not sure I trust you that much,

but I want to share information.

I'll tell you what I know.

So talk to me.

That will be fine, of course. I appreciate it.

We became aware of the case about a year ago.

Inari-sama apparently meant to

dispose of Tademaru right away,

but Inugami-san stopped her.

That was right about that time.

Shiki?

I lived together with Uncle

for a fairly long while.

Emotionally speaking,

I don't want to believe it,

but if all of this is connected,

and it's all true, then I

will make Uncle pay!

Do you mean that you will k*ll him?

That's right.

Are you gonna stop me?

No.

Now, look!

You know that k*lling someone is

generally considered really bad, right?!

But that's the choice

you've decided to make, right?

Is there anything I can do?

Ha! You want to be party to k*lling someone?!

It's all right. I've taken the lives

of living creatures many times.

You're counting c*ck and stuff, right?!

Tch!

Thanks

It's nothing, really.

Hmm, such heartfelt friendship.

Makes me want to mess it all up.

Akira might be against it, though.

Now that you mention it, where is he?

It's been a year since the two of us

have spoken like this, hasn't it?

Time flies.

Do you come to Kinshigo often?

Once in a while, for field work.

But coming here brings back so many memories.

About Shiki About my brother

About Shiki's mother, Kumi-san

What about the golden spider webbing?

I understand you did

everything you could to sell that.

But you weren't able to.

Some strange force kept

preventing you from doing so.

Am I wrong?

Inugami-san, was that you?

Have you been hampering my work all this time?!

Whoa, you copped to that

a lot quicker than I expected you to.

Strictly speaking,

it was a woman I happen to know.

Why? You must understand

how wondrous that silk is!

So then why?

I see now.

You don't consider what you did

to be wrong, do you?

That's why you're so open about it.

Wrong? Why would I?

Then by all means, please tell me,

this forbidden golden webbing--

how did it come about?

After meeting Kumi, and in the process

of learning about Kemono,

my brother and I arrived at

the same conclusion--

"The Legend of Nishikigumo"

"The Legend of Nishikigumo"

that The Legend of Nishikigumo was a true story.

And that their true identity was that of

the spider Kemono, the Arachnes.

It seemed as though that conclusion alone

was enough for my brother,

but I couldn't bear it.

That was when he accidentally slipped

in the woods, and fell to his death.

Kumi mourned him terribly,

but by that time, she was already

pregnant with Shiki.

A short while later,

Kumi came calling at my apartment,

carrying the baby Shiki.

Shiki had come down with influenza.

There are effective drugs

for that in the human world,

but none in the Kemono world.

"North Municipal Hospital"

but none in the Kemono world.

"North Municipal Hospital"

I claimed he was a relative's boy,

and took him to the hospital.

"North Municipal Hospital"

It was then that Kumi

seemed to strongly feel

that she should raise Shiki as a human.

However, the Kemono Kumi was unable to do so.

Which is why I made her a proposal.

A way to turn her Arachne powers into money.

I said that by doing so, they could live

without want for the rest of her life.

Akio-kun, thanks so much.

Kumi was happy to work with me.

I can do anything for this boy.

It sounded like the golden-web-producing

spider from the legend

was a Kemono who had been born a mutant,

so Kumi and I decided to try to

make one by artificial means.

Luckily, the forest has all kinds

of creatures and Kemono,

"Wolf-type Kemono"

Luckily, the forest has all kinds

of creatures and Kemono,

"Wolf-type Kemono"

so, using Kumi as a maternal base,

so, using Kumi as a maternal base,

I tried every combination, day in and day out.

In the course of all this, Shiki saw

our test site, and was traumatized.

What did you do then?

I came up with a false excuse

and distanced him from Kumi.

Fortunately, his memories became jumbled,

probably because he was so young.

Man, that was a rough time.

Kumi was on the verge of breaking down, too.

But,

after many failures,

I kept trying without giving up,

and we ended up achieving our greatest wish!

At last, our miracle golden webbing

had come about!

It took even more time

to stabilize the production

before I perfected the silk!

This silk would eliminate the words

"illness" and "injury" from the world,

and mankind would be one step closer

to achieving immortality!

And I would become the most

remarkable man in all of history!

There you have it. What do you want to do

Shiki?

"Tademaru Shiki"

So you know, I haven't forgotten

how you took care of me, or anything.

So I'll make sure you

don't suffer when I k*ll you.

"Next time"

"Episode 8: Truth"