Sleep, sleep.
Go to sleep.
Gently sleep.
(Wanting you to just be near, to feel your breath upon my ear)
(Wishing you would call my name, 'Cause only you can light the flame)
Constantly searching, still can't find
Ever illusive peace of mind
Sometimes it's near, but slips away
And I'm faced with another day
Of wanting you... (to feel your breath upon my ear)
...to just be near ('Cause only you can light the flame)
Of wishing you... (to feel your breath upon my ear)
...would call my name, to feel your breath upon my ear
Of wanting you...wishing you... (to feel your breath upon my ear)
Call my name, 'cause only you can light the flame
Stay away from us for your safety.
How can you nap at a time like this?
And here I was, waiting so long that my tea is cold now.
Just what I'd expect of a guy who inherited...
one of the most successful candlemakers in Edo...
Ieft it to the head clerk to run, then retired early!
Guess you've got a lot more nerve than most people!
Oh, no. No! I just wasn't any good at business.
I don't have any nerve. You make me self-conscious.
It wasn't a compliment!
I should've known.
And what is this?! Not one line-- Not a single CHARACTER written yet!
Well, I've got writer's block.
Writer's block, huh?
Well, all hail the great author! Burned out already?
Maybe you should retire from having to THlNK, too!
Please don't tease me.
Look, Mr. Author! It's not like I asked you...
to write a great story for my playhouse.
I just asked you to write some children's riddles!
You have writer's block?
That's something an actual WRlTER would say.
It's 100 years too early for you!
- I'm sorry, sir... - Words before apologies, please!
I keep trying to think of something to write about...
No, stay away!
W-What's the problem?
Oh, s-sorry. But the truth is...
I've been thinking I want to write...
my book "The 100 Stories" even more.
"The 100 Stories?" That empty dream of yours again?
I'm serious!
Right, right. "The 100 Stories."
Why don't you go check out Yanagiya, then?
Yanagiya? The Willow lnn, you mean?
Yeah. Ten years ago, the bride and baby...
of Kichibe the innkeeper were found mysteriously dead...
under a willow tree. And they say--
They say the Willow Woman killed them.
Willow Woman?
The spirit of the large willow tree that grows in its courtyard...
that's the namesake of the inn.
It seems she's protected the inn for generations.
However, it also seems that she's in love with Kichibe...
and she'll kill any bride who comes to marry him.
The willow's spirit is a jealous one, isn't she?
That means the latest bride is in danger, too.
Huh? There's another new bride?!
Yes. I believe the wedding celebration is today, in fact.
What?!
Off to find a new writer, I guess.
Congratulations!
Such a lovely day for it, too!
Four people. Four brides, four babies, all died.
That's too many to be a coincidence.
I agree.
Pardon me.
I'm here to collect your meal plates.
What a waste. This is tasty, you know.
Are you from the Willow lnn?
Yes. Sort of.
Say, I heard a new bride is coming there.
You know those rumors. You think she'll be safe?
Whatever do you mean?
Don't play dumb! I mean the Willow Woman!
Say, you're a spiritualist selling talismans, right?
Those rumors are true, aren't they?!
Uh, no.
Those talismans are for quieting the spirits, aren't they?!
Stingy!
Still, I think the innkeeper's relatives are worse than that Willow Woman!
I mean, Kichibe had gotten to the point...
where he said he didn't want to marry again.
I can't say I blame him.
Losing all those wives, one after the other...
but his relatives forced him into this...
without any thought for what he wanted!
All their talk about who inherits the place! Poor man.
Inherits it?
Yes. After all, if he doesn't have any children...
it'll pass to another family's control.
The relatives are worried about...
Iosing the lion's share of the profits.
Oh, I've said too much.
Forgive my rambling. All right, there we are.
For heaven's sake...
everywhere we go, people are obsessed with greed.
That girl... We can't let her become another victim.
Ogin? You seem more interested in this than usual.
Well, I have my reasons.
What's wrong?
Have a look.
Apparently, he still doesn't get it.
Your bride is so lovely. How wonderful for you!
I just heard! She's pregnant?
Good job! Good job!
I'm happy for you! Really, I am!
Now we don't have to worry about the Willow lnn's future.
Congratulations to me, huh?
I won't let another woman have you!
I beg of you! Don't torment me anymore!
Only I may protect you.
We live in different worlds! We can never be together!
I won't let another woman have you!
Yae is pregnant! I'm not a young man anymore!
If that child won't be born, this house will come to an end.
I love you.
You!
Master? Master!
What is it?
A man named Momosuke from lkomaya is here to see you.
Ikomaya?
He's a young master, sir.
Ah.
Congratulations to you, sir.
This is an impressive celebration. So much going on!
We're just being festive.
What?
Momosuke, I heard you left the business...
to your chief clerk and retired.
Well, I was never really cut out to be a businessman.
The only way I could serve my family right...
was to put someone else in charge.
Right now, I'm trying to become a writer.
I envy you. If only I had that sort of courage...
Oh, no. I'm practically a hermit.
And why would a hermit come here, then?
For the rumor of the Willow Woman?
Uh, well... Forgive me, sir.
You're an easy book to read.
The truth is, I heard about the willow spirit...
when I was a kid, and I snuck in here.
One of the employees must have been playing a trick on you.
Probably.
There is no "Willow Woman."
I'm embarrassed now.
Th-Thank you.
You!
Do you know my maid?
Uh, no. Just...
M-Master!
What? What's this uproar about?
Th-There's a strange man in the garden!
What are you doing?!
Forgive me.
I was intending to ensnare the spirit of this willow tree.
We have no "spirits" here! Now please leave!
And yet I heard that several wives and children died.
Well then, if you'll excuse me...
That action could incur punishment from the Heaven.
What will happen next, I cannot say.
You tempt God treating a talisman like that.
Please leave!
You leave me no choice, then.
You're a curious man, Mr. Author. It may yet lead to your doom.
Mr. Kichibe, please stop this wedding!
Look, it's... There's real danger here!
Don't show your face around here again!
Pretty handy entrance for times like this!
Hey, what's the trouble?
Well, Lady Yae can't be found.
What? The bride? Maybe she's in the toilet.
I checked there.
Well, just find her!
Yes, sir!
Well, nobody will see me up here...
but I can't tell what's happening inside.
Lady...Yae?
I won't let you have him!
Yae!
Are you all right?
Big Sister...Ogin?
Are you all right?
Big Sister...Ogin?
You're safe now.
Where am l? Why am I here?
It's been a long time.
Yae!
Are you all right?!
Somebody tried to...
The wind out here must have made you ill.
Let's get you changed.
Come along now.
But...
I'm here by your side.
Ogin, you haven't changed at all since then.
Big Sister Ogin...
Ow, ow, ow.
Idiot.
Did you have to do that?
Why? Why did you do that to Yae?
Because of you.
You desired it.
I did?
You see that woman as an obstacle as well.
You're wrong!
Just go away! Please!
You must be tired, Yae.
No.
This isn't healthy for a pregnant woman.
Go to bed now.
And you?
I'll mingle with our guests a bit longer.
Where'd everyone go?
If she bears him a child, the Willow lnn's future is assured.
Really! Now that she seems capable, we can get Kichibe to retire.
Exactly. He always was too much of a tight-ass...
to be a good innkeeper.
We need to get him to retire quickly.
We'll let him retire soon so that no one has to...
Iook at his gloomy face!
What is all this?!
I've tried my best at this job my entire life!
But the minute I father a child, you're ready to stuff me in a coffin!
Somebody, help me!
Just as I said. I'm the only one who's on your side.
Willow Woman... Help me! Help me, please!
I won't let you take away what is important to him!
What the...?!
Whoa! Stop that! Stop that! Gotta stay on guard!
What're they doing at this hour?
Otoku! I thought I killed you!
You should know when to give up!
What the...?
All the others... This is how you killed them!
You!
I am the Willow Woman.
What?!
You are not the Willow Woman. Isn't that right, Kichibe?
That's...Ogin?!
And is that the Willow Woman? No... That's...
N-No! I'm...!
Four times, you murdered your wives.
Four times, you cruelly murdered your children.
It was all your doing.
It wasn't me! Help me! That woman did it! That woman!
Kichibe?
I won't let you have him!
He belongs...
He belongs to me alone! Me alone!
That woman killed them all!
Yes, I did it. All for his sake!
This house belongs to him. I won't let anyone take it from him.
It's not my fault! Not my fault!
Kichibe is the Willow Woman?
It wasn't me! It was her! It's not my fault!
The Willow Woman...
another you which your weak heart gave birth to.
A heartbreaking tale.
Step off the path of righteousness...
and you become trapped in the depths of sin.
Evil and ambition scatter in the darkness...
Ieaving behind sad rumors to fly in public.
But your sins never fade away.
It wasn't me.
It was the Willow Woman. The Willow Woman.
Not me!
To the next world, we commit Thee.
Master! Master!
What's happened?!
No, stay back! Stay back!
It's a curse! A curse!
It's a shame about Kichibe.
But now the future of Willow lnn is assured.
Thank goodness for that.
This will be the 1 1th generation born to it.
Yeah, "thank goodness. "
Your selfishness drove poor Kichibe to his death.
You people are the specters haunting this place!
Yae... to you alone, I wish happiness.
KYOGOKUTEl
This man called Momosuke...
This is the second of your schemes...
he's borne witness to. It is truly unusual.
It... It's just a coincidence!
Don't you think he may be learning...
too much for his own good?
Wind chimes whisper soft and sweet
Though there's not a hint of a breeze
Moonlight dancing on the garden walk
As it gently drifts through the trees
Romance takes flight on this perfect night
While all of the world lays sleeping
Find us here as we feel the moment of love
Draw near
Dream, sleep, with your hand in mine
Underneath a blanket of stars
Song birds singing in a distant glade
As we share the warmth of the dawn