Big sister?
Sister's head... Her head is dancing...
(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
Oh, brother. I thought I'd run into some mysterious stories...
if I followed these people, but now...
It tastes different here.
Doesn't even compare to the ones we got in Kyogoku.
I disagree. The ones they make here are quite nice.
But now, this is what I get.
Are you all right?!
What's wrong?
H-Help me! P-Please!
Um... Excuse me?
Hey! There he is!
Hey! Come back here!
After him! Come on!
Excuse me.
Thank you for saving me from such danger.
Oh, it was nothing.
Well, well... What a sight to see.
Mata, isn't that...?
That boy has the worst damned luck.
You sure we should let him go with her?
Well, guess it's none of our concern.
So, you're from Edo, Momosuke?
Uh, y-yeah.
Edo, huh?
Look me up if you ever come there.
Just ask anyone how to get to lkomaya near Kyo Bridge.
You run a big shop like that?
Yeah, sort of.
Hmm? Otama? What's wrong?
My little sister.
We have a guest.
This nice man saved me from a bandit.
Just keep quiet in here, all right?
I'm sorry. She's very shy.
Oh, that's all right.
My sister's blind, you see.
You're wondering how we can live like this, aren't you?
Um, no.
I'm the concubine of a man named Yahei Anzai...
the head of the local fishermen's union.
I have no choice.
- Hey, pal.
- Wh-What?
What are you to Oyoshi?
What? Nothing!
Then why were you with her?!
Hey, this guy's hurt!
Wh-What's the big idea?!
Let him go.
The kid's so scared, he's about ready to piss himself.
That bitch is mine!
You try anything with her, and I'll kill ya!
This is a dangerous world we live in, so watch your step!
You bully me only because I'm all by myself!
It's him!
I don't suppose you know any ghost stories...
connected with this inn? It's not haunted, is it?
Here's your room.
- In here, huh?
- Enjoy your stay.
Sheesh. Unsociable old biddy, isn't she?
- Must've been my imagination.
- Looking for someone?
M-Mataichi?!
Well, well, Mr. Author. What a surprise!
Surprise? Hold it. Mataichi, are you following me?
Don't be so conceited. Why would we be following you?
This is the only inn in the area.
Ogin... and Nagamimi.
In any case, this building smells to me.
It what? Don't tell me. There's a ghost here, too?!
Now, now, Mr. Author.
Maybe it's best you don't know.
Would you talk straight for once?! There is, isn't there?
There's something here!
What is it?! It's not going to kill us, is it?!
My, my. How rude to react to a person's face like that.
Must have a flea's heart.
Is he dead?
I'll have dinner ready soon. Hang on.
I want to go out.
You can't! It's dangerous outside.
That's your fault!
It's all your fault that I'm the way I am now!
I know that. That's why I'll do anything for you, Otama.
You're just saying that.
That's not true.
Oyoshi, are you home?
Yahei... What are you doing here at this hour?
Oh, nothing. I just heard something that disturbed me.
We have a search under way for...
a very dangerous samurai at large in the area.
He may still be hiding around here somewhere.
I... I see.
What's wrong?
Nothing! I just hope they capture that awful man quickly.
I see.
Look, Otama isn't feeling well, so...
How much money do you need?
Master, did you come because you were worried about me?
Yes, for that. And more...
Master, we can't do it here!
The way you worry about that is such a turn-on for me!
Oh!
You do it with that old man. With HlM?!
Who's there?
Your candle is growing short.
Big sister.
No! Don't look!
Sister's head. Her head is dancing.
He looks like a little kid when he's asleep.
Mata?
Such a deep darkness.
I've returned.
Father!
Oh, your sweet scent. It drives me mad!
Otama is here!
We'll wake her!
Otama is here?
In the next room!
Wait!
Please!
Who's there?!
A simple spiritualist, peddling his charms.
A spiritualist selling charms, huh? A likely story!
Some kind of specter?
Father! It's dangerous here!
I'll meet you at the temple...
on the edge of town tomorrow. I promise!
What are you doing?
D-Don't just bust into my room without asking!
Rubbing that handkerchief on your cheek and laughing...
You're more perverted than I thought!
Hey, that's my choice!
You're headed back to Edo, right?
That's my choice, too!
Didn't we say it was for your own good?
Wh-Why don't you eat first?
That can wait!
B-But you've lost so much weight!
Shut up!
Oyoshi!
F-Forgive me!
You tried to...!
Forgive me! Forgive me!
Yahei... Yahei told me to do this!
That old man?!
He said if I didn't kill you, I couldn't stay in this town!
That old bastard!
Oyoshi! I killed the old man!
Oyoshi!
Otama?
Otama! Otama! Do you know where Oyoshi is--
Excuse me.
Come in.
Good evening, Momosuke.
Oyoshi? What are you doing here?
Well...I missed you, Momosuke. Am I bothering you?
Well, me, too-- I mean, I missed you, too, Oyoshi.
What are you writing?
Oh, well, I just thought l'd-- It's sort of a story I'm doing.
You're a funny man.
Oh, yeah. Here's that handkerchief I borrowed yesterday.
Never mind that.
B-But...
Look, the truth is, l...
I have a favor to ask.
A favor?
Otama...
This is awful!
Otama!
Otama! Otama! Where are you, Otama?!
Otama...
Oyoshi, I found this.
"YAHEl lS DEAD. I AWAlT YOU ON TOMOE POlNT."
That man took Otama!
Wait! Oyoshi, wait! Whoa!
It--It's you!
Mr. Author, might it be a good idea...
to not get mixed-up any deeper in this?
Heh. Well, I didn't think I'd stop him, anyway.
Oyoshi.
Give her back! Give Otama back to me!
Oyoshi! He's dangerous!
You, the samurai! Stop bothering Oyoshi!
Give Otama back to her! If you don't, I'll...!
Oyoshi, why? Why do you run from me?
Your own father?!
Father?
I did everything for you!
I'd do ANYTHlNG for you! Anything!
Please kill Mother.
If you truly love me, then kill Mother.
Oyoshi!
Kill Mother.
I gave you everything you wanted.
I stole for you. Killed for you!
Stop making these false accusations!
Give me back Otama!
You mean this?
Otama!
There, there now. You must have been so scared, Otama.
Otama is dead!
What are you saying? She's right here.
It's just a bag of bones.
You killed her.
Your head... Your head and Father's head were...
You saw, didn't you?
You were scared?
I was scared, too. Of those eyes!
No!
Otama... Otama is still alive!
This?! This thing is alive?!
Matajuro lshikawa!
What if I am?
Surrender to us peacefully!
I won't die! No way I'll die! I won't die!
Sleep, sleep.
Go to sleep.
Gently sleep.
You're my sweet, sweet baby.
OYOSHl!
Their heads... Their heads are dancing...
Their heads...
Why?
You can live a lifetime and never understand.
That feeling she has...
Mataichi?
Could you...grant her peace?
I want to save her.
There is little I can do, but I shall try.
To the next world, we commit Thee.
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
Evil and ambition scatter in the darkness...
Ieaving behind dubious rumors to fly in public.
Chojiro, owner of a horse farm.
He appraises his meals without revealing himself.
And who knows what he'll eat for tonight's meal.
Next time, on Natsuhiko Kyogoku's "Requiem From the Darkness:"
Shio no Choji (Salty Choji)
To the next world, we commit Thee!