1 00:00:46,783 --> 00:00:55,487 (Wanting you to just be near, to feel your breath upon my ear) 2 00:00:55,559 --> 00:01:04,524 (Wishing you would call my name, 'Cause only you can light the flame) 3 00:01:04,601 --> 00:01:11,734 Constantly searching, still can't find 4 00:01:14,010 --> 00:01:20,006 Ever illusive peace of mind 5 00:01:22,185 --> 00:01:30,752 Sometimes it's near, but slips away 6 00:01:30,827 --> 00:01:37,391 And I'm faced with another day 7 00:01:38,635 --> 00:01:44,505 Of wanting you... (to feel your breath upon my ear) 8 00:01:44,574 --> 00:01:48,943 ...to just be near ('Cause only you can light the flame) 9 00:01:49,012 --> 00:01:53,073 Of wishing you... (to feel your breath upon my ear) 10 00:01:53,150 --> 00:01:57,644 ...would call my name, to feel your breath upon my ear 11 00:01:57,721 --> 00:02:02,124 Of wanting you...wishing you... (to feel your breath upon my ear) 12 00:02:02,192 --> 00:02:09,963 Call my name, 'cause only you can light the flame 13 00:02:21,845 --> 00:02:24,370 This is a nine-stage picture scroll. 14 00:02:25,115 --> 00:02:29,108 This stage shows swelling, this next one shows blood-staining. 15 00:02:29,186 --> 00:02:31,882 The next shows evisceration... 16 00:02:31,955 --> 00:02:34,856 until the flesh is consumed by vermin. 17 00:02:35,692 --> 00:02:38,388 Oh? What's wrong, Momosuke? 18 00:02:38,461 --> 00:02:41,862 Oh, nothing. These sorts of things just affect me easily. 19 00:02:41,932 --> 00:02:45,390 Kind of weak-stomached for a guy who collects horror stories. 20 00:02:45,468 --> 00:02:48,699 Mr. Fushimiya, could we keep this brief? 21 00:02:48,772 --> 00:02:51,639 Momosuke, may I present Mr. Sajuro Ogata... 22 00:02:51,708 --> 00:02:54,370 magistrate of the Kyoto city government. 23 00:02:54,444 --> 00:02:57,345 And over there is Mr. Genba Sasayama. 24 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:01,576 What we called you for here tonight is about a mystery... 25 00:03:01,651 --> 00:03:05,018 at Katabira Crossroads which has the whole city talking. 26 00:03:05,088 --> 00:03:08,717 I've heard. Women's corpses are being found at the crossroads-- 27 00:03:08,792 --> 00:03:13,252 Correct! And we'd like to ask for your advice in this matter. 28 00:03:13,330 --> 00:03:15,389 Hold on a minute! I'm no expert in this! 29 00:03:15,465 --> 00:03:19,196 If we were dealing with a human, it'd make no sense. 30 00:03:19,269 --> 00:03:21,703 But if we're dealing with a monster... 31 00:03:21,771 --> 00:03:22,738 What?! 32 00:03:22,806 --> 00:03:25,673 It's said that Katabira Crossroads... 33 00:03:25,742 --> 00:03:29,439 is where the death shroud of Empress Sarumi flew... 34 00:03:29,512 --> 00:03:35,075 after the weather beat it off her corpse when she died. 35 00:03:35,151 --> 00:03:38,245 The empress's body was left out on the street?! 36 00:03:38,321 --> 00:03:41,779 Yes. It was in her will. 37 00:03:43,526 --> 00:03:47,963 No matter how beautiful they are, everyone is doomed to rot away. 38 00:03:48,031 --> 00:03:51,296 The spiritually-minded empress wanted to demonstrate... 39 00:03:51,368 --> 00:03:54,235 the transience of the world using her own body. 40 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:01,277 She did it to sever the emperor's feelings for her. 41 00:04:01,645 --> 00:04:04,773 Because of its origins, it's said the crossroads... 42 00:04:04,848 --> 00:04:07,146 has always had a weird aura to it. 43 00:04:07,217 --> 00:04:09,014 Which brings us to the current incidents. 44 00:04:09,085 --> 00:04:10,916 Seven women so far. 45 00:04:10,987 --> 00:04:13,751 Some were already dead, their bodies stolen. 46 00:04:13,823 --> 00:04:17,486 Others were kidnapped and then killed. And then... 47 00:04:18,228 --> 00:04:21,254 The bodies were dumped after reaching the right stage of decay! 48 00:04:21,331 --> 00:04:25,290 And all were known throughout the city as exceptional beauties. 49 00:04:25,368 --> 00:04:27,632 Word on the street is that it's the work... 50 00:04:27,704 --> 00:04:30,264 of a lady ghost who appears at the crossroads. 51 00:04:30,340 --> 00:04:34,276 And the magistrate's office has no hope of dealing with a ghost! 52 00:04:34,344 --> 00:04:36,175 Which is why we were hoping... 53 00:04:36,246 --> 00:04:39,272 your insight might be of help to us, Momosuke. 54 00:04:39,349 --> 00:04:41,340 Even saying that... 55 00:04:41,418 --> 00:04:42,851 Can you offer any help?! 56 00:04:42,919 --> 00:04:44,580 No, but... 57 00:04:44,654 --> 00:04:46,519 The truth is, a leading lady named Ohagi... 58 00:04:46,589 --> 00:04:48,420 one of the top geishas here at Shimabara... 59 00:04:48,491 --> 00:04:56,728 disappeared suddenly. She hasn't been seen in six months. 60 00:04:58,702 --> 00:05:00,795 The top geishas have arrived. 61 00:05:01,738 --> 00:05:03,729 We can continue the discussion at our leisure. 62 00:05:05,675 --> 00:05:07,233 Now then, come along! 63 00:05:07,310 --> 00:05:08,902 Yes, sir! 64 00:05:08,979 --> 00:05:10,003 - Here's what you've been waiting for! 65 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:12,913 - Here's what you've been waiting for! - Sasayama! You get over here, too! 66 00:05:20,190 --> 00:05:22,988 Have a drink. My, what a handsome man you are! 67 00:05:23,059 --> 00:05:25,789 Oh, you're just saying that. 68 00:05:28,164 --> 00:05:29,756 Naughty boy. 69 00:05:29,833 --> 00:05:32,267 Thinking dirty thoughts again, aren't you? 70 00:05:32,869 --> 00:05:36,862 N- No! I wouldn't! 71 00:05:38,408 --> 00:05:41,605 So, Mr. Author, are you going to see Mr. Fushimiya? 72 00:05:41,678 --> 00:05:45,239 Yeah. He's a friend of my publisher, Mr. Tsutaya. 73 00:05:45,315 --> 00:05:48,375 He knows Fushimiya likes ghost stories, so he asked me to come. 74 00:05:49,486 --> 00:05:52,614 This may be a good opportunity to part company. 75 00:05:53,623 --> 00:05:57,389 My dear Trickster, by any chance, are you... 76 00:05:57,460 --> 00:06:02,659 I'm just saying Mr. Author and l live in two very different worlds. 77 00:06:12,175 --> 00:06:15,406 Mr. Sasayama? 78 00:06:15,478 --> 00:06:17,309 Oh, my! I lost! You got me! 79 00:06:26,589 --> 00:06:28,147 Sato... 80 00:06:30,060 --> 00:06:32,028 Sato! 81 00:06:33,029 --> 00:06:35,998 Sato, wake up! Sato! 82 00:06:52,182 --> 00:06:53,809 Sato! 83 00:06:57,253 --> 00:06:58,743 Sato! 84 00:07:02,025 --> 00:07:04,255 That's how it supposedly started. 85 00:07:04,327 --> 00:07:08,024 So, the first victim was Mr. Sasayama's wife, then? 86 00:07:08,098 --> 00:07:13,593 He's been terribly depressed since Ms. Sato's death. 87 00:07:13,670 --> 00:07:18,004 I try to get him to have a good time once in a while, like tonight, but... 88 00:07:18,675 --> 00:07:22,111 He must have really loved his wife. 89 00:07:22,178 --> 00:07:23,509 As did l. 90 00:07:25,148 --> 00:07:29,744 To be perfectly honest, I was in love with Ms. Sato. 91 00:07:30,820 --> 00:07:33,687 Of course, it was an unrequited love! 92 00:07:33,756 --> 00:07:36,725 There was no way I could ever compete with Sasayama for her. 93 00:07:36,793 --> 00:07:40,126 He really is a fine man. 94 00:07:40,196 --> 00:07:42,323 And yet what happened to him was... 95 00:07:49,906 --> 00:07:54,934 Sato! Sato! SATO! 96 00:07:55,011 --> 00:07:59,505 Legend has it that even the god lzanagi was fearful of his wife lzanami's corpse... 97 00:07:59,582 --> 00:08:02,278 in the underworld so he ran back home... 98 00:08:02,352 --> 00:08:07,221 but Sasayama never left his wife's side once. 99 00:08:08,691 --> 00:08:15,187 Since she died, each body would always be found with a drawing above it. 100 00:08:15,265 --> 00:08:19,224 One each, in the order of that nine-stage scroll. 101 00:08:20,837 --> 00:08:22,566 Ono no Komachi. 102 00:08:22,639 --> 00:08:24,106 Hmm? Think of something? 103 00:08:24,174 --> 00:08:28,804 Um, no. This all reminds me of another nine-stage scroll. 104 00:08:28,878 --> 00:08:33,645 The one showing the death of the lady poet Ono no Komachi. 105 00:08:34,584 --> 00:08:37,144 Ono no Komachi, huh? I see. 106 00:08:37,220 --> 00:08:39,916 Komachi's vengeful spirit is jealous of beautiful women. 107 00:08:39,989 --> 00:08:42,014 Um, look, I was just... 108 00:08:51,334 --> 00:08:53,131 This is Katabira Crossroads. 109 00:09:11,054 --> 00:09:14,785 Is that Ono no Komachi, Mr. Author? 110 00:09:15,592 --> 00:09:17,321 Mataichi?! 111 00:09:28,905 --> 00:09:31,135 Damn you, specter! 112 00:09:49,125 --> 00:09:50,786 Ogin! 113 00:09:54,731 --> 00:09:58,394 Who is it that steals my name? 114 00:10:09,078 --> 00:10:10,067 Where's Ogin?! 115 00:10:12,882 --> 00:10:16,545 Author, Ogin no longer lives. 116 00:10:33,503 --> 00:10:38,770 My feelings will never fade. Never. 117 00:10:49,419 --> 00:10:51,216 A vengeful spirit? Impossible. 118 00:10:51,287 --> 00:10:55,451 Sasayama! I saw it with my own eyes! 119 00:10:55,525 --> 00:10:58,722 The truth is, I still don't believe it myself... 120 00:10:58,795 --> 00:11:01,992 but I wasn't alone. Momosuke saw it, too! 121 00:11:03,066 --> 00:11:07,002 The spirit took the body of a woman Momosuke knew and vanished! 122 00:11:07,070 --> 00:11:11,063 She left behind only the words, "Who is it that steals my name?" 123 00:11:19,015 --> 00:11:21,313 OGlN! 124 00:11:22,151 --> 00:11:25,609 Author... Ogin no longer lives. 125 00:11:33,596 --> 00:11:36,997 Ogin died seven days ago. 126 00:11:37,834 --> 00:11:42,168 She went off alone, saying she would get rid of the vengeful spirit herself. 127 00:11:42,238 --> 00:11:45,071 Instead, it ended up killing her. 128 00:11:47,276 --> 00:11:52,077 Author, give up on Ogin. 129 00:11:56,986 --> 00:11:58,817 Ogin! 130 00:12:01,858 --> 00:12:04,588 Do you still love me, even like this? 131 00:12:10,767 --> 00:12:15,101 I said from the start that you and Ogin lived in two different worlds. 132 00:12:15,171 --> 00:12:19,904 Meaning you really shouldn't get too close to us. 133 00:12:20,476 --> 00:12:21,704 How can you... 134 00:12:21,778 --> 00:12:26,147 However we may die should not affect you. 135 00:12:26,215 --> 00:12:28,149 Do you understand? 136 00:12:30,787 --> 00:12:34,018 The truth is, I'm caught in a sort of gray area. 137 00:12:34,090 --> 00:12:36,456 I don't want to live in the physical world... 138 00:12:36,526 --> 00:12:39,620 and I can't become a resident of the supernatural world. 139 00:12:42,532 --> 00:12:46,798 Momosuke, a fast courier just arrived from Edo. 140 00:12:46,869 --> 00:12:48,359 For me? 141 00:12:48,438 --> 00:12:53,774 It appears to be from your big brother in Hachioji, by way of Mr. Tsutaya. 142 00:12:53,843 --> 00:12:55,811 From my brother? 143 00:12:55,878 --> 00:12:59,678 So you're from the samurai class, Momosuke? 144 00:12:59,749 --> 00:13:05,119 Yes. I was adopted into the lkomaya family when I was still a baby. 145 00:13:05,188 --> 00:13:07,554 So, what does your brother want? 146 00:13:07,623 --> 00:13:10,854 Um, he says he wants to consult me about something. 147 00:13:10,927 --> 00:13:13,418 You'll be returning to Edo, then? 148 00:13:25,908 --> 00:13:28,206 It's not like I'll ever see them again. 149 00:13:38,888 --> 00:13:42,585 Hmm? It's Mr. Sasayama. 150 00:13:48,498 --> 00:13:52,127 Sato, why did you leave me behind? 151 00:13:52,201 --> 00:13:54,135 Sato... 152 00:14:29,572 --> 00:14:31,062 Huh? 153 00:14:34,310 --> 00:14:35,800 Hi, Mr. Author. 154 00:14:35,878 --> 00:14:39,939 N- Nagamimi! What are you doing here? 155 00:14:40,016 --> 00:14:44,316 A little errand I'm running for that little Trickster. 156 00:14:44,387 --> 00:14:47,322 Sorry, but can you carry one with me? 157 00:14:47,390 --> 00:14:50,553 Y- Yeah, sure. Whoa! What is this thing?! 158 00:14:57,133 --> 00:14:59,067 Sorry I'm late, Sato. 159 00:15:08,511 --> 00:15:10,570 Sato? Sato! 160 00:15:13,783 --> 00:15:15,842 How far do we have to carry these? 161 00:15:15,918 --> 00:15:17,476 We're almost there. 162 00:15:17,553 --> 00:15:20,818 Isn't Katabira Crossroads up ahead? 163 00:15:20,890 --> 00:15:24,553 Okay, can you give me yours? 164 00:15:26,596 --> 00:15:30,692 Now you, Mr. Author, should hide behind that thicket there. 165 00:15:30,766 --> 00:15:32,893 What's about to happen? 166 00:15:32,969 --> 00:15:35,233 Just watch and see. 167 00:15:38,174 --> 00:15:39,198 That's... 168 00:15:39,275 --> 00:15:43,473 How troublesome. It's too soon for him to appear. 169 00:15:44,647 --> 00:15:45,944 Nagamimi! 170 00:15:50,653 --> 00:15:52,746 Is that...? 171 00:15:52,822 --> 00:15:55,052 Hey! You there! 172 00:15:55,124 --> 00:15:57,285 What's in that basket? 173 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,419 All right, open it! 174 00:16:03,766 --> 00:16:05,529 Why, you... 175 00:16:06,168 --> 00:16:07,829 Stop! 176 00:16:24,020 --> 00:16:27,012 Sato! Sato! Sato! 177 00:16:28,424 --> 00:16:31,860 Sato! Here you are! I finally found you! 178 00:16:32,928 --> 00:16:37,388 Are you the one who takes my name and places your sins upon me?! 179 00:16:44,507 --> 00:16:46,805 What a horrible thing to do. 180 00:16:46,876 --> 00:16:48,173 What...?! 181 00:16:48,244 --> 00:16:53,181 Even though your wife no longer exists in this world. 182 00:16:53,249 --> 00:16:56,184 Are you the one who carried Sato here? 183 00:16:56,252 --> 00:17:00,814 You seem blinded by illusions. Look again, with clearer eyes. 184 00:17:00,890 --> 00:17:03,017 Ogin! 185 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:10,426 Ogin, are you still alive? Or are you now a lost soul? 186 00:17:11,901 --> 00:17:15,393 It doesn't matter. I just wanted to meet Ogin once again. 187 00:17:16,772 --> 00:17:21,436 No matter how much you change, l... I... 188 00:17:21,510 --> 00:17:24,968 What's this writer trying to tell me? 189 00:17:27,183 --> 00:17:29,117 You're her accomplice?! 190 00:17:29,185 --> 00:17:31,210 P- Please, calm down! 191 00:17:35,424 --> 00:17:38,120 As we travel down the path of life, we are confronted by choices. 192 00:17:38,194 --> 00:17:41,061 Step off the path of righteousness and you become trapped in the depths of sin. 193 00:17:42,631 --> 00:17:45,566 In the end, this transient world is but a dream. 194 00:17:45,634 --> 00:17:48,125 Evil and ambition scatter in the darkness... 195 00:17:48,204 --> 00:17:52,072 Ieaving behind dubious rumors to fly in public. 196 00:17:54,643 --> 00:17:59,307 Look carefully. That is not your wife Sato. 197 00:17:59,381 --> 00:18:02,544 What?! 198 00:18:02,618 --> 00:18:06,213 Madame Ohagi, prostitute of Shimabara. 199 00:18:06,288 --> 00:18:09,780 You killed her six months ago. 200 00:18:10,493 --> 00:18:12,358 There were others, weren't there? 201 00:18:12,428 --> 00:18:14,293 Shizuno, the young geisha of the Gion district. 202 00:18:14,363 --> 00:18:18,265 Otoku from the restaurant, and Okinu from Shirakawame. 203 00:18:18,334 --> 00:18:19,824 Impossible! 204 00:18:19,902 --> 00:18:23,565 They all looked like Sato, didn't they? 205 00:18:23,639 --> 00:18:25,800 My feelings will never change! 206 00:18:25,875 --> 00:18:29,038 No matter how corrupted her flesh may become! 207 00:18:29,111 --> 00:18:32,774 Are you saying that's why you record the stages of their bodies' decay? 208 00:18:32,848 --> 00:18:34,748 Like this! 209 00:18:37,486 --> 00:18:39,750 Your wife and the other women are angry with you! 210 00:18:39,822 --> 00:18:41,881 Wh- What are you saying?! 211 00:18:41,957 --> 00:18:46,257 I love her even into death! Why would she be angry with me?! 212 00:18:46,328 --> 00:18:48,489 Not only do you look at her as she most... 213 00:18:48,564 --> 00:18:51,260 doesn't wish you to see her, but you record it in images! 214 00:18:51,333 --> 00:18:55,793 Even the goddess lzanami would be angry. 215 00:19:07,316 --> 00:19:08,908 You brought shame upon us! 216 00:19:29,939 --> 00:19:32,601 To the next world, we commit Thee! 217 00:19:36,078 --> 00:19:38,546 What shame have I brought? 218 00:19:38,614 --> 00:19:43,210 I'll show you my love. Show you my undying faith! 219 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:48,121 By becoming a corpse, like my beloved Sato! 220 00:20:07,209 --> 00:20:11,543 Good grief, so all nine pictures are together now? 221 00:20:11,614 --> 00:20:15,641 Ogin! I KNEW you were still alive! Thank heaven! 222 00:20:15,718 --> 00:20:19,381 I thought you said it didn't matter before. 223 00:20:19,455 --> 00:20:23,255 Oh, I didn't mean it like that! 224 00:20:24,927 --> 00:20:25,985 Nagamimi! 225 00:20:26,061 --> 00:20:31,431 It was a lot of trouble supplying those corpses for you, Trickster. 226 00:20:31,834 --> 00:20:34,928 You mean, the thing I was carrying before was... 227 00:20:35,571 --> 00:20:40,907 A perfect ending, dying while killing the man who stole his wife's body. 228 00:20:41,510 --> 00:20:48,279 I get it now. He removed the body from its coffin before the funeral. 229 00:20:48,350 --> 00:20:51,547 But as the body began to rot, he regained his senses... 230 00:20:51,620 --> 00:20:53,281 and dumped the body in terror. 231 00:20:53,422 --> 00:20:57,916 But he relapsed and was driven to repeat the murder. 232 00:20:59,695 --> 00:21:02,721 To think that his love for his wife remained that strong... 233 00:21:02,798 --> 00:21:04,390 Heh. Awful, isn't it? 234 00:21:04,466 --> 00:21:10,894 Author, as he gazed at his wife's corpse, he grew to crave her. 235 00:21:10,973 --> 00:21:15,205 And as he did, his interest in living women disappeared. 236 00:21:15,277 --> 00:21:19,077 And so he'd murder women and lose himself in ecstasy... 237 00:21:19,148 --> 00:21:21,378 as he watched their bodies decay. 238 00:21:21,450 --> 00:21:22,644 My God. 239 00:21:22,718 --> 00:21:27,280 It's about time the monsters returned to the darkness. 240 00:21:29,491 --> 00:21:34,360 How about it, Author? Will you vanish with us? 241 00:21:34,430 --> 00:21:36,921 Or will you stay behind there? 242 00:21:41,904 --> 00:21:44,668 Sasayama, you killed the murderer! 243 00:21:44,740 --> 00:21:46,901 Well done! Well done! 244 00:21:50,212 --> 00:21:55,844 Lord Ogata has no idea. I wonder if it's for the best. 245 00:21:55,918 --> 00:21:59,319 In the end, this world is filled with lies, Author. 246 00:21:59,989 --> 00:22:03,618 Lies fill the truth so that no one is sure of anything. 247 00:22:03,692 --> 00:22:07,560 Isn't that how people manage to live their lives? 248 00:22:07,629 --> 00:22:10,860 That applies to me. And to you. 249 00:22:10,933 --> 00:22:12,798 Mataichi... 250 00:22:15,437 --> 00:22:21,501 Wind chimes whisper soft and sweet 251 00:22:22,878 --> 00:22:28,942 Though there's not a hint of a breeze 252 00:22:29,952 --> 00:22:35,686 Moonlight dancing on the garden walk 253 00:22:35,758 --> 00:22:42,357 As it gently drifts through the trees 254 00:22:43,799 --> 00:22:49,669 Romance takes flight on this perfect night 255 00:22:49,738 --> 00:22:56,405 While all of the world lays sleeping 256 00:22:57,246 --> 00:23:06,678 Find us here as we feel the moment of love 257 00:23:08,057 --> 00:23:11,220 Draw near 258 00:23:11,493 --> 00:23:18,456 Dream, sleep, with your hand in mine 259 00:23:18,534 --> 00:23:24,473 Underneath a blanket of stars 260 00:23:26,675 --> 00:23:31,874 Song birds singing in a distant glade 261 00:23:31,947 --> 00:23:40,787 As we share the warmth of the dawn 262 00:23:48,430 --> 00:23:50,364 Evil and ambition scatter in the darkness... 263 00:23:50,432 --> 00:23:53,629 Ieaving behind dubious rumors to fly in public. 264 00:23:54,770 --> 00:23:58,331 A mystery troubles Momosuke's older brother. 265 00:23:58,407 --> 00:24:01,968 A malicious shot buried in a samurai's forehead. 266 00:24:02,044 --> 00:24:05,411 The weapon is "nodeppo" (field gun), fired from the darkness. 267 00:24:06,348 --> 00:24:10,808 Next time, on Natsuhiko Kyogoku's "Requiem From the Darkness:" 268 00:24:10,886 --> 00:24:12,615 Field Gun. 269 00:24:12,688 --> 00:24:15,486 To the next world, we commit Thee!