When did you alter the wall?
I made preparations a while back, so we could escape at any time.
You were to be my bodyguard. Aren't you devoted to your job?!
We don't have time for your sarcasm.
I know...
I am prepared to endure any hardship until I see Mother.
There aren't any roads around here. Watch your step.
This is nothing. I-
I just said it, too...
Are you all right, Kanna-sama?!
Do I look all right to you?!
I cannot tell. It is too dark.
I surely hope your omote-gi has not been sullied.
You worry more about the clothes than your master?!
Both of you, pull up the bottoms of your clothes.
Oh, my! Both of us at the same time. Ryuuya-sama, you are so lewd.
You're no different than an animal.
Do you even understand what you're saying?!
I'm telling you to roll up your clothes so it's easier to move around.
Our pursuers should be close by.
Ryuuya-sama...
kieru hikoukigumo bokutachi wa miokutta
消える飛行機雲 僕たちは見送った
We watched the fading contrails go by.
mabushikute nigeta
眩しくて逃げた
I ran away because it was too bright.
kuyashikute yubi o hanasu
悔しくて指を離す
I let go of your hands because it hurt.
todokanai basho ga mada tooku ni aru
届かない場所がまだ遠くにある
The place I can't reach is still far away.
negai dake himete mitsumeteru
願いだけ秘めて見つめてる
I gaze at it with a wish locked away inside.
kodomotachi wa natsu no senro aruku
子供たちは夏の線路 歩く
The children walk on the summer railway tracks,
kodomotachi wa natsu no senro aruku
子供たちは夏の線路 歩く
The children walk on the summer railway tracks,
ryoute ni wa tobitatsu kibou o
両手には飛び立つ希望を
with hope that will take flight in my hands.
kieru hikoukigumo oikakete oikakete
消える飛行機雲 追いかけて追いかけて
I chased and chased the fading contrails.
kono oka o koeta ano hi kara kawarazu itsumademo
この丘を越えたあの日から変わらずいつまでも
Nothing changed since the day we went past that hill.
massugu ni bokutachi wa aru youni
真っ直ぐに僕たちはあるように
I hope we can be our honest selves forever,
watatsumi no youna tsuyosa o mamoreru yo kitto
わたつみのような強さを守れるよ きっと
and definitely protect this Poseidon-like strength.
watatsumi no youna tsuyosa o mamoreru yo kitto
わたつみのような強さを守れるよ きっと
and definitely protect this Poseidon-like strength.
watatsumi no youna tsuyosa o mamoreru yo kitto
わたつみのような強さを守れるよ きっと
and definitely protect this Poseidon-like strength.
Stay close to me.
Run!
Part 1
You can move now.
This is quite troublesome...
You kept quiet very well.
Don't underestimate me!
I am no coward.
Hurry up, else I'll leave you behind.
That's the direction we came from.
Looks like they sent a lot of people after us.
Uraha, you brought a change of clothes for Kanna, right?
You two just sit down and take it easy.
Don't move from here.
Ryuuya-sama!
Don't worry.
Over there! It's a woman!
She's faster than expected!
Don't lose sight of her! Hurry!
The woman fell into the mountain stream!
It looks like she fell into the stream!
I heard it directly below.
Look! A piece of cloth!
Gather the troops! Hurry!
Search downstream!
Throw down your sword.
Answer my questions truthfully...
...and I'll spare your life.
You're from Azuma, aren't you?
Why are you after Kannabi no Mikoto?
I don't know!
We've just been ordered to do so!
What do you plan to do with Kannabi no Mikoto?
Whose orders are you acting on?
I don't know!
Our captain just told us to do it!
I see.
Stop!
Were you going to kill him?
Our lives would have been in danger if I didn't.
Have you no shame, you fool?!
You just told him you would spare his life.
Do you lie as if it were nothing?
Do you break your vows as if it were nothing?
If the time and situation call for it...
So you are saying that you will break your vow to me if the time and situation call for it...
Do you kill people as if it were nothing?
Kanna-sama...
I do not want to be protected by one such as yourself!
I order you...
As long as I am your master, I forbid you to commit murder.
Keep that in mind.
Understood.
Very well.
Do you really think we can get out of here without killing a single person?
I believe it shall be effortless for you.
Easy for you to say.
You can relax now. I don't see any sign of pursuit.
That's a relief...
Uraha, can you go get some water?
There should be a stream at the bottom.
Certainly.
Kanna, are you all right?
Don't talk to me.
You're making my headache worse.
Looks like the heat got to you. Here.
What are you doing!?
It's to cool you down.
Just tell me before you do it...
Okay, I'm going to pour water on you.
I was asking you to be more gentle when you do it!
Stop being so finicky!
You insolent fool!
Oh, my. Kanna-sama is all better now!
See? Children recover so quickly.
I am not better!
I'm angry!
But this is bad. The height of summer is just beginning.
The heat will get to her quickly in those clothes.
Do not worry. I have already taken proper countermeasures.
Now, now, Kanna-sama. Right this way.
I am fine the way I am.
Now, now, if you intend to be so naughty, then...
Oh, my! You're drenched in sweat!
Hey! Don't fondle me in strange places!
I knew it! You're wet all the way inside, too!
Stop! It tickles!
I said stop!
What happened?!
That monkey stole Kanna-sama's kimono!
Give it back, insolent fool!
Step aside.
That was marvellous, Ryuuya-sama.
Yes. I expect nothing less from my loyal subject.
H-Hey! Stop it!
I will not!
Intruding while your master is changing is the epitome of disloyalty!
You just called me your loyal subject!
Don't give me such an unreasonable retort!
Which of us is being unreasonable here?!
We are done.
Where did you get this kimono?
I "borrowed" them while they were drying by the riverside.
I left proper compensation, of course.
You look pretty nice in them, Kanna.
R-Really?
You have strange tastes...
No matter how I look at you, you look like any other village girl.
A bit too cute for one, actually.
Maybe a bit too bony.
That wasn't necessary!
It doesn't seem like you're getting better at all.
The beginning is the most important part of the learning process.
As long as one has a firm foundation, one will improve very quickly.
You want me to practise with these?
One is supposed to juggle with stones!
It will hurt if I get hit by accident.
With danger comes desperation.
Uhh, it's not supposed to be a dangerous game...
Now is the time, Kanna-sama!
And... I'm being ignored...
Kanna-sama!!!
Are you all right, Kanna?!
Kanna-sama!
She is sleeping quite soundly.
You should always exercise if you want to get a good night's sleep.
She's been cramped up in that shrine all this time.
Yes, she has...
You should get some rest, too.
We still have to walk through the mountain path tomorrow.
Are you not tired yourself?
I'm fine. I'm used to it.
To war?
Yeah.
You should get some rest.
I shall keep watch.
All right, I'll leave it to you.
I got a good one for you!
This is quite a large market.
What is a market?
It is a place where goods are exchanged.
Don't make too much of a commotion.
There are people after us.
I know.
I am not that foolish.
Uraha! What are these?!
They are called Ubai. They are used to treat illnesses of the abdomen.
Oh, that extremely sour thing.
They have rice cakes!
I remember when you ate too many and had one stuck in your throat.
I couldn't help myself because they were too delicious.
What's this?
You mean the white sake?
I remember when you drank it to excess and went on a rampage, and...
You don't have to talk about stupid things every single time!
Hey, did you already forget that I told you not to cause a commotion?
It should be fine.
A little commotion should not draw attention at such a bustling market.
Besides, who could distinguish me from the others in this crowd?
I'm bony, and I only look like a village girl.
You hold grudges over the stupidest things.
All right! I'm sorry!
You're cute. You're magnificently sweet.
You're so charming that you stand out in a crowd, so please be more quiet.
As always, your praises lack sincerity.
Hey!
You there.
What is this striped ball?
It's a gourd.
But gourds should be softer and juicer.
There's no way you could eat it with it being this hard.
You a princess from somewhere?
Yes, the palace is about ten days away by foot in the mounta-
This girl has been giving me a lot of trouble since she's slightly retarded.
That's too bad.
Who are you calling retarded?!
You... Who else?
Uraha, you should say something too.
She's gone...
Uraha!
Where are you, Uraha?
Ow! Don't bite!
That is because you do nothing but commit outrages!
I ended up taking half the day babysitting Kanna.
Where did Uraha go?
I've never seen an ugly bird such as yourself.
It is only unreasonable that you go unsold because of that fidgety chirping of yours.
Cuckoos and scops owls make funnier hoots.
A lowly bird dares to mock me! How insolent!
I'll rip out those ridiculous tail feathers of yours!
Please stop!
That's my most prized longtail!
What are we going to look at next?!
We have to look for Uraha first.
Oh great samurai, sir.
Please have pity on my poor self, sir.
Three days ago, I was chased out of my village and wandered here with nothing but these clothes on my back.
Was there a war?
I don't know.
There was a band of men in rough warrior attire.
They ordered me to leave, and took my home as well as my fields.
That is very unfortunate.
Is the lady beside you of noble birth?
You can tell?
No, I am not.
I am nothing but a sweet innocent little village girl. A little bony, though.
You're still mad about that?
Don't just stand there.
Give something to him.
What am I supposed to give him?
This isn't much, but it should help a little.
Thank you so much.
I will never forget this.
Take care.
We did something good.
Not necessarily.
What do you mean?
He could have been a fraud.
Even I'd lie and kiss ass if I were desperate.
Believing a begger's life story will only make a fool out of you.
You are such a fool.
Even you could see how thin and weak he looked.
Oh, I see.
I'm hungry.
The very moment you impress me, I get this.
Well, Kanna-sama is still growing.
If you're going to grow, you might as well grow some plump breasts instead of a bigger ass.
Quiet, you!
You don't look too happy. What's wrong, Uraha?
You're not surprised at all...
Whoa! When did you come back, Uraha?! I didn't notice you at all!
You always appear out of nowhere.
Thank you for such obviously fake words of consideration.
Where were you?
I will inform you of the details later.
Oh yes, I have a gift for Kanna-sama.
A walnut? That's rare this time of year.
I hear it came from a branch that bore fruit early near a certain shrine, and is considered auspicious.
It is one of Kanna-sama's favourite foods, and is very nutritious.
I had a lot of things happen over here while you were gone.
Oh my, Kanna-sama!
Stop!
Don't tell me you left without saying anything so you could leave Kanna with me.
Only you, Ryuuya-sama, would think of something so disrespectful.
Why won't it crack?!
Stop it. You'll chip a tooth.
Let me do something, too.
I don't want you two to do all the work.
Then go get some firewood.
And leave your walnut behind. I'll crack it for you.
Thank you.
Then I'm off to gather firewood!
Yeah.
Don't go too far.
I know.
There was a checkpoint down the path from the market.
They were stopping young girls and checking their bare backs.
They must be checking for wings.
Looks like we can't take the main road anymore.
I'm surprised you found out.
That was an inconvenient place to hold a market.
I found it suspicious, so I investigated to be safe.
You really are experienced with the ways of the world.
It was a big help.
Where did you learn such skills?
This is nothing but a circus act.
But still, I have to keep my skills honed.
And don't tell Kanna. I don't want her to give me hell about how walnuts are alive, too.
"You are forbidden to commit murder," was it?
Do you really think I'll keep that vow?
Kanna-sama did not want me to tell you, but...
...do you remember the night we fled from the shrine?
After that, she heard the voices of pursuers.
Ryuuya-dono is being chased.
I must go!
He'll be killed if I don't!
If he dies, I... I...
She would not listen to me, even when I told her it was part of your stratagem.
Is that so?
Excuse me, but I believe you will keep your vow to not kill.
What makes you think that?
At that time, what would you have done if Kanna-sama told you to kill that soldier?
I would have got mad at her. I would have told her not to take a human life for granted.
Adults have to set an example for children.
That is correct.
I got it!
Is this enough?!
Kanna-sama!
I told you to be careful!
Shut up! I just couldn't see in front of me.
Ryuuya-dono...
What?
I want to ask a favour of you...
It's still a little embarrassing, but...
...will you watch me?
shiroku togireta yume no kirehashi wo tsukamaete
白く途切れた夢の切れ端をつかまえて
Trying to catch the white fragments of his dream,
shounen wa hashiru
少年は走る
a boy runs.
te wo hanashitara
手を放したら
When he lets go,
dokomademo tooku kaze no ne ni kieteyuku
どこまでも遠く風の音に消えてゆく
it disappears into the sound of the wind in the distance.
itsuka mieta yasashisa wa mou nai
いつか見えた優しさはもうない
The kindness that he once saw is now gone.
hitori fumidasu ashidake miteru
ひとり踏み出す足だけ見てる
He steps forward alone, looking only at his feet.
asa ni wa kieta ano utagoe wo itsumademo kiiteta
朝には消えたあの歌声をいつまでも聞いてた
He always listened to the song that disappeared by morning.
bokura ga nokoshita ano ashiato wo itsumademo otteta
僕らが残したあの足跡をいつまでも追ってた
He chased forever those footprints we left.
Preview
I never saw my parents' faces.
Why is that?
I was probably abandoned.
Unsui took me in when he found me crying at the side of the road.
Part 2