amatsuki 87

amatsuki 87

149
Text: [Chapter 87: Here Blooms The Daylily, Part 1]
(Note: "Wasuregusa" or "flower of forgetfulness" is the traditional Japanese name for the daylily, and the "kan" in Kanzou means "daylily"... and as usual in Amatsuki, this obscure floral reference foreshadows the whole plot arc.)

150
Hashita: Okay,
Hashita: You kids take care!
Utsubushi: Bon!
Utsubushi: Don't run into anything weird, okay!?
SFX: [*noogie noogie*]
Toki: Is it really okay to leave you guys behind,
Toki: Hashita-san?
Hashita: We'll be fine.
Hashita: There's no sense in us all waiting here, right?
Hashita: He still can't be moved...
SFX: [*wiggle wiggle*]
SFX: [*pop*]

151
Tsuyukusa: I'm fine!  Just get going already!
Tsuyukusa: We'll catch up with you!
Toki: Awww!!!  Tsuyukusa, you're so tiny!!!
Tsuyukusa: SHUT THE FUCK UP!!
SFX: [*daww dawww dawww*]
Kon: Oh, you're awake already?
Kon: [Wow.]
Hashita: At this rate, it won't take him long to return to full size.  Then we'll follow you.
Hashita: Don't worry!
Toki: But...
Toki: How will you find us?
Tsuyukusa: Oh,
Tsuyukusa: It's okay, I've got it covered.
Toki: Eh!?

152
Tsuyukusa: For some reason, I can sense where you are.
Toki: .....
Toki: Tsuyukusa...
Toki: No way...
Tsuyukusa: Man, your brain is totally weird.  I don't get you.
Tsuyukusa: [I don't want to get you.]
SFX: [*shudder*]
Tsuyukusa: But I guess I can pick up on how you feel...
Tsuyukisa: [Like, right now, you feel like all your dirty little secrets are being watched.]
Toki: [Whyyy do I have this power?]
Kon: There's nothing you can do about it.
Bonten: Ugh.
Bonten: He's an idiot.  Just let him be.
Bonten: Anyway, we're headed back the way we came.

153
Toki: Huh?
Toki: Go back?
Toki: But Bonten,
Toki: But don't we have to keep going forward to reach Ginshu-san?
Bonten: ......
Bonten: I intend to.
Bonten: But...
Bonten: We need to regroup.
Toki: Right!

154
Yakou: Why...
Yakou: Are you turning back?
Yakou: If you turn back now, all your struggles will have been for nothing.
SFX: [*stare*]
Yakou: The two priestesses lie ahead.
SFX: [*punch*]

155
SFX: [*whoosh*]
Yakou: There's no point in doing that.
SFX: [*step*]
Toki: Yakou!!
Toki: What are you doing here!?
Yakou: I am your guide.
Yakou: I simply ask why you would abandon your quest.
Yakou: I will lead you down this path,
Yakou: But you must keep going forward.

156
Yakou: Why...
Yakou: Would you turn back now?
Toki: Because you're just trying to make us split up so we're easier to fight!
Toki: And we're not going to fall for it!!
Yakou: There are easier ways to dispose of you.
Yakou: I have no such plan.
Yakou: The tengu and the mermaid have very different goals.
Yakou: There's no way they can follow the same path.
Yakou: The tengu seeks two broken dolls, one red and one white.  (Note: Ginshu's name contains the kanji for "red," and Byakuroku's name contains the kanji for "white.")
Yakou: The mermaid seeks her three little pets, two birds and a dog.  (Note: Kuchiha is obviously the dog, but "Suzume" is also the word for "sparrow," and "Hatoba" contains the kanji for "feather.")
Yakou: I'm offering you a shortcut.
Yakou: Why do you turn back?

157
Bonten (2 bubbles): I've got my reasons.
Hashita: You know, you're not very reassuring...
Hashita: [We're friends and all, but...]
Bonten: Shut up, old man.
Hashita: [I'M NOT OLD!!!]
Yakou: Is your resolve so weak?
Yakou: Human hearts waver so easily.
Yakou: They quickly fall into chaos and confusion.
Yakou: You hesitate and you don't even know why.

158
Yakou: But I want to know.
SFX: [*stare*]
Yakou: You're being rash.
Yakou: Once you come to your senses, I am at your service.
Yakou: Until then, I will be waiting!
SFX: [*fwoosh*]
SFX: [*whoosh*]

159
Yakou: Haha...
Yakou: I can't wait.
SFX: [*whoosh*]
Toki: Bonten?
Bonten: He's just an illusion.
Bonten: There's no reason for him to help us.
Bonten: Come on, don't worry about it.
Bonten: Let's go back.
Toki: Y...
Toki: Yeah.

160
Kon: Uh,
Kon: Hey.
Kon: Back then, when you suddenly ran off...
Kon: It looked like you were chasing after somebody.
Bonten: !
Kon: Who was it?
Bonten: ......

161
Bonten: It was another me.
Bonten: I guess you'd call that a "doppelganger," right?
Bonten: It's supposed to be an omen of death.
Bonten: Some people believe...
Bonten: That the doppelganger will take your place.
SFX: [*rustle*]
Bonten: Just kidding.

162
Toki: Hey!!
Hizame: !
Toki: Hizame-san!
Toki: Are you guys okay!?
Hizame: Oh, Rikugou-dono, it's you!
Hizame: You really came back after all.
Hizame: We're all fine.

163
SFX: [*rustle*]
Hizame: My, my, I didn't think you would come back too.
Bonten: Yeah, whatever.
Bonten: I don't feel like chasing after the Yakou.
Susutake: Huh?
Susutake: Where's the giant bird?
Susutake: [Is he dead.]
Toki: [He's alive!]
Toki: We had to leave him behind, but he'll meet up with us soon...
Toki: Hey, where's Kanzou?
Ainezu: That idiot...
Ainezu: Is walking right into the Yakou's trap.

164-165
Toki: Huuuuuuh?
Toki: A village?
Hizame: Where has the demon path taken us this time?
Hizame: No... I sense that we are still on the demon path.
Susutake: There are villages in there?
Kon: Feels kinda creepy, don't you think?
Kon: [Ugh...]
Toki: [A creepy rural town...]
Toki: [It's straight out of a horror game!]
Game Box: "Siren no Naku Koro ni" (Note: This is a play on two popular Japanese horror video games: "Siren" and "Higurashi no Naku Koro ni."  Both are set in small towns.]
Toki: [Nooooo!!]
SFX: [*shock*]
Susutake: Hey.
Farmer: [Hahaha!]
SFX: [*peek*]

166
Toki: Well...
Toki: They look like normal people, don't they?
Toki: I guess...
Toki: Should I go talk to them?
Susutake: Hell no!
SFX: [*grab*]
Susutake: Look at yourself, bro.
Toki: Huh?
SFX: [*shake shake*]
SFX [*gasp! shock!*]
Susutake: You've got short hair!
Susutake: Your clothes are covered in blood!
Susutake: You're all bandaged up!
Susutake: Your kimono's a mess!
Susutake: You're too damned tall!
Susutake: Even I'd stay the hell away from you.
Susutake: [And they're just a bunch of hick farmers!]
SFX: [*shock*]
Toki: I guess I've gotten so used to being surrounded by weird people that I forgot I was kinda weird too...
Toki: [I'm a suspicious person!]
SFX: [*tremble tremble*]
Susutake: Huh, so who should we send...

167
Ainezu: I guess there's really only one option...
Text: [A bunch of freaks...]
Susutake: Yep!  It's all up to you, Doc!
Farmer: [Ahahaha!]
Ainezu: Um...
Ainezu: Pardon me, but I think I'm a little lost...
Ainezu Could you tell me the name of this village?
Farmer: Huh?  Are you a travelling doctor or something?
Ainezu: Yes.
Ainzeu: I'm lost and I don't know what to do.
Farmer 1: Huh... now that ya mention it, what is this village called?
SFX: [*whisper whisper*]
Farmer 3: We ain't got no schooling, how should we know?

168
Farmer 1: Well, missy, I think this must be the town of Okuyama!
Ainezu: [Sheesh...]
Ainezu: Thanks...
Farmer 2: Wait, what do you know about geography!
Farmer 3: He's right!  Isn't the village on the other side of the river called Yamakami?
Ainezu: Eeeeh!?
(Note: In rural Japan, especially during the Edo period, there often was a lot of confusion over the names of small towns.  Maps were unreliable and locals rarely left home, so it could be hard to tell where the village boundaries were.)
Kon: He's getting nowhere.
Toki: These people are nuts.
Farmer 4: Hey, what are you folks up to?
Farmer 2: Oh,
Farmer 2: This doctor's lost, so we're tryin' to help her!
Farmer 4: Eh?  Ya don't see too many doctors in these parts!
Farmer 4: Why don't ya stay the night, missy?  You're welcome at my place.
Ainezu: Ah...
Ainezu: Actually, I'm traveling with companions!
Ainezu: [We couldn't possibly impose on you like that!]
Farmer 4: Eh?
Farmer 4: How many?
Ainezu: Er, five.
Farmers: [Oooh...]
SFX: [*mumble mumble*]
Farmer 4: Yeah, that's a lot...
Farmer 1: But you could sleep in my stable!
Toki: Man, this feels like a TV show!
SFX: [*giggle*]
Toki: [Adventures in Rural Japan!]
Kon: What's "tee vee?"
SFX: [*mumble mumble*]

169
Farmer 2: Hey, maybe we should take her to the village chief?
Farmer: Oh, that's right, we're supposed to take visitors to him.
Farmer: He'll be able to help, won't he?
Farmer: Yeah,
Farmer: You're right.
Farmer: Mmhm.
Susutake: The village chief!?
Susutake: Man, we'd better come up with a good cover story...
Toki: But we weren't getting anywhere with the farmers.  Maybe the chief can help?
Susutake: And maybe he'll have some booze to give us...
Susutake: [And a beautiful daughter...]
SFX: [Hehehe...]
Toki: [You can think about THAT at a time like this!?]
Toki: Dude, keep it in your pants, okay?
Ainezu: Come on!
Ainezu: They're taking us to the chief!

170
Text: [The Home of the Village Chief]
Chief: My, my.
Chief: You treat patients even while you're traveling?
Chief: That's very admirable of you.
Ainezu: Oh, no,
Ainezu: We're just a motley group of wanderers, that's all.
Ainezu: It's a long story.
Chief: But what about this nun's eyes...?
Hizame: Oh.
Hizame: It's truly a divine miracle!
Hizame: The good doctor has been able to restore a little of my sight,
Hizame: So, in gratitude, I became his servant!

171
Hizame: And as for my other companions, they were once common thugs!
Hizame: But the good doctor changed their evil ways, and they too pledged themselves as his loyal servants!
Kon: Common thugs...?
Susutake: Man, she calls 'em like she sees 'em!
SFX: [*sob sob*]
Toki: I guess I must look like a real creep...
SFX: [*sigh*]
SFX: *mumble mumble mumble mumble*
Susutake: Yep, pretty much.
Toki: What did you say!?
SFX: [*tap*]
Toki: !
SFX: [*shhh*]
SFX: [*tap tap*]
Toki: ?
SFX: [*listen*]

172
SFX: *mumble mumble*
SFX: *mumble*
??? 1: I wasn't expecting to have visitors...
??? 1: And on today of all days!
??? 2: It will be fine.
??? 2: We'll just have to be sure not to say anything about it in public.
??? 2: I've already called the exorcist.  Everything is ready for tonight.
??? 2: Tonight, we'll get rid of the Dog God once and for all...
Toki: [What!?]