ryumikaidan

[ryumikaidan]

Ryumi and the Magic Jewel (full script)

Blue Bird Productions presents…

(Open on a blue paper lantern in a dark room.)

Narrator: Imagine, if you will, a world separate from yours, inhabited by the strangest of beings. These creatures are the very things that go bump in the night, haunting Japan for as long as anyone can remember. Some are human-like, some are animal-like, while others are inanimate objects, come alive after years of neglect. Some are helpful, while many seek to cause mischief… but others are very dangerous. Whenever you turn out the light, they are there. They are always there. Welcome to my world.

(The lantern glows brighter, and a blue female figure with long horns -the narrator- emerges from the light.)

Narrator: Listen well, for tonight, I’ve got a story to be told. Be warned: what you will hear is not for the faint of heart.

(As she speaks, the shadow of a girl materializes behind her.)

Narrator: This is the tale of…

(Suddenly, the shadow speaks, startling the narrator.)

Shadow: Uh, Aoki? Are you trying to traumatize these people? ‘Cause it sure looks like it.

Aoki: Kagetsu, I’m just trying to help them beat the summer heat. And giving them chills is a good method, tried and true.

Kagetsu: Well, sure, if you don’t mind the nightmares. How about something for the kids? Something with true friendship, adventure, something that even adults will enjoy. Plus, it’s gotta have a happy ending!

Aoki: A happy…?! Are you saying my stories are too depressing?

Kagetsu: No, I’m just saying they’re too grim. Remember the one about the cow’s head? (shudders) Talk about knocking them dead…

Aoki: Look, my stories are probably even better than whatever weird fairy tale you’re thinking of. Besides, did you know that some fairy tales end badly? Urashima Taro, the Crane Wife…

Kagetsu: Well, those stories don’t count! At least, not to me. Come on, Aoki. I want a happy ending, they (indicates the audience) want a happy ending, even the girl who judges you from the gap between the shelves and the wall wants a happy ending.

(Aoki briefly whirls around to look at the aforementioned gap, sweating nervously. She thinks for a moment, then addresses the audience.)

Aoki: Do… Do you really want a story with a happy ending?

(The camera nods.)

Kagetsu: That’s a yes!

Aoki: Okay, Kagetsu, what do you have in mind?

Kagetsu: How about the one with the girl magician and the magic jewel? That one’s epic. Plus, it’s got the spooky wonders you were talking about. Y’know, folks like us.

Aoki: …Alright, but you’re helping me tell the story. This is a long one.

Kagetsu: YES!

Aoki: Ladies and gentlemen, we present a tale of a girl and her unusual friends on an adventure which will greatly change their lives forever…

(Kagetsu manipulates the shadows and light to form the title of the story…)

Ryumi: The Magic Jewel

Aoki: Our story begins in the village of Shintonoyama. It is here where our heroine lives with her mother, her only living parent, her father having passed away years previous. Name of Ryumi.

(Scene: A house in Shintonoyama, at sunset. Inside, a girl slips on her sandals in preparation to go out. This is Ryumi. A woman, Ryumi’s mother, approaches.)

Ryumi’s Mother: That time again, Ryumi?

Ryumi: Yup! Gotta earn our living, you know.

Ryumi’s Mother: Wait. (adjusts Ryumi’s bow) There. Perfect.

Ryumi: Mom, don’t worry about how I look. That’s my job.

Ryumi’s Mother: I know. Sorry.

(Ryumi leaves, waving her mother goodbye as she goes.)

Ryumi: Later, Mom!

Ryumi’s Mother: Good luck!

(As Ryumi hurries through town, she meets up with two village boys.)

Ryumi: Hey, guys!

Kagetsu: Also living in Shintonoyama are Ryumi’s two friends. They are Shigeto and Hisaaki, and tonight, they are her helpers.

Shigeto: So, what are we pulling off this time?

Ryumi: Eh, the usual.

Hisaaki: Nothing new, huh? Oh well. Guess people prefer the classics.

Shigeto: Hey, you think we can throw in the long necked girl thing again?

(The other two look at him.)

Shigeto: What? It’s funny. It needs comedy to balance the whole thing out. They’re gonna be throwing money at us.

Hisaaki: Either that, or they’ll throw something at us.

Ryumi: We’ll see.

(Cut to the interior of a theater, packed full of astonished villagers. Onstage, Ryumi is performing Mizugei, or water magic. The audience clap their hands. Next, she takes a small box, shows the audience that it’s empty, then drops a silk flower inside. She then reaches in and scatters dozens of silk flowers over the audience, who ooh and aah. Ryumi steps offstage, allowing Shigeto and Hisaaki to come onstage.)

Shigeto: Everybody having a good time, tonight?

(The audience cheer.)

Hisaaki: There’s your answer.

Shigeto: Well, how many of you here have heard of the witch with the extendable neck?

Male Theatergoers: ME!/Oh my god, YES!/I gotta see this!/Would this witch be incredibly beautiful?

Shigeto: Alrighty then, people! For your entertainment, she is here to demonstrate her amazing gift. Just sit tight.

(With that, the two exit the stage. The lights dim, and after a few suspenseful moments, a lantern is lit, illuminating Ryumi in a kneeling position, wearing a kimono and a geisha wig. As the audience watch, her neck seems to elongate. Her head floats above her body, while the bendable neck stretches and flexes. The crowd goes ballistic. One guy even pukes a bit in his mouth. Shigeto and Hisaaki watch from backstage.)

Shigeto: That never gets old.

Kagetsu: Y’know, I never got how all those tricks were pulled off. I mean, how does she do that?

Aoki: Well, for the long necked trick, I think they use a-

Kagetsu: WHOA, NO! Don’t spoil it! Think of the children’s hopes and dreams!

Aoki: (looks at the camera) …Okay.

(The show finished, the three take a bow during a round of applause. Cut to the exterior of the theater, where everybody, including Ryumi and her friends, are heading home.)

Shigeto: WHOO! What a show! We sure blew their minds tonight, didn’t we?

Ryumi: Yeah. Still, that was nothing compared to what my dad could do.

Hisaaki: Here we go again.

Shigeto: What could your dad do, again? Bring paper dolls to life, or something?

Ryumi: Well, yeah, but he also knew the Lord Taizan ceremony. That puts him right up there with Abe no Seimei. He’s probably even met a bunch of spirits in his lifetime. Yokai, too.

Shigeto: Okay, we get it. You wanna rise to his level and become a true magician. We’ve all heard that story before.

Hisaaki: If he has met yokai, wouldn’t there be one living in the forest who probably knew him?

Shigeto: Maybe, but then again, there are lots of ‘em in the forest! Take your pick!

Ryumi: I would like to meet a being who knew Dad. I never did get to learn all his secrets growing up.

Shigeto: Well, why don’t we try to find one? I know this great shortcut back to town. There’s no doubt we’ll meet a yokai along the way.

Hisaaki: Uh, Shigeto, are you sure about this? It could be dangerous. I mean-

Shigeto: Hey, no worries. Think of it as a test of courage. (to Ryumi) Whaddaya say, Ryumi? Are you in?

(After a moment of consideration, Ryumi gives her answer.)

Ryumi: Well… If it means possibly meeting someone or something that knew my dad, then… Let’s do it!

Shigeto: Okay, Ryumi! Lead the way!

(With Ryumi leading, they start on the path through the forest.)

Kagetsu: (sarcastically) Oh, wow. I don’t see how this could go horribly wrong at all.

(In the forest, the trio make their way along the path, with only their lantern to guide them.)

Hisaaki: You sure this leads back to town?

Shigeto: Sure, I’ve used it a dozen times during the day.

Hisaaki: (sarcastically) Well, that’s helpful.

(From a nearby tree, a branch seems to move, unnoticed by the three. It’s no branch, but the leg of some gigantic creature. Ryumi suddenly stops.)

Hisaaki: What’s wrong?

Ryumi: Don’t you think it’s too quiet here?

Shigeto: (looks around) Hey, yeah! No night birds, no animals, no crickets… These things just don’t happen! No noise in the woods?

(He stops, noticing how Ryumi and Hisaaki have gone quiet as well.)

Shigeto: See, even you guys. What are you looking at, any…

(Following their shocked gaze, he trails off, jaw dropped. For above, a mass of spiderwebbing stretches from branch to branch, with gnawed-on bones embedded within.)

Shigeto: …Oh.

(Suddenly, there is a gust of wind, and the lantern goes out. Almost immediately, something huge lands behind them. They turn around to see a gigantic, mad-eyed spider - a tsuchigumo.)

Ryumi: …Run?

(The trio proceed to do so, screaming all the way, with the tsuchigumo in pursuit. They tear out of the forest, running for their lives all the way back to Shintonoyama, shouting at the top of their lungs.)

Youths: HELP!/Somebody help!/Look out!/Run for your lives!/Death spider! DEATH SPIDER!

(As they tear through town, the people still awake at the time look at them, confused. Some come out of their houses to see what’s the matter. And then it is too late. The tsuchigumo breaks off from the chase, and rapidly crawls into the gathering crowd. The night air is filled with terrified screams as havoc ensues. Meanwhile, in Ryumi’s house, her mother’s eyes snap open.)

Ryumi’s Mother: Ryumi…?!

(Back amidst the chaos, the three frantically push and shove their way through the panicked masses, trying to reach Ryumi’s home. Ryumi stumbles and falls, and before the other two can pull her back onto her feet, the tsuchigumo singles them out. As the people flee, the tsuchigumo slowly approaches them. It prepares to pounce… but then a figure leaps between it and the trio.)

Ryumi: Mom?

(Ryumi’s mother stands there, unafraid. Then, she begins to glow with a great power, and nine fox tails appear from behind her. The three can only watch, stunned. The tsuchigumo lunges, but Ryumi’s mother levitates the youths and herself away from the attack. As they land safely on a nearby roof, Ryumi is the first to speak up.)

Ryumi: Mom, what the heck is going on?!

Ryumi’s Mother: No time to explain.

(Below, the tsuchigumo spots them. Ryumi’s mother holds out her hand, and a portal leading to a field outside Shintonoyama appears.)

Shigeto: WHOA! Okay!

Ryumi’s Mother: Ryumi, you must find your grandfather, Nakaari, my father.

Ryumi: Find my… But where?!

Ryumi’s Mother: He lives in the spirit realm. Go to him. Protect the magic jewel he has.

Ryumi: Magic jewel…? But Mom…

Ryumi’s Mother: More than our lives are at stake here. Hurry!

(Without another word, Ryumi jumps through the portal.)

Shigeto: C’mon, Hisaaki!

Hisaaki: Wait, can we talk about th- (Shigeto grabs him and jumps through the portal) AAAAHHHHHH!

(Once all three youths are on the other side of the portal, Ryumi looks back at her mother.)

Ryumi: Mo-

(Suddenly, the tsuchigumo tackles Ryumi’s mother, and the portal closes.)

Ryumi: NO!

(The portal doesn’t reopen. There is only them, and the night.)

Ryumi: Mom…

Kagetsu: Well, that was a downer. Also, there are so many questions that need to be answered.

Aoki: Don’t worry, we’ll get around to that.

Kagetsu: For example, RYUMI’S MOM WAS A NINE-TAILED FOX THE WHOLE TIME?! WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?! IS SHE STILL ALIVE?!

Aoki: I SAID WE’LL GET AROUND TO THAT!!!

(Scene: The field, daybreak. The trio awaken from their slumber, yawning and stretching. Ryumi is deep in thought.)

Shigeto: Man, what a night. You okay, Ryumi?

Ryumi: I can’t believe this.

Shigeto: Huh?

Ryumi: Mom was a fox all along. A nine-tailed fox. Why didn’t she tell me?

Shigeto: Aw, c’mon, it’s not that bad. Abe no Seimei‘s mom was a fox, too. Where else do you think he got his magic from? If your mom’s got magical powers, then you’ve got magical powers.

Hisaaki: Yeah, and besides, she saved us. That means she’s one of the good foxes.

Ryumi: Still… what did she mean when she said that more than our lives were at stake? And this jewel she mentioned… You don’t think…

(They all look at each other, uncertain.)

Shigeto: Yeah, mother definitely knows best on this one.

(There is a pause.)

Ryumi: Well, guess there’s nothing left except… We need to find the spirit realm.

(They start walking.)

Hisaaki: Uh, Ryumi? We don’t even know where to find a portal.

Ryumi: Then, we’ll find someone who does know.

(Cut to a sign written (of course!) in Japanese, with paper talismans plastered all over it. The three approach it.)

Shigeto: (reading the sign) “Now entering Yugatono. Demons and supernatural offspring stay out and far away.” (grins) But they don’t have to know you’re one of those offspring.

Hisaaki: You sure we should be heading through this crazy place?

Ryumi: There has to be somebody who knows how to get to the realm.

(They head off in the direction of Yugatono. Cut to the town, and a stereotypical angry mob.)

Mob: Kill it!/Avenge the poor woman!/Death to the demon!

(The trio enter the scene, taking notice.)

Shigeto: What’s got into them?

(The other two shrug. They push through the crowd, to see an obviously important man making an announcement, while a priestess stands nearby.)

Important Guy: Citizens! Just this morning, a horrific scene was discovered in the home of one Tsujiko Kinoshita, who, despite our previous warnings, chose to keep the unholy abomination which she had brought into the world alive! The woman was dead, the obvious victim of the demon seed found beside her body. Today, we are gathered here to bring justice upon the monster.

(Shigeto makes a “can you believe this guy?” gesture.)

Important Guy: Behold, the horror!

(The man steps aside, revealing a red bloblike creature with black hair, tied in a bag hanging from a post. The villagers let out a collective gasp.)

Important Guy: This vile thing must not be left alone to its own devices, not after what it has done to a pitiful and beloved member of our community!

(He beckons the priestess over. She complies, and steps up to the bound creature.)

Priestess: Begone, demon!

(She throws salt over the blob, who flinches.)

Blob: GAH! Right in the face!

Priestess: Wh- That always works!

Important Guy: And this freak of nature has the audacity to speak in a human voice!

(The people murmur.)

Ryumi: We’ve gotta do something.

Hisaaki: Wait, you mean saving that thing? Are you nuts?

Important Guy: Well, since the salts had no effect on the creature, THEN IT MUST BURN!

(At this, the villagers cheer.)

Ryumi: No, but they are.

Blob: Hey, waitaminnit! W-What are you saying? You’re gonna cook me alive?! What about thinking of the children?! I’m a kid, too!

Important Guy: Silence, foul monstrosity!

(His assistant pours oil around the post, while he lights a match.)

Important Guy: Your loathsome life ends now-

Hisaaki: Uh, question! Over here.

Important Guy: Oh, what now?! Speak up, boy! We don’t have all day.

Hisaaki: How do you know she was killed by this thing? I mean, there are a lot of other ways she could have died…

Important Guy: Her soul was devoured by the monster! The evidence is clear!

Hisaaki: You sure about that? ‘Cause from what I heard about these kinds of yokai…

Important Guy: OH, ENOUGH OF THIS! Burn, you-

(He turns to the post to find that the blob is no longer there. He turns to the crowd with a blank expression. The mob is just as confused as he is. Shigeto sneaks away with the blob, his hand over her mouth. She makes a muffled sound.)

Shigeto: Shh! You gotta keep quiet, or-

(Too late: The important guy hears Shigeto and looks in his direction.)

Important Guy: (gasps, then points dramatically at Shigeto) AHA!

(All eyes are on Shigeto.)

Shigeto: …Aw, man.

(He breaks into a run, the angry mob on his heels. Hisaaki joins him as he flees with the blob.)

Hisaaki: So, now what?

Shigeto: Don’t ask me! Ryumi’s the one who came up with this whole crazy ploy! Hold this, will ya?

(He tosses the blob to Hisaaki before running away. Now the mob is after Hisaaki, who takes one look at the blob in his hands.)

Hisaaki: RYUMI!

(He throws the blob as hard as he can. The blob lands in the arms of Ryumi, who ducks into a nearby alleyway. The mob, seeing this, converge into the alley, only to find nothing there. Or so it seems.)

Villagers: What the-/She’s not here?!/Where’d she go?

Shigeto: Uh, (disguises his voice) I think I saw them headed towards the river!

(The mob, completely fooled, all leave. As they do so, Ryumi peeks out from inside a large basket. Breathing a sigh of relief, she climbs out, clutching the blob, as Shigeto and Hisaaki rejoin her.

Ryumi: Nice one, Shigeto.

Shigeto: Eh, these guys are pretty easy to fool. Just tell them their landlord is a badger. They’ll believe anything!

(Ryumi sets the blob down, untying her.)

Ryumi: There you go. You’re safe now. Sorry for all that…

Blob: Are you kidding? That was actually fun! I kinda wanna do it again. Except, y’know, without the… running from death part.

Shigeto: Oh, trust me, the fun’s just getting started. See, we’re on a quest to find this girl’s grandpa, only he lives in the spirit realm. Know any ways to get there?

Blob: Uh… no. I’ve never really left town before. Come to think of it, I never left my house before until those guys showed up. My mama didn’t want me scaring anybody.

Shigeto: You sure did that, back there.

Hisaaki: What really happened to your mom? Did you…?

(The blob is silent for a moment.)

Blob: She… (A tear rolls down her face.) She didn’t want me to die, either…

(Flashback to last night, in the home of Tsujiko Kinoshita. She lies prone on the floor, her yokai daughter by her side.)

Blob: (tearfully trying to rouse Tsujiko) Mama, please! You can’t leave me! You can’t! I don’t need to eat anymore! Please wake up, Mama, please! MAMA!

(She breaks down crying as the flashback ends. In the present, the blob cries softly.)

Ryumi: So… she let herself die?

Shigeto: Wow… That’s awful.

Hisaaki: I… I’m sorry I asked.

(Ryumi holds the blob in her arms reassuringly.)

Ryumi: There, there. It’s okay.

(The blob sniffles, then looks up at her.)

Blob: Are you- Are you gonna adopt me?

Ryumi: Ah- W-Well…

Blob: Oh, please! I have no parents, now, and I’m an only child! Please be my sister! PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE!

Shigeto: But… we just met you.

Blob: Oh! My name’s Akako! Mama named me that because how red I am!

Shigeto: I dunno, she should have named you “Chi”-

(Hisaaki claps his hand over Shigeto’s mouth.)

Hisaaki: WHOA, Shigeto!

Shigeto: (muffled) Sorry.

Ryumi: If we take you along, will you help us find somebody who knows how to get to the spirit realm?

Akako: Oh yeah! My mama once told me about this witch living in this old part of town.

Shigeto: Your mom knew a witch?

Akako: Well, she never met her in person, only heard rumors about her. But what this witch can do is stretch her neck! That’s… That’s literally all she can do.

Shigeto: Hey, what a coincidence. We have a stretchy neck routine in this show of ours.

Ryumi: Does she know where a portal is?

Akako: Yeah! At least, that’s what the rumors say.

Ryumi: C’mon, guys, let’s go find her.

(As they turn to leave, Akako leaps into Hisaaki’s shirt.)

Hisaaki: D’AH! What the-

Akako: Can’t have anyone seeing me!

Shigeto: Hey, yeah. Stay in there until we find her.

Hisaaki: Don’t I get a say in this?

Shigeto: Nope!

Hisaaki: Okay.

(They head out of the alley.)

Kagetsu: Geez, what a wild first meeting. But seriously, though, what do these villagers have against a poor, innocent blob? They should have given her to some childless couple to raise, not set her ablaze! What the heck is wrong with these people?!

Aoki: You forget, they thought she killed her own mother.

Kagetsu: Well, then they should have let her explain that!

Aoki: (ignoring her) On with the tale…

(Cut to the aforementioned derelict part of Yugatono, where a group of men are gathered outside of a certain house. Their leader knocks on the door.)

Boss: C’mon, Matsukura! This bathhouse ain’t gonna build itself! We got a permit to tear down this dump!

Woman’s voice from within: Get off my doorstep!

Boss: …HEY, SANJOU! GET OVER HERE AND TALK SOME SENSE INTO THIS WOMAN!

Sanjou: Okay, fine. (under his breath) Jerk…

(Sanjou walks over to the door and knocks loudly.)

Sanjou: Maka, come out of there!

Woman: Go away!

Sanjou: Sure thing. (turns to the boss) …Didn’t work, boss.

Boss: That’s it. (steps up to the door) Last chance, Matsukura! Either you come out, or we’ll drag you out!

(Inside, the woman, Maka, pauses.)

Maka: …Fine! I’m coming out!

(Upon hearing that, the boss grins smugly to his men. After a few moments, the door opens.)

Boss: I knew you’d see it our way-

(Suddenly, Maka’s head shoots out on the end of a long, prehensile neck, headbutting the boss in the abdomen. He collapses on the ground, clutching his gut, and looks up to see Maka’s head rising up above him, with the same smug grin he had.)

Maka: Alright, who’s next?

(The men scream and run away.)

Maka: Yeah, you’d better run! Heh. What a buncha-

(She is interrupted when Sanjou, who hadn’t fled, pulls a sack over her head.)

Sanjou: Got her, boss!

(As the boss staggers to his feet, Maka’s neck begins to shorten, pulling her body out of the house. She blindly takes a swing at him, but he just grabs her by the wrist and throws her over his shoulder.)

Boss: Let’s move!

(They quickly leave with the struggling, protesting Maka.)

Maka: (muffled) Let go of me, ya creeps!

(Meanwhile, the youths notice a group of people gathering.)

Shigeto: Now what?

Random Passerby: They caught a yokai! They’re gonna throw her out of town!

(The four look at each other, then follow the crowd. Cut to the edge of town, where Maka, neck now fully retracted, is thrown on the ground. She pulls the sack off her head, and glares at the gathered people. The priestess from before runs up.)

Priestess: I heard you were banishing a yokai?!

(The boss points to Maka.)

Priestess: Alrighty, then! (Starts throwing salt at Maka) BEGONE, DEMON!

Maka: (jumps to her feet) I’m not a- (gets salt to the face) GAH!

(The priestess begins to chase Maka, but is held back by a few villagers. The quartet can only look on.)

Boss: (to his men) Now, let’s get busy!

(His men cheer as they head back for Maka’s doomed house. The four watch them leave.)

Shigeto: How’d you like that? They kicked her out, and now they’re gonna demolish her home! Talk about harsh.

Akako: She seems like a tough woman. She’ll probably handle it like a champ.

(Cut to nearby, where Maka is maniacally attacking a tree with fallen branches and big rocks in rage. After this, we cut to her crying and sobbing hysterically, leaning against a larger rock. The quartet watch from behind a tree.)

Ryumi: Any ideas?

Shigeto: Yeah, I got one.

(He steps out from behind the tree and walks over to Maka.)

Shigeto: (putting her hand on Maka’s shoulder) Hey, c’mon, I wouldn’t cry like that if I were-

(Startled, Maka stretches her neck, twisting it around to face him.)

Maka: (ferociously) RHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

Shigeto: GAH! OKAY!

(He runs back to the others while she retracts her neck and resumes weeping.)

Hisaaki: (sarcastically) …Well, that worked out just fine.

Shigeto: (pushing him forwards) Okay, wise guy, you take a crack at it.

(Hisaaki hesitantly walks towards Maka. He looks back at the others for support, but they just give him a thumbs-up. Hisaaki, resigned, turns back to Maka.)

Hisaaki: Uh…

(Maka looks up at him, her face streaked with tears.)

Hisaaki: Hey, there. I know you’re sad about your house and everything, but it’s just a house. Maybe you can live with relatives-

Maka: Don’t have relatives.

Hisaaki: Oh. Okay. (looks back at the others, then back at her) In that case, you think you could-

Maka: I’M TRYING TO HAVE A MOMENT, HERE! LEAVE ME ALONE, KID!

(Hisaaki jumps and heads back to the others.)

Hisaaki: It’s no use.

Ryumi: Now what do we do?

(Akako then leaps out of Ryumi’s arms.)

Ryumi: Akako…!

(Akako hops over to Maka, who, fresh out of tears, has resorted to lying still on the ground next to the rock.)

Akako: Hi there.

(Maka doesn’t respond.)

Akako: Listen, we’re on a quest to find this girl’s grampa, and we need your help.

(Still no response.)

Akako: Hello?

(She tugs on the back of Maka’s kimono, and hops out of the way as the woman rolls onto her back. Akako hops onto Maka’s chest and looks down at her face as the latter’s eyes flutter open.)

Akako: Do you know a way to the-

(Upon seeing a red blob on her, Maka screams and sits bolt upright, throwing Akako off of her. Akako lands at Ryumi’s feet.)

Ryumi: Akako!

Akako: I’m okay!

Maka: SWEET MOTHER OF MERCY, WHAT IS THAT THING?!

Shigeto: This coming from the lady who can stretch her neck.

Maka: Aw, put a cork in it!

Ryumi: Look, we’re sorry for your loss, but we need your help. We have to find a way to get into the spirit realm-

Maka: The spirit- (gets to her feet) Who told you I know how to get there?!

Akako: Well, the rumors about you said that-

Maka: WHAT?! Didn’t anybody tell you not to trust a stupid rumor?!

(The youths look at each other. Maka sighs.)

Maka: Look, I do know where to find a portal. But I’m not taking you there, okay?

Youths: HUUHHH?!

Shigeto: AW, COME ON! We came all this way just for this?!

Maka: I JUST LOST MY HOUSE, KID! I’m not gonna embark on some life-threatening misadventure to someplace I’ve never actually been.

Hisaaki: You’ve never been to the spirit realm before?

Akako: The rumors didn’t mention this.

Shigeto: There’s a first time for everything, right?

Maka: I said no, and that’s final!

(She turns to leave.)

Ryumi: You can live in our town when this is over.

(Upon hearing this, Maka stops.)

Hisaaki: Ryumi?

Ryumi: Where we come from, people don’t fear weird stuff at all. In fact, you’d be welcome as any other normal person. Don’t you want a life like that?

(Silence.)

Maka: …You drive a hard bargain. Fine. I’ll take you to the nearest portal.

Shigeto, Hisaaki and Akako: YES!

Shigeto: Lead the way, lady!

Maka: MY NAME IS MAKA!

Aoki: And so, our band of adventurers set out for the portal to the spirit realm.

Kagetsu: Yeah, but… did Ryumi’s mom make it out okay?

Aoki: …Really? That’s your biggest concern?

Kagetsu: No… Yes.

Aoki: Well, luckily, we’re just about to reveal that…

(Scene: The interior of a derelict castle. The tsuchigumo enters the throne room, dragging Ryumi’s mother in its mouth by her kimono. It drops her and scurries back. Before the fox woman, a lady in a junihitoe rises from her seat.

Ryumi’s mother: You…!

Junihitoe Lady: Hello, Sana.

Kagetsu: Of course, she has a name!

Aoki: She’s your favorite, isn’t she?

Kagetsu: …Maybe.

(The lady in junihitoe steps forward to address Sana.)

Junihitoe Lady: What a surprise. All along, you’ve been hiding in the exact same spot your husband died in? How is it that I couldn’t find you until now? Come to think of it… the spiders I sent to find you never did return. Was that your doing?

Sana: Does it really matter, Shina?

Shina: That’s Lady Shina to you. But enough talk. (holds up Sana’s head by her chin) Where is it?

Sana: It’s in a safe place. That’s all you need to know.

Shina: Actually, I do need to know more.

(She produces a hand mirror with a hairy hand as its handle.)

Sana: Is that… a satori’s hand?

Shina: What a clever girl you are! Now hold still.

(Before Sana can react, Shina jams the hand, palm down, on her head. Images of a round, blue crystal and an elderly fox man appear in the mirror.

Shina: There you are… So, it’s with Nakaari. Thank you, Sana.

(Then, the mirror also reflects Sana’s memories of sending Ryumi, Shigeto and Hisaaki on their quest. Shina’s eyes widen.)

Shina: (flatly) Sana… Who are these?

Sana: The ones who will stop you.

(Shina frowns angrily.)

Shina: MONKEYS!

(A group of large, clothed monkey people -the sarugami- scramble into the room, tumbling over each other in the process. Finally, they manage to get themselves as close to organized as they can get.)

Sarugami Leader: You called?

Shina: I’ve got a job for you. Find these children, and make absolutely sure they never enter the spirit realm! Do I make myself clear?

Sarugami Leader: Actually, you’re opaque.

Shina: GO!

(The sarugami jump, and quickly exit the room. Shina rubs her temples. Cut to the forest, where the five, led by Maka, make their way forward.)

Shigeto: So, it’s supposed to be this way?

Maka: Of course it’s this way! 

Akako: How long has it been since you were here last?

Maka: Kid, don’t pressure me!

(Finally, they reach an old well.)

Maka: Here it is.

Shigeto: What, this well?

Hisaaki: So, all we have to do is jump in?

Maka: Pretty much.

Hisaaki: Okay, then.

(They look down the well, uncertain.)

Hisaaki: …Ladies first?

Maka: NO.

Hisaaki: …Can’t we just climb down there?

Maka: Do you even know where in the spirit realm this leads to?

Hisaaki: No.

Maka: Well, I don’t, either. JUST JUMP ALREADY.

Shigeto: What about you? Aren’t you coming?

Maka: Are you crazy? Of course not! I’m staying right here until you get back.

Hisaaki: You mean, if we get back.

Shigeto: (sarcastically) Wow, Hisaaki, thanks for that uplifting advice. I feel better about this already.

Ryumi: Alright, we’ll jump in together, okay?

(The trio join hands. Akako holds on to Ryumi.)

Ryumi: Okay, on three. One…

(Unbeknownst to them, the sarugami are sneaking up on them from behind.)

Ryumi: Two…

(The sarugami suddenly burst out from their hiding places to ambush the quintet. Akako sees them first.)

Akako: AAAHHH!!! THREE! 

(She jumps down the well. The others look down, stunned, until the sarugami grab them.)

Sarugami Leader: THROW ‘EM IN!

(The other monkeys comply, throwing the youths in one by one.)

Shigeto: You dang, dirty apes- (gets thrown into the well) AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

(The sarugami then grab Maka.)

Maka: Wait, no no no, DON’T-

(She is thrown down the well, screaming. The sarugami let out a collective bronx cheer.)

Sarugami: Hey, where does this lead, anyway?

Sarugami Leader: Underground, ya dummy! Where else?

(There is a pause as they wait for thuds from below. There is none.)

Sarugami: Uh, boss, you don’t think…

Sarugami Leader: C’mon, they’ve gotta hit the bottom eventually!

(Still no thuds. The sarugami leader begins to sweat nervously, as do the others.)

Sarugami: …This might be our biggest setback since Shippeitaro-

Sarugami Leader: AW, SHADDUP!

(Kagetsu bursts out laughing.)

Aoki: What’s so funny?

Kagetsu: Those monkeys are so dumb! They dropped them right into where they wanted to go!

Aoki: …Well, of course! Heh. (whispers) Our apologies to monkeys and other such primates everywhere for this portrayal.

(Scene: A swamp in the spirit realm. One by one, the group fall, screaming, into the bog with a splash. Ryumi is the first to recover, managing to regain her footing. She looks around for her friends.)

Ryumi: Shigeto? Hisaaki?

Shigeto: Ryumi!

Ryumi: Everybody okay?

Hisaaki: We didn’t die!

(Akako breaks the surface of the water, grabbing onto a floating log-like shape for support.)

Akako: Phew! We’re… We’re here!

Shigeto: Yeah. Good to know we all made it in one piece.

(Suddenly, the “log” Akako’s holding onto moves, rising out of the water. It’s not a log at all, but Maka’s extended neck. She raises her head out of the water.)

Maka: (groans) I’m in three pieces.

Shigeto: Hey, look who decided to come along after all!

Maka: I DIDN’T HAVE A CHOICE, ALRIGHT?!

Akako: So, where do we go from here?

Ryumi: Uh… (looks around) Good question.

Hisaaki: Yeah, how do we get out of here?

(As they talk, they don’t notice bubbles forming in the bog. A green-haired head pops out of the water, looking at them in curiosity.)

Shigeto: Don’t worry, guys. All we have to do is go in one direction, and we’ll be out eventually.

Maka: Do you always think from the seat of your pants?

Shigeto: I do my best, okay?

Maka: I wonder what your worst is like.

Akako: Maybe you could use your neck to mark the path! That way, we’ll know if we’re going in circles.

Maka: My eyes are in my head, you know! I can’t always see what my body’s doing. How am I gonna make it out of here whole?

Akako: Don’t worry. Once we’re out, we can go back in while your head stays, follow your neck to your body and lead it back to your head.

Maka: …It’s still out of the question.

Ryumi: Well, there’s gotta be something we can do.

(Maka attempts to sit down on a rock - only, the “rock” is actually the green-haired being’s head.)

Green Being: D’AH!

Maka: AAAHHHHHH!!! 

(As Maka jumps back up, the being in the water rises up to its full height, revealing itself as a girl in a green kimono. She is soaking wet from being in the bog, and cattails, lily pads and various other water weeds adorn her green hair.)

Swamp Girl: Hi.

(The group can only stare.)

Ryumi: …Were you there the whole time?

Swamp Girl: Long enough to hear that you’re lost. Can I help?

Hisaaki: You, help us?

Akako: Sure!

Swamp Girl: Then, follow me! My friend’s house is just over yonder. He might help you reach civilization! 

Maka: Wait just a minute. How do we know you’re not trying pull a fast one on us?

Swamp Girl: Any human friend of yokai is a friend of mine. C’mon! Step where I step, I know this place like the back of my hand! (looks at the back of her hand) …That’s new.

(The five follow the swamp girl through the marsh.)

Swamp Girl: …Anyway, my friend is a pretty smart guy! I mean, he graduated from the School for Talented Tanuki and everything. He’s also very… well-endowed. Then again, all tanuki are.

Shigeto: So, he’s a tanuki? Not some hideous ogre who lures human victims to his lair to munch on?

Swamp Girl: Oh no, even if he was an ogre or something like that, he would never hurt anyone, human or yokai! He’s a nice fella.

Shigeto: If you say so.

(They arrive at an old house.)

Swamp Girl: And here we are! It’s not much, but a home’s a home!

Ryumi: He lives here by himself?

Swamp Girl: Nah, he’s got plenty of housemates. (calls out) Hey guys! I got some newcomers here! C’mon out!

(Almost immediately, a bevvy of living objects -tsukumogami- come out from the various nooks and crannies of the house to greet the group, who, except for the swamp girl, are taken by surprise. From the front door, a short tanuki man emerges.)

Tanuki: Ah, Zurui. Good to see you again. Who have you brought here?

Zurui: I… have no idea. But they just came into the spirit realm, and now they need to get out of the swamp. Which is kinda a pity, ‘cause this is a really nice place.

Tanuki: (to the others) Well, welcome to the spirit realm. It would be a pleasure to help you out anytime.

Ryumi: Thanks!

Tanuki: Won’t you come in? My housemates love having guests.

Ryumi: Sure! (to the other four) C’mon, guys.

(The others comply, Maka doing so hesitantly.)

Kagetsu: What a nice guy.

(Aoki nods. Cut to the interior of the tanuki’s house. Everyone is seated at a chabudai table.)

Tanuki: It’s been a while since we’ve had guests from the other realm.

Ryumi: Thank you for your hospitality, Mr…

Tanuki: Mochiie.

Ryumi: Mochiie. Anyway, we’re looking for my grandfather. He’s a fox. Do you know where foxes live around here?

(Maka is clearly becoming increasingly uncomfortable at the staring eyes of a nearby mokumokuren.)

Mochiie: Unlike us tanukis, foxes prefer to live in or near the civilized areas in the spirit realm. Kaii Town, especially.

Shigeto: Kaii Town?

(Fed up, Maka gets up from her spot.)

Maka: I need a drink…

Mochiie: The capital city of the yokai.

(Maka walks through the house, looking for a drink. Along the way, she passes by varying tsukumogami, who are playing with each other, pulling pranks on one another, and generally messing around. None of them faze her one bit. She passes by a butsudan, and a nuribotoke pops out.)

Nuribotoke: OOGAH BOOGAH!

(Maka doesn’t even flinch. She simply closes the butsudan on him and continues searching.)

Maka: …Gotta be one around here somewhere…

(A ghostly white hand hands her a bottle.)

Maka: Oh, thanks.

(She takes a swig… but then spits it back out, as it’s full of water. She looks at the bottle, actually a kameosa.)

Kameosa: Hydration is important!

(Maka stares for a moment, then glares at the being who gave her the kameosa, a kosode no te. Back with the others…)

Shigeto: So, which way is this Kaii Town, anyway?

Mochiie: Just keep heading northeast, and follow the sparrows. You’re guaranteed to reach it, then.

Ryumi: Thanks for the advice.

Shigeto: Yeah, we’ll remember that. Northeast.

Hisaaki: …What was that about sparrows?

(Cut to Shina’s castle. Inside…)

Shina: YOU INCOMPETENT FRUIT-EATERS! You dropped them into the realm?!

(The sarugami cower behind their leader, who is also stiff with fear.)

Shina: Obviously, I shouldn’t rely on a bunch of monkeys. Now, where is she?

(Behind her, an ogress crashes in through a closed window with the sound of shattering glass. Shina whirls around at the noise.)

Shina: Kan…?

(The ogress, Kan, rises to her feet.)

Kan: Hey.

(Shina’s eye twitches.)

Kan: Sorry about the-

Shina: FORGET THAT! You’re late, as usual.

Kan: I prefer the term “fashionably late”. It makes me sound good. So, I take it your latest scheme to wipe out humanity with a rock isn’t going well?

Shina: What do you think?! (takes a moment to calm herself) Thanks to the stupidity of the last yokai I hired, (glares at the sarugami) Sana’s daughter and her friends have entered the realm. I want you to reach Nakaari first before they do.

Kan: Pfft. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of them and get the jewel for you. But it’s gonna cost ya.

(Shina sighs heavily. Cut to her opening a door to a room filled with piles and piles of gold, gemstones and priceless artifacts which have been taken from humans over the years.)

Kan: Now, that’s what I’m talking about.

Kagetsu: (whispers) Spoiler alert: She only gets one percent of that treasure.

Aoki: Kagetsu! (tries to silence Kagetsu, to no avail, since she’s a shadow)

Kagetsu: (still whispering) One… lousy… percent!

(Scene change to the quintet, making their way northeast.)

Shigeto: So, as long as we keep going in this direction, we’ll reach Kaii Town.

Hisaaki: Yeah, but “follow the sparrows”? What did he mean by that?

Maka: Living with a bunch of talking tools for who knows how long probably scrambled his brains.

Ryumi: Don’t insult him, Maka. I’m sure he knew what he was talking about when he said that.

Akako: Yeah! …What she said.

(From the nearby bushes, Kan watches, hidden.)

Shigeto: Y’know, Maka, you really should show a little respect for others.

Maka: Hey, I got respect!

Hisaaki: For whom?

Maka: What’s it to ya?!

Shigeto: We just wanna know if you really do have some respect in you.

Maka: It’s nothing to do with you, kid!

Akako: It’s a romantic thing, right?

Maka: WHAT?!

Akako: (hides behind the bow on Ryumi’s head) Uh-oh.

(Maka stretches her neck towards Akako, who backs away.)

Maka: Don’t ever assume that I’m in some kinda sappy relationship, Kinoshita!

Akako: What’s wrong with that? You could find a guy who accepts you and your neck-

Maka: NO! ALL MEN ARE IDIOTS!

(Akako falls off of Ryumi’s head at Maka’s outburst.)

Shigeto: Uh, Maka? We’re standing right here.

(As Akako recovers from her fall, she notices a single strand of hair suspended horizontally across the path. From her hiding spot within the bushes, Kan watches intently.)

Kan: C’mon, red thing. Touch the hair…

(That is not what Akako does. Instead…)

Akako: Hey guys, is this natural?

(The others look.)

Maka: It’s the spirit realm. When is anything ever natural?

Akako: No, look! (indicates the hair)

(Ryumi crouches down to inspect the hair.)

Ryumi: It… It looks like hair.

Akako: Huh.

(She reaches out to touch it. In the bushes…)

Kan: Yes. Yes!

(Just as Akako is about to touch the hair, Ryumi stops her.)

Ryumi: Akako, don’t! Something’s not right, here.

(Kan facepalms.)

Shigeto: Let’s just step over it and move on.

Hisaaki: But what if that’s what whoever put this here wants?

Shigeto: In that case, you go first.

Hisaaki: Wh-

(Shigeto pushes him forward. Resigned, Hisaaki takes one cautious step over the hair, then another. To his surprise and relief, nothing happens.)

Shigeto: Well, it’s safe.

Ryumi: C’mon, guys.

(One by one, they step (or, in Akako’s case, hop) over the hair. When Shigeto is in the middle of stepping over, Kan suddenly jumps out of the bushes.)

Kan: YAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!

Group: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!

(The group immediately begin running, Shigeto breaking the hair in the process. This triggers a bamboo cage with spikes lining the insides to fall. Because Kan is standing where the group was, it falls on her.)

Hisaaki: What was that?! Who was that?!

Maka: Who cares?!

(Kan manages to break out of the cage, albeit with injuries from the spikes.)

Kan: That was the only plan I had! Shina’s not gonna like this… (thinks for a moment) …unless she doesn’t find out.

(Suddenly, Shina’s voice rings out.)

Shina: Too late!

Kan: AUGH! S-Shina?! Where are you?

Shina: Check your right horn. I felt the need to monitor your progress.

(Kan does so, finding a spider with a crystal eye attached to its abdomen. It is through this “spyeder” that Shina is able to communicate from her castle.)

Kan: Oh, great. This trick again.

Shina: Just for you failure, you will only get one percent of what I offered you!

Kan: AW, C’MON!

(The crystal explodes, and the spider skitters away, unharmed.)

Kagetsu: Called it.

(In Shina’s castle, she storms through her corridors.)

Shina: That does it. I know who to send next, and this time, I’m going to personally provide assistance!

Kagetsu: Oooh boy. Is she mad.

Aoki: Yup.

(Cut to the five, catching their breath.)

Shigeto: Okay… So, obviously… we just escaped certain death.

Hisaaki: Yeah. Imagine if Akako did touch that hair.

Akako: Well, now I’m glad I didn’t.

(Ryumi, laying flat on her back on the ground, hears a chirping noise and looks up. She slowly gets back on her feet, still staring upwards.)

Ryumi: Guys?

(The others are drawn to attention. Following her gaze, they see a flock of birds overhead.)

Shigeto: Birds?

Maka: Not just birds. Those are sparrows!

Hisaaki: Didn’t Mochiie say something about sparrows?

Ryumi: Of course! “Follow the sparrows”! We’re almost there! C’mon!

(She takes off running in the direction the sparrows are flying. The others follow suit.)

Shigeto: Right behind you!

Maka: Hey, wait!

(After a few minutes, they come to the top of a hill, finding themselves staring down at a beautiful city.)

Ryumi: Kaii Town.

(The group take a moment to view the city before them.)

Akako: What are we waiting for? Let’s go!

Hisaaki: Wait a minute, we can’t just go in and expect them to ignore us!

Maka: The kid’s got a point. How’d you think everybody there’s gonna react to three living human kids waltzing around?

Ryumi: Oh. I never thought about that.

Shigeto: I got it! Why don’t we disguise ourselves as yokai? That way, nobody will suspect a thing!

Maka: …You know what, actually? That’s the smartest thing you’ve said yet.

Hisaaki: Okay, so, what’ll we use?

Shigeto: Eh, whatever we find there.

(Cue the awkward pause.)

Shigeto: …Oh.

Maka: I take it back, you’re hopeless.

Shigeto: Ryumi, can’t you use your fox powers to make us invisible, or something?

Ryumi: I don’t even know if I have any actual powers.

Hisaaki: Oh, great.

(Cut to Kaii Town. Various yokai and spirits are going about their business. Maka, with Akako perched on her shoulder, makes her way through the streets. Sneaking through the alleyways unseen, Ryumi, Shigeto and Hisaaki follow close behind. Finally, Maka, fed up with this, walks towards the alley where the three humans are hiding.)

Maka: This is pathetic! We can’t keep doing the stalker act forever!

Hisaaki: She’s right. We gotta find some way to blend in.

(Akako notices something and hops off Maka’s shoulder, to a pile of trash left to become tsukumogami.)

Akako: I think I just found our disguises.

(Cut to the citizens of Kaii Town, as something grabs their attention. The group walk through the streets, the humans having disguised themselves with the bits of trash: Ryumi wears a sedge hood, Shigeto wears an ogre mask and a straw raincoat, and Hisaaki wears a samurai helmet and a cloak. A one-eyed boy, or hitotsume kozo, stares at them. Maka takes notice of this.)

Maka: …The heck you lookin’ at, kid?

Hitotsume Kozo: Sorry. (looks away)

(The group continue.)

Shigeto: So far, so good. So, how are we gonna find foxy grampa?

Maka: We can start by not saying those last two words again.

Shigeto: What, “foxy grampa”?

Maka: (through clenched teeth) YES.

Ryumi: We’ll ask around, I guess.

(They go up to an iyaya.)

Shigeto: ‘Scuse us, ma'am…

(The iyaya turns around, showing them his/her manly face.)

Iyaya: Yeah, waddup?

Shigeto: WHOA! Okay… What should I call you, a man or a woman?

Iyaya: Yes.

Shigeto: Okay… you…

Ryumi: Do you know where we can find a fox named-

(She is interrupted when an okaburo -a yokai crossdressing as an apprentice oiran- shows up.)

Okaburo: Hey! Whaddya doin’ with my lover?

Shigeto: Sorry, we didn’t know you two were together.

Okaburo: That’s okay, just… think about how we feel next time, maybe.

Ryumi: Look, we’re just looking for a fox named Nakaari. Do you know him?

(A new voice chimes in.)

???: What do you want to see him for?

(They turn to see a trio of yokai: an ubume, a karasu tengu and the leader, a hari onago.)

Ryumi: Uh, w-well, we were just wondering if he could…

(She trails off as the hari onago looks down at her.)

Ryumi: …Uh…

Shigeto: We need his help with a thing!

(Maka double-facepalms.)

Hari Onago: Oh, I see.

(The yokai trio share a laugh.)

Hari Onago: What kind of thing?

(Another awkward pause.)

Shigeto: …Just. A thing.

Hari Onago: (nods) …You want to rob him, don’t you?

Ryumi: No!

Shigeto and Hisaaki: NO!

Ryumi: It’s actually a… personal thing.

Hari Onago: Ah. Keeping secrets, huh?

(Her long hair begins to move.)

Hari Onago: If there’s one thing that I can’t stand…

(She shows off the pointy barbs at the end of each strand of hair.)

Hari Onago: …it’s people who keep secrets from me.

(The three humans nervously back away, but the karasu tengu and ubume are behind them.)

Shigeto: Okay, Ryumi, try getting us outta this one.

Maka: Hey, back off! They’re just kids!

(All attention is drawn to Maka and Akako.)

Akako: Aw, Maka, you do care!

Maka: Shut it.

Akako: Okay.

Hari Onago: Why do you care? Are you their nanny, or something?

Maka: No. Beat it.

Hari Onago: Or else what? You’ll give us a scolding we’ll never forget?

(She and the other two yokai share a haughty laugh.)

Maka: That does it!

(Her head shoots forward at the end of her neck, nailing the hari onago in the gut, to the shock of the ubume and karasu tengu. The hari onago collapses, clutching her gut.)

Hari Onago: Y-You witch…

(Her hair rears up and lunges at Maka’s exposed neck. Thankfully, she manages to dodge at the last second, but the hair keeps coming. Akako cowers at the base of Maka’s neck.)

Shigeto: Okay, we should go now.

Ryumi: No. Not without Maka and Akako.

(Hisaaki notices something, and gets an idea. He leaves the other two.)

Shigeto: Where’re you going?

Hisaaki: I think I got an idea! Trust me on this one!

(He runs over to a nearby kamikiri.)

Hisaaki: Excuse me… Sir? Ma’am? We kinda need your help…

(Meanwhile, Maka is still dodging the flurry of barbed hair. Backing up, she doesn’t notice a cat-sized hamster-like creature -a sunekosuri- sleeping behind her, but Akako does.)

Akako: Maka, behind y-

(Too late: Maka trips on the sunekosuri, who, startled awake, scurries away. She falls backwards onto the ground, taking Akako with her. Both find themselves at the mercy of the hari onago. Just as she’s about to finish Maka off…)

???: Uh, hey! Over here.

(The hari onago turns to see the kamikiri.)

Kamikiri: Ya wanna haircut? (snips their scissor hands)

(The prospect of losing her hair terrifies the hari onago, who screams and runs, the kamikiri giving chase.)

Kamikiri: Hey, lady, c’mon! It’s what I do!

Ubume: Should we help her?

Karasu Tengu: I didn’t really like her that much, but…

(The two yokai take off after them, while the three humans, along with a few yokai, rush over to the fallen Maka and Akako.)

Ryumi: You okay?

Maka: I was doing just fine, y’know!

Akako: That was amazing! 

Shigeto: Yeah, nice one, Hisaaki.

Hisaaki: Just using my head.

(As they help Maka up, a blind man with eyes on his hands -a tenome- sniffs the air, then Shigeto.)

Shigeto: Hey, hey! What’re you doing?

Tenome: Young man… why do you smell like a living human?

(The group freeze. Several other yokai take notice, sniffing at the trio.)

Bakeneko: Yeah, they do smell like live humans. Why…

(The bakeneko reaches for Shigeto’s mask. He jerks away, accidentally bumping into Ryumi. She falls over, and her hood falls off. The yokai gasp. There is yet another awkward silence before…)

Shigeto: RUN!!!

(Ryumi scrambles to her feet, joining the other four as they make a break for it, but the yokai pursue. As they race through the streets, the citizens, seeing them, join in the chase, until seemingly everyone in Kaii Town is after them.)

Shigeto: Guys, ever had that feeling like you’ve done this before?

Maka: SHUT UP AND RUN!

(Meanwhile, an old fox man hears the commotion and looks, seeing the incoming chase. When he sees Ryumi, he also sees a familiar aura around her.)

Fox: (thinking) *That aura… Could it be…?*

(He steps into the street, waving to them.)

Fox: This way! Follow me!

Shigeto: Oh, thank you!

Hisaaki: Wait, how do we know he’s not gonna-

Maka: (grabs the back of Hisaaki’s clothing) MOVE, KID!

(The five follow the fox into an old, abandoned house. The mob closes in.)

Yokai: In there!/We’ve got ‘em cornered!

(A suppon no yurei flings the door open… but all they see is the fox sipping tea.)

Fox: …I think the ones you’re looking for left town.

(The yokai all look at each other, then leave. The fox smiles.)

Fox: You can come out, now. They’re gone.

From a cabinet, the five tumble out, collapsing in a heap on the floor. They untangle themselves from each other and get up.)

Ryumi: Thanks… Thanks, Grandpa.

(The others all stare at Ryumi, then at the fox.)

Nakaari: You know me?

Ryumi: Yeah, we’ve been looking for you. My mom sent us.

Nakaari: Is she alright?

Ryumi: I… I don’t know.

(There is a moment of silence.)

Shigeto: …Well, that aside, it’s nice to meet you, foxy gra-

(Maka glares at Shigeto ferociously.)

Shigeto: Uh, I mean, Grandpa Nakaari.

Nakaari: The pleasure’s mine.

Akako: So, you’re Ryumi’s grampa? I’m Akako, her adopted sister. That makes me your granddaughter, too! Anyway, we- Uh… (to the others) W-Why were we looking for him again?

Maka: Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask that, too.

Ryumi: Well, uh… Mom mentioned something about a magic jewel you have, that we need to protect…?

Nakaari: The jewel.

Shigeto: So, you do have a…?

Nakaari: Of course. But, uh…

(He looks around, then beckons the five to come closer, which they do.)

Nakaari: (whispering) This is a private matter. We can discuss this at my home. You never know who might be listening in.

Ryumi: (also whispering) Okay then. (straightens, then speaks at normal volume) We’d be happy to come over to your place, Grandpa. (bows)

Maka: Oh, boy.

Akako: Lead the way, foxy grampa!

Maka: KINOSHITA!!!

Aoki: And so, they traveled to Nakaari’s house, where the magic jewel was kept.

Kagetsu: Everybody excited to finally see the jewel?

(Cue the stock cheers from the audience.)

Kagetsu: Y’know, the powerful thing that Shina is after? Wanna learn more about that?

(More stock cheers.)

Kagetsu: Alright! (to the annoyed Aoki) Continue.

Aoki: …Okay, then.

(Scene: Ryumi, Nakaari and the others stand before a large house, awestruck.)

Ryumi: Wow…

Shigeto: This isn’t a house, it’s a mansion!

Hisaaki: You live here alone, or…?

Nakaari: No, I do have family. You’ll meet them soon.

(Cut to the interior of the house, where…)

Fox Boy: HEYA, NAKAARI!

(Everybody except Nakaari jumps.)

Nakaari: Hello, Bunto.

Bunto: You won’t believe what happened while you were out! This lady with a face on her belly came and… (notices the others, gasps) OH, WOW! Three humans! Well, two humans. I’m not sure about the girl. Anyway, glad to meet’cha! My name’s Bunto! Ya wanna hang out together? It’ll be fun!

Akako: Yeah! Heh-heh. (to Nakaari) Who is this guy?

Nakaari: My grandnephew. (to Bunto) Bunto, this girl is Ryumi, your cousin.

Bunto: (gasps) You’re kidding! I have a half-fox cousin?! C’MERE, COUSIN! (hugs Ryumi) OOOHHH, THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!

Ryumi: Okay, uh… Nice to meet you too… You can let go, now.

Bunto: Oh, sorry, sorry! Am I… (notices Maka) How about you? You wanna hug?

Maka: No, no, don’t-AAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!!!

(Bunto chases Maka around, trying to hug her.)

Maka: SOMEBODY GET THIS CRAZY FOX AWAY FROM ME!

Akako: I’m Ryumi’s adopted sister! HUG ME INSTEAD!

(Bunto, upon seeing Akako, immediately runs over and grabs her, embracing her in a hug.)

Bunto: OH MY GOSH, AREN’T YOU THE CUTEST LITTLE THING!

Akako: ACK! TOO MUCH HUG, TOO MUCH HUG!

(Akako is saved by Ryumi, who pulls her out of Bunto’s grip.)

Ryumi: I think that’s enough hugging for today. (to Akako) You okay, Akako?

Akako: Yeah. A little bit more, and I would be “Aoko”.

Kagetsu: Hey, that’s kinda like your name, Aoki!

Aoki: Yeah, I’m aware of that-

Kagetsu: If you had a twin, she’d be named that. Or maybe “Aomi”…

Aoki: Can we just get back to the story?

Kagetsu: Oh, sure.

Shigeto: Any more foxes here? ‘Cause I can’t imagine only two of ‘em living in a big house as this.

Nakaari: I’m glad you asked.

(He opens a door onto six fox people. All look up from whatever they were doing, seeing the newcomers.)

Nakaari: Everyone, this is Ryumi, Sana’s daughter.

Ryumi: Nice to meet you all.

(The foxes whisper amongst themselves.)

Fox Twin#1: She married a human?

Fox Twin#2: C’mon, don’t act like it hasn’t happened before.

Fox Lady: Oh my, what a pretty girl she raised. 

Fox Gent: Don’t get too jealous, now.

Fox Sister: (staring at Shigeto and Hisaaki) Are those two actual full-blooded humans?

Fox Brother: If you’re considering doing what Sana did… (to Shigeto and Hisaaki) Please excuse my… special sister.

Fox Sister: You think I’m special, brother?

Fox Brother: In the other sense of the word, yes.

Nakaari: Now, I hope you all treat Ryumi and her friends well. She is part of our family, after all.

Akako: Ryumi adopted me! Do I count as a family member?

Fox Brother: If you do, then that would make us an unusual family.

Nakaari: Fumito. (to the group) Please don’t mind his insults. Fumito may seem cold, but he has a good heart deep down.

Akako: That was supposed to be an insult?

Shigeto: Makes ya wonder what his complements are like.

(Fumito shoots them look of “Wh-?!”.)

Nakaari: Well, what say we take the time to get more acquainted with our guests? (to the twins) Yoshiro, Yoshiko, bring out the kotatsu.

Twins: ‘Kay! (They both leave to do so)

Akako: Wait, you got a kotatsu?!

(Scene change to the group gathered at a large kotatsu. Akako has her head poking out from under its blanket, in bliss, while the others talk.)

Ryumi: So, that’s why we’re here.

Fox Gent: You say a giant spider attacked your village? And that monkeys and an ogress attacked you?

Ryumi: Yeah. Why do you ask?

Fox Lady: Oh dear. (to her fellow foxes) You don’t think that…

Twins: Oh no…

Hisaaki: What? What’s wrong?

Fumito: You do realize that what has happened to you means that there is someone after the jewel, right?

(There is a silence, before Shigeto slaps his forehead.)

Shigeto: D’OH, IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW!

Ryumi: But who would want to steal the jewel?

Fox Sister: Who else but the same person who sent that giant spider that killed your father?

Fumito: TOMOKO!

(Ryumi’s eyes widen.)

Ryumi: W-What…?

(Fumito’s sister, Tomoko, realizing that she should not have said that, cups her hand over her mouth.)

Kagetsu: WHAM LINE!

(There is another pause. Akako awkwardly recedes further under the blanket. Ryumi looks to Nakaari.)

Ryumi: I-I thought… he…

Nakaari: Lost his life in an accident. Obviously your mother didn’t want to frighten you.

Shigeto: Sana, what else didn’t you tell your kid?!

Nakaari: Well, now that you know what really happened to your father, I think it’s time you learned everything.

(Scene change to Nakaari opening a cabinet as the others watch. He reaches in and opens a secret drawer.)

Aoki: And now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment of truth. Behold…

(Inside the drawer is…)

Aoki: …The magic jewel.

(The group fall silent at the sight of the round, sky-blue crystal before them.)

Nakaari: Doesn’t seem like much, does it? But the truth is that this jewel is much more powerful than it seems.

Hisaaki: How so?

Nakaari: It’s called the “Jewel of Miracles” because it can create exactly what its name suggests.

Shigeto: Wait, so it can do stuff like make Hisaaki’s hair grow? Amazing!

(Hisaaki shoots Shigeto a flustered glare. Akako looks at the jewel in wonder, her image reflected on its surface.)

Nakaari: Ever since it was entrusted to me by the Emperor of the Seven Seas, the unscrupulous yokai who know of its existence have been wanting to get their hands on it. Shina is no exception.

Ryumi: Shina?

Nakaari: The mistress of that giant spider. She will stop at nothing to acquire the jewel in order to abuse its magic. Now you know why it must be protected at all costs.

Shigeto: Not to sound suspicious or anything, but this Shina lady wanting to abuse this thing’s power actually sounds like something I would do.

Maka: In that case, touch it and you’re dead.

Shigeto: I wouldn’t go that far, thankfully.

Akako: Can it bring my mama back?

(The others look at Akako incredulously.)

Akako: What?

Nakaari: Unfortunately, it can only bring back someone from the brink of death, not resurrect them. That’s the limit of its power.

Akako: (crestfallen) Oh…

(Ryumi gathers Akako in her arms.)

Bunto: Ya know, if you do wanna see your mom again, you could try using hangonkō! That stuff’s the number one way to see dead people!

Hisaaki: What’s that?

Nakaari: A special incense. It’s made from the sap of hangonjū trees.

Bunto: Yeah, We use it to talk to our ancestors all the time! See, you just light it up and have a nice chit-chat with whoever ya wanna meet who’s dead!

Ryumi: Could we use it to talk to my dad?

Akako: My mama, too?

Nakaari: Of course. The spirits of the dead summoned by hangonkō can only appear to their friends and relatives if called. Unfortunately, we’ve just run out of it.

Ryumi: Oh. Well…

(Ryumi looks at her friends, then back to Nakaari.)

Ryumi: Where’s the nearest hangonjū grove?

Kagetsu: Hey, isn’t the hangonjū the one that laughs at you through its fruit?

Aoki: Kagetsu, that’s the jinmenju.

Kagetsu: Oh.

(Scene change to the group at a grove of hangonjū trees, armed with knives, baskets strapped to their backs. Said baskets contain some hangonjū tree roots.)

Shigeto: So, here’s my question: If this incense is made from magic tree sap, why are we getting the roots?

Ryumi: Grandpa said that the sap has to come from the roots and nowhere else. Otherwise, it just makes ordinary incense.

Shigeto: Oh, okay. (spots a large root) That one looks like it holds a lot of sap. Hisaaki, help me cut it off!

(The two boys start cutting at the root with their knives, but only do so much as put a small cut on it.) 

Ryumi: Uh, guys? I don’t think we need that big a root.

Shigeto: Oh. (stops stabbing the root)

Hisaaki: (to the tree) Sorry about that.

Shigeto: You do know you just talked to a tree, right?

Hisaaki: Well, how do I know it won’t curse us for stabbing at a part of it that we don’t need? It is a magic tree.

Shigeto: That’s true.

(Akako swings her knife like an ax, chopping at a root until it comes free. She tosses it in the basket on her back, then moves on to another root. While chopping at that. While doing so, something catches her eye. She looks up.)

Maka: So, how many do we need?

Ryumi: Uh… Well, Grandpa didn’t specify exactly. Apparently, we only need enough to make a full pack of incense.

Maka: (voice dripping with sarcasm) Well, that helps a lot.

Akako: Hey guys! Over here!

(The others look up to see her hopping up and down.)

Akako: There’s somebody here! I think she’s hurt!

Ryumi: What?!

Shigeto: Lead the way!

(Akako hops off, and the others follow her. Finally, they come to the root she was working on. Lying prone on the ground near that is a girl spirit, disheveled, with bandages on her arms. Some light orange blood trickles from a wound on her back)

Hisaaki: Oh…

Akako: C’mon, you guys! We gotta help her!

(Ryumi nods. Cut to the outside of Nakaari’s house, where he, Bunto and the other foxes stare, stunned. The group stand before them, the girl in Maka’s basket. There are no questions to be asked.)

Nakaari: (to the other foxes) Prepare a futon.

Maka: Better make it fast before my back gives out!

(The foxes comply, heading back inside as Nakaari moves to help the group. Scene change to the girl, her injury now bandaged up, in a futon, Akako napping beside her. The girl opens her eyes, and sits up. Akako, feeling movement, awakens and looks up at the girl, who notices her. Both are surprised to see each other. Akako scrambles off the futon.)

Akako: Gotta tell the others…!

(The girl watches Akako as she enters the next room, where the others are gathered.)

Akako: Hey, she’s awake!

(Everyone stops whatever they were doing. Ryumi gets up and follows Akako back to the room where the girl is, followed by Shigeto and Hisaaki. They enter to greet the girl.)

Ryumi: Hi. You okay?

Girl: Yeah… How did…?

Hisaaki: We brought you here as soon as Akako found you.

Akako: Yeah! You had a pretty nasty boo-boo, there.

Shigeto: Lucky we found you in time, I mean, I’m no doctor, but you were bleeding really bad, and even I know that if somebody loses a lot of blood-

Maka: (stretching her neck in through the doorway) HEY! Stop making her uncomfortable, will ya? 

Shigeto: Sorry.

Ryumi: So, what happened?

Girl: I accidentally walked into a giant spider’s territory. It got me in the back before I was able to get out.

Ryumi: A giant spider?

Shigeto: So did we. At least we didn’t get hurt and got sent off on an epic quest. That dang monster spider…!

Akako: Yeah! When I see him, I’m’ma kick his big fat-

Maka: Do you even know how big they can get?

Akako: Big as me, right?

(Maka gives Akako a look that says “Are you serious right now?”)

Girl: Well, thanks for your help. If you hadn’t shown up… Who are you guys, anyway?

Ryumi: My name’s Ryumi Kawakami. These are my friends, Shigeto and Hisaaki.

Akako: I’m Akako! The lady with the long neck is Maka.

Girl: I’m Mego.

Akako: (shakes Mego’s hand) Oh, well, nice to meet ‘cha, Mego!

Mego: So, do you actually live here?

Ryumi: Not really. This is my grandpa’s house.

Hisaaki: Where do you live?

Mego: Well, I’m kind of, uh… I don’t exactly…

(Suddenly, Ryumi understands.)

Ryumi: Are you… homeless?

Mego: Yeah. But, I don’t mind. It’s just now, if I go out there again… Hey, I’ll survive.

Ryumi: You can’t go back out there, not while you’re hurt.

Mego: Well, if you say so.

Shigeto: That settles it. She’s staying!

Maka: NOW, HOLD ON A SECOND! We can’t just let stray spirits in here! And how do we know she’s not a vagrant or a thief?

(At this, Mego seems uneasy.)

Shigeto: Oh, now who’s making her uncomfortable?

Maka: Wh- (blushes)

Ryumi: Don’t mind them. You can stay as long as you like, Mego.

Mego: Thanks.

Maka: (muttering) I swear, if I ever live to be 80, I’ll never understand these kids…

Aoki: Thus, the group found a new friend. Little did they know, however…

(As the group talk, a spyeder watches from the window, unseen.)

Aoki: …that she hid a dark secret.

(Scene: The fox lady is making hangonkō while Mego watches.)

Mego: So, you call on human spirits with this? Who are you gonna summon?

Fox Lady: Ryumi’s father. The little one’s mother, too.

Mego: Akako, right?

Fox Lady: Yes, of course.

(Mego looks to where the others are waiting and talking before leaving the room. She walks through the hall and comes across the foxes’s garden. After taking in its beauty, she enters the garden, making her way to a tree, under which she sits down and rests. She breathes in the fresh air. From behind the tree, the spyeder skitters closer to her, until it’s right next to her.)

Shina: (speaking through the spyeder’s crystal) Mego? Mego!

(Mego startles, turning towards the source of the voice.)

Mego: Shina?! …You scared me.

Shina: Well, Mego? You’ve been here for a day and a half and you still haven’t procured the jewel.

Mego: I’m sorry, Shina. I’ve been healing up here. Your spider hit me too hard and injured me for real this time.

Shina: That doesn’t matter! Where is the old fox hiding the jewel?

Mego: I’m still working on finding that out. I’ll get it for you, I promise.

Shina: You’d better. Or else you’re out on the streets again.

(The crystal explodes, and the uninjured spider creeps away just as before, leaving Mego alone in the garden. She looks at the bandages on her arms.)

Kagetsu: WHAT A PLOT TWIST! But trust us, there’s more to her than that.

(Scene change to Nakaari’s house at night. Everyone is gathered around the kotatsu, on which the hangonkō is placed.)

Nakaari: Well, this is it. You ready?

Ryumi: Y-Yeah.

(Nakaari lights a match, and holds it to the incense. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, the incense begins to emit smoke as Nakaari extinguishes the match. At first, there is only a typical small stream of smoke. However, more and more smoke pours forth, to the point where it almost fills the entire room.)

Maka: (coughing) That’s enough! ENOUGH OF THE SMOKE, ALREADY! (covers her face with her sleeve)

Ryumi: No, wait!

(The smoke begins to form a curtain of some sort.)

Ryumi: …Dad? Are you there?

(A shadow appears behind the curtain, which is drawn back, revealing a man in priestly garb.)

Priestly Man: Ryumi.

Ryumi: Dad!

Ryumi‘s Father: You’ve grown.

(Ryumi gets up, and comes closer to her father, until they’re face-to-face. After a moment, they embrace.)

Akako: What about Mama? Is she here, too?

???: Akako?

(Akako turns in the direction of the voice to see a woman dressed in a corpse’s traditional robes and headdress. It’s Tsujiko, who smiles at her daughter.)

Akako: Mama… (leaps towards Tsujiko) MAMA!

(Tsujiko embraces Akako in her arms.)

Tsujiko: I’m sorry I left you.

(As Akako cries into Tsujiko’s chest, Ryumi breaks the hug with her father to address him.)

Ryumi: Dad, did you… Did you know that Mom was a…?

(Ryumi‘s father nods in the affirmative. Over the following exchange, the smoke around them forms an image of Ryumi’s father facing a nine-tailed fox, Sana in her true form. She assumes human form, and the two figures embrace.)

Ryumi: You could have told me before.

Ryumi‘s Father: You were so young back then. We wanted to wait until you became responsible enough.

Ryumi: Huh?

Ryumi‘s Father: Your mother passed down most of her magic to you. All it takes to use them is your will alone.

Ryumi: My will?

Ryumi‘s Father: You still have much to learn. The most important thing to remember, though, is to do the right thing.

(The others look on, misty-eyed. The smoke begins to fade. Akako holds on desperately to Tsujiko.)

Akako: MAMA!

Tsujiko: It’s okay. I promise I’ll still watch over you.

Akako: R-Really?

Ryumi‘s Father: I’ll be watching over you too, Ryumi. It’s all I can do now.

Ryumi: Dad…

Ryumi‘s Father: (fading away) You’ve only taken your first steps into a new, bigger world. Whenever you need me, I’ll guide you along the right path.

(The two spirits fade away completely. The hangonkō has all but burned out. Akako wipes the tears from her eyes as Ryumi picks her up and holds her close.)

Ryumi: See you, Dad…

(After a few moments, Shinto hugs Ryumi and Akako. He is followed by Hisaaki, then Bunto. Maka wipes her teary eyes with her sleeve.)

Maka: Darn smoke… 

Kagetsu: Yeah, right.

(Behind the unaware group, from outside the closed window, a spyeder observes. Timeskip to later that night. Everyone is asleep. However, Mego is awoken by something creeping on her. She looks to see the spyeder on her chest.)

Shina: (speaking through the spyeder’s crystal) Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?

Mego: (sits up) W-What are you talking about?

Shina: I mean you, and your friends! Never care about the victim. One you do, you become a victim yourself.

Mego: (defensively) What do you know about friendship? You never had a friend. Just people who were afraid of you

Shina: That’s right. Friendship comes and goes. Fear is permanent and profitable. I’ll prove it to you: get me that jewel, or else they’re all spider feed.

Mego: You-! (grabs the spyeder)

Shina: You see? Fear. The only friend I need. Don’t disappoint me.

(The crystal explodes in Mego’s hand. The spider wriggles out of her grip, and skitters through the open window from whence it came. Scene change to Maka, asleep. The sound of footsteps awaken her. Mego tiptoes through the hall, searching for the jewel. By chance, she comes across the room with the cabinet. Maka, listening to her footsteps, realizes that this is a potential thief.)

Maka: Oh no…

(She get out of her futon and lights a lantern. She then grabs a sword, only to see that it’s wooden.)

Maka: Eh, it’ll do.

(Careful to not make a sound, wanting a surprise attack on the assumed burglar, Maka follows shuffling noises - the sound of drawers opening - to the room where the jewel is kept. Sure enough, to her shock, the cabinet is open, drawers strewn about. Only one drawer is untouched: the jewel’s drawer. Maka, shaking and sweating nervously, fearing the worst, opens it to make sure that the jewel is still there. Seeing that it is, she breaths a heavy sigh of relief.)

Maka: Well, that just put a few grey hairs on my skull.

(Suddenly, a hand clamps down over her mouth. Akako is awoken by the ensuing commotion.)

Akako: Wha…?

(She hops out of her futon and follows the noise. Maka is now bound and gagged with her own neck, muffling unintelligible protests and threats at Mego, who takes the jewel.)

Mego: I’m sorry…

(Akako then hops into the doorway.)

Akako: Guys, I can’t sleep with all the…

(She sees what’s happening, and her jaw drops. Mego jumps out the window with the jewel. Akako rushes over to the restrained Maka.)

Akako: You okay, Maka?

Maka: Mmm-hmm.

Akako: Oh, that’s a relief. Good to know you’re-

Maka: MMPPHMM!!!

Akako: YES, MA’AM!

(As Akako unties Maka, the others, alerted to the noise, enter.)

Shigeto: What’s all the ruckus about?

Hisaaki: What happened here?!

(By now, Maka is free to speak.)

Maka: I knew taking that girl in was a bad idea!

Shigeto: Huh?

Ryumi: Mego?

Maka: That thieving little brat just hogtied me and stole the jewel!

Akako: It’s true! I saw her!

Bunto: We gotta get the jewel back, and fast!

Shigeto: Yeah, c’mon!

(They all head out. Cut to outside Nakaari’s house, where the group follow Bunto, in his fox form, as he sniffs the ground like a bloodhound while Akako rides on his back.)

Bunto: She went this way!

Shigeto: Everybody follow the fox!

(They do so, with Maka still ready to bean Mego over the head with the wooden sword. At last, they come to a clearing in a bamboo forest, where they are met with a shocking sight: Mego is there, but so is Shina and the tsuchigumo.)

Shina: Too late.

Ryumi: W-Who are…?

Shina: I believe your family already know the answer.

(Bunto trembles in fear.)

Ryumi: You’re… Shina?

Shina: Lady Shina, if you please.

Ryumi: Where’s my mom?

Shina: She’ll be joining her husband soon.

Maka: You dirty-!

(She throws the wooden sword at Shina, but the tsuchigumo blocks the attack with one of its legs. In another moment, all that’s left of the sword is mere splinters.)

Shina: Pathetic.

(She snaps her fingers, and the tsuchigumo fires webbing at Maka.

Akako: HEY!

(Akako jumps in the way of the projectile, and is immediately bound in webbing.)

Akako: Mmph!

Ryumi: Akako!

(The others are at her side in an instant, pulling the spiderwebs off of her.)

Maka: Kid, what were you thinking?!

Akako: I didn’t want you getting hurt.

Shigeto: Mego, how could you work for this crazy witch?!

Shina: Quite simple, really. She does anything I tell her to do, brings me whatever I want. This, for example.

(She holds up the jewel. Mego hangs her head. Shina grabs her arm, holding the girl up while pulling at the bandages on her arms.)

Shina: In fact, look at the wonders it has done her… and her body.

(Shina pulls off the bandages, revealing that Mego’s arm is spotted with many falcon’s eyes, blinking in the moonlight. The group are stunned.)

Shina: Is that betrayal I see on your faces? Don’t worry. She has tricked those smarter than you. Or did you believe that you were friends with her?

Ryumi: Mego��

Mego: I didn’t lie about that. You are my friends.

(Ryumi’s eyes widen.)

Shina: Enough of this. To the capital!

(With that, she pulls Mego onto the tsuchgumo, who immediately skitters away faster than a horse. Ryumi takes off after them.)

Ryumi: Mego! MEGO!

(She is unable to catch up, and the spider is gone, and its passengers with it.)

Kagetsu: Don’t worry folks. Remember, this story has a happy ending, so stick with us, here.

(Scene change to sometime later. The youths are sitting around, unsure of what to do. Akako sits on Ryumi’s head. Maka is pacing furiously.)

Maka: Those jerks! They played us like a cheap lute!

Ryumi: No, Shina was the one who tricked us. Mego really was our friend.

Hisaaki: We know.

Shigeto: So, let’s go save her and your mom and kick that spider lady’s butt! What’s the plan?

Ryumi: What plan?

Akako: Don’t you always have a plan?

Ryumi: Not this time. Don’t you guys get it? We failed. It’s over. Shina’s won.

(The others look worried. Except for one.)

Maka: Are you kidding me?!

(Maka has stretched her neck over to Ryumi.)

Maka: Of course she hasn’t won! We know she’s headed for town. We just have to go after her!

Ryumi: And then what?

Maka: WHADDYA MEAN “AND THEN WHAT”?! You have your ma and pop’s magic, USE ‘EM ON THAT SPIDER WITCH!

Hisaaki: Maka’s right, Ryumi. Besides, your dad did want you to do the right thing, didn’t he?

Shigeto: Yeah! You wanna do something special? Then DO SOMETHING SPECIAL.

Akako: (leaning down from Ryumi’s head) You can do it, Ryumi! We’re all with you!

Bunto: YEAH! We believe in ya!

(Ryumi looks at her friends and family, and smiles.)

Ryumi: I’ll try my best.

(She stands up, taking Akako in her arms.)

Ryumi: Of course, I can’t do this alone. Who’s with me on this?

Shigeto: I’m in!

Hisaaki: Me too!

Akako: Me three!

Maka: What the heck. If we’re gonna die, we’ll at least go out fighting.

Bunto: I’ll go get the others! (runs back to the house)

Ryumi: Something tells me we’ll need a lot more help than that.

Shigeto: I think we got that covered.

Kagetsu: AW, YEAH! Onward to the final battle!

Aoki: Indeed.

(Scene: Kaii Town. The five, the fox family, Mochiie and the tsukumogami head through the streets.)

Mochiie: Well, I must say, not once in my life did I expect to assist in saving the realm.

Nakaari: It’s not just the spirit realm that’s at stake. Shina obviously plans to use the jewel to do whatever she pleases to humanity.

Shigeto: Yikes. Good thing she didn’t count on us.

Hisaaki: So, the yokai in charge lives at the center of town?

Bunto: Yup! Ya can’t miss it! He’s got a big palace and everything!

(As they near the palace, there is a commotion: some yokai are trying to break in using a nurikabe as a battering ram, while others watch, concerned and alarmed. Maka goes up to an abura sumashi.)

Maka: What’s going on here?

Abura Sumashi: Lord Nurarihyon‘s been taken hostage. We’re trying to get inside to rescue him, but the entrances are sealed.

(A taka onna peeks into one of the higher windows.)

Taka Onna: Some spider lady and a giant spider’s got him! There’re monkeys helping them, too!

Shigeto: Oh no…

Hisaaki: We’re too late!

Ryumi: Not yet.

(She steps forward, and holds out her hand.)

Ryumi: If Mom can do it, then…

(After a few moments, a portal opens in midair, stunning everybody present. This portal leads to the lower levels of the palace. A hone onna’s jaw literally drops.)

Ippondatara: Sweet child of Yamauba…!

Maka: She actually did it…!

Ryumi: C’mon guys.

(The others follow her through. In one of the higher floors of the palace, Nurarihyon is brought before Shina by two of the sarugami, who are dressed as samurai. She steps out of the shadows, brandishing a scepter onto which she has attached the jewel.)

Shina: (to the sarugami) Good. Guard the door. And this time, do. Not. Fail me.

(The sarugami oblige, leaving the room with the tsuchigumo.)

Nurarihyon: Of course, you do know that you’ll never get away with this.

Shina: (chuckles darkly) I already have. Now bow.

(Meanwhile, Sana and Mego are suspended in a cage made of webbing. Mego is downtrodden, and Sana takes notice. She puts a reassuring hand on the younger girl’s shoulder.)

Sana: You shouldn’t blame yourself for all this.

Mego: Why shouldn’t I? I listened to Shina. I gave her what she wanted, just for something I’ll probably never get.

Sana: You couldn’t have known.

Mego: Well, I should have known…

Sana: It’s okay. We’ll get through this.

Mego How do you know?

Sana: Because there’s one thing Shina didn’t count on.

(As if on cue, the door opens, and…)

Ryumi: Mego! Mom!

Sana: You see?

(The five enter the room.)

Shigeto: We came to rescue you two and squash some spiders!

(But as they approach the cage…)

Mego: Be careful! That big spider may come back any-

(There is an awful chittering noise from above: the tsuchigumo is now on the ceiling, and it’s furious.)

Ryumi: …Oh-

(The tsuchigumo pounces, forcing the group to scatter.)

Sana: Ryumi!

Ryumi: It’s okay, Mom!

(As the tsuchigumo thrusts its barbed leg towards Ryumi to impale her, she concentrates, and quickly levitates out of the way of the attack, landing on a rafter. Sana is stunned and impressed. As Ryumi looks around, she spots a large decorative gong displayed on a platform. An idea forms in her mind.)

Ryumi: Shigeto! Hisaaki!

(They, too, see the gong, and get the hint. As Ryumi, Akako and Maka keep the tsuchigumo occupied, the two boys climb onto the platform. Hisaaki pulls out a tantō blade and cuts the gong loose, while Ryumi leads the monster beneath him and Shigeto. Just as the spider is about to bite her in half, the gong falls. The two sarugami guarding the door hear the sickening CRUNCH, and go to investigate. The youths are cheering, as Maka uses her neck to help Sana and Mego climb down from the cage.)

Youths: Yeah!/Alright!/We did it!/We killed the monster!/Nice one!

(The sarugami enter to see Shigeto triumphantly kicking a leg sticking out from underneath the fallen gong.)

Shigeto: How’s it feel being so dumb?!

(He kicks a little too hard, and the leg breaks off.)

Shigeto: WHOA!

(The sarugami proceed to freak out and bolt. They run into their leader along the way.)

Sarugami Leader: Hey, where are you goin’?!

Sarugami#1: (terrified) Those guys killed the big spider!

Sarugami#2: We can’t fight them! No way!

Sarugami Leader: That’s preposter-

(Just then, the group show up, Shigeto brandishing the tsuchigumo’s leg as a weapon.)

Shigeto: (noticing the sarugami) Oh, hey.

(The sarugami leader takes one look and runs, his cohorts following after.)

Shigeto: What’s their problem?

(No sooner do the screaming sarugami literally launch themselves out of the palace in a panic then they find themselves confronted by the other yokai, the tsukumogami and the fox family included.)

Sarugami: Uh oh…/Oh, no…

Kagetsu: Y’know, it’s a shame that we don’t get to see the monkey beatdown. 

Aoki: That’s not important, now.

(Meanwhile, the group run up the stairs to the room where Shina and Nurarihyon are.)

Shina: Don’t be so arrogant, old fool. Either you kneel, or I take this realm by force. Make your choice.

(Nurarihyon, however, fixes her with a firm, unwavering look.)

Nurarihyon: Do with me as you will, but you will never take this land.

Shina: So be it.

(Her scepter charges up with energy…)

Ryumi: He’s right, Shina! It’s over.

(As Nurarihyon calmly moves aside, Shina turns to see the group… and recognizes the leg in Shigeto’s clutches.)

Shina: (seething in rage) You… murdered… my baby…?! Ryumi Kawakami… You… and your friends…

(Before the group, the irate Shina rises up, revealing the legs of a golden orb-weaver spider.)

Shina: …ARE ALREADY DEAD!!!

(She lunges at the group, who scatter, as Maka elongates her neck to defend the youths.)

Maka: DON’T YOU DARE HURT THEM!

(She coils her neck around Shina, trying to restrain her as the jorōgumo furiously attempts to blast her in the face with the scepter. Finally, Maka pins the arm holding the scepter to Shina’s side, but the spider lady whips out a kaiken dagger with her free hand and begins slashing at her adversary’s long neck. Akako, seeing her chance, quickly hops onto the scepter and begins tugging on the jewel, until she finally yanks it free.)

Akako: I GOT IT! I got the jewel, Ryumi!

Shina: NO!

(Before Shina can stop her, Akako throws the jewel to Ryumi, who catches it. With a scream of rage, Shina breaks free from Maka’s neck and lunges at Akako. There is no time for her to dodge the attack. The dagger strikes Akako, and, as the others look on, she falls to the floor, where she lies prone.)

Ryumi: AKAKO!

(The good guys gather around Akako.)

Ryumi: Akako, speak to me! Say something, please!

(Akako is still alive, but barely breathing. Shina rises up behind them.)

Shina: GIVE ME THAT JEWEL!

(The group scatter a third time, Maka clutching Akako close to her chest, as Ryumi runs out of the room with the jewel, pursued by the enraged Shina. The girl shimmies up a pillar, only for the jorōgumo to pull out a wakizashi sword and cut it down, sending it and Ryumi through the wall. Ryumi jumps up and grabs onto the roof and pulls herself up.)

Yokai Citizens: On the roof!/Look!

(Ryumi climbs onto the roof and looks around. Behind her, Shina crashes through the roof and shoves the girl down with one of her legs. The jorōgumo smiles maniacally as she raises her sword. Ryumi squeezes her eyes shut. Shina brings the sword down… CRACK.)

Shina: Wh-

(Ryumi has teleported away, leaving only the jewel… which now has Shina’s sword thrust into it. As cracks begin to form, it begins to glow, dimly, then brightly. Immediately, a vast surge of magic bursts forth as the jewel completely shatters. Shina lets out a bloodcurdling scream as magical wave after magical wave strikes her. She dissolves like a lump of sugar in tea, still screaming in agony all the while, until there is nothing left of her. The night sky is illuminated with colorful energy, as Ryumi, having found herself back on the palace steps, watches. The others look on as well, until their attention is drawn by Akako glowing and rising out of Maka’s arms: the magical energy has reached her.)

Maka: What the-?!

(The group watch until the glow surrounding Akako slowly subsides, and she floats back down to the floor. She stirs, then opens her eyes. The others are stunned, but relieved.)

Akako: What happened? Did we win?

Kagetsu: THE TEAM CUTIE LIVES! (hugs Aoki)

(As the yokai cheer, Ryumi spots the others exiting the palace.)

Ryumi: Guys!

Shigeto: Ryumi!

Hisaaki: Thank goodness!

(Akako hops over to Ryumi.)

Akako: Ryumi, look! I got better!

(She leaps into Ryumi’s arms, and gets a big hug in response. Sana hugs Ryumi next.)

Sana: You’ve grown.

(Ryumi hugs her back.)

Bunto: Let’s hear it for Ryumi!

(The fox family let out a cheer.)

Mego: Ryumi? I just want you to know that I’m really sorry for-

Ryumi: It’s okay, Mego. It’s all over, now.

(She gives the dodomeki a hug, which the latter accepts. Nearby, Nurarihyon and Nakaari talk. After their conversation, they head over to the group.)

Shigeto: So, how’d you kill Shina?

Ryumi: Uh…

Maka: Oh, boy.

(Ryumi notices Nurarihyon and Nakaari nearby. She hands Akako to Maka and steps forward sheepishly.)

Ryumi: Grandpa, I can explain-

Nakaari: It’s alright. I understand.

(To Ryumi’s surprise, he pulls her into a hug.)

Nakaari: You’re alive, and that’s all that matters.

Ryumi: …Even though the jewel…? (returns the hug)

Nurarihyon: True, its shards were scattered across the realm, and lost forever, but you did what had to be done to save the two realms. 

(He bows to her, and row by row, everyone in Kaii Town bows to her.)

Nakaari: And besides…

(He reveals what he and Nurarihyon found: a single shard of the jewel.)

Nakaari: This piece still has enough power for one more miracle.

Akako: Y-You mean… I can be a…

(She jumps out of Maka’s arms and hops towards Nakaari, who holds out the shard to her. Immediately after she touches it, she starts glowing again, this time even brighter than before, and her form changes. When the light fades, Akako is now a human girl with baby-blue eyes, wearing a red bib with the kanji for ‘girl’ emblazoned on it and puffy pink shorts. She looks down at herself, and smiles.)

Akako: Wow! Ryumi, look! I’m normal!

(She and Ryumi embrace, and the heroes engage in a group hug. Scene change to sometime later, outside Kaii Town. The seven are saying their fond farewells to Nakaari and his family before the townsfolk. A human faced oxcart -an oboroguruma- is parked nearby. Waving goodbye, the group board the oboroguruma, who takes off into the sky, their destination being the human realm. Dissolve to Shintonoyama, having been repaired and cleaned up after the tsuchigumo’s attack. The townspeople are gathered to meet the newcomers: Akako, Maka and Mego. Akako is telling a group of kids her age of their adventure. Maka stretches her neck to demonstrate her powers, and that one guy who almost threw up at Ryumi’s magic show faints. More villagers gaze in wonder at Mego’s extra eyes. Another scene change to a few nights later, on the night of the Obon festival. A long procession of villagers heads down the path leading to the river. They hold glowing paper lanterns as they move along solemnly. When they reach the river, farewells are said and lit lanterns set adrift. Unseen by many, their departed loved ones materialize. Ryumi’s father and Tsujiko are among them. Ryumi and her friends and family meet them.)

Sana: Haruuji.

(She embraces her husband.)

Haruuji: I’ve missed you, too.

Akako: Mama, look! I’m human, just like you!

Tsujiko: I know. We said we’d watch over you two.

Haruuji: And we couldn’t be any more proud of you.

Ryumi: Thanks, Dad.

(Together, they all watch the lanterns float down the river, heading out to sea, until they are out of sight.)

Aoki: The end.

Kagetsu: What a wild ride that was! See, Aoki, wasn’t it fun? Way better than horror.

Aoki: Okay, you’ve proved your point.

Kagetsu: I knew you’d see it my way! (to the audience) Thanks for watching and listening to our epic tale! We hope you enjoyed it and-

Aoki: Kagetsu, isn’t it almost bedtime?

Kagetsu: Oh my gosh, you’re right! Well, goodnight all!

(She disappears into the shadows, leaving Aoki alone. The aoandon smiles, then blows out the lantern, plunging the room into darkness.)

Aoki: Goodnight.

The End

[ryumikaidan]

Ryumi Kaidan: Mahō no Hōseki/劉未怪談: 魔法の宝石/Ryumi: The Magic Jewel

Aoki, an aoandon, introduces the audience to the yokai, the supernatural creatures of Japanese lore, and prepares to tell a scary story involving them, but is interrupted by a kage onna named Kagetsu, who prefers that a story with a happy ending be told. Realizing that the audience wants a happy ending, Aoki relents and she and Kagetsu narrate the following tale, during which they also provide commentary on its events.

In Edo Japan, Ryumi Kawakami lives with her mother Sana in the village of Shintonoyama. She earns their living by performing magic tricks with the help of her friends, Shigeto and Hisaaki, for the townsfolk, but hopes to become a true onmyōji like her deceased father Haruuji. One night, while returning from a performance, the three, while conversing about Haruuji and the yokai who supposedly live in the forest, decide to take a shortcut through the woods in hopes of finding a yokai who knew him. They are attacked and chased by a tsuchigumo, accidentally leading it to Shintonoyama. Sana suddenly appears, revealing herself as a nine-tailed kitsune, and uses her magic to send the trio far away, telling them to seek a portal to the spirit realm in order to find Ryumi’s fox grandfather, Nakaari, who possesses a powerful magic jewel, while she fights off the tsuchigumo, but is captured. Finding themselves in a field, they make their way to the superstitious village of Yugatono, where they rescue a kekkai named Akako, wrongly accused of causing the death of her mother Tsujiko, from being killed by the locals. Akako reveals that Tsujiko, a woman who loved her daughter despite being told to get rid of the nonhuman child, had known of a woman who knows the location of the nearest portal. The woman, a rokurokubi named Maka Matsukura, is forced out of her house, which is torn down along with several derelict houses to make way for a bath house. Exiled from town for her ability, she initially refuses to guide the four to the portal until they promise to give her a new home in Shintonoyama. Meanwhile, the tsuchigumo brings Sana to its master, the jorogumo noblewoman Shina, who desires to become queen of the yokai, intending to use the jewel to aid in her takeover of the spirit realm and subjugation of humanity. Upon learning of the existence of Ryumi and her friends, Shina calls on a gang of sarugami, instructing them to prevent the group from entering the spirit realm. The sarugami attack the five, but unwittingly throw them into the spirit realm through an old well. Finding themselves in a swamp, the group meet Zurui, a nure onago who leads them to the tsukumogami inhabited house of the wise tanuki Mochiie, who directs them to Kaiinomachi, the yokai’s capital city. Shina hires the kijo Kan to sabotage the group and reach Kaiinomachi first. Kan attempts to trap them, but they accidentally discover the danger and escape. When Shina learns of this, the angered jorogumo decides to accompany the next yokai she sends after the five, who follow a flock of yosuzume to Kaiinomachi, where Ryumi, Shigeto and Hisaaki disguise themselves. However, they are discovered and chased through town, but are saved by an old fox who is revealed as Nakaari. Having recognized Ryumi as his granddaughter, he brings the group to his house, where they meet his relatives, including Bunto, Ryumi’s fox cousin. They learn that Haruuji was killed by Shina’s tsuchigumo, learn of the jewel’s powers to create miracles, and hear of the hangonkō, an incense made from the sap of the magical hangonjū tree which can summon the dead, deciding to use it to contact Haruuji and Tsujiko. While harvesting the tree, the group come across an injured female spirit named Mego, whom they bring to Nakaari’s house. However, Mego, a dodomeki, is secretly working for Shina to steal the jewel in exchange for a home, but grows reluctant to do so as she befriends the group. Using the hangonkō, they summon the spirits of Haruuji and Tsujiko. As Akako and Tsujiko share a tearful but temporary reunion, Haruuji reveals that he knew that Sana was a fox, having first met her in fox form, and bids Ryumi to use her inherited fox magic for the benefit of others. That night, Mego is contacted by Shina who, having lost patience, threatens to have the group fed to the tsuchigumo unless Mego steals the jewel. Concerned for her new friends’ safety, Mego reluctantly complies, but Maka and Akako alert the others to the theft. Giving chase, they witness Mego giving the jewel to Shina, who reveals that Sana is her captive. Shina also displays the falcon eyes on Mego’s arms, revealing that the latter was working for the former. Despite Mego’s reassurance that the group truly are her friends, she, Sana and the jewel are taken by Shina to the palace of Nurarihyon, the supreme leader of the yokai. After a moment of despair, Ryumi is persuaded by the others to continue. With the tsukumogami, the group head to Nurarihyon’s palace, which has been seized by Shina, the tsuchigumo and the sarugami. With Ryumi’s magic, the five enter the palace where Shigeto and Hisaaki manage to kill the tsuchigumo by dropping a large gong on it as the sarugami flee out of cowardice. After freeing Mego and Sana, the group prevent Shina from assassinating Nurarihyon; upon learning of the tsuchigumo’s death, she attacks them in a vengeful rage. Maka distracts Shina long enough for Akako to snatch the jewel and give it to Ryumi, but the spider woman severely injures her. Ryumi lures Shina to the roof, where, just as the demoness is about to kill the girl, the latter uses her fox magic to teleport away at the last second, and the jewel is destroyed instead. The resulting shockwave of magic disintegrates Shina and heals the dying Akako. Despite having indirectly destroyed Nakaari’s heirloom, Ryumi is praised by him, along with Nurarihyon and the many yokai who witnessed the battle. A surviving shard of the jewel is then used to help Akako become fully human. After bidding farewell to the yokai, Ryumi, her friends and Sana return to Shintonoyama, where the villagers, after hearing the group’s story, accept Akako, Maka and Mego. Sometime later, during Shintonoyama’s Obon festival, Haruuji and Tsujiko visit Ryumi and Akako once more, telling their children how proud they are of them. The heroes watch the lanterns as the story concludes.

After Kagetsu thanks the audience for attending before heading off to bed, Aoki blows out her lantern, wishing the audience goodnight.

[ryumikaidan]

Funny Moments

During Ryumi’s magic show, one villager almost vomits at her rokurokubi routine.

And near the end, when he meets the real deal (Maka), he faints.

After Maka’s banishment:

Shigeto: How’d you like that? They kicked her out, and now they’re gonna demolish her home! Talk about harsh.

Akako: She seems like a tough woman. She’ll probably handle it like a champ.

(Cut to short montage of Maka taking out her rage on a tree by throwing sticks and rocks at it, ending with her crying hysterically)

Maka being completely resigned to the weirdness in Mochiie’s house.

Zurui when describing Mochiie the tanuki:

Zurui: He’s also very... well-endowed. Then again, all tanuki are.

The priestess in Yugatono is really, REALLY determined to exorcise something.

“BEGONE, DEMON!”

This line of Kagetsu:

Kagetsu: Come on, Aoki. I want a happy ending, they (gestures to the audience) want a happy ending, even the girl who judges you from the gap between the shelves and the wall wants a happy ending.

And after Kagetsu says that, Aoki nervously glances at the shelves.

When Maka is Bound and Gagged with her own neck:

Akako: You okay, Maka?

Maka: (muffled noise)

Akako: Oh, that’s a relief. Good to know you’re-

Maka: (loud, angry muffled noise)

Akako: YES, MA’AM! (begins untying her)

How is Kan first introduced? She jumps through one of Shina’s closed windows.

“Do you always think from the seat of your pants?”

[ryumikaidan]

Walking Tour to Yoshiwara - Yo Tsuji

Anime: Miss Hokusai

[ryumikaidan]

Characters and their tropes

Ryumi Kawakami

Half-Human Hybrid

Beware the Nice Ones

Kid Hero

Nice Girl

Protagonist Title

Took a Level in Badass

Plucky Girl

Celibate Hero

Platonic Life-Partners

Tomboyish Ponytail

A Protagonist Is Ryu

Weak, but Skilled

Human Dad, Non-Human Mom

Shigeto Terazawa

Deadpan Snarker

Red Oni, Blue Oni

The Lancer

Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass

Sensitive Guy and Manly Man

Plucky Comic Relief

Heterosexual Life-Partners

Platonic Life-Partners

Those Two Guys

Hisaaki Ichijou

Red Oni, Blue Oni

The Smart Guy

Sensitive Guy and Manly Man

Took a Level in Badass

Heterosexual Life-Partners

Platonic Life-Partners

Those Two Guys

Akako Kinoshita

The Cutie

Adorably Precocious Child

Adorkable

Happily Adopted

The Ingenue

Kiddie Kid

Tagalong Kid

Humanity Ensues

Disney Death

Badass Adorable

Heartwarming Orphan

Blob Monster

Nice Girl

Platonic Life-Partners

Dark and Troubled Past

Ridiculously Cute Critter

Non-Human Sidekick

Maka Matsukura

The Big Girl

Deadpan Snarker

Flat "What"

Hair-Trigger Temper

Jerk with a Heart of Gold

Large Ham

No Indoor Voice

Team Mom

Long Neck

Badass Arm-Fold

Good Is Not Nice

Slapstick Knows No Gender

Tomboyish Voice

Broken Bird

Bound and Gagged

Ambiguously Human

Sana Kawakami

Action Mom

Battle Couple

Mama Bear

Nine Tailed Fox

True Blue Femininity

Mego

Sixth Ranger

Nice Girl

Happily Adopted

Punch-Clock Villain

Damsel in Distress

Artful Dodger

My God, What Have I Done?

Extra Eyes

Eyes Do Not Belong There

Sarashi

Ambiguously Human

Shina

Big Bad

Bad Boss

Jerkass

Spider People

Family-Unfriendly Death

Contralto of Danger

The Baroness

Technicolor Death

Hannibal Lecture

The Tsuchigumo

Mascot Villain

The Dragon

Glowing Eyes of Doom

Hell Is That Noise

Kan

Contralto of Danger

Professional Killer

Punch-Clock Villain

Dynamic Entry

The Sarugami

Maniac Monkeys

Monkey Morality Pose

Mischief-Making Monkey

Zerg Rush

Sana’s Family

Big Fancy House

The Clan

Multigenerational Household

Badass Family

Kitsune

Nakaari

Cool Old Guy

Nice Guy

Badass Grandpa

The Patriarch

Bunto

Innocent Blue Eyes

Keet

Motor Mouth

Nice Guy

Manchild

Yoshiro and Yoshiko

Half-Identical Twins

Coordinated Clothes

Think Twins

Tag Team Twins

Masami

Nice Girl

Official Couple

Spirited Young Lady

Osamu

Official Couple

Nice Guy

Fumito

My Sister Is Off-Limits!

Jerk with a Heart of Gold

Big Brother Instinct

Red Oni, Blue Oni

Deadpan Snarker

Tomoko

Red Oni, Blue Oni

Adorkable

I Am Not Pretty

Not So Above It All

Contralto of Danger

Mochiie

Tanuki

Eccentric Mentor

Hermit Guru

Zurui

Motor Mouth

Cute Monster Girl

Wild Child

Meaningful Name

Ambiguously Human

Haruuji Kawakami

Disappeared Dad

Nice Guy

Heroic Sacrifice

Papa Wolf

Posthumous Character

Deceased Parents Are the Best

Spirit Advisor

So Proud of You

Tsujiko Kinoshita

Missing Mom

Deceased Parents Are the Best

So Proud of You

Good Parents

Heroic Sacrifice

Nurarihyon

Badass in Distress

Big Good

Defiant Captive

Foil

The Good King

Nerves of Steel

Non-Action Guy

Papa Wolf

Public Domain Character

Reasonable Authority Figure

Purple Eyes

Aoki

The Storyteller

Lemony Narrator

MST

Breaking the Fourth Wall

Framing Device

Kagetsu

MST

Breaking the Fourth Wall

Genki Girl

Living Shadow

Framing Device

[ryumikaidan]

Voice Actors and Actresses!

Ryumi Kawakami: Misato Fukuen/Mackenzie Foy

Shigeto Terazawa: Katsuyuki Konishi/Jacob Hopkins

Hisaaki Ichijou: Takahiro Mizushima/Adam McArthur

Akako Kinoshita: Kanon Tani/Elizabeth Docter

Maka Matsukura: Masako Katsuki/Lisa Ortiz

Sana Kawakami: Urara Takano/Idina Menzel

Mego: Risa Hayamizu/Isabella Acres

Shina: Ai Orikasa/Kathleen Barr

Kan: Romi Park/Kimberly Brooks

Nakaari: Noritake Kinashi/Paul Eiding

Bunto: Takahiro Mizushima/Martin Short

Yoshiro and Yoshiko: Megumi Hayashibara/Kath Soucie

Masami: Mayumi Suzuki/Alix Wilton Regan

Osamu: Ryunosuke Kamiki/Taron Egerton

Fumito: Kappei Yamaguchi/Paul F. Tompkins

Tomoko: Marina Inoue/Maria Bamford

Mochiie: Fumihiko Tachiki/Greg Baldwin

Zurui: Tamaki Matsumoto/Xanthe Huynh

Haruuji Kawakami: Kōichi Miura/Tom Selleck

Tsujiko Kinoshita: Natsumi Abe/Lea Salonga

Nurarihyon: Masahiko Tanaka/George Takei

Aoki: Miyuki Sawashiro/Felicia Day

Kagetsu: Fumie Mizusawa/Noah Cyrus

[ryumikaidan]

Epilogue

Aoki: The end.

Kagetsu: What a wild ride that was! See, Aoki, wasn’t it fun? Way better than horror.

Aoki: Okay, you’ve proved your point.

Kagetsu: I knew you’d see it my way! (to the audience) Thanks for watching and listening to our epic tale! We hope you enjoyed it and-

Aoki: Kagetsu, isn’t it almost bedtime?

Kagetsu: Oh my gosh, you’re right! Well, goodnight all!

(She disappears into the shadows, leaving Aoki alone. The aoandon smiles, then blows out the lantern, plunging the room into darkness.)

Aoki: Goodnight.

The End

[ryumikaidan]

Part 11

Kagetsu: THE TEAM CUTIE LIVES! (hugs Aoki)

(As the yokai cheer, Ryumi spots the others exiting the palace.)

Ryumi: Guys!

Shigeto: Ryumi!

Hisaaki: Thank goodness!

(Akako hops over to Ryumi.)

Akako: Ryumi, look! I got better!

(She leaps into Ryumi’s arms, and gets a big hug in response. Sana hugs Ryumi next.)

Sana: You’ve grown.

(Ryumi hugs her back.)

Bunto: Let’s hear it for Ryumi!

(The fox family let out a cheer.)

Mego: Ryumi? I just want you to know that I’m really sorry for-

Ryumi: It’s okay, Mego. It’s all over, now.

(She gives the dodomeki a hug, which the latter accepts. Nearby, Nurarihyon and Nakaari talk. After their conversation, they head over to the group.)

Shigeto: So, how’d you kill Shina?

Ryumi: Uh...

Maka: Oh, boy.

(Ryumi notices Nurarihyon and Nakaari nearby. She hands Akako to Maka and steps forward sheepishly.)

Ryumi: Grandpa, I can explain-

Nakaari: It’s alright. I understand.

(To Ryumi’s surprise, he pulls her into a hug.)

Nakaari: You’re alive, and that’s all that matters.

Ryumi: ...Even though the jewel...? (returns the hug)

Nurarihyon: True, its shards were scattered across the realm, and lost forever, but you did what had to be done to save the two realms. 

(He bows to her, and row by row, everyone in Kaii Town bows to her.)

Nakaari: And besides...

(He reveals what he and Nurarihyon found: a single shard of the jewel.)

Nakaari: This piece still has enough power for one more miracle.

Akako: Y-You mean... I can be a...

(She jumps out of Maka’s arms and hops towards Nakaari, who holds out the shard to her. Immediately after she touches it, she starts glowing again, this time even brighter than before, and her form changes. When the light fades, Akako is now a human girl with baby-blue eyes, wearing a red bib with the kanji for ‘girl’ emblazoned on it and puffy pink shorts. She looks down at herself, and smiles.)

Akako: Wow! Ryumi, look! I’m normal!

(She and Ryumi embrace, and the heroes engage in a group hug. Scene change to sometime later, outside Kaii Town. The seven are saying their fond farewells to Nakaari and his family before the townsfolk. A human faced oxcart -an oboroguruma- is parked nearby. Waving goodbye, the group board the oboroguruma, who takes off into the sky, their destination being the human realm. Dissolve to Shintonoyama, having been repaired and cleaned up after the tsuchigumo’s attack. The townspeople are gathered to meet the newcomers: Akako, Maka and Mego. Akako is telling a group of kids her age of their adventure. Maka stretches her neck to demonstrate her powers, and that one guy who almost threw up at Ryumi’s magic show faints. More villagers gaze in wonder at Mego’s extra eyes. Another scene change to a few nights later, on the night of the Obon festival. A long procession of villagers heads down the path leading to the river. They hold glowing paper lanterns as they move along solemnly. When they reach the river, farewells are said and lit lanterns set adrift. Unseen by many, their departed loved ones materialize. Ryumi’s father and Tsujiko are among them. Ryumi and her friends and family meet them.)

Sana: Haruuji.

(She embraces her husband.)

Haruuji: I’ve missed you, too.

Akako: Mama, look! I’m human, just like you!

Tsujiko: I know. We said we’d watch over you two.

Haruuji: And we couldn’t be any more proud of you.

Ryumi: Thanks, Dad.

(Together, they all watch the lanterns float down the river, heading out to sea, until they are out of sight.)

[ryumikaidan]

Part 10

Kagetsu: AW, YEAH! Onward to the final battle!

Aoki: Indeed.

(Scene: Kaii Town. The five, the fox family, Mochiie and the tsukumogami head through the streets.)

Mochiie: Well, I must say, not once in my life did I expect to assist in saving the realm.

Nakaari: It’s not just the spirit realm that’s at stake. Shina obviously plans to use the jewel to do whatever she pleases to humanity.

Shigeto: Yikes. Good thing she didn’t count on us.

Hisaaki: So, the yokai in charge lives at the center of town?

Bunto: Yup! Ya can’t miss it! He’s got a big palace and everything!

(As they near the palace, there is a commotion: some yokai are trying to break in using a nurikabe as a battering ram, while others watch, concerned and alarmed. Maka goes up to an abura sumashi.)

Maka: What’s going on here?

Abura Sumashi: Lord Nurarihyon‘s been taken hostage. We’re trying to get inside to rescue him, but the entrances are sealed.

(A taka onna peeks into one of the higher windows.)

Taka Onna: Some spider lady and a giant spider’s got him! There’re monkeys helping them, too!

Shigeto: Oh no...

Hisaaki: We’re too late!

Ryumi: Not yet.

(She steps forward, and holds out her hand.)

Ryumi: If Mom can do it, then...

(After a few moments, a portal opens in midair, stunning everybody present. This portal leads to the lower levels of the palace. A hone onna’s jaw literally drops.)

Ippondatara: Sweet child of Yamauba...!

Maka: She actually did it...!

Ryumi: C’mon guys.

(The others follow her through. In one of the higher floors of the palace, Nurarihyon is brought before Shina by two of the sarugami, who are dressed as samurai. She steps out of the shadows, brandishing a scepter onto which she has attached the jewel.)

Shina: (to the sarugami) Good. Guard the door. And this time, do. Not. Fail me.

(The sarugami oblige, leaving the room with the tsuchigumo.)

Nurarihyon: Of course, you do know that you’ll never get away with this.

Shina: (chuckles darkly) I already have. Now bow.

(Meanwhile, Sana and Mego are suspended in a cage made of webbing. Mego is downtrodden, and Sana takes notice. She puts a reassuring hand on the younger girl’s shoulder.)

Sana: You shouldn’t blame yourself for all this.

Mego: Why shouldn’t I? I listened to Shina. I gave her what she wanted, just for something I’ll probably never get.

Sana: You couldn’t have known.

Mego: Well, I should have known...

Sana: It’s okay. We’ll get through this.

Mego How do you know?

Sana: Because there’s one thing Shina didn’t count on.

(As if on cue, the door opens, and...)

Ryumi: Mego! Mom!

Sana: You see?

(The five enter the room.)

Shigeto: We came to rescue you two and squash some spiders!

(But as they approach the cage...)

Mego: Be careful! That big spider may come back any-

(There is an awful chittering noise from above: the tsuchigumo is now on the ceiling, and it’s furious.)

Ryumi: ...Oh-

(The tsuchigumo pounces, forcing the group to scatter.)

Sana: Ryumi!

Ryumi: It’s okay, Mom!

(As the tsuchigumo thrusts its barbed leg towards Ryumi to impale her, she concentrates, and quickly levitates out of the way of the attack, landing on a rafter. Sana is stunned and impressed. As Ryumi looks around, she spots a large decorative gong displayed on a platform. An idea forms in her mind.)

Ryumi: Shigeto! Hisaaki!

(They, too, see the gong, and get the hint. As Ryumi, Akako and Maka keep the tsuchigumo occupied, the two boys climb onto the platform. Hisaaki pulls out a tantō blade and cuts the gong loose, while Ryumi leads the monster beneath him and Shigeto. Just as the spider is about to bite her in half, the gong falls. The two sarugami guarding the door hear the sickening CRUNCH, and go to investigate. The youths are cheering, as Maka uses her neck to help Sana and Mego climb down from the cage.)

Youths: Yeah!/Alright!/We did it!/We killed the monster!/Nice one!

(The sarugami enter to see Shigeto triumphantly kicking a leg sticking out from underneath the fallen gong.)

Shigeto: How’s it feel being so dumb?!

(He kicks a little too hard, and the leg breaks off.)

Shigeto: WHOA!

(The sarugami proceed to freak out and bolt. They run into their leader along the way.)

Sarugami Leader: Hey, where are you goin’?!

Sarugami#1: (terrified) Those guys killed the big spider!

Sarugami#2: We can’t fight them! No way!

Sarugami Leader: That’s preposter-

(Just then, the group show up, Shigeto brandishing the tsuchigumo’s leg as a weapon.)

Shigeto: (noticing the sarugami) Oh, hey.

(The sarugami leader takes one look and runs, his cohorts following after.)

Shigeto: What’s their problem?

(No sooner do the screaming sarugami literally launch themselves out of the palace in a panic then they find themselves confronted by the other yokai, the tsukumogami and the fox family included.)

Sarugami: Uh oh.../Oh, no...

Kagetsu: Y’know, it’s a shame that we don’t get to see the monkey beatdown. 

Aoki: That’s not important, now.

(Meanwhile, the group run up the stairs to the room where Shina and Nurarihyon are.)

Shina: Don’t be so arrogant, old fool. Either you kneel, or I take this realm by force. Make your choice.

(Nurarihyon, however, fixes her with a firm, unwavering look.)

Nurarihyon: Do with me as you will, but you will never take this land.

Shina: So be it.

(Her scepter charges up with energy...)

Ryumi: He’s right, Shina! It’s over.

(As Nurarihyon calmly moves aside, Shina turns to see the group... and recognizes the leg in Shigeto’s clutches.)

Shina: (seething in rage) You... murdered... my baby...?! Ryumi Kawakami... You... and your friends...

(Before the group, the irate Shina rises up, revealing the legs of a golden orb-weaver spider.)

Shina: ...ARE ALREADY DEAD!!!

(She lunges at the group, who scatter, as Maka elongates her neck to defend the youths.)

Maka: DON’T YOU DARE HURT THEM!

(She coils her neck around Shina, trying to restrain her as the jorōgumo furiously attempts to blast her in the face with the scepter. Finally, Maka pins the arm holding the scepter to Shina’s side, but the spider lady whips out a kaiken dagger with her free hand and begins slashing at her adversary’s long neck. Akako, seeing her chance, quickly hops onto the scepter and begins tugging on the jewel, until she finally yanks it free.)

Akako: I GOT IT! I got the jewel, Ryumi!

Shina: NO!

(Before Shina can stop her, Akako throws the jewel to Ryumi, who catches it. With a scream of rage, Shina breaks free from Maka’s neck and lunges at Akako. There is no time for her to dodge the attack. The dagger strikes Akako, and, as the others look on, she falls to the floor, where she lies prone.)

Ryumi: AKAKO!

(The good guys gather around Akako.)

Ryumi: Akako, speak to me! Say something, please!

(Akako is still alive, but barely breathing. Shina rises up behind them.)

Shina: GIVE ME THAT JEWEL!

(The group scatter a third time, Maka clutching Akako close to her chest, as Ryumi runs out of the room with the jewel, pursued by the enraged Shina. The girl shimmies up a pillar, only for the jorōgumo to pull out a wakizashi sword and cut it down, sending it and Ryumi through the wall. Ryumi jumps up and grabs onto the roof and pulls herself up.)

Yokai Citizens: On the roof!/Look!

(Ryumi climbs onto the roof and looks around. Behind her, Shina crashes through the roof and shoves the girl down with one of her legs. The jorōgumo smiles maniacally as she raises her sword. Ryumi squeezes her eyes shut. Shina brings the sword down... CRACK.)

Shina: Wh-

(Ryumi has teleported away, leaving only the jewel... which now has Shina’s sword thrust into it. As cracks begin to form, it begins to glow, dimly, then brightly. Immediately, a vast surge of magic bursts forth as the jewel completely shatters. Shina lets out a bloodcurdling scream as magical wave after magical wave strikes her. She dissolves like a lump of sugar in tea, still screaming in agony all the while, until there is nothing left of her. The night sky is illuminated with colorful energy, as Ryumi, having found herself back on the palace steps, watches. The others look on as well, until their attention is drawn by Akako glowing and rising out of Maka’s arms: the magical energy has reached her.)

Maka: What the-?!

(The group watch until the glow surrounding Akako slowly subsides, and she floats back down to the floor. She stirs, then opens her eyes. The others are stunned, but relieved.)

Akako: What happened? Did we win?

[ryumikaidan]

Part 9

Ryumi: W-Who are...?

Shina: I believe your family already know the answer.

(Bunto trembles in fear.)

Ryumi: You're... Shina?

Shina: Lady Shina, if you please.

Ryumi: Where’s my mom?

Shina: She’ll be joining her husband soon.

Maka: You dirty-!

(She throws the wooden sword at Shina, but the tsuchigumo blocks the attack with one of its legs. In another moment, all that’s left of the sword is mere splinters.)

Shina: Pathetic.

(She snaps her fingers, and the tsuchigumo fires webbing at Maka.

Akako: HEY!

(Akako jumps in the way of the projectile, and is immediately bound in webbing.)

Akako: Mmph!

Ryumi: Akako!

(The others are at her side in an instant, pulling the spiderwebs off of her.)

Maka: Kid, what were you thinking?!

Akako: I didn’t want you getting hurt.

Shigeto: Mego, how could you work for this crazy witch?!

Shina: Quite simple, really. She does anything I tell her to do, brings me whatever I want. This, for example.

(She holds up the jewel. Mego hangs her head. Shina grabs her arm, holding the girl up while pulling at the bandages on her arms.)

Shina: In fact, look at the wonders it has done her... and her body.

(Shina pulls off the bandages, revealing that Mego’s arm is spotted with many falcon’s eyes, blinking in the moonlight. The group are stunned.)

Shina: Is that betrayal I see on your faces? Don’t worry. She has tricked those smarter than you. Or did you believe that you were friends with her?

Ryumi: Mego...

Mego: I didn't lie about that. You are my friends.

(Ryumi’s eyes widen.)

Shina: Enough of this. To the capital!

(With that, she pulls Mego onto the tsuchgumo, who immediately skitters away faster than a horse. Ryumi takes off after them.)

Ryumi: Mego! MEGO!

(She is unable to catch up, and the spider is gone, and its passengers with it.)

Kagetsu: Don’t worry folks. Remember, this story has a happy ending, so stick with us, here.

(Scene change to sometime later. The youths are sitting around, unsure of what to do. Akako sits on Ryumi’s head. Maka is pacing furiously.)

Maka: Those jerks! They played us like a cheap lute! 

Ryumi: No, Shina was the one who tricked us. Mego really was our friend.

Hisaaki: We know.

Shigeto: So, let’s go save her and your mom and kick that spider lady’s butt! What’s the plan?

Ryumi: What plan?

Akako: Don’t you always have a plan?

Ryumi: Not this time. Don't you guys get it? We failed. It’s over. Shina’s won.

(The others look worried. Except for one.)

Maka: Are you kidding me?!

(Maka has stretched her neck over to Ryumi.)

Maka: Of course she hasn’t won! We know she’s headed for town. We just have to go after her! 

Ryumi: And then what?

Maka: WHADDYA MEAN “AND THEN WHAT”?! You have your ma and pop’s magic, USE ‘EM ON THAT SPIDER WITCH!

Hisaaki: Maka’s right, Ryumi. Besides, your dad did want you to do the right thing, didn’t he?

Shigeto: Yeah! You wanna do something special? Then DO SOMETHING SPECIAL.

Akako: (leaning down from Ryumi’s head) You can do it, Ryumi! We’re all with you!

Bunto: YEAH! We believe in ya!

(Ryumi looks at her friends and family, and smiles.)

Ryumi: I’ll try my best.

(She stands up, taking Akako in her arms.)

Ryumi: Of course, I can’t do this alone. Who’s with me on this?

Shigeto: I’m in!

Hisaaki: Me too!

Akako: Me three!

Maka: What the heck. If we’re gonna die, we’ll at least go out fighting.

Bunto: I’ll go get the others! (runs back to the house)

Ryumi: Something tells me we’ll need a lot more help than that.

Shigeto: I think we got that covered.

[ryumikaidan]

Part 8

Kagetsu: WHAT A PLOT TWIST! But trust us, there’s more to her than that.

(Scene change to Nakaari’s house at night. Everyone is gathered around the kotatsu, on which the hangonkō is placed.)

Nakaari: Well, this is it. You ready?

Ryumi: Y-Yeah.

(Nakaari lights a match, and holds it to the incense. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, the incense begins to emit smoke as Nakaari extinguishes the match. At first, there is only a typical small stream of smoke. However, more and more smoke pours forth, to the point where it almost fills the entire room.)

Maka: (coughing) That’s enough! ENOUGH OF THE SMOKE, ALREADY! (covers her face with her sleeve)

Ryumi: No, wait!

(The smoke begins to form a curtain of some sort.)

Ryumi: ...Dad? Are you there?

(A shadow appears behind the curtain, which is drawn back, revealing a man in priestly garb.)

Priestly Man: Ryumi.

Ryumi: Dad!

Ryumi‘s Father: You’ve grown.

(Ryumi gets up, and comes closer to her father, until they’re face-to-face. After a moment, they embrace.)

Akako: What about Mama? Is she here, too?

???: Akako?

(Akako turns in the direction of the voice to see a woman dressed in a corpse’s traditional robes and headdress. It’s Tsujiko, who smiles at her daughter.)

Akako: Mama... (leaps towards Tsujiko) MAMA!

(Tsujiko embraces Akako in her arms.)

Tsujiko: I’m sorry I left you.

(As Akako cries into Tsujiko’s chest, Ryumi breaks the hug with her father to address him.)

Ryumi: Dad, did you... Did you know that Mom was a...?

(Ryumi‘s father nods in the affirmative. Over the following exchange, the smoke around them forms an image of Ryumi’s father facing a nine-tailed fox, Sana in her true form. She assumes human form, and the two figures embrace.)

Ryumi: You could have told me before.

Ryumi‘s Father: You were so young back then. We wanted to wait until you became responsible enough.

Ryumi: Huh?

Ryumi‘s Father: Your mother passed down most of her magic to you. All it takes to use them is your will alone.

Ryumi: My will?

Ryumi‘s Father: You still have much to learn. The most important thing to remember, though, is to do the right thing.

(The others look on, misty-eyed. The smoke begins to fade. Akako holds on desperately to Tsujiko.)

Akako: MAMA!

Tsujiko: It’s okay. I promise I’ll still watch over you.

Akako: R-Really?

Ryumi‘s Father: I’ll be watching over you too, Ryumi. It’s all I can do now.

Ryumi: Dad...

Ryumi‘s Father: (fading away) You’ve only taken your first steps into a new, bigger world. Whenever you need me, I’ll guide you along the right path.

(The two spirits fade away completely. The hangonkō has all but burned out. Akako wipes the tears from her eyes as Ryumi picks her up and holds her close.)

Ryumi: See you, Dad...

(After a few moments, Shinto hugs Ryumi and Akako. He is followed by Hisaaki, then Bunto. Maka wipes her teary eyes with her sleeve.)

Maka: Darn smoke... 

Kagetsu: Yeah, right.

(Behind the unaware group, from outside the closed window, a spyeder observes. Timeskip to later that night. Everyone is asleep. However, Mego is awoken by something creeping on her. She looks to see the spyeder on her chest.)

Shina: (speaking through the spyeder’s crystal) Did you really think I wouldn't find out?

Mego: (sits up) W-What are you talking about?

Shina: I mean you, and your friends! Never care about the victim. One you do, you become a victim yourself.

Mego: (defensively) What do you know about friendship? You never had a friend. Just people who were afraid of you

Shina: That's right. Friendship comes and goes. Fear is permanent and profitable. I'll prove it to you: get me that jewel, or else they’re all spider feed.

Mego: You-! (grabs the spyeder)

Shina: You see? Fear. The only friend I need. Don't disappoint me.

(The crystal explodes in Mego’s hand. The spider wriggles out of her grip, and skitters through the open window from whence it came. Scene change to Maka, asleep. The sound of footsteps awaken her. Mego tiptoes through the hall, searching for the jewel. By chance, she comes across the room with the cabinet. Maka, listening to her footsteps, realizes that this is a potential thief.)

Maka: Oh no...

(She get out of her futon and lights a lantern. She then grabs a sword, only to see that it’s wooden.)

Maka: Eh, it’ll do.

(Careful to not make a sound, wanting a surprise attack on the assumed burglar, Maka follows shuffling noises - the sound of drawers opening - to the room where the jewel is kept. Sure enough, to her shock, the cabinet is open, drawers strewn about. Only one drawer is untouched: the jewel’s drawer. Maka, shaking and sweating nervously, fearing the worst, opens it to make sure that the jewel is still there. Seeing that it is, she breaths a heavy sigh of relief.)

Maka: Well, that just put a few grey hairs on my skull.

(Suddenly, a hand clamps down over her mouth. Akako is awoken by the ensuing commotion.)

Akako: Wha...?

(She hops out of her futon and follows the noise. Maka is now bound and gagged with her own neck, muffling unintelligible protests and threats at Mego, who takes the jewel.)

Mego: I’m sorry...

(Akako then hops into the doorway.)

Akako: Guys, I can’t sleep with all the...

(She sees what’s happening, and her jaw drops. Mego jumps out the window with the jewel. Akako rushes over to the restrained Maka.)

Akako: You okay, Maka?

Maka: Mmm-hmm.

Akako: Oh, that’s a relief. Good to know you’re-

Maka: MMPPHMM!!!

Akako: YES, MA’AM!

(As Akako unties Maka, the others, alerted to the noise, enter.)

Shigeto: What’s all the ruckus about?

Hisaaki: What happened here?!

(By now, Maka is free to speak.)

Maka: I knew taking that girl in was a bad idea!

Shigeto: Huh?

Ryumi: Mego?

Maka: That thieving little brat just hogtied me and stole the jewel!

Akako: It’s true! I saw her!

Bunto: We gotta get the jewel back, and fast!

Shigeto: Yeah, c’mon!

(They all head out. Cut to outside Nakaari’s house, where the group follow Bunto, in his fox form, as he sniffs the ground like a bloodhound while Akako rides on his back.)

Bunto: She went this way!

Shigeto: Everybody follow the fox!

(They do so, with Maka still ready to bean Mego over the head with the wooden sword. At last, they come to a clearing in a bamboo forest, where they are met with a shocking sight: Mego is there, but so is Shina and the tsuchigumo.)

Shina: Too late.

[ryumikaidan]

Part 7

Kagetsu: Hey, isn’t the hangonjū the one that laughs at you through its fruit?

Aoki: Kagetsu, that’s the jinmenju.

Kagetsu: Oh.

(Scene change to the group at a grove of hangonjū trees, armed with knives, baskets strapped to their backs. Said baskets contain some hangonjū tree roots.)

Shigeto: So, here’s my question: If this incense is made from magic tree sap, why are we getting the roots?

Ryumi: Grandpa said that the sap has to come from the roots and nowhere else. Otherwise, it just makes ordinary incense.

Shigeto: Oh, okay. (spots a large root) That one looks like it holds a lot of sap. Hisaaki, help me cut it off!

(The two boys start cutting at the root with their knives, but only do so much as put a small cut on it.) 

Ryumi: Uh, guys? I don’t think we need that big a root.

Shigeto: Oh. (stops stabbing the root)

Hisaaki: (to the tree) Sorry about that.

Shigeto: You do know you just talked to a tree, right?

Hisaaki: Well, how do I know it won’t curse us for stabbing at a part of it that we don’t need? It is a magic tree.

Shigeto: That’s true.

(Akako swings her knife like an ax, chopping at a root until it comes free. She tosses it in the basket on her back, then moves on to another root. While chopping at that. While doing so, something catches her eye. She looks up.)

Maka: So, how many do we need?

Ryumi: Uh... Well, Grandpa didn’t specify exactly. Apparently, we only need enough to make a full pack of incense.

Maka: (voice dripping with sarcasm) Well, that helps a lot.

Akako: Hey guys! Over here!

(The others look up to see her hopping up and down.)

Akako: There’s somebody here! I think she’s hurt!

Ryumi: What?!

Shigeto: Lead the way!

(Akako hops off, and the others follow her. Finally, they come to the root she was working on. Lying prone on the ground near that is a girl spirit, disheveled, with bandages on her arms. Some light orange blood trickles from a wound on her back)

Hisaaki: Oh...

Akako: C’mon, you guys! We gotta help her!

(Ryumi nods. Cut to the outside of Nakaari’s house, where he, Bunto and the other foxes stare, stunned. The group stand before them, the girl in Maka’s basket. There are no questions to be asked.)

Nakaari: (to the other foxes) Prepare a futon.

Maka: Better make it fast before my back gives out!

(The foxes comply, heading back inside as Nakaari moves to help the group. Scene change to the girl, her injury now bandaged up, in a futon, Akako napping beside her. The girl opens her eyes, and sits up. Akako, feeling movement, awakens and looks up at the girl, who notices her. Both are surprised to see each other. Akako scrambles off the futon.)

Akako: Gotta tell the others...!

(The girl watches Akako as she enters the next room, where the others are gathered.)

Akako: Hey, she’s awake!

(Everyone stops whatever they were doing. Ryumi gets up and follows Akako back to the room where the girl is, followed by Shigeto and Hisaaki. They enter to greet the girl.)

Ryumi: Hi. You okay?

Girl: Yeah... How did...?

Hisaaki: We brought you here as soon as Akako found you.

Akako: Yeah! You had a pretty nasty boo-boo, there.

Shigeto: Lucky we found you in time, I mean, I’m no doctor, but you were bleeding really bad, and even I know that if somebody loses a lot of blood-

Maka: (stretching her neck in through the doorway) HEY! Stop making her uncomfortable, will ya? 

Shigeto: Sorry.

Ryumi: So, what happened?

Girl: I accidentally walked into a giant spider’s territory. It got me in the back before I was able to get out.

Ryumi: A giant spider?

Shigeto: So did we. At least we didn’t get hurt and got sent off on an epic quest. That dang monster spider...!

Akako: Yeah! When I see him, I’m’ma kick his big fat-

Maka: Do you even know how big they can get?

Akako: Big as me, right?

(Maka gives Akako a look that says “Are you serious right now?”)

Girl: Well, thanks for your help. If you hadn’t shown up... Who are you guys, anyway?

Ryumi: My name’s Ryumi Kawakami. These are my friends, Shigeto and Hisaaki.

Akako: I’m Akako! The lady with the long neck is Maka.

Girl: I’m Mego.

Akako: (shakes Mego’s hand) Oh, well, nice to meet ‘cha, Mego!

Mego: So, do you actually live here?

Ryumi: Not really. This is my grandpa’s house.

Hisaaki: Where do you live?

Mego: Well, I'm kind of, uh... I don't exactly...

(Suddenly, Ryumi understands.)

Ryumi: Are you... homeless?

Mego: Yeah. But, I don’t mind. It’s just now, if I go out there again... Hey, I’ll survive.

Ryumi: You can’t go back out there, not while you’re hurt.

Mego: Well, if you say so.

Shigeto: That settles it. She’s staying!

Maka: NOW, HOLD ON A SECOND! We can’t just let stray spirits in here! And how do we know she's not a vagrant or a thief?

(At this, Mego seems uneasy.)

Shigeto: Oh, now who’s making her uncomfortable?

Maka: Wh- (blushes)

Ryumi: Don’t mind them. You can stay as long as you like, Mego.

Mego: Thanks.

Maka: (muttering) I swear, if I ever live to be 80, I’ll never understand these kids...

Aoki: Thus, the group found a new friend. Little did they know, however...

(As the group talk, a spyeder watches from the window, unseen.)

Aoki: ...that she hid a dark secret.

(Scene: The fox lady is making hangonkō while Mego watches.)

Mego: So, you call on human spirits with this? Who are you gonna summon?

Fox Lady: Ryumi’s father. The little one’s mother, too.

Mego: Akako, right?

Fox Lady: Yes, of course.

(Mego looks to where the others are waiting and talking before leaving the room. She walks through the hall and comes across the foxes’s garden. After taking in its beauty, she enters the garden, making her way to a tree, under which she sits down and rests. She breathes in the fresh air. From behind the tree, the spyeder skitters closer to her, until it’s right next to her.)

Shina: (speaking through the spyeder’s crystal) Mego? Mego!

(Mego startles, turning towards the source of the voice.)

Mego: Shina?! ...You scared me.

Shina: Well, Mego? You’ve been here for a day and a half and you still haven’t procured the jewel.

Mego: I’m sorry, Shina. I’ve been healing up here. Your spider hit me too hard and injured me for real this time.

Shina: That doesn’t matter! Where is the old fox hiding the jewel?

Mego: I’m still working on finding that out. I’ll get it for you, I promise.

Shina: You’d better. Or else you’re out on the streets again.

(The crystal explodes, and the uninjured spider creeps away just as before, leaving Mego alone in the garden. She looks at the bandages on her arms.)

[ryumikaidan]

Part 6

Aoki: And so, they traveled to Nakaari’s house, where the magic jewel was kept.

Kagetsu: Everybody excited to finally see the jewel?

(Cue the stock cheers from the audience.)

Kagetsu: Y’know, the powerful thing that Shina is after? Wanna learn more about that?

(More stock cheers.)

Kagetsu: Alright! (to the annoyed Aoki) Continue.

Aoki: ...Okay, then.

(Scene: Ryumi, Nakaari and the others stand before a large house, awestruck.)

Ryumi: Wow...

Shigeto: This isn’t a house, it’s a mansion!

Hisaaki: You live here alone, or...?

Nakaari: No, I do have family. You’ll meet them soon.

(Cut to the interior of the house, where...)

Fox Boy: HEYA, NAKAARI!

(Everybody except Nakaari jumps.)

Nakaari: Hello, Bunto.

Bunto: You won’t believe what happened while you were out! This lady with a face on her belly came and... (notices the others, gasps) OH, WOW! Three humans! Well, two humans. I’m not sure about the girl. Anyway, glad to meet’cha! My name’s Bunto! Ya wanna hang out together? It’ll be fun!

Akako: Yeah! Heh-heh. (to Nakaari) Who is this guy?

Nakaari: My grandnephew. (to Bunto) Bunto, this girl is Ryumi, your cousin.

Bunto: (gasps) You’re kidding! I have a half-fox cousin?! C’MERE, COUSIN! (hugs Ryumi) OOOHHH, THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!

Ryumi: Okay, uh... Nice to meet you too... You can let go, now.

Bunto: Oh, sorry, sorry! Am I... (notices Maka) How about you? You wanna hug?

Maka: No, no, don’t-AAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!!!

(Bunto chases Maka around, trying to hug her.)

Maka: SOMEBODY GET THIS CRAZY FOX AWAY FROM ME!

Akako: I’m Ryumi’s adopted sister! HUG ME INSTEAD!

(Bunto, upon seeing Akako, immediately runs over and grabs her, embracing her in a hug.)

Bunto: OH MY GOSH, AREN’T YOU THE CUTEST LITTLE THING!

Akako: ACK! TOO MUCH HUG, TOO MUCH HUG!

(Akako is saved by Ryumi, who pulls her out of Bunto’s grip.)

Ryumi: I think that’s enough hugging for today. (to Akako) You okay, Akako?

Akako: Yeah. A little bit more, and I would be “Aoko”.

Kagetsu: Hey, that’s kinda like your name, Aoki!

Aoki: Yeah, I’m aware of that-

Kagetsu: If you had a twin, she’d be named that. Or maybe “Aomi”...

Aoki: Can we just get back to the story?

Kagetsu: Oh, sure.

Shigeto: Any more foxes here? ‘Cause I can’t imagine only two of ‘em living in a big house as this.

Nakaari: I’m glad you asked.

(He opens a door onto six fox people. All look up from whatever they were doing, seeing the newcomers.)

Nakaari: Everyone, this is Ryumi, Sana’s daughter.

Ryumi: Nice to meet you all.

(The foxes whisper amongst themselves.)

Fox Twin#1: She married a human?

Fox Twin#2: C’mon, don’t act like it hasn’t happened before.

Fox Lady: Oh my, what a pretty girl she raised. 

Fox Gent: Don’t get too jealous, now.

Fox Sister: (staring at Shigeto and Hisaaki) Are those two actual full-blooded humans?

Fox Brother: If you’re considering doing what Sana did... (to Shigeto and Hisaaki) Please excuse my... special sister.

Fox Sister: You think I’m special, brother?

Fox Brother: In the other sense of the word, yes.

Nakaari: Now, I hope you all treat Ryumi and her friends well. She is part of our family, after all.

Akako: Ryumi adopted me! Do I count as a family member?

Fox Brother: If you do, then that would make us an unusual family.

Nakaari: Fumito. (to the group) Please don’t mind his insults. Fumito may seem cold, but he has a good heart deep down.

Akako: That was supposed to be an insult?

Shigeto: Makes ya wonder what his complements are like.

(Fumito shoots them look of “Wh-?!”.)

Nakaari: Well, what say we take the time to get more acquainted with our guests? (to the twins) Yoshiro, Yoshiko, bring out the kotatsu.

Twins: ‘Kay! (They both leave to do so)

Akako: Wait, you got a kotatsu?!

(Scene change to the group gathered at a large kotatsu. Akako has her head poking out from under its blanket, in bliss, while the others talk.)

Ryumi: So, that’s why we’re here.

Fox Gent: You say a giant spider attacked your village? And that monkeys and an ogress attacked you?

Ryumi: Yeah. Why do you ask?

Fox Lady: Oh dear. (to her fellow foxes) You don’t think that...

Twins: Oh no...

Hisaaki: What? What’s wrong?

Fumito: You do realize that what has happened to you means that there is someone after the jewel, right?

(There is a silence, before Shigeto slaps his forehead.)

Shigeto: D’OH, IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW!

Ryumi: But who would want to steal the jewel?

Fox Sister: Who else but the same person who sent that giant spider that killed your father?

Fumito: TOMOKO!

(Ryumi’s eyes widen.)

Ryumi: W-What...?

(Fumito’s sister, Tomoko, realizing that she should not have said that, cups her hand over her mouth.)

Kagetsu: WHAM LINE!

(There is another pause. Akako awkwardly recedes further under the blanket. Ryumi looks to Nakaari.)

Ryumi: I-I thought... he...

Nakaari: Lost his life in an accident. Obviously your mother didn’t want to frighten you.

Shigeto: Sana, what else didn’t you tell your kid?!

Nakaari: Well, now that you know what really happened to your father, I think it’s time you learned everything.

(Scene change to Nakaari opening a cabinet as the others watch. He reaches in and opens a secret drawer.)

Aoki: And now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment of truth. Behold...

(Inside the drawer is...)

Aoki: ...The magic jewel.

(The group fall silent at the sight of the round, sky-blue crystal before them.)

Nakaari: Doesn’t seem like much, does it? But the truth is that this jewel is much more powerful than it seems.

Hisaaki: How so?

Nakaari: It’s called the “Jewel of Miracles” because it can create exactly what its name suggests.

Shigeto: Wait, so it can do stuff like make Hisaaki’s hair grow? Amazing!

(Hisaaki shoots Shigeto a flustered glare. Akako looks at the jewel in wonder, her image reflected on its surface.)

Nakaari: Ever since it was entrusted to me by the Emperor of the Seven Seas, the unscrupulous yokai who know of its existence have been wanting to get their hands on it. Shina is no exception.

Ryumi: Shina?

Nakaari: The mistress of that giant spider. She will stop at nothing to acquire the jewel in order to abuse its magic. Now you know why it must be protected at all costs.

Shigeto: Not to sound suspicious or anything, but this Shina lady wanting to abuse this thing’s power actually sounds like something I would do.

Maka: In that case, touch it and you’re dead.

Shigeto: I wouldn’t go that far, thankfully.

Akako: Can it bring my mama back?

(The others look at Akako incredulously.)

Akako: What?

Nakaari: Unfortunately, it can only bring back someone from the brink of death, not resurrect them. That’s the limit of its power.

Akako: (crestfallen) Oh...

(Ryumi gathers Akako in her arms.)

Bunto: Ya know, if you do wanna see your mom again, you could try using hangonkō! That stuff’s the number one way to see dead people!

Hisaaki: What’s that?

Nakaari: A special incense. It’s made from the sap of hangonjū trees.

Bunto: Yeah, We use it to talk to our ancestors all the time! See, you just light it up and have a nice chit-chat with whoever ya wanna meet who’s dead!

Ryumi: Could we use it to talk to my dad?

Akako: My mama, too?

Nakaari: Of course. The spirits of the dead summoned by hangonkō can only appear to their friends and relatives if called. Unfortunately, we’ve just run out of it.

Ryumi: Oh. Well...

(Ryumi looks at her friends, then back to Nakaari.)

Ryumi: Where’s the nearest hangonjū grove?

[ryumikaidan]

Part 5

Kagetsu: Oooh boy. Is she mad.

Aoki: Yup.

(Cut to the five, catching their breath.)

Shigeto: Okay... So, obviously... we just escaped certain death.

Hisaaki: Yeah. Imagine if Akako did touch that hair.

Akako: Well, now I’m glad I didn’t.

(Ryumi, laying flat on her back on the ground, hears a chirping noise and looks up. She slowly gets back on her feet, still staring upwards.)

Ryumi: Guys?

(The others are drawn to attention. Following her gaze, they see a flock of birds overhead.)

Shigeto: Birds?

Maka: Not just birds. Those are sparrows!

Hisaaki: Didn’t Mochiie say something about sparrows?

Ryumi: Of course! “Follow the sparrows”! We’re almost there! C’mon!

(She takes off running in the direction the sparrows are flying. The others follow suit.)

Shigeto: Right behind you!

Maka: Hey, wait!

(After a few minutes, they come to the top of a hill, finding themselves staring down at a beautiful city.)

Ryumi: Kaii Town.

(The group take a moment to view the city before them.)

Akako: What are we waiting for? Let’s go!

Hisaaki: Wait a minute, we can’t just go in and expect them to ignore us!

Maka: The kid’s got a point. How’d you think everybody there’s gonna react to three living human kids waltzing around?

Ryumi: Oh. I never thought about that.

Shigeto: I got it! Why don’t we disguise ourselves as yokai? That way, nobody will suspect a thing!

Maka: ...You know what, actually? That’s the smartest thing you’ve said yet.

Hisaaki: Okay, so, what’ll we use?

Shigeto: Eh, whatever we find there.

(Cue the awkward pause.)

Shigeto: ...Oh.

Maka: I take it back, you’re hopeless.

Shigeto: Ryumi, can’t you use your fox powers to make us invisible, or something?

Ryumi: I don’t even know if I have any actual powers.

Hisaaki: Oh, great.

(Cut to Kaii Town. Various yokai and spirits are going about their business. Maka, with Akako perched on her shoulder, makes her way through the streets. Sneaking through the alleyways unseen, Ryumi, Shigeto and Hisaaki follow close behind. Finally, Maka, fed up with this, walks towards the alley where the three humans are hiding.)

Maka: This is pathetic! We can’t keep doing the stalker act forever!

Hisaaki: She’s right. We gotta find some way to blend in.

(Akako notices something and hops off Maka’s shoulder, to a pile of trash left to become tsukumogami.)

Akako: I think I just found our disguises.

(Cut to the citizens of Kaii Town, as something grabs their attention. The group walk through the streets, the humans having disguised themselves with the bits of trash: Ryumi wears a sedge hood, Shigeto wears an ogre mask and a straw raincoat, and Hisaaki wears a samurai helmet and a cloak. A one-eyed boy, or hitotsume kozo, stares at them. Maka takes notice of this.)

Maka: ...The heck you lookin’ at, kid?

Hitotsume Kozo: Sorry. (looks away)

(The group continue.)

Shigeto: So far, so good. So, how are we gonna find foxy grampa?

Maka: We can start by not saying those last two words again.

Shigeto: What, “foxy grampa”?

Maka: (through clenched teeth) YES.

Ryumi: We’ll ask around, I guess.

(They go up to an iyaya.)

Shigeto: 'Scuse us, ma'am...

(The iyaya turns around, showing them his/her manly face.)

Iyaya: Yeah, waddup?

Shigeto: WHOA! Okay... What should I call you, a man or a woman?

Iyaya: Yes.

Shigeto: Okay... you...

Ryumi: Do you know where we can find a fox named-

(She is interrupted when an okaburo -a yokai crossdressing as an apprentice oiran- shows up.)

Okaburo: Hey! Whaddya doin' with my lover?

Shigeto: Sorry, we didn't know you two were together.

Okaburo: That's okay, just... think about how we feel next time, maybe.

Ryumi: Look, we’re just looking for a fox named Nakaari. Do you know him?

(A new voice chimes in.)

???: What do you want to see him for?

(They turn to see a trio of yokai: an ubume, a karasu tengu and the leader, a hari onago.)

Ryumi: Uh, w-well, we were just wondering if he could...

(She trails off as the hari onago looks down at her.)

Ryumi: ...Uh...

Shigeto: We need his help with a thing!

(Maka double-facepalms.)

Hari Onago: Oh, I see.

(The yokai trio share a laugh.)

Hari Onago: What kind of thing?

(Another awkward pause.)

Shigeto: ...Just. A thing.

Hari Onago: (nods) ...You want to rob him, don’t you?

Ryumi: No!

Shigeto and Hisaaki: NO!

Ryumi: It’s actually a... personal thing.

Hari Onago: Ah. Keeping secrets, huh?

(Her long hair begins to move.)

Hari Onago: If there’s one thing that I can’t stand...

(She shows off the pointy barbs at the end of each strand of hair.)

Hari Onago: ...it’s people who keep secrets from me.

(The three humans nervously back away, but the karasu tengu and ubume are behind them.)

Shigeto: Okay, Ryumi, try getting us outta this one.

Maka: Hey, back off! They’re just kids!

(All attention is drawn to Maka and Akako.)

Akako: Aw, Maka, you do care!

Maka: Shut it.

Akako: Okay.

Hari Onago: Why do you care? Are you their nanny, or something?

Maka: No. Beat it.

Hari Onago: Or else what? You’ll give us a scolding we’ll never forget?

(She and the other two yokai share a haughty laugh.)

Maka: That does it!

(Her head shoots forward at the end of her neck, nailing the hari onago in the gut, to the shock of the ubume and karasu tengu. The hari onago collapses, clutching her gut.)

Hari Onago: Y-You witch...

(Her hair rears up and lunges at Maka’s exposed neck. Thankfully, she manages to dodge at the last second, but the hair keeps coming. Akako cowers at the base of Maka’s neck.)

Shigeto: Okay, we should go now.

Ryumi: No. Not without Maka and Akako.

(Hisaaki notices something, and gets an idea. He leaves the other two.)

Shigeto: Where’re you going?

Hisaaki: I think I got an idea! Trust me on this one!

(He runs over to a nearby kamikiri.)

Hisaaki: Excuse me... Sir? Ma’am? We kinda need your help...

(Meanwhile, Maka is still dodging the flurry of barbed hair. Backing up, she doesn’t notice a cat-sized hamster-like creature -a sunekosuri- sleeping behind her, but Akako does.)

Akako: Maka, behind y-

(Too late: Maka trips on the sunekosuri, who, startled awake, scurries away. She falls backwards onto the ground, taking Akako with her. Both find themselves at the mercy of the hari onago. Just as she’s about to finish Maka off...)

???: Uh, hey! Over here.

(The hari onago turns to see the kamikiri.)

Kamikiri: Ya wanna haircut? (snips their scissor hands)

(The prospect of losing her hair terrifies the hari onago, who screams and runs, the kamikiri giving chase.)

Kamikiri: Hey, lady, c’mon! It’s what I do!

Ubume: Should we help her?

Karasu Tengu: I didn’t really like her that much, but...

(The two yokai take off after them, while the three humans, along with a few yokai, rush over to the fallen Maka and Akako.)

Ryumi: You okay?

Maka: I was doing just fine, y’know!

Akako: That was amazing! 

Shigeto: Yeah, nice one, Hisaaki.

Hisaaki: Just using my head.

(As they help Maka up, a blind man with eyes on his hands -a tenome- sniffs the air, then Shigeto.)

Shigeto: Hey, hey! What’re you doing?

Tenome: Young man... why do you smell like a living human?

(The group freeze. Several other yokai take notice, sniffing at the trio.)

Bakeneko: Yeah, they do smell like live humans. Why...

(The bakeneko reaches for Shigeto’s mask. He jerks away, accidentally bumping into Ryumi. She falls over, and her hood falls off. The yokai gasp. There is yet another awkward silence before...)

Shigeto: RUN!!!

(Ryumi scrambles to her feet, joining the other four as they make a break for it, but the yokai pursue. As they race through the streets, the citizens, seeing them, join in the chase, until seemingly everyone in Kaii Town is after them.)

Shigeto: Guys, ever had that feeling like you’ve done this before?

Maka: SHUT UP AND RUN!

(Meanwhile, an old fox man hears the commotion and looks, seeing the incoming chase. When he sees Ryumi, he also sees a familiar aura around her.)

Fox: (thinking) *That aura... Could it be...?*

(He steps into the street, waving to them.)

Fox: This way! Follow me!

Shigeto: Oh, thank you!

Hisaaki: Wait, how do we know he’s not gonna-

Maka: (grabs the back of Hisaaki’s clothing) MOVE, KID!

(The five follow the fox into an old, abandoned house. The mob closes in.)

Yokai: In there!/We’ve got ‘em cornered!

(A suppon no yurei flings the door open... but all they see is the fox sipping tea.)

Fox: ...I think the ones you’re looking for left town.

(The yokai all look at each other, then leave. The fox smiles.)

Fox: You can come out, now. They’re gone.

From a cabinet, the five tumble out, collapsing in a heap on the floor. They untangle themselves from each other and get up.)

Ryumi: Thanks... Thanks, Grandpa.

(The others all stare at Ryumi, then at the fox.)

Nakaari: You know me?

Ryumi: Yeah, we’ve been looking for you. My mom sent us.

Nakaari: Is she alright?

Ryumi: I... I don’t know.

(There is a moment of silence.)

Shigeto: ...Well, that aside, it’s nice to meet you, foxy gra-

(Maka glares at Shigeto ferociously.)

Shigeto: Uh, I mean, Grandpa Nakaari.

Nakaari: The pleasure’s mine.

Akako: So, you’re Ryumi’s grampa? I’m Akako, her adopted sister. That makes me your granddaughter, too! Anyway, we- Uh... (to the others) W-Why were we looking for him again?

Maka: Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask that, too.

Ryumi: Well, uh... Mom mentioned something about a magic jewel you have, that we need to protect...?

Nakaari: The jewel.

Shigeto: So, you do have a...?

Nakaari: Of course. But, uh...

(He looks around, then beckons the five to come closer, which they do.)

Nakaari: (whispering) This is a private matter. We can discuss this at my home. You never know who might be listening in.

Ryumi: (also whispering) Okay then. (straightens, then speaks at normal volume) We’d be happy to come over to your place, Grandpa. (bows)

Maka: Oh, boy.

Akako: Lead the way, foxy grampa!

Maka: KINOSHITA!!!

[ryumikaidan]

Part 4

(Kagetsu bursts out laughing.)

Aoki: What’s so funny?

Kagetsu: Those monkeys are so dumb! They dropped them right into where they wanted to go!

Aoki: ...Well, of course! Heh. (whispers) Our apologies to monkeys and other such primates everywhere for this portrayal.

(Scene: A swamp in the spirit realm. One by one, the group fall, screaming, into the bog with a splash. Ryumi is the first to recover, managing to regain her footing. She looks around for her friends.)

Ryumi: Shigeto? Hisaaki?

Shigeto: Ryumi!

Ryumi: Everybody okay?

Hisaaki: We didn’t die!

(Akako breaks the surface of the water, grabbing onto a floating log-like shape for support.)

Akako: Phew! We’re... We’re here!

Shigeto: Yeah. Good to know we all made it in one piece.

(Suddenly, the “log” Akako’s holding onto moves, rising out of the water. It’s not a log at all, but Maka’s extended neck. She raises her head out of the water.)

Maka: (groans) I’m in three pieces.

Shigeto: Hey, look who decided to come along after all!

Maka: I DIDN’T HAVE A CHOICE, ALRIGHT?!

Akako: So, where do we go from here?

Ryumi: Uh... (looks around) Good question.

Hisaaki: Yeah, how do we get out of here?

(As they talk, they don’t notice bubbles forming in the bog. A green-haired head pops out of the water, looking at them in curiosity.)

Shigeto: Don’t worry, guys. All we have to do is go in one direction, and we’ll be out eventually.

Maka: Do you always think from the seat of your pants?

Shigeto: I do my best, okay?

Maka: I wonder what your worst is like.

Akako: Maybe you could use your neck to mark the path! That way, we’ll know if we’re going in circles.

Maka: My eyes are in my head, you know! I can’t always see what my body’s doing. How am I gonna make it out of here whole?

Akako: Don’t worry. Once we’re out, we can go back in while your head stays, follow your neck to your body and lead it back to your head.

Maka: ...It’s still out of the question.

Ryumi: Well, there’s gotta be something we can do.

(Maka attempts to sit down on a rock - only, the “rock” is actually the green-haired being’s head.)

Green Being: D’AH!

Maka: AAAHHHHHH!!! 

(As Maka jumps back up, the being in the water rises up to its full height, revealing itself as a girl in a green kimono. She is soaking wet from being in the bog, and cattails, lily pads and various other water weeds adorn her green hair.)

Swamp Girl: Hi.

(The group can only stare.)

Ryumi: ...Were you there the whole time?

Swamp Girl: Long enough to hear that you’re lost. Can I help?

Hisaaki: You, help us?

Akako: Sure!

Swamp Girl: Then, follow me! My friend’s house is just over yonder. He might help you reach civilization! 

Maka: Wait just a minute. How do we know you’re not trying pull a fast one on us?

Swamp Girl: Any human friend of yokai is a friend of mine. C’mon! Step where I step, I know this place like the back of my hand! (looks at the back of her hand) ...That’s new.

(The five follow the swamp girl through the marsh.)

Swamp Girl: ...Anyway, my friend is a pretty smart guy! I mean, he graduated from the School for Talented Tanuki and everything. He’s also very… well-endowed. Then again, all tanuki are.

Shigeto: So, he’s a tanuki? Not some hideous ogre who lures human victims to his lair to munch on?

Swamp Girl: Oh no, even if he was an ogre or something like that, he would never hurt anyone, human or yokai! He’s a nice fella.

Shigeto: If you say so.

(They arrive at an old house.)

Swamp Girl: And here we are! It’s not much, but a home’s a home!

Ryumi: He lives here by himself?

Swamp Girl: Nah, he’s got plenty of housemates. (calls out) Hey guys! I got some newcomers here! C’mon out!

(Almost immediately, a bevvy of living objects -tsukumogami- come out from the various nooks and crannies of the house to greet the group, who, except for the swamp girl, are taken by surprise. From the front door, a short tanuki man emerges.)

Tanuki: Ah, Zurui. Good to see you again. Who have you brought here?

Zurui: I... have no idea. But they just came into the spirit realm, and now they need to get out of the swamp. Which is kinda a pity, ‘cause this is a really nice place.

Tanuki: (to the others) Well, welcome to the spirit realm. It would be a pleasure to help you out anytime.

Ryumi: Thanks!

Tanuki: Won’t you come in? My housemates love having guests.

Ryumi: Sure! (to the other four) C’mon, guys.

(The others comply, Maka doing so hesitantly.)

Kagetsu: What a nice guy.

(Aoki nods. Cut to the interior of the tanuki’s house. Everyone is seated at a chabudai table.)

Tanuki: It’s been a while since we’ve had guests from the other realm.

Ryumi: Thank you for your hospitality, Mr...

Tanuki: Mochiie.

Ryumi: Mochiie. Anyway, we’re looking for my grandfather. He’s a fox. Do you know where foxes live around here?

(Maka is clearly becoming increasingly uncomfortable at the staring eyes of a nearby mokumokuren.)

Mochiie: Unlike us tanukis, foxes prefer to live in or near the civilized areas in the spirit realm. Kaii Town, especially.

Shigeto: Kaii Town?

(Fed up, Maka gets up from her spot.)

Maka: I need a drink...

Mochiie: The capital city of the yokai.

(Maka walks through the house, looking for a drink. Along the way, she passes by varying tsukumogami, who are playing with each other, pulling pranks on one another, and generally messing around. None of them faze her one bit. She passes by a butsudan, and a nuribotoke pops out.)

Nuribotoke: OOGAH BOOGAH!

(Maka doesn’t even flinch. She simply closes the butsudan on him and continues searching.)

Maka: ...Gotta be one around here somewhere...

(A ghostly white hand hands her a bottle.)

Maka: Oh, thanks.

(She takes a swig... but then spits it back out, as it’s full of water. She looks at the bottle, actually a kameosa.)

Kameosa: Hydration is important!

(Maka stares for a moment, then glares at the being who gave her the kameosa, a kosode no te. Back with the others...)

Shigeto: So, which way is this Kaii Town, anyway?

Mochiie: Just keep heading northeast, and follow the sparrows. You’re guaranteed to reach it, then.

Ryumi: Thanks for the advice.

Shigeto: Yeah, we’ll remember that. Northeast.

Hisaaki: ...What was that about sparrows?

(Cut to Shina’s castle. Inside...)

Shina: YOU INCOMPETENT FRUIT-EATERS! You dropped them into the realm?!

(The sarugami cower behind their leader, who is also stiff with fear.)

Shina: Obviously, I shouldn’t rely on a bunch of monkeys. Now, where is she?

(Behind her, an ogress crashes in through a closed window with the sound of shattering glass. Shina whirls around at the noise.)

Shina: Kan...?

(The ogress, Kan, rises to her feet.)

Kan: Hey.

(Shina’s eye twitches.)

Kan: Sorry about the-

Shina: FORGET THAT! You’re late, as usual.

Kan: I prefer the term “fashionably late”. It makes me sound good. So, I take it your latest scheme to wipe out humanity with a rock isn’t going well?

Shina: What do you think?! (takes a moment to calm herself) Thanks to the stupidity of the last yokai I hired, (glares at the sarugami) Sana’s daughter and her friends have entered the realm. I want you to reach Nakaari first before they do.

Kan: Pfft. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of them and get the jewel for you. But it’s gonna cost ya.

(Shina sighs heavily. Cut to her opening a door to a room filled with piles and piles of gold, gemstones and priceless artifacts which have been taken from humans over the years.)

Kan: Now, that’s what I’m talking about.

Kagetsu: (whispers) Spoiler alert: She only gets one percent of that treasure.

Aoki: Kagetsu! (tries to silence Kagetsu, to no avail, since she’s a shadow)

Kagetsu: (still whispering) One... lousy... percent!

(Scene change to the quintet, making their way northeast.)

Shigeto: So, as long as we keep going in this direction, we’ll reach Kaii Town.

Hisaaki: Yeah, but “follow the sparrows”? What did he mean by that?

Maka: Living with a bunch of talking tools for who knows how long probably scrambled his brains.

Ryumi: Don’t insult him, Maka. I’m sure he knew what he was talking about when he said that.

Akako: Yeah! ...What she said.

(From the nearby bushes, Kan watches, hidden.)

Shigeto: Y’know, Maka, you really should show a little respect for others.

Maka: Hey, I got respect!

Hisaaki: For whom?

Maka: What’s it to ya?!

Shigeto: We just wanna know if you really do have some respect in you.

Maka: It’s nothing to do with you, kid!

Akako: It’s a romantic thing, right?

Maka: WHAT?!

Akako: (hides behind the bow on Ryumi’s head) Uh-oh.

(Maka stretches her neck towards Akako, who backs away.)

Maka: Don’t ever assume that I’m in some kinda sappy relationship, Kinoshita!

Akako: What’s wrong with that? You could find a guy who accepts you and your neck-

Maka: NO! ALL MEN ARE IDIOTS!

(Akako falls off of Ryumi’s head at Maka’s outburst.)

Shigeto: Uh, Maka? We’re standing right here.

(As Akako recovers from her fall, she notices a single strand of hair suspended horizontally across the path. From her hiding spot within the bushes, Kan watches intently.)

Kan: C’mon, red thing. Touch the hair...

(That is not what Akako does. Instead...)

Akako: Hey guys, is this natural?

(The others look.)

Maka: It’s the spirit realm. When is anything ever natural?

Akako: No, look! (indicates the hair)

(Ryumi crouches down to inspect the hair.)

Ryumi: It... It looks like hair.

Akako: Huh.

(She reaches out to touch it. In the bushes...)

Kan: Yes. Yes!

(Just as Akako is about to touch the hair, Ryumi stops her.)

Ryumi: Akako, don’t! Something’s not right, here.

(Kan facepalms.)

Shigeto: Let’s just step over it and move on.

Hisaaki: But what if that’s what whoever put this here wants?

Shigeto: In that case, you go first.

Hisaaki: Wh-

(Shigeto pushes him forward. Resigned, Hisaaki takes one cautious step over the hair, then another. To his surprise and relief, nothing happens.)

Shigeto: Well, it’s safe.

Ryumi: C’mon, guys.

(One by one, they step (or, in Akako’s case, hop) over the hair. When Shigeto is in the middle of stepping over, Kan suddenly jumps out of the bushes.)

Kan: YAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!

Group: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!

(The group immediately begin running, Shigeto breaking the hair in the process. This triggers a bamboo cage with spikes lining the insides to fall. Because Kan is standing where the group was, it falls on her.)

Hisaaki: What was that?! Who was that?!

Maka: Who cares?!

(Kan manages to break out of the cage, albeit with injuries from the spikes.)

Kan: That was the only plan I had! Shina’s not gonna like this... (thinks for a moment) ...unless she doesn’t find out.

(Suddenly, Shina’s voice rings out.)

Shina: Too late!

Kan: AUGH! S-Shina?! Where are you?

Shina: Check your right horn. I felt the need to monitor your progress.

(Kan does so, finding a spider with a crystal eye attached to its abdomen. It is through this “spyeder” that Shina is able to communicate from her castle.)

Kan: Oh, great. This trick again.

Shina: Just for you failure, you will only get one percent of what I offered you!

Kan: AW, C’MON!

(The crystal explodes, and the spider skitters away, unharmed.)

Kagetsu: Called it.

(In Shina’s castle, she storms through her corridors.)

Shina: That does it. I know who to send next, and this time, I’m going to personally provide assistance!