#I’m going to be sick over an awkward man from a horror series from 2009

[astros-silly-place]

no actually. nobody gets jay merrick like i do. nobody does actually you are all just haters 💔

[iruka-2013]

Seirei no Moribito Episode 13: “Neither Human Nor Tiger”

This is a transcript of Seirei no Moribito episode 13 of 26, “Neither Human Nor Tiger” [Hito de naku, Tora de naku], as originally aired in Japan on June 30, 2007 and subtitled in English by Viz in 2009. (Of course there are a lot of small translation differences between the episode’s subbed and dubbed versions, but I decided to base the transcript on the former because subtitles are generally a more accurate rendering of the original Japanese.)

This episode contains minimal spoilers, because it exists outside the main plot arc of the series and swaps most of the major characters (Chagum, Tanda, Torogai, the Mikado’s people) for others (Karbo, Gyopsal, Sena and Tandor) who are never seen again. At the center of the story is Balsa, who struggles vainly to stop events from spinning out of her control while keeping her own dark side at bay. She’s what makes this one-shot story so interesting. 

 [Setting: The wrestling ring at the Summer Solstice Festival where Balsa defeated the man from Rota in episode 12. Another man in warrior garb, Karbo, is kneeling to examine the footprints left in the dust by the previous day’s fight. He clutches a handful of the dust in shaking fingers.]

 KARBO: She’s alive.

 [He throws back his head and roars at the sky. This guy is obviously nuts.]

 [Title Screen: “Neither Human Nor Tiger”]

 [Scene switches to the outside of the water mill where Balsa and Second Prince Chagum live incognito, in hiding from the Mikado. Chagum is sweeping up the remains of their Summer Solstice Festival bonfire. Balsa comes out of the mill.]

 BALSA: Put the unburned firewood next to the stove.

 CHAGUM: All right.

 [Balsa tosses water out of a bucket and smiles approvingly at Chagum’s work. Two village kids come running across the nearby fields, the boy waving a paper in his hand.]

 BOY: Hey, lady! A warrior told me to give this letter to you!

 BALSA: A warrior? [She takes the paper.]

 CHAGUM: Good morning.

 BOY: Hey. You were really amazing yesterday!

 CHAGUM: Um, you think so? It was just luck.

 [Balsa opens the letter and reads it.]

 BOY: Listen, who taught you that move? Don’t tell me it was…

 [Balsa starts in surprise and tucks the letter away in her robe.]

 BOY: Is it a challenge from somebody who saw the match last night?

 BALSA: Something like that. Chagum, pack your things right away. Something’s come up and we have to leave.

 [Chagum looks worried.]

 [Scene switches to the outside of Tanda’s house in the forest. Tanda holds the letter while Balsa kneels to lace up her boot.]

 TANDA: Are you going to be all right?

 BALSA: I didn’t sense anyone following us.

 TANDA: That’s not what I meant. [waving the letter] What I’m saying is that judging by his choice of words, it doesn’t sound like you can reason with him.

 BALSA: I agree. Looks like we were spotted by the wrong person.

 TANDA: Who is he, anyway? Who’s this warrior named Karbo?

 BALSA [stands up, spear in hand]: I guess you could call him a business rival. When I rescued a client from slavers three years ago, he was a bodyguard working for the other side.

 TANDA: Can’t you lay low here with Chagum?

 BALSA: I want to keep living at the water mill until Torogai returns. But if I don’t meet him, he’s going to expose me to the court.

 [Chagum is inside, still looking concerned.]

 BALSA: I have no choice. If we get spotted here, it will all have been for nothing. I can’t let someone who knows my identity run loose. He might have realized that Chagum is alive too. [Gives Tanda a reassuring smile.] I gave my word that I wouldn’t take another life. I’ll find a way to avoid killing him. Look after Chagum.

 [She runs off down the forest path with her cloak and spear. Tanda watches her leave, then goes inside. Chagum kneels in the middle of the room, hanging his head.]

 CHAGUM: This is all because I went to the festival.

 TANDA: Don’t worry about it. This was bound to happen sooner or later. I’m sure that Balsa realizes that too.

 [Chagum still obviously feels terrible.]

 [Scene changes to a spot on the road through the mountains where two rocky ridges lean together to form a natural tunnel. The sun is setting in a beautiful blaze of color opposite the cliff. Karbo waits in the shadow of the rocks, smiling as Balsa runs up.]

 KARBO: So I guess I wasn’t seeing things when I saw a dead woman in a lucha match last night.

 BALSA: What happened to your Yogo sword?

 KARBO: I gave it up. Ever since our last meeting [he slams the butt of his spear into the ground] I promised myself that I was going to kill you using this.

 BALSA [unfazed]: I’m sorry, but you’ll have to forget that you saw me.

 KARBO: I mean to make you pay for humiliating me! [His hand tightens on the spear. He’s getting angrier by the second.] Like it or not, you are going to fight me. I’ve been waiting a long time for this day to arrive. All I could think about was killing you, so I even took part in that manhunt. Granted, you did ambush me… but why did you leave me dishonored and defeated without finishing me off?

 BALSA [looking at the sunset]: Who’s to say?

 KARBO [angrier still]: That boy who was with you. He’s the Second Prince, isn’t he?

 [This gets Balsa’s attention. She turns slowly and gives him a death glare.]

 KARBO [smiling]: Good. That’s the look I wanted to see. Tomorrow morning, be at the Tonan highway barrier.

 BALSA: You don’t know when to give up, do you? I—

 KARBO [interrupting]: Whether you come to the barrier or not is entirely your choice. But know that I will follow the first traveler who leaves the barrier after sunrise… and kill him. And I will do this every morning until you do decide to show up. The only way to stop me is for you to kill me yourself. The humiliation of a sword wielded for oneself being defeated by a sword wielded in the service of another… [His hand is shaking on the spear shaft.] I will settle the past by killing you. If I don’t, my spirit will never be able to put this behind me, no matter how much I train and discipline myself. I am grateful to you for being alive.

 [He slings his spear across his back and walks away. Balsa lowers her head and sighs tiredly.]

 [Scene changes to the Tonan Highway barrier (a large Japanese-style stone gateway) the next morning. Ominous music plays. Balsa stands inside the gateway, her back against one wall, while a turbaned packhorse driver (Tandor) leads a woman in a cloak (Sena, who is only ever addressed as “Sensei”) through the gate on the back of a baggage-laden horse. Balsa watches them pass her, arms folded and spear sheathed. There is no sign of Karbo.]

 [Just as Balsa decides Karbo was bluffing and turns to leave, the woman’s horse goes crazy, screaming and rearing. Tandor pulls the reins but is dragged off his feet and thrown to the side.]

 TANDOR: Hey! Wh-what’s gotten into you!

 [As the horse takes off running wildly, Balsa intercepts it and catches the loose reins around her spear, pulling it to a stop.]

 BALSA: Whoa. Whoa, now!

 [Tandor, who has been thrown to the ground, gets up looking horrified.]

  TANDOR: S-sensei!

 [Balsa has calmed the horse. She looks from Tandor to Sena.]

 SENSEI: Thank you so much. I’m not used to handling horses…

 [She pushes back her hood to reveal a worry-lined middle-aged face with streaks of gray in her hair.]

 BALSA: It couldn’t be helped. A horse gone wild can’t be reined in by a novice.

  TANDOR [running up]: Sensei, I’m so sorry! Are you all right?

 SENA: Yes.

  TANDOR: Normally, she’s such a docile horse… [takes the reins from Balsa] Thank you for helping us. [strokes the horse’s nose] That’s strange, why’d you go wild all of a sudden?

 [Balsa notices something sticking in the horse near its tail and goes to investigate.]

  TANDOR [still soothing the horse]: Come on, there’s nothing out there.

 [Balsa removes a small, pointed metal projectile from the horse’s rear, causing it so startle again and getting Sena’s attention. Balsa looks at the blood on the tip of the metal bullet, about the size of her thumb joint.]

 [She turns and looks a rocky hill that looms above the gate. Karbo and another man are distantly visible on a high ridge, watching them.]

 BALSA [thinking]: You hired a stone shooter, I see. Just like the last time…

 [The two travelers have also spotted the men on the hill. They watch Karbo and the stone shooter turn and disappear behind the rocks.]

  TANDOR: I-I think we should go.

 [Scene changes to later in the day, with the travelers following a stone-paved road through the mountainous forest. Balsa trails them at a distance. The sky is clouding over. Tandor frowns over his shoulder at Balsa.]

  TANDOR: She’s been following us ever since the gate.

 SENA [looking back too]: Most likely because this is the only road leading south.

  TANDOR: It bothers me that her short spear is just like the one the warrior on that rock had.

 [A well with a wooden roof over it comes into view around a bend in the road.]

 SENA [pointing]: Let’s take a break there then.

 [Balsa watches Tandor help Sena off the horse. She approaches the two of them as he ties the horse to a wooden post.]

 SENA: And where might you be traveling to?

 BALSA: How about yourselves?

 SENA: Our plan is to go to a fishing village at the southern tip of the mainland.

 BALSA [deadpan]: Mine too. [Watashi mo desu.]

 (My somewhat awkward translation, because IMO Viz’s is off here. In the English dub she says, “As am I,” which matches her tone well, but the subtitled version I’m working from has “What a coincidence,” which carries a facetiousness I don’t think Balsa intends. She isn’t being obnoxious; she’s trying to save these people’s lives and doesn’t care if she creeps them out in the process.)

 [Sena looks nonplussed. Behind her, Tandor removes the wooden lid from the well and jumps back in horror.]

 TANDOR: What in the world…?

 [Balsa runs up and sees that the well has been polluted--it’s full of dead, bloody rats and buzzing flies. Karbo has obviously been here. Both travelers look sick.]

  TANDOR: Who would do something like this?

 [The sky thunders and it starts to rain. Tandor puts on a rain hat and straw raincoat, while Sena pulls up her hood. Karbo and Gyopsal the stone shooter watch them leave from the nearby trees. Balsa is still standing by the well. She scans the forest, then moves slowly after the travelers, ignoring the rain.]

 [Scene changes to a small wooden roadside shelter with the horse tied outside. Inside, the travelers’ cloaks and hat are hung on the wall. There is a fire in the center pit, and Sena warms her hands over it.]

 SENA [to Balsa]: Why don’t you come close to the fire?

 [Balsa sits across the room, her shoulders hunched and her back to the others.]

 BALSA: Don’t worry about me. I’m used to the cold.

 [She stands up. Tandor watches her suspiciously.]

 SENA: You mentioned that you are also traveling to the fishing village. Might I ask what takes you there?

 BALSA: Just an errand.

 SENA: Ah, I see. [She doesn’t.] As for me, I have been hired to teach the children there to read and write.

 BALSA: Oh, you’re a teacher? That’s a fine profession.

 SENA: You seem to be from another country.

 BALSA: Yes, that’s right.

 SENA: And what sort of work do you do?

 [Balsa looks out the window pensively and doesn’t answer.]  

 SENA: I am no expert on the subject of swords and spears, but you wouldn’t happen to be a Kanbal warrior, would you?

 BALSA: “Warrior” makes it sound more glamorous than it really is. I’m just a bodyguard, nothing more.

 [Both travelers look surprised.]

 SENA: A female bodyguard? That must be a difficult line of work.

 BALSA [uncertain]: No…

 SENA: You say you are a bodyguard, but a warrior is a warrior. That being the case, do you know the Yogo tale called “The Warrior Who Became a Tiger”?

 BALSA: No, I don’t.

 SENA: It’s a fable about a warrior who devoted his entire life to training to increase his skill with his sword. So obsessed was this warrior with power that in hopes of becoming as strong as a tiger, he took to fighting while clad in a tiger’s hide. The warrior’s plan worked. In due time, there were no more enemies to fight. But one day he realized that he had, in fact, turned into a real tiger.

 BALSA [turns away from the window, interested]: And then what?

 SENA: And then the warrior, who had lost the ability to speak, eventually lost his family and friends and lived out his days alone in a bamboo grove. [looks at Balsa] You’ll have to forgive me, but even an untrained eye such as mine can detect an air of menace coming from you.

 [Tandor clenches his teeth; he feels it too.]

 SENA: That is why I told you that story.

 BALSA [rubs the back of her head, embarrassed]: You can, can you? I suppose I still need some more training. If you’ll excuse me…

 [She slides open the building’s wooden door and walks out into the rain. The travelers seem tense as they watch her go. When she’s gone, Tandor grins.]

  TANDOR: I knew you could do it, Sensei! You managed to send that dreadful warrior away without angering her!

 SENA [looking sad]: You misunderstand. I didn’t tell her that story to drive her away. On the contrary, I was curious about why she has such a thirst for blood, and had hoped to ask her why.

  TANDOR: You’re a strange one, Sensei. I’ve been scared to death of that woman ever since this afternoon.

 [Sena sighs, looking after Balsa. Balsa walks out into the rainy forest and stops under a tree.]

 BALSA: This should keep the rain off.

 [She sits at the foot of the tree, her spear propped against her shoulder, and tries to sleep. A small projectile hits the tree right next to her head, splintering the bark and jarring her awake. She narrows her eyes as another hits the tree on her other side.]

 BALSA [thinking]: A stone shooter and dead rats… and now his plan is to keep me from sleeping, huh? You’re planning to come after me using exactly the same tactics I used on you.

 [More projectiles hit, rolling around her feet. They appear to be small acorns.]

 BALSA [thinking]: Apparently, I have no choice but to play along with him.

 [More acorns jar loose pieces of bark next to her head, but she doesn’t move.]

 [Up on the hillside, Karbo and Gyopsal the stone shooter--a nasty-looking character with a drooping nose, baggy eyes, and long, greasy-looking hair--are watching.]

 GYOPSAL [crouching on the ground]: Nothing fazes this lady, does it? My shots are grazing her cheek, but she hasn’t so much as blinked. Shall I fire one right into her forehead?

 KARBO: Do only as you’re told.

 GYOPSAL [looking up at his boss]: Who is she, anyway?

 KARBO: You don’t need to know. Suffice it to say she’s the only opponent I’ve ever failed to kill. I wouldn’t have this any other way.

 [He’s grinning maniacally. Gyopsal side-eyes him.]

 KARBO: Keep her awake by firing stones at her at random intervals. If she moves, move with her. Keep it up all night. If she goes inside the hut, fire your stones into the roof or walls. But if she attacks you, you’re to clear out right away. Under no circumstances are you to kill her. Is that clear?

 GYOPSAL: Yes, sir.

 [Karbo walks away and Gyopsal readies another shot, giving us our first view of his “gun”—it looks like a heavy wooden crossbow, but can shoot with nearly the force of a gunpowder weapon. He fires at Balsa again.]

 [Commercial break.]

 [The scene switches to the next morning; the rain has stopped and Tandor is rubbing down the horse, preparing to leave. He stops and looks around, seeing no sign of Balsa.]

  TANDOR [relieved]: Well, it was raining hard, so I guess she went on ahead.

 [Sena comes out of the building.]

 SENA: I see that it’s stopped raining.

  TANDOR: Yes. And it looks like that woman has left too. I think we can relax now.

 [We see a brief but chilling shot of the tree where Balsa drew Gyopsal’s fire all night. The ground is littered with dozens of acorn projectiles, and the bark of the tree is completely chipped away in the shape of her head and shoulders—you can even see where her spear rested. (It looks like an atomic shadow.)]

[The two travelers don’t notice the tree as Sena mounts the horse and they leave the shelter. They start on a path that leads up the side of a rocky cliff. Tandor stops and glares as Balsa steps out from behind a rock up ahead, spear in hand. She looks exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes.]

 BALSA: I’m sorry, but I’ll be accompanying you again today.

 SENA: Where did you sleep last night?

 BALSA [hesitates, then decides to be honest]: I didn’t.

  TANDOR [angry, makes a “clear out” gesture]: Then you should have just gone on ahead! Why did you wait around for us? There’s something creepy about you!

 SENA: There’s no need to take that tone of voice.

  TANDOR: But she’s—

 BALSA: I don’t mind. But there’s a very good reason why I have to stay close to you two.

  TANDOR: That’s ridiculous! We don’t want you around!

 [He climbs onto the horse between Sena and the luggage.]

  TANDOR: Sensei, I know it’s against the rules for the packhorse driver to ride with the client [reaches around her and grabs the reins], but please bear with me until we can get away from this woman! Hyah!

 [He snaps the reins and the horse breaks into a run, passing Balsa.]

 BALSA: Wait! If you leave my side, you’ll—

 [A rock shoots from the wooded ledge above the road at the horse’s feet, tripping it. The horse falls, spilling its riders onto the road.]

 BALSA [runs toward them]: Are you all right?

  TANDOR: Stay away!

 [The horse struggles to its feet and runs away up the road. Tandor tries to get up and follow, but instead clutches his shoulder in pain. As the horse disappears around the bend, he faces Balsa and throws out his arms as if to shield Sena from her; he obviously sees her as the cause of all their misfortune.]

 BALSA [to herself]: He leaves me no choice. [She removes the sheath from her spear head and drops it on the ground.] The truth is, I’ve gotten you two involved in my affairs.

  TANDOR: Huh?

 [Balsa unfastens her overcloak and lets it fall to the ground. In her sleeveless tunic, she’s ready to fight.]

 BALSA: When you left the barrier gate, you saw a warrior standing on a rock, right? If I had turned back, he was going to kill one of you.

 [The travelers gasp.]

 BALSA: This man challenged me to a sword fight, you see. When I refused, he said he would kill the first person to pass through the gate each day.

 SENA: Then if you had not been there…

 BALSA: Either you or your packhorse driver would have been killed.

  TANDOR: I-I don’t believe this!

 BALSA: The problem is, for various reasons, I’ve sworn to never take another life. I had hoped to find a way to avoid fighting him, while also keeping him from involving innocent bystanders. But it looks like he isn’t going to listen to reason.

  TANDOR [angry and scared, spittle flying]: Are you out of your mind?! I don’t care what your reasons are! If you don’t want to fight, go let him kill you! Just leave other people out of it!

 BALSA [calmly]: I agree. But I can’t afford to be killed just yet. [She takes a deep breath and shouts at the top of her voice, so that it echoes off the rocks.] Karbo! I know you’re out there listening!

 [Karbo appears at the top of the ridge above them and drops onto the road behind Balsa. The insane look in his eyes makes the two travelers gasp and draw back in horror.]

 KARBO [grinning]: Just as you did to me, I was going to attack after trailing you for three days and nights with no sleep. But if this is the way you want it, I’ll oblige you. [takes the sheath from his spear] I’m going to unburden myself right here and now!

 BALSA [to the terrified travelers]: Get going! He doesn’t have any more use for you two.

 [Tandor helps Sena up, and they both run up the road away from the warriors.]

 KARBO [still grinning]: Those two are my shooter’s reward.

 BALSA [turns on him furiously]: Enough is enough!

 [She runs after the travelers, still determined to protect them. Karbo follows and attacks her from behind. She blocks his attack, front-flips out of his way, and keeps running.]

 KARBO [enraged]: I’m the one you’re fighting! Pay attention to nothing but me!

 [He attacks again, forcing her to turn and engage him. Awesome fight scene ensues—spears clash, sparks fly, and Balsa gets in a really good headbutt that makes Karbo stagger back, rubbing his bruised nose.]

 BALSA [panting]: I guess I have no choice but to become a tiger.

 [This time she attacks first, striking calmly and precisely with her spear. We see a shot of a bamboo grove below the cliff where they’re fighting.]

 KARBO: That’s more like it! Now you’ll be worth killing!

 [The battle intensifies until Balsa flips herself over the edge of the cliff into the bamboo, drawing Karbo after her.

 On the road ahead, the two travelers look fearfully over their shoulders. Gyopsal jumps out of the bushes ahead, blocking their path.]

 GYOPSAL: Wait! Wait a minute! You two are my reward! [levels his weapon at them] I won’t force you to strip down or anything. Put down all your money and go.

 [Tandor hesitates, then pulls a bundle of money from his tunic and tosses it to the ground. Gyopsal laughs.]

 GYOPSAL [to Sena]: You too!

 [She reaches into her robe, and Gyopsal crouches down to pick up Tandor’s money. Seizing his chance, Tandor yells and hits Gyopsal with a furious uppercut that knocks him out cold. The bad guy collapses on the road.]

  TANDOR [panting]: I got him. [looks at Sena] Come on, Sensei, let’s get out of here.

 SENA: Not yet. We have to stop that woman.

  TANDOR [angry and incredulous]: What are you talking about? We should just let those two kill each other! Dragging us into their mess when we he nothing to do with it—Damn it!

 SENA: Nothing to do with it? Are you so sure about that? That woman secretly acted as our bodyguard and kept us safe.

  TANDOR [struggling to move Gyopsal’s body to get his wallet back]: Come on! It’s not like we asked her to…

 SENA: We mustn’t allow her to turn into a tiger!

 [She turns back up the road and hurries to find Balsa.]

  TANDOR: Sensei!

 [Scene changes to deep in the bamboo grove, where Balsa and Karbo’s battle rages. Karbo strikes at Balsa’s head with his spear, but she dodges and he severs the trunk of a large bamboo stalk instead. The bamboo falls like a tree, with a big crash and a lot of falling leaves that would be obvious even from a distance.]

 [There is a pause in the fighting. Karbo continues to grin like a maniac. Balsa decides to wipe the grin off his face. The camera pans across their almost-touching spear blades while she talks.]

 BALSA: Let me tell you the reason why I didn’t kill you that day. I had sworn to save the same number of lives that I had taken. But by the time I fought you, I had already realized that all lives weren’t of equal value. That’s why I was sick of killing insignificant scum like you every time I saved someone’s life.

 [Karbo’s crazy eyes go even wider at this. He starts to shake.]

 KARBO: Insignificant scum?

 BALSA: But there’s still something that I need to see through to the end! And whoever gets in my way-- [brandishes the spear menacingly]

 [Shot of the shaking tip of Karbo’s spear.]

 KARBO: Who are you calling insignificant? How dare you… how dare you call me insignificant!

 [They both throw themselves back into the fight.]

 [Scene switches to the road/cliff above the bamboo grove, where Tandor is following Sena.]

  TANDOR: Sensei, please!

 [They both stop, staring down at the grove. Below them, a huge bamboo tree cracks and falls over. At its base they can see the combatants, fighting their way out of the grove and into an open field—Karbo now appears to be locked in battle with a real, flesh-and-blood tiger. Sena backtracks down the road, trying to keep abreast of the fight that is now moving in the opposite direction.]

  TANDOR: Sensei!

 SENA [yelling to Balsa]: You mustn’t! You mustn’t kill that man!

 [Spears clash down in the field as Balsa forces Karbo back. She looks calm and grimly determined, in contrast to Karbo’s twitchiness. Karbo’s hand slips on the shaft of his spear, and Balsa seizes the chance to viciously rip her spear up the center of his body from navel to throat. (No blood shows, but his tunic is torn to pieces as his life is ripped away.)]

 SENA [gasps]: What have you done?

 [Karbo falls to his knees and keels over backwards, apparently dead. Balsa stands over him, victorious but still furious. Sena approaches her across the field.]

 SENA: Why did you…?

 BALSA [enraged, shouting]: Shut your mouth! I’m a tiger—don’t come near me or I’ll rip you apart!

 [She strides furiously past the travelers and leaves. Sena bows her head sorrowfully--then looks up in shock as Karbo sits up, very much alive. His tunic is still ripped up the front, but his face is calm for the first time in the episode.]

 KARBO: I’m insignificant… [He looks at his hands.] I’m insignificant.

 [The travelers stare at him.]

  TANDOR: Sensei, what in the world just happened here?

 SENA: I have no idea. I could have sworn that she struck this man down.

 KARBO [staring blankly]: The whole time, I was beneath her notice…

 SENA [turning to Tandor]: Please, go call her back! She thinks that she killed this man, but the truth is she didn’t! If we don’t tell her that he’s still alive, she’s going to…

 [Tandor blinks, then turns to go.]

  TANDOR: I’m on my way!

 [He runs off after Balsa, leaving Sena alone with Karbo. She crouches down to speak to him.]

 SENA: You there. Do you know what that woman’s name is?

 [Karbo slowly turns to look at her.]

 KARBO: I don’t know. No, I’ve forgotten it… [stands up and wanders off aimlessly, without his spear]

 [Sena looks thoughtfully after him, then turns in the other direction, where Tandor is chasing after Balsa.]

 [Balsa is retracing her path down the road, past the place where she challenged Karbo. Her expression is stony and grim--not someone to mess with right now--as Tandor runs up behind her.]

  TANDOR: Hey!

 [Just before he reaches her, the camera pans slowly up to the cloudy sky.]

 [End of episode.]