EPISODE 13: A PROMISE, A SAD STORY

EPISODE 13: A PROMISE, A SAD STORY

The next day before the sun rises, aiko goes to the boys ' room to wake them up for the morning meal. As he advances thither he thinks only of the words which yūto had said the day before.

INSIDE THE TEMPLE - THE SUN RISES

THE FLASHBACK BEGINS:

YŪTO

I don't care how strong or how many demons are in this town. All I want is to help people. I want to protect them, I want them to feel truly free. This is my path, my promise, and I will continue wherever it takes me, because. Because ... because I'M DEMON HUNTER! AND DEMON HUNTERS MUST SACRIFICE THEMSELVES FOR THE GOOD OF ALL MEN! FOR A BETTER TOMORROW! FOR A NEW AND HAPPY LIFE FOR OUR CHILDREN!

(Aiko smiles and says to herself)

RETURN FROM FLASHBACK:

AIKO

This kid, I've never seen so much courage from a demon hunter other than him. He's smart, good warrior and brave, he's like, like…

(Aiko is startled and again says while continuing to move on)

AIKO

That's it! Maybe this is my way! Maybe, maybe ... maybe this is the person I've been looking for all these years. The person I need to make you proud, mother, father.

(And she stops moving, looks at the cherry blossoms, sakura and with a smile on her lips says)

AIKO

I've waited so long for this moment. To walk with a brave demon hunter and learn from him to make you proud. I guess my moment has come and yūto and I will walk together like you.

(In aiko's mind come images of the face of her two corners and then of yūto. She blushes a little and says)

AIKO

Like you. Stupid yūto, stupid hechee.

(While walking and laughing he looks at the yard practiced by demon hunters that is next to the main yard with the cherry tree, sakura. In the courtyard is yūto doing his morning practice. So aiko hides in order not to see her and watches him. Yūto meanwhile continues his morning workout

performing classic punches and kicks surrounded by purple fire hitting the wooden man who uses it for his practice. Yūto thinks about his mother's words while at the same time doing training)

OUTDOOR AREA, IN THE TRAINING YARD-DAY

THE FLASHBACK BEGINS

MOTHER

We know it yūto and we will do everything to protect you. We believe in you, but to be perfected you must first believe in yourself. That's why he believed! Believe yūto! BELIEVE AND WAKE UP! THE POWER YOU SEEK IS WITHIN YOU, WAKE IT UP! THE POWER AWAKENS IN US!

AIKO

We'll see each other again, bro. Be strong as ever, as you have been and will be for the rest of your life. Why, to survive in this place. In this dark place called life you have to have faith and strength, something you've had since you were a little kid hehe, yeah?

RETURN FROM THE FLASHBACK OF THE PAST

YŪTO

I'm not going to let you down. Aiko, mother, father, teacher and teacher. I will work hard, harder than ever! I'll be the best demon hunter!

(So with these words as the fire remains in his hands, he leaps and kneels on the head of the wooden man, the head of the wooden man is thrown high, and yūto as he is still in the air takes the katana out of its sheath with the thumb of his right hand. The similar sound of the katana blade coming out of its sheath is heard, yūto grasps the handle of katana with both hands and raises it up, so he lowers it and cuts in two the little wooden man, then as the head falls from above he makes a quick movement and puts katana in its black sheath, then we see the wooden head of the little man become a thousand pieces. Yūto breathes quickly and sweat rolls from his forehead while he is still awaiting the fire in his hands. Yūto's hands begin to tremble. Then another image comes to his mind. The image that his father meditated so that he could control his fire, so he bends his head and says in a low voice)

YŪTO

I'll check it out. I can do this. I'm not gonna be her pawn, I'm not gonna do her any favors. To be stronger, I have to control my emotions and get past the past, but... but how can you get past the past if you're sorry for something you lost? For Something Priceless that you lost and won't come back?

(Yūto looks at his hand from where the purple fire comes out, then raises his hand a little higher than his head and with a resolute look says)

YŪTO

No, I won't let go of the past! I just won't look at it. I will look forward, present and future but I will always have one of my two hands behind with my palm outstretched waiting for this priceless. Why, the balance is to look ahead, but never forget who built you. Who stood by you. Who thought you were a legend or a hero. And to achieve all this, I have to find the balance, the inner peace of my soul.

(Yūto having his fist raised high closes his eyes and hears voices as from his teachers, from his father, from the mother along with aiko and akatsuki)

OLD MAN, OLD WOMAN

Move forward, generation student.

AIKO

I love you yūto.

MOTHER

You are something priceless that I have never been able to decipher, which is why you are priceless.

FATHER

Fight the demons inside you, boy! You can do it, we all can! But only the bold come out victorious in life.

AKATSUKI

YŪTO! YOU'RE A HERO!

(Yūto opens his eyes and with a sharp movement closes his palms but the fire is not extinguished. Blood flows from his hands because he clenches them with great force. So yūto tries more saying)

YŪTO

Come on! A little more. Control your emotions yūto, you can. You can because you're a weak fighter. You can because what happened and will happen you will enjoy at all costs. You'll cry and be happy, that's the meaning of life. Try to accomplish the impossible. For this, for this a little more! I WILL NOT YIELD!

(Then akuma's voice whispers in yūto's ear, yūto is startled)

AKUMA

Mmm, I found myself in a very interesting body, hahahahaha! I see great strength in you, but also great pain.

YŪTO

WHO ARE YOU?! WHAT ARE YOU?!

AKUMA

You can call me akuma. I am the "demon" that every man has in him.

YŪTO

Are you a demon?

AKUMA

Hahahahahaha! I knew you'd ask me that pathetic question, hahaha. You see there are many differences between me and the Demons. One of them is that demons are just living beings like demi and ordinary people. Just to make it easier for you to understand, I'm like a spirit in you. I am your soul, your bad feelings and behavior but above all, I am your strength.

YŪTO

Bullshit! All this is bullshit! Let go of me! Leave me alone so I can concentrate! Because even if it's the way you say it, I'M gonna check you out. IN THE END I'LL CHECK YOU OUT!

AKUMA

Lol! What you say is impossible, little warrior. Anyway, I'm tired of explaining everything to you. I'll give you a complete explanation when I take complete control of your body. Don't get the impression that you're controlling me, because there's nothing you can do to me. The more the voices and the bad memories of the past control you, the more I take control and it regenerates inside you like a black fire. Because don't forget that I am your strength.

(Yūto cries)

YŪTO

Never! NEVER, DID YOU HEAR ME?! YOU'LL NEVER TAKE CONTROL! Never!

AKUMA

Hahahahahahahahahaha, believe it, little warrior. Keep believing it, ahahahahahahahahahahaha.

(Akuma laughs satanically and disappears)

YŪTO

I did it, I did it hahahahahaha.

(Aiko smiles saying without yūto hearing her)

AIKO

You really did it, hechee. You managed to control your power, fantastic.

(Yūto looks up and sees the cherry blossoms picked by the wind, laughs as a tear rolls down his cheek. So he takes a deep breath and says with a smile on his lips)

YŪTO

That's enough for today, I've had enough practice today.

(Yūto turns his body to leave, at that moment he sees aiko looking at him. They both look at each other. Then yūto tries to justify himself by telling aiko while simultaneously waving his arms in panic)

YŪTO

Aiko! How long have you been here? I was just leaving and hechee, and hechee. All right! Sorry!

(Yūto falls to the ground as if worshipping aiko)

YŪTO

I'm sorry about the wooden doll, I just thought you had it for practice and... and, and... I'm sorry, I'm really sorry! I'll do anything to make it up to you! Everything!

(Aiko sits down and starts and laughs. Yūto looks at her with Wonder in his tone, aiko wiping her eyes from the tears she got out of laughing says)

AIKO

Ahhahahahahahahaha, it's okay, it's not a big problem, it's okay hechee.

(Yūto then approaches and sits beside aiko on the wooden ground inside the temple while at the same time watching the cherry blossoms being taken away by the wind. For a while silence prevailed.

YŪTO

I never gave you a sincere apology. Sorry.

(Aiko looking at the cherry blossoms asks yūto)

AIKO

What are you apologizing for, yuto?

(Yūto with bowed head looking down answers)

YŪTO

Sora's behavior, of course. Sora is a bit more different than me in a lot of things. I had met him in the woods, he was alone filled with anger and rage. He looked like a monster, what he looked like, he was. He doesn't know how to behave because he carries his own story behind his back. I do not excuse his conduct, but I assure you he is a very good man. He may behave like a wild beast, but he has the soul of a lamb.

(Aiko says to reassure yūto)

AIKO

Don't worry about it, I've figured something out. He is a very good man indeed, but something else is troubling me.

(Yūto turns and looks at aiko asking her)

YŪTO

And what is it that concerns you, aiko?

(Aiko asks looking at yūto)

AIKO

Yūto. Why did you and sora become demon hunters?

(Yūto then replies by looking at the cherry blossoms that travel where the wind takes them)

YŪTO

To protect. When I was a kid, I made a promise I never broke. Since I couldn't protect the most precious thing I had, now I'm trying to protect something else. Something just as valuable is people. You?

(Aiko scared and anxious says)

AIKO

Me! Me, I'm not demon hunter yet.

(Yūto says with surprise in his gaze)

YŪTO

Unbelievable!

(Aiko asks a little startled and reason reddened)

AIKO

What is incredible?

YŪTO

I can't believe you're not still called demon hunter, and yet you fight better than any hunter out there.

(Aiko blushes more and turns her back towards yūto so that her red face may not be seen. Then he says with a secret smile again to yūto)

AIKO

You really think so?

(Aiko closes her eyes and thinks)

AIKO

Everything is so perfect. He's so romantic and, and, and kind and cultured.

(Yūto says worrying about aiko)

YŪTO

Aiko, you're okay.

(Aiko frightened tries to justify herself by saying)

AIKO

Nothing, nothing! I'm fine, I'm fine hehe. Don't worry about me at all, heheehee.

YŪTO

Really? If you're not well I can-

(Aiko closes her eyes and smiles sweetly saying)

AIKO

Mmm, thank you for worrying about me, it makes me feel so much better.

(Yūto says while looking at aiko with a smile on his lips)

YŪTO

We're not a team anymore. I care if you're okay or not. You can count on me for anything you need, heheee.

(And he closes his eyes as he rubs the back of his hair. At the same time aiko continues to look at him while he has a little red face again, then again thinks aiko)

AIKO

No one's ever said anything like that to me, usually.…

(And she thinks of pictures of the classmates she had in the temple beating them and chasing them because they called her beautiful or sweet. So again thinks aiko with a look of disappointment)

AIKO

Yeah, maybe they tried. But ... but yūto is different from the others.

(Yūto smiles at aiko with his eyes closed)

AIKO

Nothing can spoil this beautiful moment. Nothing at all can-

(Then sora appears at this point and with a yawn while simultaneously scratching his belly says)

SORA

DID YOU TWO LOVEBIRDS WAKE UP?! I DON'T CARE, GO DIE! I'M hungry! WHERE'S THE FOOD?! I'M hungry! Aah!

(Aiko gets angry saying inside)

AIKO

That's all we need. Let me boil you, you bloody mole.

(Yūto says while listening to his belly purring)

YŪTO

To tell you the truth, I got a little hungry myself. Sora, let's go eat.

(Yūto gets up and walks along with sora while aiko gets frustrated saying from inside her with tears in her eyes)

AIKO

So much for my chance to meet yūto.

(The children have arrived at the table, and aiko has already served the morning meal. The table is filled with rich and delicious Japanese dishes such as ramen, yakitori, tempura, udon, Okonomiyaki. Yūto and sora look at the food and drool from their mouths. Yūto tells aiko impressed)

INTERIOR SPACE, IN THE DINING ROOM OF THE TEMPLE-DAY

YŪTO

Did you make all this?

(Aiko sweetly closing her eyes while her hands are clasped downwards she replies)

AIKO

Yes, sir.

YŪTO

WOW! You seem to be an amazing cook, congratulations aiko.

(Aiko blushes a little while sora cries)

SORA

I DON'T CARE WHO MADE ALL THIS! I JUST WANT TO TASTE THEM! IT'S TIME TO EAT WELL! HAHAHAHAHA!

(And falls face down on the food while yūto follows and shouting his)

YŪTO

HUH? WE WANT TO EAT TOO, YOU'RE NOT ALONE!

(So yūto sits down and starts eating saying)

YŪTO

I WANT ONE TOO! LEAVE ME SOME OF THIS TEMPURA SORA, THEY LOOK VERY TASTY! THEY'RE ALL SO DELICIOUS! Delicious! Delicious!

SORA

SHUT UP, YOU IDIOT! LIKE I'M GONNA LEAVE YOU FOOD! EVERYTHING YOU CAN GRAB BELONGS TO YOU! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR, IDIOT?!

YŪTO

YOU'RE SO UNFAIR, SORA!

(Sora as he eats quickly responds to yūto)

SORA

SHUT UP, PATHETIC! I'LL DO WHATEVER I WANT! IF YOU ARE USELESS AND SLOW TO STAY FASTING! I DON'T CARE, LEARN TO EAT QUICKLY!

(Aiko sits elegantly at the table, smiling while she has her chopsticks in her hands and makes her prayer while by her side sora and yūto eat the food hastily and abruptly)

AIKO

Bon Appetit.

(After eating, yuto along with sora and aiko go out into the garden. Then sora says gripping his belly)

OUTDOOR AREA, IN THE MAIN GARDEN WITH THE CHERRY TREE (SAKURA) - DAY

SORA

Unbelievable was the food. It was perfect.

(There The Elder is waiting for them, the three children are squatting in front of the elder and the elder starts talking)

ELDER

Today is the big day, my daughter. My sons.

(The children shake their heads affirmatively except sora. Then the elder continues while his eyes are closed)

ELDER

Kill as many demons as you can and come back alive. You are demon hunters, protect the people of this city who need you more than ever. You are free to leave.

(The children have risen from the ground to leave, the elder cries but before they move away he shouts yūto)

ELDER

Not you yūto! You and I have a lot to talk about.

(Sora laughs saying)

SORA

Lol, someone's in trouble! Good luck yūto, lol!

(The elder beckons them to leave. So they move away and yūto is left behind alone with the elder. The elder with his hands stroking his beard saying)

ELDER

Yūto, I know what happened to your family. Your foster family, actually.

(Yūto bends his head down, while the cherry leaves fall from the tree to the ground behind the elder. With one movement the elder catches a leaf and shows it to yūto saying to him)

ELDER

Does that ring a bell, yūto?

YŪTO

No, why?

(The elder smiles and says with a smile on his lips)

ELDER

Take a look again. Look closer, look closer, look beyond what you think you see.

(Straight into yūto's mind come memories of his education with the old man, and when he left that house when he came back he saw only those pink leaves picked up by the wind. So yūto answers the elder)

YŪTO

Yes! Yeah, they remind me of something. When I had gone about my education in that house with the two teachers. As I was leaving I looked behind me and instead of facing my teachers I saw in their place those pink cherry leaves that the wind was taking away.

(The elder stops stroking his beard in reply)

ELDER

Very well yūto. Can I ask you one more question?

YŪTO

Yes, sir.

ELDER

Do you know the name of the teacher who trained you? Do you know who he really is?

(Yūto bends his head saying regretfully)

YŪTO

No. No, unfortunately he never answered me that question. But ... but I still want to know! Who was it that taught me? Who believed in me and knows that I will never give up as long as blood flows in my veins and as long as I have the stamina to light the fire in my hands.

ELDER

The man or spirit told me to reveal it to you when you got here. He also gave me this note for you.

(The elder gives the note to yūto. Yūto takes it with both his hands and opens it. Then he sees the words that the old man had written from the forest)

OLD MAN

Yūto, it doesn't matter who or what I am. But know that I will follow you. We'll follow you, and the old lady next to me is poking me to write. All right, all right! Stop a moment to write, understand the child what I mean! Anyway, where was I? Yes, I remember! We'll follow you every step of the way. Wherever you go, we'll be with you, remember that. You'll see it at the end of your journey anyway. With devotion your teachers towards our best pupil, YŪTO.

(From yūto's face tears begin to flow, while yūto says to the elder)

YŪTO

He still ... he still won't tell me who he really is... what his name is! And why is everyone following me? First my father, then my mother and my sister, and now my two teachers. Why?! ANSWER ME OLD MAN, WHY?! Why?! Why?! Why?! WHAT'S HE HIDING FROM ME?! What?!

(Yūto starts pounding the ground with his hands as he says all this. When he calms down the elder responds by stroking his beard)

ELDER

You have faith in you, yūto.

(Yūto raises his head and looks at the elder)

ELDER

You have hope, you have dreams. You don't like losing loved ones on the way out that you relied on but they relied on you.

(Yūto is pissed, so he breaks out saying)

YŪTO

Shut up! Stop! I don't care! I don't care about you telling me about the faith they give me or the dreams they have or have! All I want to know is who my teachers were! It's not hard. It's not that hard. One, one name only! Just one name.

(The Elder says with a serious look)

ELDER

DAISUKE!

(Yūto angrily raises his head saying)

YŪTO

DON'T PLAY WITH ME, OLD MAN!

(The elder again says the name to hear it more clearly)

ELDER

DAISUKE! The one who taught you was my brother. His name is daisuke.

(For a while silence prevails, then yūto whispers)

YŪTO

Daisuke huh?

(So he raises his head high watching the sky and says with a smile and tears rolling down his cheeks while he joins the two palms of his hands together and prays)

YŪTO

Thank you so much for your help, daisuke sensei. Rest in peace.

(The elder continues to speak saying)

ELDER

He always told me about you, yūto my child. Daisuke has been texting me every day since you were accidentally found in that house. In the letters I received he referred to a child who is about to change the future. I guess he meant you, you must be very proud?

(Yūto says with pride and tears rolling from his eyes)

YŪTO

Yes, sir! I'm, I'm very proud. And I'm not going to let him down! I'm not going to let anyone down anymore!

YŪTO

But let me know more about this man. What did he die of, if I may learn?

ELDER

He died on his last mission, in the last battle with the most powerful blood moon demons. I was there too, together we fought the battle for death or for life. Daisuke was the captain of the team and without shame at all sacrificed himself for us. He fought the demons alone to save us and by his side always stood his faithful wife. So to make a long story short, every year he appears at that point in the forest in his human form. He and his wife together.

(In yūto's mind come memories of the past such as the first day of meeting and practicing even the words of the old woman)

THE FLASHBACK BEGINS:

OLD LADY

Besides, spirits can't hurt anyone.

RETURN FROM THE FLASHBACK OF THE PAST:

ELDER

You're very lucky to have him as a teacher, but he didn't teach you anything basic. When you go out hunting at night, make sure all the bad memories you have are erased and you calm down. Demons are creatures that will play with the mind and the bad feelings that will follow you forever. But you determine this, the solution to your problem is in front of your hands.

(Yūto in a serious tone looks at the elder and asks)

YŪTO

What do you mean by those words, old man?

(The elder rises from the ground in answer to yūto)

ELDER

You'll understand in that moment. All I can tell you is don't be sorry. Go ahead, go ahead. The sun rose. Good luck out there.

(The elder leaves that place, while yūto stays behind. He thinks of pictures of the education he had with his father, pictures of his village and his family, the faces of his little sister and mother, but also of the education with his two teachers. These are the words of the elder that came to yuto's mind that night. We see the image that yūto is on a roof of a house with aiko while sora is alone in the narrow dark streets of the city)

OUTDOOR SPACE, ON THE TILES OF HOUSES INSIDE THE CITY-NIGHT

AIKO

How beautiful it is from up here, don't you think?

(And she turns her head towards yūto. In turn yūto sits beside her, looks at the sky and smiles. As the hours pass the more stars appear and fill the sky. Aiko looks at the stars with absolute attention while at the same time her eyes flicker. Yūto looks at aiko, so does aiko and with Wonder says to yūto)

AIKO

What is it, yūto?

(Yūto looks up again at the stars and with a smile answers)

YŪTO

Do you really like the stars by the looks of it, aiko?

(So does aiko look again at the stars in the sky saying and she with a smile on her lips)

AIKO

Mmm, I like them. They are so beautiful and colorful to each other. They remind me…

(Her face fills with a sad look)

AIKO

Never mind.

(So she gets up to leave and turns her back to yūto, but yūto who sits and looks at the stars responds with a smile)

YŪTO

Tell me. I like to hear different stories. They travel and inspire me. Help me, inspire me more than you do now, aiko.

(Aiko again sits next to yūto and starts telling the story)

AIKO

Reminds me of all the hunters in the temple. They were my friends, all of them. Each with a different character like the stars. It was the day our teacher said.

(Meanwhile sora walks around town with his hands behind his neck)

THE FLASHBACK BEGINS:

OUTDOOR, OUT IN THE GARDEN WITH THE CHERRY TREE-NIGHT

(The Elder sits outside in the garden and the hunters, boy girls lie with their right foot kneeling on the ground and with their head bowed down)

ELDER

You're ready. Go out and save the people of the city. This is your last mission. I'm really proud to have taught you and had you all my students. And always remember. Each one of you is unique and different, this makes you have a hidden power within you. You're all different and that makes you strong. YOU ARE ALL DEMON HUNTERS! NOW JUMP IN! CHANGE THE FUTURE AS YOU WISH!

(At once the children rise and bow to the elder, all saying in a loud voice at the same time)

TRAINEE DEMON HUNTERS

Yes, sir! THANK YOU, MASTER! WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR US FOR SO MANY YEARS!

(Some children cry inaudibly from fear, others close their eyes and others clench their teeth, while some children boys and girls catch the hands of the partner I loved throughout their training. Then all the children run through the city shouting with bravery in their eyes. The elder sees all the children disappear, and a tear rolls down his cheek. Aiko continues to tell the story)

RETURN FROM THE FLASHBACK OF THE PAST:

AIKO

On the way, however, as we entered and further into the city our paths parted.

(Meanwhile sora hears sounds from a dark narrow alley, scratches his head and ponders)

OUTSIDE, INSIDE THE STREETS OF THE CITY-NIGHT

SORA

What kind of weird sound is that?

(Aiko continues to tell the story to yūto)

OUTDOOR SPACE, ON THE TILES OF HOUSES INSIDE THE CITY-NIGHT

AIKO

As I fought the demons, I looked around to see if I could find a hunter from the temple, but nothing. To reassure myself, I kept thinking,"I'll find them on the way back to the temple." A whole month had passed, and the last evening arrived when our eyes would at last see the sun. Every hundred years it prevails for one month consecutive day and for another month consecutive night and darkness. We were unlucky and the date fell by lot to us, hehe. We had to try hard to protect or everything would be lost.

(Aiko looks at the sky and a tear rolls down her cheeks, yūto just listens to aiko's story without reacting)

AIKO

Finally, as I was returning I heard a strange sound through a dark narrow alley, I approached…

(At the same time it shows sora approaching the narrow alley as narrated by aiko)

AIKO

I looked in.…

(Sora looks into the dark narrow alley alongside aiko's words)

AIKO

I got closer and closer and... and... and I saw, and I saw…

(Sora sees a demon disembowel and eat a man. Man's hands and head are deformed because of the demon that eats him. Then Sora shouts at the demon with hatred in his gaze and clenches his teeth)

SORA

Stop! STOP, MONSTER! I'LL KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID!

(Sora pulls out the two little axes that lie back in the sheath he has on his back, and again says with hatred)

SORA

TSK! YOU'LL PAY THE PRICE, YOU BASTARD! Ahhh!

(We see sora forcefully pawing the ground and being very close to cutting off the demon's head. At the same time aiko completes her story)

AIKO

And I saw a female demon, different from other Demons, holding a fan and eating the head off of a girl who was in the temple. She looked at me, stopped eating and all she did was lick the blood on her fingernails. Then he said,"Your turn will come, but not now." The female demon turned her back, and with a fiendish laugh said to me again, "but soon," and disappeared. He jumped on a roof of a house and fled, disappeared.

(At the same time sora has taken out his two small axes and attacks the demon, so does the demon by stretching both his hands to pierce sora with his claws. Sora together with the demon are very close to each other. Then sora makes a sharp movement of his two hands. His right hand tilts it to the left, and his left hand brings it to the right. In this way he beheads the demon. The demon stops abruptly and stays upright for a few seconds with his arms in a straight line going to pierce sora with his claws. Blood flows from the body of the demon and sora pushes with his foot the body of the demon throwing him down to the ground. The ground is filled with blood and sora wipes his forehead saying)

OUTSIDE, INSIDE THE STREETS OF THE CITY-NIGHT

SORA

Damn demons. I'll kill you all, hahahaha! No one will save me. It's a promise I won't break so easily.

(Sora looks up at the sky saying)

SORA

Right, shu?

(One person watches sora, we do not show his face but we know that he has bright red color long hair tied back, back on his back he has a painted black Japanese Dragon. He wears a straw hat and a black yukata with his back open to look the "tattoo" Dragon, also wears a Hannya mask. At the same time, aiko continues her story}

OUTDOOR SPACE, ON THE TILES OF HOUSES INSIDE THE CITY-NIGHT

AIKO

When I returned to the temple no one had yet returned. The Master sat and waited, he did not raise his head to face me, and I understood it all. I fell to the ground crying. After several days after I recovered from the shock I had to find someone to help us and I found you, yūto.

(Yūto sits and looks at the stars listening to aiko attentively. And after aiko pauses, filling her eyes with tears from the memories, yūto stands up and embraces her, saying:) YŪTO

You have a very beautiful name.

(Aiko stops taking tears out of her eyes and blushes, so yūto continues saying)

YŪTO

My sister had the same name as you. I had promised her that I would protect her at all costs from my own life, but in vain. In the end, I didn't make it, and I saw her dead in our house, where my life had risen. We both became demon hunters because of an identical factor. I fight for the peace of my family's souls and you because you've lost something so precious it won't come back. You fight for the carefree beautiful memories of the old days.

(Aiko wipes away her tears and says embracing yūto with a smile on her lips and with her eyes closed)

AIKO

You're right, yūto. That unites us. We are united by the thirst for revenge and not only. But I want you to promise me something when we start walking together towards sunset. But I want you to give me your word.

(Yūto looks at her saying)

YŪTO

I can't swear anything to you, I'm sorry aiko.

(Aiko lightly punches yūto in the chest telling him)

AIKO

Shut up! Stupid, Stupid! Swear, Swear! Swear nothing will happen to you! That we will live together forever! I don't want to lose you, too. I want to live with you and follow you every step of the way. You give me hope that we can change this world. AND INDEED WE CAN! TOGETHER, MAZI YŪTO!

(Aiko as she says all this blushes and yūto raises the little finger of his right hand towards aiko saying with a smile and with his eyes closed)

YŪTO

Maybe I can make a small exception, just for you aiko, hehe. It's a promise. I promise you, aiko, that we will live together, we will stay alive. At least I hope so.

(Aiko stretches out her little finger from her left hand and joins them. The moon is turning round and the scenery behind is impressive. After a while, yūto with a smile says)

YŪTO

Nice. I think it's time to start, don't you?

(Aiko shakes her head affirmatively, and the two children start running over the roofs of the old Japanese houses while their direction is as far into the city. Meanwhile sora is walking through the streets of the city, on a main street he sees from afar something moving. Then he says with a shrewd and sly smile)

OUTSIDE, INSIDE THE STREETS OF THE CITY-NIGHT

SORA

There's another reckless demon. Tsk, you don't know what you're getting yourself into. You should have been told by someone that you shouldn't be walking around at night, you might encounter some scary monster. What an unjust death you will find, hehe.

(After a while, after he has approached very close he clearly sees an old woman with a cane walking down the street in the city. Sora puts back on his back his axe telling the Old Lady)

SORA

Old hag, what are you doing out in town at this hour? It's dangerous at this hour for a pathetic, weak mud like you to be walking around. Come on, Come on! Go ahead, you're in the grave with one foot. Move, go home or I'll send you somewhere else.

(The old woman with a smile responds to sora)

OLD LADY

I'm so sorry, son. I was going to my sick son.

(Sora bends over to reach the Old Lady's height)

SORA

He has Demons at night. We better hurry, old hag, you're getting me into trouble. Good grief. Come on, let's go, let's go.

(And he kneels down to take her on his back, so the old lady tells sora)

OLD LADY

How kind you are, Son.

(At the same time yuto and aiko run with their bodies forward and their arms backward. In a moment yūto sees blood on the road telling aiko as she runs)

YŪTO

Aiko, look there!

(They land in the area that has blood, yūto sits down and catches it saying)

YŪTO

Yeah, it's blood. It's still fresh.

(Aiko has turned her back on yuto and looks where the blood leads, she tells yūto)

AIKO

Yūto look, the blood leads somewhere.

(Yūto looks towards aiko and aiko continues to say)

AIKO

The blood continues. So that means the demon wounded him and dragged him further into the city.

(Yūto thinks)

YŪTO

So he's not dead yet, we have a chance to save him.

YŪTO

Aiko, let's go! We have no time to lose!

(Aiko agrees shaking her head. Both children start running towards where the blood leads them. Meanwhile sora carries the old woman, taking her to the House of her sick son. Sora as he walks past a dark alley, the old woman shouts to sora as she sees the narrow alley.

OLD LADY

Son, let's go through the narrow alley, please.

(Sora is startled)

SORA

HUH? WHAT DO YOU FUCKING WANT AGAIN, OLD HUG!

OLD LADY

It is a shorter way through this narrow alley, we will get much faster and safely to the House. Trust me, son.

(Sora closes his eyes and clenches his teeth saying to himself)

SORA

Sora you'll regret it, you'LL regret it don't do it, damn it! BUT... BUT, BUT you have to help the mud. Damn the old hag that got in my way at this damn hour and moment.

(The old woman upset and frightened cries in sora's ear)

OLD LADY

Please! Please, son! My son is in danger, please. He is gravely ill; he has helped a frail old woman like me.

(Sora opens his eyes saying)

SORA

Shut up old hug! Shut up, I'm trying to think straight for the first time in my life, and you won't let me, damn it!

(Sora takes a long breath and says)

SORA

Here we are, fuck it. All right, all right! Hold tight to me, old lady, we're going to cross the narrow alley with incredible speed! Go, Go, Go! Quick, quick!

(And he turns his body towards the narrow alley, but at that moment appears from the Main Street an identical figure of an old woman like the one sora has on his back. This old woman runs to sora. When the old woman's identical form meets the old woman it stops. The old woman is a few meters away from sora, while the old woman who holds sora on his back is startled and clenches her teeth anxious. And sora cries surprised)

SORA

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?!

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13