Usuzumizakura: Garo (薄墨桜 -GARO-)

Wait, wait!

Huh?

You must be the highwayman that has been rampaging in the capital!

Surrender peacefully!

Approach me, and you'll become the foundation for my karma.

Enough of your nonsense, fiend!

This Horror is called Hitobu.

A troublesome one, it'll call more Horrors if we leave it be.

Be careful!

Got it.

A Makai Knight...

A dark age, ruled by karma.

The demonic beasts known as Horrors come from Makai,

ever growing in numbers.

But there was he, the protector, who vanquished them.

Wreathed in golden armour, his name was...

Garo, the Golden Knight!

Quit spacing out and run away already.

Raikou-sama! Leave the weaklings to me, Kintoki!

Okay!

What, he's still not done?

Seimei, you're late!

To think you can't even defeat measly Horrors like these without me.

Huh!? We just started!

We're just fine without you!

Don't try to sound tough.

Who!?

Hey,

stop talking and start working!

Ah, my apologies!

Hmph, leave it to me.

I'm feeling unusually motivated today.

Here I go, Raikou!

True enough, things are different with Seimei around.

As little as I want to admit it!

Whoa!

Is it still not enough?

Just...

How much...

Just how much karma must I accumulate?

No, it's here...

Now, at last...

I see.

It's over.

The wounds on these kebiishi weren't inflicted by a Horror.

T/N: Kebiishi - law enforcement body of the Heian era.

Yeah, there was a bandit.

Seems like the person who became the Horror was also assaulted by him.

A bandit...

He's long gone by now.

Oh, that one?

I should've taken care of him before the Horrors.

Seimei!

Hm?

Passing judgement on humans is not our job.

Spare me that angry look, it's just a joke.

Even as a joke.

I can't be sure you wouldn't do it.

Can't be sure?

Raikou, you sure talk as if you know me.

Of course I do.

We've been together long enough.

Huh.

I guess.

Then just as you say,

I'll end that bandit if I happen to meet him again.

Wh-

Stop it!

And why?

Isn't it something I'd do?

Seimei!

It doesn't matter who they are,

We of the Makai can't touch humans.

You should be painfully aware of this.

You're the one that brought up touching them!

But that's-

Isn't it enough?

I'm sure the kebiishi will catch him.

Let's just hurry on home.

The nights are still cold.

I'm leaving.

Jeez, can't even take a joke.

What a boring man!

I don't remember raising you this way!

And I'm glad I wasn't brought up that way.

Seriously.

Said something?

Nope, nothing.

Stupid good ears.

Raikou-sama?

It's nothing.

Just my imagination.

A grudge...

Garo: Usuzumizakura

Sakura of Pale Ink

Feel free to have some sleep.

We were busy last night, after all.

No, Raikou-sama, you should.

After I finish this fan.

I promised to deliver it today.

Then so will I.

A servant can't take a nap before his master.

Pardon the intrusion.

Allow me to inquire:

Did you two go to Aburakouji last night?

Huh?

Aburakouji?

That's where we took down the Horror last night.

And why do you ask?

I've heard that you are the makers of these fans.

Yes.

Certainly.

It was found next to my subordinates, who were murdered yesterday.

Damn it!

Back when they cut my bag!

With all due respect,

our fans are bought by plenty of others,

so it must be one of those.

Y-Yes!

We've been working through the entire night, right here!

See how red our eyes are because of that?

Worry not.

We know that the criminal is a bandit called Tokimaru, who's been rampaging in the area.

I was merely wondering if you happened to see him.

Ah, no.

Sorry for the trouble.

I am deeply sorry!

I was careless!

Don't worry.

But it seems they still haven't caught that bandit from last night.

Indeed.

We should've tied him up back there.

If we did that, he'd just get eaten by a Horror.

Well he should've got eaten.

You wouldn't complain if a Horror ate him, right?

You're still on about that!

Still, how unusual to see the kebiishi actually doing their jobs.

They came here with just one fan as a lead.

Yorinobu-sama said that it's gotten hard lately.

After the new kado-no-osa came,

T/N: Kado-no-osa: position in the kebiishi initially tasked with overseeing the jails and later with apprehending criminals.

they started cracking down on both nobles and commoners,

and Yorinobu-sama is having a rough time, too.

In the name of the Emperor, you're under arrest!

All of you, surrender peacefully!

So that's why Yorinobu hasn't been showing up lately.

Well, it's good to see them cracking down.

As long as they don't make trouble for us.

Like right now.

Truly, what a splendid garden this is.

Truly.

This feast too, the very definition of gorgeous!

All thanks to Michinaga-sama.

As expected of him.

Oh no,

this is but a mere diversion of a court official.

Please, enjoy yourselves.

A moment, please!

Hey!

Out of my way!

Please, come at a later-

You!

Michinaga!

Michinaga-dono.

My, my.

Being the Dainagon is no excuse for violence.

T/N: Dainagon - Chief counselor of state, a position in the Heian-era court.

You set me up!

Just what might you be referring to?

And that is?

This was placed in my residence.

In order to curse His Imperial Highness!

To curse the Emperor!

The horror!

And this is all your doing, Michinaga-dono!

What are you doing, bastards!

Let go of me!

Let go, I said!

You curs!

This is...

I am kado-no-osa of the kebiishi,

Ono-no-Wakimizu!

Dainagon, Sakanoue-no-Takamura!

You are under arrest

under suspicion of plotting to curse His Imperial Highness!

You're wrong! You are misunderstanding!

All of this was set up by Fujiwara-no-Michinaga!

Enough of your futile excuses.

Confess to your crime,

and I shall see to it that no harm befalls your wife and children.

Give up.

Do you truly believe I would leave room for excuses?

Curse you, Michinaga!

Such mundane words for a man of your standing.

Michinaga!

Excuse me.

Thank you for your work.

No, it is my duty to remove any disturbance in the capital.

Good grief.

Straight-laced he might be, he is of use.