BLACK TORCH

What's the matter, Jiro?

Did you get into another fight?

The guys were making fun of me again,

calling me a weirdo animal whisperer.

NACHI

They said that I was some kind of a freak.

Oh, sweetie.

I know it's not easy, but you know, Jiro,

being different isn't always a bad thing.

It can actually be beautiful.

Huh? How?

It means that you have unique talents.

You can do things that nobody else can do.

Hmm?

Why is that so great?

One day, you'll understand. I promise.

#1 THE FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS

Do you have any idea who you're messing with,

you little punk?

Our senpai's the leader of the demon league.

This whole area is ours.

We control every last inch of it.

Yeah, and? What's your point?

You've got no power.

You're just a little prick hiding behind a big prick.

Hey, what'd you just say?

Damn it! Why you little!

Quit talking shit, you punk!

What? Where'd he-

Right here.

Whoa!

Fell for the old utsusemi, huh?

Now just knock it off and chill the hell out.

Who is this freak?

Some kind of ninja?

What's wrong? You scared?

If it'll make you feel better,

I'll take you both on at once.

Can't be too hard

to handle two pathetic wannabe losers.

Just who do you think you are?

Huh. What a bunch of useless goons.

Ho, ho, ho. You've saved us.

We owe you one, Jiro.

They've been terrorizing us more than usual lately.

At least now those guys will leave us alone.

But what about you, Jiro?

They're probably gonna go after you for what you just did.

Don't worry. I'm used to that kind of thing by now.

The way you look at everyone just rubs them the wrong way.

It's your face.

Shut up or I'll grill you into yakitori!

Catch you guys later,

and keep your noses outta the trash for once, all right?

-See you, Jiro. -See you, Jiro.

Damn it! You've got shit for brains!

Jiro, you got into another fight, didn't you?

How many times do I have to tell you the same damn thing?

I agreed to teach you the art of the shinobi,

but not so you could act like some punk!

Shut up!

The art of shinobi? You're a dinosaur!

Watch your mouth!

Okay, Jiro.

This is the Azuma family's generations-old shinobigatana.

It's a precious Edo period heirloom bestowed

unto our ancestors by the Shogun himself.

Now honor your trading

and start acting like a true Azuma, not an idiot!

Yeah, right.

I bet that's a fake that can't even hold an edge.

All right, fine. You think it's just a fake?

Why don't you feel how dull it is for yourself?

Hey, no! Stop it!

Geez, the old man really lost it this time.

Crazy Fossil.

Hey Jiro.

Yeah?

I'm going to attend the town hall tonight,

which means that I won't be back until late.

Don't forget to lock the place up. You hear me?

Yeah, yeah.

I hear ya.

Don't forget to lock the place up. (scoffs)

Always treating me like a little kid.

Hey, Jiro!

Now what is it?

Oh, hey, I remember you. What's up, buddy?

There's an injured cat out in the woods!

A cat?

Hey, how far away is this cat?

Where are you taking me?

There. Over there!

Holy. What the hell happened?

Do you know him?

Nah. Never seen him before.

I think he's still alive,

but he doesn't respond when I squawk at him.

Crap. Little guy's really hurt.

I've gotta do something to try to help him.

Hey, can you hear me? Hey!

Who's there?

Who dares call upon me?

Rago, O black star of doom, devourer of the sun.

Awaken from your slumber and lend us your might.

Piss off, or you'll regret disturbing me.

I don't take orders from anyone. Got that?

I see. What a pity.

Then you shall expire right here.

Oh, there are those peepers.

Here, I'm guessing that you're thirsty.

You were pretty beat up.

I didn't think that you were gonna make it,

but it seems you're one tough little guy.

I'm Jiro. What's your name?

Oh, come on. You must have one.

Even strays have names.

What an idiot. Like you'd even understand me.

Who are you calling an idiot. I oughta smack you.

Huh?

Come on. Don't be scared.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

Look, I get that meeting a guy

who can talk to animals is pretty freaky, but don't worry.

It's not like I'm gonna eat you.

You can come outta there.

No spectral energy.

He's human so he must be, no, that's impossible.

Darn. I guess I've got no choice, then.

Gotta use my secret weapon.

You couldn't pry me out of here with a crowbar.

Boy, that was easy.

Well, you know what they say.

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Huh?

Pretty funny.

I found a cat who thinks he's a man.

Hey, I am not a cat!

What do you mean?

My name is Rago,

and I'm an immortal being, a mononoke.

A mononoke?

Just one of the many names people have for us.

All you need to know is that we really exist.

This is going perfect.

I think that I can get him to confess.

There are many of us living in this world.

Some of us have taken human form and others animal.

Some live a life of solitude up in the mountains

or in the deep woods.

I see. So, what's your story.

How'd a mononoke like you end up in a situation like this?

Wait, he isn't pretending.

He really doesn't have a clue about any of this.

What, what's wrong? That a taboo subject?

I was attacked by a mononoke.

What happened then? Some kind of argument?

To be honest, I don't remember very much about it.

I'd been in a deep sleep for a very long time.

After that, I'm not sure what happened

'til all of a sudden,

the bastards broke me outta my stupor

and surrounded me.

They demanded that I give them my support and assistance,

but I said that I wasn't interested

and told them to get lost.

Okay, got it.

And then they must have ganged up on you, huh?

But why did you say no to 'em?

They're mononoke like you, right?

Because I freaking hate that.

Parasites acting like big shots, hiding their weakness

behind the power of others.

What's it matter to you, anyway?

I mean, seriously, you're human.

You probably don't believe any of this.

Well, to be honest,

I'll admit I've never heard of this before.

But just 'cause it's new to me,

doesn't mean I don't believe what you're saying.

I guess you forgot that I can talk to animals.

Is it any weirder to believe in mononoke?

You're one hell of a freak, you know that?

Hey, watch it.

Kishimojin reporting to headquarters.

Chief, can you read me?

This is Shiba. You find anything?

I sure did.

There are traces of blood in the woods at coordinates E-16.

I'm certain it's Rago's.

And I'm picking up a localized spectral energy.

It could be his,

which means that he still might be somewhere nearby.

All right, I'll rejoin the search team.

For now, you pull back.

Got it.

It's not like I couldn't handle this on my own.

Whoa. That's amazing.

I can't believe you're already healed up.

Incredible.