Witchblade: Obakemono

By Fiona Kai Avery

Enter directly into conflict between Nabushige and a warrior claiming all he owned, including his wife, Shiori, but she not allowing them to restrain her any longer, and fights them off, 1 guy losing a hand. Well, the guy who made the threat decides to retaliate against her by killing her hubby, she gaining strength and planning vengeance with a sword changing into a snake, she waking angrily. Twin young ladies travel with her, since she'd saved them as infants back on their land, the 2 hoping she'd agree to escape the kingdom. Shiori is on a mission, though and would be searching til she discovered the blade she'd dreamt of, all 3 traveling through their village.

Shiroi stops when she sees a younger lady refusing to cut her hair to make herself less desirable to the soldiers, but Shiori still maintains valued respect, so when she states this wouldn't stop them, she instead provides a new safety measure where upon seeing her signal, everyone was to lock up, since she plans to run blood. They're interrupted by a singing lady on a roof, she at first seeming to insult Shiori, but accepts her offer to join them after hearing both their causes aligned. During the night, the girl who was being forced to cut her hair, Ren follows them to join Shiori, as well. Shiori allows this when a new vision supports Ren's presence, so has the singing warrior, Soot, train her.

Next day, she's made to carry their packs and go over a scary bridge first, but another lady on the other side claims to own it, and has Shiori cross, expecting her to give all her cash as fee. Shiori wacks her a good 1 in the face instead, and then provides a coin more than her normal fee for both of their trouble. Shiori has another dream where she chats to the god of all warriors, and not knowing what she'd do once her goal was finished. The blade, as a snake, overpowers her and she wakes.

Miki helps distract her with Ren's fighting progress. Then, the lady from yesterday approaches to apologize and join them, since she knew if Shiori was looking for a powerful, ancient sword, treasure was usually not far off. Shiori wasn't ready to accept her in their party, til she explains how she supposedly knew where the sword was, and what traps lay before it. They meet a hermit after seeing her home near their path, she knowing who they were, and why they were there, hospitably offering to put them up for the night and feed them.

Natsuke explains how her kindness was so she could show and gift them some of her finely made swords, since she had little opportunity to do so. Next day, they continue on, Ren posted at the entrance to the cave, looking sour for missing the excitement, but a rock monster getting colicy behind her. She defends herself, still getting wacked and knocked out, but Miki coming to her aid. Shiori and the rest seeing the blade, and attempting to get closer.

The twins fight snake water monsters as Shiori progresses. Then, it's revealed Miki was working against them in order to save her sis, but instead of killing her, like Miki'd expected, Shiori plans to help them all, they rededicating themselves to her cause. When Ren comes to, the group have trouble believing she saw Hachiman for real because of her head injury, but then they see the matching fingerprint on her arm, which was also on the sword Nat gave her. Their next mission to confront and overtake Shiori's enemy, Tsunetomo would definitely test Ren's skills, and when they get back to their village, her pop is now relieved.

Shiori listens to what the villagers had suffered during their quest, then befriends those who knew more of Tsu's habits within her home. Then, Tsu's men kill the man by arrow, and Tsu declares she surrender, but her followers attack first. They clear the way for Shiori, who locates and puts straight Tsu's thought of she requesting an army to overtake him, the sword taking snake form. Miki side tracks to help her imprisoned sis, as Shiori throws down with Tsu, taking his eye, and deciding she was done with him, allowing any other person to revenge themselves of him.

This kills him, and her place is restored, they now needing to move forward. The Bandit, Samurai, the Tea Master and Aesthetics is an after side-story of an old man, Kishi strolling on a hilly path, singing to himself and carrying a tea set in a bag, when a bandit pops out at him from behind a bush as he gets to a particularly scary bit of the song where a ghost is haunting a fam. Kishi asks why the bandit was intent on killing him, the answer having to do with owning the road he walked on. Kishi explains his hope of the bandit waiting til he learnt to die honorably, so he'd be reunited with his ancient, proud ancestors.

The bandit is amused by the tea master's request, so allows him time to be trained and come back tmw. Kishi goes back to town and through inquiry of a soldier, and Shiori happening to pass by overhearing his request, decides to learn his reason for wishing to die like a warrior, also bidding he make them tea. Next is introed Michifusa, a tavern keeper and buddy to Shiori. She'd ingratiated herself to him when he'd met her buying a drink for herself, which most commanders didn't do.

When she comes in on a particularly wet evening, sits, and asks for sake, she's interrupted by a suspicious man to Michi, but Shiori entertaining him for realizing he'd been the bandit hassling Kishi. Shiori allows him to drink her sake, and sleep undisturbed there for the night. Next morning, Kishi awakes in Shiori's tent to veggies and rice, after which she shows him a technique to help him die like a warrior. The last piece involves how to quiet his mind, which was thinking about the steps of a tea ceremony.

Later in the morning he goes to meet the bandit, who looks less amused after hearing who he'd gotten training from, and then sees his stance pose, biffing off quick. Kishi in surprise, returns the sword to Shiori, who notes how his owning his ability had helped scare the bandit shitless. He lives from his 53 years, to 108, Shiori getting his tea ceremony dozens of times, and he not having to pick up a sword ever after. Great stories, wonderful art! Definitely worth the ride!