Episode 12

Where This Road Leads (この道の先に) is the twelfth episode of the Orient anime series.

Synopsis
Musashi, Kojiro, and Tsugumi are lost in the wilderness when a chance encounter sets them on course for a new adventure.

Summary
Musashi, Kojiro and Tsugumi pass through a forest and end up pushing the Kitetsuki. As its hot, Tsugumi starts to complain and they end up arguing with Kojiro. Musashi suggests he could drive the Kitetsuki. Kojiro and Tsugumi agree, planning on letting him go to scare him. However, they ends up being caught by a Octopus Jars green oni. Musashi notices that another person have been caught by the oni too. No longer feeling helpless against oni, Musashi takes out his sword and prepares to fight. Locating the oni horn, Musashi launches an attack and destroys the oni and absorbs its kitetsu.

After saving Kojiro and Tsugumi, Musashi goes to check on the other person and ends up finding a young and beautiful girl. She seems a bit lost, but as Musashi explains he saved her, she thanks him. An old man then comes calling her "princess" and being worried about her as she was separated from the group. The girl explains she was attacked by an oni and Musashi saved her. She whispers to the man, who turns towards Musashi saying that the princess would like to know his name. Tsugumi states that she needs to introduce herself first. The man apologizes and introduces her as the daughter of Lord Nobumitsu, head of the Saruwatari Bushi under the Uesugi Alliance, Michiru Saruwatari. They are currently headed towards the port of Harima to attend the battle that will decide the fate of the nation.

The group joins Michiru and ride on her tank-like Kitetsuki. Musashi feels that Michiru attitude changed and now she feels more cold. As he took a liking to her, he decides to break the ice. He states they are lost, but its glad that Michiru had a forest map, however, Michiru doesn't react at all. Tsugumi notices black area in the map and wonders what it is. Musashi attempts to keep his conversation with Michiru and asks her from where she is. As she doesn't reply, the old man states they are from Bicchu. Kojiro asks about the Harima port and the man explains that Lord Uesugi called them in order to slay a Kishin. Thinking that Michiru would love to talk about swords, Musashi asks her what fighting style she uses, but again doesn't get any reply. Kojiro wonders what is the Uesugi Alliance and Tsugumi states its a network of friendly Bushi bands. Musashi gets annoyed, telling his friends to stop changing the subject as he is trying to talk to Michiru. Michiru gets surprised that Musashi remembered her name. As the road gets quite bumpy, Michiru and Musashi end up falling off the Kitetsuki and right off a cliff. As they fall, Michiru takes out her blade and creates a crystal umbrella, causing them to fly. Musashi praises her blade, stating its awesome and Michiru is reminded of her father, who had told her the same thing. Musashi wonders why she suddenly started talking and asking him to promise to not laugh, Michiru explains she is usually only with the old man and is quite shy, unsure on how to join the conversation. Musashi laughs, glad that she wasn't mad. Michiru asks him to head with him south, but Musashi explains the are heading east. Michiru then states they won't be able to go far as the black spot on the map is a Kishin. Pointing ahead, Musashi sees an enormous black wall. Michiru explains its the first oni that appeared 150 years ago. Michiru tells the story of the oni appearance and how as it came 150 years ago, it was too powerful for the humans. It split Hinomoto in two, between those who believed the oni are enemies and those who see them as gods. The second created mining towns and fed the oni with ores, which caused the oni to grew ever bigger, and cover over half of Hinomoto. People named the oni, the Black Kishin.

The old man explains that the Kishin continues to grow and if its remains undefeated it will eventually destroy the whole Hinomoto. However, he believes that the leader of their alliance, Tatsuomi Uesugi, will be able to slay it, as he is one of the Five Grand Generals. And defeating the Kishin on Awaji Island would be critical to taking down the Black Kishin. The old man and Michiru then leave on their own. Musashi and Kojiro wonder if Jisai knew about it and decide to check the scrolls. Seeing them, Tsugumi states that each Bushi band has them, a record of each Kishin's name and traits. Kojiro wonders why his father had it then and Tsugumi guesses that he must had been in a Bushi band. Tsugumi states that each scroll has seal for identification and checking this one, she sees its was part of Uesugi Band.

At Harima port, various Bushi bands gather. The Amano Bushi are disappointed they are on the side, but know they are a minor band compared to others. Haruhisa of the Shimazu Bushi, asks Natsuki if he remembers that their father stated and Natsuki confirms its that whoever takes the Kishin horn in Awaji will be the next clan head. Fuyuie is sure that Akihiro can do it. Tatsuomi recalls receiving report from Kanetatsu that the Obsidian Goddess was spotted at the great eastern mine of Mimasaka.

Nanao had purchased some snacks and wonders if Shiro would be happy, but then wonders if it would have been better to hunt a Kitetsu Blade for him. However, since she is off duty right now, she states she shouldn't work for free. The Obsidian Eight then contact Nanao, hearing that Nanao and Shiro had found the Obsidian Goddess. Nanao confirms and Shiro boost that he found her. Seiroku says he heard that she rejected Shiro and the two end in an argument. The rest explain that the Bushi shouldn't get a hold of the goddess and that their duty is to ensure the survival of the Kishin, so they can continue living alongside them. They decide to form a plan and send someone after Musashi, who Musashi have not seen.

Wanting to know more about his father, Kojiro wishes to head towards the Harima port as the Uesugi may know something about his father and the group agrees.

Characters In Order of Appearance

 * Musashi
 * Tsugumi Hattori
 * Kojiro Kanemaki
 * Octopus Pot Oni
 * Michiru Saruwatari
 * Black Kishin
 * Kanetatsu Naoe
 * Hikaru Yokomichi
 * Sanae Satsukigawa
 * Keiji Yabunaka
 * Morishika Yamanaka
 * Kijinosuke Noguchi
 * Kiyohide Teramoto
 * Katsumi Amako
 * Haruhisa Shimazu
 * Natsuki Shimazu
 * Fuyuie Shimazu
 * Akihiro Shimazu
 * Masaki Amakasu
 * Tatsuomi Uesugi
 * Naotora Takeda
 * Nanao Inusaka
 * Shiro Inukai
 * Seiroku Inukawa
 * Yataro Inuda
 * Obsidian Eight