For the story so far, simply watch all 13 episodes of the anime and then read my summaries of the previous manga chapters. I'm assuming that you're reading this to find out what happens next, so the following are packed with spoilers. Since this page contains some large pictures, please be patient with the slow loading.

This chapter introduces Nachi, also referred to as "Young Master." For those Fushigi Yûgi fans out there, Nachi is the Tasuki of the Basara world. Basically, he's the hothead with cute little fangs. Most of this chapter is about Nachi guiding Sarasa & Co. to the Motomiya Shrine in Kumano, the place where the Emperor's pilgrimage leads to. It's also the place where Sarasa plans to ambush General Kazan and rescue her mother.

At the end of the last chapter, Sarasa & Co. were looking for a place along the Kumano coastline to dock their ship. While they're looking about, they see a local whale-hunter in action.

Nachi got his ass whopped by the whale.

Despite his effort, this rambunctious fellow is pummeled by the whale and wrecks his boat. Sarasa kindly rescues him and his companion (a little girl named Miki). During the rescue, Sarasa gets into a pretty cool stare-down with the whale.

The whale is scared off by the Sword of Seiryu.

Always in the mood for metaphors, Sarasa likens the whale hunt to her faceoff with the Red King.

After sending the stranger off on his happy way (with their lifeboat), Sarasa & Co. gets down to business and maps out a plan of action. Asagi tells them where they need to go, and Sarasa picks out an advance party.

While Sarasa & Co. are walking through the village of Nachikatsuura looking for someone to guide them to the Motomiya Shrine, Asagi suddenly decides to pull a wild stunt. This evil boy just can't help himself.

In case you missed it, Sarasa actually smacked Asagi across the face. Youch!

Sarasa is livid and quickly apologizes to the villagers. Luckily, no one got killed. But the damage has been done, and the village chief tells them to get lost. Into this hopeless situation comes the stranger, who gladly offers to guide Sarasa & Co. through the forest to Motomiya Shrine, for a fee. Asagi apologizes for what he did, but he's bound and gagged anyway.

The hike through the forest is difficult and tiring, but Sarasa is determined to reach the Temple ASAP. So she vetos all requests of breaks, much to her companions' dismay, and the whole gang doesn't stop trekking until dark.

That night, after everyone has fallen asleep, Sarasa is startled to see images of her dead friends & relatives: Yunoka, her father, her grandfather, and her brother. She recalls that Kumano is supposed to be a spiritual place where one may see the dead, so she takes the opportunity to speak her heart out.

"Brother! I've found Mother ... I'm going to save her ... But, what if I can't save her... and she's killed just like everyone was before? What if someone, or maybe all my comrades, dies because of this? What should I do then? ... Brother, I'm so scared."

At this point, the ghost of her brother points to her sleeping comrades, and Sarasa realizes that she's been so into her own problems, she's neglecting her friends and their feelings. So she spends the whole night rubbing a soothing herb onto everyone's feet. Even Asagi's.

The next day's hike is even tougher. Sarasa almost gets bitten by a viper, but is saved at the last minute by Hayato. Then everyone has to clear a mudslide off the road in order to keep going. When they finally get close enough to see the Shrine, they have to build a raft to cross a river. Of course, Asagi doesn't take part in anything. And the curious stranger wonders why.

After many trials and tribulations, Sarasa & Co. finally arrive at Motomiya, only to find out they've been hiking on an abandoned road that nobody uses anymore. Apparently, the stranger led them through this road just so they would fix it up. In other words, they've been duped and used. Before anyone gets to beat the living crap out of the stranger, he defends his actions...

"You're lucky I didn't leave you guys out there. I kept my promise and brought you here. The Emperor's soldiers didn't catch you, and the villagers here are grateful. I killed 4 birds with one stone."

...and introduces himself.

Basara is not available in English. What you see here are manga panels I scanned and modified - meaning I erased the Japanese writing and typed in the English translation. Keep in mind I translated this manga chapter myself, so there are bound to be mistakes. But it's all for the fans' enjoyment, and I get no profit whatsoever. It's also tedious work, so I would appreciate it if you don't rip them off and call them your own.