One Commands One Thousand ~百鬼夜行~

Krescentshadow

Kabuki Nagauta, Shamisen, Jrock, Japanese Folk, Threatrical

[OPENING — NAGAUTA]

月光、一枚
(A single sheet of moonlight)
墨、一筆
(A single stroke of ink)

狐が川面を渡れど
(Though a fox crosses the river's surface)
波紋ひとつも残さない
(Not a single ripple remains)

ひと折り、羽となり
(One fold becomes a wing)
ひと火、地を這い始める
(One flame begins to crawl across the earth)

払子が夕べを　ひと撫ですれば
(When the hossu sweeps across the evening)
壁の影まで　歩き出す
(Even the shadows on the walls move)

[VERSE — MELODIC NAGAUTA]

白い石は　霜に眠り
(The white stones sleep beneath the frost)
黒き葉ひとつ　傍らに落つ
(A single black leaf falls beside them)

誰の手も　盤に触れぬうち——
(Before any hand has touched the board—)
駒はひそかに　消えてゆく
(The pieces quietly disappear)

月は高みで　見届けて
(The moon watches from on high)
風は黙して　語らない
(The wind keeps silent and tells nothing)

一匹は　道の始めに座し
(One fox sits at the beginning of the road)
もう一匹は　峰で待つ
(The other waits upon the peak)

片や　旅人の足を見て
(One watches the traveler's feet)
片や　次なる一手を読む
(The other reads the next move)

赤い葉ひとつ　枝を離れ
(A single red leaf slips free of its branch)
隠れた月が　顔を出す
(The hidden moon reveals its face)

盤は静かに　欠けてゆく
(The board is quietly whittled away)
一駒ずつ
(One piece at a time)

[FORMATION CHORUS — CHANTED]

車輪陣！
(Wheel Formation!)
前なし！　後ろなし！
(No front! No rear!)

鶴翼陣！
(Crane-Wing Formation!)
迫れ！　迫れ！
(Close in! Close in!)

双狐！
(Twin Foxes!)
駆け違え！　駆け違え！
(Cross paths! Cross paths!)

百鬼夜行！
(Night Parade-!)
折神よ——
(Folded gods—)

進め！
(Advance!)

[VERSE 1]

先が知りたいか？
(You want a prediction?)
そんなもの　見世物の芸
(That's a parlor trick!)

占い師の　こけおどし
(A fortune-teller's bluff)
お前がどれを選ぼうが
(Whichever one you choose)
知ったことじゃない
(I could not care less)
その代償は　俺が決める
(The price you pay is mine to decide)

左は——炎
(To the left—flame)
右は——牙
(To the right—fangs)
立ち止まれば　呪いが巻きつく
(Stand still, and the curse coils around you)
攻めりゃ　陣形が散る
(Attack, and your formation scatters)
退けば　自分で檻を組む
(Retreat, and you build your own cage)
逃げたつもりで　鍵まで掛ける
(Thinking you escaped, you even turn the key)

ずるいとでも？
(You call that unfair?)
こっちは　礼を尽くしただけだ
(I call it courtesy)

さあ　即興で来い
(Now come at me—improvise)
俺を驚かせてみろ
(Try to surprise me)

頼みの本能　見せてみろ
(Show me that precious instinct you rely upon)

混沌にだって　輪郭はある
(Even chaos has a shape)
狼狽にだって　拍がある
(Even panic has a rhythm)
で——プライドは？
(And your pride—?)
指一本で　転がるさ
(Pride is painfully easy to touch.)

初手は譲った
(I yielded the opening move)
次の一手も　くれてやった
(I gave you the next one as well)
三手目を　指そうとしたとき——
(When you tried to make your third—)
盤上は　牙を剥き
(The board bared its fangs)
空いた升目は　もうなかった
(And not one empty square remained)

選べ
(Choose)
どちらを失う？
(Which will you lose?)

[NAGAUTA INTERLUDE]

紙の蛇は　霧を呑み
(The paper serpent swallows the mist)
橋の下で　とぐろ巻く
(And coils beneath the bridge)
鶴は一羽　東へ降り
(A lone crane descends in the east)
峰に狐火の　冠が咲く
(A crown of foxfire blooms upon the peak)
旅人は　遠い鐘に誘われ
(The traveler is lured by a distant bell)
呼ばれるままに　歩いてゆく
(And walks wherever its call may lead)
道も壁も　紫の手に
(Never knowing that both road and wall)
折り直されると　知らぬまま
(Are being refolded by a violet hand)

[FORMATION CHORUS — CHANTED]

車輪陣！
(Wheel Formation!)
廻れ！　廻れ！
(Turn! Turn!)

鶴翼陣！
(Crane-Wing Formation!)
閉じろ！　閉じろ！
(Close! Close!)

守り駒を取れ！
(Take the defending pieces!)
陣を裂け！
(Tear the formation apart!)

百鬼夜行！
(Night Parade-!)
折神よ——
(Folded gods—)

進め！
(Advance!)

(4:04)****[VERSE 2]

鶴を落としたか？
(You took my crane?)
上等だ
(Good.)

散った灰こそ　合図
(The scattered ash is the signal)
蛇どもが　一斉に鎌首をもたげる
(The serpents all rear their heads at once)

あの隙は　わざと残した
(I left that opening there deliberately)
誘いを入口と
(So you would mistake the lure)
見誤らせるためにな
(For a way inside)
双狐は　盤の対角を駆け交う
(The twin foxes race across the board)

車輪はすでに　廻ってる
(The wheel is already turning)
お前が気づくより先に
(Long before you notice)

王手
(Check)

影を斬る——それが次の目印
(You swung at a shadow— the shadow was a marker)
陣を破る——破るたび形が歪む
(Break the formation—each break twists it further out of shape)
狐から逃げる——その狐がお前を内へ追う
(Flee the fox—and that fox drives you farther within)

速さはいらない
(I have no need for speed)
お前の焦りが　足を動かす
(Your panic will move your feet)

力はいらない
(I have no need for strength)
お前の構えが　梃子になる
(Your own stance becomes my lever)

運はいらない
(I have no need for luck)
ツキの流れまで　読み切った
(I have accounted for yours)

そして盤を　静かに傾けた
(And then I quietly tilted the board)
不運のほうが　頭を垂れるまで
(Until misfortune itself bowed its head)

[BRIDGE — NAGAUTA]

空いた升目に　折り目が走り
(A fold runs through the empty square)
折り目は翼へ　姿を変える
(The fold becomes wings)
その翼は　命ある鶴となり
(Those wings become a living crane)
王の頭上を　輪になって舞う
(Circling in flight above the king's head)
消えた香車は　一本道
(The vanished lance becomes a single road)
倒れた金将は　門となる
(The fallen Gold General becomes a gate)
一つ欠ければ　神が生まれ
(With every missing piece, a god is born)
一つ失えば　王の命運が尽きてゆく
(With every loss, the king's fate draws closer to its end)
払子が　ひと振り
(One sweep of the hossu)

盤上は　静まる
(The board falls silent)

[COMMAND BREAK — SILENCE]
行け
(Go)

[ENSEMBLE RESPONSE]
進め！
(Advance!)

[FINAL FORMATION CHORUS — FULL ENSEMBLE]

車輪陣！
(Wheel Formation!)
前なし！　後ろなし！
(No front! No rear!)

鶴翼陣！
(Crane-Wing Formation!)
閉じろ！　閉じろ！
(Close! Close!)

盤上をさらえ——
(Sweep the board clean—)
王座だけを残せ！
(Leave only the throne!)

守り駒を取れ！
(Take the defending pieces!)
陣を裂け！
(Tear the formation apart!)

一駒ずつ——
(One piece at a time—)
この盤は　我がもの！
(This board is mine!)

百鬼夜行！
(Night Parade-!)
折神よ——
(Folded gods—)
進め！
(Advance!)

[OUTRO — NAGAUTA]

月光、一枚
(A single sheet of moonlight)
墨、一筆
(A single stroke of ink)
狐が川面を渡る
(A fox crosses the river's surface)

一声！
(One voice!)
千の手！
(A thousand hands!)
一将千軍！
(One commands one thousand!)

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[OPENING — NAGAUTA] 月光、一枚 (A single sheet of moonlight) 墨、一筆 (A single stroke of ink) 狐が川面を渡れど (Though a fox crosses the river's surface) 波紋ひとつも残さない (Not a single ripple remains) ひと折り、羽となり (One fold becomes a wing) ひと火、地を這い始める (One flame begins to crawl across the earth) 払子が夕べを　ひと撫ですれば (When the hossu sweeps across the evening) 壁の影まで　歩き出す (Even the shadows on the walls move) [VERSE — MELODIC NAGAUTA] 白い石は　霜に眠り (The white stones sleep beneath the frost) 黒き葉ひとつ　傍らに落つ (A single black leaf falls beside them) 誰の手も　盤に触れぬうち—— (Before any hand has touched the board—) 駒はひそかに　消えてゆく (The pieces quietly disappear) 月は高みで　見届けて (The moon watches from on high) 風は黙して　語らない (The wind keeps silent and tells nothing) 一匹は　道の始めに座し (One fox sits at the beginning of the road) もう一匹は　峰で待つ (The other waits upon the peak) 片や　旅人の足を見て (One watches the traveler's feet) 片や　次なる一手を読む (The other reads the next move) 赤い葉ひとつ　枝を離れ (A single red leaf slips free of its branch) 隠れた月が　顔を出す (The hidden moon reveals its face) 盤は静かに　欠けてゆく (The board is quietly whittled away) 一駒ずつ (One piece at a time) [FORMATION CHORUS — CHANTED] 車輪陣！ (Wheel Formation!) 前なし！　後ろなし！ (No front! No rear!) 鶴翼陣！ (Crane-Wing Formation!) 迫れ！　迫れ！ (Close in! Close in!) 双狐！ (Twin Foxes!) 駆け違え！　駆け違え！ (Cross paths! Cross paths!) 百鬼夜行！ (Night Parade-!) 折神よ—— (Folded gods—) 進め！ (Advance!) [VERSE 1] 先が知りたいか？ (You want a prediction?) そんなもの　見世物の芸 (That's a parlor trick!) 占い師の　こけおどし (A fortune-teller's bluff) お前がどれを選ぼうが (Whichever one you choose) 知ったことじゃない (I could not care less) その代償は　俺が決める (The price you pay is mine to decide) 左は——炎 (To the left—flame) 右は——牙 (To the right—fangs) 立ち止まれば　呪いが巻きつく (Stand still, and the curse coils around you) 攻めりゃ　陣形が散る (Attack, and your formation scatters) 退けば　自分で檻を組む (Retreat, and you build your own cage) 逃げたつもりで　鍵まで掛ける (Thinking you escaped, you even turn the key) ずるいとでも？ (You call that unfair?) こっちは　礼を尽くしただけだ (I call it courtesy) さあ　即興で来い (Now come at me—improvise) 俺を驚かせてみろ (Try to surprise me) 頼みの本能　見せてみろ (Show me that precious instinct you rely upon) 混沌にだって　輪郭はある (Even chaos has a shape) 狼狽にだって　拍がある (Even panic has a rhythm) で——プライドは？ (And your pride—?) 指一本で　転がるさ (Pride is painfully easy to touch.) 初手は譲った (I yielded the opening move) 次の一手も　くれてやった (I gave you the next one as well) 三手目を　指そうとしたとき—— (When you tried to make your third—) 盤上は　牙を剥き (The board bared its fangs) 空いた升目は　もうなかった (And not one empty square remained) 選べ (Choose) どちらを失う？ (Which will you lose?) [NAGAUTA INTERLUDE] 紙の蛇は　霧を呑み (The paper serpent swallows the mist) 橋の下で　とぐろ巻く (And coils beneath the bridge) 鶴は一羽　東へ降り (A lone crane descends in the east) 峰に狐火の　冠が咲く (A crown of foxfire blooms upon the peak) 旅人は　遠い鐘に誘われ (The traveler is lured by a distant bell) 呼ばれるままに　歩いてゆく (And walks wherever its call may lead) 道も壁も　紫の手に (Never knowing that both road and wall) 折り直されると　知らぬまま (Are being refolded by a violet hand) [FORMATION CHORUS — CHANTED] 車輪陣！ (Wheel Formation!) 廻れ！　廻れ！ (Turn! Turn!) 鶴翼陣！ (Crane-Wing Formation!) 閉じろ！　閉じろ！ (Close! Close!) 守り駒を取れ！ (Take the defending pieces!) 陣を裂け！ (Tear the formation apart!) 百鬼夜行！ (Night Parade-!) 折神よ—— (Folded gods—) 進め！ (Advance!) (4:04)****[VERSE 2] 鶴を落としたか？ (You took my crane?) 上等だ (Good.) 散った灰こそ　合図 (The scattered ash is the signal) 蛇どもが　一斉に鎌首をもたげる (The serpents all rear their heads at once) あの隙は　わざと残した (I left that opening there deliberately) 誘いを入口と (So you would mistake the lure) 見誤らせるためにな (For a way inside) 双狐は　盤の対角を駆け交う (The twin foxes race across the board) 車輪はすでに　廻ってる (The wheel is already turning) お前が気づくより先に (Long before you notice) 王手 (Check) 影を斬る——それが次の目印 (You swung at a shadow— the shadow was a marker) 陣を破る——破るたび形が歪む (Break the formation—each break twists it further out of shape) 狐から逃げる——その狐がお前を内へ追う (Flee the fox—and that fox drives you farther within) 速さはいらない (I have no need for speed) お前の焦りが　足を動かす (Your panic will move your feet) 力はいらない (I have no need for strength) お前の構えが　梃子になる (Your own stance becomes my lever) 運はいらない (I have no need for luck) ツキの流れまで　読み切った (I have accounted for yours) そして盤を　静かに傾けた (And then I quietly tilted the board) 不運のほうが　頭を垂れるまで (Until misfortune itself bowed its head) [BRIDGE — NAGAUTA] 空いた升目に　折り目が走り (A fold runs through the empty square) 折り目は翼へ　姿を変える (The fold becomes wings) その翼は　命ある鶴となり (Those wings become a living crane) 王の頭上を　輪になって舞う (Circling in flight above the king's head) 消えた香車は　一本道 (The vanished lance becomes a single road) 倒れた金将は　門となる (The fallen Gold General becomes a gate) 一つ欠ければ　神が生まれ (With every missing piece, a god is born) 一つ失えば　王の命運が尽きてゆく (With every loss, the king's fate draws closer to its end) 払子が　ひと振り (One sweep of the hossu) 盤上は　静まる (The board falls silent) [COMMAND BREAK — SILENCE] 行け (Go) [ENSEMBLE RESPONSE] 進め！ (Advance!) [FINAL FORMATION CHORUS — FULL ENSEMBLE] 車輪陣！ (Wheel Formation!) 前なし！　後ろなし！ (No front! No rear!) 鶴翼陣！ (Crane-Wing Formation!) 閉じろ！　閉じろ！ (Close! Close!) 盤上をさらえ—— (Sweep the board clean—) 王座だけを残せ！ (Leave only the throne!) 守り駒を取れ！ (Take the defending pieces!) 陣を裂け！ (Tear the formation apart!) 一駒ずつ—— (One piece at a time—) この盤は　我がもの！ (This board is mine!) 百鬼夜行！ (Night Parade-!) 折神よ—— (Folded gods—) 進め！ (Advance!) [OUTRO — NAGAUTA] 月光、一枚 (A single sheet of moonlight) 墨、一筆 (A single stroke of ink) 狐が川面を渡る (A fox crosses the river's surface) 一声！ (One voice!) 千の手！ (A thousand hands!) 一将千軍！ (One commands one thousand!)

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