I'm in the city and there's this thief I need to get to give up 3 items he's stolen. He splits into two and there's symbols over each head - sometimes it looks like a slash, or fire, or like a bud of some sort. I've tried a bunch of things but nothing works. Can you give me step by step instructions of what I need to do here? I need Okami for Dummies I guess. Thanks.

I understand in theory but seriously need step by step on how to do it. It has to be in order but do you have to slash at thief #1 then to an inferno on thief #2 or do you have to slash over the 2 of them at once and then do inferno over them both? As soon as I do one stroke they take off, seemingly unharmed. Should I make both brush strokes at the same time? Seems I've tried everything but they always run away.