It's getting to be a while now since you came back.
You're healthy again.
It's about time you went home...
...to your parents.
I've been happy to take advantage of having you with me...
...what with you knowing our house so well...
...but that can't go on forever.
Being with you, and taking care of you...
...suits me very well? Sir.
Can we not go on as we are?
No. We can't do that.
Why not?
You are young? Bright? Good-natured and beautiful.
You need to find a hard-working man who will cherish you...
...have children, and be happy.
I've no intention of marrying again.
I've learned my lesson.
Rather than suffer that again...
...I'd much rather sit watching you...
...eating the food I've made you with a hearty appetite...
...and studying late into the night.
If that doesn't please you...
I don't say that.
Then would you allow me to stay with you...
...until you find a wife?
I don't know when that will be.
That's fine by me.
You have your own life to live!
You can't waste it as my maid!
So Kie...
...go home.
Is that...
...what you wish, sir?
Yes. That is my command.
All right.
Then I have no choice but to obey.
Thank you very much for all you have done for me.
Got one!
You did?
A Mnual of Infantry Training
Kume? Could you come here?
Now? The unlined summer kimonos are in the top drawer of the chest...
...and the winter ones are in the bottom drawer.
Socks are down here.
Every so often make sure...
...to look at his socks.
There might be holes in them? And he won't care.
Don't forget to turn the preserves so the rice-bran doesn't go off.
It'll be rainy season soon.
Turn the tatmi mats.
And always watch the fire.
Don't burn the place down.
I'd meant to take Kie bck to her parents'home...
...but when I got up the next morning...
...she hd gone wy on her own.
Squire Hazama? Time to eat.
Squire?
Is he dead?
Squire?
Give me the key or I'll break your arm!
All right!
Killer on the loose!
Halt!
Assistance!
What?
He's dead!
Take his feet!
Squire Katagiri is here.
Something serious has happened. Yaichiro Hazama has escaped.
As you know, he is very skilled, and crafty as any snake.
He has barricaded himself in a peasant family's hut...
...and is holding them hostage.
Behind him is a range of very high mountains.
It's impossible for him to flee across them...
...and he doesn't mean to try.
We know this because he had the guard...
...bring a letter to Senior Retainer Hori.
'I will neither run nor hide. Send a force against me.
'One by one I will cut them down...
'... until I have built a mountain of corpses.'
What pure gall!
The Senior Retainer is furious.
Even weakened by long imprisonment, Hazama is still...
...the best swordsman in the clan.
He would injure or even kill foot soldiers.
That is why your name came up.
You are the only one who can cut Hazama down.
By doing that...
...you will erase any suspicion that you have plotted with him.
Go out and face him.
Those are the words of the Senior Retainer.
Well? Will you do it?
I am being ordered to kill an old friend?
If you do not, you will be considered in league with him.
Well? Will you do it or not?
Is this an order?
Yes. It is the order of your clan.
I understand. I will go.
Very good. I'll report this to the Senior Retainer.
We'll dispatch a squad of riflemen today? As well.
Make your preparations tonight.
An official will call in the morning.
Good luck.
Toda-sensei...
Forgive my neglect of you. Are you well?
Munezo Katagiri...
Yes.
It's been a long time.
Something worries you.
What is it?
Would you remember a man named Hazama?
We studied together.
Yaichiro Hazama...
It has come about that I must face him in combat.
You and Hazama, in a fight to the death...
I always thought that would happen someday.
Everyone tenses when swords are drawn.
You can tell a man to stay calm? But he won't.
He is tense in body and mind. There's no help for it.
Now...
...try to make your body relax.
Go loose.
Concentrate on parrying. If he attacks, step back.
He will grow angry.
That is your aim.
But while the body retreats? The spirit does not.
The spirit is always attacking.
I yield.
Now let me show you something.
Come at me.
I will.
I yield.
Once more.
Unlike 'The Devil's Claw', which I taught you long ago...
...this is meant for use in a real swordfight.
It's a dangerous trick.
Be ready to die.
I thank you.
Take your eyes off your opponent...
...and turn your back.
Will I really be able to do a crazy thing like that?
Hello?
A woman...
I'll go.
Who is it?
I'm sorry to bother you this late at night.
Is this the home of Squire Munezo Katagiri?
Yes. I am he.
Do you remember me?
I am Yaichiro Hazama's wife.
I have a favor to ask concerning my husband.
Please, come in.
No.
It's not seemly for me to be calling on you at all.
I'll just sit here, if I may.
How may I help you?
I'm told he has fled from his cell. The man is truly hopeless.
I was always afraid something like this would happen.
You have my sympathy.
I'm also told you have been chosen to stand against him.
It is an order from the clan. I have no choice.
When will you go?
Tomorrow morning.
Could you possibly let him escape?
Escape?
Over the mountains lies Ugo.
My husband was born there, in Satake.
He can survive there somehow.
You ask the impossible.
He intends to kill whoever is sent after him? And then to die himself.
If an old friend like you were to reason with him...
...that wouldn't happen.
You know him well.
If he lives he will become a powerful man.
It will not hurt your prospects then if he is in your debt.
Madam? Please!
My gain or loss is of no consequence.
If you wish...
...I will offer myself to you.
Whenever you say the word.
You mustn't say things like that!
Hazama has made this a fight to the death.
He will die? Or I will. Our lives are both at stake.
I will forget what you've said.
Please do the same.
You're an honest man, just as my husband said.
I'm sorry to have disturbed you so late. Good night.
Let me give you a light for your lantern.
The road is dark. Take care.
I'll go to Lord Hori? The Senior Retainer.
The Senior Retainer? Why?
I'll ask him to order you not to kill Hazama.
No!
You can't trust him! You'll be wasting your time.
I know that.
Madam! Don't!
Naota, I'm going to write a letter.
If I die tomorrow...
...take it to Kie for me.
Understand?
Take the letter to Kie.
Aye.
Thank you for coming, sir.
That house?
Aye.
There's a lot of smoke coming from it.
It looks like he's eating all the rice they've got.
The old man's come out.
Poor old Kamezo!
Hazama's holding the old man and his grand-daughter hostage.
He's got a sword he's holding on the girl...
...so our hands are tied.
Would you like to watch for a while?
I'll get ready and go.
How long should we wait?
We have orders to shoot? Even if it means killing the hostages.
No.
I'll have it settled by dark.
If I'm not back by sunset, the rest is in your hands.
Yes? Sir.
Well? If it isn't Katagiri! They sent you after me?
Let me talk to you.
Go in.
Are you well?
How do you think I'd be...
...Iocked in a dark cell on two bowls of gruel of day?
Let's not waste words.
I guess you're right.
So what are you here to do? Kill me?
Commit suicide? As a samurai should.
I'll be your second.
And if I say no?
Then I must...
...kill you.
The clan orders it.
The clan!
Hori sent you? Didn't he. 'Go kill that rebel? ' he said.
Aye.
That meddlesome old fool!
This isn't the time to argue about opening up to the foreigners or not.
What we're doing is for the clan? And for the country!
There's nothing disloyal about it!
The one who should be struck down is Hori...
...who cares only for filling his own pockets. He's the traitor!
Hazama...
What?
There are riflemen all around this house.
You'll never get out of here alive.
So they're going to kill me with guns, are they?
Hey...
...I'm sure you haven't forgotten, four years ago before His Lordship.
I lost to you.
'Hazama lost to Katagiri? ' they said. 'Serves him right! '
The whole clan laughed at me.
But...
...I was holding back.
If I'd meant to, I could have smashed your skull wide open.
I didn't because it was before His Lordship.
I knew that.
You did?
Fine, then! We'll settle accounts with real swords now.
Those bastards will think again when I kill you.
I am the best swordsman in the Unasaka Clan!
Draw!
Some farmer'd had this hidden for years.
It's rusty? But it still cuts.
Use your head, will you?
If you kill yourself according to the law, you keep your honor.
Killing you in a fight will keep me my honor.
Wait!
Think of your wife!
If you don't kill yourself, she'll be the wife of a criminal!
I've told her to cut her throat and follow me.
You don't have to fret over that.
Cut her throat?
Why make her do a thing like that?
Since when is my wife of concern to you?
Draw!
Draw, will you!
You always were good at getting out of the way.
Do you insist, Hazama?
Have you ever killed a man?
No.
I've killed several? In Edo. Just to try my hand.
Hurry!
What?
Why don't you attack?
Are you afraid?
Are you going to use 'The Hidden Blade'?
That 'Devil's Claw' trick that Toda-sensei taught you?
He should have passed that down to me!
Come on, then. Show me 'The Devil's Claw'.
If that's how you mean to kill me...
...then try.
'The Devil's Claw' isn't something you use in a swordfight.
And I didn't learn it to use on you!
Damn you!
Enough of this! Kill yourself!
After I kill you!
What, you're running?
What was that?
'The Devil's Claw'?
No.
That wasn't 'The Devil's Claw'.
That was a coward's trick.
I'll kill you!
Wait!
Hold your fire!
Hazama!
Hazama...
...I'm sorry!
You wouldn't have wanted...
...to die by the gun!
I'm very sorry.
I pray you will not hate me.
I have some things to tell you of how your husband met his end...
...but first I must report to the Senior Retainer.
I'll take my leave.
Squire Katagiri...
...did the Senior Retainer not tell you to spare my husband?
What?!
He promised me he would.
You really went to the Senior Retainer's home last night?
And he told you he would spare Hazama?
You've been a fool!
I told you not to go!
I knew that would happen!
He said nothing to me.
You've been deceived.
Here they are.
He was standing at the front door. I had to drag him in here.
Well? Here you are!
Well done! I was sure you'd beat him.
No, it was the new guns that got me out of a tight spot.
Oh? You used the guns?
We'd never used them on a man before. They're very effective.
Far better than matchlocks.
They were expensive, but I guess they're worth it.
Katagiri, come here. We'll drink a pledge.
This man has just killed a samurai in a duel.
His opponent was the greatest swordsman in the Unasaka clan!
That's awful!
We'd certainly like to hear about it? But this is not the time.
You may greet the Senior Retainer and withdraw.
There'll be a reward for you.
Hey!
I said you may leave.
I have something to ask the Senior Retainer.
What?
Did you receive a visit last night from Hazama's wife?
How did you know that?
Hazama's wife came to my house last night.
She said she was going to see you.
Yes.
She did.
She's beautiful...
...so they say.
She is. I wondered what she wanted so late at night...
...but as she was so attractive, I brought her here and heard her out.
What did she want?
His life.
She asked me to order Katagiri to let Hazama escape.
Imagine a criminal's wife asking such a thing! Out of the question!
So you refused?
Of course.
But? Koda, she was very beautiful.
She turned her charm on me, and I couldn't say no.
What man could resist a woman like that?
So you and the lady...
Yes. I enjoyed her to the full? There in the next room.
But sir, I received no order from you...
...to let Hazama escape.
Of course not! She knew very well she was asking the impossible.
As proof of that, she enjoyed herself immensely.
A fine body she has? Too.
And? What is it you wish to say?
Senior Retainer or not...
...to take advantage of a wife pleading for her husband's life...
...was a foul thing to do.
...to Hazama's wife!
You presume upon my kind words to you.
I did what she wanted!
Your impertinence knows no end!
I'll deal with you later!
Fool!
Sir!
I wanted to see Hazama's wife nd tell her not to be rash...
...and that life ws a treasure not to be lightly discarded...
...but I was too late.
Square formation!
Prepare to resist cavalry!
Fall in!
Right turn!
Forward, march!
Not a damned drop!
Go on! You bother me!
After all the money I've paid that quack!
Damn it!
Katagiri? What do you want?
Sir?
Sir!
What's wrong?!
Are you ill?
Sir?
Sir!
What's wrong?
Don't move him! Bring the doctor!
Doctor! Hurry? Please!
Doctor!
Help him!
Well? Doctor?
It's as if something's been sent straight through his heart.
Certainly this wound is the cause of death.
How could that happen without any bleeding?
Yes... what caused the wound?
Could it have been...
...something other than human, perhaps?
I wouldn't move him.
Inside he's probably a sea of blood.
I have taken vengeance for you and for Hazama.
May you rise to Buddha.
But why...
...do I feel so empty?
What will I do now?
I resigned my position nd abandoned my samurai status.
I never want to kill again.
I'll leave you here.
Ezo... that's a long ways to go.
You poor man... all alone in that wilderness!
If only you had a wife to go with you!
Shimada... take good care of this crybaby, will you?
We'll be fine. Don't you worry about us.
Is this the last we'll ever see of you?
Shino, I'm going.
Goodbye.
Sis!
A visitor!
The Master!
Oh? My!
How have you been? Kie?
What brings you here?
And why are you dressed like that?
Are you going on a journey?
Are you going to Edo? Or maybe Kyoto?
Now? Now? Calm down. That's why I've come to see you.
Let's sit over there.
Is farm work hard?
We're about to start planting, so it's the busiest time of the year.
But compared to the Iseya? With that old witch yelling at me...
...and working so hard I had no time to eat...
...this is nothing. It's child's play.
I see...
I'm sorry about coming to talk to you at such a busy time...
What is it?
Have you made any arrangements for a marriage?
My father's brought any number of offers...
But you haven't accepted any?
It so happens...
...I'm going to the island of Ezo.
Ezo? Way up north?
I'm sick of being a samurai.
I've renounced my status. I'm a townsman now.
I'm thinking of going into trade in Ezo.
How long will it take you to get there?
A month, two if the seas are rough.
But then I'll never be able to see you again!
Kie...
...will you come with me?
There's no hardship I can't bear if I'm with you.
That's what I've come here to say.
Will you be my wife?
Well... this is all so sudden...
There's nothing stopping us.
If I love you? And you love me, that's all we need.
And I love you.
I have ever since I first saw you.
Kie...
...what do you think?
I've never ever given it a thought!
Would you give it a thought now?
Well?
Have you thought about it?
Is that...
...what you wish, sir?
Yes.
That is my command.
Then I have no choice but to obey.