Is that who killed him?
Huh?
I'm asking you if this was able to walk around on its own,
and then kill the Imperial Envoy!
To get a single grain of sand from the beach,
you must dig it all up and sift it through a sieve.
See to it.
You've gone and drawn some attention, Kiku-noji.
The samurai hunters-- they're coming.
Is it all right for me to come along as well?
There's not much choice.
Then...
I'll bring up the rear. That will reestablish my honor from earlier.
Forget about them! Withdraw!
Kikuchiyo!
No you don't!
Guys! Make sure you save those farmers!
Being able to understand each other,
and to share with each other,
are both as short-lived as a bubble on the water.
Obscured by the sands of time,
unable to hold on,
I gave up, until I saw you again, asking
"How much pain
have you been carrying, all alone?
And how much loneliness
is hidden behind your eyes when you smile?"
Embrace this miracle of an encounter now,
By gazing upon each other, we can become stronger.
And if this isn't what you call love,
then what is it you call love now?
It's the bandits! They've already come attackin'!
They're analyzin' the condition of the harvest.
It won't be long now...
Ain't the samurai-sama here yet?
"Alert! The imperial envoy from the capital has been killed."
It looks like they've left.
So then, what do we do now?
Shall we slip out and find some means of surviving?
Everyone's hungry, and all.
We ran away without bringin' any rice,
and we ain't got a single grain on us. I'm sorry.
Oh, no, no, no...
We could escape with the help of some acquaintances...
Do you have someone in mind?
There is my old wife...
You had a wife?
That is, assuming they're still there...
Once the sun goes down, we'll move from here.
Until then, get plenty of rest.
Come on over, big boy, and I'll offer you some healing.
Perhaps next time.
"Firefly"
♪ If you're going to do business, make sure it runs like this: ♪
♪ Once you've got your stock, you sell it this way. ♪
♪ Once it gets sold, you stock up again. ♪
♪ Give all your regular customers a deep, humble bow! ♪
♪ Apron! Abacus! Yeah, yeah, yeah! ♪
All right, my turn next!
That miserable merchant bunch!
Another bottle!
Pay in advance.
If you don't have it, you're all done.
Whoa! I'll clear these away.
Thank you, Shichiroji-san.
It's quite all right.
Yummy, yummy!
Dear...
Oh, Yukino, had enough of the party?
You don't need to do that.
Ah, I'm just not used to being able to indulge myself.
Yum! Is this eel?
I found a nice one in Senshagafuchi.
Mmm... Heavenly, heavenly...
Dear, there's a firefly...
Don't you go doing anything dangerous, now.
Hey, I'll be right back.
If it's money you want, I'll pay you anything!
That's not what I want!
Samurai-sama, please, put your sword away.
Silence!
I, Duke R. X. Shingen, am a warrior who distinguished himself
as the number three spearman at the battle of Fort Jinmeniwa!
All of the ills that have befallen me are because of you merchants!
Now, now, let's be peaceful about this.
Get in my way, and I shall slice you up!
Hmm, I'm afraid we can't have that.
Why, you...! How insolent!
The Village of Healing here is a place where everyone can enjoy themselves.
Samurai-san, we cannot have your ill manners here.
How about I buy you a drink?
Why, you... You dare to mock a warrior?
Ever since the end of the war, samurai have been out of favor.
Why don't you just give it up?
How could you understand what it means to be a samurai?!
Our guest was just leaving.
I messed that up...
Word is that Maro has ordered a sweep of the samurai.
Go on and leave Kogakyo at once.
Or would you rather abandon your warrior's ways here and now?
I won't forget this!
Oh, yow! Your bill, your bill!
It's so very pretty.
What do they do in this place?
Well they, um...
It's a place where people let loose and party, sing and dance,
and forget the cares of the world, right?
A laundering place for the heart?
You mean, they wash you here?
Once you cross that fence, no one asks about your social standing.
I understand that not even Ayamaro's influence extends this far.
In principle, perhaps.
By the way, what about Kikuchiyo-dono?
Are you concerned about him as well?
Listen, he's the kind of man that would bounce back even from Hell.
He'll make his appearance before too long, I'll bet.
You guys are persistent! Don't you value your lives?
Damn it, this doesn't do any good if you don't come at me!
You're always acting so rash.
So damned pompous...
You mean that samurai earlier?
In this era, samurai have been reduced to being either bodyguards or bandits.
And here you are, yourself a samurai...
I've given it up.
You're such a liar. You don't fool me one bit.
They say that baby fireflies chirp in the water, don't they?
Yes, when they gobble up other bugs, or something.
But once they become adults, they're quiet.
I will stay here forever. I owe it to you, after all.
You're so exasperating. I'll take you at your word.
Dear...?
You're looking well, Shichiroji.
It has been so long...
I wonder if I could ask you for some shelter.
That's easy enough to take care of.
Sorry to inconvenience you.
Hey!
Thank you for your help.
I'm scared of that sound.
A water imp?
I'm no water imp! I'm a samurai!
Do not interfere.
The mechanical samurai is at the Village of Healing!
The Village of Healing...
This is my old wife, Shichiroji.
Shichiroji...?
Katsushiro, him.
Silly, nobody takes "old wife" literally.
This is the man who I spent many years sharing joys and sorrows with during the war.
I see...
So then, who is this?
I am Yukino.
Shichiroji-san's wife? How beautiful.
His wife? Goodness, no.
I'd like to hear how the two of you got together.
Why, I found him down in the river.
You found him?
Has it been five years now?
Finding him in the river like that, he sounds just like Momotaro.
Why, yes. Inside his peach, bobbing up and down...
You're being chased by Ayamaro, then?
For some reason, he can't stand the sight of us.
I heard that the imperial envoy from the capital was cut down.
That's the reason for the samurai hunt.
That's quite a mess to be dragged into.
With Ayamaro on the attack,
how long will this "castle" of yours be able to hold out?
Not very long at all. On the other hand, there is an escape route.
Does it lead all the way outside of Kogakyo?
Getting through the nest of Shikimori will be the hard part.
Do you think they will let us pass?
Who can say? Nobody ever comes back from there.
That's enough of this frightening talk.
Let me have you sample the Firefly Inn's cooking.
Wow, this is magnificent!
Delicious! First the water was fine, and now the rice is fine!
You can tell?
My specialty is eating more than it is swordsmanship.
Please pass this down.
Katsushiro-sama, your face is bright red.
I- it is? I am a bit warm...
Oh, dear, let me fan you.
He's bashful.
You seem like a delightful group.
These people have come to get some samurai together
in order to protect their village from the bandits.
And we're the ones whose hearts they have reached.
You're going to do battle with the bandits, then?
That's what's going to happen.
Going into battle against the bandits-- it's terrifying.
Sister, aren't you going to eat?
I cannot indulge myself, when the people of the village are starving.
Don't be so rigid. This is delicious.
We could only eat sea bream once in an entire year in the village.
In this age, everyone experiences nothing but hardship.
You won't be able to last if you're always too worked up.
I'm sorry.
Dear...
Okay, okay, let's have some cheer!
Wow! This is fantastic!
Hmm, not bad!
Here, would you care for a drink?
I don't feel like it.
You're troubled, aren't you?
We've got some time. Would you like to see my family tree?
Now then, which one am I?
Who cares?
Open the gate!
It is past time for the gate to be closed. Please come back tomorrow morning.
After the gate has been closed, not even lords may pass.
If you won't hear us out, then we have no other choice.
There are... no exceptions... There... are...
I'm surprised you knew.
About me still being alive.
I understand you've given up being a samurai.
Yeah. I thought it was time I should take my leave of it when I was in that moat.
Then the night came, and the outer citadel collapsed in flames,
and when it came crumbling down on my head,
I thought that it was the end for me.
Are you through with warfare?
Warfare? I miss that word.
The times sure have changed. You polish your skills.
Then you leave for war and distinguish yourself.
Afterward, you become a feudal lord. That's what everyone thought.
But now, it takes money, instead of a spear, to make it in this world.
So true.
♪ Bandits of the world... cut them, cut them, be cut by them, ♪
♪ be cut by them, for naught... ♪
I'll come with you.
It will be a difficult battle, and will earn you neither money nor land.
Right.
You could really die this time.
It's so nice to be young, with such pretty skin.
But I'm always covered with mud.
Say, once we finish the bath, I'll put some makeup on you.
Oh, no, no makeup...
Now, now, in this place, we forget the cares of the world.
That young samurai...
You mean Katsushiro-sama?
He's quite adorable, isn't he?
I wouldn't be able to tell.
He looks good with you.
I don't have any interest in men.
However, Yukino-san, when I see you with Shichiroji-san, I think it's lovely.
Thank you.
But at some point, Momotaro goes off to defeat the ogres...
We're surrounded by your pursuers.
This is the place where the mechanical samurai went, right?
I wonder if Kirara-kun is in there.
Your pursuers are outside!
What?!
How could they have discovered us?
We shouldn't have been spotted.
Even so, we have to fight again.
Wake everyone up!
There's a canal that leads out of here under the floor.
We'll sneak out by boat.
What do you guys want?!
This is a samurai hunt. Come quietly.
Oh! You must have a discerning eye! Care to look at my family tree?
Nunky!
That idiot!
For crying out loud, that guy is like the plague!
Whoa, here he comes!
You're late.
Ah, so this is where you are!
What gives?! You look so dejected! But don't worry!
Now that I'm here, everything will be all right!
Everything will be all right!
I found you, Kirara-kun!
You shouldn't be here, in a place like this. Leave here with me.
All right, I'll slice you all up!
This is the Village of Healing, where swords are restricted.
I must ask that you refrain from any violence.
I've seen that you are quite skilled.
He said swords are restricted here!
Enough talk!
Secret technique: Tatami mat counter!
Everyone, under the floor!
Kanbe-sama, it's been a long time since we fought, huh?
On my signal, we all charge at once! Got it?
You can't do that!
It would be awful if you were to scar Kirara-kun 's face, wouldn't it?
Young Lord, have faith in my abilities.
Nothing doing.
What will I do if you don't start using your head more?
Ah! Hey, Tessai!
You're leaving, aren't you?
I'm sorry.
There, I knew it. You can't give up being a samurai.
I hope it doesn't put too much strain on the Firefly Inn.
I'll do whatever I can to see to that.
I hate to interrupt you, but the enemy is coming.
If you're coming aboard, get on quickly.
Kiku-noji! Hush!
You forgot something.
Thanks.
You can just go and get yourself done in by those bandits!
Yukino-san!
Momotaro comes back home with a mountain of treasure! I promise!
This guy's name is Momotaro?
What we've done to you is inexcusable.
This is all because of us...
Relax, it was just a brief little dream I was having.
Here they come.
There's somebody there.
The Shikimori.
The old man merely gazed off into the distance
from the hideaway in which he lived.
The baby cries, seeking only
for the warmth of his mother.
We are born paying the price
for someone's punishment, for someone's sins,
but there is no such thing as a future without salvation,
and the present slips quietly into the past.
We string together nothing but hollow ideas,
and tell nothing but hollow lies.
And as the rain falls down upon us,
something appears and then fades away.
Okara-chan, something good happened today.
Can you believe it? Nunky is alive! Yo, you're the man, Kiku-noji!
On top of that, we also ran into a new samurai-sama. I'm very happy.
Shichiroji-sama, the new samurai, had given up being a samurai,
and had become a Dodoitsu singer.
Yukino-san, his accompanist, had a very feminine way about her,
which made my heart pound.
You know, along with Heihachi-sama, the toothpick artisan,
and Gorobe-sama, the daredevil street performer,
the people who quit being samurai all seemed to find a trade.
After the war ended, they all had to struggle to feed themselves.
But then, I wonder why Uncle Kanbe-sama was the only one
who didn't give up being a samurai. That's a mystery.
As a samurai, I would think that he'd be hungry.
Oh yeah! I learned a Dodoitsu song,
so I can hardly wait to see you again, Okara-chan!
Well, bye now!