One day, this beauty in a kimono made a sudden appearance.
Impressed by my skill, Kikunosuke insisted on becoming my student.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Right about then, Otora, the owner of my favorite pub "Otora,"
was kidnapped by some guys trying to force her off of her property,
so Kikunosuke and I paid a little visit to the Hanafubuki Gumi.
Word is the Hanafubuki Gumi and its Code of Honor have been in decline
ever since Kitoo started usurping the power of Danjuro Fubuki,
the ailing Hanafubuki boss.
No surprise that Kikunosuke, with her devotion to the Code,
became really angry.
But she was stopped by Fubuki himself.
Turns out Kikunosuke is the successor to the Hanafubuki Gumi.
But don't expect Kitoo to give in without a fight.
Even the big boss is asking me to make Kikunosuke my student.
I wonder how it's all going to end? I'm not good at this honor stuff.
I'm still taking a bath.
My pardon.
Ryo Sensei, I will wash your back for you.
I see, very well then.
What do you mean?!
Very well then?!
Kikunosuke, help!
Ryo, are you serious about making Kikunosuke your live-in student?
Refusing her presents certain problems for me, you know?
Let's hear it then.
Very well, then I'll explain.
Hey, come on! Scaring me is not going to get you anywhere.
Get it? Kikunosuke's father is a Yakuza boss.
Should I refuse what he asks,
do you have any idea what horrible fate could be awaiting me?
I'm burning!
It is fear which motivates me to grant this most painful request.
This belongs to Kikunosuke. Put it in your pocket.
A brassiere!
Regardless, I will not allow Kikunosuke to live with you!
You know me too well.
Ryo Sensei, Kaori, I have prepared your beds.
Beds?
Old-style Japanese!
I see two pillows.
What happened to the bed?
I put it over there.
Why two pillows? I put it over there.
Well, futons can be fun.
Come join me, Kikunosuke. I'll talk to you of honor.
What are you thinking?!
But there are two pillows!
One's for me, and the other is for Kikunosuke, right?
Ryo Sensei, the other pillow is for Kaori, of course.
I don't...
You have it wrong.
Please, such modesty is unnecessary. I understand.
Mt. Fuji and evening primrose...
The best type of woman for Ryo Sensei is you, Kaori.
Evening primrose...
One glance told me you were meant for each other.
You really think so?
Yes!
Where did Kikunosuke get such a ridiculous notion?
Okay, Kikunosuke,
let's spend the night clearing up this misunderstanding! Come on!
You'll just complicate it!
You jest!
I've been kicked out.
Kikunosuke, have you been in training your whole life?
Yes, I set out on my journey in the spring of my thirteenth year,
but my father has been instructing me in the Code since I was born.
Haven't there been times when you grew tired of it?
Aren't there things you'd like to do like other girls? Any dreams?
Kaori, please don't laugh.
I won't, tell me.
My dream is...
My dream is to ride on a merry-go-round with wooden horses.
I want to ride with my boyfriend while holding an ice cream.
I'm so embarrassed!
Kaori, you're acting strange today.
How?
You seem too cheerful or something.
What do you mean? I'm the same as ever.
Really?
Kaori, do I really have to come out?
Yes, special orders from Ryo Sensei!
Please, I beg you, don't make me.
Go ahead, tell her.
It's an order.
A mokkori miniskirt! Very cute, Kikunosuke!
No, I can't. I'm embarrassed to wear one.
You look very nice in it!
You're not kidding!
Enough of that please, Ryo Sensei!
Language, language! Watch your language!
Sorry!
What?
I mean, I'm so sorry. What?
I mean, I'm so sorry.
Ryo, the rest of the day is yours to spend with Kikunosuke.
Feel free to have Ryo take you wherever you want to go.
Okay, see you!
Kaori!
Bye!
Maybe we're about to have an earthquake.
Whatever!
Is there some place special you'd like to go, Kikunosuke?
Could you help a girl's dream, one dream of mine, come true?
This is the thanks I get for trying to help the Hanafubuki Gumi.
Get rid of the old man and his daughter!
Understood.
The Hanafubuki Gumi will be mine to control.
I'll be damned if I'm letting that little girl have it!
Ryo Sensei, merry-go-rounds are so much fun, aren't they?
That's Fubuki's daughter.
He is so funny!
Hey, you can't come in here!
What?
Ryo Sensei!
Hold on tight!
Yes!
Mama!
I'm scared.
Someone, stop it!
Where is the emergency switch?
There!
The merry-go-round sure is a thrilling ride!
Right!
Was this just an accident?
Okay, I'm ready!
Hold it! Whaddya want?!
I need to talk to the boss.
To me? Who are you?
Allow me to speak!
Who do you think you are?!
For letting me speak, I thank you.
I am Ryo Saeba's lieutenant, Kaori Makimura.
One of Saeba's? I owe him thanks for my daughter.
It's about Kikunosuke that I've come to talk to you.
Please free Kikunosuke.
Has Kikunosuke been complaining?
No, but a woman knows how another woman feels!
It was Kikunosuke's fate to be born as my daughter.
Each day she arises,
she does so with the knowledge that it might be her last.
But what about Kikunosuke's happiness?
Get down!
Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm all right.
What about the boss, though?
Boss! Boss!
Sir! Sir!
Sir! Hang on! Hang on!
Boss! Boss!
Are you okay?!
Boss! Boss!
Are you okay?!
Hang on!
Sir!
Ryo Sensei, I enjoyed today very much.
I can now leave behind thoughts of an ordinary life with no regret.
I will keep the memory of today deep within my heart.
Beginning tomorrow, I return to my training in the Code in earnest.
I would like to give you one more beautiful memory for your album.
Close your eyes.
Ryo!
Ryo, if you're here, come to the gate immediately!
That's Kaori's voice!
Ryo, Kikunosuke's father has been hurt!
Kikunosuke's father was hit by a bullet as he protected me.
His condition?
His wound is not critical, but...
I don't know what to say, Kikunosuke.
Kaori, don't blame yourself so.
I'm just glad you escaped injury.
Kikunosuke...
Yakuza are not destined to die in bed. That's the way my world is.
Miss!
Miss! Miss!
I'm sorry! It's our fault.
Tatsu, stand up. Father is going to be all right.
Miss!
Don't cry, I say.
Men, I'm going to ask the rest of you to stand watch outside!
Be certain you cause no honest folk any trouble!
Yes, Miss! Understood!
Father, I admit I've held a grudge against you in my heart.
Tomboy! Tomboy!
Cry! Cry!
Boys don't cry!
But I'm not a boy!
The truth is I hated my father then.
I felt awful, terrible.
He never once would comfort me.
I rode a merry-go-round today. I enjoyed myself like a child.
I can leave thoughts of an ordinary life behind without regret now.
Kikunosuke...
Who could have done this?
Twelve, count 'em, twelve shots! That'll be enough! I'm down here!
Hate to tell you, but Fubuki isn't here.
Ryo Sensei, what was...
See? Okay, time to tell me who put you up to it.
No way!
Maybe you'll talk if I open up a new mouth for you right here.
I'll talk, I'll talk.
It was Kitoo from the Hanafubuki Gumi.
Kitoo!
That guy?
Kikunosuke!
Ryo Sensei, I enjoyed it very much,
but now the time for battle has come for me.
It was Kitoo?
Whatever happened to honor?
Otora told me something.
She said you are honor incarnate, the last of your kind.
Last of my kind?
Sad words indeed.
There ya go!
Hurry and close that door!
Hey, you're old man Fubuki's daughter!
I want you to take me to Kitoo.
What happened to you?!
You bitch!
Miss!
Those killers you hired told us everything.
Know this well, Kitoo.
Should the world turn inside out,
there are two things that will always stand.
They are the words virtue and honor!
Get her!
You!
You're dead!
Very cute!
Your turn!
The Hanafubuki Gumi is mine.
You're nothing but an obstacle.
After you cross the River Styx,
your papa will be catching up to you soon enough.
No need to fret.
Rest in peace now.
Looks like I made it just in time.
You!
Ryo Sensei!
You've given me a second chance,
and it won't be wasted!
Kitoo, prepare to die!
Wait!
Let me go, Ryo Sensei!
Won't you listen to the words of your teacher?
You are still my student.
Didn't you say an oath sworn under the Code is stronger than blood?
Ryo... Ryo Sensei...
Hey Kitoo, are you sure you can afford to sit around like this?
I expect with your botched hit on the boss,
some folks will be coming for you any time now.
Save me!
No need to go dirtying your hands over that guy.
You sparkled so brightly at the amusement park.
That's the real Kikunosuke.
I no longer yearn for such ordinary happiness.
Kikunosuke, long have you suffered on my account.
Today, as of this moment, the Hanafubuki Gumi is disbanded!
What are you saying?!
I know you are surprised,
but it's a decision I reached after careful thought.
Are you saying that I, as a woman, am not fit to succeed?
No, it's not that.
There is no longer a place for our code in this world.
Moreover...
Moreover, I no longer wish for you to be bound tight by such a code.
For eighteen years I robbed you of your happiness.
Please accept my humble apology.
Father...
Miss, congratulations!
To your happiness, Kikunosuke!
All of you...
I'm happy for you, Kikunosuke!
Ryo Sensei and Kaori!
You are no longer Kikunosuke, just Kikuno,
so go find your happiness as a woman.
I don't know if I can change just like that.
I have an idea! Why not have Kaori train you at her place?
No, won't work. Kaori would make her even more like a guy.
I screwed up!
Is that right? Am I so very masculine?
No, I mean...
What's so masculine about me then?!
Here's to Kaori! Japan's finest!
You found a girl who has amnesia?
All she remembers is her name, Yoko.
And?
I took her around town trying to jar her memory of course,
but ended up making a lot of donations instead.
Hey, where did you get all the money?
From all the jewels she was wearing. Unbelievable!
You sold them?
She's cheerful enough all right, but she's no ordinary Joe.
I wonder who she is?
Beats me!
Don't miss it!