I'll never be easily loved...
Am I just too clumsy?
That girl who looks good in pink...
Is that who you want?
Is red not good enough?
The rabbit with red eyes runs away.
Even though I loved you so much...
If I'm sad, I'm going to die.
The rabbit that you like...
...isn't on the moon. It's just a rabbit...
Such use of color!
I can't even comprehend the brushwork.
I had heard the rumors, but foreign art has become so advanced...
It's the shogun's secret police!
Run!
Hand over the contraband.
T-That voice...
You said we were comrades...
You're just a dog of the shogunate...
Magnificent...
Genius
Pickled vegetables
You're going to get another bodyguard?
I realized when we fought Kuroi Sabato.
The swordsmen of the ltto-ryu aren't just normal people.
Manji, you're strong and you can't die, so I feel like I can rely on you...
...but I think it'd be better to get more help.
Hey, one more!
Do you have any idea where you'll find this bodyguard?
I finally found the person I've been searching for.
Father.
We have guests.
Painting is nice and all...
...but I'm the one who has to clean up and apologize to the landlord.
I'm sorry.
Master Sori.
Um...
Could it be you, Rin?
Yes, it's been a while. Otatsu, how have you been?
I've been well.
Wow, you're all grown up!
Hey.
What are we doing? Going door to door?
Isn't he just a painter? He doesn't look like a great swordsman to me.
That coming from someone who looks like he was abandoned on Mt. Takao...
...then raised by kind monkeys, and just recently rejoined society.
This person is my bodyguard, sort of an assistant...
That kind of person.
What's all this about?
Is that so...
Asano is dead...
We've known each other since we were kids.
I'm sorry. I had wanted to tell you sooner.
No, I'm the one who should apologize.
I wasn't even able to attend the funeral.
It's all right. That's only the beginning.
Revenge?
An inexperienced young woman like you?
I don't want you to go off to your death.
I understand how you feel, but it's a foolish dream.
I'm not dreaming.
I've heard rumors about this Anotsu guy.
They say he's a twenty-two-year-old genius swordsman.
Even if you've hired a bodyguard or an assistant...
Um, was it Hanji?
It's Manji!
You think just hiring him will be enough?
You may be right about that.
But what if I had more than one bodyguard?
What do you mean by that?
Father, it's the Nagasaki store owner.
Oh, you had guests over?
Not quite.
We'll finish this later.
I'm sorry for troubling you to come all the way here.
Is something the matter?
No, nothing.
That's her, huh?
So as I've explained, I haven't been able to find the right color...
...to finish this painting to my satisfaction.
Then why don't you leave it for now.
Could I get you to paint another piece?
Are you really going to do it, Rin?
I'm going now.
Thanks for your help.
Master...
Just a little while longer, so please keep still.
Won't you please lend your strength to me?
Strength?
As you can see, I'm just an artist.
I'm not asking an artist for his help.
I'm asking one of the shogun's secret police.
You knew?
Yes, my father told me.
Asano, you troublemaker...
I heard you were chosen because of your contacts and skill with the sword.
And that your sword skill surpassed my father's .
Please, Master, take up your sword.
Artists, you know, if not stimulated by something new...
...their talent and their minds get rusty.
For me, that stimulation...
...was western paintings.
But in this day and age...
...if one tried to collect such things, the authorities would be at your back.
So that's when I thought of becoming one of the authorities myself.
To join the shogunate, I honed my sword skills...
...and traveled the country gathering intelligence.
I've killed anti-shogunate dissidents on the orders of the council of elders.
I've killed even my own fellow artists.
That's horrible...
The soul possessed by the arts will surpass mundane knowledge...
...and pursue new values.
No matter the sacrifices that must be made.
I've dragged my sword through the mud.
I couldn't allow such a blade to help you on your journey.
Why do you laugh?
Let's be honest, Master.
You make a lot of excuses, but when it comes down to it...
...you just lived at your own convenience.
Instead of admitting what kind of person you really are...
...you're trying to convince yourself with your own excuses.
And all that talk about the fine arts...
It's nothing. Just bullshit.
Don't make me laugh.
Manji...
You're just not willing to risk your life for another, right?
I won't deny that.
I can't die yet.
I've got a mountain of things left to paint.
And I'm not ashamed.
It's just how we artists are.
Oh, is that so?
Then do whatever you want, you grey-haired bastard.
Manji!
Stay over in Tatsu's room tonight.
But...
Don't worry about him. He's not the type to leave you stranded.
Well, that's just a hunch...
Infinity.
Rin.
Wake up.
Mother...
I'm home.
I'm so sorry for coming home late on your birthday.
Rin, are you crying?
I had a scary dream.
But I'm so glad...
...it was all a dream.
You sure like to sleep.
Brats like you should sleep forever!
You're pretty quick on your feet, little lady.
Oh, well. Butterflies are more fun to catch when they run...
Manji!
Hi there.
Now I get it.
I knew old man Sabato would never have lost to a chick like her.
It all makes sense now.
Okay, take his head.
If we take care of him, all of Sabato's followers will be ours.
All of us?
Of course.
But it's against the ltto-ryu to...
Winning is everything.
What are you guys rambling on about?
Do it or run along home and jerk yourselves off.
Stop acting so tough!
First of all, do you think you can take us all out with one sword?
I think I'll manage.
Huh? That's coming from our house.
This isn't the right color either...
My chosen path of art that I kept defending with words...
Is this my all?
Isn't there a sword somewhere?
Wait, you bitch!
You're not going anywhere!
I'll play with you guys!
Red...
That's right. It's definitely red.
A red I'm positive I've seen a thousand times before...
But what kind of red? A flower? The sunset?
No, those aren't it.
Something just as primal. The source of all red...
It's easy to put into words, but what kind of red is it?
Oh, gods in heaven...
Let the devil send me a sign!
It's done!
This is it!
This is exactly what I've been looking for!
This is the primal red! With this color...
Got him.
What the hell is this?
You're finally trapped, you fool.
The barbs blend well with trees...
...so hotheaded idiots like you think they're just pieces of bark.
Manji!
Stay back, Rin!
I've got an idea.
How about I slice that girl up right before your eyes?
Just you try it.
That idiot...
I didn't expect to get permission.
Wait up, baldy!
It's not nice to make fun of people like that.
Manji!
Not bad for a brat.
Rin!
W-Who the hell did that?
A person who treats art like a doormat deserves to die.
He's good.
Y-Yeah.
The only rule of the ltto-ryu is to fight one on one.
Those who disobey...
Wait!
I swear we didn't ...
Is someone here?
Right away!
You don't look familiar.
I accepted Sir Abayama's offer and was granted access.
My name is Makoto. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Is that so. Then I'll leave it up to you.
Yes, sir.
I really don't understand it.
You have nothing to do with the Asano family, so why did you get involved?
Even turning yourself into a bloody mess.
Yesterday you laughed at me.
So what is it? Do you get off on martyrdom?
It's not like that.
Then why?
There isn't really a reason.
You and me, we're the same animal.
Perhaps there's also an art to killing.
Don't compare us, you grey-haired old man.
There is no need to worry.
I'll restore it, and you'll have it in three days.
However, I'll need thirty gold ryo for painting supplies.
I can't lend you my strength, but I will buy all the corpses.
Master...
In the end, we're the " same animal," huh?
You're not very honest, are you?
Take care, Rin!
Thank you, Otatsu!
Please take care of Rin, Ginji!
That bastard, he still couldn't remember my name?
Let's go, Manji.
Sadly, I awakened...
Overflowing reality is just...
...more of the empty lies.
To be honest, I have to get ready for the next one.
The morning slides in from the window.
Regardless of what I see, I remember.
I remember...
The unchanging wind always...
...just said this as it passed by...
"What's needed for this endless journey?"
Where should I go?
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Prisoner