It was an era when a man lived as a warrior...
He fought, staking his life on his faith in the sword...
The final era... the Bakumatsu.
Intrigue in the Bakumatsu
On the land with the frozen moonlight
It's rolling and drawing the line
The era of destruction and rebirth now begins
Heavily holding the freedom
Choosing the invisible path
Passing the sunset that's brighter than the daylight
The vessel of time moves on as if telling the dream
There's a new dawn beyond the dark path
We may have been born from the arm of darkness
Just like being in an impossible love
We wander into the light
The path stretches indefinitely
And there's no way to go back
It is the eighth month of Keio 4.
Ten days have passed since Edo is renamed Tokyo.
Edo Port
Watch your step.
We've got cold barley tea!
Tea and sweet dumplings! Come see us!
Who needs a rickshaw? Rickshaw!
Now that we're here...
Where should we go?
Let's just head to the castle town for now.
I've been waiting for you!
Why?
This is a very nice way to be greeted!
Tayu?
Hold my stuff.
This is no coincidence, is it?
Tayu!
Don't you have to be at the shop?
I'm taking a break from it for a while.
You didn't have to go out of your way to do this for me!
How could I say no when So-san asks me a favor?
So-san?
Now I'm going to help you guys out, too.
So I thank you for your support in advance.
This is Tatsugoro Shinmon.
I'm Tatsugoro. I got to see you perform in Yokohama.
I wish to make your acquaintance.
Could you be the famous firefighter chief?
Obviously my name has grown legs and wandered around on its own.
I've arranged the theater for you. Don't worry about anything.
Thank you very much for everything!
Where's the master right now?
Actually, even I don't know.
All of a sudden I received a letter from him, asking me to help you guys out.
That's all.
Hey, are you sure everything's going to be okay?
He sent us the books, but it's only half of the story.
You worrying about it won't open the stage.
It's the master we're talking about. I'm sure he'll pop up before we know it.
You don't get it, do you?
If that happens Akizuki, too, will...
He's after what the master took, right?
The Head of the Conqueror...
Right, and it's not going to be nice.
To tell you the truth I'm scared of the next time those two meet each other...
Shinagawa
Pick up two of them at a time.
Wait just a little longer. We'll be done once we place the ceiling.
Everyone!
Great job!
Why don't you take a break?
Take a break!
We have tea!
A war, huh?
Damn, it's a big mess.
Supposedly things have gotten very ugly in the north.
Flagship Kaiyomaru
Everyone's been saying that those ships are going to head there sooner or later.
Former Shogunate Fleet
That's terrible. I'm just glad that I wasn't born a samurai.
It doesn't matter.
Once a war starts, it doesn't matter whether you're samurai or civilian.
I know that much!
That's why I became an actor.
Killing and fighting on stage is enough for me.
I agree.
Hey, let's start!
I've been waiting for you.
Welcome to my Kaiyo!
Takeaki Enomoto
This is magnificent.
It's obvious that it was build in Holland.
I'm impressed, Mr. Ibaragi. You do have very sharp insight just as the rumors say.
Please use this opportunity and join me to rebuild the Tokugawa Family.
Kaishu Katsu's Resident in Hikawa-cho, Akasaka
So he still doesn't want to, huh?
That Kamajiro... I guess he's after the money.
Oh well, considering the size of his fleet, people will notice if it moves no matter how slightly.
And we're talking about them going to Aizu...
Around that time, Aizu and the Ouuetsu Reppan Alliance
was on the verge of collapse due to the attack by the new government,
Month 5: Shirakawa Castle Falls
Month 5: Nagaoka Castle Falls
the Satsuma-Choshu Alliance.
Month 6: Hirakata Port Stolen
Month 6: Izumi Castle Falls
Month 6: Yunagaya Castle Falls
the Satsuma-Choshu Alliance.
During that time, despite multiple requests for aid, Enomoto refused to move.
Month 7: Taira Castle Falls
Month 7: Shibata Province Surrenders
Month 7: Miharu Province defects
Month 7: Souma Province vows allegiance
Month 7: Nihonmatsu Castle Falls
This was because he lacked sufficient war funds.
At any rate, you don't know what's going to happen in the war.
Continue to keep an eye on him.
Yes, sir.
By the way Ibaragi-kun, there's a man who came to visit me,
and he told me that he's very much interested in joining the meeting with you.
Come in.
I certainly suffered a defeat at that time.
I already knew you weren't a man who would die so easily.
I also knew that you would show up here.
Everything is going just as written in the script.
My life and death simply depends on your script. Is that what it is?
I expect nothing less from today's most popular writer, Sotetsu Ibaragi.
This is good.
That's Tatsugoro-san for you.
Indeed.
Hey, this is pretty nice!
It's hard to believe this is something that they just threw together.
This is much better than some random playhouse.
There's a nice height, too.
The sound of the audience's cheers is coming back to me now.
I've decided! I'm going to stake my acting career on this performance!
I've heard that before.
Obviously the life that was supposedly killed off gets resurrected.
We'd better put our lives on the line as long as it takes, too.
Jubei Nakaiya...
Damn... Who would've thought that he was still alive...
We can do a detailed cleaning later. Let's start rehearsal.
It looks like the Head doesn't want to kill me off just yet, either.
Giving people what they want is what merchants do.
I hope that you'll ask me for anything you want, Enomoto-sama.
That's great to hear.
Now I can set sail.
Let us show Katsu Awanokami what we're made of!
Fog?
This thing is from that time...
This is interesting.
In the same way I play the role of myself, everyone else plays themselves, too.
It seems that way.
That sounds like the master.
So that means...
Nakaiya himself is going to play his own role...
That's interesting.
Taking revenge on stage, huh?
Hey, you're joking, right?
First of all, how would we get him on the stage in the first place?
Good point.
And, there's another thing.
There's a role which no actor is assigned to.
Is there another one?
This must be it.
Yes, the Eternal Assassin.
THE ETERNAL ASSASSIN
This is perfect.
Time sure flies.
Yes, it does.
It's been almost three months since we stopped hearing from Yojiro.
Who knows where he is and what he's doing.
That's not what I meant.
I was talking about how long it's been since the first time he came to this village.
He was three or so.
Remember we ate some udo tempura with him?
That's right.
He had such good eyes.
"His eyes say that he knows his own destiny."
I remember you said that once.
Is that right?
The Moontear Sword responded to Yojiro and the Eternal Assassin was born.
It is indeed destiny.
Did it have something to do with the fog?
Hurry, but be thorough. We must hurry!
Yes, sir!
We don't have time! Once you're finished with your station, go help others!
Yes, sir!
Well, we've stayed too long.
It looks like the departure is delayed.
Kawai at Nagaoka is tired of waiting, too. I'd like to take off immediately, but...
At this rate the war will be over.
It is the fifth month.
Nagaoka Castle had almost fallen,
but thanks to the brave fighting of Tsuginosuke Kawai,
Nagaoka Province was successful in retaking it.
However, due to the poor coordination between Aizu and the other provinces,
it was finding itself on the verge of collapse once again.
"But the naval force will play a decisive role in this war going forward.
"And only if this Enomoto Fleet arrives in time." Is that what you're trying to say?
Is this also according to the script you wrote?
Including the reunion with that monster.
Just who are you?
I'm actually more interested in that than this war itself.
Well...
What type of interest would you have in a scriptwriter for a traveling troupe?
Don't you play dumb with me.
Your true goal is to be the author of this country and this era.
That's why you have come to me.
Am I wrong?
I'll be looking forward to your script and the performance.
Hey, I touched Miss Kaku's hand!
What? Why?
TEA
DUMPLING
When she gave me the flyer her hand touched mine!
That's not fair!
She's here right now. In Shinagawa.
Look!
"The Ghost-Sealing Moontear Assassin"...
"The Head of the Conqueror versus The Eternal Assassin"...
Hmm, it sounds interesting.
That kind of story is perfect for summer!
Because it gives you chills?
Exactly!
That was pretty good, huh? The Eternal Assassin!
I think I should play the role.
You're just standing in!
I'm sorry. You can play it only until we get the rest of the script from the master.
It's a fantastic role.
You're just standing in.
Shut up! I know that!
Don't get too worked up.
Stop teasing me!
Everyone, let's take a quick break!
Yeah.
Hey, I'm getting chills.
I wonder if I caught a cold.
Actually it's been cold in here for a while now.
Hey.
What is this?
Fog?
No wonder it's cold.
But why all of a sudden? What's going on?
Who are you?
What is this?
Monster!
Let us handle it!
Leader!
Follow me outside!
But!
You take care of the kids!
Okay.
I can't cut it!
What is this?
Zagashira!
Don't tell me... What's going on?
You two, get out of here! Go through the back of the stage!
Kakashi!
Take the back door! Get outside!
Leader!
Leader! Go now!
Over here! Now!
No way out anymore...
They're multiplying...
Ebisu!
Damn! What do we do?
You!
They're weak against fire! Go get a torch! Hurry!
I won't let you lay a finger on her!
Fire! They're weak against fire!
Are you guys all right?
We're all right! That was one tough rehearsal though.
Thank goodness!
What was that about anyway?
The kids said there were ghosts!
Once the fog was gone they were gone too.
Fog?
Don't worry, Tayu! I killed all of them.
No.
Sooner or later they'll appear again.
Frankly I don't know what the master is thinking.
But it seems certain that he plans to grant us our desire this time.
That's why we've come this far.
The Kakunojo Yuyama Troupe will perform! We will perform till the very end!
Yeah!
Come one, come all! We're the Kakunojo Yuyama Troupe!
Come one, come all!
THE TROUPE AT A PROVISIONAL STAGE AGAIN
The hand is the sword of love
It proves the beginning of all
Beyond the sparkling sky
The dream is still an illusion
Running on the path
Just like chasing the shadow of the moonlight
The torn sword of love
At the end of it thousands of teardrops become one
And brighten tomorrow
This hand is the sword of love
It proves the beginning of all
EPISODE 12 RYOMA'S MESSAGE
Sotetsu Ibaragi, where is the Head?
Akizuki, you're the last person I'd hand the Head to!
Well, well, well, look who's here.
The one is the Eternal Assassin, who's to seal the ghost,
and the other is the spy sent by Queen Victoria of Great Britain.
RYOMA'S MESSAGE
I see, I see. Each of you has your own mission.
Why don't I write some more and put an end to the story?