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
Tsukikage kooru daichi wo
Korogari fumiwakete yuku
Horobi to saisei no jidai ga hajimaru
Jiyuu wo omoku kakagete
Michinaki michi wo erande
Mahiru yori mabushii nichibotsu wo koete
Yume wo kataru you ni toki no fune wa yuku
Sono yamiji no mukou ni atarashii yoake
Bokura wa kitto kurayami no kaina kara umarete kita
Kanawanu koi wo suruyou ni
Hikari e to samayotteku
Doko made mo hateshino nai kono michi wo
Kaeru sube wa nai
Why not? Why not?
Why not let the world change?
Why not? Why not?
Why not let the world change?
Why not? Why not?
Why not let the world change?
Why not? Why not?
Large-scale public disturbances such as these,
exploding everywhere throughout that year, particularly in the Tokai, Kinki and Shikoku areas
were called Why Not Phenomenon.
There are a number of theories to explain its cause,
including one suggesting that it was triggered by a large number of amulets from Ise Shrine,
distributed by the pro-Imperial faction hoping to disturb the state of society.
One, the master of the Edo forces, and the other, who leads his forces under the Imperial flag.
Lock horns as much as you desire!
Come on!
Come on, come on, come on!
Come on!
Why you!
Stop messing with me!
Entertainment like this isn't something you can see every day.
It is pointless to interrupt. So enjoy it with me.
Damn it! What have you done to me?
My arms!
Hrm...
Why not let the world change?
Let's go.
Y-You...
Who are you?
What do we do?
Why ask me? What do we do?
We have no choice but to do it, don't we?
Hurry!
This is...
Is it going to make a move?
Hey, you!
Intruders!
You bastards!
Intruders!
I've got this!
There are just too many rooms and no reason for them.
I'd be lost inside a samurai's house.
And you talk too much for no reason, too.
I'll go ahead.
Sorry about that.
So what? So what? To hell with Tokugawa!
At the end of the day he's still a rookie in Edo!
Basically, he's nothing but a country samurai from Mikawa!
K-Katsu-sensei!
Exiled and called back... Exiled and called back...
Shimazu took care of me, but I bear a grudge against him, too...
S-Saigo-dono?
I see his true feelings came out.
That's not true! Katsu isn't being himself!
S-something has taken over them!
So we meet again.
Move out of the way. I have no business with you.
We're in a hurry!
Akizuki-sama!
Let me handle it!
But!
Just go!
Let's go!
Leader! Hurry!
No way out. Checkmate.
It's being indecisive!
That's also a part of fun. Be indecisive!
Which one of you will attain the power of the Head and rule the world?
Be very indecisive!
Saigo-dono!
Master, snap out of it!
If I were to rule...
I'm the true...
This must be the servants' room.
Where? Where are they?
Where is he?
Shinza, didn't I say we should let him handle it?
Let Yojiro handle it.
But it was me... I'm the one who let that man...
If you're not going to do it, why don't I do it?
What?
Cooking.
It's fun, too.
Bamboo shoots are growing well this year.
Why don't I make a soup with it?
Look what's beneath the surface of the great patriots...
To hell with Tokugawa! To hell with the Edo Bureau of Military Affairs!
Who cares about Satsuma! I don't need the Nishiki flag!
The only one who moves this world is me! Only me!
No, that's me!
Please wake up!
It's over!
Well, well...
Let's see which of you will bring chaos and calamity to this world with the power of the Head!
The time has come! Now let us see it!
Let us hear it! Your desire!
My eye...
Why you!
You must be out of bullets now.
That's the last room.
What's this smoke?
Finally!
Finally the new master of the Head is going to be chosen!
It disappeared.
What was I doing?
I think I was dreaming...
What the...
The intruders are outside!
He's got the Head!
I see.
So this was the script you wrote this time.
Nakaiya!
Jubei Nakaiya!
Who would've thought that I'd run into this famous performance troupe of Yokohama?
So now we've got all the actors here!
I promised that if you bore your grudge on stage you could have your revenge.
I think I've followed through with my promise, Leader.
Master...
I won't let you get away!
The one who brought about the hidden scandal!
The true objective of our revenge!
The true Akki Rasetsu!
You killed my father and mother...
I'll never forgive you!
Leader, finish him!
Yes!
Don't get me wrong. He's paid me to do this.
We did it...
We did it!
Leader, we don't have time to be hanging out here!
Right...
Intruders!
Get them! Get them!
So that was what you were after.
Didn't you get close to the troupe for your own mission as well?
Stand away from the Head.
I'll kill you!
Let's see.
These warriors protect and honor this feared and shunned Head of the Conqueror,
which is destined to be sealed away and discarded.
They emerged when Jofuku let it slip from his hands.
Wait! What are you going to do with the Head?
I can't believe that a person like this exists inside me... That's scary!
I feel the same way.
I would be lying if I said I didn't want it, but in the end, it's an evil thing!
I guess that means I'd better stay away from it.
At any rate...
We've witnessed a bottomless darkness.
In the end, the power of the Head couldn't control them.
No, there was a man who resisted it.
And there was a man who couldn't protect him.
It's destiny.
We must not turn this place into a sea of fire.
Right. I agree.
A month later, the 11th day of the fourth month of Keio 4,
Edo Castle was handed over without bloodshed.
SATISFACTIONS FOR REVENGE ACHIEVED
Sono te wa ai no tsurugi
Subete no hajimari no akashi
Hikaru sora no hate
Yume wa mada maboroshi
Tsuki no akari kage ouyouni hashiru kono michi
Chigireta ai no tsurugi
Sashidasu saki wa ikusen no namida ga hitotsu ni nari
Ashita wo kagayakaseru
Kono te wa ai no tsurugi
Subete no hajimari no akashi
EPISODE 9 THE BLACK CAT CRIES
Toshi... The Vice Chief has headed north with Otori.
I heard that Harada has joined with the Shogitai.
And look at me... the only one who... I'm so pathetic...
THE BLACK CAT CRIES
And look at me... the only one who... I'm so pathetic...
At least I want to be the one who decides where I die!
Don't be a fool! Don't die! Don't you die, Okita!