House of Five Leaves
How long are we going to keep him tied up?
I'm planning to goad Kiku-ya's owner at tonight's meeting.
Please accompany me.
What made you hire that man?
One of the Shogun's direct retainers who's good to me asked me to.
You just never learn, do you?
We get that you're good at slipping out of your bonds, so stay put now.
Please wait. Hm?
Isn't that enough?
I'll take care of the rest.
You're acting suspicious.
Did you tie him up tightly yesterday?
They don't need three bodyguards here in the first place.
Couldn't it be... that the master isn't satisfied with you guys?
Please put down your sword.
If I cause trouble here and get laid off,
I'll become unemployed again.
An undependable guy like you
will be dismissed soon.
Tie him up good.
Please trust me, Matsukichi-dono.
Well, I may not be trustworthy...
but this time...
I'll come to rescue you tonight.
"Come to Rescue You"
Have you seen the wooden tags?
No, I haven't. I didn't look for them.
My priority is to rescue you.
If I act carelessly and they become suspicious of me, it'll come to nothing.
Is the master of this place out right now?
He went to a meeting accompanied by one of his bodyguards.
Then you go look for the wooden tags.
I'll go back on my own.
You're in no condition for that.
I'll take you to Ume-dono's place.
How shameful.
I'm always being helped by someone.
How shameful.
Just because you make mistakes from time to time...
it would not stop people from wanting to help you.
In fact, no one says you're shameful.
It's different from being shameful.
Perhaps.. you're a little reckless. That's all.
Reckless, huh? That's true.
Okinu, go upstairs and prepare the bedding.
Okay!
I'm going back to Otsu-ya now.
I'll go back till things calm down so that they won't suspect me.
I guess I was reckless, too, this time.
When people become reckless,
there's probably something that makes them that way.
He's one of my dear friends in the Five Leaves, so...
In the Five Leaves...
You must be exhausted. Go ahead and lay down.
What happened to your child?
Living with Mother.
and a different "Father".
I couldn't be a father.
Even after I learned I had a child, I couldn't stop committing crimes.
Since I'm like that, when I see families living their lives,
I get disgusted.
And there's an extreme doting parent by my side.
I think that you're an admirable man.
What's up, Masa?
Since the police were there when I got back to Otsu-ya, I couldn't go inside.
So I went to see Kiku-ya's owner to let him know that Matsukichi-dono is okay.
Then he said he wanted to see him.
Sir...
Matsukichi-san...
I couldn't get the wooden tags back.
That's okay.
I'm glad you're okay.
I'll wash his kimono.
No, you cook the rice porridge.
I'm glad Matsu-san was alright.
Yeah.
We got a report that a thief broke into your place.
Are you sure the thief didn't steal anything?
No, nothing got stolen.
Our storage wasn't broken into, either.
This is strange. I wonder if it was a fake report.
So, what'd you find? Looks like it was a fake report.
Get the details from the owner.
I'll go on ahead and go back. Yes, sir.
I heard that the police are checking Otsu-ya right now.
The wooden tags, too, might be in the police's hands by now.
If that's the case, the incident this time will probably come to light.
Then, does this mean everything will be settled?
Once it comes to light, my carelessness will come to be known as well.
But that's...
Even though it was Otsu-ya's owner's doing,
the fact still remains that I lost the wooden tags that were in my care.
So long as it becomes known to people, I'll have to take responsibility.
I'm going to return the wooden tags.
But then, your business with them will be...
That's my responsibility.
I'm sorry. I should've at least tried to search for them.
I'll go now and...
If you act carelessly now, they'll figure out what happened.
You don't have to be so worked up.
You've done so much already.
Matsu-san, I brought some rice porridge.
Have some and get some rest.
Looks like you have good friends, Matsukichi-san...
Good partners in crime, maybe?
You sure make me worry.
Sir...
Don't worry. I won't tell anyone.
Good morning, Ichi-san.
I want you to investigate something.
Okay.
So is everything okay now?
I was worried that the ronin might cause us trouble
so I thought he was a nuisance.
But I ended up being saved by him.
Unfortunately, Masa is someone who brings in trouble.
These are...!
I took them back for you.
How?
Were you able to rescue your friend?
Yes, thanks to you. But I was dismissed as a bodyguard at the same time.
You let the hostage escape, so that's just natural.
But, it all turned out for the best.
The master must feel relieved now.
I'll return the favor someday.
Isn't it a problem that he found out that you're repaying your debt
with the money you make from committing crimes?
I'm not using the money from the Five Leaves to repay my debt.
Oh, you aren't?
I'm using the money I earn as a metallic ornament craftsman.
He knows that, too.
Then, what do you use the money from the Five Leaves for?
Ah... Sorry, I asked you a personal question again.
I like to drink with the money we stole from rich people. That's all.
I toss the rest of the money in offertory boxes.
I'm working in the Five Leaves in order to return a favor to Ichi-san.
You're such a conscientious man, Matsukichi-dono.
I said too much again, didn't I?
Masa...
That's the one you showed me the other day. You said it was for sale.
This isn't for sale.
I missed a chance to give it to someone and kept it with me all this time.
I'll give this to you.
Ah... no...
That's okay.
Send it to your little sister in your hometown.
There wasn't much to investigate.
It seems like, last month, that Yagi guy took over as Chief Commander
of the Kitamachi Police.
I heard that he's an able but unconventional man.
He was adopted into the Yagi family, huh?
He was?
I think I heard something like that.
Check up on him some more, will ya?
Ojou-sama,
it sure is taking time for this Otake woman to come back, isn't it?
Why don't we go to the inn already?
I'll wait for her here.
If I don't see this Otake woman, I won't know his whereabouts.
But... You go on ahead and go to the inn, Tasuke.
I can't do that.
I heard that she likes drinking, so I'll go check the taverns around here.
Thanks.
Where on Earth... is my big brother?
Matsukichi-dono.
Ume-dono washed your kimono, so...
Do you know that that Yagi guy is a member of the police?
Yes... kind of...
Because of that, he gives off a different air.
You are a troublesome guy after all.
You talk so carefree even though you brought a policeman along.
But, Matsukichi-dono... I was able to get into Otsu-ya as a bodyguard,
and we were able to get the wooden tags back, all thanks to Yagi-dono.
Aren't you indebted to him as well?
I guess I shouldn't have said that, huh?
Sachi! What're you doing in Edo?!
You, too, big brother! You don't even come back to your place.
What're you doing and where?!
I work as a bodyguard.
I ran away to Edo with our servant Tasuke.
Bunnosuke-niisama decided to arrange a marriage introduction for me without asking me.
A marriage introduction?
But you have your childhood friend Chuujiro.
Right! I can't keep going along with Bun-niisama!
But you being in Edo won't achieve anything.
You should be back. I won't!
Yes, you will.
I hate you too, Masa-niisama!
Sachi!
Do not cause troubles for everyone!
I'll go tell Tasuke at the inn that I was able to see you.
You look so dependable, Masa.
You really are a big brother.
Where're you off to this time, Ojou-sama?
There's something that I want to find out.
Where did my big brother go?
Probably to Katsura-ya.
He works there as a bodyguard, after all.
What's Katsura-ya?
It's in an unauthorized brothel district. Huh?
Well... Thanks for the breakfast.
What is it?
I was wondering what it was that you wanted to find out about me by following me.
You were curious about your big brother's girlfriend?
If you live in the same place as his, anyone would think you're his girlfriend.
But now I know I was mistaken, so I feel relieved...
or maybe actually disappointed.
Disappointed?
At first, I thought, age-wise and status-wise, you weren't a good match for him.
But on the contrary,
I now feel that someone as pretty as you is too good for him.
I'm not the kind of waman you should admire.
Regarding our next job, Matsu has started investigating the target.
You understand, right, Masa? Don't go close to him.
Do you mean Yagi-dono?
That's right. Since he's a police officer.
Is that a problem?
No... Understood.
I don't know what to do with you anymore.
At first, I don't know why but I thought you were interesting.
But now, you're nothing but annoying.
Do something about it, Masa.
What?
If that cop becomes suspicious of you and asks you trick questions,
you can't fool him, can you? That's why I'm telling you not to see him.
I'll go stand watch outside.
Try not to show what I'm thinking, huh?
In any case, Yaichi-dono is good.
I was shocked by what he said earlier.
You're Tokujirou-san, right?
I heard that you and Saint Soji are old friends.
People say that you know lots of things.
What do you need?
The guy who sold out the Bakuro gang to the police...
Do you know his whereabouts?
Oh, Masa.
What'd you come here this early in the morning for?
I wondered if you'd know which inn Sachi is staying at.
She's been here since yesterday.
Huh?
Sachi!
Otake-san, I got some tofu.
Why are you here?
As a woman, there're things that I'd like to learn from Otake-san.
Just for that...
Why are you here?
Oh...
I wanted to give this to you.
It's from Matsukichi-dono.
That metallic ornament craftsman?
Oh my... Wh-What?!
To be continued.
Now, about the next episode of House of Five Leaves...
Sachi speaking. Edo is so big that it's tiring,
but there're many young women who wear flashy kimonos and enjoy their lives.
I'm a little jealous. I have mixed feelings as a woman.
Well, the next episode is...
"Dirty Stray Cat"