You're...
Now that you know the truth...
I cannot let you leave here alive!
Those movements...
That weapon...
Woman, are you...
A Wasp?!
Secret technique:
Centipede Sting!
Hidden technique:
Crimson Lotus Sting!
You're mine!
The next one will take your life.
N-No...
Why... can't I... move?
He does not feel pain.
As one of the underworld, I'm sure you've heard stories
of the dark clan that makes its living by assassinations.
No traces are left to show that the victim survived.
This is the very Mugai user they speak of.
That guy, this guy, everyone's a moron
This isn't your fantasy
Festive annoyance
What can I say, from right to left
This fleeting life is always lacking
The boring nonsense just drifts away
Leaving a curious atmosphere
No one, even him, says the same thing
What frivolous vilification
Vertically and horizontally, hands lined up
Someone else's unhappiness
We simply sneer at
It's what we live for, so why say it's stupid
I can't take it
This world is already the same after all
Always the same
The usual annoyance
Curious spectators yelling "Hooray!"
I'd rather they shut up
Hang their ears low
And close their eyelids
Unable to feel anything
As if
Bang Bang Ba-Bang, It's a Lavish Banquet!
No sign of him today, either...
Where could he have gone?
Mr. Magoichi, welcome.
Mr. Magoichi, you're injured!
This is terrible! We have to treat it!
That should do for now.
Sakura!
We've come to collect you...
Princess Haru.
Wait up!
Come and get me!
Watch where you're going, stupid kid!
If you're gonna play tag, better look around you first.
Mister Helper!
So, you're back, are you?
Sorry I took so long.
No one was waiting around for you.
Where'd you wander off to, anyway?
Koharu's been worried about you.
That's right! You should get home to her, quick!
Yeah.
Koharu, I'm home!
What, she's not here?
Sakura! What happened?!
Who's there?!
Mister Helper...
Are you the priestess?!
Hang on! I'll get Dr. Hansuke!
She's been taken.
The spring cherry blossom... That man...
"Spring cherry blossom"
is a code name for the last princess of the Tokugawa family.
Koharu's true name is Haru.
Her father is the 13th shogun, Lord Tokugawa Iesada.
She is the undisputed princess by birth.
Koharu is a princess?
It's a long story.
So the truth's finally out.
Yes.
Old man...
It's been just about 30 years now.
It all started before you were born.
Jirokichi and I ran around the town of Edo causing trouble
as the Nezumi Kozo gang.
At his prime, Jirokichi was utterly peerless.
I guess that made him greedy.
He wanted to put his own skills to the test,
so he had the idea to break into the Edo Castle treasury alone.
That's it? This'll be a breeze.
Who are you?
I couldn't even sense his presence!
The treasury is just ahead.
If you want money, take all you like.
I have no need for it.
In exchange, let's talk for a bit.
You're not afraid of me?
Afraid? Why should I be?
The only thing I fear is dying without knowing anything.
Take the stars.
Apparently, they're all incredibly far away.
As far as India?
Farther than that.
Much farther than you could even imagine.
In this world, there are as many things I don't know
as there are stars in the sky.
However, all I can see of the world is the inside of this castle.
I want to know... everything.
I want to know why I was born.
From that day on, Jirokichi snuck into that castle many times,
and spoke with that mysterious child night after night.
That is how the 13th shogun, Lord Iesada,
and Jirokichi, called Nezumi Kozo, met.
Jirokichi would tell Lord Iesada about everything he'd seen.
As time passed, Lord Iesada grew into a man.
Congratulations on the birth of the princess,
Lord Iesada.
Stop that, Jirokichi. You're embarrassing me.
Princess Haru is a beautiful name for a girl
born while the cherry blossoms are in bloom.
Still, as her father, I may never hold her.
Lord Iesada...
I'm told Suzu passed away.
The epidemic took her, leaving only Haru behind.
Lord Osuzu is... dead?
Then, we must bring Princess Haru to Edo to care for her!
I cannot do that.
A child born between myself and a traveling performer
cannot be made public.
But...
Besides, in my condition,
I will not be able to care for Haru until she's grown.
Jirokichi, known as Nezumi Kozo,
I have a favor to ask of you.
Please raise Haru, my child, as your own daughter.
I am the last Tokugawa shogun to carry the blood of Lord Ieyasu.
When I am gone, she will be the last survivor of the Tokugawa line.
Lord Iesada!
I've seen enough trickery and deceit.
I want Haru to live as she desires,
free and knowing nothing of all this.
Please, Jirokichi. I beg you.
Please lift your head, Lord Iesada.
I, Jirokichi called Nezumi Kozo, am pleased to accept
this monumental once-in-a-lifetime task.
You accept?
Jirokichi, take that.
Is this...
It is mechanical armor handed down through many generations of Tokugawa.
I entrust it to you.
I believe it will give you great strength to protect Haru.
Lord Iesada,
would you allow me to take these too?
What do you intend to do with my chopsticks?
I just thought, even if the princess never knows her father,
as long as she has these, she'll be connected to you.
Jirokichi...
Though unseen to me,
the spring cherry blossoms look lovely in my heart.
Though my body may wither,
may they live eternally.
Spring cherry blossoms, eh?
Leave the princess... I mean, your spring cherry blossom, to me.
I'm counting on you, Jirokichi...
My one and only friend.
Roman, I'm home!
Hey, Dad! Where have you been— Huh?
What's that baby?!
This is my secret daughter, Koharu!
Be happy! Our family's going to be a little bit bigger!
Whaaaat?!
With that, Jirokichi left the thieving business.
Koharu became Jirokichi's daughter,
and your little sister.
So that's what happened...
Princess Haru should have lived in peace
with you and Sir Jirokichi.
But...
I've found you, Jirokichi, known as Nezumi Kozo.
Don't know anyone by that name.
You will return Princess Haru to us.
Don't know anyone by that name, either!
Sir Jirokichi used all his power to shake off
the pursuers sent by the Bakufu,
but...
Roman.
Hey, Dad—
What happened to you, Dad?!
You're all banged up!
Roman, get out of here right now!
There's an old man called Hiraga Gennai
in the town of Nagare in the capital.
He's a crazy, eccentric pervert, but you can trust him.
Go to him.
You've gotta protect the spring cherry blossom!
Dad, what are you saying—
Shut up and go!
Dad...
Dad!
Damn it!
And that's how I came to this town.
This is where I met you too, huh?
Sakura and I were employed to protect you...
by Lord Tenshoin.
Lord Iesada's daughter is my daughter.
Please protect Princess Haru.
Yes, ma'am. I will stake the name of the undercover troop,
the Wasps, and my own life upon it.
You must carry out the duty of
the Tokugawa guardian dogs, Sakura.
We have watched over Princess Haru all this time.
I see.
Thank you both for telling me this.
I never knew a thing about Koharu...
or about how much had been taken away from her.
If I don't get her back, I can't call myself a Helper... no, her brother!
I've gotta get my precious little sister back, no matter what.
Will you Get-backers lend me a hand?
I beg you.
You've changed.
You look more and more like that fool Jirokichi.
The spring cherry blossom blooms
Seems that lot from Edo has already crossed Lake Biwa.
Once we give them the spring cherry blossom, our job is finished.
Our work in the capital ends today as well.
What will become of her?
That's nothing you need to know.
Where are you going?
On my final patrol,
since my work in the capital ends today.
Well, if it isn't Magoichi.
Care for a drink?
Oops...
Oh, that's right, you don't drink.
Sorry about that.
I do not understand taste,
or what it is to be drunk.
No, still nothing.
It's especially bitter tonight...
Bitter?
Today is the anniversary of the death of Tsukasa, my son.
If he were still alive, he'd be about your age.
He was a hot-blooded boy.
He misunderstood the samurai code
and just went looking for trouble.
He'd get all fired up saying he would eradicate
the foreign barbarians who opposed the Bakufu.
It must've been a moonlit night just like this...
What an ungrateful son, dying before his father!
I don't understand.
Why do you continue to think of someone who has died?
Nothing is left behind once they die, is there?
Of course there is. Memories, and lots of them.
Memories...
I'm sad that Tsukasa died,
but I'm even more happy that he was born my son.
My son still lives within me.
Isn't this fun, Magoichi?
This is fun...
You're back, are you?
I finally found you.
Nice work, Sakura.
You! How did you get past my barrier?!
You call that a barrier?
If you're waiting for your buddies, they're not coming.
I came to take back what you stole.
So you are the second generation Nezumi Kozo?
I never imagined you were the one who kidnapped Koharu.
Back then,
it was really Koharu you were looking for.
Magoichi, eliminate him.
Understood.
It won't be that easy!
What game are you playing?
What?!
That reaction... It couldn't be...
Wh-What is this?!
No traces are left to show that his victim survived.
Nothing will remain of those who fight the Mugai user.
Truly terrifying.
I don't know about Mugai or whatever,
but I won't forgive any scoundrel who kidnaps Koharu!
Be careful, Mister Helper.
That man does not feel pain.
Bastard!
I don't care if she's a princess or not.
Koharu is my precious little sister.
I'm not gonna just sit by and let someone kidnap her!
I will get Koharu back,
even if it costs my life.
Mugai-ryu assassination technique: All or Nothing!
Number one: Toying with people's hearts.
Number two: Those bullshit government ideals.
Number three: Everyone's beloved Koharu!
You're going to return every last bit of it!
What is this sensation?!
This is Roman's lavish banquet!
It can't be!
Magoichi is... The Mugai user is...
No!
Koharu!
If it's come to this, I'll have to destroy the spring cherry blossom...
What?!
Wh-Where is she?!
Hold it!
That's...
Lady Okuni...
The sun shines bright in my old Kentucky home,
This is the spring cherry blossom?
'Tis summer, the darkies are gay,
Now all the preparations are made,
Admiral Perry.
The corn top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom
While the birds make music...
The urge of wanting to try saving you
But for some reason, I can't express it in words right now
The various promises that I can't recall
Remain unfulfilled as night falls somewhere
And I felt utterly defenseless
If I steal something back, I plunder
That which we own will always be such things
I want to obtain everything
But by then, you're no longer with me
Once I realize it, nobody's there
Yeah, yeah. It will always be ours
Yeah, yeah. Still, that's all it is
That's just how it is
Next Time
Welcome home, Admiral.
Would you like a bath or a meal? Or...
Conte.
Yes!
Just hurry up and "conte" me.
Yes, sir!
I've been informed that the next Roman will be:
Show your true intentions with a lavish banquet!
Sorry to keep you waiting, Admiral.
Show Your True Intentions with a Lavish Banquet!
Scratch my back...