TSUKIKAGE RAN Kaze ga touge wo... The wind came down...
...orite kita. ...the mountain peak.
Tamoto yurashite... It rustled my sleeve...
...sugitetta. ...and passed me by.
Onna hitori no... Are you gossiping about me?
...tabiyuku wake wo The woman who travels alone?
Uwasa shiteruka, yanchana suzume. Mind your own business, mischievous sparrow.
Nanoru namae wa... The bigger a name to call oneself...
...arudake jama yo. ...the more a nuisance it is.
Aru wa kimama to... What I have is freedom and...
...tomo no osake. ...my companion, sake.
SHE'S TOUGH, FOR A WOMAN
Excuse us for startling you like that!
Actually, Mr. Samurai, we merely wished to test your skill.
Oh! We neglected to introduce ourselves! We are three brothers...
...of the Bonsai Clan. We control the town down the road.
Shut up.
I'm not interested.
- A woman! - A woman!
A female samurai?
Look, guys... Can't you guys tell how busy I am...
...just by looking at me?
I am taking a nap.
A nap... ma'am?
Precisely. See?
The weather is nice and warm and very relaxing, right?
Y- Yes...
The wind is gentle and soothing, right?
Yes... that's true.
See? I have all the perfect napping conditions.
It is inhuman to oppose such perfection, don't you think?
Yes... In... human?
To disturb a nap, a truly human act...
...you three have perpetrated an inhuman act, inferior to even cats and dogs...
...and in the past, I would spare no hesitation in gutting all of you.
However, out of respect for this pleasantly warm afternoon...
...I will spare your lives. Now that I have explained myself...
...get lost.
Sir ma'am...?
Get lost.
Yes, sir!
Utterly inexcusable!
The sky is sunny... My heart is also sunny...
Whoops!
What the heck was that for?!
Are you thugs aware that I'm Lady Meow of the Iron Cat Fist?!
Huh?! It's a woman!
A woman!
A female traveler!
Ow...
Excuse us for startling you like that!
Actually, Lady Traveler, we merely wished to test your skill.
Actually, something has come up, and we were hoping to find a strong person such as yourself.
What? Something has come up and you were hoping to find a strong person such as myself?
Yes!
What exactly has come up? Explain!
Y- Yes, ma'am! There is one other clan besides our Bonsai Clan in our town...
...the Benitsubaki Clan!
I follow you! The Benitsubaki Clan!
Yeah. At any rate, the Benitsubaki Clan is a hotbed of villainy!
Say what?!
For the sake of our town, we have decided...
...to wage a war of justice against the evil Benitsubaki Clan
A-- war of justice?!
- So, we want you to... - I understand the situation.
You're talking to Lady Meow who takes a stand against evil.
I would be glad to help out!
You mean it? Really?! That's great!
Yo, Bonsai Brothers.
You're standing on Benitsubaki Clan turf.
Don't walk on this road like it belongs to you losers.
Th- That's not funny!
This entire area used to belong to the Bonsai Clan!
You swindled us out of our land with fraudulent gambling!
What did you say?
How dare you dishonor the generosity of the Boss...
...who spared the lives of your miserable family!
H- Humph! I don't recall accepting the so- called generosity of a dirty, cheatin' bastard!
You filth! I give you a chance to talk, and you repay me with slander!
Very well, I'll make it so you'll never be able to speak again!
What's with you guys? You're acting like total wimps.
W- Who the hell are you?!
Huh? You mean me?
Listen closely, boys. I...
...was born on a plant-rich continent. My fighting technique is the Iron Cat Fist!
Lady Meow, the beauty of justice who can silence the crying babe... is me!
I don't care if your name is Meow or Woof! Mind your place, lowly woman!
Excuse me?! I won't let you get away with calling me a lowly woman, you halfwit!!
H- Halfwit?! You saucy tart!!
S- Saucy tart?
You dare call Lady Meow, cuter than a flower, a saucy tart?!
How dare you?!? Now I'm pissed off!!
I shall teach you all a good lesson with one slap of Lady Meow's Iron Cat Fist.
What the hell?! Let go of me, you idiots!!
Get her!!
- Let go, you cowards! - Save us, lady!!
I said let go of me!! Move away!
Let go of me already! You're in my way!
Who the hell are you?!
Oh, as you can see, I'm just a beautiful woman.
What?!
I noticed the plight of the young lady who is unnaturally popular with the men...
...so I came over to help.
Ha! Impudent beggar!!
Huh? Hey! Wait!
Not bad, for a woman.
Thanks.
We will settle this someday at our leisure.
Y- You'll pay for this!!
Serves you right! Give us your best shot!!
Oh, you're strong. Oh, you are so strong! You're really amazing!
That bodyguard named Miyashita is not only an utter villain...
...he is an incredibly tough character.
But you, Lady Samurai, you far outclass that bozo!
Bravo!
Uh, once again, may I impose on you the request to help our Bonsai Clan...
...to teach the evil Benitsubaki Clan a good, good, good lesson?
- Please? - I'm not interested.
Lady Traveler, we will ask for your help after all!
You horrible creeps!!
Oh, my. You've really started growling this time, haven't you?
True, we haven't eaten anything substantial in the last two days...
...but that's no reason to growl at me so much, is it?
In order to do anything in this world, you need money.
Here, see? This is all I have.
Please understand that you're the stomach of a samurai and accept your fate.
Did you happen to overhear that?
Were you talking to your own stomach, Ms. Samurai?
It was making such an ungodly racket, I felt it necessary to talk back.
Is that unusual?
Forgive me! But it's so...
Uh...
Ms. Samurai, if you like...
...would you like to stop by the bowl rice restaurant where I work?
I would love to take you up on your offer...
...but as I just got through telling my stomach, I don't have enough money.
It's okay! I'll persuade my uncle.
You know, Ms. Samurai, it's been a long time since I laughed like this.
Huh?
C'mon, c'mon! It's right this way!
Come on, Lady, we're here.
Here?
Go right in and meet Dad... ...I mean, the Boss.
R- Right.
I'M IN LOVE!
She's got good eyes!! I'm in love!!!
W- What?
Ma'am! He says he is tired, so he's going to sleep, and that the rest is up to you.
Lady Meow! Please use your power to take back our land from the Benitsubaki Clan!
Yeah, I know! That's why I came here!
Ooh, how reassuring!
Boss, my name is Meow! I am but a traveling martial artist...
...but will take it upon myself to aid the Bonsai Clan!
RIGHT ON!!!
Here you go! Please, eat!
Be my guest!
Then, I will, thank you.
Delicious!
You certainly devoured that, Lady Samurai! Would you like another bowl?
Really? Uh, well then...
You know, master, I had the pleasure of eating not one, but two bowls...
...of your wonderful rice, so it's difficult for me to say this, but...
...this happens to be my entire fortune at the moment.
I hate to say this, but would you allow me to pay you the rest later?
See? Isn't she funny, Uncle?
Yeah! Ms. Samurai, your money's no good here!
No... That's not good...
Don't worry! You really are a fun character, just as Sakura said!
I haven't been able to laugh like that in a long time, either!
Really?
Sure! And besides... those bandits would only make off with my profits anyway.
Uncle...
You in, old man?
I see you haven't made much money today. You need...
...to put your back into your job, old man! Today we're taking it all.
Please don't take it all! We won't be able to restock!
Your poor salesmanship is nothing to brag about! Bite your tongue!
Stop it! Please, give him a break today!
Sakura, that's a lot of big talk for a Bonsai girl.
Hey.
You're that samurai!
Leave the money.
Leave it.
You'll... You'll pay for this!
Thank you so much, Ms. Samurai.
So this is what you meant by "those bandits would only take it away".
If I remember correctly, they belong to the so-called Benitsubaki Clan, correct?
Do you know of them?
Yes. They're not a very nice bunch, are they?
Yeah... Ever since they took over this town...
...it's become a living hell!
They call the money we shopkeepers earn a "levy" and take away every last penny.
If we don't, they take all our money with fraudulent gambling...
And my son, Kikujiro...!
Uncle...
When he was dragged off to their gaming house...
...all he did was realize they were cheating...!
Kikujiro! Kikujiro!!
Mr. Kikujiro suddenly collapsed at the gaming house, you see...
Kikujiro and Sakura were so close, they had been engaged to marry!!
Ms. Sakura, you belong to the Bonsai Clan?
That's right. I'm the Bonsai's daughter.
You have three clumsy brothers, don't you?
Y- Yes. Um, do you know of my little brothers?
Ms. Sakura, it seems your three blockheaded siblings are planning to do something rash.
What?
You had better stop them if you can.
Mister, thank you for the meal. I'll be back to pay what I owe.
Although I can't say when that will be.
That explains the deserted streets...
Hey, you there!
Oh, it's you.
S- Say, is that...? You know!
Huh? Yeah, it's sake. I just got it in.
I thought so!
Oh...you like sake?
Uh, no, I don't particularly like it...
Say, wanna stop by the Benitsubaki house? It's all-you-can-drink there.
I'll think about it, but... Can I have a little, just one sip?
Huh? Right here?
Yeah, that's right. Just a little lick.
BENI
Idiot!!
Can't you even collect the levy properly?!
I- I'm sorry! A strange female samurai drifter interfered...
A female samurai drifter?
Yessir, and she's awfully tough!
So you tucked your tail between your legs and ran?! Idiots!!
How about being more kind to your underlings, Benitsubaki?
Sensei...
That's her, Boss!! The samurai I was telling you about!!
What?!
True, but as of today, she is a Benitsubaki bodyguard. Just like me.
I'm still thinking about it.
Miyashita sensei is taking too many liberties around here recently.
- You three! - Sakura!
- What are you doing?! - Sakura!
We're about to charge in and crush Benitsubaki!
Do you think you can possibly defeat them?!
Is your name Sakura? Please don't worry about that!
I, Meow of the Iron Cat Fist, will make sure to beat...
What are you supposed to be? Please mind your own business.
Stop this, you three!
Big Sister! You can't stand it, either, can you?!
You hate how they got away with killing Mr. Kikujiro!
We'll avenge him for you!!
You're a drinker, aren't you.
Oh, not really.
By the way, the Benitsubaki Clan seems to be up to a lot of no good...
...are you okay with acting as bodyguard for such people?
Whether Benitsubaki is a villain or a saint, it doesn't matter to me.
As long as he pays me.
That answers that. People can live like that.
- Hey, you! - What are you worms doing here?!
Shut your trap! The Bonsai Clan is here to make a wholesale arrest of the Benitsubaki Clan!!
Time to go to work.
C- C- Come on out, Benitsubaki!!
So you blockheads still have a little courage left.
I was planning to have you taken care of in the near future anyways...
...so you've actually saved me time and effort by daring to come here yourselves.
Hey, you! Benitsubaki! I know all about your evil exploits!
I, Lady Meow, am a fastidious person! I can't rest...
...until town bloodsuckers like you have been cleaned up!
I have to pay off my liquor tab.
You're that samurai! What is it, lowlife woman? You've turned into a villain, haven't you?!!
Step aside.
They say that the only cure for stupidity is death.
Would you like to die once?
Does it hurt? I bet it does.
If you still want to fight, I'm willing to continue...
...but you three will definitely die. A dog's death. A useless death.
Still, if you run home immediately, tend to your wounds...
...and start living honestly, you will live a useful life.
Which do you choose?
Thus said, Benitsubaki...
Let's say nothing happened today.
What?!
How about if you all have a change of heart, and start living honestly as well?
Don't mess with me, you samurai trash!
Sensei, you brought her here!! Put this woman to the sword!
I suppose you and I... ...live too differently.
I think my way of life is better though.
Shit! Get her!!
Hey!
Hey, hey, hey, hey!
Oh. It's you.
Say, you're not half bad! I have a better opinion of you.
I don't really care what you think of me.
Don't be that way! I'm Meow of the Iron Cat Fist. What's your name?
Who knows?
Who knows?! Hey, wait!
Hey! I told you my name, so tell me yours!
Why should I?
Why should you? It's a little thing called manners!!
Really?
Don't "really" me!
The next episode of Tsukikage Ran is: "Sake Made The Tears Sting."
Don't miss it.