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.
I BUZZED WITH ELECTRICITY
Kite flying? That's out of season...
What kind of kook could be flying it?
Oh! Isn't the sea big?
Ooh, he's handsome!
This is it! We become acquainted by strange chance...
...that becomes fate, which leads to a wild romance.
It's beautiful boy meets beautiful girl, after all!
Oh, no, no! What are you talking about? I have no such ulterior motive.
That's right. I am merely genuinely curious...
...to learn the secret behind the mysterious kite. Uh-huh, that's right.
Excuse me, Mister Samurai. What are you doing there?
There are clouds.
Clouds?
I'm waiting for clouds.
Waiting for clouds? Um... By clouds, do you mean clouds that float in the sky?
Or perhaps it's a vague reference...
...to how you want to grab, squeeze, and hold a beautiful woman passerby like me...?
Just kidding!
You're distracting. Would you leave me alone?
Aiya... Such a cold man...
Still, sometimes the coldness is makes the man handsome.
Do you like flying kites?
Listen. I am performing an important electrical experiment.
E- EI... EI...?
- Electrical. - Electrical...
Correct. I am attempting to extract electricity from the sky.
Extract electricity?
Yes. To begin... I collect lightning at the tip of the kite.
Um... Lightning on a kite? By lightning, do you mean...
...that sparky, flashy lightning?
Mr. Lightning who steals your belly button away, playing his drums?
Lightning is not a devil or a demon as you seem to think.
What? It isn't?
Well, in plain language, when electricity is born between clouds...
...it is called lightning.
Huh? Uh, so you're saying that cloud babies are electricity and the baby's name is lightning?
No, no... That is not what I meant!
It isn't?
Okay, listen. For example, the things we call rivers flow from high places to low.
Yeah, yeah.
The same sort of thing happens inside clouds.
The same as inside clouds? Oh, I know! "The Milky Way!"
I know that one! You mean like the story of Princess and Lord what's-their-faces...
...who meet once a year, right?
- You're wrong! - What? I'm wrong?
To sum up, the thing I call electricity also flows from areas of high power to areas of low power!
The product is what we call a bolt of lightning. Do you understand?
O- Oh! I get it! I see, I see!
You should have said that from the beginning, Mister Samurai.
I'm not stupid, you know. Electricity, huh?
The electricity extracted from that lightning will travel down the string...
...and will be collected inside that device.
What?! There's electricity in this little box?!
There is unlimited energy in electricity, you see.
It can create light which won't fade in wind or rain...
...and it can also relieve the pain of the sick. It even enables man to fly!
Fly, huh...? Um, but there's nothing in here...
You cannot see electricity with the eye...
...but I do have an unusual globe from a foreign country.
Rub it like so...
What are you doing?
What do you think?
It's as though I'm being paralyzed to the core of my being.
Oh?
That is the power of electricity.
What? This?!
Correct.
I am certain that eventually electricity will enable us to span the oceans with ease...
...to cross to foreign lands.
Wow... This is astounding! The world is so advanced!
Listen, Sis! According to what the gentleman said...
...sting horribly sick people with electricity, and they'll heal instantly...
...and they'll even be able to fly!
They'll fly through the air, span the sea, and go to foreign lands!
It's so impressive, it astounds even me!
That is impressive.
Hey, mister!
Sister!! This is no time for drinking! The world has entered the age of electricity!
I don't know anything about electricity, but it's the kite man you want, isn't it?
D- Don't be silly. Lady Meow would never fall for a guy...
...although he seems to have a thing for me...
I mean, he suddenly grabbed my hand, put a ball in it and asked...
..."What do you think?" Tee-hee!
Oh, well. I guess handsome men are always bold. Huh...?
Hey, Sis! I'm not finished telling you about it yet!
Listening to your nonsensical talk sours the sake!
What do you mean nonsensical?! In the first place, you shouldn't drink sake all the time!
You have to set your sights on the times!
Wh- What the heck are you guys doing?!
Hey, you! If you try anything funny on Dr. Genkai, you won't get away with it!!
Genkai...?
Get them!
Why, you...!
You! Take that!!
If you want to pass, you'll have to cut me down first!
Big brother!!
O- Onami...!
I'm so sorry! Please forgive us!
Onami, you stay out of this!
I saw this lady at the seaside with Dr. Genkai, so I thought...
Dr. Genkai? Do you mean the handsome kite-flying man?
Yes!
I wonder what relation this girl is to him?
Still, in any event, I am the more womanly between us. It's okay, it's okay.
Um... I was convinced you must be a spy from Kikuhimeya...
...sent to con Dr. Genkai with feminine wiles...
Kikuhimeya?
You should have taken a closer look at this girl.
For feminine wiles, I pray they would choose someone a better for the job.
Pardon?
Yes. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions.
Hey!!
I see. She has a point.
Now that I stop to think about it, that does make a lot of sense.
What does THAT mean?!
How can I ever apologize? We have caused you a terrible inconvenience.
I am her brother, Mokichi. Please forgive us for our indiscretion. I beg you!
We're sorry!!
Um, as a token of our regret, please accept our small but heartfelt reception.
Reception?
Help yourself.
Uh, look... Is this what you call a reception?
Yes... That's why I said "small but heartfelt."
We're finding it hard to make ends meet, you see.
Now that you mention it, this place is a real beat-up...
Uh, no, I mean... What do you mean?
Actually, this area has recently become infested with pirates...
...who call themselves "The Masked Marauders."
Masked Marauders?
Yes... Thanks to them, we fishermen have had our boats destroyed, our fish stolen...
...we've been put through hell!
If only Dr. Genkai stays on our side...
What's this about Dr. Genkai?
Well, with Dr. Genkai's electricity, we can supposedly build much faster boats...
With faster boats, we could outrun the Masked Marauders.
If that's all, leave it to me! I'll head right on over to Dr. Genkai to plead with him.
After all, me and the doc are pals. I'm sure he'll do a teensy favor for me!
Yes, but his experiments seem to cost an enormous amount of money...
Money? I can't help you with money...
- But... you know. - Yeah.
The truth is, we're going to be shipping the silk maker's cargo tonight.
I see... You can't make a living at this rate, so you're taking on shipping jobs, huh?
Yes.
That's tough... That's downright deplorable, don't you think so, Sis?
Yeah...
If the job goes well, we'll make large sum of money.
Then we could also help fund Dr. Genkai's experiment...
Uh-huh. That makes sense.
And the reason we have brought you here was to apologize, and also to make a request.
What is this request? Tell us! Don't be shy!
Yes ma'am. We have witnessed your skill, and would like you to please be our bodyguards.
- We beg you!! - Oh, is that all!
In other words, you want us to protect your cargo from the pirates, right?
- You'll do it?! - Of course we will! Right, Sis?!
- No, thanks. - Huh?! Why not?!
It's too much trouble.
H- Hey... What's your problem?! Look! Can't you see everyone's begging us?!
I'm amazed you can say something so cold!! Hey, you! Are you listening to me?!
You sake-swilling woman!! You drank so much, the inside of your head is sodden!!
What do you think of that inhumanity? I feel pathetic to be her partner!
Hey, you guys!!
I'm all the bodyguard you need, even without that cold woman!
Y- Yeah...
Dr. Genkai, I would like you to sign the contract soon!
I am told that 100 or 200 ryo isn't enough money for your experiment.
If you give us the rights to the device...
...I will fund your entire experiment.
Doctor, you are too skilful to be stuck in a hick town like this.
We wish to spread your electricity across all Japan.
If we sell it at a high price, you will also benefit...
If you sell it at a high price, villagers won't be able to afford it.
That is called trade. The people who want it may work and save to buy it.
However...
That is how valuable your electricity is, Dr. Genkai.
This is but a small gift. Please use it to your good.
I- I can't accept this! Ah, wait!!
I'll be back, Dr. Genkai.
Scientists are so stuck-up...
He claims he wants to benefit mankind, but inside, he has to want money, too.
Dr. Genkai, please have one.
- Uh, no... - Now, now, don't hold back.
So, how's the electricity experiment going?
Why don't you get around to accepting Kikuhimeya's proposal?
I believe you aren't the type to be swayed by the temptation of money!
What do you say? Won't you take Mokichi and the others' hearts into consideration?
Why you! Don't try to influence him just because you want to win the bet!
- Ow! You talked to him first!! - What did you say?!
Knock it off, you two!! If you're going to fight, take it outside!
Honestly... I can't believe they're making bets over which offer Dr. Genkai'll take...
It must be tough.
Which way did you bet?
I'm not interested in electricity.
I walk on my own two feet and occasionally stop for a drink of good sake like this.
I rest my bones and then begin walking again. Isn't this a good living...?
If we say such things, Japan will be left behind in the age to come!
In foreign lands, new technology is being refined steadily. Not only technology...
...apparently there are books which describe fully the construction of the human body.
I want to cross the ocean to foreign lands to learn those new things...
...to use them to benefit mankind!
But I need money to realize my dream.
You need money to benefit mankind, huh?
Huh?
The worries of a famous scientist sure are tough.
The world is going to become too convenient...
KI KUHI MEYA
Why are you having such a hard time dealing with the likes of Genkai?
Well, Genkai is holding back because of the fisherman.
He's taking his time agreeing to the deal.
Scientists are annoying to deal with.
I'd love to put an end to his complaining by gutting him like a pig...
...but if we kill Genkai, we won't get the electricity.
By the way, tonight the fishermen are delivering the silkmakers cargo...
Yes, sir. They must be trying to help fund Genkai's experiments.
They're resisting... They are an annoying bunch.
Perhaps we'll dispose of them first, the ones Genkai holds most dear.
Be careful! It'll be ruined for business if it gets wet!
Oh, yeah. We're going on a boat!
I recall I got horribly seasick when I was a child...
...but I'm an adult now! It'll be fine!
- Hi. - Heartless woman!
Why are you showing your face around here now?!
Oh, this. You know, freshly caught fish sashimi and a cup of sake...
I can't stop the drool!
I'm sorry to say this, but I'm the only bodyguard they need!
Really?! You changed your mind?!
Hey!
Great! Now that you're here, we have nothing to fear!
- Hey... Come on! - We're counting on you!!
In exchange, catch me a good one.
- It's the least we can do! - I don't like this. I don't like this at all!!
Oh, this is good!
It's lean and firm!
I have heard that samurai don't eat raw fish, but...
Who told you that nonsense?
The sky is a celestial heaven of stars! The aroma of the sea!
Supping on freshly made sashimi while listening to the waves!
This is what life is all about! What's more can you ask?!
No... I feel sick... I still do get seasick after all...
Would you like a piece, too?
Hey, look!
It's the Masked Marauders!
Ow!
We're taking your cargo!
And if I say no?
Then I'll kill you!
- Boss! - Steal the cargo!!
- You won't have it!! - Then you'll have to die!
As long as Lady Meow is here, you won't lay a finger on the cargo...
Why, you!
Wind School, Crescent Moon.
Kikuhimeya...
Hey... you...! Meow of the Iron Cat Fist will...
- I know this guy...! - It's the Kikuhimeya boss!!
Never mind me! Deliver the cargo!
We can't! That's a horrible wound. We should take you to Dr. Genkai.
The doctor will treat it with medicines.
We can always deliver the cargo later.
Everyone! We're heading back to the bay immediately!
Right!!
Big brother!!
- Don't worry, he'll live. - Where's Dr. Genkai?
A moment ago, the doctor said he was going to Kikuhimeya...
What did you say?!
He said he's going there to turn down their proposal.
You're stupid, aren't you! Did you simply let him go?!
Yes...
The Masked Marauders ARE the Kikuhimeya!
What?
You're completely useless! No matter how good-looking you are...
...women with nothing going on upstairs are useless!
Would you look at this girl? She's letting her feelings of rivalry take control. It's pathetic.
What?!
Don't blow your nose on me.
The Kikuhimeya won't kill Dr. Genkai. If they do, they won't get the electricity.
KI KUHI MEYA
Thank you for making your decision, Dr. Genkai.
Without further ado, if you will kindly sign or seal this with blood...
...you can leave everything else to me.
No... Your kind offer is very welcome, but...
...I came here today to return this.
I have no reason to accept such a large sum of money.
Yes... My heart did waver.
I did waver, but I decided in my heart...
...that electricity must be used for the good of man.
If I were to abandon the poor fishermen right before my eyes...
...how can I hope to serve mankind?!
Yes, but your experiments must cost a lot of money.
It's impossible for the fishermen to produce such money...
Scientists were given brains to solve that sort of dilemma.
Doctor, by now, the fishermen you respect so much...
...have likely met a watery grave at the bottom of the sea.
What? What do you mean by that remark?
Wh- What?!
This is what I mean.
Maybe we should have done this with you from the start. We could have saved a lot of trouble.
Don't worry. We won't take your life. If we did, we would be left with nothing.
However, we are going to make you suffer!!
Forgive my intrusion, boss!
Rogues!
You're the rogues, you pirate bastards!
What?
Too bad for you! We protected the fishermen and their cargo.
What?!
If you're vicious businessmen, trade viciously. If you're a thief, steal.
If you don't concentrate on one or the other, you won't prosper in either.
That's right! If you sit on the fence...
Um, are you all right, sir?
Oh... You're the one I met on the beach this morning...
Yes! I am... Meow of the Iron Cat Fist.
Get your dirty hands off him!
Oh, don't look at me like that! I normally don't do this sort of thing...
I don't know what sort of nobody you are...
...but I show no mercy to those who interfere with me!
I am only a beautiful nobody. If you promise to run your trade...
...without trampling the weak, I would be happy to let you go without incident, but...
Now that you know the identity of the Masked Marauders, I cannot allow you to leave.
There! Don't let her get out alive!
Aah, what a nuisance. If you reformed yourself, this would be so easy, too...
Come, come, Dr. Genkai, while we can!
I am in your debt...
W- Wait, please... If you want, I'll give you money! As much as you want!
I don't want it.
I- I'll give you whatever you want! Just say it! Ask for anything!
Fool!
Did you kill him?
No, he has to face the law as the boss of the Masked Marauders.
Yeah!
- Is the doctor all right? - Uh, yes... About that...
Oh, dear. He's unconscious...
Doctor, the clouds are gathered rather nicely, wouldn't you say?
Yes!
- Finally! - Finally we'll see electricity!
Electricity, Sis! Let's go closer to watch!
I'm not interested.
Dr. Genkai! Dr. Genkai, electricity!
The next episode of Tsukikage Ran is: "There Was No God In This World."
Don't miss it.