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 COUNTED ON AN ENEMY
Ugh, my God, it isn't like me to do this...
I ate too much. I- I can't even work it off...
But if I throw away food, I'll be cursed.
- Poke, poke... - It's squishy!
- Hey, it's a woman? - What? Show me.
Hey, hey, hey, hey! Stop that! Scram! Beat it!!
Shoo! Shoo!
Sis...
How can it be?! The invincible Tsukikage Ran, reduced to a corpse!
Who could have done this to you?!
Whoever it was, he must have been really tough...
I bet you hated to lose!!
Now that it's come to this, I will give you a proper memorial service.
Please go straight to heaven.
Alive...?
Sis, I'm so glad. You're alive!
That's true! The invincible Tsukikage Ran would never be killed this easily.
Still, Sis, why are you on the verge of death?
I... haven't eaten... for ten days.
Huh? Are you saying you're dying by the roadside because of an empty stomach?
I'm just resting for a bit.
Resting? You're collapsed spread-eagle in the middle of the road and you call that resting?
That's pathetic! Truly pathetic!
What a state for a full-grown woman to be in!
All right, all right. Don't worry. I'll piggyback you.
Huh? I can't piggyback her with this in my hand.
Pull yourself together, Tsukikage Ran!
Whew! I feel like a human being again!!
Hey, lady! Bring me another two bottles of sake! And bring any side dish that seems suitable.
You're eating more?!
So what?
I said I hadn't eaten in ten days. Ten days, you hear?! Ten!
What kind of behavior is that? Being so penniless...
...you can't feed yourself is nothing to brag about!
What?
Nothing, nothing. Go ahead, eat as much as you want.
What's this? You're in an awfully good and generous mood today.
Well, sort of. Call it a share of my happiness.
Hmmm...
Want to know why? Say, want to know why?
- Not really. - Aw, why not?
It's no fun at all to listen to other people's tales of happiness.
Meow has money. Thanks to that, I can drink sake.
That is all I need. I have no complaint.
You know what? The truth is...
...I heard on the grapevine...
...that in the next town...
Well, take care of the bill for me, Meow.
Huh? Are you leaving? Hey, are you leaving?
- Ooh, she's come out! - Stay out of her way... - It's a gluttonous woman samurai.
Hey, Sis! C'mon, listen to me!!
Actually, I heard on the grapevine that an old childhood friend of mine lives in the next town.
Her name is Mei.
In play and martial arts training, we were always together, she and I.
Mei was so sweet and gentle, I adored her.
It was so much fun. I wonder what Mei looks like now?
I bet she's become really beautiful. Yeah, I'm sure of it!
You know what Mei did? According to the rumor, she's become really rich...
...in that town. I'm sure she'll put us up for one night.
Once I find her, I'll introduce her to you, okay? Aah, I can hardly wait!
You know what else? I made a huge snowman with Mei. Unfortunately...
...we realized that the head was too heavy for us to put on top of the body.
So, in the end, it became a lying-down snowman.
Oh, yeah. It happened when we were three or four years old...
We pretend-trained to jump over trees, and walk on water.
When we tried to walk on fire, we were spotted by Mei's mother, and she ran to stop us.
We always got scolded together, but when I think about it now, it's no wonder!
It's amazing we grew up without getting hurt. Yeah.
Mei's father was a sha-ping rice cake seller, but he was so stingy...
...that even though I was always over visiting, he only fed me once! Only once, mind you!
Still, that rice cake sure was delicious. I'd like to eat it again...
I wonder how her parents are doing?
Oh, that reminds me... He caught a cold at the time I set out on my travels.
He wouldn't stop coughing, and Mei and her mother were both worried sick...
Meow...
- Be quiet. - Oh. I'm sorry. Is this better?
At the time, I gave Mei the money I had originally saved for my trip.
Now that I think about it, it's embarrassing how little it was.
At the time, I seriously thought that he could be taken to the doctor with it.
I hope it helped out a little bit.
Once I meet Mei, I think I can get her to return that money.
Uh, no, no! It's not like I want to see her because I want my money back...
But Mei promised me she'd return it.
Mei probably worked incredibly hard after that and got rich.
When I think of that, I look forward to getting my money back.
You know what I'm saying?
Sis, do you know what sha-ping are?
Listen, I'll tell you what they are... Sha-ping are...
...burnt and flat...
...and when you open them...
When you open them, then what?
Sis, hurry, hurry!
Sis, we're here!! Mei lives here!!
Sis?
What is it? A drunk?
No...
DEJI MA-YA
- C'mon, sis, let's go! - Hey, don't pull.
And she got busted big time!
Hey, Meow, let's rest today and do this tomorrow.
Mei? Mei?!
Mei!!
Mei... Mei!!
Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?!
Mei?
Meow?
I knew it was you, Mei! I missed you!
Meow, what are you doing here?
I heard about you during my travels, and I just had to see you!
Oh, this is Miss Tsukikage Ran. We're, how can I say...
...we do nothing but fight when we run into each other, but we get along somehow...
...and well, we're sort of traveling together.
We just arrived at this town a second ago. I'm really surprised we met so quickly!
Let's talk the night away, c'mon. Your house is nearby, right?
Oh, my house... I run a business there. So many people are coming and going...
...it's no place to relax. I'll get you a room in a lodge.
That's so unfriendly... It won't bother me a bit.
It's been years since I last saw you. I have lots of things to tell you.
I can't relax in a lodge.
But there are no extra rooms at my house. I can't put you up.
Don't worry about my comfort so much! A closet or a hallway is fine by me!
Meow, I'm a busy woman...
Busy? Oh! So your business is doing well? That's great!
You have a store, right? I'd love to see it.
It's nothing spectacular.
What are you talking about? Of course it's spectacular.
I want to see it! Where is it? What's it called?
Meow, listen...
It's okay! I'll make sure not to be a bother. I'll just look in from the outside.
Come on, you have to tell me the name or I can't go see it.
I'm trying to tell you...
Oh, hello, it's the Dejimaya mistress! Isn't it a fine day today?
Hello.
The Dejimaya, huh?
Wow... You really are amazing, Mei! That's impressive!
Amazing!!
Say, say! Isn't this amazing, Sis?!
Yeah, amazing.
I'm sorry I kept you waiting.
That's okay. I know you're busy, Mei.
Now I kinda feel bad for making you prepare this fancy spread.
Oh, don't worry about it. We promised not to let things like that bother us, remember?
I'm ashamed that I couldn't provide anything better on such short notice.
Oh? You haven't touched your food!
Are you having trouble with it because it's new to you?
If you like, I'll have bean lees or a dried sardine made for you.
I'll take the lees... Ow.
Forget what she said. Oh, Sis, you're such a kidder!
Mei, we were waiting for you. Let's eat together.
You were? Okay then, please eat as much as you want.
Miss Tsukikage, you like sake, don't you? Meow told me about you.
Now, please, help yourself.
I'll pour for myself, so don't mind me.
Oh, I see.
Is this your store?
Sis, it's bad manners to ask things like that out of nowhere.
What do you mean? Bad manners are my forte!
It's okay, Meow.
Yes, it is. It began from nothing and came so far...
See, Sis? It's just like I said, right? Mei is incredible.
She's pretty, smart, and owns this huge store even though she's so young. She's impressive.
Oh, yeah! Have you given up martial arts?
Mei was really good at martial arts. Even I was never able to beat her.
Meow, you really haven't changed a bit.
You're exactly the same. I'm jealous.
Huh?
Excuse me.
Excuse me for a moment.
Say, Sis, you know... I'm kind of ashamed.
Mei's working hard to make a living, and I get the feeling I'm doing nothing at all.
I wonder where Mei went...? She's really late.
Let's go, Meow.
Huh? Why?
I have a feeling it would be better if we left.
Why?
I'm sorry about that. It's so busy.
I've instructed the help to do the work, but they can't seem to handle it on their own.
Oh. Say, where's your father? Can he still make sha-ping rice cake? His...
He's dead.
That sickness got him. It happened almost immediately after you left.
Mom worked too hard and died, too, two years later...
I didn't know... I'm sorry.
I didn't know anything.
Don't worry about it.
I've brought the item.
You may go.
What is it?
You know, you lent me money when you went on your trip.
Have you forgotten? You're so careless.
Wait a minute! What I gave you was child's spending money, not this...
It's all right. I don't like being in debt, so I'm returning it. I've added interest.
Stop it! That's not why I came here!
Well then, let's wrap this up soon. I have another early morning tomorrow.
Oh, yes! You can't unwind properly after your trip in a place like this.
I booked you a room, so I'll get one of my workers to take you there.
- What's that? - It's nothing.
Yeah, but it sounds like a huge commotion.
It looks like it's getting really ugly. What's going on?
Mei?
What are you doing?! Keep the noise down!!
I- I'm sorry. He barged in saying he wanted dream incense...
Honestly! He's persistent for someone with no money!
What's this all about?
Meow, I think it would have been better if you hadn't come here after all.
Why?
That samurai became that way because of this so-called dream incense.
Dream incense?
Yes... It's probably a drug... It robs people of their humanity.
There's probably a stockpile of the drug inside that storehouse.
Mei, is this true?!
Mei... why?
You dare ask why? Meow, you really are lucky to be so carefree.
Do you know what the most important thing is for living? Money.
Dad died without being able to see a doctor. Mom died from overwork.
Poverty is to blame for everything.
If we only had money, they would still be alive today...
Strangers offer consolation, but when it comes right down to it, they won't help you.
You're the same! What were you doing while I was suffering?
You were out on a carefree journey!
I...
It all comes down to money. Take a look at this house.
How hard do you think I worked? I finally came to this point. Finally.
I won't let anyone interfere!!
Sis, let's go. I don't want to be here any more.
Maybe so, but it doesn't look like it will be that easy.
Now that you've seen what I do, I really can't let you leave without a fuss, naturally.
Mei!
Wow... that's quite good. So you didn't travel for nothing.
But you're naive. You should've finished them off. That's what will cost you your life.
I'm sorry, but I really can't let you live.
You shouldn't have come here so brazenly!
I'm sad... Mei.
DREAM INCENSE
This stuff...
Because of this stuff!!
What are you doing?!
Giving it a fancy name won't change what it does! This...
This stuff that robs people of their humanity!!
Stop it!! Meow!!
This garbage!
Idiot!!
Mei!
Mei, Mei!
Mei, hold on! Mei! Mei!!
Oh, Mei...
A doctor... That's it, a doctor!! Call a doctor, quickly!
Someone! Hurry!!
Mei, hang on! A doctor will be here soon, okay?
Mei... Mei...?!
I'm stupid, aren't I?
Mei?! No, Mei...
Come on, live. Even if we're apart, live somewhere. That's all I want from you.
Ah, you're so warm...
Mei...
Tell me, where did I go wrong? In my way of life...
Mei...
Meow?
What, Mei?
This is a pretty good death for me, don't you think?
Mei?
Mei?! Mei!! Mei!!
Mei!!!
Sis, if I hadn't left on my stupid journey...
At least... At least... if I had come sooner...
No, Meow, you made it in time.
What wonderful weather! It feels great. Doesn't it, Sis?
Yeah.
The sky is sunny...
It's a forked road! Which road shall we take, Sis?
- Pardon, pardon! - Coming through!
Meow! This way, this way!!
Would you look at the way that woman loses her cool at the smell of sake?!
Wait a second, Sis! Sis!!
The next episode of Tsukikage Ran is: "The European Girl Was Huge."
Don't miss it.