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.
THE EUROPEAN GIRL WAS HUGE
Come one, come all! It's an elephant, folks! An elephant!
Imported from Europe, the very elephant of noble lineage which the King of Siam...
...presented to the shogunate, I present to you: the elephant Taromaru!!
Ooh! It's an elephant! An elephant! It's the real thing, Meow!
Are you looking? Hey, isn't it big?!
Sis...
Isn't its nose long?! Aren't its ears big?!
I didn't know elephants bark with a " Bwoo!"
Holy! Its poop is big, too! Look, Meow! Look at that!
Sis, this is embarrassing.
What's your problem, Meow? Aren't you thrilled? It's an elephant, an elephant!
I know, I know. It's Taromaru, the elephant of noble lineage...
...which the King of Siam presented to the shogunate.
Okay, if you know how great it is...
...how about showing a little more enthusiasm? You're no fun to be with.
Please understand that I'm startled at how much fun you are to be with right now!
Ladies and gentlemen! Did you enjoy the show?
Yeah!!
But unfortunately, all good things must come to an end...
...and it is time.
Everyone, the showroom must be completely emptied to let in the next guests...
...so please, exit in an orderly fashion by that exit over there...
Huh?!
HUH?!
Yes! That's the emotion I like! Make the memory of this moment eternal!
I saw the elephant.! I heard the elephant.!
The elephant surprised me.!
Elephant sembei and elephant manju!
A pencil case that won't break even if an elephant steps on it!
That's the sales trade for you! They don't lose a moment to push their wares.
Meow, they have elephant manju! Let's get some! Let's get some!
And a pencil box, too! C'mon, give me money! Money!
What're we gonna do with all these manju, Sis?!
Why do you think I'm eating them, silly?
What's wrong with this woman?! I thought her only weakness was sake...
...but she's nuts for elephants, too! I am completely shocked.
Fine, fine. I don't mind whatever you happen to like...
...but I'm the one stuck with the bill for all your sake and food and parties!
Oh, be quiet. So why don't you have some, too? Here.
No duh! Of course I'll have some!!
My money was used to buy 'em, so they're mine...
It's a fight! It's a fight!!
H- Hey-ey-ey-ey-ey!
Yai-yai-yai-yai-yai?
Why, you! Dammit, don't mess around with me!
You are who is messing around. Let's talk about the real problem now!
This is everybody's road! You don't have a problem with how I choose to walk it, do you?!
That's fart logic. It's poo-poo.
You walk the road. You bump into an old woman, she falls.
You apologize. This is the path of humans.
Why, you! Hey, what is this woman saying?!
Sorry, excuse me a moment!
Whoa!!! What's this? What's going on here?!
She's huge! She's really huge! Who do you think she is, Sis?
She's a huge lady, of course.
I'm saying, what is a huge lady like that doing here?!
You won't get the answer by asking me.
This must be a town with lots of huge people in it.
What's wrong with this woman? She went nuts over a huge elephant...
...but when it comes to a huge woman, she couldn't care less!
- Um, excuse me... - Yeah?
Who might that terribly huge lady with the shiny head be?
Oh, her! Okuma knocked that old woman down...
...so the blonde woman is demanding an apology.
So Okuma is the guy with the red nose?
That's right.
Who do you think you are?! Just because you're big, don't think you can act big, you idiot!
Oh, so I am big. Big means I am tall, right?
That is not important. Please apologize to the old lady.
Why, you... Are you trying to embarrass me further?!
Em- Embarrass? What do you mean? You apologize.
I am saying that is a samurai's duty.
What did you say? You think I'm a samurai?
This is hilarious!
I'm Mr. Daigoro Okuma! I don't know about this samurai duty or logic crap...
...but your haughty attitude is totally absurd, you idiot!
- Yeah! Yeah! - What's so great about samurai?!
Samurai in this town are rotten!
Whoa! What is she doing?!
Commit harakiri! I will assist you!!
I- Idiot! Stop it!!
H- Hey! We have to stop this!
This is huge!
S- Sis! Sis!!
Ooh! Impressive, Sis!
She's quite a sturdy blonde, isn't she?
Sis! Sis! Say, what should we do with this blonde?
What should we do with her? If we leave this huge thing in the middle of the road...
...it will get in the way of traffic.
That's true.
For the time being, let's carry her to a nearby lodge.
Yeah, yeah. That's true...
What? Who's gonna carry her?
These manju sure are heavy...
That was good...
Oh! So you were hungry. Getting grumpy on an empty stomach is just like my sis.
What?
I'm overwhelmed!
This blonde is startling no matter what she does.
A samurai eats manju in honorable poverty.
That's the way to starve out enemies. The lesson of Momotaro.
You are a true samurai. Please make me your apprentice.
Apprentice? By apprentice, do you mean you want to be a samurai?
Nippon samurai Bushi-Do! My name is Stephanie.
I came to Japan on my father's business!
In my country, I read lots and lots of books all about Japan!
There are three people in Nippon: Ninja, samurai, geisha!
Pardon?
Nippon is a sparkling country of gold. People with topknot are samurai.
People who run around in black are ninja.
The two are friends. Geisha play the shamisen guitar!
You're...
I am on a journey of training to become a samurai!
But I know! Nippon is a mess right now!
Y- You think so?
Everyone forgot the samurai spirit. Everyone calls samurai stupid. Why?!
Because they are stupid.
I beg you! Please make me your apprentice!
Don't.
Listen to her, Sut... Su-teff... f...
What's her name again? Oh, well. I'll call her Su.
Don't do it, Su. Even if you tried your hardest...
...what could you possibly learn from this greedy, drooling drunkard?
Go home to your father.
Hey, who are you calling a greedy, drooling drunkard?!
You, of course.
You are a great samurai! You are the symbol of a true samurai!
Teacher! Master! I am sure of it! Please make me your apprentice!!
No way.
What're you gonna do, Sis?
For the time being, tell her that she ties her obi the wrong way.
Stephanie...
I think I had a bad dream...
Meow, Meow!
Huh? What is it, Sis?
Ssh! What're we gonna do with that huge girl, St... St...
You mean Su?
Ssh! Yes, her! Do something!
You're the one who should do something. She's following YOU to be your apprentice.
I never made her my apprentice!
Hello, hello.
She seems to think she is.
You're not the only one who's having trouble.
How the heck am I supposed to support TWO big eaters and drinkers?! Tell me!
Thanks for the trouble.
There's not a shred of feeling in that.
We're gonna run for it.
Hey, wait!
Follow the leader! This is also training, right? Wait, please!!
Hey, hey, hey, Sis! What's with you all of a sudden?!
Are you sure?! Are you sure we should abandon the blonde lady?!
Would you rather travel with that hulk forever?
Well, you have a point, but if we abandon her, how will she feed herself?
Okay, why don't you stay behind and feed her?
I can't do that, either...
Then quit griping and run!
But still, I feel a little bad for...
What's wrong, Meow? What are you screaming about?
S- S- Sis, S- S- Su!
What?
- Su is right behind us! - What did you say?!
H- Hey, what's happening?!
I think that Su is so big and her legs are so long that our legs are no match for hers!
You know, in China I had a bit of fame as swift-footed Meow...
...but I can't beat the blonde!
Huh? She's gone!
SIS!!!
There you are...
Sis...
Hi.
So that's where you were...!
I finally found you...
Where have you been, Meow? You're late.
What was I supposed to do about my bill if you didn't come?
Who do you think is to blame for all this?!
Yes, that blonde is a lot of trouble.
I know it happens every time, but this sake-swilling woman is leeching off me again!
Ah?
Nothing... Hey! Give me some sweet sake and dango!
Coming!
So, what happened to Su? Did you lose her?
Yeah, I sure did. It wasn't easy!
I took a shortcut through the mountains and zigzagged everywhere.
Then I looked for you!!
Oh. That's good. Excellent, Meow.
Hmph. You're only glad to see my wallet.
Well, it's a shame what I did to the blonde, but it was for the best, right?
Hey, mister! Give me another sake!
Hey, where's my dango?
I finally found you!
T- Take your time...
Hey! What's going on here?! Didn't you lose her?!
I did! I lost her perfectly!
Then why is the hulking Su that you lost so perfectly here gobbling dango?
I wonder...?
Why don't you ask her yourself?
Oh, that's true. Say, Su? How did you find your way here?
Hai! Meow, you are caring! You left these markers to show me where you went!
When did that happen?
Aw, I bet this ripped on some tree branch. So I left you markers, huh?
You are such an idiot...
I heard ninja take this kind of measure to communicate with their allies.
Meow is a ninja! As I thought, Japan is a land of samurai, ninja, and geisha.
Why am I a ninja? I'm not wearing black.
Yes! That is because you are a geisha.
Pardon?
Meow is both ninja and geisha.
Actually, you are a ninja-geisha. Acting dumb is a technique...
...for ninjas who live in shadow. I am impressed.
Act dumb?! What are you saying, you humungous blond girl?!
Mister, sake.
Coming.
Very well. I'll make you my apprentice.
Oh! Miss Ran, really?!
You are now graduated.
Doo-ated?
Meow, paper and ink!
Huh?
That ought to do it.
Please take this woman to...?
...police?
It's a letter of reference. If you show them this, you'll be given respectable work.
Thank you so much!
A diploma! Now I will be a samurai!
Thank you!!
Goodbye, triangle! Goodbye, ladies!
Become a good samurai, you hear?!
Yes!
You sure have a flair for things sometimes, Sis.
Well, if that's what you believe, that's fine.
What?
In that letter, I wrote, "This girl is a runaway, so take her to a police station."
Why? Do you mean you tricked Su, Sis? That's not very nice...
It's better than her becoming a samurai.
Huh?
Sis! I found us work!!
Work?
I hear the Seiten's have found an incredibly powerful back-up player.
Ladies, we're depending on you.
Leave it to us! With myself and Lady Ran on your side, most guys are chickenfeed!
That sounds good.
Right, Sis?
Hey! By work, do you mean we have to act as back-up for yakuza?
- That's right. - Don't "that's right" me!
Of all the pathetic things to do, why do I have to help out yakuza?!
Sis! You and Su ate and drank up a storm, remember?!
Not only that, I had to pay double for her lodge accommodation alone!
If we don't earn some money now, we'll not only have to do without sake...
...we'll starve to death!
All right, all right.
Boss! They're here! It's the Seiten clan!
Oh! Miss Ran and Meow! It has been a long time.
H- Hey! What are you doing here?!
I, the lowly Stephanie, owe the Ninja Seiten clan for one bed and one meal!
Oh, my God. She's mixing up yakuza-talk with Bushi-Do...
Come on, men! Take them!
We're going in, too!
Your turf is mine!
Go to hell, Kichigoro!!
Stephaaa!
Now no one will get in our way. Now we'll fight fair and triangle!!
Idiot! You're not supposed to defeat friend and foe!
The apprentice someday surpasses the master. I was prepared for this day to come!
Surpass...?
That's ridiculous! Su, where is the letter? Did you show it to someone?
Letter? Oh, the diploma!
I showed it to this yakuza boss.
Miss Ran, this is also a duty of the mortal plane. Challenge! I challenge you!
Sis, don't...!
Prepare yourself!
Sis!
A samurai must be strong. Weak people are underdogs!
I decided. The samurai of today are rotten!
That is why I will beat guts back into them!
Before that, Miss Ran, I must first defeat you to surpass my master. It is destiny.
What kind of books did you read?!
Time for talk is over!!
Miss Ran, prepare to die!!
Stop it, Su!!
This is wrong! You aren't acting like a samurai at all!!
Shut up, ninja!!
She almost deceived me. Ninja manipulate people's hearts.
Impressive, Meow ninja-geisha!
Y- You're wrong...
Miss Ran! Where are you going?!
Stop!!
Ah, shuriken... That is a ninja trick.
Do you call yourself a samurai? Coward!!
I challenge you fair and triangle!
Miss... Ran. This...
...is not samurai...!!
This is not samurai...
Listen! I am merely...
...a beautiful drifter.
Sis...
Sis, is Su dead?
She's asleep.
Miss Ran. Miss Meow. I am sorry.
Why, you... I thought I was gonna die!
Miss Ran, I learned many things from you.
The path of samurai is hard! The path of samurai is steep!
If you understand that now, go back to your country.
Sis...
I understand that well. I will go back to my country!
I kind of feel sorry for her, but...
Don't even think it! We don't have enough lives to let her travel with us!
No, I know that. I agree with you, okay?
Ladies!
I will train more in my country!
I will become stronger, and at that time, I will come to become a samurai!
Huh?
We're running for it!
Huh? Yeah... Let's run for it!
The next episode of Tsukikage Ran is: "Vengeance Made Himself An Enemy."
Don't miss it!