GENJI YEAR 1 (1864)
The shogunate is just a rotting carcass at this point.
Now is the time for us samurai to rise up!
Keep it down. Someone might hear you!
Who goes there?!
Hey! What do you think you're doing?!
I brandished my blade and yet you chose to flap your gums.
You're tainted.
Damn yo-!
Tainted to the bone.
What is it, Nomari?
I thought you were joking
when you came in here with Nomari-chan and said she was your daughter,
but you're like a seasoned dad now.
Hey, pal. Can I talk with ya for a minute?
Sorry for borrowing the bedroom.
Oh, no! That's not a problem at all.
How can I put this?
There's a visitor here to see you....
Okay. I'm coming.
Ah, Jinya-dono!
My apologies for the abrupt visit.
Hatakeyama-dono.
It's been some time. I'm glad to see you're in good health.
Oh my. Is that baby yours, Jinya-dono?
Why are you here?
Men of your standing don't visit podunk soba shops like this.
There's only one reason to call upon the famous demon hunter.
Isn't it obvious?
There is a demon I need you to slay.
The demon's name is Kiichi Okada.
Until recently, he has served in my employ to help rid our country of the barbarians.
He's the most skilled warrior among my ranks by far.
But we've had a bit of a problem, you see.
And what's that?
Regretfully,
Kiichi developed a bad habit of attacking people aside from our adversaries.
He's killed several of our samurai comrades in arms
and even women and children.
He's nothing more than a murderer now.
It's gotten to the point I cannot ignore it.
But I doubt he can be reasoned with,
nor do I have any warriors skilled enough to take him down.
That's where you came to mind.
I'm not here to ask you to wield your blade on my behalf.
I merely wish for you to stop him and prevent any more casualties.
Would you be willing to help me out, just this one time?
I don't understand.
Kiichi's objective, you mean?
Your objective, actually.
You have that Tsuchiura fellow.
Why not just order a demon already under your command to take care of him?
Because he and Kiichi are comrades.
I cannot ask him to put an end to one of his own.
What do you say?
Will you take on this task for me?
I want to be clear on one thing.
You're sure this murderer is a demon?
Yes.
He is a lesser demon without any special power.
However, his skill with a blade is so great
that he can rival even superior demons in battle.
Dealing with him will prove tricky.
You can't decide right away, I suppose.
Then, how about this?
I shall make it so Kiichi visits the Edobashi bridge tomorrow night.
If you decide to accept the job, then simply go there.
Otherwise, you're free to refuse and ignore the situation entirely.
Well, I'll be going now.
Yasuhide Hatakeyama.
What is going through your mind?
That's simple. The fate of this country.
And all the samurai who live in it.
Look, Tsuchiura.
Isn't this katana just superb?
Yes, I suppose...
Kadono, was it?
It lives up to its reputation as the home of Japan's most distinguished blacksmiths.
Their blades are truly something else.
You have an eye for quality, Hatakeyama-dono.
Swords from Kadono are pure and untainted.
"Masterpiece" is truly the only word to describe them.
Kiichi. So, you've returned.
I did as you ordered.
Those "skilled" samurai plotting against the shogunate?
They were hardly worth the effort of killing.
Yet I get the impression you greatly enjoyed yourself.
I'm a killer to the core.
It only makes sense for me to indulge in all forms of slaughter.
Did you kill more people other than your targets?
You scumbag!
Why, Tsuchiura? You got a problem with me?
Of course!
Your indulgence in such senseless violence will only bring trouble for Lord Yasuhide!
You're as tainted as ever, I see.
I'm sure Hatakeyama-dono
is more than happy to accept whatever trouble that comes his way.
Now then, Kiichi.
I have a task for you.
There is man who I'd like you to slay.
All right.
Who is it this time, some ronin from Choshu?
No.
Someone who you will find a worthy opponent.
Perhaps you've heard of him?
The fierce warrior in Edo known as the demon hunter.
Oh?
Thanks as always.
Think nothing of it.
We both know you can't go around hunting demons with Nomari-chan on your back.
Chef?
Dad?
Hey, Dad!
O-oh, sorry about that.
I was just zoning out.
Perhaps you should take a break.
Can't making a living if I don't keep working!
But...
Aw, don't fuss.
I'll close the shop a little early today.
Sound good?
I'll leave my payment here.
Can you wait a minute, Jinya-kun?
Do you mind, Dad?
Nope. Go ahead.
Will you go out with me for a bit?
Oh! How about this?
Uh, I'm not sure.
I don't even know what I would use it for.
I thought it might work as a bowl for Nomari-chan.
You know, since the ones at our shop are too big.
With a bowl like this handy,
we can serve Nomari-chan small helpings of soba.
I figure she'll need one eventually.
Am I being a bother?
Far from it.
I'm not smart enough to think that far ahead.
Sorry to burden you.
Not at all.
We need to look after our precious regulars, after all!
Okay, I'll go buy this.
Wait, let me pay...
Thank you.
Good for you, huh?
I haven't been by here in a long time.
How about that.
The snow willow season is already here.
Yep.
The flowers are as beautiful as ever.
Are you sure you shouldn't have stayed to watch after your dad?
It's all right. He's not sick or anything.
Besides, I'm more concerned about you right now.
Sorry.
I overheard your conversation.
You're hesitant to take on that job tonight, aren't you?
Yasuhide Hatakeyama's explanation of the situation doesn't really make sense to me.
If one of his men has gone off the rails,
then it's best to keep that under wraps and deal with it among his inner circle.
He must be plotting something.
So, what are you going to do?
Well, it's not really a question.
I can't just let a deranged killer run loose on the streets.
That said...
I must admit I'm at a loss.
No matter what he's plotting, it has no bearing on my goals.
However, my gut reaction to hearing about this killer was that I had to go stop him.
I'm unsure of myself for thinking that way.
Maybe... I've gotten weak.
What's so funny?
Well, I don't think anything that I say now
will come off as a satisfying answer to you.
But please keep this "weakness" you have in mind, okay?
Because I'm pretty sure that a day will come when you actually hold it dear.
I should get going.
Watch her for me.
Safe travels.
Yeah. See you later.
You must be Kiichi Okada-dono.
Indeed. And you are?
A ronin who lives in Fukugawa. My name is Jinya.
I have made my way here to cross blades with you in battle.
Oh really? I'm honored you'd bother.
Heh! You're pretty good!
Although, I can tell you're tainted.
I see. You are quite tough.
Your physical abilities far surpass that of my own.
He's deadly.
In a pure battle of skill, I would only have a one-in-five chance of winning...
no, one-in-ten!
Yet, you are tainted.
So be it.
I'll just have to resort to other tactics.
Excessive force.
Superfluous moves.
Wavering conviction.
Tainted through and through.
You're far too inefficient. Both in mind and body.
For what purpose do you kill?
When I heard about your string of murders,
I imagined Kiichi Okada to be a sadistic man of violence.
Yet your swordsmanship reflects integrity.
That's not something easily obtained,
as it takes years of tedious training that most men would tire of.
How does one so sincerely devoted to the way of the blade
become enthralled with death?!
That's silly. I turn the question to you.
Why avoid killing?
Katana are tools of death.
Thus I fail to understand the point of your question.
To make truly solid steel, one must first remove all the impurities from it.
To make truly delicious sake, one must use water clean enough to see through.
And we are no different.
Any excess creates impurity.
Therefore, it must all be scraped away.
Don't you agree?
Or will you stand there and call me a "scumbag" too?
No, I have the blood of many demons on my hands who I consumed
to make their power my own.
Because I believed growing stronger
would allow me to swing my blade with total conviction.
Then tell me, why is your blade so tainted?
I live to fulfill my goal and nothing more.
Or so I thought.
Actually, that's still the mindset I want to strive for in the future.
Except...
I find myself dealing with extra baggage.
Even now, I'm deviating from my intended path.
And fighting on behalf of what you describe as "excess."
So what's your story, you just took up the blade for no reason?
I was born to a samurai family. Hence I was raised to wield the blade.
But the only way to wield it is by killing.
Many people met their ends at my hands until I finally realized.
Whilst one must live as a samurai to be permitted a blade,
adhering to the bushido code is actually the biggest obstacle
to cutting people down.
Loyalty, honor, faith, respect, morality...
Those who attach such folly to their blade are tainted.
Therefore, I disposed of the warrior within me.
I cut off my mentors, cut off my family, cut off my friends...
and so much more that I can't even remember!
Apparently, those who go to such extremes are no longer "human."
I'd turned into a demon without even knowing it.
So, your pursuit of enlightenment led you to demonic depths.
Why do I kill? That's what you wanted to know, right?
Here is my answer.
I cast aside my humanity to become a demon
and now kill in a quest for supreme swordsmanship.
I have lived by the sword.
Thus my life only has meaning by killing until my very soul has become steel.
I see.
Is question time over now?
Yes.
Let me be frank.
Your way of life is radiant to my eyes.
I would even consider myself envious.
So, let us continue.
Oh? You won't flee?
Naturally.
After hearing your story, I've made up my mind to cut you down at any cost.
The ring of your tone is rather pristine.
You've sparked my interest.
Impressive!
I rarely come across such prowess.
Where are you... going?
You've won. Why not kill me?
Duels between samurai only end when one claims the life of the other.
We both still live. There can be no winner or loser here.
Still...
you managed to cut me.
Despite being steeped in excess that taints you, your swordsmanship is sharp.
I greatly enjoyed fighting against such a contradictory warrior.
Let us duke it out again someday.
And when that time comes, I look forward to seeing the answer
that your tainted blade will offer me.
How about that?
I really can hold my own.
HEISEI YEAR 21 (2009)
AYE-AYE MART
Hey, boss! Reporting for duty!
Ah, Miyaka-kun.
You're here early.
I rushed over from school.
Well, please get to stocking.
Roger!
Welcome to Ay-
Miyaka-chan! Hope you're ready for some fun!
We came to bother you.
Oh, quit it! You're embarrassing me.
Jeez, you two are really buddy-buddy, huh?
Well, yeah. We go back a long time, ya know!
Really?
Yeah. More than a hundred years, actually!
Fresh
Vegetables
Huh?
That wasn't even close to funny, Kaoru.
Aww, but I wasn't joking!
KIRABOSHI SAKE
Welcome in, sir.
It's still weird. Hearing polite words out that mouth.
You're ever the snarky one.
Then let me adjust my attitude.
Sounds good. I would prefer that, honestly.
It's not very smart to buy booze while parading as a student, if you ask me.
Don't give me that. This is the only place I can get any.
This actor has been all over the place lately.
Oh, yeah, I love him!
He's great!
Must be fun for you.
Really?
Must be fun for you.
But I thought you liked that other one.
Living it up as a high schooler.
Well, yeah, I have a bunch of favorites.
Living it up as a high schooler.
Well, yeah, I have a bunch of favorites.
Right back at you.
Like this guy!
Right back at you.
Like this guy!
You seem very at home as a store manager.
I only took up the job to make a living, but it has its moments.
I consider it rather fun.
Yet still excessive.
Some things I can't change, no matter how much time passes.
And what about you?
Have you found any meaning in that tainted blade of yours?
Hold up, I've never
seen an outfit this cute before!
You've always been my ideal.
Hm? Let me see.
You've always been my ideal.
Whoa, you're right!
Then and now.
Told you!
Then and now.
Cutting everything off and devoting yourself to a single notion.
That way of living seemed so pure, I couldn't help but admire you.
However, I've lived for quite some time now.
I lost many things along the way,
but a small part of them always stayed with me.
That extra baggage throws me off each time I've had to shoulder it,
so it makes sense I seem tainted to you.
But no matter how excessive it was,
none of it was meaningless.
I still believe that even now.
Asagao! We should get going soon.
Huh?
Oh, you're right.
Bye bye, Miyaka-chan.
Good luck with work!
Later.
Oh, that's right.
I forgot to mention...
my tainted blade certainly does have a dull edge.
But thankfully, that also means it doesn't cut through everything.
And that's my answer.
It doesn't get any more contradictory than that.
Uh, boss?