BUNKYU YEAR 2 (1862)
Say, darling. You were summoned by Lord Yasuhide yesterday, weren't you?
What did you two talk about?
Well, get this. Lord Yasuhide prepared a sword especially for me.
Oh really?
Seems he's been impressed with my work lately.
He said: "The dedication that you've shown in your daily service is deserving of reward."
I could hardly believe my ears!
How amazing!
Whaddya think?
Oh wow.
I went and picked it up from a sword shop called Tamagawa.
What a superb katana.
I know, right?
A cursed blade forged by a blacksmith who married a demon?
Yes. I know this is slightly outside the range of work you normally deal with, but I thought I would mention it.
Interesting.
In this light, you two look like a happily married couple.
Oh, stop it, Miura-sama. Don't tease me like that.
Speaking of wives, is yours doing well?
You mean Kinu? She is. You should come pay us a visit sometime.
I'm sure she'd love it.
I find it hard to believe she'd ever be happy to see my face.
Well, just take my word for it.
Tell me, do you have any interest in raising a family yourself?
Not particularly.
Shucks, Naotsugu-sama is really asking the important questions!
Right, Ofuu?
Jeez! Don't even start, Dad.
Look, the dishes are piling up.
So, back to the subject of that cursed sword...
Oh, right.
A man by the name of Mataroku Sugino,
an aide who serves the Aizu retainer Lord Hatakeyama at his residence here in Edo,
apparently purchased it three days ago.
How very strange.
What do you mean?
Aides like that only handle odd jobs around the residence, no?
It doesn't makes sense for someone of such standing to go out of their way to buy a Kadono blade,
and a cursed one at that.
Actually, there's a good explanation for it.
Are you familiar with the Tosa Loyalist Party?
Last year, a man from Tosa named Zuizan Takechi gathered warriors from his home town,
and founded the Tosa Loyalist Party.
The shogunate's approach to diplomacy after the foreign ships arrived a few years back
was dubious even by my standards.
This new party was organized around nativism in support of the Emperor, however,
they took it a step further by promoting "collective" loyalty over individual loyalty.
I imagine many more warriors will join their cause over time.
You're well informed.
Some Tosa retainers live in Edo, you see.
The new era has brought about an ideological shift and now the majority of people believe
that katana should be wielded in service to our beliefs and not for the ruling lords.
So, it doesn't surprise me to hear that people are arming themselves.
I know their methods deviate from how samurai should act.
Yet seeing these men has given me pause. Maybe change is for the best.
The shogunate has cast aside their pride as warriors to bow to foreign powers.
Is serving them the right thing to do?
I'm not sure...
Pardon me. Forget what I just said.
I'm in a similar position.
Really, you, too?
Yes. There are times when I lose sight of what I'm doing with myself.
Life never goes as you expect.
Yes. Truly.
Anyways, I would like to have a look at that cursed sword.
Then, let's go see it for ourselves.
Are you sure?
I'm the one who brought it up, after all.
Please forgive our sudden and unannounced visit.
Is there a Mataroku Sugino-dono here?
Uh, Mataroku... you say?
Hm? What's the matter?
Oh!
These gentlemen were just asking to see Mataroku...
My apologies, but Mataroku is gone.
Oh...
Would you happen to know when he might come back?
No. In fact, it's likely that he will never return.
Really? Why is that?
Because just this morning, Mataroku Sugino murdered his wife and fled from the estate.
Jin-dono!
Seems we were too late.
Let's go search for him.
Right.
Tsuchiura-sama!
Wait. Lord Yasuhide has said he wishes to meet with you two.
It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance
My name is Yasuhide Hatakeyama and I am the lord of this estate.
Sir! I am Naotsugu Miura. I currently serve as a civil administrator for the shogunate.
And I am...
Jinya-dono, yes?
Be at ease.
Jin-dono!
Please, Hatakeyama-dono. Forgive his transgression.
Oh, it's fine. Think nothing of it.
I've heard talk of the fierce warrior who has slain countless demons in Edo.
I did not invite Jinya-dono here out of ill-intent.
I wanted to see for myself what a man with enough superhuman strength
to fell demons with a single blade looks like. That's all.
There are many who meet their ruin enthralled by the supernatural.
Yet you have slayed various monsters without succumbing to temptation,
as a true champion of the people should.
I don't need your flattery.
Surely you didn't call me here just to gab about nothing.
You're correct to assume I asked you here for a reason.
I have a proposal, Jinya-dono. What would you say to formally entering my service?
Although I have been permitted to wield a blade, I am no more than a commoner by blood.
I would not consider myself worthy of serving a distinguished samurai clan.
It's fine. This would be a personal contract between you and me. Your status is of no issue.
As a matter of fact, Tsuchiura here is man of similar circumstances.
I see. Similar circumstances, eh?
Our country is currently at a crossroads.
Engaging with foreign powers...
They like to put a positive spin on it by saying they've "opened up" our borders,
but at this rate, Japan is doomed to become a colony.
The feudal system we have will collapse,
bringing an end to the peaceful reign that Tokugawa has maintained for years
and leaving no need for samurai in the new era.
It's only a matter of time before they simply cease to exist.
Wait, Hatakeyama-dono! That can't be...
Those in support of ending isolationism fail to understand this reality!
Although I have already retired from service...
I love this country. I want to uphold the reign of Tokugawa and the pride of the samurai.
The only way I see that happening is by ridding us of the barbarians.
And I will use whatever means necessary.
You possess the strength to wipe out any number of men.
That's why I implore you to help us protect the status quo.
I appreciate your high opinion of me, but I'm not a learned man.
Whenever people speak of things like isolationism or expulsion, I can't help but drone it out.
Oh? So, you have no stake in what becomes of this land?
Years ago, there was a demon who told me something similar.
About how this country would undergo great change after being exposed to outside elements and cultures.
Yet demonkind would find itself unable to keep up with the times,
and eventually become nothing more than characters spoken of in fairy tales.
Well, I must give that demon credit. The exact same could be said of us.
Samurai are on the verge of being lost to the changing times.
All the more reason we need you.
I'm sorry, but I cannot help.
No matter what methods you employ, I will think no less of you for it.
However, much like you, I am in pursuit of my own goals.
Although mine are merely selfish and menial when compared to yours.
Still, they mean everything to me.
It doesn't matter who comes begging, I cannot afford to compromise on how I live at this point.
Besides, it's impractical for me to serve you, regardless.
And why is that?
I can understand the noble sentiment behind taking up arms in defiance of the changing times.
Therefore, it's only appropriate for your actions to be what guides the cycle of prosperity and decline.
On the other hand, I haven't even figured out a clear motivation for wielding my blade.
An irresolute man like me has no right taking part in battles that will determine the shape of the future.
So you're telling me it has nothing to do with the ethical implications or any conflicts in ideology,
you can't join our cause because it doesn't fit with your aesthetic sensibilities?
That's not to say I find any beauty in my own actions.
However, surrendering my will for the sake of bloodshed is a level of disgrace that I cannot bear.
It seems there's no point in trying to convince you further.
I'm not spurning you or your ideals. I'm simply pigheaded.
There's no need to debase yourself like that.
For I, too, know what it means to settle on a course that you cannot stray from.
Naotsugu. We should get going.
That cursed blade is still out there.
Oh, r-right.
Farewell, Hatakeyama-dono. Please excuse us.
If you insist. See them out, Tsuchiura.
Ah, one thing. In regards to Sugino...
My understanding is that he was interested in visiting a restaurant called Tomizen.
For reasons to do with a Takechi and some Tosa party.
I just hope it hasn't turned into anything ugly.
Tsuchiura-dono, was it?
No need to be formal with me.
Very well. Just Tsuchiura, then.
May I ask why you serve Hatakeyama-dono?
I was once met with betrayal...
Or rather, found myself unable to trust someone.
The person who saved me from the depths of despair was Lord Yasuhide. He told me:
"Both demons and samurai are on the verge of being abandoned by the modern age as relics from the past."
"We are compatriots. There is no good reason that we cannot join forces."
That is why I serve Lord Yasuhide.
I have placed my trust in him.
Seeing as how you live among them, you must have also realized...
demons are incompatible with humans.
Yet Lord Yasuhide has accepted us. The significance of that should not be lost on you.
I'm grateful for your consideration.
However, if you two plan on using demons to inflict meaningless harm on people,
then I will likely have to stand against you.
I'll let you go for now, as per my master's wishes.
But if you ever try to stand in Lord Yasuhide's way, then I won't hold back.
The same goes for me.
This just seems to be an ordinary restaurant.
What shall we do now?
I think it's best we steal the Yatonomori Kaneomi from Sugino-dono before another tragedy occurs.
But we can't do that unless we find him first.
Perhaps we should ask the staff here.
Good idea.
The bossman's slower than molasses gettin' here!
Maybe he ain't comin' today? Whoa nelly!
My apologies.
Nah, it's me that's done bumped into you!
Aw shucks. Let me treat ya to a bit'o hooch for the trouble!
Huh?
The hand'o fate broutcha fellas here for a reason!
Um, well, while we do appreciate your generosity, we still have some business to attend to.
Ya don't say?
If you don't mind, may I ask you one thing?
Shoot.
Do you know a man by the name Mataroku Sugino?
Nope, never heard of 'im!
I see. Sorry for the odd question. Thank you.
Pshaw, don't mention it.
Catchya 'round!
Hope nobody drank all my hooch while I was gone...
He's a Tosa native. I wonder if he's part of the group pushing for expulsion?
Pardon me.
Yes?
Who are those men in the inner parlor?
Oh, they're regulars here.
A bunch of patriots trying to stand up for the country or some such.
They're always drinking while chatting about big and complicated topics in there.
Do you know this "bossman" they speak of?
Sure. A "Takechi-sama..." if I remember right.
He's a gentleman who they all seem to respect.
Jin-dono. What were you trying to find out?
I suspected that our man Sugino might have come to this restaurant hoping to make contact with that group, but...
it seems I was mistaken.
Contacting the loyalists, eh?
Unless he had a change of heart,
Sugino-dono should side with the shogunate given that he was serving Hatakeyama-dono.
If anything, that would put him in opposition to the imperialists who were drinking in there.
Jin-dono.
That man with the Tosa accent mentioned their "bossman" hadn't shown up yet.
I'm willing to bet plans were made for one of the loyalist bigwigs to visit this restaurant soon.
And if Sugino-dono caught wind of that, then as a member of the opposition, he would...
...try to sabotage it.
What's more, if we consider the name that Hatakeyama-dono dropped to be accurate,
then this "bossman" is...
...the founder of the Tosa Loyalist Party, Zuizan Takechi.
Meaning that Mataroku Sugino is coming here with plans to assassinate Zuizan Takechi?
Hatakeyama-dono intentionally let that information about Sugino slip, so that we would notice.
And he likely had planned on recruiting you since long before today, Jin-dono.
That's exactly why he summoned for you.
The cursed sword was just bait, huh?
He wins big if Zuizan Takechi actually gets assassinated.
But even should that fail, he's succeeded at getting a chance to meet directly with you.
That all suggests he foresaw Sugino plotting an assassination. What a cutthroat man.
The fact he's throwing his weight around like this is proof the shogunate is heading for the rocks.
It might already be too late for our government...
I'm sorry. I didn't meant to get so emotional.
It's okay.
So, what should we do?
If there's any chance that cursed sword is making Sugino-dono bloodthirsty, then we can't leave him be.
No, that's just a lofty excuse.
This little scheme rubs me the wrong way and I'll have work to do if the cursed sword is real.
That's reason enough.
This blade gives me all the power I need to slaughter those braindead fools obsessed with the Emperor.
Zuizan Takechi must also meet his end.
Yeah. He deserves to die!
I'll tell you upfront.
I don't consider assassination to be cowardly.
Katana are nothing but weapons, after all.
It makes no different how they're used, since killing is all they can do.
Therefore, I don't spurn you.
However...
I'm sorry. I must put a stop to this.
What? Who the hell are you?!
His slash flew through the air?
Now that's an interesting parlor trick.
How are you still alive?
Sorry, but I'm sturdier than your average man.
Whatever! Then I'll turn you into mincemeat!
I need this! Need to kill!
You can't block with that dull piece of shit forever!
A katana that's infused with demonic power, eh?
Assimilation.
Kaneomi. Are you done?
Yeah. This is the blade I forged by using your blood.
It turned out good. I think I'll forge about three more.
I'll inscribe the long swords with the signature "Yatonomori" and the short swords with "Kaneomi."
But can they really harbor demonic power?
I dunno.
"Yatonomori" and "Kaneomi."
I'm curious to know where these katana that share our names will end up in 100 years.
But unfortunately, I won't live that long.
So, Yato, I want you to go and find out for me.
If it turns out they do have special powers, then don't let it shake your faith.
Humans can be stupid and make mistakes at times.
While demons can butt heads because of how stubbornly they stick to their guns.
But we live in the same world. Demons and humans can coexist, ya know?
All right.
Sorry. I know that I'm asking a lot.
Don't be. Helping my husband's dream come true is all part of being a wife.
"Demons and humans can coexist."
So, Sugino-dono really was making his way to that restaurant.
What a bone-chilling story.
To have his soul warped by a cursed blade and forced to murder his own wife...
No. That's not quite accurate.
Huh?
While it's true the Yatonomori Kaneomi was a cursed blade,
the special power it possessed was "skyedge."
It unleashes flying slashes. And nothing more.
O-okay, but then, why did Sugino-dono kill his wife?
But why, darling...?
N-no! I didn't! It's not me!
Th-the sword! I only attacked you because of its curse!
It's not my fault!
Yeah. I'm not to blame.
This sword makes anybody want to go on a killing spree. That's just how it works!
The sword is what killed you!
Not me! It just took control of my mind!
He slashed his wife merely because she was within reach. That's all.
My God...
But he couldn't handle the truth, and thus chose to believe the sword made him do it instead.
That twisted side of him might be what Hatakeyama hoped to exploit.
Then, Sugino-dono wasn't going to assassinate that man for the sake of the country at all.
He was just looking for an excuse to kill someone and Hatakeyama-dono gave it to him, is that right?
It's hard to say what the truth is.
I'm impressed you stood up to him and refused to compromise on how you live.
Now I think... It might be time for me to settle on my own course in life.