KEIO YEAR 3 (1867)
Well, what's your next move?
Just a tad too slow.
I-I... surrender.
Candor is among your best qualities, but it can also be a pitfall.
How humiliating.
You're as tough as ever, Jin-dono.
I have nothing but respect for your refined swordsmanship.
I'm ashamed to say I haven't had much chance to wield my blade on a actual battlefield.
Great work, honey. You and Jinya-sama both fought hard.
Kinu. Sorry to trouble you.
Be careful now.
Thank you.
Much obliged, Kinu-dono.
Think nothing of it. This is the least I can do for you indulging my husband.
I don't mind. It proved beneficial for me as well.
Well, I'm most glad to hear that.
By the way...
Yes?
Is it okay if I just drop all the genteel speak now, ronin?
I would prefer that, honestly.
It's fine to call me "Harlot," you know.
I can't refer to a married woman like a tramp.
Such a stiff.
That's funny, considering you didn't seem to notice we got married until we told you about it.
When will you let me live that down?
Jinya-sama! Nomari-san!
Oh, Tadanobu! Welcome home.
Here to spar?
Yes. We just finished a bout.
Aww, I wish I could've seen it.
Greetings, Nomari-san. Serendipity is a beautiful thing.
Huh? Serendippy is bootyful?
Tadanobu seems to have taken quite a liking to Nomari.
What do you think, Jin-dono?
Would you ever let your daughter marry into a samurai family?
You can't have her.
First, you wrap a string around this part here.
Or so I'd like to say.
But I suppose that might give me more peace of mind
Uh-huh.
Then you pull it to make it spin.
than her marrying a total stranger.
Do you want to try it with me?
Yeah!
All right. Here we go!
But it all depends on Nomari.
I want her to decide when she gets older.
What's so funny?
Nothing. It just feels strange that we're both fussing over our kids.
Makes me realize how old we've gotten.
This would've been unthinkable back in the early days, huh?
I must say, Jin-dono...
...you haven't changed.
Oh! My apologies. Forget I said anything.
Well, it's about time that we get going.
Nomari! Get ready to go.
Please wait!
I didn't mean to offend you!
You haven't.
I just want to swing by the soba shop.
I see.
Oh? Heading home already?
Yeah.
Your face looks glum. Was it something my husband said?
Not really.
All right, then.
Drop by again sometime, okay?
What's wrong?
I'm surprised.
I didn't think that I'd be welcome here.
Don't be ridiculous.
Although I'm sure you must feel rather uncomfortable around me.
You're always so easy to read!
Here's a piece of advice.
Try not to be so hard on yourself.
Life is a gift, but it's always a mix of good and bad.
Change also comes in the same flavors.
I don't know what kind of albatross is around your neck, but you wouldn't be the same without it, right?
I actually prefer you more than most, ronin.
And I'm sure he feels the same.
Never imagined I'd be getting a peptalk from you.
Jeez, cold much?
But hey, that's just true to form for us.
Oh, Jinya-kun. And Nomari-chan.
Where's your dad?
Resting in the back.
I see. He does that a lot these days.
It's all my fault.
No words of comfort, huh?
Would you prefer I say something?
No.
Because even if you did, I wouldn't be able to take it to heart.
We never saw Grampy! He slept all day, huh?
Yeah...
Welcome in, pal!
Ah! It's Grampy!
Hi there, sweet pea.
Are you doing all right?
Y'know, I'm actually full of beans today!
So I figured I'd whip up some soba for once.
Dad. Just promise me you won't push yourself.
Here. Order up.
Thank you.
C'mon, you too, Ofuu!
Huh? But...
Aw, don't fuss. Gotta treat yourself sometimes.
He's right. This is a rare opportunity.
Thinking about it, we go back a long time, eh, pal?
More than a decade now.
You were sitting here eating kake-soba back when we first met, too.
Looking exactly the same as you do now.
Though, you didn't have a daughter then.
Boy! Living to old age was worth it just to see that dopey grin on your face, pal!
Give me a break. I already know how silly I must look.
Heavens no! It's a perfect fit for ya!
Ya look far better as a dad than a demon hunter.
Think about her future. It's about time ya stopped risking your skin out there hunting demons, no?
If it's money you're worried about, then just work here instead.
Imagine it. You can get hitched with my Ofuu and take over the soba shop!
Sorry. I don't think that's possible.
"Demons cannot defy their nature as demons."
One of them told me as much.
Demons live under the spell of their emotions and perish in the name of their purpose.
I've always believed that.
No matter how much time passes, I will remain unchanged and driven by the feelings in my heart
until I eventually breath my last.
Well, you've definitely changed in the time I've known ya.
Only a little.
But not in essence. I simply learned how to take a detour.
When the time ultimately comes, I'll still cast everything aside.
And that keeps you from living a normal life?
Come on. You're really gonna accept that?
It's never bothered me. Because I had a goal to fulfill.
But for reasons I'm unsure of... right now, that way of life feels a little encumbering.
Then why not just forsake all of it?
If I could do that, I'd never have turned demon.
Well, it's a good thing. At least if you ask me.
The fact you feel encumbered by that way of life just goes to show how much
you're enjoying what you have now.
So the idea of casting it aside makes you lonely.
This shop, and all of us in it,
have become equally as precious to you as the purpose you're so bent on fulfilling, get it?
Ain't nothing more joyous than that!
I see. It was loneliness I felt, huh?
I'm as spineless as ever, I suppose.
Ofuu.
Will you two hear me out?
You're both gonna live a heck of a lot longer and lose far more than I ever will.
Naturally, the things you lose will never come back.
Though, it's kinda strange...
because those things always seem more beautiful in our mind's eye.
But listen, there ain't nothing wrong with that.
When the old times pop into your head and make you wanna cry,
be proud of it!
Because it's proof that you've built something for yourself that's worth getting sad over.
But do me a favor.
Please don't let the fear of saying goodbye make you neglect the present.
There'll always be times when remembering the past makes you want to hate everything.
But you two are special, you can go beyond that to find happiness with other people.
Your long lifespans are precisely what make living in the present such an important experience.
That's what I believe is best for you.
Whew! Now did that make me sound like a proper dad or what?
It's not even a question. You're Ofuu's father, aren't you?
You just got a different start from most people.
Yes. I've never been more proud to have you as my dad.
Hey. I got a little request of you three.
Couldja all stand up over there?
What for?
C'mon. Please?
Go stand next to him Ofuu. There ya go.
That's perfect.
And now, sweet pea. Couldja grab hold of both their hands?
Wow. Now that's truly a sight to behold.
Whew! I pooped myself out doing all this work today!
Ofuu. Clean up the shop for me, would ya?
Well, see y'all tomorrow.
After retiring to his bedroom,
Sadanaga Hyoma Miura went to sleep...
and never woke up again.
It's never felt so spacious before.
I knew this would happen. Our lifespans are different.
We couldn't be together forever.
That's why I tried to push Hyoma away...
to drive him out of my garden of happiness.
But his kindness got the better of me,
now I'm devastated over what I knew was coming.
It's pathetic, isn't it?
I haven't changed in the slightest.
Jinya-kun...
Please let me stay like this for a little while.
I can never remember a time when your dad wasn't worried about you.
I swear, despite how much he joked about me doting on Nomari,
that man was the undisputed king of doting fathers.
Yes.
He honestly never thought about anything but me.
This is just the beginning, isn't it? We're going to suffer losses like this over and over.
Such a long road ahead...
Yes. Very long.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
Thank you so much.
But I didn't do anything.
You stayed with me, didn't you? That was a huge comfort.
Pardon.
Daddy! We're back!
Sorry to make you watch her.
I don't mind.
Did you have a good time, Nomari?
Uh-huh!
Jin-dono. I need to speak with you.
All right. Let's go someplace else.
No. Here is fine, since I'd like Ofuu-san to hear this, too.
Me, really?
Yes. This shop always held a special place in my heart, after all.
I'm going to Kyoto.
I'm leaving Edo behind and dedicating myself to overthrowing the shogunate.
Are you sure?
The government has already collapsed.
Despite all the citizens who are in need of help, our leaders still do nothing but bow to foreign powers.
As a samurai, I swore my loyalty to Tokugawa,
but the bushido code compels me to protect the powerless.
I cannot just sit here and pretend everything is okay, while people continue to suffer day in and day out.
I'm going to fight.
And hopefully, usher this country into a new era.
So we can see a brighter future.
Even if it comes at the cost of your life?
I'll embrace death with open arms if that's what it takes to forge a path to the future.
But what about Kinu-san?
We've already talked it over.
She's going to Kyoto with me.
She has samurai blood in her.
And is headstrong to boot.
I see...
Then you should go.
Follow the path in life that you've settled on.
Right. Frankly, I'm not sure how useful I can actually be on the battlefield.
But even so, I am a samurai.
I owe it to my ancestors to act in defense of the people until the bitter end.
Good grief. You can be a real pain in the neck.
You're the last person I want to hear that from, Jin-dono.
Cheers to your new journey. Drinks are on me.
When will you be leaving?
Tomorrow. I figured the earlier the better.
Then you better drink light, so you don't get a hangover.
Actually, I was going to pass on any drinks, seeing as it's the middle of the day...
You have Nomari-chan to look after, Jinya-kun. Don't drink too much yourself.
Fair enough.
I'm dead set on going to Kyoto, but I must admit that I'll regret never getting to see this scenery again.
Oh, please. Don't put it like that!
What she said. You're not going to the grave just yet.
Oh? Going to Kyoto, are we?
That's quite interesting.
Seems you're all over the place, as usual.
Finally gotten fed up with me, have you?
I'm actually here for the samurai.
You mean me?
My master has connections within the shogunate. They've been sharing some concerning rumors.
Mostly regarding a certain samurai stealing official documents.
The thief could only be an administrative clerk.
And my master believes that any signs of treachery must not be overlooked.
I've done no such thing!
Let's just cut to the chase. Your master has ordered you to kill Naotsugu, yes?
My duty is simple. To eliminate anything and anyone who stands in my master's way!
Thus, you will die here.
My God! Look!
It's some kind of monster!
Your attacks are sharp and swift.
It makes sense you're able to fell demons with just one blade.
Take Nomari and go.
Okay!
Naotsugu. You should get out of here, too.
But, Jin-dono! I'm the one it wants!
I hunt demons.
That's my calling in life.
And so, it comes down to us.
I imagine you won't back down no matter what I say.
Obviously.
That won't work!
Unfortunately for you, there is no blade sharp enough to cut through me.
For my body is indomitable.
Oh?
This man is my friend.
I won't let you kill him!
Hilarious. You think you stand any chance against me?
There comes a time when every samurai must stand their ground!
Very well, Naotsugu Miura.
As per my master's orders, you shall meet your end here!
Naotsugu! Stop!
You can't win...
You heard me! I'm not leaving!
You're dead.
Not again. Can't I protect anything?!
Brawn.
Steadfast!
My demonic power is this indomitable body!
Naotsugu! Run away!
Naotsugu!
Jin-dono...
Just get out of here already!
I'm sorry!
What are you doing?!
My target is Naotsugu Miura.
There's no point in fighting now that he's gone.
Remember what I told you before?
Demons are incompatible with humans.
Well? Those words ring quite true now, don't they?
L-look at that freak!
Hey, I know him!
Daddy...
Daddy?!