Original subtitles

Mutsu province

fate.

Cause and effect.

The cause begins a story, and the effect ends it.

When the two come together, a story is formed.

A huntress and a white dog.

Their encounter is this story's beginning. In other words, the cause.

The young huntress knew almost everything about the mountains...

The hardness of the soil, shifts of the wind, and the trails of each beast.

Her grandfather taught her everything.

They say there's an invisible thread between hunter and quarry.

As that thread stretches and becomes taut,

a rare connection is formed between their hearts.

Connected.

The girl's name was hamaji ohyama.

She knew everything about the mountains...

However, the mountains were all she knew.

Today's your favorite, dog stew. You happy, grandpa?

I seasoned it how I like it, without much miso, so you might find it a little lacking.

Bokuhei ohyama

thanks for the food.

Hamaji's grandfather was killed and eaten by a bear in the fall.

I can't eat all this...

What's the matter, my dear hamaji?

Head priest!

Come now, cease the crying.

To hamaji a letter from edo.

To hamaji

"hamaji, your brother, dousetsu, will take care of you, so come out to edo."

"Being happy from now on will be our way of sending that shitty geezer off."

"I'll be waiting for you."

"Postscript. Head priest, ready a few nibu coins for my darling sister..."

"To cover her travel expenses."

Hm? What the heck...?

Here.

No matter what you do, just follow your heart.

I'll go! I'll go see my brother in edo!

Edo castle has such strong roots. It's just like the mountains...

It looks like the tokugawa era is full of peace and safety.

Preserved seafood

umm, excuse me...

I've only just come to edo today, and...

Fish!!! Anyone want some fish!?

Flatfish, yellowtails, sea Robins... All fresh, caught this morning!

Um... do you happen to know a dousetsu ohyama? He's m...

Vidro, vidro glass!

Hold 'em up to the sun and conjure up an instant rainbow world!

Vidro, vidro glass!

In order to get to the place written on this lett...

Make way! Make way!

Wanna eat some preserved clam!?

Let 'em in or keep 'em out? That'll decide the future of edo.

The fukagawa troupe's Princess fusé, right?

Did you see him? I felt such a twinge in my heart!

Fuse hunting guide

what the hell are ya doing?

Owww...

Who's...

Quarry is this? Number six shinbeh

why is there only a head there!?

They're decapitated as a warning.

Did you perhaps wet yourself in fear?

But this one was still a pup!

Did ya hear that, y'all?

This country bumpkin's feelin' bad for a pup.

Wrong!

Don't laugh at me!

Allow me to give you the details.

These guys are hybrids of human and dog.

All eight of them showed up in edo early this fall...

They're are an inhumane group that goes around killing people night after night.

Rich, poor, criminal informer, and samurai. Even women and kids aren't an exception.

They run fast and jump so high that there's no hope of catching 'em.

Since they have the bodies and minds of beasts, they became feared as fusé.

They're disguised as humans, so the authorities were having a hell of a hard time.

Tormented by anxiety, the shogun, sir lesada tokugawa, issued a fusé hunting decree.

He also attached an awful lot of bounty money to it.

Even unemployed samurai sharpened their rusty swords,

and started to roam around town with entitlement.

And so, the fusé were hunted down one after another...

Fuse hunting guide

and it was this very day that a fusé was found trying to sneak into yoshiwara,

and I, makuwari, claimed its head! A job well done!

There's just two left!

C'mon take a looong look, bumpkin.

That head is so freshly cut that the heat is still steaming off it...

Knew she'd wet herself.

Sweet sake

I gotta find his place before the sun sets...

Our job's done for now.

Man, I could use a bath.

You sure look like you're doing well, mister.

Off to gamble on dice with your reward?

Wh-who the hell are you!?

Dammit, hold it right there!

What are ya doing!? That hurt!

He ran that way!

Go around, go around!

Whoa there! Not having fun, are we? Play with me a little more.

You got some nerve doin' that to my bro's eye.

Crush that mask... along with his head!

Sorry buddy, for some reason, my throat is so damn parched today...!

An out-of-season winter cherry...

I can't survive without it.

That means you're...!

Let's just part ways here.

I'm not feeling very kind today.

Dammit!

It showed up!

Guys, split into two. Trap it on ryogoku bridge!

Roger!

Owww...

That face! I got a nice, long look at it.

He's here! Get him!

Sorry, I'm going to borrow this for a sec.

Move it, boy!

Boy?

Just give up already!

Let me see your face, too.

Ladies dislike incessant men like...

You!

Whoops!

Hey! Give that back!

Hold it! That's mine!

You have no place to run! I'll cut you to shreds!

Never mind.

I won't let you...

Just give it up already.

Or else, you'll end up losing your other eye as well.

You bastard, who are you!?

Let's sip some cheap tea and have a long talk, shall we!?

Didn't I tell you already that I'm not feeling kind today?

People like you...

Deserve to live life in pitch darkness where even the moon doesn't rise.

H-help me...

Just kidding.

Geronimo!

Here.

So, that's for fireworks?

Wrong...

It's a gun.

Gun? The weird shape totally threw me off.

Whatever.

Thanks, boy.

Wrong. I'm a girl.

I am... a girl.

Ah, n-no wonder...

No wonder... your cheeks? Are red!

No, that's from frostbite.

There they are! It's those two!

You're under arrest! Turn yourselves in!

D-did they say... "Those two"?

Obviously, meaning you and me.

Guess the only thing we can do for now... is run!

Let me gooo!

Dammit!

Is that guy in the river still alive!?

Yeah, but he's out cold!

So you just arrived in edo today to look for your brother...

Yeah...

But... l never expected edo to be so huge and full of people.

Let me see it.

No way. You're just going to treat it roughly again..

Not your gun. The letter, the letter.

To hamaji

riverside tenements by kozakura bridge

the heck? It's got his address right here.

L... can't read.

It says here, "riverside tenements by kozakura bridge."

Be happy, hunter girl, it's right nearby.

Your white hair is shiny...

I've found your brother so now you're sucking up to me?

It sets my teeth on edge.

You're wrong...

It's just that... your fur...

You don't think I'm... unsettling?

It's pretty.

You're a strange one...

See, it's over there.

I want some... dried persimmons...

Dammit.

Brother...?

Dousetsu, my brother!

Brother!

I-is that you, hamaiji...?

That's right! I came from the mountains!

I see...

Hamaiji...

So you are h...

Brother!

Are you all right!?

- So cold... - Ready? One, two...

Hamaiji, you're really hamaji, right?

I'm sorry about everything! Thank you so much for coming all the way here.

Thanks for the letter. I was really, really happy.

If you wrote back, I could've gone to get you.

You arrived in edo today? You must've been lost.

I was fine! That guy over there showed me where to go.

Huh? Where'd he go?

Well, make yourself feel at home.

I-1 didn't know there were tiny places in edo too...

It's a little dirty, but the storage room up top's yours to use as you want.

It's smaller than the house in the mountains, but just put up with it for now.

I'll have a big mansion built for ya before too long.

Brother, I really like this place!

Oh, that's good to hear.

Calm down a little, though.

Gun.

Check. I also brought bullets, gunpowder, and the repair tools.

Good.

Also... beans, bear gallbladders, your favorite dried mochi,

and a boar skin belly band.

Th-thank you...

R-right, and so...

I've heard that you've grown to be a skilled hunter, despite being a woman.

Yeah. Grandpa praised me.

He said I'm a natural.

Why would you bring that here?

He was worrying about you the whole time.

Don't ignore what I say.

Put your hands together and pray for him...

Sorry old man, but I'm definitely going to become a samurai.

I've finally found a path to accomplish it.

A path?

Damn right!

In fact, the reason I called you to edo

- is to follow that pa... - What? Dousetsu has a girl over!?

That ain't good. Funamushi's scary when she's mad.

Yeah, it was probably a girl.

But she's only yea high. That thing's still a kid.

She was bigger than me.

You idiots!

If you're gonna snoop, put some more effort into it and snoop properly!

Why hello there. Nice to meet ya.

Name's yoshirou. Hope we can get along.

I'm touta! I saw you up by the clothes line...

By the way, this thing is my son.

H-hello there. I'm hamaiji. Thanks for watching my bro...

She's my little sister.

What!?

You two don't look alike.

Not at all!

Leave me be.

M-my name's... bansaku.

We all live in these run-down tenement houses.

That one over there is the old boatman, zanzou's, place.

I'm sure he'll be coming back soon.

It's a pretty remote place, but the ohkawa river and ryogoku bridge are nearby.

Fireworks!

That's right, there's also a summer fireworks display.

I'm sure it'd be pretty fun to live with people like us.

Why are you acting cutesy? You're creepy.

They're finally here.

Man, my shoulders are stiff...

It's dinner time, you guys!

Old man zanzou rows so damn slow!

So hungry!

Food, food, food, food...

That's funamushi.

She goes around selling food during the day and drops by here as a last stop.

You must be hungry, right?

I want miso glazed tofu, sweet omelette, and the fried radish with the most sauce.

What's this?

Good eye, touta! That's my newest creation, "fluffed egg and clam bites."

I'll have that!

I'll bring it over. Just go wait over there.

Okay!

I'll have abalone and gently simmered tofu.

Along with sake, right?

You know me so well.

I'll have miso glazed tofu and fried radish. And add sake to that.

You're new. Who're you?

My little sister, hamaiji.

L-little sister? You have one?

Did I not tell you?

Where're you from?

The mountains. Mutsu province...

Add in the sweet omelette, too.

When'd you get here?

I arrived... this morning.

Leave the talk for later, and just choose something for her to eat.

Money.

Ah... my tab?

Nope.

Then... I'll make installments...

I left the mountains about five years back, see...

So I haven't seen my sister in a long time.

It's been five years since ma died... Around the time this little guy was born.

We've both changed a whole lot.

I think my brother lost a little weight.

But I recognized him right away!

Proof that dousetsu hasn't made any progress.

You seem to have mastered stupidity yourself through the years.

What are you planning to pursue tomorrow?

You know, work.

"He who does not work, neither shall he eat."

When you live in edo, everything costs money.

Money, huh...

I'm a street vendor. I go about sellin' trinkets like bamboo-copters and paper balloons.

Wanna work with me, hamaji?

I'll work...

Leave her be! Starting tomorrow, she's gonna earn a living hunting in edo with me.

What? Not confident in your skills?

As if! I have confidence in my hunting!

He said "hunting in edo"... Is this guy serious?

You just watch!

I'll bag the biggest game you've ever seen!

Funamushi! One more bottle to fire us up!

Bro, get under the covers properly!

Jeez, who are you, my mom?

Did the head priest give you anything?

Like a few nibu coins or somethin'?

Nope.

Damn that shitty monk...

Hey... what's our quarry?

What on earth are we going to hunt?

Brother?

Be careful out there.

Say hi to funamushi for me!

Good luck with work!

Thanks!

Good morning!

Nice weather today, isn't it?

Oh! You're up nice and early!

Morning!

Brother... shouldn't you get up now?

Are you hungover?

We're going hunting, aren't we?

Hamaiji! You got your gun?

Wear this...

And put this on.

O-ow!

This is going to be our job from today. Fuse hunt decree

as partners, let us hunt in perfect unison.

L... can't read.

Dousetsu and hamaji

fusé are canine beasts that consume human essence.

What's an "essence"?

It's like your soul.

Actually um, before I saw you yesterday...

I saw the butchered heads the people said were from fusé.

Then I don't need to describe them.

If we slay the fusé, we can get a great reward from the lord that lives over there.

If we're lucky, we might even get to enter government service.

Hey, brother, what's "government service"?

Well, basically being a well-paid samurai.

Today, I'll show you around. You can get some sightseeing in as well.

Let's see. We can go through kaminarimon and around shinobazu...

And then finish out the day in yoshiwara.

Yoshi... wara...?

Right. Women aren't really allowed to wander around there.

That's why I made you dress up like that!

Thanks... for all of this!

Hold thy tongue!

"Twas but for the sake of my beloved sister!

Hey, brother...

Fusé look just like people, right?

Damn right.

How do we tell them apart?

First, they have canine fangs.

Second, they probably smell like beasts.

And lastly, they say there's a Mark that looks like a peony somewhere on their body.

A peony?

Yep.

A peony flower, with eight segments.

Right here.

They say they'll keep coming at you, even if they're crawling, until you cut off their heads.

Canine fangs.

Beast smell.

Peony Mark.

Men's bath

canine fangs.

Beast smell.

Peony Mark.

Oo n a. Oo

beast smell!

Peony Mark!

Dear hamaiji, sightseeing is over from this point on.

Let's head to our real hunting ground.

Be careful. The ground is pretty slick here.

Hurry up! Don't get separated.

This gate... it's like a huge mouth!

Your mouth's open pretty wide as well.

Let's go. This is yoshiwara.

I can't get over this place. Everything is so vibrant.

It's the colors of the women of edo.

Don't forget we're here for the fusé hunt. Keep your eyes peeled.

Almost four-thousand women live here...

If you include the trainees and customers, it can reach almost seven-thousand people.

It wouldn't be surprising to find a fusé among 'em.

Hey, brother...

What do people come here to do, anyway?

Huh, well it's... a place for men to warm their hearts with a young woman's body...?

I don't think I'm explaining it very well...

But it's basically a paradise for men.

Paradise...

You're right... It's a little... eerie.

What the hell!? Hey?!

Good news, young lad, you're in luck today.

What do you want, old hag!? I'm not here to play today!

We've got an amazingly young and curvy one who's getting deflowered today.

Just two silver coins is fine.

Young and curvy?

Yep, a glistening new one!

Hey, old hag! If she looks like some trash the wind swept in, I will not be happy!

Leave it to me.

Huh...?

Brother?

- C'mon. - Don't rush me now...

I better not get lost...

Young master, you don't have to worry about nothin'.

Wh-who are you!?

It's okay, it's okay!

This is your first time playing here, right? I'll take good care of ya.

You don't hafta be scared.

L-let go already!

Wh-what happened?

Oh, a fight?

Keep out of it, nosy ass!

Welcome...

Will you be staying the night? Or simply here for a quick release?

That hag...!

Your sword, your sword! You forgot this!

Th-thanks...

Don't forget, you're here to hunt!

Hey there, cute little master. Here to have some fun with me... right?

N-not really, no...

My body feels like it's burning up...

Come on, won't you have a feel for me?

I-I'm actually looking for someone...

Why not taste a little enchantment?

No, no, come with me!

Cut it out, girls.

Hey, hunter girl.

I've been looking all over for you.

Girl...? Why're you dressed like that then!?

How misleading.

That's right. She's a girl.

Too bad for you, otaki.

Sh-she's with you, shino?

Pretty much.

Jeez, you've spoiled the fun. Hurry up and scram!

You should come drop some money on us once in a while!

How should I put it? Umm... thanks.

You get mistaken for a boy because you dress like one.

These... belong to my brother...

I knew it was something like that. This way!

Where are you going!?

It's not anything bad. Just follow me.

You'll get left behind, young master.

Hyakka shop

The things they sell here are what the courtesans usually use.

Though they may be gaudy on the outside, they're classy and full of grace on the inside...

Women sure do have two sides...

My treat.

As thanks for before.

Pick anything you like.

I-I can't...

Choose?

Just like that?

Oh my, welcome, shino, my dear.

What can I do for you today?

For her... let's see some silk kimonos fit for spring.

Oh my... what a darling girl...

Well then, shino, go let down the second from the left.

Ordering your customers around from up there...

No, no, the next one, the next one.

Jeez...

Good, good.

I just got a wonderful one in.

Good...

Good...

And stop.

I'll be down with you in a moment.

Sorry... I don't want it...

Huh?

This wouldn't suit me!

There's no way... it'd suit me.

You should save that for after you've tried it on.

That's right.

You can always develop until you look good in it.

That was deep...

Totally, right?

What the hell was that...?

My dear, are you his lover?

No, it's not like that...

He's not easy to approach and has a bad mouth, but shino really is very kind.

He is a wonderful creature who treats everyone equally...

It suits you well enough.

Your heart will catch up before long.

Dear me, my face is huge!

One kimono beauty, made to order.

You... really are a girl.

W-what's that supposed to mean!?

Hey dressmaker, add in a matching hairpin and sandals along with that.

As you wish... sir...

Please show up, hamaiji... This is all my fault...

You... seem to know a lot of people around here.

I guess.

Is it the girls?

Well, a girl, yeah.

Actually, I had something I needed to tell her today, but...

I couldn't do it.

I'm about to turn tail and run.

Stinks, doesn't it?

This is ohaguro ditch, one of yoshiwara's masterpieces.

Ohaguro is the black stuff married women dye their teeth with.

Prostitutes who try to escape... Babies with no one to take them...

They all just end up chucked into this ditch.

The other face of yoshiwara.

I guess that's the hidden side of women, too.

Hey... Do you have someone special to you?

Why do you ask that?

I guess I'm just... Jealous of that person.

You're the man!

This is the only gate, so if you wait here, you should find him.

See ya, hamaji the hunter girl.

How do you know my name?

I read the letter from your brother for you, remember?

That's not fair!

I haven't properly asked your name!

Will you remember it?

My name is... shino.

Shino...

Thank you... for the kimono.

No need for thanks. I was just paying you back.

Right... we're even, then...

Even, huh?

You're a strange one.

And it was totally awesome!

And, what happened next!?

Hamaiji!

I've been looking for you, my adorable partner!

Hey...

Did you... find any fusé?

Nope, not a trace. Let's finish up for today.

We'll take a look at the evening cherry blossoms and head home.

It's the evening bell.

Now is when yoshiwara really gets going.

This is when all the night stalls get crazy.

Guide to yoshiwara!

Gimme one!

The courtesan procession is gonna start!

I heard it's the top courtesan, ltezuru, today.

Itezuru?

She hardly ever shows! Let's go worship her!

They say she's the top of the district. She's so beautiful you forget to breathe.

I see. So like... you want to see her?

Yeah.

Oh, here she comes, here she comes!

She's like a celestial maiden who came down from the heavens...

Look at that, she has such a fair complexion.

I can't do anything but sigh...

Wow, she just melts your heart.

Courtesans really are somethin' else...

Hey, hamaiji! Get over here already, it's such a superb view!

I'm trying! I can't see anything!

Here! Grab on!

Owww...

Brother!

Sorry... my grip slipped...

She's a fuse.

Oh, come on...

There's eight segments on her calf.

Peony...

Mark.

Beast...

Smell.

It can't be...

Courtesan itezuru is a...

She's a fusé!

Oh that's scary. She can suck out my essence anytime.

This isn't a joke!

Run, you idiots!

How dare you disrespect our big sister!?

Begone, you hillbillies!

This is a hunt. Laymen shouldn't get involved!

What a strange guest we have here!

She's a fusé!

There's a fusé on the loose!

Did she fall in love at first sight?

Let's go, hamaji!

As expected of my sister, great job tracking her down!

She's swift!

Government service and reward money!

That's either a dead end or a secret passage.

Let's trap her at the big cherry tree.

Got it!

Don't be rash!

You too!

Tell me... why? Why don't you come to see me?

It's been ten days since the date we arranged...

Tell me... shinbeh...!

To tell ya the truth, I wanted to meet you in bed as a customer.

Don't hate me for this, courtesan!

Don't tease me like that!

Just leave me alone...

My heart is in enough pain as it is these days...

Leaving before the customer... That sucks!

Brother!

What, itezuru?

No way, that's gotta be jealous rumours from the prostitutes.

Yeah, I mean she Rose to the top within a year...

So quick!

I hope my brother didn't get hurt!

I-I'm so sorry...

No, uh... th-thank you very much...

Sorry, but I'm in a hurry.

Please... tell me this pathway widens at the end!

Umm, excuse me...

It can wait until you finish eating, but would you be kind enough to pull me out?

Calm down... this is no different from being in the mountains!

Connected!

Did I get her!?

Maybe I should just go see shinbeh...

No, that'd just cause trouble for him...

It's fine for me... to be the only one hunted down.

I extend you my warmest welcome.

You're a fusé, right...? You can't run anymore.

Run? There was never anywhere for us fusé to run in the first place.

To actually meet my end at ohaguro ditch...

It's so pitiful it makes me laugh...

And this... marks my retirement.

I'm not afraid to die.

Now. Hurry up and do it, little girl.

Oh, you smell like a woman, all right.

It's obvious that you're just disguised as a man.

You're scared of being a woman, aren't you?

Shut up!

As a fellow woman, I hope you will listen to my last... request.

Don't make a move!

I want you... to take this to shinbeh on mount atago in shiba.

Why should 17?

I'm giving you my head.

Won't you do this... to call it even?

Did you know?

The character for "fusé" is written by combining "person" and "dog."

I... can't read.

Hamaiji!

Out of the way!

Brother!

Fare thee well...

Word is the seventh fusé has been taken! Hurry, hurry!

Who did it!?

Hey kisuke, go call an informer!

We have to report this to the authorities!

Brother...

We did it, hamaiji...

Fire!

Numbers one, three, and four!

Keep the barrel level with your left hand, and fire from the dead center of your body!

Load the next round!

Readyyy!

Sir!

Only one left...

Glistening when drawn, o great blade of justice, murasamemaru...

Please protect our pure blood from the impostors who press to open our doors.

Please lend me the last of your power...

It's getting infested with maggots...

Daikaku, take this with you when you leave.

Understood.

Commissioner aboiji.

Yes, my lord.

How are preparations for the festival?

My lord, considering your present state of health,

I highly advise against holding a festival at this time.

That is exactly why we must hold it.

Everyone is uneasy.

Why don't we open up the castle, and offer grand amusement for them?

That's perfect!

Daikaku! Once again...

The people of the castle are constantly concerned about their own safety...

I am sure the commoners will be overjoyed at his lordship's consideration.

Right!?

I have to see this fate through to the very end...

Regarding the slaying of the fusé in yoshiwara, you did truly admirably.

Thank you.

Thank you.

His lordship is most pleased that matters were settled without undue disturbance.

Such being the case, I present you the reward money as promised.

For now, the first hundred ryo.

It's a bit of a burden,

so the remaining four-hundred will be delivered by envoys tomorrow.

Yes, thank you!

In installments!

Installments?

D-do you understand what you're saying!?

Sir officer,

could we arrange for this money to be delivered a small amount at a time?

A true edoite won't deal with miserly crap like that...!

Let's hear your reasoning.

I just think becoming rich overnight is kind of... unfair to everyone else.

The discipline of frugality, then.

Very well.

I hear that it was a joint effort by you brothers, so you are afforded a say.

B-brothers...?

Um, I really think?

Installments!

Add the onion and parsley to it as you like, okay?

Grandpa told me that hunting was about making connections...

I'm splurging on this. Hurry up and eat...

In that moment in yoshiwara, I... connected with that fusé.

But even so... we still aren't even...

Please come again!

Hey, hamaiji.

Maybe we should look for the fusé separately.

Yeah, good idea... it might be faster if we split up.

You can say where you live, right?

Riverside tenement houses by kozakura bridge...

Right, well done.

Please don't go don't leave me behind yukanaide watashi wo oiteyukanaide

It feels like this sorrow could tear my heart apart kanashikute kokoro ga harisakesouda

The stars in the night sky yozora no hoshi mo

the fog of early morn Asa no kiri mo

I'll give you I'll give you my everything minna minna agerukara

so please just don't leave me behind aa watashi wo oiteyukanaide

A festival? What's that about?

Lord lesada will be extending us commoners an invitation into the castle!

That shogun must be feeling a bit forlorn.

It's like a gathering where we can all feel better, before the country opens its doors.

You help too, dousetsu!

A festival, huh? Pretty extravagant.

What happened to you becoming an officer?

Don't hold out on us, mister.

Honestly, I stopped giving a crap when I got the money...

Just gonna live and drink for a while.

Hey, hold on, dousetsu!

What?

We have to talk.

Make some time for me tonight, 'Kay?

This isn't so you can press me about my tab, right?

I'll be here waiting...

Sure.

Excuse me...

Could it be you...

I knew it!

You are dousetsu ohyama, the man who slayed the fusé, are you not?

S-sure, that's me.

I have been entrusted with a message for you, you see...

Special invitation please, take this.

What's this? Some kind of ticket for a play?

Yes!

Is this the fukagawa troupe!?

That's right! Thank you very much!

I came here today to present you with an invitation to our kabuki show.

Naturally, your gun-wielding little sister, and all of you are also invited!

Yeah!

Looks like edo's safe today as well...

Memoirs of a hunter

what is that...?

Is that... me?

Newsprints 3 mon each

Newsprint. Three mon each.

You're the one who's been selling these, aren't you!?

You're that...

I might not be able to read but I sure understand pictures!

You have me on here like a man!

That's pretty rude, you know!

You're ...Aqgi girl?

Yes, I am! Do it over!

Can't. Already made the woodcut.

Woodcut?

To be able to make something like that... you're really something!

Oh, oh no... It's really not that hard...

Is that your latest?

I'll take one.

You there, boy!

I'll take one too!

Boy...

How much are they?

Oh, umm...

Three mon each!

Newsprint!

Get your newsprint!

Three mon each!

Latest issue on the fusé hunt!

Newsprint!

Mount atago in shiba?

Yeah... do you know where it is? Is it close to here?

It might be a little too far to walk...

If you go down the ohkawa river by boat, I think you'd arrive by sunset, though.

Thanks...

You're amazing, meido. We're the same age but you can already make newsprints...

Slaying the fusé is way more amazing.

But, yeah, my grandpa writes novels, so that has been a major influence...

I totally get that!

Oe ee rs es es ear ers ae esr ss es sae rr tr eia me er et es eae rea eere ter - ee ce ea lec elite er re es aa he pe sar a sf es be ue rrs a ens ne a a le hat ge en ee

did you like your grandfather?

I've been rebelling against mine lately.

Ever since his eyes went bad, he makes my mother do everything for him...

So I've been avoiding talking to him as payback.

Sounds hard...

Yeah.

I'm getting close to disliking myself...

It's hamaiji!

Hm?

- Heeeeeey! - You're sure quick on finding women.

Hamaiji!

We were just gonna go get old man zanzou.

You wanna come see the kabuki too?

Huh? Kabuki?

The fukagawa troupe!

Everyone else is there already!

It's a small theater act that's become popular recently.

They're performing in shiba on mount atago.

You wanna come too, miss?

Atago shrine

It's called kabuki. It's a type of play featuring only young men.

So even the female roles are played by men?

Yeah, apparently kokubyaku ohmori is a really popular actor.

Even the bigshots from saruwaka tried to recruit him.

The line's moving.

Kokubyaku, it is almost time.

The guests you invited have arrived.

Right.

Satomi hakkenden...

Oh... the original work was a sad story about a dog and a human...

Precisely. It's a story of bittersweet love.

Aw, man... I thought we were gonna be seeing a play with some sword fights.

Well, you aren't.

A love story, huh?

No wonder there's so many women here.

Funamushi really should've come.

Who knows... she said she didn't feel like it today, what more can one do?

Hey, this kabuki is one of those adapted works, right?

Adapted?

Yes, seems like it.

One of those derivative works where they futzed around with the original novel.

Gassy-ku!

No, no! My name is bansaku!

You seem pretty knowledgeable about all this, little miss.

Yes. After all, hakkenden was written by my grandfather.

Bakin takizawa... he's my grandfather...

Awa province, the warring states period.

This is the story of a great man,

chosen by his family's treasured sword, murasamemaru.

His name”? Yoshizane satomi.

Within the castle he'd built, a baby girl, lovely as a Jewel, was born one night.

She is as beautiful as the full moon that shines this night.

You shall serve the castle, and the people of the village.

You shall discard the self, and live a life of peace and service.

And so the girl was named "fusé."

Fuse

time flows on seventeen years.

I see. So this is how they're spinning it.

I'm waiting for you!

Look at me, sir koku!

As a child, the Princess ran across fields and climbed mountains.

She never concerned herself with reading, and lived as if she were a boy.

He's kokubyaku, the one with the seductive glance we were talking about.

However, after taking in yatsufusa, a dog with fur like white velvet...

Princess fusé started becoming considerably more feminine.

Princess fusé gazed lovingly at yatsufusa, who was like her other half,

as yatsufusa darted through the fields and climbed mountains.

Shino...!

My god, he's beautiful!

A man as pretty as that sure puts this ugly lot in an awkward position.

Sadly, these happy days did not last long for Princess fusé.

There was a surprise invasion by kagetsura anzai from the neighboring province!

An emergency trapped yoshizane.

Cornered, he vowed the hand of Princess fusé as a reward

to whoever brought him the head of the enemy general...

U-unbelievable!

The one who delivered kagetsura's head was Princess fusé's beloved dog, yatsufusa!

And so, as promised, the dog and the Princess became husband and wife.

Take that!

Hamaiji.

When the play ends, I'll be waiting in the area out back...

But there is more to this story.

The story goes that Princess fusé and yatsufusa had a child together.

I cannot permit this!

For my daughter,

a daughter of the satomi family, to bear the child of a cur!

Farewell, all those I loved.

I shall take yatsufusa and this child, and live away from the castle...

The woman and the dog vanished

- into the fusé forest, far from civilization. - Bye-bye! Come again!

Some wonder about the life the Princess carried that day.

Was that the beginning of what would, in later eras, become known as the fusé?

Tae = = = === == = sosa = eee sea sms been fa ae dm moh gaa tuiing niet pan ror elves hs ee co sling see be an epi ls fr ni snead sa na le salis lh ae ee he ae sia feels eere rb

is another play.

Thank you for coming!

We hope for your continued patronage!

We await your next visit!

That was a good play...

Truly a strange story...

Hey, brother.

Hm? What's up?

I forgot to buy an actor portrait...

You wanted one of those?

I'll buy ya one.

Don't worry, I have money.

Could you... go on ahead?

I'm sure I'll catch right up.

Hamaiji... don't stay out too long.

Okay.

I didn't call out to her, but... Hamaji turned around anyway.

In that moment... we were connected.

Shino!?

Looks like we've found ourselves a duck bearing green onions.

Except in this case, it's carrying a huge gun.

Let go! Who are you people!?

Oh, that makes me sad.

We know all about you...

Including the fact that you have connections to a fusé...

She's a girl? Well this is gonna be a fun night tonight!

Where is that fusé now?

If you don't answer, I'll crush this jaw of yours.

You guys aren't very lucky at all.

My throat is parched today, too.

I knew that you... were the last fusé...

Shi...

You know, I want to consume even your essence so damn badly!

Now kill me, please...

With that gun of yours...

Kill me!

I just came here to give someone named shinbeh a lett...

He's long dead...!

Shinbeh was iltezuru's child.

The child of a fusé and a human...

I don't know who the father was.

A child is a death knell for a courtesan, so I was taking care of him.

She was only able to see him once a month...

I'd pretend to be a customer, and sneak him in to see her...

Hurry the hell back home, hunter girl!

Funamushi!

I was waiting until I became an officer, but...

Would you... be my wife?

I want to work, and I don't want to lose...

I'm scared about a lot of things too, y'know...

Give me... a little time...

Hamaiji!

Any luck?

Nothing!

Me neither.

Looks like she's gotten herself lost.

Damn it!

Hey! Take an umbrella!

Excuse me... hello?

Are you all right?

Um... does meido live here...?

Huh? Meido...

Give me a moment...

Hamaji!?

What happened to you?

So warm...

Otai, could you carry her in?

Certainly, madam!

I'll go ahead and boil some water.

Okay!

Did you write this as well?

Don't, don't!

It's still written really poorly...

A new newsprint?

No. A full novel.

A story.

But it's no good at all.

It's so difficult.

Doesn't feel like you have a fever.

Your body temperature just got really low.

So you're going to be a scholarly author of novels...

Oh, don't! It's just a dream of mine.

I'm nothing compared to the fusé-hunting girl.

I can't do that anymore...

I'm... a hunter who can't shoot anymore.

I was hoping you could read this for me...

Love letter?

No.

Just a letter with no place to go...

Shinbeh, each time you ask when you can see me again...

That will do for tonight...

I will drive out all the impostors...

Please choose me.

Murasamemaru, murasamemaru, murasamemaru, murasamemarul...

I understand your concern for lord lesada.

But we serve the long lineage of tokugawa before his lordship.

There is no other option but to have him stay put tomorrow.

What's your progress...?

The curtain on the special stage should open at 5:00 P.M.

You said he's called... kokubyaku?

On my remaining eye, sir, I swear... My information is accurate.

Sses eee ee pa pe et pt se sa haar El re fianna a lh ie ah beer a er a le eh I ene an he pms es ar ab ee le see de ee le as ee sr she sa a ee shama a sle I clean ee pe ee pa I ae 14 I eh a see se a I ie hani ca dha ea cie a ae er le a a me be a dae a ac mie oa le ohare a ed se le se a peer re es pha suis a eps ae sr orien a ae lo se go ee a se ee ii se ee bd pl sr

there's a pool of water.

That's where we have the floating stage.

Wow, that's amazing! A stage just for us!

It is more than we deserve.

You have our gratitude.

The noblemen's wives will pass through this entrance gate to watch.

Do not point your rear ends toward them.

Of course not! My ass will be firmly under control!

Ummm, where is the bathroom?

Bathroom?

Let's see...

Use this one, that's the closest.

But don't go beyond that.

Huh, is this a road?

A bridge?

You don't even know how to read maps?

Here's the bridge! Main tower! Stage!

Ah, excuse me.

Hamaiji, was it...?

Would you care to join us for some breakfast?

We have plenty more.

Yes! Thank you very much!

I'm really sorry for worrying you!

I'm completely fine now!

This is meido's grandfather.

His name is grandfather bakin.

I-it's a pleasure to meet you!

I've heard a lot about you from your granddaughter!

He's writing a novel.

Yes! They're really popular among the people of edo, right?

I can't read, so I don't know anything about them!

You can't read?

Nope!

So I'll have meido read it for me!

Saddle-up hakkenden!

Idiot! Satomi hakkenden!

Uh, I-I'm sorry, grandpa bakin...

No, it's fine.

There's no need to apologize.

Since my eyesight deteriorated, I too have been relying on omichi here to write for me.

Please don't apologize.

I guess we're not so different, if neither of us can read or write!

What? Hey! What's so funny!?

Someone explain!

You two should go to the festival lord lesada is holding today.

I hear there will be lots of stalls...

What do you want to do, hamaji? The festival's at edo castle.

Festival?

Ah, oh yeah!

The fukagawa troupe from yesterday will be there performing as well!

So that's why he...

The food was delicious, thank you very much!

H-hey, wait a second!

Hamaiji, where are you going!?

I finally figured out where I have to take this letter!

Thank you!

Huh?

I think you got your stubbornness from your grandfather!

Hey!

Hamaiji!

Brother?

Sorry...

I'm... sorry too, for worrying you.

Hey hamaiji... I'm gonna be a father.

Funamushi is with child.

It'll happen! I'm sure you'll get there in no time!

I got a lead on the last one.

I'm going on a fusé hunt!

Hey, hamaiji!

Don't kill it! Go make things even!

I love you, brother!

A stage on the water with the main tower beautifully reflected.

Oh, no... I'm getting nervous already!

Don't pee yourself!

You wait till we're on stage!

I'll go wild!

Don't take him seriously. He's just teasing.

Look. Up there.

For such a grand tower to even exist, such magnificence!

Let's make this a good one.

What is it, kokubyaku?

It was on your back...

A cabbage white butterfly!

Now that does bode well!

Do you have any water?

You don't look so good...

Drank too much last night.

Are you the members of the fukagawa troupe?

A-ah, yes!

We cannot thank you enough for calling on us to perform for you today!

The actor calling himself kokubyaku would be you there, correct?

It is I who should thank you!

Guards, take him away!

That man is the last fusé!

I won't let you say you forgot about me.

Oh dear, you're already in the mood again?

Kokubyaku, what on earth is going on?

Right?

I'm terribly sorry my old friend, but the play hasn't started yet!

Wrong. The play's already over!

Hey, fusé! I'm not feeling kind today!

That's definitely my line!

Dammit...!

You monster...!

Don't come any closer!

Hey, kokubyaku...

You're tellin' me you were a fusé...?

Why did you give up!?

Tell me this is also an act. Play the part through to the end!

Then I can keep believing in you...!

Sorry... the act is already over...

After him, after him!

Don't let him into the building!

Shinbeh...

Each time you ask when you can see me again,

torrential rain pours down inside your mother's heart.

That rainwater builds, and builds, and when it has filled me to the point of overflowing,

I will be able to see you again. That is what I believe...

I'm sure that at that time, the rain will become a river of joyous tears...

Shinbeh, do you remember the collodion photograph we took in Yokohama?

Every time your mother gazes at that photograph,

I remember your round forehead, your cheeks as soft as mochi,

and your adorable little hands.

Whenever I start to let go of your hand, you always know it's time, and ask me,

"hey, when can I see you again?"

Hamaji?

You're in a hurry, aren't you?

I'll take you.

You've still got around an hour before the play starts.

Don't worry. You'll make it.

Thank you...

Umm... I hope you'll let me hold the baby too!

Face forward.

You know, I just stopped caring about what it means to be womanly or manly.

Dousetsu got mad at me.

Told me to be honest with my feelings, and then I won't be scared anymore.

You know...

If you take away my brother's honesty, there's really nothing left of him!

I'm going to try my hand at being a mother.

All done!

You've transformed into a woman.

Right!

Funamushi! I'm going ahead!

Go for it!

We'll be waiting back home!

Thanks!

Jeez, I just had that looking nice...

I won't let you inside!

If you want your essences devoured, make sure you form a nice, neat line!

He's headed for the keep!

Dammit, if only he didn't have that hostage...

Send the firearms unit to go around and wait for them.

But, commissioner aboji?

It doesn't matter!

We can always replace a third-rate samurai!

Form a line!

Ready ammunition!

Betrayed by your master just to get me. Too bad for you.

A dog might whine about it, sorry to disappoint, but I'm a human.

I'm used to being betrayed.

The stairs are behind the corner tower.

Lesada is on the very top floor.

Hurry up and go already.

There! There! There!

Fire!

Anyone seen my sword!?

The brazier! Bring water from the rain bucket!

Hurry up and call for the men!

I'll be waiting for ya in the next world... While I boil up some cheap tea.

I'm here to hunt the fusé!

Hey, hold it!

Damn that fusé...

He plans to go right inside! Hurry up and shoot him dead!

Commissioner aboiji! It's dangerous to shoot around here!

We have to evacuate the people who came for the festival before...

Silence! I'll authorize it!

The fusé is hamaji's quarry, right?

Yep.

Let's use the human bamboo-copter.

Up for it, en? You're the son of a street vendor all right.

Ready!

Commissioner, let's have some fun!

Tickle, tickle, tickle...

Stop it! Get off me!

C-commissioner aboiji...

Hey, you!

Are you blind!? Grab a bow!

Wh-what the hell is that kid doing!?

Keep your hands off that fusé! He's this girl's quarry!

Girl or not, show no mercy!

Fire! Fire!

Owww...

Hold it, hold it!

It's yatsufusa!

You're kokubyaku's girlfriend, right?

I'm heading to the bathroom inside the castle.

Would you please come with me?

Oh! I've been waiting for you!

Someone bring the water from the rainwater barrels!

Fire squad!

Someone call the fire brigade!

First priority is the tower! Don't let the flames build any higher!

Fire! Get out of here now!

I heard the fusé started it!

I will drive out the impostors...

Drive out the impostors...

I have removed the bolt. I would advise you to leave before the flames reach you!

I'm waiting for the story to end from right here...

I must make clear which one of us is a counterfeit!

Or my life will not even begin...

You damn hound!

I'll put you down, then you'll stay put!

I'd like to at least choose how I die...

I didn't think being alone would feel this cold...

Ow, ow!

We don't have the time to be fussing about with fire!

Put it out, quick!

Sprint to the well!

Commissioner, sir!

If you're really a samurai, untie the women and children at least!

They're just gonna burn to death!

Tokugawa does not discriminate among those who oppose it.

If you don't want to burn...

Perhaps I should cut you down along with the tree?

Dad!

Now, I can't let that one go!

Cherry blossoms let their own petals scatter and fall...

But if that's the way of a samurai, it's the most pathetic thing I've ever heard.

He's the loafing Ronin who slew the fusé in yoshiwara.

Interesting.

Draw, you impudent fool!

D-dousetsu...

No more installments.

From now on, I will give and take everything in one lump sum!

Attack!

I struck them with the back of my sword.

No need to worry.

All right, tenement hero!

Dousetsu!

Open every gate, and we'll all carry the moat water in together.

You think I will take orders from a plebeian!?

You blockhead!

This is not the time or situation to be fixating on status!

Carry it!

Wind...

It's going to fan the flames.

We'll need all your help.

Sure!

Shino!

Shino!

Murasamemaru has chosen me...

Welcome to the forest of fuse.

You must be the last one?

Would you be happy if I reply to you with a bark?

I have been waiting a long time for you...

Your white fur is very beautiful.

It'll become even glossier if I consume your essence.

Now then... Let us bring this fate to an end.

Of course. Glistening when drawn...

O great blade of justice!

I shall reap your head!

Perish, fusé!

Allowing my daughter to conceive the spawn of a dog, was my gravest sin!

And that's your excuse for killing my kind!? Accept it!

If you do that, you won't be afraid of the future!

Silence, impostor!

What is that...?

Your kind were a mistake, born wrongly into this world!

There's no such thing in this world as one who's born as a mistake!

This blade chose me alone!

You're not the only one who's been fighting desperately for his people!

You think that killing me, an "impostor," will make you a proper shogun!?

Precisely!

Offer your life to the real one!

Even impostors... can become real if they live with determination!

But I...

Served the castle...

Served my people...

And discarded myself.

I don't want it...

If I consume your essence, I see myself becoming as much of a wreck as you.

Otai, I already piled up bakin's manuscripts.

Go give a shout to meido.

The flames will be here soon.

Father, you must hurry along!

This blasted novel. It should burn with the rest of the place...

With the writing of hakkenden, I wanted give the fusé justice.

I wanted to give them a place in society...

And yet, no matter how much I wrote...

In the end, the stories were nothing more than that!

I'm so sorry, omichi... everyone...

Move it! Move it!

The fire's spread that way!

Don't shrink with fear!

The fuse?

Farewell... all those I loved...

I shall live away from the castle.

Don't go!

Hunter girl...

Ltezuru and shinbeh weren't consuming essence...

They were cheering each other up with letters and trying to resist it!

You have to be the one to have this...

Hurry!

No more...

My foot... won't hold!

You were holding it in for me, trying to not consume any essence, weren't you?

That's what you wanted to tell me after the play, isn't it?

Just leave me be...

Wherever I go, death shadows me...

Don't feel guilty about surviving...

Shino...

I love you.

If it gets too much to bear, you can have my essence...

Will you... stay connected to me forever?

Yeah...

I won't kill anymore...

Can we call it even?

Tear down that guard box while there's still time!

Block the fire from spreading!

Thank goodness... it's a passing rain...

The sky's crying.

I think they're tears of joy.

Yaaaaay!

Sweets

Hamaiji...

He's gone...

We met here, and we parted here...

He'll come back though, right...?

Hey, meido, would you teach me how to write?

Sure. But why?

I was thinking about writing him a letter.

Look at that, hamaiji!

Oh, wow!

Meido! Hurry up and get ready.

We need to get going!

Go ahead of me!

I'll be right behind you!

Fate.

Cause and effect.

A cause begins the story, an effect ends it.

When the two come together, the story is formed...

I can't think of a conclusion!

Funamushi opened a budget restaurant.

Ee me ee sree f= eet ss tee pei te ttt es tee ee ee sess ti sss een meee eere sm eee tee ee ee a pe ge tr sle ge ce sn a a joi he eel ee madi se ce be serre ee eee erle bd j a cer ae sn ee ga a ci see es ee ee pps

sass ee te es bt zi. - 2 eas tm eee et ta eur eens ties sont toea essai titre a hst t raei iat sre irssaieiar es se iese tat tes ee ee tr ee nr eer ae I ee ee ri debi ee dal es ee al aa go he ree ha sal a a a bi le fe sbe re reg le fe a ee been pe ee ae bl ichedate I e le che rn re a a cai ee eee a eras sas en ee a a a I I a ai ees peer I a be ge bing een rr a ee ee ca le sle Dee it be ha er er

every day is busy.

Come on, guys, bunch up more!

Where am I, where am I...

Bido, bido, bido, bido!

Count to ten.

Okay.

One!

Two!

Three!

Four!

- Five! Six! - Stop moving...

- Seven! Eight! - Stay still, would ya!

Nine!

Ten!

Ow!

He couldn't become an officer, but dousetsu is now

a dual-wielding samurai, commanding both a pellet drum and a bamboo-copter.

Before the fireworks begin, how about it, my lord?

A sip of sake, perhaps?

We are traveling incognito.

Why are you acting all excited?

I think I'll have some.

Even I like to unwind sometimes.

Come now, fill it up.

The fires and quarrels for which edo is so well known died down,

and the era of tokugawa returned to stability.

The eighth fusé was swiftly captured, and its head placed on display...

Worry not. To my eyes, it is a grotesque head, severed brutally at the neck.

I pray that people will always have dogs by their side.

Okay, I'll write the next part of the story, then!

Coming and going between fiction and reality requires resolve, you know.

I'm ready for it.

There she is...

I knew it.

You climbed all the way up there again!

So what is it? Got a scoop? Something funny?

Don't tease, just tell me already, hamaiji!

You won't put it in the newsprint?

I won't, I won't!

I've never done anything like that!

=a are sis === iss ses nt rrr re se eet eas sete ate nes erode near see sese arerr a eet ee eee a ee a aa gl en 5 a ha eh ee ree te ee et ea 55 dena aine area a een sl ee dh a a ee shel ne Ean en feelin rd re a ol

from shino!

They started!

A letter arrived from the fusé.

It's decided.

That will be the effect of this novel.

I en eet tt eee ssies ras eee tes eee ee teas iia es eris a aoe Ty sa a ieee eset ere asr saa me ee ee tr a se mat I in sers ee a st te re rs nen en ns as aas a sa ca ma mar o ene saree ee fri == Sri en rg a er I a te any ses set danie bee ihenle int ce tee a ee eng la ae lal sa be err ey str ah ee le I le a oe le Anna ss ee El a se beb a I ae see ee sl a hah ba he se ar re cr es I er he

fuse an adaptation of satomi hakkenden

let's connect this string to the other side I can't carry it on, it'll just fall off again? Yeah yukou ifo wo muk

To tell you the truth, my love is hesitant that's all there really is hontou no koto iuto watashi wa koi ni toma

Ooh don't cry, so softly ooh nakanaide sotto

count up all of the beautiful and all of the sad things kirei de setsunai mono kazoeru kimi no mune wo

can [fill up your heart so that it isn't empty? Koborenaiyouni fusaide yukerukana

I will take my hand away just for this time ima dokunoyo kono te no

these long pinky promises are indefinite yubikiri nado futashikayo

don't fly it away to the sky somewhere so far dokka e tohi sora ni tobasanaide

it started moving but I'm not scared ugokihajimeta kowakunai

it's not painful to live here with you kimi to kurasu no tsurakunai

how about it? It doesn't reach I want to be with you doukana todokanai issho ni itaiyo

Let me wear your big shoes and stand on my toes too ohkina kutsu mata hakasete tsumasaki de

I just want to be able to see the very same view as you do fatsu anata to onaji basho de mitaina

including all of these intense feelings that are so close to collapse kuzuresouna omoi mo sono kireinamono

every single pretty thing I tie to the world wo zenbu sono sekai to yuwaite

Don't cry, so softly I'm waiting nakanaide sotto kazoeta

in the middle of the hole that opens up inside of a heart Ana no aiteru kokoro no mannaka de

would I be able to plug it up with my fingers? Watashi no yubi de fusaide yukerukana

so that all those special dreams can't fall out sono yume ga koborete yukanaiyouni

would I be able to plug it up with my fingers? Watashi no yubi de fusaide yukerukana

Good night. Please return my love. Oyasumi yuwaiteyo koi