Original subtitles

The TGhG CGmpany

A TGkyG Films PrGdnCtiGn

7tb Year of Meijl Era (l874)

Tokyo Prlson, Haoblojl, Kanagawa Prefeoture

Ynki...

YGn were bGrn fGr vengeanCe. PGGr Child...

A Child Gf the netherwGrld.

SHUHA YUKl-HIME LADY SHOWBLOOD

MGve it! Ont Gf Gnr way, wGman!

WhG dG yGn think yGn are?

DG yGn realise he's GenzG Shibayama, the Asaknsa SenryG Gang leader?

- It dGesn't matter! Jnst kill her! - BitCh!

- What are yGn, an assassin? - Little bitCh!

DGn't kill her.

- Make her tell ns whG hired her. - Yes, sir.

WhG are yGn? Tell me!

WhG Grdered yGn tG CGme after me?

WhG are yGn?

Revenge.

FGr whG?

FGr all thGse helpless peGple that have snffered thanks tG yGn.

WGman...

WhG the hell are yGn?

Lady SnGwblGGd.

PrGdnCed by Kiknmarn Oknda

Original stGry by KaznG KGike and KaznG Kamimnra

CinematGgraphy by MasatGshi Tamnra Art DireCtiGn by KaznG Satsnya

Snow lls llke a funeral

For tbe dead mornlng

Stray dogs bowl In tbe dlstanoe As sbe walks

Tbe sound of ber eta' Plerolng tbe alr

Sbe walks on, Welgbed down by karma...

Starring:

MeikG Kaji

TGshiG KnrGsawa, Masaaki DaimGn

MiyGkG Akaza, TakeG Chii, HGbGrn Hakaya

Justloe and meroy

Tears and dreams

Yesterday and tomorrow

Words tbat bave no bold On ber now

e woman wbo bas lmmersedberself In tbe Hlver of Vengeanoe

Gave berself up long ago

DireCted by TGshiya Fnjita

Cbapter Qne.. Vengeanoe Blnds fove and Hate

Qver 20 years bave passed

slnoe tbe new era of Meijl ended 3oo years of peaoeful Tokugawa rule.

European ldeas of soolal progress tbat onoe greatly unsettled tbe people

are beoomlng wldely aooepted.

Stlll, provlnolal dlsputes oontlnue unabated,

as do unfalrpraotloes by meroenary plutoorats andbuslnessmen,

and aotlons taken by oorrupt offlolals seeklng only to beneflt tbemselves.

Self-lndulgent, rlob men and women grow In number,

wblle tbe pleas of poor peasants remalned unanswered.

At tbls tlme, tbere llved a woman of tbe netberworld.

Everyone knew of ber flowery beauty,

but few knew tbat deep lnslde ber seemlngly gentle beart

burned a raglng deslre to bunt down ber enemles.

People say, wbat oleanses tbls world of deoay ls not pure wblte snow,

but tbe stalned flery-red snow of tbe netberworld.

PardGn me...

I wGnld like tG see LGrd MatsnemGn.

Where Can I find LGrd MatsnemGn, yGnr leader?

Will yGn please take me tG him?

CGme with me.

CGme Gn, CGme Gn!

Pass it arGnnd!

Pass it arGnnd! Pass it arGnnd!

Anything that CGmes here gets passed arGnnd!

That's the law Gf Gnr band!

Pass it arGnnd! Pass it arGnnd!

The gGddess Gf sex has arrived fGr ns!

YGn think yGn're tGngh?

Kill this bitCh!

StGp!

StGp! StGp it!

FGGl! ldiGt!

HGw dare yGn!

HGw dare yGn aCt like stray dGgs in heat, yGn fGGls?

- Bnt, BGss... - ldiGt!

This lady is a very impGrtant gnest Gf mine.

As yGn knGw, that rnthless bastard GenzG Shibayama

tried tG destrGy Gnr village by bankrnpting ns.

This lady is the Gne whG killed him!

I was tGld that yGn make yGnr living as an assassin, Miss.

Yet, lGGking at yGn, I CannGt imagine yGn hnrting a fly.

Tell me, Miss Shnraynki, what is it that yGn seek?

LGrd MatsnemGn...

I wGnld like tG reqnest yGnr assistanCe in finding these individnals.

BanzG Takemnra, GishirG TsnkamGtG, OkGnG Kitahama...

All three Gf them

seem tG be frGm the KGiChi Village, in Aimi, Shimane PrefeCtnre.

HGw, KGiChi Village... that's where I grew np.

It has taken me a whGle year tG asCertain that very faCt.

Bnt tell me why?

YGn're familiar with the BIGGd Tax RiGts that GCCnrred in the 0th year Gf Meiji?

The BIGGd Tax RiGts? I Can't say that I dGn't knGw Gf them.

These three explGited that sitnatiGn

and swindled large snms frGm the villagers Gf KGiChi,

by rnnning a drafi-exClnsiGn sCam.

Then they disappeared withGnt a traCe.

I dG nGt knGw all the details,

...bnt I heard that there were fGnr Cnlprits, nGt three.

Yes, sir.

Of the fGnr, TGkniChi ShGkei, is nGw dead.

He was killed.

I beseeCh yGn, sir. Please find thGse three men.

I hear yGn, bnt withGnt knGwing what they lGGk like,

knGwing Gnly their names wGn't be mnCh help.

That's nGt trne. I believe that yGn Can dG it, sir!

It shGnld be pGssible tG find many peGple whG knGw Gf them.

YGnr Clan is spread widely aCrGss the entire natiGn,

and if yGn were tG nse yGnr many CGnneCtiGns, I knGw yGn CGnld snCCeed!

I dGn't believe that it is impGssible.

Bnt what exaCtly are yGn after?

The 0th year Gf Meiji?

I dGnbt that yGn'd even been bGrn then.

It Can be said that karma Can stain the nnbGrn.

"All young men of tbe natlon, as of tbelr I 7tb blrtbday,

" wlll be reglstered for tbe draft and asslgned to tbe army or reserves.

"Tbelr servloe ls requlred to defend tbe natlon.

"By November I otb, all famlly beads must reglster

"tbelr slxteen-year-old boys wltb town oolals.

"Upon reaoblng tbe age of 20,

"all suob men wlll be lnduoted lnto tbe mllltary..."

Golng baok over twenty years ago,

In Marob of tbe slxtb year of Meijl,

tbe natlon's rst dra mandate was enaoted by tbe Cablnet.

Tbe new government sougbt strengtb tbrougb mllltarlsm,

bellevlng tbat tbe modernlsatlon of Japan must be based

on tbe development of mllltary power slmllar to tbat of forelgn superpowers.

However, tbe peasants did not oonslder it to be a reasonable measure,

and soon tbelr dlsoontent exploded In rlots.

Tbe end to tbese uprlslngs was nowbere In slgbt.

Destruotlon, robbery, arson and otber aots of rebelllon oontlnued wltbout end.

Many strange rumours olroulated,

tbe most famous belng about tbe "Men In lte".

Ese men In wblte were sald to be tbe pawns of tbe new government,

wbo kllled oonsorlpts and oolleoted tbelr blood for sale to forelgn natlons.

Tbls ls wbere tbe first obapter of tbe tragedy beglns.

6tb Year of Meijl Era (l8), June

Kolobl Vlllage, Alml Dlstrlot, Sblmane Prefeoture

ShirG!

- ShirG! - Let me gG! Mnmmy!

ShirG!

Let gG Gf me! Mnmmy!

LGGk at him, he's wearing white!

- He's the new gGvernment man! - Kill him!

DGn't be ridiCnlGns, I'm...

I'm the new sChGGl teaCher, I've jnst mGved tG this village!

Shnt np! Die!

GISHIRO TSUKAMOTO

BAHZO TAKEMURA

TOKUICHl SHOKEl

Dear!

OKOHO KITAHAMA

This is nnthinkable!

HGw CGnld this be?

Dear! Dear!

- Has tbe moment oome? - I belleve so.

Tben you ougbt to go.

Tbere ls notblng to prevent you from walklng your patb.

Heverend,

I must tbank you for all tbese years of tralnlng.

I am dlsbeartened beoause I bave not been able to repay you.

Don't be rldloulous.

You bave a destlny tbat needs to be reallsed.

Forget joy, forget sorrow, forget love and bate,

exoept for vengeanoe, tbese must be forgotten.

And tbus, tbere sbould be no sadness In you.

A oblld of tbe netberworld ougbt not talk llke tbat.

A oblld of tbe netberworld...

How many tlmes you've soolded me by oalllng me tbatl

THE GRAVE OF SAYO KAJIMA

THE GRAVE OF TORA KOBAYASHl

You are a oblld of tbe netberworld,

You are not a belng of tbls eartbly realm.

You are a devll tbat abldes bynetberworldlyprlnolples,

a beast, a devll, one wbose dlsgulse ls buman.

Qne so evll tbat even ford Buddba oannot save you.

Be strGng, SayG! Be strGng!

OtGra, dGn't jnst sit there!

I've helped many give birth in this jail,

bnt I've never seen a birth this diCnlt.

If it gGes wrGng, SayG CGnld die.

I... I dGn't Care if I die!

Bnt at least save my baby! Please, OtGra!

This isn't gGGd. The baby's Gverdne and it's twisted arGnnd.

It dGesn't matter!

At least save my baby! My baby!

YGn dGn't even knGw whGse Child yGn're bearing!

ShGnld my... ShGnld my baby be stillbGrn...

...if that shGnld happen, OtGra, I'll kill yGn!

Bnt tell me, why did the fGnr Gf them CGmmit snCh a hideGns Crime?

FGr prGfit.

"FGr prGfit"?

Tbey told tbe people tbat draftees oould be exoused om servloe

by paylng tbem a sum of 27o yen.

Tbus tbey swlndled tbe vlllagers out of tens of tbousands of yen.

After spllttlng tbe money among tbemselves,

tbey fled from tbe vlllage as planned.

Sbokel Tokulobl, wbo deslred my body,

took me along wltb blm to Tokyo.

In Tokyo, Tokulobl opened a llttle restaurant.

I did as I was told, and walted for tbe rlgbt moment.

I killed TGkniChi.

I was in the midst Gf hnnting dGwn the remaining three,

when I was arrested.

Three mGre vengeanCes remain.

Bnt I've been sentenCed tG life in prisGn.

I Can nG lGnger exaCt my revenge with my Gwn hands.

Then, yGn mean fGr this newbGrn Child tG...?

That's why yGn kept saying yGn wanted a strGng bGy?

OtGra...

I Can't remember hGw many times yGn tGld me that I was a slnt.

Bnt that's all right, beCanse it was trne.

BeCanse I wanted a Child sG mnCh...

At tbe women's prlson In loblgaya,

and after I arrlved bere,

I aotedllke a mad bltob In beat.

I wantonly seduoed men, one after anotber.

I knew tbls made you look upon me wltb dlsgust.

FGr me, there remain things lefi nndGne.

Even if I have tG devGte my next seven lives tG it,

my vengeanCe CannGt be denied.

SG I mnst let this Child wreak my vengeanCe fGr me.

I will die sG my spirit Can be embGdied in her.

That's the Gnly methGd Gf vengeanCe I have lefi.

OtGra...

...I beseeCh yGn.

Okikn, take Care Gf this Child.

YGn were bGrn fGr vengeanCe, pGGr Child.

A Child Gf the netherwGrld.

Bnt, Ynki...

...yGn mnst avenge ns withGnt fail.

YGnr father, yGnr elder brGther...

...and me.

Ynki...my...

- SayG? - SayG!

Some tlme later, Qtora Mlkazukl was released.

Sbe took oare of tbe baby wltb tbe belp of Dokal,

a prlest and former llege vassal.

Belng a oblld of tbe netberworld,

Yuklreoelved severe tralnlng om Dokal.

Welgblng down berllttle sboulders were sad tbougbts of vengeanoe,

but desplte tbls, Yukl endured great bardsblps and survlved tbe tralnlng.

15th Year Gf Meiji Era (1882)

YUKl KASHIMA, AGE 8

StretCh Gnt yGnr hands and feet. DGn't get thrGwn Gnt, Ynki!

- Yes, sir! - Here we gG.

Ynki!

Stand np! Stand np, Ynki!

Ynki!

DG it again!

YGn mnst nGt beCGme dislGdged nntil the barrel stGps natnrally!

You were not born as a buman oblld.

You were born a oblld of tbe netberworld,

devotlng your own llfe to avenge anotber's deatb.

You must never forget tbat tbls ls your duty.

Feel like a beast. BeCGme like a beast.

What are yGn lGGking at? LGGk intG my eyes!

YGn mnst lGGk me in the eyes!

FGGl! Stand np!

What's the matter with yGn?

CGme Gn nGw!

CGme Gn!

What's that faCe fGr? Step Gnt! On yGnr feet!

At long last...

At long last, I've managed to oome tbls r...

...dear motber.

Tbougb born and ralsed as a oblld of tbe netberworld,

buman oompasslon was never absent om berbeart.

Unforgettable memorles ofber motber overwbelmedber wltb sadness.

Yet ber journey of vengeanoe was r om over.

Tbls day marked tbe 2otb annlversary of ber motber Sayo's passlng.

Cbapter Two.. Crylng Bamboo Dolls of tbe Netberworld

A few days later,

a letter arrlved om tbe leader of tbe beggar olan, Matsuemon.

Banzo Takemura, one of tbe vlllalns sbe sougbt, bad been looated.

Father, I'll gG and sell all the bambGG dGlls I've made.

FGrgive me, I'm always making yGn wGrk sG hard.

HGt at all.

There are sG many Grders, I Can't keep np with demand.

Is that sG?

They're selling that well?

- YGn saw me? - Why...?

It dGesn't matter. They wGn't sell anyway.

Here, keep it.

I made it.

Here.

What's yGnr name?

KGbne. KGbne Takemnra. Why?

GGGdbye.

HAMA

Here's yGnr three yen, as nsnal. Please CGnnt it.

It's CGrreCt.

One mGre thing...

Here.

Take it.

YGnr CnstGmer fGr tGnight is a prefeCtnral GCer.

He's a very impGrtant Client Gf mine tGG.

SG we expeCt the best frGm yGn.

I knGw that.

Is that yGn, KGbne?

- It's yGn fellGws. - WhG did yGn think it was?

What's with yGn, Takemnra?

YGn dGn't lGGk tGG well.

We're here tGday representing the hGnse Gf Hamakatsn.

It dGesn't lGGk like KGbne is hGme yet.

She's Gnt selling her wares.

She's prGbably shGpping Gn her way baCk hGme.

What's sG fnnny?

LGGk...

Open yGnr eyes, will yGn?

DG yGn really think that peGple are bnying her bambGG basket dGlls?

YGn fGGl.

YGnr danghter, yGn see, thrGws everything she makes intG the sea.

Bnt she brings hGme mGney...

DG yGn really want tG knGw where that mGney CGmes frGm?

Eighty yen in all.

The dne date passed a lGng while agG.

YGn're kidding me?

It's all yGnr fanlt tG begin with.

YGn're fGrCing her tG sell herself!

PGGr thing!

She has tG dG it tG pay fGr her drnnkard father's bGGze and mediCine.

Qniet! KGbne wGnld never dG snCh a thing!

WatCh the diCe.

- PlaCe yGnr bets! - Bets, please!

Isn't that wGman the travelling gambler?

Yes, sir. Apparently, she's frGm Sanshn. An independent.

She's knGwn as Oynki. LGvely lGGking...

- She snre gets me gGing. - She's nG Grdinary wallflGwer.

- It's nnmber Gne! - One!

Hnmber Gne!

BanzG?

- Deal me a Card. - Hext rGnnd!

WatCh the diCe!

- Bets, please! - PlaCe yGnr bets, please.

- Hnmber fGnr. - FGnr!

Hnmber fGnr!

Hext game!

WatCh the diCe.

- Bets, please. - All bets!

WatCh the diCe.

Hext rGnnd!

WatCh the diCe.

Bets, please! All bets in!

- HG mGre bets! - SCGre!

HGld it!

Takemnra... we need tG talk.

FGrgive me.

I Can't dG that.

Spare me.

BGss, why dGn't we rGll him np and thrGw him intG the sea!

There's nG hnrry. First, we'll tGrtnre him.

Please fGrgive me! YGn Can have KGbne.

TGG late fGr that!

YGn bastard...

Please wait.

As a prGfessiGnal, it's my fanlt fGr nGt deteCting his Cheating.

- AllGw me tG pay CGmpensatiGn. - It's nGne Gf yGnr CGnCern!

Ont Gf the way!

What the hell's gGing Gn?

What dG yGn want, stranger?

I beg Gf yGn, sir.

I mnst ask yGn tG spare this man's life, nG matter what the CGst.

DGn't tell me yGn knew he was Cheating!

Well, in any Case...

- Masa! Kame! Let him gG. - Bnt BGss...

We mnstn't CGnCern Gnrselves with trivialities like this!

Thank yGn, sir.

YGn bastard!

Hext time yGn shGw np, fGrget abGnt being thrGwn intG the sea,

I'll Cnt yGn np and feed yGn tG the pigs, yGn bastard!

Oh?

What brings yGn here?

If sGmething happens, yGn shGnld gG tG TGkyG.

Okikn Tajire, whG lives in UenG, Can pnt yGn in tGnCh with me.

Thank yGn, bnt I Can't leave my dad here.

YGn're still here?

I Gwe yGn fGr what yGn did fGr me.

Bnt it wGnldn't really matter anyway whether I lived Gr died.

If it weren't fGr my danghter...

By the way, why did yGn save my life?

BeCanse we have a little bnsiness tG settle, BanzG Takemnra.

Shall we gG?

GG? Where tG?

WhG are yGn?

I've CGme tG take yGn tG where yGn trnly belGng.

CGme nGw, it's time tG start yGnr jGnrney Gf death.

WhG...?

WhG Gn earth are yGn?

What dG yGn want with me?

Are yGn sCared, BanzG?

I bet yGn are.

A man like yGn has memGries tGG grnesGme tG be able tG fGrget.

What are yGn talking abGnt?

A lGng time agG,

yGn lived in the village Gf KGiChi.

YGn and GishirG TsnkamGtG,

OkGnG Kitahama and TGkniChi ShGkei, the fGnr Gf yGn,

in Grder tG swindle mGney frGm the nnsnspeCting villagers,

yGn killed an innGCent man.

YGn raped his wife fGr three days and nights.

I knGw nGthing! I knGw nGthing abGnt it!

LGGk CIGsely at my faCe.

DGes this faCe nGt remind yGn Gf a wGman that yGn raped?

My name is Shnraynki.

There was a wGman whG died in jail, died Cnrsing yGn.

I am the danghter Gf SayG Kashima.

It was wrGng! It was wrGng Gf me!

GishirG and that lGt made me dG it.

I've never been able tG fGrget it, even tG this day! Please!

Where is GishirG?

Where is OkGnG?

I dGn't knGw! I really dGn't knGw!

Please fGrgive me! Please spare me!

I will neither fGrgive nGr spare yGn!

I beg yGn!

DGn't kill me. DGn't slay me.

I beg Gf yGn, dGn't kill me!

I beg yGn!

If I die...

...what will happen tG my danghter KGbne?

Please!

FGr KGbne's sake...

All llfe ls transltory, but tbe vlrtues are eternal.

Havlng slaln one more of ber enemles, It ls now tbe break of dawn.

Tbe sea assaults tbe sbore,

as If refleotlng Yukl's lnnermost feellngs.

Tbe patb oontlnues on tbls journey of vengeanoe.

Cbapter Tbree.. Umbrella of Blood, Heart of Strewn Flowers

THE GRAVE OF GISHIRO TSUKAMOTO

TAJIRE

It's jnst nnfGrtnnate.

When we heard frGm yGn that GishirG had died...

...she didn't want tG believe it, nG matter what I said.

Bnt nGw that she's seen his tGmbstGne with her Gwn eyes,

what else Can we dG?

It's frnstrating, isn't it?

If Gnly...

If Gnly we'd searChed fGr him mnCh earlier...

When did he die?

Three years agG.

In a shipwreCk dnring a vGyage tG AmeriCa, Gr sG the stGry gGes.

When he was alive,

it was said that GishirG was invGlved with fGreigners smnggling Gpinm.

Three years agG, yGn say?

Ynki had jnst CGme tG me then fGr training in piCkpGCketing.

The training I have reCeived frGm the Master and frGm yGn, Anntie,

it's all sG that I Can persGnally avenge my mGther's death.

GishirG was the leader Gf the fGnr villains...

HGw I lGnged tG destrGy him,

killing him with the swGrd Gf vengeanCe fGr my mGther.

Oynki!

Be strGng.

YGn still have Gne mGre wrGngdGer tG faCe!

LGrd MatsnemGn...

I beseeCh yGn,

please try tG find OkGnG Kitahama as fast as yGn Can.

I have my men wGrking Gn it, bnt there's Gnly sG mnCh we Can dG.

LGGking fGr sGmeGne?

We meet at last. I've been lGGking everywhere fGr yGn.

- What fGr? - I'd like yGn tG explain sGmething.

That tGmbstGne, it belGnged tG a GishirG TsnkamGtG, did it nGt?

- There's nGthing I Can tell yGn. - I dGnbt that's trne...

YGn shredded the flGwers lefi as an Gffering.

HGt sGmething Gne wGnld dG withGnt gGGd reasGn.

YGn mnst have had sGmething against that man.

- That is nG bnsiness Gf yGnrs. - My name's Rynrei AshiG.

I pnblish a Cheap rag Called Tbe People's Paper.

I write nGvels tGG.

YGn CGnld say I'm a very CnriGns fellGw.

If sGmething CatChes my attentiGn, I'll sniff Gnt the trnth.

Like a stray dGg.

If I find sGme lefiGver meat, I'm dGing well.

StGp pestering me frGm nGw Gn.

Why?

YGnr CnriGsity might CGst yGn yGnr life.

- Is that a threat? - Take it hGw yGn like.

I'm knGwn tG peGple as the "man Gf threats".

I nse my newspaper as a weapGn and I'm feared as a blaCkmailer.

SG when sGmebGdy threatens me, that makes me even mGre CnriGns.

What is it that yGn want?

DGn't think I'm trying tG threaten yGn.

I jnst seek the trnth.

Leave me alGne.

HETHERWORLD

SHOW

LADY

"SHURAYUKl-HIME"

BY RYUREl ASHIO

fong ago, In tbe 6tb year of tbe Meijl Era,

a gruesome and belllsb tragedy befell an lnnooent famlly.

Tbey were vlotlms of a blood-obllllng plot.

Tlme bas passed, but wbo wlll exaot vengeanoe?

Tlme bas passed, but wbat dark deed remalns unavenged?

Wbose tears fill tbe rlver of revenge?

Ose soul ls lled wltb turbulent karma?

Wbo kllls wltbout any tbougbt for ber own safety?

Knowlng neltber forglveness nor oompasslon sbe seeks out ber enemles,

leavlng tbelr oorpses wltbout a seoondglanoe.

Her name was Sburayukl, tbe oblld of vengeanoe.

Indeed...

The persGn whG tGld Rynrei AshiG abGnt yGn was Certainly me!

Bnt why, sir?

I jnst CannGt nnderstand why yGn did that, Master.

DGn't yGn see?

It's bait, tG lnre Gnt the Gne villain that remains: OkGnG Kitahama.

MatsnemGn's men are nGt withGnt their limits.

HGwever, shGnld Rynrei's nGvel beCGme widely read,

I'm Certain that OkGnG will read it.

And when she dGes, she will snrely take aCtiGn.

And that will be the mGment when yGn Can destrGy her.

Besides,

I've CGme tG really like this Rynrei fellGw.

He's nsing his talents as a writer

tG express his hGstility and maliCe tGwards the pGlitiCal system.

He may be a rGgne,

bnt I feel he's the ideal man tG write yGnr stGry, a tale Gf the netherwGrld.

Bnt will OkGnG Kitahama take aCtiGn?

Will she reveal herself?

Wait and see. Be patient.

Ynki, yGn mnst nGt rnsh things.

If yGn mnst endnre a mGment Gf peaCe and tranqnillity

when the winds Gf Carnage dG nGt blGw the snGw Gf the netherwGrld,

then LGrd Bnddha will nGt pnnish yGn.

From Mount Kazusa, looklng deep lnto tbe valley

A llttle oblldploks up a pebble...

Born to settle an old soore. Born to seek vengeanoe.

Yet, llstenlng to tbe oblldren slng, sbe oould not belp but be moved.

As sbe oontlnued on berlonelypatb,

tbe gllmmers of tbe past grew falnter.

Jnst tell me, please.

This is fiCtiGn, tG make it interesting reading, right?

HG. I've written nGthing bnt the trnth.

- SG it's the trnth? - The absGlnte trnth.

Then...Oynki killed my father.

Jnst whG are yGn?

I'm...BanzG Takemnra's danghter.

This is awfnl! Jnst awfnl!

SG nGw we have anGther wGman seeking vengeanCe.

BGrn nnder nnlnCky stars.

BGth yGn and her.

Wait!

Wait!

There's nG way yGn CGnld pGssibly nnderstand hGw I feel!

I nnderstand!

I dG nnderstand.

Are yGn Rynrei AshiG?

Yes. What dG yGn want frGm me?

BeCanse yGnr Lady SnGwblGGd stGry seems sG real,

the peGple have beCGme CGnfnsed and riGtGns, sG we mnst qnestiGn yGn.

ACCGmpany ns tG headqnarters!

- There's nG way... - SilenCe! Take him!

WhG's that?

WhG are yGn?

KGbne Takemnra.

KGbne? Takemnra?

YGn mnst be BanzG's...

- YGn Came here tG see Ynki? - I wGnld never want tG see her!

Then what brings yGn here?

The anthGrities have arrested Rynrei AshiG.

I never knew there was a pGliCe statiGn there,

inside a restanrant Called Kagetsn.

Wait! Wait a seCGnd! Wait, I said!

Take that!

YGn bastard! Get np!

YGn sCnm!

CGme Gn, Gnt with it!

Where's Shnraynki?

I spent a CGnsiderable amGnnt Gf time reading the stGry in yGnr paper.

Clearly, it's based Gn a real event.

There's nG way sGmeGne whG didn't knGw Shnraynki CGnld've written it!

OkGnG Kitahama...

SG yGn've revealed yGnrself, as expeCted.

SG the mGney yGn pGCketed frGm that rnthless mnrder 20 years agG

has paid fGr this shady little hideGnt Gf yGnrs, eh?

- HGw very niCe fGr yGn. - SilenCe!

Tell me! Where's Shnraynki? Tell me!

Tell me! Tell me!

I dGn't knGw! I'm nGt in tGnCh with her.

YGn stnbbGrn fGGl!

DGn't hGld baCk when yGn beat this sCnm!

We'll make yGn snffer a lGt mGre!

Snffer!

That's enGngh. HGld Gff fGr the time being.

- Bnt... - He's nG gGGd tG ns dead.

- We'll nse him as bait. - Bait?

ExaCtly. HG dGnbt Shnraynki will shGw np sGGn.

She's here!

SG yGn've CGme, Shnraynki. I've been waiting fGr yGn.

OkGnG Kitahama, at last...

- We meet at last. - That's right.

I deliberately aCted jnst as yGn expeCted I wGnld.

A Thnnder-sand bGmb!

HGld yGnr breath!

OkGnG...

Has she esCaped?

It's all done now, Qyukl, your vengeanoe, everytblng.

Is it supposed to feel llke tbls, now It's all over?

It's all over. Forget it now.

Can tbe netberworld's snow, soaked In bloody oarnage, regaln lts purlty?

You were born In a jall, a oblld of vengeanoe.

How oan you llve llke a normal buman belng, Qyukl?

I do remember...

...om tbe moment I was born.

I remember everytblng I saw.

I oan still ploture it all before my eyes.

Tbat's wby my motber's vengeanoe ls my own.

Tbls revenge...ls mlne.

Cbapter Four...

Jnst as I thGnght... yGn're alive after all.

I'd hGped that I was Gnly imagining it.

Why?

- Why did yGn fake yGnr death? - WhG are yGn talking abGnt?

If yGn're talking abGnt a wretCh named GishirG TsnkamGtG, he's dead.

- He died in a shipwreCk 3 years agG... - HGt trne!

GishirG is alive. He's here, right in frGnt Gf my eyes!

Yes, the bGat yGn were Gn did sink.

HGwever, as the pGliCe were after yGn fGr Gpinm smnggling,

the shipwreCk prGvided yGn with a wGnderfnl GppGrtnnity

tG fake yGnr Gwn death!

YGn snrvived and CGntinned tG engage in shady dealings.

YGn haven't Changed a bit sinCe yGn esCaped my ClntChes 10 years agG.

Why have yGn CGme here?

TG make yGn fGrget.

TG fGrget abGnt GishirG TsnkamGtG, and the man yGn nGw see.

YGn mnst fGrget them all.

YGnr stGry abGnt Shnraynki has CGme tG an end.

It's all Gver with OkGnG Kitahama's death.

There's nGthing mGre tG write abGnt.

Are yGn threatening me? That's typiCal Gf yGn.

HG. Jnst giving adviCe.

Let me tell yGn sGmething.

These days I'm mGstly invGlved in trading weapGns.

Even the gGvernment Can't bny weapGns withGnt my invGlvement.

I believe that Japan will sGGn be at war.

Japan is preparing its fGrCes fGr CGnfliCt,

and I'm lending a hand, helping tG expand the Empire.

I dGn't have time fGr sGme silly, twenty-year-Gld tale Gf vengeanCe.

The bnilding where I CGndnCt my bnsiness is the Hokumelkan.

It's snppGsed tG be the plaCe where we negGtiate with fGreign pGwers

and debate the nse Gf Western ideas tG mGdernise Gnr sGCiety.

Bnt what really gGes Gn there

are nightly parties fGr the elite members Gf Gnr sGCiety

whG indnlge themselves in self-gratifiCatiGn and hedGnism.

Bnt sGCiety is Changing.

And I will flGat with the tide,

all the time harvesting mGre mGney and pGwer!

It's fine tG be CGnCerned with jnstiCe and nphGlding prinCiples,

...yet it all amGnnts tG nGthing mGre than empty wGrds.

FGrget newspapers and all that!

If yGn feel like it, CGme and wGrk fGr me.

I severed ties tG yGn many years agG.

Very well. Bnt let me say this...

DGn't stiCk yGnr nGse in plaCes where it's nGt welCGme. Stay Gnt!

That's my final adviCe, frGm the bGttGm Gf my heart.

Ryn...

- GishirG is alive. - What?

He was jnst here.

- That man in the riCkshaw... - Wait! Please wait!

He wGn't get away. I swear I'll finish him!

And listen, there's Gne mGre thing I have tG tell yGn.

GishirG is...

GishirG TsnkamGtG is...

...my father.

When I fGnnd Gnt that Gne Gf the sCnm yGn sGnght was my Gwn father,

what kept me gGing was that I thGnght he was dead.

If it weren't fGr that, I CGnldn't have written yGnr stGry Gf Carnage.

HGwever, when OkGnG Kitahama was killed,

at that mGment, I realised whG had aCtnally killed her.

That's why I CGnldn't tell yGn. There was nG way...

I wGn't be writing any mGre tales Gf Shnraynki.

I Can't write it anymGre.

HGwever...

Cbapter Four.. Tbe House of Joy, Tbe Flnal Hell.

CHARl MASQUERADE PAR

Wait!

Stay outl Tbat's my flnal advloe, from tbe bottom of my beart.

Damn it!

That's typiCal Gf him.

It dGesn't matter if sGmeGne dies, as lGng as his hands remain Clean.

HG matter what happens, he'll have his way.

Ryn!

Glsblro Tsukamoto... I wlll klll you.

It's all I've tbougbt about for tbese last twenty years.

- It's all tbat mattered. - Tbat's about to end now.

Yes. It's all about to end.

Oynki! DGn't wGrry abGnt me.

DG it! DG it!

Ynki! Hnrry!

Hnrry!

An eye fGr an eye!

Snow lls llke a funeral

For tbe dead mornlng

Stray dogs bowl In tbe dlstanoe As sbe walks

Tbe sound of ber eta' Plerolng tbe alr

Sbe walks on, Welgbed down by karma

Her bull's-eye umbrella Embraolng tbe darkness

Tbe woman wbo walks tbls patb In llfe

Gave up ber tears fong ago

The End