Niji-iro Tougarashi (Rainbow-colored Peppers)
Translation by Wei-Hwa Huang (whuang@ugcs.caltech.edu)
Book 5, Version 0
6/5/97-6/19/97
Originally published in Shonen Sunday Heisei year 2-3 (1990-1), week 47 to week 4-5
p5
N: An old adage goes:
N: "When at home, you can rely on your parents;
N:  but outside, you must rely on your friends."
KARMA IS A SPECIAL AND MIRACULOUS THING
N: "Good sake is better than a hundred medicines."
p7
-------------
PART 40 -- KARMA IS A SPECIAL AND MIRACULOUS THING
-------------
p8
Dai???niichan!  Dai???niichan!  (Haku?)
Oh!  Good idea!  <heart>
N: But now, with no parents to rely on...
Natane! -- <heart>
No!  The rest of the money is for lodging and food.
You two have been spending too much already!
N: ...and no symphathy from friends...
p9
So, just give us our share of lodging and food expenses!
Yeah!
Where will you sleep?
Heh...
A big town like this?  No problem!
Me too!
Sanshou wants to come with us too.
WHAT?
So, that means THREE shares!
Hmph!
No plan at all!
p10
I won't be responsible if you have no place to sleep!
"Welcome!"
N: ...money is the only thing to rely on.
p11
Yaaah!
p12
Damn!
Let's help!
Who?
Can't you tell?  He's outnumbered!
Hey!  Who are you?
p13
Heh!
Uh.
p14
The mi-ne, right?
(Note: mi-ne, pronounced "Mih-nay": The back, unsharpened edge of a sword.)
Of course!
N: The autumn sun sets...
p15
Thank you!  Come again!
Hic!
Ha!  That was great!
So, where're we staying?  Urp...
No problem -- leave it to me!
p16
Hey, big guy!
Sign:  Ookoma
You have anything to drink here?
We're here to gambol and gamble, you know?
I can see.
We have good business and we know how to take care of out-of-towners.
Yeah!  Yeah!
p17
So, recently...
lots of people have tried to sleep and eat here for free.
Yeah, sure.
So!
We have to establish your credentials.
Yaah!
p18
Gak!
Heh!  He!  He!
Stop!  Time out!
Hic!
We've finished checking!
You've passed!
Take them to their room!
Bring out the best wines!
p19
Nahh...
the normal stuff'll be okay.
Sorry, but the kid...
Heh!
The little sir passes too!
Show them in!
p20
Why are you still standing around?!
Prepare the appetizers!  The manga!
Sigh...
Boss...
Yeah?
They be useful.
About time to settle things with the Koide Family.
Heh.
p21
Retch...
"Careful!"
Are you all right?
p22
I just saw that you were outnumbered and pitched in.  We don't want anything.
No...
I couldn't.
I don't have much to give in gratitude...
Let me host you for a few days!
Please?
I...it's right here.
P...please come on in.
Karma is a special and miraculous thing!
p23
------------------
PART 41 -- THERE AND HERE
------------------
I see.
Cough!  Cough!
Boss!
Dad, are you alright?
Cough!
Sigh.  Don't worry.
How embarrassing...
No...
we won't mind.
p25
I'm this boy's father, Bunzou Koide.
You can probably tell that I'm pretty respected in these parts.
Why they used to sing ballads about me!
"Heart of a god, that Koide,
Fairest of Bosses,... (Heh!)"
...that is, before Kou??? Ookoma came.
Cough!  Cough!
Now they sing,
"Thank the heavens for our new Boss"
"Hurrah!  Hurrah!"
You didn't say a word when they stole half of our futons!
No wonder our men deserted.
They didn't steal them; I gave them up willingly.
p26
It's a big village!
Nothing's wrong with two Families as long as it's fair!
But you let them take half our customers!
Don't you see?!
It's not like this is a recent thing!
Their men come looking for trouble!
Inciting us to make the first move so they have an excuse to get rid of us in
one fell swoop!
Cough!
Eventually they'll give up.  Besides, Kou??? Ookoma's an honorable man.
He wouldn't do anything to a sick old man like me.
Cough!
p27
Dod!  You have to stand up to them!
If you haven't noticed, we have guests, so stop your yapping!
Sorry for all this.
Cough!
No...we won't mind.
p28
Yasushi...take this to the pawnshop.
But, little master, wasn't this your mother's...
Shut up and do it!
Please.
Wow!
Go ahead.
p29
Mmm...
Are these two your only men?
Heck no!
Don't judge by appearances; we've got twenty or so!
Servitude doesn't pay much; the others are out working...
Shush!
Sorry...
p31
Boss.
Yow!
Quiet!  It's just bruises!
What's going on?
Oh!  Boss.
Nothing...that Koide kid came out today to buy noodles, so
I took a few brothers to do, you know, the usual...
But Mr. Idiot here wimped out...
Some chick came out of nowhere and whupped our asses,
and this imbecile ran away the fastest!
Gutless!
So...these bruises are all from the mi-ne?
p33
Yeah!
Not enough of an excuse for a challenge!
Yow!
He'll need a doctor.
Oh?
It's only a small brui...
Aaaa!!!
BOSS??
p34
That should be ample excuse to wreck up the Koide's.
Hahaha!!
Wahaha!!
Clang!
I'm certainly not going to let those eat and drink for free...
Better recruit them early.
Don't worry.
I didn't hurt anything vital.
Really?
I suppose...
Kumayoshi!  Wake up!  Kumayoshi!
p36
Wow!  That is neat!
Heh...
No joke; our little master here could cheat the gods at dice!
Shut up!
p37
Dad says, we can't ever cheat the customers in the casino.
Yeah, we're probably the only casino in the world operating at a loss.
Heh!
Compared to the Ookoma Family, we're way too honest.
They only let their favored customers win;
the rest even lose the hair on their feet!
No crude metaphors in front of the lady!
Hoo -- that was great!
p38
Natane, your turn!
Okay!
What are you thinking, jerk?!
Hah?  Wha?
p39
Miss Natane, I'll show you the bath!
This way!
Haven't seen the young Master so happy in such a long time.
I think he likes Miss Natane a lot.
It's all ??? Ookoma's fault for the state of our hotel.
Oh?
Please!
Please stay a few more days as our guests!
For the young Master!
Looks like we're riding Natane's coattails.
Looks like it.
p40
Cough!  Cough!
Hey!  I'm hungry!
Yasushi!  Kinji!  Anyone!
Your Boss is calling!
Yoo hoo!  Cough!
p41
-----------------
PART 42 -- PLEASE GO BACK, SIRS!
-----------------
p42
Cough!  Cough!
Another bowl!
Oh?
p43
Boss, this is your fourth bowl...
Who told you to count?
I've slept all day without food.
Where's Choujirou?  Where'd he go?
The young Master and Miss Natane...
went for a walk by the river.
Heh!
Oh?
Looks like the kid knows when to seize oppourtunities!
Definitely takes after the old man!
We have the same tastes;
that girl looks almost exactly like his mother when she was young.
p44
Haw, you old cad!
So, how did she change so radicall...
Dad doesn't seem very useful, but he has his good points.
Dad and Mom liked to help people in need;
they'd invite unfortunates in, and slowly they'd get absorbed 
into our Family.
The kindest Family in the region.
p45
But that's also what got us into this situation.
Ever since Mom passed away and Ookama came, business sank like a rock.
No business is easy.
Especially that of a pushover Family!
p46
It's just a little fall.  C'mon, don't cry over that!
Lost my dango!  (???Candy)
Dango?
Sir...how much for a stick?
Oh?  ... Four Wen???
How much, did you say?
Four Wen???.
Three, please.
Okay.  Thank you!
p47
Here -- this is from Master Koide.
Thank you, oneechan!  Thank you, Master Koide!
First you need public support.
Here!
Don't ever lose to those evil Families.
p48
Dad had more guts when Mom was alive...
So I... um... how should I put it...
Young Master!
If someone like you could...
Young Master!
WHAT?
Th...there's trouble!
p49
Get out of there, Bunzou!
Cough!  Cough!
p50
Look at this diagnosis from Doctor ???
Some guests of yours hurt our Kumayoshi badly!
The doctor says he'll need six months to recover, and even then he'll be unable to
return to work!
We can't ignore this; what would people think of us?!
You better give them up, or else!
B...Boss!
Where's Choujirou?
Didn't I say he went out for a walk with Miss Natane?
Cough!
p51
Bunzou!
I have another diagnosis from Doctor ???
This is from your checkup three days ago!
The doctor says you're perfectly fine and in good health!
"HEALTHY"
Cough!  Cough!
So stop faking illness!  We saw through that a long time ago!
I knew it!
Hey!
If you're not coming out, we're coming in!
p52
Move away, ya wimps!
p53
Please go back, sirs!
Brat!
p54
I said, GO BACK!
Yes...we heard.
Oh!  Yes!
Sorry for the trouble, young sir;
but could you give this to Boss Koide?
p55
Come, my brothers...
Let's go!
ASSHOLE!
Challenge ???  (Fruit tashi chuang)
p56
Challenge
Dad!  No matter how you look at it, it still says "challenge"!
Challenge?
Stop playing dumb!
A real man would start preparing for it!
Don't worry, boss!
Yeah!  I didn't dare say anything before, but we have nothing to fear from them!
We have Shichimi and Miss Natane, both expert fighters...oh, and the little
kid with glasses!
With these three, how can we fear ??? Ookama?  (Hey!)
p57
What? They've got mercenaries now?
Yep!  Pretty tough ones, too.
Hmm...not going to be as easy as we thought...
p58
Hey, big guy!
We could use more wine.
Yeah!
Better finish this off quickly!
With those two freeloading, I'm going to go bankrupt soon.
Don't worry, boss!
We have help too, and our brothers can cream any of their monkey-boys.
Okay.
Hey!  Who gave you permission to take that barrel of wine!?
p59
----------------
PART 43 -- ONE DINNER, ONE NIGHT, FORTY RYOU EXTRA
----------------
p60
Shichimi, Natane, Chinpi.
Yes.
I'm sorry to make such a request of you, but could you three leave this house?
Hah?
B...Boss?
p61
I hope it won't inconvenience you.
It's because of my dead wife...
I once promised her, that in this profession I would never cause trouble
to anybody who was uninvolved.
Hey, why is he showing honor all of a sudden?
Weren't you faking illness and escaping reality all this tim...
Shut up!
Choujirou, do you have any objections?
No, sir.
Koide
p62
Sorry,...for kicking you out on such a short notice...
No, please don't worry about it.
Are you sure you'll be alright, us leaving like this?
Actually, even if Dad hadn't mentioned it, I would have myself.
Can't charge for our hospitality, you know.
Your father is a very honorable leader; you should be proud of him.
p63
I have a small request, though...
What?
Could I have a strand of your hair?
I'd like it as a ???, to put in my head-band.
Thank you!  Thank you!
...
Good luck on your journey...
p64
Dang, so they really left.
A bit too honest, those three.  ???
p65
Wonder where BB??? and the others went?
Just wait till dusk, then we'll search the taverns.  We'll find them.
Yeah, of course.
Hmm...
Where's the appointed fighting place?
This way.
p67
Guards.
Awfully suspicious.
There are lots of traps here!
Looks like their opponent isn't very honorable at all.
p69
Haha!
The sun actually shines on the head of the bedded turtle.
Finally coming out of your shell, eh?
None of that silly banter!
You think I'm afraid of you?
I'm just too lazy to bother with you!
Miss one more deadline,
and I'll let the readers skin you alive, you lazy artist!
"Mitsuru"
If you're going to yell, it should be at the front of the troupe!
Boss, I hear their guests left this morning...
Hoho...great.  That'll make things easier.
p70
Let's get this over with.  We still have a tavern to run!
Come on, ??? Ookama!
We'll show you that victory is not decided by numbers!
Don't be so impatient, brat!
I'll play with you soon enough!
Now!
Yessir!
p71
Ha!
Yaaah!
p72
Huh?
Funny...
Idiot!  What kind of a trap is this!?
Yow!
This is driving me crazy!  The next one!
...yessir!
p73
What's going on?
What kind of a trick is this?
Boss, sir!  We've almost lost everybody!
Great!  Just PERFECT!!
Boss, if you kill him, we WILL have lost everybody!
p74
Hey, no fair playing all by yourself!
Let us kill some of your men, too!
Honorable guests!!
Finally, it's our turn.
p75
Let's see, there are twenty men there...
Two ryou for each man, you said, a total of forty ryou!
Is that right, Boss?
Yes!  Yes!  Please go ahead!
HEHEY!!!
p76
In any honorable match, using such dishonorable traps can only be described
by one word --  "???"!!
For the sake of one dinner, one night, and forty ryou, I will fight for
the sake of justice!
Ho!  Ho!
One dinner, one night,...
Yeah, he's got a big appetite.
p77
----------------
PART 44 -- DUKING IT OUT TO THE LAST BREATH???
----------------
p78
What kind of crap are you talking about?
You set those traps yourself!
Hah!
Who would set traps to destroy his own army?  Do you take us for idiots?
Yeah!
You idiots!
There's only twenty of them!
Two ryou for each one you defeat!
Show them your skill!
p79
Yah-ho!!
Heh!!
Two ryou!!
Four ryou!!
Six ryou!!
Eight ryou!!
Ten ryou!!
p80
Gee, that monk's tough!
Dangit!
You take care of the kid and the performer.
Yeah...!
Twenty-two ryou!!
Twenty-four ryou!!
Hey!
p81
Hmm...
I do think I've lost count!
p82
Shichimi?
No, don't fight for us!
If something should happen, I couldn't face my wife!
You're not supposed to say things like that in the heat of battle!
I'm not helping you!
This stinking monk is the assassin of my mother!
What?
Just for his drinking habit, he broke into my house, stole our 
money, and killed my mother!
Didn't expect to see him here; this must be a gift of the gods!!
Yeah...must be a gift of the gods...
p83
Shut up and fight!
So, uh, let's let him avenge his mother!
Let's go!
C'mon!
Jeez, I can't believe you'd say such things!
Boss!  He's one of the mercenaries Boss Koide hired!
Hmph!  He's just a kid.
p84
Shichimi...how much are you getting on your side?
Nothing.  For justice.
I've got forty ryou over here;
if you throw the fight, I'll give you half!
Whaddaya say?
p85
Aw, Shichimi!!
Um, it's a critical juncture!  A very close fight.
Hah!
It's just a waste of time!
p86
Yaaah!
p87
Hero Shichimi!
Please!  Take my sword!  Finish him!
Uh...that won't be necessary.
Prepare to die, Ookama ???!
Stop, Choujirou.
Well, Ookama ????
Win or lose, real fighting leads to pain and suffering.
Since both of us run casinos, why not settle the matter over dice instead of swords?
p88
Put your bloodstamp on this contract.
Best of one round wins.
p89
The loser closes down his casino permanently.
Agreed?
Sure.  It's fine by me.
I never go back on my word.
Choujirou...this roll is vital to our Family.  It's up to you.
Got it?
p90
Didn't you understand what the wink meant?!
p91
Their dice were loaded, so...
I thought it appropriate to fight fire with fire.
True honor.
I suppose...
About what you did,...I guess I am proud of you.
Hahahaw!
Play dice with me, eh?
That's certain death.
This pair is guaranteed to show up even, every time.
Idiots!
p92
Uh?  Funny...
Yow!
Our fake dice are still in the box!
Imbecile!  Do you know how close that could have been?
Well, in any case, the Ookama casino's the only one left in town now.
Alright!  Men, prepare the festivities!
Where'd everybody go?
Eh?
p93
Narrator: The Koide household has always been a haven for young men.
N: No longer a "Family", the casino sign was taken off.
N: In keeping up with the times, they opened a talent dispatching corporation...
N: Even they didn't expect the city-like throngs on opening day.
SFX: Hubbub hubbub
N: Security.
N: Business
N: Five days a week
N: On the other hand...
p94
Sign: HELP WANTED
S: All Ages, No Experience Necessary  -- Ookama
N: ...Ookama, used to taking advantage of others, found his underlings disappearing
one by one.
N: Not even a thrush (???)
Keshi: My forty ryou -- !
Shichimi: Hey!
S: Shut up!
p95
-----------------
PART 45 -- KESHI THE MONK COMES HOME
-----------------
p96
Narration:  In the castle town...
N: Keshi lost his mother when he was six.
N: For three years, he grew up in the local temple.
N: This is his birthplace.
p97
Keshi: Mmm...I'm feeling nostalgic!
K: Everything seems so familiar.
Natane: I wonder what Keshi-nisan was like as a boy?
Shichimi: Better not.  You'll warp your brain.
K: Aw, c'mon!
K: I was innocent and cute; everyone in town loved me.
Goma: I'm starving!  Can we find a restaurant?
Sanshou: Food
N: Okay, okay!
N: But no picking out the expensive stuff this time!
K: In this town?  Don't worry about it.
K: Up there is a restaurant owned by a friend of mine.
K: We'll be ... quite welcome there.  Bet they'll even let us eat for free!
p98
Sign: Food (meshi)
K: There.  This is it.
K: Hey!  Kin-chan!  Long time no see!
K: Remember?  It's me!
p99
Sign: Closed
Villagers: Oh, no!  Keshi!
V: Keshi the monk is back!
Child: Wah!  Wah!
C: Wah!
p100
N: "Quite welcome," eh?
Shichimi: Yeah, really!
Narrator: Keshi lost his mother when he was six.
N: For three years, he grew up in the local temple.
N: This is his birthplace.
p101
K: So why am I in this get-up, again?
You know perfectly well why!
Once you show your identity, all the stores clam up.
You popularity is frightening!
Inkeeper: Hey!  You haven't paid, sirs!
Shichimi: We haven't even eaten!
Man: What?  You DARE?
M: Behold!
p102
M: This is the Forward Vice-shogun, Nidzuku Ninohe!  (???)
M: You dare to be insolent?
M: His visit should be your honor!
I: Y...yes, sir!
Ninohe: Haha...no need to bow down...
p103
N: To tell the truth, you food was quite delectable.
N: I, the Vice-shogun, was suitably satisfied with the meal.
I: Thank you, your highness!
I: It was an honor!
N: Of course.
N: Let's go.
K: This stamp box...
K: ...it's from way back when...
p105
K: Yes!
K: The stamp box still has the mark that I made with my fingernail!
K: Hey!
K: You found this in the grasses on the Fujimi hillside, right?
K: Don't be fooled, mister!
K: These three are fakes!
Oh?
K: Some weird old man gave us this stamp box...and we threw it away!
p106
Yes!  They're impostors!
Notify the authorities!
Oh!  Yes!
Shichimi!  Don't let them escape!
Halt!
p108
...
The authorities said that the stamp box was real, legitimate, and not stolen.
But, I was sure that was the exact same stamp that impoverished old man gave us!
It's all your fault for judging by appearances!
That old man was probably faking his hunger and poverty.
p109
Sigh...what a shame.
If we had just accepted the thing gracefully,
we'd be the ones wining and dining right now.
Grumble.
Boy, you really got yourselves in trouble.
It's a serious crime to insult the shogun's family.
Normally, the best you could do is get your heads chopped off.
I'll try to see if I can get the penalty reduced to just exile to a remote island,
 but there's no guarantee.
Aren't you Takezou?
p110
Huh?
It's me!  See, it's me, Keshi!
Hey!  Don't you recognize me?
Long time no see!  I've missed you!
Aaa...the death penalty!
I'll get you the death penalty!
I'll do anything to make sure you die, die, DIE!
Takezou...
p111
This way.
p112
Them?
These are the people who insulted the shogunate?
Yes, your highness.
Oh?
Oh!
p113
---------------
PART 46 -- TURN AROUND THREE TIMES AND BARK LIKE A DOG
---------------
p114
Oh!  You're that girl from...
"What is 'washing'?
p115
Who's she?
Um...
Oh, that's right!
She came that day to look for Shichimi-niisan...
You little stud, you!
What a cute girl!
Where's you hook up with her?
p116
What?
You dare!
Look at this!
Who do you think you are talking to?
This is Princess Koto, the daughter of the Eighth Shogun Akimitsu!
Another stamp box.
This one's real, I assure you.
"Princess"??
p117
Their execution is tomorrow morning?
...so I've heard.
That's...such a shame.
Hey!  Wait!
Turn around three times and bark like a dog.
What did you say?
p118
No?
What a shame.
And I was going to invite you to dinner, too.
Yamashiro, I hear this region is ramous for crabs and shrimp, is that right?
Yes, your highness, that is true.
The rice and wine is also famous.
Woof!  Woof!
Hey!
p119
Well...
except her.
She's not allowed to eat with us.
Hey, you can't do that!
If that's how you want it, we won't...
The rice and wine is said to be the best in Japan!
Heh...I suddenly have quite a hankering for wine...
Hey!
p120
Here!
Take Sanshou!
Bye.
I'll go to the Keshi-nisan's temple.
Have fun.
Natane...
Stupid commoner!
C'mon, let's go to dinner.
p121
Takaidai Restaurant -- Expensive Cuisine
That was good food!
The Vice-shogun is very pleased.
Thank you, sir.
It is our honor.
p122
With this...our worries for food are over!
It's like having a no-free credit card!
We can do anything we want!
Who dares!
Back off!  Behold...
p123
The grasses on the Fujimi hillside, right?
Tee hee!
p125
Imanami temple
Mount Hiei has the Nobureki temple,
Mount Narita has the Shinkatsu temple,
What mountain is this?  Mount ????
Imanami temple?  La...
Hmph!  Damn her!
Stupid princess, thinks she can do anything she wants!
ow ow
Who goes there?
p127
I was quite surprised!
When Keshi wrote that he'd be coming back, I waited with great anticipation.
But I didn't anticipate Keshi having such a pretty little sister.
Oh, thank you.
But...
where are Keshi and the other brothers?
Oh.  Um...
p128
Something came up, so I came over first...
I think they'll all be here tomorrow.
Grumble...  Oh!
Heh!
I almost forgot!  You must be starving!
Sorry.
Here, have as much as you want.
Thank you.
p130
Namuamidabutsu...
p131
--------------
PART 47 -- TWO OVER THERE, FOUR OVER THERE
--------------
p132
Stop!
She isn't one.
What?
Look!
She IS one of the seven siblings from the Karakuri tenements!
Therefore, one of the heirs to the shogunate!  You're wrong!
p134
I'm not mistaken.
She's not the shogun's daughter.
How would you know?
I know.
In any case, there's no need to kill her now.
Wait for the others.
Why should I listen to you?
The reward if 500 ryou for each one of them killed...
you're not trying to steal my money, are you?  (???)
p136
Hey, stupid commoner!  You like it?
We brought these fireworks all the way from Edo!
Neat, eh?
Oui
Completely unnecessary!
Goma.  Tell a joke.
Okay!
There was a sad man named Koi,
But now he's filled with joy,
although he's been crying
since his wife went a-dying,
now he subscribes to Play...
Forget it.
p137
Sanshou!  You'll break it!
Heh!
Don't worry...let him!
Heh!  How odd!
The Princess has always been selfish and stubborn, but today's she much less so.
Hanzo, don't you think the Princess seems like...
she's with family or something?
Oh.  Yeah, maybe...
Seems like it.
...
p138
Take it to her.
I'll distract the princess.
When you get the chance, run!
p139
Ding!
p140
Hm?  Who goes there?
Good work.
You two must be hungry by now.
Oh!  Master Hanzo!
Ah!  Thank you, sir!
He'll make a good ninja someday...
Huh?  What?
No...nothing...
p142
Why are you running around at this time of night?
Huh?
Because...I have to get to the Imanami temple.
The Imanami temple?
Shouldn't the Imanami temple be that way?
Eh?
It's this way, I think.
p143
I see...
No wonder I couldn't find it.
Careful.  There are steps up ahead.
The temple should be at the top.
Ah.  That must be right.
p144
Better extinguish the lantern.
Yes...
Five men...right?
No.  Six.
I'll take two, you take four.
What could they want?
p146
Did you give me four or five?
Huh?  Oh!
Yaaah!
p147
Ow!
Not bad.
They couldn't be after me!
You must be the target.
I don't remember getting on any hit lists...
p148
Sorry.
Looks like I was the target, after all.
"Asajirou"
EH?
p149
------------------
PART 48 -- A STRANGE FEELING OF CLOSENESS
------------------
p150
Is something wrong?
Uh...
You're...
p151
You're Shichimi?
Uh, yes.
What a coincidence!
So...you're Shichimi!
Ah...
Nice to meet you.
Oh, no need to bow...
Well...
It was so sudden...
Indeed!
Nice to meet you, too, then.
p152
There's something else...
Oh?
I...I heard Natane say you were a very good swordsman.
But I wasn't expecting you to be that good.
To tell you the truth, I'd rather be called a very good artist...
...but whomever drew these portraits is pretty skilled, too.
But who would want to kill us?
p153
What is it?
Natane!  She went to the temple before me, alone!
WHAT?
p155
Natane!
Don't worry.
She's alive.  Just drugged.
p156
And she killed this man?
No!  Definitely not.
Then who?
I don't know, but judging from the wounds...
...he's a genius swordsman.
p157
Snore
snnxxx
Whew!
p158
Hey!  Where's Shichimi!
snk...snoore snkx
Peace and quiet, at last.
What a troublesome princess.
But it's funny, y'know?
No matter how demanding or petulant she gets, I don't feel the last bit angry.
Sanshou rarely gets along with strangers so readily, either.
Not that you guys mention it...
I did feel a strange kind of closeness.
p159
...
What?
Princess Koto?
Visiting, all the way from Edo?
Then I'd better pay my respects before I return to the temple, heheh!
Are they here?
p160
Excuse me.
Oh...?
What are *you* doing here, Keshi?
p164
You're awake?
The congee will be ready soon.
p165
Asajirou-oniisan!!!
Whoa!
I'm so happy!  You finally caught up!
Hey!
Not so close to the fire!
You silly girl...
...always, my silly little sister!
p166
"I wish it was Asajirou-oniisan.
If we weren't related, I could marry him!"
Well, I guess...
I might as well eat this myself.
p167
-----------------
PART 49 -- THE GRAVE OF KESHI'S MOTHER
-----------------
p169
We don't know a thing about it.
I haven't asked you anything yet.
Hey!  It's dark!
I can't see a thing!
Maybe the dark will remind you of something.
There's nothing to be reminded of.
Don't move your head.
Uh?
p171
I thought I said, don't move!
Ah!  Uh!  Kind sir!
We really don't know anything!
We just know there's a big reward for killing the people on this sheet!
We're just following the boss' orders!
The boss?
He's not here!
He's in the temple, disguised as a monk!
p171
Fwip.
If that's the case, you certainly won't try to kill us now.
If you did, who would you get the reward from?
You mean... our boss...?
p173
Cough
cough
cough
cough
cough
cough
p174
Grave of Some "Boss" Who was Disguised as a Monk
Heh, if Asajirou-nisan hadn't shown up,
there'd be a different name on that grave marker.
Another name?
More likely yours than mine!
Who killed this guy, anyway?
And who wants us killed?
p175
Don't worry.
With Asajirou-nisan here, we can take on anybody!
Gee, sorry that I'm not so dependable as him!
Yeah!
I mean, dying after just one blade?
That was pitiful!
Huh?
Nothing, just a dream...
But...
p176
She's different!
uhoh.
Hanzo!
I don't like this person!
Kill her!
Ah!  Ah!  But...
Heh!  Just try it!
Hey!  Wait a sec...!
p177
What a surprise!
I wasn't expecting to meet you in the city, sir!  (???)
I'm the surprised one!
If it wasn't for the princess, I'd have...
Have what?
Uh...nothing...
...just that I'd be waiting for you in the temple.
p178
Well, we're with the princess, so there.
Yeah!
Oh, you must be a really important monk to be allowed in the castle!
Hahaha!
I've had connections with the shogunate for a very long time.
Remember to take his bluster with a grain of salt.
He's famous for two things.  Drinking and bragging.
The reason this temple's so broken down is because he spent all
the collection money on wine.
Oh, I see!
I ain't bragging now!
The man who is now the eighth shogun himself often came to this temple when he was
young!
p179
The shogun?
Right here?
Uh...y-yeah!
Maybe...about twenty years ago?
Ooh, good cover, picking a time before I was born; guess I can't blow your story
now!
Haha!
Forget it!
Let's visit your mother!
p180
Grave of Keshi's Mother
What!
I just remembered.  You said you met my father before.
Uh.  Yeah.
What does he look like?
p181
Uh...he had a striped cloak...
...a large tattoo of cherry blossoms...
...a clean and handsome traveller, yet seeingly harboring a dark past.
Gee...he sounds like a gangster.
Yeah, shouldn't he be a travelling performer?
I heard that he was a jolly and rotund priest.
This is insane!
How could all of these be the same person!?
Either he had some obsession with diguises, with women, or maybe...
p182
...he was only acting lecherous.  He could be some important person
hiding his true identity for some reason.
Hm...
Arumph-hmph!
Ho!  Ho!
It's time for lunch!
Wait!
She's different!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!?
Hanzo!  Hanzo!
p183
Keshi -- look.
That's the place where the current shogun stayed.
Oh.  Izzat so?
I'm telling the truth!
Here!  Lunchtime!
Tok!
p184
??
Sanshou, what are you doing?
C'mon, let's go to lunch.
----------------------
End of Book