Original subtitles

Oh, right.

I escorting Kikuchiyo-san to Nijo Castle, and then...

Huh?

What?

Kikuchiyo-san?

Wh-What's wrong? Why so formal?

Wait, who are you?

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Blue Miburo

Pardon me for disturbing you at this late hour.

My family has long served the line of shoguns as their shadows.

Sh-Shadows?

Does he mean as body double?

I've heard of them, but I didn't know they really existed.

The member of my family who most closely resembles the Shogun gets chosen.

And, well, that was my humble self.

Forgive me, but you look almost nothing alike!

U-Um, what's your name?

A shadow has no name.

This guy's kind of a pain!

For saving my lord in his time of need,

you have my sincerest gratitude.

O-Oh, please. So many people have thanked me already.

I don't deserve more.

Um, please raise your head.

Unworthy though I am, this is how I feel. Please permit me to show it to my satisfaction.

Now...

He acts like the real thing!

Accompanying His Lordship must have been eye-opening.

Huh?

His Lordship prizes the lives of others above his own.

Yes, that did surprise me.

I mean, he's the Shogun.

Yes, he is. And yet...

That's no courtly laugh!

U-Um, is Kikuchiyo-san...

He's gone.

Master Nio, I promise to rush to your aid in your hour of need.

Th-Thank you.

Huh? What's going on?

I hear voices in the distance.

Expel the barbarians!

Foreigners out!

Expel the barbarians!

Foreigners out!

"Expel the barbarians"? It can't be! Inside Nijo Castle? But why?

Expel the barbarians!

Foreigners out!

Expel the barbarians!

Foreigners out!

I-I'm tired. Time to sleep.

Where am I? The fog's so thick.

I can hear water.

Is this a river, maybe?

Here goes.

Wait, could this be...

Ow.

Is a headbutt any way to repay me for my concern over your tossing and turning?

Kikuchiyo-san! It's really you this time!

You saw the River Sanzu?

Y-Yes, I did.

I nearly crossed over to the land of the dead.

That's strange.

Your wounds aren't life-threatening.

Huh?

I, uh, guess you're right.

What was that river, then?

That aside, I'm astonished Kagemaru showed himself.

So that man is called Kagemaru?

Yes. That was truly unusual.

I suppose it shows how much gratitude he feels toward you.

What?

Still...

I'm glad we both made it here safely.

Same.

I hurt my left hand falling off my horse, but ultimately suffered no worse.

I got the stuffing beaten out of me.

I hear the three men Naozumi slashed will live.

My horse is fine as well.

Really? Thank goodness!

And I retrieved your wooden sword.

Oh, thank you.

How funny.

Tell me more of the Miburo.

Okay. Remember I mentioned Kondo-san?

One sip of sake knocks him out cold, but he's untouchable at sumo wrestling.

He tosses everyone else around like rag dolls.

I would love to meet these other Miburo.

Quite the view, isn't it?

Yes. It's like another world.

So, um, I thought I was just hearing things,

but there was shouting in the night.

Hm?

The voices reached all the way to the castle.

Oh, so you heard that.

They chanted "Expel the barbarians." Were they shouting at you, Kikuchiyo-san?

It's so wearisome.

They never tire of fussing in front of the gates every night.

I guess you have it rough, too, huh?

Here you are, trying so hard to avoid a war.

Anyone would. That's what I'm here for.

What do you mean?

The decision to "expel the barbarians" has been made.

The Emperor, the court, and recently, my guardian, Yoshinobu,

have all been pressuring me to pick a date to enact the policy.

It won't be easy to stop this momentum.

No human effort can make a difference.

It's as though the river of history is sweeping us along.

A river?

That's what I mean by "Anyone would."

A single person is next to meaningless before the river's flow.

I need only be a marionette. A puppet of the times.

But you won't become a puppet, will you, Kikuchiyo-san?

I mean, you fought back.

Even so, I will not allow you to make war.

That is my verdict as leader of the samurai clans.

Even when your life was in danger, you made up your mind not to fight.

Even if you're a toy boat in the current, you still struggle, and you'll keep struggling.

You're our Shogun, Kikuchiyo-san.

And I'm glad of that.

And who are you to judge?

Oh, I'm so sorry! I said more than I should!

I beg your pardon!

Wait, a river?

Could that have been the river of time?

No, that's ridiculous. That was just a dream.

You must not have eaten. I'll have a meal prepared.

No! Don't!

I couldn't bear it if you fed me and no one else.

True. Taro would make a nuisance of himself.

Do you want anything else, then?

D-Do I want anything?

Anything at all.

Can I really ask for anything?

Her name is Black Daikon.

B-Black Daikon?

Th-That's an unusual name.

She's black, and she likes daikon radishes.

I named her.

My lord! You must not!

Leading a horse is beneath Your Lordship.

Oh, be quiet.

I owe Nio a great debt.

Make way, or go without dinner.

Our Shogun's kind of pushy.

I-I'm scared!

You mustn't tense up like that.

Hang loose and let the horse take control.

"H-Hang loose"?

Keep hold of the reins!

Very good. You have a knack for this.

Good girl, Black Daikon.

Aren't horses grand?

I would have loved to show her to my wife, but I can hardly lead her back to Edo.

I will have to find some other souvenir for Princess Kazu.

You're married, Kikuchiyo-san?

Yes.

And to a charming lady.

But she puffs up like this when she's in a temper.

That's adorable.

Nio, would you leave the Miburo and come serve me?

Huh?

I wish to bring you home to Edo as well.

I-I mean, this is so sudden.

Oh, just say yes! Say it, or I'll make the horse buck and throw you off!

Hey! Don't do that, Kikuchiyo-san!

I was only joking.

Y-You scared me.

That wasn't funny.

Forgive me.

I really felt that way until last night.

Then I recalled something your grandmother said.

You're a lord, so do a lord's work.

We've all got our own stations to stand our ground in.

That's what work's all about.

We all have our own stations and duties, and we should each do them as best we can.

So long as we share the same goal.

Kikuchiyo-san.

Myself, in this world.

And you, in the world outside.

Let us strive together for an age of peace.

My Lord. The boy's companions have arrived.

Our time is up.

What is the way of the sword?

When Naozumi posed that question, you couldn't answer him.

You're right.

I don't fault you for that.

But how should I know something like that?

I'm not really even a samurai. I was adopted by a dango seller.

You're wrong.

Money can buy samurai status these days.

It's no longer a question of birth.

Wh-What do you think it is, then?

A state of mind.

A-A state of mind?

Naozumi claimed it was a matter of blood, but such questions have no real answers.

If you consider it a state of mind, a perspective, the answers are endless.

Samurai, peasant, or shogun, man or woman, it makes no difference.

What is the way of the sword to you?

Tell me your answer when we meet again.

There he is.

Nio-kun!

You're late.

Whoa. He really came out of Nijo Castle.

Guys! Thanks for coming to get me!

Hijikata-san, are you all right?

Of course I am.

I bet you had a feast in there.

I haven't eaten a thing.

You've sure gone up in the world.

Please don't.

Were there pretty ladies? Well?

No!

Wine and women aside, you must have gotten something.

No, not a thing.

Oh, but he did let me ride a horse.

A horse? You rode a horse?

Yup. It was a lot of fun.

Huh. A horse. A horse, huh?

Horses poop a lot, don't they?

Yeah, they're a pain to clean up after.

Kikuchiyo-san!

Maybe it's not proper to say this...

But between last night and today, I had an amazing time!

So did I!

Farewell! Till we meet again!

Yes! That's a promise!

My lord, your features seem to have changed in the course of a day.

Kagemaru.

For a shadow, you're an awful busybody!

There's still hope for this land and its people.

What makes you say that?

Nothing really.

Now, let us get to work.

I'd like to make a detour on the way.

I'll catch up.

What?

What's the big idea?

We trekked out here just to get you!

Where do you want to go?

A bunch of places.

I have some things I want and some things to check on.

Nio, going back to the compound and giving us all an explanation comes first.

No. This comes first.

Away I go!

What was that about?

Beats me.

I'm not doing anything if those guys jump him again.

I'm back!

Please gather round, everybody! I have something to tell you!

Strip down, Nio. It's your turn.

Huh? But I've got something important to...

Hey, this is Serizawa-san!

I don't stand a chance!

Just say he wins by default!

Nio, I heard the whole story.

Huh?

You saved the Tokugawa Shogun's life, huh?

N-No. I mean, you could say that, but I basically got saved, too, so...

Fooled you! Now's my chance!

Nio, you rascal.

Well done!

An underhand throw!

Oh, my. Nio-kun lost in the first round.

I'm impressed!

Have a manju as your prize.

Th-Thank you, sir.

Where'd he pull that from?!

No fair! Why only Nio?

Damn it. We got wiped out again?

By the by, Nio...

I hear you stayed at Nijo Castle, where Lord Iemochi dwells.

Yes. Kikuchiyo-san was so welcoming. He's an amazing person.

This is the Shogun's majesty!

Let me smell you. I must know his scent.

Ah, the fragrance of our Shogun.

Tell me, were the fellows who attacked you strong?

A bunch of pushovers, I'll bet.

No, Hijikata-san took a real beating.

Hijikata did?

They didn't beat me.

But the Risshidan's goals, or maybe their motives, were a bit unusual.

Bring back the age of the samurai?

Yes. That's what they said they wanted.

What the hell?

What does that even mean?

Maybe they're out to start a war.

That's why we should have finished them off there and then!

What's so bad about bringing back the age of the samurai?

Could we become samurai?

Uh-oh. They're getting on board with it.

You, too, Sir Kondo?

A load of bull. Who could stand an age like that?

If they cut loose, we'll do all we can to stop them.

It's as simple as that.

Yes, sir.

And so, everyone...

Let's make those Miburo coats.

There's not a moment to waste.

C-Coats?

Who cares about that crap now?

I do. We're gonna make them.

A-ha. Let me guess. You fell for a girl?

And you want to show off, right? I've been there.

Nothing like that.

No?

Last night, when I stayed in Nijo Castle, I heard people cry, "Expel the barbarians."

They were threatening Kikuchiyo-san... I mean, the Shogun.

And Naozumi-san and the rest of the Risshidan want to start a war.

Those two facts spell danger for Kyoto all on their own.

The townspeople are afraid.

I want to show them the Miburo are here.

We all form a single living creature.

We don't tolerate evil deeds.

Our uniforms will be a sign to the people of Kyoto.

A sign of relief. A sign of safety. A sign they can relax.

I think that's work we should be doing as Miburo.

As those who serve.

I knew I made the right call when I recruited him.

So what did you want in such a hurry for making those coats?

What did you go check on?

Right. This is what I wanted.

I went to Chirinuya and got Granny to design our coats.

Oh! Black, huh?

So stodgy.

What's wrong with it?

Black's cool.

She said we should put one character on the back.

Something that symbolizes the Miburo.

That's a good idea. Let's pool our wits to choose one.

Mhmm.

"Seri."

Seri (parsley)

m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100

m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100

Kamo (duck)

"Kamo."

m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100

m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100

"Zawa."

m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100

m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100

Zawa (swamp)

Making it about you?!

And what did you check on?

Oh, right. I went to the drapers to check how much it'd cost, sir.

Five ryo a coat.

Planning ahead for more recruits, 50 coats comes to 250 ryo.

Wait, 250 ryo?!

Come on, everybody. It's time to start earning.

Let's get going!

Come on! All together now!

Are you nuts?! Where will we get that much?!

From hard work! Together!

He's not listening.

Damn it. I guess we've got no choice.

Listen to us, Nio.

I know, Kondo-san.

Nio doesn't realize how frightening uniformity can be.

It intimidates people on top of everything else.

There's no way! We'll never make 250 ryo!

Do you realize how much we'd each have to earn?!

No, let him be.

Wait, how much would it be?

Our actions will show the townspeople that we're on their side.

Besides...

Yeah, you're right.

Maybe that's our work as adults.

Sharing

the Same Dream

Next time

Chirinu Nio here.

We Miburo need to raise funds.

Funds to buy matching coats, so we can help the townsfolk to breathe more easily.

But it seems like everyone's running into trouble.

Making money sure is tough.

Next time: "The Race to Raise Money."

Don't miss it!

The Race

to Raise Money