Chapter 17 25 Chapter 17 - Commander 26 SFX: *punch* Akesato: ......!! Akesato: !! Akesato: Come on! Akesato: Quit it! Let me go!! SFX: *push* Akesato: What the hell are you doing!? Akesato: Do you even know why I'm here? Ryouma: ...... 27 Ryouma: ...Why? SFX: *push* Ryouma: Because you're a spy...!! Akesato: !! Hey... SFX: *grab* Ryouma: It really is you!! Ryouma: Blue eyes... how pretty~! Akesato: ...... Akesato: ...... SFX: *pull* 28 Katsu: What is it? Katsu handwritten text: [Did something fall?] Katsu: It suddenly got so quiet... Aotani handwritten text: Let's go! Aotani: Maybe Ryouma-san killed the intruder...? SFX: *bang bang bang* Aotani: Oh my... SFX: *spin* SFX: *slam* Ryouma: Ahhh!! Katsu: ...... Katsu: Ryouma... 29 Katsu: Wh... what are you doing with that blonde woman? SFX: *struggle* Ryouma: ...... Aotani handwritten text: Oh dear... Akesato: [Ah...] Akesato: You... win... Akesato: [Am I going to die?] Akesato: !! SFX: *bite* Ryouma: She's a new recruit! *heart* Akesato: [What?] Katsu: [WHAT!?] Ryouma: Blonde Girl! 30 Ryouma: Let's... Ryouma: See the world together!! Akesato: ...... Akesato: ......what? Katsu: ...what. Ryouma: ? Dog: *howl* 31 Akesato: But... why? SFX: *howl* SFX: *wind* SFX: *dramatic noise* SFX: *dramatic noise* Kondou: YEAH!! Kondou: It feels good to be by the sea!! Kondou: Hiroshima sure is nice, too!! Kondou: It's good to be back!! Kondou handwritten text: Wahahahahahahaha!! Itou: The Seto Inland Sea so tranquil and beautiful, isn't it? 32 Text box: In the first month of the first year of the Keiou Era (1865), Kondou and Itou went on behalf of the Shinsengumi to ensure the control of the Choushuu. Text box: In the hunt for Choushuu radicals, they travelled to Hiroshima. Afterwards, they visited Iwakuni. Text box: By the time they returned to Kyoto, a year had passed. Kondou: So, Yamazaki-kun, what's on your mind? Kondou: Did you get the medical supplies you needed? SFX: *sigh* Susumu: Yes. Susumu: ...They must have been difficult to obtain. Forgive me. Doctor: Wahaha, what are you talking about - isn't it time you went out on your own? Doctor handwritten text: Now get back to the barracks! You've passed! Doctor: When you return, you'll be a full-fledged doctor!! Kondou: Alright!! Now how about those souveniers we bought? SFX: *stretch* KOndou: We're going to the the capital!! Itou: Commander Kondou... Itou: I have a small request. 33 SFX: *clop* SFX: *clop* SFX: *clop* Susumu: Is this alright with you? Susumu: Shouldn't we stop Itou-dono...? SFX: *clop* Kondou: Ahh... he's just looking for a little time off. SFX: *clop* Susumu: He's asking too much... Susumu: I get the feeling that man is trying to destroy the Shinsengumi... Kondou: ...... SFX: *wind* 34 SFX: *rustle* Man: ...Come on in. SFX: *slam* 35 SFX: *dramatic noise* [note: they're playing chou-han, a dice game - basically people place bets on whether the dice will come up odd or even. The dealer plays in his underwear to prevent cheating. Yakuza gamble on this game.] Men: Odd!! Men: Even! Men: Odd! Men: Odd! SFX: *slap* Man: Che... 36 Dealer: 4-1, it's odd!! Man: Yeah!! Two in a row!! SFX: *chatter* Man: Damn it! Man: Shit! Not again! Man: Well, why do you keep betting on "even?" SFX: *laugh* SFX: Feh! Man: Because it's tradition!! Man: Choushuu men always bet "even!" Itou: Then the Shogunate must be betting to win, then? Man: Hey... Man: You're insulting Satsuma... Itou: And if I am? Itou: If I am insulting Satsuma...? Men: !? SFX: *swish* 37 Men: ...... SFX: Tch... Men: ...... Itou: May I... Itou: Have a bit of tobacco? That pretty guy whose name I can never remember: Yes, sir. SFX: *long breath* Itou: Hmmm........ Dealer: ...... Itou: I'm in. 38 SFX: *slam* Men: Odd! Man: ...Mm? What was it you were saying just now? Men: Even! Man: What about Satsuma...? Men: Odd! Man: Ah!! Damn it, I'm out... Man handwritten text: Guess I should start praying... Men: Odd! Man: Yeah, you better not be talking about Satsuma. Man: A shogunate retainer coming down here... Man: But don't you think the Satsuma are moving too slowly? Man: I'm not just saying that...Katsura-san, the desertee from Tosa, he thinks so too. Man: He wants to get in touch with Saigou from Satsuma. 39 Man: But there's no way those two can talk to eachother. Itou: [Trapped by their own egos... Satsuma and Choushuu are like the proverbial dog and monkey who constantly bicker...] Itou: [...It really is impossible.] Itou: [But if we had both Katsura and Saigou...] Itou: [...And a united Choushuu...] Itou: "Even!!" SFX: *slam* Itou: [That could be an interesting gamble...] 40 Dealer: ...... SFX: *slide* Dealer: Snake eyes, it's even!! SFX: Waaaaaah!! Itou: Fufufu. Pretty Guy: That's so like you, Sensei!! Pretty Guy: A decisive victory!! Man: ...That's amazing! He won so much in just one round! Man: And with "even!!?" Man: Hey!! What's going on!! SFX: *puff* Man: Just when I give up, you go and win! Man: It has to be a trick!! SFX: *slam* 41 SFX: *ominous sound* Hikagami: ....... Man: Wah! No way... that Hikagami guy moved... Man: So what... SFX: *wave* Man: I don't want a fight in my shop! Man: Ahhh!!\ SFX: *slam* 42 SFX: *movement* Men: ...... Hikagami: Master... Hikagami: Master... SFX: *swish* Hikagami: Master... 43 Suzu: ..Itou-sama. Suzu: I've been expecting you. Suzu: Please, come closer... SFX: *swish* SFX: *swish* SFX: *swish* SFX: *swish* SFX: *swish* 44 Itou: ...Well? Itou: Why did you summon me so suddenly...? Suzu: There was no need to be so rude. Suzu: ...I wouldn't want to have to reveal your background to our Choushuu friends. Suzu: I'd like to continue our previous conversation. Suzu: ...It is only by luck that I have the honor of speaking to you. Itou: So you brought me to this shop? Itou: Why bring me here? Itou: What is this "luck" you speak of? Suzu: Ah, luck! It's luck...! SFX: *slide* Suzu: That has brought us together. 45 Suzu: You could even say it was fate. Suzu: Perhaps fate makes this significant. Suzu (continued): A destined meeting between two people who share certain common interests. Itou: ...! Itou: Heh... Itou: Well, well... Itou: You're such a pretty young thing... Itou: It's hard to believe you could be so sly... 46 Itou: So... this "Yamatoya" is a money laundering business... Itou: What does that have to do with me? Suzu: ...Soon, this country will face a great shock... Suzu: The weak shogunate will fall in a battle greater than anything simple rebels could pull off... Suzu: And when that time comes, you will proudly display the golden imperial crest. Suzu: But we will require weapons and supplies. Please deliver them to the Yamatoya. Suzu: Bring only the highest quality small artillery and cannons. Suzu: And I assure you... the attack on the shogunate will be swift and deadly... Itou: ..... 47 Itou: .....Fufu. Itou: Very well. Itou: I trust our meeting has been mutually profitable, Yamatoya-san? Suzu: .....That was not what I really wanted to ask you. Itou: As long as it cannot harm me... Itou: There are no limits to what I am willing to do. SFX: *smile* Suzu: Natsuki, Tsumori. Suzu: Bring it to me... SFX: *nod* 48 Suzu: Please take it. Suzu: Although it appears heavy... Suzu: Please don't remove the collar. Itou: Ah... Itou: What a cute little kitten... Suzu: ...... Suzu: ...Itou-sama. Suzu: I have a good feeling about our business partnership. Suzu: My true request... Suzu: ...Yes. 49 Suzu: I'd like... Suzu: For you to remain close to the Shinsengumi. Suzu: Very close... 50 Souji: Tetsu-kuuuun! SFX: *sizzle* Souji: Tetsu-kun, what are you doing? Souji: Hurry up and bring the soy sauce! SFX: *fan* Souji: Wah! SFX: *smoke* SFX: *cough* Hijikata: ...Damn it. Hijikata: Hey, Souji, you shouldn't be out in this cold. Hijikata: I could do that! SFX: *cough cough* Souji handwritten text: [I just can't stop the smoke!] Souji: No way! Souji: If you cook, they'll be burnt black on both sides!! Hijikata: Don't they taste better that way? 51 Saizou: BUKI!! BUKIBUKI!! Tetsu: Oh shit. Tetsu: Okita-saaaan! I've got your soy sauce!! Tetsu handwritten text: [Wait up!] Souji: Yes! Thank you! *heart* Text box: It is twelfth month of the first year of Keiou (1865). 52 Text box: All appears peaceful and quiet... Text box: Time passes ever so slowly. Text box: People are changing... Text box: Consumed by a vague sense of uneasiness. Text box: The winter of 1865 is coming to an end...