Chapter Four: Restoration Hero

...Your mind is made up?

It is.

Ryouma, I've always thought you were the best man to lead the Tosa Kinnoutou.

Ah, that's giving me way too much credit, Takechi.

You're much more suited for that sort of thing than I am.

So, what are you going to do once you leave?

Well, I was thinking of leaving the domain and becoming a ronin.

A ronin!?

Ryouma, you do know what that means, don't you?

Yeah, I do. A samurai leaving their clan without permission is a major crime, tantamount to going against their lord. If they catch me, they'll kill me.

But I want to see the rest of the world. The world outside Tosa.

I want to travel around all of Japan.

And if I can...

Someday, I'd like to see what things are like overseas, too.

...Your head's in the clouds, Ryouma. You need to come back down to reality.

Tosa is in the midst of an upheaval. It's up to us lower-ranked country samurai of the Tosa Kinnou Party to set it right.

As things stand now, the high-ranking daimyo retainers run the whole domain, and we are treated like insects.

The Kinnouwe, who are actually FROM Tosaare the only ones who can change that state of affairs.

High-ranking retainers and country samurai, huh...

Hey, Takechi. have you ever heard of a far-off land called America?

They say that anyone can freely participate in government there, no matter who they are or where they come from.

Nonsense. I don't know what those Choushu people told you in Edo...

...but here in Tosa, the Kinnou are the only ones who can change things.

We're going to reshape Tosa in our image, convince our lord to go to the capital, and get rid of those foreign barbarians once and for all.

That is the greatest achievement we Shishi could ever hope to accomplish.

...I'm sorry, Takechi.

...Right. You always did have a stubborn streak.

All right, Ryouma, if that's how you feel, then you and I are done. You have no place in the Tosa Kinnou Party anymore. Go wherever you want.

...Thanks, Takechi. I will.

...

I'll be off. Give my regards to Izo.

...Ryouma.

...You damn fool.

Oh, there you are, Takechi.

I thought I might find you here when you weren't at home, and damn if I wasn't right.

Anyway, I just got back from Edo yesterday, and I thought we could go drinking together, since we haven't done that in ages.

Maybe we could get Ryouma in on this, too. What do you say?

...

I know, wait here. I'll go get him.

I've still gotta tell him about everything I got up to in Edo, after all.

It was great. Every dojo I went, there was no one who could beat me

...Ryouma's not here.

He's not? Well, where'd he go?

...He left Tosa.

Huh?

Wh-what do you mean, "He left"?

He quit the Tosa Kinnou Party. He's not one of us anymore.

Y-you're kidding, right?

R-Ryouma...quit...?

...

Takechi... Did he tell you he was quitting?

Yes. He came to see me right before he left.

...!

Wh-what the hell!? He didn't breathe a single word about this to me!

We've known each other our whole goddamn lives! Why would he leave without saying anything!?

He could've at least come to say goodbye!

Why would he tell you and not me!?

Wh-why would he do this!? Why would he leave me behind again!?

WHYYYYYY!?

...

Everyone else always left me out of the complex discussions... But not Ryouma.

He was the only one who always included me. So why...? Why would he leave without telling me?

...Izo.

Shut up, Takechi! I know you think I'm an idiot!

And it's not just you. Everyone in the whole damn Kinnou Party treats me like I'm stupid!

I'm a genius with the sword, dammit! I'm the strongest fighter in the whole Kinnou Party!

There wasn't even anyone in Edo who could match me!

I... I...!

...Izo!

Wh-what?

...

...I have a favor to ask you.

Man-Slayer Shinbei...?

That's right. There were two man-slayers who made the streets of Kyoto run red with blood during the Bakumatsu era.

One of them was Izo, and the other was Tanaka Shinbei, aka Man-Slayer Shinbei.

He comes from Satsuma, and he's a practitioner of Jigenryu.

Shinbei?

Oh, right. That annoying guy who used to hang out with Izo.

Oryou remembers he was a lot bigger and physically stronger than Izo, though that's all he had going for him.

They both wielded their blades for the Tosa Kinnou Party, under Takechi Zuizan's command.

But Tanaka Shinbei in particular really admired him.

He would do anything for the Kinnou Partywhich is to say, for Takechi's ideals.

And Takechi's ideals involved the Kinnou taking total charge of the Tosa Domain, and ensuring that the Sonnou Joui supporters in the capital rose to power.

Sonnou Joui? Doesn't that mean something like "revere the emperor and expel the barbarians"?

But, hang on. That expression comes from China, and way back during their Spring and Autumn Warring States period at that, right?

How do you even know that, Nagayoshi!? Chacha wishes you'd stop acting like a competent general out of nowhere!

In our time, "Sonnou Joui" was an expression that referred to serving the Imperial Court rather than the shogunate, and to expelling all things foreign from Japan.

And the ones who went around killing anyone who stood in Takechi's way of making that Sonnou Joui ideal a reality...

...were Man-Slayer Shinbei and Man-Slayer Izo.

Huh. Chacha wouldn't have ever guessed it, but it sounds like Okada actually had a role to play.

Back then, Izo was a real cocky bastard.

But then, Tanaka Shinbei was arrested as a suspect in an assassination plot, and took his own life right before they could question him.

Huh, that's more hardcore than I would've expected from him. So he never talked, huh?

People said that Takechi came up with the plot, but I'd bet only he knows for sure.

Eventually, other political changes led to the Tosa Kinnou Party losing momentum, and Takechi and Izo were both arrested by the Tosa Domain authorities...

So both of them were arrested by their own lord? That's weird.

From what you've told us, it sounds like they were just doing their best to help their domain.

It's true. All I can say is...

...that's just the sort of domain Tosa was.

Ryouma...

Tosa, Tosa... That's the area down near the Chousokabe clan, right?

In our time, the Battle of Sekigahara had already come and gone, and so the Yamauchi clan had already come in and taken over in Chousokabe's place.

Yamauchi? As in, Chiyo's husband?

That's right. Yamauchi Kazutoyo was the Tosa Domain's first daimyo.

Long story short, the high-ranking retainers who ended up running Tosa were descended from Yamauchi and his own retainers.

Those of us descended from Chousokabe and his retainers were relegated to being lower-rank samurai under an oppressive caste system.

As the years went on, life became harder and harder for the lower-rank samurai...

...which is what led to Takechi, myself, and others like us forming the Kinnou Party and trying to fight back.

At any rate, it seems pretty clear now that the two man-slayers, Shinbei and Izo, are our enemies.

Yeah, they are. But Izo's also...

Don't worry, Ryouma. Next time Oryou sees Izo, Oryou will knock some sense into him.

That's what Oryou should have done back then, too.

I see... Yeah, you may be right.

But while Izo may be willing to listen to reason, Tanaka Shinbei definitely won't.

Be very careful if you run into him again. His style, Jigenryu, is very much a one strike, one kill form of swordplay.

Yeah, I used to think swordfighting wasn't worth shit in war, but he's pretty good.

I knew guys from Shimazu were always fired up, so if he's descended from them, that'd definitely explain his strength.

Anyway, I think our next step should be to look for Takechi and the Kinnou Party's hideout, so

I get it. You want to split up and cover more ground.

What are you doing here!?

Hey, we have an alliance now, right? Don't worry, I'll be out of your hair in no time.

By the way, which alliance name do you prefer: the Takachal Alliance, or the Sugidea Alliance?

He's always been like this, hasn't he, Ryouma?

Chacha has a feeling none of these names convey the gravitas one expects from an alliance!

？！

All right, how about we split the difference and call it Chaldea Kiheitai?

That doesn't split anything, and it leaves out the "alliance" part completely!

Anyway, I'll have my company guys handle searching Kasukabe Block, so why don't you all handle another area?

Master, can I kill him?

Hahaha, isn't it more dramatic to save the evil mastermind for the end?

Now, here's a map of all the city's different blocks. You can use it to make your way around.

Here. This ID card will get you into any block no problem.

All right, Oryou and I will look around Iruma then.

Iruma, huh? Then I'd like you to investigate Kawaguchi.

That's near where Edo used to be, and there've been a lot of Kinnou Shishi sightings there too, so I bet you'll have good luck there.

Man, things are getting really entertaiI mean, time-consuming now, huh? Not that I'll be going myself.

I swear, this friggin' guy.

Hey, being a company president might seem nice, but it's a lot of work!

Oh, would you look at the time. I've got a new weapon competition I need to get to. Good luck, everyone. I'm counting on you.

I bet if you looked up "impertinent" in the dictionary, you'd find a picture of him.

What can I say? There's a reason he wasn't always welcomed warmly in Choushu.

But even so, Takasugi's definitely got the makings of a hero.

I don't know. Where I'm from, they don't usually call guys like that heroes...

Ah, whatever. C'mon, Boss, let's get going.

Kinnooo, kinnooo, kinnooobbu!

There's a shitstorm of these Kinnou Shishi things!

And more just keep showing up!

Kinnou Shishi or Auntie's mini Nobus, there's way too many of them!

However, Master, there's good news! So many enemies must mean we are near a key stronghold!

So we just gotta charge straight at the biggest bunch of 'em, huh!?

Hell yeah! Not stoppin' today until I've broken my record for most kills in a battle!

Let's go, Naritoshi! Try to keep up!

Same to you, Lord Nagayoshi!

Once I'm done with them, they'll be nothing more than bloodstains to wipe off my blade!

Chacha will say this for the Mori clan: they're nothing if not reliable!

We'd better go after them, Master, or they might rack up about twenty-seven more heads!

Those kids sure are a handful, huh!? Come on then, let's hurry!

Hm? You know, that doesn't sound like a bad idea...

Okay then, let's just relax and have some tea. Care for a Restoration Manjyu?

？！

So this is their base, huh? Don't mind if we let ourselves in! Now die!

Kinnooobbu!?

I don't see anything obviously suspicious yet, but

Well, well. If it isn't you again.

Oh! Chacha knows who that is now, thanks to that history lesson earlier!

That's...Man-Slayer Izo!

Don't be silly, Lady Chacha. I'm pretty sure that's Shinbei.

You! I still owe you big for the ass-kicking you gave us last time!

If you think you can repay that debt now, you're welcome to try.

We're not going to fall behind this time. We won't take it easy on you at all, even if we do outnumber you!

You, outnumber me? You've got it backwards. We Kinnou Shishi are indestructible.

A box?

That box...and this magical energy... They seem familiar somehow!

Agh! M-my head...!

Wh-what is this...feeling!?

I-it feels like my head is going to split open!

R-Ranmaru? Are you okay!?

Stand up, my fellow Kinnou Shishi!

Kikikiki, kinnooobbu!

The hell!? A whole bunch of mini bosses just popped out of that box!

As long as we have this, we Kinnou Shishi will never die.

Th-that's... That's what I...!

Agh!

Oh no! Ranmaru just collapsed!

Kin kin kinnooobbu!

Dammit, I hate these things! There's so damn many, I barely have room to swing my spear!

Hmph. You stay right there.

All right, mage. This time, I'm not leaving without your head!

N-now Master's in danger, too!

Come on, Nagayoshi, do something! With Ranmaru down, you're the only one who can!

I know, dammit! Move, you little pricks!

Kinnobu, Kinnobu!

Give it up. I'm going to cut your head from your neck so cleanly you won't even know you're dead.

Kiaaaaaah!!!

AIYAAAAAAH!!!

Huh!?

Chacha can't see a thing!

Hey! What's going on!?

That's far enough, Man-Slayer Shinbei!

As long as I, Izumo-no-Okuni, still breathe, I won't let you harm even a hair on my precious cash cow'sI mean...

On my valuable customer's head!

？！

Bravo!

That, right there, is exactly what I like to hear!

You again. Stay out of our business, dammit.

Excuse me, but that's MY line.

Believe me, I'm sick and tired of fighting you guys, too.

Shut up. I'll just kill you along with the rest of them.

Ah! He's going to use that box again!

Come forth, my Kinnou Shishi comrades!

...What? Why isn't it working?

Heh heh heh. Did you think I made that dramatic entrance just for theatrics?

Look down.

Huh? ...A Bounded Field!?

That's riiight. This is my stage now; it's an evil-sealing formation for getting rid of all kinds of nasties.

As long as you're inside it, you won't be using that suspicious cursed object.

You and your damn tricks!

All right, now we just have to take care of Shinbei and the rest of those creatures.

Wahahahaha! I don't get what's going on, but if there ain't gonna be any more of those things, this'll be easy!

Wake up, Zanzaburo! It's showtime!!!

Fiiiiii!!!

Thank you all for waiting, my distinguished guests. Now it's time to sit back, relax...

...and enjoy the Okuni show!

Nngh! Stupid dancing girl!

Try whatever trick you like. None of them will work properly here on my stageinside my Bounded Field, that is!

Now prepare for defeat!

...Then I'll just have to destroy the whole stage.

Huh? What was that?

Kiaaaaaaaaah!!!

HI-YAAAAAAH!!!

Well damn! You really did destroy the whole stage, and the Bounded Field with it!

I've heard of warming up the crowd, but I've never seen anyone do it by crisping the whole stage! Enemy or not, that was pretty impressive.

I can't afford to lose this here. I'll have to fall back for now.

The next time we meet, mage, know that I, Tanaka Shinbei, will end your life!

Ah! He just ran away!

That's how it goes with Assassins. It'd be all but impossible to track him down now that he's disappeared into the shadows.

Now, are my esteemed clients all right?

Ranmaru's still out cold, but Chacha's okay.

Tch, that bastard. I'm gonna kill him next time, dammit.

？！

Wonderful. I'm so glad to see you're all okay.

I was chasing down a certain someone when I happened to see you all fighting.

Since I have my own bone to pick with those guys, I took the liberty of stepping in to help.

Well anyway, you really helped us out.

So who were you chasing down?

Oh, that? I was chasing down the most notorious criminal in this whole Restoration...

Sakamoto Ryouma.