Ukiyo-e Is but a Fleeting Dream

Make yourself at home.

I've left the other disciples with Nishimuraya to handle the ukiyo-e sales at the Enkou-in.

So I'm going to take a rest.

Presenting your painting in front of the shogun? So you're going to paint in front of him?

The shogun ruling Edo, huh? So, like, the Seii-Taishogun! Is he hot!?

Are you talking about Lord Ienari? Not one bit. There's no such thing as a good-looking shogun.

Hey, sure there is! Don't say that!

Ahaha, sorry 'bout that. I was just kidding. Don't get so mad.

But it doesn't matter as long as he has work. He's as important a customer to me as the townsfolk are.

Toto-sama has never cared much about money, but lately he's completely indifferent.

So money's always tight...

By the way, what were you going to paint for of the shogun?

It's supposed to be an auspicious painting fit for New Year's. We were tasked to paint a Treasure Ship for him.

Toto-sama may not be here, but we have no choice. I'll at least prepare the tools and references.

？！

OMG. All those paintings of beautiful women, so gorgeous... But they were drawn in such a gross room!

There's a half-eaten bowl of rice just SITTING THERE on the floor! Yuck! Clean up a little!

What!? Cleaning!?

We haven't cleaned this place since we moved in!

And I've never cooked in my life, if I may add.

？！

Ah, that's a Kukai statue. It's the blessed, great Koubou-Daishi.

Oh, so THAT'S where that was hiding. It's no painting tool, but thanks for finding it.

Toto-sama prays to it every morning and night. It represents the Myouken Bosatsu.

Maybe that's why Toto-sama was in a bad mood...

...Hm? Wait a minute.

I don't believe this! There's one place I haven't looked yet!

Oei, where're you going?

You guys just sit there and eat some of that bean paste mochi! I got it as a present!

Bean paste mochi? Or...uh, is that matchaeek! OH GROSS! It's just MOLDY!

？！

To Yanagishima's Mt. Myouken! The Hosshou Temple by the Jikken Bridge!

Toto-sama went up there to pray a lot in his youth. He was really struggling back then, and near to giving up.

I'm not sure if it's true or not, but Toto-sama said he narrowly escaped death when a lightning bolt struck right next to him.

And since that happened, the work has been pouring in.

？！

Oh, there she is. Hold on a sec.

You... Are you by chance Katsushika Oui, the ukiyo-e painter?

...(Gulp)

(An octopus...)

Eh? Oh, yeah, that's right. Why do you know my name?

Old Meowster! We found her!

Come on, Old Meowster! This is no time to get seconds on dumplings!

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Hm! Good work, Miss Suke and Miss Kaku!

Sic 'em!

That's too fast! Don't jump the gun!

You guys...are dressed real strange. My eyes sting. Are you candy craftsmen or something?

Maybe it isn't my business, but... It'd be one thing if you were in one of Ryougoku's freak shows...

Wandering around the streets of Edo in getups like that, you'll be arrested for public indecency. You won't be able to sell ever gain.

Hmmm... I'm a little worried... Maybe I should just paint over your outfits?

I'm terribly sorry! This is just our norm! And please don't paint over us...

Miss Suke can't help it. Her name stands for "Super Ultra Kinky Enchantress," after all.

Slander!!!

I'm Kakuloe. That's Ilysuke.

We're taking a leisurely trip through the country with Miss High-and-Mighty here.

She's a retired chirimen merchant from Echigo.

Oh, I see. So what do you want?

I'm in a hurry. Can we take a rain check?

U-um! Have you ever seen this ukiyo-e?

Some suspicious-looking art dealer sold this to us. He tricked us into thinking it was a bona fide Hokusai piece.

Ab-purr-lutely!

...So that's why you need me. I guess I have no choice.

...Give it to me. I'll take a look.

？！

Thicc and sexy bare legs are a no-no? The Edo period sure is the worst.

Do you think I should change my style? Hmmm?

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Master! Don't ghost me! Hey, I'm gonna strip right here!

...Yeah. This ukiyo-e is definitely real.

I know this printer's work, and the brush strokes of the signature are familiar.

I mew it!

Nyafufu! My appraisal was correct!

Now behold this hollyhock crested toe bean!

Too early...still too early, Old Meowster...

...Um, would you please stop silently pressing your toe beans all over my face?

BEHOLD IT!!!

Ugh, I asked you to stop! This is not how you show someone someth

Mngf! Ouch! Stop trying to shove your toe beans into my eyes! Old Meowster!? Miss Old Meowster!?

Old Meowster's feral instincts are going berserk again...

Well, I'm going to let Ilysuke handle that thing... Now then, Katsushika Oui...

...our Old Meowster is insinuating that this ukiyo-e was actually drawn by you.

It may be hard to believe, but she's actually got quite a good eye.

That's why she bought itbecause she took a liking to it.

But she couldn't believe that the signature said "Hokusai."

To be just like a certain someone...and yet, not acknowledged as a different person from that someone...

She says the painting reflects outrage at that contradiction.

...

I don't care...

And what do you care?

You don't know a thing about ukiyo-e.

The customers all are happy they're buying Katsushika Hokusai paintings. Nobody's getting hurt.

You don't think so?

I don't know a thing about ukiyo-e...

...but I can sniff out lies a mile away. Especially lies that people tell to themselves.

...Ungh.

...Oei? Hey, Oei. What's going on? You triggered?

What's it matter if it's plain, or a lie?

No matter what people say, this is my way of living!

A p-purge!? That's...!

Master, you feel it too!? Does that mean Oei's...

This dream realm is...hers...?

THAT'S what you're focusing on!?

You know what, I curse you! I hope you get a New Year's dumpling stuck in your throat and sent to THAT nurse's armoryI mean, infirmary!

？！

If Oei's an unknown Servant...

...I can't just sit by and tell myself this is a dream.

I'm going to up my INT too! Okay, Master!?

Got it!

U-uh, Master... Okay! Now you're speaking my language!

？！

Oei, I'm going to back you up for now, but you'll have a lot of explaining to do later!

...Suzuka.

You're such a busybody. The only person who can boss me around is Toto-sama!

...Oh. Sorry. Did I hit a nerve?

Please don't deliberately antagonize people! Though I don't think that's the only reason why she's mad...

Heh. Miss Suke. Miss Kaku.

It's time for the Black Panther of EdoI mean, the Mito Kou-meow Jaguar to show her true stripes!

Yes!

Understood!

Do you not see these toe beans!?

Who do you think this person in front of you is?

Tremble before the former vice shogun... Um...the vice shogun from about...two hundred years ago!

It is Lord Mito Mitsukuni!

You stand before a great elder lord! Bow your head! Know your place!

And I'll thank you to keep any clever remarks to yourselves!

...I feel sick...I need to sit down...

That's enough!

...!

Looks like your Mana Burst settled down. We somehow managed to hold her back...

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On it!

What...was that...?

That was even more power than back at the Ekou-in... It felt like...I turned into Toto-sama, or something...

Simmer down! Oh, and I need to straighten your clothes...

U-um, if I'm not overstepping my boundaries, I would like to help!

OMG, thanks!

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Yeah. I am now.

That beautiful piece...was a collaboration between me and Toto-sama.

I believe it was the first time I was tasked with rendering the main subject.

I painted the woman, and Toto-sama painted the background flowers, like the crape myrtle.

Since then, I've painted many works under Toto-sama's name...

I see. So that's the reason for the disjointed feeling.

D-does that mean...some sections of the paintings are faI mean, counterfeit...?

...That's not the right way to think of it. Ukiyo-e paintings are mostly made as collabs by multiple people in the first place.

First, you have the painter who designs and renders the original image. Then there's the carver who cuts the wooden blocks faithfully to the original design.

Then there's the printer, who precisely transfers multiple layers of color to paper.

And then there's the publisher, who suggests and manages each project, advertises new prints to customers, and handles distribution.

Put them all together, and you've got yourself a team! It's totally different than Western painters!

Oh, really? So the pen name "Katsushika Hokusai" isn't just a single painter's name...

...but something like a brand name, really?

...You sure do know a lot, Suzuka. You sound and look godly, even.

But...yeah, you're absolutely right.

I get it now. It's all purr-fectly clear now.

If that's the case, I have only one request! Katsushika Oui...will you give me a paw-tograph?

Write it to "Adrian"! Wait, no, "Alien"? No, that's still not right...

Um...anyway! Would you mind adding your cool-sounding pen name to the painting?

I have at least the right to ask for that!

B-but... MY name...?

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B-but...

Why don't you just write it, Oei?

Stop... Really... It's...embarrassing...

Fine. I'm only doing this because I want to make up for my blunder from earlier.

Okay, Miss Kaku! Ink! Get the ink and brush ready!

Sure, sure.

？！

Um, there were two of them...and they never introduced themselves.

I did some secret snooping, and I found that they were carrying things labeled "Seieidou" and "Kitsurudou."

"Seieidou" and "Kitsurudou"?

What the...? They're both publishers that handle works from the Utagawa school.

But that's strange. I don't think we sell our work to either of them...

And as for this print here, I remember I personally asked the printer to produce a smaller quantity.

I got so heated up on this piece, and the picture turned out to be so intricate, the printing blocks broke easily.

It's a failed piece. You could say I got a little carried away.

So when I was shown that piece, I was surprised...and couldn't control myself.

Ah... Maybe that's why it was so expensive. Five whole ryou...

Five ryou? That can't be. That's ten timesno, a hundred times the market price.

...MEOWHAT.

See, Old Meowster...I told you so. It WAS a shady transaction!

And Edo's already an expensive city as it is!

Old Meowster, looks like you'll be stuck with instant noodlno, you'll only be able to afford broth!

Wh-what the... That's a cat-astrophe! I want super spicy ramen with extra pork belly or something!

M-money...it's all about the money, isn't it?

M-Miss Suke...Miss Kaku...this entire meeting must have been fate...

Why don't you two head over to Hokusai's studio and model for them...?

You know...show a bit of skin...in an ero style...we'll sign for a generous royalty agreement so we can cash it in...heh heh heh...

That is way outside our agreement as travel companions. Not going to do it. Not interested.

Illysuke seems keen, though. Maybe have her entwine seductively with a giant octopus or something. It's totally her!

What the heck!? I'm not doing that!!! No way!

Ahaha! Yeah, it'll be for your own sake to not pursue that.

Unlike the olden days, releasing an enpon or even a single shunga print is tough enough.

Putting something like that out on the black market is one thing, but openly doing business without a registered seal is a recipe for trouble.

Grrr... I don't have a cat's chance in hell.

Still, I learned a lot about Edo's ukiyo-e situation! Thanks, dashing geisha girl!

All right, everyone! Promise Professor Jaguar that if you get a chance you'll Ryou-GO to the museum in Ryougoku!

She acted like a teacher at the very end!