A Flower For Your Thoughts
Settler: Three flowers?
Atsu: Three regrets.
Settler: No one ends up in Ezo without them. Was it love?
Atsu: Two lives I couldn’t save. And one that I missed entirely.
Settler: Hmm. The flowers forgive. Whether we forgive ourselves? That is between us and the wind.
Desperate Remedy
Matsumae: We can’t leave now — you’re in no condition to travel. Who are you?
Atsu: Relax. I heard some voices, came in for a look. You’re of clan Matsumae. What are you doing in here?
Matsumae: We were ambushed on patrol. They were a dozen strong… Now it’s just us, and my friend’s wound has festered.
Atsu: He won’t survive without help.
Matsumae: There is an Inn nearby. They might have medicine. Please — I can pay you, but you must be discreet.
Atsu: I’ll see what I can do.
Atsu: I should talk to the innkeeper.
Chuta: I’m looking for two men — samurai. One is wounded.
Settler: For the last time, Chuta, I haven’t seen them.
Chuta: How about you, woman? See any wounded samurai lately?
Atsu: Can’t say I have.
Chuta: You sure? People will pay good money for topknot heads.
Atsu: Like I said, I haven’t seen them.
Chuta: Huh. That’s too bad. Guess I’ll be on my way.
Settler: I apologise for Chuta. He’s harmless but rude.
Atsu: It’s fine. I’m looking for herbs—the kind for healing.
Settler: We keep some on hand. If it’s for who I think it is, don’t let Chuta see you.
Chuta: You’re a terrible liar. I heard you ask for healing herbs. You know where those samurai are.
Atsu: Walk away, bounty hunter.
Chuta: Not until you tell me what you know!
Atsu: Can’t say I didn’t try…
Chuta: I’ll beat their location out of you if I must!
Chuta: Stop! I give up. Stop! Mercy, please!
Atsu: Like the mercy you showed the samurai you’ve hunted?
Chuta: I haven’t hunted any samurai! I saw Saito’s men ambush a Matsumae patrol. Two got away. Figured they’d be easy targets. I’m not really a bounty hunter… Just hungry. Let me go — I’ll do anything.
Atsu: Get lost.
Chuta: Thank you! Thank you!
Matsumae: Did you find medicine?
Atsu: Heere.
Matsumae: My friend owes you his life.
Atsu: He can keep it — coin is payment enough.
Matsumae: You are a strange sort, but we are grateful. Thank you.
Atsu: There’s a would-be bounty hunter looking for you. I chased him off, but keep an eye out.
Marshland Homestead
Settler: Welcome, traveller. I see you come well armed. We have need of that.
Atsu: If it comes with coin, I’m listening.
Settler: A regular customer of mine, Chika, kept beating Saito’s men at the tables. They didn’t like that. They took her away.
Atsu: Sore losers with a taste for blood.
Settler: I can’t have my customers worried that winning is a death sentence. Find Chika and I’ll make it worth your while.
Atsu: I’ll see what I can do.
Atsu: Looks like Saito’s men have taken over this homestead. The innkeeper mentioned one of his customers might be held here.
Saito Outlaw: Where is our mon?
Chika: I won it fair and square.
Saito Outlaw: You cheated us. Where are you hiding it?
Chika: Maybe I spent it all.
Saito Outlaw: Liar!
Atsu: Must be Chika.
Chika: These dogs need to pay for what they’ve done.
Atsu: You’re free to go.
Chika: Not till they’re dead. Back at the inn I won some money from them. They’ll just keep coming for it.
Atsu: They’re already dead. You should be safe now. But maybe let them win a few rounds next time.
Chika: They’re stupid! I can beat them blindfolded.
Atsu: Is it worth your life?
Chika: Eh, fine. I guess I’ll go back to the inn and lose a few. Thank you for doing this. You risked your life for me.
Atsu: The fewer of Saito’s men in the north, the better.
Chika: I know the innkeeper would agree. Swing by and I’m sure you’ll be rewarded. Before I go, I snatched this off the guard when he wasn’t looking. It’s no use to me.
Atsu: Did the girl make it back?
Settler: You just missed her. She’s going to lay low for a while.
Atsu: Good for her. No reason to tempt fate.
Settler: That’s all she does.
Atsu: Anyway, I’m here for my payment.
Settler: Of course. Here you go. Thanks for your troubles.
The Soul of an Instrument
Ainu: Huna he, katkemat. Care to help a neighbour? I see you carry an instrument. I’m a musician myself. Or I’d like to be.
Atsu: Is that a tonne…
Ainu: A tonkori, yes! At least, it will be, once I am done carving it. My acapo — the man who taught me to play is karafuto ainu, from the north where they make tonkori.
Atsu: I’ve never heard one played.
Ainu: I can play it for you! Teach you a song? if you help me get materials to finish the instrument.
Atsu: What do you need?
Ainu: A stone from a pond in the mountains not far from here. I can mark it on a map if you have one. The pond is… special to me. But I’m embarrassed to say my knees cannot make the climb.
Atsu: I have strong knees. Teach me that song of yours and we’ll call it even.
Ainu: Iyairaykere.
Atsu: I hope this rock is good enough. I should take it back to that Ainu musician.
Ainu: Oh, you are back! You found the trail? The stone?
Atsu: It’s not much to look at. What is it for?
Ainu: Some of us place a rock inside the tonkori’s body to symbolise a soul. The pond where this stone is from is where I got my first tonkori.
Atsu: But now you are carving a new one?
Ainu: Ah. Yes. Well. Mine was, uh, broken.
Atsu: Bandits?
Ainu: No, by my acapo. It’s… complicated. But my offer still stands! Find me in the hills by Husko Kotan, past the Great Lake. I will teach you a song. Oh and take this, for your troubles. I think you’d look good in them.
Atsu: Why would his own teacher break his instrument?
The Dragonfly Armor
Settler: Tatsu wants his money, Daijiro.
Daijiro: What money? I’m broke.
Settler: Tatsu put a bounty on you now. Pay up or I take you in.
Daijiro: Shame on you. Squeezing money out of a poor man. You, with the sword! How much to chase this lout away?
Atsu: You just admitted you have no coin.
Daijiro: I—I have armour. Once worn by Lord Furuya. Wear it and every arrow will fly true, like a dragonfly hunting its prey.
Atsu: Furuya died at Sekigahara saving his men. How do you have his armour?
Settler: Probably stole it from his corpse.
Daijiro: Do you want the armour or not?
Atsu: Walk away now and keep all your teeth.
Settler: (Scoffs) This isn’t over, Daijiro.
Daijiro: Now, about Lord Furuya’s Dragonfly Armour… I don’t have it on me… But meet me at the Huranui’s Rest Inn and I can get it for you.
Atsu: Do not try to swindle me. You will regret it.
Daijiro: I won’t! You have my word.
Daijiro: Ah, my saviour arrives!
Atsu: I’m here for the armour you owe me.
Daijiro: Of course, but… Why stop at armour, when there’s coin to be won at zeni hajiki?
Atsu: Don’t you already owe people money?
Daijiro: You mean Tatsu? He’s just a sore loser. Come on. One game. Beat me, and you’ll walk away a little richer.
Atsu: Fine. But I get the armour either way.
Daijiro: I wouldn’t dream of cheating you out of your reward. I’m a man of faultless character!
Daijiro: We’ll go around back. Mind the drunks.
Atsu: You never said how you got Lord Furuya’s Dragonfly Armour.
Daijiro: Did he really die saving his men?
Atsu: They say he struck the Shogun’s black powder supply with a single arrow. He burned alive in the blowback, but it almost cost the Shogun the war.
Daijiro: Everyone paid the cost of that war.
Atsu: You still haven’t answered my question.
Daijiro: How I got Lord Furuya’s Dragonfly Armour? Why do you care?
Atsu: You didn’t steal it from his grave, did you?
Daijiro: I have slept in graves, but never stolen from one.
Atsu: People say Lord Furuya was a hero. If the armour was stolen, I don’t need more people looking for a fight.
Daijiro: Hero? He was a coward who gambled with people’s lives. I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.
Atsu: Were you at Sekigahara?
Daijiro: Me? (Laughs) How about I just… Get you that armour. Back in a moment.
Atsu: Hey!
Ronin: Gambling again, Daijiro?
Atsu: Bounty hunters.
Daijiro: Hey! No! Let go of me! Help!
Atsu: Where are you taking him?
Ronin: To Tatsu. He gets the gambler, we get the bounty. This doesn’t concern you.
Daijiro: It does if you want the Dragonfly Armour!
Atsu: Not sure it’s worth the effort.
Daijiro: Please, Tatsu works for the Yōtei Six. It won’t be a quick death!
Atsu: (Sighs) Let him go.
Daijiro: Please! I can get Tatsu his money!
Atsu: Daijiro! Dammit, they’re taking him away.
Ronin: I give up! You’re too late — Daijiro will be halfway to Tatsu by now.
Atsu: Where are they meeting him?
Ronin: A camp near the waterfall.
Atsu: This must be the camp where those bounty hunters took Daijiro.
Daijiro: I will give you whatever you want! There is no need for this violence! There has to be something I can do. I beg you! I can pay double the bounty! Just let me go.
Ronin: You can’t even pay your own debts, old man. You are not going anywhere till Tatsu gets here.
Daijiro: Am I glad to see you. Quickly. Get these ropes off me. Tatsu will arrive soon with more of Saito’s men. I need to get out of Ezo.
Atsu: With what mon?
Daijiro: I can win some —
Atsu: Daijiro. They’ll find you.
Daijiro: What do I do?
Atsu: We’ll lay a trap. You’ll be the bait.
Daijiro: Come again?
Atsu: We need to make a fire.
Daijiro: I am going to regret this, aren’t I? This way. You know dragonflies are supposed to be harbingers of victory. But that explosion, at Sekigahara. I was far enough away to survive. Not far enough to escape the screams of my men.
Atsu: You’re Lord Furuya. That’s how you got the armour.
Daijiro: I will most likely die in this little ruse of yours, someone might as well know. When the explosion went off… I saw only blood behind me. And no future ahead. So I just… ran.
Atsu: Gambling won’t take away the guilt.
Daijiro: It took everything else. Except my armour. I can’t stand to look at it, but I also couldn’t bring myself to give it away.
Atsu: Because it reminds you of the lives lost that day.
Daijiro: And my own cowardice.
Atsu: Maybe today your luck will change. I’ll take position on the cliffs above you. When Tatsu and his men arrive, distract them.
Daijiro: How do you expect me to do that? Give them a little dance?
Atsu: Surprise me.
Daijiro: “Surprise me,” she says. I should’ve left Ezo when I had the chance.
Atsu: I’m ready.
Daijiro: I see them! If I say ‘maple tree’, I’m in trouble.
Tatsu: Daijiro! You cowardly dog!
Daijiro: Tatsu! My friend! Let’s talk about this!
Tatsu: Oh. We will. When I carve out your —
Daijiro: I can pay my dues! Your master, Lord Saito, he needs fighters, does he not? I am Lord Furuya. Your master would do well to have me at his side.
Tatsu: A lowlife like you? A general. Don’t insulte me.
Daijiro: Then… Then I will fight you here and now! Get back: All the way back to that maple tree!
Tatsu: Maple tree! What are you talking about?
Daijiro: I said maple tree! Maple tree! I will use this knife on myself — I swear it!
Tatsu: As if you had the guts. Drop the knife, Daijiro.
Daijiro: It’s over. If I were still a lord, I’d ask you to join my ranks.
Atsu: Tried that before. Didn’t work out. ;
Daijiro: Aren’t you full of mysteries? (Chuckles) Meet me at Huranui’s Rest for your payment. No games this time.
Daijiro: The deadliest woman in Ezo! Come, come. I cleaned the Dragonfly Armour back to its old glory. And now, it is yours.
Atsu: Are you sure?
Daijiro: Dragonflies are symbols of rebirth, as much as victory. I cannot go back to the man I was. But I can remake myself into someone I can be proud of. Besides, I saw the way you tore through Saito’s men. Cheating you is bad for my lifespan.
Atsu: I’ll take good care of it.
Daijiro: Farewell, my friend. I hope I never see you again.
Easy Coin
Heisaku: Stranger, are you in need of coin? I have a job for you. It is a simple one. My garden is overgrown with bamboo. My blade is too dull and I hurt my arm trying to chop it. Yours looks sharper. It’s easy coin.
Atsu: That’s all you need me to do?
Heisaku: Like I said — easy coin. Come. It’s over here.
Atsu: Job’s done.
Heisaku: This way. I’ll give you what I owe you.
Saito Outlaw: Heisaku! Come out!
Atsu: Expecting visitors?
Heisaku: Lord Saito’s men. Stay down. I will talk to them. I gave you all the food I have last week!
Saito Outlaw: And we’ll be back in a few days for more. But that’s not why I’m here. There’s a woman. She has a bounty on her head.
Heisaku: Oh? Sounds dangerous.
Saito Outlaw: She’s been seen around here.
Heisaku: Not by me. Never heard of her.
Saito Outlaw: You lie and you die, Heisaku. Last chance — where is she? She’s here!
Heisaku: Are they dead?
Atsu: They won’t be giving you trouble anytime soon.
Heisaku: Thank you for all you’ve done. Here’s your payment.
Protecting the Peace
Settler: Stranger, are you for hire?
Atsu: I might be. What do you need?
Settler: Bandits are stealing our supplies during the night. My husband and I won’t last much longer. I’ll pay you to keep watch over our camp.
Atsu: I’ll do it.
Settler: Thank you —
Ronin: Hey! Who’s this?
Settler: We could always use another guard for the night.
Ronin: You’re paying me to do that. I’m not splitting it with her.
Settler: Don’t worry, you’ll both get paid in full.
Atsu: Why don’t you get some sleep? We’ll take it from here.
Ronin: So… how much do you think all this stuff is worth?
Atsu: What’s it to you?
Ronin: A whole lot of coin, I hope. I’ve got friends on the way coming to take it to Lord Saito. And if you look the other way, we won’t have a problem.
Atsu: Oh, we’re definitely going to have a problem.
Ronin: Don’t be stupid. Get up, nice and slow. That’s a pretty blade you’ve got there. Maybe I’ll take it before my friends arrive. Hand it over.
Settler: What’s happening? What’s all the noise?
Atsu: This ronin betrayed you. Stay hidden. His friends are on the way.
Saito Outlaw: Look at all this stuff. We’ll be rich. move in on my signal. grab everything you can!
Settler: There’s too many of them! More bandits on the way!
Saito Outlaw: You’re no vengeful spirit.
Settler: We got lucky you came along, stranger. You fight like you were born to it.
Atsu: I’ve had some practice.
Settler: You’ll need it around here. Ezo gets more dangerous by the day.
Atsu: Try sticking to the towns.
Settler: Here’s what we owe you. Thank you.
Atsu: Take care. And watch out for yourselves.
A Matter of Honor
Atsu: Are those… candles?
Ronin: That’s far enough. I didn’t think you’d come. You never were one to honour your commitments.
Atsu: You’re confusing me with someone else.
Ronin: How dare you —? Damn it. (Coughing) That wasn’t supposed to go off yet.
Atsu: Who are you?
Ronin: Don’t be coy. You promised me a duel for Kaori’s hand. So here I am.
Atsu: We’re fighting over a woman?
Ronin: We’re fighting over the right to have a life here. We both know what we lost in the war. Why we escaped to Ezo.
Atsu: Still not ringing any bells.
Ronin: Why you — I am your greatest rival! Your greatest… I am… Stupid thing. Why is it not working? Great. Moment ruined.
Atsu: I will say this once. I don’t know this Kaori. I don’t know you. But if you come at me, you will die.
Ronin: You forsake Kaori’s love so easily. Clearly, you do not deserve her.
Atsu: She’s all yours.
Ronin: I promise I will make her happier than you ever could. But, I won’t leave you with nothing. I give you my sword’s saya. I won’t be needing it anymore. My life belongs to Kaori now. You will never see me again. (Cough) I can’t see a damn thing!
Every Man for Himself
Atsu: Damn it.
Settler: Can’t walk. They just started shooting!
Atsu: Stay here.
Settler: There’s more of them uphill. Be careful!
Settler: You are quite the fighter, aren’t you?
Atsu: Thought you couldn’t walk.
Settler: I made a miraculous recovery.
Atsu: So, you’re a thief.
Settler: The Yōtei Six steal from the people of Ezo all the time. I thought I’d return the favour. It did not go quite the way I would have liked. Good thing you came along!
Atsu: Lucky me.
Settler: Easy there. There’s plenty for the both of us. Here. Consider it your cut. Besides, it’s not like they didn’t deserve it. In Ezo, you only look out for yourself.