Miyamoto Musashi Page #4

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Takezo, don't you dare hide!

I failed in Kyoto, but I've traveled far!

Heaven's help is slow but sure!

I'll get your head today!

Feel the blade that

has divine protection!

She's dressed to die! And means

to avenge her son and his wife!

I'm a man!

I side with the underdog!

Move aside!

A Shogunate messenger!

Proprietor.

I'm Kimura, Lord Yagyu's steward.

Is Musashi Miyamoto in?

Tell him I'm here.

Lord Yagyu?

That clod upstairs knows him?

If you're here on business, I'm ahead of you.

My business with Takezo comes first!

I won't leave without revenge!

Revenge?

Wrong man. Be quiet.

You'll get yourself executed!

What're you doing?

The great Lord Yagyu

refuses a match with me?

Did he give a reason?

It's contrary to the rules

of his fencing line.

Lord Yagyu is a daimyo.

I'm only a masterless samurai.

But...

the way of the sword

transcends social position.

My lord has heard of your famous name.

But the Yagyu Family

instructs the Shogun.

Lord Yagyu is forbidden to

engage in private contests.

But this is a form of training...

No!

The cardinal principle

of the Yagyu School...

The sword is not used in martial arts.

It's use is to preserve

order in the land.

And so must never be used

in personal competition.

The Yagyu sword

is not a sword of destruction.

Destruction?

The Yagyu sword

is the agent of the Shogun.

Which also means it must always work

for the good of the country and the people.

A samurai spends his life

proving his skills.

With pen and sword he prepares daily

to die bravely when called on

by his country or the people.

A sword prepared to die...

For whom?

SOUL POLISHER KOSUKE ZUSHINO

Excuse me!

Welcome.

Something you'd like?

Polish my sword.

May I see it?

How do you wish me to polish it?

So it will cut cleanly.

I cannot polish a sword

in this condition.

Please take it elsewhere.

You feel it's not worth polishing?

No, no. Your sword's a Hizen

make and a fine sword.

Why then?

Didn't you see my sign outside?

I polish swords

that are a samurai's soul.

I don't polish ordinary swords.

This blade's nicked in many places

and the numerous blood stains

can't be wiped away.

Excuse me, but it's a blood

thirsty sword.

It's only been used to slay people.

You're displeased, aren't you?

Swords are primarily to preserve the peace.

They're divine agents. They ward off evil.

Leaders of men follow the sword

more as a self-discipline than to fight.

So they're called a samurai's soul.

Look at this sword.

How is it?

Keen...

I feel the owner's tension.

It has sucked blood.

It's rusty, but it's not nicked.

It's worthy of being called

a samurai's soul.

The blade's three feet long.

To wear a sword such as this...

He must be very tall...

or very strong.

Slings it across his back, I heard.

I'm keeping it for Lord

Hosokawa's Chamberlain Iwama.

It belongs to Kojiro Sasaki,

his guest, I believe.

Kojiro Sasaki.

Please, have some more.

Did I go too far today?

No, no, everyone was

greatly impressed.

Our lord was also pleased.

I'm proud to have recommended you.

So?

You see...

Chief Chamberlain Sado Nagaoka.

He's recommended Musashi Miyamoto

very strongly.

Musashi Miyamoto?

Our lord will see him.

And then decide whether

to employ you or not.

Omitsu...

I withdraw!

I refuse to serve Lord Hosokawa!

Kojiro!

To think I'd be compared

to a man like Musashi.

I'm regarded very cheaply.

Now, now. I expressed it badly.

There's no way I'd compare you to Musashi.

However our lord is trying to save

face for the Chamberlain.

Our lord is very wise.

He will know who's the better man.

Cheer up and drink.

- Omitsu, pour for him.

- Yes.

I would never want to make trouble

for your kind father.

I'll reconsider.

You know Musashi?

What's your opinion of him?

There are not many men like him.

Few men are as smart.

Being too polite is

a disservice to our lord.

Be frank and speak up.

It's said Musashi challenged Yoshioka

solely to gain fame.

Sometimes a masterless samurai

is forced to use extreme means

to seek notoriety.

A swordsman

can not bear to see

his skill go to waste.

He wishes to offer his

services to a worthy lord.

Musashi gained notoriety

to achieve this same purpose?

Is Musashi swordsmanship

really strong?

He's an expert.

But only in the art of living.

Kyo-ryu Yoshioka was a strong swordsman.

But his successors were like

decayed trees.

Musashi helped them fall

by pushing them down.

Some praise Musashi,

and make the claim

that he's the strongest swordsman seen

since Sekishusai Yagyu.

Didn't he take on more

than seventy Yoshioka men?

He did so using underhanded tricks.

Arriving late,

he attacked from the rear.

He killed his opponent,

a small boy.

And beat a hasty retreat.

Musashi.

I am honored to be received

for your audience, Sire.

Seats for them.

I have heard about you.

You beat a hasty retreat?

Fools are as many as wise men.

Rumors vary.

I see.

I hear you both wish

to serve me and my clan.

What are your reasons?

It is the perfect place for the

best swordsman in Japan to die.

This is a nice place to die?

Yes, Sire.

You too?

Yes.

Two outstanding swordsmen are here.

But I do not need

two fencing instructors.

Sado.

Iwama.

What shall I do?

Begging your pardon.

Two best men are inconvenient.

I would be pleased to settle it

to be allowed a match.

Musashi?

Please excuse me

from engaging in a match.

Musashi!

Why?

Not afraid, by any chance?

To be honest

I do not wish to serve a lord.

Am I unsatisfactory?

No, Sire.

I am unsettled and immature.

I am not certain that

I could serve you

at the level you deserve.

Sado,

you recommended him,

but he's not interested.

I was anxious to present him to you.

I did not mention service to Musashi.

You didn't tell him?

I see!

Musashi...

I'm honored to have met you.

I too.

Service apart

we should have a showdown once.

This is a good chance.

Let's decide the day and time.

Only

it seems to be your rule

never to arrive on time.

When the right occasion arrives.

Is that necessary?

I see.

You have matches with only

the men you can defeat?

Kojiro Sasaki...

I make you our instructor.

Thank you, Sire.

Musashi Miyamoto...

When you want a match

with Kojiro, come to Kokura.

Takezo!

Return Matahachi and Otsu to me!

You inhuman wretch!

Have you no ears?

I'm asking you!

Let me kill you!

SOTOKUJI TEMPLE, OTSU

Excuse me.

Is Priest Takuan,

the head priest, here?

Yes, he is.

Takuan is still the head priest.

Announce me to him.

I'm Musashi Miyamoto, a masterless

samurai from Sakushu.

- Tak?

- Mata?

What happened to you?

As you can see,

I came here with priest Takuan.

A monk?

This is a surprise!

I've renounced the world.

I'm training to be a Buddhist priest.

Fine, but your old mother?

Don't ask me that.

She died by the roadside somewhere?

I pray for her soul.

Nonsense!

She's in Edo.

In Edo?

My mother?

Don't neglect her!

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