Sarusuberi: Miss Hokusai Page #2

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She's aloof,

but doesn't sleep well.

Her head slips off her pillow.

- Is that what you saw?

- With my own eyes.

- Then her neck does stretch.

- Oh, c'mon!

An unworldly rube like you

wouldn't know a genuine monster.

Aren't they gorgeous?

Far more alluring than me.

You paint so beautifully.

I'll use these to make a proper design.

For an eventual print.

I can't wait to see it.

Thank you for waiting.

So, what can I do for you?

If you want cheap thrills,

go to East Ryogoku.

This is Yoshiwara.

Not a freak show.

Forgive me, ma'am.

Begone!

This ol' chap just had to see you.

All he wants is to talk.

It won't take long.

Have a seat.

I'm her father,

and a painter too.

It happened before she was born.

Must be 25 years ago now.

I was asked to paint goblins.

I finished at dusk,

and laid down a while.

Then I heard tapping on the floor.

I looked and saw my hands,

dancing wildly.

Suddenly, other hands grew from them,

and stretched out the window.

I couldn't see

where they were going.

But I could feel

the cold wind on my fingertips,

blowing like crazy.

That happened every night after.

It scared me at first,

but I came to enjoy it.

They weaved through grass,

touched the tip of a pagoda,

passed under a bridge,

and I thought:

if those hands happened to

tear off and fly away,

would my original hands

still move?

I'm not done painting.

A priest friend told me

to fear the worst.

He wrapped both my arms

in sutras and prayer beads.

My hands never flew off again,

and I became the great painter

I am today.

Isn't that wonderful.

If a bell rings,

come to my room.

If it does not ring by morning,

please take your leave.

Do not tell a soul.

Understood?

This isn't very exciting...

You don't have to stick around.

Suit yourself.

Well, I guess it won't hurt...

Be quiet.

Huh? I didn't say a thing.

You've been sighing the whole time.

It's a long night, that's all.

Bugs?

See anything?

What?

It's trapped inside the net?

It's acting as a barrier.

It's good you had this net.

It can get out anytime.

If it does...

Should I put sutras

and prayer beads on my face?

What if it doesn't return?

I'll deal with that

when it happens.

I've never left that place

so chastely before...

Anyway, that was a new one on me.

Your stretching hands tale.

Idiot. It was a new one for me too.

It's one of Bakin's

Chinese ghost stories.

There you go again.

If I hadn't told it,

we'd never have seen that.

Nothing makes sense anymore...

It's not what I wanted to see.

That's why your paintings

are crappy...

I just can't help myself.

When I hear fire bells,

I can't sit still.

Move it, move it!

Don't let it spread!

Pull! Pull!

You lot, get over there!

Hurry, hurry!

Hey, look!

It's crumbling down!

When they clear the area,

and the fire collapses with

nowhere to go, it's exhilarating!

Another fire?

What's so great about it?

You like women.

Tetsuzo likes sweets. Same thing.

Makes sense.

Stupid girl.

The field to your right

is covered in snow.

Cherry blossoms bloom

on this riverbank in spring,

but the bare snow-covered trees

are also beautiful.

Are you cold?

There's a shrine gate here.

It stands down the riverbank,

so it's at your eye level.

Shrine gates are shaped like this.

Watch your step.

Wait a moment.

Why?

A camellia.

My favourite flower.

Hold out your hand.

What colour?

Red.

A gentle, warm colour.

Take it home.

It can go in your sleeve.

There's no noise.

Yeah. It's quiet.

Snow absorbs sound.

Scared?

You're cold.

Two sweet sakes.

I'll go order them.

Excuse me.

Two sweet sakes.

Sure.

Throw this up as hard as you can.

Here, here!

Come on, come on!

Come on! Come on!

Here, here!

O-Nao!

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, O-Ei.

Don't be. You got carried away.

I should've noticed.

But I had fun.

Snow is so much fun.

Want to come to my place?

It's there.

Father might be home.

What'll it be?

If I turn up suddenly,

it might trouble Father.

If it troubles Father,

it troubles me.

- Next time, then?

- Hmm.

My lady! Are you alright?!

I hear a voice,

coming from that painting...

The wailing of the dead!

I told her it's a bird from the garden,

but she won't believe me.

This painting of hell

evokes the master's guilt,

praying for longevity

and vowing penitence,

just as I commissioned you to do.

The master was very pleased with it,

which made me proud, but...

Again, this time in broad daylight...

The white magnolia

is nearing its end too.

Maybe she's gone funny

in the head.

That painting struck a nerve.

I'm not finished.

The lady took ill,

and became bedridden.

The master knew the painting

was the cause,

but it was too dear to him.

In the meantime...

My dear!

The fire was extinguished,

but the lady cannot be cured.

I wonder what can be done.

You've outdone yourself, O-Ei.

She's too good,

that's her problem.

Huh. That's just proof

she's not good enough yet.

Hey, show me her sketch.

I thought as much.

You always paint non-stop,

but never tie up loose ends.

Loose ends?

Quick, take me to the painting.

I can't, it's late at night.

Hey Manjido. Next time,

it'll be worse than a fire.

Stand it up.

Look.

See? This way,

you leave no loose ends.

Sir, you'll have

no more problems now.

My deepest thanks.

You've got a long way to go.

Maestro!

Look at that!

From then on, the lady

never feared the painting again.

Tetsuzo! I hate to say it,

but you're always beyond me.

I'll redraw it.

Where did I go wrong?

You weren't wrong.

Don't be so self-effacing...

That's your problem.

You're too earnest.

We all have different skills.

Take Zenjiro. His pillow pictures

for spring went down well.

Skill-wise,

he's no threat to you.

He draws people oddly,

with big heads and thin limbs.

But for pillow pictures,

that's strangely alluring.

It's as if they jump

right out at you.

You're the opposite.

You draw people well,

but no sensuality.

Not your fault, though.

Mr. Hokusai shouldn't ask

a young maiden to do this job...

Hatsugoro!

Errands?

I was at Manjido's,

now I'm going home.

I went to Suharaya.

I'll walk you home.

It's too far.

No, I want to play go

with Mr. Hokusai.

It's like a waterfall there.

That smell...

Hair oil?

Suharaya, the publisher...

wants to meet Zenjiro.

Zenjiro? That hack?

He paints women well.

There's something about them.

Sensuality?

Very much so... indeed.

I hate sloppy paintings like that.

I remembered something.

I must go.

The scent of his skin.

Unlike Tetsuzo or Zenjiro...

His skin...

Welcome. Got a favourite?

No... I don't.

Please! Please! Come again.

Sure, sure.

Hey! Get off me.

Bye now.

- I'll be waiting!

- See you again.

First time?

Then make your choice.

I thought he'd never leave!

Ow...

Hey! What's up, honey?

This is dumb. Bye!

Got to be dumb to have fun.

Come!

Stop it! Moron!

Morons have more fun.

Hey Mama,

no more customers today.

Strip.

W-What?

Those wet clothes of yours.

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