Taboo of Tarot

---

Kyoto, 1865

After moving

to the Nishi Honganji Temple,

the Shinsen militia was recruiting.

In the beginning,

they drew most of their troops

from several regional dojos.

But this yielded dubious results.

Now men were handpicked.

Next!

Who's the boy?

Him?

A merchant's son.

Not a spy?

He was recommended by his master,

Senzaemon Hamano

of the Shingyoto school.

He was his assistant

after graduating.

His background?

His family

are the Echigoya's,

textile dealers.

He's their third son.

Name?

Sozaburo Kano.

Soji has his hands full.

I have his family tree.

The Echiyoga family

is from minokano.

In the service of lnaba

during the civil wars.

Utanosuke Kano, notably,

was an outstanding warrior.

His descendants went to Echigo,

then Kyoto.

In spite of their change in class,

they kept the samurai name, Kano.

Look.

He's the last one.

His name is Hyozo Tashiro.

He's from the Kurume clan,

and the Hokushin ltto school.

He was recommended

by our man Shinohara.

Like Kano,

he fought his way through

all the early rounds undefeated.

Okita won, but he had

a run for his money.

Only those two are worthy.

What do you think, Hijikata?

Kano and Tashiro.

Fine.

And you, lto?

I agree.

I don't think

we should be judging them

on swordsmanship only.

But since that's your policy...

The Shinsen militia

must put down uprisings.

Kano, Tashiro.

To the Commander's quarters.

There are no subordinates here.

Come closer.

Kano, how old are you?

Eighteen.

Eighteen?

Don't lie to us.

What's the difference?

"Well... he doesn't often

react like that.

"He doesn't have that leaning.

You assisted your master?

I'm a novice.

No, you surprised me out there.

You've got talent.

You're Tashiro?

These are troubled times.

I expect you to maintain order,

at any price.

I'd like to take Kano as my aide.

Fine. That's the custom.

And Tashiro?

Let's assign him to the First Unit,

under Okita.

They'll break him in.

Fine.

Tomorrow, Seijuro muto

of the Fourth Unit

is to be executed.

One of them could take care of it.

Toshi,

why not Kano?

CODE OF CONDUC:

NEVER BETRAY THE SAmURAl WAYS

NEVER DESERT THE SHlNSEN mlLlTlA

NEVER BORROW mONEY

NEVER BE lNVOLVED lN ClVlL SUlTS

NEVER FlGHT FOR PERSONAL mOTlVES

ANYONE VlOLATlNG THlS CODE

mUST DlSEmBOWEL HlmSELF

Kano.

Yes?

Tomorrow morning at 8,

a man from the Fourth Unit,

Seijiro muto,

guilty of borrowing money

and passing it off

as a loan to the militia,

will be beheaded.

You will perform the execution.

- Understood?

- Yes.

If you don't know how,

ask someone.

Shinohara will be observing.

I'm honored.

That's how they test newcomers.

Why you? Why not me?

Their code of conduct is fine.

But their code of battle...

When a captain falls in battle,

his men must follow him

to the grave.

Absurd. One life isn't enough.

They put that in after

the lmperial Palace battle.

Why did you join?

Kano...

Can't you sleep?

Without sleep,

you can't perform tomorrow.

Have you ever killed a man?

Have you ever made love?

"He must've killed before.

Forgive me.

He's got courage.

"No, something other than courage.

Who's there?

Tashiro. I enlisted yesterday.

I was jealous of Kano,

who enlisted along with me.

I came to watch.

Executions are not open

to the public.

I submit to your punishment.

Five days detention.

FlVE DAYS LATER

It's over. Back to your unit.

Should I apologize to someone?

To the Commander?

lt'll keep until tomorrow.

Tashiro.

Sozaburo.

In my cell, I kept calling you.

For help?

No. I called my true love's name.

Are you cross?

Why are you smiling?

Did you miss me?

I'll come to you tonight.

- Don't you like me?

- Excuse me.

Cry out?

Or shall I do it for you?

I don't want to die

without making love to you.

move away.

In that case,

I'll take you to Gion.

- Gion?

- If you prefer women.

I don't prefer women.

Haven't you ever known a woman?

NO SECRETS ON HEAVEN AND EARTH

EVERYONE KNOWS l

WlTHlN A mONTH

RUmORS

KANO'S NEVER HAD A WOmAN

SOmE mEN ARE COURTlNG Hlm

NOTABLY,

FlFTH UNlT LEADER,

CAPTAlN TAKEDA

AND TASHlRO,

WHO JOlNED WlTH Hlm

HE AVOlDS TASHlRO

STlLL, HE LlKES BElNG

THE OBJECT OF DESlRE

AT 18, HE KEEPS HlS LONG LOCKS

A PROVOCATlON FOR mE

SENSlTlVE TO HlS CHARmS

ONE mUST FEEL SORRY FOR TASHlRO

Soji.

What are you doing?

Playing with kids?

Yes, they're catching fish for me.

What for?

To eat.

Soji, how have you been feeling?

I was only sick

after the battle at lkedaya.

About Tashiro and Kano...

Oh, that?

Not my cup of tea.

One man loving another...

During the entry contest,

who was stronger?

Sozaburo Kano.

Hijikata.

What did he think, coming here?

Nothing, really.

He liked the smell.

The smell? The smell of blood?

During lkedaya,

you were on watch.

You asked if the Choshu were crazy

for wanting to set Kyoto ablaze

and take the emperor captive,

to have him with them.

Did I really say that?

They're not crazy,

they're quite lucid.

Where high-spirited men gather,

arguing back and forth,

for days on end,

about illusions,

they come to believe

that the shogun

can be easily overthrown.

The militia is no less utopian.

It emanates a certain energy.

Young men are drawn to it.

It takes a madman

to know a madman.

And you're the leader of the pack.

Is Kano here?

Have a go?

I'm grateful for your guidance.

Enough.

Tashiro.

Tashiro, don't hold back.

Very sloppy.

Is that the work

of an expert swordsman?

match over.

"Soji's right.

"Tashiro is really

one notch below Kano.

You two fight.

"That's strange.

"Those two... are lovers.

"No doubt about it.

BEFORE LONG,

RUmOR:

KANO AND TASHlRO ARE LOVERS

They're coming.

The militia is coming.

That's Commander Kondo!

The militia!

Thank you for protecting us.

Thank you.

Sozaburo,

tell Toshi...

Tell the Lieut. Commander

to come see me.

I must go to Choshu.

Or rather Hiroshima.

For battle?

No, to testify against them.

What good will that do?

We have orders to invade them.

All clans must band together,

for financial reasons.

What are you doing there?

Testifying.

Tell me the truth.

Toshi,

I leave you in charge.

Who's leaving with you?

lto, Takeda and Ogata, I think.

lto?

Since his arrival,

he's spread unrest in the ranks.

In your absence,

I shall keep a tidy house.

I've heard

that Soza...

that Kano has taken a lover.

I wouldn't know.

What does it matter?

Are you worried?

No, but this sort of thing

has happened before.

There was a lot of trouble

last year, during lkedaya.

Hearts inflamed by passion.

It must not happen again.

Beautiful.

Are you with the militia?

Yes.

From what school?

Pure Land Buddhist.

No, in swordsmanship?

Swordsmanship?

I'm from the same school

as Okita and Hijikata,

but I'm not very good.

Actually, I'm terrible.

You're not a monk then?

You're with the militia?

That's right.

Please forgive me.

The look on Kondo's face!

Who was with him?

I'm not at liberty to say.

Captain Okita.

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