Excuse me.
Faster, they're about to start!
Come on. It's going to be a bloodbath. Hurry up.
A duel?
A death duel.
The Painter's Signature.
Immaculate.
Should I find us an inn for the night?
No. I need a brothel.
Oh.
Master.
Master?
You do know what they do in brothels?
Master?
Here.
Welcome, sir. Welcome.
We are pleased to have you select us from options.
Do you happen to have an appointment?
Madame Kaji is the proprietor here. I would like to see her.
Madame Kaji's clients book months ahead.
If you prefer older women,
we cater to every taste.
My taste is to be seen by Madame Kaji.
You can wait here.
You do have money?
Ah.
Ringo, this will be some time.
If you'd like to explore the harbor...
An apprentice should stay with his master.
Mm.
Oh, bad boy.
Get back here.
If that's to your liking,
we have other mothers to keep you company.
I asked for Madame Kaji.
I bought your contracts.
Gave each of you a place here.
Do you think you earned your place this week?
Did you?
Hands.
To be alive is to wake up and do things you don't want to do,
or don't bother waking up.
I like when you slap them.
Someone wants to see you.
I said, "No, thank you," to company.
The gentleman asked for me.
Madame Kaji?
I understand not one of my girls caught the gentleman's interest.
If it is boys he is after, he need only ask.
Many famous samurai prefer the stamen to the pistil.
Madam Kaji's tea house is known for catering to peculiarities.
Nothing desired is peculiar.
Any woman can study woodcuts and master the 12 and 20 positions.
I offer what the rare heart hungers.
Strong men come here to be weak, uncentered.
They make themselves fools.
I hope the gentleman isn't one of those monkish samurai
who cares only about the sword.
Isn't it said,
"To master the way of battle,
one must become acquainted with every art?"
Sex? An art?
Hmm.
The gentleman was wise to seek me.
Come.
There is an art to sex, yes.
Done correctly, it may be a form of worship.
The bud honors god by blooming.
Some bloom to sun, some to rain.
Look.
What is it?
A window. A mirror.
Desire is beyond the need of my purpose.
If you are only a sword, are you even a man or a mere demon?
"The Floating World."
That's what they call the pleasure quarters.
Where one must travel to reach heaven.
One can only ascend if willing to rise.
To deny desire is to cut out a corner of your own heart.
To sever a limb and still expect to fight true.
He was honest with his desire.
That is a swordsman who knows the shape of his soul.
Now, tell me what you want.
Nothing desired is peculiar.
If the gentleman cannot state his desire,
perhaps he prefers to write it.
How do you know that name?
"Abijah Fowler."
Peculiarities.
Fowler's tastes are... loathsome.
Curating his entertainment requires a specialist.
You have murder in your eyes. I see your desire now.
His castle allows no one in,
but you've sent your prostitutes to him.
You've been inside. You've seen him.
Enough times to know you never want to.
He's a man who began life taking pleasure in others' pain.
Boredom has only made him experimental.
Some men's eyes say plainly they've tasted human flesh.
Raw.
If you serviced him at his keep, then there's a way inside.
You will tell me where it is.
Why would I help you kill my customer?
Because he deserves to die.
If you killed every man I've seen who couldn't come till someone bled,
you'd wear your blade to a stump.
Hmm.
The gentleman and I have no business.
He is welcome to all the hospitality my tea house provides.
Perhaps in your visits, you met Heiji Shindo?
Perhaps he laid a hand on you.
If it was his right hand, consider yourself avenged.
You provide services.
So do I.
Name your desire.
Under the law, revenge is a luxury for men like you.
Women like me must be practical.
We must focus on our result.
That gambling house belongs to Boss Hamata.
Everything belongs to Boss Hamata.
Him and his Thousand Claw army.
Half of what we make is his.
At times, he asks for more.
Anyone who challenges him
wakes to find a Thousand Claws there to destroy everything they love.
Six months ago, Boss Hamata took Kinuyo.
I bought Kinuyo from her father, who'd grown tired of abusing her.
He knew nothing about his daughter except that she was deaf and mute.
He had no idea there was a world inside.
In time, she grew to trust me.
She told me she would rather die than be touched by a man again.
I promised she never would be.
But Boss Hamata likes to break delicate things,
so he took her.
He took her from me.
I promised her.
There is only one way to spare Kinuyo.
You want me to kill Boss Hamata.
No.
Her.
They know my love for Kinuyo.
If anything should happen to Boss Hamata or her,
a Thousand Claws will come to my door and kill every soul in my care.
It must look like an accident.
It will.
There can be no witnesses.
I will be like smoke.
Swear it.
I swear.
Then I will tell you what you want to know.
You can rest here tonight until it's time.
No eyes will watch you.
Can I send you anything?
Only privacy.
Before you open the door to heaven,
I want you to face Kinuyo and make this sign.
She will know you are there as my hand,
and she will be at peace.
Ahem.
Ringo?
May I serve you?
I said I don't want any company.
Please. If you don't let me in, Madame will beat me.
Akemi?
How many days have you been at prayer?
Don't exhaust the gods with your requests. Save something for when you need them.
Hmm. Be angry with me all you want. We're still going to Edo in two days.
You need to be ready to get married and to be married.
If your mother was here, she would've taught you what it is to be a wife.
But to be clear, she was not ideal. She talked back often, like you, but...
she knew how to please me.
The 12 and 20 positions.
A wife should be familiar with the 12.
The 20 are for professionals,
but you're marrying into the shogunate, so...
Akemi. At some point, you have to talk to me.
- Where would she have gone? - I have no idea.
Find my daughter!
Never seen him. Husband?
Let's go. This place is too cheap.
It's Mihonoseki.
You said you wanted to work here.
Don't you wanna make more money on me? We can do better.
- We need to go. Now. - Okay, one more town.
- This way. I know it. - Huh?
No, no, no. That's the long way around, by the coast!
We'll have good luck this way. I have a feeling.
Oh, Taigen, where are you?
He will hit you with a fist.
He will hit you with a club.
He will hit you with... a hammer.
This is boring.
I'm bored.
I like it.
You will tell me everything you know about Mizu.
There's a reason I haven't been down here in a decade.
I'm not waiting on you for supper.
He humiliated you.
He ruined your marriage into the Tokunobu clan.
Why suffer so much to protect an enemy?
He deserves better than you.
He will cut you with a knife.
I never asked them to build this.
They just assumed the white man required a chapel
and put it by the dungeon.
We're not friends.
I haven't, uh, spoken to you in some time.
Wouldn't do you the dishonor of asking for a favor.
But I believe there's something I can do for you.
They've been godless here as long as they've been.
You saw what they did to your priests and faithful.
Kicked out and crucified, the Word dead in their mouths, unspread.
Heathens, surely, these Japanese.
Lucky for you, their man in charge is greedy.
I plan to cut that shogun's head from his shoulders
and reimagine this nation more to my liking.
Now, normal days, I'd imagine you're indifferent to that outcome.
Fair enough, fair play. Same as me to yours.
But I'll tell you this, though. If this all goes my way,
I will go ahead and take it for a sign
that you tilted the wind to my back,
and I will, in kind,
build into my new station a pulpit.
I will send for your priests to bring them your Word
and hand you a nation of souls.
My thanks if you see fit.
It's no matter to me either way.
I've got no use for souls.
Ah, this way, that way. Nothing's good enough for her!
Too wet, too dry, too smelly. Why do I listen?
Most girls open a mouth, and I pour in a drop of this.
Blessed silence.
They wake up in their new home, and Goro counts his fortune.
But for Akemi, only respect and restraint.
Goro?
Forgive me. You know I'd be lost without you.
What's a few more towns together?
Come on, it's almost time.
Keep up! I'm not missing the duel 'cause of you.
I wanna see blood!
- A duel? - A skinny guy and a big guy.
I bet five mon on the skinny one. He's got a face like a demon.
A demon!
This is our town.
Huh?
Aww, we missed the blood.
Taigen. That's his scarf.
Demon.
I found our brothel.
Oh no, no, no, no. Not Madame Kaji's.
You should be with the courtesans. Elegance.
They're known for peculiarities.
Well.
Goro!
No, no! Out! Out! Get out.
Oh what, what kind of welcome is that?
You're not welcome! Not since you sold us that poxy puss.
Madame Kaji won't even look at a girl from you.
Oh, she'll look at this one.
Ahem.
Oh, she'll pay a fortune for you.
I always wanted to be rich. Can you imagine?
What do you think it feels like?
Like never thinking about how you're rich.
Madame Kaji. May I...
The last words I said to you, Goro?
"Speak to me again, and I'll stab your nose."
If you could put off violence a moment,
may I introduce Akemi?
A revered courtesan from Gion.
A castle topper if I ever saw one.
Her feet alone...
We already have a princess act.
Oh, not like Akemi.
Sings, dances, calligraphy, koto.
Can debate the sutras like Takuan the Monk.
Not one of your usual wrung-out widows, nighthawks, and tea steepers.
Hmm.
Your richest client's favorite position?
Me, on top.
Goro, one thing to credit you is you are consistent.
- Mm. - You're an idiot every day of your life.
You've been had. She's no more courtesan than I'm a maiden.
You're the real thing, aren't you?
An actual princess bathed in milk.
- Virgin. - I...
You've barely seen two cocks your whole life.
Hmm. But your inexperience may be a beauty mark, not a wart...
if you want to work.
I do.
I will.
This is no fancy pleasure house
with hours of dance and witty conversation.
What the geisha hopes to avoid
at the end of the night is how we start the day.
I don't pretend it is work any woman likes,
but if you can survive it, you will be safe in my care.
Goro, 50 ryo for your virgin princess if she performs to satisfaction tonight.
A test.
Come in the morning to collect
your money or your girl.
May the goddess Benzaiten guide your hands and those feet.
Yes, girl. Just like that, you've been bought and sold.
Fast as a marriage.
My name is Akemi.
I'll bother to remember that if you're still here tomorrow.
Your first test, eat.
Or be eaten.
This is Akemi, an actual highborn noble.
More than just powder and priss, like Ise.
Hmph.
Right now, she's regretting running away from her daddy's castle.
Not at all.
I'm eager to find a customer.
Hmph.
Here. One of Ise's old ones.
It's torn, but if you drape it, it hardly shows.
- Is that how they're wearing it now? - It's the latest fashion in Kyoto.
All of you, finish preening and get out there.
I counted four men still alone with their pants on and purses tied.
I'm not taking that blue-eyed freak.
Why do I always get the ugly ones?
So far, he turned down everyone.
Let him turn down me.
And me.
I'll take him.
No one ever refuses me. May I, Madame?
Isn't Watari the Walrus here tonight?
On my first night, you made me prove my skills under him for six hours.
Cracked two ribs.
He's gotten so fat, he can't get it up anymore.
I bet he'd give a big blubbery bonus
if someone could make his little seal bark again.
Hmm.
Akemi will take Master Watari.
You fail to make him rise and fall,
you so much as wrinkle your perfect nose at him,
you wait in the cold for Goro.
First, I'd much rather...
There is no end to that sentence that matters.
We'll be watching.
Oh! You are uncommonly delicate.
Take off your kimono.
More sake?
You can drink so much.
I bet you were a mighty warrior in your day.
Never won a fair fight.
Come closer.
If your sword isn't sharp, your wit is.
I do enjoy the written arts.
A fellow warrior of words. I knew it.
Oh! You read?
Of course.
I used to sneak books from my father's library
and memorize all the poetry my tutors forbade.
Really? And who's your favorite poet?
Oh, so many.
Shotetsu. Minamoto no Shigeyuki.
Oh, ah.
My favorite is this poetess,
Ono no Komachi.
Her words light a fire and fill me with smoke.
Shall I recite?
Mmm...
I yearn for you most
On this moonless night...
I lie awake
Hot embers of passion in my breast
Setting my heart aflame
Oh. Oh-oh!
Look who decided to join our party!
Hello, old friend! I missed you.
Do you enjoy renga?
You know renga poetry too?
What's a party without renga?
You start with the haiku, I answer with two lines.
Your brushstroke. My brushstroke.
Hmm. Ah!
Drink streams from soft hand
Its taste bitter on my tongue
Soothing elixir
From soft hands also streams milk
Its taste sweet
Warm to my breast
Breasts like two full moons
Illuminate the dark sea
Envelop me with your light...
Heavenly orbs you must drink from afar
Or scorch your skin
Show me your brushstroke
Fire cannot burn ice
Its touch makes it a hot spring
Sear me, I'll explode...
No man can grasp the sunlight
Only worship fleeting rays
To the sun goddess
I give
Sweet
Sweet...
Sweet nectar of your body
A gift she declines
One thing no man can resist.
Himself.
Still half the night left. Any luck with blue eyes yet?
Eh, he asked to be alone. Thank goodness.
No one refuses me.
May I serve you?
Your eyes!
Whatever clever insult comes next is not as clever as you think.
They're beautiful.
A color I've never seen outside the sea and sky.
Huh. I see.
Your Madame explained how it's some essential part of the soul
that draws men to brothels when it's only naked flattery.
Do men usually fall for this?
The ones I've known. Yes.
I thought it was tea.
I don't drink.
Madame thought you might prefer sake to help you relax.
Maybe just a sip.
If you'll join me. I have ugly business coming.
Suddenly, I'm glad for company.
To flattery.
Hot.
Where I'm from, that's how the men prefer it.
Kyoto.
I've only been there once, recently.
Beautiful, isn't it?
Dirty and crowded.
Full of puffed-up crows posing as swordsmen.
I beat the most ridiculous samurai there.
If you can call him that.
I cut off his chignon. Then he came chasing after me,
demanding a rematch, saying I ruined his engagement.
I think he was angrier about his hair than his marriage.
What was his name?
Hmm.
I can't remember.
Anyway. He's dead now.
What?
Oh yeah. I killed him.
She's good.
Let me go!
Get off me!
You think I don't remember you?
Princess Akemi of the Tokunobu clan.
You drugged my cup.
I wish it was poison!
Oh, Taigen.
Oh, shut up.
I didn't kill him.
I left him with his life and a contract to fight.
He's alive? Where is he?
You came all this way to save a doomed engagement?
Your father probably lined up a nice young replacement lord to marry.
The shogun's son.
Women in our world don't have a single good option.
Except you.
Like some magical forest creature,
you could have anything you want,
and then you beg to eat trash.
You got a girl.
A pretty girl.
Wait. How does that work?
She's not a girl. She's a princess.
She's Taigen's princess, and she tried to kill me.
She screams, kill her.
She moves, kill her.
What? I can't kill her.
What do you think an apprentice does?
Do you have to stare?
Sorry.
Hamata's gambling house is filled with his Thousand Claws.
He never lets Kinuyo out of his sight.
Only when the moxa doctor comes each dawn
to treat the sores Hamata gave her.
Even then, his trusted bodyguard keeps watch.
I'll protect you.
Run to the night watchman. Tell him there's been a fight.
Two people.
You hear me, boy?
To the gate. Go!
You showed her the sign?
What did she sign back?
She understood.
At the furthest point, before rock becomes shore, is a well.
A hundred paces north is a door covered by tide.
It leads to a tunnel under the sea
into the belly of Fowler's castle.
Sleep the day. Then go and die.
I should have just killed you.
That was my mistake. I wanted to meet you first.
To see what power you have over Taigen to send him running from me.
Under your mask, you're not the killer you pretend to be.
Just go.
I thought you had to be something special.
Your face isn't even so scary.
You're just... angry.
I see why he likes you.
You're just like Taigen when we were children.
A fucking brat.
You knew him?
Boy.
Kill everyone. Then burn it down.