Drifters

Huh? Don't mess with Shimazu!

This battle is over.

Ishida and Ukita's men have been butchered.

The Western Army lay in tatters.

Only death awaits them,

yet Shimazu spurs his men to action!

What do you hope to gain by this?

You... messed with... the wrong clan!

Shimazu!

Apologies, General!

Commander Fukushima's men

were unable to repulse Shimazu's attack!

Please, sir! Can you help us take him down?

Gladly.

For the commander!

Toyohisa!

Go on, Uncle!

Get yourself to safety!

I'm not finished here! Not while I still draw breath!

No! What are you doing?

You're to return home to Satsuma, with us!

Quickly, now!

I'd love to go back.

Dying in Satsuma would make for a good death.

So long as you make it home alive, Uncle.

Even if the rest of us lie rotting here by dawn,

we prevail!

A victory for the living and dead alike!

Rear guard, matchlocks at the ready!

Send 'em to hell ahead of you!

Those are the Red Devils bearing down on us,

pride of The Tokugawa!

Finally, a worthy opponent!

Kiss this world goodbye, men.

We die!

-- --

If even one of them gets back to Satsuma alive,

the shame of it will be unbearable!

Lordship!

We can't hold 'em off forever.

Just bleed 'em long enough for my uncle to escape.

Make the devils work for it!

I'll be waiting for you in Satsuma!

Don't you dare meet your end here, Toyohisa!

Are you listening to me, boy? Mark my words!

You're not allowed to die today, dammit!

He worries about me right now?

I'm lucky to have an uncle like him.

All right!

Let's do a man's work one last time in this life!

Fuses ready!

Take aim!

Fire!

Onward, men! Run them down!

What skill!

I am Toyohisa of the Shimazu, and I will be your doom!

Words of a corpse!

I am General Naomasa of the Ii Clan, you whelp!

Haven't you noticed that you've lost?

Your head will make an excellent trophy.

What are you going on about, old fool?

I'm taking my head back to Satsuma.

Yours, too!

Bastard!

Everyone, rally to the General! His safety is paramount!

So be it!

He... He's fearless!

And a fool.

You are the fool, Naomasa!

Now enjoy a fool's reward!

He, ha! Take that, you bastard!

My lord?

Lord?

-- He's hurt! -- Oh, no!

My lord!

Hold on, Lord Naomasa!

Withdraw! On the double!

Retreat!

Naomasa!

Damn it all. You get back here!

You've left without my head, General!

You barely kept yours!

Give me your head, Naomasa!

Give me your head!

Satsuma...

I'm coming home.

Next please.

I'm next? For what?

This chamber... Where is it?

And you. Who are you?

I'm going back to Satsuma.

Do you hear me?

I'm going back!

Next please.

What the frig is all this?

You're... You're oni.

I must have been sent to Hell after all.

A warrior...

...from the Land of the Rising Sun?

Who could he be?

What did I miss?

The villagers.

They dragged a dying man to our door.

One of us, I'd wager.

Though his clan is unknown to me.

Dying, or dead?

His breathing is faint, but he does cling to life.

A common flaw, that.

Do what you can for him with needle and thread.

Fate may be capricious enough to let him survive.

Just as it did us.

Our lives are intriguing, are they not?

A clever bit of kabuki.

Toyohisa! Just look at you!

Took an enemy's head in your first battle! Fine work!

You've done me proud, my son!

Really?

But of course!

Father! Father, wait!

Well, look who's up?

I'd advise you take it easy.