The Slave Ship (奴隷船)

Dedicated to the Retirement of Kyoko Aizome

Tooryanse, Tooryanse Come on through, come on through

Koko wa doko no hosomichi ja? What narrow path is this?

Tenjin-sama no hosomichi ja It's the narrow path of Lord Tenjin

No, no!

Slave Ship No, no!

No, no!

Hey, dammit. Show everyone your face!

What do you think? Well?

200,000!

200,000. 250,000? 250,000?

300, 000!!

300,000.

350, 000!!

350,000! Anyone?

400, 000!!

400,000.

450, 000!!

450, 000!!

Ow!

500, 000!!

510,000!

No more! That's enough! Stop! That's enough!

Bastard... No more! That's enough! Stop! That's enough!

You bastard!

510,000. Sold.

All right, here goes...

More?

And here.

How's this?

And another!

And another.

More!

Die with me!

Now, what's this?

"It was a melancholy, and yet somehow beautiful, sight."

I don't understand one bit!

What don't you?

Say, sir...

What is S&M? You call it "beautiful," but isn't it just perverted?!

Well, you feel like giving it a try?

Now let's see...

Like this?

Oh!

You're not wearing any today either, huh?

So what?!

You're just a Little bit wet.

It's still perverted.

Ah, Ishii, sorry. I'm almost done.

Mr. Ishii, your face always looks like a samurai waiting to commit seppuku.

Not at all.

Hey, hey! You're being rude. I'm the one at fault for not meeting the deadline.

No, not at all!

Now then, I'll just type this up nicely.

Let's see...

I have not yet had relations with Miyuki, my secretary.

Through an unspoken agreement, I have simply enjoyed our ambiguous relationship.

Of course, it was my intention to one day mold this wild, incorrigible filly

into the greatest of masochists...

Say, Mr. Ishii?

Um, yes?!

I've noticed something since I've started helping Mr. Onimata with his work.

Yes?

I think he's modeled the heroine in his works after someone.

No, not that I'm aware of.

Jeez! You're a boring man!

Say, Mr. Onimata! Is my hunch correct?

Welcome. Welcome.

Welcome.

Welcome.

Welcome. Welcome.

Wow. It's so wonderful! Like a movie set!

So, you've always known about this place?

Yeah. Guess it's been about 10 years, huh?

Yes. That's how long you've been our guest here.

Jeez, I swear. You're so cruel.

What gives? Why didn't you tell me about it?!

Hey, easy now. We came here to REST. There'll be no fighting, got it?

Mr. Onimata was something of a matchmaker for my wife and me.

My wife was indebted to him when long ago she sought to become an author.

Huh...

Hey, come on. Snap out of it already.

Darn it!

I swear...

Pardon the intrusion. I swear...

Sir, it has been quite some time.

The pleasure is mine.

I'm just glad to see you look happy.

Do I look that way?

Now you've done it.

Yes, you do. And as pretty as always.

Ever the flatterer.

I am Kikue, the proprietress.

A pleasure.

Please.

Please.

Huh...

A slave ship, you say? I can't even imagine such a thing.

Miyuki, have you ever been aboard such a ship?

No, not once! Women are not allowed.

Oh. Is that so?

Yes. Aside from the slaves, that is.

Well, I'd assume so. I see...

Please.

Say, ma'am, don't you think Mr. Onimata's Devil Mask Society eccentricity is interesting?

Personally, I like sex, but S&M is out of the question!

You are an interesting lady, Miyuki.

But don't you think so? I wonder if a person who knows that world can live a normal life...

Ah. So I'm not normal, huh?

Tonight, let's drown our sorrows. What do you say? It's been a while, so can I hear it?

Iki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai Going is well and good

lki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai But coming back is frightening

You ask too much, sir.

Where's the harm? Comfort an old man who's been wounded by the words of a young woman.

Dear?

Tooryanse, Tooryanse Come on through, come on through

Koko wa doko no hosomichi ja? What narrow path is this?

Tenjin-sama no hosomichi ja It's the narrow path of Lord Tenjin

Chotto tooshite kudashanse Please let me pass

Goyou no nai mono toosha senu Those without business shall not pass

Kono ko no nanatsu no oiwai ni In celebration of this child's seventh birthday

O-fuda o osame ni mairimasu We come to dedicate this offering

lki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai Going is well and good

lki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai But coming back is frightening

Kowai nagaramo Though it be frightening

Tooryanse, tooryanse Come on through, come on through

I met Kikue aboard the slave ship, and successfully bid on a two-year contract with her

from a failing Osaka real estate business that had engaged in shady business.

Kikue was the most amazing woman I'd ever met.

Please. Treat me as your slave.

I just can't imagine you as a masochist.

I am a woman who's been bought and sold.

I cannot complain, no matter what is done to me.

If treated kindly, I grow frightened as if I'll drop down straight to hell.

You're saying that I can't satisfy you? I see.

You miss the kind of play I trained you in long ago, eh? Fine.

Well? Say it hurts, won't you? Does it hurt?

It hurts! It hurts so much I can't stand it!

When the contract period was over, I proposed we get married.

But Kikue desired to be with a man who didn't know her past.

I had been rejected in my old age.

You don't often come back here, so...

Yeah. Hearing that song reminded me of the old days.

Oh, sir...

Sorry.

Miyuki is waiting. I'll get some saké ready.

Are you happy'?

You said I was earlier, didn't you?

I'm loved. I'm happy.

Was there... no love for me?

Please tell me. What IS love?

You're a strange man. Isn't that for a writer to think about?

I'm sorry for before. I was drunk and talking nonsense.

Not at all.

You mind if I join you?

Please.

Tonight makes my third time. It feels so good!

So, curious about my relationship with Mr. Onimata, are you?

It's all right. We haven't had sex yet.

That's none of my...

I guess you could call me his mistress, but... That man, he enjoys leaving me untouched!

He's getting my young body hot and bothered...

He's waiting for me to give in.

It gives me the shivers. He's so lewd!

I don't want to lose this game.

That's why I won't have sex with him for a long time.

If you'll excuse me.

Ah! Rope burns!

Just kidding.

Please don't make fun.

So cruel!

What is?

That woman is the model for the heroine in your novels, right?

You're trying to test me? To make me notice, make me jealous?

Forget it! I'm not giving in!

You're over-thinking things.

Fine. If that's how you want to do it. So can I.

Hey, where are you going?

I'm going back alone. Bleh!

Jeez...

It's called the slave ship of the Devil Mask Society,

but it's a place for S&M fanatics to engage in pleasant gatherings,

a son of sex-for-pay game by a group of sexual deviants.

When masters became unable, for whatever reason, to keep their slaves,

they bring them aboard the slave ship and seek out new patrons.

When a new master successfully wins,

a binding ceremony is held and a sexual "play" unveiled before the Devil Mask Society.

It is a rather sad, rather beautiful sight.

The bond between sadist and masochist is deep, and the play is both parting and first encounter.

I would have some fun with Miyuki. That was the extent of my whimsy when I met with Kikue...

But I was controlled by my lingering feelings for her,

and in time, I came to share Kikue's daydream.

Please keep this a secret from Mr. Onimata.

Yes, I know.

Ow, ow, ow!

OW!

This was YOUR idea, wasn't it?!

Yes, but it hurts. Ow!

Miyuki!

I told you no kissing, didn't I?!