Yummy toasted rice!
The best tumblers in Japan!
A strange contraption, it's the biggest thing from the West!
Big brother, hurry up!
Over here!
There is no need to hurry, that there is not.
The snake! Look! Rice skewers! Mermaid!
Yahiko, all you're going for is the food!
You are all enthusiastic, that you are... Yahiko, all you're going for is the food!
You're doing it too!
But really... You're doing it too!
But really... What's wrong with that?
Both of you, stop arguing!
This sure is a crowd, that it is...
Of course!
The Sumida River neighborhood is now a landmark!
What is the matter with you two?
Oh, look there!
This looks good!
Let's go inside this place!
It has to be some little trick to fool kids!
But you're a kid too!
Wha...
Let's go in! Let's go in!
T-The wing moved...
So a lightning monster does exist...
What?
It is a rokuro-kubi monster.
A fox-woman!
A raccoon-man!
A tengu!
They seem to be having fun...
I think they're just scared.
I see...
So that's how it worked...
Over here, they put fake wings on a boar...
...and were pulling it with a string.
They sure are tricks to fool kids.
That's how it's usually done.
Well, it seems perfect for Kaoru and the girls.
It seems that way, that it does.
The tengu got beaten up...
I feel sorry for him.
It's because...
...he scared helpless little girls...
I'm gonna...
...quit this business now...
Wow, what's this?
So many people...
Let's take a look!
Maybe it's worth watching!
The Ebisu Cannon Circus, is it?
Shit, there are virtually no customers here!
It's been like this ever since that circus appeared across the way.
Dammit, that cannon girl!
She took all our customers out from under our feet!
Now, now!
Thank you very much for coming today to our Ebisu Cannon Circus!
Now, witness this!
Thanks for waiting.
I will now show you the human cannonball.
When this girl, Marimo, goes through the target, please applaud!
She's cute!
That girl looks like she's Yahiko's age!
It seems that way, that it does.
I wonder if she'll be all right...
The key is the mixing of the gunpowder, that it is.
It is dangerous if there is too much, but it's no good if there's too little...
And now, here we go.
One!
Two!
Three!
That's great, Meiji cannon girl!
It doesn't go well unless the father and daughter synchronize perfectly.
That is true, that it is.
- Amazing, amazing! - She flew, she flew!
Hey, hey!
Outta the way!
Go home!
Go home, dammit!
Those guys...
Kenshin, why are you stopping him?
Just see what happens, that you should.
Mr. Sumidaya, what do you mean by this?
Well, I was worried whether or not your business was doing well.
Although you went independent, you used to work for us, you know.
You don't have to worry about that at all.
I became independent through a perfectly legal contract.
Yes, but I don't want you to forget...
You still owe us the money that you borrowed when you went independent.
I will return the money.
Half of it before the end of the day, and the rest tomorrow!
I see, I see.
Then it is all right.
The promise was that you'd return the money before tomorrow night.
I'm sure you know, but if you can't pay up...
...you will return to our Circus without complaints.
Let's go back!
Yeah!
What are you doing?
I'll be waiting for you to come with the money tonight.
You have be careful of lit tobacco, you know.
Yeah, terribly sorry about that!
You have to be careful...
What a bunch of ruthless guys!
Yahiko, it's not too late, go beat them up now!
Go, Yahiko!
He's not here?
He's over there!
When in the world did...
U-Uh... I'm Yahiko Myojin!
You sure are a girl with a lot of courage, to fly from that cannon!
I'm impressed!
I'm Marimo...
Thanks for helping, Little Yahiko!
Stop it with the "little" thing!
So then what...
You fell for that girl, right?
It's nothing like that!
Um, I'm just...
You don't have to hide it!
Along with little Tsubame from Akabeko...
...you sure fall for girls easily!
Where are you going, Yahiko?
On a walk.
Well, it might be good for you to feel the night breeze and cool off!
That was such a weak excuse.
Then, just as I thought...
He is worried about that girl, that he is.
It is Yahiko's masculinity at work.
Watch out!
Hey, wait, that money...
Wait!
Dad!
Someone!
You did this to my dad...
Well, I don't know about that...
Someone!
Let go of me!
My dad...
You can't perform tomorrow anyway.
You have to come back to Sumidaya!
Let go of her!
Oh, Little Yahiko!
You don't need to say "little"!
Y-You little...
Kamiya Kasshin Style, first apprentice...
Yahiko Myojin!
You little...
Shit!
I-I'll get you back for this!
Hey, wait!
Dad is... Hey, wait!
Dad is...
Dad is under all of this!
What?
He won't be able to move for a while.
B-But doctor, I have to get the money back...
It's no use, Dad!
Sumidaya will pretend not to know anything!
I'll file a report with the police later, so you stay put, Dad...
No!
If the money is gone, I have to hold a performance tomorrow...
...because if we don't have it...
Y-You're right...
You don't have to return it!
They were the ones responsible for toppling the lumber!
W-We have no evidence...
They'll say it was an accident.
Sumidaya is someone who does such things.
We went independent because Mr. Sumidaya kept doing horrible things...
Why do you let such a guy keep running around?
F-First things first...
...the performance...
I told you that it's impossible!
Dad, I'll do it by myself.
Teach me how to make the gunpowder...
It's impossible for an ordinary person!
It's all right!
I can do it!
It's too dangerous!
If you make a mistake mixing, you could blow your feet off!
But...
I can't let you face such a dangerous situation!
I'll help too, so...
It's all right.
All we have to do is go back to Sumidaya.
Is mixing gunpowder similar to mixing medicine?
If you can teach me, maybe I can do it.
I smell blood...
You like it?
It's better than the smell of apples...
Yeah...
I especially love blood from someone I've slashed...
How about you?
Me?
I have no interest in blood...
But, looking at your thin little neck...
I just want to crush it with a good squeeze!
All right, you can if you'll be my target.
There really are no customers coming here!
But that will end today.
The father is hurt, so I'm sure they can't have a performance today!
That means...
"Please forgive me, Mr. Sumidaya, I was in the wrong."
I'm sure that's how they will come crying back to us.
I'm not sure about that...
I can't rest assured yet!
But that girl can't shoot the cannon by herself!
Such a spirited girl would be one to do it all by herself.
We should be extra cautious.
O-Okay...
You don't have to beat around the bush like that, and let us handle it...
If I let you handle it, the dear cannon girl wouldn't be much use afterwards!
Now, come one, come all!
It's not something you can see just anywhere!
It's a human cannonball, where a cute little girl goes flying with a boom!
Just as I thought.
But this is it!
You sure are working hard.
Just watch!
We'll pull this off perfectly!
By the way...
Where is this girl?
What did you come here for?
Of course I came here to...
...watch the cannon girl.
Maybe it's not that...
We're here to see little Marimo, that we are.
It's the same thing...
So you're here to make fun of me after all.
Do I look like a guy who would do that?
You do!
Something's wrong!
We have a problem, Yahiko!
What's wrong, Marimo?
The gunpowder...
The gunpowder is missing!
Someone stole it!
What should we do?
What now?
We already have a bunch of customers inside...
A fireworks place...
This neighborhood has many places that make fireworks.
You can try many places, and borrow gunpowder from each, that you can.
That's it!
I'll go with you!
You don't know what kind of gunpowder, Yahiko!
Will they make it in time?
If it takes too long, the crowd will get rowdy.
Until then, we'll hold the audience!
We have to do it!
I-It is a little embarrassing...
Why me?
Come on!
Hurry up and start already!
We paid money to see this!
Thank you for waiting.
She's going all out!
She's perfectly in character, that she is.
Thank you very much for coming here to the Ebisu Cannon Circus today!
Now, before the human cannonball, we will have a special presentation!
I wonder if they'll be all right...
They'll be all right!
Ken is with them!
Y-You're right...
First, umbrella-spinning and ball-riding featuring...
Sometarou and Somenosuke Himura!
Sometarou? Sometarou and Somenosuke Himura!
Alright now, here we go!
I-I'm really going to do this?
When there's a will, there's a way!
Here, do your best!
It's like a boat that I'm halfway on...
I will stand, that I will...
Ken, hold on!
Do your best, Big Brother!
S-Sano!
H-Hurry!
All right, here we go, Kenshin!
Kenshin!
This is great, Kenshin!
They're all laughing!
I am Somenosuke, that I am.
Way to go, Somenosuke!
Do some more!
Mr. Somenosuke, you're awesome!
Thanks!
Thank you!
We have to hurry!
Yeah!
Marimo...
Miss Kaoru, the preparation of the target has been completed!
Hey, wait!
Why am I doing this?
Don't ask me...
They are Miss Kaoru's instructions...
What if she hits me?
That's why she's using you, correct?
You bastard!
Missie, are you confident about this?
Nope!
Don't run away, Kenshin!
Hey...
S-Sano...
There's blood...
Kenshin!
Catch him!
Hurry!
A-All right, I will!
S-Sano, wait...
You think I'll wait?
Don't say that, we only need a moment from you...
No way!
Isn't it time for the human cannonball yet?
Yeah, yeah!
Hurry up and start!
Yahiko, hurry...
Outta the way!
Yahiko!
It's dangerous if you don't pay attention when you run.
Y-You...
How about you give us that bag you got there?
You again!
Stop muttering and give that to us!
Let's go, Yahiko.
Y-Yeah...
After them, don't let them have the gunpowder!
Alcohol...
... drink, drink...
... if you drink...
Enough already!
This is boring! ... watch out for fires...
... one...
Stop it, stop that stupid song!
Where's the human cannonball?
If you're not gonna do it, give us our money back!
Yeah, yeah!
Hurry up and start!
We came here to watch the human cannonball!
Guess this is it...
What?
I was pretty confident about the kurodabushi song...
Kenshin!
Yahiko!
Those guys...
Kenshin!
I'm leaving the rest to you!
Leave it to us, that you should!
This is getting more fun!
It would have been better if you surrendered to us...
If you're going to be this persistent, I don't care anymore!
I'll make sure you can't perform ever again!
Show them what happens when you defy me, Soubei Sumidaya!
He sure is up to no good.
I guess I have no choice!
I'm leaving it up to you, Sano!
Hey now!
I can slay a man for the first time in a while...
I'll skewer him!
Let me break his bones...
Your skills are not meant for fighting with others, that they are not...
Don't take these three too lightly.
You know that Imperialist corpse that was floating down the Sumida River?
The guys responsible for that...
Keep quiet!
I see what's going on, that I do...
Kenshin!
This is supposed to be a show!
Use this!
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Now, we'll show you the secrets of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style...
...presented by Somenosuke Himura!
Hiten Mitsurugi Style...
Dance of the Umbrella!
I will use the secret technique, that I will!
Such a thing exists?
Hiten Mitsurugi Style...
Umbrella Spin!
That was close...
Hiten Mitsurugi Style...
Ball Throw!
Go, go!
You're doing great!
Oh, the cannon!
Why did he just charge straight forward?
Is he a boar or something?
You idiot!
Hiten Mitsurugi Style...
Boar Evasion.
Sano, get a hold of him!
Thanks!
Yahiko, the rope!
Yeah!
It's finally my turn.
You're not going to draw your sword?
An umbrella is enough, that it is.
Enough of that!
Hurry up and get him!
So he says!
Come on!
All right!
What?
Hiten Mitsurugi Style...
Umbrella Drop!
He's not human!
I won't let you escape!
The stars are twinkling, twinkling brightly...
He's getting away!
I won't let that happen!
Here we go!
All ready!
We did it!
All right, cannon girl!
Yeah, Sometarou, you're so powerful!
Somenosuke, you're so cute!
This is kinda amazing!
It makes me blush, that it does...
My popularity is something else!
Really, this is amazing!
Soubei Sumidaya!
This man here has testified to all of your crimes!
Don't move!
This makes for a happy ending, that it does.
Hey, the crowd is really happy about this...
Do you want to continue performing with us?
Sure, Kenshin and Sanosuke are bored, and I'm good at throwing daggers.
Right?
Don't run, you two!
Sano, you stay back there, that you should!
What are you saying?
It'll all be settled if you stay back there!
That is a little risky...
Idiots!