Chapter 229 - "The Back of the Man Part 2 - Two men of a Kind" Fudousawa: All the silk from the neighborhood is gathered in this post town of this road. As silk has become now one of the main export products of Meiji Japan, I can profit a lot if I control this post town. I've got 250 men under my command and also I've got a powerful backgroud support. So, it's not impossible to control the town. But I face a great nuisance. The stubborn father of the Higashidani family... this guy is strong and my henchmen aren't up to him. So I want to hire you as a gangster in order to finish him. Zanza: Hey, don't talk to me like I was an assassin. Whether he lives or dies is up to fate. I’m just looking forward to the fight. (the scene shifts to the countryside, as a man is standing in front of his house, yawning loudly. A bow is shown, someone pulling its string aiming an arrow at the man. In the tip of the arrow, there's some paper stuck.) Goheh: Aim well, brother. If we miss, we won't be nothing but cannon fodder. Kiheh: I know that. If I kill that man now, Zanza will get no job and we will be the big guys! (as Kiheh fires the arrow, the man grabs it in midair.) Hiruma bros (obviously surprised): !!!! (what the heck is this guy??) Uki's father (without even looking to the Hiruma bros, who are trying to flee without being noticed): What, an arrow with a letter attached? (taking out the letter) Oh, good, from the Fudousawa buddies. (he throws back the arrow, hitting Hiruma Kiheh's butt (ouch!). Kiheh jumps in pain) Uki: What's going on, dad? Uki's father (scratching his feet): Oh, nothing really. (he's reading the letter. It's written, "I wait for a fight. Meet me at the tree at the East Valley (Higashidani)." and it's signed "Zanza") Uki's father: Uki, I'm going out for a moment. Uki: What are you talking about? Tomorrow is the deadline for us to deliver these straw hats. We won't make it in time if we don't make an effort today! Uki's father (leaving): Don't worry, I'll be back till afternoon. Uki: Dad! (the sun is shining brightly as Zanza is laying down at the tree.) Uki's father: Hey, hey, only one opponent this time? You people do underestimate me, don't you? Zanza (slowly standing up, his back turned to Uki's father): I hate those help in a fight. The best fight is still those you fight one against one. Uki's father (grinning): Good words for a Fudousawa scum. Zanza: Not a Fudousawa scum, just a gangster. (turning to Uki's father) So, let's begi... (he looks surprised.) Uki's father: What? Something on my face? Zanza (surprised): Dad... Uki's father: !! (a brief moment of silence) Uki's father: You.... Sanosuke... Zanza: So, the pointy forehead of yesterday was my sister Uki. And that roundy cheeks Outa is what, my brother? Uki's father (walking towards Sano): Sanosuke... (all of a sudden, Uki's father lands a vicious punch in Zanza's face) Uki's father: Don't call me dad! Indeed I had a elder son called Sanosuke, but I have no news of him since he left ten years ago to join that false army led by Sagara what's-his-name! I don't know if he's alive or not, but a man who helps Fudousawa can never be a son of mine! Zanza (cleaning the corner of his mouth, as he stands up): Yeah, that's right... I left home ten years ago. I'm not Sanosuke, but Sagara Sanosuke... (he grins) and now, I'm the gangster Zanza. Uki's father (also grinning): Come... you've got the same name of my son. So, instead of your true father, I, Kamishimoemon, will knock reason into your stupid brain! (both lunge at each other) Zanza: Here I go, goddamn dad! Kamishimoemon: Come, you son of a !! (they exchange several blows, without hitting each other seriously. Kamishimoemon (what a long name ^_^) dodges Zanza's punch, grabbing his arm and throwing Zanza over his shoulder) Kamishimoemon: Ultimate technique -- THE HURRICANE THROW OF THE FATHER!!! (Zanza lands on his foot as he lunges again towards Kamishimoemon) Zanza: Don't underestimate me!! Kamishimoemon: Ultimate technique -- (he blows his pipe, sending a hot load of tobacco on Sano's nose. Sano grits his teeth (SD mode) in pain) Zanza: ...................................!!!!!!!! (HOOOOOOOOOOTT!!!) Kamishimoemon (grinning): -- THE BURNING HEART OF THE FATHER!! Zanza: I TOLD YOU NOT TO UNDERESTIMATE ME!!! (Zanza drives an uppercut) (they keep on fighting for a long time) Kamishimoemon: How dare you hit your father like that?! Zanza: Shut up, I'll kill you!! (the fight keeps on, until they hit each other at the same time and both of them fall down. Panting heavily, Kamishimoemon realizes it's already evening.) Kamishimoemon: Ooops, it's already late. (standing up) Let's postpone this fight for the time being. Zanza: Are you going to flee? Kamishimoemon: Idiot, I have many things to do. I have no time to play with you now. Zanza: Heh, back to cultivating those Japanese raddish, as usual? Kamishimoemon (picking up his pipe): The farm has been destroyed by Fudousawa and I don't think we can get anything there right now. (leaving) I don't want to make Uki and Outa suffer from poverty. This year we will have to make straw hats in order to survive. Zanza: And why the heck are you fighting like that with Mr. M and his party? You, a farmer, has nothing to do with silk or sericulture... (Kamishimoemon casts an angry glare at Zanza, who opens wide his eyes.) Kamishimoemon: No matter how stupid you are, you know how isolated this place was in the past, don't you? In those times, not only raddish, but also silk had no way of reaching the market, so in the end everything had to be sold at really low prices. Everybody endured the suffering together... and then, the Meiji Restoration came, bringing along a road and a post town. And thanks to that, at last we could afford to eat rice and other food three times a day. So, do you think I can let those guys destroy this living, with the excuse that I have nothing to do with it? (Zanza is silent) Kamishimoemon: Tell Fudousawa that no matter how strong his background support may be, Kamishimoemon will never yield to him. Zanza: The background support... Mr. M was proud of it, but what is it? Kamishimoemon: It's an Ishin Shishi (Zanza is surprised) I don't know how they are related, but it seems now he is quite a politician. (leaving) I won't flee from you. You remember our house, don't you? Come whenever you wish. Zanza: ----------................. (the scene shifts to a large estate, guarded by two men) Fudousawa: I'm sorry for making you come here at the countryside, uncle. (he toasts with his uncle) Fudousawa: I only cause trouble for you since I was a sumo wrestler. Fudousawa's uncle (laughing): Well, it was quite hard when you almost killed the "oyakata" (head of a sumo wrestling dojo). And what happened with that silk business? Fudousawa (sipping his sake): There's a stubborn man posing as a hindrance, but it's a matter of time. I'll take him out of the arena soon. (it's already night as Kamishimoemon reaches home.) Uki: Dad, you're late! Kamishimoemon: Sorry, sorry. (grinning to Outa) Good, Outa, how many straw hats did you make today? Uki: Have you been engaging in fights again?! Kamishimoemon (ignoring Uki): What? Five hats? That's great! Now leave it to me! Uki (puzzled): ... what, did anything good happen to him? (he's strangely in a good mood) (in another part of the city) Zanza: ... damn, even here I hear of Ishin Shishis... No matter what I do, I feel more and more stress instead of relief, goddamnit... (end of chapter 229) Any comments, please e-mail me. Serizawa Kamo serizawa@excite.com