Tsuki no Shippo Ch.53 Summary

The chapter starts out with Goemon and Usagi nearing the capital. Unfortunately, Usagi is kinda dragging her feet. Goemon tells her to pull herself together because this time the mission is for the survival of Iga. As they enter the capital, she asks what it is they are supposed to do there. Apparently, their first duty is to grab a cup of tea... and a cat! ^_^ They enter a tea shop run by an old couple who direct them upstairs for the cat. A very confused Usagi sees a cat that looks very much like her grandfather’s Miko. The old man tells her that this cat’s name is Myaako and is a sibling to Miko. Then she realizes that he had called her “Usagi sama”. As it turns out the old couple are shinobi from Iga who set up shop in the capital long ago as spies.

Goemon asks if everything is set up (with the neighborhood). Not yet, since this came up so suddenly. So they all head to “finish” things up by informing the neighbors (two women) that they are retiring and their son and his wife will be taking over the shop. Dazzled by Goemon’s good looks the women agree that they will be patronizing the shop everyday. ^_^

Later on the old woman asks Usagi and Goemon when they got married. Goemon informs her that the engagement was broken and that Usagi is now engaged to Segachi’s Hanzou. The woman is surprised, as it had always been Goemon’s dream to marry Usagi, but he replies that lots of things have happened.

The old couple heads off and Usagi is now in charge of running the tea and dango shop (and taking care of he cat). It’s beneficial to run the shop because they can glean information and rumors from the customers. For some reason the cat scratches Usagi who looks to Goemon for comfort, but his response is very cold. Goemon will not help run the shop. He will instead go out to investigate Nobunanga’s weapon situation. Usagi is surprised as she thought Nobunaga was in Azuchi. As it turns out, he’s at a nearby temple conducting weapon negotiations (or something like that). And if Nobunaga is near, it stands a good chance that Ranmaru is with him!

Thinking about Ranmaru, Usagi decides she needs to change her clothing and hairdo, so they put it in cute little pigtails (she’s still wearing a wig). ^_^ As they are doing so, Goemon tells her that her duty is to simply make and sell dango. Usagi wonders if she can do it, to which Goemon replies “You will!!” Nobunaga’s tactic is complete annihilation. He even kills everyone, including women and children. So if she doesn’t want to die she will completely devote herself to her task. Of course, Usagi is now absolutely terrified, and she jumps onto Goemon’s back, clinging for dear life. She refuses to let go the entire day (scenes of an annoyed Goemon eating, trying to bathe, and setting out the futon for the night). She’s still clinging as they get into bed, but at this point Goemon throws her off angrily. After all, Usagi is going to be Hanzou’s wife. Even if they ARE pretending to be married right now, it’s all an act and she shouldn’t be grabbing onto to him. Usagi is very sad and confused about the way Goemon is acting.

So, Usagi is on her side of the futon trembling in fear. (Goemon is awake and seems to be feeling guilty, but determined not to do anything). She must eventually fall asleep because she starts dreaming about Hanzou sama breaking the engagement because she’s married to Goemon. (Goemon tries to wake her but can’t) As Hanzou flies off, Goemon dumps Usagi out of the futon and she finally wakes up. He’s heading off on his mission and its time for Usagi to open the shop.

The day does NOT go well for Usagi. A regular customer comes by and doesn’t like Usagi’s dango (I’m not sure why) so she leaves to patronize another shop. The two women from the day before come by but leave as soon as they find out Goemon isn’t there. She hasn’t sold a single dango and worries about her mission. Later in the day two men walk into the shop and order tea. She cheerfully brings the tea and even serves them a free order of dango. But unfortunately, she manages to break one guy’s teacup. The guy is pissed because apparently, it was a gift from Nobunaga. He draws his sword and prepares to strike a cowering Usagi, but a hand stops him. As her savior convinces the sword-drawn man that the girl did not mean to break the cup, Usagi realizes that she recognizes the voice. Its Ranmaru!

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