Tsuki no Shippo Ch.54 Summary

Ranmaru asks Usagi, who is still hiding her face, if he has met her somewhere before and asks her to show her face. She emphatically denies that they have ever met. He asks why she is hiding her face. She replies with something like she’s not very fond of samurai and she’s embarrassed. The guy who had been about to kill her is ticked, saying she hadn’t been acting that way before, and demands compensation for the cup she broke. She asks how much but he replies that she’ll never be able to pay back with money. The amount would be more than her shop was worth.

At this point, another man enters the shop and scolds the man (who’s name turns out to be Sadanari) for being so noisy that his voice is resounding in the streets. He turns out to be Lord Akechi Mitsuhide, a vassal/retainer of the Oda family. Sadanari starts to complain to HIM about the cup now. Sorry, I’m not quite sure what is happening here, but I think that Mitsuhide replies that the responsibility for such an important cup lies with its owner. Then he says that he will tell Nobunaga that HE was the one who broke the cup. Ranmaru says that if he does that, Oda will scold him, but Mitsuhide says with a kindly face that he is used to being scolded. He says one more thing that I can’t make sense of, and then suggests they should hurry and get back. As they are leaving, Usagi thanks Mitsuhide. He smiles at her and tells her that she should probably be careful so something like this doesn’t happen again. Then he smashes right in to the sliding door. ^_^ As they walk down the street Ranmaru asks if he is okay. Mitsuhide, holding his poor crunched nose) replies that it is nothing serious. Usagi watches them, relieved that she’s been saved, and in wonder that Nobunaga has such a kind disciple. Then she freaks out again because Ranmaru is in the city.

Fortunately, at this point Goemon gets back and Usagi throws herself at him. She tells him about Ranmaru. Goemon says that she probably shouldn’t go out into the streets anymore, to which Usagi emphatically agrees. He asks her how long she plans to cling to him like this (she’s still wrapped around him), then he pushes her off. She asks why he is being so cold and tells him he’s not acting like himself. Did she do something bad to him? He tells her she hasn’t done anything bad. She asks him why he’s acting like this then and starts to cry. He replies that now is not the time for making a fuss like this. Nobunaga is at the nearby Honnou Temple. Goemon had gone to check out the temple, but it was so heavily guarded because of Oda’s presence that it would be difficult for a shinobi to get inside. They’ll have no choice but to approach it under the guise of the dango shop. Then he asks her how sales were going. He’s not happy to find out she hasn’t sold a single dango, but says it can’t be helped.

Next thing you know, Goemon is working the shop, and it is now filled with women. Customers comment that the dango may look plain, but they taste good, and the tea is good as well. In the kitchen, Usagi is hardpressed to keep up with all the orders Goemon is bringing her. Ranmaru passes by the shop, notices Usagi through the window, and eyes her suspiciously.

More and more women enter the shop and the customers waiting for seats are starting to quarrel. Then Yuuri suddenly pops up and starts handing out numbers. Goemon is startled at her sudden appearance, but is grateful for the help. She does a fabulous job serving the customers and Goemon complements her. She replies that she’s doing it all for him. A customer comments that Goemon should have married a girl like her and Yuuri thinks smugly to herself that that is her goal. At the end of the day poor Usagi is exhausted from making all those dango and is sprawled out on the floor. A much more energized Yuuri asks if she’s helped them with their mission and Goemon replies affirmatively, patting her on the head. If it keeps up like this, people from the Honnou temple are bound to patronize the shop. He goes on to say that with Yuuri here he can feel free to leave the shop and is leaving them to run it. (Yuuri and Usagi were NOT expecting to hear this!) Yuuri perks up a bit when Goemon winks at her and says he’s depending on her. Usagi is worried about him but smiling softly at her he assures her that he will be back. And with that he leaves.

As soon as he’s gone Yuuri promply throws a pillow at Usagi, wondering why Goemon is only loving to her. Usagi replies that he’s not loving to her; that he’s been cold to her lately. She asks about Goemon’s smile at Usagi just now, but Usagi apparently hadn’t noticed it. Then, declaring that she doesn’t want to talk anymore with an idiot, walks away.

Later that night, Usagi is lying awake in bed. She gets up and goes out on the balcony, wondering what Hanzou is doing right now. She remembers when he told her that he wanted to make her happy and thinks that she wants to make him happy too.

Three days later, Yuuri comes running to Usagi, telling her that the Honnou Temple wants them to deliver some dango. Yuuri tells Usagi to go and investigate while she’s there. Usagi tells Yuuri to go. ^_^ But Yuuri says she has to serve the customers at the shop. Usagi argues that Ranmaru could be there, but Yuuri says they’ll make her up so that he won’t recognize her. She starts putting makeup on Usagi and asks, doesn’t Usagi want to hurry up and finish the mission so she can return to Iga, and tells her that Hanzou sama would praise her for this if he knew. Usagi imagines Hanzou praising her and telling her that she’s mastered ninjitsu, followed by a big juicy kiss, and she’s sold. Yuuri tells Usagi that she should stay as long as possible and try to find out how many people they have, but Usagi is immersed in her daydream.

After the makeup Yuuri fixes her hair (now in a long ponytail) and dresses her. Then she pushes Usagi out and tells her to go accomplish her mission. Lots of guys turn to look at her as she walks down the street and she wonderes if she looks suspicous. Suddenly she realizes that she doesn’t know where the temple is! She stops to ask a guy if he knows where it is and he tells her its right here. She’s standing at the front gate and the guy is a guard! She tells him that she’s brought the dango and he asks her who ordered them. She doesn’t know! She starts thinking about the people she knows that are here. She definitely doesn’t want to say Sadanari, and she can’t remember the nice guy’s name, so all that is left is… She starts to say, “Ran…” and the guard immediately guesses “Ranmaru”. But Usagi definitely doesn’t want to see him! She starts panicking and tries to tell him never mind, but apparently the guard now thinks Usagi likes Ranmaru and is just being shy. He brings her inside then goes to call Ranmaru over and Usagi takes off. Unfortunately she runs into Sadanari, who finds her familiar but can’t seem to place her. Before he can remember Usagi tries to off, but he starts chasing after her. Can things get any worse for Usagi? Yes they can because as she’s fleeing Sadanari, she runs smack into Ranmaru who immediately recognizes her!

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