Hajime is enjoying his new life with Mama and the Ruffians. As an "initiation" Hajime has to pull the other Ruffians in a cart, and he is more than happy to. Sai is still thinking about Mikage as Jubei heads for school. Hajime doesn't even realize the cart has hit a rock and knocked the other Ruffians. At school, Mr Tsutsumi has disappeared so the principal teaches their class that day. At a small restaurant, Sai daydreams of Mikage. He can't sit still because he wants to see her too much, and gets lost in the bamboo forest again. Mikage senses that the curse has not been destroyed and sneaks into the Ryujoji compound. She is attacked by the possessed Shiro and badly injured. Shiro leaves her and she manages to find Sai. Hajime is concerned about Shiro's disappearance and gets Jubei and the Ruffians to help find him. He brings Mikage to his house and tries to dress her wounds. He feels his has a second chance to save the woman he loves. Jubei walks in and sees Sai holding Mikage. She says Mikage is not her mother and runs away. Mikage tells Sai to warn Jubei that the Ryujoji curse is still alive, which he knows nothing about. Sai asks Jubei what the Ryujoji grudge is and demands to know what is going on. Just then, Shiro appears and challenges Yagyu Jubei to a duel. Sai sees Jubei grab the sword out of the air and pull out the lovely eye-patch. |