The episode begins with a flashback to Mizu as a baby. Two men have been ordered to kill her, to the horror of a nearby woman, but one of them is reluctant and says that he can't harm a child. When the other man goes to kill baby Mizu, the first man intervenes, kills his compatriot, then thrusts Mizu (now covered in the blood of her would-be killer) at the woman and tells her to take the child and leave.
The episode then resumes where the prior one left off; Mizu has collapsed from her wounds and blood loss at Taigen's feet, who debates whether to finish her off but decides not to after a brief struggle with himself. Ringo arrives, and Taigen suggests bringing Mizu to a nearby shrine so her wounds can be tended to there. Mizu has a series of feverish flashbacks, mostly involving her childhood, fire, her mother, and repeated warnings that the "bad men" would find her if she ever showed her face to others.
At Heiji Shindo's stronghold on Tanabe Island, the news about the deaths of the Four Fangs is not well-received. In a fit of rage the white man working with Shindo kills the messenger and orders Shindo to take care of the matter, as he mentions being occupied with their plans to control the shogunate.
At the shrine Ringo makes medicine from various herbs and mushrooms to heal Mizu and sews up Mizu's wounds, while Taigen sets up a contract to fight Mizu in a duel that will have witnesses and be legal. An enormous hulk of a man named Okiyama who wields an equally enormous club approaches the shrine, acting as a messenger from Heiji Shindo, and delivers an invitation from Shindo for a meeting and a talk. Despite Taigen loudly protesting that the invitation is an ambush and Mizu being so injured she can barely mount a horse, Mizu, Taigen, Ringo, and Okiyama set off for the site where Shindo is supposedly waiting for them.
Akemi and Seki's journey is not going well; brigands attack them on the road, driving off or killing their palanquin bearers and robbing Akemi of her money. She responds by asking a farmer passing by on his cart to take them to Mihonoseki and pays him with a golden hairpin, but while she sleeps in the back of his cart, he takes them in the opposite direction of their destination, leaving her even worse off than she was. Akemi briefly seems ready to give up, but learning that it was Seki who brought her father the prospect of breaking the engagement to Taigen and marrying her to the shogun's son reignites her stubborn refusal to give up and go home. Instead she goes into a nearby tavern, tricks a local flesh trader named Goro into believing that she is a courtesan looking for a new place of employment, and they set off together for Mihonoseki. Seki is forced to watch her leave.
When Mizu, Taigen, Ringo, and Okiyama reach their destination, Taigen refuses to leave Mizu's side and accompanies her to meet Heiji Shindo. They pass through a very narrow ravine, and when they finally make it to the other side of the ravine, Heiji Shindo invites them to tea at a fancy site he has set up. Although there are a few pleasantries exchanged, the mood is very tense; Mizu and Taigen could attack Shindo at any moment, while he "jokes" about having hundreds of archers stationed out of sight on the cliffs above them, ready to begin shooting at a signal. Shindo also reveals the name of the white man he's working with for the first time: Abijah Fowler.
Shindo first offers to buy off Mizu, and when she refuses, he offers to help her in her quest for revenge, revealing that he privately despises Fowler and wishes him dead. Shindo shows her a barrel of sake, one of ten he has purchased while away from the castle, and offers to smuggle her into the castle inside the barrel, getting her past the defenses of the castle and giving her a much better chance at reaching and killing Fowler. Mizu notes that the sake smells strangely bad for men of wealth and taste like Shindo and Fowler, which Shindo addresses by saying this particular barrel is cheap sake they serve to prostitutes who visit the castle.
Shindo tries to force Mizu to accept and get in the barrel, as now he has revealed too much for her to refuse, she either has to accept or he signals the archers he "joked" about earlier to fire and kill Mizu and Taigen. All bets are off when Shindo grabs Mizu's arm, as she quickly draws her sword and cuts off his hand. For a few seconds it seems like Shindo was bluffing about the archers... and then a great volley of arrows starts flying from the cliffs around them. Heiji Shindo runs off while Mizu and Taigen take cover, then head for the ravine while the archers reload. They make it most of the way through the ravine, but when Taigen is injured it seems like certain death for them. Fortunately Ringo rides into the ravine on one of the horses, while using the saddle from another one to protect himself from arrows. With Mizu and Taigen clinging to the sides of the horse, all three manage to make it away safely.
The trio are jubilant and exhilarated to be alive afterward, congratulating and complimenting each other. Mizu reveals that she thinks she has a way into the castle, thanks to the prostitutes that Shindo mentioned. Taigen appreciates her cleverness, but says it's too bad they have to fight their duel tomorrow, so Mizu will never get to carry out her revenge on Fowler. Mizu promptly knocks him out by hitting him with the handle of the broken sword, then leaves it behind as a gift, along with a note offering to duel Taigen in the autumn, after she has finished carrying out her revenge.
Unfortunately for Taigen, Okiyama appears, captures him, and then brings him back to the castle on Tanabe Island, where Heiji Shindo and Fowler intend to torture Taigen into telling them everything he knows about Mizu so they can prepare themselves for her.
Tropes for this episode include:
- And Then What?: Heiji promises to get Mizu within a sword-length of Fowler, but getting out of the castle alive afterwards is her problem.
- Ambiguous Situation: Was Heiji Shindo's offer to smuggle Mizu into the castle genuine, or was she being Lured into a Trap? He doesn't mask his loathing for Fowler, yet delivers Taigen to Fowler in exactly the same fashion he proposed, sealed in a barrel unable to defend himself.
- Annoying Arrows: While the archers are treated as a very deadly threat, ultimately only one arrow hits either Mizu or Taigen, and he simply pulls it out of his leg when they get to safety.
- Arrow Gram: An arrow with a red ribbon attached lets Okiyama know it's time to bash Ringo to death with his club. Fortunately Ringo didn't wait for Okiyama to show his bad intentions, poisoning him in advance.
- Attack the Injury: During a bit of sparring and wrestling, Taigen deliberately strikes Mizu in one of the places where she was wounded.
- Backup Bluff: Taigen believes that Shindo is doing this when he claims to have 500 archers on the cliffs, since there is no sign of them. He's wrong.
- Bait-and-Switch: Both Taigen and Heiji Shindo make remarks that seem to imply that they've caught onto the fact that Mizu is a woman, but both of their remarks are actually meant differently.
- Taigen's comment implies that Mizu is a man with a Teeny Weenie.
- When Heiji Shindo make it back to his castle he essentially says to Fowler "The man after you is no man... he's a demon."
- Belligerent Sexual Tension: Mizu's eyes widen when she locks eyes with Taigen while fighting at close quarters. If there's any doubt as to the Foe Romance Subtext, we get a flashback to this moment in the following episode in a scene specifically related to Mizu's sexual desires.
- Broken Pedestal: Akemi for her mentor Seki, after realising he was behind her arranged marriage to the shogun and is only accompanying her in the expectation that she will give up and go home.
- Buy Them Off: This is Shindo's first offer to Mizu; 50,000 gold ryō
and a lordship courtesy of the Shogun. - Career-Ending Injury: Shindo's condition for the bribe and lordship that he offers Mizu is that she must cut off her thumb, ending her ability to wield a sword forever.
- Chekhov's Gun:
- Taigen is seen practicing with Master Eiji's broken blade, and Ringo makes the comment that it suits him well. Later, when retreating from the meeting with Heiji Shindo, Taigen saves Mizu's life several times by swatting arrows with the sword, which can be swung in the tight quarters of the ravine far better than a full length sword could.
- Early in the episode Ringo warns Taigen about eating one of the mushrooms he has collected, since it's poisonous. Later on Ringo makes a meal for Okiyama with that mushroom inside, and the effects hit Okiyama just before he can kill Ringo.
- Entertainingly Wrong: After seeing Taigen warn Mizu of potential traps and dangers over and over again, Heiji Shindo seems to come to the conclusion that Taigen is a friend or ally of Mizu's, and that he can supply Shindo and Fowler with information on Mizu. As the audience knows, Taigen is (thus far) an ally of convenience at most and has virtually no information to give them.
- Fire-Forged Friends: Though not quite friends at this stage, the atmosphere between Mizu, Taigen and Ringo noticeably improves after they save each other during Heiji's ambush.
- Fork Fencing: Mizu says she can beat Taigen with any weapon, so they fight with chopsticks. However such is their mutual antagonism they quickly resort to beating each other up.
- From Bad to Worse: Every step of Akemi's attempt to journey to Mihonoseki to reunite with Taigen runs into peril, and Seki tries to use that to convince her to turn around. Her luck finally improves when she tricks Goro into escorting her to Mihonoseki.
- Funny Background Event:
- While Mizu, Taigen, and Okiyama ride straight along the road, Ringo is so delighted at being able to ride a horse that he can be seen steering it back and forth, right and left, as the group rides together.
- At certain points while Shindo and Mizu are talking, Taigen is appreciating the taste of the food, and he smirks slightly in approval when Mizu turns down Shindo's attempt to buy her off.
- Hidden Depths: Taigen spontaneously recites some poetry when the group passes a mountain on the way to meet Heiji Shindo, and also opens up a bit about his childhood and abusive father.
- Hidden Disdain Reveal: Heiji Shindo absolutely loathes Fowler, but normally has to hide it. During his meeting with Mizu and Taigen, he gets a rare chance to express his true feelings.
- Hollywood Healing: Unless the broth that Ringo cooked is magical, there's no way Mizu should have recovered as quickly as she does.
- Honor Before Reason: Mizu thinks Taigen not killing her when he had the chance is a case of this and chides him for it, summing it up by saying that as she sees it what Taigen really wants is not revenge, but to be celebrated and applauded by others.
- If I Wanted You Dead...: Taigen first knows Mizu is back on her feet when she puts a sword to his throat while he's in the middle of writing up their contract to a legal duel. Taigen points out he could have easily killed her when she was unconscious, asks her how long she needs before she can fight him properly, and when she says two days, he gives her three days instead. Mizu is unimpressed, saying that if he really does want revenge he should have just killed her when he had the opportunity and gotten it over with.
- Immediate Self-Contradiction: Heiji Shindo reacts to Mizu's accusation of sheltering a white man in Japan by referencing the Shogun's law against westerners in Japan, and saying "No one would break the law." He struggles to keep a straight face and just a second or two later admits to working with Fowler and tells Mizu Fowler's name.
- Improvised Armour: Given her blacksmithing experience, Mizu makes note of the fine ironwork on Heiji's family-sized tetsubin. The enormous (albeit heavy) lid comes in handy as a shield when they're ambushed by Heiji's archers.
- Made of Iron: Okiyama survives being poisoned (although it's possible he didn't take enough of a dose to kill him, especially considering his massive size, although the fact that he spontaneously vomits blood makes that excuse a bit dubious) and being kicked off a cliffside and is apparently no worse for wear when he shows up and captures Taigen.
- The Man Behind the Man: Heiji tells Mizu that a request from himself and Fowler will make the Shogun appoint her as a lord. He casually adds that most things that the Shogun does is at their request.
- Nice to the Waiter: Taigen takes a shine to Ringo, complimenting him for his loyalty and abilities, and promising Ringo that he'll find a place in the kitchens Taigen will have in his grand dreams of the future.
- Obvious Trap: Taigen repeatedly insists that accepting Heiji's invitation to tea is insane as they're walking into an ambush. It turns out there really is tea, and Heiji's desire to negotiate is sincere, but there's also an ambush waiting should the negotiations break down.
- An Offer You Can't Refuse: After he gets tired of Mizu's questions, Heiji Shindo leaves her with the options of either getting in the barrel to try to carry out the hit on Fowler or dying. Mizu cuts off his hand and escapes from the death trap instead.
- The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: Taigen insists on a rematch with Mizu in public, even drawing up a contract, because it's the only way to restore his reputation. He's even willing to walk into an Obvious Trap to ensure that no-one else kills her first.
- Pretender Diss: Ringo (probably unintentionally) does one of these to Taigen, stating that he could never serve Taigen because ever since encountering Mizu, Ringo has seen his purpose as serving/helping someone great. Taigen catches onto the implications and tries to protest that he is great.
- The Quiet One: Okiyama communicates mostly through grunts and similar noises. When he actually speaks Ringo is dumbfounded, having apparently concluded that Okiyama couldn't speak.
- Rain of Arrows: Heiji claims to have 500 archers waiting in ambush should violence ensue. Turns out he's not bluffing, and Mizu and Taigen have to run for a narrow gully using a large iron tetsubin lid as a shield. Even then it's clear they'll never make it out of the gully alive until Ringo turns up for a Big Damn Heroes.
- Retired Badass: When confronted by multiple bandits all around him, the elderly Seki calmly notes that it's been a long time since he killed someone and he wonders if he remembers how to do it. He says this after having quickly drawn his blade and leaving the point only a short distance from the throat of one of the bandits.
- Saying Too Much:
- Mizu's goal all along in meeting Shindo is to let him talk until he lets slip something she can use against him and Fowler. He accidentally does so when he mentions the prostitutes who come to visit the island, giving Mizu a new potential lead to go to for more information without cooperating with Shindo.Mizu: Men like him like to talk so much they eventually tell you how to destroy them.
- Seki points out the nearby tavern where flesh traders hang out, citing it as the fate that awaits Akemi outside her Gilded Cage if she doesn't return. Akemi promptly goes inside and poses as a high-class courtesan, so the flesh trader who buys her will take her where she wants to go.
- Mizu's goal all along in meeting Shindo is to let him talk until he lets slip something she can use against him and Fowler. He accidentally does so when he mentions the prostitutes who come to visit the island, giving Mizu a new potential lead to go to for more information without cooperating with Shindo.
- Ship Tease: Mizu not only gets aroused fighting Taigen, she pinches his neck scarf to replace her own.
- Sugary Malice: When Fowler tells Shindo to handle the situation with Mizu, he gives Shindo a whole collection of compliments in a tone that would normally be reserved for a death threat.Fowler: You solve the problem.
Shindo: Is that an order? [chuckles]
Fowler: [practically growling] Ten years I've wait for this moment. Ten years of planning to make our control of the shogunate absolute... so if you might, my dear, dear friend, my trusted partner and clear equal, my right hand and both feet on land, fondest heart, spare a cup of concern towards our purpose and do it your fucking self. - Tap on the Head: For all the abuse that characters in this show survive, Mizu is still able to knock Taigen out for a prolonged period with a bump to the back of the head.
- Title Drop: Seki tells Akemi that Japanese society of that time offers a "fixed number of paths" for a woman while attempting to convince her that engagement to the Shogun's son is the right decision.
- Unusual Euphemism: Subverted; it looks like this when Heiji tells his huge goon to prepare a "tea ceremony", but that's exactly what he's got planned.
- Worf Had the Flu: Taigen tries to claim this as the reason Mizu defeated him, saying he was drunk and would have been able to defeat Mizu sober. When Mizu promptly gets the better of him both when they "fence" with chopsticks as though said chopsticks were knives and in a bit of hand-to-hand combat despite her serious and lingering wounds, it rather undermines the excuse. Taigen is still absolutely determined to meet and defeat Mizu in a duel, however, and seems to truly believe that he will win.
- Worthy Opponent: Mizu admits this of Taigen after their escape from Heiji Shindo, applauding his skill and timing with which he had intercepted arrows mid-flight with his sword. To ensure he has a Worthy Opponent of his own, she postpones their match until after her Roaring Rampage of Revenge, when she can give Taigen her full strength and focus. Taigen is not happy as he ought to be, given that he needs to duel Mizu as soon as possible to save his marriage.
