Session 10. (19/9/01)
Episode 4 contd.
Tidying up from last week's episode, Sugiyama and Emiko managed to root out five doshin that we in the habit of taking bribes from yakuza; this despite Suigyama's incredibly bad choice of examples. Also "nurse" Suganuma has increased her score in physician to 1 through hours of constant practise. So day 3 of week 20 dawns and one of the remaining doshin reports to a sleepy Sugiyama that a shop has been burned to the ground - a known retail outlet for the Bear yakuza. When the troubleshooters investigate they find three bodies in the burned out ruin. They are now convinced that they will have to wipe out the major yakuza gangs, but how? Emiko raises a laugh by suggesting that they poison the gang's well with an hallucinogenic drug, not realising that the well uses groundwater also used by the rest of the city… Trying to find out when the shop burned down, Sugiyama questions the doshin that patrolled the area during the night. They say they passed by an hour before dawn but saw nothing. Sugiyama detects some nervousness and challenges the report. Under his intimidating glare, one of the doshin cracks and admits that they took a different route last night, and didn't see the ward where the fire was. This had been at the suggestion of the other doshin. The three troubleshooters take them to the prosecutor for interrogation. On the way back, completely by chance, the group spots Kuronushi, the yakuza wanted on suspicion of running the protection racket. They challenge him and he defends himself with a club. However, three heavy cuts from Sugiyama's sword, a light tap from Emiko's staff, a stunning blow from his own weapon and a trip from Komako quickly resolve the issue, and with Komako's kusari binding him, Kuronushi is taken in for interrogation.
Meanwhile at the School of the Blade, artisans are repairing the damage from the vandalism the day before, and Kimori is asking the teaching staff for volunteers to take on the yakuza menace. Nine sign up to help. Kimori goes to Sugiyama with the news. As evening falls, with all the troubleshooters at the doshin house, they hear a disturbance from the area of the cells. Upon investigation they find that someone is trying to break down the wall of Kuronushi's cell from outside. Sugiyama asks the doshin, Adachi for the key while Kimori and Komako run round to the outside. Adachi fumbles the key twice and Kuronushi gets out through the wall before Sugiyama gets in. Outside, Kimori and Komako find a group of fourteen yakuza (now that Kuronushi has joined them). Kimori wades in and dispatches one yakuza every round, pausing only after being dazed by a blow from behind. Komako's punches take longer to produce results, and by the time he has felled two and captured one yakuza he has numerous bruises. Sugiyama arrives through the hole in the cell into the middle of the yakuza and receives many hits, but he hits Kuronushi three times who then collapses from loss of blood. While Sugiyama is still taking hits from several yakuza, Emiko arrives and bravely comes to Sugiyama's aid. She hits one of the yakuza with her staff, but he turns and hits her twice, knocking her out. However, Sugiyama takes advantage of the diversion and dispatches one more yakuza and captures another. The remaining yakuza try to drag Kuronushi's unconscious form away, but Kimori dispatches one with one blow and the rest run away.
The episode ended once again in Awaji province where Mariko was looking for a missing map.