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These synopsis are done by Zahara Medina and can't be used anywhere else without her consent. As she is just a student of Japanese, there are bound to be mistakes. If you spot any mistake, please report it to me, thanks! :) (comments are also appreciated....)
(And remember to buy these tankobon if you like the summaries, it's the best way of thanking the authors and the synopsis are nothing compared to the real thing! ^^ )

Note: B/w scans are from the magazine, where the print is in low quality paper and different ink colors so it sometimes scans pretty bad and leaves lots of noise in the picture. The tankoubon quality is, of course, much better (perfect, that is).

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Chapter 43 (Jul'2004)
Note: Dark haired Hanzou (our main character in this story, Hanzou Hattori) = Hanzou. Blonde Hanzou (main character of Tsuki no Toiki, Ai no Kizu) = Hanzou II. Usagi demands to know what her grandfather is talking about, but suddenly Hanzou says that he is breaking the engagement! Usagi is shocked and her grandfather seems surprised. Hanzou continues, saying that the engagement was an annoyance and this way he can get out of it without any problems. The old man finishes the agreement to dissolve the engagement and tells Usagi to start packing her things. But Usagi is still in shock, watching Hanzou walk away and thinking that after all, she was just a bother to him all this time. At the keep, Goemon is very surprised (and worried) about the break-up. Yuuri had already guessed that a day like this would eventually come... Goemon asks Usagi if that's okay with her. Usagi answers that there is no helping it, since Hanzou said she was a bother to him. Goemon is not convinced. Usagi's grandfather finally speaks up and says he had never expected Hanzou to actually break off the engagement, but instead say something like, "I'll do anything instead of breaking it up! There is no one for me but Usagi!" Goemon and Yuuri berate the old man for misjudging Hanzou so badly! A very toned down Usagi says that at least she now knows Hanzou's real thoughts. Hanzou II enters the room also in shock. He tells Usagi that Hanzou just said what was expected of him, not what he really thinks! He tells her to go to him and ask him to reconsider his decision, but Usagi says brusquely that it's fine, she doesn't want Hanzou to hate her. She gives Hanzou II some tea she made for everybody, grabs her things, and leaves the room after saying her goodbyes to Hanzou II. (Poor Grandpa and Yuuri try to follow carrying Goemon...) Hanzou II runs to Hanzou's room and tells him if he wants to talk to Usagi he has to go right now. But Hanzou coldly tells him he is in the middle of work (writing letters). Hanzou II insists but Hanzou says he will return to that matter after he has finished work. Hanzou II gets really angry at him and tells him to go die with his lover, the work.(*) But after he has left, Hanzou seems to break down a bit, unsure of his feelings (?). Yuuri insists on going with them to their home. Mamezou asks if Usagi is no longer Hanzou's bride. Grandpa tries to cheer a depressed Usagi by telling her they will eat a lot when they arrive home. Usagi looks back at the keep's closed doors and thinks that she experienced many happy and painful things at Hanzou's home... she wishes she could have seen Hanzou's face one last time. At Hoojiro, Usagi's grandfather's son (who looks just like him but with a bit of hair on top), Sandayuu, is waiting for them. He asks Usagi how long she will be staying this time, and she says for a long time. Before she can explain, a horde of girls arrive to see Goemon, and push poor Usagi out of the way. Since Mamezou is hungry, Usagi decides to go prepare lunch. As she looks for the rice and realizes that she can't find anything in the kitchen of the house she was born in but in Hanzou's place she knew where everything was, Usagi finally breaks down and cries a little, remembering how Hanzou said she would become his wife and that her home was wherever he was. Usagi thinks she can't go back to her home anymore. The elders are shocked to see all the food and even more to learn it was Usagi who cooked it. As Usagi with puffy eyes serves herself a ton of food, the old men try it and find it delicious. One of them says that if she is this good at cooking, she can marry any time now! Usagi says there is no way, but the old men say she can marry Goemon and stay there with them. Usagi tells them not to say silly things and then leaves the room because she is not hungry at all. She then takes Goemon's food to his room, but steps right into a ninja war between Yuuri and three of the other girls! Poor Goemon just lies there trying to make them stop... Usagi tries to tell them to stop since there is an injured person in the room, but the girls and Yuuri gang up on her and accuse her of being the reason Goemon got hurt so badly. They tell her to stay away from him. At this, Goemon gets really yumm... angry, and yells at them that it was his fault not Usagi's. He tells them to leave the room and let Usagi change the bandages. Usagi tells Yuuri her food is waiting, so she leaves as well, after saying next time it's her turn. Usagi tells him he shouldn't been so harsh on them, and he says he can't forgive anybody who is mean to Usagi. Usagi says that she didn't feel picked upon, so he asks why she looks like she wants to cry then. Goemon gathers her close and jokingly sticks two fingers in her nose as punishment for crying. Usagi gets mad and starts to cry, saying there is nothing wrong with crying. Goemon hugs Usagi, smiles, and tells her to cry her heart out. He says that there is no rain that doesn't stop eventually, then makes her look up and tells her to look at him, that he is her sun and that it would be fine if she only looks at him. He then moves down to kiss her. (*: Hanzou II tells Hanzou: "go commit double suicide with your work!" Double suicide in this case is meant as a "lovers double suicide." )
Chapter 44 (Jul'2004)
Note: Dark haired Hanzou (our main character in this story, Hanzou Hattori) = Hanzou. Blonde Hanzou (main character of Tsuki no Toiki, Ai no Kizu) = Hanzou II. Usagi delivers a well-aimed head blow to Goemon's nose. She declares that she can't think of anybody but Hanzou. She says that thanks to him she managed to learn how to clean and cook and... but still, she realizes, he cancelled the marriage agreement. She says that it's because Hanzou is perfect and she isn't. Goemon says that nobody is perfect, but Usagi ignores him. Yuuri wants to help Usagi get back with Hanzou so she has a clear way to Goemon, so she insists in helping Usagi with makeup... this, of course, ends up horribly wrong... (^^; ) Usagi then returns to her ninja tree-jumping training with a new sprout, although her ankle is still bothering her. Back at Iga, Hanzou is supervising the ninja training of some men when he sees Usagi's tree sprout fixed up with another branch and realizes Usagi was crying because of this. He suddenly hears Hanzou II's voice. He and Sara are having a private conversation nearby. Hanzou II is saying that "something" really bad for Usagi and that Sara's presence in Iga is supposed to be a secret. Sara feels somebody is overhearing, but Hanzou says there is no one. Hanzou II says he will take Usagi and that Sara must remain in Iga. Hanzou II tries to find Hanzou, but when he can't, he leaves message that he is going to Hamamatsu. Time later, Usagi is resting in her room when Hanzou II makes a surprise appearance! Hanzou II compliments Usagi on her tea making skills. He then tells her that Sara's father wants to meet her... father? Yes, that would be Oda Nobunaga! Apparently he had some of Usagi's tea from Sara and wishes to meet the person who made it. Mamezou has no idea who that is, and Usagi describes him as "the lord who hates ninja." Usagi refuses to meet him at all costs even though Hanzou II tells her he will go with her because she doesn't want to die yet (^^; ). However the old man tells Usagi that if she does this job well, she might be able to graduate in ninja arts... Usagi is decided! She is going! But somebody else enters the scene. It's Hanzou himself! He says that he will go with Usagi and they will go alone posing as the married owners of a tea business. Usagi is in shock!
Chapter 45 (Aug'2004)
Note: Dark haired Hanzou (our main character in this story, Hanzou Hattori) = Hanzou. Blonde Hanzou (main character of Tsuki no Toiki, Ai no Kizu) = Hanzou II. Grandpa thinks it's a great idea, and before she can blink, Usagi is transformed into a wife with a nice yukata and wig! Hanzou tells her she will be "Kayo" and he will be "Hanbee" from now on. Usagi has a bit or a problem will calling Hanzou "Hanbee" without the -sama... (^^; ) Goemon learns of the plan and tries to stop Usagi, but she tells him that she really wants to do this as it might mean her "graduation" in the ninja arts. Even though Usagi is still uncomfortable to be posing as Hanzou's wife so soon after he broke their engagement. As they make their way through the mountain, Hanzou notices her lagging behind. She explains she hurt her ankle during practice and he tells her he will carry her on his back. Usagi thinks that even if it's just for this time, she will try to act like a wife. On their way, Hanzou tells Usagi that she'll have to learn about growing green tea just in case there are questions about that. She must protect her role. They stop for a moment and Hanzou notices two strange peasants that have been following them--they turn out to be Hanzou's subordinates. And not too far away, Mamezou and the old man! Hanzou tells Mamezou not to worry because he will protect Usagi. Usagi wonders if this is just part of the pretense as well. She tries to act strong and walk by herself, but doesn't end up too far... When they arrive at an inn to pass the night the owner assumes they are siblings (Hanzou's face is pretty scary!). When corrected, he goes off to prepare just one futon for them, since they are married. In the room, Hanzou asks Usagi what she thinks. Usagi blushes and looks away and says worryingly that it's very good that they have to act like a couple, but that acting as a marriage just after Hanzou dissolving their engagement... Hanzou goes to Usagi's side and asks why she can't look at him in the eye. Hanzou embraces her and pushes her down to the floor. He tells her that for the sake of their mission he now has to hug her...

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All images © Ueda Rinko, Shueisha (except backgrounds).