Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Yoshitsune #15: Brothers 兄と弟
Night has fallen by time Yoshitsune and his party arrive in Kisegawa. Suddenly they are surrounded by Yoritomo's men. Yoshitsune reveals his identity and ask to meet his brother.
Yoritomo is surprised that his brother came all the way from Oushuu. However, because none of them including himself has ever met Yoshitsune before, they are wary of him, for he could be a fake. Yoritomo finally sent his aide Morinaga to ask Yoshitsune in.
Yoshitsune enters the "hall" and sees Yoritomo for the first time. Everyone else starts shooting him with questions to confirm his identity. What was his childhood name, when he entered Kurama, where he had his genpuku etc. Finally Yoritomo is convinced.
Yoritomo: "Kurou ka?" (He calls him for the first time.)
Yoshitsune: "Hai." (ooommmggg... Yoshitsune sounded soooo T-T here and you see his eyes brimming with tears in a matter of seconds again!! Takki is REALLY into Yoshitsune-mode...)
This is the first meeting between Yoshitsune and Yoritomo.
Yoshitsune asks Yoritomo to let him serve him. The latter asks if he has ever fought in a war before, and Yoshitsune replies "no". He said some stuff (which i dun understand) before finally asking Yoshitsune..
Yoritomo: "Will you work for me?"
Yoshitsune: "Yes! Gladly!"
That night, Yoritomo moves his base to Kashima on the eastern bank of Fujigawa river. The Heike clan of 4000 headed by Koremori are on the western bank. The two opposing clans has come to a standstill at the river. Yoritomo gives Yoshitsune the job of watching over the Heike troops on the opposite bank. Yoshitsune's kerai thinks it is demeaning for Yoshitsune to be in charge of such a trivial job but Yoshitsune encourages them to work hard anyway.
From the Heike's side of the bank, one can hear music and voices of women. They do not seemed to be in battle mode at all, but Yoshitsune is still cautious. Yoshitoki (Not a Genji, the name resemblance is a coincidence. He is just Masako's younger brother.) calls in on Yoshitsune's party one night and is impressed that they have not been wasting time while waiting. Yoshitsune and his kerai have been compiling information, like the river's depth and current, how they can ride their horses across the river etc.
Yoshitoki brings this news back to the main camp. When asked about Yoshitsune's attitude, Yoshitoki reports that Yoshitsune takes his job very seriously. No job given by his brother is a trivial job. Yoritomo and the rest of his men are very impressed.
The next morning, Yoshitsune and Benkei are watching by the edge of the river when Tsugunobu brings news that the main camp is launching a spring attack on the Heike clan. Yoshitsune turns to leave and suddenly, a huge flock of waterfowls on the river is disturbed and starts flying towards the Heike clan on the western bank. The Heike samurais mistake the sounds made by the waterfowls to be a war cry from the Genji and draws a quick retreat as they are totally unprepared (and half asleep). The Heike camp is in a state of confusion as everyone flees for their lives. Koremori tries to get his men together but fails and retreats reluctantly. Taking advantage of this situation, the Genji clan crosses the river and invades the western bank. In the midst of the invasion, Yoshitsune and his kerai accidentally knock into a shirabyoushi (a kind of dancer girl) and Yoshitsune orders Saburo to save her.
The Genji clan wins the western bank without a fight.
Yoshitsune looks in on the girl they saved and realises it is Shizuka. She wants to return to the capital but is unable to as her leg is injured. Yoshitsune decides she will stay with them until her leg heals. Benkei is against the decision but everyone is fine with it. (LOL... and Shizuka is like *sweatdrop*)
Yoshitsune is given a dilapidated house in Kamakura to stay in "temporarily" while they plan their next move.
Masako meets Yoshitsune for the first time. Hearing that he has been brought up in the mountains for the better part of his childhood and youth, she is expecting to see someone crude and coarse, someone who looks like a boar hunter probably. But Yoshitsune is the direct opposite. His grace and charm stuns her for a moment.
Yoshitsune: "Is there something on my face?"
Masako: "Er...no..."
She finally stops staring at him and asks about Oushuu. Yoshitsune tells her how beautiful the place is and Masako wonders why he is willing to leave. Yoshitsune says because he really wants to help his brother and fight for him. She asks if Shizuka is his wife but Yoshitsune clarifies she is just a girl they saved during the (non) battle.
Meanwhile, the kerai are getting to work on the dilapidated house. Benkei is working seriously while the rest, especially Saburo are chatting away. They joke about how since the sea is just a stone's throw away, they get unlimited source of fish. Benkei asks Saburo to start working his hands more than his mouth. The kerai starts singing as they work (like the 7 dwarves... LOL). Masako watches from outside and wonders why they seem so happy doing such manual work.
Yoshitsune checks in on Shizuka. She tells him she hears his kerai working on the house happily and apologises for not being able to help although he had saved her. Yoshitsune tells her not to feel apologetic. She has saved him before, now he is returning the favour. He reminds her he has yet to return the clothes that she lent him previously and Shizuka is surprised that he still remembers. More shock when Yoshitsune shows her that he is still carrying the flute she gave him. Yoshitsune finds out that Shizuka still has a mother in the capital and thinks of his own whom he has not met for years. He plays the flute for Shizuka. (woohoo, rabu rabu in the ancient ways...)
Fukuhara. Everyone is furious with Koremori for making such an embarrassing mistake that cost them to lose their territory. Kiyomori decides to banish Koremori to Kikaigashima (an island south of Kyuushuu, it was used to house criminals in olden days.). Everyone is shocked at his harsh decision.
Tsuneko (Koremori's mother) rushes to Tokiko and begs her to help dissuade Kiyomori. Tokiko does not understand Kiyomori's rash decision either and agrees to help. In the end, with opposition from almost everyone in the Heike household, Kiyomori relents and withdrew his order.
Meanwhile in Kamakura, Yoritomo set up a samurai dokoro (something like a base?) and assigns someone by the name of Wada Yoshimori to be in charge. (Not really sure about this part... Dunno much about ancient political systems.)
Back in Yoshitsune's house, Benkei asks why Yoritomo has not summoned for Yoshitsune since his return to Kamakura. Is he going to let them continue to stay in that dilapidated house? Yoshitsune is upset about his brother's coldness toward himself, but tries to not think about it too much. Saburo brings Shizuka to see Yoshitsune. Her leg is healing well and now she can walk with an aide. At this moment, Tsubunogu rushes in and tells Yoshitsune that Yoritomo has finally summoned for him.
Yoritomo asks Yoshitsune how he finds Kamakura and the latter says it's good, with mountains and seas. Yoritomo tells him the Genji clan has deep connections with this land, that they can even call it their founding place. He starts to ask Yoshitsune about his childhood. (Apparently he doesn't know much of his existence. Seems like Yoshitomo's wife and concubines all live separatedly.) Yoritomo is touched that Yoshitsune has come all the way from Oushuu to serve him. He then asks about Hidehira and Yoshitsune replies that for someone fatherless like him, Hidehira is really a father to him.
Yoritomo: "You once thought of Kiyomori as your father too isn't it? Your mother even bore him a daughter. You must be torn in between right?"
Yoshitsune: "I am a Genji. You are my brother. Your enemy is my enemy."
The 2 of them get a little emotional thinking about the pain of separation, loss and suffering they went through when the Genki clan lost to the Heike previously. They share a quiet moment looking at the setting son.
~End of Episode 15~
Yoritomo is surprised that his brother came all the way from Oushuu. However, because none of them including himself has ever met Yoshitsune before, they are wary of him, for he could be a fake. Yoritomo finally sent his aide Morinaga to ask Yoshitsune in.
Yoshitsune enters the "hall" and sees Yoritomo for the first time. Everyone else starts shooting him with questions to confirm his identity. What was his childhood name, when he entered Kurama, where he had his genpuku etc. Finally Yoritomo is convinced.
Yoritomo: "Kurou ka?" (He calls him for the first time.)
Yoshitsune: "Hai." (ooommmggg... Yoshitsune sounded soooo T-T here and you see his eyes brimming with tears in a matter of seconds again!! Takki is REALLY into Yoshitsune-mode...)
This is the first meeting between Yoshitsune and Yoritomo.
Yoshitsune asks Yoritomo to let him serve him. The latter asks if he has ever fought in a war before, and Yoshitsune replies "no". He said some stuff (which i dun understand) before finally asking Yoshitsune..
Yoritomo: "Will you work for me?"
Yoshitsune: "Yes! Gladly!"
That night, Yoritomo moves his base to Kashima on the eastern bank of Fujigawa river. The Heike clan of 4000 headed by Koremori are on the western bank. The two opposing clans has come to a standstill at the river. Yoritomo gives Yoshitsune the job of watching over the Heike troops on the opposite bank. Yoshitsune's kerai thinks it is demeaning for Yoshitsune to be in charge of such a trivial job but Yoshitsune encourages them to work hard anyway.
From the Heike's side of the bank, one can hear music and voices of women. They do not seemed to be in battle mode at all, but Yoshitsune is still cautious. Yoshitoki (Not a Genji, the name resemblance is a coincidence. He is just Masako's younger brother.) calls in on Yoshitsune's party one night and is impressed that they have not been wasting time while waiting. Yoshitsune and his kerai have been compiling information, like the river's depth and current, how they can ride their horses across the river etc.
Yoshitoki brings this news back to the main camp. When asked about Yoshitsune's attitude, Yoshitoki reports that Yoshitsune takes his job very seriously. No job given by his brother is a trivial job. Yoritomo and the rest of his men are very impressed.
The next morning, Yoshitsune and Benkei are watching by the edge of the river when Tsugunobu brings news that the main camp is launching a spring attack on the Heike clan. Yoshitsune turns to leave and suddenly, a huge flock of waterfowls on the river is disturbed and starts flying towards the Heike clan on the western bank. The Heike samurais mistake the sounds made by the waterfowls to be a war cry from the Genji and draws a quick retreat as they are totally unprepared (and half asleep). The Heike camp is in a state of confusion as everyone flees for their lives. Koremori tries to get his men together but fails and retreats reluctantly. Taking advantage of this situation, the Genji clan crosses the river and invades the western bank. In the midst of the invasion, Yoshitsune and his kerai accidentally knock into a shirabyoushi (a kind of dancer girl) and Yoshitsune orders Saburo to save her.
The Genji clan wins the western bank without a fight.
Yoshitsune looks in on the girl they saved and realises it is Shizuka. She wants to return to the capital but is unable to as her leg is injured. Yoshitsune decides she will stay with them until her leg heals. Benkei is against the decision but everyone is fine with it. (LOL... and Shizuka is like *sweatdrop*)
Yoshitsune is given a dilapidated house in Kamakura to stay in "temporarily" while they plan their next move.
Masako meets Yoshitsune for the first time. Hearing that he has been brought up in the mountains for the better part of his childhood and youth, she is expecting to see someone crude and coarse, someone who looks like a boar hunter probably. But Yoshitsune is the direct opposite. His grace and charm stuns her for a moment.
Yoshitsune: "Is there something on my face?"
Masako: "Er...no..."
She finally stops staring at him and asks about Oushuu. Yoshitsune tells her how beautiful the place is and Masako wonders why he is willing to leave. Yoshitsune says because he really wants to help his brother and fight for him. She asks if Shizuka is his wife but Yoshitsune clarifies she is just a girl they saved during the (non) battle.
Meanwhile, the kerai are getting to work on the dilapidated house. Benkei is working seriously while the rest, especially Saburo are chatting away. They joke about how since the sea is just a stone's throw away, they get unlimited source of fish. Benkei asks Saburo to start working his hands more than his mouth. The kerai starts singing as they work (like the 7 dwarves... LOL). Masako watches from outside and wonders why they seem so happy doing such manual work.
Yoshitsune checks in on Shizuka. She tells him she hears his kerai working on the house happily and apologises for not being able to help although he had saved her. Yoshitsune tells her not to feel apologetic. She has saved him before, now he is returning the favour. He reminds her he has yet to return the clothes that she lent him previously and Shizuka is surprised that he still remembers. More shock when Yoshitsune shows her that he is still carrying the flute she gave him. Yoshitsune finds out that Shizuka still has a mother in the capital and thinks of his own whom he has not met for years. He plays the flute for Shizuka. (woohoo, rabu rabu in the ancient ways...)
Fukuhara. Everyone is furious with Koremori for making such an embarrassing mistake that cost them to lose their territory. Kiyomori decides to banish Koremori to Kikaigashima (an island south of Kyuushuu, it was used to house criminals in olden days.). Everyone is shocked at his harsh decision.
Tsuneko (Koremori's mother) rushes to Tokiko and begs her to help dissuade Kiyomori. Tokiko does not understand Kiyomori's rash decision either and agrees to help. In the end, with opposition from almost everyone in the Heike household, Kiyomori relents and withdrew his order.
Meanwhile in Kamakura, Yoritomo set up a samurai dokoro (something like a base?) and assigns someone by the name of Wada Yoshimori to be in charge. (Not really sure about this part... Dunno much about ancient political systems.)
Back in Yoshitsune's house, Benkei asks why Yoritomo has not summoned for Yoshitsune since his return to Kamakura. Is he going to let them continue to stay in that dilapidated house? Yoshitsune is upset about his brother's coldness toward himself, but tries to not think about it too much. Saburo brings Shizuka to see Yoshitsune. Her leg is healing well and now she can walk with an aide. At this moment, Tsubunogu rushes in and tells Yoshitsune that Yoritomo has finally summoned for him.
Yoritomo asks Yoshitsune how he finds Kamakura and the latter says it's good, with mountains and seas. Yoritomo tells him the Genji clan has deep connections with this land, that they can even call it their founding place. He starts to ask Yoshitsune about his childhood. (Apparently he doesn't know much of his existence. Seems like Yoshitomo's wife and concubines all live separatedly.) Yoritomo is touched that Yoshitsune has come all the way from Oushuu to serve him. He then asks about Hidehira and Yoshitsune replies that for someone fatherless like him, Hidehira is really a father to him.
Yoritomo: "You once thought of Kiyomori as your father too isn't it? Your mother even bore him a daughter. You must be torn in between right?"
Yoshitsune: "I am a Genji. You are my brother. Your enemy is my enemy."
The 2 of them get a little emotional thinking about the pain of separation, loss and suffering they went through when the Genki clan lost to the Heike previously. They share a quiet moment looking at the setting son.
~End of Episode 15~
// posted by snuffles @ 11:10 PM 
