Sunday, May 08, 2005
Yoshitsune #16: Trials and Tribulations 試練の時
Kamakura. Yoshitsune and Shizuka are taking a stroll in the woods. Shizuka tells Yoshitsune her leg is healing fast. When it does, she will have to leave Kamakura. Yoshitsune's heart sank hearing that and he asks her if she wants to return to the capital. Shizuka does not answer. Masako watches them from a distance with her maid. She feels jealous of their pure relationship and nearly becomes a green-eye monster but re-composes herself and pretend it doesn't bother her.
Kichiji visits Yoshitsune on his way to Hiraizumi and is welcomed by everyone. Yoshitsune's kerai ask Shizuka to ask Kichiji anything about Kyoto as he is from there and she has not been back for some time. Kichiji tells them that the situation in Kyoto is depressing, as the capital has been forcefully moved to Fukuhara by Kiyomori. Only those who are unable to move (that is, the old and poor) remains in Kyoto and they are harassed by bandits and looters.
Munemori brings his eldest son Kiyomune to meet Go-Shirakawa. (I dunno what's his motive thou...) The latter comments on how Munemori still has this tsumuji (my dictionary throws up as "hair whirl") at his eye brows (doko? doko?) since young, just like himself. Munemori seems a little embarrassed. Go-shirakawa then laments about abandoning his beautiful Kyoto for Fukuhara. After Munemori leaves, Go-shirakawa mutters something and has this evil smile on his face. (Seems like he knows Kiyomori's decision to move the capital is very unpopular, even with his sons. My guessing...)
In the evening, Munemori is talking with Kiyomori, telling him how the masses are unhappy with the new capital Fukuhara. He urges Kiyomori to move the capital back to Kyoto but gets a scolding instead. When there are major changes, there will always be some confusion at first. Kiyomori claims his decision to relocate the capital is not a rash one. If they are to move back to Kyoto just because the people complain, how will the Heike clan appear to the masses? It will seem like they are weak.
Munemori sulks by himself at the pond and Tokiko looks him up and asks him what he did to make Kiyomori so angry. Munemori did not answer but instead ask Tokiko if he is really Kiyomori's son. Because Kiyomori is never fond of him since young and always scold him. And he has this tsumuji that no one else in the family has, but Go-shirakawa does. He asks if he is Go-shirakawa's son. Tokiko just laughs it off and tells him not to say that he is not a Heike son again.
A few days later, Kiyomori suddenly calls for a meeting with all his sons. He asks them to choose between Kyoto and Fukuhara. And everyone chooses Kyoto except Tokitada. Kiyomori is disappointed and hurt but accepts the majority's choice to move back anyway.
Meanwhile in Kamakura, Masako cannot find Yoritomo and asks his stepmother if she has seen him. The latter tells her she heard a rumour but does not know if it's true, that...
Yoshitsune is picking flowers in the forest and sees Masako. He tries to follow her and is shocked to see Yoritomo enjoying an intimate moment with his mistress Kame no Mae (whom he has arranged to come over from Izu) at this house. And even more shock when he finds Masako watching them secretly. Masako is furious and upset and turns to leave but bumps into Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune feels awkward and gives Masako the flowers he just picked. Masako is touched for a moment and looks at Yoshitsune with tears in her eyes. Yoshitsune feels very bad for his brother's behaviour and apologises. Masako then runs away.
That night, Kame no Mae's house was burnt. Yoshitsune's kerai manage to save her from the fire.
Yoritomo knows it is Masako's doing and confronts her. Masako thinks she did nothing wrong. She tells him she saw them together that afternoon. Yoritomo is angry but loss for words.
Kame no Mae sits in a daze at Yoshitsune's house. She tells them she is going back to Izu and will never meet Yoritomo again.
That night, Yoshitsune plays the flute with Shizuka. Shizuka's leg is almost healed, which means she will be leaving Kamakura soon. Yoshitsune fears the coming of that day, as he has fallen in love with Shizuka. Kame no Mae's plight acts as a catalyst for him to take some action if not lose Shizuka altogether. The two have a long talk. Shizuka says something about how she admires Kame no Mae (i tink), for willing to step out of the relationship so as not to put Yoritomo in a dilemma. Yoshitsune asks what her dream in life is. Shizuka replies something like she just wants to polish her skills and be a good shirabyoushi, just like her mother.
Yoshitsune: "If you return to the capital, this is the kind of life you will lead?"
Shizuka: "Hai."
Yoshitsune: "Compared to living here and in the capital, which is the kind of life you will rather lead? Do you want to return or do you want to stay?"
Shizuka is shocked, and unable to answer.
Yoshitsune: "I don't want you to leave!"
Shizuka finally finds the courage to speak.
Shizuka: "I want to stay with you..."
Yoshitsune: "Please stay... stay here for me..."
Shizuka: "I have been hoping that my leg will never heal, so that i will never have to leave you..."
Yoshitsune hugs Shizuka in the dark. (ooooohh my goodd... it's sooo sweet, soo touching... T-T See? Love scenes can be so rabu-rabu even without the need to kiss!)
December 1180. Yoritomo successfully sets up his samurai-dokoro and (amazingly) 300+ samurai from all over the country turns up and pledge their allegience to him. Yoritomo becomes known as Kamakura-dono. (Excuse me but, why does an exile like Yoritomo suddenly becomes so popular?? Or maybe it's just that Heike made too many enemies...)
Later in private, Yoritomo is wondering what to do with Yoshitsune. If he gives him a post just because he is his brother, how would the men who have fought with him think? Masako tells Yoritomo to be wary of Yoshitsune. He has a charm in him that attracts people mysteriously and this can be a threat to Yoritomo if people starts going to Yoshitsune. Tokimasa reminds Yoritomo that two of Yoshitsune's kerai (the Sato brothers) come from Hidehira's clan and can also be a threat to him. Masako tells Yoritomo to remember his own mother's words if he is confused, that he is the true bloodline of the Minamoto family. Yoshitsune is just a son from the sideline. Yoritomo starts to become wary and suspicious of Yoshitsune. (Stupid evil Masako...)
Sometime later, Yoritomo's Tsurugaoka Hachimanguu in Kamakura, his headquaters (I think something like his castle?) is completed and he receives a few steeds as congratulatory gifts. A few men are called up to lead the horses and when it comes to the last man, to everyone surprise, Yoritomo calls Yoshitsune to do it. Yoshitsune is shocked because such jobs are usually left to the kerai with low status. But after some deliberation, he finally replies and takes the reins. By doing this, Yoritomo shows his men that his relationship with his brother Yoshitsune is a purely master-servant one. (as in, he's making use of this incident to show others and Yoshitsune himself, who's boss. x__x Booo Boooo~~~)
Yoshitsune'e kerai hear about the incident and are furious that their master has been humiliated. Yoshitsune is obviously affected but tries to find a reason to defend his brother. He tells them, he has not really fight for his brother yet, so it is natural that compared with the rest, he will be given a "lower" job. He does not want to be given a high post just because he is Yoritomo's brother. He will rather work hard to prove himself. The kerai decides to work hard for Yoshitsune too and starts singing some song to encourage each other. Shizuka watches from outside and is glad that Yoshitsune and his kerai eventually finds "peace" among themselves.
~End of Episode 16~
Kichiji visits Yoshitsune on his way to Hiraizumi and is welcomed by everyone. Yoshitsune's kerai ask Shizuka to ask Kichiji anything about Kyoto as he is from there and she has not been back for some time. Kichiji tells them that the situation in Kyoto is depressing, as the capital has been forcefully moved to Fukuhara by Kiyomori. Only those who are unable to move (that is, the old and poor) remains in Kyoto and they are harassed by bandits and looters.
Munemori brings his eldest son Kiyomune to meet Go-Shirakawa. (I dunno what's his motive thou...) The latter comments on how Munemori still has this tsumuji (my dictionary throws up as "hair whirl") at his eye brows (doko? doko?) since young, just like himself. Munemori seems a little embarrassed. Go-shirakawa then laments about abandoning his beautiful Kyoto for Fukuhara. After Munemori leaves, Go-shirakawa mutters something and has this evil smile on his face. (Seems like he knows Kiyomori's decision to move the capital is very unpopular, even with his sons. My guessing...)
In the evening, Munemori is talking with Kiyomori, telling him how the masses are unhappy with the new capital Fukuhara. He urges Kiyomori to move the capital back to Kyoto but gets a scolding instead. When there are major changes, there will always be some confusion at first. Kiyomori claims his decision to relocate the capital is not a rash one. If they are to move back to Kyoto just because the people complain, how will the Heike clan appear to the masses? It will seem like they are weak.
Munemori sulks by himself at the pond and Tokiko looks him up and asks him what he did to make Kiyomori so angry. Munemori did not answer but instead ask Tokiko if he is really Kiyomori's son. Because Kiyomori is never fond of him since young and always scold him. And he has this tsumuji that no one else in the family has, but Go-shirakawa does. He asks if he is Go-shirakawa's son. Tokiko just laughs it off and tells him not to say that he is not a Heike son again.
A few days later, Kiyomori suddenly calls for a meeting with all his sons. He asks them to choose between Kyoto and Fukuhara. And everyone chooses Kyoto except Tokitada. Kiyomori is disappointed and hurt but accepts the majority's choice to move back anyway.
Meanwhile in Kamakura, Masako cannot find Yoritomo and asks his stepmother if she has seen him. The latter tells her she heard a rumour but does not know if it's true, that...
Yoshitsune is picking flowers in the forest and sees Masako. He tries to follow her and is shocked to see Yoritomo enjoying an intimate moment with his mistress Kame no Mae (whom he has arranged to come over from Izu) at this house. And even more shock when he finds Masako watching them secretly. Masako is furious and upset and turns to leave but bumps into Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune feels awkward and gives Masako the flowers he just picked. Masako is touched for a moment and looks at Yoshitsune with tears in her eyes. Yoshitsune feels very bad for his brother's behaviour and apologises. Masako then runs away.
That night, Kame no Mae's house was burnt. Yoshitsune's kerai manage to save her from the fire.
Yoritomo knows it is Masako's doing and confronts her. Masako thinks she did nothing wrong. She tells him she saw them together that afternoon. Yoritomo is angry but loss for words.
Kame no Mae sits in a daze at Yoshitsune's house. She tells them she is going back to Izu and will never meet Yoritomo again.
That night, Yoshitsune plays the flute with Shizuka. Shizuka's leg is almost healed, which means she will be leaving Kamakura soon. Yoshitsune fears the coming of that day, as he has fallen in love with Shizuka. Kame no Mae's plight acts as a catalyst for him to take some action if not lose Shizuka altogether. The two have a long talk. Shizuka says something about how she admires Kame no Mae (i tink), for willing to step out of the relationship so as not to put Yoritomo in a dilemma. Yoshitsune asks what her dream in life is. Shizuka replies something like she just wants to polish her skills and be a good shirabyoushi, just like her mother.
Yoshitsune: "If you return to the capital, this is the kind of life you will lead?"
Shizuka: "Hai."
Yoshitsune: "Compared to living here and in the capital, which is the kind of life you will rather lead? Do you want to return or do you want to stay?"
Shizuka is shocked, and unable to answer.
Yoshitsune: "I don't want you to leave!"
Shizuka finally finds the courage to speak.
Shizuka: "I want to stay with you..."
Yoshitsune: "Please stay... stay here for me..."
Shizuka: "I have been hoping that my leg will never heal, so that i will never have to leave you..."
Yoshitsune hugs Shizuka in the dark. (ooooohh my goodd... it's sooo sweet, soo touching... T-T See? Love scenes can be so rabu-rabu even without the need to kiss!)
December 1180. Yoritomo successfully sets up his samurai-dokoro and (amazingly) 300+ samurai from all over the country turns up and pledge their allegience to him. Yoritomo becomes known as Kamakura-dono. (Excuse me but, why does an exile like Yoritomo suddenly becomes so popular?? Or maybe it's just that Heike made too many enemies...)
Later in private, Yoritomo is wondering what to do with Yoshitsune. If he gives him a post just because he is his brother, how would the men who have fought with him think? Masako tells Yoritomo to be wary of Yoshitsune. He has a charm in him that attracts people mysteriously and this can be a threat to Yoritomo if people starts going to Yoshitsune. Tokimasa reminds Yoritomo that two of Yoshitsune's kerai (the Sato brothers) come from Hidehira's clan and can also be a threat to him. Masako tells Yoritomo to remember his own mother's words if he is confused, that he is the true bloodline of the Minamoto family. Yoshitsune is just a son from the sideline. Yoritomo starts to become wary and suspicious of Yoshitsune. (Stupid evil Masako...)
Sometime later, Yoritomo's Tsurugaoka Hachimanguu in Kamakura, his headquaters (I think something like his castle?) is completed and he receives a few steeds as congratulatory gifts. A few men are called up to lead the horses and when it comes to the last man, to everyone surprise, Yoritomo calls Yoshitsune to do it. Yoshitsune is shocked because such jobs are usually left to the kerai with low status. But after some deliberation, he finally replies and takes the reins. By doing this, Yoritomo shows his men that his relationship with his brother Yoshitsune is a purely master-servant one. (as in, he's making use of this incident to show others and Yoshitsune himself, who's boss. x__x Booo Boooo~~~)
Yoshitsune'e kerai hear about the incident and are furious that their master has been humiliated. Yoshitsune is obviously affected but tries to find a reason to defend his brother. He tells them, he has not really fight for his brother yet, so it is natural that compared with the rest, he will be given a "lower" job. He does not want to be given a high post just because he is Yoritomo's brother. He will rather work hard to prove himself. The kerai decides to work hard for Yoshitsune too and starts singing some song to encourage each other. Shizuka watches from outside and is glad that Yoshitsune and his kerai eventually finds "peace" among themselves.
~End of Episode 16~
// posted by snuffles @ 1:54 AM 
