Waterfall & Wings Version 1

Yoshitsune and his kerai continue their peaceful life in Kamakura. They are popular with the villagers, who often offer some of their harvest for free. One day, Benkei comments that Shizuka's leg seemed to have fully recovered. She will be able to return to the capital and her mother soon.

Shizuka: "..."

Yoshitsune: "... ..."

Saburo and Jiro: (-_-;;;)

At Yoshitsune's place, Benkei remains the only one who doesn't understand the relationship between Yoshitsune and Shizuka. Never comfortable around women, he keeps urging her to go back to Kyoto every now and then. Seeing this, Saburo and Jiro attempt to enlighten Benkei about their relationship. They go from explaining it figuratively to telling him outright but Benkei just cannot understand. He has totally no concept of man/woman relationships. Feeling vexed, Benkei storms off to the beach alone but falls into the water and nearly got drowned. A fisherman's daughter Chidori saves him.

Waking up in the fisherman's house, Benkei is shocked to see a naked Chidori. He breaks through the wall of her house (LOL) and runs away. That night during dinner, Yoshitsune wonders if Benkei is sick as he is acting strangely. Chidori's father suddenly appears and complains about Benkei's ingratitude, running away without thanking her daughter. After he leaves, the rest of the kerai started teasing Benkei until Shizuka stops them. Yoshitsune asks Benkei to look Chidori up again and thank her properly. (Actually i have no idea why Chidori lets Benkei sees herself naked... Hmm...)

The next morning, Benkei looks up Chidori. Seeing her, he suddenly gets nervous and starts blabbering.

Benkei: "i.. i entered a temple since i was young.. a temple in the mountains.. so.. so i have never really entered the sea before... i didn't know that one's body can feel so different in the water.. and when the waves come... i just... what i want to say is.. i can't swim!"

Chidori: O_o??

Benkei: "i have always been strong... so it's embarassing for me to have to be saved by someone.. and moreover.."

Chidori: "You saw me naked?"

Benkei starts choking (LMAO~~~). He struggles to explain that because he entered the temple at a young age, he doesn't even remember his mother. He has lived for so long in the company of men, that he feels uncomfortable with women. Seeing the body of a naked woman for the first time throws him into confusion...

Chidori: "Did you just call me a woman?"

Benkei: "Eh?"

Chidori: "You called me a woman?"

Benkei nods like a child and Chidori smiles. Seeing that, Benkei runs away again like Mr Bean. (LOLLLL~~~) Walking home, he keeps muttering to himself that he doesn't understand women...

Despite that, he starts going to Chidori's place frequently. Saburo and the rest follow him and are relieved he finally gets what they have been trying to teach him.

Meanwhile, the masses are slowly returning to Kyoto from Fukuhara. Tomomori calls on Kiyomori before he moves back to Kyoto too. Almost everyone else in the family has already moved back.

Sitting alone watching the sunset, Kiyomori is joined by Tokiko. She will be leaving for Kyoto the next day and asks when he will leave. Kiyomori replies he wants to stay in Fukuhara a little longer and tells her about his (unfinished) dream. He has had great plans for Fukuhara, all with the people in mind, but no one understands him. Sadness and disappointment emanates from his eyes.

In contrast, works are underway in Kamakura to develop the city.

Masako summons for Yoshitsune one day and tells him she and Yoritomo are thinking of getting him a wife. Yoshitsune tries to put it off by telling her he does not think the time is right yet. He goes home troubled. (i think he cannot decline flatly cos it will be like defying your "master". For some reason, it seems that Yoshitsune cannot tell his brother that he wants to marry Shizuka. Because she is a shirabyoushi? I think shirabyoushi is often associated with prostitutes sometimes...and also status difference? i have no idea...)

That night, Shizuka overhears Benkei and the others talking about this issue. She senses that she is the cause of his troubled mind and decides to leave him and return to the capital afterall.
Masako tells Yoritomo about Yoshitsune's reaction to their suggestion of getting a wife. (I can't understand what she is really saying here, only that she does not approve of Shizuka. Mou, Yoshitsune-sama... GO BACK to Hiraizumi already... Why bother staying??? Argh...) Yoritomo says he will get Yoshitsune a wife to keep him in Kamakura. (Both have evil looks on their faces. *stabs*)

One night, Shizuka finally announces to everyone her decision to go back to Kyoto. Yoshitsune's kerai try to keep her but Shizuka's mind is set.

That night, Yoshitsune and Shizuka plays the flute together (probably for the last time). Benkei watches from a distance and weeps for them. He feels so helpless that he is unable to help the two of them. (T----T)

Chidori's father drags Chidori to Yoshitsune's house. He demands to know why Benkei is breaking up with her. Benkei explains he don't think it is right for him to continue seeing her when Yoshitsune and Shizuka have to part with each other. Yoshitsune scolds him, claiming that it's two different issues altogether. If his kerai has such thinking, he is better off without them. Shizuka then asks Chidori to take good care of Yoshitsune and the rest after she is gone.
Meanwhile, uprisings against the Heike clan takes place throughout the country. Shigeira is sent by Kiyomori to suppress the riots at Nara (started by monks?) and he burns down temples and the Great Nara Buddha statue in the process. As a result, discontentment with the Heike clan grows even stronger. (I wonder issit that one at Todaiji... i've seen it! It's HUGE but it's supposed a replica of the original one which was even bigger... So Hidehira was the one who burnt down the original one? *coughs*)

Shigehira's wife Sukeko is shocked to find out what her husband has done. She fears that Shigehira will be cursed for burning the Buddha statue and confides in Tokiko.

Meanwhile, Kiyomori has returned to Kyoto. He in somewhat of a depression, that he failed to fulfil his dream. He is talking to Gotari (they are like grandfather and grandson here... so heart-warming) when the latter asks where is his rosary that he always keeps on hand. Kiyomori thinks he must have left it in Fukuhara. Gotari offers to go back to retrieve it but Kiyomori says it's ok. There is no need to go back specially for it as he feels that he will definitely return there again. (only that he doesn't... T-T)

Back in Kamakura, Masako's maid Tekona suddenly appears at Yoshitsune's place. She has escaped from Masako and Yoritomo and begs Yoshitsune to take her in. Yoshitsune says it is impossible. Tekona then decides to return to the capital. Yoshitsune asks her to take Shizuka with her. (I cannot catch their conversation here... i dunno why Tekona suddenly decides to leave Masako... seems like she is afraid of Masako and Yoritomo... er.. sexual harassment from the latter?? HIGHLY possible.. LMAO~~ will find out.)

Shizuka and Yoshitsune have a conversation for the last time before Shizuka leaves the next day.

Shizuka: "Will you go back to the capital one day?"

Yoshitsune: "I wish to if i have the chance... no... i will return one day no matter what."

Shizuka: "If that's the case, when that time comes, let's promise to meet each other again."

Yoshitsune: "i've been thinking what i can give you as a parting gift. The flute you gave me, i want to keep it with me as a momento to remember you. But now I can't think of anything else to give you..."

Shizuka: "You said before, you wanted me to stay here with you, is that the truth?"

Yoshitsune: "From the bottom of my heart."

Shizuka: "If that's the case, i will treat these words as a gift from you, and return to the capital with these words close to my heart."

Shizuka then thanks Yoshitsune for giving her the happiest time in her life during her stay at Kamakura. She will never forget her days here. (wails.... sooo sad... *coughs* *chokes* waaahhhh...)

Shizuka finally leaves with Tekona the next day as Yoshitsune bids her goodbye.

~End of Episode 17~