Waterfall & Wings Version 1

Shizuka breaks out in tears when Yoshitsune returns to her safe and sound.

At Noriyori's place, there is a difference of opinion within the Genji men as they debate what to do with the captured Shigehira. Noriyori thinks they should consult Yoritomo, but Kagetoki thinks they should just execute him. Yoshitsune (who is trying to keep Shigehira alive) cleverly suggests that they try and trade Shigehira with the Heike for the Three Treasures. The rest agrees.

Munemori rejects the offer, much to the distress of Shigehira's wife Sukeko. The Three Treasures are vital to the survival of the clan, and returning them will not keep the Genji/Go-Shirakawa from coming after them. Tomomori agrees with Munemori, albeit reluctantly. He suggests that there is a faint hope that Shigehira will survive, since Yoshitsune is there. He and Shigehira grew up with Yoshitsune when they were young, and he believes Yoshitsune is not so ruthless. Munemori thinks otherwise, reminding the rest that it was Yoshitsune who led the attack down the cliffs afterall. The Yoshitsune that their father Kiyomori let live.

Yoshitsune is disappointed to hear that the Heike rejected the offer and worries about Shigehira's life. Just then, a letter arrives from Yoritomo to send Shigehira to Kamakura. Yoshitsune immediately volunteers for the job.

Before he departs for Kamakura, Yoshitsune apologises to Shizuka for having to leave her again so soon.

On the way, he has an intimate talk with Shigehira.

Yoshitsune: "Do you hate me?"

Shigehira: "Hate?"

Yoshitsune: "You had not a word for me since we left the capital."

Shigehira: "I cannot bring myself to look upon you as an enemy."

Yoshitsune: "I feel the same. When I was young, I looked upon Kiyomori as my own father. I still remember him telling me his dream to build a new country. One where families do not get separated, one where is no war. But that all became an illusion when he died (because the Heike under Munemori was not concerned about the people's welfare at all). That is why I joined my brother Yoritomo, who has a similar dream to build a new country."

Shigehira: "At that time, i really thought I found a new brother."

Yoshitsune: "Me too."

The two of them think back of the times when they were young and played together.

Yoshitsune: "I really thought of you and Tomomori as my brothers, even now... ... if only I really hated the Heike, maybe I wouldn't feel so terrible facing you all in battle..."

Shigehira: "Such is destiny..."

(Muaaaaahhhh... so sad. Brothers having to fight each other. Why did it have to get to all these.. All the stupid Yukiie's fault!! Why did he have to tell Yoshitsune that he is a Genji??? LEAVE HIM ALONE YO!!! Anyway, i thought Shigehira looks really manly here... ahah.. gomen for the SUPER-DIVERSION. *whacks self*)

Arriving in Kamakura, Yoritomo congratulates Yoshitsune on his achievement at Ichinotani. He introduces Yoshitsune to two scholars he invited to advise him on politics, Ooe no Hiromoto and Zenshin (both who look very sinister to me... -_-;;;). Yoritomo asks Yoshitsune to rest for a few days in Kamakura before returning to Kyoto. (Seems like Yoritomo is plotting to build a new capital at Kamakura, that is why he employs the help of the 2 scholars to advise him on political systems and stuff.)

Next, Yoshitsune meets Masako and her father. Masako tells him that Yoshitaka already knows of his father's death, but warns Yoshitsune not to let Oohime know. (Oh man, everyone should see how the face of this ebil woman changes... So bash-able.... gaah!!!)

Yoshitsune finally meets Yoshitaka and Oohime. He is glad to see Oohime as lively as ever. The innocent Oohime then ask Yoshitaka to ask Yoshitsune whether he met his father. The atmosphere suddenly turns heavy. Yoshitsune tells Yoshitaka the message his father has for him. That he is "sorry".

A few days later, Yoritomo meets Shigehira. The other men try to pick on him.

Tokimasa: "What do have to say about Heike not returning the Three Treasures?"

Shigehira: "The Three Treasures should stay with the rightful emperor (refering to Emperor Antoku). There is no reason for Munemori to return it."

Ooe no Hiromoto and Zenshin then reminds him about his burning of Buddhist temples 4 years ago and wonder if that is the reason for Kiyomori's death. (As in, punishment for offending the gods) Shigemori takes responsibilty for that incident like a man, but claims that his intention wasn't to offend the gods, but because the Buddhist monks were plotting against the Heike and bad-mouthing his father. Yoritomo finally speaks and asks if Shigehira has anything else to say.

Shigehira: "The Heike have worked hard to repay the imperial family's kindness. I have not foreseen that they will turn against us. But I accept this as fate. I am a samurai, and I am not ashamed to be decapitated by my enemy. Please do it!"

Yoritomo is impressed by Shigehira's character. He decides to spare his life and send him to Izu. (he said some other reasons for sparing his life, but I can't catch... hurhur~ But Shigehira didn't die!! Yeaaahh~~~~)

Yoshitsune and his kerai visits Chidori and his father for dinner, after which Chidori and Benkei shares a quiet moment. Chidori tells him she wants to visit Kumano because her father once saved some men from the naval armies of Kumano during a storm. (This will become useful to Yoshitsune later on...)

Meanwhile, Oohime finds out from her maids about Yoshinaka's death. She swears to protect Yoshitaka. With that, she arranges for Yoshitaka to escape. However, he soon gets caught. Brought back before Yoritomo, the small boy utters not a single word.

Yoshitsune finds out about this incident and hurries to Yoritomo's place to plead for Yoshitaka's life but Yoritomo refuses to meet him. Surprisingly, Masako pleads Yoritomo to spare Yoshitaka's life instead.

Masako: "Please spare Yoritaka... for our daughter, please!"

Morinaga tells Yoshitsune that Yoritomo will not meet him and the latter begs him to tell Yoritomo to spare Yoshitaka. Morinaga is touched by Yoshitsune's effort but he can do nothing.

The next day, Yoritomo orders Morinaga to execute Yoshitaka.

Benkei, Saburo and Jiro report to Yoshitsune in tears that Yoshitaka is dead. Yoshitsune is speechless. He is disappointed with himself for failing to keep his promise to Yoshinaka and Tomoe to protect Yoshitaka. (YORITOMO, YOU CHILD-MURDERER!!!!) He hurries to visit Oohime but the little girl blames him for being on the same side as her father and refuses to see him.

Yoritomo finally summons for Yoshitsune. (Who the hell needs to see him anymore?? -_-)

Yoritomo: "Previously, I executed one of my men who said Yoshitaka should be killed. I had protected him to that extent. But then, he chose to run away. Isn't that a form of betrayal?"

Yoshitsune: "But he is just a boy! He will not plot to betray someone!"

Yoritomo: "He might when he gets older. Listen Yoshitsune, we were once like Yoshitaka. Our lives were spared by Kiyomori. If I had spared Yoshitaka now, one day, he may come after us like we are going after the Heike."

Yoshitsune: "But Yoshitaka is a Genji."

Yoritomo: "The people who killed our father is from the Genji clan too."

Yoshitsune: "When you said you want to build a new country, don't you need the help and support of fellow Genjis? Isn't the bond of the clan important?" (can't really translate this part...)
Yoritomo: "No, bonds are possible even without family ties. The Heike clan fell because they rely too much on family ties. In any case, I am not trying to build a new Genji country. I am trying to build a new samurai country. A country where people will obey me. The people working for me now, the Hokujo and the Kajiwara, they were once Heike's people. Yorimori, whom I invited to Kamakura, isn't he Kiyomori's brother? I don't care about the Genji nor the Heike clan. What I want is a samurai country."

Yoshitsune leaves the room feeling dejected. He starts to feel a rift between him and his brother, a difference in ideals.

Soon, Yoshitsune and his kerai leaves for the capital. Unknown to him, that will be the last time he ever meets Yoritomo.

~End of Episode 28~