Waterfall & Wings Version 1

Being left out from the mission this time, Yoshitsune busies himself keeping Kyoto in law and order. Jiro and Saburo makes some noise about the task being mundane and gets chided by Yoshitsune. Just then, Utsubo barges in and demands to see Yoshitsune. She is angry with Yoshitsune for accepting Moe even though he already has Shizuka. The kerai try to stop her (because Moe can hear them and I think she is still in the unknown about the relationship between Yoshitsune and Shizuka) and explain that Yoshitsune has his reasons. Shizuka arrives on the scene and everyone is stunned. (Kisanta's expression here is sooooo funny!!! LMAO~)

Utsubo follows Shizuka to her room. She now stays in the side wing of the house instead of the main building in consideration of Moe. She tells Utsubo that Yoshitsune is in a difficult position and it is not his will to accept Moe. She is contended as long as they have each other in their hearts.

Utsubo: "That is very brave of you."

Shizuka: "Everyone is capable of this, even you Utsubo."

Utsubo: "It is hard ne."

Shizuka: "That is why we all need to find a person we want to support and protect."

Utsubo: "I came here wanting to comfort you, but end up getting comforted instead."

The relationship between the two grows stronger.

Meanwhile, Noriyori is having a hard time fighting the Heike troops in the west.

At the palace in Kyoto, Tsubone tells Go-Shirakawa that Yoritomo's decision to leave Yoshitsune out of the current mission confirms their suspicion that Yoritomo has something against his brother. Go-Shirakawa is happy to hear that things are going the way he envisioned.

In a bid to cut down burglary in the capital, Yoshitsune approaches one of his old acquaintances Suzuka no Okina (who is actually the underworld leader) to help arrange a meeting between him and the leaders of the thieves. Many of them were orphans or men who have lost their family during war. He tries to persuade them to stop what they are doing. The leaders are all convinced by his earnestness. Slowly, burglary begins to decrease in the capital.

Pleased with the capital slowly regaining stability under Yoshitsune, Go-Shirakawa offers him a further promotion. The new rank this time will be just one rank lower than Yoritomo. Yoshitsune asks to seek permission from Yoritomo before he makes a decision and Go-Shirakawa agrees. Yoshitsune then writes a letter to his brother and ask if he can accept this promotion.

Yoritomo receives the letter in Kamakura and debates the situation with Masako.

Yoritomo: "At least I know Yoshitsune has not forgotten his position (as my kerai) by writing this letter. Although he accepted the previous post without my permission..."

Masako: "All these are obviously Go-Shirakawa's tricks. He is making use of Yoshitsune against us. We must not reply him immediately. We must let Yoshitsune and especially Go-Shirakawa realise that, without our permission, they cannot move forward."

The imperial court keeps pressing Yoshitsune for an answer but there is no reply from Yoritomo. One day, Go-Shirakawa summons Yoshitsune to a temple.

Go-Shirakawa: "You must be wondering why I am meeting you in a temple instead of the palace. I heard your mother just passed away so I thought it might comfort you to be near Buddha."

Go-Shirakawa pretends to empathise with Yoshitsune, claiming to understand how it feels like to grow up without both parents by the side etc. It is all his scheme to win over Yoshitsune's trust. (Man, the way the cranky evil old man lurches at Yoshitsune... scary!)

A few days later, Tomoyasu calls for Yoshitsune and pressures him to take up the promotion.

Tomoyasu: "Do not disappoint O-kami."

At this point, Yoshitsune realises he can no longer delay nor reject the offer without offending the imperial court. He finally accepts the promotion as he feels he is not accepting the promotion for himself, but for Yoritomo as well.

Yoshitsune's kerai are worried for him. Shizuka reveals that she is worried too and urges him to be careful.

In Kamakura, Yoritomo created two new sections to his governance. He assigns Ooe no Hiromoto and Zenshin to head each section. Tokimasa is disappointed that his family (the Houjo) is left out.

Meanwhile, O-hime falls sick pining for Yoshitaka. Masako is distressed and looks up Yoritomo.

Masako: "She hasn't talk to anyone since Yoshitaka left her. You shouldn't have killed Yoshitaka! Now do something! You are her father!!"

Yoritomo visits O-hime and is shocked to find his daughter in such a state. In a daze, O-hime mutters something that shocks Yoritomo.

O-hime: "Yoshitaka-sama, I will go to you soon."

Worried, Yoritomo immediately erects a memorial pagoda for Yoshitaka and arranges a ritual to pray for the dead boy. But O-hime's health does not improve. (RETRIBUTION!!!! For doing soo much evil, you got your daughter into trouble... you ebil ebil man!!)

Around this time, news that Yoshitsune took up the promotion reaches Kamakura. Masako thinks they are being cursed for killing Yoshitaka. Ever since he died, nothing has gone well for them. Yoshitsune taking up two promotions without their permission, Go-Shirakawa obviously plotting himself against them, Noriyori facing difficulties in his fight against the Heike, outsiders given leadership positions instead of Yoritomo's kerai...

Yoritomo: "So that is what bothers you. That your father was not given a role in my new governance?"

Masako: "It is not just my father and the Houjo but also your other kerai who has served you loyally for so many years and understand your way and reason for doing things. By giving such important posts to men who only just started working for you, it is impossible for them not to think that you are bias."

Yoritomo: "I am just assigning the right man for the right job."

Masako: "If you continue to do this, you will cause a rift among your men!"

Yoritomo: "Be quiet! From now on regarding my new governance, you will have no say in it!"

Tokimasa is angry to hear that Yoritomo now disregards Masako's opinions. However, Masako has another thinking.

Masako: "I think I can understand Yoritomo better now. He is not a man who rules only by reason afterall. He craves for sentiments more than others and is a very careful man. From the way he arranged a ritual for Yoshitaka for the sake of O-hime, and how he actually gets angry over my complaints... Usually he shows no emotions on the outside but now, i am convinced that he is a sentimental man."

With that, Masako advises her father to be patient.

Kichiji brings a message from Fujiwara no Hidehira for Yoshitsune.

Kichiji: "He asks you to be wary of the people around you."

(Hianz, even Hidehira who is FAR AWAY at Hiraizumi can see that Yoritomo and Go-Shirakawa are up to no good... why can't Yoshitsune see that??? Now the two are like shooting secret darts at each other while Yoshitsune is caught in between. -_-;;;)

Jiro arrives and brings information of Noriyori's progress. Apparently he is facing trouble moving forward. Heike's naval armies are too strong for the Genji and they are now stuck in a place where the Heike has blocked off their supply routes. Kichiji asks what Yoshitsune will do if he is leading the army.

Yoshitsune: "I will attack the main army at Yashima."

Tsugunobu: "Even with naval armies?"

Yoshitsune: "I just need ships that can take us to Shikoku."

(Yashima is an island off the northeastern coast of Shikoku.)

Back in Kamakura, Yoritomo is feeling troubled. The battle against the Heike is stagnant. O-hime's condition does not improve. Dissatisfaction among his men is starting to appear. He confides in Morinaga.

A few days later, he makes a decision that shocks his men.

Yoritomo: "I will ask Go-Shirakawa for permission to attack the Heike at Yashima."

Tokimasa: "And who will be the general?"

Yoritomo: "Kurou Hougan Yoshitsune."

(Hougan is the name of his imperial title. By calling him that, it is as if Yoritomo finally acknowledges the promotion.)

Tokimasa: "Did you just call him Hougan? Are you now showing 'kindness' (for lack of better word) to him (despite the fact that he accepted the promotion without your permission)?"

Yoritomo: "No. This is not kindness. He made the critical move that won us the Ichinotani Battle. Now I want to see how he will deal with this situation. I am testing him."

(-___________-;;;)

Go-Shirakawa receives the letter from Yoritomo about this decision and summons Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune cannot believe that his brother finally acknowledges his promotion and is letting him rejoin the battle. Filled with emotions, he gamely takes up the mission.

~End of Episode 30~