Waterfall & Wings Version 1

Yoshitsune and his company sail through the rough waters and amazingly, manage to reach Awa in one day instead of the expected three by cleverly manoeuvring the wind. The head of the Kondo Clan, Kondo Chikaie looks up Yoshitsune and asks to work for him. He hates the Heike because they took his father's life. With the help from his new found allies, Yoshitsune progresses quickly towards Yashima.

Reaching Yashima, they employ similar tactics as at Ichinotani, setting patches of forest on fire and making noises to dupe the Heike into thinking that they have a large army (although they only have 250 men). Genji's sudden attack from the landside caught the Heike off guard. However, they are still a step slow as Munemori hurriedly orders to move everyone, including Emperor Antoku and the sacred treasures to ships out in sea. The battle comes to a standstill as the two clans are separated by sea. Munemori refuses to leave as he wants to see what Yoshitsune is capable of since he cannot reach them without ships.

Tokiko comes up with a plan to boost the morale of the Heike clan and Yoshiko offers herself for the job, knowing that she may be shot to death by Genji's arrow. Soon, Yoshiko boards a small boat and holds a fan perched to the end of a pole. Yoshitsune understands this as a challenge to the Genji to shoot the fan down, the fan which symbolises the Heike. It is a great challenge indeed as the fan is far out in sea on an unstable boat, the winds are strong and the Genji are stuck on the shore. However, it concerns the dignity of the Genji so Yoshitsune has to find a way to win the challenge no matter what. He instructs his men to assemble the best archers they have.

Among the 4 that are assembled, there is a 17-year-old young man by the name of Nasu no Yoichi (Tsubasa no toujou!!! He is soooo serious here, and doesn't even look at Takki in the eye!! LOL~) Yoichi somehow impresses Yoshitsune and is chosen for the job. (Gomen, i don't understand that whole chunk of stuff that Yoichi/Tsuba said at all... x_x)

Yoichi gets onto a horse and rides out into the waters as he surveys the situation. Benkei asks Yoshitsune why he picked Yoichi and Yoshitsune says it is because he is a calm and observant fellow. (Not really sure about what Yoshitsune said here, but something like when he talked to Yoichi just now, the latter considered a lot of factors like the wind direction, the waves, etc, things that usually go unnoticed by the rest. Yoshitsune is impressed by his acute sense of surveyance.)

After some time, Yoichi finally draws his bow and takes aim. Yoshitsune suddenly seems to realise that the girl on the boat could be Yoshiko and worries about her safety.

Yoichi pulls back his arrow slowly...

Yoichi: "Namuhachiman!" (A Shinto God of War)

The hurling winds suddenly stops as if there is really divine intervention. Yoichi releases his arrow which flies out towards Yoshiko and hits the fan right off the pole into the sea.

The Heike is shocked. The challenge is meant to be mission impossible. As the fan falls into the sea, it also signifies the beginning of Heike's demise.

Yoshitsune: "Excellent!"

The Genji cheers as Yoichi goes up to Yoshitsune. (MOE~~~~~ and Tsuba looks really young here! 17 daaa...) Yoshitsune praises Yoichi and presents him with a sword as reward.

Later that night, Yoshitsune tells his kerai that since the Heike has learnt of their real numbers (that is, size of army), they may get attacked sooner or later. He sends Saburo to talk with Taguchi no Noriyoshi of Awa, head of the largest naval clan then, to persuade him to be their ally. With Saburo's clever tongue and earnestness, he manages to win Noriyoshi over (he who looks like a character borrowed over from the Chinese wuxia drama set!! LMAO~).

Yoshitsune receives news that some of the Heike are assembling at Shido temple to launch an attack on them. He brings some of his men to the temple but gets ambushed by more men than they can handle. A fight breaks out. In the midst of the chaos, Tsugunobu notices that Heike no Sukemori, who is the one leading the attack is aiming an arrow at Yoshitsune. (In BokuMado mode, this is Takashi trying to kill Kyon. -__-) Tsugunobu lurches at Yoshitsune and blocks the arrow for him, receiving a fatal shot to his heart. (You see, I never understand why they just stand there NOT MOVING after hitting away one arrow. Hello??? MOVE!!! And the attackers, if they had just hurry up and release the arrows, they would have wipe out the Genjis. It is so irritating to watch them pull on their bows but not do anything... There is something seriously wrong with their momentum here. No sense of urgency!!! Call in the Hong Kong chereographers already yo!!! MOU!)

Just when it seems like Yoshitsune and his men are being surrounded by enemies, Saburo suddenly arrives with Noriyoshi and his men who drove the Heike soldiers away. (And you see a stupid Sukemori STILL not letting go of his arrow despite aiming at Yoshitsune for the past 35 secs... Be realistic guys!!!)

Yoshitsune and the rest bring the injured Tsugunobu to a room and gather around him. (This is the key to start crying.. like really!)

Tsugunobu: "My Lord, please forgive me for not being able to serve you til the end."

Yoshitsune: "No! I will have you follow me til the end."

Tsugunobu instructs his brother Tadanobu to serve Yoshitsune doubly hard after he is gone.

Yoshitsune: "Tsugunobu... I wouldn't forgive you if you start on that journey alone. You hear that? I wouldn't forgive you!"

(And you see how Yoshitsune/Takki starts tearing up... OH MY GAWD!!!! At first he was all calm but then you can REALLY REALLY SEE how his eyes turn watery and tears just appear.. his tears are real!!!!! *hugs Takki and comforts him* My heart just breaks into a million pieces as tears flow down his cheeks... SUGOI acting dayo!!! Oh my goodness, each time he cries, it just wrenches my heart more and more.)

Yoshitsune: "I want you to stay by my side!"

Tsugunobu: "Hai... I will."

A dying Tsugunobu starts calling the other kerai one by one and thanks them for the good times they had together. He begins recalling the past.

Yoshitsune: "Tsugunobu, aren't we supposed to return back to Hiraizumi after all these?... Therefore you cannot go to sleep now!"

Tsugunobu: "Hai..."

Tsugunobu's eyes goes souless and passes away. Everyone is devastated. Benkei starts praying for him and the rest start singing the song they always sing, in tears.



Back on the Heike's ship, Tokiko stares at the fallen fan floating in sea and starts crying. She too senses the demise of the Heike.

On the shore, Yoshitsune laments the outcome of the Yashima battle.

Yoshitsune: "We didn't manage to reclaim the Three Sacred Treasures, and we lost Tsugunobu..."

Benkei: "Someday, we shall bring Tsugunobu back to Hiraizumi with us."

Yoshitsune: "Tsugunobu, until the battle is over, stay with me."

Yoshitsune tightens his grip on a lock of Tsugunobu's hair and stares at the setting sun.

~End of Episode 32~