Waterfall & Wings Version 1

After the battle at Dannoura, the Genji holds a service everyday to pray for the souls lost during the battle. Yoshitsune receives a letter of commendation from Go-Shirakawa for winning the battle. His kerai are happy for him. Yoshitsune reminds them that they still have to look for the missing sword. Tadanobu adds in, "and Emperor Antoku's whereabouts too...". Yoshitsune recalls the boy that Yoshiko tried to protect on the ship and the boy that jumped into the sea with Tokiko. Two different faces... He senses something amiss.

In Kamakura, Yoritomo and the rest are amazed that Yoshitsune managed to defeat the Heike at Dannoura in one day. They are delighted to know that two of the Three Sacred Treasures are in Yoshitsune's possession, that is, in Genji's hands. That will be like a trump card against the scheming Go-Shirakawa. They appreciate his efforts but bring up the issue of Yoshitsune accepting an official rank from Go-Shirakawa previously without Yoritomo's permission. Yoritomo decides to test Yoshitsune's intention by giving him a new assignment, to mete out punishments to other warriors like him who had accepted official ranks without permission. He hopes that Yoshitsune will realise that he himself ought to be punished too and give up his official rank willingly.

Yoshitsune returns to the capital and visits Go-Shirakawa immediately to hand over the treasures.

(Yoshitsune is in the unknown that Yoritomo wants to keep the treasures for himself so as to curb Go-Shirakawa. Since Yoritomo always pretends to be in allegiance with Go-Shirakawa, Yoshitsune thinks that by serving the latter faithfully, he is also being loyal to Yoritomo. Afterall, Yoritomo was the one who sent Yoshitsune to the capital in the first place to protect the old man... -__- All you scheming people plotting against each other and sacrificing Yoshitsune!!!! URGGHHH~~~)

After that, he finally goes back to his residence. Moe receives his homecoming and calls Shizuka along, hence acknowledging her "position/presence". Yoshitsune and Benkei break the news of Tsugunobu's death to the two ladies. Shizuka is very upset as she has known Tsugunobu for a long time. To turn the sad atmosphere around, Yoshitsune announces that he is going to award Kuma a new name, a samurai name (a great honour for a man born into the peasant class) for his loyalty to him since Ichinotani. Afterall, it is not very appropriate to be calling him "bear" all the time. He gives Kuma the name of Yoshihisa, even attaching on the character that is passed down the Genji clan (a great bestowment indeed, as Yoshitsune is like incorporating Kuma into the Genji family). From then on, Kuma will be known as Washio no Saburo Yoshihisa. Shizuka informs the rest that Utsubo is now married to someone. Yoshitsune is glad to hear that, but Kisanta is not.

Later, Yoshitsune receives a letter from Yoritomo about his new assignment. Seeing that he is not among the list to be punished, he misunderstands Yoritomo's intentions and thinks that Yoritomo has forgiven him. Even Benkei fails to see Yoritomo's real motive and thinks that Yoritomo must have place a lot of trust in Yoshitsune to give him such an assignment. (Can't really blame them. Not everyone's mind think think like Yoritomo, dark and twisted. Why can't he just be frank?? Stop giving out this kinda riddley assignments yo!!! Stupid...)

Meanwhile, Yoritomo receives a letter from Kagetoki, who has been sent to follow (and check on) Yoshitsune since Ichinotani. Kagetoki reports that although Yoshitsune had won all the battles, he made a lot of decisions without consulting the others (read Kagetoki himself -_-). He feels his rash dogmatic decisions fail to put into consideration the lives of those in the army. He questions Yoshitsune's ability to lead. Since Yoritomo trusts Kagetoki much more than Yoshitsune, he too starts to wonder if Yoshitsune is capable of being a general. Just then, Yoritomo receives news that Yoshitsune has returned the two treasures to Go-Shirakawa. He rages as that means they lost their trump card. Further, Hiromoto reports that Yoshitsune has punished the men on the list in accordance to Yoritomo's will but fails to punish himself. Yoritomo is furious.

Yoritomo: "Kurou! Why don't you understand anything??!"

(OF COS NOT!!! YOU NEVER TOLD HIM WHAT YOUR REAL INTENTIONS WERE!!! HE IS NEVER AT YOUR SIDE MOST OF THE TIME UNLIKE KAGETOKI AND THE REST, HOW WOULD HE KNOW??!?!??!? Poor Yoshitsune, there he is, trying to serve Yoritomo the best that he can, but gets caught up and blamed at in all this scheming business...MU KA TSU KU!! And you see the evil Masako giving this wry smile, the "i told you so, i told you not to trust Yoshitsune" look... *KICKS*)

Back in Kyoto, Yoshitsune's kerai informs him that they have been getting weird treatment from Kagetoki's men. Previously on friendly terms, now they do not even return greetings when they bump into each other on the streets. Just then, Kagesue (the newly-crowned Hanazawa Rui in the new drama Hana Yori Dango.. thou he does have a very yasashii look, i find him not bishie enuff. Zaizai wins in that dept..ahah, but let's wait and see how he performs..opps, major digression! XDD) pays Yoshitsune a visit. He informs Yoshitsune regretfully about the letter that his father Kagetoki received from Yoritomo a few days ago. In that letter, Yoritomo orders Kagetoki (and Noriyori) not to obey Yoshitsune anymore. Kagesue is very upset at this rift, as he respects Yoshitsune a lot.

Kagesue: "What happened between you and Yoritomo??!?"

Yoshitsune himself is at a loss of words. His kerai are angry and disappointed at Yoritomo. They cannot believe that is how Yoritomo is treating Yoshitsune after he fought so hard for him. Since his return to the capital, he has not a word of appreciation for Yoshitsune's efforts, now this...

Later with just Benkei, Yoshitsune wonders sadly why Yoritomo is angry with him. He is totally perplexed.

Yoshitsune: "Is it because he no longer needs me? For someone like me who only know how to fight (in battle), am I no longer of use to him? Now that the Heike has already been defeated and there will be no more war, am I now redundant to Yoritomo?"

Benkei: "No! My Lord, please do not think this way!"

Yoshitsune: "Then why?!!"

Shizuka, who has been listening to them all the while behind, weeps.

Yoshitsune: "All these battles that I fought, it is not for fame! All I wanted was to help my brother to build a new country. That was all I thought about. But then, why is he treating me this way?!"

Benkei is at a loss of words to console Yoshitsune. (T-T... Tono, mou kaere yo!! Yoshitsune mentions here that he does not care about the official posts accorded to him by Go-Shirakawa because he plans to return such posts to the imperial court when Yoritomo summons him back to Kamakura anyway. He has wanted to quit from these posts previously but was unable to because Go-Shirakawa wouldn't let him. And he is afraid to defy Go-Shirakawa for fear of ruining the relationship between the imperial family and his brother. But of course, it is exactly Go-Shirakawa's plan to sow discord between the brothers this way, knowing what a control freak Yoritomo is...)

A few days later, Yoshitsune visits Kurama, a place where he can find always find peace. Kakunichi finds him praying in one of the small temples and senses he is troubled. They have an intimate conversation. (I think Kakunichi tells him an anecdote here about a man who suffers because he tries to carry too many things he wants on him. Sorry for lame translation...)

Kakunichi: "Men suffer because they seek for worldly possessions. If the burden is that heavy, throw it away."

(Kakunichi is actually trying to tell Yoshitsune to throw away everything, everything as in forget about waiting for Yoritomo's benevolence. Basically, don't live for Yoritomo. Don't work for him anymore, don't work for Go-Shirakawa anymore. Don't be burdened by obligations nor the acknowlegement that will never come. The "family tie" that binds Yoshitsune to Yoritomo is too heavy a burden. In fact, it is the source of all his problems. What can I say... KAKUNICHI IS SOOO RIGHT!!!)

Yoshitsune tells Kakunichi he understands his intentions. But he has many loyal kerai under him and he cannot desert them. Kakunichi is sad that he is unable to help Yoshitsune.

(We suddenly see a barely-visible-hadaka-no-Yoshitsune splashing water on himself here!! Totally no warning! LOL~)

Yoshitsune writes a letter to Yoritomo expressing his sadness for the cold treatment.

Not long after, Kenreimonin Tokuko becomes a nun.

One day, Yoshitsune decides to pay Kenreimonin a visit.

Yoshitsune: "Benkei, accompany me to see Kenreimonin. Something has been bothering me ever since Dannoura and I want some verification."

Benkei: "Orders from Yoritomo?"

Yoshitsune: "No, I am checking this for myself."

Yoshitsune runs into "Shinno" in the garden and remembers he is the boy that Yoshiko tried to protect.

Meeting Kenreimonin, she tells Yoshitsune that her entire life has been mapped out to boost Heike's power from the moment she is born. Becoming a nun is the first time she decides something for herself and she is glad. She no longer cares about the Heike-Genji rivalry. Power means nothing to her. She threw away all these concerns together with her hair when she became a nun. Now she just wants to live the remaining of her life praying for the souls of her family that were lost. Yoshitsune admires her courage.

Yoshitsune: "Kakunichi tells me to throw away everything if they bother me so much, but I can't. Compared to me, you are much stronger."

Kenreimonin: "There is something troubling you?"

Yoshitsune: "Kiyomori had shown me much benevolence but I destroyed the Heike clan that he built. I did it because I want to help my brother, but now my brother... ... Never mind. I should not bother you with all these. This wasn't what I came for."

Kenreimonin: "Earlier you said you want to verify something. What is it?"

Yoshitsune asks her about "Shinno". He wonders why she is keeping the boy with her even though they have no blood relationship. (Shinno is supposed to be her husband's son with another concubine.) And the resemblance between the two of them is too uncanny. He suspects this "Shinno" is really Antoku. The one who died is just his replacement, the real Shinno. Kenreimonin tries to hide her fear by being hostile.

Kenreimonin: "Are you suspecting me of lying?"

Behind the walls, Sueko and Akirakeiko listens quietly in fear that Yoshitsune will expose their secret.

Yoshitsune: "If that is true..."

Kenreimonin: "If that is true, then what? Are you going to send the young Shinno to Kamakura too? If you take him away from me as well, it is as good as taking away my life."

Although she tries to be hostile, Yoshitsune detects a tint of sadness in her eyes. Seeing that, Yoshitsune softens. He assures Kenreimonin he will not take Shinno away from her. He understands how lonely it is to grow up without one's mother. (I think Shinno's real mother is already dead?? So Kenreimonin is the next best person to fill that role.)

Yoshitsune: "From now on, please live peacefully with him without anxiety. Give him all the love that you can."

Kenreimonin's eyes well up with tears.

Kenreimonin: "Yoshitsune, I am grateful."

She bows to Yoshitsune, which is something members of the royalty never do.

Yoshitsune: "Please don't do that! Please!"

Kenreimonin: "As Shinno's replacement mother, I swear to you, Genji's general. Now that there is another Emperor, Shinno will never have the chance to ascend the throne. Eventually I will send him to a temple. Separated from the world in a temple, he will not think about taking revenge and such. I will have him pray for the lost lives of the Heike clan."

(Yoshitsune already knows that "Shinno" is actually Antoku but he gives up exposing his identity because he cannot bear to see the small boy go through the same fate that he did, separated from his mother. Kenreimonin also knows that Yoshitsune already discovered their secret, that is why she swears to him that Shinno, or Antoku will never become their threat in future.)

With that, Yoshitsune takes his leave. Kenreimonin, Sueko and Akirakeiko appears at the verandah to see him off, but this time their faces are full of gratitude. Yoshiko is also there and bows to him. The rest of the ladies follow suit. Benkei is shocked and wonders why even Kenreimonin bows to them.

Leaving their house, Benkei asks Yoshitsune if he has found what he wanted and Yoshitsune replies that he is satisfied.

After that day, Yoshitsune never sees Kenreimonin nor his sister Yoshiko ever again.

~End of Episode 37~