Waterfall & Wings Version 1

Yukiie is upset to learn of Yoshitsune's decision to leave the capital. Yoshitsune tells him he has to leave to avoid making the capital a battlefield.

Yoritomo advances to Kisegawa (Shizuoka Prefecture) with his army and remembers that that is the place where he first met Yoshitsune.

Yoshitsune informs Go-shirakawa that he will be leaving the capital. The latter commends him for his considerateness. He sends Yoshitsune to Kyushu and Yukiie to Shokoku as imperial administrators. Tomoyasu tells them the Go-Shirakawa has high hopes for them to defeat the "traitor" Yoritomo. (It is just lip service to make Yoshitsune and Yukiie feel that Go-Shirakawa is on their side when actually all the latter cares about is himself.)

Before his departure, Yoshitsune tells his wife Moe to go back to Kamakura as she will be safer there.

Moe: "My father sent me here with the intention of spying on you. But I decided to come to you as a wife instead. And I have never done anything to betray you."

Yoshitsune: "I know that. I always knew that."

Moe: "In that case, I can return with peace of mind."

Shizuka hesitates to leave with Yoshitsune at first as her mother will be left alone in the capital. However, her mother convinces her that she will be alright.

The day of departure arrives. Yoshitsune visits Go-Shirakawa one last time. After he leaves, Go-Shikarawa and Tsubone heave a sigh of relief as they had initially thought that Yoshitsune will take them along with him (like what the Heike did).

Yoshitsune and Yukiie split up at Settsu to go to their respective destinations, agreeing to each amass an army and then combining forces to deal with Yoritomo. While crossing the sea, Yoshitsune's party run into a fierce storm and Tomomori's ghost appears. (Chotto ano Tomomori-sama? I think you got the wrong guy. Please go for the real evil mastermind combi Masatomo yo!!!) Yoshitsune instructs Benkei to intone Buddhist scriptures to exorcise the ghost. Their boat overturns in the process and the group gets scattered.

Yoritomo learns that Yoshitsune had left the capital and decides to return to Kamakura. (Huh?? Ano... I'm sorry. You waza waza led such a HUGE army outta Kamakura to do what?? crap~)

Meanwhile, together with Benkei and Shizuka, Yoshitsune tries to look for the rest of his kerai.

Go-Shirakawa sends Tomoyasu to Kamakura to talk peace with Yoritomo. Tomoyasu receives cold and sarcastic treatment from them. Yoritomo asks Tomoyasu why Go-Shirakawa passed the imperial decree to go after himself.

Tomoyasu: "Well that is because... er... the ex-emperor was forced by Yoshitsune and he has no choice. But of course, the imperial court has always depend on you."

Tokimasa: "Then why give Yoshitsune official posts?"

Tomoyasu: "Well, we were afraid that if we don't, he might set fire to the capital and destroy it."

Hiromoto: "So I assume that imperial decree is no longer valid?"

Tomoyasu: "Of course! That goes without saying. Now that Yoshitsune has left the capital, there is no need for us to be afraid of him right?"

Yoritomo then makes a snide remark about Go-Shirakawa which reflects that he is not afraid of him.

Yoritomo: "In that case, please allow me to seize Yoshitsune and Yukiie."

(Yoritomo and his men take the opportunity to make unreasonable requests but at the same time pretend to be respectful of Go-Shirakawa. I think they asked Tomoyasu, who is representing the imperial court to acknowledge the power of the administrators sent out by Yoritomo to various lands. If Tomoyasu agrees, it means Yoritomo has legitimate control over those lands, which gives him utmost power. Tomoyasu realises he is in a precarious situation even though he is representing the ex-Emperor. And the way Yoritomo asks for permission is so... gah!! He is not actually asking, but rather informing... *kicks*)

Later after Tomoyasu leaves...

Masako: "It is obvious now isn't it? Our real enemy is not Yoshitsune or Yukiie, but Go-Shirakawa."

Yoritomo: "Lord Tokimasa, please assemble 1000 men and go to the capital."

Tokimasa: "Of course! We need to let Go-Shirakawa feel our presence."

Masako: "I will love to see Go-Shirakawa's face then." (EVIL FACE AT WORK)

Meanwhile, Benkei fails to locate the other kerai but hears that Go-Shirakawa has issued an imperial decree to go after Yoshitsune and Yukiie. Yoshitsune is extremely shocked and disappointed at being betrayed and decides to go back to the capital to confront the ex-Emperor. However, they run into some of Yoritomo's men at a rundown temple and Shizuka almost gets caught had Kiichi Hogen (Yoshitsune's mysterious martial arts teacher from his Kurama days) not appear out of nowhere and scare Yoritomo's men away. (Oh my gawd, this man is really freaky... 44 episodes later, i STILL don't know... IS HE HUMAN??!? He doesn't LOOK like a Tengu to me...)

He advises Yoshitsune to not go back to Kyoto as he will be seized immediately if he does. The capital is no longer a place for Yoshitsune. Hogen tells him to not worry about this capital (falling into Yoritomo's hands) anymore but build his own capital elsewhere on his own. Yoshitsune tells him he is worried about his missing kerai but Hogen tells him not to. They will find their way back to Yoshitsune no matter what. Hogen asks Benkei and Shizuka to watch over Yoshitsune before sending them off.

Benkei: "With my life!"

Yoshitsune and company soon runs into anther group of Yoritomo's men. At this moment, Saburo, Tadanobu and Jiro suddenly appear and help to defeat the men. Although Kisanta and Yoshihisa is still missing, Shizuka believes in Hogen's words and assures the rest that they will eventually be reunited. The group decides to go to Kinpusenji Temple in Yoshino and lie low for the moment as they gather news about Go-Shirakawa and Yoritomo's movements.

Soon after arriving in Kinpusenji Temple, Shizuka falls sick due to the arduous journey. But before she has a chance to recover, Yoritomo's men find them and they have to run again. Realising that she is slowing the group down and endangering their lives, she resolves to stay behind. Yoshitsune refuses to let her go at first but she is determined. Seeing that, Yoshitsune asks Tadanobu and Jiro to escort her back to her mother's place in Kyoto.

At the separation on a cold winter day...

Yoshitsune: "Shizuka, this is just a temporary farewell zo."

Shizuka: "Hai."

(Shizuka looks like Utsubo under that hat! Round watery eyes... T-T KANASHIIIII~~~ Don't let her go!!) Shizuka passes her flute to Yoshitsune as a "o-mamori", an amulet to keep someone safe.

Yoshitsune: "I will remember you with this."

Shizuka forces a smile to make Yoshitsune feel at ease and turns to leave with Tadanobu and Jiro. Yoshitsune watches on helplessly.

(Narration: This is Yoshitsune and Shizuka's final separation. And none of them realises that at this moment.)

(KYAAAAAH??????!?!?!?!!!!!! Yoshitsune will never meet Shizuka again????????????? SETSUNAAAAIIIII!!!!!!!!!! *wails*)

~End of Episode 44~