Waterfall & Wings Version 1

Yabai desu. I can already feel the return of Takki Rush... even before Enbujo starts. Today in particular.. ha!! Shock after shock. Could it be because SHOCK is starting?? LMAO~~ *hits self for crappy crap* I thought it will just be another miserable and mundane Sunday where I have to work. Was bored in office and decided to check my email and there came the shocks, in order. End of boring Sunday. XDD

SHOCK 1. Takki's appearance as a woman in Enbujou will be used on the official poster!!! O_O!!! Mitaaaiii!!! It will apparently be juxtaposed with his normal "male" self in Western clothes. Ok... so female traditional Takki x male modern Takki?? Uwaaah!! Midokoro!! The poster was released to the press on 25th (??) in advance. Sanspo wrote that the 2hour make-up was "breath stopping" beautiful. Err... The make up or Takki?? Hahaha, aiyo i dunno. I just keep thinking of *that* kimono-clad Takki in the calendar... But Takki was pretty 自信満々 about his makeover this time. We shall see... ... I hope I don't get anymore shocks. It will be put up at main Tokyo Metro lines from 1st March onwards!! (Lemme guess, issit because Tokyo Metro is a shareholder of the Shinbashi Theatre?? Or because you need to take the metro to the theatre? LOL~) Oh gawd... kowai kedo, yappari MITAI DESU!!!

SHOCK 2. When I read the name of the person who is coaching him Nihon Buyo 日本舞踊 (traditional Japanese dance) for this musical, MY EYES LITERALLY POPPED OUT AT WORK!!!! I was s q u e a l i n g.... It was serious "breath stopping"!! The person coaching Takki turns out to be one of the heirs to the Hanayagi School, the most prominent school of Japanese dance, Hanayagi Kinnosuke!! Ok, you guys must be like who?? But the name Hanayagi caught my attention cos I was in Nihon Buyo when I was in university!! Then, then... with whatever little breathe I had, I slowly took out my Buyo sensei's namecard from my wallet and KYAAAH!!!! My sensei is a Hanayagi xxx too!!!! (In Japan, once they become certified masters of the art, they adopt the clan's name. This includes other arts like kabuki, ikebana etc.) I am almost positive that my sensei knows Takki's coach cos she's quite a senior herself!! In fact, shes much older than him! OH MY GOODNESS!!! DOES THAT MAKE ME AND TAKKI SCHOOLMATES????!?!?!??? *faintssss* My senior was like egging me to HURRY UP CONTACT MY SENSEI and aisatsu!! Hahhahah, but due to my crappy work schedule, I haven't met her for the past few times she came last year!!! Imagine I suddenly call upon her and ask about her erm.. heritage?? LMAO~~~ Iyayaaa, sensei!!! Oyurushi kudasaimase!!!

SHOCK 3. And can u believe how uncanny it is??? The IMMEDIATE NEXT EMAIL that I read after reading the above report was from my junior in the dance club, the current president informing us that our sensei is arriving in Singapore tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *chokes* I have no eyeballs left to pop... ... SUDDENLY, i want to talk to her very much... hmm... oh no.. hahah, this is too purposeful!!! shitsurei yatsu na, watashi!! *slaps self* Never used to make an effort to meet her when she was here the previous few times (but sometimes work DID really kill all my social time...) Demoooo.... KYAHH!!!! SENSEI!!!!!!! Never do I expect that being in such a club will give me some bimyou connections to Takki, a Johnny's idol. Winner... Maybe I should go relearn my Fuji Musume dance, the ultra duper loooooonnnnggggg dance where there's practically NO REPEAT of steps. hurhurhur~~~ Talk about the things we do for Takki... XDD

SHOCK 4. Came home from work and surfed around. Read that there's going to be a Zubari 2hr special again on 28th March and guess who is the guest????????????????????

JACKIE CHAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

O_O;;;

OH MY GOODNESSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS APPEARING ON THAT SHOW?????? Now you get a show where BOTH the host AND the guest LOVE TAKKI VERY VERY MUCH!!!! Muahhahahahhaha, MOEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!! I DEFINITELY NEED TO GET THIS EPISODE!!!! I am soooooo curious... what will Hosoki say about Jackie's future???? And and, since the epi is broadcasted 1 day before Takki's birthday, I wonder if they will celebrate for him???? AIYO!!!! MAJOR SHOCKER!!!! Jackie MUST be in Japan to discuss with Kitagawa about the movie!!!!!! I mean, he has no movie releases recently so this must be it!!!! KYaaaahhhh!!!!!!! Oh my gawd oh my gawd!!!!! And oh, does that mean he will go to watch Enbujou too??????? UWAAAHHHH!!! THIS IS TOO EXCITING!!!! Muahahhahah....

SHOCK 5. I thought this was it for the night. Too many shocks. But I just got an sms from Loracyn. PICTURES OF FEMALE TAKKI ARE ALREADY UP AT AUCTIONS!!! And Bonnie put it up on her site too.. Hahhaha, good work Bonnie!! You are just prowling the auctions 24/7 right??? LMAO~~~ I was trying to earlier too but nothing came up except Enbujou tickets!!! But the pictures...

OH . MY . GAWD~~~~~~~

Is that him????????????? That that that... white thing!! I am coughing too hard!!! *COUGHHHH* OH MY HOLY COW!!!!!! I NEED CLEARER VISUALS!!!!! He looks like the lead from "A Chinese Ghost Story"!!! Hahhahahahha, omggggg..... okkkk, it SEEMS better than the calendar kimono girl... demo!!! Gyaaaaahhhh, i cant comment cos its not clear enuff!!! omg omg, they gonna put this up at train stations??? If they put it up at Hankyu, pple are going to think its the new Takarazuka play!!!! Hahhahahha... Aiyoyo!!! he looks... so different!!! I need MORE TIME to digest this look.. wah cowz.... GYAAAAAAHHHHH *screamsssss* (p/s: DID THEY PUT WAVES INTO HIS HAIR????????!?!!!!???) 6 years i know Takki, he never looked soooo different before!!!!!! omg, i cannot think straight... i need to go back and look at Kamen Takki.. LMAOOOO~~~~ Oh dear, come tomorrow, i think there will be TSUNAMI WAVES of female Takki pics running amok on the internet.

That's it man. Enough shocks for one day.
I must go sleep before I turn hysterical...

omg omg omg omg omg..... OMG... OH MY GAWDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*sleeping with mouth WIDE AGAPE tonight*

Kyaaah~~~ Apparently you can already hear T&T's new single "Michi" on the Kawai-juku website here!!!! Just click any of the 4 buttons under the heading "河合塾TVCM" and you can hear the song in the background!! Not the whole song thou, just a small part of it. The Japanese fans are commenting that it sounds V6-ish. Hahahhaaa~~ indeed ne!! I can't tell Takki and Tsuba's voices apart!! Gaaah!!! I need to hear the entire song!!! Is there a date for the single release already?? I bet the Kawai-juku website must be getting waaaay more hits than usual with this CM. LMAO~~ I mean like, who will bother with a juku (cram school) CM when they visit the website??? Prob just look at the course details and skoot! XDD

I never cried this much watching a drama before.

Not for Korean dramas def. "Autumn's Tale" was sad but I don't think I expended that much tears. I didn't cry for "Beautiful Life" nor "Summer Snow". Seriously, they weren't THAT sad. 「魔女の条件」 and 「神様、もう少しだけ」 were very depressing dramas to me but somehow, they weighed more on the heart, not so much the tear ducts. Actually, I am not even a person who cries easily when watching TV.

But 「１リットルの涙」...
(translated as "1 litre of tears")

OH MY GOODNESS. I really think I cried 3 litres. (and on a Valentine's day... x_x)
I used sooo much tissue, my dustbin was half-filled just watching the last 2 epis!!

My office is circulating a few dramas and one of them is "1 litre of tears". And I am not even joking but whoever watched the last few epis all cried buckets and end up with PUFFY EYES at work the next day. It's like a chain effect! My senpai who passed the last 3 epis to me, her eyes were swollen like a goldfish! (which goes to show that we should NOT watch sad dramas if we are working the next day.) My eyes were so sore after I finished the drama and I got a headache at work the next day from crying too much! And not to mention that the beautiful theme song keeps playing in my head... Uwaahh~~ T-T

IT IS SUCH A TOUCHING STORY!!!! And of cos, VERY SAADD!!!!! (And thought-provoking.) And more so because it is based on a true story!! Stories based on true stories or at least real events always tend to hit me more rather than pure fiction. Which explains why Majo and Kamisama bothers me so much. Nishikido Ryo is in this drama, though he wasn't exactly lead. But he was convincing. He's really good in it actually!! *thumbs up* I think I cried everytime he cried... x_x

Basically, the drama is based on the true story of a girl called Kito Aya who developed a horrible disease when she was only 15 and at the prime of her life. The disease is called 脊髄小脳変性症 (sekizui shounou no hensei shou) or spinocerebellum degeneration. The cerebellum in the brain (which controls the activity of the muscles) of those people with this disease contracts over time for an unknown reason. As a result, the person will lose control of his body gradually. And I feel what is so terrible about this disease is that it does not affect the mind. So the patient is entirely aware of the changes in his body, but totally helpless. There is no known cure. Just imagine how scary it is to wake up every morning and realising your body is slowly degenerating!! Being unable to do the simplest things that we take for granted everyday like eating, speaking, writing, walking, pressing the numbers on a phone, bladder control, etc. The story follows Aya (renamed as Ikeuchi Aya in the drama) as she battles the disease emotionally and physically. She keeps a diary as a proof of her existence and to direct her fears and forced herself to keep writing until she could no longer hold a pen. In the end, her diary was published and it helped to give courage to many people, those sick like her and inspired many others. The real Aya passed away at the age of 25 in 1988.

In the drama, the girl acting as Aya is Sawajiri Erika. She looks really sweet and has super long eyelashes!! I L*O*V*E her eyelashes! I am always staring at them when I am not crying. In the first few epis, I thought she looked a lot like Fukada Kyoko but not so much at the end. Her eyes are really pretty and she really did a fabulous job potraying Aya. YOU CANNOT NOT FEEL FOR HER. Ryo acts as her classmate Aso Haruto, who falls for her despite her disease. Ryo does not exist in reality but apparently the real Aya's mother wanted her daughter to have the chance to fall in love with someone (cos she wasn't able to in real life) and requested for Ryo's character to be added in. However, the story is not really about romantic love, but the meaning of living. And family love I guess. I was almost afraid to watch each following episode cos I too was scared like Aya. What will tomorrow bring for her??? She fears going to sleep as she don't want to wake up the next morning to find that her body has degenerated even more. The passing of time to her is scary. I always believe in this and this drama portrays this 100%. Nothing is more important than health.

I took some screencaps, mostly from the final episode. It may spoil some people.

I thought Ryo looks very good in this scene! And he seems to have mastered something that Takki is also great at! Exuding sadness. In fact, this shot reminds me of Takki! Ryo used to look a lot like Takki when he was young, esp the eyes. Anyway, it is soooo tsurai for Haruto (Ryo's character) to see how Aya have to suffer through each passing day and being unable to help. Kurushiiiiii~~~ x_x

OMG, this final scene with Aya and Haruto got me totally BAWLING!!! My tears were flowing out without control!! I was using tissue after tissue!! I NEVER CRIED SO MUCH!!! By the last epi here, Aya uses a character board (cos she can no longer talk) to communicate with people. She tells Haruto to "live". And Haruto was crying so hard!! *Floodgates wide open*

Aya asks Haruto to read her diary and when Haruto came to the last page, he totally broke down. (And I cried again. Heck, I didn't think I stopped crying at all...) There, in Aya's desperate scribble as she struggled holding a pen (at that time when she could still write), she wrote "Arigatou". Initially when she got the disease, she kept apologising to everyone for causing them trouble, but after that she learnt to thank them instead. It was really REALLLLY touching.

Oh my god, this is uber UBER sad too!!! Haruto looks up from the diary and sees Aya falling asleep. And even in her sleep, she was crying!! (see right pic) Thou they were kinda like tears of joy. Because by then she has totally accepted her condition. She was actually smiling as she cried because she dreamt of herself playing basketball. Waaaahhhhhh~~~~ Ayaaaa~~~~~~

Aya's father flipping through the photo album after she passed away and you can see Aya when she was still healthy.

This is the ultimate last scene and it was SOOOOOO touching!!!!! Aya has passed away by then. It's a dreamy scene. She plays basketball in the gym and sees Haruto then smiles. Finally in tengoku, she can do this. *criesssss*

Seriously, this is one hella painful drama to watch, but you cannot stop once you start. Even for people who dislike sad dramas, I strongly recommend this. Because I believe everyone who watches this drama will start to appreciate everything they have and can do. After this drama, I begin to see things differently and be thankful for everything. Thankful that I can walk, thankful that I can sit and type, thankful that I can hear my voice, thankful that I can be with my friends, thankful that I can squeal about Takki, etc.

The soundtrack for this drama is really great! There is the insert song "Konayuki" (meaning powder snow) by Remioromen. Click here for a performance of it on Music Station. They also sing another one called "San gatsu touka" (meaning 9th of March). And then the ending theme, this super melodic song by K (who has an incredible voice) called "Only Human". Uwaaahhhh, just listening to these songs make me wanna cry... ... T-T My favourite of the 3 is Konayuki!!! Makes me think of all the scenes from the drama when I hear it... And the lead singer sure displayed his exceptional lung power in this song.

で、皆さま、悲しいけど、是非、このドラマを見てください。
必ずに何かを学ぶから。

The real Kito Aya, she taught people never to take things for granted.
For her courage, I salute her!

Someone actually uploaded the entire drama with eng subs on youtube.
But before you click on it, prepare your tissue. Loads of it.

It is 1.50am. I should really be sleeping cos i am working tomorrow. But i wanna be here for my downloads. LOL~ Actually i am just paranoid of leaving my comp on overnight. What if it gets DC? But as if i can do anything about it if it does get DC.. cheh. I told my friend i am searching for Yoshitsune Epi 3 (the one where Takki first appeared) to complete my Yoshitsune collection before i burn them into DVDs. Cos the one i currently have, the audio track is terrible. It does not synchronise with the image and Takki's voice went soooo low and out of tune it reminds me of horror movies. And not to say how PERFECTLY APT the timing was. The audio was fine all the way UNTIL THE MOMENT SHANAOU (Takki) EMERGED FROM THE WATER. I wonder if anyone rems that scene. How uncanny is that????? I mean, the audio could have cracked at any part of the show but it chose the exact moment i was sooooo looking forward to. -__- So there I was grabbing my chair and squealing away and then the audio starts cracking up...

O_o!!!

Crrraaaapppp~~~ I HATE SNAZZI!!! Have i already not mentioned that???!?? *waves fist* So anyway, because of this lousy recording of Yoshi #3, i felt like my collection is incomplete. I don't want my first epi of Takki in Yoshitsune to be this lousy crap!! No way!!! NOT THIS EPI!!! But I need to burn this and the other epis out from my HDD soon (it's taking up gigs of space!!) cos i am gonna reformat my comp. So one of my friend was nice enough to help me get it from BT or something, since i cannot get BT to work on mine. And he is transferring the file to me now. And oh oh!!! IT'S DONE!!! Chotto let's take a look.......

Ooooooooooohhhhh, DAMN CLEAR!!!! I can finally SEE and HEAR Shanaou properly now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wakakkakakka~~~~ (and with Chinese subtitles, thou not necessary)

OH MAN!! THIS MAKES ME HATE SNAZZI EVEN MORE NOW. x_x I should get a DVD recorder. But then again... there's nothing left to record since Yoshitsune is over. Was doing the last synopsis for Yoshitsune yesterday and felt so sabishii when I finished. Very empty ne. Just like in the show. After Yoshitsune dies, the whole show just feels very empty. 没了灵魂人物，好空虚。Like even the streets sounded quieter. And then it ended with Shanaou in white running through the forest. Exactly the way he looked when he first appeared in Episode 3 from the water... ... Haahh~ Although it has been 2 months since Yoshitsune ended, I still wanna say. Takki/Yoshitsune has come a long way na~.

Taihen otsukare sama deshita!!!

Yoshitsune informs his kerai that Yoritomo's army has already crossed into Shirakawa Pass, Oushuu's territory. Time is pressing.

Yoshitsune: "To repay Lord Fujiwara's kindness to us and for our dream, we have no choice but to fight!"

In Kamakura, Yoritomo tells Tokimasa to inform their troops in Shirakawa to hold until further instructions. He will have Hiromoto continue to pressurise Yasuhira with letters to surrender "the traitor" Yoshitsune. (Seems like he is not entirely confident of beating the Fujiwara either.) Tokimasa wonders how Yasuhira will react.

Yasuhira is in fact, terrified. Having never fought in a war before, he has no confidence of winning Yoritomo. He is unsure if he should risk the entire Fujiwara empire for Yoshitsune. (Unfortunately, he doesn't see that Yoritomo isn't JUST after Yoshitsune but Fujiwara's empire as well. Yoshitsune is just Yoritomo's excuse. His father failed to enlighten him before he passed away. Being the newly appointed clan leader, this crisis is too much for him to handle...) Yasuhira hesitates to fight against Yoritomo and gets reprimanded by his brothers for his indecisiveness. He leaves the room in a huff. (Hidehira had told his sons before he passed away to take actions immediately the moment Yoritomo crosses Shirakawa. I guess that is the limit as allowing them to get any closer to Hiraizumi will put them at a great disadvantage.)

Kunihira: "What is wrong with him?!"

Yoshitsune feels bad for being the cause of the brothers' arguments and tries to speak up for him.

Yoshitsune: "He just became the 4th Fujiwara leader and is reponsible for the survival of the entire clan. Maybe we should give him more time to adjust to this."

Meanwhile in the capital, Go-Shirakawa receives yet another "request" from Yoritomo for an imperial decree to Fujiwara to surrender Yoshitsune. Tsubone gets irritated with his multiple "requests". (They are more like an order, since Yoritomo knows Go-Shirakawa is afraid of him and will not dare to refuse his request.) Go-Shirakawa realises Yoritomo's target may not really be Yoshitsune and the Fujiwara clan but himself. Yoritomo makes him issue all these decrees to make it obvious that the imperial court is not on Fujiwara and Yoshitsune's side. Thus, they will not be counted upon for help if the imperial family ever needs it. Go-Shirakawa will thus be left to fend on his own if Yoritomo ever decides to attack them.

Utsubo goes to Hiraizumi to look up Yoshitsune. She brings with her a message from Shizuka to him. Shizuka wants to tell Yoshitsune to take care of himself and not give up his life easily. As long as he survives, they will be able to meet again one day.

That night, while preparing for dinner together, Kisanta tries to tell Utsubo his feelings for her but fails. (Silly boy.. haha~)

In Kamakura, Masako questions Yoritomo impatiently.

Masako: "Why are you still not taking actions against Oushuu?? Go-Shirakawa has already passed the imperial decree, there is no reason for us to wait anymore. If we defeat the Fujiwara, Yoshitsune will no longer be a threat to us. I am sure you understand that. I know you are not holding back because you are afraid of Yoshitsune's good warfare. It seems like you are trying to avoid fighting him. What can I say.... at the end of the day, you are a man who rules by sentiments just like Yoshitsune isn't it?"

Yoritomo gets a little irritated with Masako's provocations and leaves, though he realises what she says is partly true. (This Masako is reaaaalllllly evil and URUSAI ONNA DESU!)

Yasuhira receives an ultimatum from Yoritomo and finally decides to fight, not against Yoritomo, but Yoshitsune. Tadahira is terribly disappointed and disapproves of his brother's decision to betray Yoshitsune outright. Yasuhira then tells Kunihira that if any of them chooses to be Yoshitsune's ally, he will take the appropriate actions and there will be no kinship to talk about. Their relationship as brothers will end there and then. Kunihira remains silent.

The next morning, Kunihira visits Yoshitsune and bids him farewell. (Unwilling to fight against both Yasuhira and Yoshitsune, this is the only thing he could do...) He is leaving Hiraizumi. Yoshitsune is shocked.

Kunihira: "This is Yasuhira's decision. Hiraizumi is not the place for me anyway. (As in, because he never totally fits in because he was not born by the official wife of Hidehira.) Will you all like to follow me? There, we will be able to lead peaceful lives."

Yoshitsune thanks Kunihira but rejects his offer. He has promised the dying Hidehira that he will protect Oushuu with his life and thus he will not leave. Expecting such an answer, Kunihira takes his leave but warns him, "Kamakura is not the only enemy". Realising that there are enemies inside Hiraizumi as well, he tells his kerai to prepare for battle immediately.

Meanwhile, Tadahira is assasinated right in his own home under the orders of Yasuhira.

Yoshitsune soons realises that their enemy is Yasuhira. He can escape his attacks by leaving Oushuu but he chooses not to, as he is not going to let Hidehira's empire fall into the hands of Kamakura easily. He decides to fight Yasuhira. Utsubo begs them to leave as it makes no sense to fight. It is just 6 of them versus Yasuhira's huge army. Yoshitsune tells her, as samurais, they do not escape.

Yoshitsune: "Anyway, Yoritomo will not give up until he gets my head. No matter where I escape to, it will not end."

The kerai joke happily that they are used to being outnumbered. From Ichinotani to Yashima to Dannoura, they had always been outnumbered. However, that had not led to defeat. Utsubo is exasperated that the men are still smiling in the face of death. The kerai tell her it doesn't matter because they have already led a fulfilling life following Yoshitsune. Had they not met him, they would have died unknown and alone. But with him, they have lived their lives the best way they can and they have no regrets. (oh my gawd... this scene is so setsunaaaaii... T-T)

Yoshitsune decides to give his dagger (not sure if it is the one given to him by his mother Tokiwa) to Kisanta, which promotes him to the class of a samurai. He wants to give Kisanta a samurai name (like how he gave Kuma the name of Yoshihisa) but Kisanta wants to keep his old name as that is the name he had when he first met Yoshitsune.

Just then, one of Tadahira's men arrives and tells Yoshitsune that Tadahira has been killed by Yasuhira. He warns Yoshitsune that Yasuhira's army is on their way to his place.

Yoshitsune tells Utsubo to leave but she refuses.

Utsubo: "All of you are preparing to die isn't it?"

Yoshitsune tells Utsubo she cannot stay with them because he needs her to take care of Shizuka in the capital and to tell her that he will send for her when he realises his dream of building a new country. Until then, Shizuka must take care of herself.

Yoshitsune: "It is almost dawn. Now go."

Utsubo starts to take her leave in tears.

Benkei: "Utsubo! Actually Kisanta has always..."

Utsubo: "I know. I have always known his feelings for me... ... Kisanta, I will be waiting for you in the capital... ... ... Yoshitsune-sama..."

Yoshitsune: "We will meet again!"

With that, Utsubo leaves. This is the last time she will ever see Yoshitsune and his kerai. (Nyaaaaahhhh, SOOOO SAD!!!!! Even though it has been 2 months since i first watched this episode... it is STILL SOOOOO SAD!!!!!! i tink i will DIE OF HEARTBREAK if i am Utsubo... i will probably be lying on the floor kicking my legs in the air refusing to leave...)

Yoshitsune: "So, once again, please think of this as our final battle and fight with all your heart. I thank all of you for following me until now."

Benkei: "No, we should be the ones thanking you."

Yoshitsune: "Even if our next lives and that after, our relationship as shuju (literally meaning master and loyal servants) will never change. You will remain as my loyal servants." (WAILSSSSSSS~~)

Kerai: "Hai!!"

Yoshitsune: "At that time, we will be able to fulfill our dream of building a new country."

Kerai: "HAAAI!!!"

Dawn breaks.

Yoshitsune: "Come to think of it, this is the first time I see such a beautiful dawn."

(and the LAST!!!!! Ooohhh myyyy gawwwdddd.... setsunai yoooo!!!! setsunai tte ba!!!! DON'T GOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOSHITSUNE-SAMA!!!!!!!!!) The men take some time to appreciate their last sunrise.

Yoshitsune: "Well then, let's go!!!"

The battle between Yoshitsune's group of 6 and Yasuhira's large army begins. Even though desperately outnumbered, Yoshitsune's kerai fight bravely until their end without giving up. One by one, they fall... First Yoshihisa, then Kisanta. Benkei drags a dying Kisanta to one corner.
Kisanta: "Benkei, since I am dying, I want to pass the title of being Yoshitsune-sama's eldest kerai to you."

Benkei: "I don't want such a title!!"

Kisanta: "(laughs)... don't act reserved now..."

Benkei: "You will always remain as Kurou Hougan Yoshitsune-sama's eldest kerai!!"

With that, Kisanta dies.

Benkei: "How could you?!! Utsubo said she will be waiting for you in the capital!!"

Laying Kisanta's body now, Benkei rushes back out to fight with the rest. Jiro spots a group of archers taking aim at Yoshitsune and uses his body to block him from the arrows. With his last breath, he swings his sword wildly at the enemy soldiers before collapsing. (It can't be heard but apparently, Jiro was singing that "kimi wo mamorite" song that the kerai always sing together when he was swinging his sword away at the enemies before he died... x_x)

Next to go down is Saburo. He smiles at Yoshitsune and makes a "crab" face (since they always joke that he looks like a crab) before collapsing. Yoshitsune wants to go to Saburo but Benkei drags him away.

There is only Benkei and Yoshitsune left. Benkei brings Yoshitsune into a small hut while he stands guard outside.

Inside the hut, the rising sun casts a shadow on the wall which Yoshitsune sees as Kiyomori's folder screen.

Yoshitsune: "Kiyomori-sama, your dream was unfulfilled too. But our new country, the dream capital has always existed in our hearts."

Sounds of arrows hitting the hut break the silence. The enemy soldiers have caught up. Benkei enters the hut.

Yoshitsune: "My last request."

Benkei: "Hai."

Yoshitsune: "Please block off the attacks." (Literally, he told Benkei to "block the arrows", but his meaning is asking Benkei to protect him from the enemies so that he can... ... he can... *criesss* Well, for a samurai, it is more honourable to kill himself than be killed by his enemies...)

Benkei: "Is this farewell??"

Yoshitsune: "It has been hard on you all this while."

Benkei: "(cries) Not at all!"

More arrows hit the hut.

Yoshitsune: "Go."

Benkei: "My lord, I am most grateful to you. We will definitely meet again one day!"

He bows to Yoshitsune for the last time and leaves to take on the soldiers outside single-handedly. Even when shot by many arrows, he refuses to go down and continues fighting to keep them away from the hut.

Inside the hut, Yoshitsune stares at the folder screen and sees images of his dream. Slowly, he draws out his dagger and puts it to his neck. (I AM TOTALLY NOT BREATHING...)

Yoshitsune: "A new country..."

Yoshitsune cuts his throat. A blinding beam of white light shoots through the roof of the hut and startles everyone. Benkei turns back and sees a vision of a white horse in the sky. He knows his master has left. His duty is done. The soldiers shoot more arrows into Benkei's big body. Yasuhira arrives and finds Yoshitsune's dead body in the hut.

Yasuhira: "Yoshitsune-sama!!! Please forgive me!!"

Benkei's expression changes from a frown to a smile before he passes away, standing. (This is Benkei's famous "tachioujou" 立ち往生, literally meaning dying while standing. It has been adapted into many Japanese kabuki plays and literature. I thought his smile was because he is glad to hear Yasuhira crying for Yoshitsune, as that means he regrets his actions. And also because he managed to fulfill his duty, to protect his beloved master 'til the very end.)

In Kamakura, Yoritomo jerks from his sleep. He feels something amiss. Just then, Masako and Morinaga enter his room.

Masako: "News from Oushuu arrived. Yoshitsune has killed himself in Hiraizumi."

Yoritomo is expressionless and waves them away. He is totally not happy to learn of the news. (THEN WHY DID YOU FORCE HIM UP THIS ROAD???!??!?!?!?!?!??????? *REACHES INTO SCREEN AND SMASHES YORITOMO'S FACE*)

Utsubo returns to the capital in a daze. Everyone learns of Yoshitsune's death from her.

Kichiji and his wife sit in their house and reminisce about Yoshitsune and his kerai.

Kichiji: "I don't think I will ever forget him."

Meanwhile, Utsubo passes Yoshitsune's last message to Shizuka.

Shizuka: "A new country..."

Utsubo: "Until he calls for you to go there, he wants you to take care of yourself."

Shizuka: "Utsubo too. (Please take care of yourself.)"

Utsubo: "Hai... ... At that time, I saw a beam of bright light shooting up towards the sky in the distance. That could be Yoshitsune-sama's death."

Shizuka: "Towards the sky...?"

Utsubo: "No longer held back by anything, he heads to the sky..."

A few days later, Utsubo runs into Karasumaru (who has become blind for some reason), Otoku and Suzaku no Okina. Otoku tells Utsubo she can find Yoshitsune at Kurama if she feels lonely.

Not long after, Yoritomo invades Hiraizumi and detroys the Fujiwara clan easily. (I think Yasuhira set fire to Hiraizumi himself, in order not to let it fall into Yoritomo's hands. After that, he killed himself. One hella high-strung leader.) With that, Yoritomo gains control of the whole country. Masako cannot be any happier.

One day, Yoritomo locks himself in the altar room alone. He thinks of Yoshitsune and cries.

Yoritomo: "Kurou... ... don't hate me."

(Too late you idiot!!! You killed the man that was most faithful to you!!)

Utsubo goes to Kurama alone and walks in the forest. There is a sudden gust of wind and she sees a white figure running through the trees. It is Yoshitsune when he was young, when he was still Shanaou.

Shanaou runs through the forest carefreely.

(Narration by Otoku: From then onwards, I no longer receive news about Yoshitsune-sama. And there is nothing left for me to tell.)