Waterfall & Wings Version 1

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.)