01x07 - Fuyu no kodomo-tachi

[bunniefuu]

[Ayako] Slowly. Slowly.

We’re almost there, my lord.

[yawns]

[Kojiro] Here we are.

[Tokiyuki] Wow.

[Kojiro]
What do you think, my lord?
As you can see, it’s all frozen.

[Ayako] In the winter,
Lake Suwa is one big playground.

Amazing... [grunts]

-Whoa!
-[Kojiro] My lord!

Are you all right, my lord?

[Ayako]
Young Lord, are you okay?

-[shudders]
-[Ayako gasps] Uh...

[laughs]

Oh! That scared me.

-[continues laughing]
-[both gasp]

[both] Oh?

[both chuckle]

[narrator]
Half a year had passed

since the Kamakura shogunate
was destroyed.

Tokiyuki ushered in
the new year in Suwa
for the first time.

Tumultuous events
throughout Japan had ceased
for the time being,

-but various small skirmishes
continued to occur.
-You can do it, Young Lord! Go!

-[Tokiyuki] Whoa!
-[Genba giggles]

[narrator] The peace of Suwa
was bound to be disrupted too.

[gulps]

Oh. It’s that time.

When I can’t see the future.

[song playing]

I have recently obtained
a new territory,

and I need someone like you.

A man that possesses
a very special kind of power.

Shokan.

I’ve been told that
you were feared like a demon,

a scoundrel through and through.

[Shokan laughs]

To say I’m a scoundrel
might be a bit much.

I have changed my ways.

You are on the rise,
Lord Sadamune,

and so I have chosen
to serve you.

And I’ve been instructed
to take the Suwa territory
away from them piece by piece.

Naturally I’m the right man
for the job,

because taking from others
is what I truly live for.

How do you feel about this,
Sadamune?

[grunts]

One thing is certain.
I need more strong men
in our clan.

In these turbulent times,
I cannot win if I bind myself
to a warrior’s code.

Ogasawara is on the move again.
I don’t trust it.

Agreed. The enemy
seems to be spying on us
from the northern border.

[Moritaka] Send a scout!
Right away.

Our best scout has already
been sent elsewhere, my lord.

The situation
on the western border
is precarious at best.

[Moritaka grunts]

No one can ever find out
about this.

These times
when I suddenly lose
my gift of prophecy.

This is bad.

I pray there isn’t any trouble
while I’m experiencing
these lapses.

Oh! Um, may I suggest something?

The Elusive Warriors
could serve as your scouts.

Huh?

What?

[gasps] Yes, Young Lord!
We will rely on you!

Spoken like the future leader
of this warrior family!

Young Lord! Do it, please!

-What? Hold on.
-[retainers chattering]

That would be dangerous.

If anything were to happen,
it would be the end
of the Hojo bloodline.

Don’t worry about it.

No one will suspect a group
of children on their own,

and you know better than anyone,
running away is what I do best.

-[both] Mm-hmm.
-[Yorishige] Yeah, but...

[chuckles] Excellent!

Kojiro and Ayako have plenty
of scouting experience already,

and the local civilians
will be reassured

by the well-mannered
Lord Tokiyuki by your side.

This will be a great plan,
Lord Yorishige!

Lord Yorishige!

Lord Yorishige!

[retainers] Lord Yorishige!

No.

What if bandits
k*ll him on the way?
The bloodline will end.

Ayako and I can
protect our lord from
any rogue bandits we meet.

And Genba’s tricks
will help him to get away.

[Genba] You called?

But if he gets lost
in the woods,
the bloodline will end.

In the past year, I went
on several long horse rides
within these lands,

so now I can find my way back
from anywhere in Suwa!

No. What if he eats
a slug on the roadside,
and a parasite kills him?

[Tokiyuki exclaims]

What if he happens
to pass by a sultry woman
and dies of a sudden nosebleed?

[Tokiyuki exclaims]

What if he remembers
something embarrassing
from the past

-and dies of shock?
-[Tokiyuki] I’ll die now.

What is wrong with you?

Something’s up with you today,
Mr. Yorishige.

Usually, you’re so calm
and serene when you send me
to dangerous places.

We’re getting nowhere here.

Would it be okay if we go now,
Lord Moritaka?

Y-Yes. I believe this is
currently the best option.

But remember,
the Young Lord’s safety
is your top priority.

-[Ayako] Understood!
-[Kojiro] Course.

Hey, wait a second!
Lord Tokiyuki isn’t actually
a great escape artist!

He’s just a little weirdo
who gets a kick
out of running away!

[gasps] So rude!

All right.
Now what’s the best way to
prepare for a scouting mission?

Well, we should definitely
pack light.

Food for two days and a bit
of money for the journey
should be enough for us.

[Genba] Let’s bring as much
money as we can carry.

We could trick Moritaka
and swindle him
out of a small fortune.

-Genba, you’re always saying
things like that.
-[laughs]

We shouldn’t bring any more
rice or money than we need.
[gasps]

What... [gasps]

[narrator] Yorishige is staring.

[panting]

[narrator]
He is staring with worry.

[groans] Father!

Oh, you know.

If Lord Tokiyuki
starves to death,
then his bloodline will end.

[Ayako] Uh...

Let’s just ignore him and go.

[Tokiyuki] Yeah, let’s hurry!

Huh? [screams]

This should be enough
to keep me warm.

Of course! Shizuku made
a special cotton-laid kimono
for each of us.

Just one layer
is all that I need.

Lighter clothing
is less suspicious,
easier to run away.

Huh?

[Tokiyuki] What?

-[sighing]
-[chuckles]

[gasps]

[narrator] Yorishige is staring.

He’s staring like
the owner of an empty
curry restaurant.

You’re acting incredibly weird
today, Mr. Yorishige!

Well, if you freeze to death

or a million enemy soldiers
are waiting for you,

the bloodline, you know?

The bloodline, the bloodline,
the bloodline, the bloodline.

[Genba] So is he
obsessed with bloodlines?

Wow.

What was all that about?

Well, he just gets like that
at times.

Like what?

He starts to worry
about everything
and gets really irritable.

Who ate all of my mochi?
Who was it?

[Shizuku] He fattens up
with a lot of water,

or he’ll suddenly
eat only sour things.

So what, is he pregnant then?

What do you think’s
the matter with him?

Who knows. [chuckles]

-By now, I’m used to him giving
me a hard time, but this?
-Lord Tokiyuki, be careful!

[chuckles]

Seeing him worried about
me leaving makes me kinda happy.

Hmm.

We got here just before sunset.
That’s good.

It seems so peaceful here.

[Shizuku]
Let’s go over our plan.

Even though we are still
in Suwa territory,

we’re at the edge of our land,
so we don’t have
much information about it.

The first thing we’ll do is
gather information as messengers
of Suwa Grand Shrine.

Tomorrow, we’ll take a look
around the village.

If enemies are approaching,

we will then assess when
and how many might be coming.

If the village needs protection
at any point,

we’ll have to decide
how many soldiers
are needed and report back...

[both grunt]

[all gasp]

[gasps]

[straining]

-[gasps]
-[gasps] What is this?

We’re surrounded.

What is going on
in this village?

Has it already fallen
to the enemy?

[Ayako] He wields two swords.
Not much older than we are.

[Kojiro]
When are those surrounding us
joining the fight?

[grunting]

[straining]

[grunting]

[shouts, grunts]

[Tokiyuki] He’s so fast.

His swordsmanship is incredible
even at his young age.

[Genba] Hey, this kind
of fight is really not
my area of expertise.

Let’s get out of here
while we still can.

The best those two can do
against that dual-wielder
is to buy time.

[Tokiyuki]
Over the last six months,

those two have gotten
a lot stronger.

And now,
their speed and strength

are completely different
from when we were practicing
together.

That means that back then...

You’re improving fast, my lord!

You’re now beating me
one out of five times!
Incredible!

[chuckles]

You underestimate me
at your own peril.
You’ll regret it.

[Kojiro] You’re right.

If I continue
practicing with you,
I’m afraid you’ll surpass me.

I can’t let that happen.
I’m gonna have
to be more diligent.

[Tokiyuki] So that means...

Oh, wow. Young Lord!
Young Lord, you’re really good.

Our swords are locked
and you’re pushing me back.
You’ve got me.

[straining] It’s because
of my training with you.

[grunts]
Just wait and see, Ayako.

By the time we’re adults,
the tables will turn
and I’ll protect you.

-[straining]
-Yes.

I totally agree, Young Lord.
Soon, you’ll be strong.

There you go. One more push.
You’re doing great.
You’re doing great.

[gasps]

They were both
totally babying me.

[Genba] You should’ve known,
not gonna lie.

[Yorishige] Kojiro. Ayako.

We can’t always rely
on Lord Tokiyuki’s
elusiveness alone.

Because of
his peaceful personality,
he lets his guard down.

His evasiveness won’t be enough
against many attacks.

I’m speaking of enemies
who are seasoned w*r veterans,
warriors with unusual powers,

and those sinister foes
who seek to be something
more than human.

If Lord Tokiyuki has to go up
against those monsters,

there’s no guarantee
he can outrun them.

-[grunts]
-[Yorishige] So I ask you two
to never let your guard down,

and continue your work
to become stronger samurai.

[panting]

[Yorishige] So you can protect
the lord’s life from even
the most dangerous of enemies.

[shouting]

[Tokiyuki] These are the bravest
and most devoted retainers
one could ever ask for.

If I fight boldly like them,
then maybe one day...

[Kojiro, Ayako grunt]

Could it be...

Is that you, Shizuku?

What?

Did you forget?

A while back, in east Shinano,
you gave me food.

Uh...

Hmm.

[gasps] Fubuki?

[Fubuki]
Please excuse my rude behavior.

I thought I’d come across
some spies.

I got the sense
they disguised themselves
as animals of some sort.

[both] Huh?

As you’re aware,
my name is Fubuki.

I’ve been wandering the land
on my own in search
of a lord to serve.

So then, you’re telling us
that you aren’t
from this village?

Correct. Three days ago,
I stopped to ask for a meal,

but I saw fighters
with the Ogasawara insignia
had raided the area,

so I decided to help the locals.

[laughing]

[both groan]

Platoons of similar size
arrived three times.

I managed to defeat them,
but my supplies
are running out.

I didn’t even have a horse
to be able to communicate
to the outside world about this.

-It was a predicament.
-You took down
three whole platoons?

And the villagers
are just holding torches
as they wait and watch.

Letting a young outsider
fight in their place?
That’s awfully cowardly of them.

Oh, you shouldn’t think
of them as cowards.

By the time I arrived
in the village,
all the adults had been k*lled.

They’re...
They’re all young children.

[gasps]

You fought them off three times?
And you were able to do it
on your own?

No.

-These guys are actually
quite handy during a fight too.
-There they are!

[Fubuki] As you saw,
they distract the enemy
with torches.

-[thief 1] Keep running!
-[thief 2]
Wait till we catch you!

-[Fubuki] They also dig
deadly pitfalls.
-[screams]

[whimpering]

[shouts]

[gasps]

[grunts]

[Fubuki] They’re clever.
They sh**t the enemy
while using straw men as bait.

Even the youngest ones
can learn to fight in many ways

if only they have someone
to teach them.

I’ve been accumulating
knowledge and consistently
improving my skills.

And now I’m looking
for a strong lord who will
put these skills to use.

I do believe that I’m able
to recognize talent in others
and develop it in them.

Somewhere in this world,
I just hope that I’m able
to find a lord

that is in need of some
well-skilled instruction...

Incredible.

Uh...

[sighs]

[gasps]

[Kojiro] This village
is the most crucial location
in the Suwa territory?

[Genba]
I’ve never even heard of it.

[grunts] It’s just that
no one’s realized it until now.

The population of this village
is small, that’s true,

but it’s a difficult place
to surround.

If a hundred guards
were to be posted here,

it would suddenly
become an invincible fort.

If Ogasawara manages
to occupy it
and place an army here,

he’ll have a great advantage,

should he attempt to invade
from the borders.

He could as*ault two fronts
on Suwa’s Asada Manor,

which is a large,
bountiful settlement.
[grunts]

[Tokiyuki gasps]

[Fubuki]
In the art of w*r, this is
called a two-pronged attack.

[gulps]
If it were to be successful,

Suwa would lose a large
portion of its territory.

From what I’ve learned,
the man who was put in charge
of the Ogasawara army

understands the art of w*r
and its tactics very well.

I thought that if I were able
to protect this village

and convey its strategic
military value,

I could expect a big reward
for my services.

-[grunts]
-Oh...

Can we just talk about
how much food you eat?

-Uh--
-And can you not use rice
to plan strategy?

You ate the supply
for the whole village

all by yourself in three days.

What the...

Well, I suppose that means
my time protecting this village
has come to an end.

And here’s the source
of the village crisis.

Your eye for strategy
is amazing,

but when it comes to food,
you don’t know
what you’re doing.

Maybe it’s the cold weather.

No matter how much I eat,
I can never seem to warm up.

You know, Fubuki,

what you’re saying now
reminds me of the day
when I first met you.

Huh?

I remember you had snuck inside
and eaten all the offerings.

Hmm?

I convinced our lord that
a bear had devoured the food,

but he was very sad and upset.

He started crying
because of how hungry he was.

[sobs] I really wanted
to eat some abalone.

[Fubuki] I am really sorry
I did that. I feel terrible.

I can’t ignore my empty stomach
any more than I can ignore
the needs of a small child.

I have no dignity.

[chuckles]

[children gasping, exclaiming]

[chuckles]

Big Brother?

Well, I thought he was
just an emotionless tactician,

-but he’s surprisingly
awkward socially. Isn’t he?
-[chattering]

[Tokiyuki]
A tactician is only supposed
to be concerned with winning.

They wouldn’t go through
the trouble of protecting
a village of small children.

He rallied them
and empowered them
to protect their home.

And even though these children
have just lost their parents,

their eyes sparkle
with an unbreakable spirit
and the will to fight.

I want him to help me
reclaim the throne.

I also want Fubuki
to secretly teach me to fight,

-so Ayako and Kojiro
will look at me with respect!
-[exclaiming]

[chuckling]

-Excuse me, Big Brother.
-[gasps]

-I was thinking about
why Father was so worried.
-The future.

-It was really strange.
-The future!

I suspect he may not be
able to see a future
where you’re safe.

No matter how important
this village is to us,
your life is more important.

I think we should abandon
the village for now
and run away.

Let’s take the children
to some other place
in our territory

where they can be safe.

[sighs]

No. I want to protect
the village too.

It looks like
the children’s parents
haven’t had a proper burial yet.

I think it’s too much for them
to lose their parents
and their home all at once.

I want them to stay here
so their hearts
can find some peace.

Big Brother...

Fubuki.

-Huh?
-[children] Huh?

I have a question to ask you.

Will you agree to let us
help you with your fight?

It would be an honor
if you joined us in our battle
and fought alongside us.

[grunts]

[soldiers laughing, chattering]

[soldier 1] I wish I could say
they put up a fight.

-[soldier 2]
There were many of them.
-[soldier 1] Some fight.

[laughing]

-[soldier 3] At least 12.
-[soldier 1] You know
I like a challenge.

-[soldier 2]
We took care of them.
-[soldier 3] Thirteen.

Tell us, sir,
won’t that Sadamune guy
be mad at you

considering the large amount
of villagers we k*lled?

[sighs] No, he won’t.

If he’s expecting
to see morality
from a former scoundrel,

well, that’s his problem.

Now remember, Namu Amida Butsu.

[spits]

Say those words and the Buddha
will forgive all your misdeeds
in the blink of an eye.

-Convenient, isn’t it?
-What?

[cackling]

Buddha is the best!

Seigi warriors are mighty.

It only takes five of us
to destroy an entire village.

Yet after three ambushes,

not a single warrior
has made it back from there.

[screams, panting]

H-Help! Help me!

[exclaims]

[Shokan] It seems to me

that I can’t drink
the fine sake of plunder
by simply being a thief.

It is time to be warriors
and for us to fight once again.

[song playing]

Let’s go!