01x12 - Shoshin

[bunniefuu]

Keep your balance to the front,

and keep your head at the same height.

Heels stay low, knees stay bent.

Yes, exactly.

It's okay, you're really getting better.

Ishiya!

He's back!

Oniyasha is back!

My lady? Is something the matter?

I wonder if this how
the author of that poem

about the nature of life and dreams felt?

You mean the poem that goes,
"is this world a dream or reality"?

That one?

It's been on my mind recently.

Perhaps those days when everything was
so lively here were just an illusion.

I miss the times you'd go around
threatening to pummel someone.

P-please, I would appreciate
if you'd forget all that...

I no longer hear Oniyasha's
peculiar way of speaking,

and it makes me sad.

Oh my.

Throwing more of them out?

Yes. They've started to wither.

What's that?

The shogun is very into
floral arrangements.

But he changes to new flowers so quickly.

He only likes when they're
in full bloom, it seems.

That's sad.

G-good morning.

Touta?

You sure slept awhile!

Elder!

Huh?

What happened to Ishiya?

I heard you were having a rough time,
so I had him go fetch you.

Imagine my surprise when he
shows up carrying you asleep!

Oniyasha, you wouldn't wake up at all.

I only hit you once, you know.

Where am I?

Where you used to live a long time ago.

That's why you kicked them out?

They were only a little bit late!

Shut up.

Firing courtiers who have done
nothing wrong is unheard of!

Simply outrage-

They're guilty of wasting my time.

But you understand that's just
part of being an aristocrat, yes?!

And why should I have to adjust
my schedule to theirs?

I hate waste.

When waste piles up, the things you
should be focusing on drift away.

Well, true, but...

Things that are immature or
past their prime are inexcusable.

How very shogunly of you!

Wha-?!

Lord Yoshimoto Nijo!

Well, well! This is the first time
we've spoken like this, eh?

I heard about you moving house.

The Flower Residence being
burned to ashes is truly a shame,

but this is an excellent decision.

A former regent of the Emperor would
never come here just for a pep talk.

Why in the world is he here?

Now will you look at that...

I see no good in this.

What do you mean by that?

Everywhere you look,
there are only magnificent blooms.

And what about it?

Flowers are things to be
enjoyed in anticipation.

Anticipation of budding,

anticipation of magnificent blooms,

anticipation of wilting...

Savoring all those moments are what
brings the most supreme of joy.

Quite the elevated taste you have.

If you're not careful,
you'll lose your head.

You may die while savoring
that anticipation.

As shogun, I will prepare the perfect flower
that will attract the masses.

It's quite simple.

Well, that begs the question...

can you tell a truly great flower
apart from the rest?

It's only natural if you can't.

After all, nobody is
born with refined taste,

we're all ordinary to start with!

It is the elegant and refined
who are tasked with elevating

the taste of the ordinary folk.

Nijo, on what business
have you come here today?

Yoshimitsu, are you interested in
ownership of the Kikutei estate

that stands next to the Flower Residence?

The Kikutei estate?!

Acquiring that would give us
much, much more land!

However, what's the catch here?

But first, if I may offer an opinion...

Beautiful things are
meant to be tormented.

Just what kind of shape
will you take on after it's all over?

That is what I want to see!

I want so see it, no matter what it takes!

It's your move now, young shogun.

I will do anything for the sake
of Fujiwaka, you know.

Look into the distance,
and take it slowly.

I heard that he retired
due to his bad back,

yet he's teaching someone so young?

He's a kid from the neighborhood.

The village nearby was attacked by bandits,
and a lot of orphans were left behind.

Is that why he's looking after him?

No, he just teaches him sometimes.

Seems the kid has an interest in dancing.

Oh, I see.

He's clumsy, but he's doing his best.

That's exactly how you were back then.

Huh?

You whined about how you couldn't do it,
but never stopped looking straight ahead.

I was jealous.

Whoa!

What?

You sure have matured!

What?

I feel like maybe...
you're a little kinder?

Well, you did hit me, though...

I've always been kind.

I-it's been awhile.

You've grown so much!

We've heard all about
what you've been doing!

Oh, um...

Is it good?

Ish i' goo?

Welcome home, Oniyasha!

We prepped a party for you!

We got drinks, too!

We've been waiting for you!

You've gotten pretty big!

Eh? You're not growing up
and leaving me behind, are ya?

Wait a sec, what's up?!
Why're you talking so different?!

Wha?

This is good, too.

Is it?

Oniyasha! Come drink over here!

Okay.

Please, tell us about the shogun's home!

Aren't you going in?

Leader...

I forgot about the
laundry I put out to dry.

I'll go fetch it, before it gets cold out.

You can do that later.

You haven't seen him in awhile, right?

Yeah. He's grown into a fine young man,

and it's like he's from
a different world now.

I think the days I spent at the shogun's
were just a dream I had.

He's only who he is now
because you were with him.

No, I did nothing.

It was all his own doing.

Ishiya, what do you wish for?

Huh?

You decided you would go to
the shogun's residence,

and that you couldn't stand
to be there and came back.

What will you do next?

Next...

Ishiya, where do you want to go next?

When the fog clears, you can go
wherever you'd like to again.

Oh, it's the leader.

He's here! Oniyasha's here!

They've pushed us out
of the spotlight, huh?

That's because the shogun is
really crazy about the Hiyoshi Troupe.

Don't say things like that.

But isn't it strange?

We were here before those...

Huh?!

L-Lord Shogun?!

Where's Oniyasha?

Eh?

He's taking a break from the troupe.

What?

He's in worse shape than he was before.

I see.

Excuse me...

What's wrong?

Uh... Hey!

Oniyasha will come back.

Please, wait for him.

To you, Lord Shogun, Oniyasha may
just be a flower you can replace.

The value of both a flower and a person
is something that you decide.

That much is true. But...

But Oniyasha is...

I've watched him perform on stage.

It makes my heart feel strange.

It's very odd,

and I've felt that for a long time.

What about you, Lord Shogun?

The rumble that comes when
the lion spread its arms wide;

that flickering when you
looked toward the smoke;

that excitement, on the day you saw
the moon at the shore with the sisters!

You must have felt something.

Have you forgotten that?!

Am I ordinary?

Huh?

Do you take me for someone
who lacks a discerning eye for art?

Eek!

Uh, well...

Answer me.

Hon... Honestly...

Yes.

I'm dead.

You know, it wouldn't be
out of the question to k*ll you!

Eh?

Hilarious.

Maybe I'll take heed of them this once.

The tastes of the so-called
"elegant and refined".

Eeeh?

Is your throat okay?

Huh?

I was so shocked when
I heard your voice earlier.

It's completely different.

Is it really that different?

It's like you're a different person.

You can't hit the high notes anymore, huh?

And you hurt all over
because you grew so quickly, right?

Goro is totally different too.

Huh?

He's more reliable.

He's also got a young apprentice now,

and he takes Samanosuke's place
on the stage sometimes too.

Goro worked hard.

Touta!

I'm late, but thanks for waiting!

S-Satsuki?

Oniyasha?

Welcome back!

Take that!

Don't hurt yourselves!

Everyone in the village takes turns
watching the kids.

And putting them up in
different houses each night.

In the beginning they bawled their
eyes out, so that was rough.

It's hard being alone, you know.

Ah, yeah.

We have to teach them that
we won't leave any of them alone.

Everyone has something
that they're unable to do.

That's why we live life together.

Satsuki, you haven't changed.

Hm?

Step, step-step!

Step, step-step!

Well, there they go again.

What's that?

I went to see one of your
performances awhile back.

I took those kids, too.

Then they started imitating what they saw.

They don't get to see performances
like that every day,

so it was fun for them.

The wind's picked up.

The wind...

Guess we'll head back now!

Hey! Kids, we're going home!

Aw, I don't want to!

Just a little longer!

Back then, I was the same.

When I was a kid...

You have a body.

That lady had been watching
her own body come to an end.

She was already a lost cause.

Feeling the emptiness of
not being able to go anywhere...

And that is exactly how I am now.

As long as I am myself,

as long as I have this body,

I won't be able to reach
the same level as Inuo.

- Was I born to play?

- That voice...

- Or was I born to frolic?

- It's good.

When I hear the voices of children playing

Oh...

Reminds me of her.

I haven't heard that song in a long time.

She taught us all how to
perform it back then.

Your singing voice is very beautiful.

Huh?

Your chants are as beautiful
as they always were.

That has never changed.

Unlike myself.

Ishiya?

This is the first time
you've complimented me.

What? It is?

Yes, it is.

No way, I was always
complimenting you, wasn't I?

You only ever asked me to sing for you.

That's because you're good at it!

Huh?

Wh-what?

I'm sorry.

Never mind.

I've been running away for so long.

I gave up on so many things.

I thought I had no choice,
since this is the body I was born in.

But the truth is, I was scared.

I don't want to be told mean things.

I don't want to feel sad.

That's why before it got to that point,

I'd smile and run away,
looking like I didn't mind.

From performing, and from you too.

That's what happened with Kogane as well.

I ran away from unforgivable things.

I want to stand on the stage!

I know that's impossible.

I can't walk like you do.

Kogane is gone.

I know that.

But...

But I can't give up on it.

These feelings won't go away.

Even now, I still...

want to stand on stage with you!

And even with Kogane, too...

There're clouds, so it's more red today.

The clouds are reflecting
the red of the sun.

Ah, I get it.

Regardless of how I was born
or my physical condition,

I wanted to dance with you guys.

I feel the same.

Maybe I'm already at my limit.

I don't have the magnitude of my father,

or a nice voice like yours,

or graceful limbs like Inuo.

But-

However...

Even so, I...

I have always loved dance!

It's okay if I'm not as good
as Father or Inuo.

I don't need to become a talented dancer.

I think that people who
only feel comfortable dancing,

and people who can only convey
their feelings through dance,

and people who simply
think dancing is fun,

they should all just keep dancing!

They should keep dancing,
forever and ever.

I want to change the world!

Oniyasha, age 15.

He would later on become
a Noh actor called Zeami.

Where he is headed

is a world wider than
the river or the sea,

and a future further than the moon.

Oniyasha!

Shinemon?

Pardon me, but the shogun has
issued an urgent order.

An order from the shogun?

On the day Inuo of the Hiyoshi Troupe dances
in celebration of the new Flower Palace,

the shogun has ordered a performance
from Oniyasha of the Kanze Troupe.

He will now move forward,

with his voice, his eyes,

and body that feels its own limitations.