Are you okay?
Yeah, more or less...
Hey, behave yourself!
Oniyasha!
Eh?
That was the face of a wild animal.
You're always sticking your neck out, Hijiri.
I suspect that's what Lord Yoshimitsu likes about you, too.
That's strange to hear.
But it's a relief that he bit me instead.
If he hadn't, he would've met the same fate as the old man.
Oniyasha was completely innocent.
Are you positive?
That's how it looked to me.
Let him out when morning comes.
By then the old man's trial will be over.
Is there any meaning to it?
I can't answer that.
Trial by hot water.
Trial by hot water was one method of judgment done in the Muromachi period.
The accused take an oath to the gods, then put their hands in boiling water.
It was believed that the guilty will be burned,
and the innocent will be spared.
That's hot.
Ouch...
Hijiri, good evening to you.
Running away will only land you in hot water, too.
Huh?
They'll think you're spying for the south.
But that's not true...
Toku is innocent!
He was with me the whole time.
We fished, drank alcohol...
Oniyasha.
Besides, that's no trial!
Anyone would get burned if they put their hands in scalding water!
That's obvious!
Oniyasha.
What's this?
Ishiya got it from the Kanze Troupe.
There are people who care for you even when you're away.
Aren't you taking that for granted?
Oh...
You have a place that accepts you as you are,
and people whose thoughts linger on you.
Having both of those means you're quite blessed.
You mustn't forget that.
What is that?
Was that from inside the grounds?
I'll go take a look.
Add more wood.
Okay.
Why'd you come here?
You know I'm not leaving you behind.
But why?
You won't be cutting a rope.
You'll be cutting your ties with me.
Huh?
Promise you'll forget everything.
I have no one left but you, Toku.
You have Oniyasha.
If you stay alive, you will have new relations.
But...
But... Toku...
I still owe you so much.
That's enough, already.
Just go back to where you belong.
Who's there?!
You're getting that brat to help?!
I didn't do that!
Wait!
Hey, you old geezer!
Lord Fuga?!
He ran that way!
Sir, I came to get you.
Thank you.
Sure.
By the way! Did you hear about the theme for the rematch?
We can't afford to cause any more trouble for the Kanze troupe.
My mind gets it.
Sir?
But... my heart doesn't!
Wait! Don't go!
You have to stay here, Sir!
Patch it up good.
Right.
Do you swear before the gods and Buddha that you are innocent?
I'm a monk!
Toku...
Ashikaga's grandson! Listen up!
Hey you!
The cycle of winning and losing is unescapable!
Insolent fool!
But it is the actions of humans that give victory meaning!
There is no meaning in a superficial winner!
What are you doing?!
Enough! Stop your yapping!
Can you hear me, Ashikaga's grandson?!
What do you say?!
As the victor who has attained the world,
what salvation will you offer the losers?!
Come on!
The defeated will be forgotten.
I can't stand being in a world like that!
I should watch...
It's the least I can do...
Stand up this instant!
Stop stalling.
Can't believe that!
ONE
What?!
Why do the numbers stop using horizontal lines from four?!
TWO
THREE
It'd be better to just keep on adding lines, right?!
FOUR
This is NOT easy!
It's difficult for anyone who's just started.
Oniyasha didn't really like learning or practicing when he was younger,
and he often ran away.
It was my duty to keep watch over him.
That hasn't changed.
B-but because of that, even I got to learn reading, writing, and singing!
I'm grateful.
Wow, I didn't know you could sing.
I can even practice with Oniyasha!
I haven't been singing much recently, though...
Want to try writing again?
Ow...
Sorry, can you grab that paper over there?
Is your leg hurt?
This is normal for me.
But isn't it getting worse?
What has Oniyasha said about it?
Well, uh...
Don't tell me... He doesn't know, does he?!
All your stumbling around makes everyone else worry!
Calm down, don't get upset.
It's upsetting!
He treats you too roughly!
It's okay. It's my fault, anyways.
Eh?
The way he is...
He should go on living that way.
I want to see the shogun!
His lordship is busy!
Don't think a mere performer can easily meet with him!
But I want to see him!
Leave!
I won't!
Leave!
Don't wanna!
"Wanna"?!
Quit that.
Shinemon...
You should know that nothing will come of meeting the shogun out of anger.
That is true.
However, Lord Yoshimitsu has said to let you through.
This way.
What?!
Hey there, bird-brain.
Did you like how comfy the guard station was?
Of course not.
Thanks to me, you got away with just being locked down for a bit.
Be grateful.
So, why're you here?
It's about the old man who went on trial the other day.
What are you talking about?
He really didn't see it...
That sort of legal matter is just an everyday occurrence to the shogun.
He was born as a winner at the top of this world.
He really doesn't know anything about it.
I don't know what your issue is,
but those put on trial aren't worth fussing over.
That's not fair...
You're the only one in a position to say that.
Are you dissatisfied?
But you're on the same side as I am.
Eh?
You were born blessed, never short on food,
always receiving, and even taking from others...
I take from others?
You must have the strength to cast off the weak as well.
Get rid of your weakness and focus on power.
Only after that will your world begin to get larger.
But that...
sounds lonely.
Then steel yourself.
But... But that's just-
Lord Yoshimitsu.
Oniyasha said he'd like to ask about the dance competition.
Word has gotten out that there will be a different panel of judges.
Yes. I'll be the only judge.
The theme is "Shogun Yoshimitsu."
I'm the only one qualified to judge that.
How long will you last on this side?
That depends on you.
Thank you for your time.
Zojiro came to talk with me much earlier, y'know.
All I know is that it has the shogun's name on it.
Yeah, nobody around here can read!
I can read what that says.
I've never gone hungry, and I've always had somewhere to go home to.
That is an undeniable truth.
Toku's death is as well...
We're the Genji clan!
Forward march!
Yeah!
Wait!
I-I wanna play too!
Are you okay?
Me too...
You can't come with us!
The Heike clan lost, you know!
I-I wanna play too...
Oh... Um...
I can't stand being in a world
where the defeated are forgotten.
That's right.
Yah!
Ha!
Huh?
I'm the shogun!
Th-the heck is he doing?!
Look at him, riding a stupid horse!
Go!
Forget me.
I could never forget you and continue on.
This isn't Toku's wish.
This is my wish.
I will change this desolate world...
with dance.
And I will face him.
Yoichi.
I need your help again!
Oh? I was so sure you were gonna do it yourself this time, li'l guy!
You're getting a pretty late start too, li'l guy!
Raise your head.
I'll do my very best to help you.
Eh? Whoa, Yoichi!
Thank you!
I want you to sing backup, too!
Huh? Sing backup?!
You're kidding!
Ishiya.
Sir... Where have you been?
Help me out, Ishiya.
Huh?
I need your advice.
Sure, of course.
My, my! We planned this on a whim,
but look at how much bigger the audience is!
There is much anticipation for the rematch, it seems!
I hope Oniyasha is okay.
There is much anticipation for the rematch, it seems!
Now I'm nervous too!
I, Yoriyuki Hosokawa, have been an aficionado of the arts for 30 years!
I have quite the discerning eye!
"Experience is knowledge" is truly a most poetic phrase!
Shut up.
Now then, the Kanze dancer!
Whatever will he perform today?
Shut up.
Dengaku was quite the spectacle last time.
This round's theme is "Yoshimitsu" right?
Sounds like we'll see something flashy today!
Yes!
Shouldn't you be with Oniyasha?
I'm sure he'll be okay.
I see.
I will fulfill my role.
Zojiro.
It's starting.
Right.
Oniyasha.
I'm counting on you all.
An old person?
Such filthy clothing.
Interesting. There are no masks, and the story is a little different, but...
Is this "Komachi at the Gravepost"?
This is where the traveling monk and the 100-year-old woman start having a debate.
I acknowledge my defeat.
Great job!
The old woman was a delight!
Well, that was entertaining, but which part referred to the shogun, eh?
This story is about an esoteric monk
and an old woman embracing zen having a back and forth.
The monk gets out-debated by the old woman,
and she is declared the winner.
The current shogunate favors Zen Buddhism!
Did he really consider all that?!
That's our Oniyasha!
The theme this time is the shogun Yoshimitsu.
This is surely about the shogun government.
A play directed toward his lordship.
And, after this, the scene will change drastically.
The old woman was a radiant beauty known as Ono no Komachi,
but is now a shadow of her former self.
Fukakusa no Shosho, who once pined for Ono,
died after she toyed around with him for too long.
He then possesses Ono's body,
and she goes mad, dancing like crazy.
Fukakusa no Shosho's dance starts here...
Hm?
Huh? What's this?
I didn't know "Komachi at the Gravepost" had this sort of performance.
Well, it doesn't.
This isn't "Komachi at the Gravepost"?
Great Northern
Peace Chronicle
YOSHIMITSU
Episode 7
In Between
Kazuto Mihara / Kodansha