Notes:

• My Japanese is very poor. So take my translations with a grain of salt. There are a few parts I did not know how to translate, so I guessed at the meaning. Those parts are marked with an (*). Just keep in mind these are far from 100% correct or perfect. If you see a translation mistake, please let me know.

• The following should be read with manga in hand. These are only the dialogue. There are no mentions of scene changes, and very little description of action. So you may be confused if you don't have the manga in front of you.

• If you don't have the manga, I've written a summary of this chapter. So check that out.

Key:

text outside of word bubble

Last Revised: 3-18-02.

Chigusa:

What's going on?

Woman:

Some foreign goods are on sale.

They're really cheap—

I thought Lady Chigusa might like to see them.

Chacha:

Tatara's mother?

No doubt about it.

Chacha:

The resemblance...

Woman 1:

{sfx: kyaa kyaa} (squeals)

I want this cloth.

Chacha:

But...

Woman 2:

I saw it first.

Chacha:

Now now, there's plenty more.

Chacha:

I thought she would be imprisoned

in a dungeon or something, so why...?!

Chacha:

Lady Chigusa, how about this one?

Lavender goes well with you.

Chigusa:

No... I...

Chacha:

There.

Women:

{sfx: kyaa kyaa} (squeals)

It goes! It goes!

Well—

You would look good in any color—

Chacha:

I'm Tatara's friend.

Chacha:

We're trying to get you out,

so please endure a little longer.

Women:

{sfx: kyaa kyaa} (squeals)

This is so cute.

Chacha:

What do you say? As of now, I'll throw in an extra gift...

...per purchase.

(Chacha pulls out a bunch of origami cranes.)

Woman 1:

{sfx: kyaa kyaa} (squeals)

It's so cute.

But what is it—?

Woman 2:

A paper doll?

Sarasa:

Chacha,

if you see my mother,

will you give this to her for me?

{sfx: yoisho yoisho} (sounds you make when you're working hard or making an effort)

Chacha:

Eh— Tatara, you're pretty crafty.

What is it?

Sarasa:

Back when I was little,

my mother would make these for me...

whenever I start to cry.

You can use cloth too.*

Sarasa:

Since I can't write her a message,

if she sees this, she'll definitely know it's from me...

Chigusa:

...I have no money on hand.

Chigusa:

May I pay with this?

(Chigusa offers her necklace.)

Chacha:

...Ah...

Chacha:

YES!

Thank you so much.

This would be splendid!

Chacha:

Then,

definitely...

Chacha:

I'll definitely...

give this to Tatara!

Chacha:

Tatara,

you have such a great mother.

She's so calm...

and clever.

Chacha:

Tatara,

I can already see...

your joyous face.

Women:

Hey—

I want one too!

Women:

I'm buying this one, it's so pretty!

Women:

Me too!

Chacha:

Sure sure, there's plenty more.

Chacha:

It'd be good if I can talk to her a little more somehow...

Chacha:

I'll wait until tonight...

Red Palace

Shuri:

The plan was on hold before, but...

based on this design,

I think the underground water canal can finally be built.

Shuri:

This is a huge operation.

If an underground canal can supply water to every corner of the desert,

then this western country will no longer suffer from droughts.

Shuri:

Sakaki,

I leave you in charge of all this.

Sakaki:

Me...me in charge?

Shuri:

Money and manpower are no concerns.

Start right away!

Sakaki:

Yes Sir!

I'll give it my all.

Messenger:

{sfx: knock knock}

Red King,

someone is here to see you...

Shuri:

I'm in the middle of a meeting!

Who is it?!

Messenger:

Princess Senju,

from Dazaifu...

Shuri:

Sorry to have kept you waiting.

Shuri:

Long time no see, Princess Senju.

What business made you...

travel so far in your condition?

Senju:

Re...

Red King, I have no choice but to turn to you...

I know this is an unreasonable request, but...

Please...

Please help me.

Senju:

Lord Shidô and I...

have not yet been formally married...

before he left me.

Senju:

Therefore, Lord Shidô's parents...

want to keep my child after it's born.

Shuri:

So I've heard.

He was an only child.

Senju:

I...

I was told to forget everything and be married off somewhere else.

Tha... That's too much.

Senju:

To be torn from my child,

I can't.

I can't!

Maid:

Please do something.

My mistress cries and grieves all day.

This can't be good for the baby.

Shuri:

I understand Shidô's parents' feelings.

If you bear the child here, then it should be fine.

Shuri:

Somebody!

Prepare the southern Peony Room for the princess.

Shuri:

Shidô's child...

is my child.

I'd be happy to stand in as the father.

Senju:

Re...

Red King...

Shuri:

Right now, we're using the design Shidô left behind as a basis...

to further the construction of the underground water canal.

Shuri:

They say that people with the character of "michi" in their names...

are destined to work in public construction.

Shidô personalified this saying perfectly.

(The name Shidô has the character "michi" in it.)

Shuri:

When the child is born, be it a boy or a girl,

I'd like to give him a name with "michi" in it.

Shuri:

I'll have him inherit Shidô's legacy...

by entrusting him with the planning of this town.

Shuri:

I want him to...

inherit our dream...

of a green earth...

and a capital of scattering cherry blossoms.

Ashô:

Red King,

your generosity and kindness are boundless.

But this is a bit rash.

Shuri:

What do you mean, Ashô?!

Ashô:

There have been rumors.

That the child is actually yours...

(Enraged, Shuri pulls out his sword and sticks it in Ashô's gaping mouth.)

Ashô:

Agh!

Shuri:

Say that again!

Ashô:

Aaaagh!

Shuri:

Say that again!

Shuri:

What you just said insults me...

and Shidô!

Ashô:

Agh... gah...

Shuri:

What's wrong?!

Can't talk?!

Shuri:

Anyone caught...

spreading these rumors...

will have their tongues cut off!

Shuri:

Begone, Ashô!

Come, Sakaki!

Kazan:

That was careless of you.

Ashô:

Gen... General Kazan...

Kazan:

Have you forgotten?

In a fit of rage, the Red King once killed...

all the subordinates who annoyed him.

Kazan:

Besides,

Sakaki is the King's favorite these days.

Kazan:

Who knows...

when our statures will be overturned.

The King believes in meritocracy.

Kazan:

Sakaki is gifted in arithmetic.

Kazan:

You may be the national treasurer now,

but it's hard to say for how long.

Kazan:

If things turn out for the worse,

you won't be able to leech off the treasury anymore.

And unaccounted expenditures may be investigated upon.

Kazan:

I don't want to outright accuse you of embezzling,

so you better clean up your act.*

Ashô:

Damn you...

Wuh...

Kazan.

Investigator:

Red King.

Shuri:

What is it?

Investigator:

I've come to report on my investigation...

concerning the girl named Umewaka...

currently living at Lord Ashô's place.

Investigator:

There's no mistake about her identity.

Investigator:

She is one of Lord Ashô's distant relatives,

the daughter of a Sanuki merchant named Toono.

Investigator:

The girl even brought her parents' papers upon my request.*

Investigator:

But something strange is afoot at General Kazan's mansion...

Shuri:

That's good for now.

Keep watching!

Investigator:

Yes.

Ashô:

Damn it all!!

Umewaka:

Lord Ashô,

what happened?

Ashô:

Quiet!

Ashô:

Begone Umewaka!

Ashô:

Urgh...

I've been taking care of him....

ever since he got sent to this middle-of-nowhere place...

when he was just a little greenhorn, but...

Ashô:

That bastard Kazan!

Ashô:

I think the King has a good memory...

Ashô:

Dammit

Those barking dogs are so noisy!

Ashô:

Eeh.

I'll have to kill 2 or 3 of them.

(Ashô notices that the dogs are digging at something in his courtyard.)

Ashô:

What?

Hic

Are there rats?

Ashô:

Eeh. Won't move, huh?

You noisy...

(To his horror, Ashô finds a corpse in the dirt.)

Ashô:

Wha...

What's this?

Voices:

Master—

What is it...?

Ashô:

No...

Nothing!

Stay where you are.

Ashô:

{sfx: ha ha}

Ashô:

{sfx: ha ha ha}

This...

This girl...

What...

Why is she in my courtyard?

Umewaka:

She's the daughter of...

the Sanuki merchant Toono.

Ashô:

Eh

Umewaka:

In order to take her place,

I had to kill and bury her.

Ashô:

Ume...waka.

Y...

You...

Umewaka:

I serve the Blue King.

Ashô:

Blue?!

The Blue King's dead.

Umewaka:

No.

He's alive and well.

Umewaka:

The Red King is also aware of this.

Investigator:

Lord Ashô!

Investigator:

The Red King ordered me to investigate Umewaka.

What is all this?

Ashô:

Heh

Investigator:

This cannot go unreported!

Investigator:

You better explain this to the King.

From the looks of it,

he won't be forgiving about this.

Investigator:

I'm going to inform the King at once!

You just stay put.

Ashô:

Wa...

Wait...I...

Kazan:

Have you forgotten?

Kazan:

All the subordinates who annoyed him...

were killed.

Ashô:

Heh...

Umewaka:

Lord Ashô.

Your orders?

Ashô:

Orders?

Ashô:

...

...

Ki...

Kill him.

Umewaka:

As you wish.

(Umewaka kills the investigator.)

Investigator:

AH!

Lord...

Ah... Ashô.

Investigator:

You traitor...

Ashô:

{sfx: ha ha}

Heh...

Heeh

Umewaka:

Someday,

I'll introduce you to the Blue King.

Umewaka:

To thank you...

for siding with us,

I'll let you in on a good tip.

Umewaka:

In General Kazan's place,

Tatara's mother is...

Umewaka:

Lord Asagi,

if you want to drive a wedge into the Red Army,

to drive it between Kazan and Ashô—

would be the easiest.

Kazan:

For what business...

am I so suddenly summoned tonight?

Shuri:

Kazan,

I commend you.

Kazan:

Eh...?

Shuri:

Haven't you captured Tatara's mother?

Is that not so?

Kazan:

Who...

Who told you...

such groundless lies?

Shuri:

A maid from Ashô's place frequents your mansion and heard about it.

Kazan:

Ashô...

Shuri:

I want to see her.

Bring her here!

Kazan:

No.

I don't have such a person.

I can't bring you what I don't have.

Shuri:

Kazan,

Ashô tells me...

you have feelings for Tatara's mother,

and that's why you're sheltering her.

But I don't believe it.

You wouldn't do such a thing.

Shuri:

You're just thinking of ways for me to use her in the future.

Isn't that so?

Kazan:

Ye...no...

Shuri:

Isn't that so, Kazan?!

It is, right?!!

Ashô:

Your Highness, Tatara's friends are...

roaming about his mansion as we speak.

Shuri:

Shut up, Ashô!

Shuri:

Kazan!

Look me in the eyes and answer!

Soldier:

General, don't you understand the King's mercy?

Kazan:

What can I tell you?

If I don't know,

then I don't know...

Shuri:

Kazan!

Kazan:

Yes.

Shuri:

Get ready for a trip!

Shuri:

Tomorrow morning, you'll take off for Kyôto!

Shuri:

The Emperor demands my presence at the Blue King's funeral.

You will go in my place!

Shuri:

The journey from Kyôto through Kôya Mt. to Kumano

will take about 1 month.

Shuri:

It'll be a good time to stretch your legs in leisure.

Shuri:

Needless to say, female companionship won't be necessary on this trip.

Shuri:

You will not be accountable for...

whatever happens at your mansion during your absence.

So go without worries!

Shuri:

Upon visiting the waterfall,

take some time to cleanse your body and soul.

Ashô:

Seems like the one who has to clean up his act...*

is you.

Chacha:

Heave-ho.

Chacha:

If Tatara's mother is here,

security must be tight.

Zaki:

Chacha, don't be reckless.

Chacha:

I know.

Chacha:

I just want to have a little talk with her,

find out about her situation.

Kazan:

Miss Chigusa,

the Red King knows about you.

Chigusa:

Is that so?

Chigusa:

Then,

you'll probably have to deliver me to him.

Kazan:

No...

No. I...

told him I didn't know...

That I didn't know about Tatara's mother...

Kazan:

I've lied to the King.

Kazan:

What on earth have I done?

What should I do now?

Kazan:

I've served the Red King since he was a child.

I was impressed by his extraordinary talents.

Loyalty has been my honor.

My faithfulness has not wavered one bit.

Kazan:

If Tatara appears before me now,

I'd chop his head off.

A thousand horsemen cannot deter me.

I'm confident of that.

Kazan:

But,

what am I doing now?

What have I done?

I've never felt this way before.

Kazan:

Will you go to Kumano...

with me?

I can't leave you.

Kazan:

During my absence, the King will ransack my mansion.

He said I won't be accountable for what he finds.

Such kindness moves me to tears...

But...

Kazan:

I won't give you...

to the Red King.

Kazan:

Who would have thought...

Kazan:

...I can still lose my mind...

at this ripe old age...

Zaki:

Chacha.

Zaki:

That was fast.

Did you see her?

Chacha:

...

General Kazan will take Tatara's mother...

to Kumano.

Zaki:

Really?

That's better for us!

Zaki:

This pretty much ends our reconnaissance.

Let's head back.

Zaki:

Chacha?

Chacha:

...

Chacha:

Should I tell Tatara about...

what's going on...

between General Kazan and his mother?

Outlook:

Tatara!

Hisha has returned!

Sarasa:

Hisha!

Hisha:

Tatara!

I come from Chacha!

Hisha:

She told me to...

give you this.

(Sarasa sees her mother's necklace.)

Sarasa:

It's my mother's...

Mother.

She's alive!

Hisha:

According to Chacha,

she's under some sort of house arrest.

But she is well.

Men:

That's great, Tatara!

Tatara!

Sarasa:

Chacha!

Thank you.

Hisha:

Chacha and Zaki will probably...

follow the General's procession to Kumano.

Hisha:

I saw the troops depart yesterday morning.

Sarasa:

Oh Mother,

there's so much I want to know.

Are you bound?

Are you hurt?

Are you sick?

Do you have enough to eat?

I wonder...

Kakujî:

The situation is clear.

Kakujî:

General Kazan is going to Kumano with Chigusa.

Kakujî:

It's hard to make a move inside Suou,

but outside is a different story.

Voices:

We'll rescue Chigusa no matter what!

Asagi:

It seems Umewaka has done well.

Man:

Can we attack them en route?

Hisha:

No, the procession consists of many armed soldiers...

Sarasa:

We've failed before.

Sarasa:

Yunoka... Grandfather...

Sarasa:

Back then, the enemy was also General Kazan...

Asagi:

Well, how about this.

We'll just ambush them in Kumano.

Asagi:

The Emperor, White King, and Black King will all be there.

Won't it be nice to get a look at the Royal Family?

Voices:

Okay!

It's settled.

That's where we'll go.

To Kumano!

We're off to Kumano!

Narration:

Kii Peninsula Kumano-

It is an ancient place, appearing in many ancient Japanese records.

Map:

Kyôto

Kumano

Narration:

Lying south of Kyôto, it is considered a holy land.

For a long time, Kumano has been the mecca of faith.

Narration:

It is a major Shugendô place where Shinto and Buddhism harmonize.

The age old saying "pilgrimage to Kumano"

implies its popularity among the religious...

...then and now.

Asagi:

Tatara, the coastline is visible.

(Note: Shugendô is an ancient Japanese religion of mountain asceticism which combines elements of Esoteric Buddhism, Taoism, and Shinto.)

Narration:

It is said that if you walk along old roads,

you may come upon spirits of the dead.

Asagi:

That's Kumano.

Narration:

It is the place nearest to Heaven.

Sarasa:

{sfx: shiver}

What's this...

uneasy feeling...?

Men:

Kind creepy isn't it?

It looks haunted.

Old fortune teller:

That's the cursed forest.

Hayato:

Eh?!

Old fortune teller:

It has come at last.

Nagi:

If there are such things as spiritual energy,

then the atmosphere of this place is filled with them.

Shinbashi:

Getting goosebumps.

Kakujî:

Please stop that Nagi-sama!

Asagi:

On that mountain, do you see a white stream?

Sarasa:

What is it?

Asagi:

It's a waterfall.

The Nachi waterfall.

Japan's most famous waterfall.

Asagi:

People worship it like a god.

It's considered the origin of faith.

Sarasa:

{sfx: gulp}

Men:

Tatara,

let's dock the ship over here.

Somewhere hidden from sight.

Men:

There are lots of fishermen around here.

We wouldn't want to be seen.

Asagi:

Leave the landing...

to me.

Sarasa:

The Emperor is coming.

Sarasa:

General Kazan...

and my mother...

are also going to Kumano...

Shuri:

Kazan has taken Tatara's mother with him?!

Ashô:

Your Highness, his loyalty has obviously wavered.

This is treason.

Ashô:

Red King!

Send out the troops!

Ashô:

Subjugate Kazan!

Shuri:

To Kumano.

Sarasa:

To Kumano...!