02x03 - The Heike Fugitive

[bunniefuu]

It's pretty deep in the mountains.

There it is!

May I ask you a question?

I've heard Yumiko is staying here.

Yumi is fishing with her grandpa
in the valley river behind the house...

-Thanks.
-Sorry for interrupting!

Who are you talking to?

Until the beginning of the Meiji era,

people in this village lived quietly.

It was called a hidden village, right?

From birth till death,
people never left the mountain

and kept outsiders away.

Why would they go so far...

I'll be back.

Hey!

It's a nice and quiet place
to escape the heat.

It's my dad's hometown.

A new assignment?

Yep.

It looks like it's going to be tough.

I like challenges.
They make it more rewarding.

No, that's not what I meant.

A lot of people died,

including women and children.

We're only allowed
to save one person though.

It's an order. We have no choice.

Well, this is a problem
that comes with the job.

So, where are we going?

The year 1185.

The Kanmon Straits.

-Buyo!
-Let's go somewhere safer.

There are ships everywhere.

That's a lot of them.

There are 840 ships from the Genji clan

and 500 from the Heike clan.

So this is the famous
Battle of Dan-no-ura?

That's right.

The Heike clan will get wiped out,

and the Genji clan will rule over Japan.

The battle began at 8:00 a.m.,

greatly in favor of the Heike clan.

But then...

Here it goes!

Attack!

It's 3:00 p.m.

As soon as the tides in the straits
reversed from east to west,

the general of the Genji clan, Yoshitsune,

began a fierce attack,
taking advantage of the tidal flow.

Don't falter!

Take out the rowers!

Follow my lead!

I've been awaiting you, Yoshitsune.

Do you think you can defeat me?

The battle's over.

Just like in Compressed Learning.

-Let's get going.
-Okay.

Most of the renowned Heike warriors
died in the Genji clan's counterattack.

Women and children,
having realized that their end had come,

began jumping into the sea.

She's crying.

I warned you this mission
was going to be tough.

-But there's nothing we can do...
-I know.

I'm fine.

Let's just find our rescue target.

Found him!

The eldest child of Taira no Nobumori,



He's jumping into the sea to die
with his mother and brother.

Kamomaru.

I'm ready, Mother.

Quick!

If we don't rescue him,
he's going to drown!

You want to dive?

It's full of corpses under the waves.

Then how are you going to save him?

Look for dolphins.

What?

The Tale of the Heike,
which details the battle,

mentions a massive pod of dolphins

swimming around the Heike boats.

Found the dolphins!

You're right. That's a lot of them!

If the bio controller's electrode hit it,

we should be able to control that dolphin.

He's alive.

Hurray!

The tough part starts now though.

A strict nationwide hunt for the fugitives
will now begin.

And what if they get caught?

They get beheaded, of course.

Even children?

Children might rebel
against the Genji clan when they grow up.

In this era,

it was typical for the winner of a battle
to annihilate the entire enemy clan.

I no longer have a reason to live.

I'll soon be with you, Father, Mother.

What's he trying to do?

I've just saved your life!

-Leave it to me!
-Buyo?

What do you want?

Stop bothering me!

Why might that be?

It's like it's telling me not to do it.

Could it be
that you've been sent here by the spirits

of my deceased father and mother?

I understand, Father, Mother.

I'll try to survive on my own.

Please guide my way.

-Yes!
-The plan was a success!

Looks like it worked.

That makes sense.

It's very like you to use a white dove.

It's a perfect place
to stay for the night.

I'll spend the night here.

Really?

That's great to hear.

Yes, got it.

What did they check for you?

Despite the fall of the great Heike clan,

I reckon a decent number
of its survivors went on to live.

There must be people who escaped the Genji

and ended up living
somewhere in the mountains.

I think you're right.

So, I asked Headquarters to look into it.

One of those groups is heading eastward
beyond the mountains.

We just have to lead him
to that group, then!

What's that sound?

A sad melody.

His deceased relatives and friends,

the Kyoto capital
that he won't ever see again...

It's a farewell to all that he has lost.

Right.

Let's do whatever it takes
to help Kamomaru.

Of course!

Yeah!

What a strange dove.

Where are you leading me this time?

I'll follow you

since I have nowhere else to go.

He's on a mountain path.

Now, let's lead him along the ridge.

Someone's coming.

What's wrong?

Why did you suddenly move aside?

Just in the nick of time. Thank God.

I'm hungry.

What?

Did a lumberjack forget it?

Well, since you've led me to it,

it must be a gift from the gods.

I'll gladly accept it.

He's eating it without suspicion.

So far, so good.

He should be able
to catch up to the group in two days.

We should eat something too.

You two kind of look alike.

Buyon.

Yumiko and Kamomaru?

Now that you mention it...

Really?

I have mixed feelings
about looking like a boy.

-Buyon.
-What's wrong?

Where are you going?

Buyo!

See that?

That's...

Are you absolutely sure?

Yes, I certainly heard a flute.

It's a search party!

They're looking for Kamomaru!

What is it?

Wait!

Why the rush? Where are you going?

Straight to the valley.

What's that?

They're coming from this way too!

We need to find another path!

Where on earth are you leading me?

This way's a bust!

So is this way!

This is no good.
He's completely surrounded.

What happened?

It's only a matter of time
before they catch him.

What should we do?

I've got it!

I'll take his place.

Didn't you just say we look alike?

If I impersonate Kamomaru and get caught,

they'll lower their guard...

-It's dangerous!
-You'll be beheaded!

But they won't do that on the spot.

The fate of a noble person

lies in the hands
of Minamoto no Yoritomo in Kamakura.

A messenger's round trip takes days.

This will give you time
to help Kamomaru to safety,

and then you can come back to save me.

Headquarters?

Please send us
the same set of clothes as Kamomaru's.

What do you think?

You look just like him!

Are you sure?

I'll wait here for the pursuers.

You go watch over the real Kamomaru.

Got it.

What? Who's that?

A Heike child, it seems!

I'm the eldest son of Taira no Nobumori,

Kamomaru.

Seize the Heike child!

I can't let the fear get to me.

Act like a young noble. Be dignified.

Buyo.

Hang in there.

I'll come back for you tomorrow.

You may be a mere child,

but since you're a noble of the Heike,

your beheading is inevitable.

I'm prepared to accept my fate.

What worth would there be in my solitary
existence after the clan has perished?

Such honorable words.

Untie him and take him inside.

Until we hear from the Lord of Kamakura,

you are to treat him as our honored guest.

It may not be
to the taste of a capital's noble,

yet it's the best we have to offer.

Please enjoy it.

I'm very grateful
for your Lord's thoughtfulness.

You're lucky they're nice people.

My great performance
pulled at his heartstrings.

I've got confidence.

Don't get carried away.

All right.

I wonder what Bon's doing right now.

He's an official Time Patrol agent.

I'm sure he's got this.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

His apprenticeship was terrible.

Ream showed him the ropes.

Really?

I'm sure she was a wonderful mentor.

Ream wouldn't be the agent she is
if it weren't for yours truly, Buyoyon.

Please have a piece of fruit,
Lord Buyoyon.

Well, don't mind if I do.

I'm going!

I'm going,

but making me
travel through the night is cruel.

No need to complain.

There's a girl
putting her life on the line for you.

Who knows
how scared she might be right now?

I wish I could eat more!

I'm getting sleepy.

Excuse me, Lord Kamomaru.

Here's a token of kindness from our Lord.

Please change into new robes.

What?

No, thank you.

I don't understand.

You are to be beheaded tomorrow.

It's a tradition for warriors
to dress anew when facing death.

Now then...

Then please wait outside
while I get changed.

You get out too.

If I go out now, he'll see me.

Fine. Just don't look at me!

Absolutely no peeking, got it?

What's going on?

There's an emergency!

My Lord! We have an emergency!

It cannot be.

I inquired with someone
who knew Kamomaru from the capital,

and they confirmed that it was indeed him.

They may look the same,

but this rascal is actually a girl!

Inconceivable.

I've already sent a messenger
to the Lord of Kamakura.

I can't say that we made a mistake now.

Very well, then.

Off with her head!

Above the neck, there is no man nor woman.

-Please wait!
-Silence!

Wait until tomorrow. Please!

Learn when to give up!

Stop! Let me go!

You said you were ready to accept fate.

How can you execute me
knowing you've got the wrong person?!

Wait!

My pursuers...

I guess that's it.

Could it be that you're Kamomaru?

Indeed, I am.

We are members of the Heike clan.

Welcome. I'm so glad you're alive.

Lord Kamomaru.

Finished earlier than planned.

Hey!

Bon, we've got trouble!

No!

It wasn't supposed
to turn out like this! Bon!

Come save me! Just come save me!

How unsightly.

Get on with it!

Yes, my Lord!

You can't do that!

Can't you at least hold a trial?

No!

Don't!

Ouch!

I made it in time.

Thank goodness!

You were this close to losing your head.

Stop! I can't even think about it.

Whisking you away from there
was a bit heavy-handed.

I made the messenger lose his way
and sent him back home immediately,

so there shouldn't be any fuss about it.

That was a pretty tough mission.

I'm glad we made it out safely.

Good job, guys.

This flute melody.

It's the same one Kamomaru played.

Grandpa, what's this song?

Oh, this?

It's a melody that's been passed down
in this region since long ago.

I'm sure that Kamomaru
and the people who saved him

settled down in this valley.

Which means descendants of Kamomaru
could be among those who live here.

And you look a lot like him.

Oh, come on.