01x09 - Himetaru Omoi

[bunniefuu]

I want to create a good performance.

But I'm still lacking in so many areas.

I just happened to do well
in my last performance.

I need everyone's help.

I realized that winning or losing
isn't what's important.

Yes, I agree.

Want to use this?

No, it's fine.

Things are awkward...

There's a song called
"Dance of the Brine Maidens."

I-Inomaru!

It's a song created by
our Shinza leader, Lord Kiami.

It's about two maidens gathering brine
at night during high tide on a certain beach.

It's a song of labor,
reminiscent of the Dengaku style.

This song needs two people
for the main roles.

Two mains...

There weren't many people who
could stand to work with Zojiro.

So you ask me?

This song is incomplete.

Our Dengaku style is less of a "show"
and more of a "routine."

It's a song that we'd sing and dance
merrily to while doing backbreaking labor,

to encourage ourselves
and pray to the land.

But "Brine Maidens" has
strong story elements.

It's one of our songs that's closer to
a Sarugaku performance.

To Sarugaku?

Sarugaku has ties to religious rituals,

so it has always been more of a "show"
that's made for an audience.

Come on.

And, I guess...

your troupe...

specializes in stories...

so, you know...

Sorry, his personality's
a little difficult.

I already knew that.

But I-!

I...

I... also...

I also...

want to create a good show.

I feel the same way!

I want to work with Sarugaku,
and finish "Brine Maidens."

You can start by watching.

Let us show you "Dance
of the Brine Maidens."

L-L-Lady Nariko is on m-m-my lap!

Hm?

Oh dear, did I fall asleep?

Oniyasha, I'd like to hear your opinion.

Hmm, well...

it's like...

it's like...

it's missing something!

Hm?

What is up with this kid?!

- Watch your mouth!

- He's talking about our performance?!

- Are you trying to complain?!

- Stop it!

Just hear him out first.

Shut up, you traitor!

Just own up to it.

You don't care about
Dengaku anymore, do you?

Huh? What makes you say that?

You've been working hard
with that idiot over there

studying up on Sarugaku or something!

Oh, no! I'm teaching Chiharu
to read and write.

Like that matters!

You wouldn't need to learn to read and write
if you planned on staying with Dengaku!

The special training you get for being
Inomaru's little sister is totally wasted on you!

- It's time to stop pretending
you're too good for this!

- Shut up!

She saw me...

I lost control...

God, how embarrassing!

Take better care of your hands.

You need them for writing
and playing the flute.

So, Oniyasha...

What is it that's missing
in our performance?

What's missing?!

Tell me! Don't hold back!

I-I'm going to hold back...

"Brine Maidens" is a
song about labor, right?

I've never worked before,
so I don't quite understand.

Labor is quite familiar to the audience.

However, that's not true for aristocrats
like Lady Nariko who may be watching.

How can we make this something
that everyone can relate to?

Oh! How about going to the sea?

The sea?

To ladle some brine!
Because they ladled brine!

Hm, but the sea is quite far.

Oh! Little Grebes Lake
would be much closer!

Of course, there's no brine there.

But you could convey the level of hardship
better than doing it with this tiny pond!

Let's get ready right away!

Yeah!

I'll talk to the people of the troupe.

You'll come too, right, Ishiya?

Well...

Oh... Ishiya's, uh...

What is it?

Don't bother, Ishiya.

I've noticed the way you
move your legs has changed.

Huh?

You're in pain, right?

Get some rest.

Thank you very much!

Your leg hurts.

Oh, it's no big deal!

But since I have the opportunity,
I'll take it easy while everyone's gone.

I didn't notice.

I'm sorry.

I'm looking forward to the performance
you and the others will create.

On a certain shore,
at night during high-tide,

two maidens ladle seawater.

They lament the hardship of labor,

and compare their lives to the seaweed
that drifts onto the beach.

However, seeing the moonlight on the water
in the pail makes the maidens sing.

"Ladling brine on a moonlit night
is like ladling the moonlight."

"Considering we get to carry the moon
upon our nightly cart ride,

the path in life we walk, is surely..."

Surely... is not a struggle...

Looks like you're struggling.

This is hardly anything difficult.

Y-you two are so fast...

So even wimps like you
are enough to perform on stage?

Must be nice that
Sarugaku is so forgiving.

S-Sarugaku has nothing to do with it.

I'm just weak.

Don't make it sound like
something to be proud of!

- Yikes...

- C'mon! Move move move!

My legs are stiff like burdock root!

What's wrong?! Keep going, go!

We've come really far.

Did you learn anything?

Did you learn anything?

Ouch!

Take this seriously!

I'm hungry!

Wow! Crucian carp sushi!

It's yummy!

Though they're both working for
the shogun, they're still children.

This might not directly help with
the performance, but....

They need down time
like this occasionally.

Your sons sure have quite the appetite!

They aren't my sons.

Oniyasha, slow down when you're eating.

And you've got food on your face.

Hm?

My apologies, Fujiwaka,
I just couldn't control myself...

Get away from him!

Who the hell are you?!

Shut your traps, you
filthy Dengaku dancers!

Say what?

Do you know who I am?!

Don't tell me he's one of those nobles...

Is he really?

I am a fan of Fujiwaka!

He's just an old coot...

I hate you Dengaku bullies
who give Fujiwaka a hard time.

It's been quite some time, Fujiwaka!

Have you finished reading
"The Tale of Karaito"?

"The Tale of Karaito"?

So that was you?!

It was so interesting
I finished it right away!

Oh, did you now!

Next time I'll bring
you "The Tales of Ise."

He's getting excited...

Hm, dear Fujiwaka, are you feeling
lost about something?

H-how do you know that?!

I've seen most of what's happening.

He has?!

I must say, even your
troubled face is beautiful!

Ah, these feelings that run through me!

Existing in this corporal flesh;

how infuriating it can be!

The first coloring of autumn,
in the warm rain of Ikuta Forest

As the days pass, their color deepens,

- like my love...

- Ikuta Forest?

This is Omi, you know.

A sudden love poem?!

And he's crying...

You uncultured Dengaku dancers!

Where we happen to be
is of no significance!

Ikuta Forest, the first
leaves to turn red...

Songs transcend time, place,
and the physical body.

That's right!

Hey, Oniyasha?!

It seems my sentiments have reached him.

Excuse me, the bill...

I will gladly pay.

But only for Fujiwaka's portion.

Songs transcend time, place,
and the physical body.

And the common folk,
and the aristocrats...

I know what's missing
from "Brine Maidens."

It's the smell, the color, the breeze...

And the way that makes
the two sisters feel.

I want everyone to see this view.

Thief! Someone catch him!

Wait, brat!

Stop! Don't you run away!

This is awful.

Did you write that?

M-my lady!

I-I'm sorry! I'm still not very good!

Eh? It looks fine!

But they aren't fine at all.

They're not nice like yours.

I've always admired beautiful things.

And the world of the stage.

I wanted to bloom beautifully
and be proud of myself, too.

Oh, did you?

But it's no use.

I'm not capable of that.

I still can't read or write...

I always lash out faster than I can use
my words when I don't like something.

That's what I hate...

about myself.

Well, I like it.

Huh?

People who are compassionate
are beautiful all the time.

Emotions always tend to get
tucked away in here.

That's what makes those people precious.

No matter if they yawn
first thing after waking,

or if their cheeks hollow out with age,

or if they have ink on their face...

they're precious all the same.

You don't need to succeed at something,

because you're already
beautiful as you are.

The two brine maiden sisters discover
enjoyment within the hardships they face.

Their feelings are the core of
"Dance of the Brine Maidens."

And the atmosphere needed

to properly convey them was
missing from the performance.

The atmosphere...

As it stands, the song hasn't transcended
the "routine" that it came from.

In the capital city, people from all sorts
of circumstances will see this show.

The color of the land
where the sisters live,

the smell, the breeze...

By using the atmosphere
to convey the sisters' feelings,

it will become something that reaches
many more people.

Or it should, I think.

If things go well...

What should we do, specifically?

Convey their feelings
through the atmosphere...

Something that can transcend time,
place, and the physical form...

The song!

Yup.

I'll try to rewrite "Brine Maidens."

What?!

I appreciate your point of view,
but "Brine Maidens" is part of our program.

We'll change it.

Let me do it, please!

What makes you think you can?
Have you done it before?

I haven't.

Then why?

But...

I'm the one who thought it
was missing something,

so I feel obligated to add to it!

Wh-what kind of sense does that make?!

Should I explain it to you again?

That's not what I meant!

I don't care anymore, do what you want!

Fine, I will do what I want!

Don't follow me!

YOU don't follow ME!

That darn Oniyasha...

he hasn't showed up to rehearsals at all!

He did all that talking about rewriting the song,
but hasn't made any progress.

And Zojiro's working so hard...

When I offered to work with Sarugaku,

I should have known that
it would influence the song.

Then why am I so annoyed?

Excuse me...

You can come in if you'd like.

Oh no, I just...

What're all those books?

We had them deliver some old ones
we read a long time ago.

We used to spend the whole time
outside of practice just reading and writing.

Is that Kan'ami's policy?

Yes, it is...

So, Kan'ami required reading and writing
in anticipation for this sort of scenario.

The Manyoshu, the Kokin Wakashu,

the Shuishu, the Kinyoushu...

The feelings our predecessors left behind.

The power of strong words
from the days of yore.

I'll use that power.

Done writing?

Uh, well...

I feel like something's still missing...

We're going back to your room.

Huh?

Let me read it through.

Huh? Um...

W-w-wait, no, no!

- It's not ready yet!

- Let go! You're heavy! Let me go!

Wow. This looks finished to me!

Well, he says it's not complete yet.

How pretty...

Want to try it?

Huh?

Zojiro, you can't!

When'd you guys get here?!

Zojiro, please call everyone here.

Okay.

This is... interesting.

I was able to envision the scenery
of the sisters for the first time.

One thing; you said it was the emotions
of the sisters that was important,

but from what I heard it was only
set pieces that were added.

Aren't you missing lyrics that explain
those all-important feelings?

I agree.

I felt like it still didn't have enough emotion
after I finished writing it.

But now I think it's good as is.

What do you mean?

We keep the most important
things concealed.

Yet no matter how deep
inside it is hidden,

our emotions come through
in our physical expressions.

Dancers like us wouldn't be needed
if the lyrics conveyed everything.

We stand upon the stage with
the feelings of the song concealed inside.

Through dance and music,

those hidden emotions
will bloom on the stage.

That is when "Dance of the Brine Maidens"
will be complete for the first time.

So I need everyone's help.

If we go down this path,
Dengaku may never be able to turn back.

However...

right now, I want to dance
this version of "Brine Maidens"!

I wish to stand on the stage
together with Oniyasha!

Let's do it!

- Yeah!

- Alright!