E11 - The Loyal Retainer

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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    12 years ago, Taruhi Village
[00:02] Relative 1
    Think carefully, Yukimasa.
[00:05] Relative 1
    Raise the boy in Taruhi, and he'll never
    be more than a local lord's second son.
[00:10] Relative 1
    He may even come to resent you for
    not letting him go when you had the chance.
[00:19] Relative 2
    You needn't worry yourself, either, Azusa.
[00:22] Relative 2
    It's not as if you gave birth to the boy.
[00:41] Yukimasa
    I leave Yukiya...
[00:43] Yukimasa
    in your care.
[00:47] Relative 1
    Have no fear. We'll raise him
    into a fine man in the Center.
[01:01] Yukiya
    Help, Mother!
[01:02] Relative 2
    There now.
[01:04] Yukiya
    Mother!
[01:13] Relative 2
    What's come over you, Azusa?
[01:14] Azusa
    Please leave. I will raise Yukiya.
[01:17] Yukimasa
    A-Azusa.
[01:19] Relative 1
    Don't be foolish. You'll cause
    a succession dispute. Do you realize that?
[01:30] Azusa
    Please leave.
SIGN    YATAGARASU
SIGN    The Raven
    Does Not
    Choose
    Its Master
[03:25] Rokon
    They both stormed out.
[03:27] Rokon
    What got Yukiya so riled?
[03:31] Natsuka
    I put my foot in it.
[03:33] Natsuka
    I got too worked up.
[03:35] Natsuka
    Nazukihiko warned me Yukiya's
    parentage was a touchy subject.
[03:41] Rokon
    Now that you mention it, he did say
    his brothers have a different mother.
[03:46] Natsuka
    A lady of the North birthed Yukiya,
[03:49] Natsuka
    but his brothers' mother
    is the woman who raised him,
[03:53] Natsuka
    meaning Yukiya comes from
     a superior line to the eldest son.
[03:59] Rokon
    I see. That'd draw a fuss, all right.
[04:02] Rokon
    Still, it's not exactly unheard of.
[04:05] Sumio
    I hope they can patch things up,
    but Nazukihiko is honest to a fault.
[04:11] Rokon
    Couldn't you handle it?
[04:13] Sumio
    Huh? I mean, you saw him.
[04:16] Sumio
    Anyone can see I'm not the man for—
[04:18] Rokon
    What's that? Scared of a little boy?
    And here I was, hoping for some fun.
[04:24] Sumio
    O-Of course I'm not scared of—
[04:30] Sumio
    No interest, huh?
[04:38] Yukiya
    Why didn't you tell me?
[04:41] Yukiya
    You knew all along, didn't you?
    That the Lord of the North is my grandfather.
[04:47] Nazukihiko
    It seemed impolitic to mention it.
[04:50] Yukiya
    "Impolitic"?
[04:51] Nazukihiko
    When we first met, you introduced
    yourself as "Yukiya of Taruhi."
[04:57] Nazukihiko
    If you'd said, "Yukiya of the North,"
    I would have responded differently.
[05:02] Yukiya
    In other words, you were planning to use me?
[05:06] Nazukihiko
    I won't deny it.
[05:07] Yukiya
    What did you want me for?
[05:11] Nazukihiko
    As a bridge to the Northern House.
[05:13] Nazukihiko
    We needed allies. They were the safest
    and most trustworthy of the Four Houses.
[05:21] Yukiya
    When did you set your sights on me?
[05:23] Nazukihiko
    A little over a year ago.
    Around the time I returned to Yamauchi.
[05:29] Yukiya
    A year?
[05:34] Yukiya
    You mean Lord Natsuka already knew
    about me before that banquet?
[05:39] Yukiya
    Or maybe he came to size me up?
[05:43] Nazukihiko
    Yes. Rumors did refer to you
    as a blockhead, after all.
[05:46] Nazukihiko
    My brother decided to see
    whether you'd be of any use to us.
[05:51] Nazukihiko
    And you surpassed his expectations,
    so he had you summoned to the Center at—
[05:56] Yukiya
    So you planned to recruit me all along,
    even if nothing had happened with Kazumaro.
[06:01] Nazukihiko
    That's right.
[06:02] Yukiya
    You knew how much I'd hate
    leaving Taruhi, didn't you?
[06:08] Yukiya
    And yet, you still brought me here.
[06:12] Yukiya
    For your own reasons. Just because
    I'm the Lord of the North's grandson.
[06:18] Nazukihiko
    That's right.
[06:25] (Flashback) Yukiya
    Why, you—
[06:28] (Flashback) Brat 1
    That does it!
[06:35] (Flashback) Yukima
    Stop!
[06:36] (Flashback) Yukima
    Idiot! Do you want to make
    more trouble for Mother?
[06:38] (Flashback) Yukiya
    But, Brother, they—
[06:41] (Flashback) Brat 1
    What's your problem, nuisance?!
[06:43] (Flashback) Brat 2
    Everyone's saying it!
[06:45] (Flashback) Brat 2
    The second son brings nothing but trouble!
    We'd be better off without him!
[06:49] (Flashback) Yukima
    Don't let them get to you.
[06:54] (Flashback) Yukimasa
    First, they wanted me to give Yukiya up,
[06:56] (Flashback) Yukimasa
    and now, they want me
    to make him my heir.
[06:59] (Flashback) Azusa
    Your heir is Yukima, your eldest son!
    Why would they force the issue?
[07:08] (Flashback) Yukiya
    It's still not too late.
    We'll put Yukiya up for adoption.
[07:12] (Flashback) Azusa
    Dear...
[07:13] (Flashback) Yukimasa
    He'll drag the whole clan into
    a succession dispute someday.
[07:17] (Flashback) Yukimasa
    In fact, it's already started.
[07:23] (Flashback) Azusa
    Why do you let those people
     push you around?
[07:26] (Flashback) Azusa
    That boy isn't some seed of disaster.
[07:30] (Flashback) Azusa
    So why don't you put your faith in Yukiya?
[07:33] (Flashback) Yukimasa
    I know he's not. But I need to
    protect more than just our family.
[07:43] Yukiya
    Do you have any idea how much pain
    people like you have caused my family?
[07:55] (Flashback) Maidservant
    Young Master! Try to be careful!
[07:59] (Flashback) Yukiya
    Sorry. My bad.
SIGN    Sincerity
SIGN    Yukima
SIGN    Ambition
SIGN    Yukichi
SIGN    Food
SIGN    Yukiya
[08:11] (Flashback) Ichiryu
    He might be hoping to at least swipe
    the lordship from his big brother.
[08:16] (Flashback) Friend 1
    Yikes! We've got
    a succession dispute coming.
[08:21] (Flashback) Maidservant
    Blockhead second son.
[08:22] (Flashback) Manservant
    Blockhead second son.
[08:24] (Flashback) Brats
    Blockhead second son.
[08:28] (Flashback) Nazukihiko
    Your effort doesn't interest me.
[08:33] (Flashback) Nazukihiko
    I care whether you make
    yourself useful to me.
[08:37] (Flashback) Nazukihiko
    I am so inept, I do not blame
    anyone for calling me a fool.
[08:42] (Flashback) Nazukihiko
    But you know, Yukiya...
[08:44] (Flashback) Nazukihiko
    I still consider myself
    a good judge of people.
[08:48] (Flashback) Nazukihiko
    You will never betray me.
[08:52] (Flashback) Nazukihiko
    Why? Because I doubt my enemies
    can offer you anything you would value
[08:59] (Flashback) Nazukihiko
    more than the trust I place in you.
[09:04] Yukiya
    What was all that, then?
[09:07] Yukiya
    You made me sound special.
[09:11] Yukiya
    But really, you would have taken anyone.
[09:14] Yukiya
    You didn't need me,
    just the Northern House's blood—
[09:20] Rokon
    Pity yourself if you like,
[09:24] Rokon
    but griping that people
    won't play along is just lashing out.
[09:28] Yukiya
    That's not what I'm—
[09:30] Rokon
    Try to cool off.
[09:33] Rokon
    I'm not here to cover for him,
    but the Prince has a point.
[09:39] Rokon
    Deny it or dislike it all you want,
[09:43] Rokon
    but you do have the Northern
    House's blood in your veins.
[09:48] Yukiya
    I know that!
[09:50] Yukiya
    But I don't have thick enough skin
    to shrug off being used for it.
[09:55] Yukiya
    You get handed all the dirty jobs,
    and people hate you for it.
[10:00] Yukiya
    Don't you get fed up with Lord Natsuka
     taking advantage of you?
[10:08] Rokon
    Me? I'm just glad I'm worth using.
[10:15] Rokon
    You don't get it?
[10:18] Rokon
    Fine.
[10:19] Yukiya
    What's the big idea? Put me down!
[10:20] Rokon
    Your Highness, there's someone
    I want him to meet. Do you mind?
[10:22] Yukiya
    Hey, stop it.
[10:24] Rokon
    It won't take long.
[10:25] Yukiya
    Aw, come on. Mind your own business.
[10:27] Nazukihiko
    I leave him in your hands.
[10:29] Yukiya
    Let go already! Let go!
[10:53] Yukiya
    Huh?
[11:09] Atsufusa
    Oh? I wondered who it was.
[11:15] Atsufusa
    I'm in this state because of you.
[11:19] Atsufusa
    I wanted Lord Natsuka to become kin'u,
     no matter the cost, but—
[11:25] Yukiya
    Are you hurt?
[11:27] Atsufusa
    You needn't worry. It's nothing serious.
[11:31] Atsufusa
    More importantly, I take it
    you have business with me?
[11:40] Yukiya
    You never meant to make
    the Prince kin'u, did you?
[11:46] Atsufusa
    I acted entirely on my own initiative.
[11:50] Atsufusa
    Lord Natsuka played no part in it.
[11:53] Yukiya
    You don't need to cover for him anymore.
[11:56] Yukiya
    He's been secretly in league
    with the Prince this whole time.
[12:06] Yukiya
    You thought Lord Natsuka wanted
    the throne, didn't you, Lord Atsufusa?
[12:13] Yukiya
    Lord Natsuka used you.
[12:16] Yukiya
    He used your loyalty to make it look
    like he and the Prince were enemies.
[12:22] Yukiya
    And in the end, you—
[12:28] Yukiya
    Why are you laughing?
[12:30] Yukiya
    You have every right to be angry.
    The lord you put your faith in betrayed you!
[12:34] Atsufusa
    As I already told you,
    Lord Natsuka played no part in it.
[12:40] Atsufusa
    You see, I decided to make him my lord.
[12:48] Atsufusa
    Lord Natsuka is a modest soul.
[12:51] Atsufusa
    No one would make a better kin'u,
    yet he never presses his claim.
[12:58] Atsufusa
    It frustrated me to no end.
[13:02] Atsufusa
    So I opted to act on his behalf,
    as his most loyal retainer.
[13:17] Atsufusa
    I've known of my lord's collusion
    with the Prince for some time.
[13:24] Atsufusa
    How could I fail to notice when even
     the likes of Rokon had caught on?
[13:30] Atsufusa
    I failed, but Her Majesty
    will surely kill the Prince one day.
[13:36] Atsufusa
    And although Lord Natsuka
    erred in defying his mother,
[13:41] Atsufusa
    she will most graciously forgive him
    and set him on the kin'u's throne.
[13:47] Atsufusa
    Yatagarasu throughout Yamauchi will
    welcome their dignified new sovereign.
[13:53] Atsufusa
    I can practically hear them cheering.
[13:56] Atsufusa
    At his side will stand Lady Nadeshiko,
    an heir clutched to her bosom.
[14:01] Atsufusa
    And...
[14:02] Atsufusa
    Ah, I was never to leave
    Lord Natsuka's side.
[14:12] Atsufusa
    That dream shall never be now,
    but he will remember me fondly one day.
[14:19] Atsufusa
    He will remember that a truly loyal
    retainer once gave his life for him.
[14:26] Atsufusa
    A retainer named Atsufusa.
[14:30] Yukiya
    You are no "loyal retainer."
[14:32] Yukiya
    You're just dreaming.
    Dreaming of what you want.
[14:39] Yukiya
    Rokon! Rokon! Rokon!
[14:41] Atsufusa
    The time will come when you understand.
[14:45] Atsufusa
    You cannot avoid it if you live at court.
[15:05] Nazukihiko
    Atsufusa was born into
     a minor noble family.
[15:08] Nazukihiko
    He desired advancement,
    but soon hit a wall.
[15:12] Nazukihiko
    His pedigree was dismissed at court,
[15:15] Nazukihiko
    and he learned that no effort
    he made would bear fruit.
[15:21] Nazukihiko
    So he clung to a sliver of hope: the first
    daughter of the South—his cousin—Nadeshiko.
[15:30] Nazukihiko
    If she became the kin'u's consort,
    he would gain a tie to the Royal House.
[15:37] Nazukihiko
    But the Southern House
    didn't send Nadeshiko to the rite,
[15:40] Nazukihiko
    and her replacement, Hamayu,
    fled without assassinating me.
[15:46] Yukiya
    His only option was to kill you himself.
[15:59] Nazukihiko
    The Empress probably put him up to it.
[16:03] Nazukihiko
    She has a frighteningly
    keen nose for such things.
[16:08] Nazukihiko
    She imprinted an idealized tale
    on Atsufusa's weakest points.
[16:13] Nazukihiko
    Maybe on Kazumichi, who had me
    waylaid in the pleasure district, as well.
[16:18] Yukiya
    In the end, Atsufusa
    would have taken anyone.
[16:21] Yukiya
    He didn't need Lord Natsuka, just a lord
    who would make his dream come true.
[16:26] Nazukihiko
    Rokon tells me Atsufusa started out earnest
    and concerned for his family. An ordinary youth.
[16:36] Yukiya
    What's wrong with this court?
[16:41] Nazukihiko
    Atsufusa's just the tip of the iceberg.
[16:44] Nazukihiko
    Maintaining a grip on
    your sanity is no easy feat here.
[16:47] Nazukihiko
    That's where we are.
[16:50] Nazukihiko
    I realize you detest places like this.
[16:54] Nazukihiko
    And that I have yet to win your trust.
[17:00] Nazukihiko
    Even so, Yukiya...
[17:03] Nazukihiko
    I need you.
[17:07] Nazukihiko
    I will soon be kin'u in name as well as fact.
[17:12] Nazukihiko
    I want you to stay here and aid me.
[17:15] Nazukihiko
    Of your own free will this time.
[17:31] Yukiya
    Like I promised, I'll serve
    as your aide until spring.
[17:36] Yukiya
    So would you wait for an answer until then?
[17:42] Nazukihiko
    Very well.
[18:15] Haruhito
    A year has passed
    since the Rite of Ascension.
[18:18] Akira
    Time flies swift as an arrow.
[18:21] Akira
    That day, we four held a party
    for the Prince, and he stood us up.
[18:29] Genya
    Today, the Southern House
    does us the same discourtesy.
[18:33] Haruhito
    Well, Lord Toru must
    feel loath to show himself.
[18:36] Haruhito
    After the fuss he caused, I mean.
[18:39] Genya
    But the Royal House
    hasn't done much better.
[18:41] Genya
    How could they accept the South's
    excuses and let them go unpunished?
[18:46] Akira
    The Southern House's prosperity
    is built on blood, money, and wiles.
[18:53] Akira
    Brother blithely ensnares
    brother in that family.
[18:57] Akira
    We shouldn't act surprised now.
[19:00] Haruhito
    Bold words. Perhaps you've
    drunk a bit too much?
[19:04] Akira
    Speaking of bold, black-hearted schemes
    are the East's favorite trick.
[19:09] Akira
    What do you hope to gain by
    sending off that naive young lady?
[19:14] Haruhito
    Goodness. I wouldn't dream of it.
[19:18] Genya
    Lord Akira, you've said enough.
[19:20] Akira
    Why, forgive me. I can't get
    enough of this Northern sake.
[19:24] Akira
    Well, you've made your share of moves
    behind the scenes, too, Lord Genya,
[19:28] Akira
    but the Western House
    will triumph in the end.
[19:33] Akira
    Consider this an early
    celebration on my part.
[19:36] Akira
    Try to enjoy yourselves
    before your drinks turn bitter.
[19:42] Genya
    What?
[19:43] Haruhito
    Now, now.
SIGN    Blossom-Viewing Stage, Cherry Blossom Palace
[20:26] Asebi
    Lady Masuho-no-Susuki.
[20:29] Masuho
    Asebi.
[20:36] Asebi
    It seems like ages since
    we've had such a magnificent party.
[20:40] Masuho
    True. I've felt positively
     stifled since then.
[21:09] Asebi
    What's that?
[22:10] Masuho
    Your Highness, how I've waited for you.
[22:14] Nazukihiko
    Yes.
[22:29] Yukiya
    Ladies and ladies-in-waiting,
[22:33] Yukiya
    you have all shown great patience!
[22:35] Yukiya
    His Highness the Prince
    will now choose his consort!
[22:40] Asebi
    What?
[24:30] Narrator
    At the height of spring,
[24:33] Narrator
    the Prince alights before the
    three ladies of Cherry Blossom Palace.
[24:38] Narrator
    Amid the cherry trees in full bloom,
    he at last begins choosing his consort,
[24:46] Narrator
    leaving truths shrouded in darkness.
SIGN    To Choose
SIGN    a Consort
[24:50] Narrator
    Next time: "To Choose a Consort."
SIGN    YATAGARASU:
    The Raven
    Does Not
    Choose
    Its Master
SIGN    Illustration: Natsuki