E7 - Falling

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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    Summer Hall, Cherry Blossom Palace
[00:03] Shiratama
    Southern merchants, Western artisans,
    Eastern musicians, and Northern warriors.
[00:10] Shiratama
    We call the Four Houses equal,
[00:12] Shiratama
    yet the North has always resigned
    itself to fourth place.
[00:17] Shiratama
    Warriors make for poor politicians.
[00:20] Shiratama
    The other houses look down on us
    as hardheaded boors and ruffians.
[00:25] Shiratama
    In the long history of this rite,
    we have never married into royalty.
[00:29] Hamayu
    You really shouldn't put
    yourself down like that.
[00:33] Shiratama
    The Northern House dreams
    of an imperial marriage.
[00:35] Shiratama
    As long as we can attain that honor,
     we need nothing else.
[00:40] Shiratama
    So if the South were to retire
    from the competition,
[00:44] Shiratama
    we would cede every other advantage
    to you as compensation.
[00:48] Hamayu
    If you can get the Prince to marry you.
[00:52] Shiratama
    Naturally.
[00:53] Shiratama
    But I may request a little more aid
    from the South to ensure that I do.
[01:00] Shiratama
    In Cherry Blossom Palace,
    each lady speaks for her house.
[01:04] Shiratama
    Just this once, you will
    need to take me at my word.
[01:10] Shiratama
    So what will it be?
[01:11] Shiratama
    Work with me and benefit your house?
[01:14] Shiratama
    Or lose everything and leave the palace
     when your secret is exposed?
[01:25] Hamayu
    Hah. As if I have a choice.
[01:28] Shiratama
    I am delighted you understand.
[01:30] Hamayu
    What will you do about the other houses?
[01:32] Shiratama
    The naive Westerners will be child's play.
[01:37] Hamayu
    But the Eastern House is sly.
[01:40] Hamayu
    Who knows what they're really thinking,
    sending an innocent like Asebi.
[01:45] Shiratama
    Oh, but why worry about that
    when I can simply crush Asebi herself?
[01:51] Shiratama
    Do not fret. I know I will succeed.
SIGN    YATAGARASU
SIGN    The Raven
    Does Not
    Choose
    Its Master
SIGN    Southern Palace
[03:37] Yukiya
    So this is the Southern House's palace?
[03:44] Crowd
    Ugh. Why here?
[03:46] Crowd
    I wasn't told of this.
[03:49] Yukiya
    That must be it.
[03:53] Yukiya
    Ow.
[03:56] Rokon
    Well, look who it is. The Prince's aide.
[03:59] Yukiya
    Sir Rokon.
[04:06] Rokon
    They cleared out the guests.
     You can't get in.
[04:09] Yukiya
    Right. Thank you for telling me. Bye.
[04:13] Yukiya
    D-Do you need something?
[04:15] Rokon
    You seem familiar.
[04:17] Rokon
    Was it you who spied on
    our meeting in the Ravine?
[04:23] Rokon
    Oh well.
[04:24] Rokon
    Mind if I ask you a few questions?
[04:51] Toru
    Something wrong?
[04:52] Nazukihiko
    I just cannot see the resemblance.
[04:55] Nazukihiko
    To Hamayu, I mean.
[04:57] Nazukihiko
    Is the "first daughter of the South"
    who entered the palace your daughter?
[05:02] Toru
    I do not take your meaning.
[05:04] Nazukihiko
    It is a simple question.
[05:07] Toru
    As you guessed, I adopted Hamayu.
[05:10] Toru
    I sent an orphan I raised
    to take part in the Rite of Ascension.
[05:15] Toru
    But I promise you, she truly is
    a direct descendant of my house.
[05:21] Nazukihiko
    Her pedigree does not concern me.
[05:23] Nazukihiko
    But I believe you have a daughter of age.
[05:27] Nazukihiko
    What was her name again?
[05:29] Toru
    Nadeshiko.
[05:30] Nazukihiko
    Yes, Nadeshiko.
[05:32] Nazukihiko
    Surely she would have been
    the natural choice to take part in the rite?
[05:36] Nazukihiko
    Is there a reason she was not sent?
[05:41] Toru
    I am afraid my daughter lacks charm.
[05:44] Toru
    Hardly a fitting consort for—
[05:45] Nazukihiko
    Spare me the excuses.
[05:49] Nazukihiko
    Tell me why you do not want
     to wed her to me.
[05:52] Nazukihiko
    And was that your decision?
[05:55] Nazukihiko
    Or was it... someone else's?
[06:01] Natsuka
    Why not leave it at that?
[06:04] Nazukihiko
    Brother.
[06:05] Natsuka
    She would hardly be the
    first girl adopted for the rite.
[06:11] Natsuka
    No doubt Lord Toru acted to safeguard
    the Southern House and its domain.
[06:17] Nazukihiko
    Meaning he thinks that
     I cannot defend either?
[06:21] Toru
    No, I would never presume to—
[06:23] Natsuka
    Your Highness should
    learn a little humility.
[06:26] Natsuka
    I pledged fealty to you because I believe
     you will fulfill your duties as kin'u.
[06:34] Natsuka
    Yet at times, your high-handed
    manner grows intolerable.
[06:38] Natsuka
    It will cost you the Four Houses' trust,
[06:41] Natsuka
    which may, in turn, invite chaos to Yamauchi.
[06:47] Natsuka
    If that should come to pass,
    I will have no choice but to do my own duty.
[06:54] Natsuka
    The Royal House has no greater calling
    than maintaining the peace in Yamauchi.
[07:04] Natsuka
    Forgive my impertinence.
[07:07] Natsuka
    I merely followed Your Highness
    in speaking frankly.
[07:10] Nazukihiko
    Of course, Brother.
    I welcome your honest opinion.
[07:14] Natsuka
    You honor me.
[07:17] Nazukihiko
    It is time I took my leave.
[07:37] Atsufusa
    I beg your pardon for my foolish council.
[07:41] Atsufusa
    I never dreamed the Prince
    would actually attend.
[07:43] Toru
    Neither did I. He scared me stiff.
[07:47] Toru
    Lord Natsuka managed
     to smooth things over.
[07:50] Toru
    Still, for a fool,
    he picks up on strange things.
[07:54] Toru
    The attack in the pleasure quarter doesn't
    seem to have left much of an impression.
[07:58] Natsuka
    That concerns me as well.
[08:01] Natsuka
    My brother never learns from his mistakes.
[08:04] Natsuka
    Naturally, I support his accession.
[08:08] Natsuka
    But unless he mends his ways,
[08:12] Natsuka
    my backers may resort to further violence
     without my knowledge.
[08:24] Toru
    How fearsome.
[08:26] Toru
    Do you plan to seize everything
    without lifting a finger yourself?
[08:30] Atsufusa
    With all due respect, Lord Natsuka
    of all people would never—
[08:34] Toru
    Merely a jest, Atsufusa.
    Do not take it seriously.
[08:37] Atsufusa
    Even in jest, some things should not—
[08:39] Natsuka
    Atsufusa.
[08:41] Toru
    Well, I suppose I did get carried away.
[08:45] Toru
    I beg your pardon.
[08:47] Natsuka
    There is no need.
[08:53] Yukiya
    What do you want, anyway?
[08:56] Rokon
    You've got a warrior's look. I like that.
[09:00] Rokon
    A little dainty for my tastes, though.
    Where in the North are you from?
[09:04] Yukiya
    Taruhi.
[09:05] Rokon
    Taruhi? Where the lord married
    a daughter of the Northern House?
[09:09] Yukiya
    I have a different mother
    than my brothers.
[09:11] Rokon
    I see.
[09:13] Rokon
    So, Yukiya, how'd you like to work for me?
[09:17] Yukiya
    Huh?
[09:18] Rokon
    You've already caught
    Lord Natsuka's eye, remember? Join us.
[09:22] Yukiya
    I serve His Highness.
[09:25] Rokon
    Hm? So you've put your faith in the Prince?
[09:29] Yukiya
    I wouldn't go that far.
[09:31] Rokon
    What else would you call it?
[09:34] Rokon
    You could easily have died
    by my hand in the Ravine.
[09:38] Rokon
    Why do you still follow the master
    who threw you into that mess?
[09:43] Yukiya
    Anyway, I'm not going to
    become anyone's lackey.
[09:47] Yukiya
    I'm working as His Highness's
    aide now, but only for a year.
[09:51] Yukiya
    Then I go back to Taruhi.
[09:53] Yukiya
    I don't care about the Prince or the Center.
[09:58] Yukiya
    I want to keep my family
    and my home safe. That's all I want.
[10:03] Nazukihiko
    Yukiya.
[10:05] Yukiya
    Y-Your Highness.
[10:08] Rokon
    Is the secret council over?
    I'd better get back, then.
[10:14] Rokon
    Oh, and if you're looking
    for Sumio, he flew away.
[10:18] Rokon
    The moment he saw me, he took off
    like his tail feathers were on fire.
[10:25] Yukiya
    Your Highness, um...
[10:29] Yukiya
    It was in the heat of the moment, and I, uh...
[10:32] Sumio
    Is that bastard finally gone?
[10:35] Sumio
    Sorry. Were you looking for me?
[10:38] Nazukihiko
    Rokon said you had turned
    tail and fled in fear of him.
[10:42] Sumio
    What? Don't make me laugh!
    I just want nothing to do with him.
[10:46] Sumio
    Not only is he crazy, he's loud, he can't
    take a hint, and he grins all the time.
[11:13] Yukiya
    If we just flew home,
    we'd be back in no time.
[11:16] Sumio
    Sure, but we can't see in the dark.
[11:21] Yukiya
    The ladies waiting for Your Highness
    must be feeling so let down.
[11:26] Nazukihiko
    Undoubtedly. I regret disappointing them.
[11:29] Yukiya
    Huh?
[11:30] Nazukihiko
    What is it?
[11:30] Yukiya
    I just, uh, wasn't expecting that answer.
[11:33] Nazukihiko
    I do not despise Cherry
    Blossom Palace nor Tanabata.
[11:39] Nazukihiko
    Yukiya, I do not avoid Cherry Blossom
    Palace simply because I fear assassins.
[11:46] Nazukihiko
    I stay away because I can easily picture
    how my visits would affect the ladies.
[11:53] Nazukihiko
    They all bear the weight of their houses'
    expectations, though not all equally.
[12:02] Nazukihiko
    If I meet the eyes of one,
    it will give her hope.
[12:05] Nazukihiko
    If I speak to one,
    she will think herself chosen.
[12:10] Nazukihiko
    And even those fortunate enough
    to become my consort or concubine
[12:14] Nazukihiko
    will spend the rest of their lives
    fearing assassination.
[12:20] Nazukihiko
    You could say I bring them only harm.
[12:24] Nazukihiko
    But to become kin'u, I must take a consort.
[12:29] Nazukihiko
    So I will sow as little misfortune
    as I can. Isn't that the kindest way?
[12:34] Yukiya
    Your Highness...
[12:37] Yukiya
    I guess it can't be easy, having the ladies
    resent you because they don't know.
[12:44] Nazukihiko
    That doesn't matter.
[12:50] Yukiya
    You leave yourself wide open.
[12:55] Yukiya
    You worry about other people, but you
    just keep taking risks, like you did today.
[13:01] Yukiya
    Get serious about protecting yourself
    or you'll die one of these days.
[13:05] Nazukihiko
    I'll be fine. I am a kin'u.
[13:08] Yukiya
    That doesn't prove anything!
[13:11] Nazukihiko
    All right. I'll bear it in mind.
[13:14] Nazukihiko
    But I don't think I am quite as
    defenseless as you imagine I am.
[13:18] Nazukihiko
    I am capable with a sword,
    and I do have friends.
[13:22] Yukiya
    Apart from Sumio and me?
[13:24] Nazukihiko
    Yes.
[13:25] Yukiya
    Allies you can trust?
[13:27] Nazukihiko
    Of course. I trust them with my life.
[13:29] Yukiya
    Who do you mean?
[13:31] Sumio
    You want to know? It's our biggest secret.
[13:34] Yukiya
    Uh...
[13:37] Yukiya
    I think I'll pass.
[13:38] Sumio
    Huh?
[13:39] Yukiya
    I mean, I won't be able to leave
    after a year if you tell me.
[13:43] Yukiya
    And I'm going home to Taruhi
    next spring, no matter what.
[13:47] Yukiya
    So don't tell me. Not ever.
[13:49] Sumio
    Fine. You win.
SIGN    Spring Hall, Cherry Blossom Palace
[13:57] Samomo
    I have returned.
[14:00] Asebi
    Thank you for going, Samomo.
[14:03] Asebi
    How did it go? Did you get an answer?
[14:08] Asebi
    Thank you!
[14:10] Asebi
    You must be tired. Take it easy today.
[14:31] Asebi
    Lady Shiratama?
[14:33] Shiratama
    Who wrote that letter?
[14:34] Asebi
    What?
[14:36] Shiratama
    Did the Prince send you that, by any chance?
[14:39] Asebi
    No, this is—
[14:41] Shiratama
    How shameless.
[14:42] Shiratama
    I know you have been scheming
    with that royal lady-in-waiting, Samomo.
[14:47] Shiratama
    You must be our letter thief.
[14:49] Asebi
    What? I am not, Lady Shiratama.
[14:52] Shiratama
    Then, show that to me.
[14:56] Asebi
    S-Stop!
[14:59] Asebi
    I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to...
[15:01] Shiratama
    That look.
[15:04] Shiratama
    That "I've never had an impure thought" look
     of yours disgusts me so much, I could retch!
[15:18] Asebi
    Someone...
[15:21] Asebi
    Anyone...
[15:27] Masuho
    Calm yourself.
[15:29] Masuho
    The pool is shallow here. Try to stand.
[15:32] Asebi
    Lady Masuho-no-Susuki...
[15:35] Masuho
    What do you think you are doing?
[15:37] Shiratama
    Whatever do you mean?
[15:39] Shiratama
    Lady Asebi merely tripped and fell.
[15:42] Masuho
    Don't play innocent.
    I shall report this to Princess Fujinami.
[15:46] Shiratama
    Oh? Then, so will I.
[15:49] Shiratama
    Her Highness should know that the Western
    and Eastern Houses colluded to vilify me.
[15:55] Masuho
    What are you talking about?
[15:58] Masuho
    Do you think Her Highness
    would believe such nonsense?
[16:01] Masuho
    And the Royal House can
    hardly dismiss us out of hand.
[16:06] Shiratama
    Ignorance is bliss. Do you not realize
    the political situation has changed?
[16:11] Shiratama
    The North has soldiers
    and the South has wealth.
[16:14] Shiratama
    Now that they have joined forces, anyone
    can see which side the Royal House will take.
[16:21] Masuho
    The Northern and
    Southern Houses? Impossible.
[16:24] Shiratama
    The Southern House has already promised
    to cede the Prince's hand to me.
[16:29] Shiratama
    If you doubt me, ask Lady Hamayu.
[16:33] Shiratama
    Though I suggest you behave yourselves,
    unless you wish to endanger your own houses.
[16:41] Masuho
    Don't be absurd.
[16:43] Masuho
    His Highness would never
    choose a coward like you.
[16:47] Shiratama
    Then, I will simply ensure that
    the rest of you have no place here.
[16:53] Shiratama
    He will marry me
    when he has no other choice.
[16:56] Asebi
    How horrible!
[16:59] Shiratama
    You are both here out of love for the Prince.
[17:03] Shiratama
    But I am not.
[17:05] Shiratama
    I could not care less how he feels.
[17:10] Shiratama
    The North dreams of an imperial marriage.
[17:13] Shiratama
    I am here to secure one,
    and for no other reason.
[17:23] Masuho
    Do you not feel lonely, living like that?
[17:31] Shiratama
    No. I have discarded all such sentiments.
[17:37] Shiratama
    Consider yourselves warned.
[17:41] Shiratama
    If you should marry
    the Prince in spite of me,
[17:49] Shiratama
    I swear I will ruin you.
[17:52] Shiratama
    Then I will thrust this
    into my throat and die myself.
[17:58] Shiratama
    Bear it in mind.
[18:21] Kikuno
    My lady?
[18:22] Kikuno
    What are you doing there?
[18:24] Masuho
    Kikuno, you fool!
    Why were you not here sooner?
[18:26] Kikuno
    What?
SIGN    Autumn Hall, Cherry Blossom Palace
[18:34] Masuho
    Who could have imagined that
    Shiratama would have such ideas?
[18:38] Masuho
    I never so much as suspected her.
[18:41] Masuho
    I believed that my sincere love
    and devotion would reach the Prince.
[18:46] Masuho
    That was how I saw the Rite of Ascension.
[18:51] Masuho
    You wrote to your house's main residence?
[18:53] Asebi
    Yes.
[18:55] Asebi
    I had Samomo deliver my letter in person.
[18:57] Masuho
    That breaks the rules.
[18:59] Asebi
    I know.
[19:01] Asebi
    But I just had to learn about my mother,
[19:05] Asebi
    so I asked a manservant I know well
    to tell me anything he could.
[19:10] Masuho
    And did you learn about her?
[19:14] Asebi
    Nothing yet.
[19:18] Masuho
    I am told this story
    comes from my late aunt,
[19:23] Masuho
    but when the current
    Kin'u chose his consort,
[19:25] Masuho
    the Eastern House sent a master
    of the koto to the palace.
[19:30] Masuho
    I believe she went by Ukigumo.
[19:33] Asebi
    Wait, "Drifting Cloud"?
[19:35] Masuho
    She seemed pure,
     untainted by worldly affairs.
[19:40] Masuho
    She and the Kin'u soon fell in love.
[19:43] Masuho
    His Majesty visited her the most,
    and people said their marriage was assured.
[19:49] Masuho
    However...
[19:51] Masuho
    They fell prey to Lady Yuzemi's plots.
[19:55] Asebi
    Who is that?
[20:01] Kikuno
    Our current Empress.
[20:03] Asebi
    What?
[20:05] Kikuno
    As a result, Her Majesty
    conceived Lord Natsuka.
[20:09] Kikuno
    The rite ended before spring,
[20:12] Kikuno
    and I hear Lady Ukigumo
    returned to her home in tears.
[20:16] Asebi
    Then, Lady Ukigumo was...
[20:20] Masuho
    Your mother. She must be.
[20:22] Masuho
    The koto bearing her name
    might even have belonged to her.
[20:26] Kikuno
    Her Majesty is the real "Lady Raven."
[20:30] Kikuno
    How Ukogi must have resented her.
[20:33] Asebi
    I had no idea.
[20:35] Masuho
    Asebi, you must not tell Princess Fujinami
    or anyone else what happened today.
[20:39] Asebi
    Huh?
[20:40] Masuho
    We will play into her hands
    if we make a scene.
[20:43] Masuho
    If the North and South
    really have joined forces,
[20:47] Masuho
    we will be crushed.
[20:49] Masuho
    In fact, the damage may not stop there.
[20:58] Masuho
    Are you all right now?
[20:59] Asebi
    Yes. I feel refreshed somehow.
[21:02] Asebi
    I must send Samomo back to
    Princess Fujinami when I get back.
[21:07] Asebi
    Thank you so much for everything.
[21:11] Masuho
    Asebi, I have been so haughty all this time,
     never thinking of your feelings.
[21:17] Masuho
    I know I must have hurt you.
[21:21] Masuho
    I am truly sorry.
[21:23] Asebi
    You do not need to be,
    Lady Masuho-no-Susuki.
[21:58] Yukiya
    Excuse me. What's all this?
[22:00] Nazukihiko
    I got my results from some pots,
    so I thought I'd have the plants replaced.
[22:06] Nazukihiko
    This is Kazumi the gardener.
SIGN    Gardener
    Kazumi
[22:08] Nazukihiko
    He serves the Royal House
    but he sometimes brings me news.
[22:12] Nazukihiko
    One of my few friends
    on the outside, you might say.
[22:15] Kazumi
    You must be Yukiya.
    It is a pleasure to meet you.
[22:18] Yukiya
    Nice to meet you, Kazumi.
[22:22] Nazukihiko
    I don't see Sumio.
[22:24] Yukiya
    The Yamauchi Guard
    called him away out of the blue.
[22:27] Nazukihiko
    A summons?
[22:29] Nazukihiko
    I see.
[22:30] Nazukihiko
    Kazumi, continue without me.
SIGN    Stage, Cherry Blossom Palace
[24:30] Narrator
    Samomo's death causes a commotion
    in Cherry Blossom Palace.
[24:35] Narrator
    Shiratama turns her ire
    on the weeping Asebi once more.
[24:41] Narrator
    On a moonless night,
    a shadow steals into the world of women.
[24:50] Narrator
    Next time: "The Intruder."
SIGN    The Intruder
SIGN    YATAGARASU:
    The Raven
    Does Not
    Choose
    Its Master
SIGN    Illustration: Natsuki