Manjiro reunites with Aya, but she tries to take his life for her brother's revenge.
Soon afterwards, Aya was indentured to a brothel to pay her brother's debt.
Manjiro and I somehow raised the money to save her
However, a blow to the head leaves Aya unable to speak or move.
Miss Aya, I'll be going into battle tomorrow.
GENJI 1 (1864) AUGUST
I'm going to Choshu.
Please wait for me. I promise to return.
August of 1864...
The shogunate led the first Choshu expedition to counterattack Choshu's invasion of Kyoto.
Manjiro, please be careful.
I will return without so much as a scratch.
More importantly, please take care of Miss Aya.
I understand.
I shall go then.
The Tree in the Sunlight
EPISODE 11 Crossroads of Fate
Do you see my face?
Do you hear my voice?
Listen carefully if you hear.
Manjiro is my son.
I will not hand him over to you.
You are the younger sister of my husband's killer.
I do not pity you.
You deserve divine punishment.
No...
Rather I shall punish you even more.
You will die from starvation.
You will lose all your weight. You will become skin and bone and die.
I will never again prepare you a meal.
If you want it, cry out and call for me.
Stand up and go to the kitchen.
But you can't do either.
GENJI 1 (1864) OCTOBER
Ibuya.
- It's been a long time. - Saigo!
I mean, Commander.
Don't stand on formality. Call me Saigo.
I'm glad you're well.
I heard a rumor that you were banished after the purge and drowned.
The one who died was a priest named Gessho who was my comrade.
Ibuya, let's both live long lives.
There are many things I'd like to share with you.
- Let's meet leisurely in Osaka. - Yes.
- Chief. - Hey!
- There's something I'd like to ask you. - What is it?
It is true that you're sheltering the Shinchu Gumi's leader's woman?
- That's... - Of course it's a lie!
They're speaking nonsense.
It's not nonsense! The chief redeemed her from the brothel.
- That's right. - You better cut it out!
Stop!
We're leaving. Hurry up and get ready.
Don't fight over petty things.
I'm very sorry.
However, those men who were drafted this time are a bunch of hoodlums.
I want to go back to the village.
I want to eat my mom's food.
How is she?
There are no changes.
Poor thing...
She seems to have lost some weight. Is she eating properly?
Yes.
I'll be back since Manjiro asked me to.
Please.
Goodbye.
How is it?
You're hungry, aren't you? It's painful, isn't it?
Still, you can't even look for food on your own.
You can't even seek help.
Lose more weight.
Lose more weight and starve to death!
OSAKA
I see. You were in Mito for a year and half.
- You had it rough too. - I somehow survived.
Will you be willing to entrust your life to me?
As I've said in the past, I want you to come to Satsuma.
You want me to quit the army?
I'll take care of it, so come to Satsuma.
You have popularity among the farmers and commoners.
But farmers are like a herd of cattle after all.
I know because I've been involved with farming operations.
Grasping the hearts of farmers is the key in building a rich country.
I need your help.
Thank you, but I envision a shogunate reform.
The shogunate no longer has the power to rule this country.
Satsuma has allied with the shogunate in this battle...
But one day, Satsuma will take power.
- You can exert your abilities... - I vowed to Touko-sensei...!
...that I would become a backing for the collapsing shogunate.
You say that, but there will be a power shift within two or three years.
Saigo...
We've discussed this enough.
Thank you for the drink.
I see... It's too bad.
Why are you here?
There was someone in Manjiro's heart.
It wasn't you.
Soldiers shot at a samurai!
Excuse me!
Come if you can get us! We'll shoot though.
- Are you the one who was shot at? - Some drunks suddenly shot at me.
Are you hurt?
I'm not hurt, but they're violent soldiers.
I'll catch them.
I'm Ibuya Manjiro, the head chief of the infantry.
Stop shooting and lay down your rifles!
Be quiet!
Considering how things are now, I worry how the Choshu expedition is going to go.
Which domain are you from?
I've deserted Tosa and become a ronin. I'm just a tippler named Sakamoto Ryoma.
- It's so ridiculous. I can't take it! - We aren't going to Choshu!
Behave you drunks!
Toss your rifles this way.
How can we listen to the commands of a chief who stole our enemy's woman?
- You did? - No!
Chief.
- It's Yahei and Sutekichi. - Those rascals!
What should we do?
- It's ridiculous. - It's a joke.
Hey, you mountain apes!
The only thing you can shoot is a roach!
Shoot and show us what you're made of!
I'll kill him!
Hey!
Chief!
Take them away!
Come on, walk!
That was impressive.
- I apologize for this. - Things happen. It can't be helped.
I'd like to buy you a new kimono in apology.
You sure are generous, Chief!
How about a drink instead?
- Alright. - OK, let's go!
Sir, why do you sing so well?
It's to seduce women.
You remind me of my friend.
He's a doctor but he's a womanizer and loves to have a good time.
He's also a great singer.
He's a great man then!
In life, you have to sleep with women and have a good time when you can.
I can't be enjoying myself when I consider the current state of affairs.
You're so noble.
There's no sense remaining loyal to the Tokugawa now.
What?
The end has come for the Tokugawa.
I'm going to build a new nation.
- A new nation? - That's right!
The Emperor will be restored to power and a new government will be established under him.
All the daimyos will take part in the government.
Others who are competent will be able to voice out their political thoughts too.
What will happen to the shogun?
The Tokugawa will become a member of the new government too.
I'm going to build a country where the people can have an equal political voice.
- And that's not it... - I've heard enough!
Sakamoto, I can't ignore this. You're planning to overthrow the shogunate.
Do you know Katsu-sensei?
Yes... I do.
I came up with this idea from listening to Katsu-sensei.
What?
I'm his pupil.
Everything up here, I learned from Katsu-sensei.
Katsu-sensei is a member of the shogunate.
Will he really suggest overthrowing the shogunate like you?
You don't know anything, do you?
He doesn't care about the shogunate.
He's concerned about the country of Japan as a whole.
That's why the other council members dislike him.
The shogunate no longer has the power to rule this country.
The Emperor will be restored to power, and a new government will be established under him.
All the daimyos will take part in the government.
Chief.
What is it?
- A shogunal messenger is here. - Messenger?
Ibuya Manjiro, you are hereby dismissed from your post as a consequence of your subordinates'...
...misconduct and for your partaking in a secret meeting with Tosa ronin, Sakamoto Ryoma.
This is what I'll say when Manjiro comes back.
She became weaker by the day and died.
It was her fate. I did all I could.
I'm sure Manjiro will grieve.
Dear, please don't accuse me of being a wicked woman.
It's only because I begrudge the family who took your life.
Hello.
Dr. Ryosen.
This isn't good.
She's become very weak.
Has she been eating?
Yes.
- And she's drinking lots of water? - Huh?
Yes.
That's strange...
She'll be in critical condition if this continues. Please bring water.
Yes.
She must've been really dehydrate. What does this mean?
I don't understand... It's too bad she can't speak.
I know this is rude of me to ask, but...
Are you hiding something from me?
No.
I see. Anyway, she won't last another week like this.
I'm taking her to the Medical Institute.
Please wait.
I'll take care of her here.
- But if she's left like this she will die. - Manjiro left her in my care.
I will take care of her.
Manjiro asked me to care for her too. If something were to happen to her...
I will not allow you to take her out of this house.
It's easy to let a person die.
You can just leave them be.
There's nothing harder than making them live.
And that is a doctor's job.
Doctor, you make it sound as if I'm doing something to her.
If you really hope for Manjiro's happiness...
I don't understand why you'd do such a thing to the woman he loves!
Manjiro is deeply in love with Miss Aya.
If you're going to be that stubborn, that's fine.
I will come everyday from now on.
Manjiro...
I've hoped for nothing but happiness for you.
But this...
This I can't...
Please take care of Miss Aya.
It's easy to let a person die. You can just leave them be.
There's nothing harder than making them live.
- The Naval Training Center closed? - Naval Magistrate Katsu was dismissed.
He was?
- Is that true?! - Yes... it's true.
Katsu-sensei was dismissed...? What is the shogun thinking?
Dear, dinner's ready.
Father!
Shh! Your father is working.
- Keep it down. - OK...
There is so much I don't understand about the structure of the brain...
Mother! I've returned.
Manjiro!
Mother...
- Actually... - I've heard.
I received a letter from Sir Saigo. Everything was explained there.
Miss Aya.
I've returned.
Miss Aya...
I had allowed loyalist ronin at the Naval Training Center.
KATSU RINTARO
It seems the council wasn't pleased about it.
They're all so narrow-minded.
If we don't do something about them, the shogunate will collapse.
Not only the shogunate, this entire country will.
I met Sakamoto Ryoma in Osaka.
Oh, you met Ryoma? Isn't he an interesting man?
He shared his political views with me.
Is restoring power to the emperor and establishing a government under him really your idea?
That's right.
This is no time for us to be split between the loyalist and Tokugawa factions.
While we're fighting amongst ourselves, we'll be taken over by major powers.
I agree! We must reform our country now or it'll be too late.
You're dependable.
However, you and I have both been dismissed. We are the same as that.
A Daruma doll...
We are unable to do anything.
The shogun even dismissed Katsu-sensei, the naval magistrate.
It's men like him the shogunate needs!
Those councilors are blind.
All the elders, councilors, and daimyos think only of saving face.
Not one of them have an accurate grasp on this country's affairs.
Don't you think this was for the better though?
How so?
Look at it this way. Now you have the time to take care of Miss Aya.
Am I wrong?
I was looking through a medical book and found a publication on a patient...
...whose condition is similar to Miss Aya's.
What?
It said the patient who was unconscious for many years suddenly came to one day.
- Did the doctor use medicine? - No, the doctor had given up.
In other words, the patient got better on his own.
What?
Then... will Miss Aya...?
It's possible, so don't lose hope.
What's wrong?!
Has your dismissal made you lose your touch too?
I'm not done yet!
I went to the fencing hall today. I've been slacking lately, so Tetsu-san beat me.
By Tetsu-san I mean Yamaoka Tetsutaro.
He's my fencing master.
Would you like some water?
Don't worry, you'll get better in no time.
You were speaking to her very earnestly.
Ryosen told me...
There was a patient abroad who was in a similar condition as Miss Aya.
One day he suddenly came to and got better
I believe Miss Aya will get better too.
I see.
I may be wrong, but I think Miss Aya can hear.
- She hears...? - She cannot speak or move...
But I think her mind is clear and she knows everything that's going on.
I can't help but think that when I look into her eyes.
I'm sure she remembers everything too.
One day she'll get better and say to you...
"Thank you for nursing me."
Manjiro! Please forgive me!
What's wrong?
I am...
I am a devil.
I tried to kill Miss Aya.
I withheld her meals and tried to make her starve to death.
I tried to kill the woman you love and cherish...
Please forgive me!
Please forgive me...
Miss Aya.
My mother regrets it deeply. Please forgive her.
From now on, I'm here.
I'll nurse you until you get better.
KEIOU 2 (1866)
Please be safe.
I don't want to go.
Don't be unreasonable. Do your job well, Army Doctor.
I don't like wars...
I shouldn't have become an army doctor.
Dear! What are you saying! you'll be late.
I know!
- Bye. - Goodbye.
Please be safe.
SECOND CHOSHU EXPEDITION
Although the first expedition was led to a compromise brokered by Satsuma, two years later the...
...shogunate led the second Choshu expedition believing they had the force to win.
However, Choshu was equipped with the latest weapons and tactics and gained overwhelming victory.
He's already dead. Carry him out.
Doctor, over here!
Seikichi! I just treated you the other day.
Doctor... I'm back.
He was sent back to the front before he could heal, and was shot again.
I've treated him three times. There's no end...
What's the point of treating them?
Is it so that they can suffer injuries again?
It'd be easier for you if you just receive a fatal wound.
- Doctor! What are you saying! - It's going to hurt.
I can't bear it...
Even if I treat them... they go back out to die.
KEIOU 2 (1866) JULY
I've returned!
Dear.
- Why does a doctor get shot at? - Ouch! Be gentler!
It's a battlefield, I was grazed by a stray bullet.
I was lucky it was my leg.
I wouldn't have been a man anymore if it was off to the side more.
- How can you laugh about it?! - Ouch!
You could've died.
Don't make that face. I'm back alive.
Please quit being an army physician.
If you have to be in danger like this, it's better just to be a town doctor.
You were happy that it would bring honor to our family.
Your life is more important.
I wanted to quit too.
Even if I treat them, they go out to die again.
I work in vain...
Then...
When you get injured in a battlefield, it's very lonesome.
Far away from your home and family...
You must endure the pain and suffering all alone.
I was able to put myself in the soldiers' shoes when I was shot.
Only an army doctor can ease their pain and suffering.
Someone's got to do this job.
It seems the outcome was devastating.
The shogunate army was demoralized and Choshu had nothing on them.
I heard the infantry suffered heavy casualties too. Damn it...
It was a rash war.
This is the result of their tactlessness and forcefulness.
Man-san, the shogunate may be coming to an end.
Miss Aya...
I promised I'd take care of you, but I may not be able to now.
I'm sorry.
I came to this conclusion after thinking over it carefully.
I want you to understand.
Excuse us.
The shogunate led a futile war and allowed many soldiers to die.
If we keep allowing them to hold power, they'll ruin the shogunate and even this country.
- We have no time to waste. - What do we do?
We'll inflict divine punishment.
We'll defeat the councilors and reform the country.
Sorry for the intrusion.
Who were they?
They are my friends.
I'll be late tonight. Please eat dinner without me.
Manjiro is acting strangely these days.
He and his friends lock themselves up and are discussing something in secret.
He doesn't come home till late too.
I can't see what lies in his heart.
Miss Aya, you've grasped his hear.
Please come to and turn Manjiro back to his old self.
I can't understand him anymore.
Miss Aya!
- Manjiro! - What's the matter?
When I lit the lamp earlier and looked at Miss Aya, she looked back at me!
Miss Aya.
Look at me.
It's no use.
- It must've be a mistake. - No, I saw it.
Miss Aya...
You're looking at the candle light. I'm sure of it.
- Her eyes moved? - There's no mistake.
There's no time to lose. I'll go check right now.
Wait, I need to talk to you before that.
This is between the two of us. Please don't tell anyone.
OK...
I'll have to kill someone.
What?
I have to exterminate the termites.
The termites eating away the tree in the sun?
That's right. I have to defeat the brainless councilors. It's the only way.
- Then I'll reform the shogunate. - Are you serious about this?
Yeah. I'm serious.
We must build an united country that can stand against the foreign nations.
Cool your head! What can you do alone?
I have my comrades who are with me.
Ryosen.
I'm leaving everything in your care.
Please take care of my mother and Miss Aya.
You're planning on dying, aren't you...?