The Phoenix
The third day of the twelfth month in the eleventh year of the Tenji Era...
...Emperor Tenji perished.
Oh-ama-no-miko, who was living secretly in Yoshino...
...received this news on the same day.
Urgent message to Oh-ama-no-miko from Ohtsu!
The Emperor has passed away.
The Emperor is deceased?
Finally...
Until the mourning period is over, my uncle is not going to make a move...
...however...
Rumor has it that he is anxious to raise an army...
...and come to attack us here in Ohtsu at any time now.
Those are just rumors, and nothing more.
I want all of you to promise me.
Swear you will support me, and not that Oh-ama-no-miko...
...no matter what happens.
Of course, sir.
I put my trust in you.
I put my trust in you, Hatayasu.
The Sun Chapter 3
So, what's the letter from old boil-nose about?
It says that the Emperor has passed away...
The Emperor's dead?
Is that so? That's great news!
Obaba?
Now they won't punish you for attacking the governor!
How so?
A new lord will ascend to the throne, I'm sure he will grant general amnesty.
I don't think it'll be that easy...
That's right. It's not over yet.
The gods of this land will continue to be hunted.
Tenji's body was laid out in the Mogari Shrine...
...and the unrest died down as winter snow covered the land.
However, the season changed and spring arrived.
Soon the fear of revolution was reborn in the minds of the people.
Marimo...
What are you doing?
I was just recalling how long it's been since I arrived here.
I came to this land to free myself from my cursed fate.
Obaba said I would have a bright future if I came east, and I believed her.
To free yourself from your curse?
But, now I don't even think about my original reason for coming here.
Because you have your people to protect.
Yes, but that's not all.
Sometimes I think I'm just chasing after shadows.
Marimo...
Inugami...
What?
Are you going to carry out this plan without consulting the prince?
Unfortunately, Ohtomo-no-miko has such delicate sensibilities.
Now that the mourning period for the Emperor has passed...
...Oh-ama-no-miko in Yoshino will surely raise an army and make a move...
However, Ohtomo-no-miko has no interest in what is going on in Yoshino.
I see. So you are suggesting that we force the issue...
But how are we going to get the rest of the Imperial ministers to agree?
The Imperial Ministers?
Who in the Imperial Court can oppose Lord Hatayasu now?
And if Oh-ama-no-miko raises an army first, they'll have no choice but to listen.
First, we must cut off all food supplies to Yoshino...
...and drive Oh-ama-no-miko to revolt.
I see...
Also, we must take Inugami's village.
I understand cutting off their food supplies, but why Inugami's village?
Have you forgotten who appointed Inugami mayor?
Saruta...
As you are aware...
Inugami's village is strategically located on the road that connects...
...Ohmi with Mino.
Oh-ama-no-miko is a clever man...
...I'm sure he installed Inugami there for just that reason.
He needs to secure his supply lines...
Indeed.
I see...
We will send Karakuni and his squad to Inugami's village right away.
What?
Three mounted soldiers are coming.
Whoa.
Are you the mayor of this village?
Yes, sir. I am Inugami.
Oh, the rumors are true, you do have the face of a dog.
Excuse me, but who might you be?
I am Iki-no-fubito, Karakuni.
Don't you think sending an entire brigade...
...to capture a small village leader is overdoing it?
What?
So you knew, huh?
I am the only one who openly opposed the Imperial Court.
It will solve a lot of problems if I disappear.
What? So you're voluntarily surrendering?
Yes, just please spare my people.
Fine.
Go home!
We won't let you take our mayor! Leave and don't ever come back!
Everyone, stop it!
Calm down! Please, be quiet!
But, Mayor Inugami...
Just leave it to me.
Please, General Karakuni, forgive them.
These people are just trying to protect me.
What do you mean forgive them? They've done nothing.
Don't worry, Inugami.
This whole thing wasn't my idea.
That's why I had my men wait in the woods.
General Karakuni...
Yes.
What did you say?
Ohtsu is forming an army from the men recruited to...
...build the Emperor's temple?
When Osukimi visited Mino...
...he heard it from both governors of Mino and Owari.
They are supposedly giving weapons to the laborers.
Weapons?
How dare they!
Remember, we are outnumbered.
We have no chance of winning unless we move faster than Ohtsu!
Oyori!
Sir! Oyori!
Kimite!
Sir! Kimite!
Kimihiro!
Sir! Kimihiro!
You three head to Mino first, make contact with our supporters...
...begin gathering men who will fight with us, and get to the fort at Fuwa.
Saruta.
Sir.
I want you to head for Ohtsu.
Hurry!
I want you to rescue my son, Takechi-no-miko...
...who is being held hostage in the capital.
Understood.
Victory belongs to the decisive.
Even the bright moon takes our side, lighting the path to the east.
The army of Yoshino has begun to move.
They are gathering their supporters.
As to be expected from Oh-ama-no-miko, he moves quickly.
And so must we.
Getsudan, go to the palace...
...capture Takechi-no-miko and keep him with the commander.
Yes, sir.
Whoa!
That is Ohmi, and the capital town is just beyond it.
Inugami, what are you trying to do in the capital?
You don't strike me as the kind of man who'd let himself be taken so quietly.
I see...
So you could tell...
There is something I want to say to the Emperor.
The Emperor?
Do you really think they'll ever let you see the Emperor?
I don't care if it means my life.
I must tell the Emperor about the plight of my people.
No matter the price!
Inugami...
Inugami, I will do what I can to see that you get to meet the Emperor.
General Karakuni...
Inugami, I myself am also a foreigner.
I am from the land of Toh.
But even though we're from different homelands, here we are in the same boat.
Father!
Are you going?
I'm sorry. But, I must...
Marimo, if this is something you have decided in your heart...
...you should not hesitate.
Father...
Now go.
You have my blessing.
Yes!
Father, I'm sorry...
Marimo, please stay alive...
Who's there?
General Karakuni...
What's this?
They're my servant's formal clothes.
I can't let you visit the Emperor looking like that.
So I'm going to...
Iki-no-fubito, Karakuni, reporting.
I have brought the man I would like you to see.
Inugami, you have something you would like to tell me?
I have one request, your majesty. I beseech you to exercise your mercy and...
...allow the people to worship the ancient gods of Ametsuchi.
In other words, you want me to stop enforcing the practice of Buddhism.
That is correct.
I have come to realize during my service as the mayor of the village...
...the depth of devotion the villagers feel for the ancient gods of their land.
I understand the importance of the sacred teachings of Buddha.
However, I believe the ancient gods are also important.
Yes, you may have a point about the ancient gods.
They must be given their due.
But right now, it is more important to unite the people...
...and build a strong country, than to preserve the ancient gods.
My late father, the previous Emperor...
...realized he could never unite the kingdom as long as...
...each tribe worshipped its own gods, so he propagated Buddhism.
We must focus on the teaching of Buddhism to reconstruct the land of Wah.
Building temples is just one part of the political transformation of this kingdom.
But...
But what good is a powerful kingdom, if the people are unhappy?
You sound just like my uncle.
What?
At first, it was hard for me to accept the Emperor's policy myself...
I am sorry, there is nothing I can do about this now.
I hope you understand someday...
The burdens of leadership weigh very heavily.
Lord Takechi is at the East Palace!
Inugami...
Is that you? Marimo? Inugami...
Marimo!
Inugami, are you all right?
Yes.
Let's get you out of here right now!
Who's there?
You must be the son of Oh-ama-no-miko, Takechi-no-miko!
What? What is going on?
I can't come with you. I'm going to stay here.
Why?
Why can't you? Inugami?
There is something I have to do.
But if you stay here, sooner or later, you will be killed!
Maybe so, but I have to keep trying to make the Emperor understand.
I couldn't convince him tonight.
But I'm not going to give up as long as I live...
Inugami...
I don't want you to die...
If you do, how will I...
Marimo...
Inugami...
Marimo...
Who the hell are you?
You are the ones who attacked Inugami, aren't you?
What?
Marimo! Don't do it! Run!
Look what we have here...
What perfect timing, we will kill you both at once.
Marimo! Run!
I will protect you, Inugami!
Marimo!
What happened here?
He couldn't have gone too far.
You split up and find him!
Marimo!
Hurry up and kill her!
Marimo!
Inugami...
Are you all right?
Yes.
Damn dog!
Stay close.
Yes.
Inugami...
Saruta!
Why are you here?
It seems we have no time to talk right now...
The Prince...
I see, so you're the ones who kidnapped the prince...
Did Oh-ama send you?
Prince!
Retreat!
Prince, I'm glad that you're safe!
Saruta, what is going on?
I don't have time to explain right now.
We must get out of the capital immediately!
My father will protect your village, so don't worry.
Oh-ama-no-miko will protect my village?
My father was always opposed to forcing Buddhism on the people.
I'm sure he will grant your wish.
Is that true?
Two days later, Inugami and the others joined the army of Oh-ama.
So you are Inugami...
Yes.
I appreciate what you have done to save my son.
This was the first encounter between Inugami and Oh-ama.
Someone whispers
In a faint voice
To the sparking stars
A promise I once heard
Ah, when the scars of the soul hurt
They long for their mother
Fading intermittently
I can hear the prayers in the voice
I am not alone in the darkness
It’s alright
The will to love is eternal
Next Episode
In this land where the wind blows, in the sky where the light is brightest...
...the war has begun.
Humans against humans, gods against gods...
But why?
Why do they have to fight?
Which side is right? Which side is wrong?
Please tell me, Phoenix.
Only you know the answer!