Look who it is!
He's alive!
Tell him about the disgusting, filthy line you come from.
Father!
Father. Look...
Mother!
Glad you've returned safely, Lady Ochiba.
I'm told the Council is outmaneuvered.
The time for politics has come to an end.
The Council will answer to me.
This is Mariko.
She's the daughter of Akechi Jinsai, my new vassal.
Make her feel welcome.
Why are they so angry with each other?
Akechi wait...
Be patient.
I know how you're feeling...
Now is not the time.
Go back to bed, Mariko.
You're only dreaming.
I don't understand why he's doing this...
Your marriage to Buntaro will be an alliance
for both families to smile on.
That's a joke.
You know the Toda clan is a worthless alliance.
But your father treasures you.
Then why is he casting me away?
Mariko.
All these years and I still don't understand you.
We have every privilege.
Let us choose to look away from what we cannot control.
Mariko... my most cherished daughter.
It pains me to see you with so many questions.
You have always been an obedient child,
but now I ask that you serve something greater...
Your duty is what endures.
There is nothing more.
We have all suffered so much loss...
You may feel unable to bear the weight of it.
But death is the end of having lived.
It is an affirmation of life itself.
Come forward.
During the earthquake,
the Anjin saved my life for a second time.
I will grant him
a fief near Kanagawa, worth 600 koku.
He is now chief admiral of the Kantō.
and general in charge of our cannon regiment.
For all those who lost their lives...
their deaths will not be wasted.
Thousands dead.
Reports are even worse in the north.
We'll never be able to face Ishido like this.
So...
The Anjin now commands the cannon regiment?
It's Toranaga's decision.
The army used to be mine, but now it's out of my hands.
Even so--
For a barbarian--
What are you on about?
Our forces are in shambles.
Any day now we'll be dragged into this fruitless war,
and your concern is just one barbarian?
Time to write another will.
Lord, for the way I've embarrassed you...
I am truly ashamed.
Not me.
You've embarrassed your household,
and the home of my hatamoto.
I am no longer useful to you.
I lose myself when I'm around her.
Then divorce her.
Please forgive me...
Not now, after all these years.
After her father's treachery,
I thought she'd be grateful I spared her life.
But she has always been ice.
Asking for death, again and again.
For years, the ice has not melted.
But...
With him, it's different.
Mariko is only doing what I demand of her,
which is more than I can say of you.
I order you...
To isolate yourself from her for seven days.
The Anjin asked for my time.
He says he is sorry for your army.
These many gifts you've blessed him with--
he wishes to know why.
He questions my generosity?
He cannot fulfill the service you ask of him.
And says he still wishes to leave Japan.
Which service does he prefer?
He asks for the return of his ship.
So he might sail against the Portuguese.
The Anjin wishes to attack the Black Ship
in order to harm trade in ports controlled by the Catholic Regents.
What cause would I have to attack a friendly nation?
What is this arguing?
He believes the Portuguese are only here to profit.
I will not be discussing this any further.
You stay.
What is between you and the Anjin?
Nothing.
Only words.
I won't tolerate this disruption in my clan.
We are dangerously close to defeat.
I understand.
One cannot serve themselves above the cause.
The Anjin will not be granted his request.
But to settle his mind,
please arrange for him a night at a brothel.
Hire their finest courtesan.
I will negotiate personally.
And join him.
As a translator.
In case he talks while he pillows.
Ishido's taken the Regents hostage.
They've been locked in the castle, along with their families.
He's forcing their vote against Toranaga.
We leave now.
Come, this way.
Please hurry Shizu, get on this.
She won't make it.
We'll only slow you down.
You must warn Toranaga yourself.
No.
Please, I beg you.
- Hurry! - I'm sorry.
Lady Ruri!
Dress.
You must leave at once.
Your father was murdered in Kyoto.
Never return.
Mother...
It's time for you to go now.
He slays the false vassal.
We're prisoners to that woman.
It serves no one to say such things.
This will be over soon...
When?
When the fifth Regent is confirmed and Toranaga's threat is eliminated.
Then Ishido will release the hostages.
We'll always be their hostages now.
We're just puppets.
It's the end of the Realm.
Is this the era of peace our Taikō fought to build?
We cannot be too safe these days.
Nonsense.
Ishido is nothing more than the Taikō's favored koshô.
Good at some things, never great.
You are choosing the wrong ally.
Dear Lady Ochiba...
I was sorry to hear of your father's death.
Terrible, how powerless we can be to fate.
We are all just pebbles, pushed and pulled by the currents.
My husband is the ruler of Japan,
and I was unable to give him an heir... did you know that?
This has been in my family for over a hundred years.
It is the only one of its kind.
I am prepared to pass it on to the consort who can bear us a son.
You would be known as "Ochiba no kata" from now on.
A woman may lose everything she's ever had--
but she may also take it back.
She must stare without fear into the cruel eyes of fate--
and make herself seen.
If we have a son,
prestige will spread in every direction...
Lord Ito...
Your depiction of our late master was quite profound.
Too kind, Lord Ishido.
I am but a weak flicker to his glow of light.
You're not alone.
As a boy,
I looked up to the Taikō as proof
that even a peasant like me could lift himself to great heights.
Some are born under a banner of greatness,
others must claim it.
Your nōh skills are unparalleled, Lord Ito.
Though you are taller than the Taikō I once served.
If only I could cut myself at the knees...
A minor fault, of course.
I take it seriously.
Acting is my grand passion.
And how about politics?
Have you heard of the plot against the Heir?
Toranaga's provocations must come to an end.
Would you join the Council and vote for his death?
I'm grateful for your wisdom in suggesting Lord Ito.
In all my time with the Taikō,
he never spoke of a woman like he spoke of you.
I'm beginning to understand why.
I miss the Taikō's strength.
Truly.
It's as if we live in his shadow.
In most ways.
Though, in the end, he fell short.
He failed to rid us of Toranaga.
Why is it you hate him so much?
Eliminate Toranaga...
and it will be your shadow we speak of.
All of Osaka belongs to Ishido now.
You are lucky to have escaped alive.
This is lunacy.
My father has only ever been loyal to the Heir.
They are the ones who conspire!
Our allies are pressured into becoming our enemies
with each passing day.
Unless they see through this obscenity and protest.
If we wait for that, it will be too late.
The time has come...
...for Crimson Sky.
What is Crimson Sky?
A plan formulated long ago...
A single, violent rush on Osaka Castle.
We would eliminate the Council and form a new government.
With Toranaga as sole Regent.
Shōgun...
An attack on Osaka is like strangling your own neck.
Ishido's allies control the city.
Lord Toranaga's half-brother...
Saeki Nobutatsu. We could join forces with him.
It wouldn't be enough.
What would you do, Omi?
A fifth Council member, obedient to Ishido,
will mean your death sentence.
Then it is Crimson Sky.
Perhaps that could work, but...
Why take the risk when there's still time?
There's no time for waiting.
Father--
reclaim our family's legacy and become Shōgun.
You have never lost a battle--
Because I've never been first to declare one!
There will be no Crimson Sky.
I have never sought to be Shōgun,
and I never will.
Find me a plan that isn't certain death.
You will forgive the late notice, Gin,
but Toranaga instructed me
to inquire if the Lady Kiku is free tonight.
What an honor.
And such lovely lacquerware too.
Unfortunately, it's nothing special.
I'm ashamed we must use it,
but so much was destroyed in the earthquake.
Lady Kiku would be honored to attend to this client.
Although...
I'd have to reimburse others who booked her.
And, after the earthquake fires,
poor Kiku had four kosodes ruined by water.
Hard times for us all.
500 monme would be acceptable.
So sorry, perhaps I wasn't clear.
I do not wish to buy all the Tea Houses in Izu,
only the Lady's services for one evening.
I don't know if you've heard of my Tea House,
but please understand it is no ordinary brothel.
I might even say there is no place like it in all of Japan.
My ladies are artists of the very first class.
They enrich the mind and nurture the spirit.
I assure you
the price is quite merited.
Then 100 monme.
400 monme would be the lowest I could go.
Surely Lord Toranaga would want to enjoy his evening.
Oh, so sorry--
Lady Kiku is not for Lord Toranaga.
She is a gift for the Anjin.
He is hatamoto now,
and chief admiral of Lord Toranaga's cannon regiment.
I would think 200 monme are enough.
Then, will you be joining him?
It's only...
I've heard you and the Anjin are never seen apart.
It is my duty to translate, yes.
Then I think you will enjoy your time in my Tea House.
Some call it the Willow World,
because my ladies are like lilies in a lake.
There you will find no prying eyes from the outside world.
All of this I guarantee... for so very little.
300 monme will suffice.
You will be treasured guests.
Lady Gin says with Lord Toranaga's support
I could become the most cherished courtesan in the Kantō.
I don't understand why Lord Toranaga
values the barbarian so much.
The barbarian is nothing to me.
I hope you will enjoy your private evening.
I am honored to serve the Anjin
on this beautiful evening.
And I'm grateful that Lady Mariko has also come to this place.
The Anjin compliments your service.
I imagine everything is quite different from his homeland.
He seems to prefer his homeland.
May I?
Hana, look where the flask just was.
What do you see?
I see nothing, Elder Sister.
You see where the flask is no longer.
Presence is felt most keenly in absence.
Yes, Elder Sister.
Where we are is a private place.
Dark... if one wants it dark.
A woman cannot look away when another suffers.
Perhaps the Anjin would allow me to explain
why the Willow World is among
the most treasured planes of existence.
People who come to this place have something they wish to forget.
Be it boredom, pain, hardship, disappointment.
They believe this place is about physical pleasure...
The people I meet...
I offer you relief from this.
...to be here with me now.
I would like to invite the Anjin into a private room.
Will you join us?
It must only be you.
All my father does is lavish him with gifts these days.
Fortune does appear to smile on him.
He expresses his gratitude.
Tell him, please visit again.
I will count the moments.
How did it go?
The Anjin was pleased with his gift.
Kiku is exceptional.
Mariko...
What do you remember of your childhood?
I recall you being close with Ochiba no kata.
She was Ruri then.
After she became Ochiba no kata,
I have not seen her since.
The way she wars against us...
What could have turned her into the woman she is today?
Fate.
Hardship.
We all have things we must war against.
Yet most of us do it with honor.
Forgive me...
but most of you are men.
A man may go to war for many reasons.
Conquest,
pride,
power...
But a woman
is simply at war.
Your father once told me
he wished you'd been born a man.
Now I see why.
He had great plans for you.
Then he should have married me better.
Mariko...
You didn't know?
It was all his plan.
Marrying you off.
To put you as far away from his fight as possible.
So that you might survive
and one day return to finish it.
All these years, you must have known...
I've failed him.
No, Mariko.
Your war isn't over.
The time for discussion has now concluded.
Lord Ito is loyal to the Heir, and to this Council.
In one voice, let us vote.
Yes to Ito.
What say you, Sugiyama?
I'm sorry.
But no.
There has been no evidence of any plot against the Heir.
I will conduct no vote
until all hostages are released.
Hostages?
You dishonor the wishes of our great Taikō.
Then you dishonor the most loyal servant of this Realm.
I alone here
serve the Realm.
It will mean a delay,
there's no doubt about it.
I will propose Sugiyama's impeachment,
then plans can move ahead.
So sorry, but I'd like to know--
When is "then"?
Please be patient.
You're playthings.
You have no idea the enemy you face...
You asked before
why I hold these feelings against Toranaga.
It began in my childhood in Azuchi.
All those years I watched him...
whispering...
plotting...
Sure, it was Akechi Jinsai who took my father's life,
but it was Toranaga who planned it.
His secret heart is no secret to me.
Serious accusations.
Tell them in public and his end will be swift.
What would be the point?
None of you can stop him.
Have you heard what I went through
to give the Taikō a son?
No one else could achieve it.
Hundreds of women... consorts...
Not Daiyoin...
Daiyoin... who drugged me with bitter herbs,
forced me to endure unmentionable things in order to conceive.
Only I become mother of the Heir.
And do you know how?
By compelling fate to look at me.
So I could
scratch out its eyes.
Wife, wake up! We're leaving the castle.
Wake up!
It was wrong
to side with a simple bureaucrat.
That's all you will ever be.
Lord Sugiyama is dead...
Killed by bandits while trying to leave Osaka.
Ishido will soon control the Council.
I expect to be
falsely impeached
and war will be declared on my clan.
I desire no lands.
I want no honors.
But if traitors place the Taikō's heir in danger,
then I must defend him.
Crimson Sky it will be.
We'll send a message to my brother asking for his support,
then we'll rush Osaka and obliterate our enemies.
The time has come.