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When I call you "Oman," you say "Yes!"

Say "Yes!"

Say it! Say "Yes!" Say it! Say it!

That person just now...

Just who was that?

Iemitsu-ko would be 37 years old this year.

That...

...person just now...

...was a young woman, wasn't it?!

6 years ago, the true Iemitsu passed away...

...from the scarlet smallpox.

"You will die in his place."

"In spite of it being a dreadful thing..."

"...from this point on, you will wear the kimono of the Shogun and hide your face with a hood..."

"...and live as the Shogun."

"Place Masakatsu-dono as the Shogun's shadow double?"

"Now is not a normal time."

"Already, this princess alone..."

"...is the only person who carries Iemitsu-ko's blood line."

"Right now she is only 11 years old. But after a little longer..."

"Within a few years she will give birth to an heir."

"If it were for just a few days, it could be done."

"But hiding the Shogun's death for years..."

"We must hide it!"

"No, we WILL hide it."

You are the "seed."

Your duty is to...

...come between the Shogun here in the Ooku and produce an heir.

"Episode 2 Here is the Garden of Men Where Jealousy Swirls"

Originally, the Ooku was established as the place where the Shogun would produce a male heir.

However now, women are of no use here already.

In their place, young ronin have been gathered from around the country.

The Ooku is now a fortress to protect the current Shogun.

One final thing.

It is a secret that the current Shogun is a woman.

For any official business, I, Inaba Masakatsu, will put on this hood again...

...and perform the role of Iemitsu-ko.

Amongst the Shogunate government, the number of people who know about all this are six...

...so only a tiny handful of people.

Now that you are aware of it...

...you...

...cannot be permitted to leave this Ooku for the rest of your life.

The rest of my life...

Arikoto-sama, what happened to your face?

Well, this is...

It's best you not ask.

Please allow this one into your room to speak to you.

At any rate, I have things you will want to know.

My name is Murase Masasuke.

"Murase Masasuke"

At the behest of Kasuga no Tsubone-sama...

...I am to serve in the post of Arikoto-sama's Councilor.

- I am Arikoto-sama's Councilor! - Gyokuei.

Now, now.

There are many customs unique to the Ooku.

I will serve as Arikoto-sama's informational guide to the Ooku.

It is true that both I and Gyokuei...

...are unfamiliar with what is left or right here, so please do guide us.

I ask you as well. There are many places where my knowledge is imperfect.

In that case, without delay...

What is it?

To both my Madenokouji family home and the Keikoin Temple in Kyoto...

...I wish to have news delivered to them that I am here and in good health.

That cannot be done.

Why? I am no longer of a mind to try and escape...

The reasons have already been reported to the Madenokouji family by the Shogunate government.

Upon that occasion, a small amount of money was also delivered to them.

Your father, Lord Azumi, was in an especially pleased state over that.

The son who originally had become a monk and cut all ties with his parents...

...has now become a Page working under the Shogun...

...and will be of use to his family.

- Liar! - Gyokuei.

Well then, the Keikoin Temple...

Keikoin Temple has, as well, already chosen it's next Temple Chief and is in good condition.

It's next Temple Chief?

That is how it would be, wouldn't it?

More than one year has passed already.

Is this the only business you have for me?

That is all. Thank you.

Well then, I have a request as well.

This is Edo!

Please correct that eerie Kyoto dialect of yours immediately.

That's right, Masasuke.

That aristocrat needed to be taken down a notch.

No, that is...

Huh? You...

You did tell him to change his Kyoto dialect, didn't you?

Yes. Thereupon...

He laughed and smiled and spoke to me thus.

"I fully understand. What you say is correct."

"From here on, I will change to speak as a samurai."

There wasn't even a trace of a Kyoto accent. He was completely fluent at it.

Hmpf.

In other words...

...I am to be the stud horse that will rescue the Tokugawa from its life-or-death crisis.

That is how it is.

So Kasuga no Tsubone back then...

"Please take a woman."

...was testing Arikoto-sama's body.

Gyokuei.

I feel I was mistaken in bringing you along here as my companion.

What is more, we will not be allowed to leave for the rest of our lives.

I am truly sorry for this.

No, Arikoto-sama.

Arikoto-sama, you have saved me once again.

Saved you?

If I hadn't been brought here to the Ooku...

...I would have been murdered.

Just like Myoukei-sama and that prostitute.

And most likely those other prostitutes who had come that day as well...

And not only them, Gyokuei.

On the day I first came to the Ooku...

...I wondered where the many women who were supposed to be within the Ooku had been taken.

I am certain that was Kasuga no Tsubone-sama's doing as well...

Such a fearful place...

...we have come to.

Shogun?

I've given it to you and you've accepted it.

Heiwa Fansubs Presents: "Ooku ~ Tanjou ~ Arikoto - Iemitsu Hen" "Shogun's Harem ~ Birth ~ Arikoto - Iemitsu Volume"

"Edo Castle's Inner Chamber, the Ooku."

"Ooku"

"Formerly, with the lone exception of the Shogun..."

"...it was a place forbidden to young men."

"In the wake of the death of the third Shogun, Iemitsu-ko..."

"...it was now the chamber where only young men lived."

"It had changed greatly."

"Within that chamber, the current Shogun..."

"...and including Inaba Masakatsu-sama and Arikoto-sama..."

"...and other people like the Shogun's concubines and such..."

"...were protected by high walls and a strong key..."

"...in a place called the Ooku's Inner Ooku."

"There they lived quietly."

"Ooku - Kasuga-dono"

How is it with that girlish person?

Girlish person?

Yes.

That girlish person.

While I was striking him, that man raised his voice towards me.

The next time I meet him, I must train him to be obedient.

Next time?

Somehow...

Are you saying you feel you WANT to meet him again?

That was the first time I have seen the Shogun give that look.

That is to be thankful for.

Still, he has been well worth the trouble.

And so handsome, too.

He isn't ferocious. It may be she will favor him for his gentleness.

Because of that something in her past.

"That something"?

Well... Three years ago...

That was finished long ago.

Ala, I'm so happy!

How many men have we tried up until now...

...to turn into concubines?

Sunami Shigesato, Wada Masataka and Katsuta Yorihide.

They are all useless.

Ochuro? (servant who slept with the Shogun and became a concubine, but whose rank remained unchanged)

I would like to introduce Arikoto-sama to each of the Ochuros today so you can get to know them.

The Ochuro were originally those who took care of the Shogun himself...

...but that is now the nickname of those maids who would become future concubines.

This have been patterned after that.

For the sake of finding one to marry into the Shogun's family...

...we have been gathering young men and calling them Ochuro.

Am I to be imposed with that title as well?

In that case, why have I been brought here?

It would have been better to find some appropriate gentleman to be the bridegroom from a samurai family.

No. That is...

...whomever we have introduced to the Shogun...

...none of them quite measured up to get her nod.

I am Sunami Shigesato.

"Ochuro Sunami Shigesato"

I am Katsuda Yorihide.

"Ochuro Katsuta Yorihide"

"Ochuro Wada Masataka"

I am Wada Masataka.

I meet you for the first time. I am Madenokouji Arikoto.

Due to my lack of experience, I may unknowingly do many rude things...

...but please let's...

Blinded by greed, you returned to the secular life, you ex-monk.

I see. The Shogun may prefer a man with such gentle manners, huh?

A young girl's hobbies are so childish, childish.

Still Shigesato-dono...

...this man has yet to be invited to the Shogun's bedroom, has he?

You should be extremely careful. You could be slashed and killed.

Three years ago, the Shogun's first man...

...seems to have been personally executed by the Lord.

You'll want to watch out for any slashes coming towards you.

Her pretext may well be for having been held by a boring man, right?

Iemitsu-ko's temperament is so violent that it would not lose even to that of her father's.

Such a Kyoto gentleman wouldn't know how to ride an unmanageable horse such as her, now would he?

Exactly, exactly.

With a beauty like that of a child's...

...weren't you the object of love as a Temple monk?

And then, when he is with the Shogun...

...he'll just flop around beside her like a tuna, doing nothing.

It will be as useless as having two women in bed together.

"A man of virtue is at peace and cannot be arrogant."

Huh?

What did you say just now?

I had thought samurai were a people of reticence.

But, like women of the Imperial Court, you do nothing but gossip and grumble.

What?!

Please do not be concerned.

Upon my first meeting with her...

...I was repeatedly thrashed by the Shogun's folding fan.

I am far from being pleased by this situation.

In the first place, I am not an enemy to any of you.

The Shogun indeed has a terribly high pride.

If any of you had shown that mere lass any sort of refinement...

...that would have been instantly communicated to her.

It does not matter whatsoever what you have to say about me.

But to compare the gracious Shogun to that of a horse...

You should never do that again.

Such an impertinent remark! You greenhorn!

That is truly quite correct.

My intention was only to greet you, but I have stayed too long.

Excuse me with this.

Shigesato-dono.

That phrase he said earlier, "A man of virtue is at peace, etc., etc."...

Don't you know the "Analects of Confucius" either?

After that it continues with, "And a child of arrogance cannot be at peace."

In other words, he was impertinently calling us fools.

What was that, "Gracious Shogun"?

Thinking he's so great!

Within the Ooku, those who know the Shogun to be a woman...

...are those three Ochuro you met just now, her female servant...

...and Kasuga-dono herself.

The other male servants of the Ooku...

...all believe that Iemitsu-ko lives.

They think Arikoto-sama to be Iemitsu-ko's Page.

So please behave accordingly.

Those who know this secret must spend their entire lives in the Ooku...

So I have been told by Masakatsu-dono.

Yes.

So you, as well?

Of course.

"Congratulations. It is a splendid boy."

"11 Years Before"

"You've done it, Yuki."

"You've done it. You've done well."

Is that you, Gyokuei?

I'm sure this act was by those Ochuro from yesterday.

Those guys have got a warped nature about them.

This is like the Tale of Genji, is it not, Gyokuei.

Huh?

Kiritsubo no Koi. (Kiritsubo Consort; mother of Genji who was harassed by the court ladies until she died)

The woman who had received the favor of the Emperor.

When I met with them, they had the exact same look in their eyes.

You can laugh at this, can't you?

Kiritsubo no Koi was Genji's mother.

Genji's?

In that case, a child born from Arikoto-sama and the Shogun would be just like him, right?

Who knows.

Would that be a good thing or a bad thing...

I know...

You will be Wakamurasaki.

Wakamurasaki?!

Genji's concubine.

That was Murasaki no Ue's nickname when she was a child.

What's that? A very erotic name, isn't it?

Gyokuei.

Yes.

Feign ignorance over this.

I think they could become enraged and cause a fuss.

Understood.

Yeah. If you understand, that's fine.

He'd certainly be surprised.

"Ooku - Chief Court Lady Residence" Indeed, I wish I could have seen the look on the face of that ex-monk then.

Ah, yes, yes. I happened to overhear a certain person.

What did you overhear?

Well, it's no big deal.

Always putting on airs. That's a bad habit of yours.

No. Somehow it seems that ex-monk has received a cat from the Shogun.

Such a thing?! That really isn't a big deal.

That's what I said.

The Shogun... a cat?

Wonderful weather we are having, is it not?

- Sorry for keeping you waiting. - Yeah. Thank you.

Here.

This is for you.

She eats a great deal for such a small body.

My mouth still can't quite get used to this Edo food.

These Kanto people sure like their food salty, don't they?

You mustn't say this or that while eating.

We must emulate Wakamurasaki and eat silently.

Take this away.

Is something the matter?

I cannot eat this. Take the tray away immediately.

No, Wakamurasaki!

Oi!

Who made up this bowl?!

A rat was deliberately put in it.

I want this misconduct finished with!

"Finished with," he says.

Didn't the rat just come outta you and then jump in?

You guys...

And? How was the taste?

So it was you guys.

And if I said, "that's right"?

Excuse me, you there.

Did you happen to see an approximately 15 or 16 year-old young man with a topnot?

A boy attached to my room.

You're the Page working under the Shogun?

I don't know. The Ooku is a big place.

Many people get lost in it.

Quite so.

If you do see him, please direct him back to my room.

Well then.

Homosexual.

Like the girlish Mori Ranmaru that Nobunaga-ko used... (Mori Ranmaru - attendant to Oda Nobunaga and widely considered to be his male lover)

...you're just training him to service your lust.

A poor aristocrat...

...selling his body like some actor to get the position of a Page...

Such a self-serving story!

"Sending the Sengoku world far away," huh? (Mori Ranmaru and Oda Nobunaga lived in the Sengoku era, 1450-1600)

What's happened?

You look pale and your sleeve is torn.

Shut up! Nothing happened.

Just leave me alone!

Murase-dono.

Rats can't get in here, right?

Huh?

There was a rat in Arikoto-sama's dinner bowl!

- A rat... - That's right.

I want the bunch that sets the tables to be told off.

If you tell them, they'll listen.

I certainly acknowledge this.

Hereafter, there will be nothing more you need say about it.

Surely?

Yes.

Ow...

Damn...

It was a place where I couldn't see or do anything...

- "Should we test his Master, too?" - "Definitely."

"Since we can't get prostitutes here in the Ooku."

"Anyhow, you'd have been the plaything of the monks every day at the temple, wouldn't you?"

"So I'm used to this much."

"But at least the monks were good at it."

"Not like you! You're terrible at it!"

"Your Master, too..."

"...will eventually encounter the same thing as well."

I'll kill them...

"What thee says fails to make sense. Withdraw to Nanzan's boundary."

"Just as he turned to leave...

...he would return each time and ask when Hakuun would come."

"In such a world, because it did not match his skin..."

"...he needed to withdraw to the border of Nanzan."

"This is the reply Oui gave to what her friend had told her."

"I see. Go then in good health, and not listen to her any longer."

"Surely the white cloud will be with you forever."

Traveling far away on a white cloud, huh...

That would be an enviable thing, would it not?

Shall we call it a day?

Yes.

"Temple Chief! Temple Chief!"

"Myoukei."

"I see..."

"I see. Thank goodness."

"That was just a nightmare."

"Let's hurry and return to Keikoin Temple!"

"I hate Edo!"

Myoukei!

Myoukei...

I've brought hot water for tea.

- Did something happen? - No...

What is it? Your face is green.

Shall I call for some medicine?

People do absolutely nothing more than eat and sleep.

Is there something else that keeps them alive?

I am sure they are only living.

There is nothing here in the Ooku but old people.

Including you and I.

Gyokuei, has something happened?

No...

I have felt there was something wrong with you ever since this morning.

No, there's nothing.

I see.

You do not wish to tell me, huh?

Oi, Arikoto-dono!

Come to the dojo, Arikoto-dono!

What are you doing?! That's rude!

The men of the Ooku, in order to protect the Shogun...

...are zealous in the martial arts by custom!

No, he...

If you have something you want me to understand, let me hear it in the dojo.

From here on, Arikoto-dono must become a two-sworded samurai like me...

...if you wish to become a man of the Ooku and protect the Shogun.

Very well.

Arikoto-sama, please wait. To Murase-dono I'll...

It is fine, Gyokuei.

Well then, I come.

I'll come, too.

Arikoto-sama. He's the one who slashed at Myoukei-sama...

Now, your instructor.

"Fencing Instructor - Sawamura Tsutoishi Emon" This man has experience in teaching martial arts.

Sawamura-dono!

Now.

Sawamura-sama.

Such an inexperienced one. Hurry and beat him!

Indeed! Indeed!

What are you doing? Strike at me.

Indeed it was I...

...who slashed at the monk attending you.

So to speak, I am your enemy.

Now, hesitation is useless.

Strike at me.

I cannot strike.

What?

Even though I am in the worldly life now...

...I once served the Buddha.

All the more so because you are an enemy...

...I do not wish to strike at someone with a heart clouded with hatred.

What's with this Page? Do you think you can strike at Sawamura-sama with feelings?!

This I gotta see!

If I continue striking with this bokuto (wooden sword) as is...

...you will be dead.

That is true.

Even so, you don't mind?

Well then, you will make practice swings.

In that way, you will not have to strike at anyone.

Like that. Now do that 500 times.

500?

You'd do that to someone who's never even held a bokuto before until now?!

That's why 500 swings.

Those who are made guards of this castle do this 1,000 times every day.

In that case...

...I will do 1,000 as well.

- Arikoto-sama! - At last!

It's getting interesting.

Let him first try for 1,000 swings.

Well then, 1,000.

Begin.

One.

Two.

Oman! It's me!

Oman!

Why is no one around?

Go away. You shouldn't get overly-familiar with me.

I don't like beasts!

74.

75.

How irresolute! Your stance is already unsteady.

For pete's sake. He won't even make it to 100.

As an aristocrat, he's never had to handle anything heavier than chopsticks.

Will anyone bet he gets to 100?

79.

80.

81.

82.

83.

"How to save people from the hardships of this world."

"That is what I wish to think about."

"You will return to the secular life here in Edo..."

"...and become a Page to the Shogun Iemitsu-ko."

"Your manly desires have swollen and swollen..."

"The one I will serve is you and no longer Buddha!"

When I call you "Oman," you say "Yes!"

"You are the 'seed.'"

"Your duty is to come between the Shogun here in the Ooku and produce an heir."

"Homosexual."

"You cannot be permitted to leave this Ooku for the rest of your life."

100.

304.

305.

306.

You curved the point of your sword when raising it over your head.

Once again.

306.

Just how long is he gonna keep this up, geez.

308.

798.

799.

800.

Arikoto-sama!

Enough... This is more than enough.

200 more left.

Now, stand.

It's impossible for you to do anymore, Arikoto-sama.

There's no one even here anymore.

Kizutsuita sono hate ni itsuka wakare no hi ga kite mo If in the end I hurt you and the day comes when we must part

Ashita ga mienakute mo kono sekai wa futari dake no mono Then I'll won't see a tomorrow; this world is just the two of us

Anata sae ireba ii As long as there is you

997.

Kono sekai de subete wo kanjite itai I want to feel everything in this world

998.

Tada hitotsu dake daiji na mono dakishimete Embracing you is the one and only important thing to me

NEVER MAKE ME CRY AGAIN

999.

Kono sekai de ima anata wo shinjiteru What I believe now in this world is you

Yurusareru nara ima anata ni If you let me

1,000!

Subete sasageru I'll give all I have now to you

Arikoto-sama!

That is a confirmed 1,000.

Well then, that will do it for today.

Arikoto-sama!

Why would you do something so unreasonable for?

Forgive me, Gyokuei.

I feel that...

...there is nothing I must lose at.

Just that...

Just that...

I cannot...

...think anything else.

I cannot think anything else.

This Drama is Fictional