The Elusive Samurai (逃げ上手の若君)

Courageous death in combat.

Honorable suicide.

-A warrior'’s honor is earned only through battle and death. -

Takauji Ashikaga is known for being a great hero in this time,

but the protagonist of our story...

...is someone else.

- Lord Tokiyuki! -

It'’s time for your archery practice.

There'’s nowhere for you to run, Lord Tokiyuki!

- -Oh, sorry.

-Oh, whoa! Whoa! -

- Oh! My goodness, he'’s nimble! -Huh?

It'’s not the time to be impressed, you idiot!

- -You'’ll slip and fall, Lord Tokiyuki!

Please come down. Please!

- - Are you trying to get hurt?

- Someone stop him! -

What is this commotion?

We'’re in the middle of Lord Ashikaga'’s send-off.

But...

i-it'’s Lord Tokiyuki. He'’s, uh--

What about the Young Lord?

Uh... Huh? How did he...

What an escape artist.

Enough. You'’re dismissed.

But I... I...

Excuse me, may I pass?

Just like I remember.

You'’re still an expert at hide-and-seek, my young lord.

L-Lord Takauji.

Takauji Ashikaga.

Today, I depart for Kyo to quell the former Emperor Godaigo'’s uprising.

I wish to prove my allegiance to you, our future leader, and the Hojo clan.

I... I put my trust in you.

May the gods bestow prosperity upon us,

for Kamakura and our families.

Well...

It'’s time to go.

Yes.

You don'’t have to be nervous over Ashikaga.

Kiyoko.

You'’re the rightful heir of the shogunate.

That means one day soon, you'’ll be giving him orders.

And don'’t forget the best part. I'’m going to be your betrothed. Won'’t that be lovely?

Yeah, I don'’t remember agreeing to that.

-Mmm. - Lord Tokiyuki!

-Where did he run off to? -

He must be around here somewhere.

Gotta go, Kiyoko.

Catch you later!

And he'’s gone.

No surprise there.

The only things that boy is good at are running away and hiding.

They'’re both samurai, but Lord Tokiyuki is nothing like Takauji.

And while it'’s true that he'’ll inherit the shogunate,

he'’ll be nothing more than a puppet ruler like his father.

Yeah, Lord Takatoki?

Don'’t worry, my lord. We have everything under control.

'’Kay.

What'’s wrong with being a puppet ruler, Father?

They still get to lead lavish lives.

Sure, Lord Tokiyuki lacks talent and strength of will,

but he is kind.

The perfect husband

for someone from such a distinguished house as myself!

- -He'’s nowhere to be found.

We'’re powerless when he takes hiding seriously.

Remember the nightmare he gave us

when he hid inside a chest of armor for two full days?

Going through all that trouble,

just to avoid doing his training?

One day, he'’ll be the successor to the shogunate,

even if it'’s just in name.

His cowardice and idleness set a bad example for the people.

Tokiyuki.

Father is frail and lacks the conviction to rule.

You'’ll do him a favor by taking over and soon.

No. I am not the firstborn. You are.

Not a chance, brother.

It would disturb the peace if the son of a concubine were to be appointed.

It'’s in our blood to run away as fast as we can

from anything we don'’t like.

That'’s not something to be proud of.

Lord Tokiyuki!

There you are, finally!

You have to go to archery practice now!

Let'’s go!

Come on!

You'’re coming with us!

- -Big brother, if you please.

Uh... Oh.

-Tokiyuki! - Lord Tokiyuki!

- -

Lord Tokiyuki!

-Please stop running! -

Lord Tokiyuki!

- -

Lord Tokiyuki!

-Oh. -

My lord!

-My lord! -

Y... Young Lord!

- -

I like this city. Kamakura.

And I love to see the people smiling as they live in peace.

I don'’t need status or honor.

Just living in this city is enough for me.

Lazily, cowardly and happy as a clam.

I mean, why would a mere puppet like me need the power of pen and sword?

You are not lazy, nor are you a coward.

Those aspects are only a part of the monster asleep within you.

At least that is what my father says.

Who are you?

Who'’s your father?

You are quite the elusive boy. The rumors are true.

W-What? Who'’s this? Where did you come from? What'’s going on?

Honored to make your acquaintance.

I am the Shinto priest of Shinano Province.

My name is Yorishige Suwa.

A Shinto priest from Shinano?

Wait, when did you climb up here?

Oh, I'’ve been up here for a while.

I had a glimpse of the future and saw you climbing this tree.

Do you know you have an incredible aura around your head?

Sorry if it'’s blinding you!

I was born with an innate sacred power,

and I just can'’t stop the flow sometimes!

Let me dim it down.

I came here to pray for Kamakura.

To keep it safe and protected from its enemies.

My prayers are done. And now, I am on my way to report this to your father.

This is my assistant Shizuku.

She excels at secret arts and general affairs,

so I have her help me out.

What a suspicious man.

How could he possibly have known that I would be up here?

Father possesses the gift of seeing into the future.

His prayers, however, are a sham.

Shizuku, that last part, no need.

Still doubt me? Let me demonstrate some more.

Yes, I can see it clearly, Lord Tokiyuki,

the future tells me that you...

-Uh... Well... -

It was clear as day...

No, no, that'’s not right.

Or it could be the opposite? Wait...

Actually, it'’s more like...

This always happens...

He'’ll live a happy life, but did I misinterpret that?

Happy by whose standards though? And...

Who knows.

It'’s all more of a life lesson, right? And...

I-In that case, I-I...

I'’d say that everything will work out the way it'’s meant to?

Wait, what?

Everything you said was totally vague!

I can only see fragments, okay!

It would spoil all the fun if I was able to see everything!

But now I see something quite clearly.

If we were to be a comedy duo, you would be the straight man.

Yeah, because you'’re prattling nonsense!

- -But I did see something in your future two years from now.

When you'’re ten years old, you'’ll be a hero.

You'’ll be someone who shakes the very foundations of heaven.

Some will cower in fear before you,

while others will worship you. You will be a lord of war.

The fate of the country will be changed by your deeds.

This is all I can foretell so far.

Very powerful indeed, don'’t you th...

Hmm? He'’s almost over the horizon.

Oh, Father, you revealed too much at once.

Hmm. What an instinct for detecting danger.

Well, that was close.

I don'’t get paid enough allowance to have to deal with a fraud shaman.

-What a foolish man. -

Even if he had tricked me, there wouldn'’t be anything in it for him.

And yet he looked so serious when he called me a hero.

Really?

I can'’t believe a guy like that was just out there, walking around.

- Yeah, I know. -

Very suspicious.