Saiunkoku Monogatari II Episode 3 – 類は友を呼ぶ (Like breeds like)

Mysteries [partially] revealed, yet much more mysteries introduced that would seem to play a vital role in the plot twists that’s going to happen throughout the season. A strange cult movement, the short span of time Eigetsu has left to live, and the reappearance of the silver-haired man who Shou Taishi knows… all these in this exciting episode of Saiunkoku.

On a lighter note, we also see a glimpse of how “serious” Reishin’s adoration for Shuurei is, which, although funny and entertaining to watch, can’t help but make you shudder and feel ‘disturbed’. With regards to the title (Like breeds like / Birds of the same feather flock together), I’m not completely sure what bound the entire episode to it… This is clearly depicted in Ryuuren and Kokujun’s relationship though, who unexpectedly became close to each other despite their differences. It must have something to do with the relationships that ‘binds’ people, as Shouka mentioned, as well as other relationships between the characters in this series.

Screenshots

Summary

A white fox walks along the snowy mountains, where some sort of ritual is performed by a certain cult. Meanwhile, Eigetsu and Ensei are still working in the midst of the night, with Doushu still in Eigetsu’s mind as he gazes at the moon. Kourin comes in the room where they’re working, and serves them dinner. Eigetsu however, is too busy with his work and decides to eat it much later. Kourin leaves without a word, and glances at Eigetsu with a sad look on her face, seemingly disappointed that he is more focused on his work than taking care of himself (and eating what she has cooked for him). Ensei takes notice of Kourin’s gloomy expression, and asks Eigetsu if something happened between them because of his cold attitude towards Kourin (who looks depressed and anxious). Eigetsu couldn’t think of the reason behind it, or if he really did something to Kourin, because he’s been absorbed in his work for the last few days. He reflects on what he’s been doing, and realizes the fact that he doesn’t have the right to shun the people around him. He eats the dinner Kourin has prepared, after Ensei warns him of eating it instead if he doesn’t do so immediately.

Ensei receives a letter from an old man (from Koringun), informing them of a strange movement of a certain cult, founded by someone that goes by the name ‘Li Senya’. Both of them feels that there’s something fishy about this, as they remember that Sa Sakujun was once known as ‘Li Senya’.

Inside the palace, Kouyuu informs Shuurei and Yuushun that Governor Kai will be arriving late. Yuushin thinks that it’s not suprising, considering the fact that he’s from Kokushuu, and that they would be going along the steep mountain path on the way to Kiyou. Shuurei worries about Governor Kai, since he’s going through this rough journey despite his old age. Yuushun, Kouyuu and Shuuei simply laughs at this, and assures her that there’s nothing for her to worry about. Despite being the oldest governor at the age of 80, he’s even stronger than most of them, and was able to maintain the stability of his country throughout his rule. He even wanted to rule over Sa Province before, but the previous emperor Seiou didn’t allow him because of his old age. Shuuei adds that Governor Kai was a really handsome man that even in his 30s, he could easily capture the heart of someone like Shuurei. Their topic then changes to Ryuuren, who’s been staying at Shuurei’s house together with Kokujun. Shuuei mutters that his brother should’ve just stayed at their own house instead of causing trouble for other people, and Kouyuu comments on how Ryuuren doesn’t feel welcome in Shuuei’s company, making Shuuei suggest that Ryuuren stay at his house instead. Kouyuu of course, utterly refuses.

As Shuurei goes home, Ryuuren once again does his hideous flute playing, and Kokujun actually thinks it’s beautiful. He gives praises to Ryuuren, while Shuurei simply sighs in disbelief. Kokujun tells Ryuuren that Shuurei’s house is the calmest of all the places they’ve been to, and talks about their “journey” – from Kokujun’s other house in Kiyou which was pretty desolate and abandoned for years, to Sou Taifu’s house where they were driven off because of the distraction caused by Ryuuren, then to other places where Ryuuren gambled with cards to allow them to stay in their house. Kokujun expresses his happiness from this experience he’s never had before. Before they knew it, Ryuuren goes to wander around Shuurei’s house (or embarked on a “journey”, according to Kokujun). Shuurei takes this chance to ask Kokujun if he really appreciates Ryuuren’s flute, to which Kokujun tells her that he does. Kokujun thinks that he doesn’t know much about music, and also doesn’t have a good sense of fashion. As such, he’s not quite confident if he understands Ryuuren’s “original and avant-garde” way of playing. But since Ryuuren plays it with much seriousness, he believes that it is indeed beautiful to his ears ^^;; Shuurei was in disbelief that a person like Kokujun who appreciates Ryuuren’s music exists in this world, and was dismayed by the fact that he’s having these opinions without knowledge about music. Kokujun adds that he likes Ryuuren very much, because he always listens to what he says, even though it doesn’t make any sense.

Ryuuren comes back, carrying with him a radish as his flute, as well as other vegetables that Shuurei planted. Shuurei gets teary-eyed as it’ll still take a few more days before these vegetables would be good for harvest. Ryuuren never hears a word that Shuurei uttered, and continues to talk about how the radish he took is perfect as a flute ^^;; Shuurei’s patience is running out, but then Ryuuren is already on his way to leave, and tells Shuurei to beware of a silver-haired man, leaving Shuurei in confusion.

After Kokujun and Ryuuren leaves, Shuurei thinks about the time Seiran left when Ryuuren arrived, making her conclude that Seiran ran away [from Ryuuren]. Just then, Shouka arrives and hesitantly tells her that he came alone. Shuurei takes notice of her father’s strange behavior, but Shouka just requests Shuurei to make some manjuu buns for him. Unbeknownst to her, the reason behind this behavior of her father was because of the fact that he’s not alone – he came with Reishin, who still doesn’t want Shuurei to know that he’s her uncle. It seems that Reishin requested (or rather insisted) Shouka to let him visit their house and see Shuurei (despite the work Shouka could’ve finished if Reishin didn’t bother him), since she’ll be leaving for Sa Province soon. Shouka tells him that he’s not the only one who’ll be missing Shuurei as she leaves, there’s Shouka himself, as well as Ryuuki. Reishin gets infuriated by the mention of ‘Ryuuki’, as he thinks he’s nothing more than “snot-nosed brat” ^^;; , and will never hand over Shuurei to be his wife. Shouka then tells him that there’s nothing wrong with being friends with the girl he loves (most likely referring to Reishin’s ‘love’ towards Shuurei), and goes to ask him what he would feel if Shuurei still treats him as an outsider despite revealing to her that he is her uncle.

Shouka adds that unlike Reishin who’s related to Shuurei by blood, in most relationships between men and women, there would be nothing left that would ‘bind’ them, unless they have the bond of ‘friendship’. And if he becomes serious in pursuing that love, he won’t give up and will continue to chase after her in full determination, no matter how shameful that might prove to be. This is certainly the case with Shouka and his pursuit of Shoukun’s (Shuurei’s mom) love. Despite the countless times Shoukun left him, he didn’t give up and chased after her, until they were finally able to reach the point of commitment (finally binded by ‘marriage’, I’d say) – which he thinks is attributed to the fact that they’ve grown to become ‘friends’ in the process. He looks at Shuurei, who he thinks can live on her own, and believes that he’s the one who needs Shuurei, rather than Shuurei needing him. “Shuurei’s like Shoukun [my wife]”, Shouka tells Reishin, “After she passed away, the one who saved me and Seiran was no other than that child (Shuurei).” Shouka thinks that it’s going to be difficult for men to get Shuurei’s love, more so have them marry her through that kind of love. As such, he thinks that it’s more likely that Shuurei will agree to an arranged marriage instead. Reishin thinks this is absurd and utterly refuses to this kind of marriage.

Shouka brings up the topic regarding the many marriage proposals for Shuurei, which he knows Reishin is well aware of, since Shouka thinks that Reishin is most likely the one who’s been bragging to people that Shuurei is the ‘ideal woman to marry’. There was even this marriage proposal from the Ran clan, who Shouka believes is actually a good choice, considering his lineage, official rank, and abilities, but Reishin immediately disapproves of this. He doesn’t even want Shuurei to be married to anyone else (or any other clan), not even to someone from the Kou clan (Shouka mentioned about ‘Hakuyuu-kun’, Kurou’s son, who Reishin says must’ve eloped with some other girl already >.>). Shouka mentions the fact that Kurou is already making his move (to make Kouyuu marry Shuurei), to which Reishin replies that he raised up Kouyuu and taught him to choose his own path in life (and not be influenced by someone like Kurou). Rather than handing over Shuurei to other men, he’d rather take Shuurei as his own wife, and comments on how beautiful she’s become ^^;;; He scolds Shouka for his seemingly lack of care despite the danger that someone might take away his daughter from him, and Shouka just calmly tells him that in the end, it’ll still be Shuurei to make that decision (knowing that Shuurei is wise enough to decide on something like this). “I’ll [continue to] fight with all determination, brother!”, Reishin declares to Shouka. Right at that moment, SaiRin arrives in their house, asking Shuurei if she can accompany her to the All-Merchant’s Alliance, and of course Shuurei agrees.

Meanwhile in Sa Province, Eigetsu receives another letter (an urgent one this time) from the same old man who also gave him the information from earlier. Eigetsu wonders if it’s still regarding the cult, but it looks like it talks about something else – regarding the spread of some unknown epidemic disease (that causes people to have bloated stomach) in the eastern part of Koringun region, in Seike village by the mountain range of “Senri”. Ensei was still mentioning about the old man’s request for a doctor to be sent to the place as well as some medicines, but then Eigetsu immediately stood up and asked Ensei if there was anything mentioned as to what remote area in the Senri mountain range it’s spreading, as though he knows something about the disease mentioned. Ensei notices that the place where this spread is happening is quite close to the area where the cult movements are also happening. Eigetsu frantically grabs the letter from Ensei, and grabs the map after finding out something from it. He instructs Ensei to inform each governor within the area about this, and to provide a fast horse as soon as possible. He gives further instructions to take note of a “snow fox” within the region, as it seems to be connected with something that’s going to happen.

Kourin is cooking something for dinner, and decides to add some wine in the food to make Yougetsu come out. ‘Eigetsu’ finishes eating his dinner, but Kourin was quick to notice that it’s already Yougetsu, preteding to be Eigetsu. Yougetsu praises her for taking notice of this, then warns her to avoid making Eigetsu having contact with any alcohol if she still wants him to live longer. Yougetsu was about to leave when Kourin confronts him as to what relation he has with Eigetsu, especially since both of them are exact opposites. She also questions if he plans to take control of Eigetsu’s body, to which Yougetsu tells her about their real ‘identity’. Eigetsu’s real name is actually ‘Getsu’, and ‘Eigetsu’ is simply a name Yougetsu gave him, thinking that the name suits someone like him who’s merely his shadow. He once again reiterates to Kourin that Eigetsu is going to die soon, but he couldn’t care any less what happens to him. Kourin starts crying because of Yougetsu’s harsh words, and was about to slap him when he stops her from doing so. Yougetsu reprimands her that instead of doing these things, she should just do her best while she lives, just like what Eigetsu’s doing with the little time he has left.

In some other place, Shou Taishi is talking to this person (who I think is the Imperial doctor…), who seems to know about the limited amount of time Eigetsu has left to live. He was talking about how Shuurei has become a splendid woman throughout the years, when they sense the presence of someone else in the room and Shou Taishi throws his cup at him. The eavesdropper appears to be the silver-haired man, whose coming to Kiyou wasn’t quite welcomed by the two. He tells Shou Taishi and the doctor that he came to Kiyou to “get something he wants” before going back. He also mentions that he’s not an ordinary man (you can clearly see this as he’s ‘floating’, and seems to be in ‘spirit’ form), and will do just as he pleases, then leaves.

Thoughts

This is such an exciting episode… from the ‘lighthearted’ past two episodes, we’re already introduced to so many things that leaves the audience with questions, and many speculations. We find out a little about the real relationship between Eigetsu and Yougetsu, but still we are left with much questions as to how Yougetsu / Eigetsu really came about. With regards to the fact that Eigetsu is going to die soon, it seems to be because of the alcoholic intake of Yougetsu… something like that. It’s going to be sad seeing Eigetsu die… I wonder how Kourin’s gonna cope with it =[

As we once again see a glimpse of the silver-haired bishie, I can’t help but think how Shuurei will ‘fight’ him, knowing that he’s no ordinary human, and the fact that the ‘thing’ he wants to be his is obviously Shuurei. I’m thinking what we’ve seen of this guy today is his ‘spiritual self’ (?)… as he seems to be capable of appearing in places in his invisible form…

And well, we once again see how Reishin’s adoration for Shuurei is reaching a far different level from how it was before. Now he even expresses his intentions of wanting to marry Shuurei! >.> But I’d have to admit he really cracks me up… it’s just a little disturbing, once I seriously think about how pedo he is… ^^;;;

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