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UTAWARERUMONO game Summary
Some days ago i found this summary for some content from the original game. I don't remember the site where i saw it, but i will put here the game summary for the story up until episode 07. If you have intention of play the game, please don't read. Has massive spoilers:
Spoiler for content covering episode 1 and 2:
Massive game spoilers. Read to your own risk.
Spoiler for Summary to Utawarerumono game - part 1:
Utawareru Mono Summary
By Mastress Alita
~~~~~
Note: My knowledge of Japanese is very limited and this summary was made heavily from information gathered from using Anime Game Text Hooker + Atlas Japanese Translation Software for translation. Therefore, there are likely going to be errors. If you find incorrect information, please let me know so I can fix it.
~~~~~
Part 1
A man wakes up in a strange place. He sees a girl above him telling him that everything is going to be fine, and he fades back into sleep, listening to a soft singing.
The next day he awakes and the girl is there, telling him to keep still because he has suffered a terrible injury. Confused, she tells him that she is Eruruu and he is in her home. She asks if he remembers, that he fell in the forest. She found him wounded and brought him to her home and he had been asleep for three days in critical condition. She tells him that everything will be alright, as her grandma and herself have been taking care of his wounds. He thanks her and falls back asleep.
~~~~~
He awakes the next day and sees a young girl looking over him. As soon as he opens his eyes, she wanders off. Even though it brings him great pain, he stands, taking in his surroundings. He steps outside, and Eruruu sees him. She rushes to him and tells him he must go back in and rest, that he is too hurt to be moving around yet. He insists that he is okay, and she tells him that it is a very severe injury and should still be resting, and helps him back to the house.
Inside, she tends to his wounds, and he thanks her again. She then asks him what his name is. He realizes that he cannot remember his own name, nor how he got the injury. Eruruu's grandmother then comes into the room with more medicine and says he has amnesia. Eruruu asks if something can be done, and her grandmother says that there is no medicine that can bring back someone's lost memory, they'd just have to wait for it to come back around. She says the important thing is for him to heal, and he goes back to bed.
He wakes later that night in extreme pain, but feels a cold rag on his head. He looks up, and notices it is a young girl, not Eruruu, and assumes it must be her sister. He then notices her ears and tail, which he'd never noticed before. Not sure if he's just seeing things, he reaches out a hand to feel and she scampers off.
Then Eruruu comes to see him. She lays him back down and says he is looking a bit better. She asks if he has remembered his name yet, which he hasn't. She says he must be hungry and starts feeding him some porridge. As he eats, he notices her ears and tail as well. She asks what it is, and then he reaches out to stroke them, finding that he isn't just seeing things, they are real. Surprised, she pushes him away, but then apologizes, saying he scared her suddenly touching her tail like that.
She then says that she needs to wipe off his face and asks for him to remove his mask. He is very confused by this, so she holds up a mirror to show him and says she tried to remove it but couldn't. The man looks shocked at seeing the white mask with the small horns on his face. He tries to remove it but becomes overwhelmed in pain. He tries again with no luck -- the mask won't come off, and trying to do so brings him pain. He has no idea what it is or how it got there.
~~~~~
The next day, the man is up and Eruruu asks if he is really okay, and he says he needs to get up and walk a little to heal rather than just stay in bed all the time. Eruruu's grandmother asks if he has recalled anything, and when he confirms he hasn't, she says that he must be given a name cause they have to call him something, and she gives him the name "Hakuoro" until he can get his memory back. Then she gives him some clothes that belonged her to son. He asks Eruruu if they suit him and she says they do very much. He thanks the grandmother and she tells him her name is Tousukuru.
[Visit outside]
Hakuoro and Eruruu go outside. They walk for a moment but he gets tired and asks if they could rest for a moment. Then a man approaches Eruruu and asks her who this strange "masked stranger" is. She explains that he is the one she found wounded and they have been taking care of him. He says that he looks suspicious and asks if she is alright, and she says it is an awful rude way to greet someone. This calms him down and he introduces himself as Teoro, who is considered a "father" to the people there. He introduces himself as "Hakuoro" and he looks surprised; Eruruu explains that her grandmother picked out the name because he has amnesia. A woman then comes over, and is introduced by Eruruu as her "elder sister" and wife of Teoro, Sopoku. Hakuoro is confused by her saying it is her sister, and she explains that they aren't blood related, she is simply like an elder sister figure to her. He is then introduced to some of the villagers.
They talk about how the villagers have been rebuilding a building in the village that was damaged in an earthquake recently. The eldest of the villagers says he remembered the last earthquake like that being when he was young. The whole village seems to have a very "family" like quality between all the members, and Teoro formally welcomes Hakuoro and starts referring to him as "Anchan" (brother).
Teoro and the others leave, and Hakuoro remarks that everyone is friendly and seems like a good person, and Eruruu says this is true.
[Visit fields]
The walk past the fields and Hakuoro asks if they have always been so barren. Eruruu says that they've had no luck with getting growth there, no matter how much they plant and water it. She says that after so many tries they should give up. She then asks if he is ready to leave.
[At the house]
Back at the house, they hear a girl's voice. The little girl is there, and Eruruu
introduces her, Aruruu, her little sister, to Hakuoro. She quickly leaves, and Eruruu
says she must just be surprised to see him wearing their father's clothes because he looks similar to him. She says their father died, and their mother died giving birth to Aruruu. He says he is sorry, and she replies that it happened when they were very young. She says that "Hakuoro" was her father's name.
That evening after resting, he wakes up hungry, having had nothing to eat since the porridge the night before. He goes out to the main room, where Eruruu and Aruruu are making dinner. Tousukuru notes the big feast being prepared and Eruruu says it is in celebration of Hakuoro's recovery. They say a prayer to Yaanaun, the Forest God, and Witsuarunemitia, the great God, and then have dinner. Tousukuru invites Hakuoro to stay with them and asks Eruruu and Aruruu if it is alright; they agree and he thanks them.
That night as he lays down for bed, he wonders just who he is, but before thinking on it much falls asleep.
~~~~~
[Visit outside]
The next day, Hakuoro steps outside. He sees a yawning Aruruu. So far she has always avoided him, and he wonders why, so he decides to take a chance to talk to her while she is still half asleep. He sneaks up to her quietly, and unnoticed, reaches out to pat her hair. She doesn't take notice of him and starts wagging her tail, but then he makes a noise and she is made aware and runs off again. He notices her looking at him from around a corner, and he motions her to come, and she runs off, and he decides his attempt was a failure.
[Visit field]
Hakuoro goes to the field and starts hoeing. Teoro visits him and asks what he is
doing, and he says that everyone else is working and he should be as well. Hakuoro wants to try to fix the soil in the field so that it may be able to harvest their Mororo plants again, and gets support and help from the other villagers.
[At the house]
When Hakuoro enters, Aruruu once again scampers away.
A little later in the day Eruruu and Aruruu leave on an errand, and Tousukuru asks
Hakuoro if he will join them. They leave, and Eruruu tells him they are going
to the forest to collect medical herbs. When entering the forest, Eruruu and Aruruu say a prayer to the Forest God Yaanaun. There is a legend that the evil god Muteikapa lives in the forest for which they need protection. Hakuoro finds it a bit amusing that they would believe such a rumor. Hakuoro asks if the forest is safe then, and Eruruu says that it is fine because they aren't going very far in and it's daytime, but going into the interior at night is very dangerous.
The two girls busy themselves picking plants, humming. Hakuoro tries to help Eruruu, and she describes different plants and herbs. When she's ready to leave, she notices Aruruu is missing. They find her up in a tree eating an apple, and Eruruu demands she come back down. Aruruu had climbed too high and was too scared to get back down, so Hakuoro decides to climb the tree to get Aruruu down. He extends a hand to her, but she doesn't take it. He tries to coax her down, and the branch snaps and she starts to fall, and he snatches her and breaks her fall.
Now late into the evening, after dark, they return to the village. Eruruu is angry because she got so scared at what happened, but starts to calm back down. Aruruu fell asleep being carried back on Hakuoro's back, and in her sleep mumbles, "Father." Hakuoro asks Eruruu if he looks that old to be called father, and gets a laugh out of her.
~~~~~
[Visit field]
The next day Hakuoro once again goes to the field. Eruruu and Sopoku come with some items that he tells them to mix together and put on the field to help the plants grow. They wonder if such a "charm" will work.
[Visit bedroom]
Back at the house, Aruruu sees Hakuoro. Ever since the event at the forest, Hakuoro expects their relationship to be better now, for her to jump into his arms instead of run away. But then... she ends up running away.
That night, Hakuoro is awakened by a sound. He thinks he hears Tousukuru's voice outside, and wonders what is going on as it is around midnight. He sneaks over to look out the window, but sees no one there. He looks in the main room, but she isn't there, only Eruruu and Aruruu are there sleeping. He wonders where she could've gone at such an hour but then goes back to sleep.
~~~~~
[At the house]
Tousukuru and Eruruu are working at making medicines. When Eruruu sees Hakuoro enter she greets him, and then Tousukuru slaps Eruruu's hand and tells her to pay attention. Hakuoro is surprised to see this part of Tousukuru. She tells Hakuoro not to intrude, and he apologizes. She then continues teaching Eruruu on how to prepare the medicine. Eruruu thinks she'll never be as good as her grandmother, but is told she will be with practice, and that she was once like that as well.
[Visit field]
The fields are now starting to get some growth. Teoro says that they've been working on watering, and then notices a look on Hakuoro's face and asks what is wrong. Hakuoro feels like someone is watching him. He says nothing and Teoro goes back to work, and then Hakuoro sees Aruruu slip out and look at him. As soon as he says her name, she runs off.
Later that day it is time for the workers to take a break. Eruruu is surprised to see
that there are actually some Mororo plants growing, and Teoro asks if she really believed that they couldn't do it, and she gets a little embarrassed. Sopoku says that it is largely thanks to Hakuoro, but he claims that it wasn't him, but the work of everyone.
Later, Hakuoro returns back to the village, but is then summoned by Teoro that tells him to come with him. He takes Hakuoro back to the fields, and the fense has been knocked down and part of the field destroyed, many of the Mororo taken from the ground. Teoro curses, wondering who could do such a thing. Hakuoro notices a tooth mark on a plant, and then Eruruu points to where some monkey-type creatures called Kimamau are on the other side of the field. They run off and Sopoku says they are fast and therefore hard to capture, but that they normally don't come here. Eruruu gets upset and Sopoku comforts her, telling her they can't give up.
Teoro swears that he is going to go chase the Kimamau away. Hakuoro says that unless they are defeated, they will just come back and do it again. That night the village meets to come up with a plan to take care of the Kimamau. The decide to split into two groups and drive the Kimamau into a trap to defeat them.
[Battle 1 - Defeat the Kimamau]
Hakuoro and Teoro fight the Kimamau. In the middle of the battle, Eruruu shows up, saying she can help with healing. After the Kimamau are defeated, she apologizes for intruding, and Hakuoro forgives her, patting her on the head, which makes her blush. Teoro says they need to return to the village.
With the Kimamau threat gone, the Mororo fields florish. Eruruu and Aruruu say that they are going to go work on burning Mororo plants as a means to preserve them. While leaving, Aruruu stops and stares at Hakuoro, he asks how she is and she smiles at him before leaving.
As expected, the original story has a lot more interaction between the characters and events happening than the anime. We got to see some god's names, too.
*******
Spoiler for content covering episode 2 and 3:
Massive game spoilers. Read to your own risk.
Spoiler for Summary to Utawarerumono game - part 2:
[Visit outside]
Hakuoro steps outside and hears a man's voice. A young man with a nasty grin addresses him as "Hey you (temee - rude form of the word) with the weird face." Hakuoro says he shouldn't have to respond because he isn't "you" and tells the man he should introduce himself. Very boastfully he says that he should not have to introduce himself, but does so anyway, saying his name is Nuwangi, and that he is the nephew of the emperor of the region. He tells Hakuoro to show his respect and bow. Just then Eruruu runs up to Hakuoro. Seeing Nuwangi she greets him but then turns her head, and Hakuoro wonders how they know each other.
Eruruu asks how long Nuwangi has been there, and he says for a little while, that he has come to see her. She asks if he has a new Uoputaru (a large lizard that is ridden like a horse) and he says yes, he goes on to brag about it but then it ends up biting him.
Eruruu then introduces Hakuoro to Nuwangi. He asks if he is living there. He says he is probably a fugitive and should be driven out, and Eruruu says Hakuoro is no such person, because he lives with them she knows him to be a good person. Nuwangi's face goes pale at hearing that he lives with Eruruu. He gets really mad and asks how a man like that can be Eruruu's man. She gets flustered and explains that it isn't like that, and asks Nuwangi not to act so childish, which makes him balk. He asks just what kind of man Hakuoro is, and she says he was a patient.
Nuwangi says that he has come there for Eruruu, that she is his woman. She asks why he is saying something so weird and he says it isn't a joke, she should go with him and leave her miserable life there. She just shakes her head sadly. He gets mad, asking if she really doesn't want to go live the life of luxery. He says she must be lying and grabs her arm, and says that with him she'll be happy. He tells him to let her go, and then Hakuoro steps in, saying that can't he understand that she doesn't like him and to let her hand go. He asks just what kind of a guy is he to tell him that, and Hakuoro says that she is the daughter of his benefactor and like family, and that is relation enough. Nuwangi, angered, tells Hakuoro that to oppose him is to oppose the Imperial Throne. Nuwangi tries to punch Hakuoro across the face, but after impact falls over, clutching his hand, saying that Hakuoro's face is as hard as stone. Nuwangi says that he will kill Hakuoro. Eruruu laughs over Nuwangi's hurt hand. Nuwangi says he will show no forgiveness and will meet Hakuoro again.
Nuwangi jumps onto his Uoputaru to leave, but it doesn't move and continues to
chew the grass. He starts beating on it telling it to run, and it bucks him off and
then takes off. Getting up from the trampled ground Nuwangi cries after it to
wait and takes off after it.
After he is gone Eruruu stands silent for a moment. She then says that back in olden times, when he was a child, he wasn't like that. She then leaves.
[Back at the house]
Hakuoro hears a commotion in the house. He sees Aruruu and asks her what is going on, and then Eruruu shows up and grabs Aruruu. She says Aruruu has been hurt and Aruruu says she is fine. Eruruu says it isn't fine and smears medicine on the hurt hand. Aruruu manages to get away before she finishes, and Hakuoro asks what happened. Eruruu says that Aruruu got into a beehive because she loves honey and has been stung. She says that since it hurts when she puts on the ointment Aruruu keeps running away.
Hakuoro goes outside to look for Aruruu. He finds her with the beehive and asks how she got it. She says that she knocked it down, and Hakuoro is shocked that she actually spoke to him. He tells her that she really needs to get the ointment on the stings, and then expects her to run away again. She dips her finger into the honey and holds it out to him. He tries the honey and says that it is delicious. She smiles, and he sits with her, eating the honey from the hive with her.
Eruruu then spots them, and stops, shocked, asking when Aruruu became friendly with Hakuoro. Aruruu says just a little while ago, and Eruruu smiles, saying she is glad. She whispers thank you to Hakuoro, whispering to him that Eruruu is very shy and thanks him for getting through her shyness.
~~~~~
[Visit outside]
Hakuoro steps outside and hears Nuwangi and Eruruu's voices. He hears her say "Let go" and Nuwangi tells her that when the district fuedal lord is gone, he will eventually climb to become Emperor, and then Eruruu will be Empress. He says all her luxeries will be given to her in such a life, and asks her again to come with him. He asks why she is acting like this and if she really wants a future of living a miserable life in the mud out in the country. She says he's hurting her, and then Hakuoro steps forward and tells him to let her go.
Nuwangi gets angry at Hakuoro for interfering. He says that he will kill Hakuoro, and Eruruu tells him to stop, that Hakuoro is just getting over from being in the sickbed, and that Nuwangi's arm is probably still healing from last time. He denies this and tries to prove it, but his arm is still bending strangely, and Eruruu laughs.
Then they hear a voice and Tousukuru steps out. She says she hasn't seen Nuwangi in a long time. She says he has certainly grown, and asks if he's recovered from his bad bed-wetting, and he goes pale. She goes on to talk about how he was a sickly baby and she took care of him, changing his diapers and singing him songs. He gets embarrassed and says he has to leave, but as he does so says that Eruruu is his girl and he'd better not make a pass at her. After he is gone, Tousukuru says that since Eruruu and Nuwangi grew up like brother and sister, it must be strange to see how much he has changed.
[Back at the house]
Hakuoro sees Aruruu and asks how she is. She mutters but he can't hear here, so he asks her to repeat herself. She says "Otousan" and it takes him a minute before he realizes that she is calling him "father". He says that it is okay that she calls him that. She jumps into his arms and starts rubbing her face against his chest.
Eruruu walks in and wonders what is going on. When she hears Aruruu calling Hakuoro "father" she laughs and then tells Aruruu not to annoy Hakuoro. Eruruu tries to remove her sister, but Aruruu clings to Hakuoro with her hands and feet and refuses to let go. Hakuoro says it is okay for now, and he pets Aruruu's head. Eruruu, seeming a little jealous at how close they suddenly are, leaves.
~~~~~
That night, Hakuoro wakes up, thinking he heard Tousukuru's voice. He looks around but she is gone again. He then hears Eruruu crying, because she doesn't know where her grandmother is at such an hour. She said she woke up to a sound and only saw her grandmother leaving with the black shapes of some people. He tells her not to worry and that he is sure that Tousukuru is fine and she should go back to sleep. She says that something must be going on though, for her to leave silently like that. He says that he understands and will go after her and make sure she is alright, so that Eruruu shouldn't cry.
Hakuoro heads out down the road into the country, hoping to catch up, when he hears an arrow. He asks who is there, and then feels a blade pressed against his neck and a man's voice tell him not to move even a little or he'll separate his head from his neck. He tells him to answer a question, why he was following them. Hakuoro thinks to himself that this surely must be the person who took Tousukuru. When Hakuoro keeps silent he demands him to answer.
Hakuoro escapes his hold and tosses him toward a tree, but the man easily flips
in the air and comes down in an arc with his blade drawn. A glint of light reflects
from the blade as he lunges forward and Hakuoro barely evades, it had come near to slicing his hand off. He grabs the cowl around the man and rips it off, showing a young man with sharp eyes and a thin body beneath. He says that now that he has been seen, Hakuoro cannot be let go, and he should surrender or die, and the sound of another arrow being knocked is heard in the distance. Then a voice calls out for him to wait: It is Tousukuru.
She comes forward and asks what is this business of him saying he'll kill Hakuoro. The man starts stuttering and trying to explain, saying that he was just making threatening remarks and was never going to kill him. She presses him asking if that is true, and he affirms that it is and for her to please believe him, and bows down to her.
Hakuoro stands watching, confused. She tells him to pardon the threats, as nothing can be done about it now. She asks why he is there, and he explains that it was because she had disappeared and Eruruu was worried. Tousukuru explains that she left to go examine a patient, that a girl is sick and every few days she leaves to check on her. He then asks why she does it in the middle of the night, and she says it is convenient for them.
She asks if he wants to see and the man gets defensive, saying they can't trust someone like him, but she says he is like family, so the man says that he understands, as he has great respect for Tousukuru. She tells him that he isn't to let Eruruu know. She motions to the trees, and then the man calls "Dorii" and a girl with a bow comes out from the trees. The man looks at Hakuoro and then tells him his name, Oboro, and asks for Hakuoro to introduce himself. When Hakuoro says his name, Oboro asks if that is some sort of joke, but Tousukuru says that it is no joke, it is his name. She then says they really need to get going, and Oboro calls out to the trees again, this time "Guraa", and another girl with a bow steps out. She puts a blindfold around Hakuoro's eyes, explaining that where they are going must be kept secret.
When it is finally removed, he sees a girl laying in bed. Oboro asks if Yuzuha, the girl, had gotten up. She says that she did, that she was feeling pretty good today. He hands her a bell, saying he bought it for her in the capital. She sounds that is sounds beautiful, and says "Thank you brother", and Hakuoro realizes she is Oboro's younger sister. Yuzuha asks if Tousukuru is there and she says so, and Yuzuha says that she knows from the smell of her medical herbs. She then says that she smells soil, and asks if someone else is there, and Hakuoro notices how her eyes only stare blankly. Tousukuru says she is very perceptive. Hakuoro asks if they mean him, and then hearing his voice, the girl says she was right, and then tries to sit up. Oboro tells her to stay laying down so she doesn't bring her fever back up. She says yes and lays back down, and then apologizes to Hakuoro for her appearance, and asks that he call her Yuzuha. He says he is Hakuoro and a freeloader staying with Tousukuru and he's pleased to meet her.
Tousukuru places her hands on Yuzuha's chest and shuts her eyes, feeling her breathing. She asks if Yuzuha is hurting, and she says she is okay. Tousukuru says that's good, it seems her condition is stabilizing. She says she needs to see Oboro, and asks Hakuoro if he will keep Yuzuha company for a moment. Oboro doesn't like the idea and asks if it is some sort of joke, and she tells him it isn't, twisting his ear.
When Hakuoro is alone with Yuzuha, he feels nervous, not sure what to talk about with her. She asks him to tell her about himself. She asks if that's a troublesome topic, and he replies that he has no memories of his past. He explains how he was injured and woke in Tousukuru's care and can't remember anything before that. She apologizes, and he says there is nothing to apologize for. He then asks her how her condition is, and she says she's been ill for a very long time. He apologizes to her and she says there isn't any reason for it, then finds it amusing how similar they are, both apologizing over unnecessary things. He then starts talking with Yuzuha, about his life with Tousukuru and her two granddaughters, and she listens, smiling occassionally.
In a moment of silence, she asks if it wouldn't be rude if she asked a question.
She asks if she may touch his face, and he says it is okay. She sits up and he asks
if it is okay, and she says she is fine. The tip of her finger touches his face, and she draws back, puzzled, but the she reaches out to touch him again.
Oboro enters, and asks Yuzuha what she is doing, that she should be sleeping. She says she is fine, but he insists she lay back down, and tells her not to give her older brother more to worry about. He then gets mad at Hakuoro, asking him what he was doing, but then Tousukuru tells him that it's fine, that she only touched Hakuoro's face.
Tousukuru says that Yuzuha seems to be a bit more energetic, and says that it is time for them to go. She asks Hakuoro if he will visit again and says that she wants to give him a good luck charm. She takes a piece of his hair and wraps is awkwardly around his little finger. Though he doesn't understand, he does the same to Yuzuha, and she says it is her charm for them to meet again.
~~~~~
Tousukuru and Hakuoro then return back to the village, just before daybreak. Hakuoro thinks back to when Oboro showed them off, and how he told Hakuoro that he did not want him to return.
When they get back into the house, Eruruu has been waiting up, and demands to know where her grandma went such late at night. Tousukuru says that she is sorry and did not want Eruruu to worry, so she tried to leave quietly. She says she really was extremely worried, and wants to know where she went. She tells her that she had to go check on someone's condition, and night is the only convenient time for her to visit the patient. She asks if Eruruu understands, and she says so, but that Tousukuru has to promise not to worry her like that again, and she promises. Aruruu then wakes up and asks what is going on, and Tousukuru says it is nothing and that she should go back to sleep.
Eruruu tells Hakuoro that she is sorry, and he says it is okay, that he was glad to
help her. She asks if he would like some Karakara tea with her, that will relax
his throat. He agrees, and then thinks to himself about Yuzuha, who insists on calling him "Hakuoro-sama" and gave him the little charm to meet again one day. When Eruruu comes back with the tea, she notices the hair wrapped on his little finger. He says it's supposed to be a charm to meet someone again, and asks Eruruu if she knows anything about it. She asks if this person is a girl, that it is to connect two people, and then gets upset and says goodnight before pouring him the tea.
~~~~~
The next day, Teoro tells Hakuoro about how they are working on a waterway for
the village. Then Eruruu runs up to Hakuoro, out of breath. She says that it is
terrible, that there is a person and she wants him to come with her. He goes with
her, wondering what is going on.
Later that night Tousukuru says how they were escaping the war. Hakuoro says that there are at least 150 people that needed food and rest because they'd been weakened with extreme fatigue and starvation, and Tousukuru remarks that it was foolish to try to cross the mountains. Teoro says that if they make it there, they can't take in the refugees, because they do not have the food and shelter to support so many people, but Tousukuru says it isn't right not to help them.
Tousukuru asks what Hakuoro's opinion on the situation is. He says that he was helped by everyone here, and therefore he doesn't want to have to desert those people who are under the same circumstances. He says that if they were to help them, they'd of course have to expand the village and get more food, and it would be to help only until they could support themselves. Teoro says all of this would cost a lot of money, and Hakuoro says that they could earn money by selling metals from their village at the capital, and says he knows about making iron (though he is surprised at saying this, as he doesn't know how he knows this skill). Sopoku comes in and supports Hakuoro's decision. He's told that he will head this up, and everyone should get rested for the work the next day.
~~~~~
[Visit bedroom]
Eruruu and Aruruu go outside with Hakuoro, to go to the forest. He thinks how the people here go to the forest daily, the men for hunting and the women to gather Mororo and nuts. He likes making the trip out of the village down the slope into the soaring trees. Eruruu asks him to wait for her as she makes the prayer to Yaanaun-kami. She returns and then stops when she sees a flower. Hakuoro offers it to her and she takes it, and says it is a flower that the Yaanaun-kami likes. She tells him the name of the flower is "eruruu" and she was named after it.
She says that there is a story about two sisters who were very close to each other. During that time, a feudal lord went hunting in Muteikapa's part of the forest. Enraged, Muteikapa then started attacking the villages every night, set on getting revenge at the feudal lord. The younger of the two sisters became very ill, and a very expensive medicine was needed, but they were very poor and did not have the money for it. The older made a decision, and went to the feudal lord, saying she would stop Muteikapa's wrath, and then she leaves. The next day, the younger sister wakes up, and is over the terrible sickness. Excited, she calls to her elder sister, but she is not there. She searches, but can't find her. Her grandmother tells her that her sister had become one with the forest, and from that day forward they would devote themselves to Yaanuan-kami, the god of the forest, who would protect them. The sister's name was Eruruu, and since that flower had been her favorite, the people named it after her. Eruruu says that she likes the name of the flower, especially after hearing this story, though she didn't like her name that much in her childhood.
Aruruu then comes up and hands Eruruu something. It is another flower, and Eruruu says that she loves that flower too, of course. Hakuoro asks what it is, and she says that this flower is "aruruu", the name of the other sister, and is named as such because it blooms next to the eruruu flower, so that the two sisters may be together forever.
They then leave, Hakuoro thinking over the tale.
~~~~~
That night, Tousukuru awakened Hakuoro. He asks what is wrong, and she says he needs to get up and get ready to leave. He asks why, and she says because he promised to go see Yuzuha again, so he should hurry quickly and go with her. He looks down at his little finger, where the hair was still tied.
She tells Eruruu and Aruruu that he and Hakuoro will be leaving. She asks why they have to leave at such an hour, and Hakuoro comments on her angry face. She insists she isn't angry and tells Aruruu to come back to bed, and that she'll see them soon. Hakuoro wonders why she got so upset.
As he and Tousukuru head out of the village, Hakuoro tells her how Oboro told him that he did not want him to come back. She tells him that he is just very overprotective of his little sister. She says she wants Hakuoro to come because the girl needs a friend. She says that Yuzuha suffered a bad seizure as a child and survived it, but lost her vision from it, and she has been battling sickness her entire life.
Oboro shows up, apologizing for keeping her waiting. Then he sees Hakuoro there and wonders why he is with her again. Tousukuru says that he'd better not complain about it, and he regretfully says that he understands. He tells Hakuoro he'd better not do anything bad to Yuzuha.
The two archer girls, Dorii and Guraa, come forward and say they had better get going. He's blindfolded again and told to watch his step, and Oboro comments how more time would be saved if he'd fall to the bottom of a ravine. Guraa mutters "Wakasama" (young master) at Oboro's obnoxious remark.
There is the sound of a gate opening, and then when Hakuoro's blindfold is removed he is inside Yuzuha's room. Before anything is said, she says "Hakuoro-sama!" knowing that he is there. He notes that her complexion seems to be pretty good. She says that the charm worked, and showed him her little finger with the hair still around it. She takes his hand and smiles when she feels the hair still around his pinky.
Oboro takes his knife and comes forward, and Dorii asks what he is going to do.
He says he is going to remove the charm and release Yuzuha from this man. Guraa tells him it is no good and to stop, then there is a sound and he falls over. Tousukuru is there with a cloth over his mouth, saying she's put him to sleep and for Dorii and Guraa to carry him out of the room, and Tousukuru steps out to make tea, leaving Hakuoro and Yuzuha.
Hakuoro sits next to Yuzuha and asks what they should do today, what her favorite thing to do with a friend is. She asks what is a friend, and he's confused, saying a friend is a friend. He thinks back to how Tousukuru said that what she really needed was a friend, which is why she brought him. He explains that a friend is someone who plays with you, encourages you, is always close, and there in times of hardship. She asks if he means like her brother, and he says that the word friend is usually someone who is not a brother or a sister. Then she asks like Tousukuru, and he says that she is from a different standpoint than the kind of friend he is talking about. She then asks if Ninaa and Hokoro are friends. He asks who they are, and she says they are always at her side. He wonders if they are servants, or Yuzuha's attendants, but decides they are likely not "friends". He wonders if that may be the case with Dorii and Guraa to Oboro. He thinks it is sad that a child that has suffered sickness like this doesn't even know the word "friend." She then asks if he isn't a friend. He says that yes, they are friends, and
she says that she is glad.
Yuzuha asks if Hakuoro will talk about the other children. He asks who, and she says Eruruu and Aruruu. He agrees and starts talking about them, though he doesn't know why Yuzuha wants to hear about them. He thinks perhaps out of yearning, or envy, but she listens intently and seems glad. He talks about how they chase after each other, and she says that it sounds like fun. He says that it is, and he will introduce her to them sometime. She asks if he really will and if they will become her friends, and he says that they will. She smiles at him quietly.
~~~~~
[Visit the fields]
Eruruu visits Hakuoro at the fields and tells him he has mud on his face, and she takes out a handkerchief and wipes it off for him. She then tells him to take it, and he thanks her. He then thinks of when Tousukuru said that she and Nuwangi grew up like brother and sister and it must be painful to see how he's changed. She asks what is wrong and he says there is nothing.
Aruruu then shows up and tells Eruruu that their grandmother is calling for her. She goes to leave and he stops her as if to tell her something, but then just says that it's nothing. He wonders why he let himself waver like that, because she is just his benefactor, and he... who is he?
Aruruu then clings onto Hakuoro, and he asks if she wants to be pet. She nods and he pets her, and then he hears a voice call out. She jumps up, and Nuwangi walks up to them. Hakuoru asks if his arm is finally better. He says he doesn't want to deal with him today and asks where Eruruu is. Again he hears Tousukuru's word "brother and sister" in his mind, and then answers that he doesn't know where she is. He keeps pressing him, and then Aruruu says she's that way and points, though it isn't the direction that Eruruu went. Hakuoro tells him not to go, and Nuwangi tells him how dare he try to order him. Hakuoro says that it is dangerous, but he doesn't listen, and ends up walking into a pile of manure. Nuwangi can be heard cursing and says that he will remember this.
Aruruu then tells Hakuoro to continue with his petting. Then Eruruu runs over yelling her name, and she jumps up. Eruruu said she lied and their grandma had never called for her, and chases after her.
[Back at the house]
Tousukuru is teaching Aruruu how to weave. Hakuoro asks Aruruu what she is making, and she falls silent. Tousukuru says it is a secret. Hakuoro tells Aruruu that he looks forward to seeing it completed, and pats her head, and she smiles. He decides to leave so he won't be intruding, and she seems disappointed that he is leaving.
~~~~~
Nuwangi is out in the forest with three of the villagers. They ask what he wants to
see them about. He tells them to just keep quiet and follow his instructions. They ask if this is about expelling Hakuoro from the village because he doesn't like him, and tell Nuwangi that that's no good. He tells them to shut up and listen to him, because he'd been at the village for years, but they say that even so he is mistaken, that Hakuoro has been accepted as a man into the village, and he is a comrade, family, and they protect each other. They say he has no right to talk that way, and decide to leave. He tells them to wait, but they say he should go because he is on Yaanuan-kami's sacred ground. He tells them to stay and listen to him, but they leave him there anyway.
When they are gone, he comments about what kind of Forest God is this to have such a dirty place as sacred ground. He sees something and says, "This... this thing..." and then starts laughing, saying they'll get what they deserve for opposing him, a great man who will be on the imperial throne.
A loud roar is then heard in the distance.
~~~~~
That night, Hakuoro is still awake, going over the plans for the village, worrying
because it seems they will not be able to expand the field or get a waterway through the rock. Eruruu then comes in, asking if he's awake. He asks her why she is up, and she says she was just not able to fall asleep for some reason. She asks how the blueprints for the field expansion are going, and he says they think they won't be able to expand it even a little. She's quiet for a moment, then starts to ask him something, but when he asks her what it is, she blushes and says it is nothing and he should get back to sleep. He tells her he will after he does some more work on it. She says then she will go make him something warm, and he thinks about what a good girl she is, that she will become a good wife and mother in the future.
She brings him back some warm honey sake and he thanks her. He tries some and tells her it is delicious. She says she is glad and learned how to make it from Sopoku. He asks her to have another cup with him. She pauses and her face turns concerned, and he asks her what is wrong, and she says she thought she heard an urgent cry. He's confused because he hasn't heard anything. She says she has a bad feeling and looks around restlessly. He thinks that she must be sensing something from animal instinct. Her ears then bristle and she starts shaking, and he tries to comfort her. She beens crying and asks what has been done. A loud growl is then heard.
Hakuoro asks what it is, and then a crash is heard and screams from outside. He
tells Eruruu to wait there and he will go see what it is. She tells him not to go,
that it is no good and he'll be eaten. He is confused, and she says it is Muteikapa.
Another growl is heard, followed by more crashes and screams. He tells her it will
be fine and he has to go outside, and she pleads with him not to, saying he doesn't know what Muteikapa can do, and no one can do anything about it.
Suddenly it becomes quiet, and he says he will go outside and have a look. She again asks him not to, but he goes outside to see. He doesn't see anything, even though he was sure he heard a scream from that area. Then he smells something, and hears a crunching sound. It sounds like a person being eaten. Then he sees a huge white tiger staring at him. She lets out a loud roar and attacks him, injuring his leg. Then Eruruu is at his side, telling him to hang in there. He asks what she is doing there, and tells her run, that it is impossible for him to get away because of his hurt foot. She refuses, saying she'll stay with him.
Muteikapa stares at them, and Eruruu cries, clutching to Hakuoro. He tells her again to run away. Growling, Muteikapa comes towards them, and then it begins to rain. Suddenly, Muteikapa stops advancing. With a growl, she runs away. Hakuoro is confused, wondering why she suddenly left. Eruruu continues to cry, and he tells her it is okay, it is safe now, that she's left. She says that she was scared, and he says he is sorry for scaring her but he's okay and to not be scared anymore.
~~~~~
The next morning they are having a meeting. Teoro says that one of the village children was eaten. He is enraged for this to happen to a child who was still a baby. The three villagers enter and report that there was a lot of damage done to the village. Also, the alter had been broken on the sacred ground, and Hakuoro asks if they think that has any connection, and Tousukuru says it greatly does. She says it was placed there in worship to Yaanuan-kami to keep Muteikapa at peace. Hakuoro asks what can be done, and Tousukuru shakes her head, saying that once Muteikapa's rage is awakened, it's never been stopped, and until it stops they should keep well hidden at night. Teoro gets angry, saying that he can't just sit back and let innocent people be eaten. She says she doesn't wish so either, but that Muteikapa is strong, quick, smart, and can't be hurt by weapons. She says they should adjourn the meeting and make no sound at night and keep
hidden.
~~~~~
[Visit bedroom]
Teoro comes to visit Hakuoro. He says the whole village is spreading rumors about the attack from Muteikapa, and he's heard that another villager was attacked the other day. He asks Hakuoro if he can't think of anything that they can do. Hakuoro has what looks like a thread, and Teoro asks him what he is doing, he's trying to talk about serious matters. Hakuoro says that he can't cut it, and asks Teoro to try his axe. He finds this kind of funny, and strikes down on the thread. It won't break. He tries again with more force, and then again, and still it won't break. He asks Hakuoro what on earth it is, and he tells him it is a hair from Muteikapa's body that he had found on the ground.
Hakuoro says that even though it feels soft, nothing he's tried can break it, and
also trying to burn it was useless. Hakuoro tells him how that time, Muteikapa didn't attack him and Eruruu, and instead suddenly left, and maybe it was just capriciousness or he was already full, but he thinks it must be something more.
Aruruu calls out for Hakuoro, and Eruruu tells her not to go bother him, that he is
having an important meeting. She asks what Eruruu is doing and she says she is
just bringing them some tea. Aruruu asks to take it. She grabs it and brings it to
Hakuoro, but drops it, soaking Hakuoro. He thinks of how he is dripping wet, and
suddenly the thought clicks in his head: it had started raining, and that is when
Muteikapa had left. He says that he thinks Muteikapa hates being wet, and the strand of her fur goes limp when he puts it in the tea. Excited, he tells Aruruu that she's wonderful and gives her a big hug, patting her head.
Teoro says then that they must kill Muteikapa immediately, and leaves. Hakuoro tells him to wait, but he's already left, and he thinks to himself that he doesn't think Teoro knows what he is doing, that even if they know Muteikapa's weakness, killing him is another matter.
~~~~~
Hakuoro and Teoro are out in the woods, going over the plan they have set up again; they have laid a trap in the forest in the area where Muteikapa has been spotted, and plan to lure her into the trap, the pithole filled with water than has been covered over with thick earth, and only Muteikapa's weight would capsize it, getting the tiger drenched. If they try to attack before it gets soaked, they know that it will be ineffective, but after his fur is wet, then their weapons should work.
They sound the bell to put the plan into action, the noise alerting Muteikapa, who
comes into the area. They start to run down to the area with the trap, but get tangled in vines and unable to move. They know Muteikapa will be there any minute, and as Teoro finally hacks through the vines with his axe, the tiger is there. They split up to try to get him off their tails, rejoining when they reach the area where the trap is laid.
When they arrive there, exhausted, Hakuoro hears Eruruu call out his name, standing down next to the trap. She screams "Behind you!" and they turn around to see Muteikapa there, staring at them. Teoro curses that she caught up with them already. Then from out of the trees, a group of Kimamau appear, ready to attack, making things much worse: now they must lure the tiger to the trap while withstanding the attacks of the Kimamau.
[Battle 2 - Lure Muteikapa into the trap]
The bait Muteikapa down to the trap. After Muteikapa steps on the trap, the waiting villagers pull the triggers to capsize it, sending her into the hole of water. She jumps out, shaking water from her fur, growling in rage. She's been thoroughly soaked, and now they have a chance of attacking her.
[Battle 2 - Defeat Muteikapa]
After the fight is over, Eruruu asks if everyone is alright. Hakuoro says they survived thanks to her showing up and helping them. Then Sopoku shows up and says seeing Teoro like that reminds her of the old times when he'd come back from hunting, and he remarks about how beautiful she was then, which earns him a jab from her. Eruruu laughs.
Hakuoro thanks Eruruu again, and she says it is nothing. They hear something, and it's Aruruu, who walks up to them. Eruruu asks what she is doing there. She says she told Aruruu that it was dangerous and not to come. Then she notices a bulge on Aruruu's stomach, and asks what it is. She says it's a baby, her baby. She rubs at her stomach, and there is a wriggling. She says it is her and Hakuoro's baby. He is confused and everyone stares at him. He says that's not it.
A strange cry is heard, and Hakuoro asks her what she is hiding under her clothes. They pull it out, and it is a white tiger cub, and Teoro remarks that it must be Muteikapa's baby. Teoro thinks they should kill the cub because if it grows up, it could come attack the village. Aruruu gets upset and runs away with the cub, and they follow her. He tries to explain to her that if the tiger grows up, it can come hurt the village and kill more children like Muteikapa did. She starts crying and refuses to let it go, saying it was a mother's promise. Eruruu asks why they can't raise her. Teoro asks Hakuoro his opinion, and everyone stares at him, waiting for an answer. He knows that what Teoro says is true, but also can't resist the look in the sisters' eyes.
Then Tousukuru shows up. She asks Aruruu if she had been "called," and then says that if the cub is nurtured and raised by good people, it won't necessarily grow up to be dangerous, but can be tamed. Teoro starts to protest, but gives in, since Tousukuru is the village leader. Aruruu, happy, runs off clutching the cub. Eruruu asks her grandmother what she meant by "called", but she doesn't explain.
~~~~~
Hakuoro is THE man! Very intelligent, smart, couragous, and made many girls (Eruruu, Aruruu and Yuzuha) fall in love with him!
But the guys (Oboro and Nuwangi) still want him dead!
Last edited by PGilis; 2006-05-22 at 13:36.
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