Episode 14

**Shipboard Disgrace** (船 (せん) 上 (じょう) の屈 (くつ) 辱 (じょく) , *Senjō no Kutsujoku*) is the fourteenth episode of the *Orient* anime series.

## Summary

Musashi is excited to face the samurai to test his skill. He blocks Katsumi's iai strike, which surprises Katsumi. Haruhisa Shimazu tells Akihiro to take down both Musashi and Katsumi, and to take out his Kitetsu Sword, as Akihiro does, he easily breaks up the two and sends Musashi backwards. As Akihiro starts spinning around and beating Musashi, Haruhisa states they aren't there to do a polite kendo match, but are here to slay a Kishin. Akihiro takes down Musashi and tells him his swordplay doesn't amount to much. Musashi awakens moments later, seeing Katsumi collapsing and loosing to Akihiro. He wants to get back to the fight, but Akihiro tells him he lost as he is out of the lines. Musashi realizes he lost and it wasn't even a Kitetsu Blade fight.

Katsumi wishes to continue and Akihiro doesn't mind. He prepares to continue kicking him, but Musashi stops him. He asks for amends and accept Akihiro as their leader. They need strong leader to fight the Kishin and Akihiro had amazed Musashi. Katsumi accepts it too. Akihiro is surprised that Musashi wants to be friends and calls him a liar, as no one would befriend someone who just beat him, and he either hate or fear him. Musashi denies it and states he doesn't hate him. Akihiro explains that Musashi is doing it of self-interest and he didn't want to be a loser, so he is playing a mediator to put others in his debt, and get himself a good spot in the unit. When Musashi came, Akihiro saw him looking around, likely figuring out to who is best to suck up to. Katsumi defends Musashi, but Akihiro states the same for him. He talked big for fighting for his retainers, but had already given up and is glad that Musashi gave him an excuse to stop fighting. Akihiro points that Katsumi and Musashi are not fit to be leaders since they are selfish and as he won, he is the leader and everyone here should listen to him.

Later, Akihiro attends the strategic meeting with the leaders. He informs his unit that they will be arriving on Awaji Island tomorrow and they are part of the first deployment. They need to follow his command and if he tells them to fight, they should or if he tells them to withdraw, they should withdraw. Insubordination will be dealt with Shimazu style. Hearing that, most start to fear what it is. Musashi speaks up, stating that he is scaring them and they won't speak up, but Akihiro states they don't need to speak up and should just follow command, as that is how Bushi work. Musashi disagrees, he explains he comes from a place where they worshipped the oni as their saviors, and anyone who disagree, was treated like scum. But as oni weren't saviors, he doesn't think its right to expect blind obedience from people. If he makes mistake, they should talk about it, since they are all in this together. Annoyed, Akihiro dismisses them. Everyone starts to leave, which surprises Musashi. He asks Michiru if she agrees and that doing what they are told is no different than slaves. Michiru doesn't believe that doing what you are told is bad and that there is beauty in fulfilling dreams and goals of others. Musashi is disappointed, but is glad that Kojiro and Tsugumi are still on his side and he can continue his journey with them. However, he goes to check on them and see them having fun with their unit and don't minding staying for a while.

The next day, Akihiro tells everyone's duty. They should pin the oni, while the Shimazu kill it. Musashi is annoyed that he wants to take all the credit, but Akihiro states that's how things work. Katsumi thanks him for sticking up, but tells him to give up as that's how things are done. While peeling potatoes, Musashi is annoyed that everyone is falling in line with what Akihiro says, but even if he is alone, he won't fall in line. Kijinosuke Noguchi states he isn't alone and while he is in this unit, no one had spoken to him, and seeing Musashi alone, he decided to reach out to him. Kanetatsu shows up and asks them why are the Bushi peeling potatoes. Kojinosuke bows, stating that Kanetatsu is the commander of the entire first division.

Kuroko Usami, the Uesugi Band tactician, explains that the first deployment's mission is to lure the rampant lesser oni on Awaji to a single location and Kanetatsu Naoe will be leading it. Kanetatsu returns to continue his paperwork as he haven't finished reviewing this year's taxes. He tells Musashi and Kijinosuke to return to their unit, but Musashi states he got into a fight, which makes Kanetatsu state he is pathetic and people like him die first as he is a weak Bushi.

Musashi is annoyed that they keep calling him weak. Suddenly, a group of oni appear and attack the ships. Musashi sees an opportunity to prove himself and uses his blade to shoot out an attack, but it just bounces off the oni's horn. Meanwhile, Kuroko continues to explain that the lesser oni have sturdy horns and most Bushi won't be able to cut them. Musashi keeps hitting the horn, but it can't be cut. Another oni comes from behind and just as its about to eat Musashi, the two oni's get their horns cut by Kanetatsu. Tatsuomi Uesugi explains that Kanetatsu one of the strongest of his Bushi, but refuses any honors or promotions, so Tatsuomi bestowed him with the "tatsu" from his name. Kanetatsu tells Masaki Amakasu that he wants proper records of the first deployment battles. Masaki notes he will make everyone hear that he took three or four lesser oni at once, but that annoys Kanetatsu as three or four is vague and records need to be precise. Kanetatsu then continues to argue with his men, but tells them to be in formation since where there is one oni, there are more. A much larger group of lesser oni then appear. Yataro Inuda states that a great oni can give rise to hundred offspring of equal strength with ease and that's why the oni lords are unstoppable.

The people start to fear they will die, but Musashi tells them they will win. However, no one listen to him. Kanetatsu then states they will win and he will take out a hundred of them in an instant. Musashi is disappointed that no one listened to him. Kanetatsu tells Masaki that he is angry since a hundred oni popped with no real arrangement, complete disorder. Angry, he uses his Kitetsu Blade and binds the oni in a single line and then cutting their horns in a single attack. Musashi is impressed how Kanetatsu managed to give courage to everyone. Kanetatsu states if anyone wants to make a name for themselves, to step forward and use their swords. Akihiro then jumps and cuts an oni's horn. Musashi is surprised that he managed, while he couldn't do it. Kijinosuke states its due to the blade energy circuit. The most durable horns can't be broken by a single Bushi's blade energy, and to fight it, you need to channel the band's energy. Looking at the Bushi working together and Katsumi helping out, Musashi realizes that they weren't afraid of Akihiro, but followed his orders since they all have the same goal. Musashi realizes that he screwed up.

## Characters in order of Appearance

* Musashi
* Akihiro Shimazu
* Katsumi Amako
* Michiru Saruwatari
* Natsuki Shimazu
* Haruhisa Shimazu
* Jisai Kanemaki (flashback)
* Tokisame Shimazu
* Fuyuie Shimazu
* Tadayuki Shimazu
* Kojiro Kanemaki
* Tsugumi Hattori
* Kijinosuke Noguchi
* Kanetatsu Naoe
* Tatsuomi Uesugi
* Kuroko Usami
* Masaki Amakasu
* Yataro Inuda