Yoichi splendidly pierced the fan.

The Taira clan, who lived like nobles, had a notion that this sideshow would predict how the war would go. Perhaps because of that, the Taira clan soldiers on the boat that bore the target rejoiced. An old Taira soldier started dancing on that boat. But when Yoshitsune saw that, he gave an order to Yoichi:

“Shoot that man.”

How ruthless. Everyone else must have thought so, too. Nevertheless, Yoichi drew his bow again. No one expected the champion of the day to actually do it. Alas, the old soldier fell, mortally wounded, and the Taira clan was enraged by this violation of the rules of war. Taira archers aimed for Minamoto warrior Mionoya-no-Juro’s horse. Juro fell from his horse, and that signaled the end of the ceasefire. The war broke out once again.

Seaspray flew. A Taira soldier kicked waves aside as he charged toward the horseless Juro. He caught Juro’s helmet as he fled, cutting the strings and freeing one of the plates from Juro’s helmet.

“I am known in the capital as Akushichibyoe Kagekiyo!”

Kagekiyo announced himself proudly. His yelling raised the Taira clan’s morale for future battles once again after losing their ally. Triumphantly, they retreated.

The next morning, the Battle of Yashima would intensify.
***

The monument here at the Shikorobiki Ruin was excavated in a later age, and though it doesn’t stand at that beach any longer, it continues to tell the tale of Kagekiyo and Juro’s fight to this day.