Variety CD Geten no Hana ~Yume Musubi~

Variety CD Geten no Hana ~Yume Musubi~ (バラエティＣＤ 下天の華 ～夢結び～, roughly translated as "Flower of the Human World ~Ending Dream~) is a two-disc variety CD set for Geten no Hana Yumeakari. The second disc has the following character image songs:


 * 1) Hiyoku to Narite
 * 2) Tsukikage no Tsuyu
 * 3) Issei Ichidai no Koi
 * 4) Shijou no Hana
 * 5) Yami ni Mau Hana
 * 6) Hikari Sasu Mirai he

The fist disc has mini dramas, character monologues, and voice actor commentary. Beauties of Nature (花鳥風月, kachou fuugetsu) is a drama with the entire cast that makes the first four tracks. Tracks 5~13 are romantic character monologues that are Tanabata events with the protagonist. An Azuchi Academy Boys' Festival scenario acts as the last drama.

Cast
(in order of first appearance)


 * Masaya Matsukaze - Nobunaga Oda
 * Kenji Nojima - Mitsuhide Akechi
 * Tetsuya Kakihara - Hanbei Takenaka
 * Kazuyuki Okitsu - Kanbei Kuroda
 * Kensho Ono - Ieyasu Tokugawa
 * Nobunaga Shimazaki - Ranmaru Mori
 * Showtaro Morikubo - Hideyoshi Hashiba
 * Hiroshi Okamoto - Nobuyuki Oda
 * Nobuyuki Hiyama - Naomitsu Momoji

Hana wo Mederu
"Loving A Flower"

During Nobunaga and Mitsuhide's patrol towards the main keep of Azuchi Castle, they bump into Kanbei and Hanbei. Nobunaga inquires about Hideyoshi's whereabouts, and Hanbei replies that he was caught by Sakichi to do his paperwork in his room. Kanbei adds that Hideyoshi is apparently further behind than usual. While Mitsuhide gives his condolences to the strategists, Nobunaga hushes his second inquiry when he catches sight of something.

Nobunaga warmly muses about a strange flower hiding in the shadows. Hanbei thinks he is referring to a fallen flower in the shade of the garden and gives it modest compliments. It isn't until he hears Mitsuhide chiming about its bluish-violet loveliness and Kanbei praising its beauty that he realizes that they're really talking about Hotaru.

The men continue to refer to her as the fallen flower, Nobunaga entertaining the thought of giving it tea. Mitsuhide counters that a garden flower should stay in the garden and that forcing a fallen flower's removal would be unfortunate. Nobunaga answers that he would allow the flower to bloom freely and more vibrantly under his care. Telling his lord to cease his mischief, Mitsuhide voices his concerns of boring Hideyoshi's strategists with his stipulations over the fallen flower. Hanbei voices his desire to see such a "mysterious flower", intimidated into pretending he doesn't know anything. Kanbei, whose mind is centered only on Hotaru, concurs that the flower of their eye is beautiful and expresses his immediate desire to lay down beside it.

Kanbei's bluntness takes the wind out of Nobunaga and Mitsuhide's indirect wordplay; the elder strategist remarks that if such a flower exists, he would gladly show it to them. Hanbei playfully warns him that Kanbei would be the one to watch out for if that time comes, not Hideyoshi. Wishing to excuse himself of the tension around them, he drags a lovestruck Kanbei with him and excuses themselves.

Alone with his strategist, Nobunaga dispenses with metaphors and tells Mitsuhide to bring his sister to his tea room so he can drink tea with her. Hotaru is currently on a mission at the moment, so Nobunaga retorts that she can visit him in the evening. He kneels and gently cradles the fallen flower before them with his hand, saying that he would gladly do the same with Hotaru until the morning. Mitsuhide cloaks his jealousy, stating he is worried that his lord's favoritism could affect her ability to protect him. At this, Nobunaga counters that Mitsuhide is too obsessed with keeping his "little bird" to himself. The Oda lord sincerely wants to congratulate her efforts and grant her much-needed respite. Mitsuhide concedes to his lord's sentiments with minor misgivings.

Choujuu to Tawamureru
"Frolicking With Birds And Beasts"

Ieyasu is enjoying the company of several chirping birds. Ranmaru sees him and attempts to address him. He raises his voice when Ieyasu fails to hear him, unintentionally scaring away Ieyasu's avian companions. Though the page apologizes, Ieyasu gently assures him that there is no offense. With a few words of soft encouragement, the birds return to his side. Ranmaru is amazed and remarks that he must be loved by all animals. The Tokugawa lord replies that he merely enjoys conversing with them; all animals can read a person's heartfelt intentions if a person is willing to address them honestly.

Pondering his words to himself, Ieyasu thinks that Hotaru is the same way. Her earnest desire to be with him opened his heart in ways that he couldn't have imagined. He considers her a precious person in his life.

The sudden silence leads Ranmaru to inquire about his well-being, so Ieyasu apologizes and changes the subject. He asks Ranmaru if there is an animal that he likes. Although he can't think of any that he favors, animals do remind Ranmaru of Hotaru's transformations. He reflects that she did show him her frog transformation once before, something which was honestly torture to him. To fight back his horror, he tries to rationalize that the frog transformation is fine as long as he knows that it's Hotaru doing it. Ranmaru then mentally struggles against his natural repulse and his affections for Hotaru.

Seeing Ranmaru grow pale by his own introspections causes Ieyasu to inquire if he is well. Ranmaru stammers back to reality and politely asks Ieyasu for his favorite animal, unaware that he opened the floodgates for the young lord to gush about every adorable critter under the sun. While Ieyasu joyfully raves to the page, Hideyoshi and Nobunaga spot them from afar. Nobunaga is pleased that the two youths are engaging one another, commenting that their closer ties would bolster one another's maturity. Hideyoshi points out that Ranmaru is backing further and further away from Ieyasu; Nobunaga jokes that Ranmaru is so straightforward that he would benefit from being knocked down a few pegs.

A rambling Ieyasu cheerfully praises the cuteness of frogs, which finally gets a reaction from Ranmaru. As he stalls to find his voice, Ieyasu happens to spot a frog nearby and gently invites it onto his hand. Horrified beyond belief, Ranmaru hurriedly excuses himself and vanishes from the premise. Ieyasu utters that it's a shame they couldn't enjoy the frog's company together.

With Ranmaru evacuating from the scene, Hideyoshi notes that this shot at bonding is a failure. Unruffled, Nobunaga states that the two youths can train together in the evening to replicate the same effect. In the spirit of building relationships, Hideyoshi is riled up to attempt the same with Hotaru later that evening—until Nobunaga deems it unnecessary.

Kaze no Fukumama
"As The Wind Blows"

On Nobunaga's orders, Mitsuhide visits Nobuyuki's quarters and gives the younger Oda brother Nobunaga's gift of dried persimmons. Nobuyuki derides his brother for giving someone as exalted as Mitsuhide such a lowly task. Ignoring the taunt, Mitsuhide quietly moves to excuse himself.

Before he rises, Mitsuhide brings up Hotaru's frequent visits to Nobuyuki's manor. Hearing about her makes Nobuyuki feels affectionate for her kind-hearted sincerity. To Mitsuhide, however, Nobuyuki declares that he gave up being offended by her intrusions because she's a hopelessly lost cause. In response to the Akechi general's apologies, Nobuyuki retaliates that they're an unneeded gesture. As an older brother, Mitsuhide states his worry for her merciful conduct to him. She often forgets that she is supposed to be a heartless shinobi and often lets her guard down. He wishes for her happiness.

Nobuyuki lingers on Mitsuhide's final response after he leaves. He opens the doorway to his garden and gazes at birds in flight. While he enjoys spending time with Hotaru, Nobuyuki wonders if Hotaru feels the same way. He doesn't know what it means to be happy. Vexed by his conjectures, he sulks that regardless of how he feels, they can't always be together all the time.

Momoji infiltrates the garden and kneels before Nobuyuki to present dried persimmons. Drawing himself away from his reverie, Nobuyuki responds that his brother had already given the snack to him. When Momoji begins to retract his offering, the young Oda lord instructs the shinobi to leave them anyway and formally thanks Momoji for his efforts. He brews himself tea and enjoys the dried persimmons that Momoji brought.

After he thanks Nobuyuki for his praise, Momoji asks about his disciple's visits. Nobuyuki confirms that she has been around again, adding that she must have too much free time on her hands. He complains that she should pay more attention to her own health and rest rather than use that time to be with him. Momoji's spoken gratitude for the lord's regard catches Nobuyuki off guard, and he bashfully chides Momoji for his quiet smile.

Changing topics to note the breeze passing by, Momoji asks if the young lord still feels it in his heart to rebel. Nobuyuki is lost on how to answer, stating that he can't tell if "the wind" is blowing in him or not. Privately in his thoughts, he admits he is still scared of his past and the possibility of him succumbing to his weaknesses again. That's why his heart is drawn to Hotaru, someone he believes can give him the strength to look beyond it.

A bird cry interrupts their silence. Momoji uses the bird soaring above them as a metaphor for his consolation. The young lord may not know his way now, but someday he will find his path and become free to pursue it. Nobuyuki embarrassingly scoffs at the shinobi, stating that he's a busybody like his disciple. Hearing the retort has Momoji reflect on his changing perceptions of himself and Hotaru. Maybe he is giving in to Hotaru's empathy, especially since she matured into a fine woman in the six years they have been apart. Though he critiques that she is still too susceptible to others, he passionately muses that he must be losing himself to Hotaru.

Nobuyuki's aside has him eagerly anticipating for Hotaru's next visit. If there is a day when he can live free, he wonders if she would be willing to join him. He may lack the confidence to take that step now, but he appreciates Hotaru as the one who gave him light, the hope for a better future.

Tsuki wo Nozomu
"Wishing For The Moon"

Hideyoshi and his strategists are awed by a full moon one night. Stating his playful displeasure in sharing the beautiful view with men, Hideyoshi states his plan to arrange a moon viewing party with Hotaru. Kanbei voices his approval. Hanbei criticizes that it's already too late to arrange such an event and to remember Sakichi's warnings about Hideyoshi's conduct. Pouting at the refusal, Hideyoshi badgers Hanbei to imagine how sweetly Hotaru's smile would be for him if they were to hold it. The pink strategist returns that Hideyoshi is reaching if he expects Hotaru to be smiling at all because of him. Kanbei mulls on the idea of Hotaru's smiling in the moonlight, her visage being one with Kaguyahime. Hanbei flatly tells his friend to stop, which is ignored when Hideyoshi toys with the comparison. If Hotaru were to return to the moon, Kanbei utters that he wouldn't allow it. He would do anything he could to hold her in his arms.

Exasperated by their fantasies, Hanbei urges for their swift return to the Hashiba manor since Sakichi is expecting them. Rather than give in, Hideyoshi walks towards Ieyasu and Ranmaru. The two groups greet one another. Ieyasu comments on the beautiful moon, which prompts a fantasizing Kanbei to mention Kaguyahime again. Without any shred of shame or sarcasm, he declares that she exists among them as the Akechi princess, a notion which Hideyoshi hails and causes Hanbei to sigh.

Though Ranmaru reproaches Hideyoshi and Kanbei, he is stupefied to sheepish silence when Hideyoshi tells him to admit his endearment for Hotaru's charms. Ieyasu stumbles on admitting that he likes her at Hideyoshi's prodding. Too timid to repeat himself, Ieyasu leaps to the topic of rabbits on the moon. He gushes about their fluffiness, falling awkwardly quiet at Ranmaru's confusion. Hanbei supports Ieyasu by stating legends of Japanese common toads living on the moon, which causes Ranmaru to go into shock and urgently excuse himself for his nightly training. Ieyasu thanks them for the enjoyable conversation and leaves as well. The Hasbiba trio walk back to their manor.

While they gaze at the moon, Hideyoshi aspires to someday claim it for himself. Hanbei deduces that he would plan to do so by charming the most beautiful maiden of the moon to come to him. After Hideyoshi rants about all the things he would do with his lady love from the moon, he drops his jests and remarks that true love—a union formed between two hearts joining as one—is something worthwhile.

Hanbei wonders about love, something he insists he has no time to indulge. Yet he can't explain why his heart races when he is around Hotaru. Kanbei wouldn't want the moon; he thinks Hotaru is the most beautiful person in the world. He would want nothing more than to someday experience true love with her. Both strategists ask if their friend said anything which they both deny; Hideyoshi jokes that they're hiding something from him before relenting that he would like to experience true love with Hotaru someday. Before he can though, he wants to achieve his lord's dream of unification. His strategists concur and then egg him to complete his paperwork once more. Accepting their biting commentary with grace, Hideyoshi hopes that they will be with him the whole way.

Gogatsu Itsuka Tango no Sekku~GO! GO! Kashiwa Mochi Daisakusen no Butaiura
"May 5th Boys' Festival~Go! Go! Behind The Scenes of Operation Kashiwa Mochi~"

Nobunaga "Hoshimi no Utage ~Azuchi-jo Tenshuma ni te~"
Nobunaga "Stargazing Stage ~In Azuchi Castle's Main Keep~"