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Legacy is a theme that has been introduced gradually in Gintama. We have seen it with Kagura and the Yato Clan, Gintoki (Takasugi and Katsura included) and Shouyo's teachings, Shinpachi and Otose with his father's dojo or with minor characters like Douman and the Shirino clan.
It's a term that varies depending on the situation or the person as we have previously seen, but in this arc is even more prominent since it's the core of it and the reason behind the main conflict.
Yaemon and Asaemon are the proud children of 16th Ikeda Yaemon. They adore him as a father and as a master, but due to his actions (saving Joi Patriots sentenced to death) they have to kill him to protect his name and the Clan's and Yaemon has to take all the blame for treason.
But even though the two of them accepted initially, their ideologies start to clash. They never were in the same page.
Asaemon was adopted by the previous head when her biological father was killed and she grew out of her misery looking up to Ikeda Asaemon, for whom she felt complete devotion.
He taught her a new lifestyle and cared for her as if she was his own daughter.
He taught her a new lifestyle and cared for her as if she was his own daughter.
And in return, he earned her respect, admiration and love. She followed his steps because she thought that he was a good man and his phylosophy was fair and right, but also due to a sense of duty.
And this can be seen when she has to carry the execution: She doubts and trembles. The foundations of her beliefs fall apart and she feels lost. Her convictions aren't completely hers, but partially adopted from his father, so when facing his death she doesn't know what to do.
Her sense of duty and love collide and she breaks, choosing death as a punishment for the sin of killing her father.
However, even when she decides this because in her eyes she has lost her humanity in the process, she can't bring herself to commit suicide.
However, even when she decides this because in her eyes she has lost her humanity in the process, she can't bring herself to commit suicide.
Aside from the fact that she thinks she doesn't deserve a noble death that saves her soul, subconsciously she doesn't want to die while having all these doubts and uncertainties or while the thought of her father being a sinner flits in her mind.
And this is where Gintoki comes into play. As someone who have had a similar journey as her, he can empathize with her and tell her what she needs to hear.
But that's not only out of pity, he truly believes what he is saying. Ikeda Yaemon saved his life in the past while following his convictions and that's something Gintoki respects since it's something he tries to apply to his life too.
And for that reason, his words reach her and save her. He gives her the necessary strength to finally fight her brother back and to stick to her own ideology.
With her new resolve and her mind clear, she can now live free from the shackles of guilt and build her own path. She isn't a Shinigami or a killer, she is a human that has to learn to live with regrets while smiling and moving forward to the future.
Saddly, the same fate didn't await her older brother.
Yaemon wanted to protect his father legacy too. However what he chose to defend wasn't his father or his motto, but what he built as a chief of the executioners. And to accomplish that he would sacrifice anything.
Yaemon wanted to protect his father legacy too. However what he chose to defend wasn't his father or his motto, but what he built as a chief of the executioners. And to accomplish that he would sacrifice anything.
He became the Shinigami, the monster, that was required to carry this duty. He deluded himself into thinking that his sister and his father were a necessary price to pay. He dehumanized them as much as he could to make it easier to himself.
He had a twisted personality since the beginning, he didn't think much of other's lives and he was easy to poison because of that. But he wasn't a heartless monster either, he grew up with Yaemon and he loved her.
Even when she took from him what he wanted the most, even when he betrayed her, a part of himself always faltered. Same happened with his father, even when he rejected him and even tried to kill him, he still looked up to him, yearning for his attention and recognition.
And in those cracks that conformed his mind, that pushed his boundaires is where Gintoki could attack, because they were his reason to act but also his weakness. When facing his compassion and will to sacrifice himself for the sake of others, Yaemon realized he was in the wrong.
Don't get me wrong though, I don't mean to defend Yaemon's actions or anything, but seeing how he grew up among corpses and blood with the purpose of killing people and how his mind shattered until he reached that point of no return, makes me sympathize with him.
And his conclusion is also utterly heartbreaking. In contrast with his sister that could move on, his death is depressing. He dies as a demon killed by another demon, his soul is not saved but drowned in the sea with his head and his sins.
Although, at least, after so many sacrifices, they both could accomplish what they wanted: to save his father's legacy.
It's a bittersweet ending, but it's also full of hope. Yaemon died, but he could redeem himself by saving Asaemon's life and she can now live her own life.
It's a bittersweet ending, but it's also full of hope. Yaemon died, but he could redeem himself by saving Asaemon's life and she can now live her own life.
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