Yukemori, He Had a Name
Mei uttered a deep, satisfied sigh and gulped down some sake. She didn't drink that often, but when she did she wasn't demure about it. When she wanted finesse and harmony, she went for the tea ceremony which she quite enjoyed, often entertaining the men in the court with it.
- "Tell me, Mei... you are usually not upset like that at all," Yukemori said. "I remember hoping that the pretty happy ninja girl, Reki, I thought your name was, would come visit me again. You always were like you didn't have a worry in the world, like you enjoy life and your youth and Dojyu's shady heart with all your soul."
- "True words, Yukemori," Mei replied, serious, looking him in the eye. "But that was because my eyes were not really open. My lifestyle was a game for me, my skill and competence a source of joy. Tonight I witnessed some... unpleasant consequences of my actions."
- "But... surely you knew what being a ninja is about?" Yukemori frowned. "In your dojo you must have had your sensei, and a lot of older and experienced ninja who know about these things."
Mei bit her lip. How much could she trust Yukemori? She could always kill him, of course, but not the whole Two Gates gang. On the other hand, the information that she was self-taught wasn't that incriminating in itself, and Yukemori both seemed genuine and had no reason to want to betray her.
- "See... I never attended a dojo. I have taught myself to the arts of ninja. My father taught me combat, he was a bushi, and I figured the rest out myself, more or less. Asked questions of the right people. Also, he had a ninja lady as a lover for some time, and she taught me to use poisons and some concealed tools in the short time they were together."
- "That is amazing," Yukemori said. "That practically means that you have established your own style, like a master."
Mei laughed. She had never thought of it that way, but in a way it was true.
- "I suppose. But I am young still. There is much yet to learn. And... now I don't know..." her voice trailed off.
- "Tell me what happened tonight," Yukemori said softly.
- "There was a man I assassinated. He deserved it," she said with feeling, and Yukemori frowned a bit. Oh, by the kami! Of course that was irrelevant to ninja in general. She had revealed more of herself than she had intended. But in a way it pleased her.
- "He was a government official... and had two yojimbo protecting him. Two samurai. I killed another one of them too, and he was the father of the other yojimbo. The young boy... his honor lost... I was trapped in the house, and he committed seppuku in front of my eyes." The tears started to well in her eyes again.
- "You really care." Yukemori's voice was soft, eyes friendly. "You are not an ordinary ninja."
- "No, I suppose not," Mei smiled sadly. "Yukemori, he had a... name. He was so young, eager like a puppy, wanting to prove himself to his father. And he didn't want to die, he was brave about it but he would have wished to live, I could see that..." Her voice broke.
- "I am sure he wished to - but you know how samurai are. Without honor, life is worse than death. He was a yojimbo, and if his protege dies, he has failed ultimately."
- "I do know all that, of course. But... he didn't deserve to die! He would have had a long life ahead himself, and he barely got to taste it. He died because of what I did. I killed him, even though he didn't deserve to die," Mei cried.
- "You only kill who you think deserve to die?" Yukemori said. "What if your lord charges you to kill someone who... doesn't?"
He was a quick thinker. Mei decided to roll the die and tell the truth.
- "See... here's the thing. I don't have a lord. I serve those I choose to serve."
- "And you do this to... save or help people?"
- "Precisely. The Celestial Order gives nothing to those who are not born well off. And I wish to give them at least hope."
Yukemori's eyes were large with astonishment.
- "Mei... you do realize that if I told about you to the Takeshi, for example, they would pay me well and be out to kill you?" he asked in a very serious, somewhat frightened tone.
- "Yes. I didn't intend to reveal to you this much. Too much sake, I guess," Mei grinned humorlessly. Or too much loneliness crushing my chest, she thought. "So I hope you were true, and that you really are my friend. If you are not, then I will have to run for my life."
- "I am your friend," Yukemori said. "It is an honor to be friend to a person like you."
Mei nodded graciously and smiled gratefully.
- "It is just... I am not sure if I wish to do this anymore," she said, angrily filling her sake cup so that some of the liquid splashed onto the table.
sensei = teacher
bushi = warrior
