- "But you must have killed many people before, Mei," Yukemori said. "What makes this young samurai different?"
Mei frowned, tossing her braid.
- "I... never saw them dying, properly. And I only thought about it as far as my actual mark - they were evil people deserving to be passed to the next phase in the great cycle. No doubt there have been... others. Others decent enough not deserving of premature death," she explained, sadly, guilt shadowing her eyes.
- "Then you have learned the truth of your actions. Before you were but a little girl playing a dangerous game. Now you are a woman who has chosen her path and shoulders the responsibility," Yukemori said.
It actually made sense. Mei downed some more sake.
- "Question is, now that I know the truth - do I want to choose this path? Is it honorable? Is it right?"
Yukemori instinctively understood that she didn't mean honorable the way the word was used openly. The mere ability to handle poisons and the choice of weaponry would make her dishonorable then.
- "I have never known anyone like you..." he said pensively, "but in a certain way what you do is a bit like what we do. We are criminals, of course, but we also protect the common folk. And yakuza also gives them hope. Think of that korobokuru who attacked us. What would his life be without yakuza? Born into poverty, he could only get the jobs of the hinin. In yakuza he gets a family, an opportunity to gain face and power..."
Mei smirked, the sadness never leaving her eyes.
- "Now he lies dead, face down, in a stinky alleyway in the outskirts of Dojyu, though," she said.
- "True. But it was his choice," Yukemori said. "A choice he made as a free man."
- "Well, freedom is a relative concept, of course... but you are right in that without him being a yakuza a samurai or other noble could execute him on sight, and there is no damn thing to do about it. They would think twice before attacking a yakuza like that."
- "So do what you do, Mei. Your secret is safe with me," Yukemori said.
Mei nodded.
- "Thank you for being my friend. Hope is important, I think. And even the noblest samurai kills those who don't deserve to die. I will continue."
- "Come see me again, Mei. We will go gambling, or watching kabuki..."
Mei smiled and touched Yukemori's fingers lightly. As they parted ways near the warehouse area, her journey back to the palace was uneventful.
As Mei stretched finally in her bed, she felt suddenly completely exhausted. The shock of Ganaji's death, the crying, the battle with the Lotus Blossom yakuzas, the sake making her mildly nauseous... and the soothing resolve after discussing her secret with Yukemori. She started to fall asleep.
The next thing she knew, she was dressed in her best court woman's outfit, complete with the facepaint and an elaborate bun. She was humming a tune, arranging a table for a tea ceremony. She was particularly proud of an elegant and simple ikebana arrangement she had used to adorn the table. She knelt, waiting.
A samurai woman entered the tea room. She wore the Crane sky blue colors. The gait of a warrior, the daisho at her waist... the slender and delicate, yet surprisingly strong stature... she must be a Daidoji, from the warrior family of the Crane clan. Mei smiled at the woman and gestured to her to sit opposite her, pouring the fragrant green tea for them both.
The warrior woman had glossy black hair, cropped shortish. Her mouth was full, her eyes a bit sad. She grimaced.
- "Tell you the truth, Mei, I have always hated the tea ceremony. Too much finesse for a warrior such as I," she said.
- "I rather like it," Mei replied. "I like everything beautiful I can make with my own hands. But who are you?"
- "My name is Tamoko."
- "Are you... where are you from?"
She chuckled without mirth, sighing.
- "I drift in nothingness, in the ethereal plane, right now. My one true love is journeying with my remains, to bury me to the ground of my ancestors."
Mei stared at her, full of compassion. It was a terrible fate to be without a proper burial. At least someone was working to get things right.
- "I yearn to go to Yomi, to join the blessed ancestors," Tamoko continued. "My time in Ningen-do is done. But the ways of you and my true love will cross. I would ask you to ease his pain. He misses me... there is a lot I may tell you one day, but not now."
- "Is this the man Atsuko saw in the tea leaves? The rishi returned from Jigoku?"
Tamoko just smiled and was gone. Mei dreamed of cherry blossoms.
