Those Dignified Words

Mei was already in the portal chamber as Sarevok and Peri arrived. She and Sarevok shared an embarrassed look, their cheeks flushing.

Let no-one call Sarevok a coward, Sarerevok thought, drew a deep breath and walked to her.

- "Spirit lady, who touched my heart last night," he began. "I fear that I acted less than graciously, and there is a chance that I will not come back from this fight. So know this. The fault lies not within you. It is that things such as... what we experienced are not for me to pursue. I love a lady whom I grievously wronged in my former life, and for that reason I will never love again."

- "She is dead," Mei said evenly. "It is right to love the dead ones... we venerate them here. Once I have my own house, I will build an own shrine for my ancestors and talk to them every day, as is the custom here. But once your love has moved on in the great cycle, it is the way of things to let yourself love again. In Yomi there is no jealousy, for everyone passing there knows true peace."

- "This is my penance, Mei. She is dead because of me. I... there is a lot you do not know, and I have no time to tell you... but I was consumed by a great evil and madness. She loved me, and tried to save me - and I threw her love away, driving her to her death. No... a man like that deserves never to be happy again."

- "I doubt that your lady would want it so, Sarevok. She is a Crane samurai, isn't she? A former one, anyway. Her name is Tamoko," Mei said.

Sarevok just looked at her. Yes, of course she knew. Somehow it seemed to fit the surreal naturality of the recent events.

- "She came to me in a dream some time ago, and asked me to help you," Mei continued.

- "She did? How is she? Did she say anything about that?"

- "She says that her soul is afloat in great nothingness, and she longs to move on to where she belongs. It is honorable of you to travel all the way here to bury her."

- "That is the least, and the last, thing I can do for her," Sarevok said. "But Mei... if I was not what I am, I would pursue your love. As it is... I will think of it as something beautiful someone more deserving, hopefully, will get one day."

Mei inhaled in order to speak some more, but the emperor entered the portal room. All the Kozakurans present knelt formally, touching the ground with their foreheads. Not accustomed to such customs, Sarevok's family bowed stiffly, seeking for an uneasy balance between courtesy and holding their own ground.

- "Good morning, brave and prophesied ones. Let the celestial dragons guard your journey and your battle be victorious, much to the honor of yourselves and salvation of Kozakura," the emperor said. He was carrying a Kozakuran sword, katana, clearly heavy in his frail hands. It glinted dark green, for the blade was coated with magical jade.

Everybody murmured their good mornings.

- "Brave you are, and as honorable as the most venerated ones of the great clans, worthy of every song sung in the honor of Kozakura's greatest samurai. Go with my blessings, and all the ancestors looking after Kozakura from Yomi," the emperor said.

- "They sure haven't exactly taken an active role here," Peri murmured, but Sarevok slapped her hand. The emperor handed the sword for him and touched his shoulder, then went on his way, everyone relaxing significantly.

- "Peri, you heard the dragon. The way they see it is that it is the duty of mortals to take care of this plane - and the denizens of the other ones of their own," Jelena said in a mild tone.

- "Yeah, yeah. Duty and all that. Now let's go kick the mountain beastie's ass," Peri said and smiled wryly. "Although... Mei? Will you see Yukemori?"

- "Certainly. We will be ready for your return."

- "Tell him... tell him that Peri says hi. And will you two take care of my little kid if I don't make it?" There was just a trace of seriousness in Peri's voice.

- "You have my word. What would be your wishes regarding her occupation?" Mei wanted to know.

- "Aw, whatever she wants to be. Maybe make her a nice yakuza girl, I have a feeling that it would suit her better than this court thingie. Umi, come here."

Peri held the child for a moment, eyes closed, just inhaling her scent. A tear almost welled in her eyes. Umikaze sensed her strong emotion and stopped smiling, just wondering with her eyes huge.

- "Hey, kiddo. Mommy goes to kick ass."

- "Kick... ass...?"

- "Yeah. Mommy goes to kick ass."

- "Mommy... kick... ass! Kick! Ass!" Umikaze was delighted. Peri gave her child back to Mei, steeling herself and feeling Sarevok's comforting arm around her own.

- "The sword. Did it pose any trouble to the emperor to get the shogun's one?" Imoen wanted to know.

- "Er. Let's just say that Yukemori promised to him that he knows someone who can take care of it," Mei said, smirking.

- "Won't the shogun notice?"

- "Eh... hypothetically this someone switched the swords so there will be no need to waste time on something like negotiations. But what do I know, I am just a court girl." Her smile was pale and perfect as a full moon.

- "Lord Ilmater, bless us and protect us from evil, let our blades and spells be true..."

- "Yeeeha! Now we go find evilnastybad mountain!"

And with those dignified words they vanished into the portal.