Merit In the Gaijin Way Too
- "Good morning, sweet friend," Yukemori said, arching his eyebrow at Mei. "In what mood do I find you this morning?"
- "Cease your innuendo, Yukemori," Mei said in a deflated voice. "It seems that it takes more than your little ploy with Sarevok's family to solve the yearning of this heart of mine."
- "It didn't work out then?" Yukemori dropped his tone, replacing it with genuine worry.
- "That is certainly one way to put it. Though I did hear Sarevok-san's story. And a painful one it is, as well as amazing."
Mei went on to describe the events, Winski's intervention and how Sarevok had come to her.
- "And? He told you everything?" Yukemori wanted to know as Mei ceased talking, looking uncharacteristically hesitant.
- "He did. But it is a long, long story. Did you know that in the West they have a special kami for murder?" Mei said.
- "How strange," Yukemori frowned. "Like it could be separated from the essence of an aware being that wants to survive... I swear, I will never understand how these gaijin think. That is part of their fascination, I suppose. But Mei - you are distressed. What does that have to do with Sarevok?"
- "A lot more than you know, Yuki," Mei chuckled, but her eyes were bitter. "I do not know if this is the time or the place, but I must tell the story to you... come, let us walk and have our breakfast at some small tea shop. I am bursting from the heavy awareness of this."
- "They may wonder where we are," Yukemori pointed out.
- "Well, let them!" Mei said. "We are free to come and go as we please - and our ride to Fukama leaves only after two hours."
The two walked in the humid morning air, only vaguely aware of the merchants arranging their wares, the peasants wheeling their barrows of vegetables around and the fishermen mooring their boats at the nearby seashore.
They ordered sweet rolls filled with plum jam to go with their tea, and Yukemori didn't interrupt Mei before she was done with the tale.
- "What can I do, Yuki?" Mei said, her voice quavering. "I felt his kami... it was right there next to me, defenseless and vulnerable as a newborn babe. So close... and then he ran off again, fear and regret in his eyes. I can't just forget him - my soul is not mine any more! But his - it is still Tamoko's!"
- "Mei..." Yukemori took her hand into his own, touching her chin lightly. "Where Tamoko is people don't form ties like the way of things is in Ningen-do. She would have to let his soul go - whether she wants to or not. And I suspect that she is not a malevolent, small-minded soul, for then the Celestial Ones would have made her a gaki and not let her spirit pass to Meido. Sarevok carries her memory inside, but has forged a shield of it. A most harmful shield. I think..."
He stopped for a moment, frowning deeply. Mei waited, listening with every fibre of her being.
- "I think that he must make his peace with the dead first," Yukemori finally said. "Let him lay Tamoko's urn in the soil of her family burial grounds. I will urge him to talk to her in the family shrine. They need closure. It was a doomed story of love, very sad, it seems. Perhaps that will give him the peace and wisdom to understand the way of things."
- "That may not be as easy as you say," Mei said gravely. "Remember Daidoji Masai? Of course she yielded, as the Emperor, may the Fortunes be gentle to his remaining years, commanded it... but I have a feeling that the other Daidoji may not be as easy to persuade, now that the Emperor is not there."
- "They did say that Daidoji Akita himself was her father?" Yukemori said, pale. "I see your point, as the gaijin say. You know... I talked with Peri about it. She was really furious with Masai, and I tried to explain that it would not be easy to find a samurai who would not act as she did. That Masai only acted as the honor of the clan and the family demands her to. But Peri said that for her there is no honor in such a thing. That Tamoko did the right thing rescuing his brother, and... 'screw face', that was exactly how she put it."
- "How strange their ways are," Mei marveled. "But something in my heart says that there is merit in the gaijin way too."
Yukemori was nodding, deep in thought.
- "Yes... it is… very deeply felt. But... 'screw face'?"
The two shook their heads, their expressions alternating between amusement and exasperation at the unfathomable gaijin ways. It made as little sense as saying that breathing is irrelevant.
- "Thank you, my dear friend," Mei said earnestly. "Let us go back and bury the sad ghost of the fallen, yet honorable samurai."
Gaki = a hungry ghost
