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Takehai listened as Hachi confessed of his deeds. He wondered sadly if he would have been able to piece together this story on his own, or would he not even have come close to the reality? As he listened, and the story further unfolded, He was amazed at the level of duplicity and deception that had happened. Yet he was horrified at it all at the same time.
Takehai had thought that he had seen and heard very strange things in his travels. But to him, personally, this was the strangest yet. A Daimyo who conspired with his brother's enemy to slay him and take his place. Two Ambassadors from rival clans who had fallen in love, yet due to the discovery of the Daimyo's Fratricide, had ended up killing each other.
Takehai had to shake his head sadly. All of this was unsettling to him. Which was truly more important? Honor? Or Love? Hachi had chosen Honor – and look what it had got him: a painful, slow death, as his injuries and broken heart dragged him down. Was Honor worth this?
And what of Justice? It certainly had not been served; the plotting Daimyo would go unpunished, and two innocent people – people who were only servitors and bound by honor to obey – had to pay the price of their greed and dishonesty.
As they prepared to leave, Takehai felt a moment of doubt – Had Hachi truly loved her? Takehai turned back and asked him.
Hachi was silent for a moment, then he whispered, his voice filled with a different kind of pain than before, "Yes."
Takehai felt sick. To think that Ino would reward them for perpetuating this falsehood, and that someone else would anonymously add even more to it, was revolting.
There was no way that he could accept this money – it was insulting at the least, and dishonorable at the worst.
He had been more than happy to go with Marako and give his "share" to the monastery. He was sure they could make better use of it than he ever could. He rarely had use for money outside his travels. Although he regretted making Marako or Jinjiro pay for him at the inns that they stayed at. Fortunately, they would soon be in Crane lands again, and would be visiting an old friend from the Topaz Championship, Asahina Tadako.
But this was also a little troubling. He wasn't sure what had brought on this invitation, not that it wasn't welcome. But then again, there was that letter... Ah, well, It would be good to go somewhere that he wouldn't have to investigate another injustice.