Justice
 
by Loren Dean

At last, the truth was known.

Reika, the murderer of Tsume Retsu, had been found, and had explained herself. Clearly she was guilty, but what to do?

Togashi Takehai was concerned on several levels with several facets of the current situation. On one hand, Reika was a geisha, and therefore had no say in what was done to her for her crime. On the other hand, Damasu Reika was born samurai, and should be treated with the appropriate due process. On yet another hand was the nature of her crime — Retsu had executed her entire family and sold her into slavery when he took over Damasu lands, and she had used his son to get close enough to the old tyrant to assassinate him.

As a geisha or samurai, stabbing someone in the night was a grievous crime indeed. On the other hand, Reika sought only vengeance for her slain family, not revenge for a gambling debt or some other such ridiculous cause. Vengeance is a high motive. Retsu himself was certainly not a pleasant man. He was a power-hungry daimyo, and ruled his lands harshly. He probably deserved to die violently.

But there were just too many Hands.

So here they sat. All but Ishi, who had stayed at the shrine rather than witness what he regarded as an unnecessary encounter. Even his friends must certainly be approaching the situation differently.

Jinjiro was a study in conflict. Takehai watched several different emotions play across the otherwise stoic face of the Kakita. Curiosity, concern, diffidence, anger, respect, and grudging approval all crossed Jinjiro's face over the course of Reika's confession. What would he opt to do with this murdering geisha-samurai?

Marako seemed distinctly uncomfortable with the entire situation. Marako had a tendency, Takehai knew, to choose a point of view and not allow herself to challenge it. Did she view Reika now as a geisha who murdered the local daimyo, or a samurai who finally found the vengeance she had sought for so long?

Naoki was fidgeting. The crab is out of his element here, thought Takehai. There is no telling what he will do.

To the surprise of everyone in the hut, Naoki suddenly stood, turning to the other three.

"I will ask you as my companions and my friends to leave the hut now."

"What? What do you intend to do?" Asked Jinjiro, incredulous.

"I will pass sentence on this murderer, but would prefer for her sake that she experience it alone."

There was a long, pregnant pause, and then with a grunt Jinjiro rose and left, followed shortly by Marako, who gave Naoki a knowing look before following the crane. Takehai remained seated, placid.

"Will you leave the hut, Takehai-san?" Asked Naoki again.

"I feel I must stay." Takehai did not twitch. Naoki pondered this for a moment, and then spoke again.

"What is your interest in what happens here?"

"I am interested in justice. If a just conclusion can be reached, I feel I must witness it."

"I asked Jinjiro and Marako to leave because I did not feel their own senses of honor would allow them to agree with what I consider to be just in this case."

"Yes," said Takehai blankly, "they will never agree with what you are about to do. Their honor would demand penalty."

Naoki was momentarily silent. On a deep, selfish level, Takehai was insulted that Naoki would attempt such an action, which could so easily be called duplicitous and dishonorable. His training, however, overrode any such thought. Naoki was doing what he thought best for all concerned, and this was deserving of respect and support. Naoki turned back to Reika, who had knelt with head bowed for the duration of her confession and the subsequent conversation.

"Leave this city. Tonight. Never return. Keep silent here and remain still until we have gone. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Reika whispered, "thank you."

"In conclusion, we believe Reika acted alone, sneaking into the castle under cover of darkness, bypassing the nightingale floors and guards outside Retsu-sama's rooms by way of the ceiling crawlspace, and left the way she came. She has been caught and executed."

"Thank you, Jinjiro-san," Tsume Takeshi was somber, sipping his tea silently on the balcony. Takehai was impressed. He had asked Jinjiro earlier if he was willing to express an untruth to Takeshi to explain the murder without implicating the young daimyo. His answer had been memorable:

"I will not lie to Takeshi-sama. I will simply not point out truths which would be... compromising."

He had done that admirably. Takeshi remained guiltless, and justice had been served.