Distaste
7 November 1998
by O'donna Dean

The eyes that Marako saw were in more pain then she had ever seen. The physical pain was evident in the way that he spoke, but his eyes showed a different pain. Betrayal of someone that he loved. Cowardly acts to protect his dishonorable daimyo.

As she sat and listened to the story that was placed before her, a sick feeling arose in her. She had heard many strange stories of what the Lion clan was capable of doing but even this she couldn't imagine. This plot of Ino's sounded more like a Scorpion plot. The fact that a Crane daimyo was involved was even more bizarre. She wondered how she would be able to look at this man when they made their report. She felt driven to be as good as her sister in other's eyes, but she could not imagine conspiring with someone to kill Kamoko-sama.

Marako was glad that this episode was over. Ishi took the responsibility for reporting to Ino-sama. Ino-sama paid them 5 koku a piece for solving this "disappearance" for him. Marako wanted no part of the money so she was ready to take the money to the monks.

As she was leaving Takehai asked if he could come with her. She nodded, and they started to leave. When Marako opened the door she was startled. Her hand went to her katana. At the door stood someone in black, with a mask on. He thanked all of them for being discreet in their investigation. He dropped a bag at her feet, turned, and left. She opened it up and there was koku in it. She dumped it on the floor and counted it. 25 koku, another 5 a piece she thought. She took her 5 off of the floor and left, with Takehai right behind her.

The monks were glad to receive the 20 koku from Marako and Takehai. They bowed and scraped and asked if they could do anything for them. Marako had only one request and that was for information on the burned man. The monks bowed their heads as they told Marako that he had died just an hour earlier. Marako thought to herself, "Now he is with the one that he loves". She turned and headed back to the end.

"It will be good to leave this place." Marako said to Takehai. He nodded his head in agreement. They walked the rest of the way in silence.