Perfidy {Mori&Amakusa}

[Mōri Motonari]

The people in Buzen of Chugoku whispered in hushed voices as they saw their lord mounted on a steed with his right hand man, Watanabe Hajime, and his eldest son, Mōri Takamoto, along with some other low-ranking soldiers. Two generals and Lord Mori himself was riding through the streets, and people were both in awe and in fear. In awe because Motonari kept them safe and prosperous no matter what needed to be done, and in fear because with him, the big man himself, riding out in the open like this in his territory with so few men... it likely meant someone had done something seriously wrong, very wrong, and there would be a just as serious punishment given out to whoever had committed the deed.

And the people's assumptions were correct.

Motonari's brown eyes were narrowed, per usual, and he rode with his back straight and tall. He was a man of importance, one could never doubt. Just with how he presented himself. Towards the end of the town, Lord Mori rose his hand up and pulled back on the reigns, and with a snort his steed stopped.

They were there.

A young boy was playing outside of a house, kicking a small ball around with a couple of dogs, shouting gleefully, and stopped dead in his tracks. His mouth gaped at seeing his lord, and he quickly bowed. The door slid open of the house and a woman left it. She was the boy's mother and began calling out, suspicious that his playful cries had stopped. And at seeing Lord Mori and his men, there was a look of confusion which was replace with dread when Motonari dismounted. She visibly paled.

"No..." she breathed, taking a step backwards. The woman figured out what was going on just then, and shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "He... He couldn't have... No..."

She cried out for her son and, startled, he ran towards her as the other men dismounted and Lord Motonari and them walked towards the house. The woman clung to her boy, tears streaming down her cheeks. A man's voice sounded from within the house and it grew louder.

"Hey, what's going on-?" the voice stopped as the person left the house, and at seeing Lord Motonari and his men, he gasped sharply, taking a step backwards. "Shit! No!"

He didn't even have the time to grab for his sword, because suddenly Mori's men drew their bows on him. The man was entirely surrounded, and fearfully he rose his hands up in the air.

Hajime stepped forth and, clearing his throat, declared, "Himura Aki, you have been charged with several counts of treason. Taking important military information and selling it for profit. You have betrayed your Lord, your people, and your family. By law, you shall be punished for your crimes."

Men stepped forth and took Aki by the arms, dragging him out into the street. Cries from his family grew louder and whispers of shock rang in the air as the people in the surrounding area began to gather. He was dragged into the center, eventually forced onto his knees. Motonari stepped forward with his eldest son close behind, staring down at the man coolly. Aki's wife broke through the crowd, dragging her son with her, clutching to him tightly.

"How... How could you, husband?! Why..." her voice trailed off, and the woman fell to her knees, and her son clutched to her, going down as well. She screamed, "What about our son?! Our family?! Our honour!?!"

He stared at his wife until Motonari moved closer. His expression was unreadable, and terrifying. "You have a choice. Honour your family," he glanced down at the knife on his person, that all samurai kept. Motonari then looked back up to Aki's face and his eyes narrowed, "or be executed. Make your decision now."

The man began to tremble and tears fell onto the ground. Hunching over, his hands rose to his face as he wept. Motonari continued to stand in place, expression cold as can be. The air was heavy, and no one spoke a word. Even the horses seemed to quiet for the occasion. Aki pulled out his knife and his trembling hands held it, Aki staring at it. His wife forced her son's head to turn, cradling him against her bosom.

"Make him watch," called out Motonari's voice. The woman's eyes narrowed and she stared at her lord with wide, tear-filled eyes. He continued to look down at Aki, but went on, words and voice unwavering, "So he will always remember his father's crimes, and so that someday he will fully bring back honour to the Himura name."

Lord Mori's gaze switched over to them, and the woman went rigid. Biting down on her lip, she eventually closed her eyes and nodded, turning her son around. He stared at Mori and his father with wide eyes.

"Learn from your father's mistakes, boy. Never repeat them. For the good of all of our land and the people of Mori."

A glimmer was within his large, dark eyes, and when Motonari turned to face Aki, upon nodding, the man proceeded to commit sepukku, disemboweling himself on the spot. Hajime had stood behind him just then and quickly cut Aki's throat, and the head hung by a sliver, resting against his chest. Blood had sprayed in the air and stained his kimono, pooling onto the ground. Everyone stared and a few whispers sounded from here and there.

Motonari closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, and upon opening them looked at the man's son for a few moments, before turning his gaze to his own, Takamoto. He lifted his hand and rested it on the shoulder of the young man.

"You must do the same when someday I am gone and you take charge."

Takamoto nodded. "... Of course, Father."

The body was kept where it was, and it would stay there for the rest of the day before being removed, and the people began to slip away slowly. Motonari moved over to Aki's wife and son and his arms crossed over his chest. The woman glanced up at him, and she wiped away the tears falling down her cheeks.

"You will not be punished for your husband's crimes, but this will not be forgotten by myself or the people," declared Motonari, voice even. His expression was intimidating, as it was quite grave. Yet there was no anger there or cruelty. The tiniest (in fact, it was so small that it was even arguable whether it was even there, or if it was just the reflection of the light of the sun) glimmer of warmth was within his dark eyes, and he continued, "Nevertheless, the Himura and Sakamoto families have been invaluable retainers for some time. Because of this, the Mori will ensure that you do not perish because of dishonorable actions you had no power over or knowledge of."

Sniffling, the woman bowed her head along with her trembling son. "T... Thank you, M... Mori-s-sama... Our family... is ashamed and... we promise... to make it up to you, to... to restore our honour. We... are so sorry, Mori-sama."

Motonari nodded and stepped away, and Hajime moved over to her, kneeling down and helping her up as Lord Mori walked towards his horse.