She doesn"t say a word to her servant, Ayame when they meet. The woman was in her prime, with black hair and dark eyes. Dressed in a simple kimono, but nonetheless she was described as a figure of much mysteries.

"Master, what does it say?" She inquired. A soft question, one where it suggested that she harbored no hopes for anything good. And it was wise to do so, as anyone could be overhearing their conversation.

It could spoil everything. Which by all means, Seika no longer wished it to be so. Besides, if this also failed. Then, all her labor was in naught.

So, there can be no mistakes. She will have to cover all the leads up, to prevent them from becoming far too disgraced. Not for honor, she swore that honor was simply nothing but principles others made up to justify their actions.

She doesn"t answer. The woman lifts her own head up, to look at her. "You aren"t going to try and escape, if that"s the way you"re looking at things."

Expected of her to do so, or another more dignified choice was the death of her own children and hers. She was too tired of this world, which took an endless number of things from her. Tired that every sc.r.a.p of happiness she had was fought with pain, and acceptance that it was just how things were.

Besides, what this country demanded of her was something she could not being herself to do. Kill her children.

"But that doesn"t mean that I will simply bring them along with me." Seika looked to her servant, as she stared at the woman. She kept her own sleeve, and looked at her hands. The ring that she held on for so long, ever since she was a child.

"Guess it is simply so." Ayame looked at it. "After all, you cannot be held to do something as heinous as this. When they have not even made their decision."

That was right, not all aspired to vengeance. Many did, but not all will.

Besides, who in their right mind could demand a mother who truly loved their children to kill them for the sake of dignity. She will rather throw that dignity away and have them live.

"Look for Kazuya, I have something to pa.s.s to him." She took it off a signet ring from her ring finger. After all, she will have no more use for it.

Kazuya came quickly inside. Perhaps he eavesdropped this conversation, but to Seika it mattered little. This was the one thing which could help him.

And someone followed him, her youngest child. The last one she bore. A girl with black hair much like her father, but inherited much of her looks. And her name was Sumiyo. She looked at the girl, with a look of disapproval.

But somehow those eyes saw right into her, knowing that nothing was ever being done. As for Kazuya, her son was seeing the ring.

"Come closer." She asked that of her boy, still shorter than she was. But in a few years time, he will grow far taller than anyone. Pa.s.sing him the small ring was the last act she intends to do.

There was no room for a farewell, lest he figure it out. Or perhaps he already did, given his reluctance to accept it. But she took his hand and gave it to him.

He looked at the ring. With a signet that he will never really understand the true weight of it.

"Take care of it." She couldn"t bring herself to smile. Not anymore. And that it was the one thing which will be of help to him from now on.

Kazuya examined the ring carefully, while she looked at Ayame. No words were spoken, but she was a woman who served her for a long time. She knew what her next orders were. What she was going to do.

The woman looked at Kazuya, not back at her. Ayame came closer to her daughter. The girl looked up to her. She lets Ayame hold her hand. While Kazuya who has long stopped looking at the ring looks at Ayame. She looks at him, for a brief moment.

"Follow me." She doesn"t say anything to placate their fears. Sumiyo looked back at her but continued to follow Ayame.

Kazuya remained in the same position.

"Go with her… I"ll join you later."

At her a.s.surance, he left too following the woman as it was. Behind the door revealed her second daughter who didn"t appear, but it seemed that she too was curious.

When they were too far gone, when the candle light went out. She took another to light again, but this time she took it with her.

And let it fall to the ground, before she slit her throat. Dying by fire was painful, and took far too long. But she simply wanted to die quickly, with no hope that someone will save her.