CUSTOMS

As a high servant for the Rokkaku clan, Tadashi Ohara prepared the body of his master for the burial. He carefully cleaned the cadaver from head to feet and dressed him in black kimono made of the highest grade of silk. In its back was a handwoven crest of the family. Four rhombus squares tiled together like the mountain and fields the Rokkaku clan tied together.

As a custom, he wet Takayori's lips with water as it was believed that life starts from the same element and the body must have it after death for the soul to ascend. Then, Ohara set him on a wooden casket made from the same trees used to build the Kannonji Castle. The home where the hero was born is now where he lies in the end.

After the tragic news of the chief's passing was announced. Ohara prepared the castle for the wake of his beloved master. He adorned the hall with white chrysanthemum flowers and placed black cushions, each with the crest of his children and wife that will attend the burial.

Except for Takayori's wife Tomoko Shinjo who is six months pregnant. As it was presumed to be bad luck for someone carrying a child in their womb to be near a wake or burial. They said bad spirits will come and devour the innocent soul, never given a chance to live in this world.

Takayori's consort who died with him was Yoshiko Mochizuki, his new wife from the Mochizuki clan and former apprentice of the chief in dark arts. She will be honored at the same time as the master. Mourned by her grandfather and younger brother.

Men and women clad in black kimono gave their respect for the village hero with deep grief. Lighting incense for the deceased and offering gold and silver for the family. Food was served to the guests and Takeshi Ohara managed it all for the family.

Kawashima Nobuyuki wore his black hakama and carefully stepped in towards the casket of the chief. He could feel Amara's formal gaze upon his every move. After sending information about her father's state, the woman appeared to distance herself further from him. Nobuyuki thought he could find an ally from the young lady of the Rokkaku house but the noisiness from the once rebellious kid now confined herself in the secrecy of her thoughts.

'This isn't right. They are not even investigating who assassinated their father,' Nobuyuki told himself.

He stroked his beard and narrowed his eyes while observing the solemn wake of the village chief. The children of Takayori Rokkaku all left the gathering hall to take a break and eat lunch except the young lady of the clan. While slouching on the ground at the castle lawn, a familiar woman approached his table, setting two cups and a bottle of "sake" for them to drink together.

"Sanada-san???" The swordsman exclaimed, noticing the woman in formal black kimono.

"Are you waiting for Amara-chan to approach you, Nobuyuki-kun?" The woman teased the samurai staring at the entrance of the castle.

"I have a lot of questions to ask but I understand that she's busy with the wake of her father." Nobuyuki took a sip of the sake the woman poured on his cup.

"She will give you time if you ask her." Setsuko sipped a little sake from her cup to hide her knowing grin.

Setsuko Sanada was not only a personal servant to Amara, but she was also her confidant. What they talked about in the little cottage never left the house. When the young lady started talking about the samurai, she knew Amara was fond of the man.

'A young love, perhaps,' Setsuko assumed in her mind.

"We can still talk after the burial," The emissary said, lowering her eyes as the sadness shrouded his sight.

He didn't want to bother the woman grieving his father's passing. Nobuyuki knew how close they were. Takayori taught all his children ninjutsu himself beginning at the age of seven and proceeding until fifteen. And Amara was his most promising apprentice among his children.

"You should leave before the burial." Setsuko's face changed into a frightening gaze.

"What do you mean Sanada-san???" The samurai noticed the alarming stare and suddenly felt troubled by the woman's warning.

"Have you heard of the Rokkaku Shinobi Clan's tradition of 100 Footsteps?" The servant asked, pouring sake into their cup.

"Yes. Each family will offer a nail on their feet to the new chief within 100 days to show their loyalty to the clan." Nobuyuki answered with ease before sipping sake from his cup.

"When you hear traditions from outside the family, it is usually not right." Setsuko pointed out vaguely at the samurai's assumption.

"What is the right one, Sanada-san?" The samurai waned his eyes as his curiosity rose.

"You should leave before the sun soars in the east if you don't want to lose a nail on your feet." Setsuko drank the last drops of sake from her cup.

She took the bottle and left the table after pouring sake into Nobuyuki's cup. Setsuko warned the swordsman for Amara's sake. She knows the young lady was worried about the man, enough for her not to approach him in the crowd. If only Nobuyuki would realize that Amara was distancing herself for the emissary's well-being, he would immediately leave the village.

When the night falls, the doors of the castle were closed for visitors. A Rokkaku tradition commenced where only the children were allowed to attend. Ohara sat in the middle of the room holding a large wooden container cloth in black silk. When the ritual began, he laid them on the floor and produced a knife from his kimono.

Rin stared at the box wondering what about the contents and asked, "What is this ritual about, Ohara-san???"

Dai's orifices began to brighten from excitement, "Are you giving us inheritance?"

"Otou-san wouldn't give us gold. He wants us to be powerful, not rich." Hiroki answered.

"So is it a secret weapon???" Taro asked.

"Maybe it's a treasure map!!!" The five-year-old Yasuo exclaimed.

The older brothers shrugged their heads as the kid was thoughtless of the events that happened to their father. He still thinks he's sleeping inside the coffin like his mother told him.

Amara sat quietly holding Hideki in her arms. The six months old child clings to her while sucking his thumb. The mothers of her brothers were asked to leave their children in the gathering hall until the secret ritual was done. Fumiko, her fifteen-year-old sister was helping her to manage the children. She pleaded not to include the children in the custom of the family but Ohara insisted, stating that every Rokkaku child is counted equal no matter what age.

Ohara opened the wooden container revealing its contents that made Rin and Dai's stomach turn.

Two severed hands. Wrinkled. Ghastly. Cut down from the wrist of its owner.