After the Flowers Page #3

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Of the burden of my

acceptance?

In regards to Anzai, Lord Shimano.

With great admiration and pride,

I am not saying this!

You march into my home

and serve this to me.

Have you pondered

upon your action?

This is the 1st time I have

received such a proposal.

Though for Edo this may not be.

Of course, I can accept the proposal.

But you have done a great disservice

bringing shame upon yourself.

No. The messenger has brought

blood upon himself.

Ito?

Yes?

Naito Magoshiro committed

suicide in Edo.

Forgive me if I am mistaken.

Are you the daughter of

clan elder Terai?

May I enter?

Yes.

Imagine my surprise.

When I learned Lady Ito

wish to see me.

And to meet in your room.

Would you please sit down.

Pain...!

Please do not misunderstand

the implication.

I just wanted to talk

to you, Saisuke.

Talk?

What about?

I'm all ears.

Eguchi. No.

Naito Magoshiro.

What?

About his suicide?

I want to learn the

truth behind.

Magoshiro's suicide.

From what I heard.

Magoshiro was rude by gaining

an audience with Lord Shimano.

So he chose to end his

life as atonement.

- Is this the truth?

- Huh?

Was he framed?

Framed!?

Naito Magoshiro set up?

What brings you

to this conclusion?

Magoshiro's wife. Lady Kayo

Have an unadmitted relationship

with another man.

Who is that man?

Fujii...

Kageyu?

I would ask you to.

Help me investigate this.

Is there something

to eat?

What?

Can't work if

I'm hungry.

- Food's ready.

- Yes!

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Naito could've decline, right?

No. He can never refuse.

Yes! Right away!

Why the urgency back

to Yokoyama?

Not surprising. Official business.

I see...

Don't worry.

I can still slip out

quietly at night .

- Really?

- Sorry to keep you waiting!

That was quick.

Sorry. Enjoy!

It seems that Magoshiro

have overstepped protocol.

Protocol?

This was already passed down.

Whomever stands in the way of

protocol is bound for death.

The order was sanctioned

by the clan.

Lord Abemoto did indeed

approved the proposal..

However.

It's a wonder why Magoshiro

was given the task.

Are they not going to

pursue this matter?

Wouldn't this reflect

badly on the clan?

Well, Lord Nagasaka are

said to be bedridden at home.

With heart problems.

The clan does seems

to be awfully quiet.

Seems that Magoshiro's atonement

is ignored. Even by the clan.

The Lord Abemoto shouldn't

have left this lying down.

However. It still bothers me

on why he chose this path.

Magoshiro was a

man of honor.

I'll accept accountability for the

offense that Magoshiro have done.

Please mete your punishment.

No.

Magoshiro broke protocol and

made a grave judgment.

And it's the Lord's decision

to allow Magoshiro to proceed.

Yes. But...

You were just doing your duty.

Anyway. Lord Shimano was the one

that demanded his atonement.

This will not reflect badly

on Lord Fujii at all.

Right.

You're too distressed.

Don't need to be.

However, if the matter

is not settled.

Magoshiro's case may

spiral out of control.

This will implicate the

Naito Clan as well.

I'm afraid they might

pursue this matter.

Understood.

Leave the Naito family to me.

I will rein them in.

Leave it to me.

Yes.

I heard they found Magoshiro's

suicide note.

He took full responsibilities

for his own actions.

Absolving the Clan and the Lords

of all blame and culpability.

He has conveniently

taken full blame.

Otherwise, chaos will ensue.

That's the end of it.

However, something

still puzzles me.

What is that?

Even If it's Magoshiro's 1st

time on this task.

Shouldn't he be briefed

thoroughly on protocol?

How can this

be overlooked?

It seems that someone

deliberately misled Magoshiro.

Fear not. I'll find out.

Enjoy your meal.

Magoshiro's wife is having an affair

with Lord Fujii, Kageyu ?

Hagai Dojo knows all about this.

Hey. What are you

going to do?

This is not something

that I can get into.

I can no longer

get involved.

This is getting too

complicated.

I can't help you anymore.

Thanks for all your help.

I'll investigate on my own.

It should be a boy.

Look! My face haven't

changed a lot.

Really?

If it's a boy.

Lady Ito can teach

him sword fighting.

I can't teach him to fight

with a bamboo sword.

There'll be lots of people

to do that.

Well.

Doesn't matter whether

it's a boy or girl.

It doesn't matter to me.

So long as the

baby's healthy.

May I enquire about

something?

Please, Please. Just let

me have a look.

Just once.

So Magoshiro knows about the

affair that Lady Kayo was having.

That seems to be the case.

Why...

Why then did Magoshiro

kept his silence?

If he didn't want

a divorce.

Why didn't he confront

Lord Fujii, Kageyu?

You don't understand.

The code of Bushido

disallows it.

Instead of spending life as

a low ranked Samurai.

He chose to keep his silence

to rise up the ranks.

As a man always have a

certain consciousness.

We are bound by duty

as well as society.

I know this because I

have 4 brothers before me.

Oh!

I'm not the same

as Magoshiro.

Really!

I know.

Magoshiro is after

all but a mere human.

It's only a matter of time,

before he gets into trouble.

Lord Fujii and Lady Kayo's affair.

Have been rumored

for some time now.

As you yourself know.

The affair's not well kept.

Not only does Magoshiro

knows.

But the Naito clan as well.

It's only a matter of time Magshiro

and Lord Fujii would feud.

As head of the Naito clan. He is

both bound and responsible.

That's the life of a warrior.

The Code of Bushido.

Code of Bushido.

Lord Fujii, Kageyu have so

far been successful in cloak.

If his affair becomes public.

Not only will his

position be threatened.

So will his life.

Which is why and therefore

Fujii's had risen to the

chief justice in power.

He knows protocol

better then anyone.

So it was a setup.

With the influence from

the Hagai Dojo.

Fujii used him as a pawn.

Through these few years. Lord Fujii

have been gaining in power.

Because he used bribery

to get his way.

Bribe?

Fujii secured his endorsement

for the next five years.

Through his monopoly

on the trade in Edo.

He is impregnable.

Don't you think he

should be responsible?

Fujii is also part of

the ruling caste.

Lord Fujii and his people

aren't to be trifled with.

Messing with them means

certain death.

No one dares.

Incorrigible.

This is how the

world works.

I want to see Fujii, Kageyu

brought to justice.

How do you think

we do that?

I'll help.

No. I'll do it alone.

Lord Fujii is also be regarded

as a great swordsman.

Though can't say the

same of his integrity.

May I ask?

What is the relationship between

Magoshiro and yourself?

None

Mere acquaintances.

Just mere... acquaintances?

I guessed it as much!

May I enter?

Signed Lady Ito.

Fujii, Kageyu?

I have been waiting.

Who are you?

I'm the daughter of

clan elder Terai.

Why would the daughter of

the clan elder accuse me.

Of infidelity.

What kind of game

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