SHIGEKO'S DOSSIER: While Yoshifusa (P11) is the official head of Ryoko Owari's Unicorn clan, it is Ide Baranato who makes all the significant decisions. The clan is fortunate in this, for Baranato is a man of honor.
He is also a skilled healer. I had opportunity to learn this after an altercation with a ronin called Ample (P32). Baranato and I had an interesting conversation while he was putting my arm back into its socket. He told me that Ample was very skilled with the Two Way Throw, but beyond that his jiujutsu skills were limited. I told him I'd keep it in mind.
Then he told me that I shouldn't be afraid to tell him that my arm was in pain - that if I told him where it hurt, he would be better able to make the pain stop.
"Or would the shame of admitting pain be worse than the pain itself?" he asked. I looked at him to see if he was joking, and he was, somewhat. But I also saw that my pain hurt him as well.
Baranato is a compassionate man, but there is more to him than kindness; I saw something unyielding at the back of his gaze. It is something I have seen in the eyes of Akodo Toturi, in the eyes of the Emerald Champion, in the eyes of Kakita Toshimoko. These men who have seen death, seen naked suffering, and understood these things - but have not been broken by them. It gives them strength,and I believe Baranato has the same strength.
"MEMOIRS OF AN OPIUM EATER": Twentieth Year in the Reign of Hantei XXXVIII, Twelfth Day, Month of the Snake
Today was Michikane's (P15) funeral. It was the largest grouping of nobles I have seen in Ryoko Owari since the Days of Generosity (G6).
Ide Baranato's eyes were as red as raw salmon from crying over his son. His wife (P18) was even worse. She could not even restrain herself during the shugenja's prayers. Tears streamed down her face and her whole body shook, even as she tried to remain still.
Baranato would not let True Word (P33) into the funeral! I happened to arrive at the same time, and I saw True Word halt as Baranato put up his arm.
"You are not welcome here," Baranato said.
"I come only to pay my respects to a fallen friend," True Word said.
"You were no friend to my son," Baranato said. 'And if he had known that he would live still."
True Word's eyes got wide and his mouth twisted.
"Me? You blame me for your son's death?" Even though I never completed my training, I still have some sense for the unseen powers, and I could feel True Word drawing them in. Then Baranato's eyes flashed accusation, and I could feel a strong surge of power from him as well.
"Don't tempt me," Baranato said. "Spilling your blood would ease my pain, but I would not have it mingled with that of my son."
People were turning to look. Perhaps it was the ice in Baranato's voice. Perhaps the power the two men were drawing was so great that even the uninitiated could feel it.
True Word turned and left, Baranato's glare at his back.
Poor man. If he blames True Word for Michikane's death, he is truly blind. Equal guilt could fall on most of the funeral guests.