From Bayushi Namaru’s Book “Bayushi’s Promise”
In the shadows, Bayushi sat perfectly still. In his hands was the letter with hastily scrawled handwriting, begging his audience and discretion. His brother sat before him, his eyes filled with the light of anticipation.
Bayushi looked down at the letter again., reading the words there. Then, he looked back up at his brother, his lips parting for only a moment.
“What you ask of me,” Bayushi said, his voice a whisper in the darkness, “is to sacrifice my name and the names of all those who follow me.”
He stood, strode about the small room, his head hung with the weight of the decision.
“No other can do what I ask of you, my brother.”
Bayushi looked up when his brother spoke. He continued.
“I cannot ask Akodo. He has not the courage. I cannot ask Doji. She is too refined. I cannot ask Hida. He is obsessed with his wall. I cannot asked Shiba. His mind is not on the practical. Shinjo is gone over the mountains, but still, her heart is too tender for such work.”
“What about Togashi?” Bayushi asked.
The Emperor hesitated. “No. Because…because I do not trust him.”
Bayushi nodded. “Nor do I.”
Silence fell between the two brothers again and Bayushi knelt down in the shadows again.
“You are the only one, Bayushi.” The Emperor knelt forward. “The only one I trust to do such work. Such villainous, contemptible work.”
Bayushi nodded. “I understand.” He stood and walked to his brother.
“I accept.” He handed the letter back to his brother, but snatched it back just as he reached for it.
“I will be your villain, Hantei.” He paused. “But, if you betray me…” He paused again. “We never faced each other at the contest, brother…” Bayushi began.
Hantei finished. “And I pray we never will.”
Bayushi looked down at the letter again., reading the words there. Then, he looked back up at his brother, his lips parting for only a moment.
“What you ask of me,” Bayushi said, his voice a whisper in the darkness, “is to sacrifice my name and the names of all those who follow me.”
He stood, strode about the small room, his head hung with the weight of the decision.
“No other can do what I ask of you, my brother.”
Bayushi looked up when his brother spoke. He continued.
“I cannot ask Akodo. He has not the courage. I cannot ask Doji. She is too refined. I cannot ask Hida. He is obsessed with his wall. I cannot asked Shiba. His mind is not on the practical. Shinjo is gone over the mountains, but still, her heart is too tender for such work.”
“What about Togashi?” Bayushi asked.
The Emperor hesitated. “No. Because…because I do not trust him.”
Bayushi nodded. “Nor do I.”
Silence fell between the two brothers again and Bayushi knelt down in the shadows again.
“You are the only one, Bayushi.” The Emperor knelt forward. “The only one I trust to do such work. Such villainous, contemptible work.”
Bayushi nodded. “I understand.” He stood and walked to his brother.
“I accept.” He handed the letter back to his brother, but snatched it back just as he reached for it.
“I will be your villain, Hantei.” He paused. “But, if you betray me…” He paused again. “We never faced each other at the contest, brother…” Bayushi began.
Hantei finished. “And I pray we never will.”