Two Days After the Events of Endgame
Aohara Clan Compound, Luna
All was silent in the central meeting room of the Japanese-style manor. Silent, yet people lined the perimeter, the many family members of the clan all gathered in the aftermath of Luna’s civil war. At the head of the room, six elderly men all sat in seiza, looking in silence at the one person in the center of the room. They were the oldest members of the clan and their age gave off their appeal of wisdom. They were the elder council of the Aohara family, the group standing above even the head of the clan. Perhaps the head was simply that, a mere figurehead of the Clan, who actually held little power over the clan at large. While the head could make certain decisions about the clan, anything major needed to first be run by the elders who would come to a consensus before deciding whether to go through with the decision, or deny it’s movement.
It was something of a balance of power, yet the Elders held much more influence over the clan as well as connections to those outside the clan. Behind the elders were a couple of Ukiyo-e paintings, along with a scroll with calligraphy written on it.
「無
敵
道」
In the center of the room, the person who everyone’s eyes were on, Okuni Aohara, unofficially designated the head of the clan before the civil war, who fought alongside Ashford against the Queen… and lost. It was her first decision as Head of the Aohara clan, though it was also her first mistake as head of the clan. Frankly speaking, this whole ordeal probably ended in the worst way possible for her. She had lost to another family of Luna, was interrupted by the members of the Bisen Foris, and failed to either capture or take the head of Queen Selene. An outstanding failure on all marks, and it was one that only brought shame to the Aohara clan.
Okuni knew all of this, and had already prepared her for the worst. Her arms and legs were wrapped in bandages, with her right arm tucked in her kimono, the obi serving somewhat as a makeshift sling for her gravely injured arm. Her tanto blade was also tucked in her white Kimono, within a grasp’s reach of her right arm. She was prepared to cut her stomach, should that be her punishment, it seemed like the only thing fitting for her defeat. Her eyes faced the ground before her and she clenched her fist as she awaited the words from the elders.
“...Let us begin.”
The Elder in the middle began to speak. He was a fox-eyed man with his gray hair tied in a tight up-knot.
“It is a blessing that the Aohara Clan still stands on Luna today, for under normal circumstances we would be ousted as traitors to the crown. However, we had been in back channel discussions with the other aristocrats, and after grueling negotiations, there came a compromise.”
The man ran his hand down his lengthy beard, opening one eye, his piercing gaze shooting directly to Okuni.
“Okuni Aohara, come forward.”
He commanded the woman.
“Yes.”
Okuni shuffled forward on her knees, moving closer to the front of the room, her hakama scratching along the tatami mats.
“Present your neck."
“...Yes.”
She rose from her seiza, staying on her knees and bending her neck forward, presenting the back of her neck.
"Do you have any last words that you'd like to say?"
The elder asked her.
"...No."
She took a gulp and replied promptly.
"Very well."
Hikari watched in horror from the sidelines; she wanted to get up and shout at the elders, but she knew that would only make things worse.
“Mifune Aohara.”
“Yes.”
The elder called upon Okuni’s uncle, who stood up and walked forward to Okuni’s side, with a solemn look on his face. His left hand was firmly secured to the saya of his katana.
“Genichiro Aohara.”
“Yes.”
Another man from the opposite side of the room stood up and walked to Okuni, bundling up her long hair and wrapping it all in a ponytail, exposing her vulnerable neck to everyone.
“Do it.”
The elder spoke flatly.
“Understood.”
Mifune drew his sword and in a singular sweep of the blade, brought it down on Okuni.
Okuni had shut her eyes and awaited her end, perhaps trying to make herself at peace in these last moments.
Yet, several seconds had past, and she was still alive…?
With her less-injured arm, she reached up and felt her neck. It was certainly still in one piece, so what exactly just happened? She slid her hand up and down the back of her neck, and as she reached her hairline, she finally recognized just what Mifune had cut.
Her hair.
Her once lengthy and elegant hair had been cut short, its length not even able to reach her shoulders.
“T-This… This is…?”
Okuni was shocked and surprised at these events, trying to piece together the last several moments.
“Okuni Aohara… No, From today onward, your ‘name’ is Mumyo. Your punishment hereby is this: you are no longer a samurai of the Aohara Clan, nor a member of the Kusanagi Sword School. You are excommunicated from the Aohara clan in its entirety. From this day forward, you are a ronin. You will forfeit the Kensei, along with Takamagahara. Two days from now you will take the shuttle from Luna to Earth, where you shall serve your punishment. You are forbidden from returning to the Moon.”
It was a lengthy decree, and by all means a punishment worse than death in her eyes. One might count their blessings that they were still alive, but for a Samurai, the loss of one’s clan, of their identity, it was like a living hell that they could do little more than endure.
“I… I understand. This Okun- This ‘Mumyo’ will do as you bid.”
There was little she could stay in response to this other than to go along with it. Perhaps at the very least, she would make her exit from the clan with whatever dignity and grace she still had in her. It was not the punishment she expected, but mayhaps for her sins, it was strong enough to be warranted. At the very least the Aohara clan would continue to live on, if but at the cost of one person.
The elder took a breath and resettled himself.
“Now, leave.”
“Hah.”
Okuni, now Mumyo, bowed her head and shuffled back on her knees, before standing up and exiting the room without another word. Perhaps the reality of the situation hadn’t quite struck her yet, as her reactions thus far were rather muted, but for one who wasn’t themselves anymore, how exactly were they supposed to act? What would come of her now, she could hardly guess.