Murder on the Assembly Floor
"My lords, if the fourth article has been approved by the Shogun, then we will continue with out final topic"
Said the high-seat speaker, Takara no Junichi.
Hideyuki frowned, he have a sense of foreboding ever since an hour ago.....then right as he was about to excuse himself for the last topic, a messenger would arrives....
"Special messenger to the Fujiwara, bearing the Lord's Crest. I am here to see lord Fujiwara!" said the messenger.
He was let into the chamber of the retainers without delay, linkpearl and other manners of communication was not allowed because of certain decorum.
A scroll is delivered to him by the eunuch of the court, to which he would unroll and open it. Just as he finished reading it, he would look at the imperial guards standing guard.
None were allowed to carry weapon into the chamber of the lords. Except for the Fujiwara.
None of the lords remember that the Fujiwara, through merit and storied line...was granted Sesshokiri-Maru. The Lord's Cutter. A blade that was said to be drenched in the blood of wicked nobles and courtier. A blade that was once held by the Fujiwara as they executed the will of the Emperor, by the behest of the Shogun.
A blade that was won through show of extreme loyalty and indifference. There was a time where the children of the noble families were taught to be at their best moral, to abhor corruption and stood for what is just.
Else they'd meet their end at the edge of a Katana.
Hideyuki never brought the sword with him when he enter the chamber, because he believe in fairness that does not require drawing of the blood. Let the sword see blood only on the edge of a battlefield, drinking from enemy of the nation.
Today however, the ancient myth will surface once more to the world. Because some people would not repent until they see the two guardians of the underworld[1]
With one stride, he would cross the threshold that separated the factions, his hand reached to an empty air as something suddenly flew from the weapon storage outside of the room. It blasted the window apart as a Katana with red Tsuka and white Saya would suddenly be in his hand.
Everyone gasped. Sakata no Shinzo was chatting to the lord next to him about the new whorehouse when he turned his attention. Looming over him, Hideyuki's eyes blazed like fire. Golden brilliance.
"What is the meaning of this, Lord Fujiwara!"
The elderly lords raised their voices in protest even as Shinzo's eyes cannot help but be drawn to the Katana.
Then he'd remember the story, the myth....of the Lord's Cutter. "I-" was his only words when his eyes were blinded temporarily by the drawing of the Katana. "Beautiful" he thought, even as he feel the world turned upside down....as he stare at his own headless body.
A moment later, a single pause, before the court exploded into chaos, imperial guards descend upon the Fujiwara lord. Ready to subdue or kill him if they must.
"Stay your hand!"
Hideyuki commanded imperiously, for a moment, the guards would look at each other beneath their demon-faced Kabuto.
"Wh-what are you doing! arrest that man! kill him if he resist!"
Yelled someone from the seat of the elder lords. Yet the Imperial Guards would take few steps back, before sheathing their blade. Hideyuki, drenched in the blood of the Sakata would already sheathed the blade and lifted it aloft. His other hand held a paper, stamped by the Imperial Secret Police, explaining the event that happened.
"Sakata no Shinzo was guilty of second degree offense, this criminal tried to murder my wife! and not only that".
Hideyuki's voice turned to ice
"He also plotted to kill Ootoya-Dono. I have received report in this same letter that the Imperial Secret Police confiscated documents that detailed his corruption, and his plan to murder lord Ootoya".
Murakami no Abe, one of the conservative lord would raise his voice.
"That still does not give you the right to murder someone, let alone a noble of fifth degree in the presence of the Bugyo! what rights you have, young man!"
the governor, a Mitsurugi representative would remain silent behind the wooden screen.
"Really, Murakami-Dono ? did you forgot i am the ministry of justice's Sadaijin. Therefore i am a Judge."
"You still cannot execute him without proper process! that is a crime!"
Hideyuki would brought forward Sesshokirimaru.
"Unless you forgot that i am the bearer of the Sesshokirimaru, with the rights to kill any corrupt lords?"
Slowly and quietly, Abe would return to his seat...many lords were pale faced. A long forgotten myth has been brought to life once more today. From behind the screen a voice would be heard.
"Fujiwara-Dono have the right, the report is genuine as i have received the same, another is being delivered to the capital."
With that, Hideyuki would strode through the front door. Drenched with blood like a demon out of a story. Leaving behind a quiet court, and a fainting lord besides a headless corpse.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ox-Head_and_Horse-Face
