Discovery

March 7th, 1535

Edibash grew tired of waiting. The other families had left, and servants had begun cleaning the main hall of the temple. Edibash exhaled, unsure as to what he should do.

"We cannot," he began, addressing the rest of the family, "leave without our Oyabun. It is not my place to do so, but I shall go search for him."

Edibash walked toward the inner sanctum. He knew he was entering a restricted area, and, without a valid excuse, could be killed on sight. Walking quietly through the halls of the inner sanctum, he stumbled upon the meeting area. He began knocking on doors, eventually getting a response.

"He- hello…?"

"Is that you, Ryo? It's Edibash. What's keeping you?"

Ryo sighed and sniffled. "Come in, Edibash. I…"

Edibash entered the room, his eyes grew wide at the grisly sight. Ryo sat beside the table, his clothes spattered with blood. Laid across the table was Daichi, his robes stained crimson, with a blade sticking from his back.

"Edibash, I just killed our Oyabun."

"Wh- why, Ryo?!"

"He was going to make me chairman, Edibash. But only if he died early. It's all on this scroll." Ryo chuckled and smiled, tears streaking the blood on his face.

"You better get outta here, Ryo. The servants will be coming in here to clean soon."

"Edibash… I killed him. And I don't know whether he told anyone at the meeting that he was setting me up as his successor."

Edibash sighed. "To know that any trusted member of the Goshinboku Clan would kill his Oyabun for such a selfish reason would shame us all. We've been friends a long time, Ryo. Wash your hands and leave. Don't go out the front. I'll stay here."

"But they'll kill you, Edibash!"

"They'll try. But they won't succeed."

Ryo began to speak, but stopped. He knew there was no changing his friend's mind. He nodded and left the room, cautiously peeking around the hall. Edibash rubbed his hands against Daichi's back, coating them with blood. He sat at the table and waited.