Uwakimono (Undesirable)

It is a harsh world. Her name is Kuriyo, and she had just given birth to her son a few months prior. When her son was born, her husband, Hasuke Tanaka, didn't rage. He simply collected the information about the infant. He was cold. Also, he knew as soon as he laid eyes on the infant that it wasn't his. It was horrifying; she expected Hasuke to kill the baby, or better yet, yell at her and abuse her. But he stared at her, then glanced at her son, and she realized, "He wants to kill the man whose son I bear." He simply said, "We will go to assembly." It was painful after just giving birth to get up, and brace for the pain...it was unbearable. But she went to assembly with Hasuke and her newly born son, Hekoe. Her husband took his place among the coven, and together, the gathering of old men and old women stared her down, and said in a hushed word, "Witch." Then the person in charge, Eikichi Mouno, read her a list of her misgrievances: "You are hereby charged with fornication by a man other than your husband, provided evidence of your infidelity, and finally, your overall lack of loyalty to the House of Tanaka. You are a disgrace. How do you plead?" And Kuriyo said, "Guilty. But please--spare my son." Eikichi Mouno stared at her without blinking and simply said, " You will live in disgrace. Your housing will be separate from the Residence of Tanaka. Your husband will gracefully continue to support your expenses. You will continue to receive income, however, you must wear the Character "warui" on every single kimono you wear to convey to the public you are "uwakimono," undesirable. No one is allowed to talk to you. The exception is when you appear at supermarkets, with the intent to purchase products, but in church and other public assemblies such as Buddhist wakes and weddings, you will be ex-communicated. Please do not contact any friends you may have. They will be informed, and they will be taken away from you. Please accept these conditions. How do you accede?" "I accept these conditions. Will my son be allowed to reside with me." Hasuke, furiously, but calmly said "He's not mine, is he? He will also wear the sign for "warui." Make sure you sew this character on all of his clothes as well as your own. " His lip curled. "Perhaps your man can save you. Where. Is. He?" Kuriyo calmly said, "I have no idea." The coven silently took their pencils and wrote notes. Then they whispered to Hasuke, and he said, " You will move-out tomorrow." The other members nodded murmuring "What a smart man!" And silently filed out. Hasuke wordlessly walked towards the exit, and Kuriyo, carrying the infant, followed him. At the room of the residence she shared with Hasuke, she was given a patch with the "warui," and she began to sew it onto her kimono. The baby gurgled, and she sadly said, "It's just us akachan. Just us." And she continued sewing.