| Takao Mariko | |
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Takao Clan |
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Takao Mariko (高尾麻里子, 1594 - 1627) was a Japanese noble woman, born into the Takao clan. Unbenknownst to her, her father was a member of the Japanese Rite of the Templar Order. In the early 17th century, she frequently aided the Templars unwittingly. She is the mother of the Assassin Takao Hayato and an ancestor of Jin Chen through the maternal line.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Born into the Takao clan, in Osaka 1594 - Mariko was the only child of the Templar Takao Haruto and his wife. Not wanting to subject his daughter to the Templar struggle, Haruto opted to raise her unaware of the secret conflict between his Order and the Assassins.
As a child, she was kidnapped by criminals and held for ransom due to her father's wealth. Using his Templar connections, Haruto managed to rescue Mariko but vowed to never let his daughter be helpless. From that day forth, he hired many samurai to train Mariko so she would be able to defend herself if she was ever put in danger again.
Meeting Lonan Kavanagh[]
In June 1615, on the last day of the Siege of Osaka, Mariko found an injured European man who was near-death on the river bed of her estate. Carrying a strange shield with him, Mariko was unaware that this man was an Assassin who had been betrayed by his brotherhood and carried a Piece of Eden with him.
Refusing to allow him to die, Mariko brought him into her estate where she would treat his wounds and nurse him back to health despite the objections of her father. A few days later, the man would regain consciousness and reveal his name to be Lonan Kavanagh, hailing from London. Unbenknownst to her, Lonan was permitted to remain at her estate to heal at the order of the Grand Master and her father's superior, Shimazu Tadatsune.
Lonan completely healed over the next 4 weeks and during this time, Mariko grew close to him and developed feelings for him. However, now that he was healed, Lonan was promptly urged to leave by Haruto.
[]
In 1616, almost a year later, Lonan would encounter a young orphan boy named Kinoshita Nobuyoshi and send him to the Takao estate for his safety. Mariko was unaware that Nobuyoshi was actually Toyotomi Kunimatsu, the son of Toyotomi Hideyori and last surviving member of the Toyotomi bloodline. Despite being unaware of his true lineage, Mariko developed a close relationship with Nobuyoshi and always looked out for him, becoming a surrogate older sister of sorts.
Around this time, Lonan would also officially join the Templar Order. As a result of this, Lonan regularly visited the Takao estate to discuss Templar business with Haruto. After repeated secret meetings with Lonan, Mariko entered a secret relationship with the Templar and hid it from her father who would disapprove and punish her for it. Lonan also opted to keep the existence of the Templars privy from Mariko as well, wanting to spare her from the hurt that came from the conflict with the Assassins.
Unfortunately, their affair would come to an end in September 1619 when Lonan would depart Japan in order to search for the last piece of the Armor of Eden. However, before his departure Mariko and Lonan would share one last night in passion, resulting in her impregnation with their son.
Later life and death[]
Soon after Lonan had left Japan, Mariko discovered she was pregnant and later so would her father. After learning that Lonan was the father, Haruto was enraged and promptly kicked her out of the estate. Nobuyoshi protested this, begging Haruto to let her stay but Mariko willingly left, not wanting to raise her child around someone who would hate them.
Mariko left Osaka and settled in Edo where she would give birth to her child, naming him Hayato. Without her father's wealth, Mariko was forced to become a mercenary to provide for her and Hayato as he grew up. While it wasn't much to live off of, she made sure that her son lived a somewhat comfortable life. As he grew up, Mariko made sure to tell Hayato stories of his father whenever he asked and how much she loved him. She always assured Hayato that, if Lonan knew of his existence she was certain he would have remained in Japan to raise him.
In 1627, Mariko would contract a deadly illness and require medical attention. While Hayato, at the merge age of 7, attempted to care for his mother the first few days, he saw that her symptoms began to grow worse and needed to take her to a doctor. Hayato travelled around Edo and begged for any doctor to help his mother. He would eventually return with the aid of Hashimoto Kenshin, both unaware of the other's connection to Lonan.
After observing Mariko's symptoms, he decided it was best to treat her at his estate and brought Hayato too. Kenshin and some other doctors tended to her illness over the next few days, however she unfortunately was unable to be saved and passed
Trivia[]
- The name Mariko is primarily a female name of Japanese origin that means "Real, True, Village." Mariko's clan name Takao, is a given surname meaning "tall, high, expensive".