Tear Jerker / The Lotus War

• Several of Yukiko's arguments with her father qualify. Especially A "Reason You Suck" Speech she gave out to him before saying, "I hate you." She even felt sadness when she remembered it.
  • Musaru's death - taking the bullet for his daughter
  • Several of the backstories are depressing.
    • Yukiko: She lost her dog and twin brother at a young age and her mother abandoned them. Actually, she was murdered as a message to Musaru not to defy the Shogun
    • Daichi/Kaori: Daichi was a loyal soldier to the Shogun until the Shogun decided he wanted Daichi's daughter, Kaori. When Daichi refused, the Shogun cut Kaori face - if he can't have her, no one will.
    • Michi: Lost her parents at an early age and was taken care of by an Uncle who stirred a rebellion and had to watch as her Uncle was forced to commit Seppuku.
    • Hana/Yoshi: Their father was an abusive alcoholic, the family being raised in constant fear - though Hana was spared direct assault. When their mother finally defied their father, he murdered her and tried to gouge Hana's eyes out before being slain by Yoshi. Since, the two siblings have been constantly impoverished and trying to find a way to survive
    • Kaiah: Her mate was slain in a power struggle and her children's lives forfeit for their father's rebellion
    • Buruu: His middle brother was wounded in a sneak attack and both him and their elder brother eventually slew their father in a sneak attack for refusing to exact vengeance. Buruu kills both of them for that sin, earning the label of Kinslayer, exile and, worse, realizing he'd ignored his father's teachings against vengeance.
  • When Michi finally tries to rescue Aisha, she discovers that Aisha's been paralyzed from the neck down and kept alive by Guild machines. Quickly doubled when Aisha asks for a Mercy Kill
  • Love has very little success in the series. So far:
    • Yukiko and Hiro: Hiro is unable to leave his Lord's service while Yukiko wants nothing more than to kill the Shogun. Relationship ends when Hiro betrays Yukiko and Burru and Yukiko team up to tear Hiro's arm off and stab him. In Kinslayer, Hiro feels compelled to avenge his Lord on Yukiko but is quickly becomes clear that her betrayal towards him is his real motivation. Add in that Yukiko is carrying Hiro's children...
    Yukiko: You won't ruin this place, or our children. You won't do to them what you did to me. I want you to know that as you die. Everything you've done has all been for nothing. It's all going to burn. And I'm the fire you helped create.
    Hiro: And years from now... when you speak to those children... will you tell them you killed their own father?
    Yukiko:Who says I'm ever going to speak to them about you, Hiro? They'll never even know your name.
    • Yukiko and Kin: Kin loves Yukiko, Yukiko's feelings are mixed. They get together in Kinslayer but then Kin betrays the Kage. Resolved in Endsinger when the ruse was explained
    • Yoshi and Jurou: Long-time couple until Yakuza torture Jorou to death
    • Michi and Ichigo: Cousin to the new Daimyo and a Kage rebel. Ichigo is willing to protect her from being punished because he loves her, but Michi has to save Aisha and attacks Ichigo, killing him
    • Hana and Akahito: Akahito is slain for "spoiling" Hana
    • Michi and The Blackbird: It's not clear whether they got together, but Michi's death clearly hurts Blackbird and he takes care of Tono and finishes Michi's documentation of the war