The End of The Nightingales That Weep

Directors Questions by Noam:

Did you like the ending of the book? No the end sucked! >:
Do you think it was weird for Takiko to marry her step father? Yes who would?
Do you think she would have jumped off the boat? No , she would've been too scared and she wanted to see Hideo again.
How did you feel about every one's death? Anyone you felt sad about? We felt sad they died, especially that the emperor died; after all he was just a child! And also Takiko's family, it was sad that her mother and her brother died without having seen Takiko.
Where you angry that Hideo left Takiko? Life is unfair. Even if it's true love.

Summary By Kat:
Since the Genji try to attack the emperor and everyone with them, the woman and children leave, but, get caught in the midst of a battle that they are losing because the people the Heike's thought were their allies became traitors. The ship on which Takiko and the rest are on gets captured, but the women would rather die then get taken as prisoners so the emperor, the emperor's brother, mother, and grandmother jump of the boat, as well as Mieko and others. The Imperial Regalia goes down with the emperor. Takiko doesn't jump of because she gets captured before, and when led to the rest of the prisoners, she sees that some of the ladies didn't die. Such as the emperor's mother and brother. The emperor, Mieko and many others aren't there. But, while on the ship, Hideo comes and tells her he will save her. He never does, since she escapes on her own to Goro's home. There she learns that her mother, Ichiro, and Fusta have all died and that Goro blames her for the deaths. Takiko is stubborn tough, and keeps working until she regains Goro's trust. She still waits for Hideo every day. When he finally comes and sees her in men's clothing, he stops loving her and goes of to war. Takiko, depressed wants to find the Empress and ask to join the monastery. However, once there, she tells Takiko that she should get married to Goro. Takiko does and at the end of the book gives birth to a healthy girl.

Conector by Kat
Throughout the book, Hideo and others are said to have shaved their heads in order to become monks. Ths is done because it is believed that it is a simble of purity. Nowadays, some people do it to gain money.