While Yabushige has long been operating in his own best interests, Blackthorn only begins to look out for No. 1 in Episode 8. When he offers himself to Yabushige, he's abandoning Toranaga.
Yes, Toda Mariko dies in Shōgun Season 1’s penultimate episode, “Crimson Sky.” She meets her end when a band of shinobi warriors attack her, John Blackthorne, Kashigi Yabushige, and Yoshii ...