Year of the Boar, Tenth Month, Day 21.

I have done little these few days past except contemplate the matters of which last I wrote. I have arrived at the painful conclusion that I cannot allow my House to go unavenged and although the gods have seen fit to send a punishment of sorts on the House of White Lake, whether Yuki grieves the loss of her second son or not, Silent Thouse Thunder cannot simply sit back and allow her to run riot across the Kingdom should she feel sufficiently recovered. If I allow her to insult my House with impunity, whose will she attack next? 
Perhaps I am being melodramatic; it would not be the first time I have felt as though no writer could imagine what passes in my House. Regardless of melodrama, my decision is made. It was made for me by Yuki really since she has made it impossible for me to recruit an army, I will wage my war from the shadows. I will eat away at White Lake from the inside as she sought to do to Silent Thunder and my House will be avenged before she even realises what is happening. Lord Sasanuma and I are agreed that the first thing we must do is infiltrate White Lake with a view to eliminating senior members of Yuki's household. Once White Lake is in disarray, we will seek to dispose of Shunya. Only then will we strike at the heart of White Lake and bring about its downfall. It will be consigned to the histories as if it had never existed; its people scattered and the ashes of the House used as fertiliser for the rest of the Kingdom. While I make it sound as though the war will be over in days, in reality, this plan of ours could take years. I must be artful; too many deaths of key dignitaries will make Yuki suspicious, defences will be raised and she may even go on the attack again but if I do nothing else, I will ensure that Yuki watches as the last breath leaves her husband's body and his death will not come easily. Much as though I have always despised the arts of torture, Yuki will watch as her husband is evicerated and his heart, still beating on a platter will be the last gift she ever recieves before she too, is made to feel the pain she has dealt me these months past.
The child continues to fidget and kick; it simply will not be still and although I would have preferred to keep her here, I have sent Tomoe to find a midwife from one of the more remote villages. Although I am no longer actively hiding my pregnancy, I do not wish to take chances if it is not necessary. I cannot risk dismissing the court physician but neither am I prepared to take him into my confidence. I have heard that he did his best for those injured by Yuki, Shunya and Kenta during the occupation but I am yet to be convinced that he could not have done more. Regardless, my grandmother used to tell me to keep my friends close and my enemies closer; it is only now, many years after her death that I appreciate the sentiment.
Lord Sasanuma suggests that life at Silent Thunder must look as normal as possible to those on the outside as possible; while I wanted to close the borders and refuse passage through my Lands, Sasanuma says we must avoid raising suspicion; that I must do my best to present the image of a House continuing as usual now that order is restored. For all of Yuki's faults, stupidity is not one of them and not only is she likely to be watching for a hint of weakness so that she can attack again, she will also be watching for attempts on my behalf at revenge. I must be patient, he says, revenge is sweet but also best served cold. Ice cold. I may have to wait years for a true opportunity to make her pay; I may even have to pretend forgiveness and even friendship if I am to obliterate White Lake completely. I wonder how it is that Sasanuma knows so much about the dark arts of war. On reflection, it is probably better that I do not ask. 
I have come to value Sasanuma's insight and his company. Conversation with him is not like it was with Kenta, he could not care less about the latest fashions or indeed, the merits of this musician or that but he understands the human psyche in a way that is most refreshing. I fear that he understands it a little too well and that because of his insight, there is much he does not say. I noticed yesterday that his fingers flexed very slightly as I held my belly while the child kicked; almost as if he too, wanted to share the moment. I detected the faintest hesitation before he spoke, as if he were about to broach an entirely different subject. I am glad he did not. I do not want the added complication of such a relationship with my war advisor. Perhaps in time, I will be ready to think about that; not least of all because I must have an heir to my House and I would prefer it if her father were someone I at least liked. I must look into the Sasanuma line and find out whether the family is prone to producing girls...