Year of the Boar, Twelfth Month, Day 11. Postscript.

 I waited in my offices for several sticks fretting over what news Sasanuma may bring back but I knew I would not sleep if I tried so attending to my paperwork seemed like a sensible distraction... of course it was no distraction at all; my head spun with unwanted thoughts and the mosquitos appear to have decided that I am once again, a food source. I lit several coils of incense in an attempt to repel them but by the time Sasanuma arrived at some time past the hour of the bat, my wrists, ankles and neck were covered in swollen, broken welts where my nails had raked aggravated skin...

When Sasanuma returned, although it was sometime past the hour of the bat, he refused tea and insisted I accompany him to an unoccupied room at the south of the castle... I struggled to match his stride and was all but panting before we had walked half way down the main corridoor but it was not until I tripped on the hem of my silks that he could be persuaded to stop... He apologised then, and scooped me from the floor in his arms as if I weighed less than a feather... he pressed his forehead to mine and said he was sorry for being a brute... I felt my cheeks flush scarlet as that brought images to my mind of one who really had fit that description... I touched his face and smiled gently as I told him firmly that he was none such but that I did wish he would tell me what had him so agitated...

He had narrowed the suspects down to four... he told me... four that he had ascertained had the opportunity and likely motives... he would not tell me who they were; he wanted my first impressions before I had chance to impose my preconceptions on the situation... When we entered the room, I felt my heart stop and it felt as though it filled my throat... Tomoe was among the four as well as Rikku, a manservant who has been with me since he was born... I looked at Sasanuma and shook my head... it could not be so... it could not... my eyes travelled the room and saw two more younger maids, Haru and Kiyoko about whose work I have never had cause to complain... Sasanuma had actually shackled them all... I could not believe it... how could he have done this...? It was all too much... I turned to remonstrate with him about his treatment of my people but as I did... my head spun and I sank to towards the floor only to be caught in Sasanuma's arms. I sensed his anger as he told the four we would return once I was well and then he carried me to my chamber.

When I woke, there was some sort of salve all over the mosquito bites and Sasanuma was at my bedside and my hand was in his... he apologised profusely for upsetting me so... and I could not bear to remain angry with him... we talked a while about his investigation and I was forced to concede that his suspicions are not without merit... He wishes me to accompany him later when he questions them... apparently... he has not yet given any of them even a hint as to why he has had them confined... I do dearly hope it is not Tomoe... I do not think I could bear the betrayal after all we have been through together...