Blades and Feathers E-Book

Kate Grove

• Herausgeber: Kate Grove
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

A stolen treasure. A desire to be recognized. And a dangerous time to live in.

Whoever returns the stolen Jewel to the tengu clan, will be recognized as the next leader. This is the perfect chance for Yoriko to gain her family's affection, and she throws herself into the mission immediately, disguising herself as a man.

She didn't plan on working as an aide to a greenhorn lord in the process but she's certain the Jewel is somewhere in his castle and Yoriko is determined to find it. As she watches Takeru deal with the aftermath of the war that left his new territory in shambles, she admires his tenacity and dedication to his people.

Unexpectedly drawn to him, Yoriko soon realizes that there may be a place that accepts her as she is, without pretense and bribes - and it isn't the tengu compound. While secrets threaten to keep them apart, she forgets one thing.

The Jewel has attracted others, far more dangerous and ruthless than Yoriko.

In order to protect him, Yoriko must betray the trust of the only good man in her life. Will they find their way back to each other? Can their love survive her betrayal?

Blades and Feathers is the third book in the Yokai Treasures series, a fantasy romance set in sengoku jidai (16th century Japan).

Leseprobe

Blades and Feathers

(Yōkai Treasures book 3)

written By Kate Grove

Blades and Feathers

Written and published by Kate Grove

Copyright © 2020 Kate Grove

Kate Grove asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work, under the Act LXXVI of 1999 on Copyright.

https://kategrove.net

#yokaitreasures

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or portions thereof, in any electronic or mechanical means, without prior written permission from the author.

Paperback ISBN: 978-615-00-9093-1

E-book ISBN: 978-615-00-9094-8

Hardcover ISBN: 978-615-01-7264-4 

Cover design © Lauren Bearzatto of Sly Fox Cover Designs “Goddess of Cover Design”

Editorial work by Red Loop Editing

This book is a work of fiction. People, names, places and events portrayed in it are purely products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, places, or events is entirely coincidental.

Happy reading!

Subscribe to Kate’s newsletter to keep up to date with her upcoming writing projects and receive exclusive cat photos a short story: https://kategrove.net/newsletter-signup

***

Blades and Feathers

A stolen treasure. A desire to be recognized. And a dangerous time to live in.

Whoever returns the stolen Jewel to the Tengu clan, will be recognized as the next leader. This is the perfect chance for Yoriko to gain her family's affection, and she throws herself into the mission immediately, disguising herself as a man.

She didn't plan on working as an aide to a greenhorn lord in the process but she's certain the Jewel is somewhere in his castle and Yoriko is determined to find it. As she watches Takeru deal with the aftermath of the war that left his new territory in shambles, she admires his tenacity and dedication to his people.

Unexpectedly drawn to him, Yoriko soon realizes that there may be a place that accepts her as she is, without pretense and bribes - and it isn't the Tengu compound. While secrets threaten to keep them apart, she forgets one thing.

Jewel has attracted others, far more dangerous and ruthless than Yoriko.

In order to protect him, Yoriko must betray the trust of the only good man in her life. Will they find their way back to each other? Can their love survive her betrayal?

To Anilla, with love.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Epilogue

Author’s Note

About the Author

Chapter 1

"And then, the tengu grabbed the mischievous children and flew away with them!" the young woman finished her fairy tale. She flipped her long, black hair over her shoulder and looked at the faces of the village children surrounding her. They sat in a half-circle in front of her with scared expressions.

"What..." a boy started, then gulped, gathering his courage. The young woman fixed him with her ebony eyes, nodding to encourage him. Her long bangs moved with the gesture. "What happened to the children?"

"I told you. The tengu kidnapped them!"

"Yes, but what did he do to them?" another child, a girl this time, piped up.

The young woman leaned forward, making the children huddle closer. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she quietly replied, "Maybe he ate them for breakfast."

As the children's screams assaulted her eardrums, Yoriko immediately regretted teasing them so. Maybe I should've lied to them, she thought. However, one boy was strangely silent.

"I don't understand," he said, shaking his head. The other kids fell silent, looking at him in disbelief.

"What is it, Jun-kun?"

"Yoriko nee-san, you said the tengu are mischievous people, right?" The young woman nodded, interested to see where the boy would end up with his reasoning. He was a little older than the others. "So then, if the children were mischievous as well, wouldn't he take them in and make mischief together?"

"Uh..." Yoriko was at a loss for words, debating whether they could take the truth this time.

Thankfully, a familiar voice cut in. "And that's it for today! It's dinnertime, and your mothers are looking for you, kids," Hina, Yoriko's friend, said, shooing the children away. The girls and boys cheerfully said goodbye and ran off at the mention of food. Yoriko let out a relieved sigh.

"Thanks. Jun-kun tends to ask some difficult questions."

"It's because you take him too seriously," Hina replied, chuckling. "Come, eat with me before you go back."

"Gladly!" Yoriko followed her friend to a nearby shabby hut. Ever since Hina's mother passed away a year ago, she had lived alone, but as Yoriko stepped into the humble abode, warmth surrounded her. Hina's touch could be felt everywhere; in the neatly organized kitchenette, the small purple kerchief covering the low table, and the mismatched sitting pillows scattered around it.

"Here you go." Hina retrieved a pot from the hearth and put it on the table, which was already set for two since Yoriko often dined here.

"Thank you."

They ate in silence for a few moments until Hina started talking about her suitor. Her dark brown eyes sparkled as she thought of him, and Yoriko listened patiently, trying to learn from her. As she grew up in a household full of men, she often felt inadequate when it came to certain things other women took for granted. At first, she befriended Hina to observe and learn from her but enjoyed her company so much that they became best friends over time. Still, to this day, Hina was the only friend Yoriko had.

"He said he is going to visit soon," Hina finished.

"When? I don't want to disturb you."

"Oh, don't be silly." Hina waved at her friend but blushed. Unconsciously, she tucked her short black hair behind her ear and looked down shyly. "I want you two to meet. I hope you'll get along."

Yoriko scoffed, but at Hina's hurt expression, she apologized and promised to try.

"But I have no idea when he's coming," Hina admitted.

"He didn't say?"

"No."

"Hmm..." Yoriko pondered over the information when her gaze landed on the door. The blanket covering the opening didn't reach all the way down, and a chilly breeze swept in. She shuddered for a moment, worrying about her friend. Don’t humans easily get sick? Yoriko wondered before she realized it was already dark outside.

"Heavens!" She shot up from her seat and headed for the door. Stopping at the last moment, she twirled around to see a bewildered Hina staring at her. "Sorry, but I forgot that I had to go back early today! I'm already too late!"

Hina stood up and approached her. "But night has already fallen. It's dangerous outside."

"I'll be all right." Yoriko mustered a smile and strode outside. She was much more worried about her brothers and father than the animals lurking in the surrounding forest. Hina followed her.

"But—"

"Hina, I'm sorry, but I need to go," Yoriko repeated as she looked at her friend. "Don't worry about me. You know I live nearby."

"Yes, but..." Hina trailed off, not wanting to argue but worried for Yoriko. She held out her hand, offering an onigiri for her. "At least finish your dinner at home."

Yoriko accepted the wrapped rice ball with a smile. "Thank you, Hina. Good night."

"I—yes. Good night, Yoriko! And take care on the way home!"

She nodded and flashed Hina smile.

"See you tomorrow."

Hina's face brightened instantly. As they bid farewell, the sun dipped lower on the horizon. It got dark unexpectedly quickly in the mountains. Yoriko headed toward a small clearing in the woods. Since it was free of obstructions, she usually used this place to take off. Leaving her best and only friend behind, she hurried toward her destination.

Yoriko briefly stopped in the middle of the clearing and let out a deep breath. She closed her eyes and waved her hand in front of her face. A red mask appeared, covering the top half of her features. It had a long bird's beak, making the lips beneath invisible to the eye. It weighed nothing, however...

She shook herself and sighed in relief as she got rid of the illusion hiding her wings. As Yoriko unfurled them, beautiful black feathers quivered in the evening breeze. Her eyes flashed green for a moment as she undid the magic, then she crouched and leapt into the sky.

***

"Haku, what have you been doing?" Yoriko asked the white bird as it arrived next to her.

"Caw!"

"Sorry, but I must hurry," she replied, holding out her hand. "I can hold you if you're tired."

The white raven cawed indignantly; however, he soon realized he couldn't keep up with his master.

"Caw!"

"Told you..." Yoriko mumbled but slowed down to allow Haku to settle on her back, between her wings. She dipped briefly as the bird touched down and made himself comfortable under her hair, like a chick under his mother's wings.

Yoriko sped up, her flight accompanied by frequent caws as she neared her destination: the tengu compound.

She landed a few moments later, her nerves on edge. The place was eerily silent as she made her way toward the main hall. Supper must be— She couldn't even finish her thought when a roar pierced her eardrums.

"What the hell?" She covered her sensitive ears, glaring at the main hall, where the loud voices came from. Now this was much more like the usual atmosphere, and she let go of the tension that had built up in her. Yoriko blew out some air before strolling up the steps leading to the building.

Quietly opening the door, she hoped she could slip in unnoticed because of the rambunctious lot.

No such luck.

"Yoriko!" her father's voice boomed, and immediately, silence descended on the huge hall. He was Gorō, the leader of the tengu clan.

"Good evening." She bowed so low that Haku almost lost his balance and toppled forward to Yoriko's nape.

"How courteous of you to grace us with your presence," Gorō replied, scowling.

"I'm sor—"

"Don't want to hear it." He waved his hand, and Yoriko gritted her teeth. She straightened up, thankful the red bird mask was covering her facial expressions. Her father turned to the others. "That's all. Happy hunting!"

Just what did he concoct in that brain of his this time? Yoriko suppressed a troubled sigh. Her father was the biggest troublemaker out of all the tengus. Looking around, she quickly spotted her elder brothers. As usual, the youngest, Aki, was sweet-talking to their father while Haru, the oldest, was already next to Yoriko.

"Can you tell me…?" She trailed off as her words fell on deaf ears. Haru hurried away, paying her no attention.

That left the middle brother, Natsu. Yoriko glanced around, determined to hunt down her last brother and get the information out of him. All the other tengu seemed excited, and there was a nervous energy present in the main hall, which meant whatever their father had said had a bigger than usual impact.

It didn't take long to find Natsu. The glutton was in the corner, eating the leftovers from dinner. Yoriko marched over to him and pulled out the onigiri she had received from Hina earlier. She was still a little hungry, but she needed a bribe.

"Hey," she said as a way of greeting when she arrived next to Natsu. He didn't even look up from the food.

"What?"

"What did father say?"

Natsu chewed on some nori,1 seemingly bored. There wasn't much to eat now.

"Why don't you go ask? Oh, right!" He finally raised his head and looked at his little sister. Through the holes of his mask, Yoriko could see his carbon black eyes glaring at her in disapproval. "Because you can't be bothered to be on time. Leave me alone! Shoo!" He even made some waving gestures at her.

"Hmm... well, if you don't want to tell me..." Yoriko lifted her hand with the onigiri resting in it. She eyed the rice ball. "Then I'll just have to go and eat this delicious—"

"Wait!" Natsu yelled in a hurry.

"What?"

Her brother licked his lips—she couldn't actually see this, but she could discern from the sounds—and reached out for the rice ball. Greed reflected in his eyes, and Yoriko had a hard time managing her mood and not laughing out loud at his reaction. Out of all her brothers, Natsu was the easiest to deal with.

"M-maybe..." He paused, gulping, his eyes on the prize, then continued, "Maybe I could tell you."

"You suppose?" Yoriko asked, bringing the onigiri closer to her mouth as if she intended to eat it. Natsu probably wouldn't be bothered even if she did bite into it before giving the rice ball to him.

"The Jewel!" he shouted.

Yoriko almost dropped the food.

"What did you say?" she asked in a sharp tone.

"You know, it disappeared a while ago," Natsu hastily replied. "Father said the one who gets it back will be the next leader."

"Haah?" This time, Yoriko indeed dropped the onigiri in surprise. Fortunately, Natsu's reflexes were lightning-quick when it came to securing food, and he caught it mid-air. He cradled the poor rice ball before eating it in one bite.

The bribe was gone in a second.

Chapter 2

Yoriko left Natsu behind and hurried out of the main hall. She stopped in front of the building for a moment, thinking her options through; she didn't want to go back to her stifling room. Usually, when she wanted to think, she went for a flight, but she felt too tired tonight.

As she looked around, her gaze landed on the big oak trees surrounding the compound. Perfect! she thought, jumping off the ground and unfurling her wings in one smooth motion. She ascended higher than the treetops before gliding through the air to aim for the tallest tree in the vicinity. Yoriko perched herself on the highest branch that could still hold her weight and looked out at the surrounding forest bathed in the moon's silver light.

A cool breeze made her shiver, and she tucked her wings around herself in a protective shield. Her rich, black plumage kept her warm as the chill in the air got worse. No wonder, it's still winter, she mused. I hope it won't snow again. But even as she thought that, she knew it was a pointless wish, especially in the mountains.

"Yori! Yori!" As if sensing her uneasiness, Haku piped up, drawing Yoriko's attention. He couldn’t learn her full name, but he did know a few words. He only spoke when he felt like it. Yoriko carefully petted the raven on the beak, and he tilted his feathery head as if asking for more. She chuckled and stroked Haku's head affectionately.

"Show me what you saw," she asked the bird.

"Caw!"

Yoriko's eyes flared green and so did the bird's. Haku was her familiar and occasionally acted as a spy for her. Series of images changed rapidly in Yoriko's mind, all from the viewpoint of a certain white raven. First, a few circles around a castle, then the image of a foreigner confronting a samurai on top of that building. A strange aura surrounded him. Yoriko cocked her head to the side, assuming this was what had called Haku's attention to him.

The next image was through a window, and Yoriko gasped at the sight before him. The warrior from last time was injured and was cradling the Jewel in his hands. Yoriko furrowed her eyebrows for a moment, wondering why he wasn't already healed. Maybe he doesn't have anyone with him who can use the Jewel? She watched in silence as the scenery changed and the green Jewel was once again found.

This time, it was in the hands of another foreigner who had a strange hair color Yoriko had never seen before. It was bright like a flower, easily spotted even in the darkness. The woman was leaning over someone, her guard down. At that moment, Haku tried to get the Jewel but was attacked by pebbles thrown by another person.

Haku had managed to escape with a hurt wing. Yoriko frowned, memorizing the face of the person who had attacked her poor familiar. She silently swore in her heart to get revenge for Haku. The images cut off, and the green haze faded from Yoriko's eyes. She felt as if waking up from a vivid dream. The chilly breeze on her face quickly yanked her back to the present. Tonight, the wind blew from the north, bringing with it the promise of fresh snow.

"Fantastic." Yoriko grimaced. I have to move fast. Despite her earlier reservations, she jumped down and glided down to the compound, heading for her room.

"Good!"

"Yes, good boy. Thank you, Haku," Yoriko replied, petting him on the head again. The raven let out a cute sound, huddling closer to his master.

They arrived in Yoriko's room soon, and she placed Haku on a soft pillow. The bird drank from his cup nearby, then immediately went to sleep. Yoriko flopped down on her futon, lying on her stomach so she wouldn't squash her wings. It took some painful experiences in childhood to get rid of sleeping on her side or her back. Sometimes it wasn't only her wing muscles that hurt but even individual feathers. The sensation was similar to having awful bed hair, when everything hurts and is in disorder.

Yoriko sighed, but a smile played on her lips. I was lucky to overhear Father talking about this earlier. Haku is an excellent spy. I have to get him some treats, she thought. She was happy to have a head start on the hunt.

Maybe, just maybe, her father would acknowledge her this time.

***

Yoriko got up early in the morning—as a tengu, she only needed a couple of hours of sleep every night—and decided to go stretch her wings and form a plan. She quickly pulled on her clothes; her outfit looked the same as her brothers': a dark red haori,2 with openings cut for her wings on the back, and a hakama3 in the same color. If the mask covered her face, she could've been mistaken for a man. It was clear that she needed to make her move soon; traveling in winter skies could be quite dangerous. She was easily spotted because of the bare trees and gray clouds, and if she got caught in a snowfall, it would hinder her vision.

Haku conveyed the last known location of the Jewel to her, but that was her only advantage over her brothers.

A pebble struck her on the back of her head as she was lost in thought. Yoriko winced and touched the stinging spot, turning around. Her glare landed on her youngest brother, Aki. He was tall and perhaps the most troublesome of her brothers, but he had gorgeous wings. His red tengu mask was pushed to the side of his head, messing up his dark red hair.

"What do you want?"

"Are you thinking of taking up the challenge?" he asked, laughing. "Don't even dream about it! You can never be a leader."

"And why is that?"

"Because"—Aki walked over and leaned toward her, pausing for a moment for dramatic effect—"you're a girl."

Yoriko bit her lip. She was so angry that she could cry, but that would only give him a sense of satisfaction. Instead, she continued to glare at him.

"Get out of my face."

"Birdbrain," Aki said, knocking on Yoriko's head, who slapped his hand away.

"What would that make you, genius? Guano?"

"Hey!" Aki's eyes flashed dangerously, and he caught his sister's wrist easily. He squeezed until Yoriko bit so hard that she broke the skin on her lips to keep from crying out because of the pain. "You don't get to talk back. You don't get to participate in the challenge. Just do what you're told to and be silent in your room. As if you never even existed."

Yoriko mustered her courage when she finally pushed the pain to the back of her head and didn't give in.

"Why? Because I'm a woman?"

Aki looked at her, dumbfounded, before a mocking laugh escaped him.

"You? You don't even come close to a woman, trust me, I know." He flashed her a grin and wiggled his eyebrows, unashamed. "You shouldn't even exist, Yoriko. Our fourth brother should’ve been Fuyusaki."

"Yet here I am," she insisted and kicked him in the shin for emphasis. Finally, he let go of her, but his mood got worse.

"Yet here you are," he agreed, glaring at her. Aki adjusted his mask to cover his face. "Ruining everything since birth. Ah, I'm feeling sick." He made his dramatic exit and opened his wings wide before taking flight. A few dark red feathers were nestled among his black ones, making his plumage an unusually beautiful sight.

Yoriko glared after him for minutes before letting out a frustrated shriek and jumping up into the air, taking off in the opposite direction. I don't need anything. I'll show you, Natsu, and Haru what I'm capable of. Father has to acknowledge me when I retrieve the Jewel, and then we'll see who gets the last laugh! In her anger, her wings brought her close to a familiar village. Yoriko stopped suddenly and floated in place for a long moment, wondering what her friend was doing.

"Caw!"

"Haku, stay close," Yoriko instructed as she descended. I should at least say goodbye to Hina. I don't know how long this mission is going to take.

She landed on the nearby clearing and waved her hand in front of her face, making the mask disappear. Her wings were a bit more difficult, but she was adept at illusions, so it only took another heartbeat to make them invisible. She could still feel their weight on her shoulder blades; however, they couldn't be seen or touched. In this form, she could even sleep on her back and wear normal clothes.

She tugged the scarf around her torso—the openings on the back of her haori made her feel chilly. Yoriko puffed out a breath and headed for her friend's place, hoping to have a good conversation before she left. However, she didn't expect to see Hina in the arms of a man when she arrived. They were hugging in the middle of the street and had obviously missed each other.

Yoriko smiled. That's right, she said her suitor would visit soon. I wonder what kind of a man he is, she wondered, looking at Hina gazing up lovingly at the face of her beloved.

A very familiar face. Yoriko's blood froze at the sight.

It was her eldest brother, Haru.

Chapter 3

The early winter morning left a foggy residue close to the ground, and frost-covered rooftops greeted the rising sun. Takeru could see his breathing come out in small puffs as he hurried across the courtyard, following his older brother. He was used to getting up at dawn to train the soldiers; however, he had been taking it easy as Taiki gradually took over these duties.

Now he regretted sleeping in in the past couple of weeks. He massaged his neck, silently vowing that he would go back to his usual routine. Once the mornings were less cold. He was glad he had a wool coat to warm him; he had no idea how Katsuo was fine with this temperature.

Just when Takeru's thoughts were drifting off a random path, coming up with theories of how his brother kept warm, they reached the pagoda. It stood tall in the courtyard, and despite having only three stories, it towered over all the buildings in the vicinity, except the castle.

"Takeru," Katsuo mumbled, making him think maybe he was not as awake as he pretended to be. Takeru went to help him open the heavy doors without a word.

This was the very first visit of the year, and it was tradition that the family head would pray to the deities for a prosperous new year. Takeru had only accompanied Katsuo a couple of times in the past. This time, however, it felt different. Maybe because it was only a couple of months ago that Takeru had performed the main role for the Benzaiten festival for the first time.

They left the doors open to let the fresh air in, but after entering, they stopped near the entrance, lighting some incense before continuing on their way toward the inner part. Katsuo brought an offering of sake and placed it on the altar, while Takeru left a plate of mochi there. They bowed simultaneously to the painting of Benten4 hanging on a scroll above the altar.

Another year has passed, Takeru thought. We humbly thank you for your protection, Goddess, and please, continue to be generous to this household and the people living in the land. He hesitated a bit before adding, And help us get through the wars safely.

Takeru raised his head and stared at the picture of the goddess for a long moment. His honest words poured out of his heart. Mabe you can help us with getting rid of— I mean, teaching that basta— I mean, Juro what karma means and just let him peri—

"You're not thinking something weird, are you?" Katsuo asked at that precise moment, eyeing his little brother.

"What? Who? Me? No!" Takeru shook his head, his trail of thought broken by that brief interruption. He turned back to the altar and bowed again like Katsuo.

"Thank you for your generosity!" they said at the same time before straightening and leaving the pagoda. Once they were outside, they lingered in the area, neither of them wanting to go back to their usual routine. Today was the first day of the new year, and they wanted to appreciate the moment.

But it was hard to do because of a sudden snowfall.

"Let's close the gates and head back inside," Katsuo suggested.

"Agreed."

After securing the pagoda, they hurried back to the castle. On their way, Takeru noticed the soldiers were training hard despite the harsh weather.

"Damn, Taiki doesn't give them a break," Takeru mumbled, but Katsuo heard it.

"He is trying hard to earn back my trust," he said. "However, I bet my beard there's a snowstorm coming, and they shouldn't be out here."

Katsuo headed toward the soldiers, his intent to shoo them back inside clear.

"You don't even have a beard!" Takeru mumbled, dumbfounded, before stroking his chin. "Hmmm... I wonder if I should grow one...?"

***

"Why did you do it?" Takeru asked suddenly.

Katsuo sipped his tea calmly before asking him, "Do what?"

They had just finished breakfast, but nobody wanted to move. Even Ayaka, Takeru's niece, who was usually full of energy, was just lying on her stomach and lazily playing with Mimi, the two-tailed cat. Katsuo's betrothed, Ciara, was talking about something peculiar with her cousin. They had just reunited a few weeks ago and still had plenty of things to catch up on.

Then there was Taiki sitting to the side, seemingly falling asleep, but Takeru knew better. He was sure the ninja was listening to every sound carefully and was ready to act at a moment's notice. He was like a wild card in this household, but he had been behaving well, which was no doubt thanks to Karen.

"Takeru?" Katsuo called him out of his musings. He shook his head as if he just woke up.

"Sorry, I haven't been getting enough sleep these past few days," Takeru said honestly and massaged the bridge of his nose, gathering his thoughts. "Why did you have me follow you this morning to the pagoda?"

"You've already helped with the new year prayers a few times," Katsuo replied, slurping as he drank his tea. Takeru saw Karen flinch at the sound, but she said nothing. "What makes you think this is any different?"

"I just have a feeling…" Takeru said, his voice trailing off at the end. This sounds ridiculous, he realized. "I mean—"

"No need to explain; a lord should have good instincts," Katsuo said, patting him on the shoulder.

"Huh?"

"A warrior, you mean," Ciara interjected, sending Katsuo a meaningful look. Takeru looked between the two, suddenly on guard. Something was definitely going on.

"My instincts are telling me you're keeping a secret from me." Takeru didn't dance around the subject. Seeing their surprised faces, he felt a smile appear on his lips. He grabbed a mochi and looked at the pair of them with the composure of someone who had just discovered something interesting. "What is it?"

Ciara furrowed her eyebrows, looking very confused. Even though she was a good actor, Katsuo had a blank but tense look on his face that gave him away.

"We have no idea what you're talking about," Ciara said.

There it is. She used "we," only confirming Takeru's suspicions. He grinned at Katsuo.

"Brother, why are you so quiet?"

"Meow!" Mimi suddenly interjected, making everyone look at her. She stretched her back, then hopped into Taiki's lap and settled down comfortably. The ninja's hand moved to stroke the cat's lush black fur. She purred, her tails swishing.

Ciara used this chance to change the subject, and Takeru let it go. He was sure there would be another opportunity. As she chatted on, Katsuo put an arm around her shoulder and drew her close. Takeru felt a sting in his heart at the image. He was happy for his brother, but at times like this... He glanced at Taiki petting the cat and Karen leaning against him, hugging his free arm.

Will I ever find happiness like them? Takeru asked himself often this past month. He felt bitter when he thought of one day having to hiding from his wife every month—what woman would accept him like this? Katsuo didn't have this condition, but because of an old accident, the yōkai blood in Takeru acted up frequently, and there was nothing he could do about it. Who would want to stay with a monster?

Knocking jarred him out of his depressive thoughts.

"Enter!" he yelled, happy for the distraction.

Tanaka, Katsuo's aide and senior officer in the army, opened the door.

"What is it?" Katsuo was instantly in work mode. Tanaka bowed respectfully.

"We've finally finished taking stock of everything found in Kawayuki's castle, and I think this might be of interest to milady," he said, retrieving something from his pocket and walking over to Ciara. He knelt and offered a black, rectangular object to her with both hands. Ciara gasped, reaching for it.

"My cellphone!"

Takeru was taken aback at the way Ciara was looking at the small black device in her hand. Her eyes were sparkling, and a wide smile appeared on her lips. It was clearly something precious to her, and as she excitedly bent over the device, with Karen leaning over, Takeru lost track of the conversation.

He only intended to close his eyes for a moment but must have fallen into a meditative state, because the next thing he knew, someone tapped him on the shoulder. Takeru looked up into Taiki’s face.

“Are you going to join us in the afternoon?” the shinobi asked, referring to the training hours.

Takeru shook his head and quickly stood. After the short nap, he felt refreshed.

“Maybe another time.”

“I understand.” Taiki bowed. “See you at the banquet, Takeru-dono.”

That’s unlike him, Takeru thought, stopping on his way to the exit. He turned around, curious. Does he know what Katsuo has been trying to keep from me?

“What are you talking about?”

Taiki looked up innocently, as if he didn’t understand what was strange in what he said.

“I’m just looking forward to the banquet.”

Takeru narrowed his eyes.

“Right.”

The person who didn’t like crowds was looking forward to the banquet stuffed to the brim. As if I would believe that!

Chapter 4

Yoriko was debating her choices: she could go right now and save Hina from her brother's arms, but then he would be aware of the relationship between them and might act harsher with Hina, or... she could just stay out of sight until he left. As she was weighing the pros and cons, her gaze met his.

Curse him! Yoriko gritted her teeth and approached them. Her hesitation cost her the freedom to choose. She could see Hina jolt at Haru's glare. As Hina turned around, however, she spotted her dear friend and smiled brightly.

"Perfect timing!" She waved at Yoriko, urging her to come closer. "I wanted to introduce you two."

"Wait, you know her?" Haru's eyebrows furrowed, and a dangerous gleam entered his eyes. Yoriko felt as if a bucket of ice-cold water was thrown at her. Her brothers might've been going easy on her despite her being a female because she was still one of their kind. However, when it came to human women, they were merciless.

Hina was unaware of the reason, but she did feel the tension.

"You know each other?" she asked, looking between her suitor and Yoriko.

"He's my eldest brother," Yoriko said, hoping that Hina would get the hint that he was dangerous. She had told her many times how her brothers agonized her.

Hina's eyes widened at the unexpected news.

"Oh! Then..." She was looking for the appropriate words, but the nervous, sharp energy swirling around the siblings made it hard for her to think. "All the b-better! Yoriko, we might just become true sisters!"

"Huh?" Yoriko was pulled out of her murderous thoughts.

"Haru has asked me to marry him," Hina confessed shyly, blushing.

"Don't!" Yoriko yelled before she could stop herself. Hina looked hurt at that; meanwhile, Haru... Is this bastard smirking? How dare he!

"I thought you'd be happy..." Hina said, clutching her heart. Her face reflected the emotional pain she felt. Yoriko winced, but there was nothing she could do about what had already happened.

"I want you to be happy," Yoriko told her sincerely, then glared at her brother. "However, I don't think you will be if you were to stay with him."

"Pffft," Haru let out a snort-laugh. "Stop acting like a brat."

"What?" Yoriko narrowed her eyes at him.

"Are you that jealous that I pay attention to someone other than you?" Haru asked, flipping his long, ebony hair over his shoulder. It looked smooth under the weak winter sunlight.

Yoriko couldn't believe her ears. She looked at Hina, but her expression showed she was still upset.

"Hina, don't believe him. He's—"

"Why are you being like this?" Hina cut her off, puzzled. "I thought we were friends. More than that, sisters! And we can be."

"But Haru is not who you think he is."

"Oh? Do tell us, what do you mean by that?" Haru said in an intrigued tone. Yoriko bit her lip, realizing her mistake. If she were to tell Hina about his true self, then she would have to confess she was a tengu, too. And the hostility from humans, however understandable, was always unpleasant. Yoriko clenched her hands into a fist, drawing a little bit of blood.

"Hina, please come with me."

"I..." She looked between Yoriko and Haru. While the former tried to persuade her, the latter just stood there with a confident look on his face. Hina was at a loss. "Why don't the three of us sit down and eat lunch together? Then we can talk it out?"

It sounded like a reasonable offer. However, both siblings replied at the same time:

"With her?"

"With him?"

There was a brief pause before they finished, "Hell no."

Time seemed to freeze. What was a completely natural response from the siblings created an awkward situation for all three of them. Hina was especially confused. Yoriko supposed she knew about the strained family relationship but didn't suspect it would be so deep that they'd refuse to share a meal.

"I mean... if that's what you want..." Yoriko amended her hasty reaction, tapping her feet awkwardly.

Haru narrowed his eyes, not wanting to be one-upped by his little sister, hugged Hina closer, then looked into her eyes with affection reflecting on his face.

"I would do anything for you," he said. "If this will make you happy, then I'm willing to eat with her."

Hina gave him a bright smile, completely smitten with him. Yoriko wanted to gag at the scene. She was sure Haru was just using Hina, as he did with all other women before. He already had a few offspring, all "useless," according to him, because they were girls. They couldn't use tengu magic—Yoriko was an exception.

They probably didn't even live past their first six months.

"Brilliant! Then please wait for me while I prepare the food," Hina said, dragging both of them to her hut. She sat Haru down and asked Yoriko to help her with lunch. As the entire building consisted of only one room, it was impossible for them to speak privately, and so an awkward silence descended on them, except for the occasional direction from Hina. Yoriko couldn't cook for the life of her, but she was quite adept at chopping ingredients.

While the stew simmered, the three of them sat at the table. Hina tried to hold a conversation but to no avail. Neither Haru nor Yoriko was willing to talk to one another. Yoriko was trying to gauge her next move to protect her only friend from the clutches of her older brother. She decided to be direct.

"What are your intentions with her?"

Haru put the cup of tea down and looked at her with a smirk lingering in the corner of his mouth.

"None of your business."

"Of course it is! She is my friend! I won't let you use her as you wish!" Yoriko snapped at him.

"I intend to marry her."

"Right."

"Yoriko..." Hina looked betrayed as she addressed her. "I didn't know you'd be so against this."

"He is not who you think he is," Yoriko muttered, helpless.

"Ho?" Haru let out a fake surprised sound. He looked amused as he lifted the teacup to his lips. "Do tell what you mean by that, dear sister."

"Don't mock me."

"Yoriko!" Hina was appalled at her behavior. "He didn't say anything wrong. Why are you being so... so... why are you attacking him?"

Yoriko opened her mouth to retort but realized that she couldn't get out of this situation with the upper hand. She decided to withdraw for the moment and talk to Hina in private later.

"Sorry," she said, sipping her tea.

Suddenly, a sizzling sound reached their ears.

"Oh no, the stew overflowed!" Hina jumped up and leapt toward the cauldron, leaving the siblings in awkward silence. While she turned her back to them to check on her cooking, Haru lifted his hand and snapped his fingers. His eyes flashed crimson for a second.

"Get out," he told his sister.

Yoriko leaned back and crossed her arms, with no intention to leave her friend in her brother’s talons.

"No way in hell," she replied. "You leave Hina alone."

Haru laughed mockingly, but the illusion he had cast a moment ago upheld and no sound escaped from the table.

"Is she your friend? Maybe I should take her seriously, then," he teased.

Yoriko couldn't help her reaction. She hit the table with her fist and glared at Haru.

"Don't you dare touch her!"

He smirked.

"Or what?"

"I'll end you."

"You? Me?" Haru chuckled. "You can't even use real fire. What makes you think you can take me on, huh?"

Yoriko bubbled in anger and bit her lip. She sneaked a glance at Hina, but she was busy seasoning the stew.

"Ho?" Haru leaned on his elbows, narrowing his eyes as he looked Yoriko square in the eyes. "You think it's not that far until you’ll be at my level, is that it? I wonder, just where do you get this confidence?"

"When father recognizes me—"

"So that's your plan?" A mocking chuckle left Haru's lips, cutting Yoriko off. "You truly are an idiot. How can you reach for a dream when you're at the lowest level?"

"I'm a second level tengu!" Yoriko snapped back. Haru gave her a pitying look.

"Still, you're a hundred years too early to take me on. Oh, wait..." He seemed to ponder over something. "No, that's not right. You won't ever be able to catch up to me! After all, I'm a full tengu, and you're just—"

"It's done!" Hina yelled, startling Yoriko.

"Get out, or I'll kill her right now," Haru told her before snapping his fingers and looking at Hina with a disarming smile as if he hadn't just threatened her life a second ago. Yoriko's jaw dropped.

"What is it? Are you all right, Yoriko?" Hina asked, concerned when she saw her friend's face. "You look pale."

"I... I just feel a little..." Yoriko didn't want to leave Hina with Haru. Who knows what he would do to her? Her brother caught her gaze and inclined his head. That little reminder was enough for Yoriko to stand up. "I'm a little dizzy. Sorry, Hina, I have to go."

"Wait!"

Yoriko was already at the door, but Hina couldn't chase her with the heavy cauldron in her hand.

"Heavens!" she muttered and put her burden down on the table before running after her friend. But she was nowhere in sight. "Yoriko!"

Haru approached her from behind and tugged on Hina’s hand.

"Come, she's gone."

"B-but... that's not like her..."

Haru shrugged.

"Maybe you don't know her as well as you think you do."

Yoriko swallowed a curse at that. She was looking down at them from the rooftop of a nearby hut, disguised as a bird. Hina didn't notice her, but her gaze locked with Haru's for a moment. It was clear he knew she was hiding there.

"Tch." Yoriko opened her tiny wings and took off from the rooftop disguised as a small black bird. She circled above the village until they went inside, then settled on a sturdy tree branch.

Soon, Haku landed next to her. He picked her plumage with his beak. Yoriko, the black bird, puffed up her chest in irritation and continued to eye the hut Hina had disappeared into. All the while, her mind was occupied trying to find a solution. She couldn't leave her friend behind unprotected.

She waited until Haru left the hut. With Hina waving at him, Yoriko was relieved her friend was safe. She took off and flew back to her room, leaving Haku as a sentinel. Thankfully, no one stopped her on the way. She quickly grabbed some essentials and put them into a sack, then changed into male peasant clothes. Yoriko decided that would be the easiest and safest way to travel. She would fly as long as she could under the darkness of night, but sooner or later, she’d have to mingle among humans if she were to get her hands on the Treasure.

She tied her hair up and grabbed a straw hat that had a wide rim. She stroked the item, lost in thought for a moment. Allegedly, her father brought her here in this hat—it was the only thing that connected her to her mother. Maybe he would finally tell Yoriko who her mother was if she was successful. She hastily put it on and grabbed a small pendant from her drawer before heading out.

The tengu compound was strangely silent, and when Yoriko reached the big gates, she turned around to take a look at it. She had a feeling that it might be a long time before she could gaze upon the buildings again. Even if she didn’t have many good memories, she grew up here and this was the only place she could call home.

She would come back and show her brothers and everyone else what she was capable of.

She would get her father’s recognition.

With newfound determination, Yoriko unfurled her wings and took off, her first stop being Hina’s village. By the time she arrived, the villagers had all gone to sleep, and she felt grateful for her plumage because it protected her from the harshest of winds. She silently landed and looked for Haku. The white raven flew closer and landed on her shoulder. Yoriko pet his beak, and Haku relayed that nothing had happened while she was away.

As she sneaked over to Hina’s home, she created an illusion to make her wings invisible. She stopped outside the door for a moment, closed her palms over the dark red garnet, and concentrated. Her eyes flashed green as her magic worked, and with that, she entered Hina’s hut.

Chapter 5

Night had fallen at Shirotatsu, and Takeru could hear people running back and forth, preparing the central hall for the banquet.

“Takeru-dono, you aren’t ready yet?” Miyako, the head chef, asked when she spotted him in the very busy kitchen. Before he could reply, however, she continued with vehemence, “Go and change! The banquet is just about to start!”

There’s still time until then, Takeru grumbled silently and grabbed a handful of boiled green soybeans out of a bucket before turning around and exiting.

“Where did half of the edamame go!” came Miyako’s shocked voice. Then,“ Takeru-donooo!”

He smirked as he ducked out of sight. Can’t help it if you leave me hungry. He chuckled, peeling off one of the pods and popping the beans in his mouth. They left a distinct, savory taste behind.

As he headed toward his room, he got a servant to follow him and help with the preparations. Takeru had never wanted a personal servant looking after him, lest they realized his condition, so whenever he needed someone, he just grabbed whomever he found in the vicinity.

He was helped into a semi-formal dark kimono, with dark blue hakama, then dismissed the servant. Takeru gathered his hair at the nape of his neck, contrary to his usual ponytail, then looked at himself in the mirror once more, flattening the top of his head where short dark strands of hair stood on end. His eyebrows furrowed in concentration before his brown gaze moved down as he turned both ways, checking his appearance.

Simple, dark blue haori, with only one symbol at the back.

“Tsk, this won’t do,” Takeru muttered, seeing that his long hair had covered the symbol. He quickly put his hair up in its usual ponytail and nodded in satisfaction. “As I thought, this suits me best!”

Just then, a knock came from the doorframe.

“Yes?”

“Takeru-dono, it’s time.”

“Thanks, you may go.”

Although he couldn’t see it through the door, he was sure the servant on the other side had bowed before walking off. Takeru glanced out the window at the dark sky full of clouds. The sun had set hours ago, as was usual during winter. With a sigh, he slid the window closed. The paper spread over the wooden frame reminded him of a miniature door.

“I hate winter.”

He couldn’t wait until the sakura bloomed again.

***

To Takeru’s surprise, when he arrived, the hall was already full and Ciara sat in his seat, while the seat next to Katsuo was empty. Takeru raised his eyebrows in question. Something is strange.

When Katsuo noticed him, he waved him to come forward. As soon as Takeru started walking, the boisterous crowd hushed, and he could feel all the gazes following him. As a general on countless battlefields, he was used to the attention. As an heir to a prominent family, he was used to the gazes. Somehow, these familiar stares felt unnerving that night.

He knelt in front of the dais where Katsuo sat and bowed.

“Takeru,” Katsuo said, prompting him to raise his head. “What are you doing there?”

The question caught Takeru off guard, and he could only gape for a moment. He quickly gathered his wits and replied, “Where I should sit? My usual seat is taken,” he said with humor in his voice as he gave a sideways glance at Ciara. She hid her smile behind her sleeve and exchanged a glance with Katsuo.

“We are gathered here today to recognize your accomplishments in the recent battle against Fujimoto and his army. This allowed us to seize a significant portion of land. Unfortunately, there’s another territory between us and the new one.”

Takeru listened to his brother’s words in silence. Just where is he going with this?

“Therefore, I’ve decided to have a governor looking over the newly acquired lands. I hereby appoint you, Kitayama Takeru, to be governor of the new territory and be the lord of Fujimoto’s former castle.”

Takeru forgot to breathe for a moment, as everything seemed to be at a standstill. The tension in the air grew as his silence stretched. He felt a tear in the corner of his eye and quickly bowed, his forehead touching the tatami mat.

“I will humbly accept this honor,” he replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his chest.

Cheers erupted around him, and Takeru used this opportunity to collect himself before raising his head. His brother was beaming at him, and as Takeru looked around, he saw many happy faces reflecting the joy he had felt inside. Finally, his grin broke free.

Soon, vassals came up to congratulate him, and he noticed that Ciara looked proud of him as she nodded with a wide smile on her face. Takeru glanced up at his brother, who had the same expression. Katsuo waved him over.

“Come and sit next to me. Let’s eat, little brother.”

“Ani-ue,5” Takeru said, touched by the gesture.

The men surrounding him quickly retreated to their respective tables, eager to start the feast. They knew the sooner Takeru sat down next to their lord, the sooner their stomach would be filled with delicacies.

***

Hina was tossing and turning on her futon, as if she were having a nightmare. Concerned, Yoriko walked closer and knelt next to her. The sleeping girl’s mumbles soon turned into a shout, and she sat up with wide eyes, breathing heavily. She screamed as soon as she noticed the presence next to her, and Yoriko slapped her hands to her sensitive ears, dropping the pendant in the process.

"Shhh, Hina!" she hissed. "It's me, Yoriko!"

Hina’s harsh breathing was the only thing breaking the following silence. This allowed Yoriko to let go of her ringing ears.

"Am I dreaming?" Hina asked, her eyes glinting with fear.

"You are awake," Yoriko replied. "But you seemed to have had a nightmare.”

Hina’s hand turned into a fist over her chest. She had a strange expression on her face.

"You and Haru fought," she said. "In the air."

There was a moment of silence, as Yoriko had no idea how to reply.

"Not that I'm not happy to see you, but..." Hina hesitated. As she gradually calmed, her brain kicked into gear, and she shot off questions at her friend. "What are you doing here? At this hour? Is everything okay? You ran off so suddenly at lunchtime."

"Yes, well... uh..." Yoriko stammered as she collected her thoughts. She lightly scratched her cheek. "I'm fine, but I have to leave for a while."

"What do you mean?" Hina looked concerned, and Yoriko thanked her tengu blood she could see so well in the darkness. She reached out for Hina's hands.

"A family matter came up, and I have to leave for a while."

"Are you going far? When will you be back?"

"I don't know, but I brought you something."

"What is it?"

"Hang on, I think I dropped it," she said and felt around in the darkness.

"Are you looking for this?" Hina held up the pendant made of red garnet and covered by Yoriko's subtle magic.

"Yes! Please wear it at all times."

"But... why would you give me jewelry?" Hina was baffled at the gesture, then her eyes glinted in excitement. "Oh, was it Haru who asked you to give this to me?"

"What? No!" Yoriko vehemently denied. "I'd never give you something that has been in his hands."

Hina looked a little sad at that.

"Why are you being so hostile to him? You're siblings."

"He is..." Yoriko mulled over what to tell Hina. They trusted each other, but that didn't mean Haru hadn't used some underhanded techniques to manipulate Hina. After all, he was a master at playing with people. "You can't trust him."

"You keep repeating this, but I've yet to hear why."

"He is not what he seems," Yoriko said. Hina crossed her arms, and the pendant dangled from her fist.

“That is exactly what he said about you.”

Yoriko sighed, feeling frustrated. She talked about the gift instead.

"This pendant has protective magic. Haru won't be able to hear or see you as long as you don't make contact with him or look into his eyes."

"Why are you giving me this?"

"Haru... he has had several women and, after having his way with them, left all of them." Yoriko left out a few details. For instance, how he got every one of those women pregnant. Or how he killed them and the newborn when the baby turned out to be a girl. He had yet to sire a boy but wouldn't give up just because of a few failures. That was the way of the tengu, and Hina seemed to be his next victim. As for Yoriko, she was an unwanted exception among the tengu. "I don't want the same thing to happen to you. Please believe me!"

Hina gave her a kind smile.

"Of course I believe you. We've known each other since forever!"

Yoriko let out a relieved sigh at that. "Thank you!"

"But is it possible you misunderstood something?" she continued, making Yoriko’s stomach clench.

"No."

Hina couldn’t argue that blunt answer.

“It’s time for me to go,” Yoriko said quietly, standing.

“Keep safe,” Hina said.

“You too. Promise you'll wear the pendant and try not to meet Haru. And if he's in the vicinity, you'll disappear! If someone points you out, the illusion might end." Yoriko let worry color her words and hoped Hina would get the message.

"All right. I'll be careful."

"Good," Yoriko finally sighed in relief. She turned to leave but couldn’t resist repeating herself. "Don't trust him."

There was a pause before Hina nodded. "I understand."

"Thank you.”

As Yoriko headed for the door, Hina shot up from bed, clutching the pendant to her chest.

"Wait!" Hina shouted and reached after Yoriko, but she had already disappeared behind the door flap. Hina stumbled in the darkness as she tried to catch up to her. As she peeked out through the door opening, she caught a glimpse of a big black bird flying in the sky; however, her friend was nowhere to be seen.

Chapter 6

All the merry people surrounding him lifted Takeru’s heart. When he was challenged to a drinking contest, he eagerly participated, as usual. It was his favorite way to bond with the soldiers and vassals that didn’t require them to be on the battlefield.

And these contests always ended the same way: people lying down in a circle around him, with him in the middle, victorious. There was no human who could keep up with his alcohol tolerance, and Takeru used that to his advantage.

His family members had already bid him farewell during the contest, as it was getting quite late. Takeru stumbled out of the conference room, trying not to step on anyone’s appendages. He stopped for a moment when he reached the veranda running along the edge of the inner courtyard and looked up at the sky.

A half-moon was visible. Takeru tilted his head, trying to figure out whether it was waning or waxing. He squinted his eyes and just when he felt that he was close to the solution, a dark cloud swam in front of the moon.

“Damn it,” he muttered, pouting. His face was warm, and the cool winter breeze felt good on his skin. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as a sudden gust of wind swept through the inner courtyard. It found every nook and cranny and even slithered up Takeru’s sleeves, making him shiver.

There was a whiff of promise in the air. Spring is yet to come, he thought just before someone bumped into him.

“Oh my, Takeru-dono. My apologies.” The person took a step back and bowed deeply. Takeru blinked his eyes open and looked at the young woman next to him. She wore the servants’ uniform and was unmoving, as if waiting for something. What is she...? Ah, right.

“Don’t worry about it,” he replied and turned to leave.

He heard a sharp intake of breath behind him, and the girl called out in a hurry, “Wait!”

Takeru stopped and glanced over his shoulder. Now that he saw her face, he could guess her age was around sixteen or seventeen. Her youthful aura distracted Takeru for a moment, and before he knew it, she was right in front of him, grabbing his wrist.

“Congratulations on your promotion, Takeru-dono.”

“Yes, thanks,” he said, observing the girl. He didn’t remember seeing her before. “Are you new?”

To his surprise, she giggled, hiding her mouth behind her free hand. A slight blush appeared on her cheeks.

“That’s funny of you to say that,” she replied, and Takeru furrowed his eyebrows. Am I supposed to know her? I can’t remember all the faces of our servants; there’s just too many of them. Unphased, the girl continued, “I was away for a month and have grown taller since then.”

Takeru still wasn’t sure why she was talking to him and grabbing him. He glanced down at her hand lightly grasping his wrist and raised his eyebrows. She gasped and let go of him. Her hand flew to her mouth in shock.

“You really don’t remember me?”

“Don’t say it like that,” Takeru spoke. “If someone overheard you, they might misunderstand.”

“B-but...”

“Is that all? You shouldn’t be wandering around in the middle of the night.”

“Takeru-dono! I’m Chiyo! Don’t you remember me?” She reached out but stopped herself short of touching his arm. Tears gathered in her eyes.

“Chiyo...”

“Yes!”

Takeru closed his eyes for a brief moment. Chiyo, a month ago... What happened a month ago? Ah! He looked at her with a brightened face when he realized who he was talking to.

“Chiyo!”

“Yes, it’s me! Finally, you remembered, Takeru-dono!” She looked so happy.

“You were asking for time off because of your sick mother. How is she?” Takeru recalled.

“She is doing better, thanks to you!”

“I didn’t do anything, just gave you some time off.”

“Paid