Year of the Boar, Twelfth Month, Day 12.

 I am not proud to admit that I am all but snarling as I write this. We are but two or three days away from the outskirts of the House depending on how leisurely the pace but the gods really do seem determined to thwart any plan I might make. 

I slept deeply and comfortably, vague dreams floating across now and again, touching my thoughts so lightly, I could remember only that I dreamt and not, of what... I woke slowly, still in that dreamlike state between sleep and consciousness; stretching cat-like and luxuriating in the warmth of the blankets which covered me. From the light coming through the screen doors and the crispness of the air outside the blankets, I surmised it was early morning and I became dimly aware of the smallholders calling out to each other as they began their working days. 

Yawning deeply, I checked to see if Haru had woken; she had not and so I rolled over, pulled the blankets in tighter and curled into a ball ready to sink back into sleep. I felt content. Pleased that despite the tribulations we had experienced, I was about to hand Haru back to her employer relatively safe and sound, spend a few days indulging myself in some home comforts at the House, and then get back to my plans. 

And then I heard the words "visitor to the House" and "Sixth Kingdom". My blood ran completely cold; in the days since I had left Dying Crane, I had allowed myself to completely forget about Rani and her intentions to go about the rest of the Kingdom and indeed, her schedule for doing so... Naturally, she arrived yesterday; there is no feasible way that she will leave before the sevenday is out... I have absolutely no desire to be about the House while she is there. Although she promised that my secrets would remain precisely that, I never revealed the reason for my sojourn in Dying Crane other than to say I had gone there to support my friend; I fear that the moment she recognised me, my whereabouts would be all over the Kingdom and that could only lead to Mother issues... 

So now I find myself with the problem of ensuring that Haru returns home safely (which I absolutely must do), replenishing my supplies fully, and then getting back on the road without being noticed which will be a good deal more difficult with a House full of so many extra people... I am so annoyed but perhaps I am overthinking this... I have doubt that a woman as astute as Rani will remember me but maybe there is a chance I could rely on her discretion...  What is needed in this situation is a decent breakfast; perhaps once I have eaten and Haru has woken up, the two of us can decide how to proceed...