Year of the Boar, Thirteenth Month, Day 26. Postscript.

Surprisingly, Sasanuma has already responded to my note. Kaede mentioned it when we took tea, of course, and I told her that I had been reflecting on my travels and how afraid I had been at certain times when I did not know how to defend myself. She nodded sagely and agreed that we women should all know how to defend ourselves against unwanted attention but was a sword the way to go about that?

I could not help but agree that swords are certainly heavy and suggested that I would take any advice Sasanuma had regarding the best type of weapon to learn. If he wanted to teach me the secrets of the elite military sects, I should be delighted. The little blades shaped like stars they used had always thrilled me as a child, as had their abilities to seemingly climb walls with only their hands and feet. Oh... if I could learn that, it would be so exciting. Of course, if Sasanuma knows those secrets, he is even more dangerous than I had imagined. 

Those military sects are legendary for their seclusion and their stealth. If a House wished to use their services, they would have to send a message into the mountains and the sects may or may not send a representative to the House to find out what they needed. In these times of relative peace, it is difficult to imagine any House would use the services of such sects and it is the opinion of most that their ways have all but died out. I do not believe it though. I think their villages in the remotest mountains are alive and well. If Sasanuma has contacts within their groups, he is not someone I would want as an enemy,

Kaede did not confirm or deny Sasanuma's knowledge or otherwise, of course. She merely smiled thoughtfully and murmured that she would speak to him. I did not expect a decision today so when the note telling me to arrive at the hour of the bat for training first thing in the morning, I wondered why Sasanuma had agreed so quickly. 

I am not delighted at the idea of having to be awake before the sun but if it gets me any closer to discovering what Sasanuma knows, then so be it. I have had Haru find me something suitable to wear; she finds this appalling and has made several pointed remarks about fighting being for men. I have told her in no uncertain terms that if she has any sense at all, she will join me for training...