Year of the Crow, Second Month, Day 5.

Our arrival was a veritable flurry of activity. When we alighted the horses at the sentry post, a group of liveried men were already waiting to welcome us to  Purple Lightning. Clearly, someone had already let the House know we were on our way. I imagine Horii must have sent a note because I cannot conceive that I am of enough import that Tsuyoshi would have sent scouts to monitor our progress...

We were escorted the remaining three leagues to the House itself and then Haru and I were escorted to the guest house. I am its sole occupant and am to consider it mine until I wish to leave. I was a little put out to discover that I would not be staying at the main House but I suppose since I am reliant on Tsuyoshi and Ichiko's generosity, I really cannot complain about where they choose to give me a bed. I am not certain about their motives for putting me in here but I am grateful to be off the road again and have somewhere comfortable to sleep. 

Haru tells me it is more of an honour to be given the guest house which is certainly luxurious and more importantly, I suppose, private. There is far less possibility of being overheard away from the House unless someone is actively spying.

Two of our escorts brought our effects in and asked if I would like them to unpack. I was taken aback. That is true hospitality and it would have been rude to refuse so I asked them to unpack my larger trunk but suggested that they leave my personal effects for me. I barely had time to wash my hands and face in the bowl of scented water which had been left before they finished and turned to find my clothes all neatly hung, my shoes lined up at the door and a fresh gown which I did not recognise had been laid out for me. 

Before I could even ask their names, they told me that I was expected in The Lord and Lady Purple Lightning's audience chamber in half a stick. Before I knew it, I was stripped off and bundled into the new gown by one of them while the other attempted some make up and tried to do my hair. I caught Haru chortling from the corner of my eye while the one on hair duty tssked and tutted over my newly jaw-length simplicity which she seemed to view as some sort of philosophical affront. In less than a quarter of a stick, I was swept out of the guest house and through the carefully manicured gardens to the main House.

I really must start referring to The Lord and Lady Purple Lightning by their correct titles or I will slip up and use their names to their faces which would be terribly rude. When I shuffled in to the audience chamber, both of them were there to greet me; not attired in House silks but formally dressed nonetheless. 

I did not have time to make due deference or even offer a perfunctory courtesy before The Lord Purple Lightning pulled me into a soldier's clasp of an embrace. "My dear, we all thought you dead!" he practically shouted before shoving me at his wife so she could squeeze me likewise.

I blinked at them, too stunned to even think about bowing properly. "Dead...?" I repeated.

"Dead." The Lady Purple Lightning repeated emphatically. 

I assured them that I was alive and well and I believe I managed a vague bow before they both ushered me over to a tea table laden with some delicious looking confections. I took some tea and upon being advised that the House eats late, I also indulged in some of the potato cakes I enjoy. While I made short work of the refreshments, The Lord Purple Lighting, with periodic interruptions by his wife, told me that a messenger had been sent to the House some time ago asking if anyone might know my whereabouts and some months after that, a second messenger had come to let them know that I had been found, sadly killed after a dreadful accident on horseback. There was to be no funeral, Mother had written, because there was an outbreak at Pale Twilight. 

It makes no sense. No sense at all. Kaede had no idea that I was supposedly dead and neither did Yuika; I am certain one of them would have mentioned it... Aoki would surely have told me if I were supposed to be dead... no... I am missing something. As usual. I am too tired to continue this now. It has been another long day and my stomach is fit to burst from the feast The Lord and Lady Purple Lightning had served this evening. I will sleep and perhaps when I wake, I will be able to make sense of everything.