Tetsuko’s face contorted to a frown at Yuki’s suggestion. “But okaasan!”

“Don’t grimace like that, Tetsu-san. You look like a gargoyle,” Yuki threw the words away like the smoke that drifted from the newly lit incense stick.

Tetsuko flicked her kimono behind her and stalked out of the room. Before long the child, wrapped in an old children’s komon, shuffled in behind her.

“Your name?”

“…Kiri.” The child looked terrified at the height of the woman in front of her. Tetsuko’s hair was pulled back in an elaborate fashion, prepared for the assignment she had that night.

“I thought I had been tested enough,” Tetsuko muttered grimly, before adjusting the deep neck of her furisode and pushed Kiri in front of her and into her private quarters. “Sit down, do nothing,” she said, nudging the child gently with her foot onto a small stool. Kiri sat, staring around the room until her eyes squinted at a pin on the counter. Tetsu watched her closely and with one more squint, all Hell broke loose in that tiny room.