'I am not going back. NO!' Kaoru yelled. She was just getting used to the freedom she had, why would she let it slip out of her grasp? Her so called father never cared about her, what did he want now? Fear suddenly gripped her chest and wrung hard, did this have anything to do with Lady Kaneko?
'It can't be that bad' Kana tried to console her, 'look at the bright side, your father probably wants to make amends.'
Susumu wasn't skilled in these kind of things so he kept his mouth shut, he could only offer a kind smile and silent strength to her. He hoped she understood he was solidly behind her.
'Now, now Kana-san' Kaoru began suddenly, 'I might have to leave and I still haven't met your husband.'
Kana's forehead tightened in a frown, 'I am a temple maiden, I don't have a husband.'
It was Kaoru's turn to be bewildered, 'earlier when I and my sister first arrived at the temple you told us you were married, I was under the impression that Koinu is your husband.'
Kana smiled as if she just remembered, 'ah yes! But Getsumei is not my husband, that was a joke.'
Kaoru narrowed her eyes at the temple maiden. Kana truly hadn't remembered saying that and she seemed to be forgetting a lot lately, is it just a case of bad memory? She shook the thought out of her head, she had pressing matters to worry about like how she was going to defy the order the message brought with him.
At first light Kaoru's personal belongings were fitted into a small bag and given to the messenger. Susumu offered to come with her but she refused, his presence would ruin her plans. They began their long rocky journey back to Binomae prefecture, with how slow the horses were moving it would take a day and half to get there, that was enough time to escape.
Fortunately, the cart brought by the messenger was just big enough for her and her belongings, besides he needed to man the horses. The cart had an open back and front covered by cotton materials, meaning she just had to lift the cloth and slip out of the cart but she wouldn't now. A whole day would pass before they got to any human settlement.
As the journey drew on Kaoru got increasing tired but she couldn't bring herself to sleep for fear of falling, she was quite the acrobat in her sleep. She still had to escape, sleeping might make her miss her chance.
They got to Binomae prefecture at night and though the distance to the house was just half a days journey the first young master was waiting to escort her as "it wasn't okay for a young maiden to travel the night without adequate protection". All her plans were for naught, she thought dejectedly, lord Kaneko refused to take any chance with her.
No! Kaoru shook her head, she couldn't give up, who knows what lady Kaneko has in store for her? First young master Yuuko's presence didn't change anything, she would still escape. The messenger was told to go ahead while she switched to the cart Yuuko brought with him, it was big enough to house both of them so he joined her in it.
The rest of the journey was made in silence. Looking at the sky Kaoru knew it would soon be dawn, they had travelled the night without rest. As the horizon frightened up Kaoru told the first young master to excuse her as she had to relieve herself. He ordered the one leading the horses to stop when they got to a large expanse of land packed with tall grasses.
First young master Yuuko must have never imagined she would run as he let her wander into the tall grass alone. They stood near the cart waiting for her to finish her business but a long time passed and she hadn't come out. Fearing the worst he and the horseman charged into the grass to look for her.
He picked up her trail form the way the grass was disturbed. A few feet away from him he could hear the other man calling for her, did she really try to run? But she had better chances to do, waiting until they were close to their father's domain was stupid. He would sniff her out before she could hide.
Fortunately, the grassland wasn't too big and Yuuko came out the other end. Kaoru's footsteps could be seen clearly on the soil wet by the morning dew, he sent the other man back to the horse to see that they weren't stolen and continued the search for Kaoru, she couldn't have gone far.
When Kaoru got to a village the sun had already cast its light on the world, she realized how stupid her flight was. The village she ran to was just a two kilometres away from lord Kaneko's household, she foolishly made first young master Yuuko's job easier.
Her yukata hung loosely on her body as she frantically searched for a place to hide. All that running and stumbling had soiled the yukata but that was the least of her worries.
The second young master, Yuuto was conveniently in the village. Did Yuuko call for backup? But it was too soon, she hadn't been gone for long! It wasn't possible! After observing second young master Yuuto for a while, she realized he wasn't there for her. He was indulging in some frivolities without a care in the world, yes. Second master Yuuto was not very bright though he had his good times, Yuuko and the last young master were the ones who possessed that quality.
Thinking the coast was clear and it was safe to reveal herself Kaoru came out in the open. Pushing Yuuto to the back of her mind she snuck into a food stall and stole some food.
It is wrong to steal, she chanted in her mind as she hurriedly ate the food, it was only wrong once you got caught. The stall owner saw her leave with the food and raised an alarm. Other traders and some boys chased after her and dragged her screaming back to the food stall, they didn't even ask for compensation before they began to throw stones on her.
Second young master Yuuto was then invited to judge the matter as he was the only nobleman around. You could imagine the shock on his face when he saw the little thief was his half sister. Yuuko must have had problems bringing her back.
Yuuto paid the stall owner and appeased the crowd before taking Kaoru away. He had to bind her hands and feet after getting scratched numerous times by her, on their way home they ran into Yuuko who immediately drew Kaoru into his embrace and admonished her for trying to run away.