Madam Karin led them to the dressing area after having directed a worker to bring them the best silk kimonos they had. After they had settled in the workers came in with a tray of refreshments and some silk shiro-mukus for Kohana. According to madam Karin, they were made of the best Sathlei silk, it made Kohana squeal with happiness that she would be wearing a shiro-muku made of silk from her fiance's land on their wedding day.
She tried all of them on and just bought two, and three iro-uchikake for the wedding party. Kohana wouldn't be Kohana if she didn't get a kimono for Kaoru, although hers wasn't made of Sathlei silk. Soon enough, they were done shopping but weren't ready to go home. Not wanting to be a third wheel, Kaoru decided to return and they rented a horse to take her room.
.
Susumu looked at the new building and sighed, whoever burned down their old house had quite the grudge against their last young master. His carriage pulled to a stop at the entrance and he stepped out while the coachman helped Kana out. They linked arms and ascended the steps of the building.
At the entrance Yuuko was waiting for them excited, he often wondered why a general in the Daio's army had so much time to spend at home but then again, Yuuko had decided to quit the army and he was sure he hadn't informed his family.
'Susumu-san' Yuuko clapped him on the shoulder then his eyes wandered onto Kana and rested there, 'your sister?'
Susumu smiled, 'technically.'
Yuuko's quarters were as simple as the man himself, there was nothing that didn't have a purpose, and neither were there any uselessly fancy decorations. The floor was made of well-polished marble stone that it gleamed in the morning sun, and the curtains on the window were a deep red and mahogany coloured. He led them to his study and constructed the servants to bring them refreshments.
'What happened? I know you didn't come here just to see me' he smiled at them.
'There are missing dreams, my brother wants to you find them' said Susumu.
Yuuko frowned, 'why didn't he come himself?'
'His sleeve has worn out'.
'Oh,' Yuuko drawled and looked at Kana again. She was playing with the tail end of her haori while tapping her feet nervously on the ground, feeling the weight of his stare on her she shifted uncomfortably in her seat but Susumu came to her rescue.
'You're making her uncomfortable'
Yuuko averted his eyes, 'forgive me. I'll begin work immediately.'
A soft knock sounded on the door and Yuuko stood up to answer, it was a servant. He said whatever he came to say as quietly as possible but it was useless, Susumu heard him as if he were shouting but he didn't show. A wedding for the younger daughter was being arranged and the servant had come to inform him that his sisters had gone shopping.
When Yuuko came back to his seat Kana had him a scroll containing the list of things he had to do. He went over them in a moment and gently laid it on the table, 'your brother asks too much of me.'
'It's quite little' Susumu said and crossed his legs, 'what you owe him is much, much more.'
'Will you be helping?'
'It's not my jurisdiction.'
Yuuko cleared his throat, 'let me see you out then.'
Outside as they were just about to enter their carriage Kaoru came galloping back, her hair dancing wildly in the air. She pulled the horse to a stop and slid off it effortlessly, handed the reins to a servant with some instructions. From her glossy skin and full body, she must have a good life here. Turning around their eyes met and she coloured. She waved to them rather hastily and inside, probably to hide her embarrassment.
'Susumu, aren't you leaving?' Yuuko asked after he saw that he was looking at his sister a bit too much.
'Of course not' Susumu smiled, 'you need all the help you can get, right Kanna?'