Sunlight was dancing along to the rhythm of the wind through the cherry blossom tree outside Kaori's window, streaming along the documents splayed neatly out across her desk without choreography. She was peering over her spectacles that rested on the tip of her nose, reading the chef's planned menu for next week to see if any ingredients needed to be ordered, when she heard Sakuya's call for the young master outside. Glancing out the window to see Haruki stand from his flower patch and look towards the rear of the house, she wondered what had happened to cause such distress in the head butler's tone. Standing and gently lying the document on top of the pile, Kaori decided to check on the mistress. Lady Constance was sitting down to tea with her back to slightly open parlor door, the new maid nervously standing behind her out of view while clasping the tray she'd delivered the tea on tightly to her chest. At seeing Kaori out of the corner of her eye, the girl's youthful face brightened slightly with a nervous smile, and so Kaori continued on down the hallway without disturbing the mistress. 

" -- lost him already. Lazy cat, I knew I should have stayed --," Ryuu's relaxed over the shoulder glance as he spoke openly about the situation upon entering the house froze when he looked forward to see the Jorōgumo Kaori smiling brightly at him. He knew that specific smile on her face was really an indication of danger, so he bowed low immediately. She was far too crafty for him, he'd learned a long time ago. "Forgive me, Madam Kaori."

"Now, now, Ryuu," She chided, smile still in place with a tilt of her head as an index finger touched her cheek. "I imagine Sakuya could come up with all sorts of appropriate punishments for such incredulous talk, but I do believe he's already given you the silverware. Am I correct?"

"Yes, ma'am," Ryuu said, lifted his head up from his bow to look upon her face. She indicated with a wave for him to stand tall again, and he smiled broadly at her - taking her offer to relax once more. "I will get to that."

"Naturally," She said after casually eyeing the seemingly irresponsible Ōkami for a moment, folding her hands into her kimono as her arms crossed. As he passed upon her agreement, she spoke again - causing him to freeze once more in place as if she had paralyzed him with that deceptively sweet voice. "But first ... what happened?"

As Ryuu was relaying the tale to the housekeeper, Kaori began to shift from foot to foot as the mistress finished her tea. Meekly, she reached forward to pour another cup, but was halted when Constance placed her hand over the cup calmly. Kaori liked the mistress, even though she was very nervous around her. She seemed nice, the young maid was thinking as she placed the teacup and pot on her tray without a word. Of course, Kaori never spoke unless spoken to, and often could disappear without one noticing. It was a good trait for a servant to have, even though she had an unfair advantage as an Obake. As she made her way to the kitchens to deposit the kettle and teacup, she pondered, as she often did, on her death.

Kaede had ventured into the garden to let Haruki know what the head butler's call had been for after seeing the boy cross the threshold of the forest to an anxiously awaiting Sakuya. Her tones had been kinder with Haruki than Ryuu simply because they were almost the exact opposite - where Ryuu liked to dawdle and laze about at times, Haruki worked from sun up until sun down. The gardener's personality was also sincere, where the footman had been sly in his words. Upon hearing the creature at the lake's little description, Haruki looked puzzled and then worried for the flora in the area with an unidentifiable monster in the area. With the decision to go check on the plants in the forest, Kaede bid him be careful just as her name was called from inside by the mistress.

Not one to run, she took a brisk pace as she headed back towards the entrance near her office as it was the closest. Just as she made it to the main hallway, she saw Kaori's worried expression as she rushed to meet the housekeeper in the intersection. Ryuu joined them as well from the opposite direction, hands in pockets and strolling casually. 

"Kid's back," He said just as casually as his body displayed. "Brought a friend."

"Another guest," Kaori looked anxious at the possibility. 

"Perhaps," Kaede tapped her finger to her cheek.

"It'll be a while till the pup is awake," Ryuu said as he quickened his pace to match Kaede's and Kaori slowed hers. "If it wakes up at all - I can smell the blood from here."

"Blood," Kaori whined quietly to herself. She wasn't concerned with the cleaning, but rather the possibility of there being another death in this house. 

"Madam Constance is calling us for a reason," Kaede reminded her softly as they rounded the next intersecting hall where the mistress could be found. She offered a kind smile down to the maid and whispered as they entered the room. "It will be fine."

"Madam," The three bowed in unison, each dipping lower than the other as their station indicated. Kaede was the first to look up, Ryuu followed, and then Kaori after hesitating a moment longer, tears already in her eyes. Kaede's eyes flickered to the mass of blood and fluff sitting before their mistress. "How can we help?"