Jin was surprised and pleased as Prince Hotaru recovered his composure. She bowed low as he got up and thanked her, and she found herself smiling.

“You left your homes and now I have left mine, but we will return. I will come back, and I will protect what is ours. I swear it!” 

She felt chills as the Prince stood up straight and declared his future. She saw his parents in him, proud and courageous and strong. She embedded this moment in her memory, for the next time she started to worry about the Prince. Yes, he was a child, but he was also their future Emperor, born for the role. No better had it shown than right now. Jin found herself deeply proud of him, as if she really were his aunt.

“Well done, my Prince.” She whispered as she bowed deep, nose toward the floor. “Well done.” 

-

After seeing the boy to bed, Jin stayed awake with Ishawari. She was doing push ups in a slim robe, in her usual nightly effort to keep her body trim and ready. Ishawari’s farm work kept his muscles up, but Jin’s plant gathering left her full of energy most nights. 

“51, 52, 53...” She counted softly as Ishawari went over his day. Her heart sped as he mentioned a dead body, but she let out a relieved breath once she understood the truth of the situation. It was a shame about the old drunk, but it could have been far worse. 

“Well – 54 – Kana and I had our usual walk this evening. Luckily she’s easy to get talking. I give her and inch and off she goes about the village business.” 55, 56. “So far, there’s been nothing. The Hoshikawa’s are having another child, and bets are on whether it will be their fourth boy, or a girl this time. There was a scuffle at the port, and Ogawa-san who lives by the temple is now in prison. There’s a collection for his family, for those who want to donate. Kana has heard of no one new in town besides us, and all is well.” She exhaled slowly, wiping beads of sweat from her forehead. 

“It’s too quiet, Ishawari. My mind goes from disaster to disaster at night, and it’s all I can do to sleep. I keep wondering when the next attack is going to be.” She lapsed into silence, counting push ups in her head for a while. 

“In any case, we’ve got 5 more days until we’re to meet the mysterious ferryman at the Wilting Blossoms. I am going to miss this place. Maybe one day, we can return.” She smiled a bit at the thought. Imagine having a normal life like a normal woman, just her and Ishawari and a few rambunctious children - 

Her brain halted that train of thought immediately. Now was not the time for dreams that could never come true.