The lowly ashigaru once again adorned the courtyard outside the Imperial Court. It had been a long time since Akiko Kumakura had left her room. They betrayal of Sachiko-ojousama was still fresh in her mind. However, she had decided to move on.
Her dress was conservative and her wakizashi was secured tightly within the waistband. There were more pins in her hair than usual.
She sat outside the courtyard and wondered whether or not to enter the Imperial Court. She had heard representatives of The Order were present, or soon going to be. Akiko wondered what the men who had served with her father were doing and whether any of them were still alive, and how much the group had changed.
She decided she would enter when the representatives of The Order did, if she could.