Chapter 3

It had been five months since Ginko visited the mansion. Tama busied herself with her usual chores. Tanyuu had finished all the sealing she was able to that day and chose to spend a few remaining hours with her newly acquired black horse. That had been an unexpected development but also a good one; it provided her with much needed companionship as well as physical exercise. Tanyuu had been eating and sleeping better for it. She had even begun to show a little tan. If only it wasn't that rascal Ginko's suggestion!

Tama chuckled to herself as she recalled what he had told her the previous visit.

He showed up one day out of blue. Tanyuu found his stories amusing enough to even ask him to visit her. He had been obliging, going on fourth year. Tama did not dislike him but she did not hire young male mushishis for obvious reasons. Sure enough Tama began to note subtle changes in Tanyuu when he was around. It seemed to Tama there were subtle changes on his part as well. She decided a stern lecture was in order. It was for his own good, and hers.

He flat-out denied it, of course. But the reason why she was wrong, he insisted, was ….oh, could it be true? Is that possible? She had never heard of such a thing, oh that rascal. She was now bursting out into a fit of laughter in the kitchen. Tanyuu had finished her ride and care of the horse and came in. She heard her. She implored her to tell her what she was laughing about, but Tama absolutely would not.