Katsura, overworked and exhausted, walked towards his room. Raising a hand, he irritably brushed a loose strand of hair from his face. He had been overseeing the upheaval after Toba Fushimi - all the deals, assignments and organization needed for the new government - for the last few days, and now he finally had a chance to return to Kyoto and rest.

At the end of the hall, he slid open the shoji to his room and stepped inside, gratefully noting the Okami had already left him a warm meal. Sliding the shoji shut, he turned and crossed the room to sit and partake.

Partway there, he noticed a letter, one corner visible beside the meal tray. Worried that yet another urgent problem had cropped up, he hurried his pace and bent to pick it up. Several coins fell off and clattered to the ground, and he looked at them, confused as to their presence. He sought an explanation from the obvious source.

Unfolding the paper, he scanned the first lines.

'Katsura-san, I know this is late in coming, but I owe you an explanation in regards to certain actions though I do not directly recall my reasons ...'

The handsome politician blinked, recognizing Himura's unique brush work. He read on.

'You have asked me to tell you what I was hiding, someday; and today has become that 'someday.' Before Tomoe arrived at our inn, before the scar on my face, I had a dream. Perhaps it is better said a vision of sorts ...'

Startled, expression remaining impassive only through years of practice, he read the letter with a growing sense of disbelief, and fear for Himura. The letter held what seemed the tale of a madman, but the young man was the only hitokiri they'd considered sane. There had been no reason to think otherwise, until now. If this letter came to light it would cast doubt on him, and his former compatriots would use everything they had to eliminate the perceived threat.

Katsura wouldn't do that to Himura or his wife, not after what they'd gone through. He would burn the paper after reading and pray it was the right decision.

Katsura quickly finished the letter, and sighed. Just as he wondered where he could burn it, something caught his eye.

To the side of the body of the letter, another note was written with small characters, and he brought the paper closer to read it.

'I have been remiss in replacing sake I owe the Okami of Kohagi inn. If you would, please use the coins to purchase some for her.'

As he stared at the coins on the floor, Himura's note still in hand, he could think only one thing.

'Over five years of hard work and you ask me to buy a drink for someone else. Himura ...'

(Originally posted seventh - wait, I think it still is!)

Bet you thought the sake or Katsura's request would never be acknowledged again, didn't you. Ha!

I had to take a few artistic liberties with Katsura's location at that time. I couldn't find anything where I was looking. If anyone does know where he was then, by all means, do tell.