Kameko turned the radio up and continued dancing, swinging her duster in circles. She was taking advantage of Shigure's meeting with his editor to clean her apartment. Knowing Shigure, it would take the greater part of the day before he took pity on his editor and stopped tormenting her. And while Kameko enjoyed watching the battle, she really needed to clean.

She was leaving town to be with her family on New Year's, the usual day set aside for cleaning house, so she had decided to do it early instead. Her family lived far away, so she hadn't seen them for a long time. She'd toyed with the idea of inviting Shigure along to meet them, but before she could make up her mind he told her that he would be at the Sohma House for the New Year.

Oh well, she thought as she started sweeping in time to the music. That's that. Maybe next year…

She polished the furniture and washed the windows. She scrubbed out the kitchen sink and bathroom. She had just started preparing lunch when someone knocked on the front door. Bemusedly thinking that if it was Ayame again she was going to immediately put him to work, she opened the door to find Shigure.

"What are you doing here?" she asked as he stepped in.

"That's a fine welcome," he complained half-heartedly.

"I just…I thought you were with your editor." They went to the kitchen and she continued cooking. "Shouldn't you be forcing her to walk the plank by now?"

"No, I just gave her the manuscript."

That shook her. No jokes, no teasing, and he hadn't even tried to torment his editor, one of his most favorite games.

Kameko held a hand to his forehead. No fever.

"I'm not sick," he said, leaning out of her reach until she put her hand down. "I've been to see Akito, the Head of the Sohmas."

Kameko shivered. She knew who Akito was, though Shigure didn't know she knew. And the name did not bode well.

"What did he say?" she asked.

Shigure smiled ruefully. "Akito doesn't like the idea. Of us," he clarified. "It would be better if you visited the Main House in person. Use your charm. We can go in a few days when things have had a chance to sink in."

So Akito knew. She couldn't tell if Shigure had been the one to tell him or if it had been someone else, but it sounded like he had. On the one hand, what happened to "Akito doesn't have to know everything?" On the other, she was glad he had made a clean breast of it.

"And if he still doesn't approve?" she asked carefully.

"I am not in the habit of obeying Akito's every whim," said Shigure. He took her hands. "And you shouldn't be either. Just come to the Main House with me, and I'll handle the rest."

She nodded. It sounded simple enough. Jealous Akito just had to get used to the idea that the Jyuunishi were not completely under his control. But if it was so simple, why was she so terrified?

"And now," said Shigure with his normal flourish. "I thought you could use some cheering up." He whipped out a bouquet of forget-me-nots. "Ta da! New flowers for a new year!" he declared.

Kameko grinned. "They're beautiful, thank you." She immediately put them in fresh water, and then they sat down to lunch. She was still scared of facing down the Head of the Sohmas, but she took comfort in knowing Shigure would be facing him down with her.

Halfway through lunch, the post arrived. Kameko quickly glanced through the bills and offers and then she stopped. A letter from Hatori.

"Ah, did you win something?" Shigure teased.

"No, it's nothing," she said, and returned to the table.

But as soon as Shigure left she dug out the letter and opened it. Hatori politely requested her to visit him at the Main House, but not to tell anyone that she was coming. She frowned and tapped the letter against the table. Hatori seemed pretty reserved, so it was unlikely that he wanted to confide in her.

Suddenly she connected the dots. Hatori didn't trust her, he'd said as much himself. Perhaps this was his way of making sure that she was trustworthy enough to keep the Sohma secret, with a private interrogation. This was much more difficult than the customary "are you good enough for my friend?" interrogations she had been through. But it needed to be done, or she'd never be accepted.

Grimly, she set the letter at her place at the table, next to the vase of forget-me-nots, and went back to cleaning for New Year's.