It took 4 more days to fully recover. Those days were the longest days of my life. Watari could be dead right now. I wanted to leave as soon as I heard the news. After hearing the news, I needed sleeping medication. I had to wait until Usagi-sama, who knew nothing of my mission, gave me permission to get out of bed. I thanked her and Hanzo-sama before I left.

It took a day to get ¾ of the way there. I had a quick bath in a creek, and I put on my Miko clothes and slept in a narrow hidden crevice I found.

I opened my eyes before dawn. I crawled out of the crevice, and took another bath. After my body dried, I put on my miko clothing and a black princess haircut wig and continued on my way.

The sun was up in the sky by the time I reached Koga. I knocked on the front gate.

"Yes?" The gatekeeper asked.

"I'm afraid I have lost my way. Might I rest here?" I asked.

The door opened.

"We're in luck. We're in need of a miko," The gatekeeper said.

"I am humbled to offer help in any way I can. My name is Mameha, and I am quite pleased to have come to such a kind village,"

The gatekeeper passed me off to another who was walking by.

"Takahiro-san, Mameha-sama is a miko in need of somewhere to stay. Please take her to the castle. She's offered to help Sohma-sama,"

"Yes, sir,"

Takahiro started guiding me.

"What is this village called?" I asked.

"Koga,"

"What kind of village is Koga?"

"We're mostly an agricultural village, some fishing,"

"What a beautiful place," I replied.

He led me to a giant mansion.

"This is the castle,"

"Is not it rude to walk in uninvited?"

"I'm a guard here,"

We walked down the hall and entered a doorway. I followed him up a flight of stairs, right, left, up another set of stairs, left again, and down the hall to a giant room. Sohma-sama was sitting in the middle of the room. He was middle aged, and his black hair was tied back. He just started a meal.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Sohma-sama. A miko just arrived into Koga," Takahiro-san said.

"A miko! Bring another meal for the Miko-sama!" He exclaimed.

I bowed, "I do not wish to trouble the Lord of the castle,"

"Nonsense," Sohma-san said. Another meal immediately was brought in, "Come join me, Miko-sama. There is much I'd like to discuss with you,"

"It'd be my honour, my Lord,"

I sat across from him, and I said a prayer before we began to eat. I examined the food, and took a small bite. There was no poison.

"What is your name?" He asked, as a servant poured his sake.

"I am Mameha-sama, a Miko from the North,"

"What brings you here?" He took a sip of sake.

"I got lost while travelling. I finished a job in the Capitol, and now I'm planning to return soon,"

"You recently been to the Capitol?"

He had been drinking the sake pretty hard.

"Correct, my Lord,"

"I guess you're in God's good graces, Miko,"

"I am extremely lucky,,"

"Maybe nobody wanted the wrath of God," Sohma-sama said, "There is a nasty war for territory starting up between two ninja clans,"

"Violence is not good for the heart,"

"You have a good view point, my Priestess. If only more people shared your peaceful views,"

"Are there any ninjas in this village?" I asked.

"No, this is a peaceful village. We have had territorial disputes in the past, but that's behind us. We're happy for peace,"

"I'm glad that Koga is so stable,"

We finished our meal.

"Miko, I have a job for you,"

"Yes, my Lord,"

"I wish for us not to be followed," He instructed his guards.

He led me down the hall to the end, took a right, then a left, and up the stairs.

"What do you want, my Lord?" I asked.

He led me to a room with a ritual mourning shrine. A portrait of a young woman sat on the low table.

"My wife passed away," He explained.

"I am sorry," I said.

"It's been 2 years. Don't worry about it," He said.

"I do not know what you are asking of me, my Lord,"

"Her spirit will not move on. Every holy person in the village has tried, but she will not leave. She's still here bumping in the night. Please lay her down to rest,"

"Of course, my Lord. It would be my honour,"

I was really freaking out by this point. I wasn't trained in being a miko. It was just a premise to get into Koga without arousing suspicion!

I thought about the past rituals I've seen mikos do while attending a funeral. I knelt before the low table, gently tapped the bell with its stick, closed my eyes, and prayed with my hands together with my head lowered.

Uhm… please move on, Sohma-sama's wife. Your soul doesn't belong here, and I think you should really move on. Don't worry about Sohma-sama. He'll be okay. You might not want to stay here anyway. He's the enemy of many, and you probably don't want to see your husband's head chopped off… Oops, I apologize. Please don't come back to haunt me.

I opened my eyes, "Sohma-sama's wife's soul has been appeased, and moved on,"

"Thank you, Miko," He bowed, "I am indebted to you. Whatever you want, just ask. May I ask why her soul was unable to leave?"

Uhm.

"She was still so passionately in love with you beyond the grave. Her love wouldn't let her leave,"

"Really?"

"Yes, my Lord,"

"Alright. I'm sure you've had a long day. You may go rest. Takahiro-san will show you to your room,"

"Thank you, my Lord,"

Takahiro-san took me to a room where guards were standing at the door.

"Why are there guards?" I asked.

"They are only to ensure your safety,"

Inside the room, there was a table with sitting mats surrounding it, and bedding prepared.

"Call if you need anything," Takahiro-san said.

"May I leave the castle for a bit? I want to see the village,"

"I'm sorry, Miko-sama. Sohma-sama does not think it'd be a good idea. Just stay here and rest for now,"

"Thank you, Takahiro-san,"

He bowed, and left the room.

I sat at the table, and slouched down. Great, I'm stuck in bed again.

A while passed when I heard some noise from outside the window. I opened it, and listened.

"Did ya hear? They caught an enemy ninja. Girl won't say where she's from though. Got a wicked beating, and still didn't say nothin',"

"She's forced to die in the main street. They won't even let her commit seppuku,"

"A thousand years in Hell is too good for her kind,"

Watari…?

I opened the window, and jumped onto the nearby tree. I jumped as fast as I could, and hoped I'd make it on time.