Today's tutoring session was very tense. I knew what was bothering Lady Sorano, but couldn't ask; all her replies were short and distracted. I can only imagine how awful the walk home with Taizo must have been. Finally, as we're getting ready for the party, I decide to try. "Lady Sorano, has something been bothering you today?"

"...Taizo's been avoiding me since we got home yesterday…"

"You went out without me?"

"Very funny. After I talked about it yesterday, I decided to go to Mr. Taniguchi's and brought Taizo with me. It was going fine enough until she walked in…"

"'She' who?"

"That Raiko woman," Lady Sorano says, combing her hair. "She was her usual self, but then Taizo said she's the one who killed Nurari."

"And she didn't try to hurt you?"

"No, she just sat there with that fucking annoying smirk on her face, like she knew there was nothing we could do to stop her." I take a second to adjust the sash on Lady Sorano's yukata, and she continues. "I'd already guessed she done that after the last time I saw her, so really it just makes me wonder how Taizo would know of her. He'd never involve himself with some treasonous commoner like her."

"...From what you've said, to me it sounds like she's pretty focused getting Taizo to admit to something. Maybe he's unknowingly wronged her or someone close to her in some way."

"And that's the thing- Taizo can be kind of a douche sometimes, but all he does is party. How do you offend someone so bad with just a party? That can't be all there is to it, but Taizo won't say anything."

I step away from adjusting Lady Sorano's yukata, and start on my own. As Taizo had asked what feels like ages ago, it's the same black floral one I wore to evening tea. To take Lady Sorano off the topic of Taizo's secret activities, I ask, "Do you know when your brother Sho will be ready?"

"He should be done a little bit after us. I didn't tell him what kind of party it was, so he'll probably be going full formal."

"That will be something to see…"

"Yes, it will."

When we swung by his room, Sho was indeed formally dressed- I think the only thing missing was the headdress. Lady Sorano was almost smiling, but I could tell she was trying to remain calm so Sho wouldn't suspect anything. A carriage was waiting for us at the gates, and Sho helped Lady Sorano and I in. "Where did you say the party was, Sorano?"

"It's at the Purple Snapdragon," Lady Sorano answers. "Nice and roomy."

Sho nods, then looks over at me. "How have you been, Miss Hirawa? My sister not giving you too much trouble?"

"I'm okay, things have been going fine," I lie. I still feel bad about what I did to Yotsuki, and how I treated Lady Sorano at Mr. Taniguchi's last night.

"Good. It was delightful to have you in court, Sorano; a very nice change of perspective."

"And I enjoyed giving it. Is it always like that, with so many people there?"

"No, there are always more in the Summer months than usual. Perhaps if you come again, Miss Hirawa could come to watch."

Though it makes me nervous, I get a strong gut feeling I need to agree. "That sounds interesting. If your father would allow it, I think I'd like to." Sho nods, and Lady Sorano shoots me a playful betrayed look. The nervous feeling remains, and I begin to think it's not just related to being in court. I try to calm down, and use the Chakra Sensing Technique- but, as usual, it reveals nothing out of the ordinary.

"Are you okay, Miss Ruza? It looks like you dozed off for a second there."

"I'm fine Lady Sorano, just a little tired. I was up late last night thinking…"

"Just make sure you don't fall asleep at the table," Lady Sorano says, jokingly. The rest of the short ride passes in silence, and soon after we come to a stop, the driver opens the door, and I almost flinch: the store front and the facade- this is the building where I dropped Yotsuki last night. Sho gets out first, and then helps Lady Sorano and I down. I go first and open the door, and am greeted by a wave of dance music that pulses with a suggestive beat. Sho gives a skeptical look to Lady Sorano, but she pushes him along. "Let's get some drinks and try to find Taizo!" She shouts over the music.

The lights have been dimmed, and the chandeliers cast their glittering patterns around the room like confetti. All the tables have been pushed to the side and we make our way over to get our drinks, avoiding the dancers that randomly cross our path. All of a sudden it hits me: this is exactly the kind of situation I talked to Yotsuki about, an occasion to get Sho out of the palace, and into the trap waiting for him. As I fill my cup with what I hope is punch, I turn to a girl sipping her drink next to me. "Have you seen Taizo?"

She nods, her short hair bouncing. "He's over there," She says, pointing to the far corner of the room. I smile, and motion Sho and Lady Sorano to follow me. The dance floor is a tangled mess, one made worse when a new song starts playing. I try to stick close to Sho, but it's hard. Eventually we make it over there, and I see a loose circle of people around a couple dancers- and Taizo is one of them. From what I know of dancing he's not that bad, actually. I wave to him, and almost smile as I see him recognize Lady Sorano and Sho. I bounce along to the beat with the rest of the circle, and then once the song ends, Taizo makes his way over.

"What are you guys doing here?!"

"We're here to party," Lady Sorano says with a grin.

"Hold our drinks," I say as I give mine to Taizo. "Come on, Sho!" I pull him into the circle as a new song starts, a very bouncy and fast-paced one with an electronic melody. Sho looks lost, and though I don't know any dances besides a waltz or foxtrot, I start moving; swinging my arms around side to side, hopping to my front and back with the beat. Eventually Sho starts moving cautiously, waving his arms in the same way I am. I hold my arms up and spin as I wave them when the chorus starts again, and see Sho start to do it too. I forget about my worries for a second, and just dance. Sho gradually starts loosening up, though he isn't quite matching my movements- with his heavy formal robes on, it's like watching a butterfly taking the first few flaps of its wings. But before we can really get going, the song ends.

I realize now that the sound wasn't part of the backing vocals, it was Lady Sorano laughing. "That was the dorkiest dancing I've ever seen!" She says, holding her side. Taizo's face is blank with disbelief, but before he can say anything, Lady Sorano hands us our drinks as a new song starts. "Come on, let's show them how it's done!"

"Ha, as if I don't know how to dance…" I look over at Sho, and his face is red, from the dancing or embarrassment, I'm not sure. A grin as wide as I've felt in months comes onto my face, and I take a drink of my punch. Lady Sorano, it seems, is actually a good dancer. If Taizo was embarrassed by me and Sho, it doesn't seem like it now. The new song playing now has a lot of buildup, with someone on the track saying something like "when will the bass drop", over and over. And when it finally does Taizo does this amazing stop-start freeze frame kind of dance, and Lady Sorano is spinning and gyrating beside him, providing a contrast to Taizo's moves. Soon after the drop, the song's over, and the people circled around Taizo and Lady Sorano cheer for them. "That was amazing!"

"Ha! It was, wasn't it?"

"It was impressive," Sho admits.

"I just can't believe you're here," Taizo says, shaking his head.

I then decide there's just one thing left to do to complete the non-lethal get-back at Taizo, and I do it. Sho is very surprised, to say the least, and I hear Taizo drop his cup. I enjoy the kiss for what it's worth, and then turn to Lady Sorano, her face full of unholy glee. "Another dance?"