The solar was a floral room, oval-shaped, filled with furniture made of dark polished oak and white wicker. One wall was almost entirely a window which, in daylight, provided an excellent view of the flowers in the back gardens. Altogether, a splendid room in which to enjoy a mid-morning tea cake over light conversation.

Makoto found much of the room's charm lacking at night. The window was simply a black wall. The flowery wallpaper had a dingy appearance due to the dim light of the candles on the tea service. And the slightly protruding vein in Yoshida's forehead did not foretell light conversation. Nor did the ominous silence which surrounded them. Staff had provided the tea service and then left, and Yoshida wordlessly poured them both a cup, and then silently sat back to stare into his own tea and sip at the steaming liquid.

He was obviously looking for the right words. Makoto had seen him like this before; once after an impatient Sae tried to jump a too-young horse over a fence and it broke a leg; and another time after Makoto had raided Father's nightstand for one of his smaller pistols, then went target shooting in the greenhouse. That- that had been a bad day. But in her present early adulthood, Makoto didn't feel the fear of punishment she used to feel as a child. Yet- there certainly remained a shameful anxiousness which made childhood memories bounce around her head.

She'd expected Yoshida to be angry, so that wasn't exactly the cause of her current anxiety. What was troubling was that she didn't know exactly what Yoshida was most angry about. There was the accidental destruction of the library table, obviously. Direct and extreme damage to the estate itself could understandably vex the majordomo. But then there was Yoshida's interruption of Makoto and Ren's sparring session.

Which, as Makoto thought about it, she didn't think there was anything for Yoshida to be angry about. She was just practicing swords with a young master of the art. That's all. The young master may be half-vampire, but that shouldn't upset Yoshida any, since it was him who had advocated Makoto's association with Ren on multiple occasions- and Ren's lineage was no secret to anyone who took a close look at him.

And a close look was what Makoto had tonight. She thought again about the blue flecks in Ren's eyes, and the exciting weight of his body against her. Which were just normal things to experience during sword practice! Close proximity was inevitable in the dojo, right? Accidental and incidental.

So why did she feel so guilty about it? Didn't that mean it was wrong?

But before Makoto could figure out an answer for herself, Yoshida set his teacup back upon its saucer.

Click.

"So…" said Yoshida.

Makoto put down her own teacup.

Click.

Yoshida looked directly at Makoto, his expression was- unreadable. She thought maybe he looked frustrated. And there was an intensity, but it didn't look angry, exactly.

"What happened in the library, Makoto?"

Makoto's anxiety dissipated. Yoshida was upset about the damage to the house. That was both understandable and expected. She was prepared for this contingency.

"I'm so, so sorry about that, Yoshi," said Makoto, launching into the cover story she had prepared for just this situation. "We were working with a new device that Mr. Munehisa Iwai created for me. You know, Mr. Munehisa? He's the fellow who works on Johanna for me? Well, the device was supposed to use-"

As Makoto spoke, Yoshida seemed to be growing more angry. She noted this, but didn't know what else to do but keep to her plan. He interrupted her description of the "device"'s purpose.

"And this miraculous creation. Where is it?" said Yoshida, his voice terse.

Oops. Makoto hadn't thought about that. Fool!

"Um- it was destroyed," said Makoto, "Like the table. The same accident destroyed them both."

Yoshida was glaring at her now. "Oh? And where is the wreckage? The staff and I only found wood and paper. Was this device also made of wood and paper?"

Makoto's mouth froze, halfway open. She hadn't thought of that, either. There really hadn't been time to think of a proper cover story. And Yoshida had been listening to tall-tales from both Makoto and Sae for over a decade.

Yoshida took in a deep sigh, his face calming slightly. "Hime-Kun, you are just as bad a liar as you ever were."

Makoto felt her cheeks grow hot, but couldn't think of any response to that statement. She picked up her teacup and sipped, avoiding Yoshida's heavy gaze. What could she do now? She didn't want to tell anyone about the Sakamotos and their personas. Vampire magic, is what it was! The people of Tock-Yo may gossip over her association with a dhampir, (the half-bloods were not entirely accursed due to many folk tales of a few famous good ones, and Ren was known by name locally due to the press surrounding the Kamoshida hunt), but the people's reaction to vampire witchcraft could be decidedly more negative. The Church could get involved. Medjed could get involved.

Not that Yoshida was representative of the general public, or the Church, or the Church's inquisitional branch. But! Makoto didn't fear that Yoshida would somehow betray her or her efforts, it was- it was- what if he also did not approve? She would lose an important ally, and it would just be terribly awkward around the house. It's not like she could just fire the man. To throw out someone who essentially was her parent? Unthinkable. And who would replace Yoshida? Who else would be so trustworthy?

Not to mention, Sae would just reverse any such action when she finally returned from wherever she was. Sae was the eldest. She was the true legal heir of the estate, so Makoto only enjoyed the executive authority of the house in her sister's absence. So, there was that particular reality to worry about, regardless of anything else. But if Yoshida was on Makoto's side, she would have a much better chance of convincing Sae to stay out of the way. Sae could not directly order Makoto around, but she could withhold estate monies. She could prevent Makoto's allies from entering the grounds. She could just shoot Ren and make some claim of self-defense. What lawman would defend a dhampir's writ of citizenship in the face of a Niijima daughter? That scenario could happen regardless of anything else, too.

So, Makoto needed Yoshida. She also had no desire to alienate someone she'd loved since childhood. Her cover story wasn't working. Obviously. That meant there was only one choice: she would need to tell him about the persona, vampire witchcraft or no. But how best to do it?

Several moments had passed while Makoto's mind whirled through all its calculations. She was half-aware that Yoshida had picked up his own teacup and sipped at it. He seemed calmer now, and he stared placidly into the steaming contents of his cup.

"That young man. Sakamoto Ryuji," said Yoshida. "He has a persona, does he not?"

Icy shock ran through Makoto. "You- you know about personas?"

"Through your Father," said Yoshida, still sipping at his teacup. "I heard first-hand accounts of all his adventures, you know."

"But-" said Makoto, her mind shuddering another bombshell. Father encountered personas? Well, that did make sense, as he was a vampire hunter and would be exposed to vampire things; but that she'd not heard about it before? How much didn't she know about her Father's life?

"How did you make the connection?"

Yoshida glowered at her. "An inexplicable destruction. A suddenly exhausted person, pale with blood loss. I've heard tell of these symptoms multiple times."

"From who? I mean, I know you said it was Father. But was he-? Did he have the persona?"

"No. It was his-... his hunting partner. But we're not talking about him or your Father, we're talking about Sakamoto Ryuji. And you!" Yoshida gave her a look full of anger and pain. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you feel you could tell me?"

"I-" stumbled Makoto, feeling utterly ashamed under Yoshida's hurt gaze. "I was worried-"

That Yoshida would back away from her if she were associated with vampire magic? Did she really believe that, herself? Wasn't that just a cover story, too? And it would just hurt Yoshida more, since it was basically saying she didn't trust him with a secret. Makoto suddenly realized why she hadn't told Yoshida about the persona.

"I was worried it would reveal that I was only a minor player in my first hunt," said Makoto, not looking into Yoshida's eyes. "Ann and Ryuji's new powers made it possible. Mr. Amamiya made it possible. I was just… there. But I wanted- I wanted you to be proud of me."

After a few moments of silence, Makoto raised enough courage to look back up at Yoshida. He was looking at his own tea, but she could see the glistening of tears in the candlelight. A silence stretched between them.

"You're your Father's daughter," said Yoshida. "He didn't tell me about personas for a long time, I found out. He didn't want to tell me due to his similar fear: He thought his public image would be damaged if people found out his partner was using vampire magic on their hunts. He feared the Church, too, of course. But-" Yoshida sighed. "Your Father enjoyed being the hero, and didn't like to consider the idea he was possibly the sidekick. I think that was his real worry."

Yoshida's gaze returned to Makoto. "But in your case- are you saying you didn't fire the killing shot at that vampire? That you didn't use your partner's sword to cut off the creature's head?"

"No- I mean, yes. Err.." Makoto's mind was too tangled to keep track of the chain of negatives. "That was the truth. I did those things. But the personas helped-"

Yoshida leaned back. "Ah, so the Sakamotos helped. Just as Mr. Amamiya helped you. And you helped them all, didn't you? By striking down the fiend."

Makoto thought that was a good way to think about it. She hadn't considered everything from the opposite perspective before. "I suppose that's true."

Silence fell between them as Makoto absorbed Yoshida's argument. She wanted to believe it. She liked it. And it also made a logical sense, and Makoto tended to trust that sort of sense more than any other.

Then she realized she was still guilty of lying to Yoshida. For weeks. She bowed her head, and then bowed at the waist in her sitting position. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Yoshi."

Another silence. Makoto held her bow.

"So…" said Yoshida, his voice regaining its usual warmth. Makoto raised her head to find Yoshida taking up the teapot and refilling both cups.

"Tell me everything you omitted last time, Hime-Kun. I want every detail."

And so Makoto did. She filled in the details of the final battle. She advised of Ann's fiery explosions, of Ryuji's inexplicable appearance from a tube in the wall and a resultant lightning bolt. She told Yoshida about Ryuji's magically healed leg. And she even revealed Morgana and the entirety of the information Morgana had provided at the meeting earlier today which was interrupted by the death of the library table.

"And this… cat thing," said Yoshida, "it lives in that young man's left hand?"

"Yes. When it talks, a cat face pushes out of Mr. Amamiya's palm, like it's trapped under his skin. But the eyes are uncovered. They're blue."

"Bizzare," said Yoshida, shaking his head. He poured another cup of tea.

He didn't seem upset or disturbed by any of the additional information. Makoto felt a certain peace of mind from that fact. And Yoshida's confirmation that she had been essential in the Kamoshida hunt, on top of Ren's assurances- she was ready to believe it now. Which freed up her mind to think about what Yoshida had said earlier:

"Who was this partner of Father's? The one with the persona?"

Yoshida pursed his lips, hesitated a moment, but then answered: "A man he'd met somewhere in his travels. Your Father witnessed this man use a persona many, many times." Yoshida gave Makoto an even look. "On most of his most famous hunts, in fact."

Makoto felt a sizzle of shock run through her body. Father had relied on persona during most of his hunts?! So, that was how he'd done it. All this time, Makoto had thought she was weak. That she was useless. That she was missing some key talent that separated her from Father. But now, apparently, Yoshida was saying Father relied on a persona-user, too!

"Who was this man?"

Yoshida leaned back in his chair. "His name was Hansuke. I never learned his family name, and I only met him a few times."

"He didn't live in Tock-Yo?"

"No. He lived elsewhere. Far away, I think. Your Father would usually rendezvous with him in the wilds."

That was an odd arrangement. Makoto began thinking about that aloud. "Met in the wilds? For what? Contracts don't usually seek targets far from their city of origin…"

"I was suspicious at the time," said Yoshida, "but I never learned of their arrangement. Your Father refused to tell anyone- but he returned with literal boxes of treasure, Makoto! Coins from every city I knew, and a few I still don't; plus, gemstones; and jewelry of exquisite craftsmanship."

"I thought Father made his fortune from contracts here in Tock-Yo."

"Oh, he filled many of those, as well. But whatever he did out there with Hansuke was what brought in the biggest profits."

What could Father have been doing out there? Had they perhaps gone to some of the southern cities? Osk-Ka? Kyo-Oh? They were said to be prosperous, but that much more so than Tock-Yo? Makoto found it hard to believe, but that was because she had no real information to work on. She didn't know anything about the relative economics of the various human cities of Nippon. Due to the threat of vamp-slaves, merchants generally traveled directly between adjacent cities. They would travel to the neighboring city, trade their goods, and then they would go back home. Meanwhile, the purchaser would take those goods back to their own adjacent home. And so on, the goods like a baton passed in a giant relay. Very few people alive would travel more than ten miles from their home city, still less would visit an adjacent city. And almost no one likely ever went farther.

Except vampire hunters like Ren. Like Father. And like Sae. They could travel with impunity- being best equipped to handle the dangers of the roads. Though, even they sometimes didn't come back. Like Father…

"Where was Father going when he disappeared? Was he going to meet this Hansuke person?"

Yoshida looked slightly uncomfortable. "No. By that time, as I understood it, Hansuke had already died a year prior. Some illness, from what I understand. Your Father stopped going on hunts during that period. He'd remained here for over a year." Yoshida sipped his tea.

A small silence fell. Makoto realized Yoshida wasn't offering additional information. He was… he was hoping she would change the subject. But why? What didn't he want to talk about regarding Father's disappearance? What might he know that she didn't-

Oh.

"Yoshi, did Father say where he was going?"

Yoshida's face twisted up into a grimace, but it quickly softened and he sighed. "I suppose it was inevitable that you would ask me that." He looked hard at Makoto. "Will you promise not to go after him, if I tell you?"

That very idea was already forming in Makoto's mind. Could Father still be alive? And why wouldn't Yoshida reveal this information sooner? Sae could have organized a team of hunters to go after Father! Find out what happened!

"I'm not going to hop up and run after him, if that's what you mean. He's been gone for six years."

But if there was a chance...

"Promise me!" said Yoshida.

Makoto felt frustration simmer along her jaw line. She should already know where Father went. She should have known a long time ago. Sae should have-... or did Sae already know?

"Did Sae make this promise?"

"Yes."

Makoto felt dread mix with her simmering frustration. Sae knew! Sae knew and didn't tell her! He was Makoto's Father, too!... But if Sae knew, and she hadn't gone after Father already… then it must be a foregone conclusion. The sudden hope that Father was alive withered away as soon as it had suddenly bloomed.

Where then, could he have gone? And why would Yoshida make her promise not to go there? And then, a tiny voice in Makoto's mind pointed out that she could always break the promise if she had to.

"Fine. I promise," said Makoto.

Yoshida sighed in relief, but didn't look entirely trusting of her. They both knew Makoto was capable of egregious action- if she thought the need was great and the reason important. Like ten or so years ago when she'd gone to the stables in the middle of the night to pet the new baby horse. She'd promised not to sneak out, but the horse needed her and their bonding was important. Neither Father nor Yoshida had agreed with that reasoning, but Makoto still remembered her own logical justification and believed it correct- to this very day.

"He said," said Yoshida, "that he was going back to Shikoku."

"Shikoku!"

The mysterious island. The place to which no sailor would turn their craft. A place from whence no human ever returned- or so the stories went. But now Father was one of those stories, gone to the rumored isle of vampires and then never seen again.

Makoto's mind thought briefly of Ren. He still refused to say where his homeland was, but if Makoto had to guess, she would instantly point to Shikoku. Then she reanalyzed what Yoshida had just said. Wait. Wait a second.

"He said that he was going 'back'?!" said Makoto.

Yoshida looked at her over the brim of his teacup. "That's what he said."

And why would Father lie about that? So he had visited Shikoku, the isle of no return, and returned! At least once, anyway. "Did he ever tell you he'd been there before?"

"No. It was the first I'd ever heard him say it."

So, Father had potentially been to Shikoku and wanted to keep it a secret, even from Yoshida. Why? Perhaps a lucrative source of hunting contracts? No, that didn't make sense. Hunting contracts came from cities, and there were no cities on Shikoku. Unless there was some hidden human city, and they captured ships and people to keep the secret of- Ugh, no. No way that was possible. So what could Father's reason be then? Father, this Hansuke person, persona, secrets, lots of treasure, and Shikoku. All that Makoto had now was more questions than before.

While she was thinking, Yoshida was watching her. She came out of her thoughts to return his stead gaze.

"So…" said Yoshida, a sly grin now appearing on his face, "now explain what I saw in the dojo earlier: that young man seemed to have you at his advantage. And you didn't seem displeased at the fact."

Makoto felt her cheeks go red hot. "Just some sword practice!" her voice was higher and sharper than usual, even to her own ears. She cleared her throat and retrieved her teacup. "He- he's going to be teaching me. His technique, I mean." She took a deep breath, trying to summarize it all. "I want him to teach me how he uses his sword."

Yoshida snorted into his tea. He was holding back laughter!

"What's so funny about that?!" said Makoto, her voice indignant.

There was nothing wrong with her learning sword fighting!

Yoshida managed to gain control of his expression. "Nothing. Except that I'm finding your… new interests to be novel. A few months ago, I didn't think such things even crossed your mind. Now here you are: dancing at galas, stealing glances,... getting pressed against walls."

Makoto tried to piece together those disparate events. Dancing at galas? Getting pressed against walls? How did they relate? And stealing glances? What did that even-

Yoshdia rolled his eyes. "Men! Makoto, men! I'm saying you've become interested in a man."

"What?!" Makoto felt her cheeks manage to get even hotter. "I don't know what-"

There was a knock at the solar door. Makoto instantly seized upon the opportunity.

"Yes!? Come in!" she said.

The door opened and one of the house staff poked her head inside. "Lady Niijima? Mr. Yoshida? Ms. Sakamoto and Mr. Dojima have returned- and they brought another woman with them, with her hands tied behind her back. They want to see you."

...

"What!?"