It was late when Tsukimine finally returned, hours after she had first left. While I had tried to amuse myself throughout the day, I found that I couldn't tear my mind away from what she was going through. I had turned away all visitors, wanting to make sure that when she returned she was able to have a peaceful space. Several of my ladies had found other places to be for the evening, ensuring she would have extra space as well. Arranged marriages were common for us, but seeing her change so suddenly and knowing how final they felt, many of us had huge amounts of sympathy for her. Life would never be the same, but it could be gentle where she actually lived.
When she came in, she slid the doors like she had been working them her entire life, her body stiff and proper. She was like a prop
