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with you and not with either of your companions."
    "As it should be,” Tamazusa said with a steely smile and a glance at me. I didn't know what she was trying to tell him, but it seemed to me he understood the message.
    The parade of lords started soon after that. The rest of the evening was filled with banter and bargaining, since many of the lords were very interested in the fact that Dousetsu was with us. Iida was there also, staring at our group. He had been at many of the other gatherings, too, but hadn't approached us. That had made Samojirou and Tamazusa notice him all the more. I didn't know what any of them were plotting, but I knew Samojirou worried about it, for some reason. He didn't mention it to me, but I saw the look in his eyes when Iida was watching Tamazusa—he wasn't happy. I don't think he was jealous or anything like that. Iida was a puzzle to him, one he didn't like. I didn't know how Iida was able to afford to be at all these gatherings, because he didn't seem to be a rich lord. His clothing was plain and not very expensive-looking, and he didn't have any companions with him, except for the lone samurai that followed him around like he was his shadow.
    "You are happy here?” Dousetsu asked me softly at the end of the evening.
    I looked at him and then nodded. I wasn't going to start defending my choices with him.
    "Good,” Dousetsu said. “While I will never forgive Samojirou for what he did, I have made my peace with it. He has made his own peace, it seems.” He frowned at my confused look. “Did he ever...? Probably not.” He sighed. “Talk to him."
    I gave him a cross look that made him laugh. I didn't know why he thought I didn't talk to Samojirou! The mute act was only for outsiders.
    "I think that there is much that you need to discuss with him about his relationship with my brother Keno,” Dousetsu said.
    I was confused and curious. What did he know about that?
    "I knew,” he said softly. “And I know what it cost the two of them. Talk to Samojirou about that.” He hesitated for a second. “Samojirou did me a grave injury in the real world.” Another pause. “And I know that I wasn't entirely innocent in the matter, either, which may have been part of my hatred for him. Our relationship wasn't the best for many reasons. But I, like Samojirou, tire of the hatred. Please tell him that. And give Tamazusa-sama my thanks for her kindness this evening."
    With that he bowed and strode away.
    "I hope that he wasn't rude to you,” Samojirou asked me. I shook my head, and he smiled at me. “I think that we need to leave soon."
    I glanced over at Tamazusa and saw Iida was staring at her again. He was too far away for me to see the expression on his face, but he seemed off to me. He was watching her for a reason, and it wasn't one that seemed nice. If I didn't know better, I'd say he was stalking her. Samojirou saw where I was looking and frowned. “Him again."
    He leaned over and kissed me. Tamazusa broke off her conversation and shook her head, amused and annoyed that Samojirou was being so bold with me. Nipponese society didn't approve of such public displays of affection.
    "Tamazusa-sama?” the lord she was talking with asked when she seemed to not be paying attention to him.
    "I was distracted for a moment,” she said smoothly.
    He saw where she was looking. “I haven't seen Samojirou-sama so enamored of a companion in ages."
    "He hasn't been,” she agreed.
    I noticed Iida seemed to tense up when he saw what Samojirou and I were doing. I laughed and smiled at Samojirou, trying to tell him with my eyes to watch Iida, because the man felt dangerous to me. I didn't know if he got the message.
    "Sakura-chan,” Tamazusa called. I hurried over to her side and bowed deeply to her. I figured she wanted to separate us before Samojirou acted any more outrageous. We knew she wasn't angry, but it also looked like the act of a jealous woman. “Attend me."
    The rest of the evening passed