Year of the Boar, Eighth Month, Day 22.

Lady Iyo has  not let me out of her sight since our conversation in the pavilion. I have been too shy to ask her why she supports me publically now; part of me cares only that she does. It is hard to accept her help though, when the other part of me is afraid that it is merely a ruse and that once she has my trust she will help Shigeru to destroy me...

I did speak to Atsuko about it - Nanami is not speaking to me at all now although what new wrong I have visited upon her, I do not know - and she is of the opinion that Lady Iyo is genuine. She reminded me that when Kenta told me of the vote between the Houses concerning Shigeru's fate, Golden Harvest had been among those on the side of Dying Crane... That does not mean that the Lady of the House could not have had a change of heart but I suppose that at some point, I must just simply choose to trust someone; if I do not, my House will continue to decline without  even the faintest chance that I might save it...

It has occurred to me that Shigeru may find a way to deny me safe passage through his Lands when I wish to return. if he does, then Lady Iyo's support will be crucial. I only wish the Diplomats had given me a moment to consider the consequences of leaving my Lands in order to get here... Even Shigeru would not have denied me safe passage to get to a funeral, I suppose but there is no knowing what he may try when we return. I will speak to Lady Iyo and see if she will send some of her guard with me so that I may travel under her banner rather than mine.  My biggest fear is that Shigeru will suggest publicly that we travel together and I will not be able to avoid him... This needs much more thought. I have no wish to travel across the border and into the Seventh before travelling up the border and into Dying Crane, or to travel across the entire Kingdom to the coast in order to continue around to Dying Crane by sea but if that it what it takes to avoid having anything to do with him... I may be in for a much longer journey than the Diplomats have planned for. 

I must discuss this with Atsuko before talking to Lady Iyo, I think. If only I had an advisor... Itsuki may well have been the devil incarnate but she was extremely well-versed in the etiquette of all the Houses and she knew the Kingdom as if it were the back of her own hand. How, I never bothered to find out, which now my head is clear, seems like one of my bigger mistakes...

The monks held a torch-lit vigil for Kenta overnight; every three sticks, they would change the sutras they chanted. I have had very little sleep and cannot imagine how the monks must feel. Perhaps they took it in turns to stand and chant; I do not know...there is much I do not know...