“Please, Jimmu, let’s not say goodbye like this!” she said. “I had to swallow a lot of pride before I could come after you.”

“The last time we spoke, you told me that you hated me,” Jimmu reminded her.

“I was angry with you then,” said Takeko.

“And you’re not angry with me now?”

“I don’t know what I am!” Takeko groaned. “I was angry with you, then I missed you, and I’m going to miss you even more, and—you mix me up!”

Jimmu relented. He knew exactly how Takeko felt, because he felt the same way himself.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t mean to.”

“I know you don’t, but it doesn’t make things any easier!” Takeko took a deep breath to steady herself. “What are you going to do, Jimmu? How will you live?”

“I have a little money,” said Jimmu. “When it runs out, I’ll do odd jobs, find work as a night watchman or a guard. I’ll get by.”

“You have to promise me that you’ll come back,” Takeko said.

“Ladies of your rank shouldn’t—” began Jimmu.

“You sound like my grandmother!” Takeko growled. “None of that matters any longer. Once Father adopts you, you’ll be a member of the family.”

“So we’ll be like brother and sister?” said Jimmu.

“Like really, really distant cousins,” Takeko corrected him. “Here.” She fumbled with the pouch at her side and brought out the red jade horse she had bought at the market in Sakura. The horse had been attached to a leather cord. “Wear this around your neck, to remind you of me.”

“I won’t need to be reminded,” said Jimmu. “I’ll think about you every day.”

“Of course you will!” Takeko agreed. “But wear it anyway.”

Jimmu took the horse from her and slipped his head through the loop of the cord. As he did, a thought occurred to him. “Did you order Kambei to suggest that I went this way?”

“It wasn’t an order, just a suggestion,” Takeko said. “I think we’ve taken up enough of each other’s time, don’t you? I can’t stand drawn-out goodbyes.”

She mounted her horse.

“Takeko?” said Jimmu. “What if Lord Ankan marries you off to a rich nobleman while I’m away?”

“He won’t!” Takeko snorted.

“How do you know?”

“Because I won’t let him!” Takeko said fiercely. She dug her heels into the mare’s flanks, and the horse galloped off in the direction of Mitsukage Castle.

Jimmu did not watch Takeko ride away. He set out toward Zato, certain that he was doing the right thing.

No more listening to voices from the past, he vowed to himself. From now on, I’ll make my own decisions.

Jimmu strode purposefully along the road, and did not look behind him.