The world seems a bit friendlier than it did when Umeko first settled in. Her aches are still there, but the world is its familiar sharpness rather than the swimming it was doing before, and Madame Mitsuko's concerned face is the first thing Umeko's eyes focus on, the woman backlit by low and warm yellow lights. The house matron reaches out to daub Umeko's cheek with a cool washcloth soaked with some sort of soothing oil.

Umeko's gold eyes blink a few times to clear them, the irises expanding and contracting as things try to focus. "Ah, Madame Mitsuko," she manages to say quietly as the woman tends to the side of her face. "I am sorry for the damage caused to your place." And after a moment of thought, adds, "I haven't been asleep too long, have I? I should not me taking so much of your time from your customers."

Mitsuko shakes her head, chuckling, an odd thing for a reptile but perhaps habit by now. "Lady Umeko, do not fret over that. If you hadn't been there, the damage would have been far worse, I have no doubt. I have closed the house for the rest of the night. I do not think anyone is in the right frame of mind to work right now." She leans a little closer to look carefully into the younger Kiriga's eyes. "How are you feeling? That is more important."

"Sore," Umeko admits and struggles to sit herself upright, "But, I will live. At least, until I have to explain this to Father." Her brow-ridge furrows a bit as she thinks back over the events, replaying her actions in her mind. "I couldn't allow them to hurt your girls," she says, "though I knew the chance of surviving that was not high. Part of me wishes to say it was out of honor that I stepped in … but, truly, there have been so many times I have felt helpless in my life and wished someone would come to my aid. When there was the time someone needed mine … how could I turn away?"

The matron clasps her hands together, and dips her head down in a seated bow. "Your motivations were more than noble, my lady, and we are grateful in any case." When she raises her head again, she sets back to work, smoothing away at Umeko's cheek. "As for how long you have slept, not very. Only a few hours. It is not long past midnight."

"Well, perhaps I will be able to return home before Father notices, then," the Kiriga notes as she finally settles herself into sitting upright. "I must ask, though, as to how … bad, I look?" she asks.

By way of answer, Mitsuko holds up the mirror that one of the other Kiriga used before, Umeko's face looking back at herself. Surprisingly, there doesn't seem to be much damage… it feels worse than it looks. There's a little bit of swelling, but unless one looks closely it can't really be seen. Mitsuko's face looks around the edge of the mirror. "I… took the liberty of addressing the lady's face. I could not stand by to see your perfection marred. The swelling was kept down… there is some bruising that shows between the scales, but I have powdered that to disguise it."

Umeko looks at her face in the mirror, shifting and adjusting her head to see it at different angles. "You have been most kind to me, thank you," the Kiriga says with a smile. "I took a blow to my side I should check," she then adds and starts undoing her kimono to check her aching side. "And … you honor me with calling my appearance perfection. Some do not feel that way about me. May … may we speak in absolute confidence?"

The matron nods, setting aside the mirror and reaching out to help take Umeko's sash, folding it as it's undone. "We are in my chambers, there is no-one to hear but me."

Umeko eases down her kimono until it merely pools about her legs in silken folds. The Kiriga stretches up, her thin and sinewy body rippling as she does so. Craning her head down, the dragon inspects the point on her left side where she was kicked. "I am to be married," she says quietly while she looks.

The golden sheen of the Jadaian dragon's hide is very slightly discolored where a deep bruise aches under it, but her fighting discipline seems to allow her full range of motion if she chooses to ignore a twinge. Mitsuko looks on in concern, whether at what Umeko says or the sight of the bruise, she doesn't make clear. "My congratulations, my lady," she says cautiously, busying herself with the trays of bottles and bowls nearby, preparing some more of that strong-smelling medicinal oil.

Umeko gently works the muscles beneath the scales, testing the ache. In the end, she decides it's no worse than some of the bruises from her training sessions with Master Long Tooth. "I am to be married to the Artist Hakuu, in fact," the dragon notes quietly. Her attention returns to Mitsuko and she folds her hands into her lap to allow her to work on her wounded side. "He does not find perfection in me. He intends to turn me into living art. I am not sure what he means by that."

Mitsuko sits close, gently applying a fresh cloth to the bruise, the oil's strange chill uncomfortable at first, then soothing as the ache recedes. After applying it, the matron takes up the rubbing where Umeko left off, being at a better angle to work the muscles from and allowing the younger Kiriga to relax again. "I see. He is… eccentric. A low-born like myself could not guess at what he intends. You do not seem pleased by this… ah… honor."

"As I said earlier, I know little about him. I … I do not wish to spend my life as a 'thing'. I am a person, same as he, same as you. Low-born you may be … but you have more kindness and honor than he, from what little I have spoken with him," Umeko says. Her body pulls a bit upward when the chill hits, but in short order she's settled back down and relaxed. "Father always says I am too curious, too outspoken. Perhaps this is his way of trying to quiet me, but I do not truly know. I wish to learn what I can of the artist, to understand just what he intends. Are you married, Madame Mitsuko?"

A certain understanding seems to settle into the matron's expression. "No, I am not, my lady. I am married to my work, to this place. I suppose it has allowed me certain freedoms. I have studied etiquette to be able to do this, so I know well how restrictive high society can be. So you came here to learn of him… what will you do now?"

"I find some information unsettling, such as his associations. I think … I think I will go to his home in the morning and present myself to model for my wedding robes. It may give me a chance to learn a bit about his home and the things he keeps around himself," Umeko answers after a bit of thought. "It may be a risk, but, such is life if one is willing to truly live. If I do nothing, then I have no right to complain about my future."

The matron seems to mull this over, fussing unnecessarily over Umeko's side while she thinks this over. At length, she says, "To choose your own destiny is fraught with hardship, my lady. But you already have the bruises and the victory to prove that. It frightens me what may happen to you, but I also admire it. If there is a way for us to help, please tell me."

"At least with the hardship, it will have been my choice. That is what drives me," Umeko says, "And I am not the only one who has, either. You have made a future for yourself as well." She then reaches down and places one of her hands over Mitsuko's, saying, "And, you honor me with the offer. Perhaps some day I will have something you can help me with. But for now, I only ask that you just make me presentable enough that I may seek out the artist and try to learn more about him."

Mitsuko gently pats Umeko's four-fingered hand with her own three fingers. "You may rely on us, my lady. You are always welcome at The Blushed Pala. This bruise should be invisible within a couple days, as long as the salve is applied regularly. I have been in the business of beautifying for a long time, and I know this to work."

"Then I may come see you for the next few days, or take some home with me," Umeko says. "Which would you prefer?"

The matron buffs down the scales she applied the salve to, the oil working in and polishing the gold flecks to a warm luster. "I would of course be delighted to see you whenever you had time to come visit, but I can also prepare some for you if you wish to apply it yourself."

"Well, admittedly, I would not mind visiting here each day for a few days," Umeko says with a smile. "It is pleasant to get off the estate and be at a place I feel comfortable."

Mitsuko tilts her head curiously. "Do you not leave the estate often, my lady? I assumed you must, to have learned such formidable skills in the arts of combat."

"Not often, no. I have spent many of my days training with Master Long Tooth," Umeko answers, "when he has been around, of course."

The matron tips her head in the other direction, smiling and looking puzzled as well. "Oh? The little old man? I am surprised!"

"He is quite skilled, if a bit peculiar. He has a wisdom about him, if one can see past his obsessions," Umeko says with an amused smile. She then frowns momentarily and asks, "Has anything been seen of my servant?"

The matron hides the widening of her smile behind her hand. "Well, I know little of those arts, only that you seem to have learned exceedingly well." Her face sobers, and she shakes her head. "I… no, I am sorry, my lady. We haven't seen her since after the altercation. May I ask… what she is?"

"That is what I intend to ask her if I ever find her again. She was hired by my father as an entertainer. She seemed kind enough, if a bit simple," the young Kiriga says. "She did not mention that she changes her shape. I was trying to help her fit in better here, but … I have done poorly at that."

Timing has a certain way of just happening. A shadow hurries up to the sliding screen to the matron's sanctuary, and an excited voice from behind it says, "M-madame Mitsuko! It's her! She's come back!"

Umeko sits more upright, her relaxation broken by the sudden announcement. She looks to Mitsuko, not speaking out as she is a guest in this house.

The matron looks startled as well. "… As a beast?" she asks. "No, Madame," comes the reply. At this, Mitsuko stands up, and offers Umeko the sash to her kimono. "Send her to us."

Umeko accepts the sash to her kimono and sets it into her lap. She only loosely pulls up her robes around herself, the fabric hanging loose and open. "Forgive me if I do not tie my robe," she says to Mitsuko, "I would like to keep pressure off my side a bit longer."

The pitter-patter of feet retreats from the screen, and quickly returns, two shadows appearing behind the screen now. It slides open.

"Of course, my lady," murmurs Mitsuko, gliding aside to make room in the smallish bedchamber.

As the screen slides away, a house girl is revealed with Lilac beside and a bit behind her. Ears back and tail tucked, she seems to be attempting to look even smaller than she is. Her clothing is nothing like the kimono she had worn earlier; worn rags, dirty and ill fitting, clad her now. She stands with her hands behind her back, twiddling with something. "Lady Umeko," she breathes, weakly. "I thought you might be … " Lilac looks pale, an almost white shade of gray.

"I am sore and will be for a while, but I live. You look far worse for wear than I do," Umeko says quietly. The Kiriga then motions for Lilac to come sit with her. Then with a glance to Mitsuko, she asks, "Could you ask someone to attend to her? I know some may now be afraid of her, but. She needs to be cleaned up some. And, can you loan her a new robe? I can return it tomorrow."

Lilac walks over, head bowed, ears back and tail low. She settles down next to Umeko and stares at a wad of cloth in her hands, which she turns over and over. When the Kiriga mentions that others may be afraid of her, she suddenly looks up, brow furrowing in worry. "Wha- … Oh, I see. I, I'm sorry Lady Umeko. I was so scared of them, I just … " Letting her words trail off, Lilac looks back at the wad in her hands.

"Of course, my lady," says the matron. She glides to Umeko's side to give her one last once-over, almost motherly in her fussing, then lays the strongly-scented washcloth over the bruise on Umeko's side, the only interruption in the golden scales from Umeko's feet to her face. She moves away again to clap her hands at the house girl hovering in the doorway, who scurries off to find fresh clothes.

"You saved their lives, and mine," Umeko finishes the statement for Lilac. After a bit of watching the strange human, she asks, "What are you? What happened to you?"

"I'm sorry," Lilac responds reflexively, "I … " She blinks. "Wha- … what? I, saved … Oh no, Lady Umeko! Did they hurt your head, or … ?" Lilac looks up, and this time she takes a moment to carefully look the noble over.

"Madame Mitsuko has been attending to my injuries. Her salve has kept the swelling down. Some powder conceals the bruising between the scales," Umeko answers. The Kiriga then lets her kimono slide back off so Lilac can see her side, then lifts the oil-soaked cloth away to expose her injury. "And then there is this bruise. It's sore, but I shall live."

"Oh … " Lilac stares at the wound for a moment, then looks down again. She lapses in to silence, twiddling her piece of cloth.

"I'm disappointed in you, Lilac," Umeko says as she puts the cloth back, then pulls up her robe.

"Oh," Lilac repeats. She sinks down a little more, closing her eyes. "Do you … Do you want me to go, L-lady Umeko? Is that why I was … was … L-left outside?"

"No. Because you did not tell me that you could change into an animal," Umeko says with a tilt of her head. "If I had known that, I would have had you fitted with one of the old iron slave collars, complete with a nametag. I would not have had to be worried about you getting lost." The Kiriga actually looks like she's trying to not smile … which is odd.

"I … What?" Lilac looks up again, her eyes wide, and her ears splayed in surprise. "That I … What? Oh, Lady Umeko!" She leans forward and makes a low-pitched whine. "They must have hurt you terribly! Oh, an animal, Lady Umeko, your pet … ? Or, one of the other's here. No, no, Lady Umeko. Oh, you poor woman."

The house girl returns with a neatly folded kimono, which Mitsuko carries over to the conversing pair. She looks quite puzzled. "I looked myself, Miss Lilac. The lady is not seriously harmed, and you did indeed turn into some sort of… creature."

"I have several witnesses here that can attest to it," Umeko says as she finally starts pulling her kimono together, then ties it with a bit of a wince. "It was you. You changed into a feral beast."

Lilac's ears press so far back they stretch the woman's face. "What? No, no, that can't be right. We lost, didn't we, lady Umeko? The mercenaries, they tried to leave, or fled, or were taken by the guards, weren't they?" The human looks around for help, trying to find an agreeing face.

"No, we won. Not much of a victory, but we won. One you may have crippled. I cannot say for certain, though," Umeko says, her head tilting curiously.

"I … " Lilac just stares back at Umeko, wide eyed and confused. "I don't know what you mean, my lady. I … " She blinks, then suddenly shoves the wad of cloth into Lady Umeko's hands. "I, I got this – for you! So, you wouldn't be upset with me … so … if you had … I'd … "

The house girl in the doorway peeks timidly around it, lingering. It's the blue one that was so petrified earlier. "Only… only one got away, Miss. The big Shiga fled. The rest… one of the gambling hall bouncers hauled them into the street. The guardsmen finally came and took them away."

Umeko takes the wad and tilts her head, giving Lilac a quizzical look. Carefully, she unwraps whatever it is.

Inside the cloth is a block of pink streaky marble, carved and highly polished. Around the center is tied red cord, with a pair of fancy tassels. On either end is carved a crest.

Lilac glances at the servant girl, staring at her with an echo of the earlier confusion she turned on Umeko. "If only I spoke Imperial," she laments in a whisper.

Umeko's brow furrows. "What is this? It is the artist's, but," she says slowly. The Kiriga then sees if the cords can be untied and perhaps the object opens. Absently, she motions for the blue Kiriga to come in and sit with them.

"Oh, I, um … Could we be alone, Lady Umeko?" The human glances at the servant woman again, brow narrowing in concern.

Umeko then motions for the blue Kiriga to not come in, saying, "Sorry, my servant wishes some privacy. Please close the screen?"

Mitsuko leans closer to have a look herself. "It… appears to be one of Master Hakuu's seals, my lady. Lords use them to stamp important papers. Miss Lilac, may I ask how-… " She pauses at the request, and the blue Kiriga at the screen quickly nods and slides the screen closed, pitter-pattering away. "Should I leave as well, my lady?" asks the matron.

Lilac glances between the matron and Lady Umeko, ears back, brows up, looking nervous. She doesn't answer.

"Given all your help this evening, Madame Mitsuko, you may stay. You can trust her, Lilac," Umeko tells the human. "Where did you get this, and why?"

"I … " Lilac gives the matron one last, nervous, look, then sinks a little as she addresses Lady Umeko, " … borrowed it, Lady Umeko. I was out, um, at Hakuu's manor. I followed the mercenary serpent there, I mean, and then I … looked inside. A little. I … " She blinks, and when her eyes open again they look watery. "Lady Umeko, he stuffs them and cuts out their tongues!"

Umeko's brow goes up. "He does what to whom?" she asks. "What are you talking about?"

"I saw it! I was in his manor! He, he has … what's the word the Khattas use? … harem of women! Like you! And they wear these disturbing mirrored masks, that no one could see out of! They're bound foot and body, and one had her tongue cut out for speaking in a way Mas- … Hakuu didn't like! He's a monster! A horrible monster! You must flee him, Lady Umeko!" Lilac leans forward, taking the woman's hands. "Please."

Mitsuko looks quite alarmed, putting a hand to her chest, her head canted back far like a snake rearing to strike.

Umeko continues to look at Lilac oddly. "Are you sure you did not get hit yourself? Can you show me this?" the dragon asks. "If this is so, I do not understand how he is allowed to get away with it."

"That's why I brought you the seal, I took it from his home. You can't see it, Lady Umeko. He has guards. Many guards, and mercenaries too! He was speaking with a man from Chronotopia! A Cervani man, with a Cervani head cane, I … " Lilac shakes Lady Umeko's hands, "I'm sorry! They switched to Imperial, and I could no longer understand them! I was terrified! His meeting room, it's … it's horrible! He stuffs them! And their eyes, their eyes … " It's all too much for Lilac. She shudders, then wraps her arms around herself as she begins sobbing.

"What do you mean stuffs them, what do you mean about their eyes?" Umeko inquires next, pressing the issue. "I was planning to go there tomorrow to learn what I could of him."

The matron starts to reach out to the distressed human, but falters and puts her hands back in her lap.

Hiccuping, Lilac tries to speak several times. Eventually, she manages, "St-tuffed. L-like, l-like trophies. Stuffed! And their eye-eyes, made of g-glass! Th-they were r-r-real p-people! It's h-horrible!" She looks up, two streams of salty tears running from her eyes. "Th-the one, the t-tongueless one. Sh-she was serving them t-tea in that room. Sh-she was terrified. Oh, Lady Umeko, I-I wanted to help th-them, I wanted t-to!"

Umeko's fingers slowly curl closed into fists. The Kiriga's eyes close and she slowly draws in several long breaths, calming herself through meditation. "I must know what he has on people to have them just hand over their daughters to him," she whispers quietly. Slowly, her eyes open back up and fix on Lilac, then says, "And you will. Perhaps not today, perhaps not tomorrow, but you will. We cannot do this alone, and not without information."

Lilac just nods numbly, seeming to nod as a reflex rather than with any real vigor. Her sobbing slows somewhat, so that she only hiccups now and then.

"I need to know where those men he was meeting with came from," Umeko says quietly, then looks between Madame Mitsuko and Lilac. "I may not be able to reach them here, but if they can invade my homeland, I can invade theirs."

Mitsuko wrings her hands, wide-eyed. "Their homeland, my lady?"

"The mercenaries, they-they're varied, Lady Umeko. The man with Hakuu, he's Chronotopian, I'm sure of it. B-besides being Cervani, h-he also dresses like a Chronotopian. He was talking about some papers, and he v-very much didn't want to be disturbed." Lilac suddenly looks up, eyes wide in horror. "Y-you won't tell them, w-will you?" She looks between the matron and the lady wildly, "I did it for you, Lady Umeko! He mustn't know, h-he'd … he'd do horrible things!"

"Those he has hired, those he was meeting with, those that are supporting him. I would like to know what papers he was speaking about, as well," Umeko replies in a calm tone. She then reaches out and puts a hand on Lilac's hand. "Calm yourself, please. He will not hear of it from me. I believe I can say the same for Madame Mitsuko."

"O-okay," Lilac replies, sounding somewhat relived. She shivers, hugging herself tighter. "L-lady Umeko, wh-what will you do? He has s-so much, m-more than your family. He, he … He has a small army, and his home is well guarded."

The matron shakes her head hurriedly. "I wouldn't dare, even if I had reason to. I have hesitated to speak ill of high born and those in their favor, but… just from what Lady Tsuguri says, he is deplorable." She moves over to Lilac's side. "You poor thing. Here, a fresh robe for you."

Umeko folds her hands together. "Well, I can think of several things I could do," she notes quietly. "But I am still confused. Why, if he has all these women, does he seek a wife? Is it because I am of nobility and he wishes to use that to consolidate more power?"

Lilac accepts the robe, eagerly sliding in to it without undressing first. She holds the robe close around herself and, shivering, leans against the matron. "I'm s-sorry I doubted y-you, Lady Umeko. You m-must never marry him. N-never. I c-couldn't stand to t-think of you as, as … " The woman shivers again, as if she were struck by a winter chill. "I-I don't know, Lady Umeko. M-maybe noble women are m-more valuable? L-like gold, over iron, and i-iron, over w-wood."

Mitsuko rests her arms over Lilac's shoulders, wide sleeves forming another layer over the human. "There, there. You're safe now," she murmurs. She looks up and over at Umeko. "I can hardly imagine, myself. Could he have been discussing you with that Chronotopian person Miss Lilac mentioned?"

"He would have a difficult time making me into art," Umeko says quite firmly. "In times long past, the Tsuguris were warriors of this land. That strength still flows within my veins. As much anger as it gives my Father, I am his daughter, and I inherited his strength of will." The dragon then looks to Mitsuko and nods, "It is possible. Something unusual is going on with this 'arrangement'. It seems that somehow I am important to whatever the Artist's plans are with these people, perhaps. Perhaps they desired an exotic Kiriga noble in exchange for their support in whatever he is planning."

"H-he was a swordsman, I've seen his sort of c-cloak before," Lilac adds. She sinks in to the matron's arms, so that just her head shows.

"Can you repeat anything they said, even in Imperial? Mimic it? Perhaps it may tell us something," Umeko suggests.

Lilac seems to think a moment, and then she nods meekly. "Your name was mentioned, L-Lady Umeko. I remember a few other words that were in Standard, t-too: mateh and Naga. The Cervani man also asked if he could speak with "h-her" there, and Hakuu said that she h-had no tongue. I think they will b-be there for the n-night," she answers.

"Which of them mentioned my name?" Umeko asks. "Hakuu or the Cervani?"

"Hakuu did, L-lady," Lilac replies.

"Is there anything you can say about what he said around my name? Or if the Cervani took interest in my name?" Umeko asks next.

"No, I don't r-remember, lady Umeko," Lilac answers. "I l-left quickly, and the C-cervani was stone-faced."

Umeko's claws tap on the back of her hand. "The ports keep records of all those who enter our lands, do they not?" she asks Mitsuko.

Mitsuko nods, her sleeves still bundled over Lilac. "They should, my lady. Jashin is as much a port city as it is an attraction to those on the mainland. It is a stopping point for ships between Lamu and Ur, so many, many ships both sea and air pass through."

"Are you m-mad at me Lady Umeko? C-can I have my flute back?" Lilac whispers.

"Then we can obtain the names of Chronotopians who have entered our lands," Umeko says with a nod. "And, I think it is time I try to uncover from my Father's documents what their agreement was." Her brow then furrows, and she says, "And, I must consider whether or not I should go see Hakuu tomorrow morning. There may be more risk than I expected."

"You can get it when we return to my family estate," Umeko says with an attempt at a comforting smile, "Which we should be doing." After a bit more thought, she adds, perhaps in an attempt to take Lilac's mind off of everything she saw, "It will also give me time to find that iron collar. I can't have you running off like that again, now can I?" The Kiriga has to be joking at this point, or at least trying to.

Lilac just nods slowly, "Okay," she agrees, as if she were so browbeaten by the day she'd be quite willing to accept the collar by now.

Mitsuko finally takes one of her sleeves away, using it to dry Lilac's face a little. "You never did tell us how you got into the manor."

Umeko gets to her feet, wincing a bit as she does so. Favoring her wounded side a bit, she bows to Mitsuko, saying, "Thank you for all your kindness this evening. I am sorry for the troubles we bring." Her head then tilts so she looks at Lilac and she adds, "Please, come. We have a few days before the wedding to figure out what to do. And … you will stay in my room this night. I doubt you would with to be alone, no?"

"I flew," Lilac responds, letting her face be mopped. When Lady Umeko stands, she meekly follows after the noble, murmuring, "Thank you for everything, Lady," to the matron. She nods up at Umeko, eyes widening. "N-no, I don't want to be alone. Not after … today."