Kabi summons a hawk to which he attaches a message on its leg and sends it off towards Subaku.

  - We'll see what the Dragon's word is worth.

  - Commander... ? panics his soldier.

  Kabi had decided to sacrifice himself and his men for the good of his village. Tsukinoko pushes her men with her foot and they fall flat on their faces in front of him, crying out for help. But Kabi kneels beside them, his back to her.

  K? wonders if she should really be allowed to carry on, but Shikaru warns that despite the rules being trampled on, a successful negotiation could well avert a conflict between the two countries.

  Distressed, Kabi's men beg her to spare them. One of the doctors discreetly leans on his hands to get up, and Tsukinoko slowly withdraws the blade from his neck.

  - If you run away, you'll disobey and Hanamaru will declare war on Subaku.

  He braces himself, but panic overcomes all three of them.

  - I-I... he stutters. I don't want to die... please...

  - It's not my decision to make. You're responsible for your actions," she says curtly.

  - I don't... It doesn't matter!" he shouts as he jumps to his feet.

  He fled at full speed and the other two followed, desperately trying to save their skins. Kabi's wind sword whistles through the air and crashes down on them, stopping them dead in their tracks. He crouches in front of Tsukinoko, ready to receive his punishment.

  Her poise behind her back ruffled the hairs on the back of her neck, as she solemnly exclaimed, throwing a dagger at her feet.

  - Your men have no honor, preferring to save their own skins rather than their village. What will become of you? You're the last link in Subaku's future.

  After a deep breath, Kabi seized the weapon, needing to put an end to it himself. A heavy silence fills the atmosphere, then he hurries the blade towards his heart with a clean thrust. At the last moment, Tsukinoko grabs his hands.

  - You've proved that you're willing to give your life for Subaku. You're an honorable Soldier, Kabi, and I'll remember your name," she smiled.

  - How?" he wonders.

  - Thank me for giving you a second chance to look after your men, who couldn't care less about their village. You're not fit to be soldiers, and Hanamaru would never dirty his hands with a village as desolate as yours. The peace treaty is just an IOU for all the times Hanamaru spared Subaku.

  - You... !

  - You gave your word not to try again, didn't you? Then respect it, you who were ready to sacrifice yourself. Subaku must have at least one respectable soldier to clear his name. Disappear," she bellows dryly.

  He was enraged by her insolence, and despite his contemptuous air, he restrained himself to respect her gesture. Kabi disappears into the rocky hills in the distance, and Tsukinoko immediately faints, her anguish and superhuman efforts having taken their toll.

  At Hanamaru, Shikaru dispatched guard teams to watch the battlefield area for a while, to make sure that Subaku had indeed turned tail. Preparations for an offensive were halted, and Hanamaru's soldiers returned home, exchanging discreet gossip about Tsukinoko and her exploits. Tsukinoko had been treated and immediately called to the Chief that evening. Not knowing what to expect, she pouted as she entered the office, before sitting down at the end of the desk as usual.

  - Don't you have any clothes on?" snaps Haruo, banging his fist on the desk. You disobey your squad leader, your Chief, and then present yourself to him like this? Have you no respect for your elders?

  She didn't dare answer him, looking so weary, so disappointed, so angry, and lowered her gaze to one knee.

  - Where's the rest of your equipment?

  She remembers destroying her porcelain mask herself and doesn't dare answer. Haruo sighs and returns to his seat.

  - You have violated the following precepts of the Soldier Code: rule no. 1: a soldier must obey the rules. Rule 7: Soldiers must obey those higher up the hierarchical ladder than themselves. Rule n°8: a soldier must carry out the mission entrusted to him without question. Rule n°11: a soldier may not claim to be above the law. Rule n°14: a soldier must work in the shadows. Rule n°20: a soldier must not practice techniques forbidden by his village. Rule n°27: a soldier must only go on a mission when all possible advantages are on his side. You have committed seven serious faults, and your punishment will be consequent. However, Subaku's armed forces were reduced and repulsed thanks to you, so you are not dismissed thanks to your gesture and successful negotiation. After consultation with your superior, the Hanamaru Council has decided to lay you off for seven weeks. If you put on your soldier's gear or take part in any mission, you will be immediately dismissed.

  Tsukinoko gritted her teeth in anger but accepted her punishment. She had disobeyed but had no regrets, especially after her success.

  Unable to restrain herself, she began to cry in frustration, still motionless, and Haruo immediately cried out when he saw a tear dripping onto the floor.

  - Rule n°25: in any situation whatsoever, a soldier must never let his emotions show, and is not allowed to shed tears. You'll get an extra week's furlough. Pull yourself together," he says harshly.

  Tsukinoko disappears without a word and hurries off to return her outfit while on probation. She arrives in the locker room to change, outraged and disgusted, only to find the squad and other agents there. With a uniform movement, they turn around at her arrival and she grimaces. K? begins to applaud alone, followed by the others, who give him a standing ovation by banging on the lockers, creating a hubbub that echoes throughout the cave.

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  - Wou-Hou! The Dragon has burned Subaku!

  She blushes with embarrassment before fleeing behind a screen to change, though she's no less flattered. In her locker, her full soldier's outfit and agent's gear lie sadly. On the doorstep, she bumps into K?, who takes her under his arm with his mischievous air.

  - Where do you think you're going? We're going to have a drink with the others for your victory, and for Y?ji.

  - There's nothing to celebrate," she hisses dryly.

  He was surprised at her lack of enthusiasm and followed her with his eyes to the exit of the changing rooms. Kakashi, in the passageway, doesn't move as she glares at him.

  - I left my gear in my locker to gather dust," she says, before shoving him out the door.

  - She hasn't been fired, has she?" says K?, astonished after a moment's reflection.

  - She's been laid off for two months," replies Kakashi.

  Everyone is astonished, but he glares at them, and the agents return to their duties without adding anything.

  Tsukinoko, after a long, hot shower, emptied what was left in her fridge, drowning her frustration in food. She spent the evening drawing to take her mind off things.

  In the middle of the night, unable to find sleep, she slipped on a long woollen dress to go out. At the Hanamaru Memorial, she called Yukihyō before kneeling in front of the monument. After explaining the unfortunate situation, he lay down behind her to keep her company. Tsukinoko prayed for Y?ji, asked forgiveness for her faults, forgave her parents. She dropped onto Yukihyō and sank into his fur to meditate, to sort out her mind, warm in her fur.

  Birdsong accompanies the dawn, and Tsukinoko wakes to feel someone coming up behind her. Yukihyō sniffs the air, then lifts his head before grunting silently. Kakashi, who used to gather there every morning, is surprised to find her here.

  Still furious with him, she ignores him and snuggles back up to Yukihyō. But he remains planted behind them.

  - What do you want?" she exclaims curtly, without deigning to look at him.

  - I've come to collect myself," he said, raising an eyebrow at her politeness. I didn't want to disturb you.

  - Wait your turn.

  - That's what I do.

  She sighed loudly, restraining herself from making a remark.

  - Would it be possible to have a moment? she insists.

  He takes a step back.

  - I'd like to finish collecting in peace.

  He takes a few more steps back as Yukihyō follows him with his eyes.

  - Alone," she said curtly.

  - Tsukinoko, I-

  Yukihyō fired violently at him, sensing Tsukinoko's annoyance. At last, he had left the scene. She stretched her legs for a second while Yukihyō rolled in the dirt to smooth his coat.

  - Is there anything to eat in the forest?

  - The animals are still hibernating, spring isn't really here yet. I'm going home kitten.

  She gives him a hug, then heads back into town to run some errands.

  In the days that followed, Tsukinoko took advantage of her layoff to do some leisure work and training on her own. She had hesitated to go and see Haruo, not knowing if she was allowed to work.

  Barely a month later, her account had run dry, having overindulged in shopping sprees with Hina, outings and restaurants with her friends to keep herself busy even though she no longer received a salary. She had even completely restocked her painting supplies and bought the first volumes of a new collection of novels.

  She had gone back to Haruo in the meantime to take the temperature with him, but he had lectured her. Although her initiatives were courageous, Tsukinoko was taking great risks. A week later, as she opened her fridge for breakfast, she winced as it was hopelessly empty. A few minutes later, dressed in black jogging pants and tank top, a white vest lined for winter and shading to the bottom in purple, she entered the Residence to ask Haruo for an advance, or for him to take her back to his side.

  With her hair blowing in the wind, she passes a rest room and sees Mikio and Takeshi inside, looking exhausted despite the early hour. She waves to them, but Takeshi immediately grumbles.

  - Tuna ahoy! When are you going back to work?! The Chief's giving us all your paperwork!

  - Really? she chuckles. Within three weeks, but-

  - Three weeks?!

  - Calm down, Takeshi," Mikio grumbles. Otherwise we'd be fighting Subaku by now," he sighs.

  - Well, maybe... It would still be less boring than paperwork.

  Tsukinoko wanders around the room chatting with them for a moment, then finds a book in the middle of the abandoned work. The title "Guide to Friendship and Social Communication: Simple Rituals for Introverted and Atypical People"(?) catches her eye. Shamelessly, she flipped through the pages and peeled off the little cards with advice on how to maintain relationships with those closest to her.

  - Are you listening to me? Takeshi grumbles.

  - What?

  - I was saying that if you agree to do my job, I'll give you a box of pastries every day.

  - It's a deal," she laughs. Anyway, I was going to see Haruo to ask him to take me back.

  - Seriously?" he rejoiced. Free at last!

  - We've got to help the teachers finish the paperwork for the entrance exam, so don't get too excited," Mikio sneers.

  - And I'd still take the pastries in exchange," she adds.

  While Takeshi continues to grumble, Tsukinoko lies down on the bench next to Mikio to read. They continue chatting and she deciphers the little index cards, most of which the book's owner had annotated.

  "How do you implicitly thank someone after they've done something that pleases you?

  How to be comfortable with someone who intimidates you or is too outgoing for your taste;

  How to express forgiveness after hurting someone;

  You don't know how to explain your choices and the person blames you".

  Several tips were given, and some were circled, so there were lots of case studies and notes. A space was left to make one's own list of cases. Under the heading "Your behavior annoys others", the advice was to divert the person's attention by offering them something to make them forget, something they'd enjoy, like a cuddly toy. The guide gave advice on how to get used to social interaction. Yet the notes showed the owner's lack of interest and cowardice. Tsukinoko grimaced, trying to guess what kind of uptight person would need such advice. On the flyleaf, a small note gave her the answer:

  "Happy birthday Kakashi! At 18, it's about time you got out of your bubble!

  Hina "

  - Huh?" she wonders aloud.

  - Did you say something?" turns Mikio.

  - Nothing..." she mumbles, puzzled.

  Tsukinoko hurriedly put the book down, terribly embarrassed to realize that she'd been snooping, in spite of herself, into her supervisor's private life. Her efforts soften her resentment towards him since his reproaches following the Subaku incident.

  She hesitantly makes her way to the Chef's yellow workroom, then kneels down a few steps from the dais to greet him.

  - At ease," he said, putting down his quill. What's the matter with you?

  - Bah... she thought. By the way... I was wondering if you needed me," she says, mouth agape, "I could come back and help you once in a while, or even every day! Besides, I've got nothing to do now, so I can work overtime, you know!

  - The bank treasurer informed me that you withdrew what was left in your account last week. Now that your wardrobe's full, you need some money, don't you?

  His perspicacity leaves her without repartee. She stares at him with an ugly, defeated grimace, before he hands her a check. Her sponsor had given her enough to last a month. However, Tsukinoko was still in the mood for something to do, so she asked again with a small smile.

  - Say, can I still come and work with you?

  - No, you're dismissed Tsukinoko.

  - Fuck me... Are you still angry Jījī?" she hesitates sadly.

  - That's not the point," he says, returning to his work. You have to accept the consequences of your actions.

  He waves her off and she goes to warn Takeshi that he'll have to fend for himself after all.