The Heartwood 茶葉

patiently kaede waits, but she does not see masa return.

suppose he does not mean to come back?

suppose he has gone already to collect his bounty?

but the lady is patient. her small hide bags of herbaceous fare are full before she seeks @Ryūjirō.

she is alone when she approaches the samurai on silent approach, bowing low in recognition of his dual position, both as warrior and as brother to her lord.

"ryūjirō-sama. will we soon leave?"

where is masa? when will he lead us?

i do not want to be here. my service is to him. if he is not here, i have no lord.

kaede keeps herself curved in that bow, a delicate stem of willow bending under winds she was not able to change.