A lively procession of tanuki streamed towards the gathering place. Several hoisted platters three times their size, with no apparent strain; others lugged enormous casks, or towed a precious cargo of dishes on a furry litter. The youngest kits still romped and played with Harubi's small son, while the adolescents were enlisted in setting up lanterns and tables. Giant Kenta was directing the laying of a bonfire. A couple of grey-muzzled fellows settled down with drumsticks and their inflated testicles. Azami reappeared with a flute.

Scent eddied toward them: roasted meat, sweet fruit, fresh rice. Raidou licked his lips. "Also, if eating anything does trap us here, you have to put up with Hatake and his dogs forever. I'm just saying."

"That would be a good joke on the Fleabags." Himself chuckled, patting his belly. "Probably not worth the pain of keeping him here, though. And as Genma-san said, your families would miss you."

Well, Genma's would.

Saishou unwound herself from her spot at Ryouma's spine and shouldered past him to stand in front of Himself. She looked up with ears half-cocked in disapproval, rumbling softly. Then she slipped off the platform and padded toward the meat smell.

Himself's whiskers quivered. He called after her: "You, I like!"

Saishou swished her tail. Kakashi leaned against Ryouma's shoulder and shook with silent laughter.

"What'd she say?" Ryouma whispered. "You're being rude but at least you're feeding us, I'm eating for ten these days?"

Pakkun snickered. "Pretty much."

Kin sighed heavily against Ryouma's knee and heaved herself up. Her fringed tail buffeted Ryouma's head lightly as she trotted over to stretch out in front of Harubi's daughter, all soft fur and warm eyes and hopeful panting. When she rolled onto her back, exposing her creamy golden belly, Sen cracked. One small hand stole out to stroke Kin's fur.

"Gently, Sen." Harubi rubbed her daughter's back, circular soothing motions as Sen's hands sank into Kin's fur. As Sen eased, Harubi turned her attention to Genma and the tanuki kit cuddled in his lap. "Is it true some of the children took you?"

Genma looked wry. "It's true." He retold the story of the smokey kidnapping from his own point of view — an innocuous morning spar followed by a confusing journey through dimensions, a concussion healed, a set of very determined kits insistent he needed saving… "They'd heard your story," he said, watching Harubi. "They wanted me to know I should never let anyone hit me."

Harubi looked down again, at her daughter Sen. "It didn't start as letting him hit me," she said tiredly. "Not at first."

Not until she had something to protect, Ryouma thought.

He almost spoke. His throat ached with the need for it, and the fear of it. He watched that wary, angry little girl smile as she scratched Kin's soft belly, and he wanted to say It's still not your fault. You survived. You got away. You'll outlive the bastard. But she knew that already. Why would she want to hear it from him?

They'd worked out where Harubi would go, but not what would happen to Nomiya. If she was leaving, did that mean he got to stay, with his big house and his brewery and his village that pretended blindness for the sake of the prosperity he brought them?

Kakashi's hand drifted sideways and closed over Ryouma's knee.

A couple of young tanuki kits clambered back up onto the platform: Kaori-chan in the flowered kimono, and her adolescent sister. They each bore a towering stack of round lacquered trays. Ryouma jumped up, grateful for the excuse, and went to help them.

A trio of older tanuki were coming with a series of giant trays clearly meant for Himself. Kaori eyed Ryouma skeptically, but finally allowed him to help pass out the smaller trays. "Are you the oldest?" she asked him in nothing like a whisper. "You're the biggest."

"I'm, uh, junior-est," Ryouma told her. "Raidou's oldest. He's our captain. Then Genma, then me. Kakashi's youngest, but he took the oath before me, so he's sort of senior."

"Hmm." She looked doubtful. And she insisted on giving Genma the first tray, anyway.