Tsume grinned and hooked a thumb over her shoulder, toward the now-empty hall. "Tori raises 'em. I just donated the genes." Which wasn't strictly true; she'd been home for the last five years. But it was close enough.

And she was starting to shiver, her wet hospital garb stuck to her skin. "All right, pup," she said sternly, "listen up. I'll go with you to your father's thing, but only because if I don't I'll catch flack from my sister. Don't even think it's for anything else." She peeled her clothes away from her stomach, tipping her head so water didn't drip into her face from her hair. The next she added in a mutter. "Besides, I don't suppose I should leave you to the political wolves."

"But don't think I'm going," Kuromaru announced loudly. "I don't like you that much. Even if you did help Tsume with her mission."

Tsume smirked.