"I'm sorry, but honor and duty demand that I remain."

"I'm sorry, but honor and duty demand that I remain," Machiko said, although it felt like the words were not her own. It was the voice of the Silver Princess, the formal tones she adopted in meetings of state, at dinners, at banquets. The voice of a thousand lotus petals, falling in a pond, her speaking master had called it. So porcelain, so measured, it was perfect. But it was not her own.

Nanoko bowed quickly, quietly, a single bead of moisture at the corner of one blissful blue eye. Without another word, the ninja turned and vanished into the night.

Reluctantly, as if she were made of jade, Machiko returned to her chamber, and readied herself for the feast.

GO BACK TO START AND CHOOSE FEAST.