Akiharu stalked the halls of Tateyama Castle, his thoughts fixed on his vassals' continued failures. Three months ago, when a kudan had cornered him in a market, spouting that nonsense about a woman, Akiharu hadn't thought much of it. But he wasn't fool enough to disregard the possibility of ascending to greater heights and had his underlings search for her. Time and again, they'd failed him, which kept him on edge. Whoever she was, he needed to bring her under his control or kill her and be done with the whole affair. Akiharu's wandering led him to a sun-drenched courtyard in the center of his castle. A natural hot spring rested beneath a ginkgo tree, a crisp autumn wind rustling its leaves and his dark red hair. As he watched the steam rise into the clear blue sky, an unconscious woman appeared on the surface of the hot spring. His eyes narrowed as he took in her features and strange clothing. She was exactly as the bovine yōkai had described her to be. Akiharu walked to the hot spring, wading into the waist-high heated water. He scooped her up and looked down at her closed eyes with a frown. "Wake up, woman." He demanded coldly, giving her a slight shake.