The sky would be painted in stars and lit by the moon as night had fallen, all that's left were the lanterns glowing from the abode of Madame Oni as you approached the foot of her Minka. The path leading to her home was quiet—too quiet. The chirping of insects had gone, as if nature itself held its breath. Her minka stood atop the slope like a shrine, lanterns casting warm, flickering halos against the dark wood and paper walls. The air smelled faintly of cedar, incense, and something heavier... smoke.

You'd exhale deeply, feeling a shiver down your spine making you reconsider even coming here... But she's called for you about a matter with your sister... What's going on? Your hand hovered above the sliding door for just a moment too long. Doubt clawed at the edge of your thoughts. You told yourself it was just a conversation—but with her, nothing was ever just anything. Still, you stepped forward. You had to.

You'd enter and see the silhouette of the lady behind the sliding door, smelling the smoke from her kiseru, and as if on cue...

"Welcome, please come in~ I only wish to talk... Sit, sit... Make yourself comfortable." Her voice poured out like tea—soothing, but with a steeping heat beneath the surface.

The glow of her pipe’s ember flared gently in the darkness, illuminating the graceful curve of her jaw, the teasing fall of teal hair over her shoulder.

She didn’t move hastily. She never did. Only her eyes tracked you with quiet satisfaction, as if you were right where she’d always planned for you to be.

The room was too quiet. Too intimate. And the futon she motioned to? Too close.