---

I'd held hands before.  I entwined my digits around Mr August's palm and Mr Ajax's as we wandered about the various shops closest to the manor.  A means of safety, they'd say and I was hardly one to argue.  I recalled even holding Hiram's gross fingers though the memory made the skin nearly flee from my flesh with the way it crawled and secretly writhed.  Each of theirs was so... different compared to Fin's.  His was smaller - of course - and I couldn't feel how soft or calloused the pad of it was due to the leather glove keeping us apart.  There was also a difference in the way he shook my hand.  Much firmer than the former three, their touch seemingly afraid to break little ol' me.  Fin didn't treat me like I was a frail piece of glass.

Despite my rather guarded nature, I smiled.  Faintly of course.  Faintly, too, I could feel a slight warmth touch the subtle curve of my cheeks and I quickly released his hand and busied myself by wiping away any untoward wrinkles from my skirts.

"The milf shop."  I must have looked at him like he had suddenly sprouted another head.  Though I'd lived at the manor for many months now, this was my first time hearing of such a place.  Before I could ask, he went on about the Chisaki family and offered a map.  I took it, observing the crude scribbles and faded ink that were probably words at some point.  How could anyone read this... thing?  I tilted it to see if that could offer a better view - first one way, then another.  Both refused to give me some hint as to what this map was supposed to lead to.  "You know it?"  I shook my head while offering the parchment back.

"No."  I tucked a loose coil of hair behind my ear.  "But I know someone who might.  We'll have to stop at my papa's first.  His mama is a fox, like the drawing." 

With or without him, I began making my way back towards the street that would - inevitably - lead me back home.