The others would wake soon to do their chores. For now, all she heard was their steady breathing and wind whispering through tree branches. Moonlight made it easy to see Emily Grace lying in pieces on the carved stand, just as Hana had said. Chiyo swallowed a sob. “Don’t worry, Emily Grace,” she whispered. “I’m going to take care of you, the way I promised I would.” Yamada Nori would come to the school today expecting to take her away. If he had to wait for her to come back from Tokyo, he might want nothing more to do with her. She’s my responsibility, she told him silently. I have to save her. Gently, she lifted the doll’s head and body onto a square of cloth. She added the arms and legs, then pulled the corners together and tied them. She turned to Hirata Gouyou’s sketch. It belonged to her, not to the school. As she reached for the frame to take the picture out, she heard footsteps. There was no time. With an anguished glance toward her picture, she clutched the bundle with Emily Grace.
