I don't think Cousin Hiromi can have recieved my letter yet *sighs*. I knew that courier looked untrustworthy! He probably tossed the scroll into the harbour, kept the the bronze mirror and heishi beads for himself and spent the coin I gave him on rice wine in the nearest cheap hostelry. Or maybe Hiromi did recieve it and he's not replied because he's sulking with me? Hiromi was always a champion sulker, even when we were children. I remember once he didn't speak to me for over two weeks when he found out just before Mama-san's Hounen Matsuri party that I'd used the last of his crushed safflower petal cosmetics *sighs*.

Talking of sulking, my honorable patron Lord Oshikatsu is not happy with me either, and has been trying to persuade me to return with the delegation to Nara. I think he is being quite unreasonable in wishing to deprive me of my opportunity for travel and adventure *sulks*.

We leave Chang'an very shortly. There's been a slight delay, since our guide, Shuai Tiao of the very impressive dāo, initially hired camels for our journey as being more suitable for the desert terrain we can apparently expect. However, the two travellers we are to escort - a Persian concubine and a Chinese doctor, I believe, though it's all supposed to be an exciting secret! - have both flatly refused to throw their precious legs over smelly, spitting camels and demanded horses instead. I confess, I too am relieved. Horses are shorter for one thing - its not so far to fall off...

I finally found time to write to my dear cousin Hiromi today! He must be biting his nails for news of my adventures by now! Well... maybe not, since he was such a sourpuss before I left and besides, Hiromi is far too careful of his perfect nails to ever bite them.

I do actually feel a little guilty that I didn't find chance to write until just two days before our delegation is due to leave Chang'an. But I dare say Hiromi has barely noticed my absence, as he'll have been too busy inspiring excruciatingly awful haikus from his legion of doting admirers. Anyway, I hope the bronze mirror and the rare purple and red jade heishi beads I entrusted to the courier along with the letter will suffice to stop his complaining for a while.

I didn't think it possible, but I have to admit I do miss Hiromi's company sometimes. I could just imagine us exchanging bitchy comments behind our hands when we were being recieved by those pompous Chinese officials at the Great Luminous Palace, and sniggering together over the dignitary with the bad knees who fell flat on his face during his kowtow and had to be helped up and brushed off by the palace eunuchs... *giggles*

I wonder how Hiromi will take the news that I'm not returning home with the delegation? I'm sure he'll be very proud of having such an intrepid and well-travelled cousin!