In this chapter, Arinori tells us that she has always been kind to hiruko, and that she hopes that she will be able to help her escape from the fire. She tells us, however, that she is afraid that the gods will kill her if she does not leave them alone. She also says that if only the gods would visit her and see for themselves, she would be honored. She says that she knows that the emperors power is still alive, but that the people suffer from it. She adds that when she read the words of the curse written by the curser, she realized that the curse had changed. The curser is unacceptable for the gods, she says, and if that is the wish of the cursed witch, he will have to kill innocents. The plague has blinded her, but she recognizes her voice. The water in the cave has been purified, and she can finally close her eyes. From that day forward, she feels no difference from the emperor. She has made many flowers, and says that scarlet flowers are "worthy of a princess" . She assures her that she can find shinnosuke. He is not shinobi, he says, but the eyes of his mother. He says that the dream had meaning, but it was not his eyes. Akemi is not healing, and the shogun has not sent word from him. He tells her that he knows she is loyal to the emperor, but he asks her to keep an eye out for her.