The wheels of the Circle's plane touched Japanese ground at midmorning, and Kaiden's family heard the welcome before they saw any of it.
A long, rolling roar came through the hull while they were still taxiing, dim and directionless, like weather happening somewhere nearby.
Emily's palms found the window band again. "Sarah. Sarah!"
"That," Sarah whistled, "is a lot of people."
The hatch swung open, the airstairs locked into place, and the roar arrived at full weight.
At the foot of the stairs, in ceremonial white and silver with a threaded crescent at her collar, stood the High Shrine Maiden of the Moon-Thread Lineage.
Yunohana Tsukikage bowed to Kaiden, ceremonially, and held it while the cameras drank.
"Welcome to Japan," she said in English, rising. "Your mother sends her regards. I was advised not to pamper you needlessly."
Kaiden looked past her at the red carpet, the honor guard holding both its sides, the arch of flowers, and the folded line of white-gloved staff.
