Yoko contacts Rakushun through her bird and they correspond.  She tells him everything is all right in her kingdom while he tells her about his studies.  He has qualified for a scholarship but must learn to do more as a man so that he can ride a horse and shoot a bow.  She tells him that she's visited his mother and thanked her.  She also visited the children of the now dead King Kou.  She also informs her that she's had news that could mean her friend Asano may still be alive somewhere.  Although everything seems well with Yoko, Rakushun seems to think that she's not telling him everything but he knows she is strong.