Asami tenderly fed a treat from a bowl to one of the cats. "Well," she said. "Home'd be better, I guess."

She dusted her hands on her skirt. She was wondering by now if it was right to bring her friend home without having asked permission first. She was sweating rather - with the thought of breaking some protocol.

"But we'd better be going soon then - it's kind of on the other end of the city."