Shinobu found Yoshi standing in the kitchen; she couldn't see Yoshi's face, but could see her massaging her neck fitfully. Sidling up, the photo tucked against her chest and held in her paws, Shinobu asked, "Honestly, Yoshi, are you crying again??"

Yoshi jumped. Without turning around, she muttered tightly, "No."

Shinobu straightened up, unconvinced. "Aah, you're so delicate these days," she remarked with a little sigh. "Do you think perhaps your estrogen dosage is too high?"

She looked genuinely concerned, but the words hit a nerve anyway, and Yoshi growled, moving away from her.

"You're so f-FRUSTRATING!"

"I'M frustrating?" Shinobu said, baffled. "I thought you'd be pleased by this news!"

Yoshi whipped around, distraught. "Pleased that you're leaving for five years without any warning?"

"No," Shinobu began, frowning, "That I--"

"It's just that easy to leave me behind??"

Shinobu's mouth fell open. All at once, it seemed as though a chasm had opened at her feet, one that dropped sharply down into an infinite darkness.

"Oh," she said after a long moment, in a small voice. "Well, that isn't what I meant at all."