Chapter 52 Summary

Niou receives a note from Ukifune but, when he reads it, he realizes that something is not right. In order to learn what is going on, Niou sends Tokikata to Uji with orders to learn what is wrong with Ukifune. Once there, Tokikata learns that Ukifune is dead, though he finds it difficult to learn the exact cause of her death. He does determine, though, that she died in a rather strange way and it would be best not to learn exactly how it happened. Fortunately, Tokikata does learn that Kaoru was not involved in Ukifune's death in any way, allaying fears that Kaoru was somehow seeking vengeance upon the woman for her willingness to sleep with Niou.

Kaoru is crushed by the news of Ukifune's death, especially on the day that she was to return to Kyoto to live in his mansion...