One day after the first anniversary of the funeral for Ukifune, Kaoru came to know through Akashi no Chugu that Ukifune was still alive and sent Kogimi, Ukifune's younger brother from a different father, to the village of Ono.
浮舟の葬儀から一周忌を過ぎたある日、明石中宮を通じて浮舟生存の情報を知った薫は、浮舟の異父弟小君に文を持たせ小野の山里へ向かわせる。