Chikane's POV

I trudged through the blizzard aimlessly. The night warmed my forsaken heart. The desert within me, once lit up and brightened by my sun, was now cold and frozen over. The clouds blanketed the stars, my longtime companions.

Even the moon had abandoned me.

Streetlights stood, sentries watching my lone procession. The wind escorted me. There arose a giant throne of shadow in front of me as icy hands pushed me to my knees. The frozen ground bit into my knees. Black ink slipped beneath me and momentarily warmed my legs, but soon that, too, froze to my body.

The enthroned shadow looked over me and I shook in fear of him. A verdict was made, but I couldn't hear it. My cold and unstable guards knocked me to the ground, knocking me unconscious. Darkness took me and wrapped me in a blanket of warmth.

I no longer had a reason to reject its cold comfort.

Himeko's POV

The sound of footsteps woke me. The sky was dark, curtains of snow closed off the outside world from my access. I curled deeper into my nest, eager to hide from the world. I wanted to think of it as a dream, but the lack of arms around me and my crusted face were enough to tell me the truth.

Chikane had left me.

My throat swelled and my eyes stung relentlessly. Taking a shaking, but steadying breath, I attempted to calm myself.

I relaxed and wobbled to a stand. Faint sounds of training sounded faintly through the hall. Taking a frail step forward, I reached for the door. I looked outside the door, leaning on the frame. No one was out here, so I turned to go back to bed.

A blue box caught my eye as I turned inside. I picked it up, my hands shaking like an aspen leaf. A white letter was enclosed between the lips of the box.

The cold box burned my heart with fear. Instinct had me reaching for and reading the letter. The black ink painted a horrifying picture. Chikane had come back, bearing gifts and forgiveness for the event, but due to the locked door, a precaution I had taken against Souma, she thought I didn't want her.

Chikane had left… for good.

It was entirely my fault, too. If I had only left the door unlocked, she would have been in my arm at this very moment. The words blurred as I collapsed onto the bed inside the room. The paper shook and fell from my hands.

I don't know how long I sat there, crying. My eyes and heart hurt and all I wanted to do was collapse inside the nest of blankets and sleep for eternity. The sun began to rise and burn me with its cold truth as I sat there, gazing out the window. The icy landscape blanketed me in, keeping me from finding the soul mate of mine I knew was suffering. I only prayed that Chikane could hear my soul cry out to her.

"Himeko?"

Souma's voice startled me, and I tried to make myself look somewhat presentable. He turned the corner carrying a tray. His face betrayed his surprise as he took in my appearance. I didn't care, though.

"What do you need, Souma-kun?"

"Uh… I was just finishing training and thought you might like some breakfast. So… I made you some breakfast."

"Thank you, Souma-kun."

"Sure," he said, setting the food down. He stood there awkwardly for a moment. "Is there somewhere I can clean up?"

"Yeah… There should actually be a bathing room connected to the foundry. Just go… Look."

"Thanks… Himeko, are… are you alright?"

I swallowed the frog in my throat. "Yeah, Souma-kun. I'm fine. Just worried about Chikane, is all."

"Oh yeah! I haven't seen her around… But my bike's back. You think she's alright?"

"I don't know. Just, please, leave me alone for a while… You're free to stay until you're safe to go home."

"Thanks, Himeko." He turned to go. He hesitated. "I'm here for you, Himeko," he said. Then, he closed the door.

In the moments that followed, I allowed myself to gather together my composure and courage. Once put in a feeble shape, I reached for the box that had been left with the note.

The surface was cool and smooth as my finger tips glided along it. I swallowed my fear and opened the elegant box.

I gasped at the contents. Chikane couldn't have done this, right? Yet she had the facilities. Was this why we couldn't do Christmas?

Two wedding bands lay together inside the box. Engraved inside one was my name and solar designs. The warm gold and cold silver mingled and trickled together, much like the swords she had forged. On the other ring, a name wasn't written, but the lunar symbol was intricately laced around the ring.

She had truly meant for us to be together forever. Tears began anew as I let my emotions slip in and encompass me. I put on the ring I had assumed was meant for me on my wedding finger. The other I put on my other hand, to keep it near myself and safe. After another unidentifiable time, I gathered my strength to go and confront Souma-kun.

Chikane's POV

Sunlight burned my eyes and I tried to squirm away from the source. I was an alien to sunlight. I had become a new moon.

Voices interrupted my dive into my emotion. One… Three… Five… Seven voices conversed around me. Whispers and grumbles rang in my ears. All of them sounded familiar. I had killed each one in my past life.

I groaned.

The voices grew eager as the sunlight faded. Sunset was coming. Their time was coming. The voices wanted revenge. Now that I had no reason to live, they could have what they wanted. I already had things set for Himeko. They could have my life. I didn't need it anymore. Soon, blood thirsty screams filled my ears and the sliver of moon would be stained black with blood.

"Any last words, Lunar Priestess?"

"Just tell Himeko I'll see her when the full moon rises."

A/N: Well! isn't that just so exciting? I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and I'll catch y'all next week when I update the chapter. As always, reviews are welcome. I wanna congratulate Mewdrei for doing an excellent analysis on the ashes and thank everyone for your continuous support.

Keep it Rockin',

TantoSmith