Dreams and Nightmares
Neither had slept since then; Ayame was worried. They sat in Botan's suite all night, and while neither required sleep, both girls liked pleasant dreams. Ayame feared they were afraid of nightmares. Sickening to imagine that Yakumo, hurting Botan so badly, might finally defeat the girls' cheerful spirits.
When she could take it no more, Ayame entered Botan's suite. Hinageshi was lying with her head in Botan's lap, and Botan looked tired and dreary. Ayame sat down behind her. Reassuring, if not demonstrative.
Botan understood, and, smiling, leaned back and embraced Hinageshi gently, whom she had just lulled to sleep.