(A/N: I apologize for the long wait. Beta was slow coming back due to extenuating circumstances. It's here none the less. In another one or so everybody will finally be on the boat. Thanks once again to Elder-master for the beta.)
(St. Petersburg: Inn)
"I think this will be satisfactory, thank you" Amane said as she was guided into a modest room. As she looked about the room she felt relatively unkempt. This wasn't the best inn in the city, but it was one of the slightly more upscale ones. As she turned around the younger girl behind her blushed. Amane figured that the girl was not even aware of the fact she was a woman.
"Can a bath be drawn?" Amane asked politely as she remained standing. "Also, can you provide me with a tailor?" Amane finished awaiting the girl's response. For a time, the child just stood there before responding.
"Yes! I can have a bath drawn for you. My mother is a seamstress, is that sufficient?" The girl asked as she seemed to sail on her words. Amane did not wish to prolong the girl's apparent foolishness at her expense, so she simply nodded.
"I need someone to go to this place and retrieve some packages for me. Is that also possible?" Amane said as she withdrew a piece of paper from a pocket in her tunic and handed it to the girl.
"But this is the address of the royal tailor!" the girl paused for a moment before continuing. "Yes, we can do that for you as well." The girl was shaken from her previous stupor and turned to the door and exited.
"I really do not like this." Amane said with a sigh as she found a wooden chair to sit in until her bath was ready.
(Winter Palace: Main servant quarters)
"I have received reports that the night watch was late. Who amongst you would care to answer for this disgraceful conduct?" Miyuki ordered as her voice boomed down the long hall like room.
Servants stood in front of their beds with their hands crossed in front of them and their lips pursed. Someone had earned the ire of the Matron. Most of them knew that Kaori had been late to her duties in the morning hours, which could only mean one thing.
It was going to be a long inspection.
Miyuki's eyes continuously scanned her staff. Each maid stood staring across from her. The atmosphere was comparable to military barracks. To be truthful, there was a bit of a mess waiting for the morning shift as one of the windows in the main hall had blown in.
Usually the maids checking the halls at night would have noticed it and cleaned it up. But the maid assigned to that section appeared to have missed her shift. Miyuki disliked such disorganization.
As she continued to observe the lines, she noticed that there was a maid missing. By her recollection it was a recent hire. Miyuki moved to the one bed and just as she was about to ask, there was a knock at the door.
"Enter." Miyuki bellowed with apparent displeasure. Though she was surprised by who entered. She was expecting the missing servant, but instead it was the younger nun who stood before her. Perplexed, she turned to adress the 'intruder' as it were. The design of Tsubomi's headscarve was rather bright and her presence seemed to lighten the mood albeit slightly.
"Sister Tsubomi, what do your require?" Miyuki queried as she closed the distance.
"Sister Yaya has decreed that you receive this." Tsubomi said as she presented a peice of heavy paper that was secured closed by a ribbon. Tsubomi held the note in open hands in a gesture of supplication.
Having stopped just before Tsubomi, Miyuki eyed Tsubomi and then took receipt of the note. She undid the ribbon with some haste though she remained poised as the letter revealed its contents. Miyuki's eyes seem to pulse slightly at the words before her. Closing the note, Miyuki turned to face her staff.
"You are all dismissed. Return to your duties promptly." After receiving Miyuki's order the addressed filed out, leaving just Tsubomi and herself in the room.
"Tell me Sister, can you validate this missive?" Miyuki asked firmly.
"Yes, she was brought to us this morning by Lady Hikari. I have examined her myself." Tsubomi said as she grasped her crucifix.
"Then the lapse in service makes sense. But if she was with Lady Hikari, then that means she was present for her morning duties." Miyuki said trying to put the lapse together.
"I think that it is best that you heed Sister Yaya's request. The person in question is in the House of the Lord. She will not be harmed while in its Sanctuary." Tsubomi requested.
"I see..." Miyuki said before pausing. "... I shall inform Her Highness. Is it possible that she remain with you until this can be addressed? Given proper handling, say another day or so the latest?"
"We would not turn her away." Tsubomi said compassionately.
"This problem will, at last, be solved." Miyuki stated as Tsubomi bowed and took her leave.
(Winter Palace: Noble Apartments: Corridor)
"Is this really a good idea Lady Chikaru? I do not think you were invited." Kagome said as she walked behind her Lady.
"Oh, do not be silly Kagome! That Hikari is too nice to refute guests. And the sun is out for once in such a long time." Chikaru said swatting away Kagome's concern. As the two arrived at the double doors, Chikaru pushed both the doors open suprising the table's occupants.
"Oh please, do not stop on my account." Chikaru said as she crossed the threshold. The faces that awaited her were mixed.
"Lady Chikaru, what brings you out of residence so early?" Sister Yaya asked mockingly. Chikaru seemed indifferent to the snub and continued across the threshold. As she held out her hand, a slender pipe was handed to her.
"Are servants of the Lord not supposed to be cordial?" Chikaru asked as a chair was set for her. "Or are the early mornings taxing on your good nature… hmm." Chikaru did not seem to notice or even really care that Sister Yaya was bristling. But then such things were Chikaru's way.
"Lady Hikari, you seem to be in better spirits today, did you finally hear from your beau? Hmm, it seems you have…" Chikaru said as she noticed the letter. Slightly grinning, Chikaru sat in the chair presented her. The smoke from Chikaru's pipe surrounded the table as if setting an apprehensive ambiance.
"Lady Chikaru." Chiyo just said above a whisper.
"Young one, you certainly appear in better spirits today. I am truly sorry that you had to deal with that dog. It is a shame that Her Highness let animals in the house. So very distasteful..." Chikaru seemed to take on a melancholic aura, but then quickly dispelled it with a light cackle.
"We must not allow such things to occupy our thoughts. So, what was being discussed before I arrived? You all seem to be in moderate spirits. One would assume it was a wholly good subject." Chikaru said with great interest.