A/N: Now that this part of the story is into play it's a lot easier for me to write for it. So the updates should come more frequently then six months or almost a year. I should also alert that there are implications of capital punishment in this chapter. Once again thanks to Elder-Master for beta.
(Winter Palace: Noble Apartments)
At first Hikari thought that the night might not end. Or perhaps she hoped that it wouldn't. This was a certain special hell that Hikari had put herself into. She could have refused Amane and sent her away with loneliness in her hand instead of Hikari's warmth. Hikari could have given into her deep seeded desire and allowed the night to will her into even deeper regrets then she already had.
But no, such a thing was not to happen. Such grievances as time and agony gave Hikari a means to bridle her long-chained passion. Though as she woke something ached within Hikari and it wasn't the same heartache she woke up with every morning after the same dreams every night. No, at last the one thing that caused her pain returned once more into her bedchamber though there was no love-making, no not even so much as an indecent caress. Hikari's gaze fixed on Amane's as she opened her eyes.
Amane for her part forced a small smile. No single night would fix scores of others. Years of time threatened to pull her Beloved away. Amane knew this even though she was optimistic or rather more hopeful. Hopeful that her romanticism could win back the sun and ward off the rain and more than that; bring back the one thing she missed the most. Amane's throat stuck as she forced out the words.
"Were you able to keep warm my love?" Amane's query elicited a sharp breath. But it was like the breath of someone who nearly drowned. The sound of life rushing back into one's lungs as the air in them burned and their eyes pulsed.
"Yes…" Hikari spoke as she turned away from Amane, broke away from her grasp and settled on the edge of the bed. Hikari's eyes did not pulse and her lungs did not burn with the air of life. Instead her body trembled uncomfortably with the pang of realization. Hikari curled up into herself knowing and hoping that Amane was smart enough to attempt to pull her back in. These pains, they were hers, and hers alone.
The sound of ruffling sheets signaled that the message had gotten across. Hikari buried her head under the thick blankets taking away any chance at words. She listened as Amane pulled on her boots and then also pulled on something else before leaving the room. As she did so a servant entered.
"I can find my way around, though I would appreciate a loaf of black bread with preserves as my breakfast." Amane stated as even still she attempted to muster a smile before she departed from the room. After she left the servant closed the door. She then walked over to Hikari's bedside.
"I am not willing to see anyone at the moment. Please tend to Amane's needs. If I have not sent for you by noon, please return." Hikari said from under the covers.
"Yes milady." The servant said as she bowed even though Hikari could not see her and with the fading footsteps and sound of the door closing Hikari's façade was allowed to fall away. Tears began to roll from her cheeks and her body trembled in agony. Love had awoken that which was long sealed away. Hope.
(Winter Palace: Dungeon)
The night had been long and cold. Something that wasn't so foreign to Kaname, but being forced to stay in squalor was. After being carted away by the guard Kaname found herself subjected to some of the worst hazing she could remember. They wouldn't even let Kaname return to her apartments. Shortly after all her possessions were taken and she was literally forced to strip and was given a shirt, pants, boots and an elk hair coat none of which smelled very nice.
"So this is what your perversions cost me! My title, my wealth and my clothing! My family is now destitute because of you!" Momoni railed as she sat across from her wearing a very similar outfit.
"Will you shut up?! This is all because of that stupid little wench! It would be nice if that little bitch just ended up dead wouldn't it?" Kaname spoke without regard not caring if the guards heard her.
"A dead servant wench won't bring back anything, nor will it change anything!" Momoni shouted back clearly devastated. "I will ride your back out of this place!" The fallen boyar stated.
"It's curious that you two are talking about such things." Miyuki stated as the guards stood aside for her to enter. "Murder is a very serious offense." The Matron stated as a servant who walked in behind her set a chair down and then bowed leaving the room. Miyuki gracefully sat down as she looked at the two.
"Unfortunately there is a storm coming from the north. So there will be no transporting for today." Miyuki said as she removed her gloves and rolled up her sleeves showing surprisingly well toned forearms. Soon after this a servant brought in a decently sized wooden case. Momoni at least knew what was going to happen and began to tremble slightly leaving Kaname in bemusement.
"Something has happened. Something incorrigible and I thought, perhaps the best place to start was with you two poor excuses for human beings." Miyuki stated as the heavy sound of iron barring the door echoed throughout the chamber. The servant however kept her head down as she prepared a basin of water on the shelf and then began to chisel at a block of halite*.
"I am certain that I do not need to explain what is going to happen next." Miyuki stated as she opened the box taking out a flog from within. "One of you will answer for this."
"Answer? For what?" Momoni shouted frantically.
"I am already very cross with both of you. And now you will know how cross. Expose their backs and bind their wrists to the bars on the window. I will have my answers." Miyuki said as the guards obeyed her orders.
The sounds of screaming and protests of innocence echoed though out the hall for hours before the door was once again opened. Miyuki emerged from the room disheveled with her frock covered in sweat and blood. The matron moved slowly as her legs ached from hours of standing.
"Clean them up. They may be liars, but I am not inhuman. See to it that their wounds are cleaned and bandaged and that the fire in their cell remains stoked. I did not expect such resistance from them or that Lady Momoni would remain awake throughout the whole affair." Miyuki stated as she walked down the hall.
"Anything else my mistress?" The servant asked as the two turned the corner.
"Draw my bath and summon Kaori. This whole ordeal must be kept from Her Highness at all costs. I will not have her bothered with it until I can find the culprit."
*-halite is another name for rock salt. Back in those days they didn't have fancy machines to grind up their salt so they had to do it by hand. This was also not table salt and had a very exclusive purpose.