A/N: Wow… I'm up to chapter eight. That's unusual for me. Usually I would've deleted the story by now. But I actually am in love with this story and too many people want me to finish it. (I hope)

Chapter 8 - Wintry Dreams
Kyoto Palace
5 January 074

"Your Majesty, the King has sent more pastries," Aiko said, walking in with a tray.

Doremi smiled and took one as Aiko set the tray down, "Thank you for bringing them. They seem so much nicer while I am with child. I never enjoyed them this much before."

The door opened and a guard poked his head in, "Your Majesty… uh, Lady Chiba is here."

"Who?" Doremi asked, her face scrunching up in confusion.

The guard's head disappeared and the door opened wider, Hazuki walking in.

"Duchess Fujiwara," Doremi greeted with a smile, "Welcome back to court. Why… why did the guard call you Lady Chiba?"

Hazuki sighed, "May I?" she asked, gesturing to a chair. Doremi nodded and Hazuki sat down.

"Well, you see, I have two reasons for that. The first is that my father, the Duke of Nagoya discovered how people were addressing me and scolded me, saying my title was improper and that I am not a Duchess, but rather the daughter of one. The second reason… my mother died from a fever last week, so my father passed her title of Countess of Chiba onto me. Now I'm Lady Hazuki Fujiwara, Countess of Chiba."

"I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your mother, although I shall also congratulate you on your new title." Doremi said sympathetically.

Hazuki nodded politely, "Thank you."

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Aiko stepped forward, "But I believe the King wished for you to see the seamstress so you may have a dress fitted for next week."

"I can't believe it's next week!" Hazuki cried with happiness, her mood doing a complete 180. "Well, not exactly, but nine days!"

Doremi smiled, "You shall now experience the happiness that I felt when I married the King. It is truly wonderful."

Hazuki's face shone with joy, while Poppu and Aiko stood behind them, their expressions rather apathetic. At the present moment, they had no marriage opportunities. Doremi was trying to find a betrothal for her sister, but Akatsuki was too busy to worry about that as of current.

"I guess I had better go and find the seamstress," Hazuki curtseyed, "Majesty. Ladies."

"Your Majesty, Lady Chiba wishes to stay at court rather than Osaka," Fujio informed his brother as he entered his privy chamber.

Akatsuki glanced up, "Is that so? Hmm, well I guess that's fine. We'll all be heading to Osaka in a few days' time anyway. You can decide then."

Fujio nodded, "Thank you brother. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course I don't. I enjoy it when you are around," Akatsuki responded.

"Will Leon be there? You never told me if he decided to come or not," Fujio asked.

"He is," Akatsuki replied, "However, Princess Momoko isn't coming. He refuses to bring her. I assume because of her pregnancy, although my wife is in the same state and she is coming."

"You must remember that your wife is the Queen and the Princess is further along," Fujio pointed out with a bow, "Your Majesty."

"Brother," Akatsuki mumbled as Fujio left, looking back down at the work in front of him.

Tokyo Castle
10 January 074

"Your Grace, must you leave me here? I so wish to come with you." Momoko pleaded.

"I am truly sorry, dear, but I don't want you travelling in this cold weather, especially while you are with child." Leon replied.

"The Queen is with child, is she not? And she is going to the wedding, is she not?" Momoko countered.

Leon rolled his eyes, "She has to go. Don't fret, Princess, Lord Kawasaki will still be here, as will your ladies."

Momoko sighed as Leon walked out of the castle and was hit by the falling snow. You don't care about me anymore! Is what she nearly called out, but instead, she just said, "See you soon, husband."

Leon waved half-heartedly and stepped into the carriage.

"Princess, are you alright?"

Momoko turned around at the familiar voice and found Yabu. She tried to smile, "I guess…"

Yabu stepped forward and tucked Momoko's hand under his arm, "I did try talking to him, Princess. I'm sorry, but he's used to having whatever he wants and not having to be responsible. It's hard for him to adjust to this kind of life."

"Doesn't he realise that it's hard for me too?" Momoko sighed, "I will never see my family again. I have to stay here in a foreign land. There is so many times where I just want to go home."

Yabu paused, "I never truly realised that. Surely you can still write?"

"Of course, but it is not the same as seeing them."

Yabu hesitated before placing his hand on Momoko's arm, "You'll be alright. Trust me; I won't let Leon do this to you."

Momoko smiled and, without thinking, hugged Yabu, "Thank you."

Osaka Castle
14 January 074

Hazuki was helped into her wedding dress by Aiko and Megumi. Doremi was in her own chambers and Poppu was the one attending her. The three of them all felt rather lonely.

"It'll be so lonely if Fujio and I leave court. I need to be around people," Hazuki sighed.

"Don't worry," Aiko said as she smoothed down Hazuki's pale orange skirt, "Prince Leon and his wife seem pleased with where they are at Tokyo Castle. If you move here, many will follow. I will go and get your headdress. I can't see it here, so I assume it wasn't brought in."

Hazuki nodded, "Thank you."

Aiko had found the headdress – it was still outside in a carriage, neglected as if a poor person owned it – and was heading back to Hazuki. However, on her way, somebody jumped out in front of her.

"Prince Leon!" Aiko yelled, almost dropping the headdress. She set it down beside her, "What are you doing here?"

Leon arched an eyebrow, "I'm sorry?"

"I mean… what are you doing here? This is the second time I've 'randomly' run into you. Are you following me?" Aiko asked suspiciously.

Leon laughed, "No, of course not! It was just chance," he stepped closer to the wall and leaned against it, "Perhaps it means something."

"Sure it does," Aiko muttered. She picked up the headdress, "I have to go. Lady Chiba is waiting for me."

"Can we talk later?" Leon asked suddenly.

Aiko paused, "Why? Why would you wish to talk to me?"

Leon shrugged, "I dunno. I just really want to. You seem like a fun person to talk to. You don't act overly formal around people. I like that."

Crap, Aiko thought, "I'm sorry, Your Grace. I wasn't raised in this type of environment. I usually forget these things."

Leon smiled, "Don't apologize. I'll see you later," he bowed, "My lady."

Aiko stood there with a bewildered look on her face as she tried to figure out what just happened. Leon pretty much just decided himself that he'd see her later, without her input. What did she do to make him think this? Nothing, she concluded, she did nothing. She remembered what the point of the journey was and hurried back to Hazuki.

"You took your time, Lady Senoo," Hazuki said as Aiko entered, "We were worried that we would have to leave without you."

"I'm sorry, Lady Chiba," Aiko replied, handing the headdress to Megumi, "I had to find the headdress first and then I got stopped by Prince Leon on the way back."

"What did he want?" Hazuki asked as the headdress was placed on her head and she steadied herself underneath its weight.

"He wanted to see me again later. I have no idea why though." Aiko replied with a nonchalant shrug.

"Do you want to see him?" Hazuki asked.

Aiko shrugged in reply, "I don't know."

"Well, that doesn't matter right now," Hazuki said, "We're departing for the abbey. Come on, we can't be late getting there."

Tokyo Castle
14 January 074

There was a quiet knock on the door which was followed by a slightly louder creak as the door was opened. Yabu stirred from his sleep when the person at the door said "Lord Kawasaki," and was disappointed that he would have to move from his warm and cosy spot that he had made on his bed. He got over it and rolled over.

Yabu's eyes squinted to help him identify the person at his door in the dim light caused by the warm fire opposite the bed. Yabu's room was small, and only just fitted the fireplace, the bed and a desk in a corner.

"Your Grace?!" Yabu asked with astonishment, realising Momoko was the one who had entered. She didn't respond, and rather walked in and sat in front of the fireplace.

Yabu didn't say anything to her. Instead, he took a moment to admire her. She clearly hadn't stopped to neaten her hair and it hung all tousled down her back. She was nearly hidden in the white baggy nightgown she wore, although the swollen stomach she had from being five months gone with child was visible. Yabu dragged himself back to reality and walked over to where Momoko had sat down.

"What caused you to come here?" Yabu asked.

"I had a bad dream and I couldn't get back to sleep. I didn't want to wake any of my ladies, so I came here." Momoko replied.

"So you decided to wake me instead?" Yabu said with a small laugh.

"My fire was out," Momoko stated, "I figured yours wouldn't be."

It was at that moment Yabu realised that Momoko was actually shivering. He rushed over to a fur shawl that was sitting on the chair at his desk and wrapped it around Momoko's shoulders. She murmured a thank you and pulled it tighter.

Yabu sat down, "You said you had a bad dream…?"

"Yes." Momoko replied.

"May I ask what happened? In you dream?" Yabu asked slowly.

"I had a difficult delivery of a dead child and then died myself. The Prince didn't seem to care because he was with a mistress. It was horrible."

Yabu shook his head, "That won't happen. Leon cares about you enough to be standing outside your chamber when you give birth.

"Enough?"

"He wouldn't let you die, and he wouldn't be in bed with a mistress while you are in bed delivering a child." Yabu comforted.

"Are you sure?" Momoko asked meekly.

"Yes. Leon is my brother and my best friend."

"He is? I haven't really noticed, I guess." Momoko said.

"He is. Quite ironic, I think. Queen Akemi was carrying Leon and Tooru when my mother became the late King's mistress. I'm only a few months younger than Leon."

"Wow." Momoko whispered.

"My three other brothers don't care for me. My father, the late King, gave me my title and told Akatsuki not to take it away from me. I think he wants to though. Illegitimate siblings aren't usually shown much respect." Yabu said.

"I have two bastard brothers and they're shown great respect. They were born before my father's marriage however. My father is a faithful husband." Momoko stated.

"I would always be a faithful husband," Yabu said solemnly, "I would never cause my wife unhappiness because she thinks I no longer love her. I wouldn't father bastard children that'll be treated the same way I was."

"That's sweet," Momoko smiled.

"It's the truth."

The two of them sat there in silence for a few moments, Momoko gazing into the flames of the fire, Yabu watching her. Eventually, Yabu stood up, "Princess, do you want me to walk you back to your room?"

Momoko shook her head, "It's warm in here. The fire is out in my room and I don't want to wait for it to warm up again."

"You're saying that you want to stay here?" Yabu asked.

Momoko didn't answer and continued to look into the fire.

Yabu smiled and took Momoko's hand and led her over to his bed, "Sleep here tonight, Princess. Take the warm side. I'll find somewhere else to sleep."

"Are you sure?" Momoko asked as Yabu helped her into the bed.

"Yes. It's alright. I'll go and relight the fire for when you go back." Yabu said.

Momoko smiled, "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure."

Osaka Castle
15 January 074

"I never knew 'later' meant 'tomorrow'." Aiko snorted as Leon walked up to her.

Leon smirked, "I didn't want to seem too clingy."

"If you say so. What do you want…Your Grace?"

Leon glanced around before stepping closer to Aiko, "Will you be my mistress?"

It took Aiko a few moments to process what Leon had just said, "What? No!"

"Why not?" Leon frowned.

"I'm not going to sleep with you just because you're a Prince. I don't care how special you are. I'm saving my maidenhood and innocence in the bedchamber for when I have a husband." Aiko huffed, her voice rising slightly.

"I appreciate your modesty. I won't force you into something you don't want to do… but you should think about it anyway." Leon replied nonchalantly.

"Why?"

"The families of mistresses are often rewarded with land and money, among other things." Leon answered.

Aiko shook her head, "I'm not becoming a whore just so my family can be rewarded. Farewell, Your Grace."

"Well, that went well," Leon muttered to himself as Aiko stormed off.

"My lady, what is it?" Hazuki asked Aiko as she stormed in and sat in the corner.

"Prince Leon asked me to be his mistress: As if I would do such a thing." Aiko growled.

"Is that the only reason he wanted to see you?" Hazuki asked her.

"I would assume so. He didn't say anything else after that. I left and he didn't try and stop me. He was saying about how he respected my decision but that I should still think about it: As if I would."

"Perhaps you should think about it. You don't have marriage in the near future and many ladies at court have been a mistress to someone." Hazuki shrugged unsympathetically.

Aiko glared at her, "Just because you're married now, doesn't mean you can shove it in my face."

"I am just trying to help, Aiko."

"Well, you're not. I'm going to see the Queen." Aiko got up and left.

Hazuki sighed and sat down, this was supposed to be about her getting married but nobody seemed to care at all. How nice, she thought, maybe I should just stay here instead.

A/N: This was a crappy chapter end but I was stuck.