Rozen Ludenberg was a worldly man.

His travels often led him to different nations to encounter every kind of person, culture, and creed known to man. But, with the help of an anthropomorphic rabbit in a tuxedo, he'd been able to travel through time, as well. And that was far more interesting.

However, the purpose behind his time traveling escapades was not to enrich himself; he needed his Alice back. And the only way to do that was to sell his admittedly tainted soul to the rabbit and begin to create vessels to perhaps be able to hold her soul. So far, none had succeed.

They were dolls, and they were perhaps the most beautiful dolls in all the world. Rozen was also a talented maestro. But none of them had proven worthy enough to hold the sublime Alice's untarnished soul just yet. And thus the 'Alice Game' was born. They would fight to the death for the opportunity to join him in immortality as his daughter and become Alice, the perfect girl.

So far, he had sent several off.

The first had a rough beginning. He had chosen to name her Suigintou, a name he found fitting for her mature appearance and long, silvery hair. He had also made the decision to painstakingly handcraft her a pair of working wings. No sooner than he wound her up for the first time did he discover that was a mistake, however, when she cried out in pain as the wings burst from her back and shards of her delicate body shot across the room. It was a setback large enough for him to place Suigintou in the storeroom for a while, and quit. But she had found her way out looking for him, even without her piece of Alice's soul, so Rozen decided she was worthy of playing the game, attempted to fix her up, and sent her off.

The second had a much less eventful beginning of her life. The name Kanaria, he thought, suited her whimsical appearance and childish nature. She was a beauty, most certainly. Two green, drill shaped curls were pulled tightly on either side of her head, to match her intelligent, sharp green eyes. She was dressed in yellow and orange, and was one of only two of the dolls who he decided to put in pants, which added to the original intent behind her design. She would also be musically gifted, he decided. Cunning, witty, a virtuoso, and beautiful…but she still could not hold Alice's soul on her own. She was given a piece, and sent off with a beautiful violin, his favorite instrument.

The third and forth, he decided, would be his most valiant attempt thus far. Between the two of them, no desirable trait would be missing. One of them would have to be able to hold Alice's soul, right? And so Suiseiseki and Souseiseki, named after the beautiful gems they would resemble, were born. The older was very feminine. Long, medium brown hair came straight down to her waist, and then separated there to form two, large curls which extended down to her bottom. She was put in a very long, green dress, with intricately designed lace. Her eyes were a heterochromatic combination of green and red, which he would also give to her twin. When Suiseiseki could not hold Alice's soul on her own, he was disappointed, but did not yet give up hope. Now, it was Souseiseki's turn. She was to be the most boyish one yet. Perhaps that would be her charm. A dark blue outfit with pants and white lace was what she was put in. Her hair was cropped short, barely touching her neck, and was not curled. Her eyes were also green and red, though they mirrored her twin's, and as a final touch a top hat was placed on her head. But, for the forth time, Alice's full essence was rejected. So the two twins were each given a piece, a gift of a green thumb and the ability to tend to the human conscience, and away they went.

After a bit of a break, Rozen was struck by inspiration from a dream. He felt like he could create a vessel that would more accurately resemble Alice in many ways. And so Shinku, the fifth, was born, and a beautiful ruby she was indeed. Her facial features were a little more rounded and childlike than the third and forth's, but she was not childish by any means. She was to be a proper young lady. Blonde twintails ran down to her calves, so long that a good deal of Rozen's energy was expended on making sure they stayed put while he worked. She was placed in the most beautiful wine colored dress and bonnet, and a green bow was wrapped around the top of the bonnet, connected under her chin, and adorned with a pendant displaying his face. Her bright blue eyes were stunning, and he was sure they would give her the power to intimidate, seduce, or whatever else she may desire. He was certain Shinku would be the one. But once again, the soul was rejected. After cursing, and nearly destroying his office in a fit of rage, he gave her a piece, the ability to create his favorite flower, and she was off.

Perhaps Alice had not been such a proper lady? Rozen was clearly losing his mind, and his ability to remember Alice well enough to create a doll that resembled her in any way whatsoever, but he had to try. And so Hina-Ichigo, the sixth, was born. She was even smaller than Shinku and Kanaria, and would be even more childlike and carefree. Big, blonde curls donned her head, and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he realized that, in the future, she would often be adoringly compared to Shirley Temple. This doll would be sweet, empathetic, but perhaps childish to a fault, and occasionally even a little selfish. She was dressed in an adorable pink dress and a large, matching bow was placed on her head. Her red, ballet resemblant shoes were definitely the nicest he'd created so far, and added to her cute appearance. Perhaps this little one could be Alice? He lovingly crafted her a pair of green eyes with that in mind, but the soul was rejected before it even got anywhere near Hina-Ichigo. He cursed, unable to hide his frustration. However, this doll was clearly a contender regardless, so he gave her a piece, the ability to create his favorite fruit—the strawberry—and she was complete.

For over a year, Rozen lost the urge to continue on. But his heart ached for Alice more and more as the days drug on, so he began to think. Laplace no Ma, for the first time since he created Suigintou, paid him a visit, and offered a rather intriguing suggestion. He would put Rozen to sleep for a little while, and call upon whatever last deep memories he had of Alice. From there, he would spin a doll out of dreams, and perhaps she could become Alice. And so the seventh, and perhaps the final, Kirakishou...was born.

But nightmares overtook dreams, overtook memories…

God was she ever a beauty. There was no denying that. But she scared Rozen, and perhaps even Laplace, although it was impossible to tell. White tresses, tinged with pink, floated down to her bottom. A white, bell shaped dress and long boots covered just about her entire body, which was perfectly made.

But a gold, catlike eye stunned Rozen out of speaking to her, and in the other socket was something even worse. A rose…

She was tainted with Rozen's insanity. She could not be Alice, not at all. With an attempted loving goodbye, explanation of purpose, and the ability to create his favorite flower on a vine, he locked her in her own N-Field. And truth be told, he could not find it in himself any longer to care how she felt about that arrangement.

And that incited his longest break yet. Eight years went by. His family, whatever was left of it, began to wonder where he had gone.

"You have a brother," Laplace mentioned matter-of-factly one day, letting his usually riddle-filled prose slide.

"Yes," Rozen answered coldly. "Enju."

Rozen and his brother did not have a good relationship, and they probably never would. Why was Laplace bringing him up now?

"He has a daughter," Laplace continued calmly. "Were you aware?"

Rozen's expression softened. No, he had not known Enju either settled down or had a child. As much as their relationship was strained, he wanted to have a relationship with his niece, at least. She would—after all—be Alice's cousin.

"Her name is Anja Ludenberg," Laplace answered Rozen's unspoken question. "She is turning ten in just a couple of months. A bright one, she is. She resembles your Alice in quite a number of ways."

And so it was settled. Although it was painfully awkward to do so, he sought out Enju, and got to know his wife and child. His social skills had severely dwindled over the years, but Anja seemed to take a liking to him, especially when she found out he was a doll maker like her father.

One morning, while he was watching her, Anja suddenly stopped playing with her toys and grinned at him.

"What is it, child?" he asked, slightly startled.

"Are you a better doll maker than father?" she asked, the question seemingly innocent.

"Why do you ask that, child?" he felt too uncomfortable to answer her directly.

"I want to see some of your work," she pressed, and so he showed her.

"Uncle," she began sweetly, after venturing throughout his entire workshop. "My birthday is coming up in a couple of months. I would love it if, perhaps..."

"I made you a doll?" he finished with a smile. "I would love to."

Truth be told, it was almost entirely petty revenge. He did love Anja, but the opportunity to prove himself superior to his brother once again was his main goal.

But what would he create?

Perhaps...two dolls. One doll would resemble Anja in personality now. She would be headstrong, tough, and full of humor and wit. She wouldn't take life too seriously, but still be impressive. The other would show Anja what she perhaps needed to work on before she became a woman. She would be highly intelligent, feminine, graceful, and know when to hold her tongue. And so, Yuki-Koori and Fumiko were created. On a cold winter day, while practicing bisque firing, he got inspiration for Yuki-Koori's looks. Soon enough, long, silvery hair ran straight until it hit about three inches to her bottom, and from there it was pulled into soft curls. A thick, hooded capelet sat on her shoulders, over a freely flowing white dress that was only cut off by a grey, corset-resemblant piece at her middle. He crafted mittens and winter boots perfectly sized for her doll hands and feet, and a surprisingly wise looking pair of bluish grey eyes to finish her off.

And he was surprised. This doll could easily be a competitor in the Alice Game; he had not expected her to turn out this well. Still shocked, he moved on to Fumiko. She would be his little librarian. Her dirty blonde hair was relatively short, although not as much as Souseiseki's, and had a wavy texture that Rozen carefully manipulated. On her head was placed a white mop cap, a hat Rozen always found endearing, and rested on her nose was a small pair of glasses. For an outfit, he decided to give her very florid, but traditional, Japanese wear. She was placed in a purple kimono with a delicate rose print and sleeves teeming with the finest lace, a white band around her middle, and purple boots. Once again, his years without releasing creative energy had helped him create a masterpiece.

He looked at the wooden box across the room. There were still pieces of Alice's soul left, meant for when he intended to create more dolls and enter them in the game. But perhaps now was the time to divide the last part between the two little dolls, and send them off to Anja with both the purpose to be her companions and compete in the Alice Game.

He lifted Yuki-Koori up gently from her seat, where she was slumped over and asleep, and held her close. He knew she could feel that she was loved, even despite not being truly living yet. He sat her down on his work bench, and retrieved a last piece of Alice's essence to let it gently enter her body. Then, he wound her up.

Slowly, her springs began to crack and whine as they came to life for the first time. Rozen almost felt shy, getting to meet this one for the first time, although he could not fathom why. He held his arms out to her, as he did for his seven previous Rozen Maidens, and she carefully began to move towards them.

But then...she stopped midway there, alarming her father.

"Yuki-Koori, darling?" he began hesitantly. "Are you awake?"

Ever so slowly, she opened her eyes, and fixated them upon her father. "I'm awake, dad. And I'm really, really hungry."

Rozen chuckled. So her personality would be clear from the beginning.

"Just let me wind up your sister," he said. "Then we'll talk...and eat, I suppose."

"Sister?" Yuki-Koori questioned curiously. "I think I could feel her around me. Let me see her."

He brought Fumiko down to Yuki-Koori's level so she could examine her, and then wound her up after giving her the very last piece of Alice's essence. She had a little trouble gathering her bearings at first, but with the help of a surprisingly eager Yuki-Koori, she went from being as wobbly as a baby deer to graceful enough to be a ballerina in just a few minutes. Rozen smiled, swelling with pride. But this could not last long. He did not want to give them any more attention than he had given the first seven; they needed to have the same idea of who he was. A respected figure, but a mysterious one. He explained their purpose, which Fumiko understood more of, fed them (at Yuki-Koori's continuous request), and finally put them back to sleep and sent them off. One would have the ability to manipulate the snow and the ice she was inspired by, and the other could wield guns, a stark contrast to her otherwise feminine and delicate appearance. And they were the last two Rozen Maidens.

Now Rozen sat back, consumed with grief and longing, and waited.

If there was one thing Yuki-Koori, the eighth doll of Rozen maiden, was sure of, it was that she had a very low tolerance for bullshit.

This low tolerance was so low, in fact, that she was about to whack the human kneeling in front of her and weeping on the back of the head. She rarely ever resorted to violence, which was a bit ironic when her purpose in life was considered, but when she very badly needed to enter a covenant with someone and they were so frightened that they were in tears, she couldn't help but be a little grouchy.

She let out a large sigh, knowing deep down that she should exercise some patience. After all, the boy in front of her was clearly a child, and a very young one at that. He could be no older than ten, she noted quietly as she looked over him once more. His messy, sandy brown hair touched the nape of his neck, and his eyes were so green they almost resembled candy. This was the seventh time in her long, four hundred year life that she had to enter a covenant with a human, but she never remembered one being so afraid of her. She didn't think she was much to fear. She barely stood at three feet tall and it wasn't as if she looked like Chucky.

"Hey, kiddo!" she snapped. "I don't have all day, y'know. You're the one who answered Hyoukai's call, so why are you still crying?"

"I didn't answer any call!" he wailed. "I don't even have a phone. Mom won't let me have one. She says I'm too little."

Before Yuki-Koori could comment on just how very little she understood what this boy had just said, the door to his room swung open to reveal a teenager who appeared to be the boy's sibling. Her long, brown hair nearly touched her bottom, and her eyes were the same green color as the boy's.

"What's all the yelling about?" she grouched, before laying eyes on Yuki-Koori. "Well, gosh. Nice doll, Takumi. I didn't know you'd picked up such an interest. And she looks so expensive, too."

"It's nice to meet someone who guesses 'doll' before 'Devil spawn'," Yuki-Koori joked with a large grin. "Do you have any idea how terrible it is to be showered in holy water as soon as you wake up for the first time in a gazillion years?"

The girl jumped back, hands flying up to protect herself as some poor defense mechanism. "S-She can talk? Where the hell did you get this doll, Takumi?"

"I didn't get her!" Takumi snapped. "She keeps saying she's my prize for a contest, but I didn't enter any contest! Takana, I don't like dolls. Please don't tell mom and dad."

Realization suddenly dawned on Takana as she remembered the strange call she'd received a few days prior. It wasn't a heavy breather on the line, but it was equally as strange. Whoever it was had told her she'd won a contest, and asked her whether she would 'wind' or 'not wind'. Confused but intrigued, she had chosen to wind. The mysterious person then congratulated her, and told her a prize would be waiting in the mail in just a few days time.

"This is my prize," Takana mumbled. "A freakin' living doll. I think I need to lay down for a few hours. Or days."

Despite their awkward introduction, in just a couple of hours, they were starting to become comfortable with Yuki-Koori's presence. She hated explaining the Alice Game, though, so she had put that off. Right now, all they knew about her was that she was indeed a living doll, and her name was Yuki-Koori. But they did have to know more if she intended on entering the covenant with one of them, so eventually, she turned to the two siblings, and hesitantly began to talk about the Alice Game. Takana eyed her patiently, but warily, and Takumi was full-on upset that the doll had been subjected to such a fate, for reasons Yuki-Koori could not guess.

"How many sisters do you have?" Takumi blurted out, that being the first question on his mind because he could not imagine having more than one.

"Eight, last time I checked," Yuki-Koori responded uncertainly. She knew her father might create more dolls, if pieces of Alice's soul were left after he sent her off, but in the last era there weren't any more. "There's Suigintou. She's my oldest sister, and she's super cranky and mean. Then there's Kanaria. She's all pigheaded and thinks she's the best, but she's okay sometimes. After that there's the twins, Suiseiseki and Souseiseki. Suiseiseki's bossy, but I like her every now and then. Souseiseki is more focused on the Alice Game, and we left off on bad terms last time we met, so I like her less. Number five is Shinku, and she's super level-headed and focused too. Sometimes our sisters are jealous of her, because she was clearly dad's favorite. Hina-Ichigo is next. She's all babyish and cries a lot, but she's actually real tough when you piss her off. I learned that the hard way. And then..."

Yuki-Koori paused. She had still not met the seventh doll, nor had any of her sisters. It was starting to become a little bit worrisome. They had no idea what her name was, what she looked like, or what her power could possibly be. They only knew that she existed, somewhere.

"You were on number seven," Takumi offered politely when her silence continued.

"I've never met the seventh sister," Yuki-Koori smiled nervously. "I'm hoping she isn't super strong or mean."

"Oh," Takumi frowned, looking nervous as well. "Well, who's number nine? Who's the last one?"

"Fumiko," Yuki-Koori answered sadly. "She's my favorite sister, but I don't think she's awake yet this era. She's booky and says a lot of big words, but she's a total pacifist. I have to make sure she doesn't get her ass kicked constantly, but I love her anyway."

It was quiet for a moment as the two siblings attempted to process what they'd just been told. Takumi looked as if he were trying to commit it to memory, and Takana was wondering what a fight between two dolls would look like. It was almost a humorous picture to her when she thought about how small and well-dressed she was, but seeing as—from what Yuki-Koori had told them—they would die by fighting each other, maybe it was actually scarier than it sounded.

Then, Takumi remembered something Yuki-Koori had been talking about earlier.

"Hey," he spoke up hesitantly. "What was all that about a covenant?"

"Oh, that," Yuki-Koori grinned sheepishly. "Sorry about this, but, I'll be needing to live here from now on, and I'll need one of you to enter a covenant with me. It has no rules other than I'll need to use your energy to fight when I have to, and I have to stay near you most of the time."

Takumi suddenly looked excited. "Really? Maybe I could-"

"Sorry, shrimp-o, she's mine," Takana butted in front of Takumi. "Okay, what do I need to do?"

Yuki-Koori smiled at the disgruntled Takumi. "Sorry about that, 'shrimp-o'. She did answer Hyoukai's call. And you're too much of a shorty to give me much energy."

"So not fair!" Takumi whined.

Yuki-Koori held her dainty hand out to Takana, and a bronze ring in the shape of a rose materialized on it. Both siblings gasped.

"Kiss the ring," Yuki-Koori commanded. "And we shall be bound together as doll and medium until this era ends. Or whatever."

Takana leaned down slowly, and placed her lips against the ring. Instantly, a brilliant, white light consumed the room around them, and all three were blinded. Takana cried out as the heat coming from a newly formed, similar ring on her hand became almost unbearable. Yuki-Koori tried to apologize, but she was overcome by the flow of energy from Takana's body to hers, and could not longer speak. Takumi, unsure of what to do, attempted to comfort his sister as the light finally died down.

"I-I'm okay," Takana brushed him off. "Will it always hurt like that?"

Yuki-Koori shook her head. "No, not like that. Entering the covenant is the hardest part."

"That's a relief," Takana laughed a little. "Because that was really damn painful."

"Thank you," Yuki-Koori said sweetly, battling her lashes for added effect. "What'cha want in return, dear new medium?"

Takumi pulled on Takana's sweatshirt sleeve. "Tell her we want to ask more questions!"

Takana rolled her eyes, even though the suggestion was a good one. "Alright, fine. Can we ask you some more questions, Yuki-Koori?"

"Ask away," Yuki-Koori said with a nod and sat on top of her case, unable to help but enjoy the fact that her new medium had become comfortable with her so quickly. It sure did save her a lot of work. "I'll ask some questions, too."

Takumi, of course, spoke first. "How old are you?"

"Hm," Yuki-Koori placed a finger under her chin thoughtfully. "I don't remember the exact year I was born, but I know I'm somewhere around four hundred years old, and I was born in the early 1600s in Germany."

They were both openly astonished.

"Wow," Takumi clasped his hands together in delight.

"How old are you guys?" Yuki-Koori asked in return.

"I'm nine," Takumi replied a little glumly. "But I'll be ten soon!"

"By 'soon', he means in almost six months," Takana replied with an eyeroll. "I'm fifteen, and I actually will be sixteen SOON."

Yuki-Koori laughed. "Okay, that's cool."

"How is it, exactly, that you fight?" Takana asked, still unable to picture it.

"Well, we can all fly, which helps," Yuki-Koori answered with a laugh. "And we all have powers."

"Double cool!" Takumi exclaimed, no longer able to sit still. Yuki-Koori stifled a snort. It had been a long time since she'd been around a child of his age, but they had hardly changed a bit, apparently. Even though Takana was her medium, this Takumi boy (despite his declaration of doll-hatred) seemed practically mesmerized by her at this point. And that he was. "What are your powers? Can one of you control FIRE?"

"Geez," Yuki-Koori rolled her eyes. "So enthused is the doll hater. Suigintou can control feathers. I've also seen her make her wings into dragons, which is damn scary. She's the only one of us who has real wings, so she flies better, but they tear up her back."

"Aw," Takumi frowned.

"Kanaria makes destructive sound waves with her violin, Suiseiseki controls plant vines, Souseiseki controls the gardener's shears, Shinku controls rose petals, Hina-Ichigo controls strawberries on vines, I control snow and ice, and Fumiko has guns—although she sort of needs some work on her aim." Yuki-Koori explained hastily, as she was beginning to miss some of her sisters, and the sometimes playful fights they had.

"I think yours is the coolest," Takumi laughed. "Pun totally intended!"

Yuki-Koori snorted. "Yeah, you're going to be fun to have around."

Suddenly, an obnoxious sound graced their ears, and they all covered them simultaneously.

"What the hell is that?" Takana grouched. "Is that the kid who lives upstairs, Takumi? He just got his new instrument the other day, and he can't play it any better than the old one. What was it, though…?"

"Uh oh," Yuki-Koori froze. It hit her instantly what the noise was, and as the window began to crack and whine against the increasingly irritating noise, she put up a barrier of ice pillars around Takana and Takumi. Sure enough, the glass in the window shattered seconds later. Yuki-Koori shook her head irritably; Kanaria had not changed at all. She had always used crazy tactics to begin the Alice Game, and some had almost killed her sisters' mediums, even though they were under strict instruction by Rozen not to harm any humans to the best of their ability.

"Alright, you little shithead," Yuki-Koori grumbled. "Show yourself."

Kanaria lowered herself so she could been seen through the window, sporting a sly grin.

"Ever the uncouth sister you are, miss Yuki-Koori. Be a lady for once and watch your mouth, maybe?" Kanaria said lightheartedly. "I just thought I would show you what our predicament happens to be right now, y'know. I live just upstairs now!"

"And maybe you won't be living at all much longer," Yuki-Koori snapped. "If I hadn't been thinking quickly, like I usually am, you could have killed my new medium and her brother. You are such a pain in the ass, Kanaria."

"Well," Kanaria frowned. "Well sorry! I have to make a grandiose entrance, y'know!"

"Come here," Yuki-Koori commanded. "Now."

Kanaria hesitantly came inside, and Yuki-Koori wasted no time in rushing up to her and yanking on her hair.

"I missed you, big head!" she sang. "How long ago did you wake up?"

Kanaria pulled on Yuki-Koori's hair back. "Just a couple of weeks ago, maybe. But I've got a lot done!"

Yuki-Koori's eyes widened. "Did you actually succeed in starting the Alice Game?"

"Well, no," Kanaria mumbled, now embarrassed. "But I was able to find out who's awake this era, so I can carefully plan their demise! You, Shinku, Hina-Ichigo, and Suigintou! Ohohoho!"

"How are you planning mine?" Yuki-Koori asked, rolling her eyes. She knew Kanaria did not really have the guts to start the Alice Game until something much bigger happened.

"I'll never tell," Kanaria giggled. "Come visit me sometime, maybe. My new medium is the best; she's probably way better than yours!"

"Uh-huh," Yuki-Koori said with a smile. "Go on now. We'll catch up more later. And fix that window before you attract a local news station...again."

"I'll come back later for your Rosa Mystica!" Kanaria chirped, heading back out of the window as her artificial spirit frantically tried to fix it. Yuki-Koori lowered the pillars of ice, realizing suddenly that she should have done that after the window was broken. Boy, they were probably cold by now.

"W-W-Was that your s-sister?" Takana stammered, rubbing her arms furiously.

"Kanaria," Yuki-Koori answered with a sigh. "She's a brat, but I love her. Sorry you had to meet her that way, but if it makes you feel any better, that's how all my mediums have met her. I consider it sort of an initiation at this point."

"Did we pass?" Takumi asked, still cheerful and intrigued as ever.

"Since you're not running away in fear, yeah," Yuki-Koori replied. "Did you have any more questions? Or can I go to sleep?"

Takumi hummed thoughtfully. "What's your favorite color?"

Yuki-Koori snorted. "Okay, goodnight guys."

"Wait!" he exclaimed. "Don't go yet. Takana and I were going to have some hot chocolate and cookies downstairs before bed. Do you want some?"

"Takumi, she's a doll," Takana sighed exasperatedly. She'd definitely had more than enough of her brother for one day.

"Actually, I can eat. And I will definitely eat that."

Later that night, after Yuki-Koori climbed in her case and fell asleep (and promised Takumi that she wouldn't be unwound by morning), Takana was sitting alone in her room and attempting to catch up on some homework. This had, by far, been the strangest day of her life, but she was now wondering if that could be a good thing. As far as major life changes went, Takana thought, rooming with a living doll was probably one of the better ones. She glanced at the ring on her hand, and then at Yuki-Koori's case, laying on the ground next to her bed. Her backstory was difficult to swallow. How could a man who had the talent to create such loving, animated creatures, throw it away by forcing them to kill each other? Would she eventually have to watch Yuki-Koori die? Or kill all of her sisters, including the one who'd shown up earlier? She shivered at the thought. She hoped she would be strong enough to protect this doll, at least.

Regardless, though, life had become a lot more interesting.

A/N: I'M BACK BITCHES! I don't think anyone realized I was gone though. I decided to re-do this story on a whim, so lord only knows if I'll continue it or if it'll beat it's predecessor and reach the end.

-PatchyVoile