Synergy

A Fractured Fairy Tale

Sakura Takanouchi

Rating: T for language, drama, sensuality (?), I dunno…

Genre: Drama/Romance

The rocky path of two people destined to be together, and the actions of all who try to stop them. A story of the romance between Shizuka and Seto told as a fairy tale.

Synergy:The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

I do not own Yu-gi-oh, I am just using these characters in my story. This is also influenced heavily by Ever After; Ella Enchanted, Jane Austen, and the song 'Spell' by Marié Digby. I don't own any of these either.

"A spotlight's shining brightly
On my face
And I can't see a thing
And yet I feel you, looking my way…"

-'Spell,' Marié Digby

Chapter One- Once upon a time, there was a girl who loved her brother very much…

Shizuka is 8, Katsuya is 9

--

The cock crowed at exactly the same time each morning, a daily reminder of the eternality of things in the Manor. Just like any morning, the hearth was stoked, bread baked, water drawn, and servants were already hard at work in the pastures and the house, preparing for the day. The stable hands were preparing the two prize horses and inside, two place settings were made on the heavy oaken table. Today was different—it was the day the very soul of the manor broke in two.

Katsuya Jounouchi awoke to the bustle of the house that he was used to. He closed his eyes again, smiling against the quilts at the familiar routine, as if he wanted to experience it all again. It wasn't enough. Leaning upward he brushed the sleep from his eyes and shook his head, making his hair lie even more wildly than usual. The person beside him turned in their sleep to face him. He smiled, a weary, tired smile, one much too old for his features. He didn't want today to come. It wrenched his heart to see her sleeping there, peacefully. He prayed that life would be kind to her. "Goodbye, Shizuka," he murmured, careful not to wake her up.

"Big brother, I don't understand. Why do you have to leave tomorrow?" The little voice asked as she appeared in his doorway, obviously unable to sleep. Katsuya motioned her in, where she jumped onto the bed, tucking her feet underneath her.

"It has nothing to do with us, Shizuka," he answered her question seriously, absently stroking her hair as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Father loves someone else now, and I'm going with him to start a new family—I'm getting a new sibling, too, soon. He told me." He fisted the bed sheet angrily, not wanting to look at her face. "I don't want to go."

"Then don't," Shizuka replied simply. "Stay here with me." She yawned, relaxing farther into the bed. "Katsuya, promise you'll be here tomorrow when I wake up, you won't leave me, ok?"

Tired eyes closed as small hands closed around her brother's arm. "I promise, Shizuka," he whispered into her hair. "I won't leave you without saying goodbye first."

Disentangling himself from both her embrace and the sheets on the bed, he eventually was ready to go. He couldn't tear his gaze away from his sister—he wanted to memorize every last detail of this life. Finally he knew it was time. He made his way down the stairs and out to the kitchen, where his mother was overseeing the breakfast preparations. A light embrace and he was released, out of the house and to the stables. There his father stood talking to several of the stable hands, finalizing every part of their journey. Katsuya didn't understand why there was so much talking. This was it; they were leaving forever…what was there to say about it? At the sight of his son, the tallest man in the room came over. "Time to go, son," the deep voice intoned. A slight push on the shoulder was all the man gave. Katsuya mounted the horse unsteadily but unassisted, and directed the horse out onto the carriage path stretching from the house to the road, visible faintly off in the distance.

It was the scraping of the stable door and the sound of the horses that woke Shizuka. With one blink of her eyes she knew that something was wrong. As fast as her small legs could take her, she followed the same path her brother had not moments ago; she arrived at the open door and flung herself out of it, just in time to watch the figures of her father and brother fade into the distance.

An inhuman cry escaped her small throat, tears spilled like rain and Shizuka started running, reaching out to hold on desperately to what was already gone. After several meters she tripped over her nightgown and fell to the cleared path, the tears now dripping onto the ground. Her hair was long enough even then to brush against the ground and from exhaustion, she rolled over until she was on the ground, facing the path, the hope that they were going to come back dimming with every second. The whimpering sobs that wracked the small body turned to gradual whispers, spoken to no one. "You promised you wouldn't leave me…don't leave me…you promised…"

She vaguely registered someone, she didn't know who, trying to pick her up off of the ground. Shizuka screamed and kicked, running back to that room in a haze of freshly shed tears. She would have her brother—or she would have no one. Curling into as tight a shape as she could, Shizuka allowed her tears to come, until she couldn't take it anymore and let sleep overtake her.

One month later…

"I don't understand."

"Well, today is a very special day. You're getting a father, and a sister, all in one day. Now don't fidget or your dress will wrinkle…again…"

"I still don't understand," the girl squirmed despite the rebuke, turning to face her mother who was currently brushing her hair. "How come I've never met them? We aren't leaving the Manor are we? What's going to happen? I want to know!"

The woman laughed at her daughter's antics. Pulling the brush through Shizuka's shining hair, her mother debated on how to explain matters of such great weight to such an innocent child. "We're only going to court, that's all. We have to be presented to the royal family; for all marriages or births of status this must be done. It's going to be terribly boring." The little girl giggled and made a face at the last word, before something else her mother said caught her attention.

"We're going to court then! That's why we're so dressed up! Oh, we're going to the castle…"

"Now how would you know what court is like? You've never been there." The woman set the brush onto the antique vanity, the morning sunshine glinting off of the silver filigree handle.

Shizuka shook her head enthusiastically. "I was there when I was born! You said so yourself, all marriages and births! This makes it the second time!" Happy with her victory, she got up and flounced out of the room. A month had aged the other significantly, who followed her daughter slowly out to the old carriage which they would be taking to the palace.

Leaving the grounds of the Manor was like a special treat; and this was no exception. Shizuka's eyes were as wide as saucers as the carriage approached the King's domain. Tall grey turrets rose proudly into the sky, adorned by blue pennants snapping in the breeze. She tried to tilt her head back enough to catch the top of them as the carriage passed through a stone gate, but couldn't. People were milling about everywhere, from merchants to servants and knights to ladies in the most beautiful dresses. Her mother's voice broke through her reveries. "Ooh look! There they are now! Standing near the balustrade there! Do you see them?"

Shizuka craned her head in the offered direction and caught a glimpse of a dour-looking man who looked like he had a fondness for food, accompanied by a girl not much older than herself, looking around excitedly. "What is her name?" She queried.

"Your new father is Baron Mazaki. His daughter is Anzu Mazaki there. She'll be a nice playmate for you, won't she?" Shizuka nodded emphatically. The carriage stopped and they exited, moving closer to complete their new family. At first, they stood together awkwardly, no one knowing what to say. The Baron gave the Lady a soft peck on the cheek, then pushed his daughter forward, who curtseyed elegantly.

"My daughter, Anzu." The dark-haired head bobbed slowly and rose with a smile which Shizuka eagerly reciprocated.

"And this is Shizuka." She wobbled coming up; she had never learned how to curtsey properly. Introductions over, the quartet turned to make their way inside the castle.

The interior of the castle did not disappoint any expectations from the outside. The walls were adorned with tapestries; a huge runner dictated their path. Expecting to see huge windows, Shizuka saw small slits with no glass or paper coverings. Tall taper candles to be lit when the sun disappeared were plentiful, and for a fleeting moment she wondered what it would be like to live there.

"We lived at court, before coming to live at your manor. It sure looks glamorous, doesn't it?" Anzu whispered in Shizuka's ear like a secret. She nodded, a dreamy smile on her face. They arrived at the room where they were told the royal family would receive them momentarily. Shizuka reached up to tug at her mother's sleeve but stopped when that hand went to cover her mouth, for a series of coughs escaped, causing her cheeks to turn red with the effort and her body bent over. It startled her, and the Baron even voiced his concern for her health. The tired voice again reassured her condition, and just then, the doors opened, and they moved forward into the new space.

The first thing that Shizuka's eyes caught was the rather large crown that stood on the head of the reigning monarch. For someone who was in such a position of power, he looked angry and rather bored. Behind him was a magnificent tapestry of their Kingdom; Domino, as it was called.

"Introducing Baron Mazaki, recently married to Lady Jounouchi; and their children, Anzu and Shizuka," A page's voice intoned, echoing about the space." Besides the King, seated higher than anyone else in the room, there were two small boys; the elder of which looked not much older than Shizuka herself. She managed a shy smile, which caught a grin from the younger; the elder just averted his eyes to the other child, whose eyes were only on the King. She caught a slight expression of ennui on the elder boy's face, his eyes flickering to the ceiling in annoyance. Shizuka still held the attention of the younger; tilting her head softly in his direction seemed to ask, what's his problem? The younger, raven-headed man choked back a laugh just as the King began to speak.

"I am sovereign King Gozaburo Kaiba, 7th in the Kaiba dynasty to rule over the Kingdom of Domino." The man's voice seemed harsh to Shizuka, but he possessed a presence which overpowered the room. "These are my sons; Crown Prince Seto and Prince Mokuba." The latter was the one who laughed, the elder—Seto—was now glancing at his brother for the source of his impropriety. It was Shizuka. Her eyes twinkled merrily at the scene and it seemed to him like she was genuinely happy to be at court—a foreign concept to the Crown Prince.

"Your union is a blessing to this country and crown, and I fully give my blessing to it. May you all live long and prosperous lives." As quickly as it had started, the presentation was over. The Baron bowed deeply and Anzu again executed a perfect curtsey. The Lady swept a full curtsey and Shizuka's knee creaked loudly on the descent. Her face tinged pink yet her last vision was the pleased smiles of the two Princes. To them, at least this presentation was interesting.

Once they had exited the hall, Anzu turned to her new sister. "You don't know how to curtsey, do you?" She admonished. At the sad little shake of the head, Anzu preened. "I had a governess who taught me how to curtsey, and waltz! It's a dance, see…"

The Lady smiled kindly at her daughter, taking the arm of her new husband. "You just need some practice, that's all. Perhaps we'll frequent court more often," she suggested as they moved away from the castle and back to the little carriage, barely big enough for four.

"Perhaps," the Baron replied vaguely. The carriage started, pulling away from the castle, and Shizuka couldn't help but glance back even after it passed from sight.

As the carriage stopped in front of the Manor it seemed to Shizuka, different, somehow… Most of the windows were opened, allowing light and air into the rooms within. Servants were bustling about, moving things into and around the building. As they descended, the Baron looked around appraisingly, seemingly contented. "Excellent homecoming! Come, let's go into our new home, shall we?" Anzu took his outstretched hand and they entered the house first, stopping to view or pick up objects around the house.

Shizuka stayed outside for a moment, feeling uncomfortable with it all. "Where is she going to sleep?" She asked faintly.

Her mother turned, a sad smile at the changes happening in the Manor. "In your old room. When you took to sleeping in your brother's room, I thought it best that your things be moved there permanently. You may rearrange them to your liking." She stooped down to Shizuka's level, searching her eyes for that troubled feeling that just wouldn't cease. "Please give them a chance? I know they aren't used to this sort of life. You must teach them how things work on the Manor." Shizuka nodded mutely, and then was left, outside, watching the spectacle within. Without another thought, she ran upstairs and locked the door to her 'new' room, determined to have a place in this whirlwind that wouldn't change at all.

She ventured to leave the room to see how Anzu was adjusting. Anzu was instructing one of their servants to put away what seemed to her like an infinite amount of gowns.

"Do you like the Manor?" Shizuka asked; eager to hear praise of her beloved home.

"Well, for not being Court, I suppose it will do." Looking outside the window with a shudder, she continued conspiratorially, almost in a whisper. "You should be thanking us—if your mother had not married, the estate would have been auctioned off. It was entailed in a way that a lone female could not have run it."

Shizuka did not believe her. "But who would set up a law like that? It doesn't seem fair."

"King Gozaburo is only doing what is best for the people as a whole. They can't make individual exceptions—that's not fair either." This made sense to the young girl. "But what did you think of the royal family? The princes will grow up to be finer than their father, I'm sure of it."

"They looked like they'd much rather be running free outside than cooped up listening to those boring presentations." Shizuka remembered the encounter and smiled softly, sympathizing with them.

Anzu gasped. "Don't say such things! I'm sure they enjoy every princely duty. I fear that my being away from court will put a strain on our relationship though, especially with Seto. I don't want him to forget me." In a sudden flash of anger, she struck out at a servant, for rumpling her dresses as she draped them in the wardrobe.

"Well, maybe we can go to court soon. I thought everything looked so beautiful." Shizuka twirled around, in a mock dance.

"You don't know how to dance either?" Anzu giggled. "I will take it upon myself to civilize you, Shizuka. You'll become a lady somehow." As she dismissed the servant with a listless wave of her hand, Shizuka decided it was time to leave. Some of the things she had been told unsettled her, and she didn't know what to believe.

"Mother? Is it true the Manor was going to be sold?" Shizuka found her in her bedroom, fastening up her hair to begin preparations for dinner, their first as a new family. The Lady looked upon her with concern to match the little face.

"Now where did you hear that?"

"Anzu told me." Her chin stuck out defiantly.

Large eyes were shadowed in sadness. "I'm afraid that's true, Shizuka. It was a mutual agreement between the Baron and I. We wanted to keep the Manor I know you love, and he wanted to get away from the prying eyes of the King for awhile. Anzu also needed a mother, and I want you to be safe, growing up. I'm sorry, I should have been the one to tell you."

Shizuka still didn't understand, and it was starting to gnaw at her, a hole somewhere above her stomach. This just didn't feel right. "What do you mean, safe? And what happened between the Baron and the King?" The Lady hated these questions coming from someone so young. Suddenly, great coughs wracked her aging body. Quickly reaching for her handkerchief, she was able to muffle the sound so as not to draw attention to anyone else. Making sure it was folded; she turned back to her daughter.

"Just be sure to always be good. Do what your betters tell you to do, and make sure to forgive the Baron and his daughter—they do mean well, no matter what they do. Promise me, Shizuka?"

Unseeing eyes blinked slowly. "I promise." She turned to go, to leave the room. Despite everything, her thoughts turned to her brother. He had promised her he wouldn't leave. In the solitude of her sanctuary, Shizuka made a promise to herself. She would find out everything she could about everything, so maybe that empty, unsure feeling would go away. She wished like mad Katsuya was here, to explain everything with a smile. Two promises were made that day; one would be kept and one would be broken.

Baron Mazaki was alone in his newly requisitioned study when Anzu came through the door. "Did you want to talk to me?" Her honeyed voice smoothed over the situation even then. She closed the door behind her, coming in to stand near her father, looking out of the window to the pastures outside.

"It is terribly…provincial, but I am confident we can manage," the Baron began, unflinchingly gazing at his domain. Almost as if noticing his daughter for the first time, he began sternly, "were you paying attention to what was happening at the presentation?" She nodded slowly, waiting for him to continue. "The King needs to control the behavior of his sons."

At the mention of the princes Anzu's head shot up. "What about them? I didn't see anything—"

"Then you too need to learn to pay attention!" The Baron tried to keep his voice quiet, but couldn't she see how important first impressions could be? "Your new stepsister has made quite the impression with the younger Kaiba, and we know that is how to get to the elder. If you had been aware of this, perhaps you would have been able to intercept it for your own purposes. But I highly doubt that," Anzu, with a look of worry, moved so she was in her father's line of sight.

"I know I'll be able to do better, father…I'll try harder next time, I promise." Anzu begged for her father's complacency. When it was given, with a slight dismissal, she shut the heavy door behind her, back to her room, to plot how she was going to keep that promise.

The Lady, recently married to the Baron Mazaki, had waited until her daughter had left before she couldn't keep it in any longer. Great, heaving coughs wracked the thin body; it took every ounce of her strength for her to reach for another handkerchief. The sight of blood made her sick, and she almost fainted right away from the fluids being expelled from her mouth. Once the attack was over, she sank into the bed, with the weight of a thousand secrets upon her shoulders. She knew no one should see her like this, but for once in her life, she was too weak to keep fighting it.

To be continued…

Author's Notes: Good? Bad? Should I prime the paper-shredder? Just kidding, but any feedback you care to give would help me greatly. I'm currently having a lot of trouble with Anzu's character (as in she's not in it haha) but I think giving her a motive will make her actions more believable. Expect the next chapter sometime this month; I can't wait to start writing it! As always, thanks for reading!

Love, Sakura Takanouchi