WARNINGS:
Dark Alternate Universe, Slavery, Imprinting, Class Issues/Differences, Bigotry & Prejudice, Mind Manipulation, Implied/Referenced Brainwashing, Implied/Mildly Dubious Consent, Dubious Ethics, Dubious Morality
So this is a VERY different world than the canon one, for various reasons. One being that I didn't want to write what was essentially the same AU a thousand times, which was what it felt like this series was turning into. So I dreamed up this AU and have been trying desperately to figure out how to work it out (harder than you might think) and have finally come out with a workable plot.This idea of slavery is based on the more universal slavery- losers of the war, rather than based off of skin color. Though ethnicity has some impact on status, it is not nearly as pronounced in this society.
Also, slavery is bad, and I'm not sitting here saying "oh don't worry, it never happens" because that just isn't true- there are slaves right now, whether you want to believe it or not. This looks at a certain type of slave system, and I don't support it or any other slavery. I didn't think it really needed to be said but in case anyone is concerned.
Yumi remembered the night before her fifteenth birthday, her excitement since everyone knew that if you'd already found your soulmate, you'd feel the imprint once you were fifteen. No one really understood how or why it worked, only that it did. It was a bittersweet memory, which emphasized everything that had changed in such a short time in her life.
Her mother had taken her aside before she went to bed that night, speaking to her in the private parlor so that neither Yumi's father nor brother would interrupt. "You're turning fifteen tonight Yumi, and I know you're looking forward to finding out if you've met your imprinted soulmate." She paused to see if Yumi would speak, but Yumi knew better than to try and interrupt her mother when she was getting going. "There's nothing wrong with never finding your imprinted mate. Your father and I aren't imprinted and we are both very happy together, despite the occasional disagreement.
"I want you to remember, even if you do wake up with one, it may not be how you imagine it. Imprinting is a tricky business. It doesn't always end the way you want it to. You may not be able to be with the person you've imprinted with. You may not want to be with the person you're imprinted with. Imprints are... they aren't any sort of a science, Yumi. Who knows what the Gods are thinking when they do such things. Imprints are the stuff of fairy tales for a reason. Real life isn't like a fairy tale. I know you and the other children dream about what it will be like to be imprinted, what you will do and how you will react and how you'll live happily ever after. Real life simply doesn't work like that." Her mother grabbed her hand, holding it within both of hers, and Yumi looked into her mother's eyes. Yumi didn't quite understand what she saw there, what her mother saw in her. It was hard to explain, really, and Yumi was, at the time, to inexperienced to recognize such emotions. Later, she would imagine it being a cocktail of disappointment and worry and that knowledge of the impending loss of innocence.
"You make your own happy ending Yumi, if you choose to. Your father and I, we made our way, and we did it without being imprinted. It isn't impossible or unreasonable and it's actually very usual. I don't want you to forget that. We will be happy for and proud of you tomorrow, regardless. In fact..." her mother sighed, turned her head away from Yumi as she watched on, confused as to why her mother was acting this way. Her mother was usually so much more optimistic. "Yumi, it's best if you make no mention or implication of whether or not you've imprinted. I know," she continued upon seeing her daughters expression, "that you would likely want to share, but unless you find, are able and willing to marry your imprinted mate, than it's best if you keep that information to yourself. You'll notice that most people over fifteen make no mention of it. As you grow older, you'll come to understand. I want your word Yumi, that whatever happens when you wake up tomorrow, you will tread carefully, and with all the poise of the lady we are raising you to be."
If Yumi was honest, at that moment, she hadn't understood anything that was going on. Her mother was being unlike herself, and Yumi didn't quite understand what was happening. After all, Yumi, even at (nearly) fifteen had led a very, very sheltered life. She was a privileged heiress, destined to inherit the both the wealth and acquisitions her parents and grandparents had built up before her. She knew only the life of a noble child, brought up under tutelage instead of in public schools, her needs continually met and the people around her desperate to please. She was intelligent, but still held much of a child's black and white mentality. She didn't yet have the experience to understand fully. Still, Yumi was forever loyal to her family. "Of course mother, I promise." she said. Her mother hugged her and sent her up to bathe and sleep.
It took ages for Yumi to sleep, she was so excited. She wasn't sure if she wanted to be awake or asleep- it happened at precisely fifteen years, and she'd been born very early in the day- but in her nervousness she worked herself up so much she ended up exhausting herself to sleep and missing it. She'd woken up with an innate knowledge of someone else's presence in her own mind, their contentment keeping her lulled in sleep. After a little while amusement trickled through, and she found herself wondering over what her soulmate was seeing or doing. She allowed herself to be woken up, was helped into her clothes for the day and had her hair and makeup done hastily stamping down on her excitement because of her mother's talk the night before. Despite this, she ended up ignoring half the implications her mother had been trying to get through to her and was thinking of who could possibly fit the criteria. After all, an imprint was only so strong when you spent a lot of time around your soulmate. Which meant, much to Yumi's excitement, that she had spent a lot of time with her soulmate already. At least she wouldn't have to track down someone she'd only met once and hope to find them again.
She thought of the other noble children she had played with since childhood, the people she spent the most time with. She thought of the noble boys she'd been around, with their dashing smiles and charms (which were not always sincere), their politeness or rudeness and which ones she had recently been spending time with. She spared a brief thought for the other noble women, but didn't consider them for too long as she simply didn't think her soulmate was a woman. She knew that some people ended up bound to the same sex, but she didn't think she would be.
She arrived at breakfast dressed in finer clothes than usual, a dress of dark purple accented by black design with matching black beads woven into her hair, exuding happiness. Her parents looked up from their breakfast to smile at her and wish her a happy birthday as Hiroki grunted something along the same lines. She sat down to her favorite breakfast, natto with a fried egg and rice and chatted with her parents about her birthday party, which was going to be thrown in their ballroom that evening.
"I think it would be best if we were to have all the slaves working on the ballroom. We can get along without them well enough until the dinner party, and when you're hungry, you can head to the kitchens." Her mother said.
"All the slaves?" Hiroki asked, casting a look at his personal slave who kneeled perfectly and emotionlessly at his side.
"Yes Hiroki, personal slaves as well." Their father looked at him sternly from the newspaper. "You'll have little need of her for the day. You'll be with us as we arrange things for your sister's birthday party."
"Man, I hope you guys put as much effort into my fifteenth birthday party as you are into hers." He griped, though he gestured for his slave to leave just as Yumi did. Their parents had evidently already sent their slaves away.
"Of course we will," their mother said, ignoring her son's tone for the moment. "You know it's important to show that you and your sister are growing well into society... If we wish for your sister to receive intentions when she's of age, we need to show she is becoming a woman worth marrying beyond just her money."
"Though she does herself credit already," their father raised an eyebrow at their mother, "it is more a formality than anything, you know that Akiko." Her response was a glare so icy Yumi was half surprised she didn't freeze the air between them.
"It's tradition," Yumi interrupted the edgy silence hoping to stave off a fight, "and certainly one we enjoy indulging in," this appeared to settle her parents.
"That's quite true," her mother smiled at her. "We will have to spend most of the day getting ready. Hopefully, you won't be exhausted before the party." She and her mother than began to talk through their plans for the decorations.
CLCLCLCLCLCLCLCLCLCLCLCLCL
The party was in full swing, and Yumi could only have been happier if she had figured out who the hell her soulmate was. They were responding to her, whether they knew it or not, and it was irritating because she got feelings of affection that she just knew were for her, but she couldn't quite figure out who was feeling that affection. They weren't always near her, and she could feel the emotions fluctuate throughout the night. She supposed she should be glad that her soulmate was having a good time, at least.
"You look quite distracted Yumi! Eyeing up some of the soon to be eligible men?" Yumi started as Elizabeth brought her out of her musings.
"Ah, but of course! What other reason has any maiden to be distracted at her own party?" Yumi responded with a straight face. She and Elizabeth stared at each other for a moment, before both of them started laughing.
"But seriously," Elizabeth said after she got control of herself, "You've been sort of distracted the whole time. Something bothering you?" While Yumi wanted to respond honestly, she knew from her mother's speech she was expected to use caution, and definitely expected not to speak of things such as imprinting openly.
"Nothing serious. I'm truly admiring the lovely young men, and truly envying some of these dresses. Have you seen Tamiya's dress?"
"I have! It must have kept a seamstress up all night, since I know she wore that same dress just two days ago, but the style is completely different." Elizabeth, ever the fashionista and gossiper, replied eagerly.
"Is that so?" Yumi asked, surprised. While she wasn't as into fashion as Elizabeth and Odd, she could certainly appreciate the effort that was put into some of the creations she and the other nobles wore. She studied the dark skinned girl's dress, a truly beautiful dress of light blue set to shimmering and surrounded by floating mesh of the same color.
"It certainly is. The mesh used to trail behind her. Her slave had to chase after her to keep things from falling off her. Probably why the design was changed. Pretty isn't always practical." Elizabeth said it with wisdom in her voice. Yumi felt her lip twitch, but managed to keep her face straight.
"I have forgotten to say that I'm also quite fond of your dress. Though the colors have never suited me." Pink had never been Yumi's color. Even as a child, black had suited her quite well. Elizabeth however wore pink well. Her dress was layered in two different shades of the color, made to accentuate Elizabeth's innocence more than her attractiveness, since she was still too young to be married. As such, her figure was hidden within the layers and the neckline rode high towards her collar bone. Even some of the beads that were woven into her hair were a similar light pink. Elizabeth grinned at her, twirling to show the dress off upon hearing the compliment.
"I know, I know, I'm the picture of adorableness!" she giggled.
"I'd agree to that, Dear Heiress." a voice spoke from behind Yumi. Yumi recognizing the voice, turned to find Odd grinning at her, wearing robes so lightly purple they were nearly pink themselves. "You're both looking lovely this evening." the girls both rolled their eyes but accepted the compliment.
"Where have you been all night? I haven't seen you since you handed me my gift." Yumi turned to him, eyebrows raised in a subtle gesture of irritation and questioning.
"I was having fun," he responded rather snottily, "You should try it. Dance around, see a few more people. It is your party, Yumi. Also, I know you haven't forgotten to respond to my party invitation, because there is no way you've forgotten my birthday, considering how close it is to yours?" Yumi rolled her eyes, and she heard a snort behind her that told her Elizabeth was fairly amused by Odd's antics.
"Certainly not. Why the response hasn't gone through, I don't know, but I am coming to your party, just as I've been to Jeremy's party, and will go to Elizabeth's party. You know, just the same as we've been doing since we were toddlers." she looked at him pointedly. Odd just gave her a charming smile that she knew better than to believe.
"If you insist, my dear lady." she scowled at him, but knew it was useless to try get him to desist with the teasing.
"Sissi, do you think you know what you're going to do for your fifteenth birthday party?" Odd asked, turning to Elizabeth. Despite herself, Elizabeth colored a little, but brightened up at the idea of being able to talk it through with someone infinitely more interested than Yumi.
"I'm going to go dance," she told the two, not surprised when they barely acknowledged her. They got like that, sometimes. She made her way to the dance floor considering the options before she heard a soft voice beside her.
"May I have this dance, birthday girl?" She turned to face intense blue eyes, matched by the robes worn and the beads woven into dirty blond hair.
"Of course, Jeremy. Who am I to deny an old friend?" she laughed, pulling him along. The dance was one of the slower ones, usually reserved for couples but since at least half of those in attendance weren't of an age for courting it was considered little more than practice, and none of the dances were taken seriously. Yumi and Jeremy soon found themselves twirling carefully around the dance floor. "So any reason why you wished to have this dance?" she asked. "Not that I don't appreciate it, of course."
"People tend to go into their own little worlds when they dance, so it is an excellent place for undisturbed conversation." he smiled at her, looking faintly amused. "I figured if I didn't get to you first, I might not get to you at all. I haven't been very successful in my attempts before. Though I suppose I simply have bad timing."
"You wished to speak to me?" she asked. Yumi couldn't keep the concern out of her voice.
"Nothing is wrong, Yumi. I simply wanted to give you my birthday wishes. Fifteen. An interesting year, they say. You know," he continued, and with the knowledge of long acquaintance Yumi resigned herself to an educational lecture, "the reason it used to be fifteen that was such a big deal party wise was because it was actually a coming out party. In some societies it was sixteen, but most found the imprint age of fifteen to be sufficient. It wasn't until the 50s that they started pushing back the age of legal marriage. The tradition of having such a party on the fifteenth birthday likely only still exists because imprinting still exists."
"That's very interesting. Was there a reason you wished to share?" Yumi asked once she was sure that Jeremy had decided that no, he wasn't going to keep going. He was quiet for a moment longer, the song winding down around them.
"I wanted to remind you that I'm here for you. You're one of my oldest and best friends Yumi. You're the first of us to reach fifteen. I know we haven't really needed each other for anything serious before, so I wanted to make sure you knew... if you need someone to talk to, you know I'm still around." the music was reaching its end. Jeremy looked at Yumi earnestly, and Yumi found herself feeling even more affectionate towards her old friend. Still, something about his statements unsettled her, like her mother's had. Despite this, she smiled, thanked him, and released him with the end of the song. He responded in kind and disappeared into the crowd. She tried to shake off the uneasy feeling that had taken over her stomach when another boy offered to dance with her, accepting his offer and losing herself in the dances.
By the time she reached the end of the party, she was exhausted, happy, and mildly frustrated. She still had no idea who her imprinted mate was, but her party had been one of the best she'd ever attended, and was certainly the best that had ever been hosted in her parent's home. The party lasted well into the evening and Yumi was well and truly tired by the time the last of the guests began to leave. Her parents sent her upstairs before the last of them left, since it seemed like they might loiter should she stay. Yumi barely acknowledged as she felt a familiar presence behind her, quiet, calm and unobtrusive. She did acknowledge that presence when, in her exhausted state, she tripped over her own two feet. Strong arms wrapped around her, keeping her from hitting the floor (though she suspected her feet would be more than a bit sore from the stretch this angle created) and the imprint in her mind reacted- a feeling of concern mixed with some relief and surprise- and she frantically pushed herself back up using the wall and the help of the other.
"Who saw?" she asked, looking warily around the hallway.
"No one saw, maîtresse. We're alone. Are you injured?" more concern was coming through the imprint. But that didn't make sense, Yumi thought, because there was no one there other than-
Oh.
Oh no.
No.
Concern was turning into worry, edging towards fear. "Maîtresse? Is something the matter? Do you need something? Maîtresse?" Yumi turned to look into Ulrich's concerned gaze, her mind blank in utter horror.