"Oh, she's going to prick me!"
Kyoko sighed inwardly for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning. "Miss, I can't correct this seam in your dress if you keep flinching like that. I would hate for one side to be uneven."
"Hmph!" her step-sister tossed her hair over her shoulder, pouting. "Well I can't have that.
"Neh, neh, Kyoko-sama?"
"Hmm?" Kyoko, used to the insults, hardly flinched. A mouthful of pins prevented her from saying much else—not that she would.
The step-sisters giggled. "Or should I say, Princess Rosa?"
The pins fell from her lips. Kyoko felt a sudden sting in her temple and she slowly held her hand to her now very warm forehead.
"We heard a very interesting story about why Lord Mogami never returned home to his family." They watched her reflection in the mirror, smirking at each other. "What was it again? He was looking for a rose, wasn't he?"
"He probably killed himself looking for a stupid rose!"
"M-Mama, please d–on't—scream at me. Mama, please don't leave me alone. Where's Papa? Where did he go? M–mama!"
Kyoko gasped inaudibly as she was rushed back to the present, her step-sisters' voices echoing in her ears, "Oh, would you just look at her, the poor girl. She's positively speechless!"
"But don't forget what happened afterwards. Her mother didn't want her anymore. She never wanted her daughter in the first place and she was never truly pleased with her daughter ever."
Kyoko abruptly found she couldn't focus and she was vaguely aware that her body was trembling beyond her control. A jet black fog was hazing over her vision and that was the last thing she could remember before she hit the ground.
"–oko-chan? Kyoko! Wake up, dear."
Kyoko sat up ramrod straight, startling the cook, "W-What?"
"Relax," the cook instructed and answered Kyoko's questioning gaze. "You stopped breathing and passed out for lack of oxygen, I believe." She kept a gentle but firm hold on Kyoko's arm as she folded her legs underneath her. "Don't rush yourself." The kind woman shook her head and murmured encouragements as she helped Kyoko steady a glass of chilled cider against her lips.
Kyoko gave the cook a grateful smile, but quickly flinched and held up a bandaged finger, "Where did this come from?"
"You managed to prick yourself on one of those pins. Be more careful next time."
Like Sleeping Beauty, Kyoko thought. She quietly finished the glass of chilled cider before sinking back into her thoughts. I wish I'd continued to sleep my life away. It's probably because I'm not beautiful enough to fall into eternal sleep.
Kyoko suddenly found herself caught off-balance, the arms of the cook wrapped around her. But then, she found herself sinking into the warm, motherly embrace. She couldn't remember the last time someone had hugged her like this. It was like being surrounded by a blanket on a sunny day. It was almost as if the cook could read her negative thoughts and was wishing all the dark clouds away.
The cook continued softly lamenting Kyoko's condition until the telling click-clack of heals on the staircase and a high-pitched call made them both jump. The kind woman immediately and nervously excused herself, avoiding eye contact with the mistress of the house and her two step-daughters not far behind. The two sisters frowned after her bustling figure before turning to Kyoko and tsk'ing alongside Lady Saena. "I was informed that you collapsed instantly." Kyoko bowed her head. "Why?"
"I must have been dehydrated," Kyoko lied, her quivering eyes concentrated on her lap.
Her mother raised an eyebrow. After an uncomfortable silence, she sighed, "Very well. But you have extra work to do. If you manage to finish before we leave for the party, then we'll bring you along. You might begin by finishing up what you started." With that, she glided from the room and as soon as the door had shut securely and the lady's footsteps had faded, the sisters spoke up.
"Really, 'Rosa-hime', it's about time you woke up."
"You didn't even finish the mending and you've been out cold for hours."
"Hours?" Kyoko was taken aback. She examined the room for a clock, but there was none.
"Sister. It's only been fifteen minutes. Are you really so air-headed? Oh well. I expect nothing less from you."
"What did you say?"
"Well, those beads look horrible on you."
"Well, your precious sash doesn't even go with your skin."
Kyoko ignored the actual content of her stepsisters' latest bicker. She was just glad that their negativity was concentrated on a subject other than herself. She'd have to get used to their newest nickname for her as well. But as she looked at them huffing and puffing at each other, Kyoko recognized that it would be so much harder now. She shook her head wildly, unfortunately distracting them from their vicious spat. No. She had already allowed her mother to turn the few memories she had of her father into sad ones. As she watched her step-sisters turn on her, she silently swore that she would not let her step-sisters further transform such a treasure into a monstrous nightmare.
"What is that?"
Kyoko felt her flame of confidence suddenly taper and smoke out. She had been a fool to think she had an inch of confidence. Her voice wavered a little, "What do you mean, Milady?"
"This dress is...very interesting. Wherever did you get it?"
"I altered a dress that my step-sisters didn't want any longer," Kyoko answered obediently. In her mind, her stomach had just plummeted to the other side of the earth.
"Mother!" they exclaimed. "She can't–"
"Girls, please." Saena quieted her step-daughters. "You did say that you didn't want that dress."
"Yes, Mother." The step-sisters jealousy quickly morphed into seething anger. But Kyoko was more afraid of the woman touring above her. Some dark, unknown force kept Kyoko from taking a step back. Her feet seemed to be rooted to the floor.
"After all," Saena drawled, "we did make a bargain with Kyoko. And I never go back on my word." Kyoko stood ramrod straight, her heart pounding in her stomach which also happened to be digging a way to the Orient as her mother approached. "How very clever. Wherever did you get the materials? It's like a different dress," she prodded the pale red fabric. "You look just like a rose."
Kyoko turned white as a sheet. "I—That wasn't my intention–"
"The sequining is very unique and ornate..." Lady Saena eyed the embellishments Kyoko had somewhat clumsily but stylishly stitched together. She recognized some of these and she meant to point it out. "Wherever did you get the materials for these stunning beads and the trimming?" She sighed when her step-daughters failed to react. Nevermind. They weren't the most intelligent girls. "No matter. You've been out of the public eye for a while now, but once they see that dress, they'll immediately know who your father is. At least it saves time explaining to people why such an omen of ill luck has turned up to the party of the year." Lady Saena turned and opened the door. "Well, don't just stand there. Come along."
The sisters flounced out in a huff. Kyoko just stood there, chills running up and down her spine. "Kyoko?" her mother called, "Aren't you coming?"
"I...I'll just stay."
Saena blinked once, twice, then followed her now very happy step-daughters out to the carriage, the slightest pleased look on her face, "Goodnight." The door closed with a soft click.
A dark cloud settled over Kyoko's head and she continued to stand there long after the carriage was gone.
A few hours later, a bobbing light danced across the Mogami yard. The young stable boy, Ishibashi Shinichi, or Shin for short, was out on a mission. Shin's grandfather was really the one in charge, but the old man never worked night shifts if he could help it and so had asked his grandson to help for some pocket change. Something about spirits that awaken in the dark. Psh, Shin snorted. An old wives' tale.
A quirky, gurgling noise interrupted the chirping cricket song. Shin grimaced and sulked with one hand over his stomach, thinking of how the cook had shooed him out of the kitchen earlier that evening, worried sick about Kyoko and not in the mood to be handing out food. And so, thinking that perhaps the cook could be persuaded to spare a snack if the girl had been found, he proceeded to track Kyoko down and cheer her up with his usual goofy antics.
"Kyoko-chan?" Shin held his lantern high above his head, peering into the dark corner of General's stall. The yellow flame cast about, before illuminating a huddled form hidden amongst the hay. Shin exclaimed, excited, "Ah, there you are! Why are you still here? I thought you were gonna go to the party."
He'd finally found her! In the stables no less. But as Kyoko had yet to respond to him, he scratched his chin, cheering her up would be hard to do. "Kyoko? Kyoko, come on out...please?" He sighed and entered the small space. He patted General before settling down next to the small, depressed ball.
"Come on, Kyoko," he gave his best whine, "I even said 'please' like you taught me!" Shin glanced hopefully in Kyoko's direction. God, he sure hoped he was doing something right. He wouldn't exactly call himself a sympathetic person and he had no clue how to cheer someone up, a girl no less! "Kyoko~" he wiggled and pouted, nudging her with his elbow.
She flinched. Well, that was something, right? He made a face. Maybe if he called himself by the nickname Gramps gave him she would cheer up. The first time Kyoko had heard his nickname, she had burst into giggles and repeated it over and over. But he really didn't like it when she called him that. Would he have to—no, he didn't—but—...Oh, come on! "Kyoko-chan, Shin-chan is getting–"
Kyoko's head shot up, a curious, fierce look on her face. "You just called yourself 'Shin-chan'..."
Shin leapt up and struck a pose in mock horror. "The ghost girl moved!" She giggled. Finally! he exclaimed in his head, relieved that Kyoko had taken the bait. "No, but seriously, Kyoko-chan," he crouched back down. "What's eatin' at-chya'?"
The frown returned to her pixie-like baby face and she stared mournfully at the flickering light inside the lantern. After what felt like minutes, and after Shin tucked his hand under his leg to stop it from fidgeting, Kyoko curled back up into a ball and mumbled into her knees.
"What did you say?" Shin leaned in closer to hear better.
"I said," Kyoko turned her head, a fresh batch of tears welling in the corners of her distressed eyes, "I don't have a Fairy Godmother."
...Huh?
At that very moment, Ishibashi Shinichi decided that he didn't understand girls at all and he'd best give up trying. But, as he gave Kyoko's face a proper once over now that it was illuminated by the lamplight, he understood that that was just foolishness. He may still be a kid and not be a gentleman, but he was no jerk and he truly did consider Kyoko to be the little sister he'd never had. "Uh...I don't think I understand, Kyoko-chan."
"Well," Kyoko began,"Cinderella finished the impossible amount of chores that her mother gave her and...but she wasn't allowed to go to the ball." Kyoko left out the part about her dress. "Her Fairy Godmother appeared and waved her magic wand and gave her a dress and sent her off to the ball where she met the prince and they fell happily in love–"
"But, Kyoko-chan," he interrupted, "don't you have a dress? I heard you talking about it the other day–" He waved his hands wildly in front of his face when Kyoko looked she might begin to cry again. Something must have happened, he thought. "Nevermind. Sorry I'm not your Fairy God...brother..."
Kyoko giggled at the confusion clearly etched on his face. "It's okay, Shin-nii-chan. Sho won't be there anyway..."
"Ah, your prince. That Fuwa merchant's son?" Shinichi raised his eyebrows. He resisted the urge to drag a hand down his face when Kyoko began ranting about how perfect her childhood friend was and held up a hand to interrupt her, "But if you knew that he wasn't gonna be there, why'd ya want to go so badly?" It was hard to tell in the lighting, but he thought that the blush deepened on Kyoko's cheeks.
"You won't laugh?" Kyoko whispered. He grinned and drew an 'x' over his heart. Kyoko pressed her fingers together in embarrassment, "I wanted to see what a ball was really like..."
"What? That's it!? Then, let's go!" Shin leapt up. He grinned down at Kyoko who was staring at him open-mouthed, several emotions flitting across her face.
"But...But I don't have a dress and my mother–!"
"I thought that since you wanted to see what it was like, I could at least take you to see the building. The Hizuri manor is really somethin'—especially when it's all lit up at night! I was gonna drop by anyway because I have a friend who works with the Hizuri's horses—we'll be back before your mother and—"
"You would really do that for me?" Kyoko whispered in awe.
"Of course! I'm your Fairy God-brother for the evening!" Kyoko giggled as he saddled up old General. "Also, there's a small creek that runs by the manor—"
"Will there be fairies!?" Kyoko's eyes sparked brighter than any fire in that dark stable.
"Uh...maybe," Shin winked, not having the heart to tell her that the little creatures didn't exist. "But first, let's go tell the cook where we're going. You know she was worried sick about you—and I'm starving!"
Kyoko's mouth made a small 'o' and she went scurrying off for the kitchen, too distressed to laugh at Shin's good humor. The two burst into the warm space, startling the cook who was covered in flour. She had been trying to work off her anxiety, but all trace of that was gone when Kyoko rammed into her, sobbing apologies for making her worry.
"Kyoko? Kyoko! Oh, the towel! Dear, the flour!" she fussed and by the time Kyoko realized what the kind woman was trying to say, her entire front was covered in the white stuff.
"I'm sorry for interrupting your work!" Kyoko bowed deeply over and over.
"Interrupting my—Silly child, forget the bread! I'm sorry about your clothes!" They stared at each other, then began laughing at themselves, covered in flour. The cook wiped a tear from her eye, leaving a smear of it on her cheek, "Thank you, Shinichi, dear, for finding her and cheering her up." He held out his hands eagerly. "You're a cheeky one, you are," the cook huffed but gave him a butter cookie for his trouble anyway, and with a wink no less!
"Baa-san—" he chewed and swallowed quickly at the cook's raised "don't talk with your mouth open" eyebrow—"We were just gonna let you know that we're going to the ball anyway so I can visit my friends and so Kyoko can at least see the party from afar." He hid his crossed fingers behind his back.
The cook eyed him a second longer before sighing and pulling out a basket, "I'll send you over with a basket of goodies." Shin whooped—it was going to be a feast—and Kyoko giggled at his excitement. She was trying to get the flour out of her usual, beat-up maid outfit when the cook caught sight of her. "Kyoko, surely you weren't thinking of going to the ball in that?"
"Well, it's not like anyone important is going to see me–"
"But isn't this your first ball? It's a special evening. What about your pink dress?"
Kyoko ducked her head and when the cook looked at Shin for answers, he shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
"Well, you certainly can't go to the ball like that!" The kind woman headed over to the old, heavy chest in the corner of the room. She pulled out a package and handed it to Kyoko. "Go on."
The girl wiped her hands furiously on the back of her already ruined outfit—the part that wasn't completely covered in white—before carefully peeling back the brown paper and gasping. Inside lay a pale yellow gown. When she lifted it from the box, the cool fabric swirled to and fro revealing an empire waist, dainty pleats, and a few, well-placed flower embellishments. "Oh, it's so beautiful!"
The woman chuckled at Kyoko's undisguised surprise and delight. "I was going to wait until your birthday months away, but I thought that it was now or never. I hope it isn't too big on you."
Kyoko's large eyes opened even wider. "This is for me?"
"To whom else in this household would I give such a pretty thing?" the cook looked positively scandalized. "Now, go try it on," she shooed Shinichi away. When he was allowed back in, he couldn't help but stare at little Kyoko who was twirling around.
"Oh, it's just like a dream come true—you're my Fairy Godmother!" She stopped admiring the dress to stare, sparkling golden eyes and all, at her hero.
"I've been replaced," Shin pouted.
"Well, I still need a ride to the ball," Kyoko pointed out.
"Goodness me, it's getting late! Hurry, my dear!" she rushed them off and out of the kitchen and away the two children went, riding off into the night. "The ball can't wait." When she turned back to the now quiet and empty space, she allowed herself an impish grin and hummed three words under her breath, "Bibbidi. Bobbidi. Boo!"