Chapter 2

Sakuya found that she took to the work of a maid quite easily. The tasks were simple and repetitive, clean this room, dust this shelf, allowing her to focus her thoughts to the little of her life she could remember.

She awoke to dreams she could not remember, finding herself in an alleyway she had no memory of entering. Her dress was in ragged tatters and had bloodstains, her own or someone else's, she had no idea. The air was cold, and the sky was a uniform gray. She tried to remember anything, but the only thing that came was a splitting headache. She fell into unconsciousness. This time her dreams were a rush of sensations and visions that made no sense. However, out of this chaos came a name. Sakuya Izayoi. She awoke with a start.

"Good, you finally awake, I was beginning to doubt whether my efforts were going to yield any results. Your mind was one heck of a sea to navigate. You're lucky I managed to pull even a name out of that mess."

Sakuya stood up, stumbling about, feeling very weak. Her vision focused and she noticed the speaker, she wore a bright violet dress and had long blonde hair. She wore jewelry, ruby earrings and a necklace that drew attention to her well-sized chest (a trait Sakuya noticed she was close to matching herself). She carried a parasol in her hand, currently folded and her face held an expression of keen interest. Her appearance bespoke a woman of wealth. She was sitting on a crate, and it was then that Sakuya noticed they were both in an alleyway. "Who-who are you?"

"You don't know who I am? Can't say I'm surprised." The woman said.

"Should I?" Sakuya asked. She tried to step forwards, only for the world to suddenly spin around her. She collapsed to her knees and her stomach growled.

"You clearly haven't eaten in a while." The woman produced a small loaf of bread from somewhere Sakuya couldn't see. She handed it to her. Sakuya eagerly grabbed it and ate. It was only afterwards that she remembered to thank her.

"It is no matter. I can't have you dying on me just after I've finished such a difficult job." The strange woman sighed. "Humans are so weak and fragile."

Sakuya couldn't help but note: She speaks of humans as if she isn't one… "Who are you?" Sakuya asked.

The woman paused. "A name… It's been a long while since I've had anything close to a name, my own servants simply calls me 'Mistress' or 'Milady' nowadays… Anyways my name is no matter, Miss Izayoi."

I never mentioned my name. Sakuya thought to herself.

"Why should speaking it aloud matter? I'm the reason you even know your own name in the first place. Consider yourself lucky you remember even that much, Sakuya Izayoi."

Sakuya placed her hand on her head, Did she just?...

"Yes I did, and that is just the least of my abilities." She held out her hand, and it appeared as if the air itself unfolded. When the strange process finished, there was a folded set of clothes in her hands.

"Please, put these on. Your current clothes are a ragged mess, and it displeases me to have to look upon such things. Besides, it's mid-winter, you don't want to freeze to death do you?"

Sakuya took the clothing gratefully, then paused. "Um…"

"Hmm? Oh very well…" The woman turned away so Sakuya could change in privacy. "Just hurry up. There are other things I must attend to."

The new dress wasn't very comfortable but felt durable.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Looks nice on you. Goes well with your hair."

It was at that moment that Sakuya noticed her odd color of hair, a whitish silver. However deciding that was the least of her concerns she turned back to the woman, not wanting to offend someone who could apparently pull objects out of thin air.

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Yes yes…" The strange woman seemed to have lost interest. "One last thing before I depart. You will need a means of employment. Last I heard, Lord and Lady Scarlet are looking for new maids. Doesn't pay much, but does offer free room and board. Ask around town and you should get in rather easily. Farewell now." She stood up off the crate and left the alleyway, her parasol tapping against the ground every few steps.

"Wait!" Sakuya tried to follow her but upon entering the main street the woman had disappeared completely.