A67A13V5: Takara isn't as saintly as you were expecting, right Kaiba?

Kaiba:

Mariku and Malik: We've already mentioned the disclaimer seven times. I think the readers get it.


Chapter 7: The Beginning of Shattered Memories

Yugi woke up screaming; he had the same dream, but it was different somehow. The girl lifted up her veil before leaving. Yugi saw her face but could not distinguish any features. He thought he saw a pair of green on white, but it may as well have been trick of the light.

"Are you okay?" Malik asked. He and Ryou got up and dressed.

"I had that nightmare; it was really weird though," Yugi said. He told them about how the mysterious girl lifted her veil but her features were blurred.

"Odd," Malik commented.


A girl of around seven years of age sat on a chair while her mother brushed the little girl's hair. The girl's features were blurred, but one could make out pale skin and curly black hair. She moved around in the chair.

"Shirayuki1 stop moving. You're making it hard for me to brush your pretty locks," the woman said. Her features were also blurred; one could only tell that she was tanner than Shirayuki and a redhead.

Another woman, one with blonde hair and blue eyes knocked on the door.

"Come in" the first woman said. The second woman came in with an elaborate green gown and beautiful glass slippers. The first woman placed the glass slippers on her feet and smiled. She faced her daughter and said. "Shirayuki, these shoes belong to our ancestor Ochikubo.2 When I die, these will become your slippers."

Shirayuki looked at the slipper and smiled.

"They're pretty." She said.

The blonde woman stood at the door, smirking.

"My queen, we are ready to start the ball," She said.

"Come along Shirayuki," the queen ordered. Shirayuki followed the queen and the blonde woman out the door.


Takara woke up from her bed, confused. She never remembered her dreams, but the one she had was still clear in her head. It was a strange dream. She could not see anyone's face, but she swore the little girl resembled her. There was also something vaguely familiar about the glass slippers. She was unsure what though.

'Hopefully someone can interpret my dream.' Takara made her way to the dining room. As she did, she heard the same humming from her first day in the Yami castle. It was more distinct, a sound a mourning and loss. She saw Anzu walking by.

"Anzu can you wake up Malik, Ryou and Yugi?" Takara asked. Anzu bowed and headed over to the Star-Children's room.


Ryou had Amane's tarot cards out. He tried to use them to interpret Yugi's dream.

"Interesting, it seems like your dream is a reflection of the past," Ryou explained.

They heard knocking on the door. Ryou put Amane's tarot cards back in the wooden box and hid it under a loose floorboard in the closet. Malik opened the door and found Anzu standing outside.

"Takara-sama told me to get you up. Although it seems you already woke up on your own. Go to the throne room. Your masters will assign your tasks," Anzu said. She turned to leave but felt a small hand upon her. "Yes, um…"

"Yugi. Thank you for convincing your chief to allow Malik, Ryou, and me to stay in the same room," Yugi said. Anzu patted the small boy's hair.

"You're welcome. Do you want to be friends? I never met a real lunar-drow before," Anzu said. Yugi frowned.

"I don't know. I'd like to, but I'm afraid that my master will punish me for it." Anzu kneeled down.

"I'm sure Atemu wouldn't mind, but if you're still worried about it, we can keep our friendship secret." Yugi smiled and nodded.

"If we're going to be friends then I should tell you a secret…" Anzu placed a finger on his lips.

"I already know. The three of you are male aren't you?" The Star-Children were horror-struck. Malik pinned Anzu against a wall.

"How do you know?" he demanded.

"The three of you have extremely flat chests and I noticed your expression when it came to Bakura's and Atemu's sexuality and Mariku's desire to make you, Malik, into a pleasure slave." Anzu looked rather nervous as she said that. Ryou walked up to Anzu.

"Promise to not tell anyone our gender?" he asked. Anzu nodded. "Come on. We should go to the throne room before our masters become angry.


Takara had a headache. The dream refused to leave her mind and the constant mysterious humming did not help. She sat on her throne and sighed.

"Is something wrong?" Mariku asked. He sat next to her.

"My head hurts. Do you hear any humming?" Mariku shook his head. "Oh Ra! I keep hearing something hum and it won't leave me alone!"

"Kisara and Isis are healers. They should be able to help you."

"I'll be fine. I probably just need more sleep. Ah, look. Anzu's here with the new slaves."

Anzu walked in leading Malik, Ryou, Yugi, and Jounouchi into the throne room. The four slaves sat cross-legged in front of Mariku and Takara. Anzu nudged at them and hinted to them to bow and curtsey. Jounouchi frowned and Malik scowled; Ryou and Yugi asked, "What's a bow and curtsey?"

Mariku shook his head. Someone would have to be in charge of teaching the savages proper manners. At that moment, Kisara and Bakura walked in.

"Kisara, I want you to teach Malik, Ryou and Yugi some proper etiquette. They don't even know the basics," Mariku said. Kisara gave a confused look but she bowed anyways.

Atemu, Set, and Kaiba walked in. Set went over to Kisara, while Atemu and Kaiba went to their personal slaves. Jounouchi growled at Kaiba who just smirked. Yugi, on the other hand, looked terrified by Atemu. Atemu saw this and ruffled Yugi's hair.

"I'm not going to hurt you. The tasks I'm going to give you will be fun," he promised. Yugi smiled.


The three Star-Children hanged out in their room with Anzu. They felt a bit relieved by their tasks, especially Malik who learned he was to help Isis with her ritual duties and would not have to sleep with Mariku until after Mariku's and Takara's wedding.

"At least I'll get to keep my virginity for a good while," he said.

"More importantly you get to keep your gender hidden for some time," Anzu added. She looks out the window. "I think wrong to separate friends, even more so to separate families. I'll help you escape if it's the last thing I do!" she proudly declared.

The three Star-Children hugged her.

"Thank you so much Anzu!" Malik whispered. Anzu smiled and nodded.

"The sun's coming up soon. Get ready for bed," she ordered. Anzu yawned and went to her room. As she did, she passed Mariku.

"What were you doing in the slaves' room?" he demanded.

"I was warning Malik to behave. She's quite rebellious. Are you certain you can handle her?" Anzu asked, emphasizing the gender pronouns.

"I'm not five years old. I'm sure I can handle a female lunar-drow on my own." Mariku walked into the Star-Children's room to find the three of them asleep. He brushed Malik's hair out of the Star-Child's face. "I will make you fall in love with me," he whispered.

Mariku headed off to his room.


Shirayuki danced with a boy who also had blurred features. The only thing one could tell was that he was slightly tanned and had russet hair.

"Are you having fun Shira?" the boy asked. Shira nodded her head

"I always have fun when I'm with you Nii-sama,"she answered. The two children watched their parents dance together. The boy patted Shiryuki's head.

"Call me Miwaku," the boy said.

"Okay, Miwaku-sama." Miwaku chuckled.

"There's no need to call me sama Shira. I'm not the king."They both looked over at their father. Like the rest of them, his features were blurred, but is evident he was brunette.

The blonde woman was standing in a corner holding what seemed to be iron shoes. Shira saw the woman and frowned. The woman noticed and walked away.


Takara's head pounded when she woke up. It was still daytime. She rubbed her head in hopes of getting rid of the pain, but it was no use.

"I just hope this pain will go away," Takara whispered as she fell back asleep. The next dream she had was just as strange.

Shirayuki stood in front of a wall mirror, confused by the fact that she could not see her reflection. The queen walked in and smiled.

"You found the enchanted mirror didn't you Shirayuki?" she asked. Shirayuki nodded. The queen sat in front of the mirror. The mirror won't let you see your reflection, but it will let you see the past, present, and future if you ask it. "You just have to have 'Mirror, mirror on the wall, before asking it anything."

Shirayuki tilted her head.

"Here I'll show you. Mirror, mirror on the wall show me Ochikubo-sama's ball," The queen said. A green mask-like face appeared on the mirror. Shirayuki jumped back. "It's okay Shirayuki. Watch."

The green face looked at Shirayuki and said "Hello princess." Shirayuki simply nodded back. The face turned to the queen and said "As you say my queen."

The face disappeared and a scene of a ball appeared on the surface. Shirayuki watched the image in amazement. She pointed at the mirror when a blurred veiled figure appeared.

"Ochikubo-sama," She said. The queen nodded. They watched a speeded version of the legendary ball. Shirayuki giggled when Ochikubo danced with Miwaku I. The green face returned to the mirror. The queen smiled and left with Shirayuki following after her.

"Only the queen of the Grimm Plains can control that mirror. When I die, that mirror will become your most loyal servant. Is that clear Shirayuki?" The queen asked. Shirayuki nodded her head.

Lurking in a corner, the blonde woman smirked. She headed down the opposite corridor, with and apple seed in her hand.


A67A13V5: That took forever to write.

Mariku: At the least the Snow White part is starting to make sense now.

1 Japanese – Snow White

2 Japanese version of Cinderella. (That's all I know)