Hi there!

So, if you've read "My Shadows", you'll know that the past of the story is needed to help glue the pieces together!

And thus, what we really need is to have a bit more on this "Anastasia" character.

So far, all you know is that she died.

Or, did she?

I won't tell, but, you'll see what happens later on in the story, yes?

Erin:...What the hell are you trying to say?

Me: Well, for "My Shadows", not everything is really as it would seem. The truth can sometimes seem like a lie, and a simple told clue could be planted.

You can never be sure on what could happen.

All you can do is pick up the clues, and hope that you've got the right pieces for the puzzle.

...Well, hope that you guys enjoyed it all, and as always, ONWARDS!

The Ashford family was like every other noble family.

They had class.

They had the money.

And they had there reputation to uphold.

But, of the family, there was one child who didn't work as hard as the rest.

Who was that?

The adopted daughter, Anastasia, of course.

Said girl was waking up as we speak, the ten year old waking to the sound of the curtains being opened, "It is time to get out of bed, Lady Anastasia."

Anastasia groaned, rubbing her eyes, before slowly rising, "Good morning, Brooke." She said in her soft voice.

Brooke was her personal maid, more of a mother then her mother could ever be. With long soft blonde hair and deep blue eyes, so close to a dark purple, it amazed Anastasia slightly. She'd asked once why someone as beautiful as herself had ended up as a maid. But, when she did, Brooke simply shook her head, laughing, before ruffing her hair.

"Today we'll be having a Victorian sponge cake," Brooke said, before rushing to aid Ana off of the bed, "Would you like it with a salad, parfait, or a scone?"

"A salad, please." Anastasia said, letting out a soft yawn, before Brooke nodded, having just taken out Ana's clothing for the day.

"Of course, my lady Ana." Brooke said, smiling her warm smile, before helping her undress. Ana was her much less formal nickname that only her family (and Brooke) got to use in private. But, being around Brooke a lot of the time, Ana had turned into a kind of secret code between the two.

"Today you'll be having your music lessons," Brooke said, dressing Anastasia in a nice light blue dress, with white lace and long sleeves, "Then after that will be lunch, followed by your math lessons."

"Do we have any free time today, Brooke?" Anastasia asked, still very tired, as Brooke laughed, leading her out.

"I'm sorry, my lady; but you have a full schedule today." Brooke said, "However, your parents are waiting for you in the dinning room for breakfast, as is your brother."

A the very mention, Anastasia squeaked, "Can I eat alone; up here?"

Brooke sighed, before ruffling her hair, "I'm sorry, my lady, but you may not. Your parents are waiting; and I'm sure that your brother wouldn't do anything to you in front of them."

Gulping, Anastasia nodded, before following Brooke down the stairs. As grand as the mansion was, Anastasia always wondered how it would be if it were empty.

She'd watched the poor children who pass by the house, always marveling at how big it was, and how it much be nice to live like that.

Well, they were wrong.

Anastasia was jealous of them at times, watching them laugh, have fun, smile. In the Ashford family, perfection was key. If you weren't perfect, you didn't make it.

At least, that's what Suzaku said.

She'd often day dream of being like them, but still having the house. Oh, how she'd like to run up and down the halls, screaming with joy; or slide down the stair case railing.

But, too soon to her liking, she had ended up in the dinning room. Inside, as always, her father sat at the head of the table, with her mother on the left, and Suzaku on the right. A servant pulled the chair next to Suzaku out slightly, while Brooke helped her sit down.

Her father smiled, "Good morning, Anastasia."

"Good morning, father."

Her mother gasped, looking the dress over, "Anastasia, that dress looks simply perfect on you!"

"Thank you, mother."

Anastasia heard Suzaku scoff on the side, before taking a sip of water, "So, father, how goes business in China?"

"Better then I expected," There father said, before pulling at his tie, "We were able to get in and make a deal, but it is hard to get merchandise in and out of China."

Suzaku nodded, "Maybe we just need to think outside the box. If the ports aren't open-."

"Are you going on with that air travel idea again, boy?" Father asked, his anger slowly rising, "A theory cannot help us. Suzaku, you're smart, but to take over my business, you must be able to play within the rules."

Suzaku nodded, head down, "I apologize, father."

There was an awkward silence at the dinning table, before Mr. Ashford's smile slowly came back, "So then, Anastasia, how does your studies go?"

"Well, I just began the violin with Ms. Starling," Anastasia murmured quietly, "She believes that I'll be better at a stringed instrument."

Her mother nodded with approval, "A good job, Anastasia."

"Yes, a good job indeed." Her father said, before the servants finally served breakfast, "Well, after breakfast, Anastasia will go to her lessons in the garden, and you, Suzaku, will go back to your studies for the rest of the day."

"Yes, father."

"Yes, father."

The father nodded, before going back to his food, "We've been expanding our business to Japan, who has a better chance of getting us connected to China."

"We really should think about this more, William." The mother said, cutting a piece of her food, "It'll take time for us to get there and back, it won't be like every other easy trip."

"Then we will wait, Yuni." William said, "Till then, we will remain in contact with Japan."

"If I may, my lord," Brooke said, bowing, "It is time for Anastasia to get ready."

William nodded, before looking at Anastasia, "Remember, Anastasia, you are still learning, and for all you know, this isn't meant for you. So, if you do well, a good job. If you don't, then it's okay to try something different; alright?"

Anastasia nodded, "Yes, father. I will try my best."

William nodded, flashing them a smile, "That's the spirit, young lady!" He said, watching as Anastasia left, Brooke right behind, before giving Suzaku a look, "Why couldn't you just be like your sister?"

"She is not my sister." Suzaku murmured, only to receive a slap to the back of the head from his mother, "Oww!"

"Do not speak to your sister is such a manner!" Yuni growled, "She may be an adopted child, but that doesn't make her the crap child!"

"But she never has to work hard!" Suzaku grumbled, "She gets the perks without being a true noblemen!"

"That doesn't matter, Suzaku! Now, finish your food and leave, Mr. Kirkland is waiting for you inside of the library."

Suzaku murmured a "Yes, father." Before standing up, leaving.

"…You could try to be a bit more gentle on him," Yuni murmured, "I mean, he is your first born son."

William only sighed, "if he wants to make it in this world, then you must learn to take and give orders." He murmured, before looking over a report, "It would seem that the Silvers family had been robbed last night."

"Do you think that it's the same girl? What note did she leave?" Yuni questioned.

William looked over the paper, before reading, "My path to life was denied. Never born, but was alive. Waiting for a mother to love me once again."

Yuni covered her mouth, eyes widening, "That's a terrible thing to say!"

William nodded, "It says in the paper that it was written in blood; but, no one was killed. Do you think that she…You know?"

Yuni's eyes only widened more, before sighing, "Such a misguided person; to do such a thing. Has he or she been found?"

William shook his head, before rising, "I need to go back to my office, darling wife."

Yuni nodded, and seconds later, was all alone. She couldn't help but sigh, "Why must life be so hard; rich or poor?"

Out in the garden, Anastasia followed Brooke to the middle of the garden, where the teacher, Ms. Starling, was sitting on the fountain.

The garden itself was nice, a maze of rose bushes in different colors, with a stone path leading to the middle of the garden, which was a nice yet simple stone fountain, with the top sprouting water.

Ms. Starling sat down, two violin cases sitting next to her, before she looked up, the elder lady's eyes were an old grey, filled with wisdom and a bit of annoyance, "You're late, young lady Ashford!"

"I apologize, miss." Brooke said, before bowing slightly, "I had to take the young lady to breakfast and back here."

Ms. Starling scowled, before sighing, "Alright then. You're excused, maid."

"Yes, lady Starling." Brooke said, shooting Anastasia one last look, before retreating.

Ms. Starling sighed, before giving Anastasia a look, "What are you waiting for, girl? Pick it up, pick it up now!"

Anastasia nodded, before frowning, "Umm, miss…you've yet to tell me how to use a violin."

"Bah!" Ms. Starling murmured, before holding up her own, "Like this, young lady; like this!"

Anastasia nodded, before holding it up, "Like this?"

"No, young lady, like this!" Ms. Starling murmured, fixing Anastasia's posture, before going back, "Now, play a simple skill."

Anastasia gulped, really wishing at the prior teacher, Ms. Rose, hadn't moved away, "I don't know how to play-."

"Enough of your excuses!" Ms. Starling growled, "Play it, like this!"

Anastasia looked closely, trying to watch the teacher closely, only to get more and more confused, "Miss, could you please do that again?"

Ms. Starling gave her a look, before playing the tune once again, "Now, try again!"

Anastasia nodded, playing the first note, only to wince, playing a very flat tune. Ms. Starling scowled, "Young lady, you are unable to play an instrument such as this, aren't you?"

Anastasia sighed, about to answer, only to watch as Ms. Starling groaned, standing up, "Take a break, young lady. I'll be back in half an hour; just, stay here."

Anastasia nodded, watching her new music teacher walk off, before sighing. She leaned back, staring at the sky, trying to figure out what she was doing wrong. She was doing as the teacher had said, she'd tried her best to comply, but she was still making mistakes.

"Hahaha, pathetic."

Anastasia's head flew up, eyes widen with panic, "H-h-h-hello?"

"Hi. How you doing?"

Anastasia jumped, the voice coming from behind her now, as she turned around, "…What d-do you w-want?"

"Me? Well…Hahaha. Hahahahaha!"

The was laughing loud, and for some reason, she wasn't stopping. Finally, Anastasia stomped her foot, "Do not play games with me! I am-."

"The lady Anastasia." The voice said, making Anastasia whip around again, "Oh, I know. You're everywhere in the underworld, dear child."

"WHO ARE YOU!?" Anastasia screamed.

The garden was silent, before rustling occurred behind her. Slowly she turned around, only to be nose to nose with…a girl.

Anastasia jumped back, about to yell, only to have the mystery girl hold her mouth shut, Her wide periwinkle eyes wide, her hair a pale blonde, "Are you mad!? We'll both be screwed!" The girl sighed, the dust and dirt from her clothing slowly rubbing onto Anastasia's dress, "Now, I'm going to let go, and you're going to keep that mouth shut. Alright?"

Anastasia nodded, fearful, as the girl slowly took her hand off. Anastasia's eyes widened, "W-who are you?"

The girl flashed her a large grin, before sighing, "Really? I've done so many things, and no one knows me anymore!"

Anastasia's eyes widened, "A-are you t-the one w-who-?"

"Kills, murders, and steals from the rich noble people?" The girl asked, eyes flashing with humor, "Yep, that's me! The name's Erika Ackerman; but you can just call me Erin!"

Anastasia was to busy backing up slowly, before pressing her back up against the rose bushes, ".A-are you…a-a-are y-you…?"

"Umm, speak up, kid." Erin murmured, before leaning back on the fountain, "I don't speak stutter."

"Are y-you here t-to kill m-m-me?" Anastasia asked.

Erin blinked. Then she blinked. Then blinked again.

There was another heavy silence, before Erin began tio shake, laughter coming out of her mouth, "Oh God, man; you're a buzz kill!"

"…What does that mean?"

Erin gave her a blank look, before sighing, " I'm not here to kill you," Erin said, before pulling out her gun. Anastasia yelped, before she watched Erin put it onto the stone fountain, "If I were, then trust me, you'd be dead."

Anastasia nodded, "Then, why a-are you here?"

Erin's grin widened, before picking up the fallen violin, "I'm here to help ya!"

Anastasia's eyes held some confusion, "…What?"

Erin sighed, "Me. Help. You. Play. Violin."

Anastasia nodded, "O-okay."

Erin sighed, smiling softly, "You know, Annie, can I call you Annie?"

Anastasia nodded, "O-okay."

"You know, Annie, you don't need to be scared of me." Erin said.

"I'm…I'm not s-scared."

"You're a bad lair," Erin murmured, "Something else we should work on. But, it is true, Annie. I can tell that you're afraid, and you don't have to be."

"But, y-you've killed p-people." Anastasia murmured, scared.

Erin couldn't help but laugh lightly, "So, what you're trying to say is that a murder like me can't make a friend?"

Anastasia suddenly grew confused with the girl, before Erin straightened up, "Okay, what are we doing again?...Oh, right, playing a violin; here we go!"

Anastasia gulped, before letting a deep breath in, then out, "Okay, lets do it then."

Erin nodded, smiling, "There you go, kid!" She said, before helping her hold it up, "Just like that! Okay, now, you rest your head on that, and then you use the bow to play."

Anastasia nodded, before playing a note. Unlike the last time, it sounded right. Erin nodded, clapping, "Good job, kid. Now look, it you press your fingers on a different place," She said, moving Anastasia's fingers, "And run your bow across it, you make a different note!"

Anastasia nodded, running the bow across the strings, only to smile, "It sounds nice!"

Erin laughed, "It does, doesn't it?" She murmured, before pulling her own instrument up, "Now, follow what I do."

Erin would play a note, and after playing it multiple times, Anastasia would do the same. The same for the next few notes, and before she knew it, they were playing a song. Erin suddenly stopped, smiling at Anastasia, "You've got it, keep playing!"

Anastasia nodded, trying to go through the notes in her head. Whenever she played the wrong notes, Erin would move Anastasia's fingers, then nod.

Before she knew it, she'd been playing four lovely notes. Erin nodded, "Nice little song, don't you think?"

"Yes, yes it was." Anastasia murmured, a light smile on her mouth, before looking over to Erin, confused, "But…what song is it?"

Erin smiled, "You see, Annie, where I come from, we use tones and music to communicate when we're not face to face."

Anastasia tilted her head to the side, "Oh? What does this tune mean then?"

Erin smiled, "The tune I taught you? Simple, it means 'Until we meet again'."

Anastasia tilted her head to the side, "Why would you teach me that?"

Erin only winked, whistling the tune, before pulling something out of her pocket. She threw it down, and soon, smoke was everywhere.

"We'll meet again, I'm sure of it, Annie."

Anastasia coughed, using her hands to wave the smoke around, only to hit someone.

"Oww! Little lady, did you have to do such a thing!?"

Anastasia coughed, the smoke slowly disappearing to reveal a very angry Ms. Starling. The old lady growled lightly, "What do you have to say for yourself!?" She shouted.

But, for once, Anastasia wasn't listening. She looked around, standing up. It was only now that she noticed that the gun was gone, the violin staying where it had been before Ms. Starling left.

It was as if Erin had never been there.

"Young lady, are you ignoring me!?"

Anastasia shook her head, "I'm sorry, Ms. Starling!"

"You better be sorry!"

Anastasia was then dragged back into the mansion by the angered older lady, dragged right into her room, before being thrown in, "Young lady, you'll stay in here! I want an urged talk with your parents about your behavior this instant!"

Anastasia could only watch, as Ms. Starling closed the door, locking it behind her. Anastasia could only sit there, confused. It was now that she looked her room over, head pulsing with thought.

She sat on a light green bed, with dark green drapes over it. She sat on the bed for a bit, before flying herself back, groaning.

In her head, she wasn't even sure that Erin was real.

"Pst, hey, let me in!"

Anastasia jumped, before turning around to her window. Sure enough periwinkle eyes shone brightly on the other side of the window, the dirty clothing on the girl meaning only one thing.

Quickly, Anastasia pulled the window open, letting the grinning girl in, "Alright then, off to never land!"

"…Where?" Anastasia asked, which caused Erin to sigh.

"Never mind. So…Why are you stuck in here?"

"My teacher got mad at me," Anastasia murmured, "So now, she's locked me inside of my room."

Erin nodded, before laughing, "Well, now we can get to know each other more!"

Anastasia nodded, before putting her hands up, "Wait, does this make us friends?"

Erin thought it over for a bit, before smirking, "Yeah; friends. Sure, I like the sound of that!"

Anastasia giggled, before looking Erin over, "…Why are you so dirty?"

Erin looked herself over, "I'm not that dirty! I had this washed a week ago!"

Anastasia shook her head, before going into her closet, "You can't wear that…Here, take this!"

Erin's head jerked up, before catching it. She looked the white shirt over, and the black baggy pants, along with a cap and a jacket, "What's this for?"

"Change out of those!" Anastasia said, before looking around, "But you need a bit of color…Ah, here we go!"

Erin looked up, just in time to get a mouthful of a red silk scarf. Anastasia giggled, "That's not how you use a scarf!"

Erin sighed, before looking it all over, "…Thank you."

"No problem!" Anastasia said, before looking Erin over, "Why don't your parents buy you new clothing?"

At the words, Erin's back stiffened up, before sighing, "I…I can't have that."

Anastasia tilted her head to the side, "Why not?"

"I don't have any."

Anastasia couldn't speak. She placed a hand on her dirty back, "…It's okay. I didn't have parents either."

"Oh, shut up." Erin murmured, throwing her hands up, "You're here. You've got everything?"

"I'm adopted." Anastasia murmured, "Mommy said that she found me on the doorstep eight years ago."

Erin tilted her head to the side, "…How old are you?"

"Ten." Anastasia murmured, "And you?"

"Yeah, I'm ten too!" Erin said, clapping excitedly, "So, it would seem that we're more similar then we thought we are."

Anastasia was about to reply, only to have a knock come to the door, "Anastasia? Young lady, we need you to come out!"

Anastasia panicked, "Erin! What do we do?"

Erin looked at the door, before smirking, "I'll be back another day; then, we can hang out formally. Okay?"

Anastasia, confused, nodded, "Okay, Erin." She murmured, watching her new friend grin, before turning around, jumping out of the window. Anastasia ran to the window, hoping to see her friend, only to be blocked by the green of the leafs.

Just then, her father unlocked the door, walking in, "Anastasia? Ms. Starling just came to my office to report you; you've been a bad girl."

Anastasia gulped, before bowing, "I'm not sure what I did wrong, but I'm sorry!"

William sighed, before ruffling her hair, looking her, studying her periwinkle eyes, "Alright then, my child; but, you must learn to be more carful."

Anastasia nodded, "I will, I promise!"

William nodded, and with that, he closed the door. Anastasia sighed, before looking outside. She'd wait there in her room, alone, till dinner.

But, in that time, she could think about all that had happened.

Like it?

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Tell me!

Till next time guys, I go back to school tomorrow, and so, this may be the last chapter in a while.

But, hopefully, I'll cya guys later on!

Till then, bai bai!