Dear Readers,

Just if you're wondering right now, no, this isn't going to be a wonderful Cinderella typed story… Like the chapter title says, fate does have its twists.

Love,

Wolf Princess Aya

Lasting Memories

"Let me get this straight," Yusuke said, rubbing his temples tiredly the next morning, sighing for what seemed to be the thousandth time. "You plan on finding this specific girl… with a shoe?"

"Yes, I do," Kurama replied stubbornly, fastening his cloak around him and picking up the shoe.

"But there are probably hundreds of girls with the same shoe size! You actually want to accomplish something with this great, genius plan of yours!"

"Love is essential, too."

"What if she has a twin?"

"She told me she didn't have any sisters." His thoughts flashed to that girl he saw- the one that looked just like her- for a moment. Then he shook it off, thinking that it had been a trick of the light.

"What if her twin is a boy?" Kurama looked exasperatedly at his friend.

"Just come with me."

"Sorry."

"No you're not."

"You're right," Yusuke smirked, "I'm not." Throwing up his hands in defeat, Kurama stomped out of the room, angry, Yusuke close behind.

"Oh, the ball was WONDERFUL," Maya gushed when Botan asked them the following morning. "Too bad YOU couldn't go!"

"Yes," Botan smiled to herself, "too bad." Hari said nothing.

"Come girls, let us get some rest," Sayo beamed. "When the prince comes to propose to one of you, we certainly can't have bags under our eyes!"

"No!" Maya giggled as she raced upstairs and into bed, "of course not!" Hari swept silently up after her sister, and Sayo began to follow, but she turned and glared at Botan instead.

"You, girl, I want this house spotless when I wake up."

"Yes stepmother."

"All the windows clean."

"Yes stepmother."

"And the floors all washed."

"Yes stepmother." Sayo glared at Botan, then turned and hurried up the stairs and into her room herself.

'Go to hell, stepmother,' Botan thought bitterly, thinking of all the work she'd have to do, but perked up at the thought of the prince at their house. 'Perhaps he'll recognize me?' she thought, trying to fight off a smile and failing.

"Wow, that smile is so smug; it should be given a prize."

"Keiko!" Botan whispered happily, hurrying to the window to chat with her friend.

"What's going on?"

"Gotta clean the house."

"Ah. Expecting anyone?" Keiko smiled. Botan blushed.

"Not really, no." Keiko giggled.

"Tell me all about his highness's visit later!" Botan looked up, confused and blushing.

"Don't be absurd, he'll never come here." It was Keiko's turn to look confused.

"Of course he will. Didn't you hear? He found the other slipper last night and said he will marry the girl who fits in it."

Yusuke leaned his head back on the cushions of the carriage. "How many more houses are you going to force us to go to?" Kurama said nothing as he watched the cottages and pastures pass by. Sighing, Yusuke closed his eyes, waiting until the carriage stopped, and the whole scene started over again. Gush about the prince, try to force the shoe on, find it wouldn't fit, throw a fit. Repeat. What fun. The prince sat quietly, still clutching the slipper. 'I'll find her soon,' he told himself firmly, 'I will.'

"They're here!" squealed Maya. She ran from the window and into the parlor, where Botan was shining silver with a bruise on her face for not doing so before the others woke up, and Hari and Sayo were having tea.

"Well, don't act like you know it!" barked Sayo.

"Yes sister," Hari said smoothly. "Be elegantly surprised, like me." Maya scowled, but did as she was told. Botan fought the urge to vomit.

There was a knocking on the door. Sayo shot up.

"Come girls," she said to her daughters. "You," she hissed to Botan, "you stay out of the way."

"Yes ma'am," Botan replied, walking briskly upstairs where she knew she would be sent anyway. But when the others were bustling to the door, she sat near the top of the stairs and watched through the banisters. 'Maybe he'll see me up here,' she hoped silently.

"Let ME open the door!" Maya yelped as Sayo pushed her out of the way and threw the door open with a curtsy.

"Welcome my prince!" Sayo gushed, deep in her curtsy, as Maya and Hari silently fought over who got to curtsy next. Kurama watched with a bemused expression as Hari "accidentally" stepped on Maya's foot.

"Ahem," Yusuke cleared his throat as he stepped in front of Kurama, "I'm sorry, but could we get on with this?"

"Oh, of course," Sayo said, sweeping out of the way. "Of course…" Kurama sighed as the two girls sat down on the couch and stuck their feet out. Getting down on his knees thinking darkly 'How did I get landed with this job!' Yusuke tried the slipper on Maya.

"Oh. . ." Maya said disappointedly as the slipper cut off her circulation, "It fit at the b-WOULD YOU TAKE THAT BLASTED THING OFF MY FOOT BEFORE IT FALLS OFF!" she suddenly screamed. Yusuke quickly tugged the shoe off.

"I'll go next then," Hari said smoothly. Kurama looked curiously over at her, as if truly seeing her for the first time. She looked very much like the girl at the ball. A little- a little darker, perhaps, but very, very similar. . .

On the steps, Botan bit her lip. 'Please, see the difference between us, please. . .' Yusuke held the slipper up.

"You trying it, miss?"

"Of course," Hari smiled. Yusuke slipped the shoe on her foot.

And it fit perfectly.

EEP! The shoe fit... What happens then! faints

Aya-chan