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101 Puppies	By : Hideki LaShae Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 6699 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh!, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Disclaimer: All Yu-Gi-Oh!
and Cinderella characters and references belong to
their respective owners. Story elements � Hideki LaShae.
No money was gained in the writing of this story.

101 Puppies
By Hideki LaShae

Chapter Fourteen
Cinderella

�� ~~~~~~~~~~~~Seto�s~Dream~~~~~~~~~~~~

�� Once upon a time, there was
a young girl� uh, boy� who loved his father very much. His mother had passed
away some years before, leaving him and his father alone. His father was quite
wealthy and soon remarried a widow who had two daughters� uh, sons, of her own.
Not long after, the boy�s father passed away, leaving him with his stepmother
and two stepbrothers whom all turned out to be cruel and unkind. They treated
the young boy as a servant and took away all his fine things, giving him only
rags to wear and chores to do. His warm bed was taken away, and he was instead
given a place on the hearth to sleep, and he slowly became known only as
Cinderella.
�� Cinderella!�
screams Mazaki standing in the middle of the foyer
tapping her foot on the floor in irritation.
�� Jou runs
into the foyer wearing dirty, torn rags. �Yes, Stepmother?�
�� Mazaki glares evilly at Jou. �Look at this place! It is
horrid! There is dust on the chandelier! The draperies need washed! The floor
needs scrubbed and waxed! The beds need to be made, and the lunch to be cooked!
Get to work and hurry about it! I expect this house to be clean from top to
bottom within the hour!�
�� Jou�s
eyes widen at Mazaki�s request, but he knows that the
whip would be his reward if he dares to question her. �Yes, Stepmother.�
�� Mazaki nods her head and walks away from Jou.
�� Jou
quickly pulls down the draperies and takes them outside to the stream. �My
friends� my friends� I need your help!�
�� From out
of the forest not far away comes a young deer family. The father has only four
points on his antlers, the mother is just a year younger, and the baby still
has its spots.
�� Please,
my friends. She has given me more work than I could do all day, and she expects
it done within the hour. Can you help me?� Jou smiles hopefully.
�� The buck
nods his head. He moves towards Jou and bites down on the handful of drapes,
dragging them from the boy�s arms and into the stream.
�� Thank
you,� says Jou bowing respectfully to the animals. As he turns to head back
into the house, a pair of songbirds flies around his
head. �Well, hello, Venus and Adonis! Do you want to help as well?�
�� A
familiar chirp escapes both birds� beaks.
�� You can
help me dust the chandelier then!� exclaims Jou.
�� The
birds chirp again and fly through the open window into the house.
�� A pair
of rabbits and several squirrels bound up to Jou. One of the rabbits gives a
mock salute with his ear.
�� Jou
smiles as he hears the familiar sounds from his friend. He starts chuckling
lightly at the words. �Okay, Hamlet, Ophelia, you two could wash the floor.
Hopefully, I�ll have time to wax it after making their lunch. Oberon, Titania, Puck, Peaseblossom, Moth, Cobweb, Mustardseed,
and Rosewater� if you could all go and try to make the beds for me. I
would much appreciate the gesture!�
�� The
rabbits and squirrels scurry off into the house through the still open door,
and Jou quickly follows.
�� Jou
hurries into the kitchen and stokes the fire. He hurries around pulling various
items from the pantry, and he quickly fills an iron kettle with stewing
vegetables. He throws in a tiny strip of meat for flavor and adds some water
before placing the kettle on the hook above the fire.
�� Cinderella!�
comes a shout from upstairs.
�� Oh,
no!� exclaims Jou figuring one of his friends has gotten caught doing his work.
He runs up the stairs and sees Mazaki teaching his
youngest stepbrother, Bakura, in the den.
�� Honda,
Jou�s other stepbrother, the one just a year older than Jou, stands in the
hallway. �About time, Cinderella! You
lazy cow!�
�� Jou
slumps his shoulders. �Yes, stepbrother?�
�� I will
be going into town later to visit the baker,� says Honda shoving a crumpled set
of clothes into Jou�s arms, �I expect those to be neat and pressed before I
go!�
�� Yes,
stepbrother,� says Jou.
�� Honda
turns and heads into the room to continue his lessons with Bakura.
�� Visit
the baker, my ass,� mumbles Jou turning and heading down the stairs again,
�Don�t you mean you�re going to visit his daughter and try once again to get
her to lift her skirt for you?� He heads out to the stream with the clothing.
He smiles when he sees the deer splashing water on the draperies. �I�m sorry to
ask you for yet another favor��
�� The baby
looks up at Jou with his soft brown eyes.
�� Valentine,
Proteus, Silvia? Could you wash these clothes as well? I�ll need to press them
myself,� says Jou.
�� The
baby, Proteus, nods his head.
�� Silvia�s
doe-brown eyes wink at Jou as she, the mother deer, takes the clothes from Jou.
�� What
would I ever do without you?� asks Jou, �I am forever grateful!�
�� Valentine
flicks his antlers at Jou in an expression Jou knows to mean �We are here when
you need us.�
�� Jou
hurries back into the house. He checks the stew quickly and adds some
seasoning, salt mostly but also a little pepper and some dried herbs that he
had grown the spring before.
�� The
squirrels scurry down the stairs and rush into the kitchen chattering like mad.
�� Jou
turns from the fire to hear them. He smiles. �Thank you. You�ve made the beds
much faster than I anticipated!�
�� The
squirrels chatter as they scamper away.
�� A
whitish-gray bird flies in and lands on the windowsill. It chirps.
�� Hello,
Venus��
�� An angry
chirp interrupts Jou before he can say more.
�� Oh, I�m
so sorry, Adonis! But all dusty like that, I can�t tell you and your lovely
wife apart. Where is she by the way?� asks Jou looking around for signs of
another dust-covered aerial being.
�� Adonis
chirps.
�� Oh�
she�s out cleaning herself up. To be expected after seeing you. Thank you both
so much for all your help, Adonis,� says Jou smiling. He turns back to the fire
as he hears the stew start boiling.
�� Adonis
chirps again and flies out the window.
�� Jou
stirs the stew and tests the vegetables, but they aren�t done yet so he heads
into the foyer to check how the rabbits, Hamlet and Ophelia, are
doing scrubbing the floor.
�� Two
sopping wet fluff balls slide across the floor making unique patterns with
their soapy, wet bodies.
�� Jou chuckles. �That looks like fun!�
�� Hamlet
lifts a soaked ear in a slight wave as he skids past Jou.
�� Jou
hurries outside to see how his other friends are doing. He grins when he sees
the sight before him.
�� The
draperies have been placed across a tree branch to hang dry, and Silvia places
the freshly washed clothes on Valentine�s antlers to drip dry.
�� Valentine
looks at Jou and stands rigidly.
�� Jou nods
his head in understanding before going back inside the house and into the
kitchen. After checking to see if the stew is done, he dishes up three bowls,
making sure the small piece of meat ends up in the bowl for his stepmother. He
places the bowls on a tray with a basket of bread. He grabs the goblets and a
bottle of wine from the cupboard and places them onto the tray as well. He
lifts the tray and sets it down again quickly. He grabs out spoons and sets
them on the tray. Then he lifts it again and heads up the stairs to the room
where his stepmother and two stepbrothers work on their daily lesson. He knocks
on the door.
�� Mazaki looks at Jou with a stern expression. �What is it,
Cinderella?�
�� I have
brought lunch for you, stepmother,� says Jou.
�� Mazaki waves her hand towards the table.
�� Jou
enters the room and sets the tray down on the table.
�� Bakura
smiles at Jou.
�� Jou
smiles back at his stepbrother who is only older than him by a month.
�� Have
you no other work to do?� asks Mazaki.
�� Yes, stepmother. I�m going to do it now,� says Jou turning
and heading from the room. Upon reaching the foyer, he finds the two fluff
balls shaking and trying to ring out their fur. He helps them with this task,
drying them off with the ragged shirt he wears. �Thank you for your help.�
�� Hamlet
and Ophelia nod their heads and bound out of the house.
�� Jou gets
the wax and quickly begins his next task of waxing to floor on his hands and
knees. He just barely gets done before Mazaki makes
her way down the stairs.
�� Cinderella! What is taking you so long with these chores?�
asks Mazaki.
�� I am
doing the best that I can, stepmother,� says Jou.
�� Is this
the thanks I get for clothing you and feeding you?� asks Mazaki
glaring at Jou.
�� I am
sorry, stepmother. I do try,� says Jou.
�� For
your insolence, you will receive five lashes!� exclaims Mazaki.
�� Jou
hangs his head.
�� Mazaki gets a whip from the coat closet where it is always
handy. She slaps it across Jou�s back.
�� Jou
cries out in pain.
�� Bakura
and Honda both rush down the staircase to watch the cruel treatment of their
stepbrother.
�� Mazaki slaps the whip across Jou�s back two more times
resulting in two more loud cries from the golden haired boy.
�� Mother? What has he done this time?� asks Bakura with a
soft voice.
�� Mazaki slaps the whip across Jou�s back. �He has
disrespected our home and our family!�
�� I did
not mean to, stepmother,� says Jou as the whip cuts into his back again.
�� You do
not mean to curse us with your life either, but you do plenty of that!�
exclaims Mazaki striking Jou with the whip again.
�� And how
many lashings has he incurred?� asks Bakura softly as he looks at the tears
streaming down Jou�s face.
�� Five,�
exclaims Mazaki striking Jou again.
�� You
have hit him enough then,� says Bakura stepping over to Jou and kneeling down,
�You should learn, dear stepbrother, to know your
place.�
�� Jou nods
his head. �I�m sorry!�
�� Mazaki turns and returns the whip to the closet. �Finish
this work, and be quick about it! I want the entire house spotless!�
�� Yes,
stepmother,� says Jou wiping his tears from his cheeks.
�� Come,
boys, your lessons await,� says Mazaki
heading back up the stairs.
�� Honda
sneers at Jou before following his mother.
�� Why do
you put up with this, Cinderella?� asks Bakura, �You could always run away and
be free from this strife.�
�� But how
would I live if I left?� asks Jou, �And what would father think of me if I
broke the promise I made to him? I promised we�d all stay together as a family.�
�� He
didn�t expect it to be like this though. He wouldn�t blame you for leaving,�
says Bakura.
�� Ryou! What are you doing?� calls Mazaki
from upstairs.
�� I�m
coming, mother,� calls Bakura before standing and hurrying up the stairs. He
stops to look back at Jou giving him a look to say that he would not blame the
other boy for leaving either. Then he disappears up the stairs.
�� In the
castle in the very center of that same city, King Pegasus sits with his son the
prince, Kaiba. �It is time that you chose a wife. The kingdom will need
assurance of a successor!�
�� What if
I don�t want a wife?� asks Kaiba glaring at Pegasus.
�� You
need to take a lover!� exclaims Pegasus, �Preferably a woman who could bear a
child for you!�
�� I don�t
want a woman! I�ve never wanted a woman! If I must marry at all, then it shall
be a man whom I marry! The kingdom be damned! I don�t
want it!� exclaims Kaiba, �All I want is to find a man to whom I may pledge my
heart!�
�� You are
as stubborn as your mother!� screams Pegasus.
�� Kaiba
smirks.
�� That
was not a compliment!� shouts Pegasus.
�� To me,
it was!� exclaims Kaiba.
�� In
three days time, we will have a ball! If love is truly what you seek, then I
suggest you find it by then! Or if not, you will choose a husband at the ball!�
�� You
would allow me to choose a husband? Knowing full well that I would never have
an heir with one?�
�� There
are ways in which your husband would be able to bear a child for you,� says
Pegasus smirking, �The magic is old and very few still know it, but there is
one sorceress who could still perform the spell to grant you an heir.�
�� Kaiba
stares at Pegasus in shock.
�� What
are you still doing here? You have three days! Go out and find love!� exclaims
Pegasus.
�� Kaiba
turns quickly and hurries out of the castle in disguise as a merchant. He walks
around town, looking at all the young men and wondering if he might be able to
fall in love with any of them in three days. Then his eyes spot an attractive
blond, wearing ragged clothing and carrying numerous parcels.
�� Hurry
up, Cinderella!� exclaims Mazaki walking in front of
Jou, �You lazy braggart!�
�� I�m
coming, stepmother,� says Jou.
�� He�s
beautiful,� whispers Kaiba as he gazes at Jou.
�� The
hairs on the back of Jou�s neck tingle, and he turns to look at Kaiba. His
heart starts pounding, and he trips over a brick beside the fountain. His
packages fly out of his arms and scatter on the ground before him.
�� Kaiba
hurries towards Jou and starts to help the boy to his feet. He chuckles. �You
should watch where you�re going. It wouldn�t do for a pretty face like yours to
be marred by your clumsiness!�
�� Uh-huh!�
exclaims Jou blushing.
�� My name
is Seto� And you? Cinderella?
Is that what the woman called you?� asks Kaiba smiling.
�� Yes�
That�s my stepmother,� says Jou starting to pick up his packages, �I�d better
hurry up. She�ll be upset if I wander too far away.�
�� Let me
help you,� says Kaiba grabbing some of Jou�s packages and helping pile them up
in Jou�s arms again.
�� Thank
you very much for all of your help, Seto,� says Jou standing with his packages.
�� Kaiba
stands up quickly. �Can I see you again?�

�� Jou blinks. �I think� I think
she would be upset if I did��
�� Cinderella!�
shrieks Mazaki.
�� I have to
go!� exclaims Jou, �But I do hope� I hope to see you again!� He scrambles away
to follow Mazaki.
�� Wait!�
exclaims Kaiba as Jou runs around a corner. He hurries around the corner, but
he doesn�t see any trace of the blond. He sighs. �Where can I find you?�
�� The
silver-haired Bakura walks out of a shop carrying a bag. He looks around as
Honda emerges from the shop behind him.
�� Where�s
Cinderella?� asks Honda, �Being lazy again, no doubt!�
�� Kaiba�s
head turns at the sound of the name. �Did you say Cinderella?�
�� Bakura
turns his brown eyes to Kaiba. �Cinderella is our stepbrother. Do you� know
him?�
�� Yes,�
says Kaiba, �He is my dear friend, and I must see him again!�
�� Go and
find mother, Ryou,� says Honda.
�� But Hiroto��
�� Go,
Ryou! I will speak with Cindersoot�s friend!�
exclaims Honda glaring at Kaiba.
�� Bakura
turns and hurries away.
�� Honda
growls at Kaiba. �Stay away from us! All of us! Especially away from
Cinderella! He�s just a servant, and he�s not worthy of a merchant�s
attention!�
�� Kaiba
glares at Honda. �Why� you�?�
�� Honda
grabs the collar of Kaiba�s shirt. �Leave us all alone!�
�� You
cannot command me!� exclaims Kaiba.
�� Just
leave us alone!� exclaims Honda turning around and leaving Kaiba standing in
the street.
�� Kaiba
sighs and turns around, heading off in the other direction. �How could I ever
hope to see that angel again?�
�� What
talk is this of angels?� asks a small boy with tri-colored hair.
�� Kaiba
turns to look at Motou. �An angel graced my presence
today, but some devil has ripped him from my grasp!�
�� Is that
so?� asks Motou, �You really wish to see this angel
again?�
�� Very
much,� says Kaiba, �Although I don�t know why.�
�� Motou giggles. �I do! You think he�s cute! You want to love
him! You want to marry him!�
�� Kaiba
blushes. �I might!�
�� He
deserves someone like you. Perhaps I can arrange a meeting for you and him�
tomorrow, at sunrise,� says Motou smiling, �Do you
suppose you could meet me in the town square at that time?�
�� If I
could see that angel, Cinderella, again, I would meet you in the fires of
hell!� exclaims Kaiba quickly.
�� The
town square will suffice. Tomorrow at sunrise,� says Motou,
�and I will lead you to this your Cinderella.�
�� Thank
you,� says Kaiba, �Who are you?�
�� I� I�m
Cinderella�s youngest brother, although he probably doesn�t remember me. We
were separated when we were both still very young,� says Motou,
�You may call me Yugi��
�� Thank
you, Yugi,� says Kaiba, �I will see you tomorrow.�
�� Yes� I
believe you shall,� says Motou stepping into a shop.
�� Kaiba smiles
and hurries back to the castle.
�� The next
morning, Kaiba entered the town square before the sun even began to peak across
the hills in the distance. Dressed once again as the merchant he was the day
before, he sits down on a wrought iron bench in front of a shop and waits for Motou to arrive. He waits but a moment before a cloaked
figure steps out of the shadows in between two buildings and approaches him.
�� Motou pulls his hood back to reveal his hair. He smiles at
Kaiba. �You�re early.�
�� I�m
anxious,� says Kaiba.
�� You
shouldn�t be, young Prince,� says Motou, �You will
see him soon enough.�
�� Kaiba�s
eyes widen. �How do you know that?�
�� I know
many things,� says Motou, �Like where a certain blond
will be bathing at this very moment.�
�� Kaiba
blushes as Motou starts to lead him away.
�� And
don�t worry. We won�t embarrass him. He�ll be dressed by the time we reach
him,� says Motou, �It is a nice walk between us and
him.�
�� Where
will we find him?� asks Kaiba following Motou.
�� In the forest. He bathes in a stream,� says Motou.
�� Kaiba
and Motou head out of town in silence and walk down
the dirt road a way before they step off it into the forest.
�� Try to
keep up, and I�ll guide you to your angel!� exclaims Motou.
�� Go and
I will follow!� exclaims Kaiba.
�� Motou nods ands runs off into the forest.
�� Kaiba
runs as fast as he can and barely keeps up with the boy he chases. He sees the
crimson, black, and blond hair duck behind a tree, and he hurries to catch up.
The sight he sees when he reaches the tree causes him to stop dead in his
tracks.
�� Jou
shakes his blond hair to free it of the remaining water droplets from his bath.
His well-worn clothes cling to his body due to his still slightly damp skin. He
sits down on a log and pulls on his sole less shoes.
�� Cinderella,�
whispers Kaiba not bothering to notice that Motou
vanished into thin air. In fact, the only thing he does notice is the beautiful
sight before him.
�� Jou
looks up at the sound and sees Kaiba standing beside the tree. He blushes
furiously. �S� S� Seto?�
�� Kaiba smiles. He nods his head once.
�� Jou
turns his back to Kaiba quickly and stammers, �W-w-what� d-did you s-s� see?�
�� Nothing!� Kaiba blushes. �I just arrived this second!�
�� Oh,
good!� exclaims Jou turning around again, slightly less embarrassed than he was
before.
�� I�m
glad I found you, Cinderella,� says Kaiba smiling.
�� Jou smiles. �I�m glad to be found.�
�� Who are
you? I know your name, but very little more� Tell me all there is!� exclaims
Kaiba.
�� There
is nothing to tell I�m afraid. I am a servant in the house of my stepmother,�
says Jou sadly. His smile fades from his face at the mention of his family. �My
father died shortly after their marriage, and she� she takes out her anger at
him leaving her upon me. I resemble him in too many ways.�
�� Kaiba�s
eyes narrow. �And does she hurt you?�
�� Never
without cause, although many are not just,� says Jou, �It is
my place in life� to be a servant for her. It is all I remember now.�
�� It shouldn�t
be that way! Without even knowing anything more about you�
I know that you deserve a life of wealth and luxury, a life where your only
worry is to satisfy yourself and your lover!� exclaims Kaiba.
�� I� I
remember I might have had that once� with my father, but that was so long ago.�
�� If you
would� I could grant it again��
�� Jou�s
brown eyes widen as he stares at Kaiba. �You�? But you are a man� and��
�� No
further words are necessary,� says Kaiba turning his eyes away.
�� And my
stepmother has forbidden me to have any contact with men� After she caught me
kissing our neighbor�s son� She is afraid that I might fall in love with one
instead of a woman,� explains Jou as if Kaiba had not interrupted him, �And I
think she was well founded in her feelings. I doubt I ever would fall in love
with a woman.�
�� Kaiba
looks at Jou hopefully.
�� After
all,� continues Jou, �What woman could ever compare in beauty with you?� His
cheeks redden and he lowers his eyes to the ground.
�� Kaiba
steps up to Jou and pulls him into his arms.
�� And what of you? I know your name, Seto, but I know nothing
of you besides.�
�� All
shall be revealed to you when it can be.�
�� Jou
looks at Kaiba�s clothing. �All?�
�� Kaiba
blushes. �Yes, all��
�� Jou hugs
Kaiba quickly. �I do not wish to let you go, but if I do not leave now, I fear
I never will.�
�� I would
not ask you to!�
�� My
stepmother will punish me for sure if I am late with breakfast. I must go, and
I must go now,� says Jou sadly. He pushes himself away from Kaiba and hurries
away.
�� Cinderella! There is to be a ball soon! Please meet me
there!� calls Kaiba as Jou runs away. He whistles a tune to himself as he heads
back through the forest and returns to the castle.
�� Back
within Jou�s home, he works rapidly to get all his morning chores done.
�� An
incessant knocking draws Jou�s attention from the morning dishes that he
washes, and he hurries to get the door. �Good morning.�
�� By
order of His Majesty the King, all citizens must attend a ball in honor of his
Royal Highness the Prince!� exclaims the page dressed in fine linens standing
on the other side of the door. He passes a scroll to Jou. With a bow, he turns
and leaves.
�� Jou
closes the door. He calls up the stairs, �Stepmother! There has been a
messenger from the palace!�
�� Mazaki, Honda, and Bakura storm down the stairs.
�� Jou
hands the scroll over to Mazaki. �He delivered this.�
�� Mazaki unrolls the scroll and reads the words aloud, �His
Majesty the King requests your presence at a ball to be held in two days hence
in honor of his Royal Highness the Prince in hopes that he might select his
future mate. On this night at midnight, his Royal Highness will announce his
engagement to one among the guests. All citizens of Domino must attend!�
�� A
future mate?� asks Bakura, �Why didn�t they say wife?�
�� Perhaps
he�s a bastard like Cindersoot!� exclaims Honda
glaring at Jou.
�� Jou
turns his eyes away.
�� Indeed�
And perhaps one of you shall be his future Prince!� exclaims Mazaki looking over her two sons.
�� Honda�s
eyes widen. �Mother! I�m not a�!�
�� If the
Prince selects you, then you will marry him and let him do whatever he wants to
with you! Is that understood, Hiroto?� asks Mazaki, �Do you know what benefits being married to a royal
would bring?�
�� Honda
scowls at the floor.
�� Bakura smiles. �We will need clothes for the ball, mother.�
�� Yes,
yes, indeed,� says Mazaki smiling evilly, �We will go
shopping immediately! Cinderella, get my wrap!�
�� Cinderella! Get my hat!� exclaims Honda.
�� Jou gets
the shawl and the hat from the closet and passes them to their respective
owners. �Um� stepmother?�
�� Mazaki glares at Jou. �Yes, Cinderella?�
�� Um� it
says that all citizens must attend,� says Jou, �Does that mean that I
can go as well?�
�� I will
not have the Prince seeing you looking like that!� exclaims Mazaki,
�If you can find decent attire and complete all your chores, you may go. Mind
your manners until then!�
�� Jou nods
his head briskly. �Yes, stepmother! I will!�
�� Come
now! We must find new clothes for the ball!� exclaims Mazaki,
�Come along, Cinderella! You can carry our bags for us!�
�� They all
head out of the house and head into town.
�� Late
that night, Jou slips into the attic and pulls out an old outfit of his
father�s. He sighs as he sees the slight disrepair that naturally comes with
age. �If I just had the time, I could fix it up to wear to the ball.�
�� The mice
hear Jou�s words and hurry out of the house to speak to the other animals. They
speak quickly in high-pitched voices and explain all that has happened within
the house that day, especially the part about Jou�s workload being tripled so
that he wouldn�t have time to work on his own clothes.
�� Valentine
paws the ground impatiently and speaks to the other animals.
�� The mice
lead the squirrels and rabbits into the house and up to the attic where the
clothing still lays out. They take it as carefully as they can and drag it
downstairs and out into the forest.
�� Silvia
hangs the clothing up on a tree and eyes it critically. Her voice is soft like
a whispering wind when she speaks and she tells the other animals what things
they will need to improve the clothing for Jou to wear to the ball.
�� With
these thoughts in mind, the deer go to sleep, and the
other animals head to their homes to rest until the next day.
�� The
animals gather supplies from Honda and Bakura�s rooms
that the two boys foolishly discard, and they all begin to work on the repairs
to Jou�s ballroom attire.
�� Jou,
meanwhile, works as hard as he can completing the endless list of tasks that Mazaki supplies him with as well as helping Honda and Bakura
with their preparations for the ball.
�� The deer
help Jou with his housework as much as they can, washing everything that needs
to be washed and tending to the garden by plucking the weeds.
�� Early in
the morning of the day of the ball, Jou helps Bakura into a warm bath.
�� Did you
have time to make clothing for yourself, Cinderella?� asks Bakura.
�� Jou
hangs his head. �No� I have been too busy.�
�� Mother
doesn�t want you to come. I know it,� says Bakura, �Were we the same size I
would allow you to wear something of mine.�
�� But we
are not the same size. You are smaller than I,� says Jou, �I could never hope
to fit into anything of yours. If only Hiroto were so
generous.�
�� He
doesn�t want you to attend either,� says Bakura sadly, �I do not understand why
they hate you so.�
�� It is
because I exist,� says Jou starting to wash Bakura�s
soft silver locks.
�� It is
not right,� says Bakura.
�� They
hate me mostly because women hold no interest of mine,� says Jou.
�� Nor
mine, but they hate me not.�
�� Jou raises
an eyebrow. �Your fancy tends towards��
�� You sometimes, stepbrother, although I would never act upon it.
We are family of sorts, and I dare say you have another that would do you
better,� says Bakura.
�� There
is another.� Jou blushes. �Perhaps not better, but he would certainly do me
good.�
�� Bakura smiles. �Good. I�m glad. Be gone now. I can bathe
myself!�
�� With a
nod, Jou leaves the room. He heads outside to speak to the animals about
possibly helping with his morning chores when they drag him into the forest. He
gasps when he sees the garments hanging in a tree. He barely recognizes it as
the clothes that had belonged to his father. The red tie most certainly had
belonged to Bakura, and the sash about the chest had to have come from Honda.
�How�?�
�� The
animals all speak at once, and Jou listens to their words. He falls to his
knees crying happily. �Thank you! Thank you! Now I can go too if I get my
chores done!�

�� The animals continue to talk
telling him that they will help with his chores again.
�� Jou and
the animals head back to his house leaving only two mice, Flotsam and Jetsam,
to watch over the clothing so no one steals it in their absence.
�� That
afternoon, after completing all the chores thanks to the animals, Jou dresses
in the outfit they carefully prepared for him. He hurries back to the house as Mazaki, Bakura, and Honda walk down the stairs to go to the
ball dressed in their best finery.
�� Stepmother! My chores are all done, and I have clothes to
wear! May I go to the ball too?� asks Jou hopefully.
�� Mazaki�s eyes flash angrily. �Hiroto,
is that not the sash you lost? Ryou, is that not your beloved tie?�
�� Yes!
That is my sash!� exclaims Honda.
�� Bakura
hangs his head. �That was the tie I found missing.�
�� Mazaki grabs the tie and rips it from Jou�s neck. She yanks
off the sash, thoroughly destroying it. �Thief! Is
this how I am repaid for giving you food and shelter all these years?�
�� Jou�s
eyes widen.
�� That is
my undershirt as well!� exclaims Honda cruelly as he steps forward and rips the
surcoat and dress shirt that Jou wears, �And I
believe this belt belongs to Ryou!� He rips the belt off as well so that the
pants fall down about his hips. He rips them down the side so they fall to the
floor. �Humph!�
�� I am
afraid that your appearance would not be well suited for the palace,� says Mazaki cackling wickedly. She gets the whip from the closet
as Honda grabs Jou harshly and holds him upright so she can punish him for his
behavior. She slaps it across Jou�s back repeatedly as hard as she can each time
as she continues to speak. �How dare you presume to go to the palace dressed
like that? I should have you flogged from here to next year, you ingrate!�
�� Jou
cries out in pain as blood starts to flow from his wounds onto the nicely
cleaned floors.
�� And
look! The floors aren�t even clean! I expect this floor to be spotless upon our
return!� exclaims Mazaki hitting Jou extra hard on
his buttocks with the whip before putting the whip away, �Come along, Ryou, Hiroto� The Prince awaits!�
�� Honda
shoves Jou onto the floor roughly so that he bruises his tailbone from the
impact. He laughs as he follows Mazaki out of the
house.
�� Bakura
kneels beside Jou. �I am so sorry, Cinderella! I do not believe you stole those
items intentionally! I had said that I hated that tie and the belt!�
�� I
didn�t take them. My friends did,� says Jou starting to cry.
�� I am so
sorry! I wish you could come to the ball!� exclaims Bakura.
�� I wish
I could go to the ball!� exclaims Jou sobbing into his hands.
�� I will
tell you all about it when I return,� says Bakura,
�and I will help you clean your wounds as well. I must hurry off now before
mother becomes suspicious. I hope your friends can help you clean as they did a
remarkable job on your clothes.� He stands and hurries out of the house to the
awaiting carriage.
�� Jou sobs
uncontrollably as the carriage carries his stepfamily away.
�� Come
now, there�s no reason to cry,� says Motou stepping
out of the shadow of the fireplace.
�� Jou looks
up at Motou through his tear-filled eyes. �Wh� who are you?�
�� Motou smiles.
�I am your fairy godmother� uh, godfather� and I�ve
come to help you get your wish.�
�� Jou
wipes his eyes dry and looks at Motou.
�� Now�
your wish was to go to the ball,� says Motou, �Fine!
It shall be done! There is someone there waiting for you!�
�� Why are
you doing this for me?� asks Jou.
�� Because you are good of heart. Because
you have suffered needlessly all these years. Because there was nothing
that I could have done to help you until now,� says Motou,
�Choose your reason.�
�� If you
are my fairy� uh, godfather� why have you waited until
now to show up? Wasn�t there anything you could have done earlier?� asks Jou.
�� I am
afraid not,� says Motou, �I wasn�t
permitted to interfere in your life until now.�
�� Jou�s
head bobs up and down in a quick nod.
�� Motou kneels beside Jou and touches his back. His hands
glow with a violet light just like his eyes. �I can�t heal your wounds either.
There are a lot of down sides to this fairy godfather role, but I can ease the
pain for tonight at least!�
�� Whatever
you can do would be much appreciated,� says Jou. He stretches as the light
travels across his back and eases his pain. He smiles. �Hey, I feel good as
new!�
�� Don�t
go thinking you are though,� says Motou, �Or you
could hurt yourself even more!�
�� Yeah� I
know.�
�� Now! If you are to go to the ball, the first thing you will
need is an outfit,� says Motou smiling at Jou. He
steps back and pulls a wand from his shirtsleeve. He waves his wand in the air
and flicks it before tapping Jou on his blond head. �With a wave and a flick,
these words do the trick. Bibbidi Bobbidi
Boo! Your clothing is now new!�
�� A bright
flash of violet light surrounds Jou, and when it dims, Jou looks at his clothing.
He wears a crisp white tunic beneath a tabard of emerald and silver threads
tightly woven together that sparkle even in the dimmest light. The tights he
wears are a rich emerald green with a silver stripe down the outside of each
leg. His crystal loafers on his feet have silver accents, and
upon his brow sits a thin, silver circlet-like crown with a small
emerald directly in the center.
�� Jou�s
cheeks and eyelids have been brushed with silver, and
his golden hair has a luster even more golden than normal.
�� Not bad
if I do say so myself!� exclaims Motou smiling at his
handiwork, �Come now! We must be quick or you will miss your date at the ball!�
He leads Jou outside.
�� What
else do I need?� asks Jou.
�� I
think� a coach!� exclaims Motou looking around,
�Normally we use pumpkins, but since you don�t have one of them, I suppose that
squash will have to do!� He waves his wand towards the squash and it moves
towards the road. �Bibbidi Bobbidi
Boo!�
�� Wow!�
exclaims Jou as he watches the squash turn into an enormously extravagant
carriage that resembles nothing of the squash it had been moments before.
�� Motou smiles as the animals come out to look at what�s
going on. �Well, now� Two coachmen, two footmen, and a team
of six.�
�� Jou
looks all around as Motou waves his wand towards the
animals.
�� The
birds, Venus and Adonis, transform into a coachwoman and coachman and quickly
climb onto the springboard driver�s seat where Venus takes up the whip and
Adonis lifts the reins.
�� The
rabbits, Hamlet and Ophelia, transform into a footman and a foot woman and they
quickly stand by the door, Ophelia holding it open and Hamlet preparing to help
Jou inside.
�� The six
squirrels transform into six chestnut horses and quickly take their positions
in front of the carriage and are harnessed in by another flick of the wand.
�� Ah yes�
clothing, transportation� all good. Now for a warning!� exclaims Motou, �You have until midnight, I�m afraid. This magic is
only good until then. You must leave before midnight or everyone will see you as you are, half-dressed
and beaten.�
�� Leave
before midnight! Got it!� exclaims Jou, �How can I ever thank you, fairy
godfather!�
�� Motou smiles.
�Thank me by finding the one you already know you love!�
�� Jou smiles.
�� Now, into the carriage and away!�
�� Jou climbs
into the carriage. He watches Hamlet close the door, and his two rabbit friends
climb onto the back of the carriage.
�� The
carriage hurries away to the castle.
�� Jou
climbs out of the carriage and waves to his friends as he hurries inside. He
takes a deep breath as he heads into the ballroom, and he looks around.
�� All the
dancers stop and turn their eyes to Jou.
�� Jou
swallows hard and shivers slightly at all the lusty stares aimed at him. He
looks around for Kaiba and finally spots him, standing straight in front of the
Prince�s throne with a golden crown upon his head. He blinks in disbelief.
�� Kaiba
hurries through the crowd which parts for him easily,
and he quickly makes it to Jou�s side. �You came!�
�� And you
are the Prince!� exclaims Jou bowing.
�� There
is no need for you to bow to me,� says Kaiba, �It is I who should bow to you.�
He bows to Jou. �Would you like to dance with me?�
�� I would
like nothing more!� exclaims Jou.
�� Kaiba
smiles and escorts Jou down onto the dance floor. He wraps his arms lightly
around Jou�s body and grips his hand firmly in case he might disappear right in
front of him. �You look amazing! I cannot believe how wonderful you look! And
it pains me so to think that it has been so long since last I set eyes on your
beautiful face!�
�� Only a
few days time,� says Jou blushing.
�� To me
it has been an eternity,� says Kaiba, �Oh, would that I could have you by my
side always!�
�� If my
understanding is correct, Seto, you have merely to say the word and it shall be
done,� says Jou.
�� But I
do not wish to command your affections! I wish they be given freely of your own
accord!� exclaims Kaiba.
�� Then
your wish is granted!� exclaims Jou staring into Kaiba�s eyes.
�� Kaiba
and Jou dance the entire night and never separate from each other�s embrace.
�� Many
times throughout the night Jou has seen Bakura wink at him while Honda and Mazaki glare, but he notices that their glare isn�t a glare
of recognition but more a general glare of loathing.
�� Kaiba
escorts Jou into a quiet alcove where they will be undisturbed, and he pulls
the blond boy into his arms.
�� Jou
gasps in pain as the strong arms press down on his hidden injuries. He mumbles
to himself, �It must be getting close to midnight.�
�� Kaiba
lifts Jou�s chin and looks into the honey-brown eyes. He runs his thumb across
the supple lips. �If only I could gaze into these eyes for the rest of my life�
taste these luscious lips every morning, noon, and night� grace this body of
yours with all the love this world possesses.�
�� You
need only say the word,� says Jou, �You are Prince, after all��
�� I would
not command you to stay with me, nor to kiss me, nor even to do all the
wonderful things that I wish to do with you. I would not command you� No� I could
not command you, for it is I who must obey your every command.
You are the master of my heart,� says Kaiba holding Jou closer.
�� The
clock strikes twelve.
�� Jou�s
head spins to look at the clock. �Oh, no! I must go! I
am sorry! I must go, Seto!�
�� Wait!
Stay! Stay with me tonight!� exclaims Kaiba.
�� I cannot!�
exclaims Jou tearing himself from Kaiba�s arms and running out of the ballroom.
�� Wait!�
shouts Kaiba running after Jou.
�� Jou
trips and one of his glass loafers slides off his foot. He continues to run away
however, and he climbs into his carriage. �Home! Home!
As fast as you can fly!�
�� Kaiba
reaches the outer gates in time to watch the carriage race off into the night.
He looks down and sees the glass shoe that his love left behind. He bends down
and picks it up. He looks back at the place where he last saw the carriage. �I
think I love you, Cinderella.�
�� Kaiba
returns to the ballroom and sits down in his throne beside Pegasus. �I have
made my decision, but I would rather I not announce it tonight, father. I want
to marry the one I danced with tonight, the one who fits this slipper.�
�� It will
be hard to find one man out of so many in our kingdom,� says Pegasus.
�� I will
have no other,� says Kaiba.
�� Pegasus
sighs. �You are as stubborn as your mother!�
�� I take
that as a compliment!� exclaims Kaiba smiling.
�� I have
never seen you smile. This boy must be something special,� says Pegasus
smiling.
�� He is,
father. He is. I just wish he could have stayed with me longer tonight,� says
Kaiba, �Much longer!�
�� Do you
wish to oversee the trying on of the shoe? Surely, everyone in our kingdom will
have to do so,� says Pegasus.
�� Yes� I
will take the court advisor if you grant it, and we will depart at first light.
I may be able to find my one true love without having anyone else try on the
shoe,� says Kaiba, �I met him one morning when he was fetching water for his
home.� He blushes.
�� Really?�
asks Pegasus with a sly grin, �And did you devour him there or did you wait?�
�� Kaiba�s
cheeks turn crimson. �I haven�t touched him until tonight!�
�� Pegasus
nods his head. �You�d best say good night and get some rest if you want to head
out early in the morning.�
�� Yes.
Good night, father,� says Kaiba standing. He heads out to his room and lies
down without bothering to get undressed.
�� While
Kaiba is deciding the fate of his kingdom, Jou races down the road in his
magical carriage. He barely gets to his house and hops out before everything
changes back into what it was. He looks down at his feet and notices something
quite odd. He still wears one glass shoe. He takes the shoe off and hurries
into the house after thanking the animals ever so kindly for all their
assistance.
�� Motou sits on the stairs yawning. He smiles when he sees
Jou in his tattered clothes. �You arrived back in time. I was beginning to
wonder if you would.�
�� I
barely did,� says Jou moving to sit beside Motou, �What happened here? Everything looks so clean!�
�� Well� I
couldn�t let you be beat for the blood that was spilt on the floor, so I
remedied the situation,� says Motou.
�� Jou
pulls Motou into an embrace. �Thank you� for
everything. It was the most wonderful night of my life!�
�� I�m
glad. You should get some sleep, and I need to leave.�
�� Jou
nods. He opens his mouth to speak.
�� If you
ever need me again, you�ll find me,� says Motou
squeezing Jou tight before standing and vanishing into the air.
�� Jou
hides the shoe in the storage closet and heads into the kitchen to sleep on the
warm hearth. He doesn�t even bother with changing; he can always do that in the
morning.
�� In the
morning, Kaiba leads the court advisor through the forest to the stream where
he had seen Jou bathe a few days before. He listens intently for any sound as
the advisor looks on impatiently. �We must have missed him. We slept in too
late.�
�� I am
sorry, Your Highness, but we will find him,� says the
advisor.
�� Well
then� we will just have to try the shoe on the foot of every eligible man in
the kingdom until he is found,� says Kaiba, �We will travel door to door!�
�� The
advisor nods. �As you wish, Your Highness!�
�� We must
find that boy! I will have him!� exclaims Kaiba as he leads his advisor back to
the city.
�� Do you
really love him so much, after so little time spent with him?� asks the
advisor.
�� I have
spent more time with him than you think I have,� says Kaiba, �We met in the
village, and we�ve talked. And I even met him here in the forest for another
conversation, but our interludes haven�t been anything deeper than that. We
haven�t even kissed and have barely touched.�
�� The
advisor only smiles.
�� You
think I�m rushing things!�
�� I said
nothing of the sort. I am only glad that you are happy. Your father is the one
insisting you be married off like some prize bull��
�� Yes,
very true, but don�t let him hear you talk like that!� exclaims Kaiba laughing.
�� Kaiba
and his advisor travel to many houses that day and try the glass shoe on every
eligible man as well as half the women in the town, but the shoe never seems to
fit. They finally make it to Jou�s house on the outskirts of town.
�� Bakura
opens the door. His brown eyes widen when he sees the royal advisor and the
Prince standing before him. He bows. �Your Highness!�
�� Kaiba�s
eyes widen in recognition of the white-haired boy. �You� you are Cinderella�s
brother, aren�t you? I have been looking for him ever since the ball last
night! Where is he?�
�� Hush!
Hush! You mustn�t let her hear!� exclaims Bakura looking at the staircase with
frightened eyes as Kaiba and the advisor enter the house.
�� Ryou, dear! Who is it?� asks Mazaki
walking down the staircase.
�� Pretend
you don�t know me or Cinderella, or his fate will be as good as death!� hisses
Bakura under his breath. He looks at Mazaki and
smiles warmly. �His Highness, the Prince, and the royal advisor have paid us a
visit. I have not yet learned their business here though they are always
welcome.�
�� Mazaki�s eyes widen, but she quickly pushes aside her shock
and smiles as she curtseys to the two men.
�� Honda
comes down the stairs just behind his mother, and he
bows.
�� We are
actually looking for the young man that I danced with all last night,� says
Kaiba keeping his eyes fixed on Mazaki, �The only
clue I have to his identity is the slipper he wore as we danced. Quite the
remarkable shoe, made of the finest glass, yet it did not break nor seem to
cause any discomfort for him.�
�� We have
been trying the shoe on the foot of every eligible young man in the kingdom,�
says the advisor, �And we have come here to see if there are any whom might
have been His Highness�s dance partner last evening.�
�� We have
two fine young gentlemen here,� says Mazaki
indicating Honda and Bakura with her hands.
�� Honda
glares at Mazaki.
�� Well,
advisor�� Kaiba glares at Mazaki.
�� The
advisor motions to the chair while gazing at Bakura.
�� Bakura
sits down and smiles. He bows his head so that his hair falls down to hide his
face.
�� The
advisor kneels in front of Bakura with the glass shoe and removes the leather
one upon Bakura�s foot. He slides the shoe onto Bakura�s foot, but it fits him loosely, so loosely in fact
that he would trip over it if he even tried to walk.
�� Next,�
says Kaiba.
�� Bakura
places his shoe back on and steps over towards Kaiba. He places his hand over
his mouth as if to hide his anxiousness that his brother might be chosen.
�� Where is
Cinderella?� Kaiba�s lips don�t move, and the voice is
barely audible.
�� The one
you seek has been locked in the kitchen, battered and bloody in a heap on the
hearth. My mother has not treated him kindly. She was not pleased to find him
sleeping in so late this morning. He was tired from the dancing� Mother didn�t
even know he had been at the ball. She had forbid him to go in hopes that Honda
or I could capture your heart,� whispers Bakura.
�� Has she
always hurt him?�
�� She
treats him worse than a dog,� whispers Bakura.
�� Honda
sits down with a disdainful scowl upon his face.
�� The
advisor places the shoe on Honda�s foot or tries only to find that Honda�s foot
is to wide and too long.
�� Mazaki glares at Honda and Bakura.
�� Are there
any others?� asks the advisor.
�� None,�
says Mazaki.
�� Not
even a servant?� asks Kaiba.
�� No, Your Highness.� Mazaki�s eyes
widen slightly.
�� Would
you mind if we looked around?� asks Kaiba.
�� Of
course not, Your Highness,� says Mazaki
as her voice trembles slightly in fear.
�� Kaiba
starts to look around the house in the various rooms on the ground floor. He
tries the door into the kitchen, but the door only rattles. �What is behind
here?�
�� Nothing�
Just the kitchen,� says Honda, �Your Highness.�
�� Open
it!�
�� Mazaki pulls the key from around her neck and unlocks the
door.
�� Kaiba
pulls the door open quickly and looks around the room. He sees the windows
shuttered and barred. He walks inside and sees the blond haired boy curled up
in a ball in front of the small fire, blood still seeping from the fresh wounds
on his unclothed back and whimpering like a broken puppy. He walks towards Jou
in shock.
�� The
advisor gasps at the sight of the boy.
�� Jou
jumps fearfully and slides into the fire. He yelps in pain and jumps forward onto his hands and kneels. �Don�t hurt me
anymore! I didn�t do anything! I swear!�
�� Kaiba
spins around to glare icily at Mazaki. �You�ve hurt
him? For what reason?�
�� He is
lazy and needed to be punished for his laziness,� says Mazaki.
�� No one
is going to hurt you, Cinderella,� says Kaiba kneeling beside him, �Never
again.�
�� Jou
looks up at Seto with rapidly widening eyes as the recognition finally sets in.
�Wh� wha�
what�?�
�� Kaiba
pulls Jou carefully into his arms, and he helps the
other to stand. He guides him out into the living room and onto a soft chair.
He�s not surprised when Jou stays leaning forward so the back of the chair
doesn�t touch his wounds. �The slipper��
�� The
advisor hands the glass slipper to Kaiba.
�� Kaiba
places the shoe upon Jou�s bare foot. �A perfect fit.�
�� That
means nothing!� exclaims Mazaki angrily, �That shoe
could fit any number of people!�
�� Not
true!� exclaims Jou as tears run down his face. He stands up and hobbles over
to a storage closet. He opens it and quickly pulls out another shoe made of
glass that he had hidden within. He shows the shoe to everyone.
�� Kaiba smiles.
�� Bakura
moves to Jou and holds him up while the blond places the slipper onto his other
foot. �I�m so happy for you!�
�� Ryou�� Mazaki glares at Bakura.
�� Eep!� Bakura�s
eyes widen.
�� Royal advisor! Call for the guards! Have this woman
arrested!� exclaims Kaiba.
�� For
what?� asks Honda.
�� Daring to lay a hand on that which is mine!�
�� The guards
are already on their way,� says Motou stepping
through the doorway from the kitchen.
�� Jou
smiles when he sees Motou. �Hey!�
�� Motou smiles.
�I have informed the guards, and they will be here momentarily. In the
meantime, perhaps I should introduce you to your husband to be, Prince Seto.�
�� I
already know��
�� No you
don�t,� says Motou giggling, �Katsuya� meet Seto.
Seto� meet Katsuya, your Cinderella.�
�� Katsuya?�
asks Kaiba looking at Jou.
�� No
one�s called me that since my father died,� says Jou hanging his head. He lifts
it slowly and looks at Motou. �How do you know it,
godfather?�
�� Your
mother told me� We died together after all,� says Motou
sadly as his smile slips away, �She had died in an attempt to give me life, but
I was too weak to outlive the delivery.� His smile brightens as he looks at Jou
again. �But do not worry about the past. I am your fairy godfather now! And so
I get to help you! And good news is� I get to help Ryou too this time!�
�� Me?�
asks Bakura.
�� Kaiba,
Honda, and Mazaki stare in shock while the advisor
just closes his eyes and pretends not to notice anything going on around him.
�� Motou pulls out a wand and points it at Bakura. �Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!�
�� Bakura�s clothing changes to become more ornate and richer
in design. He looks very much like the royal advisor.
�� You
will be the new advisor to Katsuya. He will need your help learning to adjust
to royal life,� says Motou pointing his wand at Jou,
�First a healing spell! Bibbidi Bobbidi
Boo!�
�� The
wounds close of their own accord and the scars, both old and new, fade to be
hardly noticeable.
�� I can�t
make the wounds go away completely, but at least you aren�t in pain now,
right?� asks Motou.
�� Jou pats
his chest down and stretches the muscles of his back. �Um� wow! Thank you!�
�� And
now� I doubt Pegasus would want to see you like that, although Seto probably
appreciates the view��
�� Kaiba
blushes.
�� Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!� exclaims Motou again.
�� A
blinding light surrounds Jou and clothes him in the finest silks, in apparel
worthy of his title as Prince�s consort.
�� Motou hugs Jou quickly. �I will see you when you need me
again!�
�� Thank
you!� exclaims Jou as Motou vanishes into thin air.
�� The town
guards come rushing into the house.
�� Guards! Arrest this woman for assault upon her adopted
son!� exclaims Kaiba.
�� The
guards hurry to do as Kaiba demanded.
�� Katsuya�
Ryou, come along with us,� says Kaiba extending his hand for Jou to take,
�Katsuya� will you agree to marry me?�
�� Of course! It�s all I�ve ever wanted!� exclaims Jou
embracing Kaiba quickly.

�� ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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101 Puppies

Cinderella