Yo, a new fanfiction from yours truly. This time, it's Touhou and a rarely used pairing, so watch your back!

….

"Alice."

The puppeteer shifted in Sakuya's arms as a response to her name.

"Hmm?"

Silver hair tickled her nose. Smiling, she began to play with it.

"…Alice, are you…"

The maid hesitated for a moment. She knew she didn't have the right to; she had given all her trust to the doll maker. Still, why was she so nervous around the blond? Could it be that…?

The dimly-lit room suddenly felt a little colder to Sakuya. A chill ran down her back, and she trembled. Still, she didn't bother to pull the covers up.

"Alice, are you sure about this?"

Alice huffed. "Of course. How could you doubt me? I love you, Sakuya, and you know it. Now I'm just wondering if you love me as well."

The most words Alice had said in a while, and the most hurtful.

Alice turned over on the crimson-colored bedsheets. The master of the house was very fond of all shades of red.

"F-Forgive me, Alice. I didn't mean to offend you. I'm just…"

A pause from the platinum-haired servant.

The lamp next to the bed was flickering on and off; seemed that it was about to meet its time.

Alice sighed through her nose and played with the edge of the sheets. Being a person who practiced puppetry her fingers were always busy, and this moment was not an exception.

"Do you love me?"

A short, noticeable silence.

"W-what?"

"Do. You. Love. Me."

Alice had said it so bluntly and hastily that Sakuya was too stunned to respond. By now the doll maker had turned around to face Sakuya again and was waiting for an answer.

"I…"

The lamp was now making buzzing noises that went unnoticed by the two girls.

Alice frowned at Sakuya's face. The maid's cerulean eyes were darting around nervously, refusing to meet her own.

"…Give me a real answer, Sakuya, or I'll hate you forever."

That was Alice's childish side submerging in an attempt to get Sakuya to speak out.

"Mm…" Sakuya made a low cry from deep in her throat. Alice was a very stubborn person, she knew, but… but why did she have to be so difficult at times? Sometimes Sakuya just wanted to squirm away and be free from Alice's gaze, but how could she? That would just upset her, and Alice had an iron grip anyways. Trying to wiggle your way out of something with Alice would be impossible.

"Er…I…Alice…mmlubue."

Sakuya fiddled with the edge of her white shirt. She mentally cursed herself for letting that last bit collapse off of her tongue.

"Yes?" Alice urged in a pleasant sing-song voice, twisting one of Sakuya's braids between her index and middle finger. "Sorry, I can't really hear you. Speak up, dear~"

"S-stop it, Alice."

"Stop what?"

"You're making me uncomfortable."

"Just say you love me and I'll stop."

Sakuya's cheeks stained red and she frowned.

"Promise?"

"You sound like a child, Sakuya," Alice hummed.

"Promise?" Sakuya rested her chin atop Alice's head and stared at the light-ruby walls anxiously.

Alice sighed, but smiled. "Yes, I promise, Sakuya. Though, it was fun messing with you." Her tone was breezy but slathered in anticipation.

"…Alright." Sakuya took a breath and wrapped her arms gingerly around Alice. Alice, in turn, dropped her hands down to Sakuya's waist and held her delicate frame. She grinned excitedly and buried her head in Sakuya's chest.

"…I lo—"

It was at that time that the lamp gave up its struggle and finally died out on them. Alice took that opportunity to strip Sakuya of her clothes in pure glee.