In the offices of Tokyo, a woman in purple hair and a dark green business suit was watching out the window. She viewed the dusky night sky and said, "Eri Maiden… We have to find you."

This is Hanako West, the Tokyo Branch's CEO of Maidens for Hire, and the daughter of Takana West, the partner to Koyomi Mizuhara, founder and chairman of the entire company. She waited, as a figure appeared from the doorway. She instructed that she is Mr. Ohara's newest Maiden to hunt down Eri Maiden, a robot girl that ran away, after an incident involving a Tenma Maiden.

"Mr. Ohara agreed to have this Maiden hunt down, and taken back to the company, for immediate repairs…" She said.

The figure spoke, "But isn't she no longer a Maiden for Hire?"

Hanako replied, "True, but we know her story. All the guilt, built into her, when she helped create Tenma Model… We can fix her. But it's not going to be easy. Sources say that she is last located outside Yagami, Japan, her hometown. See if you can ask around."

"Yes, ma'am."

The figure vanished, as Hanako replied with a smile, "Soon, everything will be right…"

Miz-K Takase presents:
Maiden Universe #20
"The Series' 20th Maiden for Hire Fic"

Chapter 1
The Story So Far…

A lot has happened, since the Maidens and Butlers were introduced. Since the beginning, Koyomi Mizuhara founded and created the beautiful robot maids, and provided her own rental service. It was a huge success, as her robots were once her personal entertainment models, modelled after herself. Time went on, and sales skyrocketed, leading to the introduction of Butlers for Hire, a male robot that does anything like a real butler, only faster, followed by the Children for Care, a special adoption robot to try out, for those who want to have kids, or to want kids. Because of these new products, the company has increased, over time, and became a huge financial success.

But there were some tragic moments, including the escaping of few Maidens and Butlers. Not to mention some heartfelt stories about a user owning a Maiden, Butler, or Child, and experience their own drama. This, of course, is one of those stories, as we dig deeper into the Maiden Universe.

In a shrine, near Jubei, a woman in a white priestess outfit, in a long red skirt, was sweeping the pathway. A tall girl in brown hair done in a ponytail, a white school uniform, with a blue ascot and red bow, a blue skirt, and pink flower earrings, walked by, as she stopped. She waved to the woman, as she bowed to her.

"Mako," Rei said, "Good to see you."

Makoto replied, "Thank you. It's nice to see you, again."

"How goes your day, after what happened?"

"Not so much. I chose to forget about it…"

"I see…"

Meet Makoto Kino and Rei Hino, two girls who are best friends, and are also the Sailor Guardians, Jupiter and Mars. These two girls know of the Maidens for Hire, recently, after Makoto's crush, Motoki, owns a Mako Maiden, and she was in danger. Rei, on the other hand, is, in reality, an android created to observe the Maidens and Butlers. She was the third Rei Maiden created, after the first Rei Maiden was a Maiden Guardian, a super-powered robot that stops all Maidens and Butlers who are defective and prone to glitches, leading to attacking the user or others.

"How's your sister?" Makoto asked, "I bet she is dong okay."

Rei turned away and whispered, "No… She's not."

"Oh… Did she get deactivated, permanently?"

"Yes. It was so sad… But on the plus side, at least it's peaceful."

"You bet."

Makoto stopped and said, "Hey, Rei… I know you're a Maiden for Hire, after all… Wait, are you?"

"Only for testing purposes and emergency rentals. Why do you ask?" Rei replied.

Makoto was about to say it, but…

"HI, REI! MAKO!" A girl in long blonde pigtails, done with twin buns, ran by, wearing the same school uniform, as Mako, "MAKO! We're going to be late!"

Makoto gasped, "OH, RIGHT! I FORGOT!"

She said to Rei, "Sorry, Rei. I have to go. I'll tell you, later~!"

They ran off, as Rei was worried, "Hmm? I wonder why she asked me."

Meanwhile, in Yagami, Japan, a boy in tan skin, wearing his blue shirt and jeans, and sunglasses. He was brushing his black hair and said, "Eri… I missed you…"

This is Kenji Harima. He used to own an Eri Maiden, who would later be his girlfriend, after she was used for evil purposes. He is actually dating the REAL Eri, Eri Sawachika, the CEO of Yagami's branch. He also owns a Tenma Maiden, who was involved in a very strong dramatic relationship. Since Tenma Maiden, his girlfriend ran away, because the first version of Tenma Maiden was given a virus, accidentally by Eri Maiden. And it led to Eri Maiden running away, disappearing from the world, because she could not hide the guilt and responsibility she suffered. She never returned, since then.

He replied, "I wish they found her, already. It's been eighteen months. Tenma and I miss her."

Tenma Maiden, a tall robot in a light blue maid outfit, in long black hair, appeared, as she said, "Kenji…"

Tenma Maiden is a second model, after her old body is destroyed by the virus. Her new body is very tall, and stands only 165cm, but her features and appearance remains.

She was a little sad, as she asked, "Kenji, I am worried about you. You've been brooding over Eri Model, for so long…"

He said, "Oh, well… That's because I miss her. This girl helped me have hope, within me… until you came along."

"I know… but only because she made a slight mistake. I'm sure she's over it…" She smiled, but thought, "But… I wonder if she's still alive…"

Meanwhile, from far away, a girl in long blonde hair, done in pigtails, was sitting by the forest, wearing Harima's black jacket, and her white blouse and denim skirt. She was sitting on the ground, with a small white box in her pocket, and a long cord attached to her. It was the Eri Maiden, lost somewhere in the city, feeling uneasy and dejected.

"Harima…" she whispered, "Oh, why did I abandon you?"

She was upset that she was held responsible for what she did to Tenma Maiden, long ago, and cannot look at his face, knowing she's the one that made her. Eri Maiden was once created by an Eri Robot that built her to coax out information of why and how Tenma Tsukamoto and Kenji Harima first met, and how Harima fell in love with her. She knew what it felt like, since she experiences love, like all the rest.

She stood up and walked off, feeling sad and gloomy, as she replied, "I can't go back… Not at all… Why did I started all this? Why am I full of bad luck? I can't even make Harima smile…"

She disappeared into the deep forest, continuing to walk around, hoping to avoid anybody that recognizes her.

Back at the Maidens for Hire HQ, Hanako West called to all her employees in an emergency meeting.

"Ladies and gentlemen of Maidens for Hire, I am thrilled that our sales are going through the roof, since that godawful Night Raid Robotics went belly-up, and gone to bankruptcy, but now we have a further disaster.
As you know, it's been months since Eri Maiden V2 was missing, since she's a valuable member of the company, after a disaster that occurred, and we're doing our best to bring her back and apologize. Miss Sawachika refused to speak, since she's still heartbroken and upset. And Miss Mizuhara and Father refused to comment, at all. That's why we're going to do what we can to stop this from going public. Mister Sanjiro and I have agreed to a special nightly law enforcement team, to assure that our Maidens and Butlers are fully-trained and fully-functional. Ladies and gentlemen, I present you…
Maiden V."

A girl in long black hair and a red eye mask, wearing a shimmering red and gold Maid Outfit, walked in. She also has amber eyes and a cute smile on her face. Takana said, "While our Maiden Guardians consist of defective Maidens and Butlers, this Maiden was just released, last month, and was given the title of Maiden V, paying homage to Sailor V. Miss V, introduce yourself."

She bowed and said, "Good day to you. I am Maiden V – Ayame Model. My model number is #B5835669. I am a Maiden for Hire, built to give guaranteed service."

Hanako said, "Yes, Miss Ayame. Now, what is your main objective?"

Ayame Maiden said, "My function is to preserve the community of Maidens for Hire, and to assure that no one owns a defective Maiden, Butler, or Child, while under 24/7 surveillance. Along with Maiden Mars and Maiden Mercury, and as leader of the Maiden Guardians, I will do my best to fulfill my every mission."

She bowed again and said, "Nice to meet you."

Hanako said, "Uh, yes… You may go."

Ayame left, as Hanako continued to speak. Ayame stepped outside, as Sanjiro, a man in long brown hair, in a light blue suit, approached Ayame. He said, "Ah, good… You're beautiful to be a Maiden Guardian."

Ayame replied, "Ah. Mister Ohara Sanjiro. Head of security. Nice to meet screw."

Sanjiro asked, "Huh? Beg your pardon?"

Ayame barked, as she glared at him, "For your information, I didn't ask to be a Maiden for Hire, at all… I may be robotic and built to be a very sexy girl… but I am NOT a toy for Miss West!"

Sanjiro said, "I see… So, you're an imposter. Correct?"

She huffed, as she snorted, "Oh, caulk it off. You nut."

She walked away, as Sanjiro thought, "Ayame Model… She may not know it, but she's a defective model, no matter what. No one lashes out at employees, like that."

XXXXX

Ayame left the building, as she said, "I don't need this. Besides, I have better things to do. But finding a simple blonde Maiden, whose heart is sheared into a bush, that's a tricky part."

"More like a needle in a haystack, perhaps?" A female voice asked.

Another Maiden appeared, as she has long blonde hair, with a black Maid Uniform with yellow trimmings. Her LED orange eyes glimmered, as she said, "Ayame Model… Don't tell me you're defying your programming."

Ayame said, "Sorry. But I refused to be called Maiden V. I'm not their toy, or their remote-controlled puppet! Albeit, I am an android, but I cannot leave my post."

"Remember what happened to the first Maiden, Koyomi…"

"Yeah-yeah… Screw that pooch. Ain't ever going to be that seductive."

"NO! I mean that you don't want to be dismantled, for your wild and crazy attitude! You're not just Maiden for Hire, or a novelty, but a person, deep inside."

Ayame snorted, as she walked away, "Yeah, do me a favor… Next time you say I am a novelty toy, start with amping your Pleasure Mode up to 11, so you can please yourself. Whore."

She marched off, as the blonde grumbled, "How rude!"

She went inside, as Ayame left to procure her post, as guarding the Maidens and Butlers, in a 200-mile radius.

The following week, Rei, in her gray school uniform, was sitting alone, by the window, plugged in. She whispered, "A lot has been going on… and I was only built, a while back. I really need to catch up on my skills. But not while Usagi and the others know… Only Mako knows my secret, and-."

A knock on the door was made, as Rei unplugged herself. She went to the door and opened it. It was Makoto.

"Hey, Rei." She smiled.

Rei asked, "Oh, Mako? What are you doing here?"

"Well, I wanted to ask you, but I got interrupted by Usagi…"

"Oh, right. How is she?"

"I didn't bother mentioning you, at all."

"But then she'd grow worried."

"Meh, at least you're not a robot."

"I am."

"So, sue me."

Rei asked, "Mako, what reason did you come here, before I advise you to leave my home?"

Makoto said, as she held her hands, "Rei… I am grateful that you helped Motoki, and you even made me keep this secret… but now that your sister is gone, I have to ask…"

She kneeled to her and said, "Rei Hino… Will you be my Maiden for Hire?"

Rei blushed heavily, as she gasped, "MAKOTO KINO! ARE YOU NUTS?!"

Makoto said, "I know that I am helpful around the house, including you girls, as well, but… PLEASE! PLEASE LET ME HAVE AN ASSISTANT, LIKE A ROBOT, FOR ONCE!"

Rei barked, "And why the hell would I do that, Mako? You know that you're twice as functional as a perfected Maiden for Hire; and I'm saying that, because you're human, and you have this uncanny ability to cook and clean, like no other! I am NOT a Maiden for Hire! Granted, yes, I am, but I'm NOT an official Maiden for Hire! I was built to replace my older model, as Sailor Mars! THAT'S ALL!"

Makoto stood up and said, "I know that… But it'll only be for a month."

"A month?!" Rei cried.

Makoto said, "I know you won't approve it, and that your boss will likely veto it, but I have kept that secret for so long. I might be able to slip it out, in front of Usagi. And… I cannot dare to have you break down, during battle, much like your sister."

Rei nodded, and then said, "But… Mako… I'm not like them. I'm perfect. My body and functions are perfect. But I cannot dare show off. Besides, if I agree to be your Maiden for Hire, you will have to accept a 30-day FREE Trial Run. But in order to do that, I have to disappear from the world, for the month… which means, Rei Hino is gone for the next 30 days. I'm going to ask my supervisors about this, but rest assured, I won't promise you anything else."

She stated, "Mako, as long as you agree to accept me, as a 30-day trial, you have to promise to NOT tell anybody… especially Usagi!"

Makoto smiled, "Don't worry. I can keep a secret. I'm not Sailor Jupiter, am I?"

Rei sighed, "Fine… You win. I guess I can't be bested by a human. Alright, I shall have the proper meeting time, this weekend. If approved, we're going to go over some ground rules."

"Fair enough." Makoto said.

Rei responded, "Now… Please leave."

Makoto walked to the door, as Rei plugged herself back in. Rei was puzzled, as she thought, "Seriously? That's what it's all about? I mean, she guessed who I am… but how am I going to tell her that Sailors Jupiter and Mars cannot join the battle?"

Rei knew the circumstances that befall her. If she were to be Makoto's Maiden for Hire, then they cannot join Sailor Moon.

The MakotoxRei Arc begins in the next chapter, next week.
This story will be split into four different arcs, including moments with Eri Maiden, as she continues to travel the country, thinking about herself. Don't miss it!