CONTRACT
Andrew never paid attention to any e-mails that looked like sales, but this one felt different. He clicked to open the message: Artificial Spirit Mei-Mei is searching for the one to form a contract with her companion after the death her privous Medium. Suigintou is a masterpiece created by the legendary Rozen, one of a kind and beautiful. Will you wind? Will you not wind? The only part of the message that made any sense was the part about Rozen. Rozen was likely the greatest craftsman to ever make a doll, Andrew had once seen a documentary that his mom had Tevo'ed about him. Rozen's early works had price tags with five figures, Andrew was almost afraid to know the value of something labeled as his masterpiece.
Unfortunately, there were no links, attatchments, or any other information in the message. Dispite his curiosity, Andrew had nothing left to do but delete the message. However, he accidentally clicked reply. After rereading the message, Andrew typed in, I will wind. The moment he clicked send, the power went out in the studio apartment he was living in. "You gotta be kidding!"
Andrew stood from his desk and stepped to the window. Pulling the string, he looked through the angled blinds and saw that his was the only unit without power. He was puzzled when he moved to the circuit-breaker and saw that nothing was amiss. stumped, he reached for his cell phone, switching his mind to Japanese as he began to dial his landlord. he stopped right before he hit call when he heard a soft thump.
Turning, Andrew saw a box the size of his torso open on its own. at first, he thought he was gazing at the sleeping form of a girl. However, as he approached, Andrew noticed that she wasn't breathing; coupling that fact with the small key sitting near her head, he figured out that she was a doll. He looked over the resting form beneath him: she was garbed in a black gothic dress, with porcelian white skin, black angel-wings, and hair that reminded him of mercury. "Mercury..." Andrew translated in his head, "Suigin... so, could this be... Suigintou?"
He lifted her gently from the box and turned her over. While being unfamiliar with dolls in general, Andrew at least understood the basics. he reached for the key and inserting it into the small hole in her back, just above her waist, he turned it. He turned the doll to face him, expecting her to open her eyes, smile and hold out her arms. He nearly dropped her when she grabbed his wrists.
Opening her fiery violet-pink eyes, she commanded in japanese, "release me."
Out of a sense of surrealism, Andrew obeyed. "Y-You're alive? I thought you were a doll."
"both are correct. I am Suigintou, First Doll of the Rozen Maidens." She paused as her hand brushed lint from her stomach and gasped, "since when?"
"Suigintou? Andrew asked, "is something wrong?"
She cast a sideways glance at the high school freshman. She coupled his accent with his skin tone to come up with the question, "are you an american?"
"Yes," Andrew nodded as he spoke, "I'm an Exchange student from Minnesota. "He offered a handshake, "my name is Andrew Yarbrough, its a pleasure to meet you."
Suigintou looked at the hand before grasping it lightly. In an attempt to seem more of a gentleman by the standards of Rozen's time, Andrew kissed her ring.
"No, you fool!" Suignitou protested too late. The ring glowed like a black light and a stream of light burst forth from it to the ring finger of Andrew's left hand. After a moment, the stream of light ended, slowly solidifying into a matching Rose Ring on Andrew's finger.
"It's so warm..." Andrew mused
Suigintou was about to demand that she break the Contract, but then a flow of power, far stronger than Megu had ever supplied, came through their newly-formed bond, "so warm..." Suigintou found herself cooing.
After a moment the ring was complete and slowly stopped radiating it's warmth. Andrew recovered from the sudden elation the magic had caused. He looked at the girl who was cupping her face with her hands as if thoroughly embarrased and trying to hide the blush, "Suigintou?"
Still reveling in the feeling of warmth and power, Suigintou didn't hear him. when Andrew called for her attention again, she snapped out of it. "what?" she demanded, upset that she had been interrupted.
"What was that?"
"You just formed a Contract with me. You have become my Medium, a multiplier and extra source of my magic."
"Multiplier? Does that mean we have to fight something?"
Suigintou floated over to the kitchen counter and sat on the edge, "not something, someone. I must defeat the other Rozen Maidens so I can become Alice and fulfill Father's dream."
"Father?" Andrew inquired futher, "you mean Rozen?"
"You catch on quickly."
"What did you mean 'Become Alice'?"
"Alice is Perfection. The Ultimate Girl. Pure, sublime, beautiful."
"And how do you fall short?" Andrew thought Suigintou was all those things, he had a gift with clay, but Rozen's craftsmanship was FAR beyond anything he could hope to create. If he were younger, Andrew would have likely persued her romantically.
Suigintou pretended not to hear him, "as my Medium, I expect you not to disappoint me. You seem... average."
Andrew was pretty sure he should feel insulted by the comment, but decided against it. "I'll try not to let you down. What do I have to do as a Medium?"
"Nothing really. Shinku's Medium follows her around like a lost puppy, but Megu never left her bed at the hospital." Her voice changed wher she mentioned Megu.
"Was that sadness?" Andrew thought. Then he realized that Megu must have been the Medium that died mentioned in the email. He turned when he noticed that the doll was no longer on the counter "Suigintou?" He heard the window open and turned to see the silver hair whip in the wind as Suigintou flew off into the dark night. "I guess that must be a sensitive issue."