Chapter 4
Mai shouted, "Well, for what it is worth, I shall battle you, one-on-one, Tsumugi Model. Or should I say, S-Model?"
Tsumugi grinned evilly, "No duh, Sherlock. Accept your other fate… DIE!"
She charged at the Maiden Mai and began to clash.
Mai shouted, "What have you done with the Maidens and Butlers that come here? And where is Eri Maiden?"
Tsumugi snapped, "I'll never tell!"
She broke free, as Mai and Tsumugi glared at each other.
Tsumugi growled, "I'd finish you off, right now, but my wand hasn't recharged yet."
Mai yelled, "Is that why you got rid of Eri Maiden?"
Tsumugi said, "That is classified. Maidens must not share all secrets to any sort of debunked Maidens or Butlers… especially YOU!"
She charged at her, as Mai was prepared. She and Tsumugi clashed each other's wands, growling at each other.
"If you didn't mouth off at me, this wouldn't be happening!" Mai shouted, "Don't you know that the Butler in this mansion has lost the Maiden he loved?"
Tsumugi sneered, "Love is illogical, when it comes to us Maidens!"
Mai barked, "How dare you!"
She added, as she shoved her down with a kick, "Karasuma, my user, loves me! He doesn't love me back, on occasions, but at the very least, he cares for me! The only reason I wanted to see Miss Y is to be cured of this curse! And now you're saying I must accept my fate? What the heck do you mean?"
Tsumugi tripped her and yelled, "That's because you're a most underrated Maiden for Hire! Your default programming is that godforsaken Magical Girl trash! Your default is messed up! Only I can see her! You must accept it and get on with your life!"
Mai shouted, as she socked her in the chin, "NO! You cannot go through with this heinous plot, just so you want to be enlightened! No one knows about this Miss Y, and you are the undeserving!"
Tsumugi Maiden grinned, "HAH! If I recall, you are ten months old, and your friend is a Panda caretaker! Well, it's sad, really… Once I have you dead, and into the trash pile, no one will stop me from being a happy Maiden for Hire…"
She then started to wince in tears, "You don't get it! I wanted to be a Maiden for Hire that is nice! I cannot accept the fact that I am going to die! I'm going to be dismantled, just because of my previous owner… a bratty kid who was naughty!"
Mai asked, "And that's the reason?"
Tsumugi sobbed, "I'm sorry, Mai Model. I just want to be happy again… You, I mean, you just… cannot see her… I don't care if she comes back soon… but that make take years, and I may never get the shot!"
Mai beeped, "My scanners confirm… that you are lying. But inside you, you're telling the truth."
Tsumugi held her wand up and sobbed, "I'm telling the truth, since I wouldn't harm a Maiden for Hire, out of cruel motives… but I can even attack you, since you are a sudden Magical Girl Robot, with abysmal functions! I'm not programmed to kill… I'm programmed to love…"
Mai asked her, "Where's Eri Maiden? I need to find her, since Kenneth Model is lovelorn."
Tsumugi said, "She's in the basement… and she's powered down, sapped of her battery life. Just like you."
She held her wand up, as it was fully charged. She added, as Mai was scared, "You cannot accept this, but it's for the best. Once you are a withered and immovable husk, Miss Y is mine. And it took me four hours to have it recharged."
Megumi woke up and then saw Tsumugi and Mai fighting. She gasped, "Tsumugi Model… But why is she-?"
Tsumugi said, "You heard and see, too much… I'm afraid that this is the end… I just wanted a second chance… but my default programming said that I cannot be a Magical Girl. I am happy being a Maiden for Hi-."
She suddenly beeped, "DANGER! Maiden Program – critical… System failure…"
Mai gasped, "Lemme help you. I can take you to see Miss Y. She's good enough for both of us. She'll do you, first, and me, next. I'll give it to you."
Tsumugi beeped, "Mai Model must be eradicated."
Megumi gasped, "What?"
Tsumugi said, in her normal voice, "No… Mai is offering me a chance, with two Maidens?"
She then said, in a robotic voice, "Negative… Destroy Mai Model…"
"I can't! After everything I've done? I cannot risk it, but… she's so nice."
"ERROR! Maiden Unit is NOT a working Maiden Model…"
"Don't make me choose, Mai! I am thrilled, but…"
"Warning! Warning! System files corrupt! Self-protect program…"
She then held her wand up and calmed down, "I am a Magical Maiden! And I chose to meet Miss Y… alone…"
Her wand glowed, as Mai was scared. She then beeped, "Maiden Unit… Body under lockdown… Self-protect motion…"
She thought, "My body… It won't move…"
Megumi gasped, as she got up, "Mai Model…"
Tsumugi fired her beam, "Accept your fate, Maiden Mai the Magical Trash Heap! GOODBYE!"
Mai cried, "MASTER! I'm sorry!"
She closed her eyes, as the beam went closer, "Forgive me… Dinner will be running late… Karasuma…"
Megumi dived in front of her and shouted, "NOOOOOOOO!"
BLAST!
Megumi was struck with Tsumugi's beam. She collapsed to the ground and was frozen stiff. Mai gasped, as her body regained movement. She cradled her body and shouted, "MEGUMI MODEL!"
Megumi beeped and faded, "Mai… Model… I can't… lose… you…"
Mai sobbed, "NO! Megumi! Fight it!"
Megumi beeped, "Maiden Unit… battery… loooooo…"
Whrrr…
She died down. Mai sobbed, as Tsumugi was frightened. Mai shrieked, "MEGUMI!"
She wailed and wept, "Megumi Model… Forgive me, but that was stupid of you! I'm sorry, but as a Magical Maiden, I will avenge you! I don't care if I die, as well… I will protect and save all of my fellow sisters and brothers! Megumi Model… I love you… My sister… from another creator…"
Mai shrieked, crying from above, "WHY? HOW? WHEN? AND WHAT?"
Tsumugi sniffled, "Megumi Model #S1G166?! No… She stopped my attack… to risk her own."
She sobbed, as her knees went down, "I cannot believe I did it! I hurt a Maiden… but I killed the wrong one! WHY? I'm sorry!"
She wept, leaking tears from her face, "WHY? Miss Sawachika… Miss Mizuhara… I have done a bad thing… I accept this fate. I don't want to live, after my own jealousy. Please… I know I am a robot, but… I DON'T WANT TO LIVE!"
Mai Maiden seethed, and then yelled, with tears in her eyes, "S-MODEL TSUMUGI!"
She dashed at her and shrieked, "YOU ROBOTIC TRAMP! I CAN ARRANGE THAT FOR YOU!"
She swung her wand at her and shouted, "THIS IS FOR MEGUMI! MAI MAGICAL HOME RUN ATTACK!"
WHACK!
Mai struck Tsumugi in the chest, as she was flying off the roof of the castle. Tsumugi plummeted into the forest below, as Mai looked down.
CRASH!
Tsumugi crashed into the ground. She broke apart, from below, snapping off her head and body.
Mai sobbed, "I'm sorry… But the Magical Girl inside me said the avenge Megumi Model. I'm sorry… Tsumugi Model… You said that I am not a Magical Girl Maiden… but I am a Maiden. I am truly a Maiden for Hire, and to offer guaranteed ser-."
She beeped, "ERROR! Maiden must obey default programming!"
She then winced, "Damn it! I want it to stop! NO MORE!"
She then grabbed Megumi and held her over her shoulders, heading down stairs.
XXXXX
Mai, moments later, freed ALL of the Maidens in the closet, including Eri Maiden, who was still frozen stiff. Of course, every Maiden inside was still motionless.
Mai said, "They need to recharge, just like Megumi…"
She held Megumi and said, "Don't worry, Megumi Model. Kuuta-kun will see you again, even though you're a Maiden for Hire, owned by a panda…"
Kenneth appeared, as he found Eri Maiden, who was still frozen.
"ERI!" He cried, "No… She's dead."
Mai said, "Her batteries are dead. She needed a recharge. Of course, every Maiden inside is still of a recharge."
She then said, "I GOT IT! I wonder… since Tsumugi and her powers take away the life source… I bet I can do the opposite!"
He asked, "What are you talking about? All Maidens must be plugged in, in order to recharge."
Mai then processed, "Magical Girl data search… Searching "Instant Recharge to Maidens"… File not found… trying again… Searching, under new keyword…"
She then beeped, "DING! Spell downloaded!"
Kenneth asked, "A spell?"
Mai said, "Yes. I bet I can bring them to life… but waving my wand. Because that's the power of a Magical Girl!"
Kenneth said, "I'm afraid it isn't…"
Mai then said, as she held her wand up, "Stand back. Tsumugi did this to these girls… the least I can do is save them."
She then glowed in a white aura and said, "MAGICAL LIGHT OF LIFE!"
A huge white light shimmered all around the room, as the Maidens started to sparkle brightly. Then, they started moving, as all the Maidens were creaking and moaning. Everyone, including Eri Maiden, stepped out of the closet.
Eri moaned, "Whoa… What happened?"
Kenneth said, as he held her, "No need to explain. Allow me to take you to your room, Madame…"
Eri smiled, "Oh, Kenneth."
They held each other and walked off together. Mai put her wand away and said to the others, "Listen up! You are to stay here, until help has arrived! I have already contacted the Maidens for Hire Company in Higashimurayama, and the company is going to take you back to the factory. Miss Mizuhara and Miss Sawachika were worried about you girls…"
One Maiden asked, "Who are you?"
Mai bowed and said, "Just a simple Maiden for Hire, rescuing you. Now do as I say! Kenneth will show you the way, once he's finished with Eri Model."
The Maidens bowed and said, "Thank you…"
They walked off, as they started to talk about her.
"Wow. One of our own saved us… but that attire looked so cute."
"It isn't Halloween. I should check my calendar. This Maiden saved us."
"I don't approve of her Magical Girl attire, but it suits her well."
"The Maiden is great, even for someone who dresses as a superhero."
They all squealed in unison, "Our Maiden Magical Girl hero is… SO CUTE~!"
Mai plummeted, in an anime-style THUD, and then griped to herself, "I'm better off with negative reactions!"
She smiled, "On the plus side, I did revive everyone. Right, Megumi?"
Nothing. Megumi was still motionless. Mai did the spell on ALL the kidnapped Maidens, but she didn't use it with Megumi. She was outside the closet, when it happened. She cradled her and started to cry.
"Megumi? Megumi Model?" Mai sobbed, "No… Why?"
She then said, "Maybe… Maybe I can use the spell again and-."
She suddenly started to buzz, "And trrrrrr… trrrrr… Maybe try aaaaagaaaaa-, aaaaagaaaaa-, agagagagaga-."
Her body started to malfunction. She then scanned, "A huge portion of my data has been damaged by the spell I did… Was it a one-shot?"
She started to feel weak, "Megumi… I wish I wanted you back, but I guess we'll never meet Miss Y, now. You were right. It was a waste of time… and we didn't have to get in trouble. Of course, you didn't say it, but it felt like you did!"
She looked up and sobbed, "HAPPY, TSUMUGI? I accepted my fate, and now… I'm… I'm… I'm…"
She shook and sparked, "I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I…"
She beeped, "Error! System malfunction!"
She grabbed onto Megumi and wailed incoherently, "NOOoOoOoOoOoO… I cannnnnn-, not, die die die!"
She dropped Megumi and stood up, "I must see… must… must see…"
But then, a figure stopped her, holding onto her body. It had long black hair and a business suit on. She pressed Mai's button and deactivated her. Mai powered down, as the woman carried her and Megumi away.
"They want my help? Well, they earned it…" she said.
Minutes later, Mai woke up in a small room. She was lying on a bed, with Megumi, still broken. Mai moaned, "Where am I? How did I get here?"
The woman returned and said, "Good. You're awake. That is a good Maiden for Hire…"
The woman returned, showing her face, which was a black mask, covering her entire face, with the letter Y on it.
"You're… You're…" Mai trembled.
The woman said, "Yes. You came to seek me? I am Miss Y. So nice to meet you, Mai Model #M11."
The woman was Miss Y, the same woman that Mai and Megumi were looking for.
"You seek me for help. Name what you want to know, and I shall give it to you."
Mai then asked, "First off… How did I get here, and where are we?"
Miss Y said, "We are in my home, located in Yagami Park. I brought you here, because you were troubled. Plus, I can fix you, since your programming was on the fritz."
She extended her arm and moved robotically. Mai asked, "Why are you moving like that?"
Miss Y said, "Forgive me… I have time for any question, no matter what I have for… And to answer, I am an android, built by Miss Hanako West, who is the father of Takana West, Vice President of the Higashimurayama Branch."
Mai gasped, "Really? I always thought she was a businesswoman."
"No. She once created a Maiden… only one. Me."
"And the mask?"
"I chose it, just to remain enigmatic. Miss West refused to reveal my face, since the company found my face…"
"Ugly?"
"NO! Absolutely amiable! To be honest, it was enjoyable, but it was a lie. There was another reason why, but I chose not to explain."
"Oh, I'm sorry. But I wish I knew… So, anyway… I'll ask more about you, later."
"Take your time. I can handle all knowledge from you. I was a Maiden for Hire, after all; but now, I am simply a mysterious seeker, only for gen, through my electronica brain."
Miss Y asked, "Now, what is it that you seek? Any memory you need to download? Any users pushing you? How about a question about Maiden's care for its clothing?"
Mai said, "Neither. I ask why I am simply a Magical Girl robot… You see, it is in my default programming, but I wanted to quit and be a Maiden for Hire, solely. But my programming objects to it. I'm lost on words. I wanted to show you, but… My systems are at a nosedive."
Miss Y held her hand and said, "Accept that fate. You see, you're a special Maiden for Hire, not just for guaranteed service, but you have a special gift."
"A gift?"
"You see, when Miss Mizuhara created you, she wanted to make you more interesting. So, she decided to make your programming obey the Magical Girl routine. But your Maiden skills remain intact."
Mai was shocked, "You mean… I'm a…"
"Hero? Yes. A freak? No."
Mai sobbed, and was happy, "I… I see… I get it now. I… I get it! But I wanted to quit. I should've deleted it into my programming, but-."
"Erase it, and you die! I mean it, since it's true. Once your default programming is gone forever, a Maiden must not function well. A DEFAULT mode is the key to your life… and with it, everything you need to know about the Maidens for Hire, and your brothers, the Butlers for Hire. It's simple logic."
She stroked her faux hair and added, "Mai Model M11… It is your destiny to be a Magical Gynoid."
Mai said, "I don't know. But, after today, losing two Maidens, and nearly lost many who were kidnapped…"
Miss Y exclaimed, "Miss Tsumugi Model was a defect. She was owned by a young man who used her poorly, but they found her to be defective, since her body and files were corrupted and unfixable… That would explain her sudden evil turn and her Magical Gynoid powers."
Mai said, "Of course, she's in pieces. I'd say it is for the best for Tsumugi. She didn't want to die… but defects like her don't deserve second chances…"
"Of course. The late Sakaki Model and the Defective Trio. Now they were flawed. NO Maiden or Butler can give guaranteed service, with substandard programming. You get the idea?"
Miss Y insisted, "May I see Megumi Model S1G166?"
Mai said, "Sure. She was drained of her power. She was owned by a Kuuta-kun, a panda from Japan, and it was given a Maiden by-."
"Noboru Tennouji. I understand. Kuuta-kun is not a person… but it is a user to her. Sadly, Maidens and Butlers can only be owned by humans. Tennouji just did it, as a way of helping Kuuta. He didn't say, but he mentioned that he, Kuuta, and some guy named Tougou were chummy. Some user. In my opinion, that is a direct violation of the terms of service. Megumi Model sacrificed her life to save yours, which is good enough. Because, she is a lost Maiden for Hire, owned, illegally, by an animal… and that's bad."
Mai then sniffed, "You mean… She's gone? Forever?"
Miss Y held her face and said, "Megumi Model… Your services are hereby null and void. Tennouji will suffer his fate soon. For now, she must no longer be around."
Mai held her and cried, "NO! She's my friend! I could care less about her ownership! I cannot let you erase her! She's… She's…"
Her voice started to slow, as her eyes faded, "She was my only friend, other than Karasuma, my master… When I was running, five months ago, we met, and she was so… friendly. After that, we talked… after I had… adventures…"
Her voice went lower, "Megumi Model was… my happiness… as a friend… I'd rather be… deleted from my default…"
And lower, "…programming… than to lose… her…"
And in a baritone, "Miss Y… … … …I want her… baaaaaaa…"
Her body collapsed onto Megumi's, and smoked from her back. Her LED eyes went to black, with a few tears on it, and her lips curled up a bit. Mai Maiden was completely broken down. Miss Y held her motionless body, as she moved normally. She turned to Mai's body and said, "Magical Mai Model… If that is what you wish, then so be it. But it will take time. You cared for Megumi Model, more than your powers. And you said that you wanted to quit, drove you to the point of your body, breaking down."
She removed her mask and said, "No Maiden or Butler must see my face, since on the grounds that I am an android for love; and you are powered down, and no one's here… Just between you and me, I am really a discarded Koyomi Playmate, modified into a Maiden for Hire program by Miss Hanako. Of course, my face was altered, just to not look like Miss Mizuhara, after the whole Tomo Maiden incident. When Tomo returned as supervisor for Yagami, I was hidden, without thinking of returning… but you and the rest of the Maidens and Butlers knew the rest."
Her face had fair skin and brown shiny eyes. Her face fairly resembled Hanako. She then said, "Well, Mai Maiden… Your wish shall be granted. It may take days for me to restart and rework your programming, and I'll see what I can do to make you keep Megumi, as your friend. Your ownership with Karasuma will remain, but any memory of me, including now and the whole event that took place, recently, it cannot be grafted into your servos. ALL Maidens and Butlers will know of me, but no one will remember seeing me."
She removed Mai's face panel and said, "Mai Model… Megumi Model… Allow me to reawaken you… After that, I must disappear, only until the next time another Maiden can earn my guidance. Only then… will I return."
She summoned two boys, who were wearing black jumpsuits, "Gus, Hank, take Megumi Maiden away to the other room. I'll fix Mai Maiden, first. Then I'll do Megumi Maiden, later. Also, make sure that her owner gets what's coming to him."
Gus said, "We will, Miss Y."
Hank bowed, "You can count on us, Miss Y."
They grumbled away, carrying Megumi Model away. Miss Y turned to Mai Maiden, with her face circuitry exposed. She grabbed a pair of pliers and began to work in her face.
"Now… Let's see what we can do about your facial features. We'll start with the usual face maintenance, and then your chest area, your arms and legs, and finally, your programming files. Baby steps, Mai Maiden M11. Baby steps."
At his home, Karasuma was waiting by the table for Mai.
"Mai… I do hope you are fixed," he said, "I miss you."
He waited, as he started eating his curry.
To be concluded…
