By the time Ikuto had manged to haul himself from the frozen tub of water, Masuyo and Iku had retreated into the living room.

He shuffled over to the doorway nervously, now wearing his entire butler outfit as he went. What if this Masuta wanted them to stay in their uniforms? He would not dare to find out the hard way if they were not allowed to take them off.

Peeking inside, Ikuto caught sight of his sister sitting on the couch. Her eyes were glued to the television set just a bit further away, and in her hand was the remote.

Masuyo leaned back in an armchair next to the couch, a look of distinct amusement on her face. Almost every five seconds, Iku would go from one channel to the next.

"You act like you've never seen a TV before." She laughed, though in the back of her mind, she was almost afraid that such a thing could possibly be the case.

"Master never let us use it..." Iku spoke quietly. Almost whispering as she continued.

Click.

Click.

So many channels! So many shows! She'd never seen so many different things to watch!

Back home, Master never let them use the television unless they were extremely lucky. But even then, it was usually just the news.

No news was good news anymore, and she didn't like listening to depressing stuff...

For a moment, Iku didn't appear to notice her brother's presence looming in the doorway. "U-Um...I...I'm...Here..." His voice trembled with uncertainty.

The Maidloid nearly dropped the remote to the floor in startled concentration, but was all more than welcome that Ikuto was alright now.

"A-Ah! Ikuto, y-you came out! What was wrong...?"

Her query turned Ikuto into a jumble of uneasy words and stuttering. No, no, he wasn't ready to tell them yet! To tell anyone yet!

Putting on the best face he could, Ikuto forced a tiny smile from his lips and cocked his head a bit to the side for added effect. "I just needed a little time to think. That was all. A-All this is rather...Sudden..."

"Oh..." Iku's voice turned quiet and little. Like that of a child whom had been told 'no' too many times before.

Her mood changed quickly however, as she motioned for him to come and sit next to her. Ikuto shook his head rapidly, feeling as though sitting would only hurt again.

"Come on, you don't have to be worried. Sit down, kick back and relax..." Ushered Masuyo. "Go ahead and take off those boots and all that other fancy stuff." She eyed the Butlerloid's uniform with a sense of strange animosity.

"I-It feels very nice~" Iku commented, pointing over at her shoes laying near the side of the couch. Her bare feet felt much more comfortable against the soft carpet.

Fidgeting with needless worry, Ikuto sat himself down on the couch slowly, and obliged by taking off the boots. It did feel rather good to let his blistered feet rest...

With a tiny smile, the tight neckerchief that often choked at his neck also came off as well. Iku giggled at his look of awe. There wasn't a time he could remember feeling so relaxed.

Scooting her body closer to his, the petit green-head rested her cheek on Ikuto's shoulder with a contented sigh. "O-Oh...You missed dinner...The taste was so much better than back home..."

"Ne, don't worry...I won't let him go hungry, Iku. I saved some of it just for him. Of course, if you want fresh food, I'll prepare it..." Masuyo rambled on, almost seeming embarrassed for her continuing babble.

She always had posessed that habit of awkwardly going on with a subject so long as she thought someone was listening, though most of the time they were just pretending to be interested in what she had to say. These two though...They didn't seem to care if she kept going on. In fact, they almost seemed to be enjoying it.

"Masuta..." Iku cut in, interrupting her thinking. "Are we really staying here from now on...?"

Masuyo couldn't help the smile on her face. "Yes, of course you are. You're never going back to him. I promise you that much."

"B-But where will we sleep?" Ikuto gave a worried look.

"There are other bedrooms here that you can have all to yourself."

All to themselves? That was a new concept to Iku. For as long as she could remember, the single little room they could call their own had been shared by her and Ikuto since Master had first brought them inside.

They'd grown accustomed to sharing every single thing they had.

Yes, having some space to herself did sound pleasurable, but the idea of not having Ikuto in the room to protect her from whatever may decide to burst inside...

"Would you like me to show them to you right now?" Masuyo stood up from the chair before any reply was given, brushing back her short hair before walking out the doorway.

Jumping up, Iku zipped out after her, before backtracking and peering in to watch Ikuto struggle his way back on his feet and run after as well.

--

It was clear Masuyo hadn't lied about the bedrooms being rather nice for what they were. Iku's was covered in rosy pink wallpaper and a soft, cobalt carpet. The bed was very soft, unlike the hard mattress she'd spent sleepless nights on.

Ikuto's room was covered in smooth beige wallpaper instead, but the same flooring was there. The sight of him trying out the bed before melting into a laying position had made both girls laugh a bit.

"It's already getting late," She told them, "So I think it would be best if you two got to bed early."

When the two reminded her that they didn't have any night clothes to change into, she presented them with two of her old gowns. Iku took hers with a small smile, though Ikuto was skeptical.

Masuyo rubbed the back of her head and gave him a nervous smile. "Sorry, I don't have any guy clothes...But we can look for some tomorrow. Is that okay just for tonight?"

He nodded quickly, adding in a slight bow. "T-Thank you, Masuta..."

"Masuyo..." She attempted to correct, but sighed and shrugged. "Oh, and if either of you need anything..." She pointed down the hallway at a room a little further away. "I'll be in my room. Wake me up if you need something."

And with that, she bid them goodnight and walked towards her bedroom, leaving the two with their own business.

--

If there was ever a time where she felt most comfortable, Iku would have no trouble saying it was right now.

The maid outfit she normally war was now stripped off her person and laying on the nearby floor, and she placed her onion hair accessory on top of the dresser, her long hair now practically all the way down her back.

Slipping into the clean, soft material of the nightgown gave a refreshing feeling to her skin.

Plopping herself into the bed, Iku cuddled her cheek against the pillow with a contented smile. Yes, this was perfect, utterly perfect...

...And yet, when she opened her eyes again and stared into the darkness in front of her, it didn't feel so perfect anymore.

Something was missing.

Someone was missing.

The darkness felt like it was growing, spreading. Surrounding her.

Just like when Master pinned her down and surrounded her with strange objects, strange things. Bad things. Bad thoughts.

Master isn't here. Masuta is here, and Masuta is nice...

But Masuta knows her old Master.

And what if he knows where they are? What if he comes back? What if-

She feels sweat pouring down her neck, and the covers feel constricting.

Without a word, Iku stood from the bed and ran from the room, leaving her other clothes abandoned. It won't matter anyway, she'll get new ones. She doesn't want to wear that thing. That thing Master made her wear and cherish for having at all.

The only thing she cherishes now is Ikuto.

Her fear of waking him up from a good sleep was quelled almost instantly. She knocked upon his door, almost right next to her own, and found him as wide awake as herself.

He took her inside without any questions.

--

When the two 'guests' didn't come out when Masuyo called them the next morning, she went to investigate. Iku's door was open slightly, and no one was inside.

Ikuto's room was another story.

A smile curved on her lips when she found them sleeping in the bed together. Their bodies were turned so they were facing each other, Ikuto's arm draped over his sister's shoulder and Iku's hand pressed against her brother's chest.

Tempting as it was to try and wake them up, Masuyo instead shook her head a little and closed the door as quietly as she could.

Breakfast could always wait until later, and there were still a few more matters she had to plan out for them involving that afternoon...