Warning: The real rating of this work is MA, meaning there are explicit sex themes and/or violence contained in this fanfic. If details like that make you feel uncomfortable or offended in any way, please do not continue reading.
I'd really appreciate it too if you would not report my work because this is the only place where I can post my stories safely. Thank you for your understanding. Expect this warning to appear before every chapter from now on just to be safe. Believe me, it's not my intention to corrupt the minds of minors but to delight the senses of mature adults through my imagination.
Now that everything is clear, let's move on to the story. Enjoy reading!
Love,
Keira
Chapter Ten
"A Devious Charade"
(Part Two)
As the last customer was ushered towards his selected theme room, Haruhi stretched her arms over the designation booth table and sighed tiredly. As expected, she wasn't picked as a doll tonight. It didn't bother her but she would have welcomed an invitation if it meant getting away from the mocking stares the twins gave her all night. Luckily, they kept their distance and were off somewhere without her notice. They're probably sleeping in their room or tormenting another unlucky soul like me, thought Haruhi. And to think, I'll have to face them again later. She groaned, cursing her luck. All of a sudden, she heard someone singing the chorus of Madonna's song "Like a Virgin" in a slurred voice. She scanned the room and noticed Mei holding onto the door handle, looking wobbly on her feet. Out of concern, Haruhi called out to her drunken friend.
Mei narrowed her eyes and recognized the approaching brunette. She smiled. "Hallo, Ha-ru-hi~!" Mei waved her hand. "Ah~ good timing, I couldn't find our room." She laughed, as she slumped against Haruhi. "Oh hell, who cares? Tadaima~!" she said, punching her fist in the air.
"Welcome back, Mei-chan." Haruhi chuckled. "C'mon, I'll take you to our room." She said, looping Mei's arm over her shoulder.
"Oh! I had so much fun today!" Mei hiccupped. "Oh, Haruhi. You…you should have seen them…" She said dazedly. "After every bottle, they dropped down… they dropped down… like flies! Like flies! Can you believe that?" she laughed aloud, swaying slightly. Haruhi held her firmly beside her and patiently listened to her chatter. It made their trip back to their room lively and strangely pleasant.
As Haruhi tucked her in, she watched Mei mumble incoherent words and call Renge in her sleep. This wasn't the first time her friend got seriously drunk. Actually, Mei hasn't stopped participating in drinking contests with customers even after Renge left the mansion. To others, she is acting like her usual brash self but at times like this, the brunette can perceive a sense of loneliness about her.
"You really miss Renge-chan, huh?" she smiled, patting Mei's head gently. Though Mei would deny it, Haruhi suspected that getting this drunk every once in a while is her own way of remembering her long time best friend and drinking partner.
Assured that her friend is asleep, Haruhi rose to her feet to close their bedroom door. But suddenly, a cat puppet stopped the door in mid-motion and pushed it back. Fortunately, she was still alert on her feet and moved back just in time.
As the black robed figure stepped inside the room, he closed the door swiftly behind him, panting as if he ran a marathon. Even in the dim light of their bedside lamp, Haruhi recognized who it was. There's only one person carrying around a cat puppet inside the mansion and based on experience, his unexpected visits usually meant something. Her worry spiked at the thought.
But before she could utter a word, he covered her mouth with his cat puppet. "Don't tell her I'm here." He said in a hushed tone before he went to her closet, pushed her clothes aside and concealed himself. Haruhi stared at the closed closet door in confusion. "Who is he running away from?" she wondered.
As if to answer her question, there was a knock on the door. Haruhi opened it and found a little girl in a baby pink sailor uniform with soft blonde hair tied in twin tails standing by her doorway. "Uhm, may I help you?" Haruhi inquired. There's something familiar about her but she knew she hadn't seen the girl before.
The girl looked up and smiled at her. "Hello, onee-chan! Your bedside lamp is still on so I'm just wondering if you saw my weird brother pass by here." she asked sweetly.
"Eh? Brother?" Haruhi blinked in surprise. She studied the blonde girl closely and noticed she has the same striking azure colored eyes and fair complexion as Nekozawa. However, she can't say they resemble each other since she hasn't seen the man beneath the hood closely to compare. She felt bad lying to a little girl but she owes his big brother a favor.
Unaware of her scrutiny, the girl nodded her assent. "Yes, I'm looking for my brother wearing a depressing black cloak and a silly cat puppet in his right hand." She described, pointing to her right hand at the last statement. "Have you seen him, onee-chan?" she asked again, pouting cutely.
Before Haruhi could deny seeing Umehito like she planned, his loud protest erupted from inside the closet. "Beelzenef is not a silly cat puppet!" he bellowed, giving away his position.
Haruhi literally face palmed while the mysterious girl grinned knowingly. "What a gullible onii-chama." She said, chuckling. As Haruhi stepped aside, the girl skipped inside the room and pried the closet open. "C'mon, onii-chama. Enough of your games. It's time to get back to work." She reminded then she dragged Umehito away by the wrist.
"No, please! I can't do it now, Kirimi. I need an inspiration first." Umehito pleaded but the little girl simply ignored him. Instead, Kirimi faced the brunette as if she is the older sibling, not Nekozawa. "Sorry for barging into your room like this, onee-chan." She said, bowing apologetically. "My onii-chan is being difficult these days."
Haruhi shook her head. "It's okay. It's no trouble at all." She said in understanding. Her glance fell on Umehito and found him strangely docile. For a young girl, she has a firm grip or is it because her brother chose not to struggle? she marveled.
His right hand, Beelzenef, continued to raise its little arms though, as if it's crying in despair. She smiled, thinking how adept he is at making the puppet express his feelings. Family really is a good thing, she thought, feeling her heart squeeze as she remembered the ones she left behind.
Kirimi noticed her reminiscent smile. She reached out to pull the hem of her sleeve. "What's your name, onee-chan?" she asked, eyeing her curiously. Haruhi tore her gaze from the puppet and went to her knees to introduce herself to the little girl.
The girl extended her hand in greeting. "Call me Kirimi. Since my brother didn't freak you out, I think we will get along." She said, shaking Haruhi's hand enthusiastically. "Let's hang out some time, all right?" she beamed. Haruhi nodded eagerly, liking the idea of having a friend the same age as Hina-chan back in the orphanage.
After that quick exchange, the siblings bid her goodnight and went out of the room. After a few seconds, Haruhi checked the corridor outside the door and saw it's empty. Haruhi sighed. There's no doubt in her mind about their blood relation. It seemed that Kirimi has the knack of appearing out of nowhere and then disappearing, just like her older brother. Haruhi closed the door and threw herself on her bed. She had enough excitement for one day but she knew it was just beginning. She turned to her side, closed her eyes and mentally tuned out her troublesome thoughts. All she wanted to do is snatch peaceful moments as much as she could within the confines of her room.
"At least I made a new friend." Her lips curled to a smile at the last thought and then she drifted off to sleep.
Early that morning, there was a knock at the door of the twin's room. Hikaru slipped out of his bed, donned the discarded black silk robe on the floor and opened the door expectantly. Before him, their new found favorite in the mansion, stood dressed in a black maid dress that dolls wear whenever they clean the reception lobby of the mansion. "Come in." he invited, stepping aside to let her pass.
As Haruhi heard the lock snapping in place, she involuntarily shivered. This was the second time she came to their room. The first one was forced but now she felt like a sheep who willingly stepped into a lion's den to be slaughtered.
Despite her nervousness, she had to admit that the room is as luxurious and tasteful as the theme rooms she had been to. Their room is gothic-styled with deep mahogany furnishings, fur carpets and a huge marble fireplace stood before the scarlet red covered queen-size bed. Even the mosaic she saw overhead yesterday added to the overall charm of the room.
For a moment, she forgot her predicament and regarded the beauty of the room appreciatively. Kaoru, who was lounging on the bed, turned on his belly and faced her with a bored look on his face. "What's with that outfit, Haruhi?" he asked, lifting his eyebrow.
Haruhi met his gaze. "I'll be serving you both so I thought I should look the part." She answered.
Kaoru regarded her mockingly. "We ordered you to be our slave, not our maid." He pointed out.
Her eye twitched a bit. "What's the difference? You'll be giving me orders anyway." She replied stiffly, annoyed at the patronizing way he's looking at her.
Kaoru smirked. "Hey, Hikaru. Our slave is getting a little rebellious already." He said, addressing his twin.
Hikaru stepped behind Haruhi and held her by the shoulders, making her stiffen in alarm. "Well, she has been quite a rebel from the start." He conceded. "I find it refreshing though." He whispered against her left ear.
Before she could say a cutting remark, Hikaru pushed her forward lightly. "Now go and change your clothes. We have prepared an outfit for you in the bathroom." He said briskly. Eager to be away, the brunette moved towards the direction Hikaru indicated without a word of protest.
While the twins were lying on their stomachs, leisurely browsing through a fashion magazine, "Hey, do I really have to wear this?" Haruhi asked as she stepped out of the bathroom awkwardly. The twins glanced up and saw the girl wearing a fuchsia pink bunny girl outfit with a matching bow on her neck, white cuffs, pink heels and fishnet stockings.
Haruhi crossed her arms, trying to cover herself from their penetrating gaze. "I-I want to wear the maid outfit instead." she said uneasily. "This is too revealing for me."
"What? Too revealing?" Hikaru snorted. "What are you? A virgin?" he mocked. Haruhi blushed at his words. Yes, she's not a virgin and wearing scanty outfits is normal for a doll. However, her mind argued that they're not her customers so there's no need for her to act like their doll. "I just thought it's inappropriate for me to walk around like this early in the morning." She said reasonably.
Wearing only his black boxer shorts, Kaoru got up from the bed and moved towards her. Haruhi took an involuntary step back. Between the twins, Kaoru intimidated her the most. Though they have the same face and mischievous streak, only Kaoru gave her such a cold stare. In his eyes, she could tell that he distrusts her. Not that she could blame him, she disrupted their plans after all.
Kaoru captured her chin and tilted it upwards so they could see eye to eye. "You know, the first thing a slave must have is obedience." He said quietly. "So whatever we ask of you, you have to obey. No arguments. Do we understand each other?" he asked, his eyes glinting ominously.
She lowered her eyes, suppressing the urge to argue further. "Yes, I under-" Kaoru placed a finger over her lips to silence her.
"Now, now, a pet doesn't talk, remember?" Kaoru tutted. "If you want to say something, say it with your body." he suggested with a wolfish grin as he withdrew his finger. Haruhi nodded glumly. "Good girl." Kaoru said, then he glanced over his shoulder. "Come on, Hikaru. It's time for us to prepare."
"Got it." his twin said enthusiastically as he stood up to follow Kaoru to the bathroom. As Hikaru passed Haruhi, he paused and plucked out her hair tie, letting her brown hair tumble loose.
"No! Give it back!" she said, trying to grab the tie but Hikaru easily evaded her. "No can do. You look much better with your hair down. Too bad you're not a D-cup." He teased, twitching his hands in front of his chest.
Annoyed, Haruhi tried to catch him but her heels got caught on the carpet, making her stumble and fall on her knees ungracefully. She shot him an angry look but Hikaru only waved at her and said in a playful tone, "Good luck on protecting our secret, Bunny-chan~"
The twins laughed merrily, underscoring her helplessness. As the door closed, Haruhi gritted her teeth and hit her fist against the carpeted floor in frustration.
Inside the dining area, there were already a number of dolls presently breaking their fast. The place buzzed with the usual sound of excited chatter and clatter of utensils. But when the three of them appeared, a sudden silence fell in the room. Haruhi tried to keep her chin up as she walked behind the stunning twins in their pastel colored sundresses but she can't stop flushing from embarrassment as all eyes turned to them. In her skimpy costume, she felt too exposed, too vulnerable for her taste.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed some of her doll friends inching closer but Haruhi shook her head. She wished she could assure them in words that she's all right but all she could do is smile in their direction and hope that it's enough.
It's a good thing Mei isn't around yet because of a hang over. Hopefully, Mei wouldn't be up for another hour because knowing her friend, she will come running to her side if she sees her like this. Though, she secretly wished for it to happen at the back of her mind.
Soon, they entered the private dining area and joined the top dolls in the elegant long table. Haruhi was seated between the twins and they made a great show of introducing Haruhi as their "lost pet". The top dolls didn't like her presence there but they were discreet enough not to blatantly show their displeasure to the twins. They smiled politely at her, commented how delightful her attire is and wondered where she got it. Haruhi simply smiled in return. Confused by her lack of response, Hikaru explained that she is acting like the good pet that she is.
With this bit of information, the top dolls used it to their advantage and engaged the twins in conversation about fashion and celebrity gossips. They wanted to steer the twins' attention away from the low ranked brunette. Haruhi didn't mind because she was used to their cold treatment. The only thing she can do is endure, just like always.
To keep herself preoccupied, she decided to have some tea. She was about to take the tea pot in her hands when a slender hand snaked beside her and got it for her. She looked sideways and saw Hinako bend over to pour the tea for her. She is a girl with a wavy chestnut bob and grey eyes. Though she is a fellow low ranked doll, she hadn't spoken to her that much since Hinako is always on her toes as a waitress or as a receptionist. Haruhi mouthed her thanks. The girl smiled kindly and went ahead to serve tea to the other top dolls.
Soon afterwards, the first course was brought in: Irish steel cut oatmeal made of fresh berries, dried fruit and granola. Her mouth watered in anticipation for the meal but to her dismay, no plate was placed before her. She peered at each twin, waiting for any instruction but they appeared to have forgotten her presence there and started eating on their own.
"I knew it. I should've eaten before I went to meet them." She grumbled in her head. The top dolls picked on some fruits as they listened to Hikaru chatter away beside her. Kaoru, by contrast, enjoyed his meal in silence, discreetly cooling each spoonful with a blow before putting it to his mouth.
Her stomach rumbled again, reminding her of her hunger. Her gaze fell on Kaoru and then she recalled his words about saying what she wants with her body. Her eyes looked at the enticing bowl before Kaoru and gulped. In normal circumstances, she would've held it in but who knows when they will allow her to leave their side. They could starve her the whole day if they want to.
Swallowing her pride, she stretched her hand and caught the edge of Kaoru's sleeve. Kaoru looked at her curiously. "What is it, Haruhi?" he asked softly.
Despite her discomfiture, she pointed at herself and then stroked her stomach. "Hmm… you want me to caress your stomach?" Kaoru guessed. Haruhi shook her head and repeated the action.
"Ah, you want to take a dump!" he said confidently.
His crude guess brought color to her cheeks. She can't comprehend how he could say that before the dining table. Despite her rising ire, she opted to try again with a different action. She wanted Kaoru to feed her so she pointed at him and then pointed at her mouth.
But instead of smiling in understanding, his smile turned into a smirk. "Hmm~ what a bold pet you are." He said. "You want to eat me?"
Losing her patience for his off the mark guesses, she lashed out, "What part of 'Feed me' don't you understand?!"
But the moment the words left her lips, she realized her mistake. She looked around and sure enough all eyes on her were alight with disapproval. The twins are guests and to disrespect them in public is wrong, no matter what her reason is. She bit her lip, wishing she wasn't that easy to rouse.
Hikaru patted her head. "There, there. Don't look like that, Bunny-chan. You will still eat, right, Kaoru?" he winked at his twin.
Kairu smiled. "Of course. The tray is on its way. I'm sure our pet will like it." he replied.
She blinked in surprise. "Eh? They're letting me off the hook?" she thought.
"Oh, there it is! Bring it here, dear!" Hikaru said sweetly, as he waved Hinako to bring the tray over. "Go ahead, eat up." He prodded, after the girl placed the tray with a metal cover before the brunette.
"Sorry it arrived late." Kaoru continued in a similar vein.
"Maybe they're not so bad after all." Haruhi thought then she lifted the cover, expecting to see a normal breakfast meal. But instead, she saw a large steamed carrot on her plate.
Her eyes twitched again. "Scratch that. They're totally playing with me!" She thought furiously. Hikaru was already laughing beside her and the top dolls were trying to hide their snickers behind their false smiles.
Haruhi cast an accusing look at each twin. "What? You don't like your little treat?" Kaoru asked innocently. "Rabbits love carrots, right?"
Instead of answering back, the brunette picked up the carrot and ate it without complaint. "They're devils! I won't be fooled again. Damn it!" she swore inside her head with each bite.
They are making fun of her now but she won't give them the pleasure of seeing her discomfort. Eating a raw carrot is nothing. It would take more than that to break her. She is an orphan and she knows what it's like to live on vegetables alone. At least, the orphanage was full of warmth and happiness so she didn't mind the meager meals they had back then. But with her current company, every bite tasted like sawdust. All she could do is wish she was someplace else- away from that table and away from the twins who torment her so.
The conversation around her continued as if nothing happened. Unknown to her, Kaoru was furtively eyeing her as he sipped his tea, as if she were a piece of cloth with a promising potential. She is no shrinking violet from the start and it makes the thought of breaking her pride all the more interesting. He caught his twin's glance and he knew that Hikaru was thinking the same thing.
Before the meal ended, Éclair made an unexpected appearance and went to their table along with her ladies, Aya and Chizuru. All the tops dolls present including Haruhi, curtsied to greet her a pleasant morning. The queen accepted their greeting politely and faced the twins with another invitation to join their afternoon entertainment in her balcony.
"Of course, all the top dolls are welcome to join, too." Eclair added, looking at the crowd around her. The top dolls around the table bristled with excitement whereas Haruhi visibly relaxed for it meant getting away from the twins for the rest of the afternoon.
Hikaru took note of her response so he held Haruhi by the waist and announced, "We'd also like to take our pet along, dear."
Kaoru mirrored his twin's action and said, "Rabbits die when they are left alone. We can't risk that."
Haruhi was incredulous. The invitation involved all top dolls, not her. Even though they are special guests, it can't be done. All this time, hierarchy has been strictly observed by every doll in the mansion. And to ask Éclair, the queen herself, to include her in their private party on a whim, is selfish and unreasonable. Even the tops dolls muttered protests at the twins' request.
"Oh, is that so?" Éclair said, eyeing Haruhi curiously through her purple opera glasses.
Haruhi quickly disengaged herself from their grasp and dropped into a curtsy. "With all due respect, Éclair-sama, despite my mistresses' order, I won't go. I'm aware that I'm only a low ranking doll. I'm not worthy to join your party." She said, with her head bowed low. Hikaru was about to protest but his twin silenced him with a simple glance.
"Your mistresses seem to disagree." Éclair commented when she noticed the twins' exchange. "Are you sure you want to disobey them now?"
"Yes." Haruhi replied with finality. "I'd rather be punished than to be rude to you, Éclair-sama."
"I see." Éclair inclined her head, secretly amused of the brunette's dedication. "Hikaru, Kaoru, as much as I want to grant your wishes, this I cannot do. She has yet to prove her worth as a doll. I'm sorry." She said to the twins.
The twins sighed in disappointment. "It's all right. We understand." Hikaru said.
"Thank you for the invitation, though. We're deeply honored." Kaoru continued.
Éclair smiled in relief. "That's settled then. Shall we go?" she said with a sweep of her hand.
"Yes~" the twins replied together.
Before they stepped forward to join Éclair, they hugged Haruhi first, acting their part as her loving mistresses before everyone. "Now, Haruhi, be a good pet and wait for us in our room, okay?" Hikaru said, slipping the room key in her hand.
"Don't wander off on your own." Kaoru reminded, squeezing her other hand. Haruhi nodded dutifully, trying to ignore the glint in their eyes. She knew they're displeased but she didn't care. Some of the top dolls are angry with her already; she didn't want the queen to be part of that list.
"Come along, ladies." Éclair announced.
As Éclair and the twins walked away, the top dolls trailed behind them in an orderly manner, leaving Haruhi alone in the private dining area. A few moments later, Hinako appeared with a trolley to clear away the dishes. "Would you like something to eat?" she asked kindly.
Haruhi shook her head. "No, thank you. I'll just eat my breakfast in the kitchen." she smiled.
"All right." Hinako nodded. "May I?" she said looking at the table.
"Oh, here, let me help you." Haruhi offered, picking up a plate nearby.
"It's okay, I can handle this. It's an everyday thing for me, you know." Hinako said confidently, taking the plate from her hand.
Impressed by her show of energy, she smiled. "Okay, I'll be on my way then." Haruhi took a step back and headed towards the door. She lingered for a moment, thinking that outside the door there will be others who would ask questions because it's rare for a low ranked doll like her to eat with the top dolls. The twins warned her not to tell the real reason so she's still at a loss on how to explain her circumstance at this point in time.
"Don't worry, everybody's eaten their fill so there's no crowd outside." She informed her without looking up from her chore.
"Oh. Thanks."
"Hey. I don't know why you're here but-" Hinako paused to look at her with her hand on her hip. "Be careful around the top dolls. They don't take competition really well." She warned. "Especially since those twins are guys."
Haruhi gasped. "Y-you knew?"
Hinako smiled proudly. "I have a sharp eye for boorish creatures called men. I assure you I'm not the only one who knows so be careful."
"I'll keep it in mind." Haruhi replied. "Thank you, Hinako."
The girl nodded then continued with stacking the plates on her tray wordlessly, leaving Haruhi alone with her thoughts. Her warning weighed heavily on her mind as she imagined the twins alone with the top dolls. Her hand closed around her pendant necklace, as is her wont, before Haruhi ventured out of the dining room and into the corridor outside. Surely, they won't expose themselves without her knowledge. She knew that but the feeling of anxiety still lingered.
Once outside, she stared at the room key in her hand. The twins wanted her to wait in their room but those exclusive entertainments go on for hours. So instead Haruhi turned on her heels and headed towards the kitchen. She decided to eat her breakfast there, help out with the cooking and then come back to their room before they even notice she was gone. For a while, her plan proved to be productive and her workmates were too occupied to even mind her outfit. But just like always, she got too engrossed in her cooking that she lost track of the time and her plan soon backfired.
Haruhi was busy icing cupcakes when a pair of arms slipped around her waist from behind. She chuckled, thinking it was Mei, in her sober and clingy mode. "Wait up, Mei. I'm still-" but her words died on her lips as the familiar male voice whispered against her ear.
"Didn't I tell you to wait obediently in our room, Ha-ru-hi?"
She gulped nervously, recognizing the timbre of his voice. "What are you doing here, Hikaru? You're not supposed to be out for a few more hours."
"Wrong." Hikaru prompted, slightly taken aback she knew who he was. "The party ended just a few minutes ago. Imagine our shock when we found you gone."
She gasped. "Eh? It's that late already?"
Hikaru smiled. "In just a few moments, the chime will sound I assure you." He replied smoothly.
Haruhi put down the pastry bag beside the tray of sweet pastries. "Then I have to go now. There's doll duty-" She began, making a move to get away but his grip only tightened.
"Not so fast, sweetheart." Hikaru cautioned, as he hold on to her. "You really enjoy disobeying us, do you?"
"T-That's not it!" she denied.
"We'll see then. Come with me." Hikaru said abruptly, dragging her away by the wrist.
"Wait! Where are you taking me? Hey!"
Despite her protests, Hikaru pulled her along with him until they went inside one of the large public bathrooms in the first floor. He let her go and examined the place. It is a well-lit bathroom with a mosaic of blue dolphins lining its walls. On the left side were rows of oval-shaped mirrors and sinks where dolls like her could wash their faces while on the other side were shower stalls separated by turquoise vinyl curtains. The centerpiece of the bathroom is a large, shell-shaped bathtub.
Hikaru whistled softly. "Not bad for a public bathroom." He commented, turning the tub faucet on and then he started to undress.
Haruhi stared at him in shock. "Are you out of your mind?! You can't take a bath here!" she objected.
He pulled off his wig and looked at her over his bare shoulder. "Why not?" he asked innocently, as his gown and underwear fell around his feet.
Haruhi looked away from his stark nakedness, as he bent over to mix the rose perfumed liquid into the water. "T-The door doesn't have a lock. Anybody can come in here." she argued.
He shrugged. "So what?" he said, then he stepped into the bathtub and sighed contentedly as he immersed himself in the bubbles. "They can join me if they want to."
She was aghast. "Don't you get it? Your cover will be blown!"
"Exactly." He smirked. "That's why you better think fast, Haruhi."
As if on cue, the chime around the mansion sounded. Haruhi felt cold as the tune filled the air. The other dolls will be here and if the secret is out, Fuyumi will get in trouble because of her carelessness. Hikaru soaped his arms, seemingly oblivious of the difficult situation he put her in. She gritted her teeth in frustration over the twins' determination in pushing her patience to the limit.
"Hikaru won't order them out or even hide from view. The door doesn't have a lock so it would look suspicious if I suddenly blocked it. They might ask someone to force the door open and worse, the commotion could bring everyone outside the door. Come on, Haruhi. Think! How can I make them go away on their own volition?" she thought, closing her eyes in concentration. "If not fear, then what?"
There was faint laughter coming from outside the door. "Ah! They're here!" She looked towards Hikaru and thought she had to hide him after all. Just then, an idea formed inside her head. Having no room for hesitation, she quickly kicked off her heels, pulled off her rabbit ears and apron then walked towards the tub in a purposeful manner. She picked up the wig on the floor and said, "Move over."
Hikaru did what she asked and watched curiously as the brunette stepped into the tub and placed the wig on his head. "Pretend you're making love to me." She instructed, untying her collar ribbon.
"Huh?" Hikaru stared at her blankly.
Just then, Haruhi blushed on what she just said. "I know. I-It's nothing personal, okay?" she tossed the ribbon aside, turned her back on him and wrapped his arms around her. "Just play along with me. Pretend I'm a guy if that gets you in the mood." She explained for good measure. He won't like it but their fake love scene should be convincing enough to make the dolls leave them alone out of courtesy.
"Hmm~" Hikaru grinned, finally getting what she had in mind. "All right, I'll play along." His hand unzipped her outfit from behind easily and then he cupped her breasts. Her body stiffened instinctively.
"I said pretend!" she hissed.
Hikaru snickered. "I am pretending." He said slyly. His hands brushed against her tender nipples sensuously until they perked up. "Your body is unexpectedly sensitive, Haruhi." He whispered in her ear.
"Shut up." She said sharply, gripping the edge of the tub tightly. "What's taking them so long?" she whispered.
"Who knows?" he replied, as his right hand swept her hair on the side and he kissed the nape of her neck. "Maybe they took a detour?" He continued to stroke her breast as he licked her nape then down to her shoulder, making her shiver.
"Stop it!" she scolded. "Y-You're getting too carried away."
"Is that a bad thing?" he asked, nibbling on her left ear. "This was your idea."
She inwardly swore then her gaze fell on the closed door. She wanted to focus her attention on the incoming dolls but his persistent hands are distracting the hell out of her. Her pretense of arousal is becoming genuine with each passing second.
"Hey Haruhi. Why don't you let go of the tub already?" he suggested.
"Eh?"
Before she could catch on, Hikaru slipped her grip off the tub and pulled her back against him. Some water splashed on the floor due to their sudden shift and the startled brunette felt his manhood, hot and pulsating, against her rear. Her heart began to hammer at full speed. "L-Let me go- we can't-" she wanted to pull away but her wrists are caught in an iron grip.
Hikaru shushed her to silence. "Not yet, sweetheart. They're almost here." He said softly. "Don't give up now."
She whipped her head towards the door and heard the women's laughter unmistakably louder than before. Reluctantly, Haruhi surrendered to his embrace. Upon her submission, Hikaru smirked then he let her hands go to explore her body fully. She covered her mouth to prevent herself from moaning. This is just an act but her body is playing the part eagerly enough. She never thought her body would betray her like this.
The brunette trembled as his hands stroked her inner thighs intimately. "You feel so good to touch, Haruhi." He whispered, as his hand brushed against her mound teasingly.
She clenched her teeth. "Bastard." She cursed, making him chuckle amusedly.
It was at that moment, the door opened and three dolls stepped in, chatting excitedly.
Haruhi jolted in surprise. "Hmm… you're too tense, my dear." Hikaru said huskily as he slipped a finger inside her casually. "Relax and spread your legs more. Yes, that's it. Good girl." he crooned, as he rubbed and tapped her swollen pearl. He took his sweet time in pleasuring her until she was unable to bite back her moans. Satisfied with her reaction, Hikaru looked up and saw the dolls' shocked faces.
"I see. No wonder my pet is more aroused than usual." He nuzzled her neck, rubbing more vigorously than before. "Do you like being watched, my pet?" he teased.
Haruhi hid her face with her hands as the mixture of embarrassment, guilt and desire filled her. "No- please- don't look- ahn!" she cried.
"How cute." Hikaru smiled. "Sorry, we're kinda busy right now." he said, as he continued to pleasure Haruhi. "Do you mind?"
The dolls flushed guiltily for gawping at their lovemaking. "Not at all. Please excuse us!" one of the dolls said before they all bowed and left the room in a flash. He chuckled in amusement because the brunette's plan actually worked with his secret intact.
"They're gone now." Hikaru said softly.
"Huh? What?" she asked, still coming out of her blissful stupor.
Hikaru smirked. "I said, I'm putting it in." he lied, trying to push his manhood between her legs.
"No… No!" Haruhi pulled away as she gains back some of her grasp on reality. She cast an accusatory glance at him. "Damn you. I didn't say we'll go all the way." she said, her face flushed and indignant.
He leaned against the tub's side, his arms hanging on either side. "Are you sure? I'm certain you still haven't reached the peak yet." He smiled, regarding her in a lewd manner.
Haruhi hugged herself as she remembered what transpired between them. "What is it to you? You're gay after all." she said defensively.
Hikaru laughed. "Who said I am?"
She gaped at his question. "But you said you're in that kind of relationship with Kaoru!"
"I did." Hikaru confirmed with a nod of his head. "But there are people in this world called bisexuals and we happen to be part of it." he winked.
Her mind reeled at his admission. Bisexual means being attracted to both sexes- no wonder he didn't look uncomfortable and even knew the right buttons to push just a few moments ago. Her hands clenched into fists. She's been had, taken advantage of and a small part of her enjoyed it- that's the worst part of all.
"Stand up and go take your bath elsewhere." She said quietly without looking at him.
"Come on, Haruhi…" he started to inch closer but the brunette put her hand out to fend him off. At that tiny gesture, he stopped at once.
He sighed in disappointment. "All right, I'll go. But remember, you started this, not me." He stepped out of the tub, put on a bathrobe he got from the closet nearby and picked up his discarded clothes. "Let's do that again soon, my pet. I'll be waiting." He smirked then left the bathroom.
Once the door closed, Haruhi soaped her body but the scent of the rose only reminded her of his touch. She stepped out of the tub and stood under the jet of cool water from the shower. The reality that her body is this weak against pleasure made tears of frustration sprang in her eyes. Her intention was to hide him, not desire him. That's crazy. He's a guest and his lover is with him. "Forget about it." she mumbled under her breath. "It was a mistake. It won't happen again."
Meanwhile, Hikaru stumbled back to their room. His younger brother, already dressed in a black glittery evening gown, opened the door and looked at him in shock, taking in his bedraggled appearance. "Hikaru! What happened to you?" he said, ushering him inside. "You still have bubbles in your hair-" he reached out to pull the wig off but Hikaru caught his wrist and pushed him towards their bed, dropping his filthy clothes on the floor. He maneuvered his twin to kneel on their bed, flipped his skirt and slid his briefs down to his knees. "Wait- Hikaru-"
Hikaru kneeled behind him. "I'm sorry, Kaoru." He said, untying his bathrobe to reveal his arousal. "Lend me your hole for a bit."
With those last words, Hikaru brought himself inside his twin and fucked him senseless. Kaoru answered his passion eagerly, tightening his hole around him and moaning in pleasure. But it wasn't Kaoru he was seeing. In his mind's eye, it was the brunette writhing beneath him and it was her moans that rang in his ears. It's unfair to his brother but he didn't care. His body wanted release but soon, he will have her. Hikaru licked his lips and smiled in anticipation for that moment.
"Haruhi." He whispered absently as the pressure built within him.
It was only a mere whisper but Kaoru heard the name clearly as if his twin said it aloud. A swift pang of jealousy speared through him but he cast his suspicions aside. For now, he relished the pure physical need of his body, clutching the sheets tightly as he tethered on the verge of release. The truth of the matter can wait, he resolved before letting his lust fog his mind for the rest of the night.
Evening came and the twins were nowhere in sight, much to Haruhi's relief. Despite the questioning looks some dolls directed at her when the twins are mentioned, she ignored them and threw herself completely to her work as a waitress. She wanted to forget, to calm herself down and to come back to her usual self- the girl who swore to be the doll that brings happiness. Though they're not her customers, if their happiness lies in staying here then she'll protect their secret seriously. Her only comfort is that she can use their encounter for future reference. However, there is still one thing she has to do before she can realize her objective.
Upon completing her tasks, Haruhi excused herself and made her way to the third floor where Madam Ranka resides.
"Haruhi, could you pick that up for me?" Hikaru asked, pointing at his fallen handkerchief on the carpeted floor. Haruhi, who was standing at the far side of the room in a sexy two-piece Dalmatian getup, silently went on her knees, crawled towards him and picked up the object with her teeth.
They are currently in the twins' room and three dolls were in attendance- Lady Tsubaki sporting a short bob, Lady Shiori with long brown locks tied with ribbons and Lady Ruri with full bangs and straight black hair. They're having idle chitchat over bite-sized cakes and milk tea.
A few hours ago, Haruhi came to their room like before but this time she was prepared. She ate an early meal and wore the costume they prepared for her without complaint. But from then on, they kept ordering her around to do things like picking up the objects with her mouth, fluffing pillows with her fake paws, eating out of a dog bowl, chasing a ball they threw at her- things a dog would do. It was downright degrading but Haruhi held on to her patience. After all, they weren't hurting her- just annoying her with their endless demands. All she has to do is tolerate it and curb her desire from lashing out.
As Haruhi brought back his handkerchief, Hikaru patted her head with an indulgent smile. The girl blushed, feeling confused by his unusual show of kindness. He's been acting all friendly with her all morning and his orders were only incidental that it starts to make her feel uncomfortable. At least, Kaoru is still his usual spiteful self towards her.
"Come, Haruhi. Rest your head on my lap." Hikaru said, tapping his lap invitingly. With only a moment's hesitation, she climbed on the couch and laid her head on his left lap. She closed her eyes, blotting out the faces looking sharply at her. How she wished the day would end already.
The top dolls went from one topic to another, determined to distract the twins. They wanted to make a lasting impression because the twins have access to the outside world. If the twins would say a good word about them outside, they can have more influential guests and help them rise in rank. But the inferior brunette, who's not even worthy of the twins' attention, kept on interfering with their plans. She is just their gofer but she's becoming more of an eyesore, especially with Hikaru stroking her arms like a dearly loved pet.
Hikaru's obvious change in attitude towards the brunette wasn't lost to his younger brother. Last night, Kaoru tried to pry what happened between him and Haruhi but his twin simply smiled and said he'll reveal it in time. He watched them sharply and felt a rising irritation for the continuous efforts of the brunette to put up with them. To him, it looked unnatural especially since he found out something the girl did behind their backs. He can't forgive her. She is a fraud like everyone else. His twin is a fool to be taken in by her.
Haruhi wished he would let her go already; his touch is starting to disturb her. At first, he was simply patting her head but his hand was soon stroking her arms and then tracing the length of her spine with his fingers. Against her will, her body trembled in response. Before she could make a fool out of herself, Haruhi slid down onto the floor, shook her head as if warding off something and then crawled back to her place in the corner with an expression of indifference.
Instead of scolding her, Hikaru simply smirked and carried on with the conversation at hand. The brunette sighed in relief. At least, she would have a few moments of peace since their conversation shows no sign of letting up. But then, Kaoru, who was covertly studying his brother and their pet earlier, stood up and said, "I have an idea. Let's play a game!" his hands clasped beneath his chin.
His announcement brought the feeling of apprehension come rushing back. Haruhi dreaded to hear what he had in mind. He's wearing such a devious smile and it could only mean trouble for her. The dolls, on the other hand, became excited at the idea and started to ask what game it will be.
"Oh, it's a favorite game of ours and we call it "Spin and Strip." Kaoru grinned mischievously. "It's very simply to play, right, Hikaru?" he glanced at his twin.
Hikaru gave an answering smirk. "Yeah, the rules are the same as "Spin the bottle" but instead of kissing, we strip our clothes instead." he explained. "The last one to remain wearing something is the winner and will be richly rewarded, of course."
"Eh?" Haruhi gawped at them. The game will undoubtedly expose their secret. "What the hell are they thinking?" she thought furiously.
"So, who wants to play?" they asked in joyful harmony. The top dolls quickly jumped on the chance at the mention of reward.
"That's great! I'll go get a glass bottle then." Hikaru said then he rushed to their kitchenette.
"All right everyone, form a circle." Kaoru directed with a sweep of his hand. The trio quickly followed and sat daintily on the floor. Haruhi wanted to put a stop to it but Kaoru glanced her way and she saw the challenge in his ginger colored eyes. There's no doubt that he placed them in that situation on purpose.
Haruhi stared back at him, showing her determination to take his challenge. The younger twin turned away with a toss of his head and sat down with the girls with his usual sweet smile.
Hikaru arrived with the bottle in hand and immediately joined the circle. As the game commenced, articles of clothing were scattered on the floor and the gleeful laughter and taunts of the girls playing rang out. Haruhi watched the ruckus silently, ready for any sign of trouble.
Soon, two girls were down to their underwear while the twins and Lady Tsubaki, were down to their nightgowns. The bottle spun again and the mouth pointed towards Kaoru. "Oh my! What should I take off?" he chuckled. He glanced at Haruhi briefly as he touched the hem of his nightclothes.
With that, Haruhi decided to step in before he lifts the hem of his nightclothes. He regarded her curiously. "What is it, my pet?" he questioned.
Since she's forbidden to talk, she took off her fuzzy spotted white boob tube and threw it aside. Kaoru laughed. "You want to undress in my place?" he said, lifting his brow. The brunette gave him a nod and sat beside him.
"There you have it, our pet decided to play." Kaoru smirked. "I hope that's okay. She's barely dressed so I think it's still fair."
The dolls conceded but the atmosphere became tense from that point on. Later, the two girls were out of the game because they don't have anything to take off. When Hikaru was also in danger of exposing too much, Haruhi also stripped in his place. Now, it's a battle between Lady Tsubaki and Haruhi. The brunette was obviously at a disadvantage wearing only her white lace panties, necklace and dog ears.
To spice things up, the twins decided to make it a rock, paper and scissors game. Luckily, for the first two rounds, Haruhi won, making the other girl remove her brassiere and left ruby earring. But on the next turn, Haruhi was forced to give up her dog ears.
The two girls stared at each other as they moved their hands into starting position. Both of them are determined to win but for different reasons. For Tsubaki it's for the reward but for Haruhi it's to fulfill her duty. On the count of three, the brunette's scissors was defeated. Tsubaki smiled triumphantly as her friends cheered for her.
Instead of removing her necklace, Haruhi prompted to expose herself completely. Two more rounds and the game is over. She hoped that luck is in her favor.
Hikaru watched the scene excitedly. There she was naked without an ounce of embarrassment and her eyes alight with determination to win. She looked so desirable; he's having trouble quelling his rising lust for her. He wanted to touch her again- to feel that smooth skin and to have those brown eyes look at him with such intensity. He shivered at the delicious thought.
First move, Haruhi won with her paper. The raven haired girl took off her right earring glumly. "Don't mind, Lady Tsubaki!" her friends said encouragingly.
Kaoru knew that look on his brother's face. It's the same look he has when he wants to have sex and the one he's lusting for is the brunette. He started the game to humiliate her and to break her pride. She's supposed to give up or cry, not fight. But instead, she's playing so seriously and against his will, he felt drawn to her determination and that's starting to irritate him further. It can't continue like this. He'll expose her later. He'll wake his twin from his momentary attraction.
Haruhi touched her necklace briefly before she got into position. With bated breath, they threw out their choice and then silence.
"You won, Haruhi! Congratulations!" Hikaru clapped happily. Her scissors beat Tsubaki's paper. Haruhi sank down in relief. "As a reward, you can choose among our designer gowns and it will be yours, complete with jewelry." He chirped.
Haruhi shook her head. "I don't have interest in it. Lady Tsubaki can-"
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm not a charity case." Tsubaki snapped.
Haruhi kept silent as the two ladies wrapped Tsubaki in a bathrobe and gathered her clothes and jewelry on the floor. "Please excuse us, Hikaru-sama and Kaoru-sama. Our lady isn't feeling well." Shiori said apologetically, glancing at the twins in turn.
"You're all excused." Kaoru smiled in understanding. "Please do visit us again next time." The girls bobbed a curtsy and left the room arm in arm, ignoring the brunette completely.
"Uh-oh. You made new enemies, Haruhi." Hikaru teased, as their guests disappeared.
"It can't be helped." Haruhi shrugged, staring at the closed door. "Your secret's safe, that's all that matters." she said.
"We're alone now so you can drop the act already, Haruhi." Kaoru said in a low voice.
The girl turned, blinking at him. "Eh? Did I do something wrong, Kaoru?" she asked, puzzled.
Annoyed by her continued ploy of innocence, Kaoru pushed her on the floor with his hand on her neck, looming over her with his eyes flashing angrily. "Stop trying to help us out. There's no point for you to do that, isn't it?" he said in a low voice.
Haruhi flinched at his rough treatment but still, she met his gaze, despite the faint flutter of fear in her heart. "Kaoru, I don't-" she began.
"You told the Madam about the garden incident last night." Kaoru said as if she hadn't spoken, his eyes daring her to lie.
Her eyes cleared as realization came to her. "That's right. I confessed everything to her." She stated, while gripping his wrist and behind his elbow as if to break free.
"Then why?" he demanded, tightening his hold on her throat. "Why are you still here? We don't hold anything against you anymore."
"That's because I took a vow to protect your secret." Haruhi answered simply.
"Huh?" Kaoru stared at her blankly, his grip loosening. "What does telling the Madam have to do with it?"
Instead of answering, Haruhi tightened her grip on his arm and using her foot, she trapped his foot and leg then she lifted her hips and turned over onto her knees to get on top of him in one swift maneuver. Kaoru stared at her, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Look, I told the Madam because I wanted to fulfill my vow of protecting you both without hate or fear in my heart." She explained, her face earnest. "So stop staring at me so hatefully. I'm not your enemy here, Kaoru." the brunette said in an exasperated voice.
"But you're the one pinning me down." Kaoru pointed out, still unwilling to back down.
Haruhi made a face, the feel of his grip on her neck still lingered. She's had enough of his hate and distrust. "You know what? I'm tired of being manhandled. Both of you took me by surprise yesterday. If I were alert, I would have beaten both of you up and it will be deemed as self defense." She said, her face serious. "So don't threaten me again. If you don't like me honoring my vow then just say so."
Suddenly, Kaoru laughed out loud, making Haruhi regard him in confusion. "Sorry, but hearing a warning from you in that state isn't very convincing." He said, amused.
"My state? What do you mean?" she asked, still at a loss.
Just then, Hikaru appeared beside her. "What my brother meant to say is, aren't you feeling a little cold, Haruhi?" he reminded with a smile.
Her glance went to her body and she flushed scarlet up to the tips of her ears as she remembered her state of nudity. The relief of winning the game and Kaoru's confrontation made her forget her sense of modesty. Here she was straddling him like a common whore- no wait- she is a doll, what's there to be ashamed of?
Haruhi lifted her chin. "Don't worry. I'm used to the cold atmosphere here." She said, determined to keep her cool. "Now, would you like me to leave both of you alone or not?" she asked, a slight quiver in her voice betraying her confidence.
The twins exchanged a rapid glance and then their faces split into equal smiles of mischief. "Please do continue taking care of us." they said together.
Despite her doubts about her decision to stay by their side, she decided to go with the flow and excused herself. Without appearing to rush, she picked up her discarded clothes and went to their bathroom. Once the coast was clear, Hikaru started to laugh. "I can't believe it! She actually turned the tables on us!" he said, looking at his twin who's still sprawled on the floor.
"Yeah, I didn't see that coming." admitted Kaoru, reaching out his hand towards his brother.
Hikaru grinned, pulling his brother up. "Now you know why I find her interesting." he said, still holding onto his hand.
His brother took on a serious face. "I hate to admit it but it seems like I'm the disillusioned one, Hikaru. I was just so worried…" he said tearfully.
"I know." Hikaru said, kissing his twin's forehead lovingly. "You're always looking out for both of us but trust me on this, Kaoru. She's different."
Not satisfied with the innocent peck, Kaoru pulled his twin's head down and kissed his lips fully. "Did you notice that she didn't get our names wrong?" he whispered against his lips before taking them again as they moved towards their bed.
His older brother chuckled as they landed over the bed. "I was shocked too. Maybe she's observing us far closer than we thought." he said in between kisses, while taking Kaoru in his arms.
They were in that compromising position when Haruhi emerged from the bathroom. The moment her eyes laid on them, it immediately brought her back to that day in the garden. It was exactly this scene that got her in trouble in the first place.
Haruhi let out a deliberate cough, catching the attention of the twins. "You know I hate to interrupt you a second time but-" she began, staring sharply at them. "Can't you wait until I'm out of the room?" she stood there, indignant.
The twins grinned, not in the least guilty they were caught in the act. "We did wait, right, Kaoru?" Hikaru said, glancing briefly at his twin.
"Yup. We waited for you to leave the bedroom, that is." Kaoru said, nodding.
Haruhi assumed a bored expression. She's not in the mood for their wordplay. "If there's nothing else, I'm going now. It's almost time for doll duty." she said, anxious to leave already.
"But you can't go yet, Haruhi." Hikaru said, smiling insolently.
"We still haven't given you your reward yet for winning the game earlier." his twin continued, smiling in the same way.
"Ah, you don't have to bother." Haruhi said, waving her hands in refusal. "I don't need more clothes. I'm content with what I have in my closet."
But the twins paid her no heed and snapped their fingers. Suddenly, twin girls in maid outfits appeared on either side of Haruhi, taking the girl by surprise. She didn't notice their presence at all.
"Please dress her up for us." Hikaru instructed the twin maids.
"We want an elegant and sexy look for her." Kaoru added.
"Understood, Hitachiin-sama." the girls answered in sync. "Now then, Haruhi-sama…" The two girls caught the brunette by the arms. "Come with us." they said in an ominous tone.
"Eh? W-wait- no, nooo!"
Despite her protests and attempts to struggle, the twin maids got her in a vicelike grip and Haruhi was helpless as they dragged her inside the dressing room beside the bathroom.
After a short while, the chime sounded, signaling the start of the night life in Paradise Mansion. Patrons and newcomers alike filled the reception area at a rapid pace. Amidst the busy atmosphere and classical piano music playing on the background, the door atop the grand staircase opened and the Hitachiin twins stepped out looking stylish and posed in their matching emerald green cocktail dresses that emphasized their sunset orange hair piled in a messy updo.
The male crowd below were captivated especially the newcomers. They silently thanked their colleagues for inviting them to this mansion to see such a spectacle of feminine beauty.
But the showy entrance didn't end there though because the twins seemed to be waiting for another one to emerge through the door. They wondered who it is because in their opinion no girl could rival the twins' beauty at the moment.
Just then, a brunette hesitantly stepped out of the door wearing a chic strapless blue and white A-line empire gown with a crystal beaded sweetheart neckline. The cut accentuated her slim waist and sexy collar bones.
Her hair is tied in a braided chignon and a diadem with flower shaped diamonds gleamed on top of her head. Her makeup is also flawlessly done. Her glossy, chestnut brown eyes appeared heavy-lidded and her lips were pink and full.
The overall look gave her that sexy and vintage vibe. As they stood there, hand in hand, to say that the male audience was dazzled by their combined elegance is an understatement. The regular clientele wondered amongst themselves if they've seen the brunette before.
The instant they started to descend the staircase, the gentlemen quickly gathered below, anxious to get the chance to escort the lovely ladies to their table.
"See? I told you they'd love your look." Hikaru whispered, without letting his smile slip. "Our designer gown and remarkable makeup skills really changed you." he said proudly.
"So… How do you feel about your grand entrance, Haruhi?" Kaoru asked.
"My makeup is heavy and my high heels are killing me." Haruhi replied bluntly, careful with every step she took down the stairs. Even with the twins holding her hands, she still felt unsteady on her feet. "I'd get in trouble for this. I told you I'm not allowed to pass through here." she whispered worriedly.
"Oh, your hands are like ice. Calm down, will you?" Hikaru squeezed her hand gently. "The Madam said we can do what we want, so don't worry." he said reassuringly.
"Hikaru's right. Just enjoy the moment, stand straight and smile." Kaoru reminded her, squeezing her other hand.
Haruhi was thankful for their support but still she can't help feeling restless especially when the cold and unfriendly eyes of the top dolls present were watching her every move.
As Haruhi sat between the twins, the rich clientele before them asked her questions in an attempt to know more about her. At first, she felt nervous but as the night wore on, her initial discomfort at the sudden attention melted away. Soon, she had the customers laughing as they exchanged stories about their childhood. Kaoru watched her silently while playing idly with his glass of wine.
He has seen her look indignant, embarrassed and confused before but not like this. Right now, she is glowing with happiness and the customers conversing with her are charmed by her wit and warmth. She is a natural hostess. In his opinion, she can be one of the top dolls if she wanted to but it seems to him their pet has no desire for the coveted post at all.
Kaoru glanced at his brother and found him staring at his own wine glass rather sharply. "He's sulking." he thought with a smile.
He can't blame his brother for feeling that way. Initially, Hikaru just wanted to show her off but now that she has gotten attention and seems to be enjoying it, he's now displeased.
Kaoru took a sip of his wine and continued to stare at her. Unlike his twin, he can be patient. Good things come to those who wait and for sure, the brunette won't be able to ignore their presence any longer.
Haruhi was listening to one of the customer's misadventure as a child but she can't dismiss the feeling of being watched. As she laughed, her eyes fell to her side and found Kaoru staring at her intently. Her smile faltered, she was too engrossed in the conversation that she forgot about the twins momentarily.
Taking advantage of the lull in the conversation, Hikaru slid closer to Haruhi and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I don't want to be rude but we want to have our little pet back." he said towards the customers.
"But I still want to talk to her..." one man protested.
"Sorry, but our Haruhi is off-limits, right, Kaoru?" he glanced at his twin to back him up.
His brother wrapped his arm around her waist. "Yup, she belongs to us. Sorry boys." Kaoru said, smiling apologetically.
"Then… is she part of your act tonight?" a stout man drawled lewdly.
Haruhi blinked, feeling a slight chill. "Act? What act?" she asked, glancing at each twin.
"Oh you know… our nightly voyeurism act." Hikaru whispered casually against her ear.
"You didn't say I'll be part of it!" Haruhi whispered in alarm.
"Well, you would refuse if we told you beforehand." the older twin said.
"Of course I would!" she hissed but then Hikaru started to lean towards her. She immediately put out her hands, her face flushed. "Stop! I won't do it." she objected.
Kaoru hugged her from behind and rested his chin at the crook of her neck. "Do you want to humiliate us in public?" he reprimanded lightly. "I thought you're going to take care of us, Haruhi?" he asked, appealing to her promise.
"But not to this extent." she argued.
Hikaru held her raised hands and kissed them in turn. "Don't be scared, my pet. We've done something like this before, remember?" he smirked as he felt her slight tremble.
"Wha- that's not-" she began, scared that Kaoru might react badly but instead he only tightened his embrace and said, "Eh? That's unfair. Tell me what happened."
His twin chuckled. "I'll tell you but you have to act it out, Kaoru." he answered with a gleam in his eyes.
"I'll be happy to." Kaoru agreed. It was typical of his brother to take advantage of the situation and make it more dramatic as he pleases.
In the next few minutes, Hikaru started retelling what happened that day in the bathroom. Their present audience listened raptly as he described their actions in complete detail and watched in growing anticipation as Kaoru acted it out with the reluctant heroine.
In his new version of the story, it's as if she seduced him that day. Hikaru intentionally excluded the fact that she did it to hide his gender. She wanted to remain indifferent during this little roleplay but the deadly combination of seductive words and the gentle strokes against her skin had her body responding against her will.
Her glance fell on the men around them and they looked flushed and some were actually masturbating and engaged in oral sex as the tale went on. Just a while ago, they were talking about innocent things but now, they've shown their lewd selves brazenly.
Her blood ran cold through her veins. Right now, she felt like a mere object of lust. This isn't the kind of doll she wanted to become. This isn't the kind of happiness she wanted to share with her customers.
Seeing the brunette's tearful expression, Hikaru caught her chin. Haruhi tried to turn her head away but he held her firmly and saw a stray tear slide down her cheek. "Oh, honey. What's wrong?" He crooned, feeling a sense of guilt for taking his joke a little too far.
Embarrassed at her weakness, Haruhi shifted her body towards Kaoru and hid her face against his chest. The younger twin embraced her protectively. "Sorry, boys. But that's as far as we go tonight." he said, smiling regretfully. "This is our pet's first time, I hope you all understand."
The words "first time" maintained the spark of desire in their male audience and they allowed them to leave without protest. When they rose from their seats, the top dolls quickly took their place and distracted the men for the rest of the night.
Once they were out of the parlor and the door closed behind them, Haruhi stepped out of their embrace. "There's no need to escort me. I'll be fine on my own." She said in a quiet voice, without meeting their eyes.
"Hey, Haruhi…" Hikaru raised his hand to touch her but the brunette backed away, crossing her arms around her defensively.
"I'll fulfill my promise to you both. I know I'm just a doll to you but-" she looked at them with a hurt expression. "Don't treat me like that again."
Before either of them could reply, Mei emerged from the door.
"Mei-chan…" she whispered, her eyes glistened at the sight of a familiar, friendly face.
One glance at the brunette's sad face immediately brought out her protective instinct. "Stay away from her!" Mei said, as she walked briskly towards Haruhi.
Mei was there in the parlor and she watched proudly as Haruhi descended from the grand staircase and earned the envy of the top dolls and the admiration of their fellow low-ranked dolls. It was an unprecedented event and she felt happy for her friend. Everything was going well but then, the situation's changed and from afar, she saw hurt and disappointment written plainly on her face.
Mei quickly asked Ayame to sub for her waitress duty and crossed the room to follow the trio out of the parlor.
"Haruhi, are you okay?" She asked the brunette, but Haruhi only went into her arms and hugged her. Mei hugged her in return, her brows furrowed in concern. She raised her eyes and stared angrily at the twins. "Special guests or not, if you ever hurt my friend again, I'll break your bones." She threatened with a savage glint in her eyes. "I swear both of you will end up disabled when I'm done."
The twins raised their hands in surrender. "Calm down. We were just playing around-" Hikaru started but his brother quickly interrupted him with a slight bump against his hip.
"Don't misunderstand. We meant her no harm." Kaoru said tactfully. "We won't do it again. We promise."
Mei appeared unconvinced and was about to argue but the slight tug on her dress made her back down for now. "I'll be watching you, ya hear me?" she said, narrowing her eyes.
The twins nodded in agreement. Mei turned her attention to the brunette, her expression quickly softened. "Let's go, Haruhi." She whispered gently. Haruhi simply nodded, letting her friend support her and lead the way back to their room.
As the two girls were out of sight, the twins breathed a sigh of relief. "What the hell is up with that girl?" Hikaru wondered aloud, a little annoyed. "I did stop when she looked distressed. It's not like I didn't care." he huffed.
Kaoru clung to his brother's arm. "Come on, just let it go for today. Even though that girl warned us off, our pet will come to us on her own."
Hikaru smiled reluctantly. "Yeah, well, she did give us her word."
"That's right. So we still have a chance to play with her." His brother reassured him.
Hikaru laughed. "Oh, Kaoru. What will I do without you?" he asked playfully, back in his good mood.
Kaoru only smiled and steered his brother back to their room. It is the question he wondered a lot himself. They've been inseparable since birth and no one has been able to tell them apart until today. He gazed at his twin briefly. Hikaru does not know it yet but letting Haruhi into their circle might change them in ways he can only imagine.
Meanwhile, after Haruhi had removed traces of makeup from her face and changed into her baby pink nightgown, Mei offered to brush her hair. A comfortable silence fell between them with only the soft sound of brushing was heard. Mei wanted to ask about the incident tonight but she's at a loss on how to broach the subject. Renge was always vocal about her feelings, she didn't have to ask.
"Hey, Mei-chan…" Haruhi said hesitantly.
Her hands stilled on the brush. "Yeah?" Mei asked, hoping her voice didn't sound a little too eager.
"Uhm, may I borrow your lap for a bit?" she asked shyly. Mei readily agreed and put down the brush on the bedside table. If it was to bring comfort to her friend, she can do anything. She settled near the headboard and patted her lap. With that, Haruhi rested her head on her friend's lap and curled into a ball.
Recalling how Renge used to comfort her, Mei started to stroke the brunette's head gently. Haruhi smiled evocatively. "You know, my adoptive mother used to do that when I was little." She narrated. "I used to tell her how my day went back then…" her voice trailed off.
"Would you like to tell me about your day today?" Mei asked, unthinkingly.
There was a brief silence. Mei mentally kicked herself for being tactless. But then, the brunette spoke up and told her the truth about the day she met the twins until that night. She listened attentively and was surprised to learn about the twins being men. As the tale unfolded, her dislike for the twins formed. She couldn't forgive them for taking advantage of her friend in such a way.
But when Haruhi mentioned her intent to continue helping the twins, Mei objected. With a slight smile, Haruhi started to share what the twins are like, her promise to Osaka-san, her hurts, her fears and her hopes and dreams. As tears fell from her eyes unnoticed, the emotions and memories she kept bottled up inside poured out of her. She couldn't stop it. It's as if she had been waiting all this time to unload her burden with someone.
The constant, gentle strokes on her head comforted her and once everything has been said, a feeling of calmness overwhelmed her senses and lulled her to sleep.
Mei's hand stilled over her head, feeling her heart cry out for the strong yet fragile girl on her lap. They spent most of their time together but only now she realized how much her friend struggled to adapt to their new life on her own. Her finger wipes a stray tear off the girl's cheek.
Still, she is amazed at her friend's optimism and sincere wish to bring happiness to everyone she encounters. She can't do something like that for a customer in this mansion- never again. Slowly, Mei lifted the brunette's head, placed it over a pillow and pulled the blanket over her body with great care.
Though Haruhi still wants to help the twins, she won't give them a chance to hurt her in any way. No friend of hers will be bullied- not on her watch.
A/N:
I originally planned for the chapter "Devious Charade" to be divided into two parts only but I think jamming everything in here and ending it quickly won't be good. I still have more scenes to add since the twins are staying for a week in the mansion, after all.
So yeah, expect another chapter for the twins. haha! XD
I know I've been on a long hiatus but please bear with me. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much I enjoyed writing it. :D
Leave a review, onegai neh? Thank you and Take care everyone! (huggles) :D