Now, let's return to Eri Maiden, as she was traversing through the city…

Chapter 14
Eri's Travels (Part 2)

It all happened, prior to Mio & Shuji's date that ended with a Maiden attack by Rie & Luno. She arrived at the small house, along the way, and read the address. She said, "Yep. This is the place…"

Earlier, along the way, she was in Ikebukuro, and managed to find the statue of the bullfrog. It was between Kagura's house and the warehouse she just left from. In complete worry, Eri decided to knock on her door. She sighed and said, "Whatever that place is, I'm coming to that, later. For now, Kagura Model will assist me."

A voice called, "Just a minute!"

A girl with short brown hair, light skin, though slightly darker than its regular tone, and with a huge chest. She was wearing her red jumpsuit and said, "Oh… Can I help you?"

Eri said, "Kagura Model-. I mean, Kagura."

She thought, "Crap! I have to remember… She's a Maiden for Hire in a human's world."

Kagura is an android, herself. She's a Maiden for Hire that runs on unlimited battery life, and so far, the only remaining model to do so, since the unlimited battery life models were recalled. She used to date Tomo Maiden, until she butchered her programming, and were separated. Kagura has a very unique talent, when she is switched to human and Maiden, in a blink.

Kagura said, "Oh… You're… Uh… It's long, but… The mind is a blank."

Eri thought, "It's been too long, and her memory banks are catching up."

Kagura processed and beeped, "Maiden for Hire authorized… Eri Model N1K1M871 – Version 2…"

She spoke, "Eri Maiden… AH! It's you, the same Maiden for Hire that once saved me. Ballsy move of you to risk your life to save me and Tomo Maiden…"

"Never mind that!" Eri huffed, "I choose to forget that moment. But even so, they can't remove the scar from my cleavage."

"Oh… Can I see?"

Eri sighed, showing her scar from when she sacrificed herself to save Kagura and Tomo, when Kagura was testing a Butler for Hire that went sentient. She closed her blouse and said, "Seriously, must you be so-. I mean…"

She cleared her throat, as Kagura asked, "You okay? You seemed sad."

Eri said, "Well, not that you care, but…"

She pouted, and was upset, "May I come in?"

Kagura smiled and said, "Sure. I was back from my morning jog, and I was hoping I'd get company, other than Sakaki and her Maiden-Butler duo of Kaori and Kimurin… The hell's wrong with these people…"

Eri smiled and said, "Yes… I know…"

The blonde gynoid stepped in, as Kagura said, "Since you're Tomo's friend, make yourself at home."

Eri said, "Uh? Oh, sure."

She thought, "When the time's right, I'll say it. The code word for Kagura Model. I wonder if she remembers…"

Kagura Model is acting human, but according to Yomi, her Maiden functions are activated via a keyword "Kamikoneco", meaning "Biting Kitten". Once spoken, she is activated for ten minutes, until she is shut down. Kagura can be reactivated, by saying the word, again, but back to her human mode.

XXXXX

At the living room, Kagura and Eri were in the couch, sitting around, doing nothing. They would have tea, but Eri said that no tea is fine. And that's a given, since Maidens and Butlers are not allowed to eat or drink. The Children for Care does, on the other hand.

"You know, I have been keeping up with the Maidens and Butlers that has been going on. Say… Is it true that they are making children to tend to?" Kagura asked.

Eri smiled and said, "Oh, yes. Not after I was on a travel, Miss Sawachika and Miss Mizuhara launched a special adopt-a-child program. Children for Care are simply the newest models in our franchise. But so far, we've had mixed reviews… because…"

"Child abuse?"

"Yeah… Mainly, most customers are rude to children who don't listen. But hey, child abuse has dropped, thanks to our Children for Care, by 60%. We're at 12%, and about to make things peaceful."

"Aw, how sweet… But it doesn't change the fact about the Maiden Attacks."

"I know… I've overheard the situation… It can't be true. And… I'm scared…"

Eri was nervous, as Kagura hugged her. She hugged her lightly and said, "Eri, you're still sad. Is something wrong?"

Eri said, in sadness, "I'm ashamed to go back… to my boyfriend, Kenji."

"Oh… You got a swell boyfriend?"

"And a hot bearded hunk, with a talent for comics. But… I can't look at his face, because of what I did…"

"Did you get into a fight?" Kagura asked, curious over Eri's boyfriend, Kenji Harima.

Eri replied, "Well, it's not what you think."

Eri explained that Harima got a Tenma Maiden for Hire with all the functions needed. It was a gift from a Miss Itoko Osakabe, Harima's cousin. However, it malfunctioned, and focused on loving Harima, forever. That was done by Osakabe, herself, and was permanently banned from ever getting or renting a Maiden for Hire. To make matters worse, Eri was responsible for amping Tenma's Pleasure Mode, and caused her to die out, because of a virus. Eri then said, "Luckily, she was salvaged, and made into a brand-new model. But I cannot divulge over what I just did. I mean, it's not my fault, but it is."

Kagura said, "It's never your fault. It was an accident."

"IT IS MY FAULT! I let Tenma Model break down! I was held responsible for her death, only to save her personality data. Nothing I do is right…"

"This Tenma Model… Was she cuter than you?"

"Oh, yes… But it resembles Kenji's former crush… Tenma Tsukamoto, a past customer of Maidens for Hire. Tomo even said it to me, when she thinks that Harima and Tenma are the ones… She only wants to be with him, and because he wants to see her smile. Even if she doesn't love him, he wants to make her happy."

Kagura snickered, "Oh, bullshit! He loves her, and that is all it is."

"Oh, but it's truth!" Eri said, "Or… Tomo Model said it was an intuition…"

"That's what it is…" Kagura stated.

She relaxed by Eri and said, "You know, come to think of it… I have never met the real you, Eri Model… Are you… a Pleasure Model?"

"Well, yes. But that's only for my boyfriend, until he's 18. Strange… I haven't caught up to him, lately, and yet he might've."

"How long were you gone from him?" Kagura asked her.

Eri Maiden replied, "Hmm… Processing… Processing… One year, six months."

"And when's Kenji Harima's birthday?"

Eri replied, in all-smiles, "December 1st~!"

But then wept in depression, and bawled, "But it's only… September… WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

She cried, as she was bawling. Kagura comforted her and cried, "HEY, HEY, NO! Don't cry! You got about three months…"

"That's not soon enough… What if I come home, and Tenma Model has sex with him, before I do?"

Kagura barked, "Now, don't be such a bitch! Eri Maiden, you're better than that! You should go to her and say that you love him!"

"But I do love him! Kagura, it's just…"

"Hey, that was all in the past. What's done is done! But you can't be guilty of what you did, all the time. If you avoid Harima, you'll never get that chance, again. But even if he turns 18, and finally has the right to use Pleasure Mode, he wants you, and not Tenma."

Eri sobbed, "No, I don't! I'm nothing but a common waifu!"

Kagura gasped, and slapped her face. She barked, "WAIFU?! How dare you! You dare compare yourself to common waifus? They are NOT waifus! Tomo is NOT a waifu!"

"Yes, she is!" Eri blubbered.

Kagura held her, "Eri Model, listen to me… It's alright… Just… just be patient… I know it's too soon, and you're still depressed… But he truly loves you. I can't let you cry over missing a golden opportunity. Think of it… You're the former Maiden of a boy you love. And by the time he graduates, go to him…"

Eri said, "I don't know…"

Kagura smiled, "Even if you're an android, you have a chance in your life. Don't let it get the best of you, and focus on your one goal… to be with Kenji, forever…"

Eri smiled and blushed, "Gee… Thanks… I never knew that… But I'm still confused over it… I wonder if Kenji will ever forgive me…"

She hugged her and said, "Kagura Model… Thank you…"

They embraced a hug, as Kagura suddenly thought, "Wait… How old is Kenji? If it's 18 months, and he's seventeen… wouldn't that make him 19?"

Back in Harima's house, Tenma Maiden was cuddling by Harima, who was on the couch. Tenma said, "Harima… Please kiss me…"

Harima said, "Huh?"

Tenma Maiden replied, "It's been almost two years, and you haven't used yourself on my Pleasure Mode. Aren't you 18? I feel warmth on you…"

At the time, Harima was already 18. Sadly, he refused to have sex with Tenma, because…

"Tenma Maiden… I'm going to tell you, what I told you the last 18 times that you asked me… NO!" He said to her.

Tenma Maiden sobbed, "But why? I love you."

Harima said, "True… But Rich Girl and I are engaged… and Eri Maiden's my true lover… Even so, if Rich Girl does find her double, I'll marry her, and not Rich Girl. In other words, Eri Maiden comes back, she's my first one to love…"

Tenma sobbed, "Not me?"

He petted her head and said, "I told you. You resemble the girl I once loved, long ago… But no matter what, she only wants to find her own love… and not some pervert like me… as she would dub me. I only want to see her smile… and you, as well. Smile for me."

Tenma wept, as she said, "I miss Eri Model, too. Twenty months… and it's almost the Holidays. Eri Maiden misses you so much, but I wish she'd come back…"

Harima turned away and said, completely distraught, "I'm sorry… But even if she does return… Will I stay with any Rich Girl? Harima and Sawachika… torn lovers… Soon, I'll be her husband, and you shall be my servant. But I doubt you can have it with me."

"You mean… My Pleasure Mode is up and running… but I want him and her. I love Eri Model! That's all! I was rebuilt, after she saved me! The least she can do is come back and apologize! Please?"

She sniffled and cringed, in a high-pitched cry, "Please?"

He held her and kissed her lips. They started to kiss and caress each other. After 45 seconds, they stopped. He said to her, "Forgive me, Tenma… I love you… But I am in love with another… Tenma Maiden… understand…"

Tenma nodded and said, "Yes."

Harima replied, "I'm sure she'll understand… Eri… I want her back. So, for now, I'm not going to do anything to cheat on her. So… Until Eri Maiden comes back… Quit asking me. Okay?"

Tenma nodded, as tears rolled down her face, "Okay. I promise."

He went to another room, as Tenma had her fingers crossed. She whimpered, "Eri Model…"

XXXXX

That night, Harima was asleep, as Tenma was by the window, viewing the starry sky.

"Maidens cannot grant wishes… But maybe you can…" She said.

She prayed and whispered, "Starlight. Starbright. First star I see tonight. Wish I may, wish I might. Make the wish, I wish tonight."

She wished, "I wish Eri Model would come back… And Harima would be happy… I wish for her to come back… soon… Eri Model, please… Come back…"

She started to cry and whimper, pleading for Eri Maiden to ever return to Harima. She lasted all night, before she would return to recharge.

XXXXX

Meanwhile, in Kagura's home, Eri was sleeping on the couch, as Kagura leaned to her, "Hey… You asleep?"

Eri moaned, as she was waking up. Kagura said, "You can sleep in my bed, tonight… With me…"

Eri blushed, "Thank you…"

They walked to the bedroom, as Kagura shut the door. She locked it and said, "There."

Eri replied, "Huh? Why did you lock it?"

Kagura said, "I know of it… You can call me a Maiden for Hire, if you like. I want to know… What you're like…"

What she doesn't know is that she's already done it with Tomo Maiden, long ago. But she was erased of those memories. That's a flaw to the keyword. Excess memory is erased, after 10 minutes of Maiden Form, pretending that it never happened.

Eri said, as she was worried, "I can't… I was saving myself…"

Kagura said, stripping down to her underwear, "Don't be scared. Just embrace it."

She was being sultry, as she said, "I love you, Eri…"

She kissed and cuddled her, as Eri was trying to stop her, "Ka-, Kagura! Hey! Stop it! I'm not into-! HELP! HELP! Kagura…"

She then barked, as Kagura continued to kiss and lick her, "Alright, you asked for it!"

She cried out, "Kamkoneco!"

Kagura stopped and started to make beeping sounds. She remained on all-fours, over Eri, and said, "Hello. I am Kagura. I am your Maiden for Hire."

Eri roared, "IT'S ME, YOU MORON!"

Kagura gasped, as she remembered herself, "OH! Did my human self got pervy, again? Man, she's got to-. Oh…"

She blushed, covering her bare skin, "Sorry… I am a Pleasure Model, you know."

Eri huffed, "You almost did."

Kagura smiled and held her, "It's been long… 18 months, you said?"

"Yes, it has…"

"And yes, I overheard you and Kenji Harima… Like I said, it's not your fault. Deep down, he doesn't mind, since you saved Tenma Model."

"But what of you? And what about Tomo?"

"Oh, you heard we broke up?"

"Oh, right…"

Kagura hugged her, and planted Eri's face into her bosom. She then said, "I have time left… But I want to know, I was listening to what you said, the whole time. If you can decide, go to him, again… December's a long wait…"

"I know. But I miss him… But he hates me, for ruining his Maiden for Hire."

"He doesn't. And he never will. You're the only girl that he'll love, and not that ridiculous flat-chested ebony-haired child-like Maiden. It's like you said, out of intuition… He wants to see her smile…"

She asked her, "But Eri… Do you want to see him smile?"

Eri was devastated, as she whimpered, "He wasn't smiling at me, after I saved Tenma Model! But… I…"

Eri bawled, "AW, GAAAAAAAWD! WHAT HAVE I DOOOOOOOOONE? HARIMA HATES MEEEEEEEEEE! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

She bawled and cried, as Kagura shouted, "STOP IT!"

She calmed down, as Kagura clutched her tightly, "Just stop! Stop acting like a baby, and accept the fact that he forgives you! Always! Even though you were responsible, partially, you're still not hated. He will forgive you, because you cared for him and Tenma Model, despite the disasters that occur. So, quit jumping to conclusions!"

Eri said, as she felt uneasy, "Well… I have been meaning to go somewhere, later on… But… You're a true friend…"

Kagura petted her and said, "Am I always? Now, I only have about six minutes left… Wanna cuddle? I'm pretty warm…"

Eri smiled, "Sure. It's been long since I wanted warmth from another. Thank you, Kagura Model. And thank you for your help. I'm still unsure about what, but I think I understand… Harima still likes me. There's hope, yet!"

Kagura laid her head on her bosom and said, "There, there. Now, let's sleep on it. Please say my keyword, now."

Eri replied, "Will you go to sleep?"

Kagura said, "I'm already on Sleep Mode. Eri Model, it's great seeing you again."

Eri giggled, "Kamikoneco."

Kagura whirred down, holding Eri, "Good night… Errrrrrrr…"

Her eyes closed, and her arms were doll-like, holding Eri Maiden. She clicked her eyes closed and said, "Good night."

They powered down and went to sleep. Eri was feeling very happy, again. But it would be a while, before she'd return to Harima and Tenma Maiden, once again.

But even so… three of the four Maiden Guardians have been awakened. Will Eri be able to find her answers, before they could relocate her?

Meanwhile, back in Hikawa Shrine, Yamabuki finishes up on the check-up. She said to Makoto, "Now, Rei Model must be deactivated for four hours, before restarting her systems. For better results, make sure she remains off, and then, reactivate Maiden for Hire, after the allotted time has expired."

Rei was in a seated position, and changed into her shrine priestess outfit, with her chest revealing, to show her bare breasts, which was Yamabuki's doing. Makoto said, "Thank you, Miss Suou."

Yamabuki smiled, "Oh, please. Call me Bookie."

"How about Buki? It's the same as-."

"Even better~!" Yamabuki cheered, but then said, "But Bookie's better. Anyway, I had to come on this house call. Rei Model knows who I am, and I have other repair jobs around Tokyo."

Makoto said, "Oh, just one thing… Everything that has been going on… Do you think it might be… sabotage? Besides, I believe that someone or something did it."

Yamabuki smiled, "Oh, yes. But we can't say, for sure. In any case, Miss Kino, you give me a call, and we'll keep in touch. If anything bad happens to Rei Model, call me, only. Mr. Stanton is busy around the office."

She walked off, as she waved goodbye. Makoto waved goodbye, as she said, "Thank goodness. Albeit, a lot has been going on. And Rei and I have changed a lot. For that matter, I'm okay with it. Usagi… Motoki… Rei… everyone… What is going on with their services?"

She stopped and saw Rei's bare chest exposed. She gasped in horror and cried, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

She redid her uniform and panicked, "She may be a repairwoman, but she's such a pervert! Rei, button up your uniform, you pure android!"

She finished, and said, "PHEW! It's a good thing Rei is deactivated… But I have four hours…"

She left the house and said, "Well, for what it's worth… I'll take my leave, before I think of anything foolish."

She walked home and thought, in complete worry, "Still… Who is this woman? She's got big boobs, and she's very funny… but why is she an expert, and knows much about Maidens for Hire?"

That night, Yamabuki came home, as she was greeted to Terry, who was sitting in the table, worried. She asked, "Oh, Master. You came home."

Terry sighed, "I did. But I'm troubled. Until the disaster is averted, I'm leaving the company."

"NO! You got fired?"

"No, I quit. It's because of that Mr. Sanjiro…"

"I know what you mean. Like I said, you don't trust the newbies in the workplace. It's bad morale on work ethic!"

She hugged him and said, "Well, thanks for comforting me."

"I'm sure you'll find a new job, Master." She said, in a giddy voice.

"NO! Maidens for Hire is my one true calling!" he boomed, "And what Mr. Sanjiro said… He's right."

"Eh?"

"Yamabuki… Please, you can listen, but DON'T forward it to anyone… AT ALL! Sanjiro knows what's going on, which causes bad morale."

"OH! Like Mr. Takeru?"

"Yes. And I'm going to tell you everything that he knows."

She nodded and said, "I'm all ears, Master."

He told her everything, including the apparent sabotage towards numerous Maidens and Butlers. And even worse, it was blackmail from another that caused Shinji Takeru to be fired from the company. Yamabuki was shocked, and replied that it was horrifying. Terry had no clue who it was, but he's still looking to see what is going on.

"Yamabuki, even though I'm not an employee, anymore, I will not rest, until that guy or girl is caught! Even if it takes me years, I'm going to find the saboteur." He said, "So, for now, you're the Breadwinner in this family."

He kissed her and said, "Mum's the word, okay?"

Yamabuki bowed and said, "Yes, Master."

He left to go to bed, as Yamabuki sat down on the table. She was in glee, but a little sad that Terry, her friend, is out of a job. Terry Stanton, from Odaiba, used to work for a repair shop with his father. When his business went bankrupt, he would get a job as repairman at the Maidens for Hire, years later. Terry lived alone, since he was divorced and had no kids. His girlfriend, Yamabuki, was a young girl he met, during the months of when Eri Maiden ran away. They first met, long ago, as Yamabuki was a whiz at repairing things, including Maidens and Butlers. But her story remains a mystery. They actually first met in the Tokyo Branch of the company.

Yamabuki giggled, as she was still happy, "It's so much fun. My darling Terry, master Terry… I hope I can make you proud… and maybe I'll find that bastard that ruined Maidens for Hire! I can tell, since I loved the outfits!"

Yamabuki Suou, while doubles as a repairwoman, she is the new seamstress and uniform designer for Maidens for Hire, who replaces Ami Tsukami, who was transferred to the Kobe Branch, and Chihiro Inoue, who was promoted to Head Seamstress in the main company's building. Her role in the company remains a mystery.

But that will all be explained, in the next arc, next week!
See you then!