Disclaimer: Yun Koga is the owner. I am appeasing myself by using her creations for my own dirty purposes. LoL

A/N: Tada! Kio and Takara finally enter the scene once again. Their part before was a very minor one, so I feel kind of bad now. Soubi and Seimei are in this chapter, too. XD

Underneath Cyan Skies
Chapter 14: Skyscraper Dream

"Master! Welcome back!" Takara was well poised and in position as to where her Master could affectionately pat her on the head.

"Hey there, Takara. How are you doing today?"

"Very well, Master! Thank you for asking about my health in such a manner! I am honored!"

It's been weeks now since they've been living together, but Takara was still behaving like a pet-that-will-always-try-to-please. The dirty-blonde time and time again instructed her to stop the act, but it seems like the very nature of pleasing was ingrained within her brain, so therefore she was almost unable to stop. However, with a little more work, Kio believes he will be able to change her for the better.

"Ahahaha, that's good. Whew, I am a bit drained from today's session - I didn't think it would take so much out of me, despite a regular busy day like this one. I must be growing physically old, eh?"

"Physically old? You don't look old at all, Master," Takara inquired.

"But I feel old . . ."

"Ah . . . Maybe I can do something to help you feel better, Master?" Takara raised her arms in the air, and Kio began to wonder what she was trying to do. "I've seen something on television that might help you relax. May I try it?"

"A massage, perhaps?" Kio mused.

"I think that is what they called it. But you move your hands like this." Takara motioned with her hands for her Master to see. "And you rub either the back, arms, legs or shoulders. It seems to very relaxing for the people getting massaged."

"That would be nice but I'd rather not be massaged right now. I'll go take a hot bath instead, okay?" A small frown formed itself on the humanoid's face. "Though I'm not trying to say that I don't want your massage; it's just that a bath is something I'm feeling more in par for."

"Okay, Master. I understand. I will wait outside by the bathroom door for you. I will have your slippers and a change of clothes ready, too." Kio didn't bother to comment on this one and instead went into the bathroom, and closed the door behind himself. The last thing he saw was his pet's smiling face and her heed of warning. "Be careful not to slip inside, and if something happens I will be right here, Master."

Once inside the steaming tub, Kio could feel all of his muscles relaxing and giving way all around him. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply - the lightly scented water was surprisingly pleasant. Kio usually thought the cheap stuff didn't have any real effect, but he was proven wrong so it seems. Kio's eyes remained closed and they did not open until soft whimpering reached his ears.

"Huh? Did I fall asleep?" Kio sat up. "Damn, I've cramped my arms . . ."

"Ma-Master?" Takara called from the other side of the door. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Takara, are you crying?"

"I'll stop! I'll--"

Kio laughed at his pet's silliness. "It's okay, Takara, because this means that you were worried for me. Thank you. Once I get out do you want to go visit Soubi and Seimei? We haven't gone to their place in a while."

"If Master wants to go then I will, too!" Takara replied.

§§§§§§§§§§

"I'll go get us some drinks," Seimei offered. "Will iced tea be fine?"

"Anything will be fine - make whatever you feel like making," Soubi said.

"Okay."

"Soubi, your living room is so spacious!" Takara exclaimed. "It looks a little different too!"

"Yeah, I thought I'd renovate a bit, and what you see here is the results. Your thoughts, Kio?" The dirty-blonde looked at him as if appalled. "Why make that face now? I told you months ago that I was going to get a change of scenery."

"Well, it's nice is all I really want to say," Kio finally replied, after what seemed like a few minutes.

"I have high hopes for this place, for when I plan on selling it, it shall fetch me a pretty penny. Not that I am going to move anytime soon, but there will definitely come a day. Didn't you say something about selling yours eventually as well?"

"Ah, I might have . . ."

Kio was saved from further explaining when Seimei came back with a tray of red-colored juice. "I decided to make some pineapple-cranberry fruit juice. If it is too sour I'll go get some more pineapple juice to level the taste."

"Wow." Kio was in awe of Seimei - he was like the perfect specimen of a perfect pet.

This somewhat made him jealous of what his friend has, but Takara, too, was a wonderful pet in her own way, and what made it better was that he didn't have to pay for her. She was of high quality when he put his mind to it. Not many people nowadays owns a pet that would submit so completely into pleasing their Master every second of the day. However, pleasure always comes with some discomfort one way or another. For one, being pleased every single moment gets irksome and monotonous - life's mishaps have all but been entirely eliminated.

"Wow?" Soubi mimed. He slapped a hand across his friend's eyes, when he noticed Kio's expression. "Why are you looking at Seimei like that? Tend to your own."

Seimei and Takara exchanged looks, clearly giving off the signal that they were confused. What on earth could their Masters be bickering about, they would wonder. Neither pet said a word to one another, but both were thinking along the same lines.

"I wasn't looking at him in any particular way, Soubi!"

"Are you implying Takara can't satisfy you?" This perked up Takara's ears, and she listened intently to what was said next.

"I never said that!"

"Hearing you say that makes me feel all hopeful inside! Soubi, your pet is too perfect! How about you give him to me and get yourself another one?"

"Your face told me everything."

"Master, am I a bother?" Takara asked, stopping the two from talking. "If it is so, then it's okay to say I am. I'll try harder and harder to make you like me. Honest."

"No, it's not like that, Takara." Kio threw Soubi a dirty glare. This was a little white lie, but he needed to comfort his pet as best as he could. "Soubi did not mean what he said - you know he can be a moron sometimes. So please don't listen to what he says because you are very, very, very precious to me, okay?"

"That's right, Takara. Kio loves you very much and I can see that it shows from his sincere voice and gentle eyes," Seimei expressed. "You have a wonderful Master."

The anxious humanoid bit at her lower lip nervously, not sure whether she should completely believe in Seimei's words. Her drive to please her Master increased ten-fold, and the burning desire to do something that would cause Kio to smile was very strong at the moment. What must she do to always make her Master love and cherish her? At what cost will this be on her part? She wanted to know, but didn't know how to get the answer without asking her Master directly.

"Takara, is something the matter?" Soubi asked. "I was only joking before, so don't take it so literally."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm not mad," she automatically replied, mind obviously wandering elsewhere. "I am relieved Master is not angry with me. I am very relieved."

Kio smiled. Success. Takara inwardly glowed with happiness, deciding to herself that she loved her Master's smile and wanted to see it always. She needed to try harder and harder. This was her very own skyscraper dream, for it could reach all the way to the tip of one of the tallest buildings and far beyond.

"That spells out a big fat relief on my forehead, too!" Kio swatted Soubi on one shoulder and pretended to act like he did it on accident - Soubi knew it was on purpose but made no attempt to protest. In a way he deserved to be hit upon every once in a while. "So, what should the four of us do now? Wanna go out somewhere, guys?"

"The four of us?" Soubi mimicked. He did not expect to go anywhere at all today - rather, he wanted to stay home with Seimei and laze the day away just like that.

"Yeah. It'll be fun."

"Somewhere fun? I love fun places." Seimei's eyes sparkled with happiness.

Soubi had no choice but to give in. If Seimei wanted to go someplace, then he was at least going to comply, since Seimei hardly expressed his desires to go somewhere anyway.

"If this makes Master happy, then I will be honored to go," Takara added.

§§§§§§§§§§

"The mall, eh? Not a bad choice, Kio."

"I couldn't think of anywhere else. The park would be too boring; the roller-blade ring, too crazy; and a restaurant, too crowded - well, the one I have in mind anyway. So, I've settled upon the mall, and besides, Takara and I could use some new clothing. But first Takara shall get hers. The pet clothing store should be around here somewhere."

"Ah, that's true. Seimei might as well get some new clothes as well."

Kio and Soubi shopping together for pet clothing was not strange at all. Whether two guys, two women, or a man and woman do this, it did not matter because it was accepted in society. Shopping is shopping and it has nothing to do with one's sexual orientation. This wasn't any of their concern though and it was indirectly ignored by them and anyone else who was around.

"What colors do you like, Takara?" Seimei asked.

"Me? Am I supposed to have colors I like?"

The other hybrid humanoid heartily laughed and shook his head. Despite the fact that he was laughing at her, Takara did not feel any sort of anger stir up inside her - Seimei had a way of being friendly nearly all the time no matter what he was doing. Since she was asked about colors she decided to go along with the color purple, but not without the consent of her Master.

"Master, will the color purple suit me, or do you want me to wear another color?"

Kio replied, "wear whatever colors you want. I'm not so controlling that I won't allow you to wear the color type you favor."

"I see . . ."

Within seconds Takara disappeared among mounds of clothing, though she made sure not to stray too far from Kio. Being scolded for getting lost was the last thing she wanted. Seimei had gone on to the other side on his own and was looking at various items himself. He was allowed the choice of being so openly individualistic . . . She has this opportunity too, yet she was unsure of how to handle something she isn't accustomed to.

She still wanted to hang onto her skyscraper dream . . .

Now that Kio and Soubi were left to themselves, the blonde-haired man decided to bring something up he considered of importance. "Say, Kio, you and Takara seem kind of shaky at times. I noticed it at my house."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, I thought Takara would have loosened up a bit by now - more than that, I think she's tightened up considerably. Would it be a bad idea if you talked to her about her previous Master?"

"I don't know, man."

"Maybe this might help her let out she really feels about things. It isn't good for a pet to be holed up inside, and her mindset to please is a little tiresome, isn't it?"

Kio felt a little guilty, for he had a thought:

"It is." Kio was irked at how precise and to the point Soubi was, but this was to be expected from his longtime friend. None of this should be surprising to him at all. "And even if you say I ought to talk to her about her previous owner, what makes you think she won't freeze up and close up completely?"

"I never did say she won't do what you just stated."

"Augh, Soubi, just shut up then. You're not helping me by making me worry like this."

"No, you'll thank me later; trust me."

"Like I will . . ."

"Damn, Soubi, you sure got a loyal pet there. Now I need a pet like that."

". . . though, Soubi, I think I don't deserve Takara. I've been reflecting since earlier today, and I think I might have said some selfish things back then that still apply to me." Soubi could see the nervous, yet hesitant smile coming to Kio's lips. His friend appeared to be in a state of loss, but there was little he could do for him. "Remember how I said I wanted a loyal pet like yours? I suppose my wish has come true. I didn't think it'd turn out like this though, since Takara and Seimei aren't exactly that alike in personality, just only in bare honesty."

"Oh?" The blonde leaned close towards his friend, quite intrigued by what he was hearing.

"Whoa, whoa, back off!" Kio pushed and Soubi laughed in response. People nearby glanced over out of curiosity and Kio noticed it immediately. More quietly, he added, "I don't want people to get the wrong idea about us. I'm not into men as you already know."

"Of course I know, Kio, because you say it as so when you're uncomfortable with the same sex."

At the other side of the store . . . Having met up.

"I wonder what they could be arguing about?" Takara mused.

"It is natural to argue - they do this but they are still very good friends. I've learned that a balanced relationship of quarreling and happy times is healthy and perfectly normal."

"It is, Seimei?" Takara asked. The other humanoid nodded. "Wow, I never knew that. Have you argued with your Master before?"

"No, we haven't."

"Not even once?"

"Not once. Though sometimes I wonder why he doesn't get mad at me when I do something I consider bad. Isn't it weird, Takara? Does Kio get mad at you when you do something bad?"

"I can't really tell, but I think so. He's always saying 'don't worry about it' to me."

"Well, when comes a time you and Kio argue, I only hope you know he'll still care about you afterwards."

"I'd like to believe in that . . . I really would, Seimei."

Chapter 14: END