Dangerous Curiosity

Never did I aspire to tell anyone what happened on that night. Oh, but it stuck in my head. And I was feeling rather confused about everything that happened. Mostly, though, I just couldn't keep away the fact that I felt an emptiness. Something which I suppose comes often to standard girls. Yuzu would know how to deal with it. But as I consulted her, she merely told me that ones heart must be mended by only themselves. So as I searched for the reasons for that hole in my being; I never did discover its origin. Neither did I really want to. Because I continued to deny the one source of my pain. I continued to think, I'm not sad because of him. No, I'm not.

In time, however, all illusions must dissolve to the truth..


In the Game

Today, was as uneventful as all the others. I was not very popular in the game magazines anymore, but rather, my success sky rocketed in the gossip and matchmaking magazine industries. At first, I refused to model for any sort of magazine that would publicly humiliated me, like that first modeling with him. Never had I intended to do anything like that again. Never had I intended to be forced like that again. But, as I was clearly aware of now, change happens. And sometimes we can't really help it.

Ichigo was more light heart-ed with me; as where all the other maids. I think they sensed a weakness in my personality lately. And they were right; I was a dainty as a flower now. Because I had finally been broken. Broken into a split of two people. I had realized, only then, that something about me changed mentally. Something I wasn't ready for. Because that night, I didn't want to stop him; though my mind said so. No, my subconscious was really the one acting. If I wanted to, I could have stopped him. Why didn't I then?

Because I wanted it.

Feelings seemed to bombard me fairly quickly and without my noticing. So obviously, I could not control them. And honestly, I didn't know if I wanted to.

Needless to say, I had obtained my distance. The two men fighting over me had finally backed off after I cleared with them that I needed time to adjust. He stopped coming after Hairo declared he had nothing left to teach. After I told LuvLuv to remove his status, he no longer needed one of the maids to escort him to the outside world. So then, as he had promised since that night, he walked passed me and left Maids' Healing. Ever since, he has never returned.

Hairo and I had still been the biggest buzz of the game. REM's top player and the highest level player of entertainment; this couple could only breed gossip. Together, we would often be asked to model; though we refused to get much closer than holding hands. Mostly because I didn't want to, but also because, since Hairo discovered the truth, he seemed to be thinking over what he thought of me.

"Today we have double shifts; one will be taken up by a photo shoot," Ichigo announced, in her same bubbly-like attitude.

"Question," Ayame began, her mature stature dramatically stiffened, as if she were giving herself more importance, "how long are we going to do this modeling thing anyway?"

"We'll do it until we're no longer popular; profit is everything," She said.

"But it's almost the mid-term switch," Yuzu said hesitantly.

The mid-term switch was when the Jr. high students swapped out with the high school students. And like I said, Maid Cafe, as well as Maids' Healing, always received more customers with the senior girls as the employees. So the Jr. high employees were never missed. But it seemed as though, this year, our contracts might be extended; because as long as Hairo and I were in the hot seat; we'd be in demand for profitable services.

"We don't switch until December 20th," I informed.

"Half of our time on REM has been spent modeling! If we become anymore popular, it would be impossible to let us go for mid-term," Sweetheart, in her petite doll-like body, said.

Ichigo was silent for a bit as her smile faded to a frown, "You know," she began in a half sigh, "Sometimes I wonder if you all even have feelings." With this, she escapes out of the lounge and half slams the door behind her.

Slowly, Ayame made her way over to Ichigo's announcements. Assured that our boss would not be returning, Ayame finished the announcements for the day.

"Hairo will not be attending today's modeling. So there's not need to contact him," Ayame read.

"And it seems we have a noteworthy mention today," She read, "Toshiro will also be at the photo shoot; but modeling with his new owner."

My heart seemed to skip a beat by the mentioning of his name. But suddenly it stopped and fell into my stomach as Ayame said that I was to be in the same area as he. I didn't know if I could deal with it..Much less did I think I wanted to go through with everything!

As the staff flooded out of the lounge, LuvLuv, still moderating me, pulled me over to the side. The girls walked through the doors as LuvLuv began to me, "Can you handle seeing him."

"Why wouldn't I?" I lied.

"I'm not stupid," She said looking away. She crossed her arms and began to turn slightly flush, "I've become concerned... Not for you!...Just..."

"It's fine," I said, forcing a smile.

"But it's not," She began, "Listen. Toshiro was safe here because his actions were filtered by me, that way the other admins didn't watch him. But now that he has a new owner, you have to tell him to watch out for the staff of REM. His owner should know too."

I knew what she was doing, she was pushing me into a corner so that I would admit that I wasn't well enough to face Toshiro.

"You two need to atone," She finished.

She looked deep into my eyes. I contemplated what she was saying. But then I felt it, yet another person poking at the wound in my heart. It hurt.

I rejected her gaze and began while walking out the door, "We have nothing to atone for."


Out of Game

"You know, I mostly felt jealous," Hairo began, while walking beside me. The sunset today was red and orange, accompanied by clouds and rolling mountains on the horizon. Today, was the last soccer practice of the season. Individual lesson still existed; but out team would not meet again until the spring. The winter months were simply too dangerous to practice in.

I looked to him, surprised. He merely put his hands on the back of his head and looked up to the sky. As we walked home, he kept his same goofy smile spread across his face. That smile was a jack-of-all-trades. It could accomplish anything.

"To know that he actually got that close to stealing you away from me; it made me feel so irritated. But for a split second, I wished I was him," he said, "I've been think about everything, and I really don't know what to expect next. It's like we're in someone's twisted fantasy," he laughed.

"I know what you mean. Fate seems to have such a sick sense of humor," I said.

Suddenly, he stopped walking. A few paced ahead, I paused as well and looked back.

"I really do want to get over what happened. But I just can't stop wondering about the details. Why did you let him go?" Hairo asked.

"Because he wasn't worth my time," I began, "and because I wasn't worth his."

"What happened on that night?" he asked.

"No more than a pervert like you could imagine," I spoke, beginning to walk off again.

He stayed still behind me, "Does that mean that you chose me over him?"

I stopped again. This time I looked up to the beautiful sky, a bird zipped in and out of my sight as the clouds moved on slowly.

"Hairo, were do you think the clouds are going?"

"Huh?"

I slung my soccer ball over my shoulder, "Clouds are so slow...But they're going somewhere right?"

"They're carried by the wind, that's why they move," Hairo said scientifically.

"Then I'll go where ever the wind takes me," I said the final word, before I began to walk again, Hairo following behind me. Today was going to be one of the last days of normal weather. Today was going to be one of the last days of golden leaves. Today was going to be one of my last middle days. I knew that I was beginning to decipher my feelings. I just knew it.

I had told Hairo about that night through a promise I'd made to him back when we were just acquaintances. As part of the soccer team, we never keep secrets. I was going to uphold that.

Whenever I log in, LuvLuv has to automatically log in in order to moderate me. So that night..She logged in a bit late. That's how LuvLuv found out. But other than her and Hairo..Not many people know what happened. The maids and Yuzu could feel out that something was off about me..But I knew they didn't know why.

"Do you like either of us?" he asked.

"I don't know. You're asking a tomboy here," I reminded him.

"...Which one of us do you like better?"

"Quit asking me all these hard questions!" I laughed.

I began to see that Hairo was more concerned with my affections for him than anything. Of course, he did say he was jealous. But he never said why. He was jealous of me both in my avatar form, and in real life. What..

"What exactly do you like about me?" I thought out loud, before covering my mouth suddenly.

But to my surprise, he was thoughtful about the question. He responded with, "Maybe it was your looks that hooked me at first; but I've realized if you give more time to people, you notice how three dimensional they all are. Their flaw and habits, gifts and opinions, all of them make up what a person's character is. You seemed like any other team mate to me; that's what you were supposed to be..

He looked down at me, "But REM seemed to show me that you have a girly side too. You have a girl inside you that likes cute things, wears dresses, and even blushes when embarrassed.

"I think what I like about you most is that you're not like any girl I've ever seen. You have several sides to you; and you always keep me guessing."

He smiled at me with an honest gaze.

I looked down and blushed slightly, unable to control my reaction to his flattery. Aggravated with myself, I took my hand and whacked him in the back of the head, "I thought I told you to keep you distance," I snarled.

"I didn't know that complimenting you was considered romancing," he said, rubbing the back of his head.

We continued to walk, alone, until I finally said, "I wonder what Toshiro saw in me."

"You should ask him," he said.

Surprised yet again, I turned to give my full attention to him.

"Go talk to him. Though I hate to admit it, you're always brighter when he's around," Hairo explained.

I smiled a nodded, "Thanks."


In the Game

I skittishly made my way into the studio where the familiar white room greeted me. The black picture equipment stuck out like a sore thumb; but even more so were the studio artists stumbling around with their models trailing behind.

I was pulled over to the side and placed in a black chair where my face was airbrushed with smokey colors of red and orange. After that, I was placed into a dark blue, silk kimono. It reached all the way to my ankles and platformed, straight and iron, all the way down. The sash was red.

The cameras flashed as my poser instructed me to face this way and that. I looked left. I looked right. I sat. Stood. Lifted my chin. Looked at the camera. Softened my expression. Looked away from the camera. I waited, all the while, with one of my eyes watching the entrance to the studio.

Next, my hair was pinned up in two pigtails and I was put in red lipstick with a red cap on my head. The bottom of the cap was covered by white, fake fur. I was put in a short, red, strapless dress with white fur also sown to the bottom of the dress. Then, I was put in matching red gloves with..You guessed it! White fur on the ends. The gloves stretched to just above my elbow which contrasted well with my bright red Italian high-heeled boots.

I was told to buckle my knees and squat while putting my hands on them. While being instructed to smile, my eyes caught sight of something white coming into the room.

My eyes searched his cold expression and icy atmosphere. Then, those cold teal eyes sparked with expression and life as he caught sight of me. In an instant, his white hair swished as he looked in my direction; eyes wide in surprise.

"Ka..rin?" he stuttered.

I looked away from him and focused on what my posers were telling me to do.

"Look innocent and poke out your lip," one poser said.

"What?" I asked.

"No, that isn't her character," another poser said, running out on set and moving my body so that I was posed the way she liked me.

She positioned me so that both my hands where up as if I were stretching and I was laid out on the set's white bean bag chair. I came to learn that this was the Christmas set.

I was made to turn my head left and lay my legs up so that the camera could catch a glimpse of my "perfect knees."

The whole time I was posing, I couldn't help but think about Toshiro, who had been moving about to my right. I could not let him distract me though, I would talk to him during break.

The camera flashed; and after what seemed like hours, I was let out for break.


She was stunning. Her darling figure and petite size, her golden-brown eyes, and her brownie-colored hair that was pinned up in a bun. Everything about her was simply cute and right. Right for Toshiro. She had a cute button nose and beautifully innocent lips. Her small, dainty hands would wrap around his arm as if he were her brother; or worse, her boyfriend.

This was Toshiro's new master; the third best female player in the game, FairestSnow, known simply as Momo in the battle arena. I came to learn the Toshiro and Momo attained a friendship and soon engaged in a master-pet contract. Then, Momo entered the world-arena battle for REM's newest top players. This was, of course, along with her newest pet, Toshiro, who she commonly calls Shiro-chan. However, there was speculation as to why she made him her pet. Was it to give her an advantage in the battle? Or was it because she was another fan girl of Toshiro's. So far, the paparazzi have merely characterized their relationship as "that of a brother and sister."

Nonetheless I was still so jealous. She was so beautiful. Beautiful and perfect beyond anything I could ever hope to reach; she was definitely good enough for him. Definitely. So why did this hurt so much?

"Shiro-chan~" She said bubbly. Even her voice was sweet and clear as the mountain winds.

I hid myself away for some reason, so that when Toshiro entered the room, he didn't see me.

"What?" he said impatiently, walking over to her.

She picked up a toothpick and stabbed the fruit tray so that she brought up a little slick of watermelon.

"This is your favorite, right?" She smiled.

"I don't know," he said in exasperation, now avoiding her gaze. He was so cold with her..Why was that?

"Shhhiiirrrrooo-chan!" She moaned, "Com'on look at me!"

Reluctantly, he turned his head back to her and gazed very quickly at her eyes. She stood up on her tip toes so that her short body(shorter than I was) could reach up. She poked the watermelon in his mouth and wiggled the toothpick out from between his lips.

"We ate this when I first met you, don't you remember?" She said, smiling.

He looked surprised with the sudden mass of food in his mouth, but then, as he began to eat it, I noticed that he began to consider the food; or at least consider something.

"You know, ever since you learned from those stupid books, you've been so..cold. I miss the way you were when I used to see you in Maids' Healing.." She said.

My eyes widened..She used to "see" him? And at Maids' Healing? How? When did that happen?

Suddenly, Toshiro seized her hand and pulled her petite figure into his. He turned up her chin so that her wide, innocent eyes looked in his, "Please, don't mention that place, master." He said.

She blushed slightly and began, "You're supposed to call me Momo."

That was about the time I escaped into a back corner, behind some curtain. I felt like I was intruding on something now. Something I should not be seeing; something that I didn't want to see. But I still gazed at their long shadows which cast on the floor. And suddenly, Momo drew up closer to him. Closer than I wanted. And I clamped my hands over my mouth and tried not to look at the shadow. Because I didn't actually know how close she'd gotten...But it looked like—yes I think it was—it was a kiss.

The shadow pulled away as I heard Momo's giggle from outside my realm of solitude. What was I doing? Why did I care for what Toshiro did? I came here to talk to him.. Just to talk to him.

No, I brought my knees up to my chest and covered my ears; I couldn't do this. Momo left the room with the click of the door.

"Karin," I heard, suddenly, as I looked up with wide eyes, "get out here," I heard his voice again.

I got up and stumbled out from the corner, there, Toshiro waited, standing casually. He knew..That is was here the whole time? He looked straight at me and began, "What do you want to talk to me about.." He even knew my intentions...

"I..." I began, but I seemed to have lost my voice. I looked away, afraid to let him know that I'd lost my words.

"H-how has everything been?" I asked.

"Fine," he responded, snappily.

"Toshiro, that girl..Are you-"

"Am I close to her?"

I looked away and blushed, as if embarrassed that he could predict my question so easily.

"..No, she's just an acquaintance," He responded.

Then suddenly I burst out, "You liar! What was that just now then? You don't kiss your acquaintances!"

"It was a tease, she always does that," He said, beginning to become enraged as I was. This was something I caught a glimpse of on that night.

I looked away and was silent for awhile. Finally I spoke, "I'm supposed to tell you to watch out for the admins. They're going to be watching to see if your actions correspond to your programing."

His look softened as he avoided my eyes now, "You don't have to worry about that.."

Right about now..I wanted something. An excuse to stay. An excuse to be with him. For a second, I wanted him to break his promise.

I caught myself before I could make any move. I began to walk out the door and leave when he began, "Since that night, how have you felt?" he asked.

I stopped in front of the door. And for a split second, I was honestly with him about what I felt, "Empty.."

And as his eyes widened, I hid my face in my hair and left the room.

But, as the door closed behind me, I saw a face smiling at me.

She grinned genuinely and looked at me with considerate brown eyes, "You like him too, don't you?"

Still shocked by the surprise of her presence, I could only blush and shake my head.

She leaned up against that hall wall and began to close her eyes, "I think there's something there," She put her hand on her chest and smiled as she seemed to recollect something.

I waited for her to make sense of what she was saying.

When she opened her eyes, they slid over to me. She put her hands behind her back and lifted herself up from the wall.

"You don't like him because he isn't real. Isn't that right?" She asked.

I avoided her eyes now; today everyone seemed to be able to read right through me.

"Be a little more imaginative!" She laughed, spinning around in circles; the long, pink, flowery dress she was in spread out like the petals of a flower as she twirled. This girl..Was Toshiro's new maser. What was she like? Why was she talking to me? What was she trying to teach me? Was she trying to help me? This girl..Momo.

When she stopped, she looked at me in the eyes again, "He's real if you think about it." she winked and began again, "Come to REM's hot spring tomorrow. 201 glowtown road, Central City. Bring all of your fellow maids there if you'd like; all expenses paid, of course."

She came up to me and whispered in my ear, "We can have a little girl talk there."

With that, she walked away and giggled the same way she did after she fake-kissed Toshiro.

Out of Game

Ichigo, of course, obliged to go to any place as long as it was free. She said that maybe the hot spring could teach everyone that being a maid wasn't a job; Maids' Healing and Otaku Cafe where the homes of our family. And so, everyone was going to the hot spring tomorrow..And there, I may get a better understanding of this Momo girl. But most of all; I may find out something of Momo's relationship with Toshiro. I..I don't know why I cared, but I did. So tomorrow I'd find out. I was sure I would.

I stripped down for a shower and laced my shirt up over my head. I dropped my pants down my legs and slid my underwear down after. All the while I was thinking of what happened on that night, how something very similar, to what I was doing now, happened on that night. I took a deep breath and tried to push the images of what happened out of my head. But my mind just wouldn't let me. On that night, though I was twelve; I began to turn intosmething more of my age... What happened on that night was unholy.

I pulled my feet out from between my pants and my underwear and I began to slip my bra up over my shoulders when I spotted something. Something very odd on my underwear..It was a very solid dried brown..

Then suddenly, from all my science classes and phys ed studies; I knew what it was.

I shrieked and began to shake my head. Oh crap, this was the last thing that I needed.

Time for feminine toiletries..


Author's Notes:

Short intro chappy. I decided to let you guys cool off a bit from all the romance by adding this in..But I never really intended for this chapter to even exists..But Momo had to come in somewhere so.. Yeah! Stick around for the next chappy because things are about to get..Spicy. Lolz.

Thanks for reviewing everyone! Though I still haven't reached my goal :(((

Still though, I'm so happy that all of you seem to like the story! Lolz, someone told me that they thought Hairo was gross and a pervert. I laughed when I read that..I actually intended him to be a worthy rival for Toshiro..But alas; I just can't tug you Toshiro fan girls/guys away from him! Poor Hairo..He ended up hated instead of fought over. Screw that love triangle..Lol.

Reviewers to Thanks:

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Hey everyone! A lot of you seem to be reviewing inconsistantly! Could you all PLEASE go back and review for the chapters you didn't?

Love Ya,

~*RukiaRocks*~