Hey everyone!

It took a while, but here's the next chapter! I won't go into the excuses, because no one reads what I say here anyway, and no one really cares.

But once again, it's more boring stuff…I'm still setting up the story. But that's why this is a super long chapter (for me anyway) It has a bunch of random things in it, because 1. SevenofSuzaku (the person who "commissioned" me to write this) wanted them in here and 2. because they just found themselves in here. Great excuses, huh:sigh:

Again, BIG thanks to Kimkizna…because SevenofSuzaku is never on and never has any ideas for her own stupid story! --

Anyway, I hope it's not too bad…

Enjoy if possible…

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Chapter 3: Cupid in a Cat

The next few weeks were very awkward for Hilary. As each day passed, she noticed that Kai had started to keep his distance from her, and flashed his brilliant crimson eyes in an angry glare every time she was near.

At first, she thought he was just being childish about her first night at the illustrious mansion. The brunette had definitely wounded his ego, and she suspected that he was bitter toward her for it.

But as the days turned into weeks, she thought it a little strange that someone like Kai could hold a grunge for something like that…even though she couldn't say that she actually knew him well enough yet…

Even Sakuya picked up on the tension between the two. Something wasn't right.

"What did you do?" Sakuya whispered, noticing Kai's evil glare as he walked pass the brunette.

"I just gave him that medicine…" she stated simply, shrugging her shoulders. "That's all!"

The older maid narrowed her grey orbs in thought. After pondering it a moment, she shrugged her shoulders as well, silently deciding to let the matter go for now. Kai could be like this, after all. "He can be quite moody at times…"

Hilary had adjusted quite nicely to her new life, just as she thought she might. She was a fast learner, after all, and taking care of three men wasn't that difficult a task, considering the elder ones were never there.

Yes. Hilary came to find out that even though Boris worked in the house as almost a butler, Voltaire liked to give him special treatment. The purple-haired Russian was like Voltaire's right hand man. He was the "boss" when Voltaire wasn't there, and would even go so far as to punish the maids if something wasn't done completely to his own standards.

Like Kai had told her at the beginning…Boris was someone to stay far away from.

Kai, however, hardly ever wandered off the mansion's grounds. Hilary would only see him outside of his room every so often, walking out into the well-kept garden in the back of the estate. He would spent an hour or so out there, and then disappear again.

All the men under this roof were a complete mystery! The brunette could only let out a frustrated sigh whenever she thought about it too much. She couldn't understand why she wanted to get so involved here. She felt like something was calling her, but there was no way to put her finger on it.

"Hilary…"

But she did feel grateful that she had ended up here. Ever since her father had handed her over to the underground, she was brought up as a slave: cooking, cleaning, running errands, whatever she was commanded to do, while other girls around her were being sold and forced to have sex with complete strangers.

She had been spared from that life.

"Hilary!"

The sudden voice knocked the teen out of her thoughts, causing her to almost drop the pot of water she was hauling over to the stove from the sink. Setting it down, she scrambled out of the kitchen and entered the joining hallway.

"I'm sorry!" She bowed, knowing the consequences for keeping someone waiting. When she looked up, she let out a soft sigh. It was only Kai…

Both Hilary and Sakuya loved having to deal with Kai. Unlike his Grandfather and Boris, he could care less about formality. The maids could be themselves when he was around, without having to worry about scoldings or increases in labor. Though, they did have to remember to change their mannerisms whenever one of the older men walked by.

The blue haired teen pulled on a thick coat and was busy fixing a scarf around his neck. His whole posture was rigid, and his features were a bit more serious than usual.

Hilary noticed a small duffel bag near his foot as he bent down to pick it up.

"How long are you going to be gone for?"

"Does it matter?"

The brunette sighed.

"I need you to do something for me while I'm gone…" he started, "…take a saucer of cream out to the tree in the garden and leave it by the gazebo…every day."

There was a moment of silence between the two. Nothing could be heard except the thumping of the pendulum in the grandfather clock that sat at the end of the hallway.

"…huh!"

Kai shot a one-eyed glare at the girl. "You heard me…" with that, he swung the door open and stepped out into the chilly winter air, slamming it forcibly behind him.

Hilary continued to blink at the spot Kai once stood, thinking he had lost his mind. "A saucer of cream…" she repeated the words carefully in her mind. She shrugged it off and walked back to the kitchen.

"Where did Kai disappear to this time?"

Sakuya sighed as she threw another ingredient into the pot on the stove. "I believe he's gone to BioVolt."

"BioVolt?" Hilary raised an eyebrow at her raven haired friend. "Sounds like a cult…"

Sakuya suddenly put a finger to her lips, signaling Hilary's statement to be cut off. Just in time too, for Boris decided to walk by the kitchen, taking slow steps and peering inside to make sure everything was in order…just like a military prison guard.

Hilary and Sakuya let out a sigh.

"Well, that's a topic for another day…" Hilary made a mental note about it.

The brunette had noticed that Boris treated them more like slaves than maids. And he ran the house like a military institution…or a really strict business at the least. Boris had a special place here, however. He was able to get away with playing "master of the house" when Voltaire away. There was something else about Boris that Hilary couldn't figure out either…but she couldn't get anyone to answer it…well…she couldn't get anyone to answer it because Boris would always pop up, and make it impossible to talk anymore.

"So…did Kai give you any special instructions before he left?" Sakuya asked that question as though she already knew the answer. She had a smirk on her face.

"Yeah…and then he told me to put a saucer of cream out by the…"

"SHHH!" Sakuya's harsh whisper cut her off.

Hilary leaned back at her friend's sudden outburst, her eyebrows raised in mock surprise. Had Kai's madness infected Sakuya as well?

Boris suddenly walked by again, pausing at the entrance to the kitchen. His lavender eyes narrowed dangerously at the two maids as they stared back. "What's going on in here?"

"Cooking, Boris…this is a kitchen after all!" Hilary had to bit her tongue to keep herself from saying what she really felt. She managed to glance over at the pot on the stove, the contents already being to boil and bubble over the top.

Sakuya seemed to catch her gaze and spoke right up. "Dinner is supposed to be a surprise, and Hilary almost let it slip out!" She smiled at the purple headed man. "By the way, weren't you supposed to accompany Master Kai today?"

"Lord Voltaire requested me to return, but that is none of your concern," he sniffed, turning his nose up at the raven haired woman. With that, he continued on his way, stealing another glare at the two before he disappeared behind the wall.

Sakuya waited a few moments before continuing their conversation, making sure Boris was out of earshot. "You mustn't be seen when you go there…"

"Why don't you?"

"Well…it doesn't like me…"

"It!"

Suddenly, Sakuya jumped to her feet and rushed over to the stove. The pot had boiled over, and steam was spewing up into the air in a frenzy. "Hilary! Go set the dining room! Inform Lord Voltaire dinner will be served in fifteen minutes!"

---

Dinner had been served successfully. The dishes were cleared from the table and had been washed, and Boris had left the building. Sakuya and Hilary were finally able to relax a bit, seeing that once Voltaire was fed, he usually settled down in the study or went to bed. There was no need to worry.

Hilary found this time to be perfect to attend the task of "taking a saucer of cream out to the tree in the garden and leaving it by the gazebo", as Kai had told her. She had her suspicions about what, but couldn't figure out why. "I guess I'll just have to find out myself…"

She took her time as she walked out of the house and onto the large patio. She hadn't really had a chance to go outside to explore the grounds since arriving at Voltaire's mansion, so she would definitely do it now.

Beyond the vacant patio was a large lot of well-kept grass. Large scrubs lined a stone pathway that all over the yard. There were lots of trees, planted strategically in order to keep the privacy of the house, along with large patches of flowers randomly placed throughout. In the distance, Hilary could see one tree that seemed quite a bit larger than the rest, along with a white gazebo.

Walking along the path, she came across an empty fountain, similar to the one she saw in the front driveway, but this one was much less detailed. Moss hung from the top and dangled from every edge in a mysterious, yet beautiful way. It reminded Hilary of something out of those haunted mansion stories…a shiver ran through her body. Whether it was because it was cold outside or not, she couldn't tell.

She followed the path until it forked into three different directions. All the bushes around her disoriented her…she had lost tract of the gazebo, the house, and even the monstrous tree!

"Damn this!" She stomped her foot against the cold pavement. "This is ridiculous! Why do I have to bring a stupid plate of cream out into a garden anyway! Oh yeah! Master Kai said so!" The brunette let all her build up sarcasm and frustration spill out of her as she mocked the blue haired teen, imitating his speech when he assigned her to this task earlier in the day.

Deciding not to follow any path, she charged through the bushes in the direction she remembered seeing the gazebo in. It was getting colder out, and she wasn't about to wander around all night long looking for some stupid thing that was probably never used.

Finally, after trudging though a couple rows of shrubbery and stepped carefully over a bed of colorful flowers, she saw her destination. She was close!

As she neared the gazebo, she noticed it wasn't as beautiful as it had been in the distance. The paint was chipping off of it, and the wood was apparently rotting in a few places from age as well.

She glanced down at the first step leading up to the gazebo and noticed a small dish, similar to the one in her hand. "Well then…I guess this is where I put it."

Bending down, she exchanged the two dishes, picking a couple of leaves that had fallen into the cream during her journey. With a sigh, she collapsed on the stairs, the wood groaning under her weight.

"I suppose this is it?" Hilary seemed seriously disappointed. Maybe Kai was feeding a possum or something that came out only at midnight.

Suddenly, she heard a small mew from under her. The brunette froze, ruby eyes transfixed on the saucer below.

The sound came again, this time a little closer. A few moments later, a figure immerged from a small hole under the gazebo.

A tiny tri-colored head popped out between the rotten wood, followed by the rest of its body.

Hilary gasped. "A kitten?"

She stared, mouth ajar, as the black, brown and white kitten walked over to the dish Hilary had set out for it.

The animal glanced up at Hilary for a second and meowed, then concentrated on lapping up the cream.

"So this is what Kai has been spending hours outside for every day!" Hilary smiled to herself, reaching out to pet the calico.

She was somewhat surprised when she found that it didn't mind letting her pet it. "I guess you don't like Sakuya then…" She remembered the other maid saying "it" didn't like her…

Hilary felt a small part of her anger for Kai melt away as she watched the kitten. Who knew that Kai liked cats, or was so kind-hearted to make sure a stray didn't starve to death?

"I may be a maid here…but why can't you be inside!" Hilary stroked the kitten's ear gently. "Kai can be so random at times!" She giggled as she pictured Kai outside with this cat. It was too cute a picture.

It purred contently, curling its head closer to Hilary's palm.

Wait a minute! Hilary felt herself blushing, and shook her head furiously as if to get the image out of her brain. Kai was not cute! Sure…he was good-looking…but he was just another rich bastard like everyone else. He would just end up using her, no matter what he was like now. She couldn't let herself get so close to him…

"I wonder if Kai's named you…hmm…I'll have to ask him." She picked it up once the saucer had been licked clean. "It's too cold for you out here…so you're coming inside!"

The cat purred as it licked its lips, staring straight at Hilary with curious eyes.

---

"What the hell are you thinking Hilary!"

"Shh!" Hilary set the cat on her bed and opened a can of tuna for it. "It can stay in my room until the weather is warmer! It'll freeze out there!"

"If Boris finds her in this house, she's as good as dead! Kai will skin you alive!"

"It's a she? Did Kai name her?" Hilary seemed excited about this information.

Sakuya sighed, dragging her hand down her face with a groan. "He calls her Neko…."

"Neko?" Hilary raised an eyebrow. "Neko meaning "cat"…right?"

"Yeah…Kai's not very original…"

Hilary couldn't help but giggle.

"You can't have her here! It's too risky!"

"Don't worry! The poor thing was starving! Look at her! You can see her ribs!" Hilary pointed at the calico as she scarfed down the tuna. "I'll keep her from Voltaire and Boris, don't worry!"

The older woman sighed, shaking her head. "Fine…but I won't save you if something bad happens…"

---

Three more days had passed since Hilary brought Neko into the mansion. The young maid had made sure that the kitten had everything she would need to survive inside the house, and kept everything in her room and strategically out of sight in case Boris were to barge in and search.

On the fourth day though, the brunette could tell that the cat was missing Kai, and to tell the truth, she was too. The mansion wasn't the same without him, even though he had his moody moments. It had only been about a month since she had entered the household, and she still didn't know much about anyone, except Sakuya.

The brunette had gotten to know her fellow maid very well in a short amount of time. She learned that she was brought in from the underground as well to help raise Kai when he was around six years old. She was Japanese, like Hilary, but she had accumulated a lot of debt and the only way she could pay it off was to sell herself. She was lucky she was bought as a nanny.

All Hilary knew about Kai was that Voltaire was his adoptive Grandfather, and for some reason, Voltaire kept lying about Kai's age…saying that the teen was a few years younger than he actually was…every few years. Hilary wasn't sure how he got away with it, but she figured he kept paying a good deal of money to make it happen. She knew that as time went on, the mysteries about Kai would make themselves clear…at least she hoped.

She was being drawn in to the life of the boy who cared for a stray kitten…a boy that took in a girl that no one loved.

She was pulled out of her musing by a ruckus in the kitchen. Looking up, she saw that the calico Neko was still curled up peacefully on her bed. "What's going on?" It wasn't long before a loud voice answered her question.

"HILARY!"

The brunette cringed physically, but mentally rejoiced. Kai was back!

She jumped off her bed, grabbing her apron off the back of her chair and tied it around her waist as she went. "Oh!" Turning around, she jogged back to her room and picked up the kitten. "You'll want to see Kai, won't you!" She let the kitten slide down the opening of her dress so it settled at the band of her apron. It wasn't too notable if she crossed her arms over her stomach…

"Kai! You should go lay down! Calm down!" Hilary could hear Sakuya trying to calm Kai's apparent anger from his earlier outburst. She wondered if Boris and Voltaire could hear as well…the echo was horrible! "You just got back! For heaven's sake!"

Hilary headed up the grand staircase and took a right into the East hallway, only to be immediately greeted with a pair of glossy crimson eyes, burning holes deep into the back of her brain.

"Kai?" The brunette would normally be a little more intimidated by his glare, but something was different this time. His features were off.

The blue triangles that usually decorated his pale cheeks had disappeared, and had been replaced with long red scratches. His skin, in fact, was paler than usual, and appeared slightly dirty as well. His hair was limp and dull, but Hilary noticed that his eyes were the one thing most changed…his world had been darkened slightly, she could tell.

"What happened to you?" She reached out to touch him, but he slapped her hand away.

"Where is she?" He hissed, his voice now barely above a whisper. "You got found out…didn't you?"

As if on cue, a white, gold, and black head popped out under Hilary's chin with an excited "meow".

"You mean Neko?" Hilary raised an eyebrow at Kai's surprised look. "Great name, by the way."

"Shut up."

The kitten jumped out of the maid's dress and into Kai's chest, purring wildly as it rubbed up against his bruised chin.

"She missed you…" Hilary started. "What happened?"

"What's going on here!"

The cat suddenly disappeared behind Kai's back, and he stood up straight, signaling Hilary to turn around and do the same.

Boris again…

"It's late you too…I demand to know what's going on here!"

Kai's head rolled lazily to the side, as if already exhausted by the lecture. "My room's all dusty…I asked Hilary to come up and vacuum it."

"At ten o'clock at night?"

"Yes…"

"Well…" he turned to Hilary. "Where is your vacuum?"

The brunette stared at the butler for a moment, blinking stupidly. She turned to Kai, as if looking for the answer; however, his gaze remained fixed. She started to panic when she turned back to face Boris.

"Well?"

"Stupid!" Kai flicked her on the side of her head.

"OW!" She wasn't expecting that!

"Hilary can't carry that thing up here by herself! Why don't you help her?"

Boris' jaw dropped slightly at Kai's outrageous suggestion. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Bring up the vacuum." He narrowed his eyes for effect.

The purple haired butler let out a curse and pivoted on his right heel, storming down the hall and down the stairs.

Hilary stood, blinking at the spot Boris once stood in complete shock. She heard Kai let out a sigh.

"I can't believe he actually bought that!"

The brunette turned around, her ruby eyes wide. Kai thrust the cat at the again. "You kept her safe so far, so I'll trust you to keep it that way. If you cut it too close, we'll have to figure something else out, alright?"

Hilary nodded slightly.

"Hurry back downstairs. I'll tell Boris that the vacuum isn't needed."

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Okay, so…like I said, this chapter had a lot of random things in it, but they all have hints that lead into later parts of the story.

Hopefully none of you are bored to tears! I know this is all really boring right now…I'm really sorry for that! I'm really trying to pick it up as quickly as possible!

I don't know what else to say…so yeah…

Please review?