Chapter 14

Harima's Double Trouble

The next morning, the Maiden Eri, dressed in a black shirt and slim blue jeans, went out to go shopping for Harima. She went out and bought some vegetables to make one of her specialty dishes.

"Kenji will enjoy this delicate dish I will create," she smiled, "I can't believe Kenji and I are so happy together."

She left with the groceries in hand. As she stepped out, Mikoto was concerned over her. She then approached the robot and asked her, "Eri, you're up in this morning."

The Maiden played along, "Oh, I thought I make dinner for Whiskers. I'm making my special double spicy curry with a lemon twist."

"Oh? I never knew you've learned to cook well," Mikoto smiled.

The Maiden exclaimed, "Well, I have improved, even though he helped me. Why do you ask?"

"Well, you were always a bad cook," she said.

"Oh? Well, let's say I have been learning how to cook really well," the Maiden Eri nervously giggled.

Mikoto mocked her giggle and held up a lace bonnet. The Maiden gasped.

"Model #M-780…" she cried, "Where did you get that? That belonged to Miko Model – Model #M-780; currently deactivated/broken."

She covered her mouth and gasped, "Oops…"

Mikoto snickered and cried out, "I KNEW IT! Eri Sawachika is a Maiden for Hire! I can tell! Eri was an awful cook. You're nowhere near Eri! You're the same Maiden from the other day!"

The robot Eri stood in fear, "I… well, it seems to me, that-."

"What have you done with Eri, you fake maid?"

"I didn't do anything! She created me! I was made for Kenji Harima, to provide guaranteed service!"

"See? There's that word from last night! Yakumo told me about what you said! And it seems Miko's bonnet gave you away."

Eri gasped and turned away from Mikoto. She blushed in a beet red and was sad.

"I said too much," she cringed, "Go ahead and deactivate me. It'll make me away from Harima, but it'll save me from Eri."

Mikoto then asked, "Eri? What does she have against you?"

Eri then approached Mikoto and asked, "Can you keep a secret?"

She nodded and the robot Eri explained to her that she was forced to be with Harima to find out who he loves. She also exclaimed that she fell in love with him, since she first gazed eyes on him.

"Oh, I never knew that," Mikoto said in concern, "You fell in love with Harima, even though he was a delinquent and you-."

"He's not a delinquent!" She cried, "He's my love…"

She blushed and held her blouse tight in bashfulness.

"I love him, but he loves someone else," she stated, "I have no feelings at all, but my…"

"I see that you have become jealous of Eri, right?" Mikoto stated.

The Maiden Eri remarked, "No, it's not Eri. But… if I told you who it was, you'll laugh."

"No, you can tell me," Mikoto insisted.

She then asked, "If I tell you, can you promise not to tell anybody?"

Mikoto nodded, but had her fingers crossed. The Maiden whispered to Mikoto who Harima loved: Tenma Tsukamoto. Mikoto was shocked a bit. The Maiden grabbed her groceries and bowed to her.

"Thank you, Miss Mikoto Suo," she grinned, "I will return to you soon, when I want to ask about Miko's bonnet. But I should not be around for a while."

She left to go home, as Mikoto was confused.

"No way," she thought in disgust, "Harima… and Tenma?"

XXXXX

Hours later, Yakumo walked by and saw the Maiden Eri, sweeping outside the apartment Harima lives. She was visiting him just to work on his comic. Yakumo, who knew that this Eri was a robot, smiled at her. She bowed back.

"Oh, hello, Miss Yakumo," she greeted, "How are you doing today?"

"Oh, hi," Yakumo said, "We met before, right, the other day at the campsite?"

Eri then giggled and smiled, "Fooled you, didn't I?"

Yakumo stared at her, reading her mind. All she could hear was computer sounds. The Maiden was confused.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Oh, I'm all right," Yakumo replied, "May I come in to see Harima? I'd like to speak with him about his comic coming up."

"Oh? Is that all?" The Maiden questioned, "Well, he did speak to me about it. Though, I don't like comics. They're too much of a kiddy thing for me."

"Oh, then, can I see him? I want to help him meet the deadline."

"Sure, why not? It's nice to have someone to help."

Yakumo walked past her and went inside. She was confused over her reading over the Maiden.

"That's weird," she thought, "She's only a machine… why didn't I read anything about her?"

The Maiden then looked up at the building and thought, "Hmm… maybe Yakumo knows about me too well."

She continued sweeping, still a little concerned.

Meanwhile, Harima and Yakumo were busy with the comic he was drawing. Yakumo then asked him about Eri.

"Um, Harima," she asked, "Yesterday, when you brought Eri with you… was it all just an act?"

"Huh? Why do you ask?" He inquired.

"Oh, no reason, except Mikoto, Akira, and Sis were worried over it. I think maybe you might be…"

Harima laughed, "Oh, come now. Why would you ask me that? There's nothing going on between me and my Maiden."

Yakumo then nodded, "I knew it. That Eri-Senpai was a robot, after all."

Harima then gasped. But Yakumo responded, "It's okay. There's no reason to be embarrassed. Sawachika-Senpai is a great girl, but sometimes gives me the cold shoulder."

"Tenma's Sister, I think you got it all wrong," he replied, "Eri is nothing but a blonde rat with bat wings. Have you forgotten what she did to me many times?"

"No…"

"Well, I'm just happy with my Maiden, I feel serene, away from Rich Girl. But since my Maiden and I got along, we've become friends. Though, I'll never know why she loves me, just like Rich Girl."

Yakumo gasped, "Harima, she's a robot. She couldn't love you."

He responded, "Maybe so, but I'll never understand Maidens for Hire, anyways. I feel like she's like you, Tenma, and other girls. People find me as a thug, but I sometimes have a heart. What she sees in me, I'll never know. But one day, I'll ask her why she showed up and tried to love me. Maybe she'll tell me the truth, because her words were a bit jumpy and nervous."

She shook her head and smiled.

"Oh… did I offend you in any way?"

"Oh, no. But, I am relieved. Uh, Harima, why do you hate her, the real Eri, I mean?"

He said nothing. Yakumo was concerned.

"I'll bet that's the reason he has this Eri," she thought.

"Say, Tenma's Sister," Harima suggested, "Can you keep a secret? It's about my Maiden."

"Huh? Oh, sure," she nodded.

He whispered into her ear, about what the Maiden has been doing. She was being used by someone, to get back at him.

"That's terrible!" Yakumo cried.

"Yes, I know," Harima said, "But, I think it could be you-know-who."

As they continued to work, the Maiden Eri was by the doorway, hearing every word they said.

She clutched her broom and cringed, "Harima…"

XXXXX

The following evening, the Maiden was given 2,000 Yen for her services in her first month. Harima gave her the money. Eri was surprised.

"But, there's only two days before my month ends," she asked, "Why, Harima?"

"I have been saving up," he said, "Besides, I can tell when your month is up. And when that day comes, I'll lose you to Rich Girl."

"Huh?" The robot was shocked, "Wait, I don't get what you're saying."

Harima chuckled and held her, "Eri, the minute I learned that Rich Girl, or Sawachika, created you, I knew one day she would not pay for your services. The anonymous person was Sawachika."

"You knew it all along?" The Maiden questioned.

She let go of him and asked why.

"Eri, I don't want to lose you," he said, "The minute I saw you act this way, and the way you loved me, I was infatuated by you. I don't want a Rich Girl that is mean. I want one that is nice, except that you are perfect than her in any way. Say that you'll stay. I'll ask Itoko to loan me 2,000 a month, to which I'll pay her back."

Eri grabbed the edge of Harima's shirt. She was very upset.

"Harima… my master…" she said, "I understand. I think I should tell you…"

She then began to tear up. She told Harima that Eri was using the robot Eri to break him.

"WHAT?" He screamed, "You mean Rich Girl is using you?"

"Yes…" she tearfully replied.

"But why? Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I was too scared. Eri promised me that I cannot let her down. Eri had admired you from afar. But you had a love for someone else, and I thought it was ridiculous."

"What does that have to do with you?"

She whimpered and cried out, "I… I loved you. I always do, despite the fact that I am a Maiden for Hire. I have Pleasure Mode installed in me, but my body cannot handle you. You're so wicked hot. And I, well, I…"

She turned away from Harima and was extremely bashful.

"Please forgive me," she said, "My love is fake, like my body. I don't know why I love you, but I do. And that is why…"

She turned around and screamed at Harima, "YOU'VE GOT TO HELP ME! Eri said that if I don't tell her that you love Tenma, and even if I did anyway, she'll dismantle me, thereby ending my services to you!"

"She WHAT?"

"You have got to help me! I can't go back! I want to stay with you! I want to stay with you forever!"

She held Harima tight and cried on his shoulder. She kept whimpering "I'm scared" over and over again.

"I knew it!" He thought in anger, "Damn you, Eri Sawachika!"

"I'm scared," she sobbed, "I don't want to leave you."

"Eri, calm down," he barked, "Rich Girl may have fooled me, but not you! Listen, I don't care what you say! I love Tenma, but I cared for you! You gave guaranteed service for me and I am grateful."

Eri sniffled and asked, "Why would you say that, now that I've told you everything?"

Harima then kissed the Maiden on the lips.

"Harima…" she blushed. She closed her eyes and embraced the kiss.

"Eri, although my feelings for Tenma will never change, I'll always love you for what you are." Harima whispered.

The Maiden Eri opened her eyes and was lost in thought. They both shared a kiss and lasted only three minutes, before Eri's battery died down.

Meanwhile, at Tenma's house, Yakumo told Tenma what happened that afternoon. She told her everything that he said to her, and thinking that Eri built her double.

"I think maybe she was used for something to get back at Harima," she said.

"What? No way!" Tenma snapped, "Harima's Maiden isn't that evil. Even if she is, it won't match Yakumo Maiden's specialties."

She then slouched on the table and moaned, "I miss her already…"

"Sis, please…" Yakumo groaned.

XXXXX

But the day was almost over. He and the robot Eri, who was dressed in her Maiden uniform, went to the park for a nice quiet afternoon alone, the next day. Harima was happy that the Maiden Eri decided to stay with him, just as long as he pays for her services. They walked along the pathway, admiring the view.

"This view is beautiful," she said, "I never have seen such a beautiful sight."

She admired the blue sky with white clouds, while the trees were rustling very lightly.

"See? I told you that the outside world has been amazing," Harima smiled.

The Maiden then said, "Harima, I want to thank you."

She held his hand and blushed, "I wanted to stay with you as a Maiden, but I didn't. You told me to stay, no matter what. At first, I was shy, knowing that everyone is new to me. I acted shy, since I was a new model. But then, I had feelings for you, even though my feelings were artificial. But I truly did love you. And yet, you had an emotion for another girl, i.e. Tenma Tsukamoto. But you admitted that you and I are meant to be, either way. But then, I had feared that if I told Sawachika about you and her, she'll destroy me. I was just so afraid, but you made me feel better."

"Eri, do you know why you were sent to me by Rich Girl?" Harima asked, "It was because she wanted to prove a point. She wanted me to find out who I love, and I need to let out my courage to say it. I mean there were Tenma, Miss Anegasaki, Tenma's Sister, and Rich Girl, who came into my life; they all met with me, but my feelings were out of sync. I was fully focused on Tenma, but she was busy with Karasuma. And I knew that one day, I'll confess to her about myself."

"Really?" She asked, "How come?"

He took off his shades and looked at Maiden Eri. She was surprised by his slanted evil-like eyes.

"Wow… I never knew you looked like that," she said, "I felt bad about it, Kenji. Someone with a look like this could run away in fear. But… if these eyes were meant for the girl you love, then I suggest you go to her."

"Easy for you to say! These eyes are the eyes of a pervert!" He growled.

He then told Maiden Eri to sit on the bench. He sat with her and told the story of how he first met Tenma. When he got to the part when Tenma held Harima while she was sleeping, Maiden Eri was shocked. Of course, by the end of the story, she was in tears.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, "I didn't know. But that was years ago! Tenma must've forgotten about it."

"She would, but she couldn't," Harima stated, "Every time she sees my eyes uncovered, she thinks I'm the pervert from before! But Tenma never got close to remembering, except that one time… but she forgot about it, somehow."

"So, you wear these shades as a disguise?" The robot asked.

She placed his shades back on and smiled, "That is so ridiculous. I don't care if you wore these black lenses; Tenma cared for you. And when that day comes, you'll understand."

"What are you talking about?" He gasped.

"When the time comes, I mean, when Tenma is over Karasuma, please tell her upfront," She declared, "I won't stop you, but you and I both know that love can conquer all. I loved you from day one, when I was activated, and I'll always will."

"Hey, thanks, Eri," he smiled.

They were about to kiss, but the Maiden Eri responded, "Leave the shades on, Harima."

As their lips began to touch, the real Eri popped out of the bushes, extremely angry.

"UNHAND THAT LOW-DOWN DIRTY THUG, YOU ROBO-TRAMP!" Eri screamed.

"Rich Girl?" He gasped.

Eri then approached the Maiden Eri and growled at her.

"Rich Girl!" He pleaded, "It's not what-!"

Eri socked him off the bench and landed on the pavement.

"YOU! You're nothing but a robo-fetish! How dare you fall in love with that cybernetic hussy?" She scowled, "You think you cared for her? HAH! I'm not letting you love someone that is disposable as Eri!"

"HEY! Who are you calling a hussy?" The robot shouted.

"Stay out of this!" Eri yelled.

Harima was in pain, hearing every word the real Eri said. She turned to the robot and held her up.

"YOU! YOU STUPID ANDROID! How dare you cheat on me?" She yelled.

The Maiden was frightened. She turned away and was scared. Eri then snickered and tried to press her OFF button.

"Sorry, Eri," she smiled, "This is for your own good."

But then, the robot turned to Eri and grabbed her hand very tight.

"What are you doing?" She cried in pain.

She twisted her wrist and did an armlock on her.

The Maiden cried, "Don't you dare hurt my Harima! I love him! What makes you think you love him, you blonde-haired megalomaniac?"

Eri broke free and was extremely pissed, likewise her Maiden counterpart.

"Why, you conceited wretched fake girl!" She growled.

The Maiden jeered back, "Pigtailed worm bait!"

"Self-Made refrigerator!" Eri snapped.

"Dictatress!" The Maiden shouted.

"TRAITOR!" Eri shrieked.

"Ladies! Please!" Harima shouted.

"STAY OUT OF THIS, WHISKERS!" Both Eris hollered at him.

"This… this is a nightmare…" he stuttered, "Two Rich Girls, and one of them is the one I hate…"

They began to fight. Both Eris started to fight like cats, pulling each other's hair. Eri started to choke at the Maiden, while she smacked her head with her fists. The real Eri threw her to the ground and fell on the grass. She jumped up and tried to stomp on her chest. The Maiden rolled out of the way and swept her legs off. She fell to the ground in pain. She mounted onto her and punched and choked her. Eri, who was in pain, rolled over and tried to crush her face. Both Eris rolled around the field.

"Ladies! Ladies!" Harima cried out, "Please stop!"

"SHUT UP!" The real Eri cried out, "You are not saving this fembot failure!"

"Harima! Help me!" The Maiden Eri cried, "She's hurting me!"

Harima ran towards both Eris and separated them.

"STOP IT! This has gone on long enough!" He screamed.

"Whiskers…" Eri gasped.

"Master…" The Maiden said.

"This has got to stop!" He screamed, "You're acting like babies!"

"I'm not a calculator…" The robot Eri pouted.

"HAH! What makes you think you can love her?" Eri cried.

She approached the Maiden and turned to Harima, "Whiskers! I cannot hide this any longer."

"Spare me your act! Why did you trick me, Rich Girl?" Harima shouted.

Eri cringed and said, "Because… because I love you… I LOVE YOU! Not some glorified can opener, the real deal!"

Harima gasped. Eri then turned to the Maiden and apologized. The Maiden was shattered emotionally.

"Well, now you know the truth, you ex-Maiden for Hire." Eri snickered evilly.

"Ex-Maiden?" The Maiden shouted, "THAT'S IT!"

She tackled Eri and tried to assault her, but Eri dodged out of the way. She ran off, evading the Maiden.

"Catch me if you can, Whiskers!" Eri called out, "I'll always watch over you with all my love!"

The Maiden's LED eyes turned red.

"WHY YOU…" She screamed, "No more Miss Nice Maiden!"

"NO!" Harima tried to bring her back.

She ran in a very fast speed and tackled Eri.

"NO! Impossible!" Eri thought, "How the hell is she that fast?"

"You had this coming for a long time, Sawachika!" The Maiden hollered.

However, when she grabbed her, they both took a stumble down the hill. Harima ran after them. Both Eris landed on the street and were in pain. The Maiden Eri got up, feeling her right arm, which was a bit scuffed. She turned to Eri and was crossed.

"How dare you hurt Harima like that?" She cried, "You're a liar, a con-artist, and a jerk, Eri Sawachika! No one hurts my master… EVER!"

But as she got up, she saw Eri holding her right arm, in pain. She clutched it real tight and was hurt.

"Hmm… you've been real quiet about it," she smiled, "Why don't you explain why you love Harima!"

Eri looked away and said, "Why should I tell you?"

The Maiden responded, "I want to know: do you have a grudge on him or do you love him? Why don't you make up your damn mind?"

Eri was upset. Harima arrived and saw Eri, who was in pain.

"What happened to your arm?" He asked her.

Eri then sighed, "I can't hide it anymore. I lied about loving you, Harima. I never loved you."

Both the Maiden and Harima were shocked. That was when Eri started to balk her arm. A spark came out of her arm. The Maiden was concerned and strict about it.

"Eri! Show me! Why did you do all this?" She cried with a scowl on her face.

Eri bowed her head and revealed her huge cut on her right arm. It showed a bunch of gears and wires sticking out of her upper arm.

"Rich Girl?" Harima winced in fear.

"You're… you're a…" The Maiden cried.

Eri fell on one knee and dropped her arms.

"I guess this charade is over," she giggled, "I'm not really Eri."

This Eri Sawachika is actually an android, not a Maiden. She explained why she was here:

"I was created by Nakamura and Misaru to take over the duties of the real Eri Sawachika, who was out for three months in England."

"Huh?" Harima asked, "You're a… a… a Maiden for Hire?"

Eri smiled and replied, "Actually, I am an android. I don't have Maiden for Hire programming, but I was created in said Company in Yagami."

She continued as she got up, "Anyway, Nakamura and Misaru tended to my care, in her absence. She had to go to England for business matters, which I cannot explain. I was created in the Maidens for Hire Company to replace her for the time being. She ordered me to watch over my friends, including one Kenji Harima."

"Me?"

The Maiden cried, "But why? And how long have you been here?"

"From what I hear, I was brought to this world, the day Model M-780 became used parts." Eri answered.

The Maiden cringed, "Miko…"

She continued, "Eri ordered me to watch Harima, just to get some info about Whiskers. However, it wasn't right. If I told him about it, he'd reject me the minute he was about to answer. So, I decided to create you, Eri. And it worked like a charm. But your programming was badly damaged; you constantly became bashful! How can you be bashful? You're a poor excuse of a robot!"

"Eri, so are you," she blushed.

"Stop turning red!" She shouted, while holding her damaged arm.

"Eri, quit saying such lies!" She cried.

"IT'S TRUE!" Eri screamed, "I was programmed to act like Eri Sawachika, but I also created you! Of course, Miss Osakabe played a huge role. I used the phone call ruse to call Miss Osakabe to send the message to you, just to meet up with your girlfriend."

Harima then remembered, "Of course. That interference, the cell phone, and her delivery, they were all a set-up."

He then cried, "Rich Girl, or whatever you are, how could you? You knew it from the start?"

"I only came here just to find out who you are in love with," Eri stated, "Nothing more, nothing less. I wanted to know, so I can send the message to Miss Eri. Once she finds out that you love her, she'll order you around like always. But if it's someone else, unlike your robo-bimbo there, then they will pay for taking her prince charming, if you get my drift."

She let out an evil laugh, as Harima growled, "Damn her!"

He then grew in supreme fright, "Wait… then that means… there are… THREE ERIS?"

He plummeted downward in the darkness of his own self-pity and screamed:

"It's official! I AM IN HELL!"

He let out a cloud of smoke and fainted. The Maiden Eri tried to revive him.

"Harima! Harima!" She cried, "No, Harima! Wake up!"

The android Eri sneered and asked, "Tell me, Eri, why do you love him?"

The Maiden explained to the android, "Well, the minute I saw his face, I was completely infatuated. He was very handsome looking, with his ahoge, his shades, his slick black hair, and his jacket."

She blushed in a romantic look. The android huffed, "Pathetic. I can't believe you ever love him. Even humans can be dimwitted."

"How dare you? You were built to look like Miss Sawachika and you used me to get the information; you're worse off! Why would you hurt the one I love?"

"WHY? WHY? Because Miss Eri had a feudal romance with Yakumo Tsukamoto! You think I'll let her let Yakumo take Harima away from her? NO!"

"Maybe not, but Harima is in love with another girl. And it's neither Eri nor Yakumo."

"Oh? Who is it? I'll bet it's someone from Miss Eri's class. Let's hear it."

The Maiden Eri then responded, "It was… Miss Tenma Tsukamoto, former owner of Model #Y15860 – Yakumo Model."

"Tenma?" She gulped in confusion, "Tenma?"

The android started to laugh boisterously, "You're kidding me! That airhead? You're such a stupid toaster oven! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!"

She laughed continuously, as Maiden Eri looked at Harima, who was out cold. She growled, "Well, I didn't find it funny. It's true."

The android snuffed, "Excuse me? Why the hell would he love her?"

The Maiden then explained to her all about Harima's story of how he saved Tenma, but in her own words. The android listened on, but was very hurt from the inside, and also on her arm.

"Well, that was an interesting story, but I never imagine that one mistake gets you branded as a pervert," she said, "Typical humans."

"You have a point there," the Maiden remarked.

She started to spark and collapsed on her knees. The Maiden held her as she was in pain.

"Eri, I can't let you hurt yourself," the Maiden remarked, "I won't let you tell Miss Sawachika!"

The android replied, "I would try, but I won't. I just remembered: if I give out the information about who, or what, I really am, I must be deactivated… permanently."

"WHAT?" She gasped, "They gave you a fail-safe? Of course! I'm sorry, Eri, if there's anything I could do for you, please say it, before you go."

"Well, there is one thing you can do," Eri cringed, "You tell Miss Eri."

"Me?"

"If you value Whiskers' life and future, I want you to tell Eri Sawachika for me. I won't, because I will no longer function."

The Maiden then shook her head and whimpered, "I don't know. I'm too scared to tell her."

"It's got to stop," Eri cried, "I want both Miss Eri and Whiskers to be happy."

The Maiden nodded and agreed that it was for Harima, "But don't you understand? If Sawachika learns about Tenma and Master Harima, will she laugh like you? I mean, if Eri finds out, she'll laugh at him… or worse!"

"No… I don't think… she would…" she started to malfunction and spark.

"Eri… thank you," the Maiden sobbed.

Eri held her face and said, "Eri, or should I say, Model #N1K1M871, just remember, tell her about what happened, and no one else. Harima is in love with Tenma. I think it would make her sad. But… try to reason with her. If Miss Eri hates you for that remark, just be honest about it. Also, I'm sorry that I ever created you… I didn't mean to, but…"

"But what?" The Maiden sniveled.

Her eyes began to fade and she spoke in her final words:

"Eri… just speak to her. And be honest. Just… convince… the reeeeeal… meeeeee…"

Her voice slid to a bass and was completely deactivated. Her eyes faded to black and her body was limp. The Maiden then laid her on the ground and straightened her body out. She then bowed to her and whispered, "Goodbye… Eri."

She then thought, "Wait… then that means… No. I'll tell him, but when the time is right."

She approached Harima and revived him. He woke up and found the Maiden, in tears. She hugged him and cried on his shirt. He patted her head and comforted her.

"Eri, it's okay," he said, "Don't cry."

"Eri… Eri…" she blubbered, "I can't do it…"

Harima then said, "I'm still here. It's over. You're safe with me now."

XXXXX

However, he was wrong. This was almost the beginning of the end for Eri, Harima's Maiden for Hire.

What a twist! Three Eri Sawachikas: one real, one Maiden, and one robot. Okay, TWO robots, but there are THREE Eris. If you think about it, Harima imagined that there were three devils.

You know what, forget it. Stay tuned to the next chapter and see how it unfolds; but it's NOT the final chapter…

Not yet, at least…