This post was deleted for the following reason:
Unapproved in three days ()Artist's commentary
Calorie-free brithday party
At the top of a hill lies a mansion. This magnificent culmination of western architecture oversees with imposing solemnly the residents enjoying a peaceful life in the small town of Misaki. The manor was built in days not remembered by the eldest of townsfolks. Yet, its majesty stands out, dignified as a mysterious guardian. One who foresees its fellow underlings, as if everything below was part of its kingdom, without mingling with them, always remaining mysterious and stoic. Not much is known about what is hidden behind the massive wooden doors that act as a gateway to a different time; an age more civilised and full of secrets.
This state, with its endless surface including an exquisite garden and a small forest, belongs to the Tohno family, protectors of Misaki town from countless generations. Their lineage used to be admired and beloved. As time went by they began distancing themselves with the people they ought to coexist with, creating a little cosmos of secrecy around them. Even at the present time, when the family has been reduced to nothing but two members of incredibly young age, there are unseen truths no one will ever now.
One of those many secrets is the vast cavern deep below the mansion. Where no ray of light can reach, surrounded by sturdy walls of rocks, there is a chamber only known by a mischievous servant of the family and her sister. Deep within this strange cavern, a state-of-the art laboratory has been constructed. Its purpose remains unknown to all but a select few. Among the various gadgets, computers, measure devices and enginery artefacts an unusual story began place. One from which a moral can be inferred: vanity and a healthy dose of unpreparedness do not usually go hand to hand.
Laughter reverberated in each and every nook of the laboratory. Not like the usual deranged guffaws expelled by a mad scientist expected in a scenario such as this. Despite the hidden location of the dubiously purposed workshop of science, the laughter heard carried no malice, egotism or madness. Actually, an almost noticeable faint of the later was mixed in the girlish, hearty and refreshing laughter. The person who could not cease her rhythmic laughter brushed her reddened cheeks and whipped away beads of sweat, as well as tears. She was Kohaku, one of the maids under the service of Akiha Tohno, current mistress of the Tohno household. Why were her usually jovial features brightened with a wide smile that took attention away for a dire state of increasing extenuation?
The reason was at the farthest part in her body. Hisui, twin sister of the easy-to--lose-focus maid, saw with cold silent eyes the predicament the eastern beauty wearing a simple brown kimono found into.
âIhihihi...â she said giggling. Her body shuddered as if moved by an invisible force. All of her limbs were taken by a trembling impulse. She did not move away nonetheless, she was firmly seated into a bizarre contraption.
âPlehehehase, Hisui, help me!â begged the girl who despite her continuous laughter, one could perceive she was not enjoying a great time.
âWhy should I?â replied her serious counterpart. If Kohaku was the cheerful Ying, Hisui acted as the efficient Yang. She was not moved by her sisterâs tribulation. In her eyes, she had brought it up upon herself.
âThis wasnât supposed to gohohoo...â the charming maid was having a hard time to articulate a sound. A fit of hiccup overwhelmed her âlike thihihihis. The feedback is way higher than the calorie intahahahake!â complained the girl before arching her back. Something not to be reproached: two pair of juvenile pale soft feet stuck at the same number of holes of a stocks-like apparatus was thoroughly proved by mechanical fingers that either caressed the soft soles or smeared a slick lotion over the delectable skin. Hisui tried to avert her eyes from them, not even somebody as serious as her could remain stoic at the sight. Inside of the boots she wore, two feet identical to those being teased, itched in dreadful empathy.
âConsider this a punishment for slacking offâ replied the calmer of the siblings. Her soft voice matched the image of the perfect servant she gave due to the bonnet and elegant French-maid dress worn. âI canât understand why you had to rebuild this silly contraption.â added the redhead, indifferent to the equally-haired girl wheezing hard; a set of rotating brushes had began to unleash a flurry of sensations upon those virginal soles.
Nonetheless, Hisui was right: it was hard to understand why on earth Kohaku would rebuild the machine pummelled to dust by the unstoppable force of three angered females, one of them her employer nonetheless. It was a miracle Akiha had not fired her after the fiasco with the tickling machine she had develop (perhaps the day used by the proud dark-haired lady to disciplining her servant had to do with her decision. Having tickle-tortured a girl almost to death gave a different perspective to any affront): eager to find test-subjects, she had orchestrated a cunning charade to bring three lovely ladies into the innards of the laboratory and have their feet tormented by the hellish dispositive. Unfortunately, the thing went out of control and submitted all of them, Kohaku included, to four straight hours of continuous hellish tickling. Hisui appeared later to see the aftermath of such catastrophe, since she had the task to distract the other member of the Tohno family away from the mansion. The sight that awaited her was one that would haunt her nightmares.
Notwithstanding, Kohaku had not learned her lesson and was laughing at the top of her lungs when cords tied the wriggling toes of her ticklish feet to facilitate access to delicate areas of the skin. Hisui was tempted to leave her be and continue with their duties, that were many.
But a spark of fraternal love overcame her.
âHow do I turn this off?â asked Hisui coolly.
âThat crank! That oh my gohohohohod! I CANâT TAKE IT! QUICK BEFORE THE MECHANICAL TOHOHOHONGUES....â whatever Kohaku meant by that plea, it was drowned in deranged laughter. Hisui advanced with calm steps towards the signalled switch paying deaf ears to her sisterâs suffering, who apparently, was experiencing the ungodly sensation of having her soles licked by wet raspy automaton tongues.
Once the restless Kohaku had recovered her breath and her feet were secured inside of two traditional white Japanese socks, the sisters could enjoy a moment of calmness, and a much needed explanation in Hisuiâs end.
âSo? Arenât you supposed to be working? Master Shiki and Mistress Akiha left for school not long ago. That doesnât mean we can waste time, especially after the compromise you volunteered to during breakfast.â Cold blue eyes clashed with nonchalantly amber ones.
âI havenât forgotten,â declared Kohaku whipping a few beads of sweat that still lingered in her forehead. The torment in her soles had been methodical, âin fact, this is why I was testing the machine. Itâs a new use I was thinking for this technology.â
âThe one you use to tickle girls.â interrupted Hisui, unfazed.
âOr boys, but I think the first are cuter. Donât distract me! What I mean is that after a long session of tickling you are exhausted, as if you had practiced sports. Considering that we will be holding a party soon, with all the cakes Iâm planning to bake, itâs possible we stray from our diets and gain a few grams...â
Tense silence fell upon the duo. No matter how active their job was, their schedule did not allow exercising their bodies as much as they wanted; meaning weight was a taboo that concerned the sisters.
âWhat do you suggest then?â asked a determined Hisui.
âEasy, remember why we initially came here?â asked the more energetic of the twins urging her sisterâs intrigue.
âTo initiate the army of... Those dolls...â the calmer sister felt uncomfortable at the idea: a battalion of automatons that looked like her. They even acted the same. It was unsettling. Unsurprisingly, Kohaku had built them without her consent, claiming she was the perfect maid as for the reason behind taking Hisui as the base model.
âDonât call them like that. They are the Mech-Hisui Maid Squad 2000!â Like an infernal doctor having found lost relics of mass destruction and was decided to take over the world, she extended her arms to the metal ceiling of the lab. Dozen of the soulless robots displaying an uncanny resemblance to Hisui surrounded them. âThe name needs to be patented, but if you wait a little Iâll integrate a few of my latest findings...â she began punching various keyboards, inserting data in a way that surprised Hisui: her sister was never this fired-up, only when she worked at her hidden laboratory, away from mistress Akihaâs vigilant gaze.
âNow I adjust the protocols of action based on how the machine acted with me as a test subject and... Here we go!â The laboratory burst with life as machines all around sparked with data and figures. The Mech-Hisuisâ eyes shone, they were booting up a new kind of code sent by their master.
âI see no change.â commented Hisui. She stared at the automatons, which returned the gaze silently.
âNow youâll see. Take this.â said Kohaku offering a cookie. Hisui recognised it as being one of mistress Akihaâs favourites to enjoy with a cup of Earl Grey tea. Not often though, the lady knew they were sugary and filled with butter which, despite granting them a mouth-watering taste, was the worst enemy for a girlâs figure. Hisui disregarded her employerâs concerns and accepted the treat. She ate it, curiosity taking the best of her.
âNow what?â she asked. No sooner she swallowed the last crumb she turned into the centre of all mechanical lifeless eyes.
âCalorie intake increased, determining countermeasures.â said all of the Mech-Hisuis in unison. Kohaku displayed a sinister grin.
âNow, my dear Hisui, you have two options: you either run until you burn the calories you just took or let this bunch help you by tickling you.â
The loudest of the siblings, whose title will be lost no sooner the robo-maids caught on her sister and did their magic on her ticklish body, admired the efficiency of her creation as she recalled the breakfast Hisui had mentioned: the moment when the gears of fate began to turn.
It all started almost an hour ago. A peaceful scenario opened in the Tohnoâs mansion dining room. Two young siblings shared opposite sides of a long dark oak wood table. One was Akiha, the master of the family and elegance and refined manners personified. Thanks to years of training, her etiquette was superb. She brought a steaming cup of tea with the dignity of a princess to her lips. Her blue eyes sparkled with unquestionable love when aimed at her brother.
âShiki, itâs not like you to enjoy breakfast with me. This is a surprise I could get used to.â if there was scorn in her words it was not easy to know. Akiha, as the lady she was, often spoke with the intricateness of a noblewoman, making it arduous to extract the real meaning within her words. Nonetheless, she was not far from truth. On the other side of the table, Shiki Tohno, older brother whose inherit rights had been bestowed onto his little sister by their later father due to his precarious health condition, found it hard to be an early riser. He usually had to devour his breakfast quickly least he wanted to arrive late at class. Needless to say, Akiha would have left already to the girls-only institution where her tuition took place.
âItâs not like I donât want to spend time with you, but...â replied Shiki and paused. Two maids, each guarding their assigned master, exchanged glances. They both knew the master indulged into night escapades that he thought were unknown to his sister.
âIt doesnât really matter,â interrupted Akiha speaking softly. She finished her teacup and raised it for Kohaku to refill âitâs very convenient you are here though. Iâve been meaning to ask you a question.â Her eyes turned serious, unsettling Shiki, was she about to inquire about his secret agenda?
âWhat is it?â asked a nervous Shiki who pretended to be focused on his Japanese-style breakfast in order to avoid Akihaâs stare.
âYour birthday itâs next Friday, isnât it?â she smiled softly âdo you...have any plans for it?â her tone become low; a faint tone of red tainted her cheeks.
Unsurprisingly, Shiki did not notice.
âNot much, I was thinking about inviting Arihiko to a soda and maybe, so that he doesnât pester me too much later, take him to the arcades. Why do you ask?â the twin maids suppressed the urge to sigh. Master Shikiâs obnoxiousness should be legally punishable.
âI was thinking we could celebrate it together, as a family,â said Akiha taking her eyes away from her brotherâs, âwe havenât had the chance over the years.â
âSure!â replied Shiki brightening his mood, âcome with us after class.â Again, he did not catch on the indirect. It was time for Kohaku to act.
âWhy donât we throw a party here? The mansion has been very quiet lately. I can prepare a feast for Master Shiki and his friends!â announced the cheerful maid taking everybody by surprise. âThat is, if Miss Akiha would allow it...â she added winking an eye to her employer.
The later remained pensive for a moment. Her eyes drifted from Shiki to Kohaku, she seemed conflicted. Finally, she nodded giving the air of things not having really gone her way.
âIf that would make my brother happy I will permit it. I take you will be in charge of the decorations?â inquired the lady raising a brow, âitâs only two days before the date. Will you be able to pull this off?â Akiha glared intensely, she would not allow her brother to be disappointed.
âDonât worry, Miss Akiha. If Master Shiki confirms to me the list of participants and their likings I will prepare specific cakes for each of them. There are some recipes Iâve wanted to try for a while!â Kohaku was not faced by her bossâ seriousness.
âA most ambitious goalâ declared Akiha.
âYou donât really need to go overboard. A simple cake for everyone will do. Whatâs important in the end is to enjoy together.â added Shiki.
âNot at all, I insist. Besides...I have a hidden ace under my sleeve.â said the girl mysteriously. âSo, tell me who would you like to invite and I can prepare the ingredients!â Taken aback by her enthusiasm, Shiki scratched his head as his brain began to work.
âFor starters, thereâs the four of us: Akiha, Hisui, you and me. From school I canât not invite Arihiko; heâd annoy me for ages. I shouldnât forget about Yumizuka. Those would be all from class. Apart, we got senior Ciel and Iâd also like to have Arc...â
âBrother!â a sudden slam at the table startled all people present. âOn that regard, I would like to request for you to refrain inviting that undignified woman into our house.â Fire burnt in Akihaâs eyes and her hair gave the impression of being turning red out of anger. âI canât stop you from meeting with her at night,â Shiki gulped hard, his sister was aware of his nightly routine it seemed, âbut that doesnât mean I have to deal with the likes of her in my own home.â
âDonât be like that, Akiha,â Shiki tried to reason with his sister, a valiant but fruitless effort. âArcueid can be a little... hard to get by. But Iâm sure youâll like her if you get to know her enough.â
âI refuse!â replied Akiha, whose dignified mannerisms had turned into those of a spoiled brat. âI will not tolerate her presence in my house. As the head of the Tohno family itâs your duty to abide by my rules!â
No word was said. Tension could be cut with a knife. Shiki moistened his lips and spoke calmly.
âOk, I wonât tell her about the party.â The three females had to suppress a gasp, they did not expect him to be sensitive enough and deal with the issue in such a smooth way. âSheâll get mad at me if she finds out. But I donât want to lie. Iâll sure try to find a way to compensate, or else...â thought Shiki bitterly. He had seen Arcueid angered once, and she almost threw the moon over the one who triggered her rage, literally.
Classes ended in their usual manner. Shiki stretched his limbs to allow blood flowing cross his body. He rubbed his eyes as well, not before removing briefly his glasses. As he did, he did not open any eyelid. He did not feel like making use of his gift and curse: the eyes of mystic perception.
No, his mood was bright and he did not want it diming by seeing the âdeathâ of anything in his sight, be it animate or not. A shy voice startled him out of sudden, interrupting his thoughts.
âI didnât expect to see you here. Going back home, Tohno?â it was Satsuki Yumizuka, one of the guest for the upcoming birthday party. She had received the sudden news with honest mirth. From her current smile one could notice she was eager to take part of it.
âNot yet,â replied Shiki, âthereâs something I must do before that. Iâm afraid we canât walk together this time.â He added apologetically.
âNo need to worry. Weâll have plenty of time to talk at the party.â Commented the girl bowing, her brunet ponytails fluttered as she did. She turned on her heels while giving an amiable smile to Shiki.
The later recalled her friendsâ reaction to the invitation. Arihikoâs was the most explosive one. Used to go to the arcade any year in previous birthdays, he almost choked Shiki with his bear grapple. The brash boy was moved by being invited to a party where he and Shiki would be the only male attendants. Satsuki was also taken aback at first, nonetheless her surprise left way to sincere acceptance. Lastly, Ciel, the upperclassman who Shiki knew was a member of the Church infiltrated in his school, found the proposition unusual, but accepted after a moment of consideration.
âGuess sheâs not invited to parties much often.â thought Shiki. The blue-haired bespectacled mysterious beauty was polite and pleasant to deal with. Withal, the boy discerned her behaviour as a mask to hide a lonely person driven by duty, who did not regard any individual joy as long as it strayed from the task given to her. It was better not to think about it. He would do his best to guarantee everybody had a great time at his party.
One last issue lasted for him to take care off.
âIâll make sure Arcueid is in a good mood before I give her the bad news. Sheâs not going to like not being invited...â thought Shiki already imagining the commotion she was going to cause. It was better than to suffer causing a confrontation between the blonde vampire and his sister.
Meanwhile, preparations were almost done. Hisui had to admit her replicas were diligent workers. She could not help but to feel certain jealousy at them being better cooks than her. She had to admit though that without their help to have such number of intricate cakes finished in just one day would have been impossible.
âSister.â commented the maid.
âWhat is it, Hisui?â asked the one in the kimono holding a freshly backed cinnamon roll of gigantic proportions.
âI admit Iâm surprised by your dollsâ efficiency, but didnât you get a bit ahead? The party wonât be until the day after tomorrow, these cakes will spoil by then.â she signalled at the display that would have made a patisserie owner jealous. Kohaku covered her lips with a long sleeve and chuckled evilly.
âI have a little secret. Donât worry at all.â she said in a way that did not encourage any trust whatsoever. âWhile I put these in a safe place, can you clean up a bit? The lab is filled with flour and is a bit of a mess.â Hisui did not mind, cleaning was one of the things she excelled at, however...
âWhy canât the dolls do it?â she inquired.
âTurns out I miscalculated and their batteries ran out. They have to recharge. And they take forever, a little design flaw I have to correctâ replied Kohaku shrugging her shoulders.
Hisui saw her sister disappear under the doorframe leading to a chamber she always wondered what held inside. Better not to inquire in her sisterâs antics especially with the great amount of dirt she had to take care of before the masters returned. She held a feather duster and proceeded to clean with distinguished efficiency. Until a lever stained in cream caught her attention. She curled her lips. The cream had dried and did not want to leave, no matter how hard she rubbed a rag over it.
The maid would not give up; she rubbed with extra vigour until two events occurred: on the one hand, the lever was shiny and clean, on the other, it turned down with a click. Hisui remained still, looking around alarmed. She hoped not to have broken anything. But seeing nothing out of the ordinary took place she decided to leave the switch as she saw it.
No such luck was in store for her. Try as she might, the knob would not move. It was locked. Realising she was wasting time she decided to continue cleaning, not paying attention to the blinking message that appeared in a screen nearby. It read:
MECH-HISUI UNITSâ REBOOT INITIATING.
EXPECTED TIME: 48 HOURS UNTIL TOTAL REINITIALISATION
âShiki?â a gorgeous blonde almost dropped the bag of groceries she carried, âI didnât expect to see you!â she gleamed radiantly at the sight of the bespectacled boy who saluted her with a hand motion.
âHi Arcueid. Len is here too. Can I help you with that?â he said pointing at the heavy-looking bag the vampire and a minute red-eyed silent girl next to her carried. Arcueid looked away, visibly unsettled.
âI wasnât expecting you and...â Shikiâs heart beat fast upon seeing the conflicted face Arcueid made, beautiful nonetheless, âwell, you shouldnât be seeing this.â Her red eyes quickly glanced at the bags.
âWhy is that?â asked an intrigued Shiki.
âYour birthday, silly!â said the girl in a childish tone, âI wanted to make a surprise cake for you!â added Arcueid puffing her cheeks; she did not like having being busted in her fail-proof plan. On his end, Shiki forced a nervous smile, he knew the girl did not need much for her nourishment and the ingredients that stuck out of the bag, like a pineapple, a lambâs leg and a hammer among other elements would not meant to mix in that hypothetical cake. Cooking was not Arcueidâs forte.
âThatâs very...â he paused to think of a suitable word, âvery thoughtful of youâ he then felt terrible for being about to tell her he would not be available during that day.
âSay!â he burst out of sudden, âIâm kind of free right now, what do you say we leave these at your apartment and go out?â Arcueidâs red eyes sparkled.
âA date? Sure, letâs do it!â she turned towards the other silent girl, clad in black, observing them without uttering a word, mostly because she could not, she was mute. âLen, will you take care of the house while Iâm gone?â the girl nodded slowly.
It always felt fantastic to spend time with Arcueid. Even if Roaâs threat was no more, he could not avoid wanting to be by her side, and the sentiment was mutual. It was not an urge out of responsibility, not at that point. Earlier, he felt bad for having âkilledâ her, something to which the vampire had not recovered from completely. That however spoke of how a fascinating being she was. And yet, she seemed like a normal girl in his eyes, perhaps one that shone with the aura of beauty and mysticism from cold secluded European castles built a time long by. Like the relics stored in said places, Arcueidâs life had been a sad one in Shikiâs point of view: always resting in the entrails of a distant landâs citadel until an enemy for her to destroy appeared, only to later return to sleep. Her feud against the dead apostles was an endless fight. A battle Shiki wanted her to forget at least during the time they could spend together.
Considering their unusual chance meeting opened the girlâs eyes to the world around. Shiki found invigorating how anything he took for granted surprised her. Cinema and the latest technologies seemed to be those that arouse the more sensations.
âWhat do you say we watch a movie?â asked Shiki upon passing near the entrance of a small theatre. The blonde, who was holding his arm, nodded enthusiastically.
The cinema itself did not offer much of a choice though.
âLetâs see what we have here... âA Midsummer Dayâs Desireâ, âA Debt to Payâ, âIs there any way I can improve my marks?â .These titles are a bit strange.â they struck as odd for some reason. âOh,â the boyâs lips curled into a pleased smile. âThis might do: âKing Arthur: the real story behind the legendâ I donât usually see many historic movies but the poster looks promising.â declared the boy happy to having found a possible choice. In his mind, Arcueid, a being who had lived through many of humanityâs ages, might find history dramas entertaining. Perhaps they sparked memories in her and she could confirm the extent of their veracity, providing she had been around to live the events narrated.
But Shikiâs joy was thrown in a hole at the not amused expression in Arcueidâs face.
âThis one? Really? It looks so boring. Besides, everything looks wrong. Arthur was a girl, everybody knows that!â stated the vampire in a matter-of-fact manner.
âWhat?â Shiki was beyond confused.
âYeah, the strongest in the Saber class at the Servants Throne, or so they say. I never had the chance to meet her in person, but if I were at full power I doubt she would be able to beat meâ she paused and tilted her head apologetically âIâm sorry, I forgot you are not a magus, you are not supposed to know this.â The clarification did not calm Shiki.
âIf you want I can introduce you to her, we only need to take a train to Fuyuki. I said I havenât seen her in person before but sensing a Servant is not that hard for me. Think about it, wouldnât that be nice: a little escapade, you and I?â Shikiâs confusion was growing by the moment. Arcueid did not pay attention to it though. âBut I must warn you, from what I have been told she is a bit boring. If you held a contest to see whoâs duller, her or Ciel, I donât know who would win!â Shikiâs puzzlement was out of the charts at that point. He could not make sense of any of the words she said.
âThis one!â Arcueidâs unexpected blast of excitement returned him to reality: the girl was pointing at the animated movies section where one poster caught her attention. âThe other day I dreamed I was a magical girl and Len was my sidekick. Maybe it was a prediction. Can we see this one?â The boy examined the poster: it had two girls in ponytails soaring the skies, one a blonde, the other, a brunette. The first wielded a massive sword and the other shot an absurdly big beam of pink energy. Not what he would usually pick but if Arcueid was interested...
The movie turned out to be more entertaining than he expected. The animation was on the top and the plot had a few unexpected twists that had the duo nailed to their seats. The only downside was the sensation that the motion picture served as a tie-in between the seasons of a series. Not many of the characters were actually introduced. Not that it mattered, Arcueid had enjoyed it.
âThat was pretty fun. I really liked the special attack one of the girls does. I wish I could use it on Ciel!â exclaimed the blonde.
âWhy, so that she becomes your friend after?â commented Shiki kind of sarcastically.
âOf course not, just because it would be fun, to go in front of her and say: Diviiineeee... I forgot the rest of the name but then itâd go like BOOOOM!â she opened her arms exaggeratedly, Shiki found it cute.
âBut I have a question!â the boy was not expecting her determined face.
âWhat it is?â wanted to know Shiki.
âDuring the part where the two girls are alone, the brunette touches the blonde in various places, starting with the feet, I thought she wanted to tickle her, but she didnât laugh. Howâs that?â Shiki did not know what surprised him more: either the fact that the movie did not seem to hold back at provocatively displaying an intimate moment between two girls or Arcueidâs reaction.
âThat was a massage. Why do you mention tickling?â the boy was dazzled.
âA massage? It is nice?â Arcueid got close enough for him to smell her skinâs scent, it was sweet.
âWell, it can be.â replied Shiki, unsure if he was comfortable with that violation of his personal space.
âCan you do one to me?â the way Arcueid made the request left the boy devoid of any rebuttal.
âI can try, but Iâve never done one. It might tickle a bit.â he said sincerely.
âI donât mind, not if itâs you,â stated the vampire wincing an eye âwhy donât we find a bench and you show me one of those âmassagesâ?â before Shiki could answer, he was dragged to a familiar park: the same where he and Arcueid had fought for their lives against the fearsome Nrvnqsr Chaos. Although the nightly disappearances and sprouts of violence had ceased thanks to the later and Roa being defeated, Shiki found it discouraging how little people walked around considering it was not late at night.
It might work for the best as he would feel slightly embarrassed being seen with Arcueidâs legs over his lap.
âDo it like in the movie, start with my feet.â demanded the girl expectantly. Shiki grabbed the end of one of the boots and pulled, releasing a splendid leg clad in dark blue nylons. With unsure hands, he took firm hold of the foot, it was lean and warm. The fabric of the nylons was slick and facilitated him rubbing the skin bellow. Arcueid giggled when the tip of his thumbs pressed at the ball.
âYou lied to me, you said it would feel good, not that it tickles.â complained the girl humorously.
âI told you Iâve never done this before. But if you insist so much I can tickle you.â he issued the challenge expecting it would render her quiet. Shockingly, it did the opposite.
âNot a bad idea, but wait a second...â she removed the remaining boot, ânow, letâs see what you can do.â What kind of game was that? Shiki faced two feet that many could consider godlike resting in his lap, stretched and waiting for him to touch them.
âDonât complain if you canât stand it...â he decided to start lightly. To his surprise, Arcueid giggled adorably, enjoying herself. Furthermore, he realised he did not have to hold her endearing ankles while he grazed the soles of the feet. The nylons accentuated the divine features of the feet and gave them extra softness. That, added to Arcueidâs reactions, prompted him to continue.
After a few minutes, seeing how high in spirits Arcueid was, Shiki thought it was the best moment to throw the bucket of cold water.
âEhehehe... why did you stop?â asked the girl, rubbing one foot against the other.
âMostly because people might look at us strangely and...â commented Shiki.
âYou are right,â interrupted the blonde, ânext time we should go to my apartment, but I want to remove my nylons too. Also, if I say you stop, you do. I almost reached my limit back there.â added the western enchantress with no scorn in her voice.
âIâll keep it in mind. But look, thereâs something I want to tell you. Promise you wonât get mad, ok? Remember that cake you want to prepare for my birthday?â Arcueid nodded âCanât it wait? You see, I wonât be available that day.â
âWhy?â inquired the woman, planting the soles of her feet in the boyâs lap to avoid them losing warmth.
âBecause thereâs a party at my house and...â
âNice, Iâd never miss it no matter what! The cake can wait.â Arcueid glimmered with the happiness of a child before Christmas.
âThereâs a problem... You are not invited...â The bomb had blown. None spoke.
âItâs because of your sister, right?â asked Arcueid coldly.
âYou know itâs a bother, but sheâs still the head of the Tohno family and as long as I live under her roof I have to follow her rules.â tried to explain Shiki.
âThen come live with me, my apartment is small, but the bed is enough for the two of us.â the boy turned red, he remembered the night he first slept with her, he would never forget, it had been the best of his life.
âI donât think Iâm prepared for that yet. I promise Iâll make it up to you. But please donât do anything rash, like appearing in my house at the middle of the party. Iâll do anything you want.â he looked directly into those red eyes that stared back filled with scorn.
âIâll be a good girl. But I want two things in exchange: weâll watch another movie tomorrow and the day after your birthday, and you will learn how to do massages and give me one every day for a whole week, not only the feet, but weâll change places only when you mastered them. Is that clear?â she offered her hand to seal the deal. Instead, Shiki hugged her.
The day for the celebration had finally arrived. In order to please Arcueid, he had suffered the embarrassing moment of having to rent a book on reflexology from the schoolâs library. Leaving that aside, nothing out of the ordinary happened and he finally found himself at his houseâs dining room surrounded by his beloved ones.
âHappy birthday Shiki!â they all shouted in unison, bringing their party blowers to their lips.
Shiki could not believe the warm atmosphere; it almost felt as if he was visiting a different home. Not to mention the many cakes displayed in the table. Kohaku had outdone herself that time.
And yet, an ominous feeling overwhelmed him. A knock in the door startled him.
âPlease, donât let it be who I think it is...â whispered the boy.
It was Arcueid in the flesh. She appeared in the room lead by Hisui. The later was always diligent to be of service to any guest, even if unexpected. The reactions at her presence were various. Hisui remained stoic, Kohaku glanced nervously at her employer, Satsuki looked at the newcomer with curiosity, Arihiko whistled, Ciel pretended not to have seen her and Akiha... Akiha was throwing daggers at her.
âWhat are you doing here?â Shiki held the blonde by the arm and brought her to a corner, he noticed she was not alone. Len had followed but walked first towards the cakes, picked one and then sat over Satsukiâs lap, who was resting her legs on an ornate chair, without uttering a word. Because she could not, she was mute.
âIâd never miss your birthday!â declared Arcueid as if she had spoken an obvious fact.
âYou promised you wouldnât, do you know how much is going to cost me to calm Akiha down? Sheâs glaring at you!â he was not exaggerating, if gazes could kill, Arcueid would have dropped dead in that instant.
âRelax, I wonât do anything rash, sheâs my little sister after all.â Before he could complain, Arcueid approached the angered lady with the intention of saluting her; until Kohaku intercepted her. Shiki thanked her silently.
âWhat a nice surprise to have you here, miss Brunestud, care to try some cake?â diplomacy was the maidâs second name as she brought the vampire out of Akihaâs line of sight. The later had time to throw a glare at her brother that clearly translated as âwe will have a talk after thisâ.
Shiki only wanted to bury his head in the nearest flower pot. Arihiko shifted his attention off his wish.
âIsnât that the babe once waited for you at school? Why didnât you tell me you kept watching her, you cheeky bastard?â he squeezed his friendâs temples with uncovered jealously. That was exactly was he needed, to die of suffocation.
The party went on uneventfully, not for Shiki, unfortunately. Both his hands were tied with Arcueid and Akiha simultaneously fighting for his attention.
âTry this cake, Shiki, itâs very nice!â said the blonde bringing a spoon filled with chocolate to his mouth.
âWhy of course itâs nice, it is Kohaku the one who did it. She is someone that excels as cooking. A trait I doubt this shameless bimbo shares. Let alone good taste, this pie is definitively better.â the brunetteâs poisonous counterargument consisted in another spoon being forcibly inserted in his mouth. Shiki wanted to be somewhere else instead of acting as a wall between these powerful forces of feminine adversary.
Kind of giving a blind eye to then, Arihiko tried to establish a conversation with Hisui, for the eleventh time. Kohaku, not far from then, had an offering for Ciel.
âMiss Ciel?â asked the eastern maid bowing to the bluenette.
âIs there something I can do for you?â asked the senior politely.
âI was told by Master Shiki that you are fond of curry. And that urged me to try a recipe...â she brought a plate with a yellow-coloured cake over it, âI call it the sugary Nirvana. Itâll be an honour if a connoisseur like you could give it a try.â
Not hiding her reservations, Ciel took a spoon out of it. She could not believe curry could blend in any kind of sweet.
How wrong she was. It was the most delicious treat she had ever had.
And finally, Satsuki had the unexpected company of Len. The little girl had not moved from her lap. The one in the ponytails tried to talk with her, she did not answer, could not, she was mute.
Unaware to them, metres bellow, Kohakuâs lab slowly turned to life. Various screens showed a gloomy message:
REEBOT FINISHED
BATTERIES AT 100%
SCANNING... SEVEN HUMANOID FEMALES DETECTED
CALORIES INTAKE...OUT OF THE GRAPHS
BEGINING ELIMINATION PROCEDURES
The eyes of ten Mech-Hisui glowed maliciously.
âCan I have your attention?â said Kohaku ringing her glass by hitting it with a fork. âThere is a little competition Iâd like to announce. You see, one these cakes hides a bean. The person who finds it will go on a date with Master Shiki!â said the maid enthusiastically.
âEven me?â Arihiko was the first to break the silence.
âWhy yes, you are not extent from the prize.â replied Kohaku.
âWhat a bummer. Donât take it personally, man, but if I win Iâll sell that bean to somebody else. Iâm not really into going out with you.â joked the tall boy. Shiki wanted to reply that the sentiment was mutual when sparks fired in front of him.
âI donât really need to win this contest; I can go out with Shiki whenever I want. Right Shiki?â asked Arcueid.
âContrary to what you might believe, no leash is put over his neck. Heâs free to do whatever he wants. However, I wonât allow myself to lose against the likes of you.â said Akiha in return.
âItâs on, then!â exclaimed Arcueid.
âMay the best, that is, me, wins!â commented Akiha.
Shiki sighed; he was not surprised not to having been asked beforehand about this surprise.
As for the rest of guests, Ciel was looking at the curry-flavoured cake with guilt, she had almost eaten half of it but could indulge if a little more. The flavour was intoxicating.
Satsuki had not moved. Len remained determined to use her as a seat while she enjoyed a strawberry cake.
And the twins wandered around making sure everything was in order, indulging in a treat here and there.
Then, the room was filled with gas. Before anyone could react, they all fell asleep. Following after, ten androids entered and took away the seven girls present, leaving only Shiki and Arihiko to later wonder what had become of them.
Akihaâs eyes opened slowly, she felt drowsy. Why on earth would she fall in slumber at her brotherâs birthday? When the unsightly woman she disliked was around to pervert him! It had been not lady-like to surrender at her tiredness all of a sudden. She attempted to rub her eyes and found a strange opposition against that motion. In that moment, she realised something was amiss.
âI know this place... It is that lousy laboratory! I thought I determinately prohibited its use!â yelled the girl, giving priority to venting her anger than to asses her situation.
âEasy, little sister. Iâm not deaf, but I will soon thanks to you if you keep yelling.â speaking about the devil, that Brunestud woman was with her. It was not the only one sharing her bizarre distress: her two maids and one of brotherâs schoolmates could be seen if she turned her head around. They all shared the same face of stupefaction as they hung suspended in the air by strong hands holding their wrists. Only Kohaku, judging from her expression, could tell the reason behind the situation.
âKohaku! I demand an explanation!â ordered Akiha. Her employee tried to reassure her with a forced smile.
âIâm not really sure myself. The Mech-Hisuis shouldnât be acting like this...â Mech-Hisuis? Akiha glanced down, she noticed the hands that held her in place were attached to tentacle-like cabled that ended down bellow. By following them with her eyes, she found herself face to face with their captors. They indeed shared an uncanny resemblance to her quietest servant.
âSister...â the real Hisuiâs troubled voice startled them. âI maybe have forgotten to mention I touched a switch while you were gone...â
âWhich one?â hurriedly asked Kohaku.
âThe one there.â replied Hisui pointing with her chin. Her sister turned pale, she whispered a disturbing âoh noâ.
The subjects were awake. It was time to begin with the calories elimination. The units finished analysing their intakes and had determined a course of action:
-Subject one, labelled, âglassesâ: had digested half of a spices-filled cake. To get rid of the calories exercising of the diaphragm was required. Based on preliminary tests while unconscious, best areas to stimulate were: back of knees, stomach and soles of feet. The subjectâs sensitivity was high, meaning small cords would be enough.
-Subject two, labelled, âcreatorâ: had ingested an array of multiple cakes and rolls. Massive stimulation of lungs was needed. Data banks suggested a focus on: sides, neck and soles of feet. Use of feathers was most encouraged.
-Subject three, labelled, âladyâ: displayed the most ingestion of calories. Extreme measures were mandatory: the use of brushes and oil in the soles of the feet was authorised, further addition of random attacks on stomach and armpits were not to be dispelled.
-Subject four, labelled, âred eyesâ: showed low levels of calories to be detected. Light spur on the armpits determined to be used after a preliminary work out on the legs and stomach was deemed the best option.
-Subject five, labelled, âthe originalâ: presented an identical state as âcreatorâ. Equal measures were prepared: feathers to be used in soles of feet in conjunction with hand-proving of sides.
-Subject six, labelled, âsilentâ: had turned into a cat. Further instructions were needed.
-Subject seven, labelled, âponytailsâ: during âsilentâsâ metamorphosis, the subject had gained possession of a bean carried by the later. Data was corrupt: calorie levels of âbeanâ were immeasurable. An error in the register produced a glitch. Oil was to be applied on soles in preparation for a combined action of all of the units once the rest of subjects, except for âsilentâ, were rid of their calories.
The previous was voiced aloud by the Mech-Hisuis much to the girlsâ disbelief. Their cold semblances aimed at them before releasing chaos upon the lab. None of the females wanted to remain immobile while their footwear was removed. They all fought and trashed around: Ciel turned hysterics upon hearing she was about to get tickled, not only on her feet. Kohaku resigned herself and decided it was best to save energy. Hisui, tried to maintain the composure, but shuddered the sooner her boots abandoned her. Arcueid stood still, her curiosity was higher than any dread she might feel. Besides, she had already proven her resistance. Finally, Akiha was the one who lost her mettle the most. She would not tolerate her body to be defiled with tickling.
âI hate this laboratory; every time I set a foot here I get tormented!â both of the later were bared, despite the violent jerks of her legs, and were thoroughly smeared in translucent oil that heightened their natural softness, if that was possible. Immediately after, a pair of rotating brushes appeared. Akihaâs eyes opened wide. She would not allow those touching her fair skin, she would die before submitting into said humiliation.
Sadly, her lack of willingness to have her tantalising soles brushed was not shared with the Mech-Hisuis. One of them secured her ankles, firmly holding them with an iron grasp, and brought them near the devilish things. Poor Akiha had no chance, her defences shattered and her beautiful laughter echoed in the room, soon to be accompanied by the other girlsâ.
It was unfair! She merely wanted to spend a tranquil day beside her brother. Was that much to ask? In its place, she was stranded in that gloomy workshop being forced to experience a most humiliating torment. Why was she having it the worst of all of the presents? Hers were the only feet facing the rough surface of the brushes, sending her into the depths of hell with their wet bristles. But the rest, how were they faring? Not as badly: Shikiâs schoolmate was screaming like a banshee because of some little cables, as if it was worse than the brushes tormenting her soles! Hisui and Kohaku giggled by only having to face some little plumes in their bodies. And what about the bimbo? She simply hissed because of a pair of hands lightly caressing her armpits. They had almost not touched the rest of her body, even if her legs were bare, save for the torn nylons, like the rest of girls. It was unfair!
If only the Brunestud woman had never appeared! Dammed be she, she and the other girls who pretended to suffer a ticklish torment equal to hers! The demonic blood inside boiled, fighting to take control and she would gladly allow it. If she was meant to be tickled until losing consciousness, they would go down with her.
Len, who had had the sensible decision to return into her cat form, glanced at the tumult away from her with a total lack of interest in her red eyes. She did not think necessary for her to intervene in favour of her master, she was laughing, enjoying a great time. She had more pressing matters to take care of. The girl next to her was dumb folded at the Dantesque scenario. She did not mind about that either. What Len only cared was the alluring scent her skin emanated. She had seen in silence, because she was a cat and cats do not talk; how the robots tied her down, removed her shoes and spread a weird lotion in the soles of her feet. The way they glittered, added to their mouth watering aroma, made Len come close to then...
Satsuki did not know what was more strange, either how the other girls were being tickled, or Shikiâs sisterâs hair turning to life, while changing its colour into fiery red at the ends, and attacking every inch of naked flesh it found for the rest of girls, or seeing the girl who had been seating in her lap for the whole party transforming into a cat. Out of a sudden she recalled having had a bath before coming to the celebration. As she enjoyed it, her eyes had glanced at the ingredients of the soap she had used, for no special reason.
It all made sense in that moment: Lenâs behaviour attaching to her while human and the predatory look in her feline eyes as a cat. She approached menacingly towards the wet soles of her naked feet.
âPlease kitty,â she begged, âdonât do it...â her complain fell upon deaf ears. Cats adore one thing; it is in their instinct as much as it was prejudicial for her. Any feline loved to lick catnip, and one of the ingredients present in her soap was none other than the herb in question. In a matter of seconds, the feeling of a raspy cat tongue over her juvenile soles would cause her laughter to join the other five girls.
All the while, Shiki and Arihiko woke up, alone at the Tohno mansion dining room. They searched for the girls for hours; they found no trace of them. That however, would be a different story to be told at another moment.
Alternative, 'full redhead' version here: fav.me/db01kg0
I can say, without exaggerating that this is up to this point the most ambitious picture I have ever done. A long-delayed commission for BlueJoneleth starring the main heroines of the Visual Novel "Lunar Legend Tsukihime" in their remake appearance. These characters are, from left to right: Kohaku, Ciel, Akiha Tohno, my waifu! Arcueid Brunestud, Hisui, Len (the cat), Satsuki Yumizuka and the Mech-Hisuis.
All of the characters are copyrighted by Type-moon.
Funfacts:
-My waifu, finally, my waifu! About time I drew her. But if you are familiar with her dessing your'll see I mixed her hairstyle and face from the original game with the new clothing. I'm taking the best ot two worlds!
-Can you find all of the references to other media?
-Blatant self-promotion is blatant.
-Do you know how much I charged for this one? I won't say because the number is so low it'll make me look like an idiot. Why so? Because of the massive delay. This was meant to be done last summer, because of that I didn't ask the commissioner for half the price and I still owe him a little surprise compensation.
-I want to thank my buddy franikku (which I already did with Daydreaming in class ) for helping me fixing the background. It's still not great but I think I spent much too time with the rest.
-Record in layers used! Around 500.
-A little disclaimer: I don't think Ciel is dull. I only wrote that because I think she might be in Arcueid's eyes.
-As you can notice there's a bigger focus in Arcueid and Akiha. That's because they are BlueJoneleth and mine favourites.
-The cake is not a lie. It's there!
-This story sure is long!
-I'd like to say I've learned how to draw ripped nylons thanks to this but considering how long it has been since the initial sketch I don't think I remember.