Ranko opened her arms, and took the little kid in her arms. The redhead got a silent giggle by 'bopping' her little nose. “Ikuyo said you, uh,” whispering for the kid's sake: “hate Cynthia.”
“Ikuyo likes stories.”
“Yeah. I think I know what you mean.”
“She uses them to keep on a train of thought, otherwise her mind will wonder to as many as twenty different directions. She's honest, and trustworthy; but she can let her “storyline” get away from her. And if she doesn't like the way a “story” is going, she'll “help it” along …“improving” the plot.”
“Improve? You mean like that Swahili-talking answering machine?”
“Yes. She's an inventor at heart. That's why she's also a mangaka.” Ranko nodded. “As for Cynthia...” Miss Sakura put a gentle palm out to the child's cheek and caressed it like a mother would, smiling. “It's not Cynthia I hate.” She then frowned at the thought of, “It's Grace I loath.” Her hand lifted the necklace; “Make sure this never comes off Cynthia. It's a magic seal against the... demon that lurks within her.”
Ranko paled. “It's that bad?”
“Bad does not begin to describe Grace. It's because of evil genius that all the maids are separated from their families, with no life available to them other than as a maid, working for the Master of Hanaukyo.” She paused until the crosshatches on her face faded some. “Without a family, we have all been forced to accept the Maid Team as our family; and that's the way we treat each other.”
Ranko fumbled for some kind of understanding. With the stress more gone than not, she could actually remember some of the things she had heard before. “Uh, er, you mean, the brainwashing-thing?”
“It's not as simple as merely being brainwashed.” Miss Sakura escorted the two away from the beds. “Your grandfather, Lukkosai,” she paused to make a warding sign, then continued, “was a pervert in the truest sense. He was not satisfied with having any girl he took a fancy to, no, not he. He was a martial artist as well, and required opponents; to “spice up” his life. Those that were not his sexual pawns were his battle pawns. Some were even invited to try to kill him.”
“Akane!” Ranko realized.
“Among others. Others of the battle pawns were expected to use other means, besides brute physical force. Even among the sexual pawns, there are different degrees of mind enthrallment.”
Miss Sakura paused at a door. “But the true, absolute secret to Lukkosai's success is Cloud Nine. All the maids are, without the locks, like Nabiki, in a way. The Tendos, at least, are allowed to remain a family.” There was a envy in her voice.
The door opened. “Hello, Cynthia! Hello, Ranko,” Kasumi smiled, no longer in her armor and ready to reclaim Cynthia.
Miss Sakura knew the rest would have to wait. But she left Ranko with this remark, “Perverts prefer teenagers or at least young women. Thanks to the fourth-dimensional power of the Master key, we maids never age.”
“Sakura, please remind Ikuyo again that not all of the maids wish her to use her Ultimate Doomsday Weapon on them,” Kasumi smiled casually. “Come on, Ranko, it's time for you to begin your new life as a maid.”
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(Posted Mon, 22 Sep 2014 19:56)
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