And if you go chasing rabbits, and you know you're going to fall

It took Nick a second to realize that the elevator door had slammed shut in his face with Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin on the other side of it.

In that second his mind went completely blank, and then he started pounding on the elevator like it was any ordinary door.

“Hey! What’s going on? Why’d you run away?” He cried out, not that he expected any answer to be forthcoming.

Quickly processing that this was an elevator, he instinctively looked up to see… a blank panel above the door.

Right. This is Harem Hotel, not the Four Seasons. There aren’t any room numbers here or anything like that, the elevator goes wherever the hell it wants!

Nick pushed on the button frantically, wondering what sort of game Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin was playing. There was no way she hadn’t seen him, she looked right at him and gave him a wink, then waved goodbye!

…So why did he run? They had a date planned for today, and given her attitude up until now, he assumed she’d been looking forward to it. And yet from the moment the day started he had just barely been missing her, like she was trying to avoid him.

But that didn’t make any sense.

The elevator cracked open and Nick barged right in, not caring if anybody was riding down to the lobby or not.

“Yaaagh!”

…Which, it turned out, someone was.

A flash of pink and green burned into Nick’s eyes as he nearly bowled the little leprechaun over, and he had to stop himself from crashing right into her. Nola stumbled back, windmilling her arms in shock as she struggled to keep her balance.

“Nick… what are you doing!?” Nola exclaimed, retrieving her top hat from where it had fallen and adjusting it back onto her head. “You nearly flattened me! I mean, I know it’s Harem Hotel so I wouldn’t have gotten hurt, and it’s not like I wouldn’t enjoy you pushing me down, you know, if the circumstances were right, we’d had a nice date together, maybe some wine, watched a movie, you lit a candle or two, and-”

“Nola, I don’t have time for this,” Nick cut the chatterbox of a leprechaun off, resisting the urge to clamp his hand over her mouth. “I’m looking for Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin. I just saw her get on this elevator!”

He didn’t give the leprechaun a second thought and turned to the button panel, looking over the countless array of (frankly meaningless given the elevator ran on thoughts) buttons, hoping that somehow he could figure out where the assassin had gone.

Nola watched him with a curious and yet exasperated look on her face. She crossed her arms over her chest and started tapping her foot on the floor.

“…Weren’t you just getting off?” Nick asked, growing frustrated not just at her tapping but at his inability to track down a certain mute assassin.

“I was,” Nola admitted, “but this seems more important. You’re really having trouble finding this girl?”

“That’s right,” Nick grumbled. “I wanted to spend the day with her- I said I was going to. But for some reason, she’s avoiding me!”

Nola decided to ignore the fact that the nature of Nick’s dating life meant he avoided a lot of girls, because she valued having a job and an existence and pissing off the master of Dakota’s season was a good way to lose both.

On the other hand, if she helped him…

“…Well, maybe I could lend a hand,” Nola said, brushing off her dress and tucking a lock of her curly pink hair behind her ear, giving Nick a big toothy smile. Her cute-as-a-button grin was sure to disarm the master… if Nick was even looking her way.

“Sorry, what was that?” Nick turned to her, surprised Nola was still here. He knew that it was rude to ignore her, but she was the kind of girl where if you gave her even a hint of attention she would immediately take advantage of it, and he had enough headaches dealing with the girls he was actually in love with to put up with this one.

Nola made a sour face and put her hands on her hips.

“I said, if you’re really trying to find Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin, why not ask me for help, huh?” She asked, puffing up her cheeks. “I am Dakota’s assistant, after all! It’s my job to know where all the contestants are!”

Nick blinked, surprised by the sudden forceful change in Nola’s demeanor. But he certainly wasn’t complaining. “…I mean, if you want to help, thank you, Nola! That would be great!”

Nola puffed up her chest and beamed with pride. “You’re very welcome, then!” She replied with a cheeky grin. “Now, Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin, right? Well, I don’t know why she would be avoiding you, but…”

The leprechaun pulled up a screen and scanned it. “…Apparently, she’s in the Trophy Garden. You know where that is, right?”

Nick nodded, feeling a wave of wariness come over him. “Yeah, I’ve been there once or twice,” he said, shaking his head. He had very distinct memories of that place.

“Perfect!” Nola chirped, typing something into the screen. The elevator started to shake. “We should be there in a jiffy, then!”

Nick had no idea what Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin would be doing in the Trophy Garden. Admiring the “artwork” perhaps?

Lovely.

The elevator pulled to a stop and Nick stepped out of it, looking around for any trace of the elusive assassin. But he couldn’t see her. Sighing, he walked further into the indoor garden, admiring the décor of the place.

Whatever else it was, the garden certainly had a very pleasant design. Whoever made it, whether Dakota or Sylvia, had done a great job.

…Until you took a look at the statues on display in the center of the garden, of course.

The Trophy Garden had increased its repertoire of sculptures quite a bit since Nick last set foot in here- then again, his list of “trophies” had certainly increased.

Nick recognized them all vividly. The first of them was a golden depiction of Gina on his first night with her. She looked completely different here, and not just because she was clad in gold. Back when they had first made love, she was still in her good girl persona. Beside that statue was one of Carly, depicting her naked body arching back, another scene he remembered from their time together in the shower. And then a statue he was surprised to see, but in hindsight, made sense. Dakota looked just as delighted then as she had the night when they first became one. Even if she was the host now, and no longer had a place in his harem, he knew she would vigorously defend her position as his lover with her life. Then there were the other statues he recognized, his first time with Dawn, which had been painful, and then his night with Marley. Her sister had offered her up to him, and both women were depicted on the next statue.

But that was where the trip down memory lane ended. It had been some time since Nick was here last, and the garden had really filled out since then. The number of statues had doubled.

It seemed fitting that off all the new statues, the first would be of Mary. Nick’s heart soared when he saw her beauty in that moment immortalized. She was on her back with her legs up, her face twisted in desire as she accepted all that he had to give her. And just as fitting was the statue beside her. Nick could appreciate the irony that Rose’s statue would be right beside Mary’s for the rest of time, showing a face no less lovely or lovestruck to anyone who cared to look. Both women were gorgeous and he loved them both dearly, and there they were, showing their most precious moments to him again.

Morgana’s statue came next. Hers was rather different than the others, given she was bent over for doggystyle sex. Which allowed Nick to see her face this time. He had no idea she’d looked that aroused and excited when they’d made love together. He was quickly realizing that the more time he spent here, the more aroused he was getting, in fact, and quickly turned away to see Holly’s statue, no less aroused and filled with desire.

The cream of the crop, though, that definitely had to be Kim. When he saw her statue, or more specifically, the embellishments to Kim’s body that had been captured on it, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Oh man. If Kim knew this was here… there would be hell to pay.

It hadn’t crossed his mind even once when they were together- the only thing that mattered was the two of them that night.

But Kim’s massively-expanded breasts were now indelibly marked in history, recorded for posterity. Anyone who walked into the Trophy Garden would see just what kinky stuff they had gotten up to in Dream Alley.

Just one of those massive boobs probably had enough gold in it to buy a mansion.

Nick was frozen on the spot, barely able to process anything, when he saw a flash of movement in the corner of his eye.

And that was all he saw before he found himself on the ground, staring up at the artificial painted sky overhead.

A shadow loomed over him, and he saw a twinkle in the blue eyes of that shadow. He’d finally found Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin! …Or more accurately, she had found him.

The leather-clad girl sat on his stomach, pinning him down easily. Her heel-clad feet kicked up and trapped his wrists as she spread her legs wide, showing off the tight cameltoe of her jumpsuit and giggling silently to herself.

“H-hey…” Nick managed to stammer out, not sure what to make of the situation.

Cheeks flushed, Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin brought her fingers up to her zipper, and slowly started to open the front of her outfit. With each silent panting breath she took, her breasts shook, reminding Nick of just how large they’d grown over the course of the round. And the sly look in the dark-haired girl’s eyes told him she knew it, too.

Nick was at a loss for words, wondering if it was better to just let her do her thing and get it over with. And as he wracked his brain trying to think of how to respond, he felt her rocking her hips back and forth, almost humping his stomach. Then, when her zipper passed her belly button, Nick noticed two things that stood out to him immediately.

The first was something he saw- her breasts were starting to shrink! Just a little bit, but given their distinctive size and supple looks, even partially-clad in leather, it was noticeable the way her clothes receded closer to her figure. At the same time her breasts started shrinking, it accompanied a different sensation- the sensation of her backside growing.

As Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin shifted the way she sat on him, he could feel her butt rub up against his cock, throbbing hard from the tantalizing statues around them and the memories they had conjured back in Nick’s thoughts. But Nick didn’t have time to react to them because the assassin was quickly expanding the size of her ass, until it turned into a soft and supple bubble butt that was sandwiching his erection- or at least, doing the best it could when still enclosed in tight leather.

“Ungh…” A groan escaped Nick’s lips in spite of himself. At that, he noticed Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin’s expression change to a look of shock. She brought her hand up to her mouth as her lips shifted into a tight “O” as if she was completely flummoxed by the sensations that must have been running through him right now.

“What could this thing be that is rubbing against me?” Her expression seemed to say, when they both knew damn well just what was going on.

But Nick was getting tired of her teasing. If they were going to have sex right here and now in the garden, they should just get on with it! Why did she need to lead him on this game of cat and mouse?

“Hey, so… about our date today,” Nick croaked out, trying very hard to ignore the sensations running through his crotch.

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin looked innocently down at him and blinked. She tilted her head to the side, all the while continuing to flex her ass against his cock, practically stroking him off with her newly-enhanced assets. Fuck, forget ****, it felt like every part of her body had been perfectly designed to be a sex toy!

“I’d ask you what you wanted to do today… but it seems like you’ve already figured that out, huh?” Nick asked playfully, flexing his erection a little to reciprocate her attention.

Then he saw her pleasured expression shift into that same playful, teasing look she always wore. She wiggled her eyebrows and leaned forward, batting her eyelashes and pursing her lips.

She brought a finger up to his lips and pressed down, shaking her head slowly. The mysterious expression on her face was impossible to read.

And then she was gone.

It all happened so fast, but the pressure Nick felt on his stomach and crotch vanished in an instant as she practically leapt off of him, lifting her feet and freeing him before absconding away. Nick lay in the grass for a moment, stunned, as he tried to process what had just happened through the throbbing impatience of his angered and abandoned cock.

Realizing that Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin had just run away again, Nick quickly scrambled to his feet, turning to see…

…She was standing right there. At the end of the line of statues, by the empty daises waiting to be filled by his future conquests. Smirking in amusement she arched her back, showing off her trim belly, and casting a suggestive eye towards the other girls depicted beside her.

Nick stood there frozen in place, just staring into her eyes. He didn’t know what to say, or if he should say anything at all. It wasn’t like she would reply back. And what would he do, tell her to stop?

Whatever was going on here, this was what she wanted. And Nick’s desire to appease the whims of his harem members kept him from pushing any issues.

He was afraid if he said the wrong thing, she’d disappear, like a shattered glass. But in the end, all it took was a single step. Just moving one foot forward, and suddenly she turned around, shaking her enhanced butt his way as she craned her neck over her shoulder to look back at him, and then she stuck out her tongue.

It was so playful and teasing, almost innocent.

Then she ran.

Nick was dumbstruck for a moment, and that was all the head start the assassin needed. He broke out into a run after her, but he knew it was futile. With her training, with her enhancements, she could do this all day. Even in heels!

And yet, even though Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin should have been able to outpace him easily, that wasn’t what happened. He managed to stay right on her tail the whole time as she raced through the garden.

She wants me to chase her, he realized. She’s not trying to get away from me. this is just a game to her! She wanted to tease me, to get me aroused, and then… have me come after her?

He’d done weirder things with other girls before.

Whatever Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin’s real motive was, whether she was just playing with him and teasing him, or if she really wanted him to catch her, was hard to say. But Nick could tell she was fully in control here.

Whenever he slowed down, he could tell she would slow too. And whenever he felt like he had the energy to pick up speed and maybe even catch her, she would conveniently speed up as well, staying just out of his reach.

And when he felt like his lungs were going to explode and he needed to stop? Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin would stop and wait for him, as well.

Those moments were the worst parts, because that was when she would tease him. Whether shaking her ass, or playing with her zipper, or the separated edges of her jumpsuit, threatening to pull it open and let her breasts come tumbling out, she teased Nick without mercy and clearly loved every second of it.

He was less enthused.

How far had they gotten through the garden? Nick had no idea. But he could see the elevator not too far away, with Nola still in it. She’d actually waited for him, that was a surprise.

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin spotted the elevator as well. Her playful smile took on a sly, menacing edge to it that made Nick stiffen. Like he wasn’t stiff enough already.

And then she was off.

Any semblance of mercy or keeping pace with Nick was forgotten, she made a beeline for the elevator. Nick chased futilely after her, not looking forward to having to track the assassin down again through the whole hotel.

“Wait! Hold on a second!” He cried, and lunged forward, almost tackling the girl. But he should have known that would never work on a trained assassin. She effortlessly evaded his clumsy efforts, but then his hand lashed out, and he grabbed onto something soft and slick.

“RIIIIIPPPP!” The sound of tearing ripped through the garden, and Nick hit the ground hard. He looked up to see a long strip of leather clenched tightly in his grasp. He raised his head to see Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin standing over him with a teasing expression on her face. Her right sleeve had a massive chunk torn off, right where it connected to her shoulder.

She shook her head and waggled her finger back and forth like she was chastising a naughty child, and then skipped into the elevator.

Nola gasped, surprised to see the assassin. She’d been busy slacking off and hadn’t been paying any attention to what had been going on in the garden.

But she was paying attention now.

“Oh, uh, hey, Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin!” Nola chirped, flashing the other girl a shaky smile. “Did you know Nick was looking for you? Did he manage to find you? Just, uh, wait here, and I’ll see if I can get him, okay?”

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin mirrored Nola’s smile with one of her own. She tilted her head to the side.

Nick pulled himself up off the ground and looked ahead towards the elevator.

Just in time to see something green come hurtling out of it.

“WAAAAAAAAH!”

The screaming something slammed into his torso like a sack of potatoes and he fell back into the grass with an “Oof!”

“Nola!?” Nick pried the leprechaun off of him and scrambled back to his feet just in time to see the elevator disappear again.

So it looked like the chase was back on.

“Great, this is just great,” he sighed, shaking his head. And yet, as frustrated as he was, left teased and blueballed like this, he couldn’t deny that he was glad Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin was enjoying herself with this twisted “game” of hers.

As Nick struggled with his conflicting thoughts, the dazed leprechaun staggered to her feet, shaking her head as she waited for the Trophy Garden to stop spinning. “Did… did I hold onto my pot of gold, chief?” She mumbled out, before collapsing against Nick and nearly taking him down to the ground again.