A Few Days Later...

"And why should I?"

"Excuse me?!"

Knives laughed nervously. "Oh boy." Things were not exactly going as anticipated. It had been several days now since the big battle. They'd all moved into the somewhat smaller hut next to the big main hall together since and they'd begun their morning as usual with breaking their fast.

Roman had already left early, leading was hard work and he wasn't one to shirk his responsibilities. Directing people, smoothing over misunderstandings and easing troubles on top of pitching in where needed on projects. There were damages to repair to the village and boats alike as well as general improvements to be made. He wouldn't be satisfied with just fixing things, not if he could make things better than they were before. That'd go a long ways towards pacifying and gaining people's good will after all.

But that also meant he left her, Saya and Risty 'in charge' of the others. So they'd agreed to do what they always did... figure out how best they could help out together. But it wasn't just themselves anymore...

"You heard me," Meiko said adjusting her glasses and then crossing her arms beneath her huge chest, standing defiantly unimpressed looking down at Saya who had just told her to go assist the work crews. "Why should I? I'm not helping the people who lived here. I don't give a damn for them or this place. Your people you came here with should have burned it all to the ground with the filth still inside as far as I'm concerned. As for the raiders or pirates or whatever your lot are calling themselves, they're not really any better in my opinion. And finally why should I take orders from you? You're just that man's bedwarmer correct? What gives you any right to tell me what to do? I don't recognize your authority over me just because you spread your legs for him, slut. If that upsets you, then that's your problem. Don't waste your time barking at me little doggie. Run back to your masters leash, bitch."

"You're the bitch!" Saya seethed through clenched teeth up at the bigger woman as she adjusted her own glasses. "And at least I'm not dressed like a skank! You look like you got lost on your way to the strip club, you freak! What's the matter? Couldn't decide if you wanted to be a bimbo schoolgirl or a kinky S&M dominatrix so you split the difference? Come back when you find some fashion sense! You're the one dressed like a slut. Too bad it's a waste with that frigid attitude!"

"Now, now," Knives said in a placating tone while patting the air trying to calm them down. There were practically sparks flying between the two glares... and she wasn't the only one. Risty was popping her knuckles and growling while Subaru gave a very coldly disaproving look for starting a fuss. If Saya got in a fight with Meiko Knives was pretty sure she'd only hurt herself... but if the two other physical brawlers got into it they'd be spending the day making repairs to their temporary home. "That's no way to behave. I know! How about Meiko works with Kim and I for today, Saya? Surely you wouldn't mind helping out one of us, Meiko?"

"Yay," Kim said dryly. "Well, I suppose it's fine by me."

Saya huffed angrily... but relented. Sort of. "Fine. It's a waste of her muscle-for-brains brute strength but if you want to deal with the harpy? She's all yours," she declared getting her last digs in. She pointed at Meiko rudely though. "Make sure you do your share of the work. Don't take advantage of Knives kindness!"

"I would never!" Meiko shot back. She didn't smile... but she did soften her posture just a bit. Knives had a gentle quiet strength that Meiko admired... and she had pricked her with her words before. Words she regretted a bit. So... "I look forward to working with you, Miss Chau," she said properly.

Knives smiled and laughed. "You needn't be so formal, Meiko! Just Knives, is fine. Let's work hard today!"

Meiko smiled and nodded adjusting her spectacles. "Yes, Miss Knives. As you say... Let's work hard."

Kim smiled slightly. If anyone could tame someone with cheerful kindness, Knives could... besides there was the opportunity for teasing her friend! "So what will we be doing, 'Miss Knives'?"

Knives smiled awkwardly. "Not you too, Kim... Right. Today we'll be working on our temporary quarters and making them more comfortable for everyone by assisting Subaru!"

"I look forward to your assistance, Ladies... and Mistress Knives," Subaru said with a bow and a smile.

"Not you too!" Knives said at her joining in on the friendly teasing as the others laughed good naturedly. "Then we'll be cooking for everyone. I'm sure with all the hard work they're all doing a good meal will spread some cheer.. but I haven't figured out what we should make just yet," she admitted rubbing the back of her neck. "I know it was my idea. Sorry!"

Kim patted Knives on the shoulder. "No worries. It is a good idea. Let's think of something together. It should be something that's fairly easy to do but can satisfy a lot of hungry people, right?"

Knives nodded, smiling. She was so glad her friends were here for her... and her secret hope was that cooking might bring new ones like Meiko around and be something more that they could bond over. She was... kind of intimidating. Meiko wasn't just strong of body but will and spirit too. It's why she tended towards butting heads with others. She was similar to both Risty and Saya that way. Knives didn't believe she was a bad person... just a strong personality. "Roman said he would see to it that we could use whatever we wanted from the supplies we brought and the villages too!"

Risty rubbed her stomach. "Well I'm off to help with the rebuilding! Roman says we shouldn't just fix what we broke but make it better so you know he'll work us like dogs just like himself! Hahaha! It'd sure be great if we could have some meat! Well... see you later!"

"Nyah! Wait for Ferris, Risty-chan!" Felix said joining her.

"Oh you're coming too?" Risty asked.

"Affir-meow-tive!" Felix said. "If someone gets hurt they'll certainly need healing."

"Huh... good point," Risty said... then smirked. "What's the real reason?"

Felix shrugged smiling. "Roman will be there working, nyah? Along with all the other sweaty, hunky men. He might not be interested in Ferri-chan but that doesn't mean Ferri-chan can't enjoy a free show! And Risty Will be there too! Nyahaha!"

Risty shook her head as they exited their dwelling. "Would you be serious? You aren't really interested in Roman are you? What's the real reason?"

Felix smiled and shrugged dropping the act. "Ferris- I simply like strong people. I can't abide the weak... like myself... and I hate when I can't heal someone. Even my skills have limits. I cannot heal someone's mind. And I can't bring back the dead," Felix said directly. His new friends had earned that much. "I hate the things I was being **** to do and be a party too. Using my healing to extend suffering... You all and Roman saved me from that... Broke that cycle... and I shall be eternally grateful for that kindness and try my best to make amends."

Risty patted the cat boy on the back. "You're not to blame for the things you did. That was your owners doing. You hear me? And you're not weak. You're strong... because you survived to this point. Got it?"

Felix smiled and nodded. "Got it... Thanks, Risty-chan!" He said as they made their way towards the worksite. "Are mew sore? It was your 'first time' nyot so recently, right? Do mew require healing?" He teased.

"Will you shut up!" Risty said blushing as Felix laughed and teased her... but she was glad he was feeling better.

Back in the large hut with the others Meiko raised her hand. "What is it, Meiko?" Knives asked.

Meiko lowered her hand. "Regarding the group meal. What if we had a barbecue cookout type of meal?"

Kim smiled ever so slightly. "That's... actually not a terrible idea. We could potentially serve a lot of people that way... I think. I've never done it before."

Knives nodded. "Yeah me either. I've become a decent cook for small meals but I've never done a big cookout before. Meiko?"

Meiko actually smiled and adjusted her glasses. "Grilled meat is my forté, actually! I'm confident in my abilities... Well," she added remembering and looking down at her open shirt and vast expanse of bared cleavage. "... I will require an appropriate apron, though... splattering grease does hurt..."

"Boobies..." Knives drooled staring until Kim lightly smacked her updide the head. "Thanks," she said while idly wondering who's were the biggest now? Saya had been the biggest but she kind of thought Kim's might be close to Saya's size... and from the looks of things Meiko had them both beat with her titanic tah-tah's! "What size are they- *Second Kim smack* -Thanks. I meant size apron?"

"An extra large... or, maybe a double extra large to be on the safe side," Meiko said contemplating her chest that was practically spilling out of her school uniform top. She sighed. "Too bad there's no soda. A barbecue is best with root beer afterall."

"You really are quite impressive, Miss," Subaru said wryly and Knives nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile Jinx shrugged and turned to Saya. "Well I suppose I'm with you. What do you need help with?"

Saya nodded. "Inventory and cataloging. We'll be assisting Carlos and Gabrielle's bunch. It might not be exciting but..."

"But it needs doing," Jinx nodded her approval. "And it is important work. I can help with that."

Saya smiled and nodded approval. "Good. About time we got some more brains around here! Let's go," she said leading the way out. "See you all later."

"See you later," Knives and the others said. "Alright before barbecue we're here to help Subaru fix up our temporary home. What's first, Subaru?"

Subaru smiled. "Baffling. There's been quite a lot of noise coming from the masters bedchambers at all hours. We need to muffle said noises a bit from disturbing everyone else. I suggest we try hanging blankets up in that section."

Both Kim and Meiko nodded together saying, "Right."

Knives blushed and rubbed the back of her head. "Is that so? Ehehehe... Sorry about that everyone!" She bowed in apology.

Kim patted her on the shoulder. "It's fine," she said and gave her a small smile. "I'm happy for you you know? And I'm sure everyone else is." The truth was it was kind of a lot... which was more than a little titillating. Infact listening to Knives, Saya, Risty and Roman going at it at all hours throughout the day and night was really kind of hot! They were having really hot, vigorous sex with what sounded like explosive orgasms... and that only made it hard to look them in the eyes the next day because it was kind of a turn on! She wasn't proud of it but listening in had gotten her more than a little worked up... and she wasn't proud of it but she'd taken to masturbating while listening in to relieve the tension. It had been a while since she'd experienced anything like that herself.

Subaru smiled and nodded her head, the young female butlers cheeks red at discussing subject the embarrassing subject. "Indeed, it is as Miss Pine-"

"Just Kim is fine," Kim muttered.

"As Miss Kim has said," Subaru said smiling. "We are happy for you, Miss Knives. But that doesn't mean we want to hear all about it, you understand." She wasn't about to admit that it was quite fun to listen to though. The truth was she had grown accustomed to the sounds of violent, forceful copulation thanks to how things were before... but the happy sounds she heard now were something new and exciting! Screams and cries of ecstasy instead of pain. Passion instead of fear. Love instead ****. She had to admit, if only to herself, that it was far preferable.

Meiko nodded blushing herself. "Uh, Right," she agreed. "It is a bit... close quarters in here at the moment. The sound does tend to... carry a bit. We should try to minimize it a little. For all our sakes," she said softly. Despite how she looked and acted she wasn't sexually averse and frigid... but repressed and scared after her recent unpleasant experiences.

Her disgust coupled with her extremely suggestive body had made her a target of attack and derision before. She'd had to endure **** and vile depravities daily... only to be healed, fixed up and cleaned up for more. Had had to fight to hold on to her sanity with only her ironwill to help her endure.

For her the sounds were worse because they didn't sound like that at all. They sounded happy... Safe... joyous even... and that hurt almost as much as it titillated because that hadn't been her experience at all. And even escaping the hut they all currently shared didn't bring an end to it. Certainly those other things were still happening in the village... but if so they seemed to be drowned out by passionate, happy, loving sex from all corners of the place. Things had seemingly changed... but why couldn't that have happened to her and others before? Why had they had to endure the things they had, the way they had, if there was an alternative? It wasn't fair! It was cruel!

So the constant noises of copulation were hard for her on many levels. Worse, it was coming from Roman. As much as she pretended to despise him, It wasn't the truth. He'd defeated her, sure... but he'd immediately turned around and been kind to her. She could still feel him gently putting his coat over her. Around her. Protecting her little modesty. The first positive interaction she had had in a longtime. That kindness... it was hard to forget. It may have even saved her. Allowed her to be as she was again... but why couldn't it have happened to her before? Why couldn't things have been different? And could they still? Listening to him making love to the others... some part of her wondered if he could still save her? Was she even worth saving? And those thoughts and fears... they shook her psyche. She hadn't always been strong... she had been different once.

Scared. Timid. Weak. Until someone had been her shining light. Saw value and worth in her when she herself could not. Told her she could be strong. Told her she could hold her head up proudly.

Mari Kurihara had saved her that day... and she had devoted herself to her. She'd grown and become strong. Proud of her body. She'd followed Mari obediently. Learned to hate and despise men. Joined the Underground Student Council and became a harsh Vice-president for Mari's sake, doling out punishments... but then, after everything they'd been through, Mari had suddenly abandoned her. Then she found herself here. In this world. Where she was an object and target for men and their lust until her mind had nearly broken... and now she'd been saved. Again. By a man. Roman had defeated her... and then shown her kindness. Accepted her. Then Knives too had been kind and accepting. They were so strong that way. A shining guiding light.

And then there were the other confusing feelings she was experiencing. Excitement... Titillation... Arousal... Sometimes, listening to them having sex, she couldn't help herself and she'd begun secretly masturbating along with them. The sounds of the girls experiencing pleasure together was something as beautiful as it was exciting... but that wasn't all! If it had she'd be fine with it... but the sounds of and from Roman were deeply erotic and had a profound effect on her too. Much to her surprise as well. She should be revolted... disgusted... but she found she came her hardest right along with him. Every time... and that was hard to reconcile.

She knew, on some level, that things couldn't be like they were before. She couldn't go back to who she was. Not fully. But neither could she abandon her old self either. Things were different and changing yet again... and the truth was that scared her. Scared her to change. Scared her to get her hopes up. Scared her to be abandoned again. And that fear was awakening that meek, timid personality. She didn't want to go back to being weak! So she clung to her strong persona desperately trying to hold the cracked pieces together.

She'd been abandoned by Mari. She'd been taken from everything she had ever known. She may have been cleaned up and had her virginity "healed" and her purity restored again and again... but she still felt violated, tainted by her experiences which haunted her. She was clinging to Knives and oddly enough Roman in a strange way but what if... what if... whatifwhatifwhatifwhatifwhatif...

"Meiko? Are you alright?" Knives asked touching her arm.

Meiko shook her head then adjusted her glasses. She was holding it together, for now, and she was certain of one thing. Eventually leaving this place behind with Roman and the others? That would probably be for the best. She'd calmed and collected herself again and nodded. "Thank you for your concern but I assure I'm just fine. I haven't been sleeping well is all. My apologies for concerning you. It's nothing to trouble yourself with."

Knives shook her head though. "We've been disturbing everyone. No, don't say it. You don't have to. Let's try to build a bit of sound insulation in here. I can't promise you all won't hear anything, here or in the future... our home is a big cavern and sounds echo a bit or get drowned out by the sea depending, but we will try to do better. I promise." She grinned. "For now let's get to work and try to make this place a bit more comfortable for everyone! OK?"

"Right," the others agreed.

They got to work cleaning and then rearranging things a bit to be more comfortable for everyone. It was a big hut but still a bit cramped for all of them especially since they had divided the space up into two separate sleeping ares and one communal central living area. They could have had two separate smaller huts but Roman had vetoed that as it would have likely put someone else out. He also hadn't taken the big former leaders hut for a temporary residence out of concern for folks memories there in. They were still using it for conducting business out of but also as a communal space after stripping the trappings of the old leadership from it. It was now a more utilitarian space instead of a one person pleasure palace.

There really wasn't much they could do about sound insulation. They settled on hanging up old thick blankets to partition off the two separate sleeping areas from each other and hoped for the best.

But Knives had a nagging, lingering worry. Especially about Meiko. She knew that she wasn't exactly easy to get along with... but that didn't mean that she wasn't worth the extra effort. Maybe she could do something to lift her spirits somehow?

She thought about it for awhile reviewing the little she knew of her. There wasn't a much there... but then she remembered something she'd just said earlier and had an idea! After they were done here she'd go ask Darlene for advice.

[Roman Stark - Knives Chau - Saya Takagi - Risty - Kim Pine - Jinx and Meiko Shiraki featuring extra guest appearances by Subaru Konoe and Felix Argyle

Will Return In

Time-out For A Bikini Barbecue & Getting To Know The Others

Coming Soon]