Standard Disclaimer

Well another one soon to be done. Have to confess that some of this story didn't work as well as I wanted to. Mainly because I started writing it based on the anime and not the manga (it wasn't complete when I came up with this idea) so a lot of what I put in doesn't fit canonically. Takeya's father, multiple slaves, and the whole Io/gate/dead Fina, but then again its my take on things so…oh well. Hope you enjoy.

X-X

Understanding

Chapter – 15

Standing outside Ohiko's family bakery, Takeya tugged his collar up to fend off the early morning chill. His mock-family were both recalled to their ship for some type of briefing leaving him alone. Memories of the previous nights little love-fest with Ren still warmed his loins and heart. "Just hope Ohiko doesn't say something to piss me off more," he grunted. Leaning against a pole he continued to watch the door for his friend who insisted he come over as quickly as possible.

Timidly walking through the door of the bread shop, Ohiko had a new found appreciation for Takeya. Waving weakly at his friend, Ohiko couldn't fathom what he had learned the day before. "Hey man…I uh…I first want to apologize about how I've been acting lately," his tone was fragile nearly broken. Walking over to Takeya, he nerd leaned against the same pole but faced the rising sun.

"You should be apologizing to Ren and Miu. They're the ones you've been hurting with your anti-DearS bullshit," Takeya wanted to sound angry, but was overjoyed that Ohiko was starting to see the light. Kicking at a pebble absent-mindedly, "And with the news yesterday it looks like the whole case was bogus just like I said all along." Takeya had heard little about the trial on the television as he readied himself for the trip to Ohiko's and liked everything he heard. "And I'm sure you have something else to say, because you could have just apologized over the phone. So out with it."

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Ohiko tore his gaze from the glowing ball of light to the window to his room and saw the bronze goddess he owned looking down at him. "I know about the DearS, Takeya," it came out flat and emotionless. All this time humanity thought the DearS superior and better than them, but in reality they were just cast off slaves! Born and bred for servitude, a horrible life for a human. Scanning the street for any would be early shoppers, "I know they're slaves."

Takeya's jaw slackened and hung open for several moments. A glut of terrible windows and doors opened with that one small statement he heard. Ohiko could blab it to somebody wrong and then it would be a land grab for which slave humanity wanted to steal. Men and women would charge after the alien race and make contracts left and right, degrading the race into objectivity. While some of the contracts would be voided, many wouldn't be and that made things even worse.

Before Takeya had a chance to say anything though, Ohiko calmed him immensely. "I haven't told anybody, and I don't plan on it either. Somehow I think we're better off not knowing this about them." It was so strange, spending one evening with Ayu made Ohiko feel horrible for the DearS. How happy the slave had become to get a master sickened the man. It hurt him a little to learn that he wasn't Ayu's first master nor was he her preferred type too. "You remember Ayu, right?"

Nodding despite the fact Ohiko couldn't see him, Takeya was still trying to grasp just how his friend had joined him in master-hood. "You didn't let her…appease you did you?" How he hated that word. It was as if it was something as simple as doing the laundry or cleaning, but in reality was a deep emotional bond. "The DearS are strange Ohiko, but you can't take advantage of them."

Blushing fiercely, Ohiko chocked on a sudden intake of breath and fell forward gagging. "Dude I didn't know alright! I…she was just so…she looked so happy and fragile and then I got turned on having her in my room. Next thing I knew she was crawling towards me and…I thought she was kidding about the slave thing…only afterward did it sink in that she wasn't playing and that she was really…" His first sexual encounter lasted a whole two minutes and ended with him feeling horrible.

His hands clenched into painful fists. Pushing himself away from his thin support, Takeya grabbed Ohiko's arm and drug the still huffing man into the alley behind the shop. "Ok, I'll buy that because I didn't believe it either at first. And maybe I had it easy because Ren is a little special compared to other DearS." His loveable green-haired beauty had been really rough around the edges in the beginning and it made it easier for him to resist. If it had been Miu however, Takeya suspected she would have been far more insistent. "But what are you going to do now about this," he pressed Ohiko up against the wall, not painfully but with enough force to get the point across that 'you're not leaving until we answer a few things'.

It was the intensity in Takeya's face that spoke more to the pinned man. "I won't let it happen again man. I just had no idea…all this time Ren and you…Miu to I bet." Living with the knowledge the DearS were what they were, and not being able to say anything. Like Neneko, Ohiko knew Takeya was a lot softer than his gruff demeanor portrayed. How had his friend suffered during this whole trial mess? Ohiko knew Takeya had feelings for Ren that went beyond friendship, and knowing that special person was being persecuted must have been torture. "How long have you known?"

Dropping his arms back to his side, freeing Ohiko, Takeya took the comment at face value. "Ren made me her master the first day I saw her," hearing Ohiko gasp he had to admit a slave taking a master did sound odd in retrospect. "I told you Ren was a little different." Walking in ambling circles in the alley, Takeya bit the bullet and opened up with his newly appointed master-in-arms. "Miu joined my little family a few months ago in mostly the same way. Just with her it was more dramatic situation that I won't go into." Nobody needed to know that Miu was almost raped.

Ohiko was speechless at how much Takeya had taken upon himself. "What do I do now, Takeya? What do I do with a slave?" Slumping down to the ground, he felt a slight dampening in his pants as he sat in something he wished he hadn't. All the timid man wanted was a girlfriend that had been his goal for his social life. Get a nice girl, get a good job, and live a simple and easy life. But now he had Ayu and she just glowed at the idea of having a master and he didn't want her to lose that look.

"Well you can have the contract cancelled, Lord knows up until recently the community was trying to get me to do that," Takeya stuff his hands in his pockets. "Or you can treat her like a person and not as a possession." Ohiko could tell just by how Takeya was talking which option he had taken. "Realize that Ayu is different and be careful with what you ask her to do." Heading for the street he ended with, "And never pull that anti-DearS shit again or I'll send Ren at you again and this time I'll let her hit ya."

Sitting in the rancid puddle, Ohiko let Takeya's doctrine wash over his mind. He could relent and hope Ayu got a master somewhere else, or he could man up to what he had done. Go back to the life he lead before or face the consequences of his actions and accept Ayu. Watching as Takeya's form got smaller and smaller, he felt a swell of respect for the brusque man. "I'll follow your lead man, I just hope I can be as strong as you when it comes down to it." Heading back inside his home/store, Ohiko informed his father about the girl that was going to be living with them and dodged the man's fist. After telling his father it was a DearS however the man showered his son in praise.

Takeya, however, was left in a very ponderous state. If anybody else accidentally got a DearS things could get right back into complicated and painful real fast. The DearS were going to have to do something about it eventually. Feeling his phone vibrating in his pocket, Harumi was calling him. "Day just started and I already want to go back to sleep."

X-X

As the trio of would-be replacements walked into what had used to be Ruby's office, they feared the worst. They had been given plenty of time to fulfill the Barker's request but hadn't even come close to it. And with Fina awake it was possible they'd be punished even more severely. Never would they have a master, a vital part of their programming would go unfulfilled and they'd always feel incomplete. Crossing the large yet empty room to Fina's desk, they saw a very content and half-smiling Ruby standing at Fina's side.

"And have Xaki go over to check on the human that made a contract with Ayu. If they are master material we might let it slide, but if not we'll just have it go along with the new plans," Fina said over an intercom to Chichi. Looking up at the approaching troupe, "Oh you three! Perfect timing! If all goes according to plan I'll be needing you for a very ground breaking event." Fina's smile was radiant and bordering on scary. The Watcher was very happy with herself and what she had come up with for a way to fix some of the issues the community was facing. Harumi had been a hard sell, but in the end the woman agreed to let her son make the final call.

Xenia was first to act, bowing deeply to the undisputed ruler, "Fina-sama, are you upset with us for failing in our duties? Is that why we were recalled?" Ruby just looked to happy for Xenia to relax. A smiling Ruby was a Ruby about to dispense great pain and misery. "Give us another chance please!"

Like scolded kittens, Nini and Mimi's heads hung low as they held hands. "Yes, we tried our best but Ikuhara's slaves are far more reliable than we were lead to believe. But in time we can do what you asked us to do!" To be so close to the goal line but to be denied would be the finest poison. They needed to be complete as it was maddening not to be. "Just one more week and we'll succeed!"

"I would say not," Miu said haughtily as she walked in behind the trio with Ren in tow. Covering her mouth with her hand she let out a shrill laugh. "Fina-sama has granted us a permanent contract with Ikuhara-sama, so you'll not be replacing Ren-san." Eying up Xenia, Miu felt a swell of confidence at the DearS sent to replace her. Even Miu had to admit Xenia was a very pretty model. "As it so happens though we might have to…share."

Glomping onto the twins, Ren was itching for a small bout of wrestling with the would-be usurpers. "Ren will not let you two take her place in Takeya's home. But Ren wouldn't mind playing with you!" Her happiness in the upper stratosphere, Ren didn't care that she was now playing with two DearS that had just the day before tried to steal away her master. Not after hearing the plans for the future from Fina, and the official decree that Ren would be Takeya's until the man gave her away. And Ren knew he would never do that.

Abashed at the sudden intrusion of the Zero-number and the Black Sheep, Xenia hoped Fina was going to be forthcoming with answers. Ignoring the oddly pleasure filled squeal of Nini as Ren's 'play' went into more of Takeya's porn play. "What is the meaning of this…why are they here and what exactly is this plan you're talking about." And what did Miu mean by 'share'?

Strolling over to Xenia, Ruby lightly grabbed the girl's sleek shoulders. "Fina-sama has come up with a way to allow us to enter human society without fearing unexpected contracts being made." Ruby would see to the hopefully last breech contract herself, that is if Fina's little ploy actually worked. "The sheep would get a master, and training for interacting with humanity until they can get something they want more."

Coughing harshly, Miu closed her eyes and spat out annoyed, "And I'll have to assist in that training as I've the most experience with the outside world of humans." Miu pointedly ignored Ren's giggling as she groped Mimi. "And as it will be us suffering the most, I must say I do agree with Fina-sama's plan." Miu just hoped it didn't get to crazy to fast for Takeya.

Tittering as Xenia still appeared totally clueless, Fina opted to let the last of the DearS in on the hopeful plan. The community was already abuzz with expectation and gossip. The list of order of release was already being made. "As you know a DearS can have only one master, but that master can release the DearS back to the community, yes?" Fina waited for Xenia to nod. "So we will be utilizing Ikuhara-sama, provided he agree, to be the master for all the sheep. Mainly it will be in name only, he will be their master and give them orders in how to act in human society. After spending time with Ren, Miu, and Ikuhara-san for training they sheep will be allowed to live however it wants within human society. And if this 'love' thing develops between a human and a DearS, Ikuhara-san will relent his ownership and the DearS will enter a contract with said human after they are sworn to secrecy."

The twins stopped resisting Ren as Fina's oddly simple plan washed over them allowing Ren ample time to score plenty of hits on vital parts. Ruby's smile widened as she considered joining into the fray to teach Ren a few moves. "If Ikuhara-kun agrees to this, you three will be the first trial group to undergo the training, followed by Chichi," Ruby informed as she circled Ren. "The Japanese government has agreed to this conditionally that it be kept secret that the DearS are slaves. On his acceptance of the role, they will announce that he is the first Human/DearS liaison officer."

Keeping her eyes on Ruby as she pounced Ren and the pair rumbled on the floor, Fina was overjoyed her partner had repaired so much of her broken emotions. "If he does not agree to this however we will attempt to find another human to take the role. But as word of mouth of Ren-chan having the gift has made him a celebrity among the sheep. Many have already agreed to this solely on the fact they can be with the mythical master who puts his slaves before himself." If Takeya didn't take the role, it wouldn't be a big problem, but he was the ideal. "I believe that he is either being prompted with the question now or soon."

With a mighty toss, Ren heaved Ruby off of her stomach and into Miu toppling the mighty pink haired DearS. "Ren has confidence Takeya will help us! Takeya calls us his family and says he will never betray his family!" And Ren was actually rather intrigued by the idea that she would be training and teaching her fellow DearS in how to act. How the lowly defect had risen to a point of such esteem was truly humbling. "Ren doesn't know why Fina won't let her go talk to Takeya now though," Ren mumbled as she climbed back up on her feet.

"Silly girl, he has to make the choice on his own, and not be lead into it by anybody else. This is a life altering decision for him and a mighty responsibility," Fina admonished. If he accepted it, Takeya would be the point of contact for all DearS and humanity. All good, bad, and other that a DearS displayed into the normal human world would go back to him in the end. It was a very big deal. "We will know soon enough his choice," Fina's other comments were cut short as Miu demonstrated her own dominatrix moves on Ruby and the Barkers howls of pleasure and pain echoed in the room making conversation all but impossible.

X-X

Seated in an expensive looking black leather chair, Takeya had no idea why Harumi called him down to her law office. Bookshelves full of complicated legal matter and precedents arranged topically all around him reminded the man that his step-mother was very much above him mentally. "So are you going to tell me why you called me down here today Harumi?" he never did feel right calling her mom.

Her hands arched in front of her and her elbows hurt with excessive force, but Harumi just couldn't get herself to act. "Did you hear I won the case? Judge sided with me thanks to the new evidence provided by that camera. That DearS was set free and the man that made the accusation is going to be fined heavily for wasting the courts time." It was a stall tactic as she built up her nerve. How could she ask her son if he wouldn't mind taking responsibility for a whole race of aliens?

"I saw it on the television in your waiting room, though I knew you would win before any of this started," Takeya's proud words struck a cord with Harumi. Twitching in the chair, the leather making odd little sounds as he ground his butt against it for a better position, Takeya continued to let his gaze wander. "I just hope nothing like this happens again. But that's likely impossible." People would always cause problems, and if a DearS was involved it would only complicate the matter.

Favoring Takeya's rather grim statement with a chuckle, Harumi reclined in her seat. "You have a point, Takeya. As long as we see the DearS as different from us, as long as we keep them apart and segregated eventually this type of thing will happen again." But why did the DearS choose her son as the way to make that first bridge! He was just about to graduate, and here the government and the damn aliens were already planning his life for him! Harumi loved her children, and she wanted them to have a choice in life not be forced into a corner.

Finding the topic of conversation oddly similar to what he had been thinking since his talk with Ohiko, Takeya felt a growing unease. "Yeah, it would be better to get people better acquainted with them. Maybe some of the racism would go away once people learned that the DearS aren't trying to replace us or something." But to do that would risk people finding out they were slaves and the whole can of worms that brought with it.

Letting out a ragged sigh, Harumi couldn't dance around things anymore. The government wanted Takeya's answer sooner rather than later so it could make its announcement. He would be well compensated for his time and new role, but it was so forced! "Takeya, I'm going to come right out with things here. During the trial I found out about the DearS. I know they're slaves, I know Ren and Miu are YOUR slaves, and the whole community thing." Seeing him start to move, his face pale and sweat forming, "Oh don't worry about me Takeya. I know you love those girls, I saw it on your face the other night. I don't know the whole story about HOW they became your slaves, but I can tell you don't treat them like slaves." Which was why this Fina person said he was the ideal person for the job.

His body coursed with adrenaline, his eyes locked with Harumi's and he wondered if she was evaluating him now. Did she see him as some degenerate for living with the DearS as he had, or was it as she said that she believed in him? More important was…what did this have to do with why she called him down. "Is that why you wanted me here? To tell me you know about Ren and Miu? Are you going to tell me to send them back or…"

Harumi was damn proud of her son right then, how quick he went to defend his family. "No Takeya, I'm not going to tell you anything of the sort. Like I just said, I know you care about them as…people…not as things." Sliding a folder across her desk to Takeya, she waited for him grab it. "And it's that affection, love, you have for them that's got the DearS thinking of a way to get more of them off that ship and into our world. Read it," it was just a brief overview, a mere page that would lock her son into a life of strangeness.

Skimming the text, Takeya alternated between the single printed page and his stepmother. "Special liaison between Humanity and DearS? They're going to have somebody act as a master for the whole race of them to prevent anybody from finding out about their nature?" How could anybody be trusted with a whole race of people and slaves to boot! Whoever they got would likely violate those poor creatures. "Harumi, this is horrible! It would be almost impossible to find a person to take them in and train them like that? Who would do such a thing?"

It went exactly like that blasted Fina said it would, Takeya jumped right up to keep the DearS safe from potential abuse. "You, Takeya, they want you to do it. They claim that since you took in Ren and Miu they've changed for the better. They claim you treat those girls with the respect that any person deserves. They have all your interaction with them as proof that you can be trusted to not abuse your position and to help them adjust to normal human situations. And as you'd be their master it would prevent them from becoming owned by anybody else that they didn't want."

HIM! The DearS were going to entrust their future to him!? After all the issues he had with Ruby and keeping Ren they were going to trust him to help indoctrinate the DearS into normal society. "This is…I mean they want me? Who am I to do this? I'm not that good a person, Harumi, and you know that." He was a crass, boorish, and at times impatient jerk. Who was he to help anybody?

"I won't press you either way, Takeya. This is a decision for you to make and only you. It is a big responsibility, but it would mean you'd be employed by the government for life. As long as you wanted to act as the human ambassador to the DearS you would receive a paycheck and benefits from the government." It was a good deal, but it was so short notice and so permanent. "I wish I could give you all the time you need to make this decision, but you know the government, they can never wait."

Could he really do it? The question he then asked himself was this, 'what if somebody else does it, and they do everything in fear they would.' His head lowered, an image of Miu and Ren popped into his head. Had he not been their master and somebody else was, somebody that had no qualms with using them as nothing more than living dolls he knew his answer. "I'll do it, Harumi. I can't promise much other than I'll do my best to help them."

She held her hand out across her desk and her son quickly took it. "You've grown a lot Takeya, I'm proud of you." She felt his hand clench harder so she matched his. "Your sister is going to pitch a fit though," Harumi giggled. With her free hand she sent a quick email to the men in charge of the ordeal stating that Takeya agreed to his new station in life.

"Mom…what if I mess up?" Takeya asked weakly as he let go of her hand. A new world was opening up before him. A new life full of things he never possibly imagined for himself. It was equally terrifying as it was enthralling.

Getting out of her seat she went and gave her son a hug. "We all mess up, Takeya. You will make mistakes, but you'll have people help you get through them. You won't be alone in this." She'd be there for him, as would his sister, Neneko, and his friends. Patting his head, "I'm proud of you."

X-X

Tending the bonsai trees, Takeya heard Ren and Miu approaching from behind. "I take it you both know already," he said as he trimmed one of the larger offending branches. The moment Takeya stepped out of Harumi's office he had been accosted by politicians and others involved with the arrangement. Papers had to be signed, he had to have the official overview of the model and trial group. He swore to secrecy about his position until he graduated high school, and his salary was worked out. A busy and taxing day to say the least.

"Ren watched the announcement on television from Fina's office," Ren hugged her master from behind. According to Miu, Takeya was taking a big risk and a lot of responsibility on his back. Ren wanted to convey that she would be there with him for all of it. "Ren also met with the first of Takeya's new DearS."

"Let me guess, the three from the school," he grunted out disdainfully. Miu had always told him something was up with those three and he didn't believe it. He'd have to listen to Miu more often since she was usually right when it came to DearS society.

Putting her hand on one of Takeya's shoulders not currently occupied by Ren, Miu tittered lightly. "I did tell you to be careful of them didn't I?" Moving to the counter, Miu arranged a few of the bonsais that Takeya had already trimmed. "Ren and I will assist you in learning more about the DearS so we can all work on bringing the newly released up to speed. It will take some time and practice, but I have nothing but confidence that you will succeed."

Letting Ren's warmth sooth him, Takeya grinned despite his growing unease. "Never would have thought that simply by finding a naked girl on the street that I'd be the human ambassador to the DearS race let alone technically master to all of the sheep." It was in name only really, a protective measure to keep unwanted owners from cropping up like Ohiko, but he would still be able to order them all as he wanted. "You two I have an order for you."

Ren squeezed Takeya harder, almost afraid of what he was going to say next. "Ren will do anything Takeya tells her to do. Always." She nuzzled against his back.

"Don't let me abuse this position. I know you say DearS don't know what love is, but you know I love you. So if I'm going to do anything that would make you sad or hurt…you know that pinch you said you felt in Neneko, tell me so I can stop," he was going to have to trust them to help him as much as he would help them.

Her hand rested on top of Takeya's, and Miu felt a warm pulse waft through her. "We will gladly accept that order." He was in fact ordering them to insure they stayed top in his affections, and both of them eagerly wished for that. "And we will make sure they do not hurt you in return."

"I just hope that Fina lady isn't making a big mistake with this whole thing. I mean I'm not really the best suited for this," Takeya was starting to really notice Ren's presence as her hold tightened. "We'll find out soon enough I guess, they'll be here tomorrow right?"

Bobbing her head, Ren was well aware of what she was causing, "First thing in the morning." And she wanted her master to remember who came first in the petting order. With all the new DearS that would be coming, many would try to appease their master, and both Miu and Ren were firmly opposed to that. Takeya would not be sampling the wears.

"One last day of just us…well…lets make the most of it," Takeya clapped his hands and lead his pseudo-wives back inside. They had a filling supper, watched some television, and in the wee hours of the morning after a very prolong session of 'appeasing' Takeya lay awake in his bed, Miu on his left and Ren on his right, and hoped that through what was to come that humans and DearS would finally be able to understand one another as he did the two sleeping with him.

It would be a long and tiring road, but at least he wouldn't walk it alone.

X-X

Author Notes

Yup its done. A lil on the 'happy ending' but I feel it worked for this story. Hope you liked it and continue to support my crazy ideas in the future. Thinking another Love Hina is on the docket.

LATER!!