Bokutachi wa Akuma: Chapter Forty-Three

It was just as Mikiya had said. It had only hurt for less than a moment but dissipated quickly. Mikiya had sat off to the side, over looking the cleaning of Maruki's strangely feminine legs. Once Erika had removed all the hair from the ankle to his hip just as she had done with Mikiya, she got moisturizing oil and moisturized his legs to give them the same shining glow of cleanliness that Mikiya's had. There was only a few thinks left to do, and due to having endured the small amount of pain but a great amount of humility, there was no point in backing out now. Maruki wanted to see the costume that he was to wear to the Aqua Dome that made him have to endure this pain.

Asking Mikiya, Maruki was able to grab the bag and attempt to go change. Looking into the bag as he walked towards his bedroom, he threw himself forward, almost collapsing to the floor in disbelief.

“You've got to be kidding me Mikiya!” he spun on his heels, shooting a glare in Mikiya's direction. He groaned loudly and threw his head and proceeded to his bedroom pouting. The clothes were confusing to Maruki as to how a girl could wear clothing like that everyday.

He went into his room and closed the door, dropping the bag down against it. He looked down into the bag, questioning himself as to why he was doing this again. Taking the towel off from around his waist, he kneeled down and dug in the bag, pulling out the shirt of his costume ensemble; a tank top attached to a lace over shirt with full-length sleeves of a soft baby pink colour. The shoulders of the over shirt were cut off of Maruki's costume, showing off his shoulders. Letting out a low sigh, Maruki put the shirt on slowly, trying to not get his fingers caught in the lace of the shirt. Slipping it over his thin, short arms, he noticed the design of the lace; it was cute hearts and vine like designs, it made him smile slightly.

He kneeled down again and pulled out the skirt, sighing at this one as well. The skirt was short and cute, for a girl; but for Maruki, it may have been too short for his comfort. He stuck one foot in and then the other, slipping it up around his waist. Adjusting it so the tag was in the back, he looked down, noticing his boxers were sticking out from under the three layered, cotton candy pink lace skirt.

Maruki grabbed the towel again, wrapping it around his waist again. Looking down, he dropped the towel and made his way to his bed, grabbing a small throw blanket to wrap around himself, covering the entire costume. Exiting his room, Maruki peeked around the corner of the living room, glaring at Mikiya.

“The skirt is too short Miki.” The confused frustration could be heard in his voice. “I can see my boxers from under it.” His sweet coffee eyes still held the glare directed at Mikiya as he ignored Aiya and Erika staring at him, wanting to see the costume that Maruki wore.

Mikiya jumped up, running for his bag at the door.
“Oh that's right! I forgot!” he removed the smaller bag from his, the logo on the bag worried Maruki. “I forgot to give this to you.” The final piece to his costume, it was definitely something that Maruki would not be happy with.

Maruki walked over, snatching the bag from his outreached hand and stormed off back to his bedroom without asking any questions.

Closing the door behind him, Maruki dropped the blanket and removed the contents of the bag in a huff.

“What!” The two articles of clothing were small enough to fit into his small hand. “Mikiya!” Yelling through the closed door, Maruki threw the articles of clothing to the floor, removing the final article of his own clothes, tossing it in his laundry basket.

One of the two articles of clothing was a small triangle with two sets of strings; was this undergarment? Maruki had experienced with a female to this point, he had only seen their undergarments on mannequins in clothing stores. Grumbling to himself,  Maruki slipped it over one foot and then the next, pulling the waistband string around his small hips. The other clothing was see-through and white; thigh high leggings with lace cuffs. He was already this far; there was no point in complaining about these. Slipping one over his each foot, it worried Maruki that this entire costume fit perfectly.

He was ready, showing the others was going to be beyond embarrassing. He could not believe he was still doing this. He opened the door and was surprised by a tall Mikiya standing in his doorway. Mikiya looked rather pretty; he had changed his clothes in the bathroom, and it looked really cute.

“Ah! Maruki!” he dove to Maruki, throwing his arms around him. “You look so cute!” just as Maruki had expected, he was only hoping Aiya would not do the same thing; hug him and call him cute.

Coming out into the living room first was Mikiya in a cute pink, strapless dress. Walking in as if he was doing a fashion show, Mikiya spun to show off the black tulle underneath the skirt of the dress. On top were two layers of baby pink, flowing silk fabric, which was pleaded for texture. The torso of the dress was a lighter pink, defining a line between Mikiya's feminine hips and his flat chest. Around his slim waist was a thin, white belt of fabric clasped together with a sparkling broach where his belly button would be.

Neither Maruki nor Mikiya had worn their shoes to complete their look yet; but for Maruki, he was not but half finished his costume, his makeup had still not been applied.

Walking in, Maruki held his hands innocently in front of him, nervous to show Aiya and Erika. Innocently looking up through his dark, caramel coloured bangs, Maruki held the innocent look over his features, biting his bottom lip gently.

“He-hello.” He didn't know what to say, he was nervous from everyone looking at him. Being dressed as such, and having three people stare at him, was much different than having tens of thousands of people staring at him when he was just acting as himself.

Aiya's face dropped in awe; he could not take his eyes off of Maruki being dressed in female clothing. He felt a rush of feelings to an entirely different level that he had never felt before. Maruki always had the ability to make Aiya's heart skip a beat, but this took away all of his senses.

“Are you ready for your makeup Kaore san?” Erika sat back down next to the couch where her makeup was set up, ready to complete Maruki's look. Maruki nodded and scuttled over to Erika nervously. Plopping himself down, keeping his hands covered over his lap at all times, Maruki sat quietly, staring into the kitchen silently.

Quickly Erika began applying primer and foundation, amazed at the smoothness of Maruki's skin. She leaned back to look at his features, analyzing as to which colours would work best. Even before the foundation was applied, Maruki's soft features almost didn't need makeup to look as good as Mikiya did. She grabbed the eye shadow nonetheless to work on his eyes with precision and amazing speed. A soft layer of neutral brown along his lashes, a light neutral pink along his lid and a sparkling white along his brow; simple neutral colours worked best with his cute, baby like features. Next Erika applied a thin line of eyeliner with a little wing, emphasizing the shape of his almond eyes. Erika applied a pitch black mascara  with diamond dust in it, adding that extra amount of sparkle around his sweet, coffee coloured eyes.

Right when he had thought she was finished, she gently attacked his cheeks with a large brush of pink powder; blush. Looking at him, watching the makeup develop around his features, Mikiya tilted his head.
“I would date you Maruki.” He laughed to himself as he realized what he had said. “What is your name?” thinking about it as he watched Erika work, there was no way they could go in there with their real names.

Blinking rapidly due to the brush attacking his cheeks, Maruki tried to look at Mikiya.

“Maruki?” he questioned cutely.

“You can’t use your real name Maa.” Mikiya folded his arms across his chest. He was acting mama like again, but it was hard to take him serious in that costume.

“Maruko.” Aiya was off in the corner chair, running his thumb across his bottom lip nervously as he watched Maruki transform into a girl.

Mikiya laughed hysterically, clapping his hands together excitedly.

“Maruko is perfect!”

The blush was finished, Maruki was ready to stand and hide away in shame that he was doing this. Erika stopped him and held up one more finishing touch.

“This is called Sugar Kissed. It is a translucent powder that adds a little shimmer and removes natural shine.” She smiled to him and patted the big puff over his entire face. “And, it tastes like sugar.” Why would it matter what it tasted like? No one was going to get close enough to him to experience its taste.

“Wigs! Wigs!” Mikiya was like a child; excited about getting dressed up.

“Yes Hirota san.” Erika pulled two wigs from a box; one for Mikiya the other for Maruki. “These cannot be damaged! They are property of the company.”

“Mine!” Mikiya snatched a long dark wig from Erika. The colour of the wig almost matched his natural, flat black. Erika cringed slightly at how roughly he snatched it. Despite that, she trusted him, considering they have worn wigs before in photo shoots. “Here Maruko.” He handed Maruki the other wig, it had almost perfectly matched the colour of his current hair colour; a dark brown with a black undertone. Mikiya ran to the framed mirror in the living room, slipping both the cap and the wig on. Shoulder length, straight dark hair with sweet, side swept bangs; Mikiya had completely been visually transformed.

Maruki sighed and did the same, placing the cap over his hair and the wig on top. He adjusted it to fit properly as he analyzed it. With sweet, loose curls, Maruki's wig flowed passed his shoulder blades and bounced perfectly. His bangs hugged his round, sweet cheeks perfectly, enhancing his natural baby-like features. Mikiya gasped at his cuteness and hugged his smaller friend again. Pushing Mikiya away, Maruki grumbled quietly again.

“Can we just go? I don't want to stay like this too long.” He made his way to the couch, plopping himself down in the cushion and grumbling quietly to himself.

Aiya just sat there in awe staring at Maruki. For years he had known there were feelings there, but nothing like this. Mikiya walked around the back of the couch and shook Maruki by the shoulders.

“Don't be so grumpy Maa.” He hopped away and went to the entrance, looking for their costume shoes. “Let’s go and have some fun.” He peeked around the corner and snickered before disappearing again.

Letting out a long, low sigh, Maruki slapped his hands on the cushion and stood up, following Mikiya slowly. The entire ordeal was just too much to comprehend logic behind; Maruki had given up in trying to see it or protest as to why he was doing it.

“Let’s just get it over and done with.” He grumbled and stood next to Mikiya, waiting for his shoes. “I don't want any of the group, and I repeat, any of the group hearing about this Miki.” He sat on the entrance stoop very manly in his skirt, waiting for his shoes.

Pulling out of a shoebox, Mikiya got a pair of silver strapped high heels, only 2cm high; it was still something Maruki feared to walk in.

Grabbing them from Mikiya with aggression, Maruki slipped them on like any other shoe, until he had to tighten the strap around his ankle.

Mikiya bought for himself, a pair of glittering black high heels with a French maid bow, pink body and pink soles to match his dress.

Maruki looked at the shoes in shock, his almond shaped eyes widening.

“Aren’t those a little high Miki?”

Mikiya sat down next to Maruki chuckling lightly.

“I like the little added challenge.” He looked to his feet, slipping them on easily.

After sending Maruki and Mikiya off, Aiya had to return to his daily routine of worrying about Daichi while walking Satsuki. Having been a trusted worker for almost a year, Aiya trusted Erika to clean up her belongings while he was out of the house; despite this being her first and most likely only home visit.

Maruki and Mikiya gathered in Mikiya's car; a Nissan GT-R, red. After gathering in the car in silence, Mikiya departed from the Shibuya Prefecture to the Roppongi Prefecture.

It was early, only 19:00, none of the parties had started yet, but every club was open for those early party birds. Roppongi was still just as busy as it could be during the night, there were men and women all over the streets heading to their ideal party destinations.

The two of them slowed down the car when they spotted an abnormally large group of women heading in the same direction. The building came into sight at the same time for both Maruki and Mikiya; the bright blue building with a silver sign with a backdrop of a fountain dyed blue.

The Aqua Dome had just opened to the public for the night.

Mikiya looked for a parking spot near the Aqua Dome, unfortunately there was nothing due to the demand of people wanting to experience H2O’s new business.

After looping around the block a few times, Mikiya saw that a parking garage near by had finally gotten an opening on the second floor.

Surprisingly it did not take long to find the only stall in a lot that size. After parking and cutting the engine, Mikiya leaned back in his seat and looked over at the nervous Maruki in the passenger seat.

“You ready?”

Maruki shot a glare over at the driver, Mikiya, huffing at him angrily.

“Despite all of this Miki.” Maruki referred to the fact that he was in woman’s clothing. “I will never be ready.” He looked out of the windshield into the Parking lot silently. The anger towards Mikiya was returning for having making him do this.

“Let’s just go.” He opened the door and stepped out, his small heels clapping on the concrete and echoing softly in the parking lot. He stood straight, closed the door and waited for Mikiya angrily.

The fact that Mikiya was enjoying this was the reason as to why Maruki was mad at him.

Getting out of the car, Mikiya locked it and looked across the hood at the angry Maruki.

“Okei. If it makes you feel better, we’ll go in, try to figure out what he's up to and leave as soon as we can. All right?” Mikiya looked down to the ground, contemplating as to whether he could actually walk in the heels or not. “Just put on a smile please.” All the members of the group were like his children, seeing any of them upset or angry was heart wrenching for him.

Groaning and walking around the car with his low heels echoing quietly, Maruki forced a smile in Mikiya's direction.

“Fine, fine. Can we go now?” Maruki's voice was low he was still obviously upset. His sweet smile could not hide the true feelings laced in his voice. “This is by far the stupidest thing I have ever done.”

He began to head for the exit, looking back over his shoulder.

Mikiya followed slowly behind, worried about falling in his heels. Keeping his eyes focused on the ground, he stumbled over to Maruki.

“Oi, Maa.” He looked up and scuttled over to Maruki's side. “You don't have any money do you?” Maruki's shoulders dropped, he walked with a hunch in his back. He walked slowly as Mikiya used him as support to walk.

“Don't worry Maa, I’ll pay for you.” Drinking was a given when going to a host club, as well as getting hands on service.

Once the two men in disguise exited the parking garage, Mikiya walked on his own, trying to concur the 3cm platform and 7cm heel. Not that Mikiya needed such a high heel; with it he was 185cm tall, towering over Maruki who was only 167cm in his women shoes.

The streets outside of the Aqua Dome were packed with many young women and paparazzi’s and reporters; it made it very difficult to get to the door. Considering that host clubs were nothing like regular clubs, there was no line up to get in; inside was where partiers would wait to get a place to sit.

For Maruki and Mikiya, it was easy to get in once they got to the door. The man at the front desk wore a pressed, perfectly fitted tuxedo’ but it was not Akira, only one of his former group mates, Kato.

Kato was not very verbal, but he did his job with a smile nonetheless. There were women already standing in the lobby of the club, but Maruki and Mikiya were chosen over them. This method was not always standard, but as it was the club was recently just opened and there was a high demand for visits, this was the only way they could do it.

Once seated in a booth, Maruki and Mikiya realized they were sitting at two different tables, did this mean they were getting two different hosts.

Not but a minute later two men came in Maruki and Mikiya's direction; one was very pretty and confident in his prince like tuxedo, the other looked quiet and shy. The confident one took a seat next to Mikiya, sitting close to him automatically, attempting to make a connection for tips. The other sat next to Maruki, looking over to him slowly. As soon as the host’s eyes met with his clients and he got a glimpse of her face, his eyes widened slightly.

Maruki was surprised by the host’s actions and dropped his gaze shyly.

“So miss.” The other host spoke up to his client. “My name is Shiroyuki, I will be your host for the duration of your visit.” He spoke smoothly and confidently towards Mikiya. This host was doing great as his job.

“How do you take your drink sweetie?” Mikiya was silent, he couldn't speak up in his deep male voice; it would give his away right away. “No need to be shy. I don't bite.” He snickered to Mikiya.

“Unless you want me to.” He pat his clients leg gently and smiled to her warmly. “How about I guess what you drink. If I'm wrong, its on me?” that made Mikiya nod silently, preventing himself from speaking.

The shy host looked to his client again, trying to analyze her face. He leaned in close to his client’s ear, making Maruki nervous.

“Kaore san. What are you doing here?” the host whispered quietly, that way his coworker could not hear him talk.

“Eh!” Maruki was louder that he had expected. Who was this man and how did he know who he was?

The host shushed him, putting his finger to Maruki's glossed lips. He put on his act, in order to not draw attention to himself from his coworker.

“I am Haikara, I’ll be your host for the duration of your visit with us here at Aqua Dome.” He leaned into Maruki's ear again, whispering softly. “I am Haikara, I am a fan of your group. I have spoken with Kurosaki san already, telling him that Akira is keeping a close eye on your guys’ activity.” He pulled away again, bouncing back and forth from act to information for Maruki.

“How do you take your drink?” Maruki shook his head he didn't want to drink. Haikara leaned in again to continue. “I know of Akira’s identity and his reasoning for searching for you. You are one of them aren’t you?” Maruki nodded. This man seemed very honest and modest. Since he knew of Akira’s identity, he obviously knew of Maruki since he asked.

“Haikara, please. Get your client a drink before Monsieur sees your client not enjoying herself on her visit with us.” Shiroyuki looked over to his coworker and pointed secretly to a camera above their head. “Excuse me beautiful. I shall retrieve your drink for you.” He looked to his client Mikiya and smile to her.

Looking from Haikara to Mikiya, Maruki wasn't sure if he wanted to tell his friend about this hose. Before Maruki could make a decision, Haikara leaned into him again.

“I have to get you a drink Kaore san. I will just get you a coke.” The shy host stood quickly, leaving the two in disguise alone.

“Miki.” Maruki leaned across the booth towards Mikiya, whispering quietly. “I think I got help.”

Mikiya looked to him shocked, wondering how he got information so quick. Before he could question Maruki, both hosts returned to their clients, carrying drinks.

“Here you are miss. A Blue Tsunami.” Shiroyuki placed the drink in front of her. “Remember if you do not like it, its on me.”

Haikara placed a drink down in front of Maruki, it being exactly what he said it would be, straight coke.

“Kaore san. Dressing like this or not. You know Akira could feel your presence?” he placed two ice cubes gently into Maruki's drink, just for show. “Why are you here anyways?”

Maruki looked around nervously, hoping he would not talk too loud to this mole in the Dome.

“Wanted to know what Akira’s plans were on opening up this place. I had a hunch it was his way to confine people before he would kill them.” Maruki looked over his shoulder to Shiroyuki who was busy with Mikiya. “You know he is the cause of all those sudden deaths around Tokyo last year, right?” Haikara nodded.

“I want to know if that is his purpose in opening this, to kill more people.” Maruki looked down, not wanting to mention this, but it might have been necessary for this man knew a lot of information as it was.

“Do you know anything of my friend Daichi?”

Haikara stirred Maruki's drink gently, keeping on an act.

“Sasaki san? No why? What happened to him?” Haikara knew of all the members of Hey! GO Hei. There was no need to explain information to him.

Maruki looked around nervously again, focusing on Mikiya this time, for he did not know of Daichi's disappearance.

“He is missing. He ran away over a week ago and we have no idea as to where he could have gone.” Before Haikara could react, Maruki continued. “He is one of us but no one ever told him, until then. My friends and I think it was Akira that told him.”

Haikara looked over at Shiroyuki and Mikiya, quickly looking back to Maruki.

“Does Hirota san know?”

“No, so please don't say anything too loudly.” Maruki felt awkward. He was dressed as a woman and sitting with a man he did not know who was giving him a great deal of information without hesitation. “Do you know anything of Daichi? I fear Akira is planning something with him.” Haikara shook his head; Maruki sighed in disappointment.

“That's fine. Thanks though.” Maruki looked around the table and chairs, looking for something to write on. “Do you have a pen Haikara san?” Haikara reached in his breast pocket and pulled out a pen for Maruki. Writing on a napkin, Maruki write his cell phone number down for this stranger, questioning himself as to why he was trusted him so easily.

“This is my cell number, please call me if you know anything about Akira or hear anything about Daichi.”

Maruki slipped him the napkin and he resumed and innocent position, Haikara slipped it into his pants pocket. Visually he was calm and cool, but on the inside he was fan-girling about having a member of his favorite group’s cell phone number.
“I’ll do my best.”

The quiet music in the room had faded to a halt; the loud bantering and chitchat had died slowly. Something was about to happen. In the center of the room was a dome created from water, which had lit up. From one side of the dome, a part of water had split, creating a doorway. Inside stood Akira, Kyoukei and Yuichi, the Monsieurs of the Host Club and their pet.

“You have to go. He never comes out onto the floor. He must know you are here.” He looked over to Mikiya who was more unrecognizable than Maruki was. “Both of you should go.” Maruki was the only one in danger, but to see any of his younger idols harmed would be hard to deal with, knowing he could do something to prevent it.

Maruki nodded and stood, walking around the tables to go grab Mikiya's hand. Leaning in, he whispered in Mikiya's ear.

“We have to go, now.” He pulled on Mikiya's arm, bowing to his host in apology. “Akira knows I'm here.” He was hesitant, once Maruki had told him Akira knew they were there, he was quick to move; Mikiya bowed to his host as well and darted off.

On their way out of the door, the man at the front desk stopped them.

“Are you two lovely ladies leaving so early?” Kato finally spoke up, he sounded very charming, but was the enemy nonetheless.

Stopping like a deer in headlights, Maruki and Mikiya looked from each other to Kato nervously.

“Eh, ano.” Maruki spoke up softly. “Such a busy night.” He rose his voice, trying to sound like a female. Though it was very forced and fake, Kato bought it.

“Arigatou gozaimashita.” As he spoke in his attempted woman voice. Mikiya snickered quietly to himself.

Maruki backhanded Mikiya in the stomach roughly incognito, telling him to shut up. Maruki bowed to Kato and darted off in his low heel’ Mikiya followed slowly behind him, struggling to run in his heels and dress.

Once outside, the two of them slowed down and looked back at the still crowded entrance, panting slightly having never ran in heels before; hopefully this would be their first and only time having to run in heels.

It took them a few minutes to get back to the car, once they did it was was like pure heaven, not having to act anymore.

“So what stuff did you find out Maa?” Mikiya slipped his feet from his heels, driving barefoot seemed much easier at this point.

Maruki removed his shoes as well, placing his bare feet on the cool car mat.
“That host I had. He knows Akira personally, and us.”

“Us, how?”

“He recognized me in this costume because he is a fan of our group.” He dipped his head down in his lap, pulling off his wig. “He knows of Akira as well and his reasoning as to why he had been looking for me.”

“He knows about you?”

“Yeah, but he seemed very calm about it. It is as if he is used to it.”

“So he knows about you Maa. Does he know anything about why this place was opened up?”

Maruki shook his head.

“Kuso.”

“He said he would contact me if he had heard any new news on Akira as to what his plans are.”

“That’s good.”

“He said he would contact me if there was any information on Daichi's whereabouts are as well.”

“Come again?” Mikiya shot his glance over to Maruki, not sure if he heard him correctly.

“Eh?”

“What?”

“What?”

“What did you just say about Daichi?”

“Um, nothing?”

“Where’s Daichi?”

“I, um…”

“Maruki!” Mikiya shouted, feeling like he was just parted from something very important to him.

Maruki cowered in his shoulders.
“I don't know Miki!”

“When’d he go missing?”

“A, about a week and a half ago?”

“What!”

“I didn't want to stress you out!”

“When did you plan on telling me?”

“I didn't!”

“Why! This is something that is very important!”

“I thought he would have come back by now and we wouldn't have to worry about it.”

Mikiya shut down, he turned forward and turned the engine on. He pulled his seatbelt over his chest and pulled out of the parking spot.

“Miki?” He spoke softly, scared to upset him further. “Mikiya?”

Mikiya did not respond to him.

Mikiya was silent for the entire time, driving out of the parking garage quickly. He was ignoring Maruki; not wanting to say anything he could possibly regret in the future by yelling at him for not telling him that Daichi went missing.

The ride was silent and awkward, Mikiya grip on the steering wheel was tight; he was obviously angry. Maruki stayed quiet, like a child who had gotten in trouble from their parents on a trip to the mall.

Arriving at Maruki's apartment, Maruki sat quietly looking at Mikiya, hoping they would talk it over with him.

“Mikiya?”

“Get out Maruki. I don't want to talk about it right now.”

“I just…”

“Get out!” His eyes remained forward, not even trying to look at Maruki.

“Ah.” Maruki let out a small sound and them grabbed his shoes in silence, getting out of the car. “I'm so sorry Mikiya.”

Maruki closed the door and Mikiya sped off.

Mikiya wound have been angry either way if Maruki told him right away, or waited this long like he had; Daichi was like his son, just like the rest of the group.