Aoi Meets The Lances

School flew by, before Jonathan knew it he was on his way home from school anticipating Aoi's arrival. The winter day was much warmer than the others, no where near cold enough to snow. Jonathan had plenty of time to think on the twenty minute walk home as the brisk breeze cooled his sun heated skin. 

After a lengthy internal debate Jonathan decided it would be best if he did not rush home since it would catch his parents' attention raising suspicion. There was also a possibility that Aoi would arrive late and Jonathan didn't want to arrive too much earlier than she did. Furthermore his sisters' friends were at his house, meaning the second his walked through the door he would become a toy instead of a pet. 

Jonathan tried his best not to get his hopes up but it was so hard. He could finally be free. He smiled at the thought of never having to wait on his sisters ever again. 

If Aoi was successful he would even get a mana test and then he may even move to her school! Jonathan arrived on his street, dragging his feet up the steps of the front porch. He stood at the door for a few seconds, dreading whatever his sisters and their friends had in store for him. 

He raised his hand, but hesitated, Aoi's somber words echoed through his mind, "Jonathan, please remember, whatever happens in that house, whatever I do or say to you, is all an act performed for the sole purpose of manipulating your family." What did she mean by that, if Jonathan had thought about it long enough he would've been able to identify what she meant. Brushing off her words, Jonathan took a deep breath and knocked on the door. 

"Coming," Jonathan was relieved to hear the sweet, gentle sound of Diana's voice. 

When she saw it was Jonathan at the door she whispered, "Mom and dad are in the kitchen and the girls are all in Myra and Synthia's room, if you be quiet you might be able to sneak past them."

"Okay, thank you." Jonathan gave her a small smile and crossed the hallway nearing the roof access. Before he snuck past Synthia's room, the door opened and that familiar pair of aqua eyes stopped him mid-step. "Aoi?" He kept his voice low so his sisters wouldn't hear him. 

"Remember, everything that happens, is for your family." Once the words left her mouth, she grabbed his arm and dragged him into the bedroom. "Look what I found spying on us."

"Oh, well since he's here, we may as well put him to good use." Synthia and her friends giggled like a pack of hyenas cornering their prey.

"Ooh, lets play dress up!" Jackie was overjoyed to get to order Jonathan around. 

Aoi wrinkled her nose, "He's filthy, I don't want him ruining any of my clothes." Ouch. Jonathan's eyes stung at her comment. She doesn't really think that, she just trying to manipulate my family. She doesn't really think that. She doesn't think that. Jonathan kept repeating to himself, trying to erase the pain her words brought him. It didn't help. It was true, he couldn't remember the last time he took an actual shower. He had rinsed off many times but he knew he was disgustingly dirty. He couldn't even remember what it felt like to be clean anymore. He couldn't get it out of his head, but he remembered her telling him to wear a false sense of hope when interacting with his sisters. 

"Synthia," Jonathan shook his head while hyperventilating, "Synthia, please, please don't let them. Please! I'll do anything, please! I've had a horrible day already, you're having a sleepover, right, so can't you wait 'till tomorrow?" He look like he was going to start crying, but Synthia ignored him.

"Are you suggesting we leave him alone because he's dirty?" Synthia was annoyed at the thought of sparing her brother from her unstable friends. 

"Of course not," Aoi was calm as ever. "I merely meant we should have him entertain us in a way that doesn't involve me becoming dirty."

"Well then, what do you suggest?" Myra inquired. 

Aoi shrugged, "I don't know, I am not granted the privilege of tormenting my brothers, if I ever tried such a thing I would be locked in my room for centuries." 

"I suppose you are right... JONATHAN BE QUIET!" She yelled. Jonathan immediately shrunk away from her in fear of punishment but he couldn't stop hyperventilating. 

Synthia considered their options, "Hmmm..." 

As they thought Diana skipped into the room, "Hey girls, something came up so mom and dad said you have to get picked up before six o'clock. Mom already told your parents. Bye-bye."  She skipped out of the room faster than she came in.

"What? We only have fifteen minutes. Let's play dress-up until we figure out what to do with him." Myra decided, "Jonathan go in that corner and face the wall." He quickly obeyed without question and soon the girls began changing into large pink sparkly dresses complete with pink frills and massive hoopskirts. 

"Jonathan," Suddenly Aoi was right behind him whispering in his ear, "I need you to cause a distraction that will get you in a lot of trouble." 

"What, why?" He whispered so quietly he wasn't sure if she heard him. 

Jonathan could feel her breath on his neck as she spoke. "Trust me, manipulation." 

"Okay fine, but I'll get in a ton of trouble so it better be worth it." 

"It will be. Just do it." Aoi stepped away and Jonathan took a deep breath preparing himself for what he was about to do. 

He turned around a shoved Synthia and Myra, the two girls closest to him towards the bed and grabbed Sophia's arm twisting it behind her back. "I'm done, sick of it, I refuse to do this anymore." 

Fury was plain on Synthia's face, "Who gave you the idea you have a choice?" She grabbed a rope from under the bed and tried to tie him up. Although he was weak and tired from his forced lifestyle, he managed to stop her. 

For a split second Jonathan glanced at Aoi, long enough to catch her nod of approval and then returned his gaze to Synthia. "No, I'm leaving and she's coming with me. I'll drop her off at a train station or something."

Without warning Synthia started screaming, "DAD! HELP! JONATHAN'S ATTACKING US BECAUSE MY FRIENDS WONT STRIP FOR HIM!" After giving Jonathan a hateful glare she started sobbing at the top of her lungs. This is the end. Surely he'll kill me this time. Jonathan thought as he listened to the sound of his father stomping up the stairs.

Mr. Lance grabbed Jonathan's shirt. Mrs. Lance ran in and started helping the girls gather their belongings and shooing them out of the room, not wanting them to watch. 

They waited downstairs for their parents to arrive trying to start conversations to avoid the silence.

*Knock knock knock*

"Myra please get the door. I'm going upstairs." Mrs. Lance hurried upstairs.

When she returned downstairs to greet the parents, Aoi caught a glimpse of Micah dragging an unconscious Jonathan up the stairs.

Within five minutes all the girls other than Aoi had been picked up by their parents and were on their way home. 

"I am so sorry Mrs. Lance, I live far away and there is traffic. My parents will not be here for at least another hour." A convincing performance of regret.

Micah Lance's footsteps echoed down the stairs. "That boy! I swear I'll kill him! I'll kill him I tell you! I'll throw him off the roof, call it suicide!" 

"Micah! Control your words while we have guests!" Jenifer Lance lectured him.

He stopped yelling but retained the level of anger in his tone, "Sorry, but he must go!"

"Well, I'll take him." Aoi offered innocently.

Mrs. Lance rolled her eyes. "Don't worry hon, he's not going to kill the boy, he's been saying that for the last seven years." 

"Not for his sake, for mine. My family is moving again, leaving me behind to look after the house, I'd need his help carrying heavy things and if he's there I won't have to clean either. Also I'm bound to get bored sometime and Myra showed he can be very entertaining if you know how to handle him." 

"But honey, Synthia just proved he can't be controlled." Mrs. Lance regretted allowing Aoi to feel bad for Jonathan. 

"Not really, she was keeping him in line by using his fear of her father, so when she pushed him too far, he pushed back knowing Synthia was helpless and just relying on her fathers name. He already knew what would happen to him, and he decided it was worth it. I do believe a shock collar would easily keep him in line," Aoi argued.

Micah raised an eyebrow intrigued by the casual way she spoke of such things, "You have a great point, but using those on humans is illegal in Mericana."

"I have friends who are not bound by the rules of this government. That will not be a problem." Aoi replied nonchalantly. 

Mr. Lance began scratching his chin, a glimmer in his eye suggested his mind was fast at work. "You know Jenny, she is right. Maybe giving Jonathan a new family wouldn't be so bad." 

She sounded very tired, "Micah, you know how I feel about this, what if she comes back looking for him?"

"We both know his mom is dea-" Micah stopped realizing Aoi was present in the conversation. 

"It's okay, I already knew you aren't his real parents. It's rather obvious," Aoi commented.

"Well, you might as well finish now that you let the cat out of the bag," Mrs. Lance spat.

Micah weaved his words carefully, dropping as many hints as felt right. "Hmm, Aoi, our son is very dear to us. His absence would leave great pain in our hearts, I just couldn't feel right letting him go as if he was worthless."

Aoi saw right through him and had no interest in his games. "I'm assuming something beautiful and persuasive that rhymes with bunny can change your mind." 

"I'm really not sure, he is very important to us, the guilt of sending him away would be immeasurable." Mock sincerity layered his tone.

"Five thousand dollars in cash for my precious new toy." Aoi chirped.

"Not a chance, he is worth at least seventy-five hundred thousand." Micah overestimated Aoi's desire for Jonathan.

"Keep him. Of all the places I've been and all the countries visited, I've never seen even the highest quality slaves sold for such a high amount." 

"Fine, five-thousand for the boy." Micah grudgingly offered.

"Deal," Aoi responded. After finalizing the deal with a handshake, Aoi reached into her purse and rummaged around for a few seconds until she removed a black leather box, which to Mr. Lance's disappointment, was filled with small Syringes, not money. 

Aoi handed Mr. Lance the box, "Inject one every four hours into Jonathan until I pick him up. I'll come by tomorrow with the cash, we can make the exchange then." 

Mr. Lance smiled at the thought of the money, "Perfect, if I may ask, what is this?" 

"Sleep medicine," she replied without hesitation, "Please hurry, he could wake up soon and everything will be messed up if he regains consciousness in his cage." 

They all turned as they heard a knock on the door. "My ride is here, I'll get in trouble if I keep it waiting. Thank you so much for having me, enjoy the rest of your night."