Shizuku soaped up her hands again and began slowly running her fingers through Mei’s tail. But frowned when she saw that there were many snarls. “How could they treat a girl like this? Why are there so many snarls!?” 

Shizuku hand Mei stand still until she got most of the snarls out. It took almost ten minutes. There were still some left, but she would need a brush to get them out. Shiuzku washed the plump butt and then the thighs before moving to the shins and feet. Once she washed Shizuku from head to toe, she washed up herself before helping Mei out of the bath.

“We will need to get some more linens as well. You need your own towel. A toothbrush… hmmm, and a brush just for your tail.” Shizuku was smiling away as she planned things out. Mei just stood there and let Shizuku do as she pleased. She did not care what was done to her. But she did find this Master of hers to be weird, very weird.

“There dry!” Shizuku wrapped the towel around Mei before putting on her own clothes. “Go sit on the bed. I will get the dress that Margret left.”

Mei did as she was told while Shizuku went to the door and opened it a crack to see the dress hanging from the handle. She took it and closed the door before walking back to Mei. “Now that I think about it….” Shizuku did not think about it since Mei already had her shirt on before, but that shirt had a slit in it for Mei’s tail. Shizuku looked at the dress in her hand and flipped it over, and to her surprise, while it was roughly done, a slit had been cut in it. “She really does go above and beyond.” 

Shizuku had another reason to be thankful to Margret. Luckily, her panties fit Mei, although the bra was another story. Shizuku was happy this world had some similarities to Earth. Panties and bras were a thing in this world. With Mei now dressed, Shizuku began brushing Mei’s tail, taking great care not to harm the girl any. She knew how bad it hurt to pull on a snarl since she had had one before. As soon as Shizuku started brushing, she knew she was in for a battle.

Three hours later. “Finally done!” Shizuku let out a triumphant sigh. “I feel so bad for you, Mei. They never took proper care of you. Luckily, they fed you and kept you clean for the most part, but the tail is a precious thing. The fluff should always be taken care of!”

Mei had no idea what her Master was talking about. It was just a thing that hung off the back of her butt. She did not care for it at all. It could be cut off, and she would not miss it. But seeing the bright smile on Shizuku’s face and the fact that she spent so much time brushing her tail, Mei decided she would try to take a bit better care of it. The slave trader did not bathe their slaves. The slaves bathed themselves. Each one was given a bucket of warm water and a trowel to wipe themselves down with. Mei just never cared to do much with her tail. She would wash it to get the dirt off, but that was about it.

“Mmm… I knew it. You are very beautiful.” Shizuku smiled as she placed her hand on Mei’s hand and scratched it gently. Once again, Mei’s eyes widened slightly before going back to normal a split second later. She really felt her new Master was weird.

Shizuku took Mei by the hand and led her downstairs, where Margret was waiting. “It’s a little loose, but it at least fits. Sweety, when you go to see Nora, ask her to get something ready for me.”

Margret handed over a letter, which Shizuku took without question. “Alright, I will be back after I get Mei set up with clothing. I probably will not go to the guild until tomorrow.”

“That might be for the best. Let Little Mei settle in.” Margret agreed with Shizuku on this.

Shizuku said her goodbyes, and with Mei’s hand in hers, she walked down the street towards the armor shop. Of course, she once more got plenty of stares, but she ignored them.

When she walked into the armor shop, she saw Nora sitting behind the counter as she had before. “Hello!”

“Oh! Shizuku, you are here and…. Hmmm? Now, isn’t this a cutie? But this marking….” Nora frowned slightly. “This girl was cursed.”

“A curse!?” Shizuku’s eyes widened in surprise. She never expected this.

 “Mmm… I have no idea what kind it is, but it is a curse. And a powerful one at that. This marking should cover most of her body, right?” 

“Yes. It goes from her left leg all the way up her left side.” Shizuku explained.

“I think maybe this girl was lucky to have met you then. Vampires have a unique trait. When they suck the blood of someone with a curse over a long period of time, it will disappear, but the effects are based on your ranking.” Nora began.

“Ranking… You mean the pawn thing?” Shizuku remembered her status had a rank section, and it said pawn next to it.

“Yes. Come sit, and I will explain things. I do not know too much about vampires, but it is common knowledge to know the rankings they have.”