[Brainwashing, Beautification]

After fighting to protect the city of Mimoto for the sake of its inhabitants and her job security, Hiro Fukano thought that she had experienced everything that life had to offer. And it wouldn't be hard to tell her that she had, considering the many different types of individuals that she was forced to confront and fight against, getting a taste of their kind of willpower and what they wanted out of life.

Unfortunately, life finds a way to put her on the backfoot. Thanks to a devious white-haired armored girl with an obnoxiously large sword bumbling her way through a fight, she was forcibly pulled into a portal that led into some place she could best describe as the space between dimensions. And to make matters worse, her friend Byakko had been pulled in as well because she happened to be the target of the armored girl in the first place. Leading them both to drift through this gap aimlessly, looking for any way back to their home.

They weren't able to find one before they were tossed into a brand new world. A world that seemed a few notches behind their world in terms of technological advancement, and a bit less free given that they were immediately accosted by soldiers from some sort of Empire. And while Hiro was more than willing to throw down against them and try to protect Byakko, regardless of the consequences, she didn't get the chance.

A soft song was all that it took to disarm those soldiers, as a beautiful girl whisked the two strangers away while the soldiers were paralyzed and serenaded by her song. A girl that immediately raised a few alarms within the hearts of the two that had just arrived in this world. Was she an ally? An enemy? Were they about to be dragged into a bunch of nonsense that they ultimately would have no control over?

Regardless of why they had ended up here, regardless of what would happen for the near future, something about the song that still poured through their ears made them unable to speak up against the girl. All as she led them to safety, and gave them a chance to collect themselves.

After all, there was something about Hiro that just drew her in...

---

Hiro took a deep breath as she looked at herself in the mirror. Looking at that stern air that still poured off her form, even now that she was in a world where she really had no reason to keep it up. This world knew nothing of Atlas Corp, this world knew nothing of her. She was free to go back to her old self if she so pleased. But that would make light of the people that she treasured... But did they matter if she was stuck here?

Not that she had anybody to discuss this matter with. Byakko had been gently guided to another room by a girl that seemed to have the same sort of air as her. Just wearing a maid outfit and smiling all the time to contrast the frown near permanently plastered on the shorter Saint Beast's face. Perhaps the girl that had helped them wanted to make sure that they were properly cared for. If so, then why hadn't a maid come to help her?

*Knock*

Hiro raised an eyebrow as she turned to look towards the door leading into this dressing room. Now that she had a moment of clarity, why had she been sent to wait inside a performer's dressing room? She wasn't one, last she checked. Then again, by the time they were following that girl, her mind was already fogged up and it made it difficult to process exactly where she had ended up.

"Come in." Still, even if she did not know where she was, that didn't mean she'd disrespect the ones that interacted with her. Those soldiers from the Empire were the only ones that didn't warrant her respect, considering how quickly they had tried to strongarm their way into detaining them.

The door opened, and Hiro immediately recognized the girl that stepped inside. The beautiful girl wearing that long and elegant dress that parted near her hips, showing off her long stockings and her equally elegant heels. Just her looks were enough to captivate, and that was before she put her voice to good use. Just who was she, exactly... And what did she want with her?

"I'm glad you're starting to settle in, Miss. It was a stroke of luck that let us meet, so I do hope you appreciate me and my family's hospitality." The beautiful girl spoke, her voice resonating melodically even when the words just slipped off her lips. Even more so as she gently curtsied before the stranger, treating her with more respect than she probably deserved.

Hiro blushed a little as she listened and watched that girl. What was with her heart? Why was it beating so strongly when she looked at her? Why did her words dance through her mind even if they weren't important? ...M-Maybe it was the sheer strength of her tones. Yes. Definitely that. Not because she was prettier than anybody else she had ever met. No, definitely not because of that. "I..." She paused, clearing her throat and quickly shaking her head as she tried to compose herself. "T-Thank you, Miss. If you hadn't stopped those soldiers, I'm not sure I would've been able to escape with my partner unscathed." She said, downplaying the importance of the device wrapped around her wrist.

"Oh, don't mention it. All I saw was a pretty lady in need, and I did what came naturally to somebody like me." The girl said as she stepped closer, a soft smile painted onto her face. "What, pray tell, do you call yourself? I want to know just who I saved from those awful guards."

Hiro's red cheeks deepened in color the closer the girl came, her chest audibly trembling thanks to her heart beating so violently. "H.. Hiro Fukano is my name. Truth be told, I do not come from this world. My partner and I were in the middle of fighting this white-haired girl in our own world as we attempted to protect our home city of Mimoto, but... Whatever she did caused us to end up here. So you not only saved us from a potential jail sentence, but you saved us from the confusion of wandering around in a world unfamiliar to us both."

Mimoto... That was a familiar name. The last time she had seen her scarfed friend, who still wouldn't join her at her side as part of this family of hers, she mentioned that she had been to this city. Perhaps...

"A sincere pleasure to meet you, Hiro. Though you may be from another world, that only enhances that inherent beauty of yours." The beautiful girl spoke, taking another step as she came ever closer, putting her delicate and gloved hand on Hiro's chin as she lifted it up ever slightly so her crimson eye could meet the grey eyes of her guest. "My name is Yvessa Carmiglionne. As the head of the Carmiglionne family, I'll ensure your total safety while you remain in this world. And all I'll ask for is one tiny thing."

Hiro's inner defenses were turned on as Yvessa spoke of conditions. She knew all about hazardous contracts, considering the many deals that her boss had made over the years and the ones that she had to personally deliver to those that stood in Atlas Corp's way. She knew what a simple contract could do, if it was worded in the right way. But at the same time, that hand on her chin was cupping her in just the right way. So much so that she felt weak just looking into that exposed crimson eye. "H-How do I know I can trust you..?" She muttered, her voice barely slipping out from her lips as she tried to fight back against something that might irrepairably screw her.

"You do not. But do you trustly have any other options, Hiro?" Yvessa said, as that hand went from her guest's chin onto her cheek instead, gently rubbing it as she kneaded her cheek with her thumb. "I do not plan on hurting you. Nor do I plan on throwing you out to the wolves that serve the Empire. All I want from you is to see your inner beauty flourish. And by working for me, at least until you can return to your home, you will be more beautiful than ever. That sounds good, doesn't it?"

"...B-Beautiful?" Hiro was taken a little aback by that suggestion. She had expected something a lot more potentially dangerous. Considering the girl in front of her was the leader and head of some sort of criminal family, which certainly explained why her tones were as dangerous as they were, she expected to have her powers put to offensive use. Maybe as a body guard or as some sort of enforcer. To be used for her looks instead, considering she didn't pay attention to them very much... "A-Are you absolutely sure that's a good idea?" She muttered with a shy tone as she instinctively started to play with her ponytail, fidgeting as she pinched a few hairs between her fingers.

Yvessa let out a soft giggle. While Hiro had already proven herself to be such an interesting and highly desirable woman, the fact she could pry away the defensive layer and expose this sweet core within her... Yes, she definitely wanted her. Even if she'd also be useful in regards to making her friend hers, right now she was entirely focused on her and her alone. "I'm sure, Hiro. The fact you're hesitating like that makes you all the more beautiful. Besides, I always wanted somebody to accompany on stage."

"O-On stage... A-Ah." Hiro muttered as she collapsed into her padded chair, her eyes very nearly swirling thanks to her mind running wild. Imagining herself standing besides this beautiful girl, the soft lights shining down on them as they sang together. Well, not that she'd be singing.... She'd probably just mess everything up by being there. If they weren't distracted by how 'beautiful' she was... "W-Why would you need somebody like me up there? Aren't you more than beautiful enough, Yvessa?"

A slight blushed poured onto Yvessa's cheeks as well. Having her compliments returned was a bit of a soft spot. "I don't go on stage just to flaunt my looks, that's more of a cherry on top. No, I go on stage to sing. Every other night, a new opera to enthrall the audience. Their applause is what drives me, and I'm sure they'll enjoy a bit of eyecandy to go along with the bliss pouring through their ears as they experience my serenade. Trust me, Hiro. You'll be perfect."

She couldn't deny that Yvessa's song was something special. Especially since it had put her under a haze. Especially since it had saved her from a potential jail sentence if not something worse than that given what she knew Empires were capable of thanks to her extensive deep dive into various types of overly dramatic literature. And if she wasn't lying about that, then... Perhaps she was right about her beauty. Even if she just wasn't able to see it. Even if she considered herself relatively plain thanks to her choice of attire on a day to day basis.

"...V-Very well. I'll let you help me become beautiful, Yvessa. And I'll do what you think is necessary. But only until we find a way back. I don't want to surprise everyone when I come back home, so..." Even though she was agreeing, she was still showing a bit of apprehension towards this decision. Was it doubt or a lack of self worth? It was hard to tell with a girl who had been suppressing a lot of herself over the last ten years.

But all of that doubt, all of those worries, were washed away as she heard Yvessa quietly start to sing. And as those serenading tones started to pour through her head, her mind slowly but surely was swallowed by the foggy haze of melodic bliss...

All so Yvessa would have such an easier time with her beautification.

---

"You've done so well, Hiro. I knew that I had an eye for those that could be truly beautiful, but you're on a whole different level."

Hiro blushed. The last thing she remembered was the song pouring through her head. Then the scattered flashes of what she had done since then. Applying makeup, getting dressed in clothes that were a lot less restrictive and plain so she could bring out the best parts of her beauty. All done by her hand, not by Yvessa's. Why couldn't she remember doing any of it? It was hard for her to really piece it all together, but she just understood that she had Yvessa to thank for the courage to go through with all of this.

Especially as she took a good look at herself in the mirror. The blush on her cheeks couldn't be bigger as she truly let her entire look sink in. Had she been able to make herself look this pretty? There was no way that it should be possible. She wasn't a beautiful girl, she was a girl who had worked herself to near death for ten years straight. And a lot of that work had just made her life worse. So how was she able to look so pretty..?

She slowly poured her eyes across her reflection. Starting with her black hair having gained volume and curls, as most of it was bunched up by her neck except for her pony tail which now rested against her shoulder as the volume brought more emphasis to the white shades woven in between the blacks. Combine that with the flowers that had been delicately attached to her head as they nestled in between her strands, and she looked beautiful before you even looked at her face and the subtle eyeshadow that brought out her otherwise dull looking eyes.

Reaching further down, her brand new attire was more fit for somebody that would be on stage. A string of pearls wrapped around her neck, a beautiful shoulderless dress that exposed more than enough of her bosom while cupping it gently, and two sets of fingerless gloves that brought emphasis to the delicate beauty in her hands. Despite how much work she had done, she could still look so pretty even out there at the extremities.

The dress itself wasn't just good for bringing emphasis to her rather generous bosom, but it also brought emphasis to the delicate areas down below. Since the dress started to part and reveal her legs instead of covering them up. In the process, it exposed her white stockings that were patterned with beautiful roses, reaching all the way down to her feet nestled within a pair of ruby heels, the sheer size of the heel itself making sure that she was always walking with dignity and grace. Something that would be difficult for those that hadn't yet been trained, and yet walking around in them felt absolutely natural to somebody like Hiro. Probably because of how difficult her day-to-day life already was.

"I... I'm... H-How..?" Hiro muttered as she couldn't believe that she was looking at herself. She truly couldn't believe that she could manage to look this pretty. And she also couldn't imagine being able to rock an outfit that was so... Well it wasn't actually that much more revealing than her normal outfit, it just gave off the illusion of being more erotic thanks to her skirt still continuing in the back, which gave her legs an innate backdrop. "Is... Is this really me..?"

"Not quite." Yvessa said with a smile, before carefully applying lipstick to her own lips. Slowly letting those lips turn glossy and shiny, bringing out a bit of her untapped beauty in the process... Only to then turn her lips on her beautified friend, locking them together for a moment as the color started to soak in.

Hiro's eyes widened even further as her cheeks flushed bright red, but she didn't get much of a chance to panic over this sudden kiss. Not when Yvessa pulled away and let the beautiful woman look at herself in the mirror once more. Noticing the brand new crimson shade on her lips which made them look so much more plump and juicy, while also adding that glossy finish that made them so alluring. All thanks to a single kiss from the girl that had been so kind to help her along.

"...T-Thank you, Yvessa." She muttered, as a single teardrop poured down her cheek. she truly couldn't believe that she had gone through such a dramatic change. Not only that, but it felt like she had been responsible for all of it. Yvessa just gave her the right push and put the finishing touches on it all with that final kiss.

Yvessa smiled in turn. "No, Hiro. Thank you. You've given me the chance to see somebody truly blossom. And I wouldn't want anybody except for you to join me on stage." The beautiful girl said as she reached out with her gloved hand, inviting her to grasp it. "Now come. Our first performance together is about to start. I'm sure the audience will find you more enthralling than my song, at least for tonight."

Hiro did not hesitate to take that hand, slowly lifting herself out of her chair as she walked side by side with her brand new friend, and the one that had brought out her inner beauty. Walking down the hall leading to the stage, passing by a set of familiar looking kitty maids in the process. One of them seemed a bit grumpier and blushier than the other. Strange...

Not that she had time to worry about that. Right now, she needed to pay Yvessa back for all of this. And maybe, just maybe... Show her what else a beautiful woman like her could do.

She deserved to get to know her that much more intimately, after all.