Qing Eena's parents and Uncle Tito were all gathered in the living room, chatting about their day when Qing walked in, followed closely by Toon and Fau. Karla, Qing's mother, took one look at the two females and raised an eyebrow.
"Who are these girls, Qing?" she asked.
"These are Toon and Fau," Qing replied smoothly. "I found them near the dungeons and they didn't have anywhere else to go. I figured we could help them out."
Lucio, Qing's father, looked skeptical. "And how did you just happen to find them near the dungeons?"
Qing paused for a moment, thinking quickly. "Well, I was exploring the area and I heard some noises. I investigated and found them being attacked by some monsters. I managed to fight off the monsters and save them."
Uncle Tito nodded. "Well, that's very noble of you, Qing. It's good to see you taking care of those in need."
Qing smiled, relieved that his excuse seemed to have worked. "Thank you, Uncle. I just want to do my part in helping those who are less fortunate."
Karla looked at Toon and Fau again, studying them closely. "They seem a bit...distracted," she said, hesitantly.
Qing chuckled. "Don't mind them, Mom. They've just been through a lot. They'll come around eventually."
Lucio raised an eyebrow. "And what about the other three? Are they as...distracted?"
Qing shook his head. "No, they're all very capable and diligent. They're helping out at the fish stall and keeping the house in order."
Karla looked relieved. "Oh, that's good. We could use the extra help around here."
Qing nodded. "Yes, they're all very helpful. I'm just glad I could find a way to give them a sense of purpose."
The conversation moved on to other topics, but Qing couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. He hated lying to his family, but he knew it was necessary for their own protection. He just hoped they wouldn't find out the truth.
Meanwhile, Toon and Fau watched the conversation with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. They were still adjusting to their new surroundings and the concept of family was a foreign one to them. They didn't understand why Qing was lying, but they trusted him implicitly. After all, he had given them a sense of purpose and belonging that they had never had before. And for that, they were willing to do anything he asked of them.
---
Toon and Fau were both nervous as they stood in front of the fish stall. They had never done anything like this before, and the thought of selling fish to strangers made them feel a bit uneasy. But they knew that this was their duty to Qing, so they tried their best to look confident.
"Okay girls, let's get started," Karla said as she handed them each an apron. "The first thing you need to do is wash your hands and put on the gloves. We don't want to contaminate the fish."
Toon and Fau nodded and followed Karla's instructions. They washed their hands thoroughly and put on the gloves. Then, Karla showed them how to set up the fish stall and how to display the different types of fish.
"Now, when a customer comes up to the stall, you greet them with a smile and ask them what they're looking for," Lucio said as he watched from the side. "Then, you show them the different types of fish and tell them about their freshness and quality."
Toon and Fau listened attentively as Lucio gave them instructions. They were surprised at how much there was to selling fish, but they were determined to do a good job.
As the day went on, Toon and Fau became more comfortable with their duties. They greeted customers with a smile and helped them select the fish they wanted. They even made a few sales on their own.
However, as the day progressed, they noticed that some of the male customers were giving them unwanted attention. They would stare at them for long periods of time or make suggestive comments.
Karla noticed this too and became concerned. "Girls, I think it's best if you wear face masks and bandannas," she said. "We don't want any trouble from these guys. Just take them off when you're inside Tito's truck and heading home."
Toon and Fau were a bit disappointed, but they understood the reasoning behind the decision. They put on the face masks and bandannas and continued with their duties. The masks made them feel a bit more anonymous and less vulnerable to unwanted attention.
At the end of the day, Lucio and Karla praised Toon and Fau for their hard work. "You girls did a great job today," Lucio said. "I think you'll make excellent additions to the fish stall."
Toon and Fau smiled with gratitude. They were glad that they were able to help Qing and his family. They knew that their duty to him was paramount, and they were willing to do whatever it took to fulfill it.
As they left the fish stall and headed to Tito's truck, they removed their face masks and bandannas. They breathed a sigh of relief and chatted with each other about their day.
"I didn't realize how hard it was to sell fish," Toon said with a laugh.
"I know, right?" Fau replied. "But we did it, and we did it well."
Toon and Fau's journey as homunculi serving Qing and his family had just begun, and they were eager to see what other duties awaited them in the future.
---
The sun had just risen over the horizon, casting its golden glow on the tranquil waters of the bay. Lucio and Karla Eena were already up and about, preparing for another busy day at the fish stall. Juan and Trey, their two sons, were still in bed, groggily waking up to the sounds of their parents moving about the house.
As they sat down for breakfast, Lucio noticed that Qing was absent from the table. "Where's Qing?" he asked Karla.
"He's still sleeping. He was up late last night, working on something in his room," Karla replied.
Juan and Trey exchanged a knowing look. They knew that their brother was always up to something, and it was best not to pry too much into his business.
After breakfast, Lucio led Juan and Trey down to the fish stall, where they would learn how to run the business. Toon and Fau were already there, cleaning the stall and preparing for the day's sales. Karla had instructed them to wear face masks and bandannas, and they dutifully complied, knowing that it was for their own safety.
As Lucio showed the boys how to clean the fish, Trey couldn't help but sneak a few glances at Toon and Fau. They were both stunningly beautiful, with long flowing hair and sparkling eyes. He found himself getting lost in their gaze, until his father caught him staring.
"Hey, pay attention," Lucio said sternly. "You don't want to cut your finger off with that knife."
Trey snapped out of his trance and focused on the task at hand. Juan, on the other hand, seemed to be more interested in the business aspect of things. He asked his father questions about how to price the fish and how to negotiate with customers.
As the day went on, the fish stall became busier and busier. Toon and Fau worked tirelessly, serving customers with a smile on their faces. Lucio and Karla watched proudly as their sons learned the ropes, while also keeping a watchful eye on the girls.
At one point, Karla pulled Toon and Fau aside and had a heart-to-heart talk with them. "I know you two are very attractive, but you need to be careful around the men here. Some of them might try to take advantage of you."
Toon and Fau nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. They had heard stories of women being harassed and abused, and they knew that they needed to be vigilant at all times.
As the day drew to a close, Lucio and Karla were pleased with how well their sons had done. They had learned a lot about the fish business, and they had also gained a newfound respect for the hard work that their parents put in every day.
As they were packing up, Juan noticed that Qing still hadn't shown up. "Where do you think Qing is?" he asked Trey.
"I don't know. Maybe he's still working on his project," Trey replied.
Just then, Qing walked up to the fish stall, looking tired but satisfied. "Hey guys, sorry I'm late. I was up all night working on something," he said.
"What were you working on?" Juan asked, curious.
Qing hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell them the truth. "I was working on a house extension for Toon, Fau, and the others."
Juan and Trey looked at each other in surprise. They had known that their brother was up to something, but they had no idea that he was building a house.
"Where are they staying now?" Karla asked, concerned.
Qing quickly thought of a lie. "Oh, they're staying at a hotel for now. I am building them a house extension from my room. It should be ready in a day or two."
---
As Qing Eena continued to work on the house extension for his homunculi group, his parents Lucio and Karla were both impressed by his dedication to the project. They had always known Qing to be a hard worker, but they were amazed by how much effort he was putting into this new project.
"Qing, you're really going all out with this house extension," Lucio said as he watched his son hammering away at the framework.
"Well, I want to make sure they have a comfortable place to stay," Qing replied with a grin. "Plus, it's a good excuse to practice my carpentry skills."
Karla nodded in agreement. "It's important to take care of those who are under your care, whether they're family or not."
Qing paused for a moment and looked at his parents with a slight smile. "Speaking of family, do you guys think of them as my siblings too?"
Lucio and Karla exchanged a knowing look before Lucio spoke up. "We know they're not biologically related to you, Qing, but we understand the bond you have with them. So if you want to think of them as your siblings, that's up to you."
Qing nodded and returned to his work with renewed vigor. He couldn't wait to show his "siblings" their new living space.
A few days later, the house extension was finally complete. Qing led his homunculi group into the new space, and they were all impressed by what they saw.
"Wow, Qing, this is amazing!" Juan exclaimed as he looked around the new living area.
Trey nodded in agreement. "It's like we have our own little home now."
Frye just grinned and plopped down on one of the new couches. "This is way better than sleeping in that old shack."
Toon and Fau both seemed a bit overwhelmed by the new space, but Qing reassured them that they would all be comfortable and happy in their new home.
As they all settled in and started to make the space their own, Qing couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction. He had created a home for his homunculi group, and they were all thriving under his care.
But he also knew that there were still challenges ahead. He had to keep their true nature a secret from his parents and the rest of the world, and he had to continue to protect them from anyone who might try to harm them.
As Qing sat alone in his room that night, he felt a deep sense of responsibility weighing on his shoulders. But he also knew that he had the love and support of his "siblings", and that gave him the strength to face whatever lay ahead.