Zuku ran around the town, looking for an opportunity. Anything would do; thugs, robbery, lost puppy, it didn't matter! Zuku sped through the narrow paths and alleyways of the maze of buildings, when she heard something.

"Mommy told me to stay right here! She'll be back!"

"Come on, your mommy told me to take you to her. Come with me, little girl."

Zuku quietly stepped around the corner to see a little girl, about seven or eight, leaning against a wall. There was a tall, burly man in front of her, trying to get her to follow him.

"I'll give you candy. Which do you like better? Chocolate or Ice Cream?"

The girl had a pouty expression on her face. She was very skinny, and wore a white and yellow sundress.

"Mommy told me to wait!"

The man's expression darkened, and another guy came out from a side door. Zuku saw this, and wanted to shout at the girl to run, but then they'd both be in trouble. The second man walked closer to the girl.

"What's your name, sweetheart?"

"My name's Clara. Go away."

Zuku reached into her pocket, and her hand grasped something cold. Thank god..., Zuku sighed quietly. One left...

Zuku pulled the object out of her pocket, and stared at it for a bit. The object glinted in the sunlight. Shrapnel...perfect!

"Okay, Clara. Your mommy is at the market, right?"

Clara's eyes widened as one of the men reached for his back pocket. Zuku saw what he was grabbing for - a knife. Zuku threw the shrapnel bomb, ran out, picked up Clara, and ran like hell.

"Hey! Get back here, ya' little shit!"

"That bitch got the kid!"

Clara had tears in her eyes as the sound of exploding metal filled the air. Zuku looked down at the girl.

"Do you know where your mother is?"

Clara nodded.

"T-To the left, at the market. She's got pretty brown hair, a-and she's wearing a green dress!"

Zuku nodded back and sped up as she heard the crashing of footsteps behind them, and yelling. Damn, they're still after me? Oh my god... Zuku saw a woman at a fruit stand. Brown hair, green dress. That was probably her.

"Mommy! Mommy!"

Clara waved her arms, and the woman looked over. She ran up to Zuku, and quickly took Clara.

"Kid, can you please explain to your mom? I gotta run!" Zuku took off running again, the thugs still chasing her. One of the men caught up to her, and grabbed her by the hair.

"Stay still, wench!"

The man held the knife to her neck, the cold metal pressing into her throat. She was in a submission hold, so she was powerless to escape. The second man closed in on her, a wide grin on his leaned down until he was eye-level with Zuku.

"How old are you?"

Why the hell is he asking me this? Zuku felt the knife press harder into her throat.

"N-Nineteen."

"Nineteen sir."

The knife began to draw blood.

"N-Nineteen, s-s-sir!" Zuku looked around out of the corner of her eye. Everybody had hidden somewhere. Were the attackers wanted?

"Good, good. Now, be a good doggy and come with us. We've got a buck or two to make. Rahahahaha~!" Both men began to laugh.

Well that escalated quickly...dammit. I'm going to be sold, aren't I?

The men began to pick Zuku up, the knife still pressing into her skin. Just as she was bout to be carried away, the man dropped his knife, and it skidded across the path. Zuku could feel something oozing out onto her neck, as both men dropped her and turned to see who it was. Zuku had hit her head on a rock, and her vision was very blurry, along with her ears ringing. She could see a man holding two giant circles and throwing them. She then saw the familiar lavender hair that belonged to the man she met at the tavern. He was practically hammering the men's faces in!

So that's what the screws were for...

Zuku's eyes began to slide shut as she felt more blood ooze out of the cut. She couldn't see what was happening anymore, but she thought she could hear someone yell for a doctor. Zuku felt herself being picked up as she lost all conciousness.