Chapter 4

For the life of him, he could not get the thought out of his head. What happened to her? Surely no one would buy her. She was just too plain, boring and unattractive. He snorted at the absurd thought. She was probably a maid or, something. He laughed at the notion. Kyoko a maid for life. Better there than clinging to him all of the time. It had gotten smothering. He couldn't stand being around her anymore. Good riddance to bad rubbish. He had Mimori and Aki. He had his pick, he certainly didn't need her or, her fantasy ramblings. So, why was this eating at him?

He needed to find out what happened to her. Maybe buy her back and send her home. At least there he knew she wouldn't be a bother to him. If she were out in the ether, no telling what could happen.

Sho pulled out the little card at the very back of his alligator skin wallet, that had been hidden by an emergency stash of money and a condom and rubbed his thumb over the embossed numbers and name on the card. He whipped out his phone and dialed.

"Yeah, what do you want?" A gruff voice answered.

Sho took a deep swallow and asked his question. "Um yeah, I brought a girl in a few months ago and I was wondering if there would be any way to get her back from you."

The man laughed. "Sure, if she hasn't been placed. It won't be a problem. If you're willing to pay."

Sho smirked, there was no way they sold her. "Yeah, she was kinda plain. I doubt anything like that happened."

The man sighed. "I don't remember any plain girls coming in, for work." The man worded it in order to avoid any trouble in case this jackass was recording him for the police."What was her name?"

"Oh, uh... Kyoko. She has black hair and gold eyes." Sho described getting a bit worried.

The man sighed as if in fond remembrance. "Ah... That one... She cleaned up nice. Yeah, she was placed the first night, after her training. First one up, caused quite a stir."

Sho's heart dropped into his intestines. "What the fuck do you mean training? Where is she? How do I get her back?"

The man laughed at him. "Son... You aren't getting that one back unless your a millionaire. She's probably overseas by now. That guy made the boss very happy with her purchase." He knew who he talking to now, there was no chance he was being monitored. "The guy spent almost a million US on her. Wired the money from the Caymans. Guys like that wipe their ass with guys like you. Don't think you'll be seeing her again and if you do... I suggest you run. He didn't look like the type you'd want to mess with." He laughed again. "She's probably his mistress or, wife by now."

Sho dropped his phone in shock. What in hell had he done? I'll tell you what you did... You sold her so you could live in style with your dream. You didn't want to work for it. A voice in his head scorned him. Never once during that phone conversation did he think that perhaps what he was doing, who he was talking to, might be dangerous.

Aki Shoko entered her apartment, that she shared with her charge, to find Sho sobbing uncontrollably, curled into a ball on the floor. She rushed to him. She had never, in all the time she had known him seen him in such distress. "Sho! What happened? Are you alright?"

"Aki... I did something terrible." He confessed with the look crossed between a kicked puppy and a child that had accidentally watched a friend die.

"What did you do?" She whispered, unsure if she really wanted to know.

He took a deep breath sat up and with eyes firmly trained on the floor before him, told her everything. "I... I don't know what to do."

Neither did she. She panicked. "Sho..." She placed her hands firmly on his shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes. "You cannot tell anyone this... ever..."

He looked up at her, lost. "But... What about Kyoko-chan?"

Shoko sighed. "You're going to have to forget about her. You will probably never see her again and if you do... I can guarantee she will not forgive you. You sold her Sho... Sold her into slavery to the highest bidder to do Kami knows what. All you can do now is forget about her and enjoy the life you sacrificed her for." She told him contemptuously. She may have been his manager but, that didn't mean she needed to like him and she felt the need to remedy that very soon. Her contract would be coming up soon, perhaps she could find a more palatable client when that happened. Until then, she would just have to tolerate this greedy, selfish little slime.

Lory Takarada sighed in frustration. The kid was clean. The only thing he had on Fuwa was what he had done to Kyoko to start his career and that wouldn't come out until the human trafficking ring was exposed. Lory was not about to allow her to be involved with any of it and Kuon was in neck deep because he had bought her. He shook his head. At least he was Cain Heel when he did it and he used his account in the Caymans to transfer the money. They wouldn't be able to trace it back to him locally unless they really wanted to dig and the fact that he isn't using her for anything illegal or, trying to smuggle her out of the country is a plus for him. Lory sat and wondered just exactly how Kuon had explained the purchase to his police officer friend. He sighed in frustration. At the moment, his hands were tied.

Flashback:

"I know that girl." Cain Heel whispered to undercover police officer Ryuu Yamato sitting next to him, nursing his drink.

The 24 year old blond stared back at him in disbelief. "What?"

"Ryuu... I know her. I can't let this happen to her." He told him with pleading eyes as the bidding began.

Ryuu pulled out his phone discreetly and texted something to someone, then looked back up at Cain. He nodded to him. "Do it." And thus the bidding war for the beautiful, young, virgin began.

Cain took the bidding up so high, no one dared to oppose him for her. He had just willingly dropped three-quarters of a million US dollars on his childhood friend and he would have spent his entire life savings and fortune on her willingly, if necessary.

Ryuu shook his head and whispered directly in his ear so no one else would hear. "I guess it really pays to be an actor. I should really reconsider my career choice." He chuckled and patted Cain on the back as they made their way to the back office to complete his purchase.

Before Cain knew it, Ryuu was lifting Kyoko onto the back of Cain's motorcycle and he was telling her to hold on tight.

"Get her out of here." Ryuu told him. "And take good care of her."

The 19 year old nodded and they sped off to the Takarada Estate in the inky darkness of the hours after midnight, with her arms wrapped tightly around his waist.

End Flashback

Lory sat across the table from his new daughter and granddaughter as they enjoyed a nice family meal. Her cooking was simply divine and her other newly learned talents and skills were astonishing as well. She was progressing quickly and nicely. It seemed as though everything that she decided to learn, she did so quickly and with great efficiency. He noticed that she left herself no room for mistakes.

"Kyoko." He started.

She looked up in question. "Yes, Otousan?"

"How would you like to learn martial arts?" He really wanted this particular skill for her. He wanted her to be able to protect herself, all things considered. "I would really like for you to do it for your own safety."

"Do you think I could do it?" She asked thinking perhaps it might be a bit out of her league.

Lory smiled. He knew if she decided, she would do it. "Of course you can. You know what? I think you should learn it too Maria. It would make me feel better if both of my girls knew how to protect themselves in a pinch."

Maria began bouncing in her chair excitedly. Kyoko shot her a look that told her to calm down and eat her dinner. Lory was surprised at her reaction. She actually obeyed the silent command and turned her attention back to the task at hand. She then politely responded "Thank you Grandfather." while delicately jabbing a floret of broccoli then eating it.

"Thank you Otousan. I think that would be wonderful." Kyoko smiled a small smile, holding back the overwhelming excitement that was bubbling at the surface.

Lory nodded at both the girls in approval. "Good. I'll call Ryotaro Uesugi tomorrow and arrange something." The excitement caused by his announcement was palpable and Lory was filled with the pride of and Oya Baka father and grandfather.