Chapter 10

Ken'Ichi Katagiri knew what Sho's name in those documents meant for his nephew. If Saena was going through those documents at this time, the police already had his name on a list. They were either waiting for a proper warrant for his arrest for his participation or, they were waiting for him to do something else incredibly stupid. He knew Sho wouldn't be treated like a juvenile in a case like this, it was human trafficking and organized crime. He needed to know exactly how deep into this the boy was, not to get him out of it, but perhaps to lessen his sentence.

After Saena had left to find Todoh-san, she was able to finally regain her composure. She needed help in finding Kyoko, if this is what her fate had been. There were many cases that had crossed her desk that had similar markings and the children involved did not come out of it with a healthy mind or, body. Todoh would know what to do and who to contact for help. He had private investigators and connections that she had hoped would be able to find her and remove her from any bad situation she was in. She cursed herself for not being the mother that Kyoko so richly deserved.

A look of shock fell over Todoh's face as he listened to the fate of Saena's daughter, little Kyoko. All he could see in his mind is the small child he had met many years ago, as he watched the tears from Saena flow and her body wrack with the guilt of leaving her with the Fuwas.

He sat next to her on the sofa in his office and pulled her closely to him to comfort her. "Saena... We'll find her." He whispered into her hair. "We'll find her and then we'll get her the help she needs." He told her even knowing that there was a possibility that what they found could be a corpse.

A soft knock on his office door sounded, breaking them from the comforting moment. "Mogami-san..." Katagiri called through the door. "May I come in?"

Saena righted herself and wiped her face with a wet handkerchief that Todoh had given her.

Todoh looked for her approval as he rose from the sofa and placed his hand on the doorknob. She nodded.

"Did you need something Katagiri-sensei?" Todoh asked.

Katagiri glanced into the office and saw the tear-stained face and red eyes of Saena Mogami. Never in his life had he believed that something would tear at him like this, but merely the fact that it was the unmovable, stoic Saena Mogami made him want to do anything that he could to stop her pain. The implications of what had been in the ledger had crushed him. As Todoh had, he had also see in his mind's eye, the sweet little girl that his sister had taken to raise.

Detective Ryuu Yamato knew that celebrities like Ren were rare. He knew that people like Ren were rare. How many people on the planet would do what he did, on the spur of the moment? How many people would risk their wealth, health and possibly their lives to save a friend they had only briefly known when they were children? This little bag of shit that sat before him thoroughly disgusted him. He was arrogant, pompous and he was now lying to save his own skin. Sho had denied everything, even when the proof sat before him, he denied even knowing the girl. Aki Shoko had never told him to lie about it. This was his own decision.

"Fuwa-san... You are one of the few customers that remained in the area after your transaction. We have been investigating you. Do you really think for a moment you would be sitting here before me if we didn't know anything?" Ryuu was going to get something from this kid.

Sho's eyes fell to the table in front of him. He didn't want to go to jail. He didn't want to be here. "I looked for her." He whispered. "I didn't think they would do something like that. She was so plain and ordinary. I didn't think they would do those things." There was the sound of a thud in the next room. "I thought they would take her as a maid or, something." He told him in a hoarse voice as his tears started to trickle from his eyes. "I tried to find her. I don't know where she is."

Ryuu shook his head.

"They told me some big-shot gaijin bought her for almost a million US. They said I would never be able to find her, that she was probably his wife or, mistress by now." Sho confessed.

Ryuu stood, remembering the situation with Ren. He patted Sho on the shoulder as he walked out. This was a kid that did something incredibly stupid that he would most certainly be paying for the rest of his life. He would most certainly be going to jail and if the girl ever got a hold of him, she would probably make him pay in her own special way. "Thank you." He told him as he walked out and shut the door behind him and went into the next room.

The three individuals in the next room were shocked. The female of the group was distraught and livid.

"Mogami-sensei.." Ryuu spoke softly. "I may have information on that girl he's talking about." He told her as he motioned for her to have a seat. "I think I know where she is."

Saena braced herself for horrible news, but the man didn't seem to have the air about him. She nodded.

"I attended an auction that the boy just described. The man that bought her told me that he recognized her. He took her to stay somewhere safe and the person that took her in, legally adopted her as their own daughter. The family is very protective of her. I have an appointment with her father tomorrow to discuss whether he will allow me to speak to her or, not. If you would like to go with me, I'll see if I can arrange something."

Saena looked up at him and quietly whispered. "She's my daughter..." She paused. "Is she safe with him?"

Ryuu nodded. "She has a bodyguard and she's going to a very exclusive private school."

Saena thought for a moment. "She's cared for?"

Ryuu nodded once again. "Yes... She has people that care for her. Her father is having me meet with him and her therapist to determine if I should be allowed to speak to her. I tried to find a way to do this without involving her, but unless someone else can be witness or, one of the criminals rolls on his partners, I'm not sure I won't be able to prevent that. The meeting is just to put him on notice of what may be expected."

"I... I don't need to be there. It would only make things worse." Saena told him. "I can't be a proper mother to her." She rose from her seat and left the room.

As she passed the row of seats where Sho had been brought and handcuffed to, she stopped. She looked at the haggard boy and quietly spoke in low even growl. "You little bastard... I will make sure you rot." She then raised her hand and with all of her strength, she slapped him, then left to go home.