Nikki woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. "Serves me right, after last night," she said to herself. She opened her eyes and waited for them to focus. Koji was passed out on the floor between the bed and the door.
Nikki stumbled over to the basin in the corner and splashed water on her face. She looked at herself in the small mirror. She looked as bad as she felt. She ran a hand through her hair. She took her bag over to the bed and dumped out the contents. She sat down to go through it, and made a checklist in her head. Two pairs of pants, plus the ones she had on; five T-shirts; socks; underwear; and a sweatshirt. Everything needed to be washed. She shoved the rest of her belongings back in her bag.
Koji moaned, and rolled over.
"Get up," Nikki said, "I need to do some laundry."
They ate breakfast silently, then Koji left Nikki to do her laundry. He was gone all morning, which didn't surprise Nikki, but returned shortly after lunch.
"Listen," he said, "I've got a huge favour to ask you." "Uh, sure," Nikki said, "What is it?"
"Put this on." he answered. He tossed her a small bundle. Inside was a beautiful silk kimono. Obviously, Nikki wasn't the first girl to stay with these Bandits.
"That's it?" Nikki asked,raising an eyebrow, "You just want me to wear this. That's the favour?"
Koji shifted uneasily. "Actually," he said, "I need you to entertain a few guys tonight. Nothing major, just serving drinks and all. I wouldn't ask you to do this, but there's no other girls here. It's just for tonight, I promise."
Nikki regarded him carefully, looking for signs he may be lying. "Fine," she said slowly, "But just for tonight. So, what will I get out of this?"
"You'll get to stay." Koji said simply. "I've got stuff to do, so I'll see you tonight."
Nikki just stood there and watched him leave. "Next time I trust a guy," she said as she threw the kimono onto the bed, "I hope somebody will just shoot me."

That night, Nikki stood in front of the mirror, admiring herself. She had to say, she looked good. The kimono was a bit tight, but it fit.
She was just finishing her make-up when Koji came in. He stopped in his tracks when he saw her. "Whoa," he said, "Wow. Um, change of plans, we don't need you after all. We got some other girls to fill in. Unless you, uh, want to help...I mean, you're welcome to..."
Nikki noticed that he was staring at her, so she decided to play it off for a while. She purposely dropped her lipstick.
"Where did you get the girls from?" she asked as she made a show of bending over to pick it up. "You said there weren't any around here."
"Uh, well," Koji was having difficulty finding words. "They were...in the forest. They, uh, volunteered their services for the night."
Nikki was finding it hard not to burst out laughing at his awkwardness. She could always find a guy's weak spot. She stood right in front of Koji, so close that she could feel him breathing.
She tried hard to act innocent. "I'd like to help," she said sweetly, "Just tell me what I have to do."
Koji avoided eye contact and motioned for her to follow him. Nikki put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing as she followed him down the hall. She really enjoyed watching him squirm.
Koji opened the door to one of the larger rooms, and walked through. Inside, three young girls lay bound on the floor.
"Volunteered, my ass!" Nikki growled. Koji just shrugged. Nikki moved past him towards the girls.
One had long brown hair tied in a loose ponytail, and was dressed in fancy looking clothes. There was something about her that didn't seem right, but Nikki couldn't put a finger on what it was.
Another had a long purple braid, and was quite pretty, Nikki had to say. She wasn't dressed as fancy as the other girl, but had pretty much the same fashion.
The third girl wore a junior-high uniform which Nikki instantly recognized. "You!" she exclaimed. It had to be the dark-haired girl from the Library. But where was her friend?
Nikki didn't have time to ask before Koji grabbed the girl and started dragging her down the hall.

"Koji! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Nikki yelled as they walked down the hall. "Let her go! Do you hear me?"
"Look," Koji said, "I've got orders. Now get out of the way."
They stopped in front of Eikan's room. "You wouldn't," Nikki said.
Koji opened the door and took the girl inside.
"No!" Nikki yelled. "Koji, no!" Two men grabbed her arms and pulled her back. Nikki struggled to get away, but they were too strong.
A minute later, Koji came back out. Nikki glared at him, then turned her face away. The two men let her go. Nikki could hear the girl cry out as she followed Koji back down the hall. "Koji, aren't you going to do anything? That poor girl..."
"There's nothing I can do." Koji said.
"Nothing you can do," Nikki whispered, "Or nothing you will do."
Koji paused for a moment, then kept walking. Nikki watched him go. `I have to do something,' Nikki thought, `But what? I don't stand a chance against all these men. What can I do?'
Suddenly, there was a loud crash down the hall, followed by yelling. Nikki pressed herself behind an open door, hoping that no-one would see her.
A few seconds later, the other two girls walked by with Koji. Koji had a rope tied around him, and the dark-haired one had a sword to his throat.
She was fairly tall, and muscular. A bit too muscular. Nikki realized what was wrong with this girl. It was a guy! It had to be.
Nikki slipped out of her hiding place and followed them back to Eikan's room. They burst in, and Nikki could hear them fighting. She slipped into the room unnoticed, and made her way to Koji's side.
He was standing against the back wall, staring straight ahead. Nikki turned to see what he was staring at. She gasped in surprise.
A young red-headed man had the young girl over one shoulder and was speaking to Eikan. Nikki had to admit, despite the current situation, he was pretty cute. "Who is he?" she asked. "Genrou." Koji whispered.
"Come on," Nikki said, "Let's get out of here before anyone notices." She untied Koji's ropes, and they slipped out the door.

"Where are we?" asked Nikki.
"Genrou's place. I'm the only other person who knows where it is. No-one will find us here." Koji knocked on the door and invited himself in.
Genrou was sitting on the floor with the girl in front of him. Nikki didn't want to know what she and Koji had interrupted. Koji and Genrou were happy to see each other. They linked arms and danced around in a circle. Nikki and the girl looked at each other, and shook their heads.
Koji and Genrou sat down again. Nikki knelt down between Koji and the girl, and looked around. The room was dark and dirty, and looked like it hadn't been lived in for a while. She imagined what the place could look like with a bit of paint and a vacuum.
She came back to reality to find the girl jabbering on about how she could help Genrou become leader of the Bandits. She seemed to have no clue that she was a hostage. Koji seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"Doesn't she realize that she's a hostage?" he said.
"Looks that way." Genrou replied.
`Ooh,' Nikki thought, `He's got such a sexy voice...wait a minute, what are you thinking, Nikki? Get a grip!'
Apparently, the girl had already come up with a plan, and she was already on her way back to the Bandits lair. Koji, Nikki and Genrou could do nothing but follow.
Soon, they were outside the main hall. Inside, they could hear Eikan telling his men to find Genrou. Genrou and Koji decided to make the first move.
They crept through the bushes, keeping low. Nikki and the girl followed, but soon got separated. Nikki heard whispers up ahead, so she went towards them.
From where she stood behind a bush, she could see Genrou and Koji. Suddenly out of nowhere, the girl's two companions showed up. The man held his sword to Genrou's throat, while the other girl was wringing Koji by the neck.
Koji obviously needed help, so Nikki threw herself at the other girl, catching her by surprise and causing her to lose her hold on Koji's neck. They both fell over. Nikki fell face-first onto the girl's chest...only, there was no chest. This one was a guy, too! Nikki was thoroughly creeped out.
Just then, the young girl appeared again. Nikki leaped to her feet as Koji moved protectively in front of her. The young girl explained her plan to her companions. They agreed to help.