Vicious looked over at the sleeping figure of the woman. Her tattered clothes sat crumpled carelessly at his feet. Her nude figure lay motionless as he dropped his jacket over her, and sat back in his seat comfortably. Several bruises were forming across her body coloring her pale skin with purple, black, blue, and an ugly shade of green.

He grinned with satisfaction as he recalled her useless struggle against him, and the feel of her flesh against his own. It was not often he indulged himself in this way; normally a whore was his prime choice of company. They didn't struggle and where more than willing to please him in any way.

As the vehicle pulled to a stop, he gathered her up in his arms and stepped out into the morning sun toward the two story brick complex before him. It was one of many homes he had acquired over the years. Each stood empty except for stocked kitchens, an office, and a bedroom. As of late he'd found that the life he was living was beginning to bore him, but the assignment that had led him to tracking her down had given him some amount of pleasure.

Sukiko. That was her name, wasn't it? He glanced down as she shifted lightly in her sleep, and mumbled something brokenly. He walked swiftly to the bedroom at the end of the hall on the top floor, and he laid her down on the canopied bed. She opened her eyes briefly before rolling over and falling back asleep.

"A beautiful woman, sir." He turned slowly to find his only trusted butler standing in the door way with a cup of coffee. Its steam rose up into the cool air before disappearing entirely. "Is she really one of those creatures you've been forced to collect for those scientists?"

"In some ways, I hope not. In another way I am forced to believe that she is. Look into her code; it's on the back of her neck.

"Yes, sir."

"Sukiko?" She tried to shake the voice off and tried to turn over but a gentle hand on her shoulder prevented her for doing so. "Is that your real name?"

"Yes." She groaned softly as she squinted against the light. Her eyes refused to focus on the owner of the voice as she sat up holding the blankets around her.

"You're safe now. Vicious is out on business and won't be back for several hours."

"That's supposed to make me feel better? Who are you?" Her eyes finally focused on elderly man, his pleasant looking features let her relax slightly.

"I am Jeren Hashimo. Will you give me your full name?"

Sukiko looked him over taking note of his plain suit, grayed eyes and thinning hair. His face had many laugh lines and a few worry wrinkles. His smile was gentle and not arrogant or cruel like Vicious'. How could he have been involved with the bastard?

"Sukiko Nir Karin." She finally answered gazing about the plain white room. The bed was the only thing with any color to it, and that was all a deep rich red resembling the color of blood

"It's unfortunate that you are one of those things. I'm sorry but you'll be given to Mr. Eldred."

"What will he want with me?"

"I don't know what he does with those he had obtained, but I've never seen any of them again. I am sorry for your misfortune."

Sukiko held the blankets tighter to her as she thought about what Jeren had told her. "Vicious is just helping to wrap up loose ends, so he can't be tied into it when the scientists go down. That makes things more difficult for me to take him down or expose him. I'd ask you too help me escape but I won't put you in danger. So I ask of you, can you grant me a safe, and private, audience with Vicious?"

"I can get him to come to you, but I cannot guarantee your safety."

"Then that is all I can ask for besides a good set of clothes."

"That, my lady, I can do . . ."

The halls were dark even as the artificial moonlight filtered in through the windows. Sukiko looked out the window curiously judging the distance between the tree outside her window and the building she now resided in against her will.

She turned as her door was opened and Vicious entered with a short, balding, chunky fellow, dressed in a fine brown suit and a cigar sticking out his mouth. He grinned up at her as if he was the cat that had just gotten the canary.

Yanking down on the black tank top Jeren had found for her that was definitely as size too small, she glared down at the man angrily before turning her attention to Vicious.

"Miss Karin, I am Nathan Eldred. It is a pleasure to meet a beauty such as you in these time."

"Stuff it porky!"

"I apologize." The man bowed mockingly and glanced over at Vicious was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "Perhaps, I shall just let you stay here for a month or so more to even out your temper."

Vicious pushed away from the wall to tower over Nathan. "This was not part of our deal."

"I honestly don't think you are in the position to do much complaining Vicious unless you want something bad to happen to your soft spot." Nathan grinned at Vicious and headed for the door clasping his hand behind his back arrogantly. "I've been watching were an ample amount of your funds go. I suggest that you watch whom you decide to step on because I can make this information quite public to many of your other enemies." With that he said he left humming.

Standing dumbfounded Sukiko found herself facing a very angry Vicious. His eyes were hid beneath his bangs as his fist reflexively clenched and unclenched. She had wanted to bargain with him, blackmail him, anything! But the foul mood that had suddenly settled over him kept her mouth firmly shut until he left.

Only after she was sure he was gone did she even dare to breathe.