Yuuri's body ached with fatigue from walking all day. Too shy to ask a carriage driver to chaperone him, he'd decided to carry out his search on foot. He had first called upon Phichit to apologize for abandoning him at the party.

"It's fine, don't worry about it," his friend had assured him cheerfully, but he still felt guilty. He then awkwardly segued into inquiring the name of the gala's hostess. "Oh! Madame Ashwood, why?"

Flushed and embarrassed, Yuuri had whispered into Phichit's ear about how he was trying to find the fairy. A wide, slightly mischievous grin had spread out on the other man's face.

"Good luck to you! I hope that you can find your mysterious stranger." The Japanese man had thanked him and left, his heart significantly lighter and his hand heavier with instructions to get to the madame's house. He had then wandered the streets, trying to follow the path that his friend had messily sketched on the paper. It was nearly impossible.

Eventually, after meandering for hours down twisting lanes that had lavish mansions on either side, he found himself in front of familiar-looking and foreboding black iron gates. The guard standing there had asked him to state his name and purpose. Yuuri gulped, throat dry.

"I-I'm Yuuri of the Katsuki family. I would like to speak to the lady of the house." With a suspicious look, the man had reluctantly opened the gates.

A cobblestone path led up to an imposing edifice, ten times larger than Yuuri's townhouse. He had made his way up to the limestone steps and then climbed all fifty of them, out of breath by the end. He had taken a moment for his heart rate to drop back to around normal, and then nervously reached out to hit the brass knocker against the tall door. Within seconds, a very professional-looking fairy maid had opened the door and was curtsying to him. He had bowed in return. The dark-haired woman's neatly folded wings were a dusty brown on the exterior and a soft indigo on the interior.

"Might I inquire if Madame Ashwood is here presently?" Yuuri had tried to sound as proper as he could. The maid had shaken her head in response, looking apologetic.

"I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid she is out of town for several weeks." The human's heart sank and he was about to turn back when she continued speaking. "However, I'm sure that her secretary could meet with you if the matter if important." Panic had flooded his body at the thought of having to talk to yet another stranger.

"No, no, that won't be necessary. I just want to ask a simple question."

"Perhaps I can be of help? What is it?" the fairy had queried, tilting her head to the side. Yuuri had then swallowed heavily, palms sweaty.

"Uh-" He had chewed his cheek- "A fairy played harp at the gala a week ago. I don't suppose you would know who his employer is?" It could have just been his eyes playing tricks, but he had thought that he had seen darkness flash in her violet eyes for an instant.

"His name is Augustus Winthrop," she told him distantly, a polite smile forcibly plastered onto her face.

"Do you happen to know where he is or how to contact him?" Yuuri had questioned hopefully.

"I do." Her eyes had then hardened. "But if you are looking for that fairy, you will not find him there," she had informed him stiffly, a hint of bitter sadness seeping into her tone. "He has been…" Her face had begun to look pained. "Let go..," she had drifted off. "Good day sir." With what sounded like a sob, she had begun to push the door closed.

"What do you mean? Where is he? Wait!" His nose had almost got caught as the door had slammed shut in his face. Dejected, he'd descended the extravagant stairs. What should he do? He had no leads as to where the fairy had gone. Growing more tired and depressed with every step, he'd somehow managed to escape the labyrinth that was the higher-class neighborhoods and entered the urban sectors.

And now he was in an unfamiliar part of the city, wishing that he had brought a coat after all to protect from the biting wind. He was trying to get back to his house, which he planned to never leave again for the rest of his life. Considering that he had passed the same grimy pub three times now, he was pretty sure that he was lost. Or possibly, all of the bars in this municipality looked nearly identical. Either way, he was just roaming the streets aimlessly in hopes that he would find a police officer or someone, anyone, that could help him. The sun was beginning to set, and anxiety was tearing at his stomach. What if he couldn't find his way home before dark?

Wait- was it just Yuuri's imagination, or did he recognize this road? He strode down it quickly. There was a large congregation on the street, and he edged around it. He usually didn't do very well in crowds. The cluster of people mainly consisted of upper middle-class and rich men, which was surprising considering that they were in the slums. They were shouting out numbers excitedly, and he realized that they were auctioning. Compelled by an unseen force as well as curiosity, he took a deep breath and plunged into the mass of people. It was like a writhing sea of frock coats and limbs and scented oils, and he immediately regretted his decision.

"24,000!" one man roared.

"26,000!" another echoed. What on earth were they bidding for that cost so much? Yuuri's eyes drifted up and he froze, not breathing. Standing on a raised platform in the center of the multitude was a line of hooded, robed figures with their heads down. One person was in front of the others, except he wasn't covered like them. He was wearing a provocative sapphire-blue kimono, which contrasted with his brilliant ruby wings that were spread wide and catching the sunlight. His lengthy black hair was twisted up into an ornate bun. His face was painted, and he looked as if he was doing his best to disassociate.

"Going once, going twice- Sold for 30,000 to the man with the checkered tie!" Horror hit Yuuri like horse hooves, pounding against him. These were whores whose services were being auctioned off to the highest payer. The fairy hopped off of the block, dread evident in his coal-colored eyes. A burly, eager-looking man stepped forward, grabbed his slender wrist, and dragged him off into a dilapidated building nearby. A crooked sign above the door read "House of Ill Fame."

Yuuri shivered and was starting to move away when the next fairy stepped forward, and something seemed familiar about the way that that robe shrouded that thin form. With his left hand the whore lowered his hood, and Yuuri gasped. It was the fairy who had been playing harp at the party. The one that he had been searching for. The silver-haired man slipped off his cloak and let it drop to the floor. He was clothed in a pale-pink kimono with embroidered violet roses. A wine-colored obi was wrapped around his waist, and long sleeves blocked his hands from sight. He lifted his sea-green wings so that the crowd could see.

Same as the last time Yuuri had seen him, there was a fixed smile on the fairy's face; melancholy and fear was evident in his eyes. The whole time, he watched with mouth agape, heart pounding from something other than social anxiety.

"Presenting the lovely Viktor! He's new here, and his virginity could be yours starting at 15,000!" the auctioneer announced winking. "Do a twirl for the audience, hon." Eyes blank and that empty doll smile still in place, Viktor spun slowly to show off his beautiful hair. It was arranged in complex braids, flowing down around his calves. The spectators oohed and aahed, the men whispering amongst themselves.

"I wonder if he'll bleed," one man cruelly joked to his friend. They both laughed harshly.