-Sold: Part 3-

Lory Takarada leaned back the dark pink couch, his robes showing off his chest but covering what needed to be covered. It was late when Kuon had called him, later when he had shown up and to top it off Maria had a rough day yesterday. "Kuon," he said clipping the end of his cigar, "want to tell me why you brought that girl here?" To say the fact that Kuon under the name of Tod Damon had bought a sex slave didn't bother him would be a lie. He never expected this sort of thing to happen, not with Kuon or Ren.

The man who sat before him looked nothing like Tod Damon who had first walked into his office with the scared little girl in his grasp. His hair was now a much darker brown, his eyes brown, there was no sign of tattoos and nothing that spoke of the dangerous man who had walked in until the girl had been escorted to a room. Fact if Lory didn't know the boy before him, he would not be able to read him as easy as he could. He was troubled by this whole thing, as he should be. Rather it was because he just spent a large amount of money of about 5.5 billion yen, about half a million in American money or something else Lory didn't know. He leaned back sighing and Lory at that moment knew it wasn't due to the money, no it was his two parts of himself battling and having come out of it without being consumed by the one he deemed darker.

Kuon finally answered him, "A friend... kinda"

"A friend of Kuon's but not Ren's?" that took Lory by surprised, seeing as Kuon only had only one real friend by the name of Rick. His death had hit the boy far too hard and now he was living as Ren. So the fact that there could be someone else that he found interesting.

"Yeah… Kuon owed him… a few actually."

Lory lit his cigar leaning back on his couch allowing the smoke to fill his lungs before slowly releasing it, there was another issue though, not that he had another friend but that this friend was someone he owed favors too. Yet even that wasn't all that important as the fact that he knew how to find Kuon, "And do you want to tell me how this man found that Ren is Kuon?" Lory watched as the boy before him flinched clearly not that comfortable with the topic. "I need to know Kuon" more silence filled the room, but Lory was in no rush to make the boy talk.

"He has this skill... he can look at someone and know." he spread his hand out towards the ceiling, frowning as he spoke, "measures with his hands and eyes only. He is valued because of that. No one can hide from him… not without some major work being done."

"I see…" he turned his cigar between his fingers watching the boy in front of him, "and you called in Jelly Woods to help you?"

"I didn't know who else to ask… and I didn't think you would actually agree… or that I would actually be bringing that girl here." he dropped an arm over his face as he leaned his head on the back of the couch. "I fucked up I know."

Lory leaned forward "Any way they can trace it back to you?" he picked up the folder that was on the table and began to scan it. He had noted that most of it was in Russian. Yet there was plenty of information in Japanese and English. What surprised him the most was how basic her life story was. Anyone who read it, would not be able to really get anything from it. She grew up without her parents or so it seemed, with a family friend of her mother's. She worked within the family inn where she was serving customers and cleaning it seemed. She had several part-time jobs, the only real thing that could connect her, she had top grades in her classes. All things that could be checked but sadly it seemed no friends.

"Not unless Tomi says something."

Lory's eyes turned towards him, he really hoped that the this wasn't the same man that he was thinking of but everything in him was saying that it was. "Shiro, Tomi?" a single nod came from Kuon and Lory had to keep himself from sighing, "I didn't know you were friends with him or Kuon was."

"Kuon hung with a rough crowd, he was interested in me… we weren't really friends," he muttered.

"Friendly enough that Kuon owes the son of the White Shinigami favors." he watched as the boy lean forward resting his arms on his legs. "Tell me what was so special about this one?" Lory said tapping the folder on his knee, 'Tomi isn't known to actually care about people, not even his own family.'

Lory watched as the young man shook his head slightly, "All he said was, I can't keep doing Friendship is Friendship, Service is Service this time."

Lory ran a hand across his chin, "Russian proverb… hm… so he grew to care about her enough that he couldn't fulfill his responsibilities." He flipped the folder open again looking at the girl's photo, the information that was written in there, 'So what was so special about this little girl?'

Kuon seemed to get the idea where Lory's mind was going and he sighed again, "I would never have thought it possible… if he hadn't called me Boss." he put his hands between his head as he leaned forward on his legs, "He never asked me for anything before. When he called… he sounded like I did when you came for me. Trapped in this darkness and he was crying for help." This was what clearly was troubling him more than even Lory knew.

"He could have gone another way about it, his family…" Lory paused before shaking his head, 'That's likely why he couldn't actually. The White Shinigami's son never wanted his life. He's most likely one of the most untouchable men on the planet due to his father... ' His eyes dropping towards the photo of the girl, 'If he cares about this girl then he wouldn't want her in that type of world either.'

"Boss, what are we going to do about the girl?" Kuon was looking at the folder, clearly troubled. He didn't know what to do and needed Lory to make the choice to make this alright somehow. It was clearly written on his face that he didn't want to be responsible for the girl either and that's why he had appeared in the middle of the night.

"You are going to do nothing. That girl is no longer Ren or Kuon's concern." Lory leaned back in the couch, puffing on his cigar for a moment, "Tell me about Albert?" he had to make sure this didn't backfire on Ren or Kuon for that matter.

"He's a friend on the force, Detective Goto. They know that this group has reached all the way up. They needed more information, I had to have some cover. I trust him. He can keep my name off the books and that girl. No names, no dates, no records. Minus what's in that folder right there." His eyes turned towards the folder that laid open on Lory's lap at the moment.

"I'll have Ruto see you out." Lory paused for a moment before picking up the folder and snapping it shut, "But I want you to remember one thing, if this happens again, you will return to America." he watched the young man nod once, Lory rang a little bell and Ruto appeared "Please see to it that Ren gets home safely, then make sure that the car that Kuon drove here is also returned to Detective Goto."

Ruto gave a slight nod of his head before opening the door to lead Ren out. Only then did Lory allow himself to truly breathe as he put out his cigar.

Sighing heavily I sat down at the desk, opening the folder once again before me. "I had not expected this, not from Kuon" I muttered under my breath as I looked at the images and bits of information. I knew of course that Kuon kept his heart locked up even more than he did when he began to enter the world of showbiz and began to understand the ugly side that came with it. Yet he locked it up tightly using the name Ren to keep himself in check all because of Rick's death. That no one would normally be able to reach Kuon, not even his parents could make him appear before them. It was only slightly different with me because I forced his hand sometimes... but for the most part, even I could not get Kuon to appear in front of him.

'Yet Tomi Shiro could' turning in my chair I sighed 'and he even ended up getting others involved in this. Just what did the son of the White Shinigami do to make him break away from Ren?' I looked down at the photo of the girl, the Blue Rose as she was labeled 'and what did she do to change the son of the White Shinigami?' Frowning I booted up my computer and began to dig into the history of the girl who was at the heart of this all.

Kyoko had woken early, she had woken early every day for the last two months that is if she slept at all. Turning she stared at the pale pink walls, the large bay window that one could sit and read or even nap at seemed to brighten the whole room even more than she expected. Sitting up she threw off the lilac color bedding taking in the fact that all the wood in the room was such a deep brown that it almost looked black. The room to her screamed Princess… yet Kyoko knew she wasn't one. No Kyoko had learned that she had no real worth in this world, most of all she learned that she had no place. No home, no family, no friends... and that was all thanks to Shoutaro. He made it so very clear her worth in this world.

Standing up she stretched before figuring she should actually get dressed. She only had what she came here with and found herself once again putting the sweater and the belt back on after removing the sleeping garments she had been given. Slowly running her fingers through her black hair to try and detangle it she opened the door and slipped out. She wandered the hall more from memory from when she was lead here. How she likely wouldn't even be able to do that if Tomi had drugged her like he was meant to do, at least that was what she had heard while waiting. They didn't do it right away not until the money was given but by then Tomi had been called into the Boss' office. Kyoko questioned silently why no one thought to do so afterward but where would she had gone anyways, barefoot as she had been, at least now she had the house slippers. For some reason she was sure that Tomi had even planned this much for her, to assure that she was not drugged.

Noticing a light on in the room she had been brought to before being escorted to a bedroom she softly knocked, there was no answer. Kyoko chewed her lower lip carefully before opening the door, there was the man who had allowed her, the first restful sleep she had gotten in the last two months. However, he was hunched over his desk, asleep. Shaking her head she grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and covered him. Making a note to make sure to find someone who could take this man to his bed. There was still a couple of hours before any staff would begin to stir to start the daily work of maintaining what she was starting to realize was a large estate.

'I must find a way to thank you… somehow' she ran a hand through his hair gently. "But you really should take better care of your health," she said softly taking care to remove his ashtray and what she was sure was some sort of whiskey from his desk. Looking towards the bar he seemed to have across the room, she walked around the counter and found the small wastebasket and even a sink. 'Good I can take care of these things at least' dumping out the ashtray she washed both the cup and the ashtray out before drying them and putting them away. Making her way back to his desk she grabbed the glass bottle of whiskey going back to his personal bar. Her eyes scanned the many kinds of liquor before finding a place that was almost out of her reach but she was sure if she stood on her tiptoes she should be able to put it in its proper place. Frowning softly as she attempted to reach to put it away before a hand fell upon her own, sliding it in the place while fear grasped her heart.

"Forgive me Kyoko-san" the voice wasn't soft but it was almost monotone. Kyoko could tell his presence was no longer right behind her and she quickly turned to stare at the dark skin man in front of her. "I work for Takarada Lory," he said placing a hand over his heart and bowing slightly towards her his eyes never leaving her own, "It seems you have taken care of him while I was away, I thank you."

"It…. it's not a problem" she bowed her head back to the man before her, "um Thank you for your help." she slowly moved around him. It would be a lie to say that this man didn't bother her, but it had nothing to do with how he looked, or how he spoke, no it was fully how he seemed to had made not a single sound when he had entered. Her eyes darted to the door, it was closed. Which meant not only had he entered he had shut the door all without a sound. This made this man a seriously dangerous person if crossed. Her head turned back towards him as they watched each other. His eyes watched her like she was some strange animal, and she stared at him like he was some sort of alien. Slowly Kyoko began to breath yes she didn't have anything to fear from this man but that didn't change that she was actually in his way. "I will just head back to my room now… goodnight" she said bowing her head again before running out of the room.

Ruto's dark brown eyes watched her as she fled the room before looking towards Lory Takarada and sighing softly, he felt a bit hurt for an odd reason. Still, he pushed that off as the fact that she had taken care of the man he served.

"Grandfather…" the voice of Maria entered Lory's mind as he slowly shifted and groaned as he stretched out his back, the blanket falling off his shoulders, he stared at it for a moment before leaning back in the chair looking at his beloved granddaughter.

"Good morning Maria, did you sleep well?" He reached out to pick her up and give her a morning hug but she stepped back from him, crossing her arms in front of her chest 'Guess no morning hug today' he thought sadly.

The little girl frowned clearly she didn't wish to talk about how she slept last night, "The new cook told me to tell you that breakfast would be ready soon." she huffed before turning on her heel and walking out.

Lory sighed heavily 'Guess it will be awhile before she's back to normal' he thought sadly as he stood and looked at the blanket before folding it up and tossing it onto the back of the couch. He walked over, looking down once more at the information he had been able to gather… there really had not been much. If it hadn't been for the file that Kuon had given him last night. Then he could safely say that this girl didn't exist anymore and it bothered him more at just how well someone had done to remove all traces from her. Had she no friends? No based on the information, which made him wonder how a girl could be so kind when she was so clearly alone in the world. No one who seemed to care about her, and the one friend she had had? That friend sold her to pave the way for his own desires and dreams. No that wasn't exactly true, she still had one friend, perhaps a better one as scary as that thought was to Lory, "The son of the White Shinigami. Who would had thought?" His fingers tapped on the folder slightly as he thought about it.

He pulled everything he had gathered on his own and slipped them into the file before grabbing his cell phone, "Yes Ruto, I'm in the office. If you have a moment." It didn't take long for his most trusted friend and ally to appear in the room. "Ah Ruto, can you please put this in the dark safe" the man bowed his head and took the file that Lory handed to him.

"She was here earlier," he said standing near Lory.

"I figured…" Lory's eyes dropped towards the blanket on the back of the couch, "it's interesting that with the life she's lived she still has such much kindness."

"Perhaps it is simply ingrained in her." Lory couldn't deny that this was possible, much like Ruto had been ingrained to serve.

Lory really didn't want to think that was the case though, "Maybe… but that wouldn't be enough to sway him" he clapped his hands as he rubbed them together, for now, it was time to push the troubling girl out of his mind. "I hear we have a new cook, where did you find them?"

"I didn't." Ruto turned and walked away leaving one very confused man in his wake.

In the back of a dark lit bar, a man sat in a leather jacket covered his frame. A band stood on the stage, their music was not awful but the singer seemed bored. His silver hair and violet eyes seemed to dislike the place where he was. The whole group seemed to be playing just because they could and didn't honestly seem to care about the crowd, which they did have dancing. It was clear they had talent if they actually cared to push themselves to use that talent. One could almost see the spirit of the dead swirling around them in a dance of their own.

The man waved over the lead singer with the silver hair and violet eyes. The annoyance that crossed the young man's voice had the older man running a hand through his dark hair as he the silver hair teen moved towards him, "Reino-chan!" his look didn't match his tone of voice, he was far too happy sounding but the man looked like the sort who could easily tear a man into two with his bare hands alone.

"Boris" the teen crossed his arms in front of him as Boris leaned back in the half booth.

"Can't you sound even a little happy to see me? You sound so much like him it's not funny." He asked his red eyes staring at the young man before him.

Reino sighed "Can't be helped. What do you want?" He said taking a seat in one of the chairs to assure that they wouldn't accidentally touch.

Boris tilted his head, his red eyes searching the violet one's eyes, he blew out his cheeks before turning his beer in his hands before downing half of it, "Piss water" he muttered under his breath. He got nothing from the teen and rolled his head back and forth against the back of the booth, popping his neck in the process. "Tomi left that Flower Organization. Well, the latest group he joined trying to find himself" he shook his head not that he really believed that Tomi was 'looking' for himself.

Reino looked at him carefully, "He will find himself or be better off dead."

Boris nodded his head some "Not what I came to ask. No I talked to one Boss on the phone, not his real name but that's what everyone calls him." he chuckled as he turned the beer in his hands "This beer is stronger than that piss ant I've been watching. Still, the guy gots some powerful connections. No, it's the reason why Tomi left that bothers me. Someone that scared him."

"There are scary people in the world. Your brother is one of them." Reino said, he didn't want to let this man know that it bothered him that there was someone who could scare Tomi. That man he had never known him to be scared, not since he was extremely little and only in the memories that he had picked up from him.

The man sighed running his hand through his hair again "Vas isn't scary at all." his eyes turned towards Reino "After all didn't he care for you?"

Reino sighed "The Pakhan was indeed very kind to his little sister" his eyes turned towards him "Allowing her to marry the man she loved so I could be born. It is good to know that the man didn't end up on the wrong side the Pakhan." His eyes turned towards his band "I need to go. Is there anything else?"

Boris down the rest of his beer, "If you see him let him know his family misses him" he said standing up and patting Reino on the shoulder.

I wanted to scream, the images that forced their way into my mind. Too many for me to process it all, so I did what I always did. I focus on the loudest one. This time it was Vas smoking a cigar, a man was hung upside down, dripping in blood, most of his skin had been peeled off. I was seeing it through Boris eyes which was unsetting in its own way. Still, Vas clearly showed no signs of being bothered while I wanted to throw up.

"He say anything yet Boris?" He asked looking toward Boris.

"Lots but he won't give the name."

Vas shrugged, it was clear to me that for this man it was just another day in the office."Well, guess it's my turn. Bring her in boys" he called out as two large men walked in holding a scared woman between them. She looked bad, as though she hadn't slept in days, eyes red. Yet she was clean, she had not a mark on her.

The man eyes shone with fear for the woman as Vas wrapped his hand around the back of her neck holding a knife "See I don't personally like hurting women, not big on hurting children or animals either." He said running a hand through her hair almost gentle in the movement, he turned her to look in his violet eyes. "Quick deaths when I have to but see your husband here doesn't want to tell us who he's been talking too. He broke my trust, I mean I think my brother's been really nice." He shrugged the blade tracing the side of her cheek but not cutting her, "He's made sure he's been kept alive. Yet you see, only my brother and son know how to do this sort of thing. Me… I'm a klutz you see." He pulled the knife away from her and made a quick slicing motion in the air, "One slip of the hand and they are dead. I can't do figure out how." He shook his head sadly. Turning her so back was pressed against his back. Looking towards her husband, "I guess that's why he's called the Red. While I just seem to drain all the blood out in a nice simply motion" the blade drew across the woman's neck in one quick motion, a small thin of blood began to flow out. The skinned man cried out as Vas lifted her up gently and set her on the metal table. Where the blood began to drip around and down a small drain.

"Must be why I'm White…" he said mostly to himself running his hand through her hair, her eyes slowly dimming his eyes turned towards the man skinned and hanging, "Now…. there is still a chance to save her… how about you give me that name now." He smirked at the man cries.

Reino felt physically sick but he rose from his seat, a long blond hair teen moved towards him. "Who was that?"

Reino looked at him "That's the Red Shinigami."

The teen looked at the man that was walking out the door, "So Shinigami are real?"

"So it would seem Miroku" Reino put his hands in his pockets "I'm not feeling so well. Let's call it a night."

Miroku, "Whatever you say." he turned back three remaining members of the band "Yo, Shizuru, Kiyora, Dasuku we're leaving. Let's pack up and go" the three nodded. "Why don't you go get the money for us." Reino shrugged and wandered over towards the owner.

Kyoko stood in the kitchen she really didn't know what the people in the house ate or even what they would like. She sighed heavily as she placed the natto on top of rice, and the season veggies she had found, fried eggs and she found several kinds of fruit. She made enough for four but began to worry if perhaps she should also have made more. There were plenty of people who seemed to work here as it was but she had chosen Lory, the little girl named Maria and the dark-skinned man she had learned was Ruto thanks to Maria.

The little girl who came in earlier stared at it and then huffed "I'm not eating that" she said turning on her heel to leave. She turned quickly as she picked up on something, something dark that seemed to surround the woman who leaned over and pinched both her cheeks rather hard.

"You think if you just huff and puff that you'll get your way?" she released her cheeks and picked her up before sitting her in front of the place settings, "Now eat," she said sitting down, she really should make her wait for the other two men but she was annoyed at this little girl. It was like she was trying to push her luck with Kyoko and she was not going to budge when it came to eating a healthy meal, or fake crying. Maybe in the past, she would have been just like everyone else that seemed to surround this little girl. There was spoiled and rotten and she would not let this little girl while she stayed here became one of those rotten types. Yet when Kyoko heard the sound of chopsticks against bowls and she sighed, happy to know that there was still hope for her. "Thank you."

Maria eyes shot up towards her "Why are you thanking me?"

Kyoko smiled softly, "at least I know now it's not poisoned" she watched the little girls eyes widen but perhaps it was the man in his robe still that seemed the most taken back by it. Kyoko lifted her eyes up to look at the man, before looking back at the food, "Don't worry. I was only joking." she rose from her seat and bowed her head, "Please sit, would you like tea or coffee?" she lifted her head to look at Lory smiling a business smile.

Lory couldn't believe what he had walked in, but he was pleased to know it was a joke and found himself sitting next to Maria still not exactly sure if he should stop her from eating the food or not. "Coffee would be fine." he leaned towards Maria looking her over carefully, she seemed well, even happy which was a bigger surprise to him. Add in the fact that Maria didn't seem to stop eating, which included eating the vegetables "I'm surprised you aren't complaining more…"

Maria smiled softly at him but said nothing her eyes watching the woman. Kyoko sat a glass of orange juice in front of Maria before setting a black cup of coffee down in front of Lory, "Um… sir will that other man, Ruto, be joining us. I made enough for him as well…" her eyes trailing towards the extra place setting.

"Ah yes… I'm sure he would be delighted to eat with us today, wouldn't you?" His eyes turning towards a man that seemed to appear in the room. Ruto gave a small nod of his head before taking another seat. It didn't escape Lory's eye the fact she had jumped a little at his sudden appearance. Ruto had a way of being unseen unless he wanted to be seen.

"Umm would you like coffee or tea?" she asked him softly.

"Tea would be fine," Ruto replied, his eyes watching as she bowed her head before moving into the kitchen again.

Lory was sure now, this girl worked in a Ryokan, likely Fuwa's family Inn. Her manners stated as much, the way she didn't seem bothered by the fact that there was a grown man in a robe, the fact she was able to quickly school her features. The biggest problem he saw was that none of it felt real to him. Then again, she had been left by all accounts with the Fuwas sometime between the ages of seven and eight. He wondered if that was why she was able to so easily to disappeared by the time she was seven years of age. Due to prior it only being weeks or months between her mother and the Fuwas. By all accounts he could find, her mother was not a stable part of her life and was gone longer and longer in between until she simply stopped appearing altogether.

Lory sighed, he didn't have the full picture but he had a pretty good picture of this girl's life. The biggest problem was what he was going to do about it now.

A few days later Ruto stepped forward "Your son." Lory lifted his head from the desk the file of one Mogami Kyoko spread out on his desk.

"Thank you Ruto," he leaned back in his chair "Kouki, My boy! How are you?" he asked happily.

"Fine father. How is Maria?" He noted the hint of worry in his son's voice. He hadn't appeared for her birthday of course because of being busy and of course the fact that it was still pretty raw that her birthday was also the day his wife had died.

"Better than she was, you should come and see her soon." Though Lory knew that even that was awkward between the two of them, he also knew that Maria tended to be much brighter when he was around. Just in the same way, his heart seemed to lighten just a little bit when she was around. Though it was clear also to Lory that it was still very painful for them to be with each other.

"I'll see what can be done. Now onto the matter at hand." Lory mentally sighed, his son was a man who put business before his personal relationships, not bad for someone who ran the West side of LME but not a good thing for a father. "I believe it is possible to go with the plans. Should you choose to follow through with them. I've spoken to your Aunt and England's Japanese Ambassador, they have agreed. Though why you would bring them into it…"

"Family helps each other Kouki" it was the truth and the fact remained he had grown fond of the girl. He wanted to help her.

"Of course, but the girl is not." there was a slight confusion in his son's voice and Lory understood where he was coming from as well.

"She was brought to me by my Godson"

"I see, then Kuon has requested your help in this matter. Then I will not ask for any more information about it. I do feel for the girl but we cannot allow this to effect LME West or East divisions." Just like that, the matter was settled in Kouki's mind. How strange of a way to think about matters. Then again Kouki knew exactly who Kuon was as well. Kouki was several years older than Kuon and knew him well enough prior to him changing to Ren but he also knew not to say anything without Lory ever having to say anything to him. As far as Ren knew Koui had no clue.

Lory chose to pay attention to a certain comment his son made, "They're not really divisions…"

"Yes, I know… but I take care of the business on this side of the world. You… I hope are taking care of things on your side father." He could almost see the smile on Kouki's face, faint as it would have been.

"Of course I am. I even look at your reports!" Lory couldn't help but huff "You shouldn't treat your father like a child!"

"Of course not, forgive me, father. I must go. Tell Maria hello for me please." Lory wanted to sigh but he knew that would do no good with his son.

"Yes, of course, I will. I'll talk to you soon." Lory hung up the phone and swayed back and forth in his chair. "Ruto what do you think?" his eyes darting to the man who stood off to the side.

"I think we need people closer to her age." Lory lifted his eyebrow at him "Young people tend to understand each other much better."

"Yes! Yes of course!" He lifted his phone and dialed quickly. "Ah yes, it's Lory can you give my dearest Aunt Leiko and Cousin Mary a message for me? Yes just that I would like to speak with them as soon as they are able to do so. Yes… That's right Lory Takarada! Yes of LME. Yep, this number is a good one to call. Thank you." he leaned back in his chair grinning. Ruto picked up the phone and moved it back to its proper place.

A/N: Russian Proverbs - Friendship is Friendship, Service is Service roughing means even if one is friends that they will fulfill their responsibilities.

Pakhan is the head of the Russian Mafia.