Morg: Heyo! The responses I'm getting for this rewrite are really awesome.

Ikuto: Somehow, I doubt that. I haven't even kissed Amu yet.

Amu: My response has been pretty negative.

Morg: It's a good thing that I write for the readers and not for either of you.

Ikuto: You can say whatever you want.

Amu: I think it's a good thing that you don't own us.

Morg: Why can't you two just let me live?

~Indebted~

Here is your warning. This chapter contains minor descriptions of sexual assault.

Amu pulled her knees up to her chest. She rested her chin on them and blew out enough air to stir the water she was sitting neck-deep in. The warmth of the bath was helping to relax her sore muscles.

"How are you doing, Amu?"

She didn't bother to lift her head and look over at where Midori was sitting on a chair she'd brought into the large bathroom. The doctor had said Amu was fine to take a bath but that she'd be there just in case.

Her question was a loaded one. With her bath? Amu was fine. She washed her hair with shaking arms and managed to rinse out the soap. She scrubbed at her skin under the water. When she was done soaking, she'd get up and help Midori to drain the tub before rinsing off in the shower.

With her life? Amu wasn't as certain about how she was doing with that.

"Amu?"

Shrugging, Amu blew out more air to make the water ripple. There weren't any bubbles. She didn't mind that, though. A bubble bath after what she'd been through sounded too much like a joke.

Midori didn't sigh or reprimand Amu for not giving her a verbal answer. The doctor stayed in her chair. Out of the corner of her eye, Amu watched as she went back to whatever she was doing on her tablet.

It was nice. Midori trying to give her an ounce of privacy.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Amu tipped her head forward until she could rest her forehead against her knees. The new angle put her lips underwater but not her nose. Not that that mattered much what with the way her nose was pressed so hard against her knees that she couldn't breathe through it anyway.

She kept getting flashes of memories. Snippets of things that she'd rather not remember. A man chuckling as he fondles her breasts while someone else holds her arms behind her back. A needle pricking the back of her neck as she was walking in the front door of her house. Someone forcing her legs apart and something going up inside of her before a voice spoke.

Amu lifted her head with a gasp. She'd forced herself to hold her breath for too long. She saw Midori stand from her chair but spoke before the doctor could take a step toward her. "I keep remembering little bits here and there."

Midori stayed silent as she stood before her chair.

Swallowing hard, Amu blinked away tears as she stared at the facet of the large tub she was sitting in. "From the moment they grabbed me on my way home, I have been under the effects of some kind of drug. I'm sure they used different types."

"I can do a blood test to see if I can figure out what any of them were. I can take a hair sample, too."

Amu didn't bother to shake her head. "But I can still recall bits and pieces of what happened to me. I was brought before some man. He checked me over. He touched me. He put his finger inside of me. Inspecting me, like I was some sort of good that he wanted to make sure was good quality before he put me to use."

Midori didn't move. The doctor forced herself not to have any sort of reaction to what Amu said even if she wanted to rage.

Sucking in another breath, Amu turned her head away from the doctor. She closed her eyes and rested the side of her head against her knees. "I remember different men fondling me. They touched me while I couldn't do anything more than stand there and drool."

"Amu, you can't-"

"I don't know what would be better," Amu said as she cut Midori off. "Remembering so that I know what did happen or not remembering so I didn't have to know."

Midori moved across the bathroom until she was dropping to her knees next to the tub. She barely pressed her fingertips to Amu's wet hair. "The imagination is a far worse punisher than anything a human could do."

"You're saying it is better that I remember?"

"Would your mind conjure up the worst possible things if you didn't?"

Amu didn't answer. Midori was right in a way. She'd picture herself being savaged by men and women alike. She'd have nightmares about being raped and used. It didn't matter that physically, nothing had really happened. Her mind would have made her see those false images if she didn't have the real ones.

It still put fake ones in her mind. The could-have-been of what almost happened to her. If Ikuto hadn't been the one to buy her and get her out of there.

A sob broke out of her throat. Amu hadn't even realized that she was so close to crying until it did. She let Midori lift her head and hug her as she cried.

XXX

Ikuto paced through his living room and back into his kitchen. Midori and Amu had disappeared into the bathroom several hours ago and had yet to emerge.

"Sir."

Pausing in his stride, Ikuto turned to find Kairi standing in the doorway of the hall. "What is it?"

Kairi pushed his glasses up his nose as he watched his boss. "Tsukasa called. He wanted to let us know that he was able to track the funds you paid to free Amu. He would not say anything else about the investigation."

Ikuto sighed at that. "He never does. Then again, that's why I trust him so much. A cop that was too loose with information would not be a good one."

Kairi dipped his head in agreement. "Have you spoken to her again?"

"No," Ikuto glanced back down the hallway that led to his bedroom and master bath. "Midori and Amu went into the bathroom a while ago so Amu could bathe and get dressed. They have yet to come out."

Kairi didn't bother to follow Ikuto's gaze to the closed door. What Amu was doing in the bathroom was not any of his business. "If you will allow it, I would like to be present when you talk to her about what she remembers. I will record the conversation. Hopefully, we'll gain some intel we need."

"The drugs are going to distort her memory."

"Time will only distort it more."

"I'm not saying that we aren't going to talk to her as soon as she's able, Kairi. I'm just saying, she's probably not going to remember much information."

Kairi kept his stance relaxed as he stayed in the doorway. "Even if this time isn't different, every bit will help us succeed."

Nodding at that, Ikuto resumed his pacing. "Is there any actual work you need me to do?"

"Sir?"

Ikuto sighed as he came to a stop in front of Kairi. "You've been working for me since college, Kairi. I know you like to pretend that I'm the one in charge of our actual business but I don't do the same. I'm probably going to need a distraction after Amu tells us what she remembers. Do you have things to keep me busy?"

In a way, Ikuto was right. Kairi did like to pretend that Ikuto held all the power. And in some ways, he did. In other ways, Kairi was the only one keeping them in business. "I have some contracts for you to review from some of the trainees. I was going to wait for you to be in the office tomorrow, but if you want to do them tonight I won't stop you. They're already on your desk."

Ikuto grimaced but nodded. Contracts were his least favorite thing to look at. "Fine."

Kairi didn't smile or laugh. He wasn't one for open displays of his emotions. He had never been in all the time that Ikuto had known him. That didn't mean that Ikuto couldn't see his satisfaction and mirth. It was there, for the people that knew Kairi best to see.

Ikuto was about to say something else when the door down the hall opened. Midori stepped out into the hall as Ikuto and Kairi both turned to look.

"Gentlemen, I assume you would like to speak with Amu?"

"Yes, Midori. We need to interview her before too much time passes. Tsukasa sent over some questions. He can't come himself for obvious reasons."

Midori nodded to Kairi before fixing her gaze on Ikuto. "She's tired. Emotionally and physically, but she is willing to answer your questions if you will answer some of hers in return."

Ikuto dipped his head in a single nod. "Would she like us to come in there or would she like to come out here?"

Midori disappeared into the room for a moment before coming back out with her arm around Amu's waist.

It was enough of an answer that Ikuto stepped back to immediately settle onto his couch. Kairi dropped down beside him while setting his phone up to record them.

Midori helped Amu to sit with her on the couch opposite them. She stayed against Amu's side as she took her own seat.

Ikuto frowned at that before realizing that Amu was the one holding onto Midori. She needed the comfort and he wasn't about to take any away from her. "Amu, I'm Tsukiyomi Ikuto. Do you remember me from before?"

Amu nodded but then grimaced. "What do you mean by before?"

Ikuto, glad to see her relaxing even if it wasn't by much, dipped his head in return before trying to make himself seem less threatening by leaning back. "I meant from early this morning when you woke up."

Nodding again, Amu bit her lip before looking up at Midori. "I remember you from this morning."

Kairi waited a few seconds to see if Ikuto has anything else to say. When he doesn't, he clears his throat. "We have some questions for you, Amu. We promise we will answer all of yours the best we can if you do the same for us."

Nodding again, Amu tightened her grip on the hand in hers. Midori didn't so much as grimace at the hold so Amu didn't let up. "I'll do my best."

Kairi pushed his glasses up into place before setting his phone carefully on the table between them. "I'm putting my phone here because it is recording this conversation. I have to tell you that you are being recorded because this is for a member of the police. He is running an investigation on what happened to you."

"Why isn't he here?"

Kairi didn't so much as glance at Ikuto as he answered. "Ikuto has been aiding this particular officer by giving him information that was gathered through alternative methods."

Amu blinked at that. The words made sense and yet they didn't. "What?"

Ikuto sighed as he forced himself to keep his hands in his lap. He didn't want to scare Amu by running his hands through his hair. Quick movements were to be avoided. "He means that I spy on the underground ring and report back what I can. The police cannot be seen coming here. It would give me away."

Amu looked from one man to the other before looking back at Midori. "Okay."

"Are you okay with being recorded?" Kairi asked.

"Yes," Amu responded softly. "I'm okay with being recorded."

Kairi nodded at that before turning his head to Ikuto.

Ikuto swallowed the blockage in his throat as he tried to keep his mind calm. "You were taken almost a week ago. What do you remember of that night?"

Grimacing, Amu looked down at Midori's hand in hers. She relaxed her grip only slightly. "I remember walking home and being tired. I was glad that I was almost there. I had my keys in the door and was opening it when I felt a prick of pain in the back of my neck."

"Midori, can you confirm the spot of entry for the needle?" Kairi cut in to ask.

Midori nodded before noting softly, "Amu has a needle mark just the right of her spinal column on the back of her neck. The light bruising and almost healed nature of the spot shows that it was a rough incision that occurred five to ten days ago."

Ikuto watched Amu's face while the doctor spoke. She didn't seem bothered by what she heard, though Ikuto was sure that wasn't completely true. "Are the things you remember from while you were with them something you think you can remember in order?"

Amu shook her head at that. "I get snippets of things. Midori said she would do some tests to see what drugs were in my system while they had me. Some things are easy for me to recall. Others are pretty blurry. I have had little things come back to me throughout the day."

"To the best of your ability," Kairi said as he adjusted his glasses, "please describe what you remember. Any details you provide, even just descriptions of places you saw or faces, will help the investigation."

Amu swallowed hard before nodding. "There was a man sitting in a large chair in the middle of the room. I was being held in front of him. I was naked. There was a man holding my arms behind me. He also kept me standing. The man in the chair chuckles at me as he runs his hand down my side. He brings up both of his hands and puts them on my chest. He… touched me for a while there. I don't know how long. I had no concept of time.

"The man holding my arms forced me to walk closer to the sitting man until I was forced onto his lap. My knees were spread by his legs. His hand trailed down my stomach until he was able to slip his middle finger inside me."

Midori squeezed Amu's hand as she paused there in her story to take a shuddering breath. She did not say anything but cut a sharp look at the two men across for them so that they would also stay silent.

Amu took another breath. She kept her gaze on the phone on the table between them. She did not want to see whatever emotions the others were feeling. Not when her own were far more important. "He told the other man that I was a virgin. The man holding my arms grabbed me by the hair without letting his hold on my arms go. He forced me to look at the man that was still touching me. The one I was sitting on. That man smirked. He said, "You're going to sell for quite a bit of money, little pinkette. I'm almost tempted to keep you. I do love virgins." Then the guy holding me there pulled me off of him and dragged me from the room."

Midori patted Amu's hand. "That was really good, Amu."

Ikuto didn't bother to try and smile to put Amu more at ease. There was nothing that was going to make their conversation easier. "Do you think you could describe what the man looked like? The one you were forced to sit on? Could you recognize him in a picture?"

Amu shrugged. "I could try to describe him to someone that can draw if you want. I might be able to recognize a picture of him. I don't think I'll ever forget the way he smirked at me. But the drugs made everything hazy. I couldn't control my neck very well. My head rolled a lot."

Kairi didn't move as Ikuto got up from his spot on the couch. He asked Amu some clarifying questions as they listened to Ikuto making noises in the kitchen.

Ikuto walked back into the living room with a tray in his hands. Four cups of ice water sat on it. He set it down on the table before retaking his seat. He let Amu choose whichever cup she wanted first before offering one to Kairi and Midori. They were in for a long night.

.

Morg: You know, things aren't great.

Ikuto: No shit.

Amu: I'm liking this less and less.