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Soft light was filtering through the curtains. They would flutter every so often as a door opened. The smell of antiseptic pervaded the space along with the constant hum of a fan. I lay staring at the curtains watching the light steadily become brighter. Some part of me knew that I needed to get up, to assess the situation and find a way out. But it was faint, as faint as the quiet breathing next to me. I had nearly drifted back to sleep when I heard voices.

"You need to be more careful Ioshi. That last bout didn't go as planned. Do you know how much money I lost on that fight?"

"Don't worry about it Amber. We're drawing larger crowds than ever before by circulating pictures of the fighters." A soft laugh, "I never knew there were so many women interested in watching cage matches."

"Just make sure that tonight's match is properly fixed." The voices were overhead, but I couldn't get my eyes to focus long enough to see them.

"Don't worry about it. I'm putting in our newest fighter here as the challenger; he'll be overwhelmed and confused. An easy target for Shohei." Someone smoothed the hair back from my forehead. I tried to pull away from the touch only to realize that I still couldn't move. "He's cute enough that he'll have the crowd's sympathy but not their money."

"Those are the best kind of matches anyway." Amber's voice faded, "Just keep an eye on them."

"Yes ma'am."

A door opened and shut. I felt someone lean over me.

"Time to wake up."

There was a sting in my arm and a few moments later I could actually feel my body instead of that odd numbness. I blinked turning my head to see where I was. Ioshi was crouched down beside me.

"Welcome back Taketora. Your job description has changed a bit."

"Why? Why did you do this?" It was a struggle to talk.

Ioshi laughed, patting my shoulder. "Why does anyone do anything? For the money of course. Even you, you wanted the host job because it pays well. Am I right? That's all that people really care about after all."

I managed to get up on one elbow to look him in the eye. "That is not true."

"So why would a kid like you want to work at a host club, if not for the money?"

I looked away. "It's true that I need the money, but I also enjoy helping people."

He pushed me back down on the cot a smirk on his face. "You'll get over that soon enough. Now, just lay still for a bit. I have to go wake the others."

Sitting up I watched him. I was astonished to see that the room was filled with nearly twenty cots each with someone asleep on them. The quiet breathing I'd been hearing earlier had come from the boy to the right of me. He looked like he was probably still in high school. A faded bruise showed on one cheek and his hands were bandaged. His eyes were still closed, his breathing deep and regular.

Turning my attention back to Ioshi I watched as he made his rounds, talking quietly with each person. As soon as he was done talking with them they would get up and head out of the room. I went to try to get up and winced as metal bit into my ankle. Flinging back the cover I frowned at the shackle.

"You'll get it taken off if you don't try to run away."

I jumped looking around to see who had spoken. The boy next to me was awake, his dark eyes regarding me with a bit of pity and contempt.

"As long as you do what they ask and don't try to run, you'll be okay." He gave me a lopsided grin and turned his eyes up to the ceiling. "Disobey like me and you get more matches, less food and chained to the bed every night."

"Matches?"

He snorted. "You have no idea what you are in for. We haven't had someone new in ages, not since that last kid nearly died."

"There has to be something we can do."

He laughed sitting up to look at me. "What can us kids possibly do against adults? They are all part of the Yakuza, even if we did somehow escape they would just find us again."

I sighed looking down at my hands. This was much more serious than I'd ever imagined. We both looked up as the door opened again. Ioshi came forward and undid the cuffs on each of us.

"I'm sorry but neither of you will be getting breakfast. You can use the bathroom, then it's straight to training. Let's go."

I didn't miss the slim metal baton that swung at his side now.

I landed hard on the mat again, my head reeling from the blow.

"Come on shorty, you've got to give it more than that."

Wiping the blood from my chin, I got to my feet. "I'm not going to fight you."

"You will or I will really hurt you."

Backing away, I shook my head.

"I have no reason to want to fight you."

I ducked under a swing, circling warily. My jaw was throbbing from the last hit.

"Don't give me that shit."

A small crowd was gathering to watch us, most of them goading on my opponent.

"Come on Hideki, knock him out."

He sneered at me, "You'll get killed the first match you have with that attitude. Did Ioshi make a mistake and grab a girl this time instead? You better start fighting back or I just might break my promise to not mess up your face too bad."

I shook my head, never taking my eyes off of him. He narrowed his eyes, dropping his fists.

"Fine then," Stalking over to the group he grabbed another boy and shoved him forward. "He'll take your beating for you."

I darted forward, "No, you can't do that." Shoving him back I glared at him. "This isn't right, none of it-"

Hideki grabbed my arm and threw me to the mat again. I scrambled to get up but he was already over me. Seizing me by the front of my shirt he shook me.

"Just who do you think you are?"

The blow snapped my head to the side and left me a little breathless. That was when I saw it, the hands slowly enveloping Hideki. Grabbing his wrist, I twisted forcing him to let go. Shoving him back I got to my feet.

"You keep this up and you will die."

"Are you threatening me?"

"No. But I know that something bad will happen if you don't change what you are doing. You have at most a day."

A haunted look flashed in his eyes quickly replaced by anger. "I won't be intimidated that easily, Shibata. We'll see who dies."

Turning around he stalked off, shoving people out of his way. Taking a deep breath I gingerly felt my busted lip. I glanced over as someone walked up.

"You really rattled him you know that." It was the boy who had occupied the cot next to mine. He gave me a sad little smile, "I'm Hiro. Did you really mean what you said about him dying."

I nodded wincing a little as my head throbbed. "Yes, but I won't let it happen."

"I don't know why or how you plan on helping him, but his match tonight is with a pro mixed martial arts fighter. He was already really worked up about it. Well, come on we'd better go get you patched up."