The Bad, The Bidder, and the Daughter (KBTBB)

Ota: Two

ASUKA POV

"Asuka, Asuka, going down the hole!

Her daddy left and now she pays the toll!

Asuka, Asuka, where have you gone?

Off to wonderland as a pawn!

Asuka, Asuka, don't you see?

Your mama doesn't love you, no siree!

Asuka, Asuka, cry one your bed!

Trust us when we say, you're better off dead!"

The children chanted as the little blonde girl began to drag her feet on the tab dirt ground, moving back and forth one the swing, yet never flying above the floor.

"What is wrong with you kids?! Scram before I tell your parents!"

The gaggle of children pouted, spewed some profanities, and ran off to possibly some other playground to torment another child.

The heroine who saved the silent child stepped towards her and knelt down, "Little Bluebird, are you okay?"

The little girl stopped moving back and forth and looked at the woman with teary eyes, "Mama..."

The woman sighed and grasped the child in her arms, "shh, bluebird it'll be okay. Come on, let's go home. I have someone I'd like you to meet. His name is Takahiro Kuroba. He used to work with me. He's a very kind man, and I think you'll love him as much as I do."

She nodded, "okay, mama..."

...

I opened my eyes to the sounds of people shouting numbers.

"SOLD TO BIDDER 100 FOR 22 MILLION!"

My eyes nearly popped out of my head.

"WHAT?!"

...

Two masked men came from behind the stage where I was displayed in the metal cage.

"Come along, pretty lady," say one of them, pushing the cage into a nearby elevator with the help of the other guy.

The door closed and he pressed a button, "going up."
...

When the elevator came to a stop and the door opened, I was set free from the cage and step out into a luxurious lounge, the cage was sent back down by its lonesome.

I was guided towards a couch with three people sitting on it resisting the urge to burst into tears. I quickly look down, too afraid to say anything or so much as look at my new... owners.

"Look up."

I hesitated at first, but the way the voice commanded told me that it wasn't a request. I felt sick to my stomach, the floor seemed to sway under my feet, and I could only feel numb. The kind of numb where you leave an ice cube on for too long and you're left with nothing but an empty stinging sensation.

I raised my head.

"We bought you," said a man with brown hair and golden eyes.

I nodded.

"What is your name?"

I gulped. I knew I couldn't tell them my real one. Who knows what they would do. They could track down my home, my mom, my dad, Takeo, Tomoe...

I mustered up every bit of acting skill I had, the kind that made me win regional high school acting competitions.

"Aoi. My name is Aoi Toriyoshi."

He seemed hesitant to believe me, but seemed to accept it, "how old are you? Why were you sold? You were not on the list."

I took a deep breath. Real age was out of question. "I'm eighteen. I don't know why I was sold. I checked into the hotel and saw a little girl in a white dress, her hair the same color as mine. I followed her because she was wondering into a sketchy area. I wanted to make sure she was okay so I followed her, she went downstairs and I called after her. She giggled and went into a room. When I tried opening the door I heard man say I would be the perfect replacement for the broken statue. I was hit in the head and well..."

"That explains it. The statue of Apollon was supposed to come out when you did. And as for the girl... Ota. I thought you and Sakiko had a talk with Hina about playing in the basement."

I turned my attention to a blonde man and brunette woman standing side by side, "Oh, dear," said the woman, messing with her ponytail in embarrassment, "you were trying to make sure our daughter was safe, but that only led to this. We apologize, Miss Aoi. Ota, we need to let her go."

"Sakiko, you know we can't do that. However..." he looked me in the eyes and froze for a split second but quickly returned to... normal, I guess.

"We will take responsibility for you. You are a young woman, still a child, if not barely. If this happened to my daughter I would want to make sure she was safe. We can't realease you, but... understand, this; you belong to us now, but don't worry. Sakiko would set someone on fire and sing Kumbayah with the Hina if anything happened to you."

I listened intently and sighed in half relief half oh god kill me.

I wouldn't be put back up for auction, I wouldn't be a sex slave, and I wouldn't be chopped up for organs. But I would never be able to see my mom or dad or Tomo or Take again, "I understand. Thank you for your mercy." I bowed.

The woman, Sakiko, came to me, "come on dear. Let's get you washed up. You look terrible." She led me to away to what I assume would be the bathroom to clean me.

I stripped, not caring Sakiko was still there one she finished filling the tub and slowly walked in.

She just stood by the shower, however, and asked, "so now that we're alone, how's Yui?"