Sold Merchandise

The pain in my head finally stopped. Although I was still tied up, I was able to think without wanting to die from the immense pain. Once again I was locked away in a dirty, damp cell. I really hope that they didn’t drive me anywhere out of the city. Would be a pain to find my way back before the sunrise.

I hope that Takeo is doing fine himself. They mentioned him in their conversation but I can’t recall what it was, they hit my head too hard.

Now that I was able to think straight and not go crazy I have the chance to think of a way out of this situation. Looking around there isn’t much that can be done. Since these guys are human traffickers I can assume they are smarter than the two amateurs from earlier.

A huge man walked in and began opening my cell. Without a word he picked me up and carried me out. We walked down a long, damp and dirty hallway. Surrounded by cells filled with other prisoners, mostly consisting of children or women.

I got taken into a decently looking room. The room was clean, the furniture was presentable and the table was filled with food. The man threw me onto a couch and untied me. I decided not to fight back, any rash move could lead to a worse situation than I already am in.

The man stood by the door we came from. I sat up properly on the couch and looked around. Only a few moments later a man wearing a purple suit came through another door on the opposite side of the room. He seemed to be carrying some kind of outfit but it was hard to tell what it was since he wasn’t holding it straight up.

“So you’re today's merchandise! Great to see that they patched you up, you weren’t doing so well earlier.” said the purple suited man. “You must be quite nervous, don’t worry everyone is on their first day, haha! My name is Noda Toyozo, you can call me Noda.”

I remained quiet and just carried on ignoring him.

“Anywho, you gotta wash yourself up and get dressed. You have a pretty face for a young lad so I chose the best dress I had for you.”

He handed me the dress and pointed at a door.

“That room there is a bathroom, wash up, dry yourself and get dressed. This shouldn’t take too long, you need to be ready in 10 minutes.”

I remained still and ignored what he was ordering me to do.

“Come on, we don’t have all day.”

I tried ignoring him again but this time the big guy started moving. As much as I would love to, I don’t stand a chance in the current situation. I will have to wait for a better chance to fight back. I grabbed the dress and headed into the bathroom.

The bath was already prepared, as much as I hate to agree with him, I do need a bath. Getting thrown around in those dirty cells hasn’t done me much good. I took my clothes off and threw them to the side. I entered into the steamy hot bath and laid down. It has been a while since I got the chance to lay back and relax in a bath. No man is around and the door is locked. Peace from all the idiots I have to deal with on the daily basis, I could get used to this.

I cleaned my body and washed my hair. After all that dirty cells, it feels nice to get cleaned up, I finally feel like a human again. I contemplated if I should resist dressing up in that dress Noda gave me but it will be easier for me to escape if I comply for now.

I pulled on the dress, from what it seems it was custom made. Did they measure me while I was knocked out? The dress was made of high-quality materials. Must have taken a talented person to make a dress like this in such a short time. I quickly slid the dress on and walked out of the bathroom into the main room.

“Well well well. Look what we have here!” Noda called out in excitement.

I ignored him and went back to the couch.

“Well then. We shouldn’t waste much time.” Noda added. He clapped his hands and a small group of women flooded into the room with some sort of cart. “Time to give your face some little additions to show your real beauty!”

The women surrounded me and grabbed make-up stuff from the cart. I don’t understand any of this since I never had any use for make-up. They applied stuff over my face, eyes and lips.

“Woah, you’re amazingly pretty.” One woman said

“I’m surprised they managed to get hands-on such a beauty, a shame that you’re here.” said another woman.

“He is pretty isn’t he!” Noah called out from behind.

“It’s a he?!” All the women called out in surprise.

“Yeah, it’s a he, his soft looking face is quite phenomenal so we brought him,” Noda added.

“Wow, never imagined a man could have such a pretty face, almost as if they are from a wealthy family.” One of the women said.

I’m glad that they are all stupid enough to believe that. I wouldn’t have expected to be that close to getting caught. I need to get out of here soon, I don’t need some sickos figuring me out.

“What is this all for?” I finally spoke out.

“OH MY! You can actually speak!” Noda screamed in excitement. “This is all for you to be nicely presentable at the show!”

“What show?” I asked.

“You will very soon see! Fear not, it’s a simple show, you don’t need to be a professional actor!” Noda added.

I don’t quite understand what he is trying to say. However, that doesn’t matter since I’m going to find out very soon. All the make-up ladies packed up their equipment and left the room, few giving me a wink on the way out.

“So, are you finally willing to tell me what your name is?” Noda asked as he sat down beside me.

“Why do you need my name?”

“Makes it easier to get your attention but I can just give you a name if you’re so protective over your name.”

“Sure, whatever, I won't respond to it anyway.”

“Oh no, don’t worry about it, you certainly will. If I'm honest with you right now, you should just embrace the name, everything will be easier that way.”

“And what is this name that you so desire to give me?”

“Hmm, good question. Haven’t looked that far ahead.”

“Are you just that stupid?”

“Why are you so damn serious?”

“Because I hate when people try to use me.”

“Oh no, we aren’t going to be the ones using you, haha, but a few others… well that’s for you to find out. Haha.”

He stood up and grabbed my arm.

“Baldy, escort her over to the stage, it's showtime now,” Noda told the big guy by the door.

The big guy picked me up and began carrying me out of the room. We walked along another corridor but this time it was much fancier compared to the other one. Almost as if we were within a wealthy person's house. Walls are covered in pretty wallpapers with lots of beautifully framed photos.

We reached our destination, once again another door. We walked through and there was loud chatter. The big guy put me down on the ground and guarded the door we came from. There were curtains and a pathway to another door. Safe to assume that's an option for escape.

Noda walked off into the curtains. Suddenly all of the chatter had faded away. Once it was dead silent, Noda began to speak.

“Welcome! Ladies and Gentlemen. Sorry for making this show on such short notice but I just couldn’t let this phenomenal opportunity wait. We have acquired a new piece of merchandise, one which I never could have imagined to come across. Unlike usual, this time we did have something you would not believe unless you see it for yourself.”

The big guy began pushing me towards the curtains. Safe to assume it’s time for me to make my debut at this criminal world show.

“May I present to you, Sanjou Jo! This boy is the prettiest boy I have ever seen in my life. I mean just look at him…”

I walked onto the stage and everyone glared at me through their masks.

“Isn’t he just perfect? I know what you’re thinking, why is he in a dress? Is it not just a girl and you’re saying it's a boy? Trust me. This little fella here would rip all my limbs off if he could, he’s more than manly enough to do that but his outside shell, so soft, so… so charming, it really takes away my breath.”

Noda leaned over to me and whispered to me, “Bow down, make yourself look presentable.”

I have no idea how powerful Noda is, I don’t want to risk making any stupid moves, specifically around this many people. I will just have to comply with what he wants currently.

As I had been ordered to, I bowed down.

“So… You all know why you are here now and what the merchandise is. Who would be interested to rent our little Sanjou Jo?”

Suddenly multiple people's hands rose.

“Woah there is only one of him and lots of you, should be set this to be rented to the highest bidder?”

People in the crowd began shouting, few agreed others disagreed. There seemed to be quite a large split in terms of opinion.

“Ah, what a tricky situation it is. How about we flip a coin? Heads we will make it the highest bid. Tails we will do first come first serve. Sound good? Not like you get a choice, we will leave it up to chance.”

Noda flipped his coin high into the air and let it land on his hand. He opened up his hand to see what the coin had landed on.

“Tails it is, first to come will be the first to get served. The first person to lift their hand wins. Simple as that. I will count down from 3 and you go. 3… 2… 1…”

Multiple hands went up within a split second. I couldn’t even tell who it was.

“Fantastic, Madam Ochi Ai was first! Congratulations!”

Everyone clapped and congratulated her. I don’t understand how he saw that she was first nor how everyone can so easily accept it. Is he just that trustworthy or is he just that scary that they won't go against his word? I wonder.

“Anyone else who wants to rent out the merchandise after Madam Ochi Ai can make a reservation! I will get the merchandise ready for delivery, thank you all for attending the surprise show.” Noda mentioned.

He grabbed my hand and we walked off the stage, behind the curtains.

“Great job out there Sanjou,” Noda mentioned.

“Why am I called Sanjou?” I asked

“You wouldn’t give your name, so now you respond to Sanjou Jo. Too late to change that now.” He replied.

“Whatever, do as you want, doesn’t change the fact you’re an idiot.”

“Why so serious? What did I do? All I’m doing is making you famous. Isn't that great?”

“I don’t need help from anyone to become famous, I can manage perfectly fine on my own. I imparticular don't want help from idiots like you.”

“Oh my… Madam Ochi Ai will sure have a blast with you! Haha! Now let's get going, you got your first customer waiting for you.”

“First and last” I mumbled to myself.