My new cat began to lick the water that I had tossed onto the girl’s face to wake her up. She groaned and looked around my shabby room.

“This? What happened?” She asked groggily, shaking her head. “This is where you live?”

Choosing to respond to the first question. “I won and took you prisoner in the process.” I allowed myself a small smile at the look of frustration that inched its way across her face. “I want you to tell me, who is behind this plot?”

She averted her eyes, “Why should I tell you Jin? Satoshi-san is paying far more than you ever would if this is the kind of place you live in. Besides, I can tell you’re a good man, I have nothing to fear from you.”

She’s right you know. Ikiru chimed in. You’re not the kind to torture her, and you don’t have anything to offer her.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” I responded to both. “How do you think Satoshi-san will take your failing?” Her eyes flashed, but she did her best to conceal it. “If I take you back to him like this, or I simply leave you here and go about my business, do you think that you will be in business for much longer? I think not.”

She returned my question with an icy stare. This had gotten to her I could tell, she didn’t want to admit it, but that much was clear. “Now your choice is simple. You can work with me, and keep your job that I assume does, in fact, pay much better than this, or… I can do it my own way, and leave you tied up here.”

“You have more wits about you than I thought Jin.” She practically spat. “Fine, take these bonds off of me, and I’ll help you.”

To this, I laughed. “You still think I’m stupid? The only way I want your help is your information. Either way, you’re staying here. What I want is your information. If you help me, I’ll make it clear to Satoshi that you did your job. That is all miss?” I ended, realizing I still didn’t know her name.

“Chihiro.” She replied. “Fine, I’ll tell you what you want to know…”