Ch 352: Maika.

Noah slowly woke up inside the Kuromori Mansion. He didn't move as he felt very comfortable, having a warm body pressed against him, using his right shoulder as a pillow. He slowly turned his head, careful not to wake up Nei.

She was naked, but they didn't have sex earlier. Noah hadn't really been in the mood, after a few rounds with Yukino.

Nei deserved more for her first time. She deserved a romantic dinner and a date first, but that would have to wait for now.

Noah smiled gently as he stared at Nei for a few minutes, then moved his free arm, taking from his inventory the purple remote that looked like a smartphone. When he pressed his thumb on its face, the remote turned on, displaying Akeno.

It was like that was an invisible camera only a meter away from her, and its footage was displayed live on the remote's screen.

Akeno was sleeping peacefully, her head and left shoulder visible, the rest of her body covered by a gray sheet.

There was a little arrow on the screen's bottom. Noah scrolled down to display the options.

The features were… extensive.

It started with an estimation of Akeno's mindset, currently displaying "asleep, relaxed."

Under it were Akeno's heart rate and breathing rate, then many options related to bondage.

It turned out that the amethyst belt Akeno wore used both a spatial dimension and liquid, semi-sentient material stored inside, similar to the four collars Lilith had once created to punish the local goddesses. The belt could extrude garments, whose texture could be set to either latex or leather, and the presets ranged from simple spats or single-piece swimsuits to full bodysuits with gloves and a hood.

Moreover, there were options to make the material form various restraints like collars or armbinders.

With this, Noah could bind and torment Akeno from a distance however and whenever he chose to.

And then, there were the sensory deprivation or gagging options, and the many settings for the vibrators.

Noah smiled as he scrolled back up, watching Akeno for a little while, pondering about how much work it would take to replicate the belt and remote. He could already create the belt itself, the semi-sentient material, and the vibrating functions. The difficulties needing to be solved were the interdimensional transmission, as well as the camera feature.

"She's so pretty." breathed Nei as she moved her head slightly to see better. Noah had been so focused on Akeno that he didn't notice the subtle signs of Nei waking up.

"Yes, she is." nodded Noah, fighting an urge to hide the remote. There was no point doing it now. "Good morning, Nei. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah. Who is she?"

"Her name is Akeno. She's the one I mentioned yesterday, who stripped some scum in public."

"That wasn't a joke?"

"No, it really happened… But I shouldn't stare at her while I have you in my arms, that's rude."

Noah put the remote away.

"It is a bit rude." pouted Nei before smiling again. "So you need to take a shot of me as well."

"Right." smiled Noah. Since Akeno had not moved at all, it seemed that Nei had failed to recognize what she saw as a video, much less a live feed.

"Next time you sleep, I'll take a nice picture of you."

"Good, but I won't let you distract me so easily. Where does she live? I didn't see her in your home."

"She is on a long-term expedition of her own. I think it will take her maybe another year to be done."

"The same kind of expedition you will have to undertake?"

"Yes. She is more or less acting as my proxy since I am busy with other things."

"So she must be someone pretty important to you." nodded Nei.

"Like Katsuko is to Sensei, I imagine." said Noah, before sighing. "Off all the days I will devote to helping Sensei, today will probably be the worst."

"Because of Maika?"

"Yes. Raping Yukino is bad enough. Maika is not only younger, she is also a better person than Yukino is."

"I know. I befriended her to gain access to her." nodded Nei. "But it's okay, Ren. She'll hate it at first, but Megumi and I will help. And she's a smart girl. A pragmatic thinker. Once we cut off all escape possibilities, she will aim for the best deal she can get for herself rather than resist uselessly."

"Hopefully." nodded Noah. "It's still early. Do you think Katsuko-nee or Morishita-san already are in the kitchen?"

"No. Why? Are you hungry?" smiled Noah.

"No. I'm thinking about making breakfast for everyone. Shuiruo told me I'm a great cook, and I wouldn't mind receiving some second opinions."

Nei sat up, her eyes shining. "Please. I want to eat your cooking."

Noah chuckled as he left the bed.

…

"And you did all this?" asked Minaho with a raised eyebrow as she stared at the food on the table. It looked like what one would find at a breakfast buffet in a luxury hotel.

Nei had woken her up minutes before her alarm was set to ring, informing her that Ren was serving breakfast.

"Yes. Please sit while the food is still hot." nodded Noah.

"It really is very good, Ojou-sama." said Katsuko. Morishita, Minaho's butler, nodded as he prepared a toast for Minaho.

"I also prepared some for Yukino." said Noah as he gestured to a tray. "I assume she's not joining us."

Minaho nodded and accepted the toast from Morishita. It was perfectly crunchy, and there was something she couldn't identify in the butter or raspberry jelly that somehow made it taste better than she remembered.

"Thank you, Nagano-kun. Is there a reason you choose to prepare breakfast today?" asked Minaho.

"I woke up early, I had some free time, and I wanted to do something nice for you all, including Morishita-san." shrugged Noah. "…And maybe I felt some small urge to contribute in more ways than as a warm body with a cock attached."

Noah said this without bitterness, and Minaho's face softened.

"I will admit that I saw you as disposable at first, Nagano-kun. But that isn't the case anymore. I wouldn't be willing to entrust Nei, Megumi, Katsuko and Nagisa to you if I didn't consider you part of my family."

"I know, and I am happy to have your trust, Sensei." smiled Noah. "I am just looking forward to what will come after, when we will be able to take things at a slower pace."

"And were you will be allowed to be more open?" asked Nei.

"Yes, that too." nodded Noah before sipping his coffee. "Yesterday night, His Excellency said he was presenting a bait. I assume it is a photo or a tip?"

"A photo." nodded Minaho. "One of Nei accompanying me, indicating her current affiliation with Kuromori. One of our contacts will make sure the photo reaches him. Cesario Viola is smart enough that he will suspect a trap. But he is also obsessed enough that he will gather his men and come regardless."

"How many men are we talking about?"

"Eighty to a hundred. Most of them, maybe all of them, will have firearms." said Minaho with an unconcerned tone.

"This mansion has thick walls, but too many entry points." frowned Noah.

"The confrontation will not happen here." said Margo. "When they come, they will only find an empty place, but they will find a message telling them where we are. A location that His Excellency has spent years preparing."

"I see." replied Noah, and they shared a predatory smile.

"By the way, I can facilitate the return of Kyoko Messer and Sousuke Shirasaka. Are they still in Australia? I can go wherever they are and return with them in minutes."

"Using the same ability Shuiruo-san possesses to move around?" asked Minaho.

"Yes. I can use it to reach any place I have already reached before, any place I can directly observe, or any individual whose identity I know. And I can bring others with me. All I need is physical contact."

"Ah, that would be a problem." shrugged Margo. "Kyoko is a hardcore lesbian. She doesn't want to even be touched by a man."

"I could ask Shuiruo, then. I do not think she'd mind." said Noah.

"That is a good idea, thank you for suggesting it, Nagano-kun." nodded Minaho.

"You're welcome. So, how are we doing with Maika?"

Minaho explained her plan for the day. "… and if you want to keep her as your slave, you should have sex with her until she drowns in the pleasure. If you rape her just once, then let her rest, she will develop a phobia of men, and giving her pleasure later will become much harder."

"I understand." nodded Noah.

…

"Katsuko-nee, isn't that a little too formal? I look like a groom who just escaped from his marriage ceremony." said Noah as he looked down at his clothes. Katsuko had been given carte blanche to dress Noah in a way that she thought Maika would find pleasing, and she had chosen white. White leather shoes, a pristine white suit, and a white shirt. A deep blue tie was the only touch of color.

"You look very dashing, like a prince from a fairy tale!" nodded Katsuko with a satisfied expression.

By now, Nei should be on her way back to the mansion with Maika.

"Alright, we only have to wait now." smiled Noah. Katsuko nodded, and they moved back into the living room, where Katsuko used a remote. The voices of several girls came from hidden speakers, with background noises suggesting they were inside a car.

"Oh, so what kind of person is Maika-chan's onee-san?" asked Nei.

"Hmmm, selfish, egocentric, short-tempered… and she' really irritating!" replied a youthful voice Noah didn't recognize.

"Isn't that just a brat?" asked Nei.

"That's right! Onee-chan's like a kid. She's not like the adult Katsuko-san or Nei-san."

Katsuko smiled at Noah as she set up the table for tea.

"We can talk if you wish, they won't hear us. Nei has initiated a call from her phone, and that is what we are hearing." said Katsuko, and Noah nodded.

"It really looks like Maika-chan wants to be an 'adult woman' herself." said Nei.

"…I do. I'm not tall, and my family keeps treating me like a kid."

"Even your sister? Shouldn't she understand you better, since your ages are close?

"She's actually the worst! I just borrowed her make up and she got really angry! She said, 'It's too early for you!', and that was just a year ago."

"You were seventeen last year, surely you're old enough to use a bit of make up."

"Yes! Do you see the problem? They still see me as a kid because I have a petite body."

"And your parents?"

"My parents… They don't care about me." replied Maika bitterly.

"How surprising." muttered Noah, and Katsuko nodded.

"Youko Shirasaka, her mother, is constantly on business travel as a food critic. And her father was busy with his double life."

Noah nodded and kept listening, but Mana's conversation with Nei had moved on to idol bands.

…

A few minutes later, the car driven by Margo stopped in front of the mansion, and Nei and Maika stepped out.

Maika was a petite girl with a cute face, black hair styled into twin tails stopping just past her shoulders, and black eyes framed by bangs stopping at nose level she wore a black parka with a black skirt white shirt a stripped green tie.

"Is this where Margo-san, Katsuko-san and Nei-san live?"

"Yes. There are a few other people, but there should be only Katsuko-san and my boyfriend present right now.

Maika stopped dead in her tracks, astonished.

"Nei-san has a boyfriend? You never mentioned him!"

"It is very recent." smiled Nei. "Come in, I'll introduce him to you."

Katsuko stopped the display from the mansion's security cameras, and the projector slid back up inside its casing on the ceiling.

"Our turn, Nagano-kun." smiled Katsuko.

"I asked you to call me Ren, Katsuko-nee." nodded Noah.

Katsuko considered for a few seconds, then smiled.

"After our relationship reaches the next step, I will call you Ren."

"I look forward to it."

"You aren't the only one." muttered Katsuko as she looked away, too low for him to pick up, or so she thought.

There was no time to say anything more, and the living room's door opened.

Nei entered, followed by Maika and Margo.

"Ren!" squealed Nei as she jumped into his arms.

"Nei. You look like we haven't seen each other in months. It's been only a few hours." said Noah with a grin.

"That's too long already!" protested Nei, winking at him where Maika couldn't see.

She turned to Maika.

"Maika, this is Ren Nagano, my boyfriend. Ren, this is my friend Maika Shirasaka."

"It is nice to meet you, Maika-san." said Noah with his best smile, and Maika blushed slightly.

"Y-Yes, nice to meet you, Nagano-kun." nodded Maika.

Katsuko also greeted Maika and took her parka, taking it away.

"Let's sit down, Maika-chan." smiled Nei as she dragged Noah toward a seat and took the one next to it.

Maika nodded and sat facing them.

"Your last name is Shirasaka. Do you perhaps have a sister at Hyakkaou Private Academy?" asked Noah, and Maika blinked.

"Yes. Do you know her?"

"She's one of my classmates." nodded Noah. "But we rarely talk with each other. I do not get along with her boyfriend."

"I have never seen him. What is he like?" asked Maika.

"As far as looks, I think he is fairly average, but I may be a little biased." smiled Noah. "He's good at baseball from what I hear, but he is also arrogant and self-centered, and prone to using his family's money to get out of trouble."

"He sounds like a match for my sister." sourly said Maika.

"I know better than to comment on her in front of her relative." chuckled Noah as Katsuko returned and started serving tea.

He noticed that Maika was properly courteous with Katsuko, and nodded to himself.

"But, I think, perhaps Onee-chan had her first time with her boyfriend recently."

"My, why do you think so?" asked Katsuko, and Maika scrunched her face.

"I haven't seen Onee-chan these last few days. She texted that she's staying in a relative's house, but, that's definitely a lie. So she must have spent the last few nights with her boyfriend."

"Why do you think it's a lie?" asked Nei.

"The relative Onee-san mentioned goes to the same school with her but, Onee-chan hates her a lot." frowned Maika. "She always bullies her when the relatives gather. She's a very good person but, there's no way for Onee-chan to stay at that person's house suddenly!"

"Still, it's strange that she hasn't returned home yet. Maybe her first time went badly, and her stomach hurts?" speculated Maika.

"First time sex generally isn't that great, because one or both partners are inexperienced." nodded Noah.

"Yes. therefore, I'm sure that her boyfriend must have done a very bad job! Onee-chan might have a hole in her stomach!"

Maika blinked as Katsuko, Margo and Nei burst into laughter.

"No, Maika-san." said Katsuko. "Women's internal organs are very elastic, and your sister can't get a hole in her stomach from sex. It would take something like a horse to really damage a woman's body. Have you tried reaching her by phone?"

"I tried, but she didn't answer." sighed Maika.

"Still, Maika-chan has a point." smiled Nei. "First time sex is serious. If you give your first experience to an unskilled person, it will leave a hole in your heart forever and you might not be able to have sex normally."

"Is that so?"

"Yes." nodded Katsuko. "Bad sex can cause traumas or even phobias… Maika-chan, are you still a virgin?"

Maika sent a quick glance at Noah, as if wondering whether he would mock her, before nodding.

"…Yes, I'm still a virgin."

"Do you plan to lose your virginity anytime soon?"

"No, there's no plan. However…" said Maika, her words trailing off, and she blushed slightly.

"What's wrong?" asked Nei with an encouraging tone.

"…There is someone I want to give my virginity to…"

"Someone you like? Tell us!" grinned Nei.

Maika seemed to hesitate, but she was weak to peer pressure, and she sighted.

"…Don't mock me, okay? He's called Noah Enfield. Have you heard of him?"

Noah froze.

"Isn't that the male Spirit who helped the Japanese Chevaliers repel the British invasion?" asked Katsuko, surprised.

"Yes, that's him." nodded Maika. "I have seen a picture of him, and he's so… handsome."

"Ah, you do not need to tell me. I've seen pictures too!" nodded Nei with a dreamy expression before noticing that Noah was looking at her strangely, and she laughed.

"Ren, you do not need to worry! It's like having a crush on a celebrity. I'm never going to meet this guy. And you're just as cute! No, even more so!"

"I'm not feeling insecure, Nei." nodded Noah. "You're my girlfriend, and no one is taking you from me without a fight."

"Right. That's how it should be." smiled Nei.

"But I am surprised you and Maika-san have even obtained his photo." nodded Noah. "I heard a bit about him because one of my uncles is in the military, but from what I've been told, he hasn't made many public appearances, and he left the country as soon as the war was over. He's supposed to be studying at Cassell College, that place where some of the military elites from all over the world go."

"It is true that there are very few pictures of him circulating on internet." nodded Maika, relieved that they weren't ridiculing her. "And most are taken from afar, but I found one that is probably him, although the one who took the picture isn't completely certain it really is him."

Maika took her smartphone and showed them a photo.

The picture featured Noah in the middle of eating ramen with Mai beside him, and two women who had their backs to the camera. Su Enxi and Eve.

Noah knew exactly where this picture was taken. And he thanked his good fortune that Shuiruo wasn't in it, despite her having done the most public outings with him in this world. That would have been difficult to explain to Nei and Katsuko.

"Okay, that guy seem good-looking enough to be a model, but what makes you think this is Noah Enfield?" asked Noah.

"The waitress who served his table claimed it was reserved under his name, and the restaurant's owner confirmed it. Some people also compared this photo with others taken from much farther after he defeated Her Eminence Luo Hao and the British invaders, and they seem to be the same person."

"But Maika-san, you realize that the odds of you meeting him are not great, right?" asked Katsuko. "That man lives in a world completely different from ours. Even CEOs of major corporations can barely hope to meet him one day. Doesn't that mean that you'll stay a virgin forever?"

"I know that I am just having a crush." shrugged Maika with a sad sigh. "Even if I could meet him, I am not stunningly beautiful like Nei-san or Katsuko-san. He probably would not even notice me. In a few years, I will probably be over it. But right now, I do not want to give my virginity to anyone else."

"Hum, I understand." nodded Nei. "But that must be frustrating, right? So, do you masturbate?"

"What?" blinked Maika.

"Masturbation." nodded Katsuko. "Women have their needs, and it's unhealthy not to masturbate often."

"Should we really speak about this?" awkwardly asked Maika with another glance at Noah.

"It's fine." grinned Nei. "Ren and I have done many things that would make you blush. Speaking about masturbation is nothing!"

"Many things?"

"Yes, like bondage play or pet play! He said he was going to learn leatherworking to craft a collar for me, rather than just order one on internet. Isn't that sweet?" asked Nei with obvious pride.

"I-I suppose so."

"So speaking about masturbation is nothing." concluded Nei. "How often do you do it, Katsun?"

"About five times a week." nodded Katsuko. "Women need to experience regular orgasms to maintain their beauty, or the overload of female hormones will ruin their looks! Having a partner is best, obviously, but masturbating regularly is still better than doing nothing."

"Is that so?" asked Maika, doubtful.

"Yes. Haven't you heard that women look great after sex? That their skin is glowing?"

"I heard about that, but I think it's just a myth?"

"Nei is very beautiful before and after sex." said Noah.

"Aww! See why I keep him?" asked Nei with a small laugh as she grabbed his arm, and Maika nodded with a smile.

"But it is true that women are particularly glowing after they had sex." smiled Noah. "There is that expression of fulfillment and happiness that I do not tire of seeing."

"Yes!" firmly nodded Katsuko. "I can attest to this. Women need to maintain a healthy balance of female and male hormones to be at their best and for their chest to grow. And to obtain male hormones, you must have sex with a man!"

Maika couldn't help glancing at Katsuko's large chest, then at Nei's, then at her own. Noah could almost imagine her sighing.

"Are you saying that I should have sex soon?"

"You should." nodded Nei. "But not with anyone. You need to have sex with someone who is skilled at it. A bad first experience might ruin it for you and give you a trauma... That's why, if you wish, I am willing to lend you my boyfriend."

"You are?" asked Noah with a raised eyebrow, feigning surprise.

Maika was gaping at Nei, then at Noah.

"W-What are you suggesting all of a sudden?"

"Maika-chan, you are my friend. I am saying that I can lend you Ren for your first time. Won't we grow ever closer if we share this?"

"But, that's cheating…"

"No, it's not cheating if I allow it."

"Huh, does Nagano-kun even want…"

"If you're okay with it, I do not mind." nodded Noah, mercilessly cutting her escape route. "I find you very cute, Maika-san. I'd be honored to help you."

"Hum… I… I need to go to the restroom!" exclaimed Maika, feeling very uncomfortable.

"Yes, I will show you where the restroom is." smiled Katsuko as she led them out of the room.

When they were gone, Nei sighed. "Looks like we won't manage to convince her, even with the aphrodisiacs."

The tea was drugged, and Maika had consumed a full cup while they talked. She was bound to start feeling the effects by now.

"I was expecting this all along, but you and Katsuko still put a lot of efforts trying." said Noah.

"Yes. We'll go with Plan B, then." said Nei as Katsuko returned. She caught what Nei was saying and nodded.

"Plan B it is." nodded Noah as he stood.

Plan B wasn't a plan, just a change of methods. If they failed to convince Maika to have sex with him, Noah would simply take the decision away from her.

Katsuko took from her pocket a key and handed it to Noah, then walked to a chest and took from it her camera.

"Let's wait until she is done with her restroom break." suggested Noah, and they nodded.

They silently moved into the hallway leading to the restroom, and waited.

A few minutes later, the door opened, and Maika froze in surprise.

"I have decided, Maika." said Noah with a soft smile. "You're cute, and I want you."

Before she could react, he stepped inside, blocking the door with one hand before she could think to slam it to his face.

Maika understood what was coming, but it was too late already.

…

Noah gently laid a naked Maika into the shower cubicle and got the shower running. When it was hot enough, he moved the shower head around her, slowly washing her body.

She didn't move, her mind still reeling from the shock of what had happened. It was only when he finished washing her body and started on her head that her blank gaze started moving, tracking his movements.

Noah put shampoo on her hair and moved his hands, giving her a slow scalp massage.

Maika bit her lips, unable to reconcile the gentle gestures with the violation she had just experienced.

She didn't dare speak or move for a few minutes, afraid at first that doing so might cause the nightmare to start again.

It was only when Noah was done rinsing her and started using towels to dry her that she muttered.

"W-Why?"

"Because I want you, Maika." replied Noah with a soft voice. "There are more reasons for it, reasons that are not for me to say, but it doesn't change the fact that I want you. You will be under my care from now on."

The door of the bathroom opened, and Minaho stood there, wearing a black dress and black leather boots. She looked at Maika without compassion, and the girl trembled.

"I am Minaho Kuromori, the owner of this mansion." nodded Minaho. "Do you want to know why you were lured here and raped, Maika Shirasaka?"

Maika gulped and nodded once, her arms squeezing her towels tight against her body like fragile shields.

Minaho, without taking her eyes from Maika's, grabbed her lifted her black skirt. She didn't wear any underwear, leaving the jagged, ugly scar fully visible, and Maika took a sharp breath.

"Your father, Sousuke Shirasaka, did that to me." said Minaho, cold anger in her voice. "He kidnapped me and my little sister when we were twelve and fourteen. He raped us a lot, and forced us both into prostitution in a brothel. And when we both got pregnant, he hired a quack to perform abortions. The quack blotched his job, giving me that scar, and making me forever unable to have children. And my little sister… My little sister died from the blood loss."

Minaho let go of her dress, and Maika shook her head in horror.

"I…" started Maika before stopping, not knowing what to say. She wasn't sure if she wanted to offer sympathy, or to deny the accusations against her father, or to protest over what she had experienced herself.

"Get dressed, both of you, and join us back to the living room." said Minaho. She turned away and left the bathroom.

Noah resumed his task, drying her body. When he was done, he took an air blower and a comb to dry her hair, then dried himself.

Katsuko had already prepared a change of clothes for Maika. Panties, socks, a black T-shirt, and jogging pants.

He quickly dressed her, then put on his clothes.

"You've been very obedient, Maika." said Noah with approval.

"What's the point of resisting?" muttered Maika. "I know I can't get out."

"No, you can't." nodded Noah. He knew that Maika wasn't as resigned as she seemed to be. She was now observing, looking for vulnerabilities.

He slowly took her right hand, and she didn't resist. "Let's go."

Maika let him bring her to the living room, and Noah was surprised by the people present. Minaho, Katsuko, Nei and Margo, he expected.

But Misuzu and Nagisa were also present. And so was Megumi.

"Danna-sama." happily said Misuzu as she hugged him quickly, then stepped back.

"Hi, Misuzu." smiled Noah.

"Megumi?" asked Maika, astonished.

"Yes, I'm here." nodded Megumi. "I am sorry, Maika, but it had to be done."

"Maika Shirasaka." said Minaho, still in her cold voice. "I brought you here to see a recording."

She pointed to a white sheet they had set up, and turned on the projector.

The footage Minaho displayed was that of a man raping a young black-haired girl. Her cries only seemed to excite the man more, as he laughed and became even rougher.

Noah hands clenched into fists as he recognized the girl. It was Katsuko, when she was much younger. He remembered her saying she was thirteen when it happened.

Maika also recognized her, as she suddenly looked at Katsuko, her hands over her mouth. Katsuko who nodded with a grim expression.

"Yes, that is the video of my first rape. I wanted you to see this, to show you proof that your father is a devil. And that he did this to many girls."

"H-How many?" asked Maika, her voice trembling. "How many, did my father…"

"Two hundred and thirty-seven." replied Minaho, and Maika flinched.

"I… I didn't know." muttered Maika, looking like she was about to throw up.

"Of course you didn't. Your mother, his wife, doesn't know either. But she suspected at least some of what he had done, and she decided to look away, so she could claim she didn't know when the police would eventually come. And your grandfather, Sousuke Shirasaka's father, definitely knows. He helped bury my little sister's corpse in the garden of the Shirasaka family's ancestral home, under that bush of roses."

"I need to step out for a minute." said Noah, his fists clenched. "If I see one more minute of that footage, I will throw the plan away and feed that guy feet-first into a woodchipper."

If not for the ring on his finger throttling the effects of his Charisma, they would have felt his fury like an oppressive force.

Minaho nodded and pressed the button on the remote, stopping the display.

Noah left the living room. In the hallway, he stopped, closed his eyes, and focused on his breathing.

"…Are you okay?" asked Katsuko. She had followed him.

Noah turned to her and sighed.

"I will be. I just need a moment. It was one thing knowing it happened, but actually seeing it… And you were so young..."

Katsuko nodded and closed the distance to hug him.

"I understand. And I appreciate that you could become so angry for my sake, Ren." said Katsuko with a soft voice. "But we need you back inside now. For that girl to bind herself to you, you must be the shield that will protect her from us."

Noah took a deep breath and nodded.

They returned to the living room, and Noah walked to Maika. She flinched but didn't dare step away.

"Maika, my mother was killed by our father." said Megumi, tears of anger in her eyes. "She too was raped and forced into prostitution. And when she fell seriously ill, rather than bring her to the hospital, that man… that man decided she was too used up by then to be worth saving."

"She died in my arms, Maika. Can you imagine what this did to me?"

"…I can't." sobbed Maika.

"And that is not all. Minaho-Sensei heard from someone whom that man think is a future customer but is secretly giving us information. That man planned to rape me as well, his own daughter, and make me a prostitute for a new brothel he intends to establish soon. He was going to do it after returning from Australia."

"D-Did, did something happen to my father?" asked Maika, trembling as she noticed that Megumi used the past tense.

"We captured him." said Minaho with satisfaction. "We have allies in Australia as well, and they have started making him pay… But do you understand, Maika Shirasaka? Do you understand our hatred?"

"Y-Yes… If my father did… such terrible things… He should be in jail. But why…"

"Why did we target you?" asked Katsuko. "We all know that you and your sister aren't responsible for what happened to us. But we suffered too much, while we watched the two of you live happily with your ignorance, having normal childhoods. Your lives were partially financed by money coming from us being forced into prostitution. We must make you experience suffering as well, or we won't be able to feel at peace."

"Maika Shirasaka, did you know?" asked Minaho with the same cold voice. "I originally planned to have you raped in front of your father, then have him watch and scream in despair while I slit your throat."

Maika looked like she was about to faint. She opened her mouth, but no sounds came out.

"However, Nagano-kun made me reconsider in return for his cooperation. He will still rape you in front of him, and at the end of it, you will swear yourself as Nagano-kun sex slave. Nagano-kun will steal you from your father in the most absolute of ways. And then he will keep you as a slave."

"Engrave this into your mind, Maika Shirasaka. From now on, Nagano-kun is your master. And only as his sex slave will you be allowed to survive. I would rather go to prison for killing you and your sister than let you continue your peaceful lives bought with our suffering. And there are many among the two hundred thirty-seven who feel the same."

"Do you understand?"

Maika looked at Nei, Katsuko and Megumi, searching for a way out, but didn't find any.

"I…I understand." replied Maika.

"Good. If you live the rest of your life as a sex slave, that is something we can live with. We will be satisfied with this."

Maika seemed to realize something, as her eyes widened.

"Onee-chan… My sister, did you already…" hesitated Maika, and Minaho nodded.

"Yukino Shirasaka is locked in a room upstairs. She hasn't fallen into being a sex slave yet because she is stubborn, but she already is starting to get addicted to the pleasure of sex. She too will be Nagano-kun's sex slave."

"Now that you understand the situation, Maika Shirasaka, your training as a sex slave will start." said Minaho. "Nagano-kun, take her upstairs, third room to the left, and start teaching your slave what she needs to know. Train her however you want to. I have already prepared something for her to wear."

"Yes, Sensei." nodded Noah. He gestured towards Maika, and she hesitated only for a second before following. She dreaded this training she was going to have to endure, but she also didn't want to remain in the company of those women who hated her.

Noah saw her glance at the door down the hallway, and he shook his head at her.

"Surely you don't think that would work?"

"I wasn't thinking about it." hurriedly lied Maika.

"Of course you were." sighed Noah. "And I won't hold it against you, Maika. But one thing you will learn about me is that I am very good at seeing through lies. Now hurry up."

Maika reluctantly climbed the stairs behind him, and Noah stopped in front of the door Minaho had told them about. He opened the door and gestured for Maika to come inside.

Noah closed the door behind him and heard the soft click of a lock engaging a second later. Minaho apparently could lock or unlock the doors remotely.

On the bed was a white towel, and placed in the middle of it was a black leather collar, five centimeters wide. A small padlock and a key were placed beside it.

He sat on the bed and took the collar, padlock and key.

"Come sit here, Maika. Before I put this on you and we start having sex again, I want us to have a short talk."

Maika reluctantly walked closer to the bed, then sat beside him, putting as much distance between them as she dared.

"Today has been hard for you, Maika. I raped you, your world view has just imploded, you discovered that your father is a monster, and you are stuck with me for decades to come."

"…It has been hard." nodded Maika.

"I understand." nodded Noah. "Life hasn't dealt you a fair hand. Still, becoming my slave is the best thing that could have happened to you."

Maika's expression of doubt and disbelief was such that Noah chuckled.

"Think about it, Maika. Your father's crimes are going to be made public, with enough ironclad evidence that even your family won't be able to sweep them under the rug. That disclosure is part of our plan. When this happens, your family name will turn into poison. Your friends will distance themselves from you. Your family will be completely ruined. Those of your relatives that aren't sent into prison will be ruined and fired from their jobs."

"You won't manage to find any decent boyfriend in the future either. The instant they hear the name Shirasaka, they will think about the monster who raped and trafficked over two hundred girls. Even if we were to just let you go, do you think you and Yukino can have a good future as the daughters of Sousuke Shirasaka?"

"…We can't… Onee-chan and I will be pariahs." replied Maika, a tear falling from her left eye.

"Yes. On the other hand, as my slaves, you will have a new family. I will provide for your needs, so you won't need to fear homelessness or hunger, and being my sex slave doesn't mean that I will keep you chained to a bed. I'm not that kind of master. If you want to pursue hobbies, even having a career, we can discuss it."

"Would they let me have hobbies and a career? They said they want me to suffer." said Maika with bitterness.

"Minaho-sensei and the others are not monsters." nodded Noah. "They are angry now, but that anger will largely fade away once their vengeance is fulfilled, within the next few weeks at most. Even Sensei's order to train you just now is mostly for your benefit. She doesn't want the experience of your rape to calcify into a phobia of men, which is why we need to give you pleasurable sex now... Remove your clothes, Maika. All of them."

Maika froze for a few seconds, extremely reluctant, before she stood and removed her clothes.

Noah nodded to her when she was done, put the collar against her throat, and brushed her hair out of the way before closing it with the padlock.

He gently hugged her trembling body from behind, and placed a hand just under her navel.

"Does it still hurt?" softly asked Noah, and Maika nodded. He used Greater Healing, and her eyes widened in shock as the pain went away.

"What, did you do?"

"Your master isn't an ordinary man, my cute Maika." replied Noah as he started playing with her body. "Just focus on feeling good for now."

…

When Maika was too exhausted to keep going, Noah gave her another shower, washed himself, and put her under the cover, then walked to the door. It unlocked, and he left the room.

The others were still in the living room, and they nodded to him as he joined them.

"Thank you, Katsuko-nee." smiled Noah as he accepted a cup of tea.

"You did well, Nagano-kun." smiled Minaho.

"Thank you. I am glad the biggest hurdle is over, as far as I am concerned." nodded Noah.

"While you were busy, I made a call to her maternal grandfather, and her mother was with him. I told them that Maika and Yukino were both under the guardianship of Kuromori."

"Are they going to cause problems?" asked Noah.

"They wanted to, but I mentioned having the support of His Excellency, and that caused them to back off."

"And I suppose they didn't inquire about Megumi? She too is their relative."

"No, they didn't." replied Minaho. "You said we could request for Shuiruo-san to help us transport Sousuke Shirasaka. How soon can she do it? Do we need to make that request in advance?"

"From her point of view, it is just a matter of teleporting using Kyoko-san or that man as a beacon, making physical contact with them, then teleporting back using me or you as the next destination. It would take her a minute at most, and she would recover the spent energy within fifteen minutes. And I am confident she would do it right away, unless you call at a time when she is healing patients."

"To avoid any incident, however, Kyoko-san should be warned in advance. We do not want her to react with violence to a stranger suddenly appearing within arm's reach, even if Ruo Ruo is hard to injure."

"Thank you. It makes things convenient, and we can spend more time punishing him." smiled Minaho. "What is your assessment of Maika?"

"She's a lot smarter than her sister, for one thing." sighed Noah. "Maika is likely going to try to escape if given the opportunity. Her obedient behavior is only on the surface. I told her that she had no viable future outside, and I think she will reach that conclusion herself fairly quickly, but she's not there yet. She has experienced too many shocks today to think properly. She will need to sleep on it for a while."

"Very good." approved Minaho. "I wanted to confirm that you had seen through her act."

"I am guessing that I will share my time for the next few days between the two sisters. What is the next step?"

"The next step is a media offensive." nodded Minaho. "Starting tonight, we will release a trickle of evidence. A few videos every day, sent to news outlets that the Shirasaka family does not control, with the victims having their faces hidden by a heavily pixelated filter. We obtained their approval for this. We want to do this from Monday to Thursday. Then, Friday, will be the day of judgment for Sousuke Shirasaka."

"We estimate that Cesario Viola will be able to move Saturday at the soonest. It takes time to smuggle large amounts of firearms from America to Japan. If he manages to do it faster or decides to come with only a few men, our contact will warn us and we will shift things around."

Noah nodded and looked at Nei.

"On that note, Nei, can you tell me in broad terms what happened between you and that guy? I know that you escaped him, and your brother passed away during the escape, but that's about it. Has he been smitten by your beauty?"

Nei shook her head with a sad smile.

"On the contrary, he probably wants me dead with every fiber of his being... I won't say too much, because it is painful to speak about. Cesario Viola was enamored not with me, but with my brother Kei-chan. He kept us both as his dolls after he killed our parents. Margo helped us escape while Kyoko was doing a diversion. During our escape, Viola's sister Rosalind found us, and she shot at me. But the one she hit was Kei-chan… As Both Kei-chan and Rosalind were dying, she used her radio to claim that I was the one who killed Kei by accident and then shot her. Viola blames me both for his sister's death, and for Kei-chan's."

"I see." nodded Noah. He extended his hand toward Nei, and she squeezed it.

"He will be dealt with, permanently." promised Noah, and Nei nodded with a smile.

"That is the plan." said Margo. "But there's a complication. Cesario Viola is smart, and he is a showman. He has an extensive wardrobe full of disguises and a dedicated make-up artist to change his identity constantly. One day, he might feel like he is a gruff mercenary, and the next one, a firefighter. Or a janitor, or an IT technician. And he's a good actor."

"He changes his persona constantly, and he always has some of his men claiming to be him. So it is hard to be sure we are dealing with the real one and not some imposter."

"My ability to teleport may be able to deal with that, if other methods fail." nodded Noah as he frowned. "I would appear beside the real one regardless of his disguise. I once used it to deal with a criminal who could make himself invisible. But that is assuming that Cesario Viola is the name of one specific, real person, and not a concept used by several."

"That is a convenient ability. We want all of Viola's criminal organization to come if possible." replied Minaho. "When you feel rested enough, please go spend some time with Yukino. If possible, make her admit she likes having sex with you before the end of the day."

Noah nodded, finished his cup of tea, and stood.

"I'm on it."