<span style="font-family:Philosopher"><span style="font-size: 15px">The Port of Tokyo held one of the most prolific underground auctions in the world, though to be invited to one such gathering was a matter of having enough power or wealth. As one of the largest seaports in the Pacific, it was but a matter of clever misdirection and disguise among the many hulking steel and concrete constructions that held thousands of shipments that reached nearly every country that Japan was in trade with. A subtle off-route stretch leading to an area that was fenced in, deterring people from intruding on what was likely to be private property, would then lead those who were within such appropriate circles to the place where the rare and the decidedly inhuman were offered up if you had enough coin. It would not be out of place to see a thrashing <i>ryu </i> being dragged, dignity brought down low, before prospective buyers. A <i>ryu </i>was more difficult to capture, but worth it to people who craved the power their bones and scales could give, if they were not after the novelty of owning such a prideful creature. <br/>
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She remembered that this was yet again one of the topics that the family she had been watching over would scoff over, aware enough of Japan's more unnatural practices. How could they not, since they had her, and even before, her own parents? The pact that they had held with the Honda family, a line formerly of lords and vassals and now held similar power in Japanese politics, was such that she was to remain with these humans for a hundred and fifty years. A promise that her father and mother before her had bestowed with their honor upon the heroic forebear of the Honda scions. It would not be her time to ascend to the skies and retreat from these mortals until she had paid out the final half of this promise. <br/>
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This was not part of the plan, being plucked so sudden and so brusquely from the hands of Honda by faceless men clad in black. The kirin wondered how long it would take the masters of the compound to notice that their <i>prized </i>amulet was gone from within the innermost room, and when they would come for her. Surely they would never allow the one thing that ensured successive victories in their elections to be swept away. <br/>
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Her head pounded unpleasantly, a heavy fog making it difficult to discern the man that had intruded upon the room. A gasp that sounded distinctly male caused the lightly speckled ears on either side of her head to prick in the direction of the noise. The kirin did not turn, even as her enhanced senses picked upon the sets of footsteps that clicked upon the wooden floor, knowing that if she did she would see more humans gathering around the platform to ogle at her. They had already done so hours before, and the one time she let lightning bristle upon her skin to break the shackle had resulted in more pain than she had ever had to experience in her life until that moment. <i>How </i>had they acquired a device that let her own element harm her? It was nearly unthinkable that a kirin should flinch from electricity, it was one of their defenses along with breathing flames. <br/>
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"Wakana."<br/>
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The sound of her name leaving a stranger's lips so casually, no honorifics attached implying respect, almost made the kirin's opalescent eyes to look to him as he had wanted. Her lips pressed into a thin line, long lashes veiling her eyes as they narrowed ever so slightly, as she felt long, cold fingers touch her face. Wakana allowed the man to touch her, yet offered no reaction as he lifted her face. Her bland gaze fixed at a point above the man's shoulder, never meeting his.<br/>
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"She's a hidden treasure of the Honda family, Ameda, sir. Did you know that this kirin is the reason that Honda Sr. has won those elections in the past ten years?" Another man spoke up, and she recognized the tone of someone who was eager to please or earn favor with a person of higher standing. The mention of the Honda patriarch made her ears flicker again, but the female's face was completely void of expression. "We think that left her spoiled into this haughty little thing, they treated her as a guardian deity over the family." A twisted amusement colored his voice as he added, "I think you would find it rewarding to train her, wouldn't you agree sir?" </span></span>