My mouth fell open. Tomichii chuckled as he supported me. We were stood on a balcony overlooking the edge of a large garden. The sound of a waterfall filled the air, providing a perfect background to the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind and birdsong from various trees. Some of the trees were so large they shaded areas of the balcony with their canopy.

It would have been beautiful anywhere, but over forty stories high on top of a building, it was breathtaking.

"Thank you," I said, meaning every word. "I used to love walking among trees before I was frozen. It was one of the things I missed most when I had MND."

"You're very welcome." He smiled at me, our eyes meeting. His shone, genuinely pleased with my reaction.

"How do you ever leave here?" I asked as a small bird fluttered onto the balcony railing not far from us.

"Sometimes reluctantly, but there are times when the alternative has a beauty all of its own." Tomichii looked at me, his eyes leaving my face to admire me, but nothing about it felt creepy or lustful. The same look of peaceful enchantment he looked at the garden with he now gave me.

"Would it be bold of me to request to come back? You've been so kind." I said, not keeping the hope out of my voice. He laughed.

"No. I'd be honoured. But come, we haven't finished our little tour. There's the relaxation floor. You'd be most welcome there any time you weren't engaged elsewhere."

I let myself be led along, my arm back in Tomichii's. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a grin as it moved across Yaru's face. Something amused him, either about what had just happened or what was about to.

Given Tomichii's last words, I could only assume I was about to be shown something of interest. I felt a flutter of nerves deep in my stomach and instinctively clutched Tomichii's arm a little tighter.

As the elevator opened, I was greeted with the busiest-looking floor yet. Many men and women came and went, almost all the women courtesans of some kind and the men well-dressed. Not everyone had the Japanese look to them, but I often heard the language as people passed by, speaking it.

Beyond all this was a set of double doors. Two men stood poised at either side, their hands clutched in front of them and glasses over their eyes. Slightly farther in were two posts, each with a scanner on the top. As people approached, they held out their wrists above it. The doors then swung open to admit them, letting out the noise of much chatting and laughter from inside until they snapped shut over it again.

I raised my eyebrows. This was a secure area within an already secure building. But why? A part of me wanted to turn back. Wanted to run away screaming. I had a feeling I wasn't going to like what was beyond.

"The identity chip you were given back at the hospital should be working now," Yaru said as we drew closer. "Try swiping it over the sensor."

Tomichii motioned for me to step forward and try it. With the pair of them waiting expectantly, and a small queue of others wanting to move through as well, I did my best to hide my fear and reached my hand out as I'd seen others do.

Almost immediately the doors clicked and swung open.

"Fantastic," Tomichii said. "It recognises you already."

But I barely took in his words, my mouth falling open at what I saw. It was a large lounge, the lighting dim but not so dim I couldn't see the entirety of the space.

Everywhere there was at least one man there was also at least one courtesan. Some merely talked and drank or ate together, but others were engaged in more intimate activities. One table nearby, a courtesan was on her knees in front of a man sprawled back into a reclining chair. Her head bobbed back and forth in his lap, one of his hands on the back of her head, the other under the front of her chest.

I watched as he obviously orgasmed, doing little to temper his enjoyment and resulting groan of euphoria.

I looked away, my eyes stopping at the next courtesan held up against the wall by a tall man as he thrust against her body, deep between her legs. She appeared to be enjoying it, her moans forming an undertone to the rest of the room.

The bit that struck me the most was how normal everyone else was treating this. No one seemed to care. Some were even openly watching. A few touched themselves as they did.

Yaru chuckled, drawing my attention back to my comrades.

"Is this normal?" I asked, deciding to be honest. This time Tomichii expressed his mirth, nodding.

"Auralia was frozen before expressing our sexuality became normal and part of everyday life," Yaru said, speaking past me.

"Ah. That explains the surprise. I'm sorry. I hope I've not made you uncomfortable. I assumed that your attire was an expression of your comfort with your new profession."

"She does seem to have adapted quicker than most."

"It's always a relief when they do."

I tried not to gape at the way I was being discussed, or my circumstances. I felt my fists clench and I knew I was glaring. How dare they? How dare any of them play with the lives of women like this?

"Tomichii!" a woman called, swaying over to us and breaking the moment. She wore very little, a thin covering of organza leaving little to the imagination. "We haven't seen you here in a while."

She took the arm on his other side, not waiting for him to offer it.

"I've been very busy with our latest product," he replied, smiling at her. I noticed his eyes didn't light up in quite the same way they had earlier.

"And who is your new little friend?" she said, her gaze homing in on me. There was no obvious hardness to her tone, but her stare said everything her words hadn't. I wasn't welcome here, especially not on Tomichii's arm. I wanted to vent my anger, to say something catty, but my brain drew a blank.

"This is Auralia, and it's her first day, so play nice, Katrina."

Tomichii gently removed his arm from her grasp.

"I'll come find you when I'm done showing her around."

This seemed to mollify her. She nodded, gave me another brief look and sauntered back where she'd come from.

It was only as she walked away that I realised that I now had the attention of many in the room, male and female alike. I tried not to quake. Surely it was just the usual reaction to a new person? I hoped so, anyway.

"How much has Yaru told you of your new profession?" Tomichii asked, pulling my focus back to him, his voice gentle enough most would not have heard him. I tried to think, but I still felt frozen.

"Not enough," Yaru replied for me. "There is only so much time, and Daniel was eager for Auralia to begin her new life."

"Then, if you'll permit me, I'll do what I can to fill you in on our customs and attitudes."

"I'd appreciate that." I gave him a genuine smile. Perhaps more information would help me feel less out of my depth.

"This wall," he said, pointing towards the left one as he walked me closer, "features our more private areas. See these scanners here? A courtesan marks herself as attending, and any men who wish to may join her."

I nodded, seeing several names on various screens. Curtains covered doorways at regular intervals, each with its own screen and name. If the curtain was open, the screen was blank.

Beneath each name was a high two-figure number. I asked what they meant.

"It's the current price each courtesan is commanding from the men inside to join with them in pleasure."

I raised my eyebrows. You mean how much they're paying per fuck.

I kept my mouth shut over my thoughts, trying not to show my disgust or the way my pulse sped up at the news. Yaru and Daniel had both painted this as a far more exotic and less sleazy profession, but everything in this room and everything I'd heard since I'd walked into the building was telling me otherwise. It was just an accepted part of their culture, but it was still women selling their bodies to the highest bidder.

While I held onto Tomichii's arm, feeling a little green at the thought of being in one of the curtained areas, a courtesan came walking past, greeted by several men. She paused by one of the open curtains, glanced at the three men who'd got up, two detaching themselves from other groups, and then sauntered inside.

Before my eyes, the three men followed her, also scanning their wrists as they ducked the curtain.

I blinked, shocked, as two more men arrived through the main doors and also joined her. Five men? And two of them seeming to arrive especially to join in.

"On slower nights, or when trying to find new regular companions, a courtesan might use one of these rooms. It allows men who wouldn't otherwise book a meeting to get to know a new potential and see if their needs are compatible."

I nodded.

Still sounds like women selling themselves to me.

"Most of the rest of the room here is free for any courtesans and companions to socialise as they see fit," Tomichii continued, seemingly oblivious to my discomfort and disgust. "But I have a small area for dancing and some creative pursuits as well. Some of the regular courtesans here feel akin to Geisha from the Japan of old."

"That sounds wonderful."

"It is a personal favourite of mine. Katrina is wonderful at calligraphy."

"I understand she had a hand in the design on your newest product," Yaru said, engaging Tomichii in more idle conversation for the first time since the tour had begun.

"Yes. I did not want to see her talent go to waste. Not all men appreciate it when a courtesan is devoted to such beautiful pursuits."

"Sadly, not all men are created equal," a booming man's voice said from behind us. As one, we all turned. A tall, graceful man stood only a few feet away, a broad grin on his face. Immediately he looked me over, before his eyes flicked to Yaru, and then rested on Tomichii. "Not every man has what it takes to keep a courtesan happy. Or to show her adequate appreciation."

Tomichii acknowledged the words with a bow, and Yaru did the same. I fought off a frown. Yaru didn't look pleased, and even Tomichii had lost the twinkling light in his eyes. Neither of them appeared to like this newcomer.

"You must be Auralia," he said, turning to me and reaching out for my loose hand.

"Yes?" I replied, making it clear I was curious as to how he knew. He kissed the back of my hand before relinquishing it again.

"I am an old friend of Daniel's. I must say, he has a good eye." Once more, I was visibly appraised. My skin broke out in goose bumps, forcing me to fight back a shiver.

"Stuart!" Yet another woman appeared, the gesture mutual as she entwined her fingers with his and cozied up beside him.

"Anastasia. I hoped to find you here."

I blinked. This was the woman I'd heard talk of. Daniel thought very little of her.

Committing her face to memory, I tried to covertly study her. She had high cheek bones and a delicate nose, her face so symmetrical I wondered if she had been born that way or modified through surgery. Her straight blond hair cascaded around her shoulders, accentuating the contour of her collar bones and breasts. Bracelets made of small chains tinkled as she moved, and her clothes covered little, but somehow still looked modest, simple and elegant.

"I couldn't pass up an opportunity to see you. You know I love our time together."

Not saying any more or even acknowledging our existence any further, the pair wandered off, heading for a small door I now noticed in the far corner.

"I think we should be going now," Yaru said. "Thank you, Tomichii."

"So soon?" he replied, sounding almost pained.

"I am afraid so. I promised to introduce Auralia to an old friend of mine, and I do not want us to be late."

"Then I hope you consider me a friend enough to bring Auralia back again tomorrow."

"I'd love that," I replied, before Yaru could voice his answer. Tomichii chuckled and Yaru merely smiled. "Would that be okay?"

My addition seemed to soothe any ruffled emotions, earning me a nod of approval.

"I shall look forward to more of your company, Auralia," Tomichii said, letting go of my arm and bowing. I returned the gesture.

"And I, yours." My words were genuine as Yaru started to turn away, his eyes making it clear I was meant to follow.

I might not have liked the new things I had learnt about being a courtesan, but it was clear I had little choice. And in the meantime Tomichii had been a perfect gentleman, something I could easily encourage to be a part of my life.

It was a start.