"Come on, courtesan," Keaton said as it neared the end of our morning session together. He took my hand and led me away from the table where he and his mates had been drinking and talking. As he did, Dante appeared, coming into the room with his usual dark brooding look and swagger. Today however, he had a shirt that seemed to make his deep blue eyes pop and it did plenty to show off Dante's muscular smooth chest as well.

For a moment I couldn't do anything but stare.

"Sorry, Dante. You're a little late to the party," Keaton said. Feel free to enjoy one of the other courtesans and grab a drink, order some food, but I want some time with Auralia."

I felt Keaton's eyes on me and had to tear my gaze away from Dante as Keaton continued to pull me over to a booth. He didn't draw a curtain to shield us from watching eyes, but he pulled me around so my back was to the room.

I bit my lip, and hesitated like I was being shy about something, looking up at him through my eyelashes.

"What is it?" Keaton demanded, clearly sounding angry.

"I...arriving late to something like that. Is that not rude in this time? I don't want to have expectations I shouldn't, or..." I whispered, deliberately seeming as hesitant as I could. Sudden;ly keaton shook his head and looked down, smiling as if he was amused at something.

"It's not rude when you're rich and not the host," Keaton replied.

I nodded, and smiled back, as much with relief that he'd bought my cover up as I was that he was making a sort of joke. It hadn't changed, but I didn't say as much, not wanting to take the focus back from Keaton when he clearly wanted my attention to himself.

For someone able to have anyone he wanted and willing to share out his courtesans he was a very jealous sort of companion.

Within seconds our mouths were pressed together, Keaton pulling me close, his mind clearly on satisfying his own needs. I yielded as I usually did, enjoying the way he had already learned how I liked to be touched and when. We moved together, joining as one and then fuelling our desire further. Somehow in sync with each other the whole way through we raced towards joint orgasms, moaning into each other's shoulders as the peak crashed upon us.

"I'm going to miss you," he whispered, holding me close for a moment.

"I'm going to miss you too. But I promise I'll send you messages. I've actually worked out how now."

He chuckled at my words, before sighing, and pulling back. I fought back a yawn as I came down from the high and suddenly felt cold and tired.

"You've done well for not having a day of rest. Go relax somewhere now. Somewhere safe seeing as you don't have your bodyguard today."

"I might head back to the court. It feels strange to be without Edward," I replied, not entirely sure what the fuss was for my safety, but recognising that it would be foolish to go strange new places without him.

"I'm surprised Daniel let his most valuable courtesan leave the court without a bodyguard, but I won't be the type of companion to make you wish for one. Go on. Our time is up for today. Rest until I see you again tomorrow."

Keaton pulled me out of the booth, kissed me again and walked over to his friends.

I waved goodbye to the few people who noticed, not sure where Dante had gone and then hurried away, my purse clutched in one hand. It was once again strange to not have a bodyguard as I hurried down the steps, and I felt a moment of trepidation as I went towards the door to the club, but I'd been fine so many times going through it, and nothing had happened when I'd arrived. I knew I'd be fine.

As I stepped through the door, however, Dante came out of the shadows one more. Grabbing my hand in his firm grip he pulled me into a booth again.

"Where's your bodyguard today?" Dante asked.

"It's meant to be my rest day," I replied, fear settling into my stomach like an icy stone. "He's having a day off."

"And you don't have another?" The good looking man grinned slyly, like a fox that had a small rabbit before it and no sign of anything to get in its way, but I was determined not to be a frightened rabbit.

"No. I don't need one while I'm here, I'm sure."

"Perhaps you need teaching otherwise," he replied, pulling me closer. I didn't resist, thinking of everything Daniel had said before he'd tied me and screwed me that way.

"I think you mean to make me worried, but I don't think you're the kind of man who would truly break the rules," I replied. "But if you'd like to book some time with me Dante, you're more than welcome. I have a very open afternoon and early evening."

"Is that so?" he asked, his hands reaching for my body. I let him, but I didn't take my eyes off his face or lower my gaze. I hadn't got here with Dante by being meek and subservient even if he did appear to want to be the dominant male in a bondage relationship.

"For someone who walks around naked and painted so enticingly, you have a sweet innocent air about you, Auralia. And I have a thing for taking what's sweet and innocent, and claiming it. Marking it and making it mine."

"I can tell," I replied, leaning into him a little. "And I won't deny that I'm very curious to know what that would be like, but..." I sighed as I trailed off, "I'm not entirely free to just give myself to anyone. My time and my... sweetness has to be earned. Or Daniel will ship me off to some mine somewhere and there'll be nothing sweet or innocent about me ever again."

Dante exhaled, clearly aware I was speaking the truth, but not letting go still. Not sure what else to do, I leaned forward and pressed my mouth against his. Instantly he moaned and held me tighter against him, but as I pulled back he relinquished his hold.

"As soon as you want me in an official capacity, I'm yours," I said. But Dante only sighed and let go of me.

"You'd best go back to your court and Daniel before I do something we all wish I hadn't," Dante said, not looking at me. I walked away, out of the booth, through the club and into the bubble car the doorman had brought around for me.

As I got inside I had to sit for a moment, shakes overtaking my body and the fear and tension I'd felt at Dante's looks and words rushing across me. I could barely think straight. The fear combined with arousal I'd felt the previous night as Daniel had put the harness and blindfold on me, my body already gagged, and then proceeded to not just enjoy me, but make me orgasm as well, similar to the fear and arousal I'd felt in Dante's arms only moment ago.

It was clear that if I had Dante as a companion I would be put through emotional situations that I had a lot to learn about, but something about it excited me and made me feel alive. And I had orgasmed in a whole new way while Daniel toyed with my helpless body. Being given pleasure by a person who can do literally anything to you was a heady experience I hadn't been prepared for.

For a moment I contemplated heading to the court until later and my appointment with Jack, or to the restaurant early, but I knew I needed something to calm me, something to help me focus and ground myself again, and I could only think of Tomichii, Kioshi and the garden they had part way up the tower block that held their company.

It took me several more minutes to get my head around the technology before me and select the right destination, but eventually my little car, that kept me shielded from the outside world and hidden from view for a while it carried me off in a stream of others.

For once, alone and trying to relax, I had a good look at the city around me again. It wasn't such a good day weather wise today. No rain at the moment, but plenty of clouds and a general air of misery to everything.

There were few people out except for the other bubbles floating along with people cocooned inside, but I noticed a woman walking along, a coat that had seen better days wrapped around her, and the tell tale signs of a courtesan's attire underneath. She walked along with her head down, desperate to move along it seemed.

As she walked past the doorway of what looked like a block of flats, a man came out with a friend, the latter going to lock the door or something similar when they spotted the woman.

She smiled briefly but tried to hurry past. The first guy caught her arm as they said words I couldn't hear. She tried to pull away and go around, but the heavier and more muscled man didn't let go.

The courtesan's eyes went wide and she tried again to pull away, but I was swept around the next corner. Immediately I tried to reach for the controls and get my car to stop, to rush to the courtesan's aid and get her into my car with me, drop her off wherever she needed to go, but I couldn't find anything that would let me stop the machine.

Everything I tried showed this area of the city marked as separate for some reason or denied me the names and addresses of people nearby so I couldn't even trick it into taking me somewhere only a few metres away.

As the bubble car floated into an area that wasn't separated out and was only a few blocks from Tomichii and Kioshi's office, the options all appeared again. My fingers hovered over the stop button, but I looked over the map to see if I could work out where to go back to help, but I'd been so focused on how I could stop the car to help that I'd neglected to pay attention to anything else.

Feeling like I'd somehow entirely failed at a test in life to see what kind of person I was, but aware I had no idea what else I could have done, I sat where I was and let the car take me the rest of my journey.

It only took a few more minutes and then I was stood in the elevator of Tomichii and Kioshi's building heading upwards. Although I remembered what Edward had told me about not chasing Kioshi and needing to let him come find me if he wanted my time, I knew I was likely to run into the business man in one place more than the others I was allowed to visit.

The gardens.

Given they were also the calming influence I was more than a little desperate for, I headed straight to them.

The whole building appeared quieter than normal, but some men and one or two companions still lingered, especially on the floor where Tomichii's rest room was. I didn't go inside, however, not having an appointment with Tomichii officially, but I made my way to the garden and stepped out into it.

Even on a cloud filled day it was something that took my breath away.

I felt a little chilly, but instantly far better. The garden already held some of my happiest memories since being in the future, as well as one of my worst, and I walked along the paths, thinking of all the places I'd already sat, and the people I'd already met.

As I turned down one of the smaller, less trodden paths and around a bend towards a bench that was one of the most tucked away in the whole garden, I almost bumped right into Tomichii and Kioshi, the two of them clearly having a debate of some kind. I was surprised I'd not heard them, but I'd been lost in my own head.

They immediately turned to me, their argument done as they stared for a moment.

"I'm so sorry," I said. "I didn't mean to disturb either of you, please forgive me."

As my cheeks flushed I felt more than a little grateful that the paint would cover up my blush, but the two men looked to each other before Tomichii came closer and took my hand.

"Auralia. I thought today was meant to be your day of rest," he said, glancing at Kioshi who wore a deep frown and didn't seem to want to look at me.

"It is, but I found I couldn't relax. I hope you don't mind that I chose to come here. I can leave if you'd rather." I felt mortified, wondering what he'd think of me but he smiled, his eyes lighting up as he pulled my arm into his.

"You're always welcome to come here, sweet Auralia," Tomichii said. "If I can help you feel more rested I will always do so. But Kioshi here is very disagreeable today and I'm afraid our disagreements wouldn't be beneficial for you to hear today. We will put it aside and discuss it another time, so we don't upset your calm."

"Oh, please, if the two of you have something important to discuss then don't let me get in the way," I replied.

But Kioshi shook his head.

"It is something that can wait, and Tomichii is right," Kioshi said, sounding calm despite the anger he clearly felt when I arrived. "It would not be fair for us to burden you with it on your day off."

"Now you have me both curious and pained for you both. Perhaps I can help, and then we can all relax? It's not like you two to disagree."

Tomichii looked to Kioshi who shrugged, and I wondered if they would refuse me, but Kioshi looked straight at me, also taking my arm on the other side. Slowly the three of us walked along the path, heading back the way I'd come where it was wide enough for three.

"As you know, I am trying to perfect a procedure to heal those with the disease you had upon being frozen," Kioshi continued. The cost to you, which you still bear was astronomical."

"So we both agreed to try and make it cheaper," Tomichii carried on, looking to his friend with a determined glint in his eye.

"We did. And cheaper we have managed to make it."

"Less than half." The pride was clear in Tomichii's voice but Kioshi was still clearly not happy with it, his frown growing deeper until I wondered if his eyebrows might meet in the middle.

"It's not enough."

"But we can still help many at the reduced price. And we can keep making it cheaper while others benefit. We can take another round of funding once more have been healed."

"Ah," I said, before another argument could begin. It was clear what they'd been fighting about now. "One of you wants to put the new improved version out as it is, and the other wants to bring the cost down even further first."

"Yes. And we cannot reach an agreement. Will you help us, dearest Auralia?"

"How easy or quickly could you improve the process further?" I asked.

"It will require more testing, more investment and at least another month," Kioshi replied.

"And they're talking of waking another with your disease," Tomichi added. "Your success has made some of the courts and their investors more bold than before."

I nodded, knowing which way that would sway me. But could Kioshi be persuaded. I thought for a moment, not hiding my expressions from them. This wasn't something where I had to play the delighted courtesan. I knew only genuine thoughts and feelings on the matter would mean anything to Kioshi.

"Waking up in this strange world was a shock. To find I had so much debt on my shoulders once I had that I am likely to spend more years than I've lived already working to pay it back was an even bigger shock. If you can only so much as half that debt for any woman about to be healed, I think you must. And I promise I will do as I've done already and aid you in funding for a third process. One even cheaper again."

Kioshi exhaled, looking as if he might argue, but instead he took my hands.

"You offer more than you ought, and it pains me to think I would have to use you so."

"I know, which makes me only more willing to offer. This world is far from perfect, but you and Tomichii are doing what you can to make it better. I would help you any way I can."

"Then Tomichii and you shall have your way. We will put the new design out as it is. And I will get started on the third prototype." Kioshi kissed the back of my hand, nodded to his business partner and walked away.

We both watched him go, before Tomichii looked at me.

"Thank you, Auralia. I know this can't be easy for you." He pulled me into his arms as he spoke until our foreheads pressed together.

"No, but I mean it. For you two I would do everything in my power."

"Which is why you will one day be gone from here. You're too sweet and endearing to so many to be here for long. You will fly among the stars and the rich elite of our society, winning favours and affection wherever you go."

"Now, none of that talk. I believe a celebration is in order, is it not. You have a new finished product." I tried to smile at him and make him feel less melancholic, but I wasn't sure it was working. He sighed.

"I need to go make it happen. Will you stay? Have dinner with us. I'd like to pay for a couple of hours later, but if you wish to rest here until then, or.. head to the relaxation room and see if anyone wishes for your company there. Many are out today or elsewhere, but there might be-"

"Dinner and your company later sounds wonderful," I replied, cutting him off, aware he was asking for my company.

I knew I hadn't made enough money yet that day, but I was exhausted. Simply being with my friends and one of my companions sounded wonderful.