Chapter 76

'' Mirokanai?'' Danuja questioned with a raised eyebrow, scoffing before looking with narrowed eyes at the people outside. There were a few and all of them looked homeless and Danuja was pretty sure she never saw a homeless person before. 

'' Filled to the brim with junkies, drunks and whatever unwanted people didn't fit the society standard, Mirokanai is the place you need to go if you want quality drugs or woman that would please any moment for a certain amount of money. Stalkers, criminals that escaped the law and even the numerous groups of predators could be found here.'' 

For some time both of them were silent, Danuja observing the outside while trying to process where she was. The binder on her chest felt tight and her breath come in short before she forcefully leaned back on the car chair and forced herself to relax.

'Confidence' was the word imprinted in her mind at the moment. There was no way Danuja could fight her way back home from this hole is Mr. Touma or anyone else for that matter, found out she was a girl. 

'Be confident, look confident.'

'' Paradise of man.'' Danuja said roughly making the man laugh loudly, nodding his head

'' That's what we tried to name it back in the day, though it didn't work out. Mirokanai was the better fit for this place at the end of the day. '' he said taking a smooth turn and stopping the car between two shabby houses, stopping the lights before turning to her

'' Listen carefully. Right now, we are in a assigned parking seat. It doesn't look like it because it isn't suppose to look like anything but all those 'empty' places between those houses, are actually places for cars to park at. Don't look around but don't look down either. Head high and body straight, I hit you myself it I see you slouch. There is still time till the fight begins but if we want a good seat we need to come hours early. Do not wander off kid.'' he said before getting out of the car, Danuja doing the same thing , walking 

'' We will enter a motel now, don't say anything and just show your ticket. The woman there will stick something on your throat, somewhere where your Adam apple should come out. '' Mr. Touma pointed to his own neck making Danuja touch her throat briefly knowing that said 'Adam apple' will never come out

' Should have done more search about boys bodies before masquerading like one.'

'' Why was this place chosen to be the place the Second Ring takes part?'' Danuja asked quietly, her lips barely moving 

'' The First Ring is stuck underground, hidden between abandoned buildings and soil no one steps to. No matter how you look at it it's the best place to start amateur fights so the police wouldn't sniff you out.'' he quieted down when a motel that was obviously a sex hotel by the bright ad outside with a naked, lavish looking woman

Once again, Danuja thought of Kana and her bright like a cherry face when seeing the playboy poster stuck on their Club wall. It was a much more enjoyable image than the naked woman she just saw.

Inside, the woman at the counter greeted them with a pleasant smile on her red, ruby lips before she looked briefly at the ticket Mr. Touma showed her and with a move that Danuja didn't even notice, a black dot was stuck on his neck, right in the middle of his throat.

Danuja moved forward, showing her the same thing, the woman staring in her eyes longer than necessary before she pressed the same black dot on Danuja throat. It was unpleasant, with her pointy, cold fingers and sharp nails pressed too close to her skin.

'' What the fuck was that?'' Danuja hissed once they were outside and away from that woman strange gaze

'' It's rare to see people with eyes like you.'' Mr. Touma shrugged but Danuja couldn't help but clench her jaw. She touched the black dot, feeling the sticker slick and smooth applied on her skin. She couldn't help but note that it was put in the same place her no existed Adam apple should be.

'' What I was saying before, about the Rings. The Second Ring is not underground, I can't really explain how the arena is made but the things that you saw, fought and felt in the First Ring?'' he smirked, patting her back '' Forget all about it.'' he stated, in a final tone and without realizing Danuja was filled with excitement

'' The Rings are placed in ranks for reason.'' Danuja said making the man bump into her, ruffling her hair, grinning

'' Fast learned you are.''

----

'' Does your wife know that you are here?'' Danuja asked after some time of walking making Mr. Touma look at her confused. They were walking for over a hour already and Mr. Touma was explaining, showing to her things about Mirokanai. 

'' Why should she know about this? '' he waved her off before adding nonchalantly '' Woman shouldn't know of places like those. It makes them too curious then they get caught in all this mess and it never comes out good.''

'' So there won't be any woman in the crowd? What about -?'' Danuja nodded behind them were the motel was long left behind, making him snort

'' They make a living, unfortune souls they are but no ordinary women's can get inside the crowd, much less the Rings. It's too dangerous for them and even if you get the National Champion herself, she wouldn't be any match with the fights in the Rings.''

' What about your son?'  remained unsaid but Danuja could already bet that the teen openly gay status was at fault. Just because Mr. Touma favored her that doesn't mean he wasn't a bastard about certain things or people.

He couldn't fault him about a thing though.

Danuja didn't want Kana to see those places either. Kana was just so...special, that scum-like places like those have no mean to be in her eyes. All those people that Danuja could feel their stares, she didn't even want to think how they would react if they so Kana.

Sweet and tiny Kana that could fit in her palm and beside her body like a missing puzzle piece.

She had no place in this world Danuja stepped into but later on, Danuja will realize that she couldn't, wouldn't let her go. Because her place, was beside Danuja.

The same way Danuja place was beside Kana's.