For Sale

Author: ChibiJ

Rated: PG13

Rating :

Chapter 6

For Sale

Installment 6

Rated: PG-13 (um...needed a change of rating on this. It has more violence than the last chapters. So if you couldn't handle them, you more than likely don't want to read this.)

By: Chibi J

Edited by: Lady Solo

AN: umm...I think that the balcony was facing the sunset last time I wrote about it. Let's just say that it sticks out far from the building and that from the right rail you can see the east and the left rail the west. Therefore you can see both sunset and sunrise. *grins*

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The hours of the evening passed like days and months for the females of Chiba Estates. Although the officers did not place handcuffs on him, concern for Mamoru's safety, and their own, weighed heavily on every mind.

Yet as the hours passed from evening to early morning, the females that sat at the front door began to dwindle. Having practically walked Mamoru out the door with the officers, many refused to leave. But slowly, sleep overcame almost all of the females of the building. Those that didn't make it to their rooms were asleep on the couches in the lobby.

But on the top floor of Chiba Estates was a female that refused to let sleep take hold of her mind. For hours Usagi paced back and forth, practically wearing a hole into the carpeting. She moved from room to room looking for something, anything, to occupy her mind from her rapid thoughts.

By four in the morning, her pacing had led her out onto the balcony. The morning sun was not yet ready to rise, but she felt compelled to sit and wait for it. Should this be her last day of freedom, she wished to witness all the beauty the world had to offer, before seeing all the hate it held as well.

Time ticked away and the morning light began to peak out at the edges of the city. Although the air was crisp and chilled, Usagi refused to wrap her arms around herself. Should this be the last thing that she would ever experience, she wanted to feel it fully.

Mamoru, quite weary from the night's events, quietly snuck through the building. Females were scattered throughout the lobby, a rather amusing site to his tired eyes. But there was only one female that he wished to look upon. Gathering that she would have more wits about her than the females downstairs, he immediately headed towards his apartment.

He entered the dark apartment and assumed that Usagi must be sleeping in her room. But as he began to walk down the hall, Mamoru felt a chill breeze blow through the well-heated apartment.

Immediately, Mamoru's attention focused on the balcony and the lone figure that stood facing the sunrise.

The door to the balcony was open wide enough for his body to easily slide through without having to open it more. Mamoru stood in awe for a moment as he took in Usagi. Her eyes were closed as the morning sun lit up her face. The orange glow of the sun reflected on her skin and made her look almost ethereal.

"Usagi," Mamoru whispered, afraid that the angel before him would fly away with the last shadows of night.

Usagi didn't move. Her thoughts had been so centered on Mamoru and life and all things that a mind wanders to when let be. The sound of his voice calling her name was almost magical and seemed to be of a dream.

"But I didn't want to fall asleep," Usagi scolded herself.

"Usagi, you're not dreaming," Mamoru said with a laugh.

Turning slowly to face Mamoru, Usagi allowed a smile to cross her face, though she still refused to open her eyes. "You say it isn't a dream, but I'm not sure if I should believe you. After all, if it is a dream and I open my eyes, then you'll be gone."

Mamoru's smile grew wider. Only Usagi would challenge him on such a thing. "Shall I prove that this is no dream?"

Usagi began to nod her head, but her action was stopped as Mamoru's hands took position on each side of her face. Mamoru gently bent down and claimed her lips with his own.

Enjoying the moment fully, Usagi moaned slightly when she felt Mamoru's lips leave hers. Yet she did not open her eyes.

"Usagi? Was that not proof enough for you?" Mamoru asked, wanting to see her baby blue eyes again.

"No," she answered sternly, though her face and light giggling proved that she was far from serious.

"No?"

"No. I'm afraid I'll need a little more proof." Standing on her toes, Usagi leaned forward to where she could sense Mamoru's face and leaned in to kiss him again.

When the kiss broke apart this time, it was Mamoru who was left distressed after her lips left his own. But when he opened his eyes, he found her eyes shining back into his.

"So you finally believe that this isn't a dream?" he questioned her smiling face.

"Perhaps," she laughed at his expression of disbelief. "I suppose I will fully believe when you tell me what happened."

Mamoru took in her words with a sigh. He would tell her everything, he knew that much. It was her reaction that he feared.

"Usagi," he started, but stopped upon looking into her tired eyes. "Let's get some sleep first, then I promise to tell you everything."

A little disappointed that she would have to wait, Usagi nodded her head in agreement. Mamoru looked exhausted and it would be discourteous to pressure him for answers.

"Go to your room. I'll be there in a minute," Mamoru told her. Again, Usagi nodded her head and made her way to her room. She turned right before she entered the hall to see him leaning against the rail. Something was troubling him, she could tell. But it was apparent that she would have to wait for all her answers.

Mamoru stood on the balcony and looked out onto the city. It was currently peaceful and quiet, yet in a few hours a hunt would be made across the city. Cleared of all charges, he knew he was safe. Yet a horrible fate was destined for someone out there.

Sighing, Mamoru left the balcony and closed the door behind him. If there was anything he could do for that person, he would. His sources were already trying to track the person, but he had little hope of finding the needed clues before the authorities.

Stepping into Usagi's room, Mamoru found her already asleep. He smiled at the thought. She probably dropped her head on the pillow and lost consciousness immediately. Sliding into bed beside her, he wrapped his arms around her securely.

His mind traced over all the things that had been happening lately. He hated that the females in his care were at risk everyday. Worse was the thought that Usagi was in constant danger.

With his mind heavy with thoughts, Mamoru slowly drifted into sleep.

~*~

A light knocking on Usagi's bedroom door roused her from her sleep. The clock read noon and it was a wonder that no one had come any earlier. Quietly untangling herself from Mamoru, Usagi snuck out of the room.

It wasn't much of a surprise to find that Rei and Minako were the guests outside of her bedroom.

"I expected you hours ago," Usagi whispered as she rubbed the last remnants of sleep from her eyes.

"We wanted to let you get some sleep," Rei answered simply. She too had spent the long hours of the night awaiting her brother. When she had seen him enter the building from her bedroom window, alive and unharmed, she knew that she could go to sleep without worry for his welfare.

"Did he say anything?" Minako asked.

Minako had been awake for a while that night, but went to sleep much earlier than most. One of the few females awake that morning, Minako walked around encouraging others to go to their apartments and get sleep.

Everyone that Minako had spoken to had questions, all regarding Mamoru. Rumor had it that he had come home, but no other answers were available. Although silence reigned practically over all of the building, there would not be peace again for some time.

"No, nothing. He was too tired," Usagi said with a light sigh. She knew that he was okay physically, but that didn't rule out his psychological state.

"Have you eaten?" Minako asked, her concern for her sister's health apparent.

"No. But I'm not sure what we have," Usagi answered with a smile. There was enough to worry about in this life without Minako having to worry about her.

The three females made their way to the kitchen where they nursed on coffee and small powdered donuts. Trying to keep their minds as far from worry as possible, they talked about anything but their current situation.

So it was to Mamoru's delight when he entered the kitchen an hour later to the laughter of Rei, Usagi, and Minako.

"And he stepped on the ball!" Rei laughed out in a pompous voice. Usagi and Minako belted out laughter, before their attention focused on Mamoru.

"Good morning!" the two blondes laughed out. Seeing Mamoru after hearing all the funny stories about him from Rei, it was hard to try to remember what had been so upsetting the night before.

"Umm...Good morning, I think," Mamoru looked over the three smiling faces, landing last on his sister. "What have you been telling them?"

A look of complete innocence shone on Rei's face. "Nothing! I swear!" Yet the snickers from Usagi and Minako caused Rei to lose her composure and all three started laughing again.

"Fine then. I'll just get my coffee and go to work," Mamoru huffed, knowing that all three females would take the bait.

"NO!" Usagi shouted, causing all other noise in the room to cease. "You can't. We have to know."

Minako and Rei nodded their heads in agreement, and there was no doubt in Mamoru's mind what they had to know. Nodding his head in agreement, Mamoru began to tell of the night's events.

"The night before last, there was a shooting at the police station. Someone entered the station, dressed all in black, and shot three officers," Mamoru paused, thinking briefly of what he had been told at the station. "Anyone with ties to the officers-in a negative way-were brought in for questioning. Last night was my turn."

"What kind of negative ties do you have with the police?" Rei asked. Never had her brother risked having a "negative tie" with anyone. To upset anyone would put everyone in his care at risk.

"After Usagi admitted what happened at the police station, I decided to take action," Mamoru stated, his eyes locked on Usagi's.

"Mamoru, I asked you not to do anything about it," Usagi protested.

Both Rei and Minako looked completely lost, but decided to let the story play on. Perhaps they would find out whatever secret Usagi had been hiding since she was arrested.

"I know, but I couldn't let it happen again. Not to you or anyone," he said with a final note in his voice.

"Anyhow," he began again, "The charges that I placed were considered to be a possible motive against the officers that were killed. However, I had an alibi and passed the lie detector test, so I was released."

"So a couple officers got killed. I suppose that's not too terrible," Rei said with a smile. Yet inside, she knew that there was more. Mamoru's face was troubled. Far more troubled than a trip to the police station could have caused.

"It's not just that Rei," Mamoru began. "These were officers that were killed. Not just everyday males, but male officers of the law. They plan on making an example of the murderer."

Mamoru's words ended abruptly. All three females could tell that there was more and waited for it to come.

"The attacker was female."

"How do you know? Did they tell you that?" Minako asked with a slight fear in her voice.

"No, but it was quite obvious on the tape they showed me of the shooting. The black clothing did nothing to hide her figure and a small piece of blonde hair was observable in the space between the facemask and her shirt.

"But then why would they question you?" Rei asked. If they were looking for a female, why would they bother with him?

"It wouldn't be the first time that a female was ordered to do something by her master," Mamoru replied simply as his eyes again turned to Usagi.

She was toying with a strand of her blonde hair and understood what he was implying. When she had been attacked in the jail cell, there had been ten different males involved. Three were now dead. That left seven others to identify the various females that could have a motive to kill. Seven to identify the various females with blonde hair.

"Are they going to take me away?" Usagi asked, fear evident in her voice. Minako and Rei turned startled eyes towards her.

"I won't let them take you," Mamoru assured her.

"But why would they want Usagi?" Minako asked, frightened for her sister.

Releasing a deep sigh, Usagi decided that it was time for her sister and best friend to know the truth. As much as it hurt to tell the tale, it was time for them to know.

Over half way through the story, the penthouse phone rang. Mamoru answered it quickly and left the room. When he returned from the call, the three females were embraced on the couch, each with fresh tears falling from their eyes.

"That was Jim at the office. They have no news yet," Mamoru explained as he put the cordless phone back on its stand.

Usagi wiped the tears from her cheeks and looked up to meet his eyes. "I suppose that we will just have to wait."

Mamoru nodded his head in agreement. He dropped his eyes and began to study the carpet, as if there would be an answer there. Yet there was little else that could be done in this situation.

"Mamoru," Rei started in an attempt to gain his attention, "You will have to tell them all something."

"Everyone was up all night," Minako added. "I'm sure that rumors are flying like mad."

"I'm sure they are too. I will take care of the females, just as I have always sworn to do," Mamoru declared.

~*~

The rumors were indeed flying throughout the estate, yet Mamoru was able to squelch almost all of them. He spent the entire day moving from floor to floor, talking to the females in small groups. For many, his appearance alone was satisfactory. Others demanded details that he would not reveal. But in the end, it appeared that the females of Chiba Estates were content with the answers that they received.

Two weeks went by without much mishap. Mamoru and Usagi grew closer, yet were always careful to keep their relationship hidden from the eyes of others. Very few knew of their relationship and were very careful when speaking of it in public.

The "manhunt" that Mamoru feared was kept low-key, something that he did not expect the officers to be able to do. Mamoru's resources were able to gather some information, yet not enough to find the female and bring her to safety. The police were an average of two steps behind the female-a margin that he wished was a little larger.

Unfortunately he was kept so busy between work, the estate, and his other safe houses that he had little time to spend looking for the female. Usagi had offered to help in anyway, including working for him at the office. He accepted her offer with a smile, but laughed out loud when she asked what he did.

"I am the CEO of Chiba Corporation," he declared with pride. "Publicly, we are a research and development company that works on three separate projects: a cure for cancer, a more effective means of building without destroying the Earth's precious materials, and fossil fuel substitute program."

"Publicly," Usagi rolled the word out, "meaning that Chiba Corp has a more private side?"

"A very private side," Mamoru stressed. "In fact, so private that less than one hundred employees know of it.

"Chiba Corp also works to bring females and their families back together. You have seen in the sub-basements some of our successful endeavors. When the war ended and females were split from their families, some were sent across the world. Their families had no knowledge of the health and well being of their children. We attempt to gather and send information between the females and their family.

"Whenever possible, we bring females back to the county and try to reunite them with their families. It is not easy to do and it is difficult to bring in new staff that I am sure I can trust on this project. Minako has been on the team for three years now."

"Mamoru, I want to help," Usagi insisted with determination.

"Usagi, my love, I would like very much for your help," he replied with a grin. He had known that once she learned of the project that there would be no stopping her.

But with the start of Usagi's employment at Chiba Corp, Beryl's temper and jealousy flared. Rumors began to circulate around the estate. Beryl was quite careful and made sure that the rumors stayed away from certain ears. She knew that there were many females in the building that liked Usagi and would alert her to the accusations being made against her.

Beryl, however, chose her words wisely and made no direct attacks on Usagi. Yet words always mix when they move from person to person and a simple statement can easily become misconstrued into something else.

~*~

"She was arrested for jaywalking," Mamoru stated in an almost shocked voice as he dropped a stack of papers onto the desk in front of Usagi and Minako.

A "Huh?" came from both blondes as they stared dumbfounded at Mamoru.

"Honto Tesu. Arrested for jaywalking, she was released to her master after being in jail for over six hours. The reports indicate that she was an "enjoyable" prisoner who posed no real problem to the officers," Mamoru read off a slip of paper.

"And she is?" Minako asked, unsure of where all of this was leading.

"Honto Tesu is the lead suspect in the killing of the three officers at the police station," Mamoru answered, glancing towards Usagi in order to gage her reaction.

"Tesu," Usagi whispered the name to herself.

"It appears that she was also attacked when she was in jail. The "enjoyable" part is referenced on several female prison reports. Including yours, Usagi," Mamoru explained.

"Enjoyable!?" Usagi stood up enraged and began to pace violently around the small office. "Enjoyable, well I was glad to be of service to them!" she spat out angrily.

"Usagi," Minako tried to speak to her sister, but when Usagi turned to face her, she decided it would be best to leave the talking to Mamoru.

"Usagi, the important thing now is to find Tesu," Mamoru stated in a flat tone. Much like Minako, he didn't wish to enrage her further. "Her master was a Mr. Urami. She stole his gun and killed the officers. He has been freed of any charges."

"Of course he has, he's male," Usagi mumbled, more to herself than to the other two occupants of the room.

Avoiding Usagi's comments, Mamoru continued. "She fled the night of the shooting. It is reported that she has been moving daily from safe house to safe house. I need you two to try and track her down before the police do. They are getting closer to finding her everyday."

"Yes sir, Mr. Chiba, we will get right on that," Usagi replied, instantly sitting and emerging herself into her computer.

Both Mamoru and Minako gave a sigh as they watched Usagi quickly flip through page after page of information on the computer. In the week that she had worked there, Usagi quickly learned every detail of the system and was now putting her skills to the test.

"Let me know if you find anything," Mamoru told Minako, knowing that Usagi was too wrapped up in what she was doing to hear him.

With a nod of her head, Minako began to work through the computer network as Mamoru left the room. If there was any chance of finding Tesu before the police, then those two were the ones to do it.

~*~

"Usagi, it's time to go home," Minako told her sister as she shut down her computer for the night.

"No, not yet," Usagi insisted, waving her hand to dismiss her sister. It was day three of the search for Tesu and Usagi was bound and determined not to give up on finding the female.

"Usagi," Minako started.

"No! I'm close! I can sense it," Usagi replied as Mamoru entered the room.

"Usagi, it is late and we need to go home," Mamoru said in a kind voice. Her passion to find Tesu was taking her over and he was worried for her. He feared what would happen to Usagi if they didn't find her.

When the page that she was trying to load ended with an error message, Usagi let out a growl. Heaving a sigh, she shut down the computer and stood up. "Perhaps you're right."

"Perhaps?" Mamoru asked with a joking voice and the slight raise of his eyebrows.

Playfully swatting him back, Usagi smiled at him. "I'm sorry, Mr. Chiba. You are always right. Please forgive my arrogance," she replied sarcastically.

Minako cleared her throat and smiled at the couple, "Um, Mr. Chiba, Usagi, perhaps we should take this conversation somewhere a bit more private."

Both Mamoru and Usagi nodded their head in understanding. Minako had become the "watchdog" at work, making sure that the two lovebirds didn't do anything to arouse suspicion in the males that worked around them.

The ride home that night was uneventful, as usual, but upon entering Chiba Estates, the unusual was ready and waiting.

Gathered at the front door of the estates, waiting for the return of their master, were at least two-dozen females. Rei was there as well, trying to calm the near hysterical females.

"What's going on?" Mamoru questioned as the females and their questions swarmed him.

"Mamoru, we heard it was her fault. Is it true?" one asked as she pointed to Usagi.

"Mamoru, you have to get rid of her! She'll turn us all in!" another insisted.

And more and more accusations, questions, and demands were shouted out towards Mamoru, while all fingers pointed at Usagi.

"Rei?!" Mamoru shouted over the voices of the females, in an attempt to find the answer to his unasked question: what the hell was going on?

Rei shrugged her shoulders and shouted, "I don't know," though she doubted that Mamoru had actually heard her voice. For hours the females had been moaning about some kind of "injustice" and gathered at the front door waiting for her brother. Any attempts she made to get information were in vain, for they refused to answer to her.

"Quiet! QUIET!" Mamoru shouted out over the many voices. "I will speak to one of you at a time. Please be quiet!"

And if the servitude of these females to their master was ever in question, it was doubtful that it would ever be in question again. Within ten seconds, the lobby was silent.

"Thank you. Now, Hanasu, please tell me what is going on," Mamoru requested of the brown hair female that stood before him.

"Mr. Chiba, word has gotten around that Usagi reported you to the police. That's why they came after you that night," Hanasu started. Mamoru was about to comment, when she continued. "Some of the others are saying that they heard her and her sister talking and they plan on turning us all in, in exchange for their freedom."

Mamoru listened to Hanasu and felt like laughing outright. "I assure you Hanasu, I assure you all, that the trip I took to the police station was in no way related to Usagi."

"But sir," another female spoke up, "We've heard that when she was arrested that she made a deal with the officers!"

Usagi cringed. If that was a deal, then she was certainly not the receiver of the good end of the bargain.

"Again, I assure you that these accusations are false," Mamoru again tried to persuade the crowd of females. "You all know that I have nothing but your best intentions in mind. I would not allow anything happen to you or to this establishment."

Several females again tried to protest, but Mamoru decided that it was time to act as master. "I wish to hear no more on this subject." And with that final word, all was silent again. Mamoru made his way to the elevator, with Usagi and Minako close behind them.

When the elevator door closed, Usagi sagged her body against Mamoru. Minako proceeded to wipe the small beads of sweat that accumulated on her forehead.

"So," Mamoru started with a light voice, "Who's in the mood for pizza in the penthouse tonight?"

Immediately, both females shot their hands up in the air. All three enjoyed a slight laugh.

~*~

"In the news today," the chubby anchor of the local news channel came on the TV. "Authorities have finally made an arrest in the shooting of three local police officers."

The audience around the television became silent as their slices of pizza dropped to their plates.

"Female Honto Tesu was found today in the safe keeping of local resident, Otoko Yoi." The picture of the newscaster dropped into the background and was replaced by the small picture that had been up in the top corner.

Shouts were heard from the area around a small white house. Several officers, with weapons drawn, surrounded the small house while another officer approached the front door.

"Honto Tesu! We know you are in there! Come out with your hands in the air!" The officer shouted. After waiting a moment, the officer kicked in the front door and began to move in.

Several shouts were heard at the side of the house and an officer who had been waiting by the cars began to run. The cameraman was quick to follow, as the scene on the television began to jump around.

Arriving at the back of the house, the camera quickly zoomed in on a female, frozen to her spot. She slowly turned around, revealing a female of about twenty years of age with honey colored hair.

"Put your hands in the air now!" an officer screamed out, yet Tesu did not move. "Do it now!"

Still frozen in place, the sound of sobbing was coming from the female. Her body was shaking and it appeared that she was about to fall.

A "brave" officer neared Tesu silently and raised his gun in the air. With a quick slice through the air, the end of the gun was brought down onto her head, knocking her out. Her body slumped to the ground in a pile, her back exposed to the sky.

The officer that had knocked her out put away his gun and reached down to Tesu. Grabbing a handful of her hair, he yanked back to lay her body flat. The camera zoomed in on a pale young face before the newscaster's face once again took over the screen.

"Otoko is not being held for his assistance to Honto. It was determined that the seventy-two year old blind male should not be charged, due to his lack of knowledge of the situation.

"Honto, however, has been tried and sentenced today. She will stand before all at the town square tomorrow and admit her guilt. Punishment will be received at that time. In other news...."

The newscaster went on, but his words fell on deaf ears. Mechanically, Mamoru reached for the television remote and turned it off. The occupants of the room remained in silence for some time.

"What happened mama?" a small voice asked, her voice practically echoing throughout the room. Setsuna, Hotaru, and Rei had decided to join their brother and the two blonde sisters for pizza. With all the accusations that were swarming through Chiba Estates, they had thought that it would be less of a headache in the penthouse.

Setsuna looked down at her daughter. She was so young and so naïve to what was going on in the world. It had been Mamoru's wish that she never know of the terrible things in life. Although she knew enough of the current world to survive, she lived her life more like the times before the war.

"Nothing, Hotaru. Nothing that you need to worry about," Setsuna assured her daughter.

Rising robotically, Usagi took her plate into the kitchen. Out of sight from Hotaru, Usagi allowed the tears to cascade down her face. She didn't need to look up to know that Mamoru had entered in the kitchen behind her.

"I failed her," Usagi cried.

"No, you did everything you could to save her," Mamoru insisted. He took Usagi into his arms and hugged her petite form to his body.

"But it wasn't enough," Usagi continued, "I should have done more, tried harder. I should have been able to save her."

"Shhh," Mamoru whispered as he held her tightly. "It will be okay, I promise."

~*~

Sleep that night had been difficult and filled with nightmares. Usagi couldn't remove the image of the poor, broken female from her head. Tesu had done something that no other female had done in a long time, she stood up for herself.

Usagi decided that she was going to the town square. If Honto Tesu were to be "punished," then she would be there to support her. Although Mamoru was not thrilled with her decision, he agreed to let her go. He had also decided that he would go.

The couple arrived at the town square at almost exactly noon. "High noon," they used to say in old western cowboy movies. Yet when high noon came, there would be no duel. There would be no fighting chance given, no chance to plea for innocence.

Usagi and Mamoru stood towards the back of the crowd. Both were shocked to see just as many females as males present before the platform. When the mayor walked onto the platform, one female actually had the gall to "boo" at him. It was her luck that the officers and guards were unable to discern her voice from the others.

"Bring out the accused." The mayor's voice boomed across the crowd. He stood regal and proud, as if this moment was the crowning achievement of his career.

Onto the stage was pushed the female Honto Tesu. She stood naked before the crowd, her honey blonde hair flowing freely around her body. If it weren't for the fact that her hands and feet were bound in chains, she would have looked like a small angel.

"Honto Tesu, you are accused of murder, what have you to say?" the mayor spoke to the female.

"I killed three officers of the law and must be punished," Tesu said in a small voice. The line was forced and practiced, yet she stood tall and did not give way to the tears that were present in her eyes.

"The punishment for murder is death. Yet," the mayor paused as several police officers made their way on stage. "I think that an example should be made here. No one has the right to kill. Much less a female kill male officers of the law."

Tesu's eyes went wide as she watched the officers climb the steps of the stage. Each of the five officers held a weapon in their hand.

Usagi cringed as she looked at the officers on the stage. She was able to recognize each and everyone as one of her attackers. The five males looked far too pleased for anything good to come of their presence.

The mayor raised his hand. Tesu recognized the signal and knew that once his hand dropped, her torture would begin. Her courage built, and she screamed out to the crowd.

"It's not my fault! They did this to me!" she yelled as loud as she could. Before she could yell out more, the mayor dropped his hand.

Upon his signal, the officers began to beat Tesu down to the ground. Two officers had bats, one had a whip, and the other two had chains. As they repeatedly hit Tesu, she continued to scream out.

"They raped me! They beat me!" Over and over again, she pleaded that it was not her fault, her voice dropping in strength as the beating continued. After about a minute, her body was lying in a broken pile and she was murmuring words over and over in a nearly silent voice.

After a minute and a half, the mayor raised his hand, ceasing the officers. Not because he felt the need to stop them from the brutality they displayed, but because a riot had broken out in the crowd.

Approximately ten females that had been standing towards the front of the stage began to scream out when the officers began to beat Tesu. Guards stood at the front of the stage to restrain them, yet they still fought back.

The females were trying to scratch and hit at the guards in an attempt to get on the stage to Tesu. Male members of the crowd were outraged that these females dared such an attempt and began to hit out at the females to stop them.

When the mayor stopped the officers on stage, they immediately saw the riot and jumped into the fray. Weapons still in hand, they knocked out several females easily, who were then dragged away from the stage. Those that tried to escape from the officers and the guards were quickly out numbered and placed in handcuffs.

At the back of the crowd, Usagi stood silently beside Mamoru. In less than two minutes the officers had completely shattered the female on stage and managed to grab more victims from the crowd. She closed her eyes and desperately prayed for them all.

With the riot ceased and the officers satisfied, the mayor decided that it was time to finish the execution. Another wave of his hand and the noose was placed around Tesu's neck. The rope was pulled up, bringing Tesu to a standing position.

Distracted by a spot of blood on his tie, the mayor was brought back to the matter at hand when the guard asked for permission to drop the floor. "Oh yes, finish it and let's be done," the mayor replied nonchalantly. After all, this was just another job that had to be done in the day.

With his word, the floor of the platform dropped and Tesu fell.

Several of the females that were left in the crowd cried out. Tesu's body fell as if it were nothing but a sack of potatoes. Without even the ability to struggle, Tesu's eyes closed and she was gone.

As the lifeless body was released from the rope, the crowd began to depart from the town square. Mamoru and Usagi turned to leave when a small sound caught Usagi's attention.

"Mamoru, do you hear that?" she asked quietly, concern for what sounded like a child's tears.

"What?" Mamoru asked as he turned to find Usagi already moving away from him and towards the sound. Mamoru quickly caught up to Usagi, who was looking behind a small bush. "What is it?" Mamoru asked.

Usagi reached behind the bush and picked up a small squiggling object.

"Let me go! Please let me go!" a small female voice cried out in fear. The little body was thrashing against Usagi's hold in an attempt to get free.

"It's okay, I won't hurt you," Usagi tried to assure the small female. "What's your name?"

The child continued to move until she realized that she was not being successful. After she stopped moving around, she looked up at the female that was holding her. Releasing the small sigh, she decided she might as well be cooperative. "My name's Chika."

"Chika, what are you doing here by yourself?" Mamoru asked from over Usagi's shoulder.

The tears that had been falling from the child's eyes began to flow again. "My momma!" she cried over and over again.

A flash of fear shot through Usagi. "Chika, what is your family name?"

Mamoru understood Usagi's question as was just as frightened of what the answer would be. Wiping the tears from her eyes, though more quickly replaced them, Chika answered, "My name is Honto. Honto Chika."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

LS: CHIKA! ;__; *regains composure* And if you comment to J that she took too long to get this chapter out...*coffs*...it was my fault. So complain to me. -___-;;;;;;;; *meekly* Sorry.