For Sale

Author: ChibiJ

Rated: PG13

Rating :

Chapter 8

For Sale

Chapter 8

By: Chibi J

Edited by: Lady Solo Lector

Rated: PG-13

As always, I do not own the majority of characters in this story. Those that I do own and this story are mine exclusively and I ask that you please do not take from me without asking.

In addition, my sincerest, most heartfelt thanks to all my dear friends at Aria's Ink. You all hold a place in my heart.

For those of you who have asked if I have read "A Handmaid's Tale" I have. I know this has a similar concept, but I promise that it is only so to a point. This has completely been made from my little brain.

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

Mamoru was pacing around the lobby in a non-stop circle. His nerve-wracking steps were enough to make anyone who had seen him anxious. Luckily, after the officers left the building, Mamoru told Usagi to go and check on Chika and that he would join her as soon as he could. Immediately after she left, the pacing began. Mamoru's mind was flooded with concern-concern for his love, his family, and all of the people that lived under his care at the estate.

An hour after the officers were gone and there seemed to be no risk of their return, Mamoru instructed Rei to give the all clear. The people who had been hiding in the tunnels of the sub-floors gathered in small groups, trying to figure out what had happened.

Their wondering didn't last long, as Mamoru soon came to speak to the people on each floor. With a heavy heart, Mamoru told everyone that the building would be going "Code Red" and they needed to pack up their belongings.

As he rode the elevator to the penthouse, Mamoru debated how he would break the news to Usagi. His thoughts were put on hold as the elevator door opened and a toddler with curly light brown pigtails ran and clung to his leg.

"Hi sweetie," Mamoru smiled softly at the little female.

"Daddy, Mommy burnt my snack again," Chika said as she looked up at Mamoru with her chocolate eyes.

"She did!" he said as if in shock. Usagi wasn't a bad cook and the time she had been working in the kitchen with Makoto had helped improve her skills. But the occasional burnt grilled cheese sandwich did make an appearance at snack time.

Usagi walked towards Mamoru, where Chika had caught him by the elevator, with her hands on her hips. "It wasn't that bad," she said with a sigh.

Mamoru smiled at Usagi and hobbled towards her, Chika still attached to his legs. "I'm sure it wasn't," he said with a smile as he leaned down to kiss her gently on the cheek.

"So, how are things?" Usagi asked, wondering what had been happening in the last two hours.

"I arranged for Rei, Sets, and Hotaru to watch Chika. They will be up to get her in a half-hour," Mamoru answered, indicating to Usagi that things were too upsetting to speak of in front of Chika.

Usagi adorned a cheerful smile for the sake of Chika. "Do you hear that sweetie?" Usagi asked as she squatted down to Chika's height. "Aunt Rei is going to watch you!"

"Horsy!" Chika squealed cheerfully as her little eyes lit up.

~*~*~

"So, how bad is it?" Usagi immediately asked after Chika had left with Rei. Mamoru sat down on the couch and dropped his head into his hands. "That bad?" Usagi asked as she sat down next to him.

"Worse," he groaned out.

"How can it be worse?" Usagi asked, curious as to how things could be any worse than a group of officers showing up to look for a secret safe-house in the sub-floors. "They didn't find anything. So how can it be worse?"

"The fact that Beryl was the one who reported us," Mamoru replied as he lifted his eyes to see her confused look. "When Beryl first came to the estate, she had no papers. She stayed on sub-floor two for over a month. She knows the tunnel system."

Usagi's face turned from confusion to realization to horror. "But they won't believe her!" she shouted out. Usagi felt fear flood her system.

"When they take her to trial and she doesn't break, they will look for all the missing pieces to the story," Mamoru sighed as he wrapped an arm around Usagi. Whether to comfort her or himself, he wasn't sure. "She may not have mentioned the tunnels before, but they will beat her until she tells them something."

Usagi's eyes went blank and she stared forward, not seeing anything. Beryl would tell them and her family would be found hiding in the sub-floors. All the railers--a nickname inspired by the South's Underground Railroad of the Civil War--would be found and, most likely, killed. "No," she whispered, barely recognizing her own voice.

Mamoru held Usagi close, feeling her trembling form in his arms. "Yes."

Time passed slowly and quietly before Usagi finally found the ability to speak again. "What are we going to do?"

"I've already put the sub-floors on code red. I plan to alert everyone else at dinner tonight," Mamoru informed Usagi. But once again, he caught her questioning look. In that moment, he realized that there was a lot he never told her. Before Usagi came, Mamoru had been so strict with everything. There was a plan for every possible situation that could occur and everyone knew every plan. With her came his loose, carefree side and he had slacked off, not letting her know about all the plans that were able to go into effect, at a moments notice. "Code red means that we are going to need to evacuate the building."

"Evacuate? To where?" Usagi asked, stumped as to where he would manage to evacuate close to thirty railers and over sixty females.

"The railers will be split between the farm house and a large manor house with a secret basement. They should be safe there," Mamoru paused for a moment. "Everyone else will be split amongst safe houses and staying with trusted members of my staff at Chiba Industries."

"But what about Beryl? Won't she tell them about the evacuation?" Usagi asked, wondering what good it would do to leave if Beryl was just going to direct the police to them anyhow.

"She may, but it would do no good," Mamoru said as he stood and briefly paced in front of Usagi. "She knows that we evacuate, but she doesn't know where to. I only have one copy of the evacuation plans and they are hidden in my office. She has only been there once and I doubt she was able to find them."

Usagi nodded her head in understanding. The entire estate would be emptied, whether it was evacuated by choice or by law. Given the option, hiding was far better than the alternative.

"And where will that leave us?" Usagi asked, worried about Mamoru and Chika. It seemed that every time her life was going well something had to come in and break the peace. This time she worried that she would lose all that she had ever loved.

"I have arranged for you, Chika, Minako, Shingo, and your mother to live with Rei, Setsuna, and Hotaru in a house on the outskirts of town," Mamoru replied, knowing full well that she had noticed the lack of his name on the list.

Without missing a beat, "And what about you? You'll be there too, right?" Usagi's eyes went wide as she noticed Mamoru's expression. He would not be there with them.

"Usa, I have..."

"No," she quickly cut him off. "No, I can't do this without you!"

Mamoru smiled at Usagi. She was such a strong person and she didn't even know it. If there was anyone that he felt that he shouldn't have to worry about-it was her.

"Usa, I have to hide too. Once they find the estate empty, they will start searching for all of us, me especially," Mamoru said as he began to rub her back gently. "I want to be with you. I really do. But it is not safe for you."

Usagi nodded her head again; it was the only action her body could perform. She couldn't say no and refuse to let him leave her side. What he was doing was for her safety and the safety of everyone in the building. In her heart, she wished there was some other way. She just wanted to play the dumb blonde and have everyone just act as if they had no idea about the railers. Her head, however, insisted that Mamoru knew what was best and he would do whatever he could to keep everyone out of harm's way.

"Usa, I know this is hard for you. It's hard for me too. But I need you to be strong," Mamoru whispered gently.

Usagi let out a sigh and admitted defeat to the situation. She would be strong, he needed her to be. She would protect her family and friends that she loved more than her own life. She would not fail him.

A renewed determination shone in Usagi's eyes as her resolve strengthened. She pulled herself form Mamoru's arms so that she could stand before him. "I will do it--for you and for Chika."

Mamoru smiled at the beautiful vision before him. This female, no, this WOMAN, was more than she seemed and he knew that the world would one day know her strength. A sly smile started to spread across Mamoru's face. Let the rest of the world learn her strength, but they would never learn of her the way he knew her.

"What is that look?" Usagi asked in a playful tone, noticing the immediate change of moods. She knew the look well: a tiger stalking his prey.

"Nothing," Mamoru smiled innocently as he stood up. In a quick move, he picked up Usagi and threw her over his shoulder.

"Mamoru, this is a serious situation! What do you think you're doing?!" Usagi screamed out, trying to retain her laughter as she kicked her legs and squirmed about.

Mamoru's smile was that of the devil himself as he carried his prize towards the bedroom. "I'm going to enjoy myself for what could be the last time in a long while. I'm hoping you will enjoy yourself, too."

Usagi only giggled out an answer as Mamoru moved through the doorway to the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

~*~*~

Although word spread throughout the estate about the search the officers made on the two sub-floors, no one knew why. Some of the females had seen Beryl led away by the officers, but only two females knew for certain that it was in connection with the search.

Beryl's roommates kept their secret knowledge that Beryl had indeed alerted the officers of the sub-floors until dinner. When Mamoru informed the females of the estate of what had happened, including Beryl's involvement, both Shinna and Mikia denied having any idea of what Beryl had done.

After altering everyone that the building had gone "code red," Usagi witnessed how efficiently Mamoru had planned out the entire event.

By seven o'clock, as dusk was beginning to fall, two delivery trucks pulled up to the docking bays at the back of the estate. The bay doors opened to the basement, where the trucks would normally be unloaded. This time, however, the trucks were empty, waiting for a more unique cargo.

One truck was loaded with railers heading to the farm and the other to the manor. The luggage was quickly piled in, followed by the people. A little cramped, but not daring to complain, the truck doors were closed and they were off.

The process for the females of the estate was a bit trickier. It wasn't at all suspicious to see two delivery trucks at the estate at the same time, but more than that could catch some unwanted attention.

As such, Usagi found herself forced to wear several layers of clothing and Chika dressed the same. Her couple of suitcases were labeled and placed in a pile for later delivery. For now, however, she was going to have to walk several blocks to one of Mamoru's associates from work. From there she would be driven to the safe house she was assigned to.

Usagi sat patiently, though rather uncomfortably, in the lobby with Chika curled up on her lap. It was nearing midnight and it was almost time for her to leave, under the cover of darkness, to meet her ride to the safe house.

Mamoru was still organizing the first four groups that were scheduled to leave. A group of five would be leaving the estate every half-hour until dawn. Anyone that left after sunrise would leave with the morning "delivery" truck, which would also carry all of the suitcases.

The clock in the lobby struck midnight. Although it had no chime, everyone in the lobby felt that they could hear the hands of the clock move into position.

Mamoru walked over to where Usagi sat with Chika. He tried desperately to soak in her every detail. Her ocean blue eyes, soft blonde hair, her slightly plump body from the four sets of clothes she was wearing, and even the small stream of sweat that was dripping down the side of her face. Never before had he seen such a beautiful sight.

"Usa, it's time for you to go now," he said gently as he sat next to her on the small bench. He placed on hand around her shoulder and the other on top of Chika's small head. The little child shifted slightly, but never awoke.

"Mamoru, I'll miss you so much," Usagi whispered, trying desperately to keep the tears from her eyes.

"I know," Mamoru replied with a sigh. "I can only promise that you will always be with me in my heart, thoughts, and dreams."

Usagi soaked in the loving words and smiled. "And you will always be in mine," she promised him.

The couple stood, Usagi carefully shifting Chika in her arms. "Take care of her and don't let her forget me," Mamoru said as he gently kissed Chika on the forehead.

"I promise," Usagi replied. She gazed longingly into Mamoru's eyes, momentarily lost in their stormy depths. Pulling herself back to reality, she smiled happily. "I love you, Mamoru."

"I love you too, Usagi," he smiled. Never had he been so happy and so sad in the same moment.

Knowing that time was dwindling, Mamoru leaned down and brought his lips gently towards hers. The kiss was tender, sweet, and short, but it betrayed their every emotion; love, fear, heartbreak, and hope flooded their senses as the two broke apart from each other.

"Goodnight," Usagi said softly, taking a step back from Mamoru.

"Goodnight?" he questioned her, not understanding her choice of word.

"Yes," she smiled brightly. "I refuse to say goodbye."

Mamoru's smile widened. A single tear fell from the corner of his eyes. Mamoru whispered softly, "Goodnight," as he watched his love turn and walk through the front door.

Waiting just outside for Usagi and Chika were Rei, Minako, Setsuna, and Hotaru. Usagi's mother and brother were set to leave in the second group a half-hour later.

"Goodbyes are hard, aren't they?" Minako asked as she wrapped her arm around her sister as they started to walk away from the estate.

"It wasn't a goodbye, just a goodnight," Usagi corrected Minako.

Minako nodded her head in understanding and truly hoped that it was not a goodbye.

~*~*~

The six blocks that the group had to walk to reach their ride to the safe house were quite exhausting. Not only was it the middle of the night, but also it was warm and they were all wearing several layers of clothing. In addition, the four grown females were sharing the responsibility of carrying the sleeping three-year-old, who was extra heavy due to all her layers.

Usagi wondered if this feeling of fear and discomfort was how the Jews had felt when they went into hiding from Hitler's regime. Should the females be caught now, their punishment would be the same as any Jew in that time. Although there was no patch of the Star of David on their clothes to differentiate them, the females could be distinguished by appearance alone. To be discriminated against for the religion one practiced, to be tortured or killed for that religion, or to be forced into hiding for that religion was unjust, horrid, and wrong.

Many people fought after the war to establish peace and a greater sense of freedom; they swore that such a thing would never happen again. Yet here they were, persecuted for the gender they were born, punished for having a voice and trying to speak up, or killed for disobeying.

So much for the promises of freedom and peace among the people. The world now embraced the immortal words of the Constitution of the United States: all men are created equal.

When the group of females finally reached their destination, they found that the vehicle they were to fit in was a small car with two doors and four small seats. Grin-and-bearing it, the four larger females crammed in, leaving space for the driver, and slid the two children in on their laps.

The ride was nearly unbearable, every bump causing discomfort to soar through their bodies. But their driver was a polite, elderly male who apologized repeatedly for the inconvenience.

When the small car pulled into the driveway of the safe house that was to be their new home, Usagi gasped. Never, when Mamoru had said that it was a house on the outskirts of town, had she expected what she saw.

Her new home was not all that new, at least not to her. She quickly took in the sight of the little blue house with a white picket fence. Never had she thought that she would see the house before her again.

"Usa," Minako whispered. She, too, was staring at the house in awe.

"We're home," Usagi said breathlessly, not sure if she could really believe the sight before her.

~*~*~

"It's bizarre, isn't it?" Minako asked Usagi as the two females folded and put away their clothes. After arriving at the house, everyone split up into their rooms to settle in for the night. The two sisters were back in the room they grew up in, Chika sharing the bed with Usagi.

"I never thought I'd see our home ever again," Usagi said as she closed the drawer of the dresser. Nothing in the house had changed from the day she was taken to the training camp. Even the bunnies on the bed were in the same spot as she had left them.

"It's weird though," Usagi said as she sat on the bed next to Chika's sleeping form. "There's no dust on anything."

"That's Mamoru for you. He's probably kept the place under housekeeping for the last eight years," Minako said with a smile.

"Yeah," Usagi whispered. She had only been separated from Mamoru for a few hours, but she already missed him.

Minako took in her sister's far-away look and sighed. "You'll see him again soon. I'm sure of it," Minako said as she sat next to her sister, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"I'm sorry, Mina," Usagi said as she leaned her head on her little sister's shoulder. "The last thing you need to hear right now is my whining."

"Usa, you have every right to whine. You have something that the rest of us can only dream of," Minako said softly.

"You'll find love someday, Mina," Usagi promised her.

Minako nodded her head, although she doubted that she ever would. The society in which they lived didn't exactly encourage fairy tales where princesses and knights in shining armor live happily ever after.

~*~*~

Mamoru waved his arm in the air, signaling to the driver that everything and everyone was loaded up. The driver gave a honk of the horn and pulled away.

Heaving a violent sigh, Mamoru ran his hand through his hair and decided to go upstairs and get some rest before heading out himself. The entire estate was empty now and it seemed eerily quiet.

Entering the apartment, Mamoru rubbed his eyes tiredly. It was nearly six AM and he was exhausted. As he made his way towards the bedroom, the phone in the kitchen rang. It was odd to be receiving a phone call so early in the morning, so he rushed to answer it before the answering machine picked up.

"Hello. Chiba speaking," Mamoru answered after the third ring.

"They're coming," a breathless male voice rasped into the phone. "You have to get out now!"

"Who is this?" Mamoru asked, a feeling of dread filling him as he wondered what the male on the other end of the line was talking about.

"You have to get out now! The officers are on their way," the voice said before the line went dead.

Hanging up the phone mechanically, Mamoru absorbed the words and without a moment's pause, he got on the elevator and made his way to the first floor. Opening the front door, Mamoru could hear the faint sound of sirens in the distance and tried not to panic. He rushed to his car and sped away from the building, desperately hoping that no one had seen him leave.

~*~*~

"The place is empty," Officer Tomba informed Officer Smith as he returned from searching the upper floors of the estate.

"Damn," Smith muttered under his breath. He brought his walkie-talkie up to his mouth, "Wilson, Jameston, have you found anything?"

"Roger that," Jameston responded. "We found the tunnels, just as she described them."

"But they're empty, sir," Wilson added.

Smith groaned in frustration. Damn Chiba for making him look like a fool. The captain would not be pleased with the news that the female had been right after all.

"Smith, this is Johnson, come in," the walkie-talkie crackled.

"Smith here," he responded automatically.

"Sir, we found Chiba's car five blocks away, abandoned in a parking lot," Johnson informed him.

"Search the area, I want him found!" Smith demanded before clipping the walkie-talkie back onto his belt. He stormed towards the front door before turning around to Tomba again. "Wrap things up here and then get back to the station. We have a prisoner to interrogate."

~*~*~

"Officers raided Chiba estates, home of prominent businessman Chiba Mamoru, after a female in his possession stepped forward with information indicating that the estate was actually being used as a safe-house," the reporter said before flashing to a video of the officers investigating the tunnels. "It is believed that Chiba was housing close to thirty railers, who hid in sub-floors of the house, along with his extensive collection of females. Upon search, the entire estate was found abandoned and devoid of any leads concerning the whereabouts of the house's former residents. Officers are currently searching for Chiba and the occupants of the building. If you have..."

The television clicked off, leaving its viewers in the small living room staring wide-eyed and speechless.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Chika asked as she noticed Usagi's pale face and blank expression. Usagi turned to look at the toddler, but all words failed her.

"She's okay," Hotaru tried to comfort the little child. "Why don't we go out and play before dinner?"

"That sounds like a good idea," Shingo agreed, knowing that the adults would want to talk alone. Chika nodded her head, casting one last look at her mom and the other females before heading outside.

After the three kids had left, Usagi dropped her head into her hands as tears began to cascade down her face. Her thoughts were centered on one thing: Mamoru.

"She didn't take long to completely betray us," Rei scowled, her shock quickly turning into anger.

"But why?" Setsuna asked, not believing that anyone in the room could actually supply her with an answer.

"What do we do now?" Usagi asked, forcing her tears to stop. A sense of responsibility filled her and she recalled her promise to Mamoru to take care of Chika.

"We do everything according to plan and be extra careful if we ever need to leave the house," Ikuko said as she looked at the four females before her, two her daughters and the two others that she had learned to love as daughters. It was her responsibility as a mother to keep them all safe.

"We just need to let things settle and then Mamoru will find a way to bring us all back together," Setsuna told them, certain that her little brother would once again come through for them all.

~*~*~

"Mamoru, how are things going?" Setsuna asked, hoping that things were faring better with her brother than they were at the house.

Mamoru pulled the phone slightly away from his ear and looked at it strangely, as if he were trying to look directly at Setsuna. He had never known his older sister to ask such a silly question. "How do you think things are going? I'm not exactly living at the Plaza here."

"Oh, yeah, I guess that's true," Setsuna replied, a hint of nervousness present in her voice.

Mamoru quickly picked up on her uneasiness. "Setsuna, I gave you this number only in case of an emergency. What's wrong?"

Setsuna, unknown to Mamoru, was pacing through the living room with everyone but Usagi present. They had all been concerned about Mamoru, but that had not been the reason for the call.

"Setsuna?" Mamoru asked again after a short period of silence.

"Sorry, it's just," Setsuna had never had trouble with words before, but telling her brother something that he didn't want to hear made it difficult. "Mamoru, we need to you to contact Ami and send her here."

"Ami? Who's sick?" he asked, knowing full well that the only possible reason they would need Ami was for her medical skills.

"It's Usagi," she replied, waiting for the twenty questions that were soon to follow.

"Usa," Mamoru whispered to himself. "What's wrong with her? How long has she been ill? Is she okay? Have you made her stay in bed? What about Chika? When did she last eat?"

Setsuna slapped her hand to her forehead. If there was one thing she knew, it was her family. "She's okay mostly, but she's been sick, for the past couple days actually."

"Sick like what?" Mamoru questioned his older sister, concern for his love filling him.

"Just some kind of a bug. She's been rather weak and a little pale. She starts feeling better for a bit, but she isn't able to keep down anything for more than a few hours," Setsuna said as she looked around the room for confirmation that she got everything right.

"She's not sleeping well either," Minako added and Setsuna repeated the statement to Mamoru.

"Tell her that Ami will be there shortly," Mamoru guaranteed Setsuna. "And that I'll be there as soon as possible."

"No!" Setsuna yelled, surprising both Mamoru and everyone in the room with her. "You can't come, Mamoru. If you come now, she won't be able to let you leave again."

Setsuna was right and Mamoru knew it. He shook his head in agreement, not thinking of the fact that she couldn't see him on the telephone. "Alright, I won't come. Would you please tell her I love her and want her to get better?"

"I think it would be best not to," Setsuna shook her head back and forth in frustration. Her brother had always kept a straight head, but Usagi brought out all his emotions, which quickly overrode his brain. "She doesn't know that we have the number to contact you, or she would be constantly on the phone with you, which isn't safe."

Mamoru sighed and ran a hand over his face as he sat down in a nearby chair. "Alright Sets. Perhaps the message can be passed on through Ami, if she feels it's okay."

"I'll talk to her when she gets here," Setsuna assured Mamoru. "I promise you that we will take care of Usagi," Setsuna said and, although Mamoru couldn't see, everyone else in the room nodded their heads in agreement.

"Okay," Mamoru conceded. As hard as everything had been since the officers first came to search the estate, being without Usagi was the hardest. Knowing that she was sick and he couldn't comfort her was painful, but if being with her would impede her recovery, than he would stay away. "Let me know how things go."

"I will," Setsuna promised. "Bye, Mamoru."

"Bye."

~*~*~

"Well, it looks like you have a touch of the flu, nothing too terrible," Ami said as she closed up her medical bag. Although females had been prohibited from receiving medical degrees, or any education above primary school, Ami had come from a family of doctors and was trained by her father before he died in the war.

"Thank you, Ami," Usagi said as she rolled over, grasping her stomach in a groan.

Ami watched Usagi for a few moments before speaking again, "Usagi, when was your last period?"

Usagi blushed bright red before thinking for a moment. "I was due at the beginning of last week." Ami gave Usagi a look and was about to speak when Usagi cut her off. "So I'm a little late, but my mother always said that could happen in times of intense stress."

"Well, yes, that can be true, Usagi, but not always," Ami said as she reached into her medical bag again and pulled out a small cup. "I'd like to run a test, just to be on the safe side."

Taking the cup from Ami, knowing what she needed to do, Usagi sighed and went to the bathroom. Stepping out moments later, she handed the cup to Ami, who immediately went to work. Removing some bits and pieces from her bag, Ami went into the bathroom to run the tests.

Usagi paced nervously around the room while Ami was gone. Never had she thought that she might be pregnant; in fact, the thought was far from her mind. Now that Ami had brought up the possibility, the thought was circling in her brain.

Ever since Usagi had been a small child with her first baby doll, she dreamed of being a mother. After watching her mother care for her younger sister and brother, Usagi had wanted nothing more than to have children of her own. Of course, she went through the "boys have cooties" stage and then her dreams seemed to be slashed to bits when she went to the training camp and she was told that any child she had would not be created from love.

Now, however, she had a chance to have a child. Not only that, but also she would be having a child with her true love. As much as she had come to love Chika, having a child of her own blood, from the love between her and Mamoru, would be a dream come true.

When Ami emerged from the bathroom holding the test results in her hand, her face was emotionless and gave away nothing, leaving Usagi impatiently waiting to learn the results.

~*~*~

"Please, stop, I'll tell you anything I can," Beryl pleaded with the male currently in the cell with her.

For two weeks she had been tortured, but she could take no more. She had immediately bargained for her life upon entering the jail, telling the secrets of the estate in order to gain time. She knew how Mamoru worked and knew that he would have the estate cleared out by the time the officers arrived. When the officers returned the next day, thoroughly pissed off and out for blood, she knew that they found the estate empty.

Unfortunately, exposing her knowledge of the estate led the officers to believe that she held more information; which was true. However, after spending the first night in jail and having time to think to herself, Beryl began to recognize the errors she had made. She wasn't after everyone in the estate, only Usagi. She realized that she had placed the lives of some of her friends and the male that she loved in danger and thus swore that she would hold out the information for as long as possible.

"Please," Beryl cried again, knowing full well that the officer wouldn't stop torturing her until he was satisfied. Then, upon near unconsciousness, he would leave her to get the other officers.

Beryl lay in a pile on the ground, fresh blood drying on her skin. She gently massaged her sore wrists, where the handcuffs had dug into her flesh. Looking over her bruised and battered body, she wondered if it was odd that she couldn't feel anything. She didn't worry for long however, as the pain from her wounds began to infiltrate her senses.

Since her arrest, Beryl had been tortured within an inch of her life several times. At first, the officers had only enjoyed her body, following all their set rules of leaving no physical evidence on the body. Within two days, however, the officers found themselves desiring more from Beryl and the chief officer agreed.

Male after male, Beryl was hung on the wall and treated brutally as she was repeatedly entered unwillingly. Her body was torn and twisted as each male took part in his sadistic idea of sex. When she no longer satisfied them sexually, the officers found pleasure in other ways.

The simplest of males found that her screams as he beat her with his fists were all he needed to be satisfied. Another enjoyed beating her with a club. The worst, however, was the officer that had just left her bleeding on the cold cement floor.

Officer Smith was truly a sick male; the other officers knew this but did nothing about it. His rage would often become uncontrolled, placing anyone in his path in danger. Worse yet were his periods of anger, such as the one he was in now. He had yet to find Chiba Mamoru or any of the females that had escaped him and he was taking his fury out on Beryl.

Not far from where Beryl lay, yet just out of her reach, was a slightly rusted razor blade drenched in blood. She had multiple small cuts running across her legs and arms and her breasts had several slashes across them. Blood was flowing freely from all of her wounds. Her back and abdomen had several scars from two previous encounters with Officer Smith.

Chief Daniels walked towards the cell where Beryl was being kept. He could smell her blood down the hall and felt ill. He knew that Smith needed help, but didn't feel like ruining the reputation of the station over one troubled officer.

"Open it," Daniels ordered to the guard in front of him. The guard opened the door and allowed Daniels to enter before closing the cell door behind him again.

Beryl looked up from her pile on the floor to notice the Chief.

"I understand you have something you want to tell me?" Daniels asked, hoping that she would be quick, as her sight was disgusting him.

"I'll tell you everything I know," Beryl started, but had to stop speaking when taken over by a coughing fit. "I'll tell you everything, but please, I can't handle this anymore."

Daniels covered his mouth with a handkerchief in an attempt to keep himself from vomiting. "What exactly do you expect me to do? Let you free? That's not going to happen."

"Please," Beryl breathed out, barely able to remain conscious. "Please just kill me. I'll tell you everything, but I want out of this misery."

Daniels allowed the handkerchief to fall away from his mouth as his hand mechanically fell to his side. Never before had any female, or any male for that matter, made such a request from him. He nodded his head, not really noticing that he was doing it. "I'll see what I can do."

Beryl slightly nodded her head, the action bringing more pain to her already torn and trashed body. She didn't want to betray Mamoru, but she couldn't stand the pain anymore. All she wanted was peace, a chance to not feel anything anymore, and death could make it all better. Using the little strength she had, Beryl turned herself over on the ground, facing away from Chief Daniels. Tears began to course down her cheeks as she thought of her friends and what she was about to do to them. With a weak and raspy voice, she began to speak brokenly.

"Manor house on Clark. Farm house a mile North from the dead end on Naples. Check the basement of every employee from the research and development team of Chiba Industries. A couple other houses, which are likely to have recently had an increase in utilities."

After a moment of silence from Beryl, Daniels spoke. "What of Chiba?"

Beryl dreaded the question, yet knew that it was inevitable. "I don't know. He never told us."

Daniels growled and turned away from Beryl, pissed off by the fact that he knew that she was more than likely telling the truth. He walked towards the cell door and knocked for the guard to open it up.

Beryl quickly turned to see him leaving and spoke hurriedly. "What about me?"

Daniels didn't turn around. "What about you, female?"

"You said you would..."

"I said that I would see what I could do. Unfortunately, I can't do anything for a worthless female who doesn't give me the information I need," Daniels said as he signaled the guard to close the door.

The sound of the door closing echoed throughout the cell and the lock clicking in place broke Beryl's already crumbling heart in two. What few tears she had left fell from her eyes as she began to retch blood and the little bit of food the officers provided her onto the ground. Too weak to move, she collapsed into the pile of vomit, more disgusted with herself for betraying everyone than with her current state.

Beryl wished only for death, yet it seemed that, once again, the only thing that she wanted would not be hers to have.

~*~*~

Minako turned off the television as her sister and mother entered into the room. For the past week, the news had been covering the arrests of multiple railers and females that had been previously living in Chiba estates. Rei had feared that it would only be a matter of time before they were found; still, they continued to keep the news from Usagi.

"So what's new in the world today?" Usagi asked her sister, a smile playing across her face. She had gotten over her flu and been feeling nearly a hundred percent better, although she still wasn't sleeping properly.

"Not much," Minako lied horribly. Usagi could see that her sister was lying through her teeth, but didn't have a chance to talk to her.

Chika came bounding towards her mother with a goofy grin on her face. She was running full speed and crashed into Usagi's legs. "Mama," she panted as she looked up at her mother.

Usagi picked up the child, curious as to why she was running so fast. "Chika, what's..."

Usagi didn't get a chance to ask, as her brother and Hotaru came running into the room. Shingo was slightly pale and Hotaru was blushing wildly. It was rather apparent to every adult in the room what the two teenagers had been doing, but Chika wanted to make sure there was no doubt in anyone's mind.

"Mama," she whispered loudly in her mother's ear. "They were boom-booming."

"Shingo!" Ikuko shrieked from beside her daughter. Minako, who was still sitting on the couch, fell over laughing. Setsuna and Rei, who just happened to be entering the room from the kitchen at the moment Chika shared her secret, were staring wide mouthed at Hotaru.

"Young lady!" Setsuna yelled at the thirteen-year-old female in horror. "Just what do you two think you were doing?"

"Boom-booming," Chika squealed in delight while clapping.

Shingo dropped his head in his hand and groaned. "We weren't doing anything bad, I swear," he pleaded with the five females staring down at him and Hotaru.

"It's true, I swear!" Hotaru spoke up from behind Shingo. She stepped up to stand beside him and took his hand in hers. "Shingo kissed me," Hotaru said as she dropped her eyes down to stare at her shoes, Shingo copying the action. The blush that covered her face was quite becoming and make her look older than she actually was.

Hearing the confession, the two mothers looked at each other and smiled. Hotaru had already confided to Setsuna an interest in Shingo several days early and was assured that her feelings were normal and acceptable. Shingo had not spoken to his mother about his attraction to Hotaru, but Ikuko was at an age where all mothers know everything about their children and she had her suspicions about the two for some time.

"Shingo, Hotaru," Ikuko said in a soft voice to gain their attention without causing them fear. Once the two looked up to meet the eyes of the eldest female in the room, she began to speak again. "I'm sure that Setsuna agrees with me when I assure you that what you have done is quite alright."

Setsuna nodded her head and continued for Ikuko. "A private relationship between the two of you is acceptable, however, there shall be no 'boom-booming' in this house."

Minako and Usagi both giggled slightly at hearing Setsuna use their mother's term, but quickly stopped the laughing when their mother gave them a look. The two youths nodded their heads in understanding, both blushing at the embarrassment of the entire situation.

"Well, now that that's over," Rei said, a smile spreading from ear to ear. "We were just coming to let you all know that dinner is done."

"Yay!" Chika cheered. The room burst out in laughter at the child's antics and began to move into the kitchen. Once again, Chika wondered why grown-ups were so strange.

~*~*~

"Sets, have you seen Usagi?" Rei asked as she entered into the family room where Setsuna was sitting at her sewing machine.

"No, not lately. Why?" Setsuna asked. Lately, they had all noticed that Rei was much more protective of Usagi, as if caring for her in Mamoru's absence.

"Just lost track of her," Rei replied as she left the room to enter in the kitchen. There was no one in the kitchen, leaving only one room.

Upon entering the living room, Rei found Usagi watching the final credits rolling from the end of a game show. Usagi heard someone enter the room and turned to greet her friend. "Hey Rei, what's up?"

"Nothing much, just seeing what you were doing," Rei responded as she leaned across the back of the couch. "What were you watching?"

"Some stupid show where males win money by being the dumbest," Usagi said as she rolled her eyes, causing Rei to laugh. She picked up the remote and began to lazily flip through the channels when she spotted the daily news. "Oh good, I wanted to see what tomorrow's weather will be."

Rei's smile immediately fell from her face as she saw the news anchor on the screen. "Um, Usagi," Rei started, trying to think of an excuse. "You know that the weather channel has better forecasts."

"Nah, Rei," Usagi said, shaking her head. "They have too many commercials between the weather reports. These guys usually show the weather right after the main story."

Rei could think of no argument to her logic, as much as she wanted to. Instead, she just nodded her head absently and tuned into what the male was saying, hoping desperately that the story would be about something other than her brother.

"Police have three houses remaining under suspicion. Neighboring districts have been asked to house many of the females, as the jail cells are currently overcrowded. Chiba is still on the loose."

The news continued on, but Rei reached over to take the remote from Usagi's hand and turned off the television. The room was silent for a moment, neither Usagi nor Rei were able to speak. Usagi couldn't even move her eyes from the screen and Rei didn't know quite what to say.

"Rei, please tell me you didn't know," Usagi whispered, still not turning from the television. Rei swallowed audibly and nodded her head slowly, knowing that Usagi could see her reflection in the glass of the television. "Why?"

For a moment, Rei considered the question and wondered why they had kept the information from her in the first place after all. They knew that she was mature enough to hear the news, but they still felt it best to leave her in the dark. "I, we all, wanted you to not worry. You have been stressing yourself out and you were sick," Rei though about trying to make more excuses, but knew that it would do no good.

"Everyone knew," Usagi said, speaking more to herself than Rei. "Nobody told me," her voice was hollow and lost.

"Usagi, I..."

"I understand, Rei," Usagi cut her off, not really wishing to hear any other excuses. "I just need to be alone for a while."

Without another word, Rei left the room to find her sister and the others to let them know what happened. Usagi, however, didn't move a muscle. In her mind, she repeated the words of the reporter over and over again. Not only had they captured the residents of the estate, but they had so many they needed to ship them to other facilities.

"But they don't have Mamoru," Usagi said to herself, as if to reassure herself of what she heard on the news.

"No, they don't have him," Ikuko said as she took the seat next to her daughter, putting an arm around her.

"And they aren't likely to find him," Setsuna added, sitting on the edge of the couch.

"You understand why we didn't tell you, don't you?" Minako asked, hoping that he sister wasn't terribly upset with them.

Usagi nodded her head before speaking. "I do, I guess. I mean, I'm upset, but I understand your intentions. But do you think we are safe here?"

"We have made plans to leave tonight to a new house," Ikuko said as she reached up a hand to move her daughter's bangs across her forehead lightly. "We just didn't want you to worry dear. You have Chika to care for and..."

Ikuko's words were cut off as the sound of knocking sounded at the front door.

~*~*~

"Chika! Come back!" Shingo shouted as he ran to catch up with the toddler running ahead him. Hotaru was running along side of him, both desperately trying to catch the small child.

"Can't catch me!" Chika giggled as she ran out of the back yard, along the side of the house, and into the front yard.

"Chika!" Shingo and Hotaru shouted again, but Chika paid no attention. As she ran through the front yard, she noticed several males standing at the front door of the house. She immediately stopped, turned, and ran the other direction. Unfortunately, Hotaru and Shingo were running at full speed and Chika ran straight into them, causing a heaping pile of children.

Shingo sat up, holding a hand to his head in an attempt to keep everything from spinning. As soon as his eyes focused, he had immediately wished that he had been knocked unconscious. Standing in front of him were three officers.

"Excuse me kids, do you live here?" Officer Johnson asked as he reached out a hand to help Shingo up.

"Yep," Chika answered before Shingo could stop her. Johnson turned his head slightly to signal the other officers standing at the door. They had already knocked several times, but when they saw the children, Johnson had a suspicion that something was up. With the nod of his head, the other two officers under his command knew to take action.

Tomba quickly tried the doorknob and was not at all shocked to find it locked. Taking a step back, Tomba kicked at the door two times, breaking it open. The two officers entered the house, while Johnson stayed with the kids.

"Can you come with me, sweetie?" Johnson asked Chika as he leaned down and picked her up. "I'd like you two to come with me, too."

Shingo and Hotaru slowly followed behind Johnson as they approached the front door. They walked into the house to find their families being herded towards the door.

"Mama," Chika cheered from her perch in Johnson's arms.

"Chika," Usagi gasped and lunged forward to grab Chika from the officer.

Johnson handed over the child to Usagi before regaining his composure. "I'm afraid you will all need to come to the station for some questioning."

The group walked somberly out to the van parked in the driveway. As the van pulled away from the house, Usagi looked out the window, once again wondering if she would ever see her home again. Her thoughts then turned to Mamoru and she prayed that he was still safe.

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

Solo Lector: Boom-booming. *giggles* Who knew it'd be reoccurring? Great chapter, J-mama. ;)

This may be the last chapter for a little while. Although I know where this story is heading, I have been having some difficulty writing it. I am also working on the Christmas competition, which is clouding my head, making it hard to think about what I am writing here.

Reviews are greatly appreciated and do often help to encourage me to write!