Disclaimer: See first chapter.

Akane in Chains

Chapter Two: Searches and Showers


The clinking of chains echoed off the walls as Akane and the other new arrivals were marched through the prison. They passed through several security checkpoints before arriving at a large prison cell. This cell looked like it could hold a dozen people easily and the entire front wall was composed of bars, allowing anyone to see inside. The only furnishing was a long bench against the back wall.

"This is the intake cage. You ladies will be kept here until it is your turn to be processed." Chief Matron Hououji explained to the new prisoners before grabbing the arm of the first one in line. "We'll start with you."

After they marched off, the other guards began ushering the remaining prisoners into the massive cell. Akane was the last one in and she turned around in surprise as she heard the door slam shut with a clang. "Excuse me, officer, could you please take these chains off?"

"Your restraints have to remain on in the intake cell for security reasons," one of the guards replied. "They will be removed when you are processed."

Akane could not fathom what possible security reasons required keeping them shackled. They were already in the bowels of the prison under lock and key; but she didn't have time to question the guards before they walked off, leaving the new arrivals to themselves.

Time seemed to drag as Akane waited to be called. The prisoners didn't speak, each lost in their own thoughts and misery. The only sounds were the occasional clink of chains as they all tried to find more comfortable sitting positions. Intermittently, a guard would return and take another to be processed, one by one, until Akane was alone. She could not help but wonder if this was how the next year of her life would be: nothing but bars, chains, and maddening silence. She could not fathom living like this.

"Alright, get out here," one of the guards, a large muscular man, said as he unlocked the door. "It's your turn."

Akane tried to look calm as she rose from her seat and shuffled over to the guard, but she froze in shock as she felt his hand brush past her rear.

"What do you think you're doing?!" she growled, her nervousness momentarily forgotten.

"Sorry about that," the guard said as he flashed her a malicious smile. "Completely accidental, I assure you."

Akane did not believe him for a second and glared angrily at the pervert.

"Now that's a scary look," the guard continued. "I guess that's the look that poor kid saw before you busted her head open. Are you gonna try and do the same to me?"

Akane really had been considering doing just that. Every instinct was telling her to do it, but his words made her stop. She had willingly surrendered to the police and chose to accept her punishment because she had let her temper get the best of her. Even if he deserved to be slugged, how could she justify trying to atone for her crime if she kept resorting to violence?

"No," she muttered in reply to the guard's question.

"The correct response is 'no, sir,'" the guard said sternly. "Now, let's try this again. Are you gonna try and do the same to me?"

Her glare hardened as she answered through gritted teeth. "No, sir."

"That's what I thought," the male guard said as he took hold of her arm. "Let's get moving, inmate!"

Inmate. The word hit her like a punch to the face. Her angry glare faltered, her face returning to the solemn grimace she'd worn before. That's what she was now. An inmate.

She was brought to the end of the hall and into a room labeled Prisoner Processing. It was mostly bare except for a metal table in the middle with a plastic container on top of it. Chief Matron Hououji stood to the side, her face contorting into an expression one could only describe as disgust as Akane was brought in.

"Tendo, Akane," the chief matron said as she approached her prisoner. "Age eighteen. Charged with criminal negligence and reckless endangerment. Sentenced to one year imprisonment with no parole."

Akane eyed the correctional officer nervously. This woman she'd never met before was looking at her with such loathing.

"Before we begin your processing, let's get one thing straight, Tendo," the chief matron's voice was laced with contempt. "I don't like you!"

Akane couldn't help but cringe with every word. She practically felt the menace dripping off each syllable.

"You could've killed that girl! How could you possible endanger someone's life like that, let alone a child?"

"It was an accident!" Akane stammered. "I didn't mean to hurt her!"

"Was it an accident that you were chasing your fiancé, threatening to beat him? Were all the previous times you engaged in such reckless behavior accidents as well?"

"No," Akane slowly answered, lowering her eyes in shame. "You're right. Even though what I did was an accident, it happened because I was trying to hurt someone else. I really do regret it and I am willing to accept responsibility for what I did."

Chief Matron Hououji paused for a few seconds before replying. "I'll be keeping a close eye on you, Tendo. If I catch you stepping out of line or causing any trouble in my prison, I swear you will regret it."

With a nod from the chief matron, one of the other guards approached Akane.

"I am removing your restraints," the guard said. "Behave yourself or they will go back on."

Akane felt relieved as the constricting steel was lifted from her skin. She had spent the better part of the day chained up and she eagerly rubbed her sore limbs. But as she was about to discover, her chains were not removed for her comfort.

She was instructed to approach the table. As she stepped up, she noticed the container sitting on it had a label with her name, a series of digits she assumed was her prison number, and a set of dates. One of the dates was today and the other date was exactly one year from now, the length of her prison sentence. A plastic bag was lying inside the container.

"Strip down," Chief Matron Hououji commanded. "Clothing goes in the container. Any jewelry or other accessories go in the bag."

Akane glanced at the male guard who had collected her from the holding area. "Isn't he going to leave?"

"Why would Officer Yamada do that?" the chief matron asked. "He wouldn't be doing a good job helping process you if he left."

"W-What?!" Akane shouted indigently. "You can't expect me to undress in front of him!"

"Perhaps you don't fully comprehend your situation, so let me enlighten you. You are an inmate of this correctional facility and you will obey all orders given to you! If you are told to undress, you will do so whether there is a man present or not! Now, stop stalling and get to it!"

"No, I refuse!" Akane was defiant, her outrage overriding her sense of guilt. "He can wait outside the door, but I am not about to undress in front of-AH!" She was interrupted as Officer Yamada struck her with his truncheon.

"You really don't pay attention, Tendo," Chief Matron Hououji said, clearly annoyed. "I told you that you would regret it if you disobeyed orders. Now, I am not going to tell you again; either strip or we'll take matters into our own hands! Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," Akane spat out. She couldn't believe this was happening to her. Not only was she in prison, but she was at the mercy of a pervert with a truncheon!

Wanting to delay taking off her actual clothes, Akane started with her jewelry. Normally, she rarely wore any, but today she had for her court appearance. A pair of gold earrings and a necklace with a small blue sapphire. With hesitant hands, she removed them and placed them in the plastic bag.

Next, it was time to remove her actual clothing. The white blouse, beige skirt, and white heels she wore for court. She removed the heels first, followed by the blouse, and then the skirt. Each article was folded and placed in the box.

"Don't forget your underwear," Officer Yamada commented.

Akane glared hatefully at the perverted guard, but there was no choice or reprieve. Steeling herself with a deep breath, she hesitantly removed her bra and panties, depositing them in the container and immediately covering herself with her arms.

One of the guards carried the box with her clothes and jewelry into an adjacent room. Through the open doorway, Akane could see many shelves of identical containers.

"Now then," Chief Matron Hououji said, "we need to conduct a full body search in order to make sure you are not hiding any contraband on your person."

A loud snapping sound drew attention to one of the female guards putting on a pair of medical gloves. Akane's eyes widened in panic. "That's not necessary!" she stuttered, her sense of indignation replaced with fear.

"Its standard procedure," the Chief Matron replied. "Who knows what a thug like you might try to sneak inside? So, will you cooperate or do we have to give you another demonstration?"

Akane knew she could knock the guards out and escape the prison, but where would that leave her? She'd still be a criminal and would never be able to go home again. It wouldn't change the fact she committed a crime and deserved to be locked up. "I'll cooperate," she answered solemnly as she lowered her eyes in acceptance.

"Good," Chief Matron Hououji responded. She nodded toward the female guard who'd put on the gloves. "Officer Suzuki will conduct the search. Follow her orders to the letter."

"Yes, ma'am," Akane answered solemnly as the female guard stepped over to her. At least this correctional officer was a woman and not the damn pervert. Of course, said pervert was still in the room.

"Let's begin, Tendo," Officer Suzuki said, producing a small penlight.

The full body search lived up to its name. Even though it was being conducted by another woman, Akane still felt horribly degraded by the experience. Not even the times Kuno or Happosai groped her could compare. She closed her eyes and tried distancing herself from what was happening, but that was impossible.

"Alright, we're done," Officer Suzuki finally told her.

Akane slowly stood straight again and wrapped her arms back around her body.

"Here," the female guard offered her a towel. Her voice sounded almost apologetic.

Akane practically snatched it out of the guard's hand and hurriedly wrapped it around her body. It was faded and ragged, but right now she was thankful for any covering.

"This way, Tendo," the chief matron directed her toward an adjacent room.

Akane accompanied her escorts, finding herself in a tiled room with rows of showers. Against the wall opposite the showers was a metal bench where the other women who'd been searched before her now sat. Like her, they'd all had their clothes taken and were only covered by their towels.

"Line up ladies!" Chief Matron Hououji barked and all of the prisoners hurried to do so without complaint. The strip and body searches had sapped most of them of any protest. Officer Suzuki walked down the line, handing everyone a washcloth, a bar of soap, and a small bottle of shampoo. Officer Yamada stood to the side, his leering eyes roving over each towel-clad woman in turn. Most kept their gaze down, but Akane glared back defiantly refusing to be cowed.

"As you've no doubt surmised, you will now shower," the chef matron addressed them once they'd all received their showering items. "Wash yourselves as thoroughly as possible."

Akane and the other women stepped up to the showers. They were completely in the open with no partitions or curtains for privacy. Making sure to keep her back to the guards, especially the pervert, Akane hung her towel up, turned the water on, and stepped under the flow. She started to scrub herself, only stopping when she realized there was something strange about the soap. It burned her skin and gave off a very powerful stench.

"What kind of soap is this?" the woman at the shower next to her screamed in alarm. All the showering women turned toward the guards for an answer.

"Delousing soap," Chief Matron Hououji replied dully from her vantage point, having had to give this explanation many times before. "It will kill any bacteria or lice that might be on you. The shampoo will do the same. Now, keep scrubbing!"

"Don't worry, ladies," Officer Yamada chuckled. "The smell will fade after a few days."

Akane truly felt disgusted with herself. The shampoo smelled no better and she cringed as she rubbed the foul formula through her hair.

"Alright, that's enough," the Chief Matron said once she was satisfied everyone had washed themselves thoroughly.

The new prisoners dried off and wrapped their towels back around themselves before exiting the showers and lining up again. Despite rinsing off as best they could, the heinous odor delousing chemicals hung like a cloud over them. Akane involuntarily crinkled her nose at the smell.

"Face right!" the Chief Matron commanded. "Forward march!"

The towel-clad line was led into a room with a long counter dividing it in two. Behind the counter were shelves full of identical sets of clothes.

"You will now be issued your prison uniforms," the chief matron said as Officer Suzuki stepped behind the counter. "Give Officer Suzuki your sizes when your turn comes."

One by one, the prisoners received their uniforms. As she waited in line, Akane felt relieved that she was about to receive some coverings. Unfortunately, it seemed the universe wasn't done tormenting her yet, as Officer Yamada joined Officer Suzuki behind the counter when she was next in line.

"Step over here Tendo," Officer Yamada said with a grin. "I'll take care of you."

Akane froze for a second before once more glaring at the guard. She could not believe the sheer sleaziness of this man! Her hands clenched into fists as she considered letting the bastard have it. She knew she was stronger than him. She could beat him senseless and would have gladly done so long before now. Sadly, she knew to do so would be to violate her vow not to let anger guide her actions ever again. Still, it took every fiber of her being to remind herself of that.

"Tendo!" Chief Matron Hououji's stern voice called out, "you have been given an order by a guard and I suggest you obey it!"

Akane did not want to give Officer Yamada her clothing sizes, but knew it would be pointless to try and argue her case. The damn pervert was clearly amused as she reluctantly surrendered her measurements. She tried reminded herself that she was at least getting something to wear other than her towel, but it didn't lessen the sense of total humiliation she was experiencing.

A few minutes later, Officer Yamada returned with a small stack of clothes that he placed on the counter. The full prison uniform was a two-piece gray jumpsuit with a white tank top undershirt, sports bra, panties, socks and velcro sneakers.

"Prison gray is definitely your color," Officer Yamada commented mockingly once she finished dressing.

Akane couldn't help looking down at the uniform she now wore, her eyes drawn to prison number, 797455, written on the left breast of her jumpsuit shirt. The only thing she could think of was how she would have to wear these dreary clothes for an entire year; clothes that would constantly remind her she was a prisoner.

Additional items were also issued to each prisoner, including a second matching set of prison clothes minus the shoes, two sets of prison sleepwear, a set of linen sheets, a small bag of toiletries, and a laundry bag. Everything was stacked inside the laundry bag to make it easier to carry.

For the final part of their processing, the guards led the prisoners over to a wall with a height chart to take photos for the prison's records. Eventually, it was Akane's turn and she was given a plaque with her name and prison number.

"Hold that up in front of you and face the lens," Officer Suzuki ordered as she manned a camera in front of the height chart.

Akane did as she was told and the guard snapped a photo of her.

"Face your left."

A second photo was taken.

"Now turn around and face your right."

A third photo followed.

"The only thing left is for each you to have a quick meeting with the warden," Chief Matron Hououji announced after the last prisoners was photographed. "She likes to meet with all new arrivals and explain what's to be expected of them in this institution. I suggest you all listen carefully and try and make a good impression. Understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," Akane and the other new prisoners all replied on cue.

"Hands forward, Tendo!" Officer Yamada's voice suddenly rang out. Caught off-guard by the sudden command issued only to her, she looked at him in confusion. "I said hands forward, Tendo!" he repeated. "You deaf or just dumb?"

"Sorry," she bristled angrily as she held her hands out in front of her. Stepping forward, Yamada slapped a pair of handcuffs around her wrists. Akane's angry glare quickly turned to discomfort as he ratcheted the metal restraints tightly. The silver circlets cut deep into her skin, eliciting a cry of pain.

"I'm sorry, sir," Yamada snidely corrected her.

She glared bitterly through the pain of the metal pinching her skin, "I'm sorry, sir," she growled back. Grinning, Yamada loosened the cuffs enough that they weren't biting into her, but still tightly securing her wrists and stepped away.

Akane waited, expecting the other women to be handcuffed again too. However, it was soon obvious that wasn't happening.

"Alright, ladies, grab your prison issue supplies and let's get moving," Chief Matron Houoji ordered.

"Excuse me, ma'am," Akane spoke up, "why am I the only one handcuffed again?"

"Because you are a security risk, Tendo," the chief matron snapped back at her. "We take special precautions with violent criminals like you. Now, grab your items and keep your mouth shut!"

Akane lowered her eyes under the verbal rebuke. It was true. Only a violent person would bludgeon a child. Maybe she did deserve extra precautions? Dejectedly, she shuffled over and scooped up her item-filled laundry bag into her shackled hands and got in line with the other new prisoners.

Once again led through the labyrinthine halls of the prison. They were brought through a set of double doors into a more lavishly decorated corridor with carpeted floors and leather seats. The expensive décor looked like it belonged in a corporate office building, not a prison. They passed through another door into a waiting room complete with a receptionist, also in prison clothes, at a desk.

"Tell the warden we have brought the new prisoners," Chief Matron Hououji said as approached the desk.

The receptionist nodded and picked up the receiver of a phone on her desk and called into the other room. "Warden Matsushita says to bring the first one in."

Each prisoner was escorted into the warden's office. The others had to remain in line, forbidden from sitting in any of the chairs in the waiting room. Finally, after everyone else had gone, it was Akane's turn.

"You'll need to be on your best behavior to even have a chance of winning the warden over," Chief Matron Hououji told Akane. "She really likes children and doesn't like those who mistreat them, let alone almost kill them."

Akane's anxiety returned with the chief matron's words. As she was led inside, she could only hope her experience with the warden would be better than what she had so far endured in Fujimi Women's Prison.


Author's Notes: I apologize if anyone thinks I am being too harsh on Akane, but prison is not a nice place. Strip searches and delousing are common procedures in real prison intake and there are crooked guards who abuse their power and harass prisoners. I promise that things will get better for Akane in later chapters.

Next Chapter: Akane meets the warden and learns just what's in store for her during her stay in prison.

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