In the Reborn Kingdom, Ch 53, Rescuing Strays


It was a lively evening at the Tendo household. Martial arts lessons had been finished for the day and the homework as well. Dinner had been consumed and right now the extended group was celebrating the new arrivals, with the additions of Haruka and Michiru to the group. For the past few years Yui's twins were showing an aptitude for music and Rei was really focusing on the violin. So it was with little thought that Michiru offered to teach Rei and help her learn, and it turned out that Rei was a sponge. So it was with a reluctant acceptance that Michiru accepted the title of "Sempai" from Rei, and it was the source of never ending source of teasing from Haruka when they were home.

Shinji too had taken up a stringed instrument, mostly his mother's cello, but he was also branching out into other instruments as well, mostly Irish in some respects, and the blame fell squarely on Paul's shoulders as well, and he endured the teasing and occasion glares from Soun and Yui in good nature. His cello was up in his room with the other two instruments as well and all were well played and loved. Michiru actually put the boy in touch with some of her old contacts, and he was getting lessons in those instruments as well.

Thankfully though dinner was done and everyone was sitting around fussing over the newest set of twins in the family, and the babies were sound asleep, Nabiki holding David, while Yui had Kimiko in her arms. Chi liked the idea of being a big sister in most respects, but her baby brother and baby sister slept quite a bit and got really stinky when their diapers needed changing. They didn't do too much now so she was romping in the backyard just playing around with a soccer ball and kicking it all over the yard. So as far as she knew nothing could go wrong.


Free, he had gotten free. After years of abuse and torture he was finally free. He didn't remember moving to where he was, and he wasn't too sure of where to go, but he followed the call that would lead him to wherever it is he could get help. He needed the help, but so did his brother, badly. His brother was still in that place, bound and gagged, waiting for "Him" to return, and when he did things would probably go badly again, and his brother would probably not survive. He scooted out from the alleyway between a couple of houses, his breathing labored and a limp more than evident. He hit a wall that surrounded a home and he leaned up against it and coughed up some blood.

He knew things were not going good for him, and he probably had another rib broken by "Him" during their "Training and Discipline" periods. However for now he would go on. He walked to the back to where he could see the darkened house ended and then a house that was lit up. So using a strength that he didn't know he had he was able to climb over the wall and he landed in a well shaded area that had shrubs and tree to provide cover. He landed hard and had the wind knocked out of him and he had to lay there a bit to gather his strength. A ball came through the bushes and impacted his arm. He struggled to his knees and picked up the soccer ball.


Chi loved to run and play, she only wished her best friend ever Ranko could be here too. However she knew that Ranko was spending time with her family, and she would see her in school anyhow. So Chi could only grumble to herself when her ball went flying off into the bushes in the corner between her house and her grandparent's. So with little thought she decided to chase after the ball to retrieve it. A pale, gaunt figure seemed to rise up out of the bushes and asked, "Is this your ball?"

Chi screamed.

In an instant they were on the move. Being closest to the yard Shinji and Rei nearly materialized in front of Chi with their guards up and a wary look in their eyes. Nabiki, David, and the transformed pair of Haruka and Michiru quickly flanked the children. Akane and Ryu also were there and, having the night shift, were in their uniforms for work, but they were just as quick as the rest. Lady had arrived and was barking up a storm as she stood fearlessly in front of Chi. Her ears were down and her teeth were bared.

"Lady hold!" commanded Paul. Lady did as she was told, but she stood her ground and watched with a wary eye.

The young man stepped out from the bushes into some light, and when they saw his form just about everyone took a breath. Akane and Ryu's stances quickly shifted from a martial arts ready to attack, to paramedic mode where they were ready to spring into action. The young man regarded the faces around him and his eyes settled on Haruka's. He limped from the wounds on his body. It was more than evident that he had been struck with not only a fist, but a lash of some sort as well. The welts and bruises were in a range of ages, and there was scarring evident on his far too thin frame.

Haruka began to relax as the young man approached her with a desperate look in his eyes. Anguish, desperation, and pain were very prevalent at the moment, but a small glimmer of hope began to form as he took a couple of hesitant steps forward. "Help my brother, please," he called weakly.

Haruka's talisman dissolved into specks of light as she regarded the wounded form before her. "Your brother?" she asked.

"Please!" plead the young man, "He'll kill my brother!" He began to cough up blood and his eyes rolled up into his head and he slowly began to topple over as the strength in his legs left him. Haruka flew to his side followed quickly by Akane and Ryu.

Akane and Ryu shared a look that said what needed to be said and their experience and training began to take over. "Rei take Chi back inside and stay with her for a bit. Shinji I'm going to need your help," commanded Ryu in a no-nonsense tone.

"Right," agreed the children in a typical unison and they quickly performed their tasks.

Haruka was aiding Akane as the triage began. Haruka spared a moment and looked to her lover and asked with a simple word, "Michiru?"

Michiru nodded grimly and the Deep Aqua Mirror appeared in her hand and she began to look within. Paul and Nabiki's attention was split for a moment, but both noticed the look of pure cold fury that appeared on Michiru's face. Nabiki dashed off quickly and returned with a pair of sandals for Paul, his IFF glasses, and a nice pair of gauntlets that were covered with metal on the outside. She handed them to him and he quickly pulled them on and the IFF glasses quickly booted up. Paul quickly established communications with the local police forces and a car was being dispatched to their locations. Others were being notified to follow and track as Paul had a suspicion what was going to happen.

Michiru finished her reading and her expression was now best described as a towering fury. "Captain you are with me," she commanded, "Dispatch law enforcement and any available ambulances and have them track us. I'm notifying the Queen and the palace on the fly."

Paul recognized the tone of command in her voice, and he backed her completely. "By your command Princess," he replied.

Michiru leapt into the air followed closely by Paul and they headed off in a specific direction. Michiru was quickly relaying her report to the palace while Paul was in communication with law enforcement. Ninja that were on patrol had also been notified and many of them were quickly converging on the fast moving pair. Paul relayed to the converging law enforcement to run silent so as not to spook their target into doing something rash.

They arrived at a roof next door to their target house and paused for a moment. The law enforcement vehicles were nearby as were a pair of ambulances as well. A set of IFF glasses was handed to Michiru and she quickly donned them. A wireframe 3D overlay of the house plans quickly became available as the group regarded the structure. The normal construction was all in green, but the combination of so many IFF glasses and their accompanying sensors began to show things that should have not been there.

During the preparation for evacuation that Ranma and Serenity had made so many years ago basements were not a part of the plans for the housing. So it came with some surprise that his house had a basement. Its entrance was shown in red and the initial layout was beginning to form. However being somewhat hurried because of the potential of another life in jeopardy. Paul placed a hand on Michiru's arm and stated, "I have point, Princess."

"Understood," she replied. With that Paul was off and moving silently moving toward an open door, followed by Michiru and a pair on ninja. Law enforcement was quickly securing the area and the life signs were shown as concentrated in two areas beneath the house. The quartet moved quietly upon entering, while the police quietly breached the gate and they waited for the call.

On silent feet they approached the door that was supposed to be the storage closet under the stairs leading to the second floor. As Paul reached for the knob to open the door a small hand reached out and stopped him from opening said door. She had removed her mask and a familiar face greeted him with a small smile and a gentle shake of her head. Her somewhat short green hair was known to Paul, and again Midori and Keichi were there. Keichi had pulled out a small device with what appeared to be a wire attached to the end. He silently slid the wire beneath the door and a picture appeared that showed a darkened stairwell leading down with a light showing from beneath a door at the bottom of the stairs.

A further examination showed no alarms of any sort on the door and Keichi pulled back and nodded silently to Paul. With a skill that spoke of his training from the clans that Midori and Keichi came from Paul opened the door without a sound and with a swipe of his hand the door was freed from its hinges. Keichi quickly and silently set the door aside. Paul spoke an almost inaudible command, and the databanks that served the Moon Kingdom began recording imagery from all available IFF and police goggles for later review. With Paul in the lead, followed by Michiru, then Keichi and Midori they descended the stairs, and finally sounds began to reach their ears, and none liked what they were hearing.

"You stupid peace of shit!" yelled a man's voice followed by the striking of flesh. "I saved your worthless lives you piece of shit and I own your ass!" Another blow punctuated the statement. "I own you are you are my fucktoy! You do what I want when I want understood!"

On silent feet the quartet boiled down the stairs as a full reading was given for the occupants. Thankfully there was only two, and Paul was first in the room. He blew past the door as it slammed up against the wall and his hand reached toward the descending hand of his target as it was about to strike the pale, nude, and now bloodied form on what looked like a pommel horse in the shape of a triangle. The hand in question was holding a riding crop and if you looked close enough there were small drops of blood dripping from it. Paul's hand intercepted the descending hand, and it was only then that the man in question realized he was not alone. "The fuck?"

Paul's fist was moving already. "Goodnight asshole," was all he said as his fist impacted the man's face, knocking him out. Kenichi was there quickly and gave the half-naked man a quick pat-down search while securing the man's hands behind his back.

Crying began to fill the small room and Michiru's call of "Paul" got his attention quickly. Both women were distinctly green, Midiori more so. Michiru had tossed a ball gag to the side that she had removed from the young man and she was trying to comfort him as best she could. Midori was working quickly to remove the weights that had been tied to his ankles and she was nearly halfway there.

"I'm here Princess," called Paul.

Michiru's face was calm and even, but her eyes contained a fury that spoke volumes. "Help me get him down."

"Of course." Paul stood to the side and waited for Michiru.

Michiru took the young man's face in her hands and got him to focus on her face. "Okay we are going to get you off of this thing okay?" The young man could only nod in response, and then very weakly. "Okay here we go," she stated as she began to get one of his knees up to a point where it was above the apex. One of Paul's arms was already holding the young man as he too guided a knee up. Once both knees were above the apex Paul's other arm gently went under both knees and Paul lifted up the young man up what he thought was enough and began to move the young man off. A loud cry from the young man in his arms caused Paul to stop immediately.

"Um Paul, you are going to need to lift straight up for a bit," stated Midori as she observed the situation. Faces turned to regard her and it was more than evident that she was really green and was struggling to maintain her composure. Her slender arm and hand were pointing beneath the form in Paul's arm, and Michiru looked to see what she was referring to.

Michiru paled at what she saw, and it confirmed some of her suspicions. "Paul, you are going to have to lift straight up for a bit. Okay?" She joined him on his side and she squatted down. "Send in medical now and forensics. Oh and someone come down and take out the trash please," she called into her mic. She looked to Paul and stated, "When you are ready."

Paul just nodded and set himself and he slowly began to lift straight up. Both Midori and Michiru observed. Kenichi was getting a view and images of everything in the surprisingly large room before he opened the doors that were off to one side. As Paul lifted the women watched as a large latex phallus slowly slid out of the young man. It seemed impossibly large and there appeared to be blood on it as well. Paul continued to lift, a total of eleven inches before it was free of the young man in his arms. "He's free," called Michiru and Paul swung the form around to the side and gently set him down. He rested his head and shoulders in Michiru's lap as her glasses told her what was needed. Her healing abilities were becoming more and more pronounced recently, but they were not close to the abilities of the Queen or Hotaru.

Midori continued to observe, and to tell the truth her stomach was a bit queasy. She watched and observed as the heavily armed members of the local police arrived and took stock of the situation and they secured the suspect and were none to gentle in removing him from the premises. A loud gurgle was heard from the young man and then it happened. They had no idea how long he had been stuck on the phallus, but his body began to purge itself and his bowels acted. The stench was horrific and it was the final straw for the young woman. The bile rose in her throat and hit her mouth. In an instant her hand was over her mouth and she flew out of the room and up the stairs. How she avoided colliding into anyone was something she would never know, but she found herself in a corner of the yard on her knees where she promptly emptied the contents of her stomach. A gentle touch on her back was there and it stayed until she regained her bearings.

She turned and regarded a familiar form. Natsumi Tsujimoto was there in her heavy duty gear, but her weapon was over her shoulder and a concerned look was in her eye. A bottle of water was in her hand as she remained on one knee. "Bad?"

"Yeah," replied Midori in a weak voice, "bad."

"Here," stated Natsumi as she handed Midori the water bottle. "Rinse your mouth out and drink a bit. It will help you feel better."

"Thanks," replied the shorter woman as she took the bottle and did as she was told. A familiar voice called out and approached, and Kenichi was right there.

"Hey you okay?" he asked.

"No," admitted Midori, "not really."

Natsumi took a breath and made a quick decision. "Come on you two. I'll get your statements and I'm guessing your patrol for tonight is over." She stood and helped her friend to her feet and she led the pair out of the yard to take care of that part of the incident.

The medics had arrived and helped to load the young man up on a stretcher. The pair was quite professional and were peers of Ryu and Akane. They quickly brought their charge to their waiting vehicle. "Princess," started Paul, "I think you should probably ride along. Your face will probably be a welcome one to him."

Michiru smiled at Paul, "I was planning on that anyhow," she replied in a wry tone. "I'll see you at the palace then later." Paul just nodded at closed the rear doors of the ambulance after she climbed in. Paul signaled to the driver and the ambulance sped off heading toward the waiting hospital.

"Well I guess I have the pleasure of getting your statement now don't I Captain," stated a familiar voice.

Paul turned to regard the figure behind him and asked, "I thought you were retired by now Detective Tokuno?"

The detective just smiled and replied, "Nope, not a by a long shot. Now let's go and get this done and over with." Paul couldn't argue with him and followed along.


It was about four hours later when Paul landed in the yard of his in-laws and Soun was up and waiting for him. "Bad?" asked Soun.

"Yeah," replied Paul, "bad."

Soun regarded the man before him and patted a spot on the porch next to him. A sake bottle was there with two cups. Without waiting for Paul he quickly poured two cups and held one out to Paul. Paul knew what was wanted and he quickly sat down and took the offered drink and quickly knocked it back. Soun had knocked his back just as quickly and he refilled the cups, and again the men drank in silence. "Do you want to talk about it?" asked the older man.

Paul hesitated for a moment, and then stated, "They found at least one body, Soun." He held out his cup and Soun refilled it. He quickly finished the next drink and he set the cup down. He regarded the sky and stars above as he got lost in his thoughts.

Soun sat there for a while before offering a bit of wisdom, "You did what you could. Go home and get cleaned up. You could use some rest."

"Yeah," agreed Paul. He rose to his feet and regarded Soun for a moment, "Thanks for the drink." Soun just smiled and watched as Paul headed off toward his home. Stepping inside his house he found Lady there waiting for him with her tail wagging and ears going up and down. He reached down and gave her a scratch and he sat and removed his sandals and he again gave Lady another scratch, but this one was behind one ear, which she enjoyed. He rose and headed off to bathe, and he found a clean set of shorts and a t-shirt waiting for him. He decided for a simple hose off and he just showered himself off. He quickly dried himself and he redressed and headed back upstairs. The nursery was unusually bright and looking in he found Yui sitting in the rocker as she watched over the twins.

She smiled and rose and hugged the man. "Nabiki took Chi to bed with her. Now you go get some rest. Rei and I have already taken the baby monitor into the spare bedroom and we'll handle the twins if needed."

Paul smiled in defeat, he knew the battle was lost and he wasn't about to argue. He thanked Yui and headed off toward his bedroom. Lady had made herself at home out in the hallway and watched with canine curiosity as Paul headed for his room. He didn't bother with a switch as he knew the room quite well. His eyes were able to adjust quickly and he saw the still forms of his wife and oldest. Not wanting to wake either of them he quietly slid into his bed and kissed Chi, then Nabiki.

"Hey you," began Nabiki. "Bad?"

Paul sighed as he settled down to try and get some sleep. "Yeah, bad."

Nabiki shifted up and she gently leaned over Chi and kissed Paul on his lips. "Daddy was waiting with a bottle of sake, wasn't he?"

"Yes he was," admitted Paul.

Nabiki reached over and stroked the side of Paul's face. "Get some sleep," she ordered. "It has been a heck of a day."

Paul nodded and closed his eyes. Surprisingly sleep came easily that night.


I'm going to end this one here. I'll be dealing with the aftermath of this chapter separately. More to come I promise, and I'll be starting the next chapter shortly. Thanks to all!