No. Usagi couldn't possibly go so far. She recalled the last time an alcoholic beverage had made its way through her system. She had woken up with a terrible migraine; not to mention Duo seemed more distant than usual. What had she said to him that night?

And Yamazuki, oh, Yamazuki was ten times worse. Duo hadn't taken her drunkenness as an advantage, and here this women-crazed pervert of a human being was trying to promote it! Did he honestly think she was so daft?

Setting the cup down, she parted her lips in an attempt to protest. But Yamazuki wasn't interested in what she had to say; he was too busy chugging down the leftovers of the flask!

Thoroughly dumbfounded, Usagi observed as he snatched up her abandoned cup off the table. He tilted back his head and guzzled back the sake without the slightest falter.

'I never knew he was such a dreadful alcoholic…' Usagi mused nervously. 'That was an awful lot of sake he just finished off… The entire flask!'

Yamazuki glanced up and looked at her as if for the first time. His lavender eyes glimmered with curiosity as he slowly leaned in, across the table, towards her. She edged back, disgusted with the smell of alcohol tracing his breath. He only bent in further as she did so. "You must be an angel," he gasped, "have you come to take me away from here? Up in to heaven with you?"

His stare sent chills up Usagi's spine. She crept back slowly, so as he wouldn't notice. But, to her horror, he just kept moving nearer. The farther she went, the closer he was.

'I don't know what to do…'

            Robes flying in every direction, Quatre had to double his pace to match Wufei's steady footfalls. Of course, he was a lot shorter than his Master… and that was the way Wufei liked it; above everyone else.

Pushing the thoughts aside, Quatre concentrated on his status report. "Wufei-sama, I have ordered two of your men to wait for you at the decided point… In front of the entranceway, am I correct?" He looked up.

The dragon nodded. Quatre was used to that kind of response coming from him. He obviously didn't like communication very much… In fact, he hated it.

"We're to meet up with the other four groups in Yamazuki's headquarters. From there, we will secure the women and enter his room… And rescue Usagi-chan, I presume?"

"I don't care about the girl. Just retrieve Yamazuki. I wouldn't be surprised if he's already found out and killed her."

Wufei's harsh words startled Quatre. Usagi could be dead? It disturbed him too much to ignore. "You… You really think she's… dead? Is the situation so critical?"

Wufei seemed to notice the worry in his voice automatically. He tilted his head slightly. "Why do you bother to ask? She was only a decoy to begin with. You must have feelings for the woman, then."

Quatre felt the blood rush to his cheeks. He had to bow his head in order to hide his embarrassment. "N-no… It's just that… I was hoping you'd spare her."

"And why is that?"

"Because she is not like us."

Wufei gradually slowed his speed, and then finally came to a halt. He looked at Quatre. "What are you trying to say? Just because she's a girl doesn't mean she can't die. It's pathetic."

Quatre turned to face him solemnly, hands tucked snugly into his sleeves. "You misunderstood me. I am simply advising you, for it is my duty. She if different because she has lived through years of remorse... Guilt for something she did not start. I want to help her understand, Master."

"She is lying," he countered in a snap.

"The mind never lies. I saw what she saw. I felt what she felt. It was a terrible situation, and I dare not speak of it… But I can assure you, it wasn't an average mind-reading… I was terrified."

Wufei continued walking, Quatre trailing glumly behind. He looked over his shoulder now and then. "There's nothing I can do now. It's up to her. Remember, Yamazuki doesn't take kindly to intruders. He might torture her instead."

Quatre winced. Torture? What did he think all those years of shame she had to live by was? She even thought her presence was the cause of her own father's death!

But Wufei was far from listening to him any longer. He had his own problems to think about. Defeated, Quatre followed his Master. Perhaps there was hope for Usagi.

Perhaps.

            "Where are we headed for this time, Sir?"

Trowa eyed the younger boy trudging along beside him, hands buried into the sleeves of his uniform. Each of their assigned groups included an advisor, and this one was his. Hino.

"Wufei has decided to take on Yamazuki once again. This time he has a decoy," Trowa replied gruffly, "it's a girl. Women are his weakness."

"So I heard… But, where did this woman come from? Was she on the streets when you hired her? I didn't think Wufei-sama would ever be able to convince one to work for him."

Trowa refrained from rolling his eyes; it wasn't, of course, his nature to show irritation. "I don't know who she is," he lied, shrugging his shoulders. "Neither do I care. Just as long as she doesn't mess up."

"Right…" Hino seemed unconvinced. "Isn't Yamazuki a little too cunning for her? He could see right through her! And then, she'd be—"

"Tortured, possibly slaughtered," Trowa cut in, "either way she was hired as a sacrifice… There are many different consequences."

His eyes widened. "Is she aware of these outcomes, Sir? And she accepts this fate with such ease? I find that hard to believe. She must be quite gullible."

Trowa glanced over his shoulder at the remaining group three of soldiers following him. Each of them was expected to lead four men, not including Quatre. He was Wufei's own advisor.

His group's abilities included katana, darts, martial arts, and daggers. Advisors didn't know any combat skills, so they served as a healer instead.

'Usagi wouldn't have agreed to do this mission if she knew the truth. We had no choice.' Trowa directed his attention back to Hino. "It doesn't matter. She chose her own fate."

Ignoring any other comments from the boy, he kicked down the door linking to Yamazuki's hideout. The same door Usagi had used to get in; a closet.

Trowa realized the hinges had already been pried open. That meant either Heero or Wufei had already gotten in… Duo was excluded, because he was always late.

'Although, Usagi won't let herself be pushed around by Yamazuki. She might just live through this.'

            Heero's foot tapped against the floorboards impatiently. He turned to his advisor, Misato, with fluid movements. "Where are the others? I thought this was the entrance to Yamazuki's headquarters."

Misato, stern-faced, put an ear to the door. He paused for a few moments, and then swiftly stood to match his Leader's height once again. "Aa, we are in the correct place. I can hear the women."

With an intolerant grunt, Heero leaned against the wall. Fifteen minutes. He had been waiting exactly fifteen minutes for the others to arrive. His group had already become restless. He couldn't blame them.

Misato was the only one keeping up appearances. He refused to show tardiness around the Leader and was probably the most patient of them all. Heero admired him for that much, but wasn't too impressed with his fighting techniques… he fought worse than a woman.

"Yuy."

Heero recognized Wufei's voice, and gradually turned on his heel, facing him. Trowa's group had arrived as well. He gave them both curt nods of respect.

"Where's that damned Maxwell?" their master snorted impatiently. "We don't have all night to wait for his tardy excuses. I want this raid over and done with!"

"I'm upset you have such harsh judgment against me, Wu-sama."

Duo grinned bluntly as he appeared from the shadowed hallways. His advisor, Yakumo, had always been unimpressed by his Leader's sluggish attitude, and tonight was no exception. He walked far away from Duo, arms folded stubbornly over his chest.

Wufei ignored him almost immediately and placed a hand to the door. "On the count of three… be prepared," he whispered through clenched teeth. The others nodded in approval.

"One… Two… Three."

With a grunt, Wufei had thrust open the door and the boys stumbled into the room beyond.

Wufei was indeed correct when he had said Yamazuki's weakness was women. The entire room was packed from one corner to the next with girls of all types... each now staring blankly in their direction.

"Do not move and inch and you will be spared," Heero shouted, withdrawing his sword. "No speaking, no screaming. Just stay put until you are told otherwise."

            "Rei?" Makoto rapped a hand lightly against the room's door. She paused, waiting for any signs of response. "Rei-chan, I know you're in there. You may as well talk to me."

When no sound could be heard, Makoto started down the hall again. Rei had been in that very room for at least two days now. She had said nothing since the incident with Usagi, and left her room rarely.

Minako joined Makoto promptly, a basket slung casually across her shoulder. She smiled up at her. "I just went out and bought a nice new kimono. I love it so much!"

Makoto rolled her eyes and said nothing. It was just like Minako to try and pretend like nothing was wrong; she was too good-natured to let bad thoughts bother her.

Ami, on the other hand, was almost as mute as Rei when it came to discussion. She barely ate anything at meals, and usually went out on day-long walks. Makoto guessed she was actually looking for Usagi.

Makoto didn't like to think about her companion's disappearance at all. She would come back when the time was right. Just give it time and things will brighten…

"What are you up to?" inquired Minako cheerily. "It was sunny all day, did you notice? I was outside at sunrise! You should take a look nest time… It's really pretty."

"I'll bet it is," Makoto replied. Talking to Minako was like talking to a child; gentle and patient. "Did you happen to catch sight of Ami at all today?"

Minako shook her head. "No, I haven't seen Ami-chan. She's probably off reading somewhere… somewhere with peace and quiet."

'Usagi, come back before you tear us all apart…'

            Trowa tied the final knot around the woman's wrists. She squirmed a few times in order to adjust to the feeling of being secured, and even sent him a few hateful glares. "Yama-sama will get you for this," she spat.

Trowa chose to ignore her. Comments such as those were only used to increase his anger, and maybe distract him from his task. He wasn't as gullible as she had predicted, obviously… But he had to admit, her blood-red eyes were startling.

"I knew that girl was trouble from the start," she began, smirking coldly. "She was out of place. Her eyes weren't filled with the depression of a real whore. She was a fake, and I knew it."

He pretended to tighten her ropes. Inside, he knew he just wanted to hear more from her. She was right about Usagi in a way, though.

"I think," she continued with an icy tone, "I think Yamazuki could see it, too. Perhaps he's killed the little girl already… That poor, defenseless girl you foolishly used as bait…"

"That's enough," he found himself saying. His own mouth had betrayed him in the end, and he was surprised at the dark quality of his voice. "Stop talking."

The woman ignored him. "Or maybe he decided to take advantage of her instead. She was quite pretty, you know. Innocent girls don't do so well in a place like this. Poor child."

"Shut up," he snapped, taken back again by his impertinence. The woman was successfully getting on his nerves and he couldn't even control his wrath.

A gleam of amusement glinted in her eyes. She was winning. "This girl… this girl must have meant something to you. If she had been a mere commoner, this wouldn't have bothered you so… Just hearing about her cruel fate rattles you, doesn't it? Well, it's too late for her now. Yama-sama has the upper hand. Admit your mistakes!"

"I don't care what happens to the damn girl," he growled, standing up again. Sending her a final glance of warning, he took his place next to his group. 'No. She's just a distraction.'

"I think we tied up all of them," Duo announced blandly. He nudged Yakumo in the ribs with a grin. "I did a pretty good job, didn't I?"

His advisor scowled back at him, blue eyes narrowing into slits. "And just what are you trying to get at? You didn't do all the work. I'm guessing you did the least, actually."

"Oi, I thought you were supposed to be an advisor, Yaku-san."

"Call me by that name again and I won't be," he barked. "Why don't you just do your job instead of fooling around? There, that's some excellent advice—"

He was cut off by a sharp, high-pitched cry. It came directly from the doors to Yamazuki's room and echoed throughout the building. Usagi's cry.

Wufei's eyes narrowed as he stared at the door. "Yuy, break down the doors when I give the signal."

Heero nodded.

There was a long pause. Even the whores in the background had ceased any previous tittering. No one dared to breath; not even Wufei himself.

"Now."

But before Heero could even blink, the doors had already crashed open. Yamazuki emerged immediately, a large empty bottle held in his right hand. He swaggered down two steps, hiccupped, giggled, and then collapsed in a pathetic heap… drunk, of course.

Usagi, to their surprise, stomped through the broken doorway, scarlet in the face with anger. She chucked a small white cup in Yamazuki's direction. "You son-of-a-bitch!" she screeched as the cup shattered next to him. "If you ever come near me again, I'll punch your disgusting face in!"

Usagi's eyes flickered as she made her way down the steps. She paused in front of the groups, sending them each a fierce look. "I hope you're happy. As if my life wasn't filled with enough creepy idiots lurking about! I'm glad I messed up your stupid raid--"

"Stop, this is the police!"

'Oh no…' Usagi twirled around, meeting the somber faces of… Haruka and Michiru.

Should Usagi:

Blame Wufei,

OR

Blame Yamazuki?

Author's Notes: I'm sorry it's shorter than last time… And it's a bit hurried. I promise you all I'll try my best on the next chapters to come! Oh and, if you didn't know, I have a new mailing list! So you won't have to keep checking back… Copy and paste this: http://www.geocities.com/deedlitsflame/list.html

Feedback corner: From e-mail reviewer, Chibi-Oni, Why aren't Usa's companions going to look for her? They think Usagi should figure things out for herself… Instead of forcing anything on her.

ChibiBear Check!: Yo! I was surprised to find out Haruka and Michiru were part of the police! I didn't see that one coming… I loved this chapter, Deedlit-chan, so keep 'em coming (Or else you'll have angry reviews after you)! Until next time, ja!