Killings: Kidnapped!
Sailormoon (Haruka) fanfiction
immo - immo@hamena.org
rating: R
Started this as soon as I finished the last one. Don't know how long it'll take me to post this one up... well,
we'll see, won't we? Thank you guys, for the kind kind reviews. I will try to get this one up soonish. And I really
do appreciate the reviews, once again. I know this isn't the best chapter in the world folks, but I'm rushing
through it, I'm rushing, rushing... :P And I think this is my worst chapter yet... I read through my last chapter
and I *really* should consider getting a beta-reader. Cuz my writing sux crap. I write stuff when I'm tired. So sue
me.
There ya go. I'm so sorry for keeping all of you waiting. As always, this is craptacular. :D But I hope you enjoy
it. I really appreciate everyone's 'gentle' urgings to finish the next chapter, so thanks. :) This chapter is
dedicated to my readers.
~~~
Tsukino was frustrated and furious, but he was useless in a situation like this. There was no ransom note,
and no clue at all. Usagi was his only daughter, his wife having died in labor with a stillborn son. Usagi was all
he had left, and he was frantic. After running through the house and yelling at the men who were supposed to be
watching her, he retreated to the library, closed the door and sat in his favorite armchair to weep. Chiba Mamoru
wasn't doing much better. He paced the mansion, like a frenzied dog.
Rei was the only one who was calm and composed. The police had been called but this was family business and
though any help was welcome, Tsukino trusted the efficiency of the underground world. Slobodianik had stayed the
entire night and reigned in the pandemonium expertly, bringing his own guards in to patrol the property. It was kind
of useless now, but Mr Tsukino was still here. And whoever it was that took Usagi might decide to hit again. Gary
and Serge were also outside, scouring the perimeter for any clue as to how the kidnappers had escaped. And of
course, the people who had been in charge of watching Usagi were being watched and interrogated very carefully.
"Who would have done this? I don't understand!" Mamoru was wringing his hands nervously. Haruka had read him
wrong. Since Usagi had disappeared, Mamoru had only thought about Usagi's welfare.
"Mr Chiba, if you'd just sit down--" Rei started to say, but Mamoru brushed her aside, turning all his anger
on her.
"And where the hell were you through all this?!" Mamoru raged. "Aren't you her bodyguard?! Why weren't you
watching her! She could be hurt right now!"
Rei just stood there taking the verbal abuse. In mute horror, people stopped to watch Rei, who stood with
her head bowed. The staff of the mansion all knew Rei was close to Usagi, and only a few suspected how much Rei
wanted to close that distance. But everyone knew that Rei would never have let this happen if she could have helped
it.
'This has got to stop.' Haruka started forward. She stopped when Rei's head snapped up, and the angry tears
were visible, her peaceful visage broken.
"Do you think I wanted this to happen?" Rei whispered hoarsely.
"All I know is that you weren't here when she needed you!" Mamoru continued.
Without another word, Rei pulled out her gun, clicked off the safety, and placed it against her temple. "I
would kill myself right now, if it meant that her safety was assured! I would die for her just like I lived every
day of my fucking life for her! Don't you fucking dare assume that you are the only one in this fucking house that
cares for her you ignorant asshole!"
"That's enough, Rei!" The voice boomed through the silence of the room. Tsukino had exited his room, his
face an effigy of sorrow. "If you please, Rei. Mamoru. Sacha. I need to speak with you."
The three people followed Tsukino into the library.
"What's going on?" Serge had arrived back in the house. The morning air was chilling, and he cupped a mug of
strong coffee in his hands.
"Meeting." Haruka said briefly, not too sure of what was going on either. "How goes the search?"
"Nothing." Serge said disgustedly. Then his voice lowered to a whisper. "I'm starting to worry about this.
This is an indirect attack at our family."
"How is that?" Haruka perked up at the news.
"Tsukino is our close ally." Serge explained. "If you attack him, you attack Sacha. Sacha takes his friends
very seriously, and he'll treat this like his own daughter has been kidnapped."
"Commendable."
"But I don't know if Sacha can do anything this time." Serge shook his head. "Don't repeat this to anyone
else, alright? Its just... you know, there was that attempt on his life before you came and... plugged the leak as
I'd like to say. His organization is crumbling from the inside. I don't know if we'll be of any help. We need help
ourselves."
Haruka pondered these words carefully, and Serge quickly continued, "Just, you know, watch your back. You
know he still suspects that there's a mole. And the boys are taking bets. They have most of their money riding on
you."
The library doors opened, and Sacha stood at the door. "Haruka. I need you."
"Think about what I said." Serge patted Haruka on the back, and left.
"Yes, Mr Slobodianik." Haruka entered the room, while Rei and Mamoru exited, looking more agitated than
before.
"Haruka, you've only been with Slobodianik's organization for a while." Tsukino started speaking first. "I
have often found myself wondering aloud at your usefulness. But if Slobodianik trusts you. I will trust you."
"Sir...?" Haruka turned to Sacha, confused.
"I've volunteered you in a covert mission." Sacha explained. "You will be searching for Tsukino Usagi. I
trust that you can find her?"
"There's no doubt I can, sir." Haruka was all seriousness. She had done this before, and though it was hard,
she'd been successful in several search and rescue missions before.
"Good, good." Sacha nodded his head, then muttered a phrase in Russian.
"Pardon, Sacha?" Tsukino looked up wearily.
"What I said was, where an army might fail, one man," Sacha placed a hand on Haruka's shoulder. "Or one
woman, might succeed."
Tsukino sat there, letting the words sink in. And after a deliberate pause, he spoke up. "Two women. I ask,
Slobodianik, that my Rei goes along."
"I work better alone." The blonde assassin said quietly.
"I'm sorry, but Rei needs to go along." Tsukino said firmly. "I trust your judgement, Sacha, I do. Its
just... I don't trust her yet."
Tsukino cast Haruka an apologetic look. But this was his daughter. He wouldn't trust a stranger with his
daughter, even if she came highly recommended from his friend.
"That's understandable." Sacha nodded, and looked at Haruka. The blonde sighed and nodded. "Its done then.
We should probably fill Rei in on the details."
Rei was called in, and listened to what they had to say carefully. She didn't offer any protests, but
accepted the situation graciously. Haruka found it slightly curious that she would allow an outsider in on a case
that was so personal, and voiced her thoughts.
"I don't care." Rei said impatiently. "I've done my homework, as you said, Haruka. I know your success rate.
And I don't care as long as we find her alive."
"Have you done this before?" Haruka queried.
"No." Rei snapped, then continued miserably. "I've never lost Usagi before."
"Lighten up a bit, Rei." Haruka clapped Rei on the back. "No matter what anybody says, it wasn't your fault.
The fault goes to whoever kidnapped her. Come on. First thing's first. We're going to interrogate some of the hired
help."
~~~
"Hey, you awake?"
Usagi opened her eyes to see one of her kidnappers towering over her, with a tray of food. Usagi clutched
her blanket closer, watching the man silently as he placed the tray on a table nearby. The body next to her stirred,
moaned a bit and squirmed closer to Usagi.
"Hotaru," Usagi placed a hand on top of the girl's head. Tomoe Nakahito's daughter. He was the inside man,
that was why she was here. She had been kidnapped.
"Ms Tsukino, you should eat." The black-haired man who tended to her constantly, motioned to the food he had
brought. She shook her head, and turned away, lying back down. Maybe if she slept again, she would forget that she
was hungry...
It had been... days? since she was kidnapped. She couldn't tell. This room that had been her prison had no
windows. The most she could tell was that she was underground, in some sort of basement. She had taken some water,
but that was it. She adamantly refused to eat, even though hunger gnawed at the linings of her stomach.
"If she won't eat, force her to eat." A light-haired man entered the chamber, an annoyed expression on his
face. "What, princess doesn't like her food?"
Another man entered. So far, Usagi had seen no-one but these three men currently standing in her little
cell.
"Calm down." The one who had just entered placed a pacifying hand on the quick-tempered one's shoulder. "Go
outside and take a break. I'll take over."
"Fine, fine." The light-haired man left.
The one who had brought in food for them was waking Hotaru up. Usagi watched warily, but out of all three of
her guards, she liked this one best. He was re-wrapping Hotaru's wounds, and checking on her bruises. When Usagi had
first seen Hotaru, the girl was in a bad way. Hotaru hadn't spoken a word since Usagi arrived, but clung to the
older girl.
Some times, Usagi got scared when she woke up and found out Hotaru had bled all over the sheets.
"Do you want to feed her?" The man held out a bowl of soup to Usagi. "She needs food, even if you don't."
Usagi accepted the bowl, and fed Hotaru. Each spoonful of Chunky soup that Hotaru devoured made Usagi even
hungrier, and she blushed when she heard her stomach growl, and the dark-haired man chuckled.
Picking up a biscuit, he offered it to Usagi.
"You should eat, you know."
"I don't want to." Her stomach growled again.
"That's not what your stomach says." He smirked, and broke off half of the biscuit. He placed half of the
offering on the bedspread, then started eating his half of the biscuit.
She hesitated just a second, but the warm food was irresistable, and she devoured it in seconds.
"Slow down," The man chuckled again, and handed her the second bowl of soup on the tray. "Careful, its hot."
Usagi finished the soup quickly too, then gave the bowl back to the man.
"Um," Usagi fidgetted, settled in a comfortable position with Hotaru in her lap. The girl looked up at her
with adoring eyes. "When... when can we leave?"
The kindness in the man's eyes left suddenly, and the smile fell from his face as he turned to collect the
dishes and clean up the tray.
"Please." Usagi pleaded, hoping that this man would listen to her. "Just, could Hotaru go home to her
father? She's very hurt, even you said so--"
"She was supposed to leave, as soon as we got you." The dark-haired man said quietly, his back to them. "My
team and I, well... our superiors don't know Hotaru is still with us."
"Well, if your superiors told you to let her go, then you should!" Usagi burst out. "She's just a little
girl, she can't hurt anyone! She can't even talk right now! Are you completely heartless?!"
The man turned around, his blue eyes cold.
"No. I'm not. That's why she's here." He reached out and rubbed Hotaru's head absentmindedly. "My employers
want us to give Hotaru a one-way ticket to her father."
"Then--"
"Her father's dead." The man said bluntly. "The only way she'll be going to her father is if I kill her.
Fortunate for her, we're not childkillers."
Usagi let that information sink in, and held Hotaru closer.
"Then... what will happen to her?"
"We're not sure." The man shrugged. "She has no other family besides her father."
"Bring her to my father." Usagi suggested. "He'll take care of her."
"Like how he took care of Hotaru's father?" The man shook his head. "No. And that will alert our employer
that we didn't do as he said."
"My... my father would never do anything like that!" Usagi was indignant. "He'd never kill a man!"
"But his friends would." The man shot back. "A Mr Slobodianik, perhaps?"
"Mr Slobodianik is a good man!" In all of Usagi's encounters with her father's closest business associate,
the Russian was cordial, friendly, and a very amiable guest. But she did hear rumours...
"He wouldn't..." But her voice lacked the conviction from before.
"You know he would. I heard he tortured Hotaru's father for information." The dark-haired man picked up the
tray, and walked out of the little room, his long ponytail trailing after him.
"I'm so sorry, Hotaru." Usagi held the tiny girl in her arms. But Hotaru didn't cry. She had long run out of
tears.
~~~
She had a long list of people to call. But she didn't start with anybody on that list.
"Hello?"
"Hey. Um, is this Kaioh Michiru?"
"Haruka?"
"Hey beautiful." Haruka grinned into her cellphone. "How've you been?"
"I'm doing okay." Michiru sighed. "Bored, though."
"You feel like dinner?" Haruka asked. What was she doing? During this time she was taking a break to take
Bungario's niece to dinner?
"I'd like that." The smile in her voice was worth it.
"Listen, I'm really busy right now, but how about I pick you up at... seven?"
"Um," Michiru hesitated a bit. Her uncle wouldn't like to know she was going out on a date with
Slobodianik's left hand woman. "Sure. But could you pick me up at my friend's place?"
"Yeah, just give me the address--"
"She's at a hotel for the time being." Michiru interrupted. "Actually, they have a pretty good restaurant
there... would you like to eat there?"
"It doesn't matter too much to me." Haruka shrugged. "As long as you like it its fine with me."
That made Michiru smile. "If someone heard us talking now, I don't think they would believe that we weren't
getting along at all in the beginning."
Haruka laughed lightly. "Practically at each other's throats. Listen, I have to get back to work now. I'll
pick you up at seven at your friend's hotel which is...?"
"The Hilton, you know, the one next to the shopping mall downtown?"
"The one near the civic centre, right?" Haruka looked around and picked up her palm pilot to write herself a
memo. "I'll be there at seven. Should I come up to get you?"
'If you came up to the room, I don't think we would leave...' Michiru blushed at the thought. "I'll wait for
you in the lobby."
"I'll see you tonight then, okay?"
"Yeah, sure. See you then."
Haruka pressed the end button on her cellphone, just as Rei burst into the room.
"What's up?" Haruka could see Rei was agitated.
"Its fucking Bungario. I *know* it is!"
"What have you found out?"
"Bungario has offered to help," Rei hissed. She kicked at a chair viciously, knocking it across the room.
"For a price, of course. That Mr Tsukino give him the shares. Its like a ransom!"
"You can't just accuse people of things, Rei." Haruka said carefully.
"You're saying you don't believe me?!"
"I say we should go about this rationally." Haruka placed a calming hand on Rei's shoulder. "What would
happen if we rushed in with guns blazing? If I were a man like Bungario, the first thing I'd do was execute Usagi
and send the pieces back to her father."
"What can we do, though?" Rei went from angry, to defeated in a second. When it came to Usagi, Rei was
completely unravelled.
Haruka sat back in her chair, her fingers steepled together. "I have a dinner to go to tonight."
Rei opened her mouth to say something, but Haruka shook her head, signalling her to be quiet.
"With Kaioh Michiru. Bungario's neice." Haruka got up out of her seat.
"Where are you going?" Rei demanded, right on Haruka's heels.
"To take a shower." Haruka turned around to walk backwards, a regal smile on her lips. "How do you think I'm
going to get Michiru to work FOR us? I gotta look my best."
"She has standards, Haruka!" Rei was still not convinced. "Do you actually think she'll do it?"
"I am BEYOND those standards, Rei." Haruka continued down the hallways, while people parted to let her
through. This was Slobodianik's place. And everyone knew who Haruka was.
"She might not know anything!" Rei continued.
"She might not." Haruka smiled. "But then again, she might. She just doesn't know it yet."
Rei was lost in her own thoughts for a moment, before she straked out the doors after Haruka and jumped into
the blonde's car with her.
"What the hell--"
"Clothes! You need to co-ordinate! Maybe a bit of make-up, and some perfume--"
"I got clothes," Haruka resigned to having Rei in the car with her. It would be good if Rei got some rest
anyways. Haruka wasn't sure if the brunette had really slept since Usagi went missing. "And I don't wear make-up. I
wear COLOGNE. I'm taking out the big guns, baby. Don't worry."
"I'm going to worry like nothing else, Haruka, until Usagi is safe and sound with me."
~~~
"She's late," Rei's voice was nervous over the cellphone. Haruka could just imagine the bodyguard wringing
her hands and pacing the length of Haruka's apartment. "Its seven already, where is she?!"
"She's a woman." Haruka lounged on one of the couches in the lobby. "Women are always late."
"You're not!"
"Let me correct myself: Women take forever to get ready for a date."
"And you're not on one?"
"No. I'm not." Haruka looked around the lobby lazily. "I'm on an assignment."
The elevator doors opened, and Michiru stepped out, instantly on the lookout for the blonde.
"I'll see you later tonight. She's here." Haruka ended her call and stood up, smiling charmingly. "Michiru!
Over here!"
"Hi," Michiru walked over slowly, a shy smile on her face. And Haruka had to admit the violinist looked
stunning in the simple, yet elegeant dress. "I hope you didn't wait too long for me. My friend, she, you know how
friends are."
"Of course," Haruka said understandingly, and offered her arm to Michiru. "Well, dinner?"
"I'm sorry, were you waiting long?"
"No, just a couple of minutes." Haruka lead Michiru to the dining area. "Does your uncle know you're out
with me?"
"Nope." Michiru took a casual glance around, and Haruka could hear the frown in her voice. "But he will
soon. His people are around."
"In light of the past 48 hours' events, I'm not surprised." Haruka replied. "Most everyone think that your
uncle had a hand in the kidnapping. Bungario must care about you a lot to send... what, five guards to look out for
you?"
"The one by the door," Michiru pointed out. "At my nine o'clock--"
"The garcon leading us to our table," Haruka continued the game.
"The couple sitting nearest us."
"And there's one who keeps coming out of the kitchen and going back inside." Haruka finished. "Does your
uncle know you like women?"
"Yes." Michiru rolled her eyes. "But he thinks its a phase, and all it'll take is the right man to come
along and show me what I've been missing."
Haruka pulled out a chair for the violinist. "And that man would be...?"
"Him." Michiru deadpanned. Haruka almost felt a bit protective of the young woman.
"So its better for me, I guess," Michiru continued. "He lets me do what I want, have girlfriends. Because
they're not 'serious'."
"Good evening Ms Kaioh, and I see you have a young gentleman accompanying you tonight."
Haruka grinned at the commonly made mistake, and nodded to the waiter. "Yes she does."
Michiru hid a smile politely by faking a cough. "What is the special for tonight, Eric?"
"Tonight, the chef has indulged a bit too much in his love of movies." The waiter rolled his eyes. "You know
the man... always trying to recreate some dish he sees in a movie, or is inspired by some film festival flick--"
"Whatever the chef recommends, I'm sure I'll enjoy it." Michiru cut the waiter off. Another night, if she
was alone, she would like to be entertained by this man's ramblings. But not tonight, when she had Haruka for
company.
"So you don't know much about your uncle's business, hm?" Haruka asked casually.
"Actually, I know more about it then most people." Michiru smiled. "He seems to think that I'm too brainless
to soak up anything of importance. Either that, or I'm smart enough not to go blabbing about my family to people."
Michiru took a sip of water before continuing on. "He's been very busy right now, so I don't see much of
him, which is great. He's rarely home now, and I think he's hired a few more people." Realizing she's said too much,
Michiru tried to change the subject.
"So he's been gone more than usual?" Haruka ignored Michiru's request. "Do you know where he goes?"
"Well, no. I don't know where he goes." Michiru admitted, frowning.
"Hm." Haruka smiled, propping her head with a hand. "Did I mention you look beautiful tonight? Did your
friend help you pick out that dress?"
"Yes she did." Michiru quickly hooked on to that line of conversation. "Isn't it great?"
"You just bought it recently, didn't you?" Haruka guessed.
"How did you know?" Michiru grinned.
"Well, I saw you buy it... when I bought that necklace for your birthday party, I recognized you in a shop."
"So you were stalking me." Michiru sat back, a smug smile on her face. "You fell madly in love with me when
we first met. So you've been secretly watching me."
Haruka smirked. "I have better things to do, Ms Kaioh." The blonde reached out and touched Michiru's thigh.
Then slowly, her fingers caressed the silk of her dress slowly, moving upwards, felt Michiru tense up in
anticipation. "Its a beautiful dress."
"Thank you."
"Goes well with you." Haruka's voice took on a mischevious note. "You don't do it justice, though."
"Then maybe I should just take it off." Michiru raised an eyebrow, challenging Haruka.
Haruka's hand retreated to her glass of water, and took a sip, meeting Michiru's gaze over the rim of her
glass. "Maybe you should... later."
They continued talking to each other, and Haruka grudgingly had to admit, she enjoyed the violinist's
company immensely. Their food finally came.
"All we're missing is the Chianti." Haruka joked, as they looked down at the main course. Fava beans and
liver. Yum.
"Silence of the Lambs," Michiru rolled her eyes, but smiled. "That's a great dinner topic."
"Only the very best." Haruka motioned for the waiter. "Why break with the theme? Waiter, I'd like a bottle
of Chianti, please."
When the waiter left, Michiru leaned forward, her eyes sparkling mischeviously.
"You know which piece of you I would eat first?" Michiru whispered. "If I was Hannibal Lector, that is."
"Which piece?" Haruka asked, thinking how incredibly cute Michiru was at that moment.
Michiru leaned closer over the table, caught Haruka's tie and pulled her closer, kissed her. "Your lips."
Haruka smiled, and dipped her head to kiss Michiru's collarbone softly. When the waiter came back, she
withdrew from Michiru. The waiter showed the label to Haruka, and she nodded impatiently. He filled their
wineglasses, then left.
"Cheers," Haruka raised her glass in a toast.
"Cheers." Michiru replied, and they ate companionably. Meanwhile, one of Bungario's lackeys had left to
inform his boss of this little date.
~~~
"The boss wants you." Yaten said crossly, and handed the phone to Seiya, who was just exiting the little
room that Usagi and Hotaru were currently residing in.
"Seiya speaking. What can I do for you boss?" Seiya spoke into the receiver.
"How is our little guest doing?"
"She's no trouble at all." Seiya reassured the Italian.
"So you're not busy, right?"
"Well, Taiki and Yaten could stay here and guard the house." Seiya rubbed the back of his head. He was
impatient and hated the way Bungario seemed to beat around the bush. "What's up?"
"My niece. I need her brought home. She is having a date with someone. I want you to dispose of her date
while you are at it." Bungario made the decision quickly. "In the restaurant."
"Does your niece know about this?" Seiya frowned. He did not like working for Bungario. After his contract
was through, he resolved not to work for the crime boss again. "She has seen me before, at your house."
"The girl won't talk." Bungario said impatiently. "I will have my men pull her out after you have shot that
meddlesome--we will make it look like you were after my niece. It will be an accident that you shot her companion."
"That is no problem." Seiya hung up, after getting the directions. She grabbed her jacket which was hanging
from a coatstand.
"Where are you going?" Taiki looked up from the book he had been reading.
"Business." Seiya slipped on a shoulder holster that carried two silenced desert eagles, and clipped
ammunition to his belt. The young man shrugged on his jacket and gave his two brothers a jaunty wave. "See you in a
few."
~~~
The waiter had just brought the check to their table when Haruka noticed someone walk in. Something about
the figure's determined walk caught her attention, and she quickly ducked under the table as the stranger reached
into his coat and pulled out two guns. Haruka pulled Michiru down with her, as the stranger started shooting.
Pandemonium broke loose in the restaurant.
"Shit!" Haruka grabbed the two pieces that she had had hidden, strapped to her leg. For emergencies such as
these.
"Haruka?" Michiru looked at the blonde frantically. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine." Instinctively, Haruka drew Michiru close to her and pressed a gun into the other woman's grasp.
"Here. I don't know who they're after, me or you... but just... I'll distract them. Run for the nearest exit."
Michiru didn't have time to protest as Haruka broke away from cover when there was a pause in the shooting,
and ran for the kitchen.
"Shit!" Seiya tore off his sunglasses and slipped them into the breast pocket of his coat, and followed the
fleeing person.
~~~
Haruka burst out through the back doors and did a running jump into the dumpster that stood next to the
doors. Her guns were hot, she had fired several shots, and unfortunately, she was sure she had missed her pursuer.
Whoever it was was good. And Haruka could feel a burning pain in her shoulder. A bullet had managed to nick her. Her
own shooting hadn't managed to bring her attacker down, but had bought her time so she could ambush whoever it was.
Her pursuer burst through the doors, and Haruka stood up quickly, and was just within distance to press the
nozzle of her gun against her pursuer's temple.
"Drop your guns." Haruka warned. Both weapons fell to the ground, and Haruka relaxed slightly. Big mistake.
The man ducked to the side and grabbed Haruka's wrist and twisted, making the blonde drop her gun. Then he
proceeded to pull Haruka unceremoniously out of the dumpster. Caught off balance, the blonde fell to the floor,
knocking the breath out of her, but managing to sweep her opponent's feet from under him. The weapons were knocked
aside in the struggle, as they grappled for control.
Finally, Haruka got the upper hand, and sitting on her opponent's stomach, she raised her fist, determined
to knock this guy unconscious, when the light cast from the exit sign illuminated the other's face.
"Seiya?"
Seiya blinked, just as surprised as Haruka, but the feeling quickly subsided to a sense of dread, as the
blonde's face went from surprise, to darkly threatening.
"Haruka. Wow... uh... you... look great?"
Sailormoon (Haruka) fanfiction
immo - immo@hamena.org
rating: R
Started this as soon as I finished the last one. Don't know how long it'll take me to post this one up... well,
we'll see, won't we? Thank you guys, for the kind kind reviews. I will try to get this one up soonish. And I really
do appreciate the reviews, once again. I know this isn't the best chapter in the world folks, but I'm rushing
through it, I'm rushing, rushing... :P And I think this is my worst chapter yet... I read through my last chapter
and I *really* should consider getting a beta-reader. Cuz my writing sux crap. I write stuff when I'm tired. So sue
me.
There ya go. I'm so sorry for keeping all of you waiting. As always, this is craptacular. :D But I hope you enjoy
it. I really appreciate everyone's 'gentle' urgings to finish the next chapter, so thanks. :) This chapter is
dedicated to my readers.
~~~
Tsukino was frustrated and furious, but he was useless in a situation like this. There was no ransom note,
and no clue at all. Usagi was his only daughter, his wife having died in labor with a stillborn son. Usagi was all
he had left, and he was frantic. After running through the house and yelling at the men who were supposed to be
watching her, he retreated to the library, closed the door and sat in his favorite armchair to weep. Chiba Mamoru
wasn't doing much better. He paced the mansion, like a frenzied dog.
Rei was the only one who was calm and composed. The police had been called but this was family business and
though any help was welcome, Tsukino trusted the efficiency of the underground world. Slobodianik had stayed the
entire night and reigned in the pandemonium expertly, bringing his own guards in to patrol the property. It was kind
of useless now, but Mr Tsukino was still here. And whoever it was that took Usagi might decide to hit again. Gary
and Serge were also outside, scouring the perimeter for any clue as to how the kidnappers had escaped. And of
course, the people who had been in charge of watching Usagi were being watched and interrogated very carefully.
"Who would have done this? I don't understand!" Mamoru was wringing his hands nervously. Haruka had read him
wrong. Since Usagi had disappeared, Mamoru had only thought about Usagi's welfare.
"Mr Chiba, if you'd just sit down--" Rei started to say, but Mamoru brushed her aside, turning all his anger
on her.
"And where the hell were you through all this?!" Mamoru raged. "Aren't you her bodyguard?! Why weren't you
watching her! She could be hurt right now!"
Rei just stood there taking the verbal abuse. In mute horror, people stopped to watch Rei, who stood with
her head bowed. The staff of the mansion all knew Rei was close to Usagi, and only a few suspected how much Rei
wanted to close that distance. But everyone knew that Rei would never have let this happen if she could have helped
it.
'This has got to stop.' Haruka started forward. She stopped when Rei's head snapped up, and the angry tears
were visible, her peaceful visage broken.
"Do you think I wanted this to happen?" Rei whispered hoarsely.
"All I know is that you weren't here when she needed you!" Mamoru continued.
Without another word, Rei pulled out her gun, clicked off the safety, and placed it against her temple. "I
would kill myself right now, if it meant that her safety was assured! I would die for her just like I lived every
day of my fucking life for her! Don't you fucking dare assume that you are the only one in this fucking house that
cares for her you ignorant asshole!"
"That's enough, Rei!" The voice boomed through the silence of the room. Tsukino had exited his room, his
face an effigy of sorrow. "If you please, Rei. Mamoru. Sacha. I need to speak with you."
The three people followed Tsukino into the library.
"What's going on?" Serge had arrived back in the house. The morning air was chilling, and he cupped a mug of
strong coffee in his hands.
"Meeting." Haruka said briefly, not too sure of what was going on either. "How goes the search?"
"Nothing." Serge said disgustedly. Then his voice lowered to a whisper. "I'm starting to worry about this.
This is an indirect attack at our family."
"How is that?" Haruka perked up at the news.
"Tsukino is our close ally." Serge explained. "If you attack him, you attack Sacha. Sacha takes his friends
very seriously, and he'll treat this like his own daughter has been kidnapped."
"Commendable."
"But I don't know if Sacha can do anything this time." Serge shook his head. "Don't repeat this to anyone
else, alright? Its just... you know, there was that attempt on his life before you came and... plugged the leak as
I'd like to say. His organization is crumbling from the inside. I don't know if we'll be of any help. We need help
ourselves."
Haruka pondered these words carefully, and Serge quickly continued, "Just, you know, watch your back. You
know he still suspects that there's a mole. And the boys are taking bets. They have most of their money riding on
you."
The library doors opened, and Sacha stood at the door. "Haruka. I need you."
"Think about what I said." Serge patted Haruka on the back, and left.
"Yes, Mr Slobodianik." Haruka entered the room, while Rei and Mamoru exited, looking more agitated than
before.
"Haruka, you've only been with Slobodianik's organization for a while." Tsukino started speaking first. "I
have often found myself wondering aloud at your usefulness. But if Slobodianik trusts you. I will trust you."
"Sir...?" Haruka turned to Sacha, confused.
"I've volunteered you in a covert mission." Sacha explained. "You will be searching for Tsukino Usagi. I
trust that you can find her?"
"There's no doubt I can, sir." Haruka was all seriousness. She had done this before, and though it was hard,
she'd been successful in several search and rescue missions before.
"Good, good." Sacha nodded his head, then muttered a phrase in Russian.
"Pardon, Sacha?" Tsukino looked up wearily.
"What I said was, where an army might fail, one man," Sacha placed a hand on Haruka's shoulder. "Or one
woman, might succeed."
Tsukino sat there, letting the words sink in. And after a deliberate pause, he spoke up. "Two women. I ask,
Slobodianik, that my Rei goes along."
"I work better alone." The blonde assassin said quietly.
"I'm sorry, but Rei needs to go along." Tsukino said firmly. "I trust your judgement, Sacha, I do. Its
just... I don't trust her yet."
Tsukino cast Haruka an apologetic look. But this was his daughter. He wouldn't trust a stranger with his
daughter, even if she came highly recommended from his friend.
"That's understandable." Sacha nodded, and looked at Haruka. The blonde sighed and nodded. "Its done then.
We should probably fill Rei in on the details."
Rei was called in, and listened to what they had to say carefully. She didn't offer any protests, but
accepted the situation graciously. Haruka found it slightly curious that she would allow an outsider in on a case
that was so personal, and voiced her thoughts.
"I don't care." Rei said impatiently. "I've done my homework, as you said, Haruka. I know your success rate.
And I don't care as long as we find her alive."
"Have you done this before?" Haruka queried.
"No." Rei snapped, then continued miserably. "I've never lost Usagi before."
"Lighten up a bit, Rei." Haruka clapped Rei on the back. "No matter what anybody says, it wasn't your fault.
The fault goes to whoever kidnapped her. Come on. First thing's first. We're going to interrogate some of the hired
help."
~~~
"Hey, you awake?"
Usagi opened her eyes to see one of her kidnappers towering over her, with a tray of food. Usagi clutched
her blanket closer, watching the man silently as he placed the tray on a table nearby. The body next to her stirred,
moaned a bit and squirmed closer to Usagi.
"Hotaru," Usagi placed a hand on top of the girl's head. Tomoe Nakahito's daughter. He was the inside man,
that was why she was here. She had been kidnapped.
"Ms Tsukino, you should eat." The black-haired man who tended to her constantly, motioned to the food he had
brought. She shook her head, and turned away, lying back down. Maybe if she slept again, she would forget that she
was hungry...
It had been... days? since she was kidnapped. She couldn't tell. This room that had been her prison had no
windows. The most she could tell was that she was underground, in some sort of basement. She had taken some water,
but that was it. She adamantly refused to eat, even though hunger gnawed at the linings of her stomach.
"If she won't eat, force her to eat." A light-haired man entered the chamber, an annoyed expression on his
face. "What, princess doesn't like her food?"
Another man entered. So far, Usagi had seen no-one but these three men currently standing in her little
cell.
"Calm down." The one who had just entered placed a pacifying hand on the quick-tempered one's shoulder. "Go
outside and take a break. I'll take over."
"Fine, fine." The light-haired man left.
The one who had brought in food for them was waking Hotaru up. Usagi watched warily, but out of all three of
her guards, she liked this one best. He was re-wrapping Hotaru's wounds, and checking on her bruises. When Usagi had
first seen Hotaru, the girl was in a bad way. Hotaru hadn't spoken a word since Usagi arrived, but clung to the
older girl.
Some times, Usagi got scared when she woke up and found out Hotaru had bled all over the sheets.
"Do you want to feed her?" The man held out a bowl of soup to Usagi. "She needs food, even if you don't."
Usagi accepted the bowl, and fed Hotaru. Each spoonful of Chunky soup that Hotaru devoured made Usagi even
hungrier, and she blushed when she heard her stomach growl, and the dark-haired man chuckled.
Picking up a biscuit, he offered it to Usagi.
"You should eat, you know."
"I don't want to." Her stomach growled again.
"That's not what your stomach says." He smirked, and broke off half of the biscuit. He placed half of the
offering on the bedspread, then started eating his half of the biscuit.
She hesitated just a second, but the warm food was irresistable, and she devoured it in seconds.
"Slow down," The man chuckled again, and handed her the second bowl of soup on the tray. "Careful, its hot."
Usagi finished the soup quickly too, then gave the bowl back to the man.
"Um," Usagi fidgetted, settled in a comfortable position with Hotaru in her lap. The girl looked up at her
with adoring eyes. "When... when can we leave?"
The kindness in the man's eyes left suddenly, and the smile fell from his face as he turned to collect the
dishes and clean up the tray.
"Please." Usagi pleaded, hoping that this man would listen to her. "Just, could Hotaru go home to her
father? She's very hurt, even you said so--"
"She was supposed to leave, as soon as we got you." The dark-haired man said quietly, his back to them. "My
team and I, well... our superiors don't know Hotaru is still with us."
"Well, if your superiors told you to let her go, then you should!" Usagi burst out. "She's just a little
girl, she can't hurt anyone! She can't even talk right now! Are you completely heartless?!"
The man turned around, his blue eyes cold.
"No. I'm not. That's why she's here." He reached out and rubbed Hotaru's head absentmindedly. "My employers
want us to give Hotaru a one-way ticket to her father."
"Then--"
"Her father's dead." The man said bluntly. "The only way she'll be going to her father is if I kill her.
Fortunate for her, we're not childkillers."
Usagi let that information sink in, and held Hotaru closer.
"Then... what will happen to her?"
"We're not sure." The man shrugged. "She has no other family besides her father."
"Bring her to my father." Usagi suggested. "He'll take care of her."
"Like how he took care of Hotaru's father?" The man shook his head. "No. And that will alert our employer
that we didn't do as he said."
"My... my father would never do anything like that!" Usagi was indignant. "He'd never kill a man!"
"But his friends would." The man shot back. "A Mr Slobodianik, perhaps?"
"Mr Slobodianik is a good man!" In all of Usagi's encounters with her father's closest business associate,
the Russian was cordial, friendly, and a very amiable guest. But she did hear rumours...
"He wouldn't..." But her voice lacked the conviction from before.
"You know he would. I heard he tortured Hotaru's father for information." The dark-haired man picked up the
tray, and walked out of the little room, his long ponytail trailing after him.
"I'm so sorry, Hotaru." Usagi held the tiny girl in her arms. But Hotaru didn't cry. She had long run out of
tears.
~~~
She had a long list of people to call. But she didn't start with anybody on that list.
"Hello?"
"Hey. Um, is this Kaioh Michiru?"
"Haruka?"
"Hey beautiful." Haruka grinned into her cellphone. "How've you been?"
"I'm doing okay." Michiru sighed. "Bored, though."
"You feel like dinner?" Haruka asked. What was she doing? During this time she was taking a break to take
Bungario's niece to dinner?
"I'd like that." The smile in her voice was worth it.
"Listen, I'm really busy right now, but how about I pick you up at... seven?"
"Um," Michiru hesitated a bit. Her uncle wouldn't like to know she was going out on a date with
Slobodianik's left hand woman. "Sure. But could you pick me up at my friend's place?"
"Yeah, just give me the address--"
"She's at a hotel for the time being." Michiru interrupted. "Actually, they have a pretty good restaurant
there... would you like to eat there?"
"It doesn't matter too much to me." Haruka shrugged. "As long as you like it its fine with me."
That made Michiru smile. "If someone heard us talking now, I don't think they would believe that we weren't
getting along at all in the beginning."
Haruka laughed lightly. "Practically at each other's throats. Listen, I have to get back to work now. I'll
pick you up at seven at your friend's hotel which is...?"
"The Hilton, you know, the one next to the shopping mall downtown?"
"The one near the civic centre, right?" Haruka looked around and picked up her palm pilot to write herself a
memo. "I'll be there at seven. Should I come up to get you?"
'If you came up to the room, I don't think we would leave...' Michiru blushed at the thought. "I'll wait for
you in the lobby."
"I'll see you tonight then, okay?"
"Yeah, sure. See you then."
Haruka pressed the end button on her cellphone, just as Rei burst into the room.
"What's up?" Haruka could see Rei was agitated.
"Its fucking Bungario. I *know* it is!"
"What have you found out?"
"Bungario has offered to help," Rei hissed. She kicked at a chair viciously, knocking it across the room.
"For a price, of course. That Mr Tsukino give him the shares. Its like a ransom!"
"You can't just accuse people of things, Rei." Haruka said carefully.
"You're saying you don't believe me?!"
"I say we should go about this rationally." Haruka placed a calming hand on Rei's shoulder. "What would
happen if we rushed in with guns blazing? If I were a man like Bungario, the first thing I'd do was execute Usagi
and send the pieces back to her father."
"What can we do, though?" Rei went from angry, to defeated in a second. When it came to Usagi, Rei was
completely unravelled.
Haruka sat back in her chair, her fingers steepled together. "I have a dinner to go to tonight."
Rei opened her mouth to say something, but Haruka shook her head, signalling her to be quiet.
"With Kaioh Michiru. Bungario's neice." Haruka got up out of her seat.
"Where are you going?" Rei demanded, right on Haruka's heels.
"To take a shower." Haruka turned around to walk backwards, a regal smile on her lips. "How do you think I'm
going to get Michiru to work FOR us? I gotta look my best."
"She has standards, Haruka!" Rei was still not convinced. "Do you actually think she'll do it?"
"I am BEYOND those standards, Rei." Haruka continued down the hallways, while people parted to let her
through. This was Slobodianik's place. And everyone knew who Haruka was.
"She might not know anything!" Rei continued.
"She might not." Haruka smiled. "But then again, she might. She just doesn't know it yet."
Rei was lost in her own thoughts for a moment, before she straked out the doors after Haruka and jumped into
the blonde's car with her.
"What the hell--"
"Clothes! You need to co-ordinate! Maybe a bit of make-up, and some perfume--"
"I got clothes," Haruka resigned to having Rei in the car with her. It would be good if Rei got some rest
anyways. Haruka wasn't sure if the brunette had really slept since Usagi went missing. "And I don't wear make-up. I
wear COLOGNE. I'm taking out the big guns, baby. Don't worry."
"I'm going to worry like nothing else, Haruka, until Usagi is safe and sound with me."
~~~
"She's late," Rei's voice was nervous over the cellphone. Haruka could just imagine the bodyguard wringing
her hands and pacing the length of Haruka's apartment. "Its seven already, where is she?!"
"She's a woman." Haruka lounged on one of the couches in the lobby. "Women are always late."
"You're not!"
"Let me correct myself: Women take forever to get ready for a date."
"And you're not on one?"
"No. I'm not." Haruka looked around the lobby lazily. "I'm on an assignment."
The elevator doors opened, and Michiru stepped out, instantly on the lookout for the blonde.
"I'll see you later tonight. She's here." Haruka ended her call and stood up, smiling charmingly. "Michiru!
Over here!"
"Hi," Michiru walked over slowly, a shy smile on her face. And Haruka had to admit the violinist looked
stunning in the simple, yet elegeant dress. "I hope you didn't wait too long for me. My friend, she, you know how
friends are."
"Of course," Haruka said understandingly, and offered her arm to Michiru. "Well, dinner?"
"I'm sorry, were you waiting long?"
"No, just a couple of minutes." Haruka lead Michiru to the dining area. "Does your uncle know you're out
with me?"
"Nope." Michiru took a casual glance around, and Haruka could hear the frown in her voice. "But he will
soon. His people are around."
"In light of the past 48 hours' events, I'm not surprised." Haruka replied. "Most everyone think that your
uncle had a hand in the kidnapping. Bungario must care about you a lot to send... what, five guards to look out for
you?"
"The one by the door," Michiru pointed out. "At my nine o'clock--"
"The garcon leading us to our table," Haruka continued the game.
"The couple sitting nearest us."
"And there's one who keeps coming out of the kitchen and going back inside." Haruka finished. "Does your
uncle know you like women?"
"Yes." Michiru rolled her eyes. "But he thinks its a phase, and all it'll take is the right man to come
along and show me what I've been missing."
Haruka pulled out a chair for the violinist. "And that man would be...?"
"Him." Michiru deadpanned. Haruka almost felt a bit protective of the young woman.
"So its better for me, I guess," Michiru continued. "He lets me do what I want, have girlfriends. Because
they're not 'serious'."
"Good evening Ms Kaioh, and I see you have a young gentleman accompanying you tonight."
Haruka grinned at the commonly made mistake, and nodded to the waiter. "Yes she does."
Michiru hid a smile politely by faking a cough. "What is the special for tonight, Eric?"
"Tonight, the chef has indulged a bit too much in his love of movies." The waiter rolled his eyes. "You know
the man... always trying to recreate some dish he sees in a movie, or is inspired by some film festival flick--"
"Whatever the chef recommends, I'm sure I'll enjoy it." Michiru cut the waiter off. Another night, if she
was alone, she would like to be entertained by this man's ramblings. But not tonight, when she had Haruka for
company.
"So you don't know much about your uncle's business, hm?" Haruka asked casually.
"Actually, I know more about it then most people." Michiru smiled. "He seems to think that I'm too brainless
to soak up anything of importance. Either that, or I'm smart enough not to go blabbing about my family to people."
Michiru took a sip of water before continuing on. "He's been very busy right now, so I don't see much of
him, which is great. He's rarely home now, and I think he's hired a few more people." Realizing she's said too much,
Michiru tried to change the subject.
"So he's been gone more than usual?" Haruka ignored Michiru's request. "Do you know where he goes?"
"Well, no. I don't know where he goes." Michiru admitted, frowning.
"Hm." Haruka smiled, propping her head with a hand. "Did I mention you look beautiful tonight? Did your
friend help you pick out that dress?"
"Yes she did." Michiru quickly hooked on to that line of conversation. "Isn't it great?"
"You just bought it recently, didn't you?" Haruka guessed.
"How did you know?" Michiru grinned.
"Well, I saw you buy it... when I bought that necklace for your birthday party, I recognized you in a shop."
"So you were stalking me." Michiru sat back, a smug smile on her face. "You fell madly in love with me when
we first met. So you've been secretly watching me."
Haruka smirked. "I have better things to do, Ms Kaioh." The blonde reached out and touched Michiru's thigh.
Then slowly, her fingers caressed the silk of her dress slowly, moving upwards, felt Michiru tense up in
anticipation. "Its a beautiful dress."
"Thank you."
"Goes well with you." Haruka's voice took on a mischevious note. "You don't do it justice, though."
"Then maybe I should just take it off." Michiru raised an eyebrow, challenging Haruka.
Haruka's hand retreated to her glass of water, and took a sip, meeting Michiru's gaze over the rim of her
glass. "Maybe you should... later."
They continued talking to each other, and Haruka grudgingly had to admit, she enjoyed the violinist's
company immensely. Their food finally came.
"All we're missing is the Chianti." Haruka joked, as they looked down at the main course. Fava beans and
liver. Yum.
"Silence of the Lambs," Michiru rolled her eyes, but smiled. "That's a great dinner topic."
"Only the very best." Haruka motioned for the waiter. "Why break with the theme? Waiter, I'd like a bottle
of Chianti, please."
When the waiter left, Michiru leaned forward, her eyes sparkling mischeviously.
"You know which piece of you I would eat first?" Michiru whispered. "If I was Hannibal Lector, that is."
"Which piece?" Haruka asked, thinking how incredibly cute Michiru was at that moment.
Michiru leaned closer over the table, caught Haruka's tie and pulled her closer, kissed her. "Your lips."
Haruka smiled, and dipped her head to kiss Michiru's collarbone softly. When the waiter came back, she
withdrew from Michiru. The waiter showed the label to Haruka, and she nodded impatiently. He filled their
wineglasses, then left.
"Cheers," Haruka raised her glass in a toast.
"Cheers." Michiru replied, and they ate companionably. Meanwhile, one of Bungario's lackeys had left to
inform his boss of this little date.
~~~
"The boss wants you." Yaten said crossly, and handed the phone to Seiya, who was just exiting the little
room that Usagi and Hotaru were currently residing in.
"Seiya speaking. What can I do for you boss?" Seiya spoke into the receiver.
"How is our little guest doing?"
"She's no trouble at all." Seiya reassured the Italian.
"So you're not busy, right?"
"Well, Taiki and Yaten could stay here and guard the house." Seiya rubbed the back of his head. He was
impatient and hated the way Bungario seemed to beat around the bush. "What's up?"
"My niece. I need her brought home. She is having a date with someone. I want you to dispose of her date
while you are at it." Bungario made the decision quickly. "In the restaurant."
"Does your niece know about this?" Seiya frowned. He did not like working for Bungario. After his contract
was through, he resolved not to work for the crime boss again. "She has seen me before, at your house."
"The girl won't talk." Bungario said impatiently. "I will have my men pull her out after you have shot that
meddlesome--we will make it look like you were after my niece. It will be an accident that you shot her companion."
"That is no problem." Seiya hung up, after getting the directions. She grabbed her jacket which was hanging
from a coatstand.
"Where are you going?" Taiki looked up from the book he had been reading.
"Business." Seiya slipped on a shoulder holster that carried two silenced desert eagles, and clipped
ammunition to his belt. The young man shrugged on his jacket and gave his two brothers a jaunty wave. "See you in a
few."
~~~
The waiter had just brought the check to their table when Haruka noticed someone walk in. Something about
the figure's determined walk caught her attention, and she quickly ducked under the table as the stranger reached
into his coat and pulled out two guns. Haruka pulled Michiru down with her, as the stranger started shooting.
Pandemonium broke loose in the restaurant.
"Shit!" Haruka grabbed the two pieces that she had had hidden, strapped to her leg. For emergencies such as
these.
"Haruka?" Michiru looked at the blonde frantically. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine." Instinctively, Haruka drew Michiru close to her and pressed a gun into the other woman's grasp.
"Here. I don't know who they're after, me or you... but just... I'll distract them. Run for the nearest exit."
Michiru didn't have time to protest as Haruka broke away from cover when there was a pause in the shooting,
and ran for the kitchen.
"Shit!" Seiya tore off his sunglasses and slipped them into the breast pocket of his coat, and followed the
fleeing person.
~~~
Haruka burst out through the back doors and did a running jump into the dumpster that stood next to the
doors. Her guns were hot, she had fired several shots, and unfortunately, she was sure she had missed her pursuer.
Whoever it was was good. And Haruka could feel a burning pain in her shoulder. A bullet had managed to nick her. Her
own shooting hadn't managed to bring her attacker down, but had bought her time so she could ambush whoever it was.
Her pursuer burst through the doors, and Haruka stood up quickly, and was just within distance to press the
nozzle of her gun against her pursuer's temple.
"Drop your guns." Haruka warned. Both weapons fell to the ground, and Haruka relaxed slightly. Big mistake.
The man ducked to the side and grabbed Haruka's wrist and twisted, making the blonde drop her gun. Then he
proceeded to pull Haruka unceremoniously out of the dumpster. Caught off balance, the blonde fell to the floor,
knocking the breath out of her, but managing to sweep her opponent's feet from under him. The weapons were knocked
aside in the struggle, as they grappled for control.
Finally, Haruka got the upper hand, and sitting on her opponent's stomach, she raised her fist, determined
to knock this guy unconscious, when the light cast from the exit sign illuminated the other's face.
"Seiya?"
Seiya blinked, just as surprised as Haruka, but the feeling quickly subsided to a sense of dread, as the
blonde's face went from surprise, to darkly threatening.
"Haruka. Wow... uh... you... look great?"