Russian roulette
Pregnancy was no longer part of nature. Due to overpopulation, rules were put into place and sex had become a thing of the past. Men and women were separated and although the same sex could still mess around. Heterosexual sex was made illegal.
Pregnancy was a gamble. For those that wanted to be a father, they'd have their semen gathered for fertilisation. For the women it was a lot more hazardous. It was called Russian roulette. It was cold and it was brutal. Sixteen women entered and were connected to a wheel. A mechanical machine had sex with them and if they were lucky they received the semen within the machine. If not they went home empty and if they were truly unlucky, they went home dead.
When the volunteers dried up fearing for their lives, the governments decided to make it mandatory. A way to cull the population and remain in control. To save them from their suffering, it was the same souls born over and over, used and abused. A fresh slate every time. Until it wasn't.
Shizuo wasn't in the right body. It was a feeling he'd had all his life and puberty only strengthened that feeling. He'd grown up in the female compounds and it felt wrong.
Just like it felt wrong when he was escorted to a domed building with a circular contraption. It was strange how he didn't fight being stripped naked and plugged into the machine. At least there was somewhere soft to rest his upper body. His virginity was taken as the machine switched on and he felt something thick and solid push and pull inside his female born body. The damn thing heated and he felt a jolt as empty air released inside him.
Shizuo shut his eyes head in his arms hearing a sharp gasp and the sound of loud pops that made his ears ring. He was shaking as he was pulled from the machine. Blood pooled over the floor. He couldn't unsee the two dead bodies. One was escorted from the room, successfully pregnant. The rest were marked and led back to the compound.
Except something was different this time. The guards were panicked and the women screamed as the armoured truck halted, the doors blew open and then there were men. They were flat chested and had hair on their face. Not to mention the bulges where they should've been flat. Men.
Shizuo was numb as he was pulled from the truck and shoved in another with the remaining women. The doors slammed shut with an ominous thunk and then they were on the move.
The men eyed them hungrily, like pieces of meat. Shizuo yelped as he was thrown into the cage and the truck drove away. The men circled and stared. Shizuo shrank back. The crowd broke apart as another man walked through, this one looked like the leader. Behind him was another man with black hair and red eyes. Shizuo bristled instantly disliking the man and glaring at his feet, in case he looked up.
The cage door was opened and the women huddled against the bars. "Choose." The leader barked. The red eyed man stepped into the cage with a device in hand. He eyed the women huddling into groups, the women sobbing and crying, the women that stood frozen and then him. Shizuo refused to budge.
The red eyed man tilted his head and smirked, walking towards him. Shizuo scowled as the device was pressed against his heart. It beeped and whatever it read made the man with red eyes very happy. "I choose this one."
Shizuo glared at the hand around his wrist, trailing after the man that had picked him. The crowd parted once more and Shizuo was led past the other men, into a dorm area where a group of other men waited. They eyed him hungrily and then turned their attention to the red eyed man.
Shizuo stared at his feet. He flinched as the red eyed man pushed her forward. "Meet our new bride." The red eyed man said. "This is Shizu-chan." Shizuo frowned at the shock in their gazes. That was his name.
He backed away, bumping back against the red eyed man and his wrist caught by a man with blue eyes and one that looked like trouble.
Shizuo cried out as he was pulled onto one of the beds, the two men touching him. He pushed at their chests and they pinned him with ease. After the machine had spread him, it didn't hurt as the first man shoved his cock inside. If anything it was hotter and felt nicer than the machine. Each of the men thrust inside him until they came and then moved onto the next one.
The last to touch him was the red eyed man. Shizuo found himself trying to roll away, pushing feebly at the man's chest. His attempts were pushed aside and he felt upset as the red eyed man thrust inside him. He glared up at the man.
"You didn't think you'd get away, did you Shizu-chan?" The man asked. Shizuo frowned. It didn't feel like the man was talking to him. Then maybe this man knew his previous life.
Shizuo found himself passed around the group of men. He'd been given a collar. The red eyed man was the group leader. Izaya. Then there was Mikado, Aoba and Masaomi.
Shizuo was allowed out of the dorm to wash and eat. The other men avoided him. The other women were surrounded by groups of their own. He hadn't uttered a word. Neither had the guys except for their names.
It was strange that he'd been expecting more. An echo from his previous life? The only one that did look like they wanted to talk was Izaya, and Shizuo stayed as far from him as possible.
His new home was admittedly better than his old one and he found himself settling quickly with the group. He supposed the alternatives were much worse. The rotation cycle was what had awaited him. Every time his name would come up and he'd be back in the pregnancy roulette. Again and again he'd face emptiness, death or pregnancy.
So a group of men giving him everything he needed was a good thing. They'd done him a favour by kidnapping him. If only they talked and he didn't have to deal with Izaya.
But Izaya was the leader and that meant the group obeyed him, that meant he had to put up with the man. If anything Shizuo was wondering why he wasn't pregnant. He'd been filled with them so many times and yet there was no sign that anything was different. He had a feeling he knew why. Why the machine hadn't chosen him, why he felt so wrong. He'd suspected but it would seem his worries might be true after all.
Shizuo perked up as a new group was rolled in. More women. In particular, he felt a connection with one of the more beautiful ones and that chilled him. Shizuo knew he wasn't bad looking, there was still a hierarchy of women and the one he felt a connection with was high up. Shizuo jolted as Izaya pressed a hand to his knee and gave him a look that spoke of warning and punishments. Shizuo flinched and stayed still.
Every group now had a woman of their own and so Izaya was called up again. Shizuo felt like crying or laughing. They'd find out eventually. He was a fake. Shizuo stared into his lap knowing who Izaya had picked. He could feel that connection drawing closer and sure enough there she was.
"Shizuo." The woman spoke, everything about her perfect.
Shizuo's fingers clenched. "Princess."
That's what the high class women were called. This woman was fourth in the ranking. Goddess, empress and queen were the only ones standing as top three.
Shizuo went to sleep whilst the group introduced themselves to the woman they'd wanted him to be.
Shizuo was expecting to be put in his place. The princess and the top three weren't there through kindness and looks. Women were jealous and fickle. If you weren't liked it was hell. If you were, then you wouldn't be for long.
They'd been put into the compound together. Princess had been born as one of the chosen women, the one in sixteen shot. Shizuo was something else.
The men let them have their privacy in the showers. There was no room to escape after all. And he'd heard the rumours around the halls about what else lurked outside. Slave traders, auctions. This wasn't even the men's compound. This was a group of escapees.
Shizuo was showering, when a hand gripped his hair and yanked him back. Princess's generous breasts pressed against him, her cold fingers painfully scratching at his clit. "I don't have to remind you of your place, do I Trash?"
Shizuo shook his head, his face pressed up against the cold tiles. He was trash. The princess's left overs. What she hadn't needed, was what he was. Everything the princess wasn't, he was. They were twins in a sense. Genetically modified. The goddess's other half had told him that. Had called him the princess's heart.
"Good." The princess's nails scratched as she slid a finger into his hole. She added another and another, not caring that it hurt. "These men, this group is mine. You were just a placeholder."
Shizuo nodded, gritting his teeth as she added another making him want to scream. Then she was gone and Shizuo was shaking, feeling the need to escape after all.
Shizuo moved on auto pilot. He stayed in the background as the Princess played her game and the group doted on her. The men talked and she did the same. Not like the silence Shizuo had experienced. A placeholder. He really had been.
Shizuo held back a flinch as one of the other group leaders approached. "Greetings. My lady would like company. May we borrow your first?"
"Go ahead." Izaya said.
Shizuo left his food and trailed after the other group leader. His heart felt lighter being out of the princess's presence.
"Shizuo!" The woman beamed looking so happy. Shizuo didn't know her, didn't care. She was embracing him and he felt his heart swell, his arms around her desperately. "There there." The woman cooed. "You can stay with me for however you want."
"I don't want to keep you from your men." Shizuo said quietly. He was surprised his voice was a little rusty.
"Nonsense." The woman grinned. "I need a girl friend."
Shizuo frowned. "But I don't know you."
The woman gave him a pitying look. "But I know you. You're the Princess's heart. I'm Erika Karisawa."
Shizuo looked to the woman's stomach. "Are you pregnant?"
Erika laughed. "Not yet. Haven't your men explained anything to you?"
Shizuo shook her head. "I thought it was because of what I am."
"You're Shizuo and you'll me pregnant when the time comes."
The group leader scowled, frowning at Shizuo. At the way Erika held him. Erika stood and took his hand leading him to their dorm. "Do you wish to play with this woman?" The group leader asked.
"Her group aren't treating her right. The Princess won't allow her to be happy."
"Explain." The group leader scowled.
"Shizu-chan here is a twin. A genetically made one to cut away what the government thinks an elite doesn't need."
Shizuo lowered his head. Placeholder. Trash. He drew into himself and hugged his knees. Erika kissed his cheek.
"Put in a word with the compound leader." Erika told her man. "Either have Shizuo moved to our group or taken to a different compound."
Karisawa was fun. He didn't know why they hadn't spoken before-well he did - but the woman was touchy feely and spoke enough for the both of them. Shizuo felt himself relax, coming out of his shell. The woman was ridiculous and Shizuo thought he loved her for it.
His own group didn't come to take him back and he could tell Erika's group were agitated and wanted alone time. Shizuo left and headed from the dorm to sit in the eating hall for a while. There was pin drop silence and that allowed him to think. He jumped as a hand set a dish down in front of him.
His eyes flew up to see a man in an apron. "If you're in the hall, you need to be eating." The man grumbled and walked away.
Shizuo smiled and took the offering. He ate slowly, taking his time. Delicious. With a sigh he left the empty dish and returned to his own group's dorm but froze when he heard the sounds of sex.
Shizuo took a step back and then another, turning on his heel and walking back in the other direction. He walked, taking the chance to explore the compound, staying clear of the dorms.
And then he got caught. A hand rested on his shoulder and Shizuo startled seeing the compound leader. The man stared at him for a long time. "There will be a truck in two days going to the next compound. You'll be on it."
Shizuo felt a smile split his lips. "Thank you." He said hearing his voice crack.
"In the mean time, you'll be in isolation. That'll keep you away from your group."
Shizuo nodded holding out his wrists to be chained. He was happy to do so. The leader shook his head and lead him to the isolation rooms. He'd been expecting a shut in box with a lock. But the room was nice. Very nice and the bed was comfy. Shizuo snuggled down and smiled as the lock clicked on the door.
"I suppose it makes sense." Erika grumbled. "I wish you could stay."
Shizuo smiled sadly. He had liked this place but his group didn't want him and the princess would never allow him to be happy. Ever. "I'll miss you."
"There's still group exchange." Erika said. "Large meetings, things like that."
Shizuo nodded eyeing the door that had locked him and his new friend inside. "I think you'll be the only one I've ever missed before."
Erika hugged him.
Food and other supplies. That was what the truck delivered. Shizuo climbed in with the help of the compound leader. Erika waved and then the door closed and he was being taken somewhere new. A second chance.
The next compound was an hour away. Shizuo climbed out and was greeted by the compound leader. A gruff looking man that could've been organised crime. He'd heard about that. History was stories and make believe fantasy.
"I'm Shiki. Akabayashi explained the situation. You'll have your own room until you decide what group you'd like to join. If there isn't one, then we can move you to another compound."
The men were growly and the women were territorial. Shizuo could see that all of them were pregnant. There was no space for him here. He told the compound leader as much and then waited in his isolated room for the next supplies truck to pick him up.
Three compounds later and Shizuo was taken to a new one. The men hadn't had their first woman yet, so Shizuo had his pick. The men eyed her hungrily. Shizuo chose the quietest group. They stood out as misfits but Shizuo knew that was where he belonged.
He made his way over to the group. The dreadlocked man smiled up at him, as did the big guy. The guy with glasses examined him in a way that made him uncomfortable and turned on at the same time.
"I'm Shizuo." He greeted.
"Tom." The dreadlocked man said.
"Simon." The big guy smiled
"Shinra." The guy with glasses stood. "Celty is in the dorm."
Shizuo followed them, freezing as he saw the feminine body lounging on the bed. Oh no, not again. "I didn't realise you had a woman."
"Celty isn't a woman." Shinra said. "She's a dullahan and can't get pregnant."
The woman in question sat up and moved over to him. Shizuo felt her inky fingers around him. It was strangely soothing.
This was his new group.
Erika hummed to herself rubbing at her arm on the way back to the hall. She groaned as someone crashed into her sending her sailing into the wall.
"Where is it?" Princess barked.
Erika grinned at her. "Far far away from you."
The woman wrapped a hand around her throat. "Where is it?"
Erika giggled. "Funny isn't it, how the elite is given a title and the 'trash' is given a name."
The woman slapped her and Erika's grin only widened maniacally.
"Karisawa!" Her group leader called. Princess backed away in a hurry. It wouldn't do for her to show her true colours. "Command wants us."
Erika grinned at her friend's shitty other half and followed her man. Her smile fell seeing Izaya and Aoba waiting in the room.
"We have a situation." The command leader said setting a photo down of a woman. She wasn't that pretty and her eyes were full of pain. She was filthy and Erika felt rage well up inside her. "One of our units picked this woman up from auction. It's not the first time she's been sold and they were going to kill her."
"So we're to escort her here?" Izaya asked.
Erika clenched her fists. "No. Pr- she'll be recognised and killed. I'll go with Walker and Togusa to escort her to a safe place."
Akabayashi stared her way. "You'll take Izaya and Aoba with you. They're better at combat."
Erika glowered. "Their track record proves otherwise."
"This woman needs help Karisawa. This is my decision."
Erika nodded and glared at her friend's former group members. Pack. That's what they'd be. What they were supposed to be. "When are we leaving?"
"Now. Truck is outside."
Erika moved through to the weapons room and loaded up. Then she went through the door and gestured to Togusa. "You're driving.
Their arrival went smoothly. The woman was terrified. Erika ushered the others back and moved forward unarmed. "Hello. I'm Erika Karisawa. Ignore the glaring idiots. I know who you are and we're going to take you somewhere safe."
The woman skittered backwards in her cage. Erika climbed in herself and kissed the woman's cheek. "My best friend is the Princess's heart. She'll take care of you. Her name is Shizuo and she's expecting her first child soon. By someone she loves. You see the two men glaring at me? They're my men. You won't see me once you're settled. Unfortunately I'm in the compound with Princess."
The woman climbed out taking her hand and Erika led the woman to the car. The woman held out a hand to Izaya and Aoba. Erika coughed. "These two are here for their skills only. They are Princess's men."
The woman drew back so fast she fell on her ass. Izaya frowned. Erika helped her up. "These two are my men. Walker and Togusa. You're not the first heart we've gotten to safety."
Togusa frowned waiting as Erika helped the woman into the truck. "She has the same feeling to her."
Erika nodded. Togusa blew out a breath. "Who are we pissing off by saving her?"
Erika coddled the shaking woman. "The first title."
"Jesus!"
Each compound was an hour away by wheels. They took regular breaks and finally almost four hours later arrived at the compound that would be the woman's new home.
Erika could feel excitement bubble up inside her at the thought of seeing her friend again.
"Ready?" She asked the woman that hadn't let go of her. The command leader was waiting with the door open. A woman by the name of Anri.
"Come in." She gestured politely.
Erika followed the leader past the hall seeing a lack of women. Another reason the woman would be happier here.
Inside the command leader's office, her friend waited, heavily pregnant. Erika's mouth dropped open and she screeched throwing herself across the room. Shizuo smiled.
"Good to see you Erika." Shizuo hugged her tight and then let go. "You said you needed help."
Erika eyed the big man at Shizuo's side. She whistled. "Yeah. There's a heart."
Shizuo stiffened but nodded. "Alright. Which title?"
"Goddess." Erika said taking a step back. She stepped back outside seeing the woman hugging herself against the wall. "It's alright, come on." She'd left Izaya and Aoba outside in the truck. They'd follow soon, since she had no intention of leaving just yet.
The woman gasped, falling into Shizuo's arms. "Shh." Her friend cooed. "It's alright now. You're safe here."
Shizuo stared down at the fragile woman. The Goddess's heart. The things this woman must have gone through. "Let's get you settled."
Shizuo lead the woman to the individual rooms. She was one of very few women and in this compound it was the women that chose. She helped wash the woman and tucked her in, showing how the locking system worked. The woman fell asleep.
Shizuo returned to the office, stiffening as she saw Izaya and Aoba. Simon rested a hand on her lower back. The two looked just as shocked to see her.
The compound leader stared at her as she waddled in and sat down. "What do you think?"
Erika was doing her best to block her from seeing Izaya and Aoba.
"She needs a soft dominant pack. She needs to be romanced and feel like she's needed. No sex. Have her date the packs she likes."
"You know this woman?" The leader asked.
"I know of her." Shizuo hedged. "Everyone assumed she was dead."
"The men won't be a problem." Anri nodded. "What about the women?"
"No titles." Shizuo said. "The moment she catches sight of one, she'll want out."
"Titles?"
Erika sighed. "Those with ridiculous names. The top three are Goddess, Empress and Queen. They're genetically modified. Those are the ones that get pregnant from the roulette. The labs take everything that isn't of worth and separate it into a 'twin'. This woman is called the Goddess's heart. The Goddess will kill her. It's what they're 'programmed' to do."
"I see. No titles then." Anri nodded. "It's getting late. Your rooms have all been arranged."
Shizuo looked to Erika. "Sleep over?"
"Hell yes." Erika beamed. "I need to meet your pack."
Shizuo pushed herself up, gave up and held her arms out for Simon to lift her.
Izaya went back to the woman they'd rescued. She backed away as he opened the door, terrified of him. "Where's the princess's heart?" She asked raising her voice. "Go away. I want the princess's heart."
"Hey!" The cocking of a gun sounded and the cold barrel pressed against the back of his head. Karisawa would easily pull the trigger. The woman barrelled past them and into Shizuo's arms.
"She can stay with us tonight." Shizuo said.
Karisawa sighed. "Of course. Let's go. So this pack of yours, are they all hot? Because damn!"
"Erika, I'll tell Kyohei." Togusa warned.
"Shizuo, you need any help?" A new man asked. Shizuo's smile was wide.
"Tom, this is my friend Erika and this woman will be staying with us tonight."
"Pleased to finally meet you." Tom said. "Shizuo, you should be resting. You really want Shinra putting you on bed rest?"
"I'm good." Shizuo grumbled. "It's this one I'm worried about." Discomfort creased Shizuo's face. "I need you to close your eyes." She told the woman. "Can you feel the thread connecting you and Goddess?"
"…no."
"Good." Shizuo turned to the dreadlocked man Tom. "Have security stop and turn away anyone that mentions goddess or any of the other titles."
"How low do you want me to go?" Tom asked.
"No titles." Shizuo scowled.
"Got it." Tom kissed Shizuo and left. Not alone though, no the big guy was still hovering.
"Does this mean we're staying?" Aoba asked. Shizuo ignored him, Erika scowled and the guys rolled their eyes. "We have our own woman to look after."
"Mate." Shizuo corrected. "The term is mate. An unbreakable bond. Erika, have you had your injections yet?"
"First one before we left." Karisawa tapped her arm.
"You'll need a second and a suppressant." Shizuo warned.
"You jumped ahead." Karisawa accused.
"The females get to choose at this compound. But wait too long and attention does start to wander." Shizuo shrugged. "The injections will help cement the bonds between you and your men. It's usually a three day sex session. Shinra calls them heats. Without suppressants and not being pregnant, they'll continue."
"That is so cool. So you're finished with yours?" Karisawa questioned leading their rescue from the room. Everyone followed.
"I am yes. Fully mated to my pack." Shizuo stilled, tilting her head as if someone was talking to her. "…change of plans. Shinra is on his way."
"That is so cool." Karisawa beamed. "I can't wait."
Shizuo smiled. "It's worth it."
"So it would seem. Sooo mad scientist you said?"
Shizuo grinned. "He likes to…experiment."
Shizuo ignored them, treating them like they weren't there. Izaya stayed silent, observing, gathering information. The woman they'd saved was a twin. The Goddess's heart.
The woman had called Shizuo the Princess's heart.
Now that they were away from their mate, Izaya had space to think. Their attraction to their mate had been visceral. They'd believed her every word. Shizuo had picked on her, Shizuo threatened her in the shower. On and on the claims went.
But if that was the case…then why had it been Shizuo being smuggled from the compound.
She looked happy, clearly very pregnant with her new mates. To her, they didn't exist anymore.
"You can't say anything." Erika warned at his side. Her voice was low and serious. "If Princess knows either of them are here, they're dead. It wasn't a coincidence she found Shizuo. The titles are programmed to find their hearts and kill them. They can't be whole until they do."
Aoba stared mournfully at their first. Ignorance had taken her from them. They couldn't afford to be ignorant any longer. Come what may, they needed to know.
Izaya turned to Erika. "Tell me."
She did.
End