Chapter 3

"Line one Haruka?" Hirohito asked as he sat down in his chair. "Yes my lord." Haruka said as she went and stood by his desk. Mamoru and the others in the room walked over and stood around watching Hirohito as he picked up the phone.

"Hello…yes this is Hirohito Chiba." Hirohito was heard saying. "Yes madam I am…. No….Yes madam I understand…" Hirohito said now and then. After a few more minutes of saying yes or no, he reached and put the speaker on the phone so the others could hear. They all stood there in silence and heard an old woman's voice on the phone.

"I'm telling you that house isn't right. Something is going on and I saw that boy again this morning. He seems to go out in the very early morning." The woman was heard saying. "And that boy isn't hers she has no kids." "Nope only has that young man that stays with her….. She takes advantage of him. But who can blame her since he's so dumb." An older man's voice was heard saying. "Yes dear I know that." The older woman said. "Having those crazy parties all the time, it just isn't right. Don't they know that there are some of us that like to sleep at night? I should call the cops." The older man then said. "Now dear hush so I can talk." The older woman was heard saying.

"Excuse me madam but about the boy…." Hirohito said but was then interrupted by the woman. "Yes sir that boy I always see in the early morning's alone. At first I didn't think it was a boy since he has very long hair but then I was like dear that's a boy and my husband looked and agreed…." "Hippies have long hair." The old man was heard making the ones in the room with Hirohito smile. "Yes dear hippies…..Now be silent and drink your milk." The woman was heard saying. "I wanted long hair but my papa wouldn't let me…" the old man was heard saying but was interrupted by the woman.

Soon the line got silent making Hirohito and the others think the line was hung up. "I'm sorry about that the mister can talk none stop sometimes. I had to make him leave the room…I saw that report you did Mr. Chiba about a boy and I really think it's him over at that house. Of course I really can't see that well and I don't want to go over and ask that woman she is crazy." The woman was heard saying. "She is crazy but not as crazy as that man Neikan." The old man suddenly said making his wife ask why he was back in the room. Hirohito looked up and those around him could tell that he was thinking about something as his eyes started darting back and forth fast while they listened to the old couple talking to themselves.

"You know what that man Neikan did have a boy with him and those two women when he first moved in but then I didn't see the young boy after those two women weren't around and the man went away. He brought home that one that is staying there….. She said he's working but I think that he is in jail. He is one shady character." The old woman said with her husband agreeing. The ones listening could tell that she was talking to Hirohito but also to her husband.

"Neikan…." Hirohito said to himself as he looked off looking like he was day dreaming. He suddenly picked up the phone and asked the woman where she lived then asked the address for the house behind hers. Hirohito took the paper and pen from Ami. She and Michiru had walked in and over to their boss after Haruka. Hirohito wrote the address down then put the mute button on.

"Go have this place checked out send everyone who is out over there now. But don't do anything rash. I only want it checked for now." Hirohito said. Haruka took the paper and nodded her head then bowed with the others. They all then left out of the room leaving Hirohito and Mamoru alone. "It's him! I just know it!" Hirohito said smiling. Mamoru stayed silent wanting to believe it but deep down he didn't. He didn't voice his concern since his father seemed so happy.

Mamoru sat down and listened to his father talking to the old woman for a while longer. After he hung up and stood up, Hirohito looked at Mamoru who had stood up also. "Are you going home or do you want to come with me?" Hirohito asked. Mamoru looked at his father and smiled. "I will go with you. If you really think he is there….. I want to be there with you." Mamoru said. Hirohito smiled and hugged Mamoru who hugged him back.

Mamoru really hoped that his father wasn't going to be disappointed again. The two walked out of the office together going to make their plans to travel to the town where the old lady and her husband had said they lived and where they said a young boy that looked like Kazuo was at.

Kazuo ran back to the house fast and slowly made his way to the backyard then down into the basement praying that Auntie's boyfriend hadn't seen him. Kazuo had been surprised that the young man had been up at that hour and out in the front yard smoking a cigarette.

Kazuo got back into the basement and sighed out loud after he got the window closed and turned around and saw Usagi standing there looking at him. Kazuo smiled then went to Usagi and hugged her to him. "I was almost seen." Kazuo whispered while Usagi stood by him. "You need to stop going out if they find out…." Usagi started to say. "I will just change the times around." Kazuo said knowing he didn't want to give up leaving out. He was starting to have fun being out. "No just stop." Usagi said getting a little upset. She pushed Kazuo to make him let her go and walked over to their mattress. Kazuo sighed and followed her sitting down in front of her. He took the shoes he had on off and looked at Usagi who wouldn't look at him. "I got you something." Kazuo said as he reached into his pocket and pulled the brown square bar out. Usagi smiled and took it and unwrapped it fast. It wasn't the first time that he had brought back a candy bar for them that he was able to steal. They both didn't know what it was but they both liked the chocolate flavor.

Kazuo had been getting out of the basement now for two weeks. He wouldn't let Usagi go with him since he had to be fast and they didn't have any shoes for her. The shoes he wore were too big but no one seemed to notice since his pants were big and baggy.

The first time Kazuo got out of the basement he only stayed in the yard for a few minutes then the next time staying longer. The first time he left the yard he stood in the street and looked up and down it getting his bearings. The first time he walked down the street and saw the twenty four hour store Kazuo got happy and went toward it looking in then running off fast. The second time he went in and looked around then ran out fast. After he was back in the room he got a surprise that Usagi was there by the window waiting for him.

Usagi who had been asleep when he would leave each time had woken up the second time he went to the store after she noticed the window open. After that day Kazuo only left out if Usagi was awake so she wouldn't wake again thinking he was gone for good, because for that first time Usagi almost had an anxiety attack thinking he was gone for good. If Kazuo would not have shown up when he did Usagi would have started screaming. But as she had looked at the window she saw him coming into the room and she ran to him clinging onto him tightly as the tears fell. Kazuo had to wait a day to calm her down before he was able to go out again.

"Please stop going out. I just know they are going to find out you are out there." Usagi said after she ate her half of the candy bar. Kazuo smiled at her then hugged her to him and said, "Stop worrying I will be fine. They aren't going to find out I will make sure I'm not seen by them." Usagi stayed silent while her head rested on his chest and only pulled BunBun into her arms as she worried. Kazuo smiled and again talked about how he would just change the times that he left making Usagi worry even more. And Usagi was right to worry for Auntie did find out a few days later and punished Kazuo that same day.

Hirohito and Mamoru walked into the penthouse in the hotel where they were staying at after they had arrived in the town where the older couple who had seen a young boy lived. Hirohito was given a report about what his people had seen and was given a few pictures that they had taken of the boy as he had walked down the streets and one of when he was in the store. Even the owner had seen him in the store at different times always in the early mornings.

"The old woman was right. He is leaving in the very early morning." Zoisite told Hirohito as he looked at a picture that Zoisite had handed him. "For the last couple of days he has been seen right after two a.m. sometimes a few hours later." Kunzite told him while Hirohito handed Mamoru the pictures. Mamoru took the pictures and looked at them wondering if this young boy really was his brother for the boy in the picture seemed so much younger and Kazuo would be sixteen now. The pictures were taken from a distance making Mamoru wish they would get a close up one.

Mamoru walked over to his father who was sitting down now with the others as they discussed what they should do next. "I want two of you to go to that house and ask some questions act like you are selling something. I also want that house and the street watched twenty four hours a day until we find out for sure." Hirohito told them. "Yes sir." Everyone near him said at the same time.

"My lord the chief of police is here." Haruka was heard saying from the doorway. Hirohito stood up and walked to her then left the room going to another one to talk to the chief. Mamoru got up and went to the room he would be staying in wondering if he should have just gone home and visited with Motoki for Mamoru knew that he got bored very fast. "I will stay for a few weeks and see what happens if nothing then I will go home." Mamoru said to himself as he lay back on the bed.

Mamoru soon fell asleep waking up a few hours later and joined the others in the main room. He walked over to the bar and got some water while he heard the others reporting to his father. Mamoru sat down and started picking at the food that had been laid out for everyone.

"Something is up with that woman at the house. We could tell that she was hiding something by the way she was acting." Nephrite said. "Yes she didn't give anything away but we could tell by the way her eyes jumped around that she is hiding something." Jadeite said while Hirohito and the others nodded in understanding. "What about that young man living there with her?" Hirohito asked. "He wasn't there at the time." Nephrite said.

"My lord we now have a camera set up at Mr. and Mrs. Chun's house so we can see that other house. We also have a team waiting down the street in the cars a car on each end of the street." Michiru's voice was heard saying over the radio. "Very well thank you Michiru." Hirohito said as he stood up and walked over to where Haruka was by some computers and other machines.

Mamoru walked over and stood back and watched the monitor also seeing one showing a small house and another showing the street. Mamoru went and sat down so he wouldn't be in the way since the chief of police had shown back up with a few of his officers. Mamoru suddenly got very interested in all the technology they had.

Usagi walked out of the bathroom and went over to the mattress and lay down beside Kazuo both of them just lying there since it had gotten very hot down in the basement room. It was late afternoon and Kazuo couldn't wait for it to get dark out so he could go and open the window. He knew that this time he was going to have Usagi go out into the yard with him later.

Kazuo wanted to have Usagi get out so she could get some fresh air since to him she looked like she wasn't feeling well. He lifted his arm up when Usagi moved to lay half on him. Kazuo felt her warm body but didn't move just thinking she was hot since it was hot in the room. Usagi moved BunBun to be in its little bed then closed her eyes while Kazuo moved his hands to be behind his head while his eyes closed thinking about the evening. They both went to sleep fast thanks to the heat surrounding them. They both never heard the door unlock and open.

Auntie stood in the doorway and looked at the two while they slept. She took a drink from her ice tea glass and glared at Kazuo. She looked around wondering which window he was getting out still surprised that he had been getting out. Auntie wondered how long he had been. She leaned against the doorframe as she remembered the two men who had just left the front steps.

Auntie had been relaxing under her air conditioner when the doorbell rang. She went and opened the door seeing two handsome men dressed in gray suits on the porch. Both men smiled at her and she smiled back. The two men both took turns in asking her questions and at first she didn't think anything about it. Not until one and then the other asked if she had a son. At first Auntie thought they were selling something. But when she said no to having a son and they asked again she finally got mad and slammed the door. She had really been upset that they weren't flirting back with her.

Auntie went back to her spot and sat down and started to forget the men. She suddenly remembered Neikan telling her one time to keep her eyes on Kazuo because he was sneaky. She got up and went outside and slowly walked around the house looking at the windows to the basement. Finding the last one with what looked like footsteps leading away and back in the dirt. Auntie got mad then ran back into the house never noticing the people watching her. She leaned against the closed door suddenly getting scared thinking about what Neikan would do to her if he learned that Kazuo had gotten out. She decided to take her fear and anger out on Kazuo.

Auntie looked when her young boyfriend who was dumper then a box of rocks showed up and stood by her down in the basement. Auntie smiled then pointed to Kazuo and told the young man to pick the boy up. The young man walked over to the mattress and watched while Kazuo slowly opened his eyes.

Kazuo opened his eyes realizing that it was starting to get darker outside. He felt some cool air coming from the open door where Auntie stood. He saw Auntie's boyfriend and her standing in the door way smiling. Before he could move the man had Kazuo in his arms and was carrying him out the room with Auntie following fast. She closed and locked the door fast while Kazuo's mouth was covered so Usagi wouldn't hear him trying to scream until he was hit in the head and he passed out.

Usagi sat up suddenly hearing the door slam then the lock. She looked around for Kazuo realizing he was gone. She only sat on the mattress wondering what had happened as tears started to form knowing that Kazuo had been found out as she heard dirt being put in the window wells and the basement room start to get darker and she heard Auntie screaming out at Kazuo.

Kazuo slowly woke up with his head hurting again. He looked around and realized that he was lying on the floor in the living room that had the curtains drawn closed on all the windows. He looked over to his left when he heard Auntie say his name. They just looked at each other as Kazuo slowly stood up.

"You stupid shit how dare you get out! You aren't to go any where do you understand me?" Auntie asked as she went to him fast and hit him in his left eye. Kazuo fell back landing on the sofa. He didn't move as Auntie continued to go off on him and hit him in his face over and over. She finally stopped when the young man came back in. "Tie him up." Auntie told the man as she moved over to her chair. The guy did it and sat Kazuo down on a kitchen chair. Kazuo's arms tied behind his back and his legs tied to the chair's legs.

Kazuo tried to open his eyes but only his right one would open just a little. It wasn't the first time he had trouble with his left eye. He looked down while the guy covered his mouth with a cloth. Kazuo watched the blood drip on the shirt he was wearing as he heard Auntie tell the young man to go out to the yard and cover up all the windows that he could find with dirt warning him not to miss any. The guy looked at her and then left the room doing what he was told never knowing that the house behind theirs had people watching him while a camera recorded his every move.

Kazuo looked up when Auntie pulled his head back by his hair. He passed out again after she hit him in the jaw, waking later wondering if Usagi was okay and praying that she was still alone in the basement. He dozed off a few times while he lost track of time after he felt his arms and legs fall asleep. Kazuo's eyes closed tight after he spotted Auntie and her young lover making out in their bedroom with the door wide open.

Usagi who had sat for the longest time finally moved only to reach for BunBun and hold the bunny close to her chest as she thought about Kazuo. The room was now dark thanks to the windows being covered up totally. Usagi felt and heard her stomach growl but she didn't move from her spot. She didn't think about food only wondering where Kazuo was at while her body started to shake.

The hours passed and Usagi's body finally gave into sleep without her knowing it. BunBun fell from her arms back into its bed. But Usagi didn't sleep for long, being woken up by the light from the steps since the door was opened, and finding Aunties boyfriend beside her and moving his hand up and down on her body while he smiled. Usagi was stiff as a board as she felt his hands move under her dress going up her leg slowly. His movements stopped and he looked toward the door fast after he heard his name being called a few times. Usagi lay there with her eyes wide as she watched the young man leave the room and close then lock the door behind him.

Usagi blinked her eyes a few times and wondered where BunBun was. She sat up fast and felt around then reached for the stuff bunny then sat back on the mattress with her back against the wall as she looked at the door praying it wouldn't be opened by that guy again.

She suddenly heard a noise and thinking it was the guy coming back, Usagi jumped up and ran to the back of the basement to the area she hated the most and hide behind some boxes. She stayed in that spot for two days with her body getting colder and stiff since the temperature had dropped due to a storm that came in over night that second night Kazuo had been taken out.

Mamoru walked into the building fast followed by Nephrite, Makoto, Rei and Jadeite who had gone with him to a near by store. Mamoru had wanted to get out of the hotel and the four went with him since his father didn't want Mamoru to be alone at all. The three rode the elevator up in silence then walked into the room where the others had been. Mamoru went to his room while the others walked over to the others who were there after they took off their coats. Mamoru smiled to himself when he noticed that his father's good friend Selene had finally shown up. "Maybe the good doctor can get Dad to do something or to go home." Mamoru said to himself as he thought about Selene.

Mamoru walked back to the other room and looked at his father and Selene talking softly to each other away from the others in the room. Mamoru smiled and to that day wondered if the two were lovers because if they were they hid that fact very well from everyone. Mamoru knew that his father wanted to marry Selene but didn't, not until the man could find out what happened to his wife. Hirohito walked Selene out of the room then showed back up a few minutes later alone with Mamoru looking at him hard trying to figure out if the man got a kiss or not.

"I can't believe how cold it got here. Just the other day it was hot and now this!" Rei said as she took the cup of coffee from Ami. "Yes this area gets cold fast." Jadeite agreed with her while the other two nodded their heads. They each hoped that Mamoru wouldn't want to go out again that night.

Mamoru walked over to his father after the man walked over to one of the tables and started looking at the monitors. "Sir are you sure you don't want us to go by that house again. It's been sometime since any activity at that house and that boy hasn't been seen." Kunzite asked Hirohito who shook his head no. "Not yet. I don't trust that woman not to suddenly leave. For now we will watch the house. We need to make sure that it is Kazuo before we go in." Hirohito said taking a drink from his own cup. The others all sat down and waited with those who would be leaving to take over watch going to rest in the bedrooms.

"Look someone is leaving that yard and it's still very early." Mamoru who had been watching the monitors said out loud. The others all went to him and gathered around. "Lord Hirohito that boy is out again. He seems to be covered in dirt. Do you want us to get him?" Haruka's voice was heard over one of the radios. "No Haruka not yet but follow his every move. Also keep some eyes on that house." Hirohito said as he watched the boy on the monitor disappear around a corner, Hirohito and Mamoru both wishing that they had better light with those cameras.

Kazuo stopped walking to catch his breath. He stood still and looked back toward the house praying that Auntie and her boyfriends hadn't seen him and were going to Usagi. It was early and he knew they were up watching TV. Kazuo would never forgive himself if something happened to Usagi. He stood there looking out his good eye debating on if he should just go back to her. He had promised Usagi that he wouldn't leave again but she needed help and this time she told him in her dazed state that she understood.

Kazuo knew he was weak since he and Usagi hadn't been eating. They hadn't eaten since that day he had been thrown back into the room and found the mattress empty.

Kazuo had made his way to the mattress and sat down thinking that Usagi had been taken away. His tears came fast and hard and his eye, which had been hit on a few times finally, opened as the tears loosened the dried blood. Kazuo walked over and turned on the lamp and looked around the room praying that he would see Usagi at least in a corner.

Usagi hearing his cries and seeing a light tried to move but couldn't since her body was so cold and stiff. She slowly tried to wake from her daze and at first thought she was dreaming hearing Kazuo's cries. She tried to get up but was too weak and fell back down with her head landing on her bunny never knowing that by luck her leg hit a few boxes that soon tumbled down around her making a noise that Kazuo heard.

Kazuo wiped his eyes and started walking only to stop again knowing he was hungry and sore but he had to find something to help Usagi with since her fever had come back and the pain in her belly was getting worse. The only reason Kazuo left her was to get help. He took a deep breath and started walking again knowing Usagi needed something. Anything to help with the fever she had developed after sleeping alone behind those boxes while he was upstairs being beaten on, every time that Auntie thought about those guys that had come by asking questions about Kazuo. And the fear she had thinking what Neikan would do if he found out.

Kazuo shook his head knowing that Usagi was again behind those boxes thanks to him dragging the mattress and anything else he could find to cover her. She was safe enough while he was gone if he didn't stay away too long. Kazuo took a few deep breaths waiting for his head to stop hurting while he paid no attention to the cold air. He then started walking again never knowing that a dark blue car followed him.

To be continue.