Pointless Disclaimer: I do not own Xenosaga or any of its characters. If I did, I would be rich and would not be spending my Saturday mornings writing video game fanfiction. This fic was inspired by the RP community We All Float, the screenshot listed below, and a very stupid dream I had last night after eating a lot of vanilla ice cream.

(http/ Note: Yes, I understand the sexual implications of vanilla ice cream. Now that our lives are complete, let's move on, shall we?

Scars

Chapter 1: First Move

Chronologically speaking, the incident hadn't started too long ago, though in honesty it was impossible to tell at the time. Every hour seemed to stretch unto infinity in that abominable place equal only to the bowels of Hell. This is home to the insanity known vaguely as The U-TIC Organization. After everything that's happened, I actually have the guts to look back on it in now? I've always wondered whether I was couragious or immensely stupid. Even now, I still don't really know the answer to that question...

It had first started when Shion had gone missing. A few of Shion's friends and I were planning on meeting her in order to catch up on personal news and whatnot. She never showed up. I was temporarily living in her apartment on the Foundation and thought I'd surely see her. But I didn't. Nor did I see her the next day or the next. Two of Shion's friends, Junior and Mr. Kukai, had done all they could possibly do to discover her whereabouts, but had came up empty-handed.

After Shion had been missing for six days, everyone feared the worst. I didn't know what to do. If only I had been with her, if only I had argued a little longer, been a bit more stubborn, then she'd still be here. Once again, I wasn't there when she needed me most. I beat myself up the entire time, telling myself I was such a failure as a brother, as a man, as a human being.

After talking to authorities once again that day, I had gone back to Shion's apartment, mostly to try and get some much needed rest. I was emotonally exhausted. And now I'm going to be unable to sleep again. That's when I had found the note on the table.

The rules were, I had to come alone after it had gotten dark to the area noted in the letter, and she wouldn't be harmed. I stayed there, letter in hand, reading and re-reading it several more times than necessary.

Though she had been gone for so long without a trace, and everyone including me have been worried out of our minds, there was something in my mind that failed to comprehend that something bad could have really happened to her. But here was the reality of the situation, conveniently shoved into my face and rubbed in for good measure.

It didn't take too long to decide I was going. I had already failed to prevent this. The least I could do was get her out without the help of the police.

I walked toward the specified building, a warehouse on the outskirts of the Foundation, that night. I approached slowly, warily examining the area and ready to take out my sword upon the slightest noise or movement.

I eventually entered the warehouse with more than the usual amount of paranoia, hand on hilt, trying to make as little noise as possible. Once I was in, I saw there was no way I could sneak around in here. It was too dark inside to see anything. Sneaking around was futile if I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face. Besides, it's not like I'm not expected. They probably know I'm here by now.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my frantic heart, and took four deliberately loud steps towards what I hoped was the center of the room and stopped.

Nothing but the sound of my heart pounding in my ears, which by the way, was really distracting and annoying. I thought maybe I'd gone into the wrong building. I looked around, trying to adjust my eyes to the darkness as quickly as possible.

Lights suddenly starting coming on systematically, almost blinding me at first. I lifted my right arm up, trying to block the bright light and look around me at the same time. Still there was nothing there. Only silence. This was becoming agonizing.

"Who's there?" I asked loudly, my voice echoing off the walls. There was another heartbeat of nothing, and then... footsteps! I spun towards the sound as the figure came into view. I felt my heart sink in terror.

"I was beginning to think you wouldn't come," Margulis said with a smirk. "I'm glad you did. I almost would have been disappointed to ruin that pretty face of hers."

"Where is she? What did you do to her?" I yelled, gritting my teeth. I had feared it was the Colonel and had severly hoped against it.

"Relax," Margulis said. The angerier I got the wider his smile grew. "She's fine." Without taking his eyes off me, he reached his arm behind a pile of boxes and pulled up Shion, arms tied behind her back and gagged. She squirmed in Margulis' grasp and scowled.

I violently jerked. There she was! And in HIS hands. I couldn't imagine what she could have been through these past six days at the mercy of these maniacs! Research had proved a few of the things U-TIC did with their prisoners...

I pulled my sword from its shealth and pointed it towards Margulis. "Let her go!" I said, as though I actually expected the Colonel to do it on command.

Very neatly, Margulis whipped out a large dagger and put it to Shion's neck. She froze in place. I had to supress a growl. "A trade for her life," Margulis commanded.

There was nothing I could really do. It was a choice that was no choice. At this distance, there was no way I could charge him and attack before Shion's throat was sliced open before me. My mind flashed with ideas, none of them realistically able to save Shion.

"Fine. What do you want?" Shion squirmed again and tried to stop me, but her protests were drowned out by her gag.

"Revenge," Margulis said simply, ignoring Shion. "I want your blood to drench my hands. I want to hear you beg for your pathetic life. I want my scar etched into your entire being!"

At the time, I wasn't sure exactly what the man had in mind. There was something about the Colonel's tone that made me almost shudder. The guy was nuts. But whatever Margulis' price, I was more than willing to pay it for my sister's freedom. I was such an idiot.

"Fine," I said, quickly, trying not to listen to my sister's muffled cries.

Margulis sent a look to his left, and Pellegri emerged from her quiet hiding spot. "Your sword," Margulis ordered. "Drop it!"

I did so.

"Kick it to her."

I hesitated for a second, taking quick glances at Shion and the blade at her throat. "You have to swear," I growled, "you will not hurt her. Do what you want with me, but don't hurt her!" I felt ill trusting him, but did I really have a choice?

At this, Margulis hearlily laughed. It made me want to vomit. "That's what I like to hear, Uzuki." He watched me expectantly.

Without moving my eyes from the Colonel's face, I kicked the sword in Pellegri's direction, where she promtly picked it up. As soon as the sword was in her hands, Margulis threw Shion, face first, onto the concrete floor a few feet in front of me.

"Shion!" I yelled running over to her. I pulled the gag from her. She had a split lip from the fall and was crying, but otherwise seemed alright. I worked on getting her hands free. "Shion..." I whispered again. As soon as her hands were free, she hugged me, crying into my shoulder.

I was shocked. This was the first time Shion had ever done such a thing with me. How awful for it to take place during such horrible conditions. I lightly hugged Shion back. I just wished I could grab her right there and run with her into the night. They couldn't pursue us without attracting attention. But, the thought was instantly killed by the sound of a gun cock. I glanced at Pellegri, who was now holding my sword in one hand and a pistol in the other.

I could see victory welling up in Margulis' face, his stride. "Pay your price, Uzuki, and come over here."

I pressed Shion's head to my shoulder for a second longer, wanting to remember this moment: her warmth, her embrace, the way she smelled slightly like lillies. Shion, for once, not wanting me to go, prevented me from standing up when I tried. I removed her hands gently and quickly whispered, "I'm sorry."

I stood up and twisted my face in anger as I faced Margulis. I walked up to him until we were almost nose to nose. I was shaking, though I wasn't quite sure whether in fear or anger. Margulis just grinned with that stupid smirk I hated so much. I wasn't sure what was going to happen next. I expected either a sword in the gut or a slash at my face for irony. Instead, Margulis lashed his hand out and hit me in the head, knocking me to the floor. I was on the ground before I'd realized what had happened.

My vision swirled as I looked at Shion, who was screaming and trying to crawl towards me, reaching out for me, trying to save me. I vaguely remembered hearing Margulis ordering someone to take me. And then, I blacked out.

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For the love of god, please tell me everything I did wrong. This is my first time trying to write a serious fic, and I desperately need criticism.