Hello again! Please keep in mind that most of this chapter is a flashback so bear with me here. I know everyone who's reviewed this so far is warming up quite nicely to the emo-fied Satoshi so he's here to stay. I also know that him going all slitty on his wrists has become a big thing with all of you so you'll have to wait and see. So ENJOY and please R&R!

Please note: When the chapter is in flashback, it's in italics.

Chapter III

The First Visitor

A fair middle-of-March morning dawned that day, full of possibilities and adventure…but not for me. I knew that – because of Krad, I would have to hold back whenever and wherever I could.

At least I didn't have University to contend with – I'd graduated from Lagoon University at the top of my class – which meant I was hardly in contact with anyone if I stayed in my bedroom at the orphanage where I lived for as much as possible. As long as I avoided eye contact with anyone, the less likely I could form relationships with anyone, and as long as I didn't have any relationships with anyone, the less likely Krad was going to kill someone.

Awww, you really hate me don't you Satoshi-sama? Well, if that's the way the game's gonna be played then fine…I'll just have to sing Backstreet Boys songs until you co-operate

Typical. Why did Krad have to pick the most annoying and freakishly out of tune band to like? I mean, they're so outdated they're carbon-dated! Well, I suppose that's what you get for having a homicidal blonde (note the "e") for an alter ego.

Are you calling me a girl?

Ignoring him (for that was always the best policy when concerning him), I decided to look through one of my advanced algebra books.

Knock knock.

Oh, a visitor. I'll just have to ignore him until they go away.

Knock knock. Knock knock.

OK, looks like ignoring whoever it is is going to be harder than I thought. Maybe it WAS a good idea to let Krad sing Backstreet Boys…

So you'll let me sing?

'No' I thought-told him.

The door opened. It was Megumi Bara, my social worker. A total idiot of course, but it couldn't be helped.

"Excuse me Hikari-kun, but there is a man here to see you. I'm sure you won't offend our guest by refusing."

"Fine, I'm coming." So much for avoiding relationships.

Walking down the stairs and into the living room, I saw the mysterious guest for the first time. He had brown-grey hair that had been carefully combed into a parting and grey eyes that hid behind rectangular-framed glasses. He was tall and, by the way he dressed, looked as though he lived in a suit. He carried a large business-type suitcase, as though he wanted to bring his work along with him. Although he smiled when he saw me (a smile that I assured myself was fake), there was only one thought in my head about him: 'Hmm, smartly dressed, lives in a suit, workaholic type…yeah, he's gay.'

"Ah, so you're Satoshi Hikari." said the man cheerfully. Shit: he knew my name. Oh well, I suppose there's no backing out now.

Can I kill him?

'Only when I say so. Remember, WHEN I say so.'

"And you are?"

"Satoshi!" scolded Megumi, "Don't be so rude towards our guest."

"Now now, Bara-san," defended the man, "I'm sure he's just curious."

He put his hand out for me to shake, "My name is Kei Hiwatari. If everything goes well today then I may become your new father." I just took his hand briefly before pulling it away. I could tell that he was just like all the other people who came to Tori-no-su Orphanage to adopt me: always so bloody sure of themselves. Always thinking that they'll walk out of the Home with me in hand.

However there always seemed to be something wrong, which made them change their mind. Every time it was the same reason, and I know what it is:

Krad. You see, whenever someone touched me, or were a certain distance away from me, they would sense Krad's evilness and malice, which would put them off wanting me.

How they sensed it could vary. It could be a gold glint in my eyes, an icy-cold feeling when they touched my skin, or even just the sensing of a bad aura. Whatever it was, it repelled people. I am now 14 years old, and I was 3 years old when I was put into care. I've been living at Tori-no-su Orphanage ever since.

As an awkward silence ensues, I can feel Kei's gaze on me, as though I was a snake in the Reptile house at the Tori-no su Zoo, and he was an inquisitive five year old staring at me from behind thin glass, wondering what kind of monster I was, or what sick twisted fate allowed me to come into being.

"So…er…Bara-san tells me you're really intelligent," said Kei in all desperateness to break the agonising sound of silence. "You know, I've er…heard you graduated at the top of your class at Lagoon University."

I just nodded, for I couldn't think of a fitting reply, other than, 'You know, I've heard you act like a really big asshole at work.'

I looked up from my shoes and stared into his grey eyes, which seemed to leer at me behind those glasses of his. Out of all the people that I've met over the years, he has to be the one I hate most. I don't care what people say about first impressions being misleading, I was right about him from the beginning.

Feeling awkward just standing there while Kei and I stared at each other in hostility, Megumi quickly muttered something about "getting the tea" and ran out of the room.

"No matter what you think," said Kei as soon as Megumi had left the room, "I am not a bad person." I just glared at him, knowing he was lying. "However, I know you are." I looked back down at my feet. That was a new record: he'd sensed Krad in less than 20minutes.

Just as Megumi had come back with a tea tray in hand, Kei pushed past her, nearly making her spill it.

"Hiwatari-kun? Where are you going?"

He looked back at her and said, "Excuse me but we have to talk. Now. In your office." He continued walking, and stopped outside Megumi's office. Megumi then quickly set the tray down on the coffee table and walked swiftly to the office. They walked through the door and slammed it shut, leaving me in the living room with nothing but three cups of tea for company.

Tiptoeing towards the office door, I put my ear to the keyhole and listened in.

"Look, Bara-san, I don't think he's what I'm looking for in a son. Well, sure he's nice and intelligent but, well, there's just something not right…"

"You can't give up on him just like that. It'll just break his heart." Ah, good ol' Megumi, embarrassing me as always.

"He's already been given up on 199 times. What's one more time going to hurt?" He was right there. In fact I'd be glad if Megumi accepted it and just let him go!

"Bu-bu-bu-" she was getting desperate to get me adopted, for it was her responsibility to help me, if it takes a social worker nine years to get a kid adopted, you know she's not doing her job.

"I'm sorry but there's nothing you can say to make me adopt him, so I'll be on my-"

"Wait!" shouted Megumi.

"Oh, and why should I?"

"He's a Hikari…think of the potential." My eye's widened in shock. What kind of person would say something like that?!

There was a silence. Then, at length, Kei spoke, "Fine, I will adopt him, but only if next week goes smoothly." SHIT!!! Now because of her I'll end up being adopted to him!

The anger…it's so beautiful. Let me out. I've not stretched my legs in a long while. Let me out!!!

Pain struck at my heart, and I could feel Krad yearning to come out. Feeling the horrible pain of Hikari wings struggling to get out of my back, I bit my lip and ran upstairs to my bedroom before anyone could discover the feathers.

I woke with a start, the memory of that day haunting me. I could feel the pain as clearly as I could then.

I looked out of the window. The sun was setting, it's amber colour shining directly through the window and on the opposite wall.

I breathed a deep sigh of relief. Krad and Kei weren't here, and they never would be. But – because of that day – I became the Rent Boy of that maniac of a father, and I because of him I was put through so much pain. Remembering it flared up the anger again, and this time I knew a simple lie down wasn't going to work this time: I felt so…so…frustrated! I felt the need to let it out, to get rid of the anger that was pounding through my veins.

Suddenly I was struck with the most amazing idea. I jumped off my bed and started rummaging underneath all the stuff that had been put under my bed over the months.

After a good search, I found what I was looking for: it was a Hikari art. A pearl-handled knife to be exact. My mother had made it, but knowing that weapons of any kind were strictly forbidden, I'd hid the knife underneath my bed on the day I moved in. Despite the many months it'd spent underneath that bed (20 to be exact), it was still in perfect condition, with barely any dust on it.

Laying the knife on the bed, I rolled up my sleeve and picked up the knife so that the tip pointed downwards. I laid my arm on my lap palm face up, placed the edge of the knife gently halfway down my forearm and…and…

Not allowing myself to hesitate, I cut straight down my arm, from halfway down my forearm to my wrist, leaving a deep gash. I gasped out in shock: I didn't expect to be feeling what I did then.

I felt the pain of it, and I felt the release I needed, but the pain brought on a whole new feeling altogether: pleasure. Agonisingly beautiful, addictive pleasure. I watched as blood welled up out of the cut and ran down my arm, creating this warm sensation that seemed to add more to this beautiful experience full of pain…but not the kind that I once knew.

More. My mind seemed to gasp out, more pain.

And just like that, this amazing pleasure-filled pain became something I wanted more of. I seemed to yearn it like a smoker yearned for that cigarette first thing in the morning. Positioning the knife in the same way as last time, I slashed at it again, and I let out a groan as the pleasure hit me again. The blood welled up from the cut, causing even more to run down my arm and into my cupped hand.

I wanted to cut myself again, to feel another fresh bout of pleasure, but I was already letting out copious amounts of blood: if I kept it up, Megumi would soon come up here to investigate, and if that didn't happen, I'd probably end up bleeding to death anyway. If neither event took place, I'd have to get rid of the blood, and fast!

Spotting the easel in the corner, I rediscovered the true meaning of the phrase, "More than one way to skin a cat." I knew I was going to hate it, but there seemed to be no other way.

Taking the Hikari painting off the easel, I got on my knees and searched under the bed once again, this time looking for a mounted canvas. I soon found it, but how I managed to without getting blood on the carpet I'll never know. Then, finding out my gold-plate paintbrushes from the highest box of the smallest tower, I placed them on the bed and dragged the easel up to it.

Picking up a paintbrush, I dipped the tip of the brush into the blood, and began to paint.

Authors note: And that, my friends was Chapter three. Once again, like Chapter two, this took up seven pages. I know that many of you has asked for wrist-slitting, so I've decided to go one better for you guys, because you've been so faithful as to put my story on your Story Alerts. I'm on my half-term holiday at the moment so I may update pretty soon. So, thank you for sticking to it and remember: Chapter four will be here soon so keep on the look out.

SEE YA, and please R&R!!