Hey! Thanks to The Character's Death for reviewing :) Hope everyone's enjoying, would love some more reviews.

Anyway happy holidays!

Yuki slept fitfully and when he woke he was shivering and sweating. He registered for the first time that his shirt was torn to shreds; it had provided little protection. Wincing, he recalled what he could of the night before. It seemed to appear in sharp bursts in his mind, never the entire picture. Perhaps, Yuki considered, he should be grateful for his fragmented memory. It had been so long since he had suffered Akito's wrath that he was now unaccustomed to dealing with the aftermath. He let his head fall forward into his hands. His fingers pressed to his temples, attempting to hold himself together. He had fallen into the darkness before and been rescued and he knew all too well that it was far easier to fall into the pit than it was to climb out.

He did not intend to fall again.

The day passed in a blur. Much later Yuki heard the long-anticipated turning of the key causing his stomach to clench. Akito entered slowly, appearing impassive. Yuki remained in the corner, watching him wide-eyed like a cornered animal.

"Yuki" Akito gave the smallest twitch of his fingers to command Yuki to come. He did, standing unsteadily and walking the short distance until he was a foot from Akito. Here he bowed his head and sank to his knees, the very picture of subdued. Yuki did not see the tight-lipped smile on Akito's otherwise mask-like face, but Akito saw the unintentional twitches in Yuki's eyelid and jaw as he waited.

"You should have crawled Yuki, my disobedient rat" purred Akito's velvet voice. Yuki flinched. Somewhere far within his mind he understood Akito was trying to belittle him further, to have him feeling worthless, yet at the same time he was finding fighting this notion increasingly hard. Akito began pacing round him. He bowed his head further, trying to contain his fear. A disproving sound came from above him.

"Mmm Yuki dear, you've ruined another shirt. It's been a while since that happened hasn't it my dear?" He stopped and grasped Yuki's chin tightly. "Too long..." he hissed.

Yuki could not suppress his shiver. As he dragged his eyes up to Akito's, he was sure Akito could practically smell the fear emanating from him. He was acutely aware of the rapid rise and fall of his chest as the two stared into the other's eyes. Akito released Yuki's chin and very slowly, almost hesitantly, reached forward. Painstakingly, as though savouring each one, he undid the remaining buttons on Yuki's shirt.

Yuki gritted his teeth and did nothing.

When he was done, Akito slid the shirt off him, very slowly. Despite his gentleness, the material had become stuck to one of the cuts by the now-dry blood and Yuki gasped when it was pulled free. He now shivered slightly, from exposure rather than the cold. Akito dropped the shirt carelessly and gazed at Yuki, his cold eyes very alive.

After a long moment, he began pacing again. Yuki remained still, but for the slight tremors wracking his body. At times like this, when he couldn't tell what Akito was thinking, Yuki was most scared of him. This was when he was unpredictable and could either show extreme aggression and volatility or disconcerting tenderness and affection. He waited. Having lived in relative content and peace at Shigure's house for so long, Yuki was unsure of how to gauge Akito's thoughts now.

"You know Yuki" Akito murmured, stopping behind him, "You're very good at being quiet and beautiful." He traced his fingers lightly across the evidence of last night's wrath, mapped out across Yuki's alabaster skin. Yuki tensed. "But", he hovered over a particularly nasty cut, "You're not very good at showing me respect!"

At this he plunged a finger deep into the cut. Yuki managed to swallow down his scream and merely gasp, clenching his fists. He didn't know what was best to do anymore. His head was spinning.

"It is an issue which must be addressed. I will re-teach you to respect me Yuki, and you will be grateful"

He dragged his finger along the length of the cut. Yuki lost control of his emotions; the contained scream wrenched itself free from his shaking form and he collapsed forward, panting. Vaguely he was aware of warmth spreading down his back. Akito gave his finger a rough twist, causing Yuki's head to swim. He then moved slowly round him and knelt in front of the shaking boy. Very purposefully, he wiped the bright glistening blood from his hand down Yuki's cheek. Then he left.

Yuki was left alone and in pain. He breathed deeply through his nose, trying to regain his composure. It wasn't serious he told himself. He'd had far worse. Yet recently he wasn't used to dealing with such pain, nor with Akito's psychological games, and felt he was struggling. Once more he fruitlessly took himself back to his safe corner. He attempted to ignore the wet, stickiness of his blood on his back and face. He considered wiping it from his face with the remnants of his shirt but feared this would anger Akito. He had clearly marked Yuki and to remove this would be disobedience. He was anxious being back with Akito, as he hadn't been in over two years.

Shortly after, Akito returned. His eyes seemed to widen in pleasure as he took him the bloody Yuki huddled in the corner. He bore with him a small tray which he set down in the centre of the room.

"Come" he said gently. Yuki hesitantly crawled over which caused Akito to smile. On the tray sat a large hunk of bread, already thickly sliced, a jug of water, a small cup of tea and two white pills. Yuki eyed the pills warily, which seemed to amuse Akito.

"Painkillers" he replied to the unasked question. Yuki hesitated. He hadn't realised he was so hungry; the fear had driven it away. Now however he found he was desperate to eat.

"Go ahead dear" Akito smiled. Yuki gratefully took a piece of bread and ate it carefully. Akito watched him intently for some time. Yuki sipped the tea, thankful for its warmth. Akito left, promising to return shortly. He did, carrying a thick blanket and flimsy pillow. He set these down next to Yuki.

"Thank you" Yuki stammered, then, on noting the change in Akito's expression added "Master."

"Very good my little rat." Akito smiled almost fondly. "I'll leave this with you" he said, indicating the tray. "Take the painkillers."

Yuki nodded attentively.

"Hatori will see you tomorrow, then you will go back to Shigure's house." At this Yuki's head snapped up in surprise.

"I see this pleases you." Akito replied thinly, a cold edge to his voice. "No matter. Your new school term begins in three days and I would have you well prepared. Henceforth, you shall come to me every weekend."

Yuki's eyes widened. He was relieved he got to return home tomorrow but found the idea of two days a week with Akito very daunting and frightening.

"On a Friday evening a car will pick you up from Shigure's house, and you will be returned on Sunday evening." He continued to watch Yuki closely, looking for any reactions. Yuki worked hard to keep his face a mask. "I hope two nights a week will be enough to re-teach you respect, if not... I'll take more." There was a dark undercurrent to his words now which made Yuki nervous.

Akito crouched next to him again. "Goodnight my pet" he murmured tenderly. "Remember I love you, as no-one else does" He gently kissed Yuki on the forehead and tenderly stroked his cheek. As he stood he withdrew a candle and a box of matches from his pocket and passed them down to Yuki.

"Sleep well" he instructed over his shoulder as he left.

Yuki sat alone, feeling confused.

Later, when he had finished his meal, he curled up under the blanket in his corner and lit a candle to chase away the dark. Watching the flame flickering, mere inches from his face, Yuki wondered what would happen. Gazing deep into the flame he realised that it could provide warmth concurrent with pain. He spent a long time watching it dance in the darkness. When he was younger he often could not sleep in this room, for fear of Akito returning. Now however, he told himself he must. He could not afford more insomnia which only made it easier for his demons to tear him apart.

He knew he must sleep. He knew he must survive. He knew he must not fall into the darkness again. What he did not care to admit to himself was this:

If he fell again, he did not think he would survive the climb out.

He snuffed the candle out.