Hola mi amigos! Como estas? Bueno? Bueno! (If you're monolingual I just said "Hello my friend! How are you? Good? Good!"

Nothing much to say- prepare for angst. o.o

LOSGAP =D

"Stop that scratching." Akito rasps from his bed and I nod, slowing my pen down, stemming the flow of ideas from my mind to pen.

Writing is the only thing that keeps me sane. It helps me escape from the never-ending nightmare that is Akito's chambers, allowing me to completely disappear into my own mind.

I write about things I know don't exist. Like faeries, dragons, and happy endings. Why? Because nothing could be farther from the harsh reality that is my life.

A glass smashes into the notebook in front of my face, narrowly missing my head. "If you're going to scribble on and on, go to your room and do it." Akito says icily and I get to my feet and hurry from the room, my head down.

I enter my room and stare around in dismay. I hate my room. It's a cage; there are even bars on the one window I have.

It's small, for one thing. Two paces from wall to wall. The floor is gray concrete, as are the walls. My only furniture is the blanket and pillow on the floor I call my bed. I'm lucky to have even that, I know- I thank God every day for the window. In Yuki's 'special' room, there is no bedding to speak of, and of course no windows. I feel lucky I can breathe fresh air in here.

But an open window isn't much fun in winter; I wrap my blanket around myself and continue to write, watching my breath steam in front of me as I explore far-off lands full of sunshine and warmth.

OoO

I champ on my bit and snort impatiently, waiting for Akito. It can't be more then 20 degrees- and I've been waiting here for an hour. Where is he?

A whip cracks above my head and I rear up, neighing shrilly in surprise- I didn't even hear him get in. "To the school." He orders, smacking my back with the reins and I take off at a cautious trot. The ground is covered in ice- the plows haven't been through yet. If I'm not careful, the cart's wheels will get stuck in this, and then were will be?

I don't think about what would happen if I slip and fall.

We pull up in front of the school and I turn my head to look for Yuki and Tohru. I want to keep an eye on this girl- she seems nice and innocent, but the last thing I wanted was my little brother's heart broken. She would pay, if she broke him down.

I spot him speaking with Tohru- Kyo is nearby, red in the face with apparent anger about something. I wonder what he's worked up about now.

I prick my ears and let out a little whinny when I glimpse Haru and he waves back; his eyes harden as Akito drags my head around and my ears go back.

"Quit socializing. Horses don't talk to people." Akito hisses and I nod tightly, keeping my eyes on the ground. "I'm cold." Akito complains. "You shouldn't have made me go out in this weather, baka uma." He spits, hauling on my reins and turning me around. "Take me home." He demands and I lean into the harness, grunting with effort. We're stuck- the idiot left the brake on. I can't move; the wheels, locked in place, are stuck fast in the ice- and I'm left standing in the middle of the road since he won't let me turn.

Cars swerve around me, honking and yelling for me to get out of the way. The horns and shouts frighten me; my ears go back, and I shiver nervously. I want to run again; I need to get out of this place. Now.

"Get moving!" Akito snaps, whipping me repeatedly as I nearly gallop in place, straining against the harness. I buck slightly in frustration- this is getting us nowhere. I start to turn but Akito hauls my head back, snapping something about me trying to steal Yuki's attention. From what, I don't know. There's no way Yuki can see Akito in his cart- besides, I doubt Yuki would cast a second glance in my direction.

A scream grabs my attention; my head snaps to the left and I don't have time to react.

The school bus, come to pick up students, can't get traction on the slick ice; its tires are locked in place as it skids down the road. Straight towards me.

I barely have time to rear up in terror before it slams into me.

OoO

There is a sound of snapping leather as I'm torn from the cart and the crunch of bone and flesh against metal as I'm carried straight off my hooves, my face flying into the window.

I shut my eyes tight as the glass shatters around me, hoping I haven't hit the driver.

It all happens so fast I don't know what happened as I'm thrown to the ground roughly, and the bus, unable to stop, bumps right over me, its tires shrieking with effort as it tries to stop.

There's no sound, no feeling.

All I can hear and feel is the beat of my heart and the blood roaring in my ears. What happened? I think numbly, wondering if I can get up. I can't move my head; my reins are tangled around my legs.

My entire left side is throbbing; I am in shock, so the pain isn't there yet. All I can feel is a growing numbness as I stare at nothing, wondering why everything is so blurry.

Then everything hits me at once.

I can hear screaming; I wonder if some of it is mine. I can't breathe; the smell of blood is all around me, suffocating me, making me gag as the metallic taste hits the roof of my mouth. I hear running footsteps- the students, having recovered from what they have just seen, are coming to see if maybe, just maybe, I somehow survived this.

"Rei!" I recognize one voice as a strong, familiar hand lands on my shoulder, shaking me gently. "Rei? Are you OK?" He asks anxiously.

Oh I'm just peachy.

I try to look at him, but everything is swimming before my eyes; I become aware of a piercing pain in my eyes and realize those blurry spots are bits of glass.

Haru takes out his pocket knife and cuts my reins, making my head snap up. My legs flail out as I try to get my bearings and he presses his hand on my neck, quieting me. "Don't move." He murmurs and I close my eyes, wishing it would all just end.

"Is she… alive?" The voice is so faint, I barely recognize Tohru. "Is she?" I recognize that voice instantly; it's Yuki.

I open my eyes slowly and see him standing near Haru, beside Tohru. I let out a faint nicker at the sight of him and roll onto my stomach, wincing in pain.

"Holy crap- it's getting up!" A student exclaims in shock as slowly, inch by painful inch, I stand.

My entire left side gives out and I start to go down again, but Haru leans into my left shoulder, using himself as a human crutch, keeping me on my feet.

I turn my head to Haru, wishing I could thank him as Yuki assures the crowd I'm fine and gets them to go home. "What happened to the bus?" I ask as quietly as I can. Haru stares at me, then shakes his head. "You're barely breathing and you want to know about the bus?" He says incredulously. "There weren't kids on it, right?" I ask anxiously. "No, just the driver. It finally stopped up there- Yuki's talking to the driver now. He's the president of student council so I guess it's his job." He shrugs. I nod and close my eyes, letting my head sink to the ground.

"We need to get you to Hatori." Haru says and I make a sound of agreement. "I have to get Akito home though." I murmur and automatically turn to where the cart, apparently none the worse, is waiting, with Akito sitting calmly in it, watching everything with a faintly amused expression.

Haru stays by my side, protesting every step I take as I go right back to my master.

"Haru, just leave me alone." I snap finally. "I'm fine… really." I shake my head as a powerful wave of dizziness overcomes me and I stumble. "No you're not." Haru says firmly, as stubborn as me. We glare at each other for a moment then I snort, heading back to the cart, leaving Haru to stare after me.

"Ah, I see my little horse survived that?" Akito asks as I get close enough to hear him. "Nothing could keep me from coming back to you, Master." I grunt, limping up beside him. My leg foreleg dangles uselessly above the ground, and my left hind leg doesn't feel much better.

"Of course. Because I own you." He smiles and runs his hand over my mane. He smacks my nose. "But you destroyed my cart, my pet. That means you must carry me home now." He says and I close my eyes briefly and nod, hoping Yuki isn't looking as Akito sits side-saddle style on me, like he's some emperor.

I hobble towards the road, every step agony. I can't wait until I get home to Hatori- he'll take the pain away. He has to.

My left side drags slightly as I walk; my right legs tremble with the added strain of carrying the majority of my weight but manage to hold. In a gallop, a horse will put all of its weight on one leg- but only for a few moments. I wonder how long my right side can keep this up.

OoO

I don't have to wait long to find out.

I barely manage to drop Akito off at his chambers and drag myself to Hatori's house before my right side buckles under me and I sink to the ground, unconsciousness sucking at my mind like dark waves. I close my eyes and sink below the dark surface and hope I don't wake up.

OoO

I only have flashes of memories after that- of Hatori asking me, gently, to change to human form- I obey, though it is agony. I black out again shortly after this; I wonder how long it's been as I start to wake up again.

"Severe concussion… eye scarring… broken arm and leg… four broken ribs… multiple facial and body contusions…" Hatori is listing my injuries to someone; I can't hear who. Wait, why can't I see who?

My eyes won't open; they stay stubbornly shut. I have a terrifying thought that maybe I'm in a coma. "Hatori?" I ask weakly and hear footsteps.

"You're awake?" His voice is surprised. "Why can't I open my eyes?" I ask quietly and I hear him sigh as he sits down on the bed next to me. I know I'm on a bed because the springs squeak as he sits.

"Rei, in the accident, your face went into the window, correct?" He asks and I nod. "Remember how you got glass in your eyes?" He questions and I nod again, wondering where this is going. "I did everything I could, and removed the glass, but your eyes are severely injured." He says quietly.

"Am I going to go blind?" I ask him, clutching the sheets in terror. "It's too early to tell." Hatori says slowly, and I know immediately he's hiding something. "Hatori, be blunt. What are the chances I'll see again?" I ask him, reaching up a hand to touch the bandages over my eyes.

"There's about a 10% chance you'll see again." He says quietly. My hand falls from my face and hits the bed. "I'm sorry." He sounds truly regretful.

I wonder if it's possible to cry with blind eyes; judging by the way my bandages are suddenly wet, it must be. A sob escapes my throat and my hand flies to my mouth. Hatori is still sitting here; I can sense distress coming off of him in waves.

"What's going to happen to me?" I ask quietly. "I don't know. Akito hasn't decided yet." A shudder of pure fear ripples through me. In my state, I can't serve him- if I'm blind, I'll be useless to him forever.

I hear the door shut and realize we weren't alone- I don't ask who it was. I don't even care; I'm so wrapped up in the thoughts of never going to see again.

"I'm sorry." Hatori says again, and I hear the squeak of bed springs as he gets up, and the quiet click as he closes the door behind him as he leaves.

Yeah I'm evil, I know. *ducks flying objects* But I've always been fascinated with working with a blind character- it's a real challenge to try and create a mental picture for the reader without using sensory images for sight, you know? I welcome the challenge ^_^

Anyways, please review and don't hate me for blinding Rei!

LOSGAP =D

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