I'm sorry. This... I... Look, I could name a thousand reasons why I didn't update this sooner, but you probably don't wanna hear em.

So, I'm just gonna say I died.

Go ahead and read the chapter now.


Hotaru.

The name echoed through Gin's mind. He muttered it softly to himself, seeing how it sounded when it came from his mouth. It was different for sure. Definitely not bad, just different.

He repeated it, over and over, trying to adjust to the odd name. Well, it wasn't exactly odd, it was more of the fact that he only knew a few names besides his own. And by a few, that meant about two.

Hotaru waited patiently for him. She almost laughed at how long it was taking him to process her and her name, and well, everything in general. The only thing that kept her from doing so was his conditions.

He looked like he hadn't had a bite to eat his entire life, he was more pale than a ghost and covered in bruises and scars, he was coated in dirt and practically wearing rags, his cheekbones were prominent and his eyes were somewhat sunken in... All in all, he seemed like a living corpse.

The only thing that really signified that he was indeed alive were his eyes. They looked golden to her, and they were drowning with pain and some constant fear she knew was there for a reason. But hidden behind his suffering there seemed to be a spark. A small little glimmer of hope.

When Gin was finally done saying her name, he looked at Hotaru, sweeping his eyes over everything he could see of her through the small window. Brushing his shaggy white hair out of his face, he shakily stood up and walked closer to the window. Tentatively, he placed his hand on the window by the hand Hotaru forgot she had on there. He studied how their hands lined up, noting how, though their palms were about the same size, Hotaru's fingers were longer than his.

After several moments, he slowly took his hand off the glass, but still kept it up. He brought his eyes up to meet hers, and then, in a flash, he brought his hand down like if he kept it up any longer he would catch fire.

"Are you real? Or is this just a very nice dream?" Gin questioned, looking at the ground and shifting uncomfortably. He said it sort of softly, but it managed to make it through the window anyway.

Hotaru smiled reassuringly and nodded. "I'm pretty sure I'm real."

Putting on his own small smile, he replied, "Promise?"

Hotaru couldn't help but notice the spark of hope she saw earlier seemed to brighten more. "Absolutely," she confirmed determinedly.

The two had a few minutes to simply just be by each other, enjoying the comfortable air that lingered around them.

Suddenly, it was broken by the sound of a loud crash coming from the upper part of the house. Gin froze and began to shake more than a cold chihuahua. He stared at his newly found... Friend? Window buddy? Person that wasn't his dad? Let's go with that, for now.

He was too scared to speak, so instead he just mouthed "Go" at her, praying she would listen and leave before his dad came down into the basement. God knows what would happen to Hotaru if his dad saw her. He'd tear her throat out. Gin didn't even want to think about what would happen to him.

He felt his scars tingle as a chill ran down his spine.

Hotaru stared at the helpless boy trapped inside the basement. She couldn't tell if the panicked look in his eyes made her want to follow his orders and run away as fast and as far as she could, or if it made her want to stay with him. On one hand, it told her that it was clearly urgent. On the other, it also told her something bad was going to happen to Gin.

He mouthed more to her as he began frantically looking from the door to her. "Please! Now! Leave!" He clasped his hands together, begging her to go.

Hotaru sighed. Even if she did stay to try and help him, there really wouldn't be much she could do. Slowly, she stood up, and then, as soon as she saw the movement of a door swinging open, she bolted out of there, leaving nothing but dust in her place. Even as she was sprinting away, she promised herself she would go back. She swore she would go back. She swore that eventually, she'd make sure Gin was running away from the house with her.


Gin watched the dirt Hotaru had disturbed as it floated down and settled back onto the ground. He was only using this as a distraction, so he wouldn't have to turn and face his father just yet. He didn't want to see the look of anger on his face. He didn't want to stare at the flames of evil that were his dad's eyes. He just wanted to go back to sleep and forget about this world he lived in until Hotaru returned. IF she returned, Gin corrected himself.

Gin heard a growl from behind him, and soon he felt himself being spun around by rough hands. His dad had his shoulders in a bruising grip. He started to drunkenly scream something about being by the window, but Gin wasn't listening all too much. He just had his eyes closed, and was waiting for the pain he knew would be there any second. He knew the schedule. He just wanted to get the morning beating over with.

Sure enough, he felt something collide with his head, knocking him to the ground with an unhealthy thud. He knew that what hit him wasn't a fist, but he wasn't quite sure what it was. There was a shattering sound when it hit his skull. Managing open his eyes, he saw remnants of a lamp on the floor by him. He groaned as his head throbbed.

He knew it was nowhere close to over though. Gin's dad lifted him up by the throat, hurling him across the room and into a wall. Though it had happened several times before, Gin still cried out when his back made contact with the wall. A whimper escaped him as he bounced off the wall and onto the ground.

A malicious grin spread across his father's face when he heard the sounds. He approached his son, eager for more of his voice.

He forced Gin to stand up, pinning him to the wall and once again trapping him with his harsh grip. Gin looked him in eye, and, upon seeing the amusement in his dad's eyes, knew it would not end well for him.


Hotaru traced patterns on her wall as she hummed a half sad half happy tune to herself. She was pretty sure it was from an anime she watched a while back. But that didn't really matter. What really mattered was the boy occupying her thoughts.

Gin.

She bit her lip as she thought about what could be happening to him right now. It was obvious that he wasn't treated right in the slightest, and clearly it was dangerous for her to be there. It was even more dangerous for him to be there. To LIVE there.

She shuddered at the thought of what he had to go through. Of what he was currently going through. She began chewing her nail worriedly as she wondered just how bad it was. It was clear he was starved and quite possibly beaten, but did it go beyond that? For all she knew, he could've been... Raped. Hotaru chewed faster as a chill ran up her spine, attempting to stop herself from thinking of any more awful possibilities. Unfortunately, her mind had other thoughts. Literally.


I'll try to update sooner. I'm sorry.

I love you all; don't kill me...