This chapter focuses only on Cher, Hige and Toboe and a few other and the others aren't included. Usually I like doing different scenes but this turned out being quite long. Let me know what you think! Thank you guys for your suggestions and I'll go ahead and keep this as a whole story and not split it up!

Don't feel bad for ranting at me Guest, it's a good kind of rant that encourages me all the more so lol

Toboe was startled awake when he felt the plane shake abruptly and realized it was quiet. The engines had just shut down. He sat up trying to focus his vision. "Toboe," he heard Hige's voice in an urgent tone. "No matter what happens, let me do the talking. Just shut up and don't speak, got it?" That was all he remembered before everything blurred into nothing. Next thing Toboe knew, he was somehow walking through the dimly lit halls, well almost. Quent was practically supporting him because he seemed to stumble every other step. The drugs had at first made Toboe dangerous and temperamental, but now they had made him ill and weak. He lost his footing and stumbled and fell over to his knees.

"Come on, get up," Quent said harshly. Before he could pull Toboe back up, a soldier of high ranking approached Quent and at first was reluctant to approach him closely until he saw Toboe really would cause no harm. Hige was handcuffed and escorted by six soldiers. Two of them held each arm to prevent Hige from fighting while four others surrounded him with their guns ready to put him out if he showed the slightest resistance. He was still being affected by the drugs and the slightest thing seemed to tick him off. And now he was around everything that he ever hated. He stood against the soldiers hold and turned to his side to see Toboe barely able to hold himself up. The soldiers immediately raised their guns threateningly, but Hige barely paid any heed.

"The general wants to see them at once," the soldier told Quent.

"They need a few hours to recover, especially this boy-"

"Now." The soldier stated.

Quent cursed looking at the partially conscious boy and back at Hige who was watching Quent like a hawk. Hige was speaking through his eyes threateningly. Quent paid no attention. He motioned with his head to the soldiers holding Hige. "Take him to the holding cell."

"What are you going to do to-" Hige started to question until a soldier struck his gun into Hige's stomach. Hige bent over grunting out loud from pain before he was immediately forced to continue walking. Toboe looked up in response to Hige's pain, but when he tried to stand, he felt Quent's hand bear down on his shoulder.

"Get him out of here." Hige was pulled upright and forced to stand and leave Toboe behind. When they turned down the hall, Quent pulled Toboe from underneath his arms to his feet suddenly making his head rock back in a daze. "You need to wake up, kid." He placed his back against the wall, but Toboe still kept his head down limp. When he started to slump over, Quent pinned him by his shoulders and cursed. He couldn't bring him into the general this drugged up. He might be shot on the spot being thought weak and useless. Toboe's eyes opened slightly, but he still seemed so oblivious to the world around him. Quent touched his palm to his forehead, realizing how dehydrated he was. It wasn't just the drugs causing Toboe to be weak, but he physically was weak and tired. He felt the weight of Toboe's head fall against his hand. "Toboe," Quent tried to get his attention. When Toboe started to fall to his knees, Quent caught him and knelt with him trying to keep him from collapsing on the floor. He wondered why Hige was dealing with all this a bit more easily, but Toboe was just failing miserably to withstand the side effects of the drugs. He saw Toboe's eyes start to roll back into his skull. Quent quickly grabbed the side of his head to support it and shook him. "Toboe!"

That seemed to finally stir him awake. Toboe lifted his head slightly and showed hints of a smile forming on his lips. "I sense...concern in your voice."

Quent rolled his eyes and hauled Toboe back to his feet. "Shut up."

Out of no where, Toboe suddenly vomited and being pinned to the wall, he only ended up vomiting onto Quent's coat and boots. In response, Quent's voice filled the halls with swear words and he released Toboe only having to grab him again so he wouldn't fall into his own vomit. He couldn't be mad at him, though. Quent had sedated him twice on the plane and now realized he should have given him a smaller dose due to his smaller size. He finally had no choice but to lay Toboe flat on his back and step back to see the mess he had created and was only humiliated as soldiers came by to see what had made Quent curse out loud. He took off his coat and wiped the vomit off his boots before throwing the jacket aside. Quent then heard a woman's soft laughter and turned to see her approaching him to investigate the mess. "Do you need a hand?" She asked politely.

"You mean you've dealt with this before?" Quent asked her.

"You'd be surprised with what I've dealt with," She said and motioned him to follow her. "Come. Bring him. I'll take care of him and try to get him well enough to face the general."

Quent, once more, had to take Toboe into his arms and followed the woman to the other side of the facility where it looked less like a militant and more like a science lab or hospital. She stopped at a certain door and open it, letting Quent walk in first. Inside was a cot with straps and medical and surgery items Quent had no idea how to identify. "Just lay him down." She instructed. Quent obeyed. He grunted in annoyance when he saw Toboe had completely blacked out again. He didn't know how he was going to explain this to the general. She approached the cot and felt Toboe's forehead and cheeks. "I'm Dr. Degre. You must be Quent Yaiden."

"Yeah..." Quent said awkwardly. "What's wrong with him?" That was a stupid question to ask, but it seemed this child would faint at the ounce of any strain. Even so, it's not like things had been easy on him.

"This is... Toboe, isn't it?" She inquired.

Quent nodded.

She smiled to herself as she looked at him. "He's grown so big."

Quent didn't understand. Toboe was still small to him. She left his side, pulling a bowl from the cabinet and then approached a small sink and began filling it. "Part of the reason he's still alive now is because we tried to put the torques on his brothers and sisters first. When they began to die, one by one, I was ordered to fit one for Toboe so he wouldn't suffer their fate, but still be controlled."

"Why was he waited as the last alternative?" Quent questioned.

Cher turned off the faucet and faced Quent with the bowl of water. "He was born the runt. Not many live pass a few days, but he did. When we saw his health improving, we decided to use him as well. Still, a runt is always the weakest. Sometimes they can outgrow it, and Toboe still could." She opened a drawer and pulled a rag from it and approached Quent's side. "But what you've done to him hasn't helped. If you want him well, saturate his skin." She handed him the rag and water. Quent got the idea she was attempting to guilt him. "I'm working to hook him up to an iv. He's severely dehydrated and malnourished."

Quent at first was going to decline to help her, but he realized he either had to help her, or face General Jiro. That thought deterred him from leaving immediately. He finally dipped the rag in the bowl and touched it to Toboe's forehead. Toboe didn't seemed to be completely out, Quent had realized as he touched the rag to his skin. Toboe sighed softly shifting his head subtly and seemed to welcome the cold refreshing water. Cher had been preparing the iv and finally turned around with a syringe hooked up to the iv and the cord leading to the iv pouch. Cher had not noted that Toboe was still somewhat conscious of his surroundings. The moment she pricked the needle through his skin, Toboe's eyes snapped open and he jerked away. "What are you doing?" He heard something smash on the floor and turned to his other side to see Quent. He had dropped the bowl and stared back having been a bit surprise by Toboe's sudden awakening. Toboe's eyes maneuvered towards the door and he started to scramble off the bed towards it before hands locked on each side of his arms. "Let me go!" He yelled.

"Pull him down!" Cher yelled, attempting to maneuver Toboe flat on his back. Quent locked his arm around Toboe's and grabbed his shoulder before thrusting his weight against the cot with a good thud. It dazed Toboe momentarily so that Cher could pull the straps from the bed and wrap it around his wrist. Quent watched and quickly did the same to the other wrist. Toboe tried to writhe out of it and hollered angrily. "You can't do this! Let me go!" Cher quickly picked up the rag Quent had dropped and began to stroke his face in an effort to calm him. Toboe jerked his head aside, but it really didn't do much to stop her.

"Please, I'm trying to help you," Cher explained.

Toboe raised his head slightly at her and Quent, but did not relax his stance. "Where's Hige and Amaris?"

"Amaris has been taken to my lab," Cher said.

"Hige is just down the hall," Quent lied. Hige was now more like on the other side of the facility, but they needed Toboe calmed. It was the closes to the truth Quent would give for now.

"Let me see them," Toboe demanded.

"You will," Cher said. She picked up the iv she had dropped, but kept the needle part lower until she was sure Toboe would let her administer it. "You need to get well first-"

"I'm fine!" Toboe yelled and clenched his fists, trying to resist the straps around his wrists. "Please take these off!"

"You just hurled all over my coat," Quent reminded him. "Fine isn't the word I would use."

Toboe grunted one last time from the pull of the straps and fell flat against the cot panting softly looking defeated. Cher once more touched the rag to his face, which made Toboe shift his head away, but he didn't fight against it anymore. As he relaxed a bit, she rolled up his sleeve and examined his arm carefully to determine the right vein and insert the needle. Toboe turned his head back and twisted his arm slightly in discomfort. He closed his eyes expecting to pass out like the other drugs caused him to do. "Is this what I'm to be subjected to?" He spat.

"It's not what you think," Cher explained and bandaged the needle in his arm so it wouldn't come off as he was fed s constant stream of medication. "This will counteract the other symptoms of the drugs you've been given and will give you nutrients. I really am trying to help you."

Toboe was about to doubt her, but realized he wasn't zoning out from whatever she was giving him. He was still very much conscious and more aware than he was earlier. He wasn't about to trust her, though, and stayed quiet.

"How long will this take?" Quent asked impatiently.

Cher raised her head with a frown. "I'm going to keep him here for now. The general and I have agreed to this and Toboe needs to gain his strength back."

Toboe couldn't help but gaze at Cher curiously. He had never told this woman his name, yet she used it so freely. He had relaxed a bit finally realizing that she really was doing him no harm and in all honesty, he'd sooner stay with her then see this general. All the same, he felt guilty if Hige was having to face him alone while he was receiving care.

"Agreed to what?" Quent said with a tone.

"Unless you want to stay," She said sharply not even answering his question.

Quent grunted in annoyance. He still didn't want to leave yet and face Jiro. He might as well as disobeyed a direct order by bringing Toboe here and didn't desire to face Jiro without delivering the boy himself. He made it clear he would not leave without Toboe and walked off to the side to give her space to work. Cher gave Toboe all the water he wanted to try to earn his trust, especially since she was going to stick another needle through him. She took a blood sample from below his wrist and filled a vial with it to run tests on it later. When she would slow down in her work, she would dampen his face and neck with water to keep his skin damp so he wouldn't grow hotter. The only time he put up much of a fight was when she stuck another needle into him when there was one already taped to his arm.

As she touched the cold, damp rag against his face, Toboe tried to find the courage to speak to her. "How do you know my name?"

Cher curled the end of her lips to a smile. "I was there when you were born and took care of you."

Toboe looked away and sighed. "So I really was born into the military."

"You look like her, you know," Cher said as stroked the rag down his neck to make up look up at her.

"Who?"

"Your mother."

Toboe sat up slightly, but remembered his wrists had been confined to the cot. "My moth-" He was cut off when a loud knock came repeatedly to the door. Quent was the first one to stand and quickly approached the door and open it. They were two soldiers who appeared very determined. "What is it?" Quent spat.

"The General wants the boy, now."

Toboe arched his legs slightly, trying to draw out his wrists from the straps. He possessed no desire to see this general. He felt Cher's hand grasp his arm as she looked at the two soldiers with defiance. "He's not well. Tell General Jiro to just give him a few hours of rest-"

The soldiers pushed Quent aside and approached the cot. "We've received our orders and they overrule yours. Either you can hand him over, or we take him by force. Your choice."

Cher stood there frozen in her place. She felt like it was her task now to protect Toboe and she was about to throw him in the lion's den. She reluctantly turned to face Toboe and started loosening the straps. "Just do as your told, okay?"

The moment she loosened the straps, a soldier pulled Toboe upright and shoved Cher aside. "Ow!" Toboe yelled when he yanked the iv out and pulled him to his feet off the cot. Then he was forced to start moving. Quent cut them off and grabbed Toboe's forearm. "I'll escort him back. You two just follow in case he tries something."

Toboe looked up at Quent curiously. He wondered why Quent was so determined to escort him. He moaned softly, checking his arm that had the iv hooked up to it. He had a feeling it wasn't something that was merely supposed to be pulled out. He couldn't determine if what Cher had done had made him no better than before. He didn't feel like he was going to pass out anymore, but he didn't feel any stronger.

The other soldiers didn't seem to have a problem with Quent leading the way and that Toboe could be thankful for. At least for now. He was pulled back into the dimly lit halls. As he was pulled down further, he looked over his shoulder and saw Cher was reluctantly following. The sober look she carried on her face gave no indication that what lay ahead was going to be easy to endure. Toboe looked back ahead and raised his head. "Pops-" Quent froze, and looked down Toboe with a scowl. Toboe bit his lower lip. He didn't know where that came from. This whole time he had traveled with Russe and Blue, they had referred to Quent as Pops and being his captive, Russe still had called him Pops around Toboe. It seemed to fit him more and had been ingrained in his mind. Toboe swallowed, trying to find his courage. "Is... Russe okay?"

Quent gazed at the boy studying him carefully. He showed slight pity, but reminded himself that Toboe was just a useless dog. Nonetheless, he answered the question. "He's fine. We'll be leaving to go home soon."

"Good, I'm glad." Toboe whispered.

Hige was thrown in a holding cell and kept handcuffed even though he was locked in the room. He banged his fists at the steel door angrily, still sensitive from the drugs given him. "Where's Toboe?" He hollered. "Let me out! Quent!" He continued to bang his fists until they bruised and he fell to his knees before the door and gave one last pathetic punch to it. He dropped his forehead against the door with a thud and closed his eyes in thought. He let his mind drift a bit thinking of the others still in the mountains, especially Blue. He missed her her immensely and a voice kept telling him that he had seen her for the last time when he kissed her goodbye. He trembled at the thought. He already couldn't stand being here and was scared of what lay just ahead. He couldn't stand not knowing what was being done to Toboe. He already had to watch Toboe die, even if Toboe actually hadn't Hige had felt real emotion and grief from watching it in front of him. He thought back to Tsume and Tala who would be taking it the hardest. If only they knew Toboe was alive and okay it would refuel their hope and possibly move them to get here faster. Nonetheless, Toboe's fake death had been a warning to the others not to follow after Quent. Hige was sure Kiba world try to come no matter what it took, even if it was just for Amaris' sake. Hige had thought he could handle being back here again, but he already felt himself losing his sanity and wanted out. He felt so cramped in this room and it took everything he had not to scream himself into insanity.

Only five minutes passed, but it felt like an hour already. Ten more minutes passed before Hige finally heard movement from the other side of the door. He scrambled to his feet and stumbled back as the heavy door flew open. Four soldiers walked in before Hige recognized the man in slightly different uniform as the general. Two more soldiers stayed stationed in the doorway. Hige resisted as two soldiers grabbed each of his arms and thrust him on his knees so the general could look down at him. Hige at first didn't want to raise his head as an act of defiance, but his curiosity eventually got the best of him. Slowly, Hige began to raise his head to the general trying not to tremble at his presence. He wanted his eyes to show the defiance and the fight he would put up to the last breath. "Where's Toboe-" Hige was met with a punch to his face.

The general stood straight cracking his knuckles looking down his nose at Hige. Blood began to stream out of Hige's nose. He slowly raised his head, ignoring the throbbing pain pulsing in his nose. "What's it been, Hige? Ten, twelve years since you escaped?"

Hige scoffed and felt his hands balling into fists. This man took a very cliche approach, only the sound of his voice already made Hige's stomach churn. "Fourteen... actually."

Jiro tightened his fist and suddenly struck Hige across the cheekbone. "Welcome home," Jiro said. He stood back, shaking his fist out and looked around the room. "Where is the other wolf and old man?" He looked at the two soldiers guarding the entry way like it had been their responsibility. "I had ordered both wolves to be locked in here."

One of the two soldiers cleared his throat nervously. "Sir Yaiden left with Dr. Degre carrying the boy. The boy didn't... look well. Dr. Degre is likely taking care of him."

"I gave an order!" Jiro suddenly snapped. "And I expect them to be followed! Go and retrieve him, now!"

"Yes sir." The two left the room.

Hige couldn't help but feel a bit relieved that Toboe was safe for now, at least until the two soldiers brought him back. It made this scene just a bit easier to deal with. However, his fear was restored when General Jiro turned his attention back to Hige. He attempted to resist the soldiers, but was quickly restrained and kept pinned to his knees. Hige resisted until Jiro approached him and grabbed Hige's chin and lifted it so they met each other's eyes. When Hige tried looking away, Jiro pressed Hige's upper lip upwards to see his teeth and gums like a person checking for a healthy horse. "Still so young and full of vitality," he held Hige's head up higher. "It's very difficult to capture a young wolf like you."

"If you value that hand, I suggest you keep it to yourself." Hige spat trying to maneuver his head away.

Jiro released it before Hige was immediately met with another punch to his face. The force was hard enough that he was tossed to the ground before being hauled back up to his knees. "Don't mention it."

"You're talking like I was the first you've come by in years. I've seen the other wolf you manipulate." Hige brought out.

"You mean the wolf-dog with one eye?" Jiro scoffed. "Once I get you under my control he'll hardly do me any good. He helped us take out his pack and find you. You'll be of more more use to me, Hige. We still got to deal with the rest of your pack, after all. ". Hige's eyes widened at the thought of any more harm and grief being brought upon his pack, especially on Blue. Hige did not want her to know the suffering of losing a close one and fighting them under the influence of the torque. It sounded like it was what Jiro had planned. "Still," Jiro continued as he began to pace in front of Hige. "Do I really want to use a wolf that would abandon it's own mother? While she was pregnant?

"What?" Hige raised his head in disbelief, but Jiro continued.

"Personality traits still show through the wolf under the influence of the torque. I don't need to be in control of a coward. Perhaps Toboe would be of more use in this matter?"

Hige began fighting against the soldiers holding him down. "I swear, if any harm comes to him I'll tear your heart out!"

Jiro bent down and grasped Hige's neck with a choking grip and drew him forward. "You two shall suffer the same fate in time. His suffering will be increased if you don't cooperate with me." He released Hige's throat. "You will be implanted the device first. If you fail me at all, I'll use your brother next."

Hige was panting loudly from the tight grip Jiro had on him and at first thought he had misheard what Jiro said. "What did you say?"

"You heard me. Do your part and Toboe lives a little longer."

"Toboe... isn't my bro-" Hige cut himself off as everything he ever learned about himself and Toboe came together like a puzzle. It all made sense now. As far as Hige could ever recall, his mother had been the only female they ever caught and Hige had been the one to tell Toboe he was born in this hell. Toboe had to have come from her. He couldn't believe he hadn't pieced that together sooner.

"She never told you," Jiro realized and gave into a small chortle. "Her litter was born a week after you ran. It made your escape an easier loss. One by one, we tried to use the torques and drugged them so they would become dependant on them. We would control their every move. Still, they never survived the surgical process. They all died. All. Except. One."

Hige lowered his eyes, feeling washed over with guilt and regret. "Toboe," he whispered.

"Your family suffered what should have been on your shoulders, Hige. Rather, you abandoned everyone to have a moment of freedom. At least now, you can pay the toll for having that freedom."

Hige raised his head back at Jiro and tried to stand despite the soldiers' efforts to keep him on his knees. "Toboe shouldn't have to pay for it though! Let him go! Use me as you will. Use me for whatever purpose in his place. I'll do it all," Hige begged desperately.

Jiro approached and cupped Hige's cheek and shook his head. "Don't flatter yourself. You and your brother are here to pay for the consequences of someone else too." He turned and nodded to the two soldiers in the doorway. As soon as the soldiers stepped aside from the doorway, another walked in dragging a ragged woman. She barely resisted and had long been tamed years earlier in her life.

Hige felt his heart break at the sight of the woman and his cheeks burned as he realized and remembered who she was. The sight of her brought memories of his younger years as a pup. He felt like a child, a pup all over again. Jiro pulled her by the scalp of her head, making her scream and threw her on her knees before Hige. He didn't want to believe it was her. He had wanted to believe she had died years ago and be liberated from the prison here. Only she had still been here the whole time. When he last saw her, she had been so young, feisty and strong, but she appeared so frail now. "Mom?" Hige choked out.

She raised her head and it took much less time for her to realize who Hige was. She staggered to her feet gasping softly and tried to gain her balance before she stumbled again. To keep her from falling, Hige stepped forward with handcuffed hands that gently caught her against her stomach. He kept her held close and would not let her go. "Now I know where Toboe gets his clumsiness from," he whispered to her lovingly. At that, she slowly raised her head, trails of tears visible down her pale cheeks. She still didn't say a word. Hige couldn't believe he had let himself forget that face. Had he remembered her better, he couldn't have never deny Toboe as his brother. Most would see her as having dark brown hair but traces of auburn tones could still be seen in the dim lighting. Her once richly colored auburn hair had faded after being locked up in darkness for several years. Hige had to have looked more like his father. The only thing that he resembled from his mother was her slightly, smaller up turned nose and those sweet honey golden eyes. She finally raised her fingers and touched them down Hige's cheek before Hige raised his handcuffed hands and pressed her cold hand against the warmth of his skin. "Mom, I'm so sorry."

More tears filled her eyes as she let her hands fall from Hige's cheek and her arms swept up his neck and buried her face in his chest. "There's nothing to apologize for," She whispered finally. Hige stood almost a foot higher than her making her cradle perfectly against him like he was some sort of fortress to her. Even though Hige was her son, he was the first man, or matured, male wolf she could seek affectionate comfort with. But all Hige could do to return his affection was hold her arm against his chest and stroke his thumb against it and it seemed to be more than plenty for her. The smallest affection for her would be as valuable as gold. She yelped when Jiro suddenly ripped her away. Hige attempted to go after her, but was held back by the two soldiers. Hige growled angrily as he watched Jiro hold her a little too close to his body.

"Why make her suffer? She's suffered enough just being here!" Hige yelled.

"Mirima's disobedience didn't stop with letting you escape. She escaped the second time with Toboe. She's here to see the consequences of her actions."

"I don't regret any hell and failure I caused for the military," Mirima resisted Jiro's hold. It was one thing for Jiro to treat her like this in private, but she felt mortified that he was holding her like this in front of Hige.

The two soldiers Jiro had sent for Toboe finally returned with Quent. Toboe didn't pay any mind to Jiro or the woman he held. He only saw Hige. Once Quent felt him resist his hold, he released Toboe allowing him to approach Hige. "Hige, are you all right?"

Hige looked down at Toboe and saw for the first time, the little brother he was to him. Whatever had been done to him, he looked somewhat better now. Before Hige could reply, Jiro spoke first. "Still quite the runt, isn't he?" That's when Toboe turned to confront the general. He didn't know why he was holding the ragged woman close to him and touched his back to Hige's torso, not liking how the general was now looking at him.

That's when Cher walked into the room to see Jiro's arms around Mirima. Jiro only pulled Mirima closer and hissed into get ear: "Why don't we begin with him?" He nodded to one of the soldiers.

Hige started to grab Toboe protectively, but his arms were jerked aside by the soldiers still holding him. One of the two that had helped escort Toboe threw him to the ground. Toboe tried to stand, but felt his arms restrain behind him as he was pulled upright and his left sleeve pulled down to reveal his bare shoulder.

"No! Don't!" Mirima yelled.

"Brand him," Jiro ordered.

"Branding?" Toboe trembled. "What's that mean?"

That's when a soldier stepped forward with the electric brander and Toboe understood what was going to occur. "No!" He screamed and shoved his weight back. The soldier had underestimated Toboe's strength as Toboe managed to get his hand free. Right away, he shifted into his wolf form clawing the soldier in his face and slammed his body into the soldier to knock him down. The soldier's screams filled the room, but no one paid him much attention. Before Toboe could do any more damage Quent fell beside Toboe gripping his snout shut and clutched his throat, but not to choke, but to force Toboe to look at him. "If you think you're helping, you're not. Even if you got the others out of the room, you'll all be shot the second you step out."

"He's right Toboe," Hige uttered.

Toboe shifted back to his human form and clutched Quent's sleeves in effort to reach his soft side. Tears were brimming in his eyes. "Pops, please. Don't let them do this to us. We were trying to leave. We are trying to leave to let the humans live in peace, but how can we if we're constantly being dragged back to the start?"

"Toboe," Quent muttered quite embarrassed what Toboe had called him and how he was touching him.

"I'm sorry," Toboe continued. "I know I'm partially to blame. My blood literally drew the wolves to your house. Had I just let myself die, you, Russe and Blue and perhaps the others would still be safe. I-" Toboe stopped when Quent rest his hands on Toboe's shoulders. Quent gently pulled him close and wrapped his arms around him. He felt Toboe relax in his arms. "I'm so sorry," Toboe apologized again.

"There's nothing to forgive, Toboe," Quent whispered. He kept Toboe's sleeve below his shoulder and suddenly tightened his hold around Toboe before nodding to the soldier with the brander. He felt Toboe tense up and resist slightly.

"What are you doing?" Toboe cried out. A second after his cry, Toboe felt the hot metal penetrate his skin and sear against his flesh. Toboe caved into Quent burying his head into Quent's shirt as he released a howling scream and his fingers curling into Quent's shirt. Quent had not taken into consideration that even as a human, Toboe's nails could become claws and he felt them grazing down his chest as Toboe only means to expel the pain.

"That's enough!" Hige cried. He looked on at Jiro hoping he would make the soldier stop, but he only had a sadistic grin forming on his face. The soldier was the one Toboe had clawed and was enjoying every moment of his pay back. Mirima was putting up a fight and cursing out loud, but it was proving feeble as it barely seemed to phase the man. If anything, it was adding to his amusement to the scene. It had only been seconds, but Hige couldn't take it anymore. In all the distraction, he elbowed one soldier at his side as hard as he could. The air was knocked out of the soldier allowing Hige to fight off the other easily and punched the first one who tried to take hold of him. In the moment of his freedom, Hige used his handcuffs on the one branding Toboe and jerked him back by the throat while choking him at the same time. He threw the man on the ground and snatched up the branding iron and plunged it into the man's backside making him squeal from the pain. After Hige made him pay, he took the brander and tossed it into the metal wall that caused it to shatter to pieces. Then Hige started to charge Quent. Quent stood from Toboe and pulled from his side his handgun. Hige froze.

Jiro released Mirima and casually clapped his hands. "Bravo Hige. You are a fighter. I was wrong about you. You'll do fine service to me."

Hige ignored him. He fell to his knees before Toboe who was choking through his cries wanting to grasp his scorched flesh, but couldn't as it would only intensify the pain. Mirima started to approach him too, but was pulled back by Jiro as he only proceeded to taunt her. "He's officially military property now."

"One of these days," Mirima uttered in a low tone. "You're going to wake up with my fangs in your throat and I'm going to enjoy watching the light leave your eyes."

Hige gently grasped Toboe's wrists trying to get his attention and mind off the pain. He wanted to tell him everything he had found out, but he couldn't bring himself to. Hige should have always known what Toboe was to him and he should have been the one Toboe could look up to. He should have been the one to take Toboe in and train him instead of Tsume. Toboe had every reason to look up to Tsume first and now he felt ashamed. He felt he didn't have the right to say he was his older brother. So he just stayed quiet.

"You're right Hige, " Toboe cried softly. "I shouldn't trust so easily." He said looking over his shoulder up at Quent angrily. Quent's shirt had long tears in it with Quent's blood showing through from Toboe's claws. "I would have rather you thrown me back to their clutches than to use my trust like that."

Quent lowered his gun and put it back in its holster. "I've given you no reason to trust me kid."

"Lock the boy and girl up," Jiro ordered Quent. "Then come to my office afterwards. Dr. Degre, prepare Hige for surgery."

Toboe stood to his feet, now looking protective of Hige. "The torque?" Quent grabbed his arms and jerked him back. "Noo! Hige, don't let them do this to you." Quent dragged him backwards.

"You've lost! Give up Toboe!" Quent yelled. Quent opened the door and shoved Toboe through followed by a soldier escorting Mirima. Toboe had barely paid her any attention and was entirely oblivious as to who she was. He managed to look over his shoulder pass her one last time at Hige, both meeting each others gaze. Toboe was not ready to be separated from him and shoved Quent aside only to be caught by the soldier following them. "Hige!" Toboe yelled before the door was slammed shut and his hollering cut off.

Hige got to his feet, his teeth grinding so hard that he thought his skull might crack from the pressure. He turned to face Jiro and Cher, who was now standing next to him. Jiro approached Hige to his face. "If you resist in anyway, I'll kill Toboe myself, then your mother." Hige said nothing, but his eyes spoke for him. They showed fear and sadness, but even more, they showed anger and defiance despite what Jiro had just said to him. Jiro smirked as he started to exit the room. "He's all yours Dr. Degre."

To Aysu: Yes I took in kittens and they're about four weeks old. You can see pictures of them here in my da account: art/More-Kitten-Love-454990648

I already found trusting people to give them a good home when they're ready :) that will be a hard day to see them go :(

As of the story, Tsume will come back of course. Tsume fans won't appreciate if I took him completely out of the story like that haha! I hope that answers your questions.

Again to all, thank you for taking the time to read twenty chapters and review them. I'll be going on vacation for a week on Friday so that may delay the next chapter. It could also, (depending how much there is to do) give me more time to write it. We'll see :)