*Authors Note: The character named Ilka in the previous chapters is now named 'Naoko'.

Don't know why I didn't do that in the first place.

x x x

The Book of Kalium

- A reading from the Histories of Clow according to a servant of Libra

I couldn't see it until now.

The thread moved by itself.

Clumping and defining itself into a distinguishable shape.

Clow calls it a 'gift' to the mortals.

Gift? Why should the mortals receive a gift? They should be punished for turning away from us. They withheld their prayers and offerings. Let the Yuna consume them – that's what the Gathering say behind closed doors.

They are the ones who must win back the love of the Gods.

I say this to Clow, but he merely smiles as a reply – which infuriates me.

He sympathises with them I suspect – the mortals.

My protests will not stir him – he lets the thread continue.

I found myself watching with him, silently for days, weeks perhaps, as the slumbering Guardian rests by his feet, protecting him from those who dare disturb his process.

As time went by I felt myself...memorised by it. It's faint golden glow resonated a warmth...a hope, even.

The outline of a body becomes visible now. Long golden arms fluttered up so gently and slowly, as if hesitant of its own movement. It took a step forward.

And for the first time, I witnessed the Great Sorcerer Clow Reed shed a tear.

As did I.

I don't know what the gift will do for us. But it gives me a great deal of hope.

Perhaps I was wrong about Clow Reed...perhaps.

X x x

Kaho suppressed a yawn.

This 'quick' meeting had gone on for over an hour now and she felt herself getting antsy to move again. She thumbed her wedding ring and chewed the inside of her cheek. When she woke up this morning, Eriol had already gone and it was just barely six-thirty am.

It was an irritatingly familiar feeling. What was more irritating, was how much it annoyed her.

Logically, he would of course start his day early. He had been gone from the facility for almost two weeks. Work builds up – no time to be lounging in bed all day. He had patients he needed to catch up on too, she should be more understanding, she told herself.

And they had talked that evening, about their argument – the recurring one – and he had assured her her fears were unfounded. Her chest swelled briefly when she thought of how he made her feel after the bottle of wine and the intensity between the sheets afterwards.

When she closed her eyes for the briefest second she could remember his weight on her and his breath on her neck and cheek.

"Dr. Mizuki?" Kaho crossed her legs and snapped her spine straight – remembering where she was.

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" She asked the physician who worked in the Northern wing with the lower level Divinity.

He cleared his throat and repeated his question. "I said, do you believe one of your higher ranking patients could be presentable to the Council? I believe it was increase confidence if we could display the Shylde on a level four or five. Li Syaoran is obviously not ready."

Kaho felt a twitch in her brow. She tried not to display her secret contempt for the Council. "No, Li Syaoran will stay firmly within the Facility for the foreseeable future." She concluded.

"Well...how about Meiling? She's had no major incidents in a while-"

"Meiling is making progress, I don't want anything disrupting that. I'm worried her participating in that would make her uncomfortable or regress."

Kaho saw the perplexed look on their faces at her reply.

"Um...Dr. Mizuki...the patients comfort is not exactly our priority..."

The wine from last night must be making her less careful with her choice of words, for they got the distinct impression Kaho was concerned for Meiling.

Kaho cleared her throat.

"What I mean is, removing the patient with that level of aggression and instability could have serious ramification for us. Her Shylde is still a prototype, remember."

That response seemed to put them at ease.

"Well, then, how about Shinomoto? Her Luranium Shylde has been highly successful at restraining her invisibility."

"Dr. Tsukishiro has already firmly objected to this. Though I don't understand why. But he's ready to put up a fight to stop that from happening. Not worth the battle, really." The head nurse to the left of Mizuki said. She was a stocky woman with a face that reflected a permanent scowl. A stark contrast to nurse Chiharu to her left who always seemed dazed and uninterested in anything happening around her. If it weren't for the fact that Empree-immune staff were so rare to come across, she would have been fired long ago.

"Yamazaki? I believe a Mielu would be a safe bet?" The physician across from Kaho offered.

"Safe, but not effective. It's already hard enough to prove the Shylde works on Mielu's. We need to prove its effectiveness on an offensive Divinity, or an anomaly." Kaho said.

"Besides, I believe Yamazaki is a candidate for a new prototype for a new Shlyde model developed by the Ebba Facility. Best to keep him put."

They were getting nowhere with this. Kaho could sense the frustration and pressure. The Council wanted to see the results of their funding. It had become abundantly clear the the Shylde's success rate was not where it should be. Particularly on Shadows and on higher level Divinity. The higher the rank, like Yamazaki and Meiling, the Shylde was not completely muting their abilities.

But the extent to which they were ineffective kept Kaho up at night. They were clever, the Delinquent 6. They would never reveal the extent to which they could overpower this Facility. Although, if they had the power to escape, she reasoned they would have long ago.

"What about Daidouji?" One of the doctors asked.

Kaho's stomach tightened when she heard that name.

"I don't think that's wise." Someone interjected before Kaho could think of a response and she was grateful. "Sending an Empree – especially one of Daidouji's calibre to the Council. Thing's are still a bit fragile there..."

"It's been six years!" He retorted. "At some point they'll need to get over it. If anything, I think the Council would love to see a Daidouji brought to them – leashed and Shylded. What do you think, Dr. Mizuki? She's been least violent of the infamous Delinquent 6 and had taken to the Shylde very well."

Kaho felt her throat go dry. A wine hangover appeared very quickly in the form of a thumping headache.

"Daidouji is Dr. Hiiragazawa's patient. You'll have to take the matter to him." She said and shut her folder over. "If you'll excuse me, I have another meeting."

She walked out and made a note to keep her looking ahead despite the ache in her head.

Why do I let her very name rattle me? She cursed to herself and pushed her wedding ring around her finger again. Get a grip Kaho.

She marched forward and listened to her heels click harshly against the marble floor. She needed to get her head back into work. Starting with Syaoran. He was being released from the Pits today. She wanted to get a session in with him – just him and not Li – he was always more vulnerable after and outburst. She needed to pour over her notes again and change her strategy.

When she turned the corner she skidded to an abrupt halt. She sucked in air sharply through her nose. Though all the way on the other side of the hallway, Kaho already knew that the girl was sitting there with her perfect posture and that faraway, dreamy gaze.

Tomoyo Daidouji had that effect on people.

She hadn't noticed Kaho yet. Kaho eyed the other corridor. She could turn around and take the southern wing to her office.

Stop it, Kaho. She scolded to herself. She's just a girl, another patient. Kaho imagined her father looking at her now with disapproval. He had not taught her to be avoidant. He taught her to spend every waking moment researching, researching, analysing and researching.

Kaho straightened up and ignored the tightening in her chest.

Tomoyo did not look up as she approached, she was gazing out at the barred window at a bluebell that had gotten itself curled and strangled around the rusted bar.

"Ms. Daidouji." Kaho said with a smooth smile that even reached her eyes.

Tomoyo blinked as if slowly being pulled from a trance. When her violet eyes floated over to Mizuki, a sweet smile followed. "Dr. Mizuki," She said airily. "You look lovely."

Kaho tried to find the feigned tone in Tomoyo's voice but alas – as always - the girl seemed genuine. Or genuinely on a different planet. Even her blinking was slow and gentle.

"Thank you." Kaho replied. "How have you been feeling lately? More yourself?"

Tomoyo took a second. Her pale fingers grazed a lock of deep violet coloured hair from her face. "Like myself..." She said softly aloud. As she did so, she tilted her head to the side which revealed the smooth pearl-like texture of her Shyle. It's white surface began at the base of her neck and along her shoulders before curving back in to run along her collar bones. Just like her, even her Shylde was beautiful.

While the Shylde's of other inmates make one gasp at the unfathomable pain it must have cost to be fitted, Tomoyo's seemed as if it simply belonged to her, as if she had even drawn it with shimmering ink across her milky white skin.

"I'm feeling...light." She finally replied and turned her body towards Kaho, maintaining an elegant posture – a trait of her former high status before her imprisonment. "Thank you for asking."

Kaho clenched her teeth. Not in angry towards Tomoyo, but at herself for all the unfounded suspicions she carried with her about the girl. She forgot how entrancing Tomoyo's eyes were as they glowed out under that dark hair.

Kaho was sure she wasn't the only women who felt a pang of jealousy at the Emprees smooth, full face in comparison to her overworked and constantly exhausted one that carried stresses she struggled to hide well as she use to.

Yes, Tomoyo Daidouji was beautiful – and irritatingly pleasant. Not completely her fault. Emprees were charming characters by nature. And when they had you where they wanted you, disaster was bound to follow.

Tomoyo's eyes floated away from Mizuki and fixated on the cracks in the high ceiling. A small aloof smile sat on her face. Kaho felt a pang of guilt sit in her stomach.

She's not herself...she's not well...

But then again, Kaho didn't know what was 'well' when it came to Tomoyo. All she knew was that those soft and kind eyes were harsh and powerful when she was brought here first. And now...

She's not your patient. Kaho reminded herself and looked at the door opposite where Tomoyo was waiting.

"You have a session now?" Kaho asked with a kinder tone. "With Dr. Hiiragazawa."

"Yes." She replied and clasped her hands on her lap. "I hope I've not regressed since the...since the..." Her words seemed to escape her.

"Since the eclipse." Kaho finished for her.

"Yes," She replied and sighed. "I'm a little disappointed with myself." Kaho was thankful she was Empree-immune, because even with Tomoyo's Shylde disabling her to use her influence to its potential, Kaho even felt herself being pulled to reassure her.

She must have had many a man wrapped around her finger. Kaho thought and shuddered to think of the damage a single Empree could cause.

"That was a strange night for all. Do not put yourself under so much pressure." Kaho said and nodded as she walked by her.

"I hope whatever is bothering you get resolved. You shouldn't worry so much over silly things." Tomoyo said which caused Mizuki to stop and look back at her with weariness.

Did she mean something by that? Is that a dig?

"How do you..."

"You look tired." Tomoyo replied sweetly and indicated under her eyes.

Before Kaho could reply, Eriol office door began. To open. Kaho left before he emerged – her blood beginning to boil.

X x x

ARCHIVES FROM THE TOMOEDA FACILITY OF DIVINITY RESEARCH

RECORD #247

CATEGORY: MECHANISM

NAME: MEDICATION

SEDATIVE MEDICATION WAS AN EARLY ADOPTED STRATEGY BY THE DIVINITY RESEARCH FACILITIES TO SUBDUE THE OCCURRENCE OF VIOLENT RAGES. THE DOSAGE IS VARIED DEPENDING ON THE DIVINITY TYPE AND RANK.

MEDICATION IS NOT A FAIL-SAFE METHOD. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO COMBINE MEDICATION WITH A FITTED SHYLDE. (Ref. #178)

X x x

Kaho slapped the folders onto the desk.

Yuktio looked up in slight surprise and watched as she slumped down ungracefully into the seat beside him. She pinched the bridge of her nose and welcomed the canteen coffee Yukito slid over to her.

"Rough day?" He asked and flipped a page over on his clipboard.

Kaho sighed. "Just... a lot of paperwork." She replied. "And I'm behind with my patients."

Kero flew onto the table and rested with his back to the huge tinted glass behind him which shielded the three of them from the testing room on the other side. "So what're we doing today?" He asked and wiped a biscuit crumb from his mouth.

"Good question." Kaho said sipped her coffee. "This better be above board, Yukito."

"Oh, lighten up, Kaho. I thought your husband's return would ease the tension around here."

Kaho ignored the subtle jab Yukito always seemed to get in there when it came to her husband.

Though Eriol may not have been well liked with his hard-lined running of the facility – he was well respected and admired by most of the staff. If it weren't for him, the facility would have been long closed – something she struggled to do herself when she was in control...

But with Yukito, the respect for Eriol seemed to exist on a minimal level only, and vice versa. They couldn't be more opposite. Eriol always presented himself so pristine and professional, Yuktio sat beside her with a creased shirt, tie and top buttons loosened and not a care for the coffee stain on his shirt.

"Have you spoken to Ruby lately?" He asked.

Kaho's heart sunk a bit and a guilt crept up from her stomach. "I spoke to her a few days ago. She sounds happy..."

"Good." He said with a sincere smile that she felt she needed. It was funny how that topic seemed to natural with Yukito and unnecessarily awkward with her husband.

Kaho's eyes fell onto the experiment summary in front of her and she almost chocked in anger.

"Yukito, what is this?"

He didn't flinch and merely shrugged. "What? The whole experiment revolves around him."

"You do not get to use my patients without permission. Besides that – Syaoran-"

"Was sitting in the pits anyway, I just took advantage of an opportunity. Relax. At least hear what I'm trying to find out."

Kaho gritted her teeth. "Is it at least following protocol."

Yuktio's smirk answered her. "Come on, Kaho, have some fun. You remember what that is before you got married, right?"

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, enlighten me."

He clapped his hands together and kicked his feet off the table. "As you know," He began. "We still don't quite have all the pieces to explain what happened the night of Senza's Eclipse. Do you remember that verse in the Kalium-"

"Seriously, Yukito?" She asked not hiding her patronising tone. "You can't expect me to play along with this if you're basis is a hypothesis on some nonsense mythology."

"Oof," Yukito tutted. "How cold, Kaho. So quick to dismiss decades of your father's work."

Kaho narrowed her eyes. "Don't go there, Yukito. I'm not in the mood."

"Well, either way, we still don't know why the inmates became so aggravated that night. The fact it happened in the period coming up to the eclipse and intensifying during it is very coincidental, don't you think?"

Kaho was hesitant to reply. This was a taboo subject. They were suppose to be doctors, not some sort of cult or followers of the Kalium.

"Go on." She replied reluctantly.

"Well, the lower ranking inmates seem to be effected to a high degree – some displaying minor aggression, others passed out, others acting out with extreme aggression and violence. But the higher ranking ones became extremely agitated but not so violent despite their Shyldes and the gas."

"Yes, I know all of this." Kaho said with a defensive tone. Reliving the facts gave her great shame...but also worry. The foundation of the Tomoeda Facility was built on the innovation of the Shyldes. If word got out that were not as effective as they had told the Council, it would have disastrous consequences.

"We know the Divinity have reactions to astrology, positioning of the moons and all that, but not to a great degree. Senza's eclipse is a one in 700 years phenomenon. The gas subdued them."

Yukito scrunched his mouth in the way that told her it was not as they had thought it to be. Kaho sighed. As little as Yukito cared for his job, he was attuned to the smallest detail or inconsistency.

"Watch this." He said and put in the video footage of the night of the Eclipse. She has watched it dozen's of time, saw the slow proliferation of aggression strike the inmates in different ways. She saw the pixilated shapes of the inmates begin to attack, shake and break anything and anyone Undivine around them. "Now look at the Delinquent 6 footage." He pressed a button which panned to Yamazaki's cell. His unmistakably tall frame stood in the middle of his room witnessing the slow growing chaos outside his cell.

"Yamazaki seemed unaffected." She mumbled and Yuktio nodded then panned to Tomoyo and Meiling's cell.

The black and white screen showed Meiling bent over and covered a convulsing body they now knew was Tomoyo's. Meiling was shaking her, trying to pry Tomoyo from her trance. "Meiling was also unaffected, but Tomoyo..."

"Possibly because she's Empree?" Yukito offered as an explanation. "She may be more in tune to other's reactions. I guess that's what Dr. Hiirigazawa will find out."

Kaho said nothing to that.

"So around this time," Yukito said and pointed to the twenty-four hour clock at the bottom. "The Eclipse was at full coverage, and that's when some of the inmates even began attacking each other. Here," He flicked the screen to Akiho's room. "Shinomoto is nowhere to be found."

"Well she can't be completely invisible, her Shylde does not disappear with her. She must still be in the cell but hidden. It's not exactly a great quality monitor."

"Possibly, but still, Akiho hasn't been fully herself since the eclipse either."

"Why are we re-living this? We know what happened, we've been through the footage and right about here is when the gas is released."

"Ah!" He said and clicked his fingers as he began to reveal his findings. "That's the thing, you remember how the inmates calmed down?"

"Yes...it was...quite rapidly."

"And we both know it takes at least ten minutes for the gas to subdue violent rages in Divinity."

"So it worked a little faster this time, we used more quantity than usual."

"Yes, but they all calmed down immediately. We both know the gas doesn't work that way. And I looked back at the time stamp and it seemed they mass stopped milliseconds before the gas made its way into the main courtyard."

"That's suspicious." Kero commented, seemingly coming back to life from his nap.

Kaho said nothing. He was right, but that worried her. "So what are you trying to tell me?"

"Well, unfortunately we don't have thermal detection in Akiho's cell to assess if she's there or not at this time. Those budget cuts really messed us about."

"And why can't this one detect her?" Kaho said peering down at the Guardian. "Isn't that one of your duties?"

Kero narrowed his eyes back at her. "I can't spot a Shadow on camera. It doesn't work like that!"

Kaho returned her attention to Yuktio. "Get on with it."

"But you know where there are thermal detectors."

Kaho tightened her fingers around the steaming mug as if trying to hold onto her stomach from dropping. "The Pits." She finally answered.

Yukito grinned and replaced the tape with a different one.

"The guards on duty said that Syaoran had no reaction to that night. They didn't even hear him stir. He's completely separate from this."

Yukito kept his grin. "We were so concerned with the activity in the central facility, we didn't properly review the other footage of the pits. Now, watch this screen here." He indicated to the screen that displayed the internal canteen hall where a majority of the inmates were the night of the Eclipse. "This is the second before the gas is released. Now, watch this screen." He pointed to the right screen where, even though extremely dark, Kaho could see Syaoran buried under his chains. The specs of light filtered in through the bars way above his head. Kaho shivered, remembering how bitterly cold it got in the pits. Syaoran's pleading face flashed through her mind and for a moment she felt sorry for him.

"I'm going to switch to the thermal lens." He said and played the tape.

A silent explosion of colour drowned the screen. On the other screen, the inmates had frozen mid-action and suddenly ceased their raging. A second later, the gas was released.

Yukito played it again twice.

"So, you believe that...Sya- that Li did something to calm them down?"

"It's far too coincidental with the timing." Yukito replied. "So that's what we're gonna try and find out."

Before Mizuki could respond, a harsh buzzing rang out and the steel doors in the interrogation room opened. A hunched over Syaoran shuffled in, movement hindered by the heavy chains wrapped around his wrists and ankles.

"I didn't sign his release papers Yukito. This is not OK." Kaho gritted through her teeth.

Yukito waved her off. "But if we discover something, it will be worth it, won't it?"

The guards backed away from Syaoran slowly and closed the door behind them.

Kaho and Yuktio watched silently for a moment behind the tinted glass.

"He looks so...lost." Kero commented. "Hard to believe a scrawny kid like that is capable of doing all those crimes."

Kaho silently agreed. Had she not witnessed what he could do, she would have not believed it herself. Even now, as he looked around the room with wide, amber and broken eyes, she wondered if her reports and therapy notes of him were exaggerated.

A lone chair sat in the centre of the room. He silently and obediently went to it and sat down. His shoulders naturally began sink inwards, and he tucked his chained arms into his body.

He always tried to make himself smaller.

"Yukito, what's the plan here?"

"I want to recreate the conditions of that night on a much smaller scale." He replied and slurped his coffee. "We got new inmates today that were arrested from the Tomoeda City massacre. Some of them are still not right. I want to observe how they are upon first interaction with Li."

"It doesn't work that way." She mumbled and leaned into her knuckles, analysing Syaoran. "Syaoran believes Li to be a separate entity, someone he can't control. If this is indeed true, then Li not going to show himself for our benefit. If anything, he'll probably keep away."

"Yes, but that's with us. What do your reports say about Li and other Divinity?"

Kaho pursed her lips and thought. "In general...He seems to display a higher level of concern for the conditions and wellbeing of those with Divinity. Often even becoming aggressive when they are disproportionality threatened."

Yuktio rolled his eyes. "What an awfully clinical way of saying 'He cares for them'"

"Hmm." She replied. "So you believe Li will somehow...quell their anxiety or aggression? Like a pack leader?"

"I do." Yuktio nodded, then immediately shrugged. "Or not, we're just having fun, right?"

Kaho rolled her eyes. But she was indeed curious. She was conscious this was an experiment her husband did not need to be roped into. He hated any theory based of the Kalium or mythology.

"Right, first one up." Yukito said and flipped a page on his clipboard. "Naoko. She's a Empree, level three."

From the right hand side, a door opened and Naoko emerged. Her red curls glimmered even in the dullness of the experiment room.

She looked small as they peered down at her from the monitoring room. The experiment rooms were purposefull build a floor below the monitoring rooms with the tinted glass tiled downwards at an angle.

At first, Naoko took a look around, seemibgly unbotherd about what was happening.

"This one hasn't caused many problems since her arrival." Kero said.

Naoko's eyes then her eyes fell on Syaoran. She took a step back. Her lips parted with awe. "It's you, isn't it?" She said with more curiosity than shock. "The Arch-Dae'er?"

Syaoran kept his head down and displayed no reaction to her question. Only when Naoko approached him further did his head rise ever so slightly.

"Stay back." Syaoran replied in a calm voice which stopped her instantly. He did not say this in a threatening voice. He just preferred to be left alone. Syaoran didn't know what the purpose of this experiment was. And he didn't need Li to know that behind the tinted glass Mizuki was probably scrutinizing his every reaction.

He sighed.

"You are ashamed of your title?" He heard the voice resonate in his head. "Arch-Dae'er'"

"There is no need for it," Syaoran replied to it. "I don't even know what it means. Neither do you."

"True, though this Empree one seems to have heard of us."

"Of you, not of me." He replied. "Please, just stay quiet today. They may let us out of the Pits."

"I will not be dictated by the Undivine. I am not to be confined." Li replied with an annoyed voice.

Syaoran resisted rolling his eyes. He didn't want to indicate that an internal argument was happening.

"Oh yeah? Well they're out there. And we're in here. So maybe rethink that one."

Li grumbled in that way Syaoran knew indicated his silent frustration. Perhaps he'd finally grown tired of Syaoran hosting him. If that were the case, he wish he'd just leave for good.

"Don't you think I would 'just leave' if I could?" He echoed in Syaoran's mind.

"Well then be quiet! Can't you at least put your despise for Mizuki away for a moment? She trying to get a reaction from you here."

Li's hatred for Mizuki felt like flames licking the inside of his skull. He knew Li's thoughts about as well as he knew Syaoran's. Sometimes there were no need wor words even.

"I am aware of that woman's intentions. However, I shall remain. I am curious of her antics."

He sighed loudly which Mizuki noted.

"Can't be easy." Kero mumbled, "having someone rattling murderous thoughts in your head like that all the time."

"Well so far this Empree has no reaction. Guess your theory is wrong." Mizuki said.

"We've a few more to go." Yukito replied and pressed a button to indicate to remove Naoko and bring the next patient in. "This one, Abouse he calls himself. Rowdy and cocky Malar, he is."

"Remember we had that one Malar a year ago? She was tiny and so sweet. What happened to her?" Kero said with his tail wagging.

"She killed herself by jumping of the faculty building, four times." Kaho replied dryly.

"Anyway, this Abouse came in with an attitude. Quite aggressive, needs a heavier Shylde fitted."

The door opened again and Abouse's huge frame emerged. He charged in, fists clenched and feet stomping the hard floors. A low, animal-like snarl came from his chest. He seemed very on edge. He looked Syaoran up and down and sized him as no threat.

"Haven't seen a Malar that aggressive in a while." Syaoran noted.

"Look at his markings." Li said, noting the black lines tattooed on his shoulder which blended into his hacked on Eriminium Shylde. "He seems to hail from Casanty, the most noble followers of Malar, and the most aggressive by nature."

"Meiling will have her work cut out for her. She find its bothersome enough to keep the current Malar in check. This one is big though."

"It matters not the physical size, the skill and proficiently with metal is what is victorious. Meiling will find no challenge with this one."

"This one is particularly...agitated though, don't you think?"

Li was silent for a second. "Yes, I fear the eclipse has done something to him."

"Should we help him?"

"Now you wish to intervene? I believe it was just yesterday you thought I was just a figment of you overly-traumatised mind?"

"Fine. Do whatever."

"You think you can keep me in here?!" Abouse boomed and spread out his thick arms. His veins protruded from his forearms and his bloodshot eyes added to his maddened look.

Syaoran sighed and focussed his attention to the crack in the ceiling.

"Well, still nothing." Kaho said and almost smiled with relief Yukito's experiment yielded no results. She didn't know if that would keep her awake at night or not. "All this proves is that that Malar needs a stronger Shylde."

"Not finished." Yukito said and scanned his clipboard. "Next is Mai, Shadow level two. Hasn't spoken a word since her arrest."

Syaoran watched as Abouse was released and the door opened once again to shuffle the next Divinity in.

He didn't want to guess how long he'd be there for. Often Dr. Mizuki's experiments could last anywhere between thirty minutes and days.

"I wish to use you eyes." Li said in a voice that was at least trying to be respectful.

"At least you're asking permission first." Syaoran replied. Boundaries was something Li struggled with and had often been the cause of their conflict. Syaoran rolled his eyes before passing the control over to Li.

A very subtle shift happened which was mildly picked up by the monitor.

"Something's happening." Kero mumbled in a bored voice. "Haven't even sent the next one in yet."

Li felt his form change from that of something floating to more concrete. He opened Syaoran's eyes again and with a subtle squint the black-tinted screen above them which separating the rooms cleared. The silhouettes of Mizuki was distinguishable although blurred by the screens Shylded frame. Beside her, Yukito sat back watching with the blasé curiosity he always held.

"What's he doing?" Kero asked and sat up. "He just keeps staring at us."

He wants me to know he's watching. Mizuki thought.

"The White Rabbit one seems to have grown more interested in us." Li retorted, referring to Dr. Tsukishiro.

"Tsukishiro? He doesn't seem interested in anything...ever. Maybe except for Akiho."

"That child needs to heed what she says around him." Li replied in slight annoyance.

"He's helped Akiho a lot, you can't even deny that. Leave her be."

Before Li could reply the door to the left opened again. Li withdrew and waited with Syaoran for what seemed like far too long before Mai entered, one foot slumping painfully slower after another.

Syaoran shuffled back with unease. Her body was scrawny like that of a malnourished child. Her short black hair clung with sweat against her wet skin. Syaoran couldn't tell if she was trying to speak or if her mouth was deliberately twitching and allowing the awkward incoherent vowels growl from it.

The whole situation was hard to comprehend when her body stuttered in and out of visibility.

"Li...what is this?"

Li was silent, but Syaoran could feel his weariness hovering in the background.

"Do you think it's something to do with the Eclipse?"

"Possibly." He said in a more careful tone. "But this is most strange."

"Why is her Shylde not working?" Kaho asked and narrowed her eyes.

"We've fitted her with four already." Yukito responded. "She may be an Anomoly. Scans suggest her brain functionality is not all there."

This worried Kaho. "If a Shylde can work on Shinomoto, it must work on this girl too."

"Her mind...is stuck." Li concluded, using a very subtle Empree influence to sense her state. He was saddened when he felt a void coming from her.

"You mean...someone has done something to her?" Syaoran asked and shifted himself slightly to look at Mai, causing his chains to clang. "You think she's 'Mind-Locked'?"

"It would appear that way. Though I have never seen it to this extent."

During his brief travels across the Continent as a free man, Syaoran had very, very rarely encountered a victim of Mind-Lock - a phenomenon that seems to only impact Divinity.

When an Empree of a high calibre uses their influence on a Divinity, they will most likely succeed in achieving what they desire. Yet, if the mind of the Divinity is strong and able to resist, the Emprees influence in deflected. But in the vary rare occasions where an Emprees influence and the Divinity's resilience and will-power are exactly evenly matched, the Divinity's mind will become stuck or 'locked' in a paralysed state.

Unable to completely break from an Emprees influence, but strong enough to deflect it... you have those like Mai.

Mind-Locked.

"It must have been a particularly strong Empree to have done this to her." Syaoran said.

"She is suffering." Li displayed his rarely heard sympathetic tone.

"It's not irreversible. Can't you help her?"

"And play into that woman's game? Fool! Don't you think that's what she wants?"

Syaoran clenched his fists and threw head head into his hands with a groan.

"They're fighting." Kaho commented and leaned in.

"So you're just going to leave the poor girl? You're not going to try anything?"

"An Emprees influence is not easy to undo. This girls had been in this state for far too long."

"Fine, just leave it to Tomoyo to do, right? That's what you're thinking."

"Tomoyo is not speaking to us. We cannot ask her." Li replied, shielding his annoyance well.

"She's not speaking to you." He accidentality said aloud. "And will you just drop whatever current grudge you have with Dr. Mizuki? You got your revenge when you snapped her wrist like a twig."

"I did that as a response to you." He said in a low voice which made Syaoran both furious and ashamed.

Syaoran sighed. "Fine...do nothing. Just continue to do what suits you."

Silence between the two of them dragged on for several minutes. Meanwhile Mai continued to shudder. Only when a small cry – like that of a dying animal – escaped her mouth did Syaoran look up again.

"Li...please."

Syaoran had thought Li had retreated into the black corners of his mind, but his voice echoed lowly. "I cannot promise anything."

"Just try."

Another momenet of silence. "I need full control."

That made Syaoran nervous as always. There had been too many regrettable times where Syaoran had entrusted his body to that on the entity dwelling within him, only to wake up to the aftermath of heinous and terrible things. Under the current heavy scrutiny, he doubt too much damage could be done.

"Fine, just don't push me out completely."

Syaoran felt a burning that began in his chest and stretched, reaching into the vessels and veins of his body. It was followed by a numbness that tickled tickled his brain until the weightlessness took over. It was an odd process, swapping control with Li.

He was in his own body, yet he was not. He could look down at his rough hands, see, hear and smell the same but the actions were not his, they were Li's. And Syaoran was now a spectator only.

I need her to come closer.

The chains jangled as Li lifted Syaoran's arms. He faced his palm upwards towards Mai.

"Come." He said aloud and an ominous and low voice that only belonged to Li, not Syaoran.

"Is this ok to let happen?" Kero asked wearily and looked back at Kaho. Kero's short fur had shuddered as it always did when Syaoran made the change.

Restraint. Kaho wrote down furiously, not responding to Kero. She had observed this before, it was not new to her. Li's violent rages were common but not a limited communication. She had witnessed Li protective, verbally threatening and even in moment like this...a bubbling calmness.

Mai, with great effort, turned her head towards Li. Yuktio thought she would not do anything until finally, her feet flopped towards Li. A thin arm outstretched towards him and her legs shakily made their was towards him with such haste he though she'd loose her balance. She stopped before him, slightly hunched over and tongue flapping out.

Li remained unfazed as the girl seemed to be trying to communicate something to him desperately. Her small cries were the only thing that could be heard.

"I understand." Li said. "You are suffering."

Mai's arms wobbled as she raised her hand to touch his. Her hand was cold and damp when she placed her tiny hand into Li's.

Li closed his eyes. Immediately he felt it. The tight and static tension howling in the young girls mind. The remains of whatever Empree had done this to her was still pulling the girl to their influence, she she was still fighting it.

Li concentrated and emitted a small pulses. It was a difficult skill – Empree. Though Li had posessed it and was highly proficient in it, he was not Tomoyo. Tomoyo could have freed the girl without needing the physical contact.

Li's influence washed over Mai and dissipated the mental battle within her, like she was given a new slate.

Mai stopped shaking.

Her body became solid - no longer stuck between visibility and invisibility. She blinked as if emerging from the depth of a nightmare. When she saw Li she snapped her hands back and held it to chest in fright.

"Wh-who are you?"

Taking in her surrounding she began to panic. "Where am I? Mom? ...mom?" She called out.

"Interesting." Yukito said and raised an eyebrow to Kaho, who was eating her own words.

A million things ran through Kaho's mind. It was no secret that Li's Divine powers wer not completely muted by his Shyldes, but she wondered, should be have been able to do that? And what exactly was that which he did to her?

"How much longer is this going to go on for?" She snapped.

"One more left." Yuktio said. "Low ranking Dae'er, claims to suffer from amnesia. Let's see...Sakura, I believe her name is."

Kero's ears perked up. "Oh, that kid? She's cute, if not extremely aloof. Claims she's from The Arva-"

Yukito's hand stiffened for a brief moment. "The...Arva?"

"Yeah she's not all there it seems. But completely harmless. I don't know if it's worth sending her in."

"...Let's." Yukito said.

"If only you could show this side of yourself more, perhaps we'd have more friends." Syaoran commented.

"I have no need for 'friends'. And I believe I've played in the Mizuki's hand enough today. Do not ask me for any more favours."

"Thinking of yourself, as always." Syaoran mumbled bitterly.

"I never asked to exist within this cursed body. Don't forget, if it weren't for me, you would be dead a long time ago..."

Syaoran had no response for this except to clench his jaw to keep himself biting back at Li.

With a confused Mai removed the door opened again. Syaoran did not look up as a light footsteps entered.

Syaoran was relieved when Li had withdrawn. He felt exhausted, like he could sleep for a week within the Pits. Unfortunately, as great as Li's Divinity was, Syaoran was the one who took the toll for him exerting his power. He felt his eyes drooping. The chains around him slowly began to feel heavier and heavier and he hunched his shoulder down withe the weight.

His ear twitched. The girl who had entered had said something to him, but he had not the strength to make it out.

"Are you...in pain?" He heard a voice ask.

Always. He thought but did not reply.

His eyes were cast onto the floor and from the top of his vision, two feet came to view. He squinted and wished he had the strength to tell her to back away from him.

The girl knelt down in front of him. Two tan hands touched the floor in front of him. One of her hands was cuffed with a standard Shylde.

She's Dae'er... He knew from her coloured armband visible on her prison uniform.

Go away...He thought.

His head was foggy, and the chain...so heavy.

He was then startled, when two big, emerald eyes were suddenly peering up at him. Her closeness to him sent a panic through his heart.

Seemlingly oblivious to his discomfort, she tilted her head and her eyes widened with curiousity. "Do you need help?" Her face was inches from his and he could see the concern on her face.

Syaoran felt and intense, internal pulse almost knocked Syaoran from his seat. His hand gripped his chest from the intensity of it.

"Li...what.."

When Syaoran returned his gaze to the perplexed green eyes, his blood unexplainable drained from his face. Something began to boil and burn under his skin. His fingers began to shake and a foreign rage took over his body.

Li...Li what's happening?

A faint voice came from the girl as she suddenly threw herself away from him in a look of fear he has seen in people Divine and Undivine alike.

Syaoran struggled against the chains. He thought they had become lighter until he realised he was floating backward – being shoved aside as Li forced himself to the forefront.

A loud ringing pierced his ears. He knew this feeling, something deadly always followed. Alarm lights flashed around his blurring vision. Syaoran heard something shatter. Looking down he saw Li had broken his chains with worrying ease.

"Stop it, Li!"

He knew his legs were moving now, but not by him.

The colours around his vision were fading into different shades of grey – all except the two wide, green eyes now looking up at him in terror.

"Li...stop..."

Li towered over her now. His chest heaved with anger and fists clenched.

Ready to strike.

Ready to kill

again.

X x x