Well, hallo there, everyone. =D This be Corrupted Lyrics, but you can call me Cor. :D Now then… Just to explain a bit about this story. Eh, the pairing is Kai/OC, when the two are around sixteen. No reason for them to be older, I just felt like it. XD In this story, Kai is depicted as the usual upright boy who does not show his feelings (which is why we all love him dearly), and he lives in his manor with his Grandfather, who is a Governor of some sort. :D My OC [original character] is depicted as a girl… Duh. ;D She's the same age as Kai, and she's forever trying to escape the hell she lives in; being a servant in the Hiwatari manor. u_u Escaping from punishments and stuff, Kai finds himself feeling protective towards her. :o! Dun dun dun. XD Anyway.. Just read. And review. PLEASE review.. It inspires me a lot. Thank you! ^_^

Disclaimer: Kai, most unfortunately, does not belong to me. I do not own him. Poo. o_o

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Chapter One

Capture

"Get her!" The yell reached the ears of one sixteen-year-old girl, who dodged a woman walking her dog, merely running faster. "Stop that girl!" One man made a half-hearted snatch at her, and without thinking, she snarled and sank her teeth into his hand. With a strangled cry, the man wrenched his hand away, and she was off in a flash, dark raven hair flying out behind her. Skidding to a stop outside a bakery, she panted, eyes flicking wildly around. Where to hide? Eyes falling upon a deserted alleyway, she dodged inside, lips twisting into a grimace as rats scurried around her ankles. Pressing herself against the grimy wall, she was thankful for a minute that she had been forced into the tight black gown; it made her less easy to see, and the smaller she was, the better. As the sounds of chase faded away, her eyes closed, and she let out a breath of relief. However, that breath turned into a scream as someone pressed himself against her, quickly smothering the yell as his hand clamped over her mouth.

"Boo," he whispered into her ear, and she gave a muffled hiss. Impassively, the other moved back a few paces, although one hand flew to grab her wrist in a tight grip. "You're not going anywhere."

Biting back the long string of curses she desperately wanted to send to her captor, she tugged and pulled at her arm while her other hand had balled into a fist, punching any bit of him that she could see, which wasn't much. His free hand came out of the gloom and grabbed her punching fist. Hauling her out into the open, he gave her an icy stare.

"I shall escort you home, Chiara," he growled, dragging her back the way she came. Chiara glared at his back (and at every person in the busy market), rippled smoothly with taut muscles under that tight black vest. She could conjure up a perfectly realistic of what his face looked like right now, without having to look at it. Those two piercing mauve eyes… Were they mauve? Sometimes they would change, slightly lighter, or darkening to an almost black. And they would be dark right now, his mood dark as well. The shark-fin stripes on his cheeks would be smooth as his lips stayed in that deadpan expression he wore. His slate gray hair would be swept casually into his eyes right now, hiding the feelings he currently felt. A snarl rose from her throat.

"Kai Hiwatari," she spat out, fiercely yanking at her arm, almost tripping over the hem of her dress as she was tugged along. He was silent, merely quickening his pace. Five burly men greeted him as he left the noisy and busy market, making his way into the cooler parts of the city, the houses getting larger and more fancy with each minute. None of this impressed the girl dubbed Chiara, as she was fighting all the time to be let go. On a sudden impulse, she leaned over and bit his shoulder, growling savagely.

Kai stopped. He gave no indication if it hurt or not, merely staring down at her. Wrenching his bare shoulder away from her, he inspected the wound with mild interest. She had broken the skin, and drops of blood soon pooled. His grip on her arm did not loosen as he gazed coolly at her. She flinched slightly, looking away as his eyes bored into hers.

"What?" she snapped, looking anywhere but at him; her eyes settled on a flower, and she gazed at that.

"Don't make me hurt you. Because I really don't want to."

Her struggles stopped abruptly, and her face lifted to stare back, although not in hatred… in confusion. "What does that mean?" she questioned. Did he care? But he was Kai. Kai didn't care.

He gave her no answer, beginning to walk again, his grasp upon her arm loosening, but Chiara did not run. She followed obediently, her mind a torrent of questions, her heart a torrent of hopes. Her gaze was downcast, only looking up as they reached the gate of an extremely large manor.

"Young master, you have captured the girl," greeted one man, opening the gate for Kai, inclining his head in a small bow. Kai ignored him, stepping into the handsome front grounds of the house. A large fountain, done in the figure of a single running stag, had water spewing from its open mouth. The water foamed and bubbled at its marble lips, streaking down its poised hooves to the round marble 'pit'.

This was the only part of the house she loved, apart from the grand gardens in the back. Captured in the beauty of the stag, she was lost for a minute within her imagination. The stag had come alive, and was bounding towards her. It gave her a hoof, which was wrapped around her waist. "Come on," came its voice; undecidedly snappy. She blinked, and the stag vanished, only to be replaced by the indifferent face of Kai, his arm around her waist. It lingered there for a second before he pushed her in front of him, a hand pressing lightly upon her back as he guided her forward. She scowled, arms crossed as she faced the heavy oak doors. Ugh. Prison.

Moving up past her, Kai kicked the door three times. In a matter of seconds, the door flew open, and a bustling maid hauled Chiara in with a little simper of, "Oh Master Kai, you really shouldn't kick the door, it leaves such a nasty mark, and young missy, where have you been?" She rapped the teenager girl over the head with a soup ladle; how come Chiara had not noticed that? She flinched, then straightened; she would not show weakness. As the wooden ladle descended again, her eyes snapped shut. The blow did not come. Slowly, her lids slid open, and for the second time that day, she was struck dumb. Kai had grabbed the spoon, and shoved it back towards the maid.

"Don't," he said simply, before grabbing Chiara's wrist and tugging her off again. The maid was apparently struck dumb as well, staring blankly after them.

Again, her mind rammed her with questions, and so she was lost as he pulled her along the confusing hallways and through doors containing such and such. She did not need to see where she was going. So many times had she walked through this manor, she knew it by heart. Not that she could walk freely though. Pushing the questions out of her head, she let herself wander towards the past.

"Any young girls you have?" snapped the brawny man, grabbing the wrist of a woman.

"No," she sobbed, eyes flicking wildly around. "Please, where are you taking my Chiara?"

"The Governor Hiwatari requests them," the man informed her shortly. "He is looking for a personal servant for his young grandson."

The mother stared, horrorstruck. "She is only thirteen, please, not my Chiara…" The woman's pleas were ignored as another man entered the room. From one dark corner, he grabbed the neck of a teen; Chiara.

"Mom!" she screamed. "Dad, don't let them take me!"

Straining against the two men gripping his arms, her father could only look on helplessly. "Chiara! Be strong…"

"Get in."

"What?" Lost within her memories, she blinked up at Kai.

"Get in," he repeated, pushing her towards a door. She went, expecting some dungeon-looking place, and was rather surprised to find herself opening the door to a bathroom. Glancing towards Kai, a brow was raised.

"Wash yourself, get changed, my room," he said irritably, striding away. She stared blankly. She had been prepared for a severe beating. Perhaps that'll come later. Knowing Kai's grandfather, and haven spoken to some of the older servants, she knew what they did to the run-away. Chain her to a board. Whip her until she screams. If she doesn't make a sound, then grab your dagger. Give her few slashes to the stomach; not enough to kill. Just enough to remind her what the penalties are for running away. If she coughs up blood, you know you're done your job. If her eyes roll and she is still strong enough to curse, then jab her a few times in the fingers. In the finger pads, mind you, where it leads straight to the heart. Do that with needles, wounds so small that nothing could be done, yet pain so strong that one would thrash upon the ground, screaming.

Chiara flinched heavily, eyes watering. Forcing these grotesque thoughts away, she slipped within the washroom. Turning, she locked the door with a satisfactory little click. Dark eyes flicked around the bathroom. As much as she hated being in here, she did have to appreciate getting the high-class stuff. Peeling off her ripped gown, she tossed that to one side, and peered into the large bathtub; almost like a mini pool as deep and wide as it was. Finding that there was already water inside, she stepped gingerly onto the marble stairs before submerging herself fully. Ah… Warm water. She stayed underwater for a few seconds before coming up for a breath of air, shaking wet strands of black hair away from her eyes.

The door flew open, and she jerked in surprise, her first thought to scream. And scream she did. With a shriek of shock, she acted upon her second thought; hide. Ducking down until only her eyes were showing, she glared towards the figure framed in light from the hall. Kai.

"What the hell are you doing in here?" she spluttered, rising slightly and making sure he could see nothing but her head.

Eyes fixed on the ceiling; he took a breath before speaking. "Lock it firmly next time. What's taking you so long?"

She was about to rise and punch his nose off before remembering her current position. "I'll. Be. There," she said between gritted teeth. Kai nodded, snorting as he left, still looking up. Chiara let out a breath, and listened carefully. Silence greeted her ears. Sure he had left, she relaxed slightly before getting out of the tub; he would be expecting her.

Outside, Kai was leaning upon the door, which he had locked himself. Eyes were squeezed shut. He had expected her done. Oops. Dark eyes flew open again as he heard sounds within the bathroom. Quietly, he slipped away towards his own room, fists clenched.

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Oh, a cliffhanger! ... Well, sort of. XD What does Kai want with Chiara? Will it be to punish her? To lecture her? Oh dear. o_o Just wait and see. =D Review, please! Please, please, pleeeease.. I'll do a dance. *dances for reviews*