Disclaimer: I do not own FY or any of the characters. But thank god for Watase, otherwise we fan girls would be at a loss for fiction!!!

Warning: In the last chapter, I probably should have warned everybody of ole' Naki-chan's sudden disruptive appearance. Whoops, sorry. I mean, that's scary enough by itself, right? ^.~'

Chiri: Where am I, no da?! It's really quite upsetting, I ALWAYS get to be the protagonist---

Mits: *DOOM*

Chiri: *whimper* Gomen ne, na no da. *cries*

BUT!! The initial warning are, yes there will be torture, and no, not yet, but it's coming…BWA ha ha ha!!! Please review to make me a happy kittle kat.

I feel… a cool breeze gently caress the curve of my cheekbone, the scent of flowing grasses, hagi, wafting thinly in the air.

Opening my eyes slowly, my vision contracting to reveal her warm, glittering eyes staring unabashedly into my own, that pure, warm honey color I so love; her soft, rose lips parting softly, light filtering in between the willow branches, revealing her smooth, porcelain skin.

- You're finally awake. Her eyes are smiling, shining with love, tenderness. Her hand strokes my face, and I feel (oh it's been so long ) my own visage breaking into a grin, playing softly on the corners of my lips.

- How long….how long have I been asleep?

- Oh…her eyes, twinkling, Not too long. She folds her sweet delicate hands in her lap, looking up into the fathomless sky, hair floating lightly on the concurrent zephyr. Look, dragonflies, she points, the sleeve of her blouse drooping gracefully off of her slender arm. Rising up slightly on my elbows, I can see them dancing above the brilliant white of the Shasta daisies, in my summer garden…

Petals crumbling away in the wind….she turns to me, that wondrous beauty permeating everything, soaring higher into the heavens with each simple breath. She holds me in her arms, fingertips lightly against my short black hair…

I…

I…know this place….I know…

This…memory…

- Mitsukake, she whispers. Don't leave me…don't ever go away…

- You know I won't…You know I can't, gazing up into that beautiful countenance, leaning my head against the swell of her breast…

-Shouka…

The glare of the sun is suddenly clouding my vision, disturbing the harmonious moment, and I hear, to my dismay, the soft tapping of rattan blinds against the window sill. Behind my closed eyelids, warm blood color, and a sound…someone's voice…

- Mitsukake…? Mitsukake-kun?

Opening them fully, my eyes now take in the reality I thought I had dissipated in a dream…Bright, almond colored eyes stare worriedly into my own, rimmed with thick, dark eyelashes. They look out from a young mans face, a very attractive one, whose lips part in a rather toothy smile at my waking. He is dressed in a white nurses uniform, collar undone carelessly at the throat, his name tag askew.

- I thought you must've been pretty tired from driving all day yesterday, so I didn't wake you up for roll- call…a hesitant smile, But don't worry, I filled you in. He outstretches a lithe hand eagerly.

- It's great to have you here. We all have really been looking forward to your coming, you know. He bounces up from my futon, adjusting his shirt accordingly. My name's Yatsushiro Tamahome, but let's just leave it at Tama, 'kay? His grinning is ceaseless.

I gather my senses after some interval of time, and, dressing myself in the standard white uniform for my position, he brings in a tray with breakfast.

- Oh, you didn't--

- Ah-ah, wagging his index finger at me playfully, No arguing. Eat up, gotta keep your strength! Especially, wincing, If you're going to be studying with Soi, she's a real bitch. Rolling his eyes, Believe me, I trained under her for my first year, totally mean, totally bitchy.

He watches in fascination as I wolf down my food hungrily, barely stopping for a breath.

- Don't give yourself a stomach ache, man. He laughs cheerily. Hey man, we gotta fly. My shift is about to start, and Soi will eat us alive if we aren't on time. I clean myself up hastily, then accompany my new colleague into the main courtyard, the sun warming me thoroughly , dispelling all remains of the dream still clutching desperately at the confines of my mind. He seems genuinely pleased with me, although I'm not really sure why, and links arms with me, his walk jaunty and singing with each step.

- I've been…really lonely here. He looks at me cautiously, sighing, Sometimes it's hard, you know, when you don't have anyone to talk to. So…he blushes faintly with a saccharine innocence I haven't seen in a long time, too long…if you ever need to talk, about anything, anything, I'm here for ya! Suddenly, he waves his arm, Yo!

Glancing over to the right, I see a rather disgruntled man emptying the garbage dispensers with carelessness wave back.

- What's up, Tama? Isn't you getting' on your shift, ya whipper-snapper? Get goin'! He must be at least in his middle fifties, a rather plain man with wisps of graying hair , lines creasing his haggard face.

Entering facility A, into those falsely clean halls, I see, for the first time since my arrival, human life beyond employees, shuffling around in what appear to be pajamas of some sort, a dull beige color. They stare at the floor, their hands, the walls, but never at anyone, anything moving, and this puzzles me. I feel this insatiable urge to grasp the nearest human being by the arms, looking him fully in the face, glaring into those evasive eyes filled with some unknown pain…

Tamahome greets each one nonchalantly, in that irresistibly charming way of his, all the while holding onto my arm tensely, as if he's afraid I will be lost in the sparsely crowded hallways. Coming to what appears to be a main gathering room, walls lined with bleak brown chairs, gleaming white tables, and a sectioned off area behind glass, where that terrible face looms anxiously, orifice warped into a most unbecoming snarl, that, I suppose, was intended to be a frown of disapproval.

- You're late, she snaps irritably, orbs flashing with anger betwixt us, I'm writing you up, Tamahome. This isn't the first time, either.

- Aw, c'mon Soi! His voice is mocking, teasing, and she isn't liking it. I was only trying to help our new man get accustomed to his schedule--

- Shut-up, shut-up. She jabs something down on her notepad with undetermined ferocity, spinning around on her heel, then coughs out:

- I'm not in the mood. Neither are the patients, neither is Headmaster, so quit shitting around and start distributing the meds. She piles a tray of Dixie cups, filled with assorted drugs, into his waiting arms, slapping his leg with a long pointer stick. He giggles in response, whistles what seems to be the Funeral March of the Marionette, and saunters out.

- Hey.

- He turns around, half-smiling. What now?

- Take him with you. I've got a meeting in fifteen with Headmaster and the upper counselors and can't be stuck babysitting a newbie. She seems to spit this all out with so much venom and distaste that I am beginning to feel indisputably sorry for being such a frightful burden to her. She glances at me briefly, giving my appearance a once over, then briskly trots off to a better cause.

I glance timidly at my fellow worker, whose cheeks are puffed out with amusement.

- I told you she was a bitch.

- I'm sorry for having disturbed her so much.

- Ah, don't take it personally. She's always like that. I've been here for almost two years and she still treats me like that. With total, and utterly delightful, disdain. He grins. You'll get used to it.

- …I…don't know. He shrugs in response, guiding me down corridor 1A, tapping lightly at the first door before gleefully bounding in. The occupant of the room is still abed, blankets tussled about and all over, covering the rather hulking frame beneath.

- It's time for wakey-wakey!! He loudly denotes, ripping the covering off of the trembling figure, curled up in a fetal shape. What I see before me startles me into a much unsuppressed gasp, quite unlike myself, and yet…

This…man….seems…

His body, or what is visible through the stained bedclothes, is lacerated with strange gashes and burns. Unkempt, longish hair smothering his face and arms, almost like that of an animal, sinews of hard muscle poking up from underneath severely drawn skin, taking on an almost grayish coloring…His eyes, bloodshot and wild, come to rest on Tamahome with disgust, and he swats out at him suddenly, yet carelessly.

- Uh-uh, you don't wanna get back in the straight jacket, now do you, Ashitare, Tamahome whispers gently, forcing him lightly to sit up and ingest the prescribed medication. I don't want to do that to you. I really don't; that's a good boy. He pats the bedraggled being on the head, and for the first time, an expression of deep sadness crosses his lovely features.

We exit the room.

- What-- what was wrong---

- You tell me, he says softly, his gaze downcast. Isn't that why you're here?

- Yes, but--

- I've been here, he interrupts, for so long, and yet I've never seen any of them leave. He stops walking, takes my arm. Not one.

- Some of them, he continues, can't leave. It's not possible, I know that, even. They're too sick in their minds. Like Ashitare, nodding to the door from whence we came, he doesn't even know he's human. He thinks--if he thinks--well, I don't know. But there are some, some who I know could be totally normal, some who shouldn't even be here, Mitsukake! His voice carries and urgent tone that rings repeatedly in my ears.

- Are you going to change that? Is that why Nakago-- headmaster-- chose you? With gaze of a small child wishing to be appeased, so his expression bears this message.

- He told me…I begin, slowly, He told me he wouldn't just choose anyone. I must have impressed him…somehow…as being able to help others. I don't know, bit I'll do my best. That's why…that's why I came here.

I have to know why you did it. I have to know why you left, traveled to the place I cannot go.

He is smiling, eyes glinting with unreserved pleasure at my words.

- Well, I'll be glad to help you in any way I can, remember that. I'm here for you.

With that , he picks up the pace and walks quickly down the hall, ignoring the doors still closed.

- Shouldn't we--?

- Nah, they're all in the Mess Hall by now. I follow him, uncertain, gripping my notepad close to my chest.

I cannot tell him what the headmaster inferred to me that night. How he reveled in my silence, my coldness, my ability to convey little emotion. How it pleased him to know…

That he would bind them closer still.

Review? ^^ Nyao!

Chichiri: I'm feeling so neglected, no da.

Tasuki: YOU? Neglected? Aw shat up, I'm the one who's been--

You guys!!! Don't worry, you get your debut in the next chapter!

Chiri: Yippee no da!!

It's so easy to please the masses….of cute monks….