Guilt. It was something that was missing in his soul, something that had long left his body. After all, when being in the business such as he was, these things didn't seem to affect him so much. He had seen children's body parts, lungs and other items that were cut from children, sold on the black market then sold onwards to other rich people afraid to die without a donor to save them from some disease. It was sad to think of how many orphaned children and other druggies had sold away their life to live on the less-than-endearing lifestyle of the black market.

And that was where they were when they were approached with a rather interesting offer.

He smirked coldly, the ashes from the cigarette reflecting on his face in the darkness that he easily blended into. His cold eyes mirthlessly glinted in the fiery light emitted from the fag as he pulled it out of his mouth, dropping it and rubbing the heel of his boot into it. The smell of nicotine enveloped him and he felt somewhat less troubled with the odd behavior of his partner.

He shrugged, 'I needed a new one soon anyway.' He remembered the pleas of the last one begging for his life while staring at the barrel of his gun. Why couldn't any of the partners he picked choose to be like him, cold and heartless in their job?

A shadow moved out of a lit room and he smirked again, a solemn look soon washing over his face as a cold and calculating mask was put on instead.

Now was the time to strike, but not in the ways that some would think of someone such as himself. He was given leave to do whatever to the girl, rape her, torture her or whatever to teach her a lesson. And to make sure her tongue would stay in check.

He hefted the bag on the group up onto his shoulders, effortlessly scaling the wall and opening the window to the room of the girl named Tohru Honda. He looked around and then took out papers with tape.

Perfect…

Freedom in a Cage

By: Lost-Remembrance

Tohru walked through the halls with a fake smile on her face, something that she had been doing a lot more as of late. It wasn't her fault, they told her, but she couldn't help but wonder if it really was. Why did bad things always happen to her and those around her? Kyou was so kind, he didn't deserve all the things that had happened to him…or what were.

She let a frown cross her face and a person walked in front of her and she slipped her smile back on. It was pointless letting Yuki and Shigure worry. They would think that she was working too hard, telling her that they would find him…but nothing could hide the truth evident in their eyes that was growing more and more apparent in them each passing day. Somehow, she knew something bad had happened or was going to happen.

Clutching the towel around her shoulder's more tightly, she stepped lightly across the wooden planks of the floor, eyes trailing over the cracks until she stopped by the bathroom door, knocking gently and then opening the door and stepping inside. She closed her eyes and slid the door closed tightly, leaning her body against the frame and then sliding down and wrapping her arms tightly around her quivering form.

Why were these tears rimming her eyes?

She bit back sobs, promising herself that she could, and would be strong if not for the others than Kyou himself. They needed strength, not some wimpy girl… She let some tears slip her eyes and angrily wiped them away.

It was amazing how one event, one boy with orange hair and crimson eyes could bring out so many mixed emotions and mood swings and changes in her.

Taking a deep breath, she stood up shakily on her feet and balanced herself again, turning on the water and stripping her clothing and stepping into the warm water. She closed her eyes and let herself be enveloped by the warm feeling washing over her.

Reaching for the strawberry shampoo on the side of the tub, she rubbed the fragrance into her hair roughly, not caring how much it hurt when she did this. Images flashed before her closed eyes. She opened them to stop the memories and blinked, gasping when the shampoo hit her eyes and she blinked, fighting the burning sensation that slowly ebbed away after a while.

She grabbed the bar of soap and held it up to her forearm. Then she saw the trails of blood. The trails of blood that weren't from her, but from Kyou. They were self-inflincted and she remembered them like it only happened minutes before. Her eyes widened and she couldn't help but take the bar, rubbing it viciously over her arm, trying to clean the dirty feeling washing over her.

She was so dirty, so covered in blood and taint.

The bar of soap fell from her arms, falling to the floor. Water turned cold but she didn't stop. Her eyes held panic as she scrubbed at her arms, scratching them, trying to do anything. The water washing over her body and onto the red arms mixed with some blood rivulets slowly streaming from the slashes she had made.

"No…" She whispered, stopping the shaking in her hands by clenching them and stepping out of the shower, turning the water off and wrapping a towel around her, drying off her delicate frame.

She slipped on her fresh pajamas and walked out into the hall, hair still damp despite the thorough towel dry she had done previously. Then she opened the door to her room and frowned.

Did she turn off the lights?

She shrugged off any suspision and flicked the light switch and stepped into the room…only to stop moments later.

Pictures were everywhere, taped onto the walls, the ceiling, her bed…everything was covered in pictures.

And they weren't just any pictures…no, the pictures…they were of Kyou.

"No…No…NO!" She fell to the floor, clutching her head and shaking it wildly as her hair slapped against her clothing, water droplets from her tears and the wet hair falling on the pictures.

Thumpings were heard, footsteps hitting the floor planks of the stairs and second floor hallway indicating that Shigure and Yuki were on their way. "Miss Honda!" Yuki's voice reached her ears as if she was six feet under.

The two of them came rushing into the room, prepared for anything except for what greeted them.

Yuki's eyes widened. Shigure's mouth was open as they all took in the sight. "Oh my god…" Tohru wasn't even aware of who whispered the statement that spoke for all of them.

Pictures of Kyou were taped all over the room. Pictures of Kyou that showed him bleeding, perhaps even dying, some naked, some with marks and wounds on his body, and others with bruises and tears or dried tear trails. There were pictures everywhere…

TBC

Author's note: Sorry for the long wait! I kinda screwed up my arm so I'm having trouble writing this chapter (motrin makes all the pain go away somethingsXP ) I hope that you all liked it and thanks to Kurayami22 for the suggestions on the chapter! They really helped!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed :bows in respect: I admire all who are able to continue reading this dark fic XP

Reviews are loved and welcomed with hugs!

Love, Red Tail