I wrote this last year and found it among my many started fanfics.

Well, I got random inspiration on the train home from NYC after seeing a barbed-wire area which I 'think' was a jail type place. So... this was the result of seeing it .:sweatdrop:.

Note: Kuroi means "dark", and Inochi means "life"... so the name of the prison translates to "Dark Life". Also, the other prison name was made up by me as well.

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Kuro-Inoch Prison

Prologue: Learn The Ropes

High fences surrounded the steel-wrought premises, their broadened tops encircled thickly with sharp rings of barbed wire. As if looking through the translucent flicker of a flame, the fences seemed to waver when one stared at them too long; electrical currents ran swiftly through them at a ridiculously high voltage.

Indeed, the security measures at Kuro-Inoch Prison was nothing to joke about. When one found their way into this jail, it was highly unlikely they would ever again see the sparkle of the moon, or relish in the beauty of a sunrise. Currently, most of the males of this top-knotch security jail were in the "playground", some talking amongst themselves, some playing basketball.

"OI, all of ya!" roared the voice of the warden, Mamoru Chiba. "Front n' center for an announcement."

Several of the males already near him looked with indifferent eyes, scarcely caring enough to glance.

"Move it!" he barked, seeing the lack of response.

Several muttered responses were heard, nonetheless they were all wise enough to comply. Mamoru was one of the most powerful wardens at the place. They all knew well enough not to mess with him.

Well, perhaps not all..

"Maybe we don't give a damn about your announcement," replied a cool voice from one of the newer inmates. It was quite obvious he didn't know the ropes of how to successfully survive here just yet.

But he was sure to learn.

Mamoru smiled pleasantly at the speaker, walking over to him in long, purposed strides. "Your name, sonny?"

The young man smiled smugly. "Duo Maxwell.." He paused, his smirk deepening. "It's a pleasure."

Mamoru returned the smile in full, his eyes gleaming. "Oh, indeed it is." He drew his fist back sharply, the clenched hand glowing with energy. Before Duo could so much as blink, Mamoru's fist came slamming into his stomach.

A small "oh" left Duo's gaping mouth, his head jerking up sharply to stare at him with wide eyes. His long, chestnut-colored braid whipped with the motion, but he kept his own powers under control. Indeed, his little test gave him the results he had anticipated...

Mamoru pulled away, and Duo sunk to the ground unceremoniously. "Now, as I was saying, I have an announcement," he repeated in a calm voice. "Kuro-Inoch is now going to become a 'mixed' jail." Mamoru smirked upon hearing several gutteral noises of anticipated excitement. "Oh, we're not that bad here, fools. The girls comin' here are from Vera-Saint prison. Their fundings ran out, and there's no way they could stay in that run-down mess. So this may be a temporary placement...depending on how things go.

"Anyway," he continued, pacing slightly as he talked, "the girls will primarily be separated from you hormone driven maggots. Only lunch and time at the playground will there be male/female interactions." Several swears were met with this new piece of information. The "Playground", as they all called this area, was their only means of outdoor entertainment. And it was heavily watched by many powerful wardens. There wasn't a good chance of being able to make adequate use of this now forbidden-fruit opportunity. There were, of course, bribes for those who knew the ropes well enough, and knew who to go to.

"Thso when are they arriving?" lisped one of the inmates eagerly. His front teeth were missing, a result of his last "debate" with a security officer over his rancid food. The broth of his soup, or what was supposed to be soup, was so chunky and solid it had to be chewed. The security officer by the name of Jedeite swiftly drove his elbow into the complaining mouth of the man, sardonically replying that with his missing teeth, the soup should be easier to 'slurp'.

"Today," Mamoru replied curtly. He glanced down at Duo, kneeling next to him. He grabbed his long braid, yanking it sharply until his face was level with his own. "Since you're new here, Mr. Maxwell, I'll let you off easy for today and today only. This is not a kindness I grant often, so use it wisely." Duo gritted his teeth to prevent a snide response, coughing instead. A thin trail of blood trickled down his chin, and Mamoru looked at him with disgust. He released his braid and stood upright, brushing off his crisp, clean black uniform. "You kiddies can go back to playing," he said smoothly, walking back to the other surveying officers.

Duo sighed in frustration, attempting to regain a normal breathing from having the wind severely knocked out of him. He heard footsteps approach him, and he rolled over to see who it was.

A boy, no older than him, with the same colored hair. Thick locks of unruly brown hair fell uncaringly against his eyes, the twin orbs of Prussian blue cold and emotionless. The teen lowered his hand toward Duo, and Duo knew an opportunity when he saw one. He took the teen's proferred hand, raising to a feeble standing position.

"That was stupid of you," the helping youth said in a flat tone.

"Heh, perhaps," muttered Duo, brushing off his clothes. "Thanks for the help, though. Duo Maxwell, if ya didn't already hear. And you are..?"

"Hiiro Yui."

"Ohh, gotcha. Hey look," Duo said abruptly, standing on his tiptoes. "Looks like the chicks are here."

Hiro raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound like you're planning on trying to score a date here," he commented with a slightly bemused expression. "This place isn't for the light of heart."

Duo grinned at him, a true smile that was scarce found at Kuro-Inoch Prison. "Yeah well, things could change."

His fellow inmate snorted. "I've been here for two and a half years. Things don't change. It's the same monotony with the occasional spark of something interesting occurring."

"I think something very interesting just happened," Duo murmured, his eyes wide.

Hiro followed his gaze, his expression adequately mirroring Duo's. "I think you're right," he breathed out.

The girls from Vera-Saint prison were arriving.

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Tee-hee. I'm not sure why I'm posting this; I doubt I'll get around to updating it for a while, lol. I haven't written in so long, just wanted to post something! Tell me whatya guys thinks ;) Among the girls arriving from the prison is of course Usagi-chan... who unfortunately was wrongly accused of her crime.

This might turn into a very, very weird dark romance-type story. I have some ideas where I'd wanted to go with it, but nothing's set in stone.