A/N: This is from Tasuki's POV. He's been traumatized and doesn't remember much before he was kidnapped. He refers to Chichiri as "the one with a mask" and to Kouji as "the one without a mask." Unfortunately, I couldn't think of an easier way for him to tell them apart. They both have scars, and they both have blue hair! I also admittedly made a mistake in this chapter that I might go back and fix at some point. I wrote it in present tense. Oops! Enjoy anyway!

Chapter 4 - Safe

Tasuki

I'm not sure how long I've been here.

They don't try to hurt me here. Not like the Other Place. So many different men. So much pain. I don't know what I did wrong to deserve pain like that.

But it's not like that here.

Mostly, there are just two men with blue hair. The one with the mask and the one without. They're with me every day. They talk softly to me, feed me, dress my wounds, and take care of me.

I try not to be scared.

But sometimes I remember the Other Place, and I get scared. I forget that these men won't hurt me and are only trying to help.

I have a lot of nightmares. Sometimes I don't like to sleep, because I hate the dreams so much. But whenever I wake up crying, the one without mask is there. He talks to me and runs his fingers through my hair until I can go back to sleep.

The one with a mask sometimes tries to get me to do things. He showed me a brush and paper and guided my hands through the motions of making designs. I tried to repeat the motions as best as I could, but mine weren't as pretty as his.

Once I could walk again, he started taking me outside to see the gardens and the trees. I think they're beautiful. I feel like I saw things like that a long time ago. But I can't really remember before I went to the Other Place. I wish I could. I feel like it's important.

I can understand what he and the other one say most of the time. But I have trouble talking sometimes. It's like all my thoughts are scrambled up in my head, and I can't get them out in words.

I need them: the one with the mask and the one without. If I wake up alone, I get scared. I don't know what to do or what might happen to me. When they're here, I feel safe.

The one without a mask is by my side almost all of the time. He tells me not to worry, because he will protect me and take care of me. At first, I didn't believe him. But he and the other one have never hurt me. So, I believe him now.

He's gone, he's gone, he's gone …

He's been gone for so long … I don't know why he left … why won't he come back? I need him …

The one without a mask is gone. I don't know where he is. I tried to ask the other, but I couldn't get the words out. And the more I panic, the less I understand what the one with a mask is saying to me.

I can't sleep. I can barely eat. I need him here, so no one will hurt me. I don't understand why things had to change.

Why is this happening? Why? Why? Why?

Did they take him to the Other Place?

When will he come back? When?

I haven't felt this scared since they took me from the Other Place. The one with a mask tries to calm me down, but I won't listen. He's not the one I'm used to seeing when I wake up from a bad dream. I need the other one. The one without a mask.

I feel like my world is falling apart again. It made sense with both of them in it.

I curl against the side of bed on the floor, crying. I just want everything to be back the way it was. Why did it have to change?

The door opens, and I hear his voice.

I all but fling myself at his feet as the one without a mask enters my room.

"Oh, Gen-chan, it's all right," he soothes, sitting on the floor beside me. He strokes my hair as I sob into his chest. "If I'd known it would upset you this much, I never would have gone. I just needed a few days to settle things at Reikaku. I had to tell them I wouldn't be coming back."

I don't care if he never stops talking, just so long as doesn't leave again. He kisses my hair and rubs my back slowly. My world starts to slowly fall back into place. He didn't abandon me after all.

"I'm so sorry, Genrou," he murmurs, kissing my hair again. "I'm here now."

I cling onto him more tightly, pulling myself up slightly and burying my face in his shoulder.

He pulls away slightly. "Hey … hey, look at me, Gen-chan."

I look up into his dark eyes.

"Ano sa … I'm not going to leave again, Genrou. I'm going to stay with you. I'm going to take care of you. Do you understand?"

I nod slowly.

He smiles, almost a little sadly. "Do you know why?"

I shake my head.

He leans forward cautiously and softly presses his lips to mine. "Because I love you, Genrou. And I'm going to take care of you for the rest of my life. I will never leave you again."

I'm not entirely sure what all of that meant, but I think I have an idea. The one without a mask lets me curl back into his arms and rocks me slowly.