Chapter 9- Visions

"Ultimate Punishment is-"

"Wait Yuiko, I should tell him, since I was technically the one who invented it." Kio felt like shit, seeing Soubi's eyes widen with shock and hurt. Kio looked down ashamed, but continued, Ultimate Punishment is what happens when an experiment-"

"Experiment? You mean Ritsuka is an experiment!? What kind of fucked up organization are you!?"

"Yes, sadly Ritsuka is an experiment, but I'm sorry Sou-chan, I can't go into full detail about the company. Just know that we are not hurting any animals or humans."

"Fine. But continue with the Ultimate Punishment."

"Oh yea, it's when a bad experiment is taken from the group and put into isolation. Usually they stay there for a few years, but sometimes they get out early for good behavior or if Master calls for them. If that happens, not only do we not know what happens to them, but we never see them again. In Ritsuka's case, since he ran away and was Master's favorite, he may get called out early, so if you're going to save him, you better hurry."

"But how can I save him if I don't even know where he is!?"

Soubi was frustrated by now, all he wanted was his Ritsuka, and all he was getting was worse and worse news. But he had to keep his hopes up, for his and Ritsuka's sake.

The sudden bright light blinded the poor neko-chan that had been in isolation for weeks now. Food was slid in through the slot, but was left untouched, just like all the rest.

"Why do they keep trying to feed me, it's not like I need food to survive, all I need is Soubi…He's probably happy without me and my troubled past. He didn't need any excess stress in his life; I wonder why he put up with me as long as he had.

"My dear Ritsuka, have you learned your lesson yet?" Someone appeared out of the shadows and came into Ritsuka's cell. Ritsuka's eyes widened as he scooted into the dark corner, and curled up into a ball, afraid of what Master was going to do to him.

The dark haired figure reached out for Ritsuka's face and gently glided his hand down to the base of his neck.

"Why do you react negatively to my touch? Am I that repulsing that you now hate what I show as love?"

"But Master, I was happy, why did you have to take me away…away from my home, away from Soubi…why?"

The more tears that Ritsuka cried for Soubi, the angrier Master became.

"Why? Why!? I'll tell you why; it's because you belong to ME! I created you, you are mine! Got that? Oh, and as for your precious Soubi, don't expect to see him ever again."

Ritsuka slumped back down into the corner, hopelessness in his eyes and pain in his heart. Master's eyes softened as he calmed and crouched down in front of Ritsuka. He reached for his face again, but Ritsuka felt no need to try and fight back this time, what was the point?

"Ritsuka, I'm sorry for yelling at you like that, but you don't know how much I've missed you. I lost one before, I couldn't let you do the same. I love you."

Master leaned forward and gently pressed his lips onto Ritsuka's, but received no response from the young 'experiment'. When Master finally released the kiss, he leaned back with sadness in his eyes.

"Please Ritsuka, try and understand my feelings. Out of everyone here, you are my favorite, and I can't stop thinking about you. I could've kept you for myself, but I wanted you to have some freedom and be happy."

Instantly Ritsuka was filled with rage.

"BUT I WAS HAPPY! And you took that away from me…Master, I'm sorry, but I can't return your feelings, I love Soubi…"

Master got up and left silently. Just as he was about to leave, he turned around and smiled sinisterly.

"Fine, since you want your Soubi so bad, I'll leave you here for him to find,, if he comes for you that is."

Ritsuka's eyes glistened slightly with happiness and a bit of hope.

"But, if he does not come in 3 days, Ultimate Punishment will be sentenced upon you."

With the slam of the cell, Ritsuka curled into a ball and fell asleep.

"Soubi…"

Soubi thrashed about in a fitful sleep.

"Ritsuka, where are you? I need to find you. Where are you…" Soubi mumbled as he entered the deepest part of his mind. Scenes flashed before him as if watching pieces of different slideshows all at once.

[Each new font is a different vision]

"Come to me."

A small blonde boy with ears looked up and saw a tall man beckoning him forward.

"Who are you?"

"It doesn't matter who I am, all you need to know is that you are now mine."

"But where are my mom and dad?"

"They are dead."

The boy's eyes filled with horror and disbelief.

"You lie! Take me back to them now!"

After the boy was taken to the 2 new graves with his parents' names etched I the granite, he broke down and sobbed for hours. That was the last time he would cry, he promised himself.

"You will be staying here with me."

"What shall I call you?"

"You are to call me 'Master'. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Master."

The young boy entered his Master's room.

"You called for me?"

The man looked up from his book and took off his glasses, placing them on the bedside table, and walked over to the boy. The boy squeezed his eyes shut as him Master caressed his flawless face.

"Today you are to become a man. Do you know how you can do this?"

The boy shook his head.

"Heh, well then, I will have to show you."

"Master, here is the boy I told you about."

A slightly shorter male stepped out of the limousine and walked up to the blonde man and now earless boy. Upon inspecting him, the dark haired male shook hands with the blonde and took the boy from his grasp.

"Thank you for your hard work, you will be paid double for your services."

Just as they were heading into the limo, the boy yelled out, "Master, where is he taking me!?"

"This is your new 'Master'. You are to call me 'Sensei' now. Be good for your 'Master'."

Soubi woke with a start. Why had these visions appeared to him? He looked outside and noticed the sun coming up.

"Guess it's time to look for you, Ritsuka."

But just before he could finish his thought, the doorbell rang.