This story Originated from HateWeasel's Devils Like to Dance. Read some of that to get a sense of the AU for this story.

Prologue

That was one hell of a line, a line Yuki did not feel the need to wait in. It's not like he needed to score a spot in only ten spots made available to hundreds of thousands of the poor residents of China. Only ten children will manage a spot in Dr. Nealson's programs. Ten was too few for so many. Even still, he wasn't looking to get into the top ten, the teen was looking for someone who had already managed to get a spot before this event came to pass.

So even if cutting ahead of thousands of people who had probably been waiting here for weeks was a bad idea, Yuki headed to the glass door ignoring what might be Chinese curses from the waiting families. Thankfully no one thought to grab him because doing so would risk losing their spot in line. He was grateful no one did, but he wished he'd prepared himself for what lay inside the hospital, seeing all the sick and physically ailed children made him grateful that Ryou had managed a spot before hand.

Everything was damp and dank inside the waiting room. Air conditioning couldn't keep up with number of families clinging to their spot within the calling area. The room sat in rows of ten with twenty seats in between. The line from the outside thinned as it reached a corner desk with only one working nurse. The crying of hurting children droned, angry families having been turned down as they were forced out of the cramped room by security, pulling guns from their holsters when necessary. Glancing over the few children he dared to look at, one, a girl who looked no older than ten, had an eye the sized of a baseball; an infant further across the room, ceded to tears whether it be because something upset him or because of the hollow dent on the back of his head.

Yuki swallowed as he shut his eyes, too afraid to look or see any further. It was a sad place to be, the white-haired teen could practically feel the depression oozing out of the walls and people sitting and waiting in that room.

He needed to get out.

Fast.

A light from a better and well-lit hallway seemed to literally be the only hope Yuki and the awaiting families shared. But unlike the others, Yuki didn't need to wait. Glancing between the occupied nurse and similarly occupied security guards, he sped over to the hallway listening in case he needed to run. Suspecting that no one followed (he doubted they cared) Yuki looked about his surroundings. Four doors lined his right side while the left was aglow from the three uncovered windows. The light reflected the white walls to the white ceiling to the equally white floor and back again making the hallway seem brighter than what it really was.

With an exhale of breath Yuki was reaching into his satchel, digging around for Dr. Nealson's business card, his hand brushing against the sleeping ball of fur. The creature moved seeking further petting and affection, big blue eyes peering at him from within the darkness of his bag. He couldn't help thinking that it was a bit unnatural for a cat's eyes to glow in such a fashion, but of course, cats often possessed the weirdest of traits, quite a lot of them being unnatural.

"Sorry Shini-kun." Yuki found himself whispering to the black kitten. "Not now."

He dug around a bit more, before finding the small brown card. A picture of the doctor himself had been taped to the back. He didn't want to ever forget the mans face, at least not until he found him, or Ryou for that matter. He didn't think it would be difficult, according to photo that had been taken a little over two months ago, the good doctor was pushing fifty-three. Yet as Yuki peered over the photo, there wasn't an ounce of gray in the mans brown locks, a wrinkle or two could be seen by his eyes, but they seemed to be caused by the man's smiling face. No sagging skin, a well-built frame, sturdy posture, the man didn't look a day over thirty. He held the ideal that not only do all doctors strive for but the people of today as well. The perfect cliched symbol for health and youth. It seemed weird, but supposing if you took care of yourself as well as Doctor Nealson did, perhaps you will look this young despite being fifty or sixty years old.

No time to dwell though. Yuki made his way over to the first door. A window, with the number 300A plaster to its front, allowed Yuki to peek inside. A couple holding the shoulders of a teen boy who had a lump the on his arm the length and width of a baseball bat. A mixture of white, red, brown, and green could be seen through the stretched skin.

Yuki pulled away from the window, a grimace setting itself into the boy's boyishly cute features. He hated seeing this. Sick people needing help and not being able to receive it or even worse, denied the treatment they needed.

He looked between the picture in hand and back to the doctor inside. No it wasn't him. Moving on Yuki continued looking through windows until he came to the end of the hallway. A left turn meant a mirrored repeat of the hall he just came through, while the right sported rooms on both sides of the hall. More rooms meant more chances. So Yuki ducked to his right and bore through the process of checking windows again.

One man shouldn't be too hard to find, unless he wasn't here. There were a number of web pages that lied about the whereabouts of other people. Probably to maintain Dr. Nealsons safety.

No luck here. The hallway was a dead end leading to an elevator. There was no need to check upstairs, he doubted the event would have gone any further than a few hallways. Backtracking to the previous hall, Yuki took the left turn and checked the rooms across from the windows. Before he could make for the second door, it opened, forcing the albino teen to run back to the corner of the hallway.

"Tedious." The voice was sharp, rusty, and irritated. Yuki peered around the corner getting a back side view of a man dressed in a blue button up and black pressed slacks. Another, turned to his side was dressed in a lab coat, holding a clip board and making scribbles with his pen.

There was a bump to his thigh and when Yuki looked down, Shini had managed to get his head out of his faded blue satchel. A smile found its way to his lips as well as a single index finger to indicate quiet.

"Give me a report John."

The male in the lab coat spoke up, flipping through the papers and making extra scribbles. "So far we've managed three, Doctor, and one family isn't convinced. In fact they seem suspicious." Another mark was made as he looked to the other expectantly.

"That's fine for now. Pack up we're done here."

"What of the other family?"

"Don't bother for now, we'll get them later."

"Yes sir."

John, as he was called, pulled a walkie from his side and said something Yuki didn't bother to understand. Yuki looked back to Shini. "Another language you think?" The kitten seem to nod in agreement as Yuki looked up to the pair again. The man in blue had turned around then his hands working to loosen his black and gray waved tie. Thinking about it now Yuki realized with a furrowed brow that the two had been speaking in English the entire time. He didn't know Chinese but he did know English. It was a second language in his Japanese school, but it was through the american orphanage caretaker that he learned English best from, and he was glad he stayed long enough to grasp most of the language. If anything, he probably shouldn't slip into Japanese. Something he did often when talking.

Now was as good a chance as any. Perhaps maybe even the only chance he would ever get. He stepped from behind the corner.

"Excuse me. Umm... I'm looking for Dr. Nealson?" Yuki furrowed his brow thinking of an excuse. Any to avoid suspicion. "Umm my family sent me... and..." He was screwed. He could already see the security guards coming to get him and put him out on his ass.

"Sir?" Johnny was holding the walkie in his hand fiddling with the sides as he awaited the moment to hit the call button.

"You found him." Dr. Nealson loosened his tie some more and turned to Johnny. When he spoke Yuki couldn't stop this chill from running down his spine. It was another language he didn't know, but Johnny nodded his eyes narrowed. When he turned back to address Yuki a smile was spread thinly across his lips.

Yuki swallowed as he approached.

"I'm Dr. Nealson." When Dr. Nealson put his hand on Yuki's shoulder, the teen couldn't help but flinch. "Your father told me all about you. Your his oldest right?"

"Yes sir."

The hand moved to his back and ushered him down the hallway. The man Johnny having disappeared. Perhaps they thought he was from the family they had been talking about. The one that "wasn't convinced" about the help being offered here. That on its own was confusing. If the doctor was trying to help children, then why would a family needing help, need convincing?

"He told me your mother passed away from the same illness. It sad really, no child should grow up without their mother."

Yuki nodded feeling a bit bad for the other family. He too grew up without a mother, and with his own father dead three years after his mother, and his brother away getting treatment. Never before had he felt so alone. He wasn't aware of any relatives, wasn't really sure if he had any. He cleared his throat to rid the thoughts away. No time for sadness. He needed to find Ryou.

"I want to get better. Will I be able to get in?"

"Of course. Your brother has already been accepted into the treatment program. Who better to be there than his brother."

Yuki scoffed to himself. He wished he could be there with his brother. The hand on his back moved to his shoulder and squeezed slightly. It was an uncomfortable feeling.

"He misses you."

By the time Yuki could acknowledge the statement, the hand squeezed again, but it didn't let go as they stepped into an elevator. He couldn't find the words to voice how badly it hurt. His arm was tingling and shaking and burning so badly he couldn't help but cry. His shoulder bone hurt and he didn't even know that was possible. It was as if he was being dragged by a hook moving or sitting still, it hurt all the same, but being this close to the smiling doctor was frightening.

"Let go! Stop!" Fighting hurt more than not to, but the man finally let go when the elevator doors closed and shuddered as it descended.

"What's your name again. Your brother mentioned but I never really paid any attention." The man held a steady gaze that Yuki couldn't match and when he opened his mouth to lie the doctor cut him off. "Your real name Satsukichi-san."

The honorific was stated mockingly and Yuki frowned wondering how the man could have known. The last time the two met was a little over three years ago. He rubbed his shoulder but it didn't alleviate the pain. What did the man do to him?

"Pressure point." He was looking at the ceiling when he said this, answering Yuki's question without him asking. He was leaning against the polished wood and metal railing. "I remember now." He returned his bright blue gaze to the teen. "Its Yuki. Yuki Satsukichi-san."

He was saying it wrong but he obviously knew who he was.

"Ryou misses you too. But..." He paused as he put a hand out to hold the 'close doors' button. "You can't see him."

"Why not? He's okay right?" He could feel it. The one chance to see his only brother slipping away. That button Dr. Nealson was pressing did so little only to signify so much.

"No."

"Then why can't I see him? He needs me!" Yuki straightened his stance, glaring with a murderous intent. But the effects seemed to have no effect on the doctor himself. He was beginning to hate this man.

He didn't get an answer, at least not a verbal one, instead the Dr. Nealson let go of the button and the doors opened. A group of men were waiting, whatever they were conversing about stopped when their eyes landed on them. They were in a garage, an underground garage. Black cars, vans, and trucks were on the left side while much simpler and less fashioned cars were on the right. It was easier to assume that all those dark colored vehicles belonged to Dr. Nealson and his program.

"I wish you hadn't come looking." Dr. Nealson spoke from behind him. "I knew you would want to..." He pushed Yuki into the group one of the men grabbing him by the arm. "I just wished you hadn't... Goodbye Yuki." He called as the doors to the elevator closed.

The man who caught him smiled, seeming friendly with his white teeth and calm brown eyes, but then he heard a crack. When he looked over the others were cracking there knuckles. There was a constant bumping against his thigh, Shini was moving around in his bag as if he wanted out. It was almost as if he knew the danger that was about to come. Why did he even name the cat Shini in the first place? It was bad luck to even use the term and now it was back to bite him in the ass. Now he was going to die at the hands of these men. Or maybe they would put him in a car and then ditch him in the middle of nowhere.

He hoped it was the second. Not likely. The hit was unexpected, taking him by surprise. His bag was snatched away and flung somewhere as he was slammed into the ground. A hit came to the back of his head, rocking his head with a nauseating dizziness. Then a series of taunting kicks, probably to get a rise out of him. Instead he curled up hating that he couldn't fight back the way he wanted to. The arts he practiced wouldn't serve a purpose here. It only took a moment for them to realize that he wasn't going to do anything and that was the moment Yuki wished he'd got up and ran. A flurry of kicks and stomps rained down all over him.

One caught him in the stomach, another in the back of his head, and one to the face. This wasn't like walking home from school and getting jumped by bullies. The pain... was on a whole other level. He didn't realized he was crying until the kicking stopped. He'd spat up blood at one point and his body refused to unwind itself. He didn't want to move. It hurt to even blink. To breath. He was beginning to wish he'd never left Japan. But it was his own fault. Jumping borders was illegal. If he did live long enough he would be going to jail. He was sure how long but he knew he'd be sitting behind bars for a long time. A final kick came to the back of his head and everything oozed black into his vision.

A scream made him jump, his body contorting as it tried to find comfort among the ongoing flow of pain. Yuki didn't realize his eyes were closed until he opened them. Only the left eye opened and the vision itself was a blurry red. An arm was laying next to him and his breathing stopped at the thought that maybe it was his but the thought faded as black dotted over his vision again. Another scream had him shaking, and then another, and then there was a thud as something landed.

Whimpering he tried to look out only for his vision to give out and come back darker than before. A hand is on his face cool compared to the burning heat racing across his skin.

There was a moan and a sigh, and the blurry red and black tinted image of a blonde with startling blue eyes, and then he was gone.