Thank you all for your comments and criticisms! They keep me going and make me a better writer. I'd like to apologize for the delay in chapters; life caught up with me for a bit. Thank you, as always to Dumbrat, my beta! She's amazing!

Please note that the rating has gone to M.

Chapter 3

A quick word on an intercom and a man was summoned. He walked with forced confidence. Unlike the white-coated men who were gliding from examining table to shelves, he wore a school uniform.

He spoke in direct, clipped words. "Who is this?"

Camden directed him into a corner, out of the earshot of their specimen.

She lay there, chilled and shamed, yet unable to cover herself. She didn't even attempt to translate the soft mutterings of the two scientists. Instead she concentrated on letting her eyes cleanse themselves of the blinding solution. Camden walked over and chuckled.

"Crying already? I had more faith in you."

She concentrated on the ceiling, unfazed by his comment.

He left the room swiftly, followed by his team. The only other person in the room was the new person. He dragged a chair beside the examining table, dimming the large overhead light that had made her body pale and exposed. Before sitting down he tugged at the tubes extending from the woman's mouth. Gently, and avoiding touching her face, he pulled them from her mouth and placed them on the table. She watched him intently. An emotion had finally made its way to her eyes: recognition.

Here he was; her rescuer! Someone had finally come for her! It was not how she had imagined in any of her scenarios, but Kurama was here and everything was going to be okay.

He had pulled his hair back into a more professional pony tail. Tucking back a loose strand, he cleared his throat. "Yuki…"

"Don't," she interrupted, voice scratchy, "you must call me D-74 here."

Kurama leaned forward, "Yukina," he said quietly, "we have a plan to get you out of here. Please remain calm and follow whatever I tell you. Look away if you understand."

Unable to turn her head, her eyes focused on the wall oposite Kurama. Her lips hardly moved as she whispered a relieved "thank you".

And so the interview commenced. Kurama would ask a question in monotone while Yukina responded in her small voice.

"Name?"

"Yukina"

"Race?"

"Ice Maiden"

Kurama paused. He slowly turned his head. "Dr. Camden, I didn't notice you had returned." There stood Kurama's new boss. He wore a ridiculous half smile on his face and his eyebrows were raised in interest.

"Yes, I've practiced walking in a quiet pace. I find it helps keep the specimen acting natural. I simply came in to check on my newest employee. Please continue."

The rest of the questions were ran through without interruption. The student got up stiffly and began leaving the room. Camden stopped him, making a grand show was putting an arm around the suited man. "Mr. Suichi," he said, leading Kurama towards the examination table, "I don't think you could possibly realize what a specimen we have caught ourselves here."

Kurama shuddered slightly under Camden's arm. "She seems like a rather pathetic one, Dr. Camden. She's too weak to fight back."

Camden chuckled. "Well yes, that is one way to define her. Yet, she's made quite a name for herself. I'm sure you got her name?"

"Of course"

"You being new here, I'll excuse your ignorance. This," He motioned to the girl on the table, "is the reason a millionaire died "mysteriously". She has had many interesting occurrences surrounding her because of her… extraordinary ability. Haven't you?"

She kept her gaze to the ceiling, acting as if she hadn't heard.

Yet, Camden was determined to get a reaction. "Here Minamino, come and feel this muscle. Right there, yes." Kurama cautiously prodded at the demon's abdomen. "And here." At this he moved to her shoulder.

Her eyes flashed in fear and anger.

Camden pulled his hand back as if her skin burned him. "Yes." He turn in a tight semi-circle and left with Kurama at his heels.

The days continued, as did the testing. Yukina was unable to tell when it was day or night for there were always bright lights glaring at her. Hope kept her spirits up, though. She knew escape could not be far.

Kurama avoided her as much as possible as to keep suspicions from rising. He worked on hacking the computers, making copies of the keys, and making connections with other employees. By tomorrow, he thought, I can have her out of here. I won't even need the help of the others, but it will be wise to have back up.

It had been after a particularly embarrassing test. The table had been tilted vertically; Yukina hung by her straps, feeling disgusted and violated. The lights had been dimmed. This was normally her cue to get a thirty minutes of sleep before they started again. The tubes of oxygen and sedative hung from her slackened jaw, several sensors were stuck to her skin with wires tracing back to beeping machines, and an I.V. drip with hanging from the table and connected to her wrist. They had had enough decency this time to cover her privates with a thin gauze, yet this gauze also covered her eyes (she had been having allergic reactions to the blinding-solution). Although her senses were dulled, she still found it difficult to relax enough in her current position.

It was while shifting her weight a bit that she heard footsteps increasing in volume. Just leave me alone! She begged mentally. The footsteps stopped right in front of her, waited a few seconds, and then moved to the side. With a buzzing sound, Yukina felt her table being lowered and tilted. It was now at roughly a 75 degree angle. Figuring it was just Camden or one of his flunkies taking care of something small, Yukina did not think to worry. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her ankle. The hand moved slowly up to her thigh.

"You just lie there, tempting all those around you. You're a beautiful mistake; a deformity that turned out for the better." A voice scratchier and deeper than Camden's echoed slightly in the lab. "It's not like you can say anything." As pressed her against the table with his body, she pulled desperately at her bonds. They rubbed into her skin but refused to give. The man tore at her upper gauze, grabbing at her body. He gave rough and painful kisses upon her neck. She was slowed by the sedative and was unable to struggle much under him. The tubes gagged her as she tried to scream. And he knew it. He knew how helpless she was. Her breath quickened, adrenaline was overpowering the sedative and her movements became fiercer.

The man must have realize what was happening. "No, no my dear. We can't have that." He took a clamp out of his lab coat pocket and pinched it on the wider tube. Yukina was soon gasping on pure sedative. "Yes, that's it." Her body was so heavy, so limp. He removed the clamp and allowed the oxygen to flow again. "Can't have you falling asleep. Just cooperate. It won't last long." He began to peal away at the lower gauze.

Her mind screamed. Literally. Every scientist, investigator, and engineer in the building grabbed at their head, not understanding the noise within it. Camden heard and began to jog towards lab 14. His forehead was dotted with sweat. This was not good, not good at all. Kurama's head shot up from his computer; he recognized the voice immediately. He shot toward the lab, passing Camden without realizing it.

He burst through the double doors, coming upon the scene. Yukina had just pulled the hook that held her left hand to the table and was weakly pulling Dr. Sty away by his hair. The former agent grabbed the Dr. Sty by the collar of his lab coat, ripping him off of Yukina. Using the other hand he punched him. And punched him. Again and again his fist collided with the scientist's face, his anger flowing into adrenaline. His lips were curled back into a snarl and his eyes were angry slits. Camden came in to the image of Dr. Sty crumpled on the floor, Yukina standing over him, and Yukina with dampened gauze over her eyes. Her crystal tears made tiny clicks as they fell to the floor.

Yukina was fully conscious. Although still strapped to the table, no medical devices were attached to her. The only thing that touched her skin was the comfortingly rough fabric of her kimono.

Kurama sat upright next to the examining table. He had been assigned to investigate the recent occurrence and then "discuss it" with the specimen, seeing if any further action was necessary. Having his assignment, he leaned in slightly.

"Did you see the face of your…. Or perhaps a better question would be did he…?"

Her face revealed nothing. "No and …no. Did they… remove him? Can we lea…"

Camden appeared dramatically. He had most likely been listening at a distance, waiting to hear the magic words. "Yes, he has been fired and will not get a recommendation from the SOK. More pressing, is D-74 fit to continue?"

Kurama gave a convincing smile. "She… it has been unharmed. Yet, I think it has been emotionally disturbed. I would think testing should be put off for at least a day."

"Of course, of course. I assure you nothing of that sort will ever happen.

He walked away, pretending to look over paperwork as he left.

Yukina's eyes were fearful. She risked a whisper. "Please, be very careful. He suspects."

Kurama returned her gaze without fear. "I have given them no reason to distrust me, you must keep your head straight. Do not let paranoia cloud your thoughts."

You underestimate them. She thought. Her gaze softened. "Please."

So quickly she might have imagined it, he flashed a small smile before turning from her and exiting the room. Before the door had even closed behind him, Dr. Camden side-stepped into view. "Please, come to my office."