To feel pain and happiness at the same time, it was almost a bittersweet thing. A day that was filled with laughter and joy seemed rare, despite he knows nothing of before. For all he knew, he could have been a king. Or perhaps a demon lord. Or maybe the son of a god-

Such childish assumptions but they were fun to think of.

Having already retrieved his scrubs, Takashi was now standing alone in the unisex bathroom under florescent lights - the same bathroom where "he" hurt him. Despite that known thought, he had no quarrels of it as he disrobes his new clothes and goes to put on the scrubs.

A ghost of a smile was tugging weakly on his sore face.

Today was so nostalgic and wonderful he prayed it would never end. Kaien was indeed a man worthy of being awarded the man of the year. Takashi felt warm and comfort around his presence, as if he truly was his son and he his father. And that also ached his heart.

He couldn't quite explain it. There was just a feeling of sadness welling in his chest when kindness was thrown his way. He didn't seem to think he deserved it. Morbid as it seemed, that's how it felt. Did it have to do with his past life? He wondered. He was thankful that someone as kind and endearing like Kaien felt attached to the boy in such a short time, but Takashi started to over think the issue - which wasn't one at all.

Was Kaien truly being genuine? Or was he pitying him? He didn't know which, and it was too impolite to ask. Though the same could be said about Nurse-san or the others. It was likely the latter but his docile and meek traits he discovered didn't allow him to question aloud.

Just as Takashi gingerly slips the light green shirt on - careful to not inflame the healing wounds on his torso - soft knocks at the door startled him, causing him to stifle a gasp.

"Takashi?" He breathed a quiet sigh of relief when he recognized the soft and tender voice. "Sweetheart, are you almost finished? You've been in there for quite awhile. Is everything all right?" That was proof of her overly anxious personality. He has only been in the bathroom for no more than eleven minutes. Perhaps that was too much time for changing clothes then? Takashi nods his head in reply, but then speaks aloud since she couldn't see the gesture.

"Um, y-yes. I'm almost done, Nurse-san," He stammered as his hand grasped the pocket knife on the counter, ready to hid it in case she enters. He knew Kaien would be in trouble for giving him such a weapon but he's held onto it this long without incident so far. "Can I please have one moment before I go back?"

He hears Hana shift a bit in her place before she continues. Takashi could tell by the tone of her voice that she was smiling warmly, apparently unaware of his stutter. "All right. Oh, and Takashi," she said, "I'm going to leave the light on to your room so you can go back. I'm sorry, but I have other patients that need assistance. I'm really sorry, but..." she falters.

Since Takashi himself learned it was his nature to apologize quite a bit too, he didn't seem too bothered by her anxious and regretful tone. He understood. Still, a perpetual frown adorned his face as his gaze went from the knife in his clutches, then to the door. "It's all right, Nurse-san. Please... don't worry about me." he said, his voice softened after the pause.

Despite the reassurance Hana still didn't want to leave the boy alone. However, she still has her job - attending the people in the building's care. This warmth in her chest that welled up from the boy, it meant the same as it was before - just like when she first started her career. She inwardly knew it was bad to get attached to a patient in risk of nurses themselves becoming mournful, especially since she has dealt with death a number of times; more than she could count.

But Takashi, he was an reminder. A reminder of things past.

She couldn't fight off the maternal instincts.

Setting aside internal conflicts, Hana give an acknowledging nod and a bid goodnight. Takashi listened to her footsteps, waiting to be sure he was in the clear. He listened closely to her steps - each becoming more quiet as she moved away. The quieter it was, the more his grip around the knife lessen and his muscles eased.

Once he was sure they weren't audible anymore, Takashi releases a hold of breath he didn't even know he had and finally looses his grip on the pocket knife, which fell - as he was unconsciously edging it in the air - and hits against the table, causing the youth to jump from the noise of the impact.

His inquisitive gaze slowly dips down on the idle contraption, his head cocked as he blinked. Hesitant at first, Takashi eventually retook the handle into a firmer grasp and brought it closer to him so he could examine it. Though he knew it was useless to since it was just an ordinary knife.

It was more of a question of why than what. It seemed so strange and out of the blue for Kaien to give him - a six year old boy - something that was dangerous. So many questions, yet no one to ask. As Takashi unsheathes the blade slowly and held it out like a knight ready for battle, he wanted to hit himself for not asking sooner.

With turns of his wrist, his lips pursed as he cocked his head from side to side, Takashi mused over the object and felt a strange, unexplainable sensation in his fingers. Against the smooth surface of the handle, the skin of his hand suddenly and quickly became accustomed to the posture he held the weapon. He was afraid to think it, but maybe - just maybe - he used one before.

And for all he knew, maybe he did. As of now, it was hard to tell. Finally, Takashi breathes a resigned sigh as his lids fell as well as his raised wrist. If any other time he could definitely question it more. But he was beyond exhausted. For now, Takashi only hopes Kaien will visit soon so the curiosity will be put to rest.

Takashi's lids slowly peel open. His light jade gaze rose just as careful, back into his reflection in the large mirror. He stares back reflectively with great concentration. This would be his third time seeing his features, albeit this time he was in a much sane state. Takashi's hand risen and his finger slide under soft tendrils of ebony hair. His fingers drum along his head as they tentatively fell out of his fringed bangs, and soft tips of his two fingers rest under his perfectly normal light green orb.

The eye patch that Takashi had took and used to cover the bulging black eye wasn't present. The said eye appeared to not be as swollen as it was before, but there was still barely any sign of the green iris. Takashi almost goes to touch it, but he winces when his mind sent a sharp pain in response as if it scolds him not to.

Then finally, Takashi begins to feel his body cringe and his vision mist over when he draws more focus at his entire face.

It was hard to imagine himself without the number of black stitches that closed the cuts, the dark and sore bruise adorning his cheeks, and even both his arms and neck that were wrapped in white bandages because of the myriad of lacerations. But his neck, however, scared him the most.

The wound was deep. It was jagged and rough, meaning that his assailant was doing it out of pure malice. He shuddered at the thought.

Takashi's touch glides down from his face, and the tips of his fingers then hover over the gash covered by the gauze. Even though he knew that it would be painful, Takashi gently applies pressure to the wound - and on the touch it sent burning and sharp pain that hurt so much, it hit him to the nerves. He inhales sharply, his face grimaced.

The pain reached into the bones of his clenched hand around the knife, causing him to unintentionally lose grip and drop it to the ground. Even when he heard the clink of the metal, Takashi didn't move to grab it, and instead, he thrust his hands to the counter and held onto the edge so tightly his knuckles were turning a pasty white. His legs were starting to buckle, his senses buried by pain.

It may be the third time he's seen his reflection, but if he had it his way, it would be the last.

It was terrifying, seeing how monstrous he looked. It was no wonder people watched him from afar with such pity in their gaze. He was no different than something out of a horror story. But it was the pain. The numbing pain that he felt in the muscles of his face and his insides, it scared him.

The very sensation, it meant that he wasn't dreaming. Although he wished he was.

Once the pain finally subsided Takashi risked taking one last gingerly look into the mirror. As he stared into his paled, battered face full of quiet terror, Takashi sniffles as his grip on the counter eased and he straighten. A single tear made its escape from the duct of his eye, and Takashi watches as it leaves a gleaming shine in its path.

The salty droplet neared one the cuts on his cheek but Takashi doesn't move to stop it. His arms and hands hurt and cramped from his previous action that he had no will to wipe it away. The tear halted at the cut, and then it seeps deep into what space it had.

Takashi winched, but that's all he does as a reaction to the tear.

Right now fatigue and raw sadness droned him to the point that he apathetically just wanted to forget and lay to rest. Ironic, isn't it?

Takashi sniffles once more and wipes dry his nearly dripping nose before he turned and knelt down, retaking the knife into his hand. As he stands back up and pushes the knife back inside its compartment, he muses upon it.

He wondered, could it have to do with the scary man he saw? But any more thought on it, Takashi would panic when he imagined his blood red orbs and the fangs that were displayed so openly with a grin that was pure insane. He didn't need to over think it, especially since he was going to bed.

Takashi shook his head, his tousled locks swayed with the motion.

Truly it must be his imagination. No way that such a beast exist, especially if what he was thinking was the truth. But it was just something fictional, so no worries, he reassured himself.

Taking one last observant glance at the knife in hand, Takashi stuffs the knife in his pocket, gathers his things, and makes for the door. He would rip the door open right away and hurry to his room he was so tired. His eyelids felt like tons had weighed on them and he had to force his body to work to his whim till he made it back to his comfortable bed.

The door, thanks to the silence that filled the halls, enacts a louder than normal creaking as the young boy opens it slowly and peeks his head out into the corridor. He looks to the left, and then the right. If he didn't know any better he would have thought he was the only one left. There was no sound whatsoever in his range of hearing. The dim lights dully shining in the distance of each ends of the halls only made it look more ominous than comforting.

And when Takashi takes a timid hand and flips the light switch off, he soon regretted the action as he was now rendered nearly blind. His hands clutch tighter around the clothes to his chest, his heart beat slowly started to pace up quickly. Takashi was almost tempted to yell for Hana for help but he refrained from doing such. Yelling in complete silence was as nerve-wrecking as being alone in pure quiet.

Takashi somehow found the courage to take one single step that got him out of the doorway. Precariously he took another glance in both directions of the hall, taking in reminders to remember where his room was. Being in almost complete darkness, it messed with his coordination and he found himself lost - in a sense.

Frankly he didn't want to move. He seemed to have gotten it in his head that if he was still, someone or something from the darkness will not pursue him. Takashi's one hand peels off of the clothes and reaches down to pat the side of his pocket, feeling the pocket knife securely in check.

He breathes a light sigh as Takashi uprooted his feet from the ground very slowly, taking the left hall with his sense heighten just in case.

His steps very tentative, slapping against the cold floor, Takashi glimpse briefly into the open doors that he passed by and saw nothing in particular. Though he notice how empty and hollow they were. What happened to the occupants to the rooms? If memory served, one of them contained a elderly old man hooked up to machines - looking very haggard.

Perhaps he left, or maybe Takashi just couldn't see the others besides blinking lights of the monitors, but he just had a feeling. A feeling that coaxed him to move on and not be too curious though he was quite the opposite. Still, was he the only one on this floor? Takashi still felt unnerved. Now he wished Hana was here to escort him back.

It tediously felt like miles, but finally, Takashi sees a bright light penetrating from the doorway just about twenty steps from him and a relieved sigh and smile came upon him. He once again felt that fatigue weighing his whole body down, and he just couldn't wait to wrap himself up in blankets and sleep.

Suddenly, however, Takashi stopped.

A jolt of electricity shot throughout his whole body, making him frozen in place.

His eardrums were pounded by the sound waves of unexpected distant walking.

Thump.

Solid and slow clicks of shoes hitting against the floor echoed right behind him. Takashi almost assumed that it was Hana. Almost. But when he listen to it again, it refuted the idea.

Thump.

Hana's walking was very soft, very light. Though it didn't mean she made noise - hers was just more of a quieter quality. These footsteps, however, sounded like they didn't care if they were heard, as if they were carefree and very brusque of the fact this was a hospital.

Thump.

Or maybe because he felt that 'feeling' again. A internal signal that went off like alarms as if to warn of danger. The same ones he felt when that scary looking man was drawing near.

Thump.

Takashi gulped hard, trying to contain his shallow and violent breaths. He knew he was going to regret this, but he could resist the urge to cautiously peer over his shoulder. And when he did, something inside him dropped and he blanched.

Thump.

It was him...

It was that scary man...

He was ambling towards Takashi with a cocky and hungry smirk on his lips. His hand were stuffed in his pants pocket, his hair covered barely the man's face. However, Takashi noticed a reddish glow emitting behind his bangs.

They were a far distance apart between each other, but it seemed despite his slow movements, he was approaching fast. Takashi's violent breaths were loud and clear and quiet whimpers subconsciously left his throat. When he watched and saw the smirk, every single alarm in Takashi's body went off. They were screaming, Run! Run right now! Hurry!

But he was downright petrified with fear that he couldn't heed their advice.

The man's smirk widened as he could practically smell the fear coming off the lad. And when he did that, Takashi noticed and paled at the barest amount of sharpen fangs.

The hand Takashi used previously to find the knife returned where it was, and Takashi clenched around the handle so tightly. He didn't want to use it, he was still afraid to. But if this man - that so reeked of insanity and malice - tried anything, he would have no choice.

Like his wish come true, the man steadily stops in place. He watches the boy silently.

Takashi heard him snigger in a deep, amused tone as he then cocked his head, his bleached locks swayed with the movement.

"How lovely to see you again, little pet..." The man said in a false sadden tone that still had hints of amusement. "We finally have a chance to meet, face to face. And without nuisances in the way. I would prefer it to be more informal. Don't you think, little pet?"

The name...

It was the same name the voice referred to him as such. But it wasn't the same voice. Even though they were both deep and haughty, there was a subtle difference.

Takashi remains silent, beads of cold sweat coated his forehead and started to run down the rest of his face. Stranger and stranger, the man took a whiff into the air like a search dog, and then exhales with satisfaction. "That fear... I can smell it from you, little pet. Oh how it makes me excited..." The man fingers through his hair, and on that action, Takashi's eyes widened at the blood red orbs that watched him. Insanity was behind them. No good emotions. Just... cruelty.

"But please, don't be so scared, little pet," The man started to amble towards him again. Takashi's heart beat so painfully the closer he came. "If you're nice, I may leave enough blood for you to live..."

RUN! NOW!

His mind didn't even need to tell him what he doesn't already know. In a snap Takashi forced his sleepy body to wake up as he then pelts it down the hall, and away from him. His muscles hurt but he was determined to run - if that's even the correct term to use. It was pure aderdline that fueled his achy muscles. And maybe fear.

However, it proved to be not good enough when somehow the man was already just behind him and he then thrust his hand out, harshly grasping the boy's wrist and then jerking him up into the air - Takashi's things flew right out of his grasp. Takashi screams out in agony the moment he heard a sickening pop in his shoulder to which burning pain followed and then ran into the arm.

His face grimace, he gasped when he finally notice the man's wildly grinning face just inches from his; his foul smelling breath bashed against the boy's face, making Takashi stifle his breathing which was already hard enough because of the pain that filled his body.

"Yes! Yes! Scream like the little pet you are!" The man chortles manically. His assaulting hand began to tighten its hold on Takashi's thin wrist, and Takashi cries out as he tries to squirm away, flailing about like a rag doll, but the man's strength was much stronger than his. Almost too strong. "Yes... Cry for me some more. The agony, the pain in your face - I love it," he breathed lowly.

After his strength falters, with nothing else, Takashi clenched his jaw tightly as he clamped his eyes shut and adverted away from the sick bastard, trying to block out him and the pain.

He was too scared to look into those cruel blood red eyes.

He wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.

But this only made the man squeeze even tighter - if that was even possible. It was surprising that he didn't already snap the wrist like a twig; he seems capably strong enough to do such. Was he holding back?

"Aww, what's wrong?" he cooed. "Don't be so boring, little pet. I came all the way out here just to hear you scream."

The way he said it seems like it was an obligation to receive pain from him specifically. Like it was something to enjoy. Takashi, however, wasn't the least bit enjoying this. The pain soon started to infect his organs - starting with his stomach. The sheer excruciating sensation rendered everything in a daze he almost forgotten he was levitating. Takashi couldn't even comprehend his surroundings - as if it wasn't already bad enough.

Tearful whimpers tore out from his throat while he still kept his closed eyes adverted away. Takashi so desperately wanted to cry out for Hana or Kaien - anyone to help. But he was afraid to set him off. However, the boy being silent - it still egged the bastard on either way.

Damn if you do, damn if you don't.

Takashi hears the monster make a curious sound, and before he peeks an eye open to see why, he yelps when he could feel cold fingers and sharp nails crawl along his face like a spider.

The man laughs lowly. His moist breath hits the grimacing face of his prey. "I can smell it; The blood seeping from your wounds," he remarked. His fingers drummed and danced along his face and trailed over the gauze on the boy's neck. Of all the places, that was were the scent was the strongest - ironically enough it was the largest wound. He smirks. "Why wear such a uncomfortable looking gauze, little pet? How bout taking it off?"

It was more of a rhetorical question, but in that predatory voice of his, Takashi was frozen. But as he feels the man dig his fingers under the gauze, rips it off, and cool air bombarding his neck, Takashi's eyes shot open and he once again tried to squirm away.

"No! Let me go! Let me go! Nurse-san! Nurse-san! Kaien-sama! Please help me!" His screeching plea of help vibrates throughout the hall. What he thought was someone returning his screams, he quickly realized it was the maniacal and loud chortling from him. And right by his ear - so loud it felt as if he ruptured it.

"That's it! That's what I wanted," A long finger nail caresses the boy's bruised cheek, tickling the dark pigmented skin and causing Takashi to cringe. "But you can save that for later. I rather my food not try to escape. It's futile."

Somehow, what happen next was all a blur. The next thing Takashi comprehended was the freezing cold ground slammed against his back - knocking the wind out of him, the heat of another's body as they hovered over, and the hazy vision of sadistic smile on a face inches from his own. His arms were freed, but when Takashi tried to lift the arm that was abused, a pained croak tore from his throat from the terrible sensation.

The man chuckled, grasping the boy's face and harshly turning it to the side - exposing more of the gash. "Ahh. What a surprise you were hiding, little pet. How cruel to hide the refreshments when I'm so parched from the long trip."

Takashi was growing sick and indigent of the tone of entitlement in his words. His expression darkened and he glared from a side glance at his assailant. "Don't touch me! Or I'll... I-I'll-"

"Ah-n~ Someone's growing rebellious," he interjects, drawing closer to his face. His next words came out in a poisonous whisper that turned the boy's stomach. "Don't try to fight, little pet. It's useless. And besides, I'll just break that frail little neck of yours and enjoy my feast in peace. Oh, I would love to look upon that expression of horror, forever frozen on your face if it comes to that."

Takashi's eyes widened as saucers. He could hardly contain his violent and uncontrollable breaths as the sultry and demonizing man's eyes scanned his neck with observant sounds. It didn't take too much longer as he was now drawing closer to Takashi's neck. He stops just as his lips near the exposed laceration, his hot breath stung it with moisture.

Takashi risked a glance despite his reservations. His brows quirked at what he saw. The man's once sadistic expression hardened, as though he was becoming angered.

Then he unexpectedly speaks, causing Takashi to jump.

"... He did quite a number on you, little pet. I find it hard to believe you survived," he drawled, and even Takashi noticed a change in his voice. He sounded almost angry - why though was beyond him. "Sending me on a fetching chore for a little shit like you is a bother, so I'm entitled to half of the prize."

What was he saying? Why was he saying this? And "He"? Could it be... the bad men that Kaien had told him about? Was this freak one of them? His words spoke as much.

He needed to fight back. He had to.

But Takashi was drawing blanks for what he had to do. His instincts weren't audible anymore. He felt himself going into a trance to escape whatever torture he was going to receive to numb out the pain. Nothing in his body wanted to respond to him, almost as if he was a worn down machine shutting itself down.

His gaze fixated on the ceiling, he could swear he was going insane, and he wanted to laugh to ease tension. Disembodied voices hissed and whispered all around him, though he couldn't tell if it was in his head or some other outwardly source. They were all the same voice, being multiplied and talking incoherently. Something - or someone - beckoned him, pleaded with him. His vision was growing black. All outside stimulants became nonexistent as he felt his mind grow numb and static, and his breathing evening out.

It was impossible to describe the event. All parts of his body, he could not feel. His senses, they weren't his own. Was this... death?

The whispers were suddenly accompanied by a piercing shriek of pain, but Takashi was too memorized with the surreal dissociation that he didn't move to question it - not that he could anyways.

If he could think of how it felt, the first thing he noticed was a wet sensation coating both his face and his torso, as if he was being dipped in water. But it was warm, nearly feeling hot.

Suddenly, his vision refocused out of the blackness, slowly coming out of a blurry haze before his vision had returned. All sensation had awoken in senses. He could feel the pain in his back and arm and the hard floor beneath him. But there was something new: His hand was firmly grasped around a smooth and small object. And he suddenly realized, the man wasn't atop of him anymore.

Strangled growls and intense breathing reached the boy's ears, and he gathered his strength somehow to lean up slightly. He gasped at the sight in front of him. The man wasn't gone but now only a few feet away from him, with his back against the wall. He was covering his stomach that was colored in dark red - from his blood. His head dipped between his chest while he hissed and growled in pain, his face grimaced.

Takashi's eyes studied the man, and he was able to see that his stomach wasn't the only bleeding wound on his body; his upper arm and his side were left exposed from tore and narrow holes that were surrounded by crimson red.

The markings... They looked like knife wounds.

And when he thought that, his gaze fell to the hand holding the familiar object and his eyes widened.

It was the knife, fully unsheathed and covered in blood - his blood.

"You little shit...!" The voice of the man seethed as he was breathing heavily, then releasing a bloody cough onto the ground. Takashi's head snapped back when he heard rustling of his clothes as he struggled to stand. His blood colored eyes fixate on the boy, burning with rage. "I was suppose to take you alive, but I think he'll prefer you as a dead corpse..."

Takashi tries to crawl back away from him, but the attempt failed. He impulsively tried to use his left arm, forgetting that it was dislocated, and he falls back down the moment he put pressure on it.

The man stumbles in place before he somehow regained his balance. Taking in a deep breath, he slowly ventures closer to Takashi, who was scooting away as fast as he could. Even though Takashi wasn't looking at him and was more focused on trying to escape, the man's gaze scanned his body and he could feel it. It turned his stomach to the point he wanted to vomit.

Tears began to fall out of the boy's eyes. Between the pain screaming throughout his body and the raging glare on his form, Takashi's crazed with panic. He didn't know why this was happen, nor what he needed to do. It was clear that even if the man didn't announce out his death, it was going to come either way. He's no more than just a child, yet he's suffering under this cruelty? What has he done? Did he truly do something so terrible? Takashi was on the verge of crying, begging for his life, but it was futile.

It would only egg the monster on, he realized.

Just as the man parts his lips, letting out a hiss as he reaches for the boy, a ding coming from the elevator caused him to stop and snap his head over in the direction of the noise. Soon, the heavy parting of the doors sounded and a soft sigh came out from the person exiting out.

Takashi's eyes widened like saucers till they almost seem to pop out of his head. Dire relief washed over him. But when he looked out of the corner of his eye, his breath clogged in his throat to see the man was gone - like he was never there. He almost wrote it off as a hallucination yet what would explain the blood that covered his torso.

He lacked the energy to move. Takashi lays on his side, hugging his trembling form as he tried to suppress the sobs that wracked his body. His fingers that clutched the knife ached. They seemingly were glued to the handle as he couldn't even move the joints. It was like they were desperate, they cling to it as their only source of survival.

The blood...

There was so much of it... He can't handle it, the warmth of it on his limbs. It was sickening.

A gasp startles him. "Oh, my god! Takashi!" a female voice shrieks before he heard the pounding of her shoes hit against the ground as she bolts to him. The woman quickly kneels down, gently but instantly holding up the boy's form. Takashi jerks his head upwards to see it was Hana, face filled with terror as her eyes swept across his frame. It was still somewhat dark, but she could still make out dark red blots on his bright clothes and skin. "Takashi! Oh, my goodness, what happened!?" Her hands patted around his frame, checking for wounds. She stops momentarily when she felt wet and warm blood. "W-Who's blood is this!? Is this your own!? Did you get hurt!? Tell me now!" she splutters, her words almost incoherent because she was talking so fast.

A tearful whine tore from the boy's throat. He dips his head between his chest, his bangs concealing his gushing eyes. "I-It was him..."

"H-Him!? Who's him!?"

"That scary man... H-He was... going to... h-hurt me..." Takashi's arm wraps around him, wincing when he remembered his face contorted with insanity.

He goes to continue, only to be interrupted when Hana grasp the hand that carried the knife. "Takashi, where did you get this knife!? Answer me right now, young man! Who gave this to you!?" She tries to pull the knife out of his clutches before he could answer, but he had a strong grip. "Takashi, let go of this right now!" she scolds.

The moment he felt it beginning to slip out, he exclaims and surges back away, clutching the knife to his chest. "N-No, don't! Please don't take it," Takashi exclaims shakily. "I have to keep this, please don't take it! If I don't have it... If I don't..."

Despite hearing the boy slowly begin to let his tears out, gasping after holding in breath he didn't know he was clinging to, Hana almost goes to scold him again. She opens her mouth, but the words didn't leave, and her face of both exasperation and anxiety melted away in place of a worried look when she noticed something.

"Takashi, lift your face..." she drawled out the request. And for a moment, Takashi seemed to be in a trance, not heeding her words as if he tuned out her voice. She tried again, albeit a little louder. "Takashi, lift your face."

The boy's body quivers, and when he finally registers her words, he reluctantly raised his gaze till it met her hazel orbs. Her eyes were smoldering and seemingly illuminated the black that surrounded them. They radiated with that same tenderness, only this time it seemed to shine even brighter.

Hana carefully reaches for the boy, brushing aside tendrils of charcoal hair tentatively as she turned his head a little towards the light with a finger to his chin. Some of the sutures have come undone, she noticed. But it seemed more like they were forcefully pulled apart. Dried streams of blood came from under the said openings.

Yet that wasn't what caused her to gasp and her eyebrows to fly upwards. A large bruise print of a hand adorned from his jawline, then it blending with his already dark pigmented skin on his cheek.

"Takashi... Who did this to you?" She breathed out, utterly shocked and appalled. "Please tell me. I won't be angry. Just tell me who did this to you." She added in with a motherly voice trying to assure him. But if she was allowed to express more emotions, she would have gone ballistic. Not once, but twice Takashi is attacked? It sickened her to know that any human being had the gall to harm children. But it was worse to know that she failed in protect Takashi after he had already been brutalized.

Takashi, after her gentle hold on his face fell, his gaze went to the floor. He tried to swallow the lump in the back of his dry and sore throat before he spoke. "I-It was... I-It was the scary man. The man that was outside my window before Kaien-sama came and took me..." He sniffles, then letting out a cough from the clogged air in his throat.

Hana's hands hovered over Takashi's shoulders but they stayed there, as if they were ready to catch him should he faint or go into a coughing episode. "And what did he look like? Can you remember?" she asked unhurriedly.

Frankly he didn't want to remember. "H-He has really blonde looking hair. His nail were really, really long, and he had vampire fangs and bright colored eyes." There was a tremor in his voice.

Hana had to refrain from raising an eyebrow at the boy's description, and she even wanted to further question his mental state. But he was just a child. Perhaps it was an over exaggeration - or at least that's what she wanted to think. "Takashi, that's absurd. If you're saying that this was-"

Already predicting her next words, his gaze shot back up and he interrupted with a loud, "But it was!" His expression that was overly desperate, his face began to scrunch up as thick tears roll down, remembering the horrible memory. "He... He said all these scary things to me, calling me "little pet" like he did! He was going to do horrible and mean things to me and kill me! I'm not lying! I-I'm not...!"

Takashi felt he should go on and on, needing to convince her so she was on his side, but sobs that he was trying to hold back soaked his light green orbs, ruining any ability to talk coherently. Shamefully, he lowers his gaze, closing what little space had between his clenched hand and his chest and feels the pounding of his heart.

The nurse's heart swelled, gently pulling Takashi into a comforting and loving embrace. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes as she felt the trembling of the boy's small body, the now cold blood that soaked into her clothes - but she didn't care. Whether she chose to believe his story or not, it was evident that he was attacked and traumatized.

Right now, all she could do was show him there was no reason to be afraid, because she rather not repeat the same horrifying night. The same night she saw what reminded of her husband and child in a bloody mess.

She has been aware of Takashi circumstances, and distantly felt that there was a connection between Takashi and her family. She didn't wish to think it, but was this supposed man connected or was the cause of Takashi hospitalization?

She goes to pull Takashi back in order to counsel him, but the moment her hand grips a hold the dislocated shoulder, Takashi yelps in pain and instinctively leans away from her comforting hands. Her eyes widened. "Takashi, what's the matter?"

The boy's gaze turned and narrowed at the limp arm that hung lifelessly, noticing that he literally had no feeling whatsoever. He sniffles. "That scary man... He pulled up into the air with my arm, and I heard a noise in my shoulder. Then it started to burn." he says, wincing when Hana gently takes the limp arm and slowly hefts it at a even level.

Takashi wanted to pull the arm away and scream. Every inch of the joints that moved hurt with tremendous and fiery pain like a flame was sent within. Hana caught the grimacing face of the boy, and when she pieced that with his description and how his shoulder was leaning off to the side, she knew right away what the aliment was.

She looked serious, composed. "Takashi, your shoulder is dislocated." Takashi looked up at her quizzically. Those words did not sound pleasant. "I'm going to pop it back in place. It's going to hurt, sweetie, but don't worry. It will feel better afterwards. Now, arch your shoulders back a little." Takashi does as he is asked, then he clamps his eyes shut, looks away, and snivels as he feels Hana move his arm around in smooth and therapeutic motions.

She was right, it hurt more than anything. But he has grow used to the pain that this was actually nothing for him. He bites down hard on his lower lip, clenching the knife holding hand tighter if that was even possible. It wasn't till he heard a sickening pop noise from his shoulder after a few seconds of Hana's technique that he reluctantly opens his eyes and sees the woman smiling.

"There we are. All right now, trying moving the shoulder. Get it situated." she instructs. And with her help he moves it in a circular motion, making sure it was in fit. It made tiny cracks here and there, but soon he had feeling back in his hand - although it still tingle as if it had fallen asleep. A minute after, he stops once it was remedied.

"Is it any better? Does it hurt anywhere else?" she inquires.

Despite the soreness in the muscles, Takashi leaves that fact out. He peers back up to her, wiping his nose - unknowingly smearing blood - as he nods. "Y-Yes... Thank you." He murmurs softly.

He notices the woman's eyes sweeping across his form once more. The relief expression started to darken, likely because she remember the blood coating Takashi's body, and Takashi frowns as he cocks his head quizzically. She nods to herself before Takashi could ask about the look, standing up and then leaning down with her hand out. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up right away." She said hurriedly, dangling her fingers for Takashi to take.

Nodding quickly, he allowed the nurse to hoist him back onto his feet. A numbness filled his legs, causing him to nearly buckle over. The nurse supports him up with her hands on his shoulder, waiting for Takashi to give the signal - a nod - for him to stand alone. She was tempted to carry the boy herself, seeing that blood had already colored her clothes. But when she goes to pick him up, Takashi shook his head.

"No... It's okay. I can walk." he said politely as he advanced ahead of her, quickly sheathing the knife and concealing it in his pocket without the notice of the nurse. With all that happened, the weapon had all but been forgotten to her which was a relief. Kaien was in the clear... for now

A slightly warm hand belonging to the nurse caress the back of his head, gently smoothing his disarrayed hair into straight strands. Even though he could still hear his internal alarms blaring, he took comfort in the affectionate hand soothing him - if only a little. He glances back at her, and even though she appeared calm, he wasn't aware that a storm was raging inside the woman's body, stirring with rage and dread.

Hana's smoldering gaze softens when she peers down on Takashi battered face. And perhaps it's her imagination, but he appeared more beaten than he did when he was admitted. Somehow she keeps her cool and ghostly smiles. "... Don't worry, Takashi. You're safe now," She was on the verge of faltering that motherly facade, but in Takashi's eyes, she remembered the child she called her son. The sentiment, it held up and supported her. "No one will hurt ever again. You understand? I'm here... okay?" These words came up in a slight tremor but they rolled off her tongue easily... because these were almost her exact and final words to her first and only child.

Why do others hurt children, she thought with fervor. She felt beyond helpless that she couldn't protect a small and defenseless boy, even her own kin. Countless times Hana has asked this question. It was hard not to when the hospital took in someone barely of age.

It was now as she walked with a blood covered little boy that those feels resurfaced more fervently.

Suddenly, she felt trembling little arms wrap themselves around her waist. It snapped her out of deep thought, and she peered down to see Takashi, clinging to her. Almost as if Takashi could sense her inner conflicts, this was his way to comfort her. It was always Kaien and her that eased him so it only seemed fair.

The gesture nearly brings her to tears, perhaps realizing that fact. But she swallows back the lump in her throat and rests her palms on the top of the boy's head, gently ruffling black hair.

Takashi gingerly pulls his gaze up to her, smiling a small and apologetic one. "... Thank you." he spoke softly before burying his head back into her torso, his thanks for postponing his death and the kindness she has shown him, but the latter the nurse supposed. As he could catch her sweet scent of her perfume, Takashi wondered if this was the same scent of a mother he never knew. Her scent... it was oddly familiar and comforting. Especially now, he loved it.

Hana felt that same impulse to embrace the boy, cradle him until the pain had finally subsided. But she needed to keep her composure. And this is exactly why one must never become close to a patient.

Instead, Hana says. "You're very welcome, sweetie." in the same voice that caused a smile to tug Takashi's lips. When Takashi peels himself off and gives her space, Hana leans down till her face was close to his and places her hands on his shoulder. "Everything will be all right, okay? There is nothing to be afraid of. While I'm here, I'll keep you safe," She felt inclined to assure him some more, despite that it seemed he had calmed himself.

Takashi nods, yet he could still detect anxious emotions stirring in his abdomen. But he doesn't show it in fear of worrying her, seeing as he could practically feel the same from her. And she continues. "Once we clean you up, we'll call Kaien-sama and discuss this with him. And perha-"

She paused. Her soft smiling face instantly turned to shock and pained. And her words will forever be left unfinished...

"Nurse...san...?" Takashi breathed worriedly.

But instead of a response, everything suddenly became a blur when something ejects out from the woman's chest and splattering a wet substance onto his face. He winced at the contact. Takashi's jaw is left agape as his finger reach to where the wetness was. His heart drops when he pulls it away to see it was something red. It was blood... Her blood.

His gaze shot back, and he cover his lips as he cries out in horror. Penetrating from her chest, it looked to be a hand - coated all around in thick layers of blood. Takashi automatically knew who's it was, and when it rips right out of her chest causing her to fall over to her side lifelessly against the floor, there he was...

Dark crimson orbs watched the shocked child in contempt. "No more distractions, little pet. You're only delaying the inevitable. Your blood... is mine..."

-Author's Note-

I... apologize! I'm so sorry for this really delayed update OTL T^T I can't make promises, but I'll try not to take so long to give another chapter. And sorry for the abrupt ending ;-; *sigh* I gotta not write so much that it makes it more... not drag on.

And a heads up: The next chapter is going to put Merciful Eyes in the M rating (though I think this one would too ^_^;) So on the next update, it'll be in the M category.

Oh, and notice the description? t( ^_^) Yes, there will be shounen ai in my story. And in case you're wondering, no. Takashi isn't paired with any canon male/female characters. You'll find out soon enough :3

Anyway~ Thanks for reading:)