Dislaimer: You know the drill by now. This is probably the last chapter that will follow closely with the manga.

"Hold him down." One twin said, his silky voice all too calm for the situation.

His remaining eye flew open but saw nothing as cold hands held his head back while another icy pair pinned his shoulders down. Someone else, probably the new Syaoran, held his legs in place but one hand- one strong warm hand held his own, grasping and twining their fingers while he struggled.

The ninja's hand tightened over his own, as if trying to will his strength into him. "I thought this was supposed to help. Why is he screaming?"

That was a good question. He hadn't even realized he was still screaming.

"His body chemistry is changing." The other twin replied. "Of course its going to hurt."

As if to prove his point pain suddenly exploded throughout the rest of his body and he had no doubt that he'd been right about ending up with the fate he deserved but why, oh gods why did it have to hurt so much? Another scream racked what was left of his being and he tried desperately to sit up, to run and escape it all. He cursed, begged, and babbled, anything just to get it to stop and all the while tears poured down the side of his face while hot sticky blood poured down the other.

Kurogane's other hand pressed firmly against his chest, forcing him back down with the slightest of pressure. The simple touch seeming to sap what was left of his already fading energy, his eye starring out into nothing, seeing and unseeing at the same time while his breath came in quick short pants. He was wearing down again again, borrowed strength failing and muscles no longer willing to move at his command though pain still coursed through his veins making his nerves spasm and twitch.

The closer twin said something, his voice having gone even softer with a tinge of pity that he was unable to hear it. Whatever he'd said it caused the other hands to leave him, their old presence seeming to linger for but a moment as the witch spoke. "Someone must stay with him throughout the the change. There is a chance he could hurt himself." Like the twins she sounded all too calm.

'What's happening to me?' His hazy mind struggled to wrap around it all. By all rights he should have been dead but the blood lingering at the back of his throat...

"I'll stay." The ninja's words brooked no argument. "He's my responsibility now after all."

'What have you done, Kurogane? What price have you paid?'

"Are you certain?" It was one of the twins who spoke now but which one he could not tell. "The change is not yet complete but when it is..."

"Yeah, I know. I can handle it." Something in his voice sounded resigned almost, as if he come to accept something of great weight and again Fai wondered what price he had paid for his worthless life.

"Very well."

The room fell into silence as the others left, their feet shuffling tiredly across the floor before the door closed leaving them with naught but the sound of his shallow breath right before another spasm of pain rocked through him. He tried again to escape it, struggling against the hold on him but the ninja was far too strong and he far too weak. It was no use.

Minutes dragged painfully into an hour before the numbness started to return, his body feeling like lead as he tried to stay awake, unwilling to fall back into darkness. He needed to run, whatever the price it had been too much and he needed to escape before he did anymore damage. He tried once more to more but his limbs wouldn't comply.

"You're not going anywhere tonight, mage." Kurogane whispered brushing a stray hair from his remaining eye as it finally started to close. He was already stretched far past his limit and by all rights should have been dead a long time ago.

Darkness once again consumed him before he even knew it was coming. The last thing he knew was the one warm hand squeezing his tight.