A/N: so before I head back to university in the morning and forget about updating again, I figured I oughtta put up the new chapter for you all. But! Before I do that, I would like to respond to an anonymous review that I got for the last chapter. The following part of my note is for 'Molly' so everyone else can just go on ahead and read the update. But if you were wondering about the length (or lack-thereof) of the previous chapter, go ahead and read my response. ;)

I'm glad you think this is an interesting concept. See this fic is just an experiment of sorts for me but I actually did put in a lot of thought behind the length of the chapters and where to break them off. I'm experimenting with a new style of writing so I'm sorry if the shortness of the chapters is bothering you. I kept them short on purpose here. Which means that yes, the length of last chapter- which was actually somewhere around a hundred and fifty words or so- was also deliberate. I appreciate the reviews and the criticism but I write for my own enjoyment so please, don't accuse me of being lazy and assume that I hammer out a paragraph and then sit back and expect the reviews to roll in. Length is not really an issue for me since I have also written chapters that are over 7000 words long. Once again, I'm sorry that the short length is bothering you so much but like I said, I'm doing it on purpose here. I finished writing this part of the story weeks ago and I'm actually satisfied with how it turned out so I'm afraid you'll have to put up with the short length. By the way, I'm quite sure I have managed to cover and advance the story quite a lot despite only having hammered out a paragraph per 'chapter' as you have put it. And Syaoran being injured and the other two having found out about his abuse was the whole point of the last chapter. Sorry to disappoint you but rest assured, the next three chapters are gonna be comparatively longer.

Anywho… since my note might end up longer than the actual update, I guess I will just wrap things up here. Enjoy the update.

Chapter 8:

Desolate Soul

Syaoran clawed his way back into consciousness, feeling his body twitch. The effects of his last dose must have ended some time ago while he was unconscious. His body was craving another fix. Groaning to himself, he forced his body into a sitting position, taking in his surroundings in confusion. It looked like his room at the apartment he had been staying at with them a week ago.

But… how could he be back here?

He remembered being ambushed by the suppliers on his way back to Ryouh's place. The redhead had agreed to let Syaoran stay with him when he had showed up at his doorstep. But then again, it wasn't really that big of a difference. He had been spending most of his time getting high in the apartment anyways. So far, he hadn't had to resort to stealing to get his fix. The money he had earned from the Chess matches had been more than enough to cover his latest habit quite nicely. But that had changed when he left to live with the redhead. Even though it had only been a week, the suppliers were a nasty bunch not willing to let the 'junkies', as they liked to call them, have more than two days at most to arrange the money, beating the shit out of anyone who failed to do so.

Syaoran, unfortunately, had not been able to return them the money he owed, so he had ended up being jumped on.

They must have found him lying on the alley floor. But… why bother bringing him back here at all? Why not just leave him to destroy himself on his own? They hadn't really cared for him so far, so why start now?

As the itching on his arms began to grow worse, he clambered to his feet, body twitching every now and then. Whatever their reasons were for bringing him back… he was not going to stay here. He did not need them or their acceptance anymore. Not that he would ever fool himself into believing that they'd accept him in place of his clone in the first place.

He scratched the inside of his elbow, hoping to make the itch go away if only for a little while as he looked around the darkened room for his shoes. He was getting out of here before any of them had a chance to know he was awake.

His plan failed, though, when the door to his room open with a whispered creak.

A/N: Cyber-Cookies for anyone who can guess who has come to visit Syaoran. ;) ;)