A/N: Here's the next chapter with some M-rated torture and some not so M-rated flashbacks. *shot* Ahem. What I meant to say was, like I mentioned last time, the torture due to its graphic nature is an M-rated scene just to be on the safe side. If you do not have the stomach for such, please scroll down to the flashback part that I have marked in big bold letters. ;)

Now, Enjoy!

He came to with a confused groan; blinking a couple of times as his brain grew coherent enough take in his surroundings.

He was lying on his back, on some sort of hard surface. He shivered slightly as a cold, chilly wind attacked the exposed flesh of his torso, a high window to his right being the source of the incoming air, also serving as the only source that was illuminating the room by allowing the silvery rays of the moon to filter inside.

His right leg throbbed painfully as did the back of his head. It seemed to have taken quite a hit and it definitely hurt like hell. In fact, his whole body ached like it had been trampled by a raging stampede of the vicious Northern Blue Bulls. Every cell of his body screamed in protest as he tried to move his limbs. Judging from the size of the waning moon visible through the bars of his jail cell, he'd say it was his fifth day of captivity, and so far he had neither been fed, nor given any water.

Almost as though hearing his thoughts, the door to his dungeon opened and six burly-looking men who were probably all muscle and no brains stepped inside. A tall, slender-looking female with deathly pale skin and charcoal colored eyes strutted right after them. A sadistic sort of smile adorned her otherwise pretty features, making her look cruel and demented with that crazed gleam in her eyes.

"Despite what you did to our guards," she spoke in a soft tone, the sound of her voice sending an involuntary shudder racing down Fai's spine, "we are not barbaric enough to starve you." She informed him, but something in the manner she looked at him made the blond magician think that this was definitely not a good thing.

He tried to struggle to his feet but the woman merely chuckled at him as she stepped closer towards him. She kicked at his trembling arm with her pointed shoe, making him fall face down on the dirt-ridden floor. The woman threw her head back in laughter when Fai shot her a venomous glare, her pale hair gleaming in the moonlight, almost looking like spun threads of silver.

"Such hatred," she giggled, looking over her shoulder at the men that had accompanied her. "Boys?"

Before he could even register what was happening, four of the men were upon him, throwing him roughly down on his back. They then moved to his arms and legs, pulling them outwards till he was in a spread-eagled position, before proceeding to stand on his limbs. Fai's eyes widened in shock as the pain this rough treatment caused to his damaged limb registered in his mind. He barely managed to keep himself from screaming.

Note: Read the following scene at own risk!

Something was thrust under his neck, making his head rise from the floor as rough hands grasped the sides of his head. The last man callously grabbed his jaw and pried his mouth open. Fai struggled to get it to close, his limbs flailing in an attempt to get free but all that did was jostle his broken arm and further agitate the bullet digging into the flesh of his leg.

A stick almost as large as a belaying pin was shoved into his jaws, thrusting them apart even further without the man needing to hold them anymore.

"I'm pretty sure you are thirsty," the woman crooned as she sat down next to him, picking up a pitcher filled with some sort of liquid that sloshed as she moved it. "So, how about something to drink first, hmm?" Smiling as he merely glared back at her, she brought it over his mouth, almost a foot away from the ground where he lay. "Now be a good boy and make sure you don't spill any. After all," her smile widened, "this is the only time we'll be allowing you to have something to drink and eat. A creature like you is lucky to even receive the few chances we are willing to grant you."

Without any further warning, she tilted the pitcher, pouring the water onto his face, down his throat and nose. Unable to move his head away from under the water, thanks to the man holding his head, he thrashed weakly, jostling his injured limbs as his lungs burnt from the lack of oxygen. The water travelled down his throat into his stomach, threatening to freeze his insides as the darkness threatened to consume him. He gasped for air but all that filled his lungs was water.

When he was about to pass out, the woman stopped, watching him with a satisfied grin as he panted pathetically. His stomach was filled to its limit, almost to the point of bursting and he couldn't help the whimper that escaped his lips.

"It appears to me that he is not yet satisfied," she chuckled, "how about we make space for some more?"

A harsh blow to his stomach made him cough and splutter as bile rose to his mouth, burning his throat as the acidic water spilled through his parted jaws and to the floor. Tears of pain flowed down his cheeks as he was hit several times in his tender stomach before the woman returned with a refilled pitcher of water.

"Thirsty?" she grinned widely at him as she tilted the pitcher once again.

As his consciousness began to slip away, he felt like a man who was drowning, yet could not drown.

-0-

FLASHBACK:

"Oye! Mage, mind telling us what the heck is going on here? Who is this guy?" Kurogane finally decided to interrupt their conversation when it seemed as though the magician had forgotten all about his companions.

"Oh. Right," the blond gave them a sheepish grin as he scratched the back of his head. "Guys, this is the Oracle." He said, introducing the dark haired man. "Who also goes by the name of Nixon Blaze."

"And how exactly do you know this guy?" Kurogane narrowed his eyes at the seemingly blind kid. His eyes were sightless, that was for sure, but the way he carried himself did not hint at any such handicaps. He did not carry around a cane for support for one thing.

"He came to the court as a part of a delegate back in Celes." Fai answered cheerfully.

"Speaking of delegates, I heard you mention Masooma-chan. Is she here as well?" Fai directed this last part at Blaze.

"Yeah, she's here." The addressee nodded, his smile turning somewhat sad as he said that. "But she's changed."

"Changed?" Fai cocked his head in confusion as they followed the Oracle down the winding streets of the underground settlement with brick houses and apartments lining a major portion of them. Near the center, however stood a larger pyramid-like structure which was at least seven stories high, towering over everything else. All streets seemed to lead to his structure from what Syaoran could glean of the architectural layout of the settlement.

"This world isn't exactly what you can call safe for our kind." He explained as he led them towards the pyramidical structure. "I'm sure you noticed that much when you ran into Violetta."

"Yeah," Kurogane decided to once again join the conversation as Syaoran took in the sights around them. "What the heck was that all about?"

"The history of this world is a dark one," he answered cryptically, "how about you freshen up before I indulge you in that?"

"Oracle-san-" Syaoran started only to be cut off by the brunette in question.

"Nixon is fine by me." he smiled politely at the amber-eyed boy, "I don't care much for that title if you know what I mean."

"Alright, um… Nixon-san-" he started only to be interrupted by a surprised gasp.

"F-Fai? Is that you?"

A/N: And that's it for now. I hope you enjoyed it. Next time, we'll get to see what's happening with Syaoran.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to let me know.