Author's Note: Oh look at that! Two chapters in a row. I feel pretty good, yes? Eh...sure why not. Please enjoy. Reviews are always a great help. I hope to be able to continue updating this in a timely fashion. Perhaps not as quickly as day to day but...not months in between either.

Shito dropped to the floor, panting heavily. Sweat dripped from his delicate features to the ground. His entire body trembled and his arms gave out, dropping him completely. Shito grunted hitting the floor with his shoulder. His right hand no longer supported him as it should. A sharp pain moved through it, causing him to curl around his hand out of protective nature. He was well aware of the narrowed eyes watching his every move. That vile gaze bore into his soul with every passing glance. It was that man's fault he was so weak. Every fiber of his being screamed out from the lingering pains of Touhou's maintenance procedures. Shito had known for a long time that the things Touhou did were not all necessary, but he really couldn't protest. Touhou never listened, his sickeningly sweet voice would coat every word of his explanations.

Soft clicking footsteps moved away, the soft hissing of air filled the air as Touhou took a seat on the dark leather couch. He crossed his left leg over his right, straightening his pant leg and picking a slight bit of lint from his knee. His thin smile slowly faded, even his abilities had failed to halt the rotting of Shito's right hand. It had come as a surprise to have started already. The last time Shito had been separated from the owner of his hand it took several days for the rotting process to begin. However it had only been two and a half at most. Touhou noticed it in the morning hours when he'd brought food for the living corpse to eat. Shito had tried to hide it, but even he knew that Touhou could sense the degeneration. It was in his expertise, dealing with monsters as he so affectionately called him.

"Ah, Shito-sama. It seems I was bit too rough on you today. I apologize. It has really been a bit too long since our last maintenance meeting. I had a lot of work to make up for." Touhou smiled at Shito's small tensed reaction.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd stop touching me unnecessarily." Shito said, a tone of defiance in his voice. He pushed himself up back onto his knees, his right hand tucked against his stomach. "Are you finished? I'd like to return back to my room."

Touhou chuckled and stood moving towards the smaller man. Shito's eyes narrowed watching him, too exhausted to bother trying to move away. Touhou drew his long, slender fingers across the back of Shito's shoulders, stopping to twist a bit of hair between them. He bent over taking in the scent and letting his own breath trickle through the strands of ebony hair. Shito shook his head pulling his hair from the pale fingers.

"What do you want, Touhou?" Shito asked. His face turned away. He had no desire to look upon the China man's face more than he had to. He could almost feel the revolting smile spread across the man's face.

"I've made it clear what I want, Shito-sama. Now, I'm just waiting for you to start giving it to me, without having to ask." Touhou slide both of his hands down onto Shito's shoulders, massaging them hard enough to leave bruises. "In time, you will."

Shito growled pushing the hands away and rocked forward to stand. "Wishful thinking, trash. Stop touching me." Shito stepped away a little, not having anywhere to go. He steeled himself and turned around to face his 'guardian'. His glare met Touhou's eyes quickly, before looking away again. He'd never admit it, but the things he saw in those eyes frightened him. Ever since he'd woken to find a new Touhou, a new guardian standing over him, those eyes told him he could never trust this man. "Allow me to my room, Touhou."

Touhou nodded. "Shortly, Shito-sama. You are barely able to stand, let alone walk. Rest here with me for a while." The older man gestured towards the couch behind Shito. "I've something to discuss with you."

Shito flicked his eyes towards Touhou in thought. A few moments later he complied, sitting down, tiredly. He purposefully sat in the cent of the couch, to avoid offering Touhou a place to sit beside him. Another sharp pain coursed through his right hand and he held it closer to his stomach, grimacing. "With all your abilities…you'd think you could fix this problem." Shito muttered.

"Ah, that is what I wished to discuss." Touhou paced the room a little, one hand crossed over his stomach, the other, at his chin. "It seems that your previous partner, Akatsuki Chika has been suffering the same discomfort as you, in regards to the right hand. In order to stop this, as you know. The two of you have to be near each other."

Shito looked up at him. Akatsuki? It does make sense. If my hand is rotting, his will be as well. Perhaps I'll be able to see him, talk to him about what happened.

Touhou chuckled at the reaction. "I can assure you, he is not going to be seeing you. He and Shiba have requested that you are not told where they will be staying, which is understandable. They already have to come all the way here just so Akatsuki-kun can keep his hand. He's already being quite inconvenienced in the matter."

Shito folded his arms, wincing a little at the pressure on his hand. He turned his head away to stare at anything but the man before him. Part of him believed what Touhou was telling him, most of him in fact. Though there was still that small part of his mind that told him that something was wrong. Something wasn't right, but every time he thought he had a moment of clarity, it was gone in an instant. He sighed, shaking his head in frustration. Touhou ceased his pacing and watched him, eyes narrowing. He guessed that Shito's mind was having a hard time making sense of all of the information he'd been given. It was a possibility. His power was similar to hypnosis in this regard, only suggestions. Touhou walked over laying a hand on the ebony-haired zombie's head. His fingertips glowed for a few seconds. Shito's expression changed a little, his clarity once again blurred, his thoughts of hope turned to despair at the loss of someone.

"Why are you telling me this?" Shito asked, looking up. His eyes searched Touhou's face for the answer he wanted.

Touhou sat on the edge of the couch, one hand resting on Shito's shoulder. "You'd realize as soon as he was here that your hand was getting better. I thought it better that you knew the reason."

Shito nodded. "Sure. May I leave now?" He turned his gaze from the China man once again.

Touhou stood and nodded. "Yes, you may return to your room. I will have your dinner brought shortly."

Shito nodded and stood. He moved towards the door and waited until Touhou unlocked it for him, then walked, escorted, back to his room. Finally alone, he lay on the bed staring up at the ceiling. The photo he'd been given was now torn in half. The part containing Shiba had been torn to pieces in the waste basket. The reason, Shito couldn't really remember why, but he knew he'd done it for something important. The other half, Chika, was laying on the pillow next to Shito. For some reason he longed to see the silver-haired boy, sprawled out on his bed. Even though he'd pretended it bothered him, Shito would turn away, a small smile on his face. Right now, looking at the picture made his heart ache. Maybe it was what Chika had said to him. Maybe it was that Chika didn't want to see him. Maybe…it was that small part of him that kept telling him something wasn't right.

Shito sighed and rolled over onto his side, the picture at his back. He curled a little, safe-guarding his injured hand. He closed his eyes a moment, feeling the fatigue from his meeting with Touhou. He was tired and didn't care if he missed dinner. He felt as though he was only existing. No real purpose to his life besides that which the Xu Fu told him. So why not sleep it all away? He allowed his breathing to deepen and slow, sleep slowly taking over his mind. He became less and less aware of the room around him. After a few minutes his subconscious took over, pulling him into a fitful dream, a nightmare.

"Oi, Shit-Shito what are you taking so long for?" Chika yelled at him. Shito couldn't see where the voice came from but he knew who's it was. Shito walked forward, towards the voice. Something told him he had to find Chika. It felt urgent. Like he was running out of time.

"Shito, why aren't you with me?" Chika's voice changed. It sounded almost…scared.

"I-I can't find you!" Shito called. He slowly began running. A small light at the end of the hall, but no matter how fast he ran it never got any closer. He panted running faster still, Chika's voice calling out for him. "Why can't I find you?"

Chika didn't answer him. He was greeted by a soft sound. What was it? He couldn't really tell what he was hearing. Was it….crying? Shito pushed himself harder the white light instead of evading him, enveloped him suddenly. Blinded, Shito stopped, holding a hand over his eyes.

"A-Akatsuki? Are you there?" Shito asked, moving forward, the light dimming.

"Yes, I'm…here…" Chika's voice finally responded. It didn't sound right. It sounded off. Like something…was horribly wrong. The light dimmed further, revealing him laying on the floor. His clothing torn and tattered, his body bruised, bleeding, broken. He trembled both from cold and from pain. His eyes, now dull, slowly dragged to look at Shito. His voice sounded harsh, like he'd been screaming. "Why…did you abandon me….Shito?"

Shito's heart stopped. "What? Abandoned? I never-"

"You…gave up…y-you…didn't…fight….for me…."

"Akatsuki, what are you saying?" Shito moved forward to reach out to the other zombie. His hand reached and almost touched him before Chika disappeared. In his stead was Shiba, smirking at him.

"You've come too late." Shiba said chuckling. "You were never enough for him. For my Chika-chan." Shiba moved away and turned, holding the broken Chika in his arms. "I'm taking care of him now. You are worthless."

"Wait! Akatsuki, I don't understand!" Shito stepped forward. He didn't want to lose Chika. He was important to him. He had to make Chika understand.

"You're place is here, with me now, Shito-sama." Touhou's voice wrapped around him, like silver chains, holding him back. "You were never wanted. Never loved. You're place is here."

"No…" Shito's voice wavered. "It's all a lie…"

Shiba turned and walked away, Chika cradled in his arms. Slowly, Chika's eyes opened and peered at him over Shiba's shoulder. They looked frightened. Shito gasped trying to see better, trying to break his bonds. Chika mouthed something, but no sound came. His eyes begged for him.

"What? Akatsuki- Chika I can't hear you!" Shito yelled.

"…me, Shito…." Chika spoke louder. He was unable to move but he tried one last time before disappearing.

"SAVE ME!" Chika's voice screamed in agony.

"AKATSUKI!" Shito screamed sitting up. His body was in a cold sweat and he couldn't stop the racing of his heart. He looked around, finding himself alone in his room. The dinner tray resting on the table. He clutched his right hand to his chest, feeling the pounding of his heart. What was that just now? He'd never had a dream like that. It felt so real. Like Chika was actually there, calling out for him. Shito lay back down on the bed, his mouth open dragging in breath after breath, trying to calm his heart so he could think properly. That ever present voice in the back of his mind, telling him that he was missing something very important. That dream, came for a reason. And he needed to find out why.

"Akatsuki…what were you trying to tell me?" Shito whispered looking at his right hand. "What…am I missing?"