Anna looked up at the older girl who was put in the same room with her. The binds on her wrists had been undone before the door closed behind her. " Bastards, " the girl muttered.

" Are you… ? "

At the sound of the soft voice behind her, the other girl whirled around, and stopped, her jaw practically dropping to the floor at the sight of the doll like child. " Who are you? " she asked, coming to stand in front of Anna, her already wide eyes becoming even wider in disbelief as she realized that this girl was another victim of Mizuchi's. " Did they hurt you? "

Anna could feel the suppressed rage in the girl beginning to stir at the unbound cruelty of the Gold Clan, and how a child wasn't spared from it. " My name is Anna Kushina, " she answered softly. " And they haven't touched me yet; I just arrived. " She blinked at the girl. " And you? Why are you here? "

The girl sighed in obvious exasperation, and sat down beside her. " My name's Amira Arashikage, " she answered. " Those guys kidnapped me probably for the same reason that you're here: to experiment on. "

" Not for the same reason. "

Anna's words got Amira's attention. " Huh? "

Trying to control her trembling, Anna told the older girl the truth about why she was here: Mizuchi had murdered her parents when they refused to hand her over to them so that he could force her to sync with the Dresden Slates so he could make her into the Blue King. She had been under her paternal aunt's care since then, and was made a clansman of the Red King, Mikoto Suoh. The problem was that her aunt had been kidnapped by Mizuchi, and he had threatened to kill her if Anna didn't go to the facility to let him experiment on her. The entire time that she was talking, Amira's dark expression had slowly darkened even more until she looked ready to rip out the guts of those who were responsible for the situation that she and Anna were in.

Anna's trembling hadn't escaped the older girl's attention either, and as the child told her story, Amira had gathered her in her arms and pulled her onto her lap, stroking her hair. She would never know how her presence comforted Anna in her terror, and she held onto her arm as the girl rested her chin atop her head. Amira's eyes wandered the cell, searching for any possible weapon to use, or an air vent that could be used for their escape.

There was none.

None of them knew how long had passed, but suddenly, the doors opened, revealing Koshi Mizuchi flanked by two other men dressed similarly to him, his cruel, spider like eyes on the duo in the holding cell before him as Amira Arashikage rose to her feet and placed herself protectively in front of Anna. He laughed in delight at the sight of Anna who stared at him, her ruby eyes wide with fear as she held onto the older girl. " So you've returned, " he noted. " Wise decision. "

" You dirty bastard, " Amira's voice was low, but there was no mistaking the hatred and rage that showed in her eyes. " Threatening and murdering an innocent child's parents so that you can play God with people's lives just because the Gold King holds the Dresden Slates! You'll pay dearly for this! "

At his signal, Mizuchi's two aides entered the cell, closing in on the two females. " I can assure you that my intentions are quite honorable, Arashikage-chan, " he sneered. " The best things are never gained without any pain. " The entire time he was speaking, his eyes were on Anna.

Amira's eyes never left the murderer who had taken her family away from her, and robbed the child behind her of the right to live a normal life, putting her in a situation similar to her own. Her tone, gentle while addressing the child she was trying to protect, also carried an ominous note that was directed at their captors. Behind her, she felt Anna's hand slip into hers, and she squeezed it assuringly.

I will protect you.

I'll get you out of here.

" Close your eyes, Anna. "

Just as the two aides reached for her and Anna, Amira lashed out. With a murderous cry, she swiped at the man on her left, trying not to think of the sickening sensation that threatened to make her vomit as her fingers dug into his flesh, ripping his eye from its socket while her foot shot out, and caught the man on her right in the groin. She tossed the bloody eyeball in her hand away as its former owner collapsed to the floor while howling in pain as he clutched the bloody hole where his eye had been only seconds ago, her expression matching the cold rage roaring through her. She then turned to his partner who was still gasping from the blow to his pride and landed a straight kick to the area below his kneecap, feeling a sense of vengeful satisfaction as her move resulted in the sound of cracking bones before bringing both her hands up at the same time, and clapping them over his ears, blasting his eardrums. As he collapsed in turn, Amira turned her attention to their boss, moving to make sure that Anna was still behind her and protected.

I will not allow them to harm you.

Amira was so focused on advancing towards Mizuchi that she didn't see her one eyed opponent from earlier grab the taser from his belt as he rose to his feet. She only heard Anna call out her name before a shocking pain struck her from behind and everything went dark.

When she opened her eyes, everything was in a blur, and all types of sound just seemed so LOUD. She was lying on a cold floor, the tiles making her feel more chilled than before. The sound of feet scuffling around irritated her as she slowly tried to re-orient herself.

" Amira..? "

Anna's voice was like a breath of fresh air to Amira who was feeling suffocated in the stuffy recesses of her disoriented brain. As her senses began to re-align themselves, she realized that her head was pillowed on Anna's lap, the precious child's ruby eyes wide with fear and worry; she could see that much even though her vision was taking its sweet time to clear.

" Baby… "

Her words came out in a low croak, even as she tried to sit up, and only managed to do so after a slow and agonizing five minutes – with help from the child she wanted to protect.

They were in a room that looked like a cross between Victor Frankenstein's laboratory and a torture chamber.

It was both.

Amira heard Mizuchi order his men to prepare the blow torch that he would burn Anna with, along with the basin where he would drown her, and the noose that he would choke her with so that her power would be stimulated by the pain.

Upon realizing that Amira was awake, Mizuchi ordered his men to tie her in the chair where he would electrocute her after he was through torturing Anna.

He would make her watch.

Amira's chest tightened at the realization that Anna would be put through the kind of torture that not even an adult would survive, and as she rose to her feet, pulling Anna, she knew what she had to do.

No.

I won't let you!

Once again, she placed herself between Anna and their advancing captors. Anna could sense her fear, but also her fierce determination and her anger. Comforted by the presence of her friend, Anna concentrated her power so she could send out a message to Mikoto Suoh and the rest of the Red Clan so that they would come to save them. She knew that Amira was waiting for her father, but he wouldn't arrive on time. Touching her friend's hand, Anna telepathically communicated what she had done, and that HOMRA had been alerted to her situation; they were now on their way.

Amira hugged her, allowing her to see one of her rare smiles that came from her heart. " It's alright, Anna, " she whispered. " I'll protect you. "

Anna realized too late what Amira intended to do.

Before Anna could stop her, Amira pushed her away slightly, before emitting a strong aura, her eyes on her.

I will protect you.

Suddenly, a watery bubble formed itself around Anna, and as she found herself being lifted off the ground so that she was floating mid-air, she pulled one of her marbles out, and looked at her friend through the ruby sphere.

She saw Amira's long, black hair billowing like an ebony veil, along with her green eyes that were like the sea, and the crystals that were part of its mysterious treasure. Amira watched Anna, her smile sad, but also content.

I promised that I would protect you, Amira's voice sounded in her mind as everything began to fade around her. And I intend to keep that promise. Not for me, but for you.

The last thing she saw was a furious Koshi Mizuchi slapping Amira.

Anna opened her eyes to see Amira running out of the exploding lab with her in her arms.

She had been tortured.

Amira may have been able to put Anna to sleep so that she wouldn't witness what was being done to her, but that didn't mean that the little girl didn't know. The entire time she had been unconscious, Anna had been able to sense that Amira was in pain, but determined to hold out until HOMRA and her father arrived. Anna sensed the kind of agony that Amira had been put through almost as soon as the other girl had taken her in her arms before they fled the lab, and it broke her heart to know that the other girl had suffered in her place because she had protected her.

But Amira was obviously determined to keep her word – to protect Anna, and to kill Mizuchi for what he had done to them and their families.

When Amira had disappeared after delivering her safely back to the Red Clan, Anna had sensed her grief as her father died in her arms, and the rage that allowed her to kill Mizuchi before leveling the Nanakamado facility to the ground in retaliation. While she made her new home with the Red Clan, she sensed the other girl's presence in the same city, and knew that she was alive.

She also sensed that the danger that they had escaped from wasn't gone, and was just waiting for the chance to strike.

And when it did, Amira would be right there.