"What?" Kamariya frowned.

"Quarrel's twin," Rathi sobbed, weakly, into her hold. "Ryou was there and he... he used me... he made me attack him-!"

"...Why?" Kamariya breathed. "You two are...why would he hurt you like that?"

Rathi shook his head. "His mind is... its lost. Its split... all that's left is the pain..."

"Pain?" Kamariya blinked. "Split? You complete him though."

"His mind is split in two," Rathi explained. "A projection... he has a projection of his kindness. Its no longer in him..."

"Projection?" Kamariya gaped. "What have they done to him!?"

Rathi shook his head, clinging to her desperately. "He's lost... he's so lost, Ka..."

"Nothing is lost...you are here." Kamariya held her brother tightly. "You are here and there is hope...these men are not stronger than you two."

"He doesn't even feel it," Rathi whispered. "He can't feel our connection... I think that the seperate half of him feels it. He protected me from Luda... Luda was going to kill me, Ka."

"He couldn't have." Kamariya held her brother's face in her hands. "That is why you are alive."

"I'm alive because Glace feels our connection," Rathi whispered, frowning. "But Ryou..."

"Ryou?" Kamariya blinked.

"He was hurt, like I said," Rathi breathed, tears threatening to come up again. "You remember Ryou... he taught us English when we were younger."

"Yes, I do...how hurt Ra-Ra?" Kamariya asked.

Rathi just burried his face into her shoulder with a weak sob.

"Ra-Ra..." Kamariya hugged her brother tightly- petting his hair.

--

"I've done what I can," Neko whispered as he finished stitching up the wound, before rising his hand in the blood-stained water. "Time is the only thing that will tell, now..."

He looked blank - empty. Like he wasn't able to feel anything.

"...He's sleeping...he's still breathing Neko." Denum assured.

With a small nod, Neko got up and moved out of the room.

He rinsed his tools off in the sink and poured the blood he had pulled from Ryou's lungs down, his face still solem.

He then set the tools into some boiling fresh water to sterilize them.

"...Neko?" Denum called- having followed the man.

Looking up, Neko gave him a small nod, before he turned back to look down at the boiling water.

Denum stood in the doorway a moment before sighing and walking back to rejoin LiSen and Shotaro.

LiSen quickly looked up while Shotaro blurted, "Is everything okay!?"

"Ah, wait till I close the door!" Denum gaped and shut the door behind himself.

Shotaro covered his mouth and listened, but heard Neko moving around and let out a sigh of relief.

"Okay." Denum breathed out as well. "Ryou's alive."

"I'm so glad!" LiSen cried, relaxing his shoulders a little. "Is Neko alright? I can't imagine having to do surgery on the person I love..."

His cheeks turned a little pink.

"Neko's...fine." Denum frowned slightly. "Shota, it was Luda and he's loose and pissed off."

"I heard that," Shotaro whispered. "As soon as we can, I want us all to move to the Silver city. If there is anywhere you will all be safe, its there..."

He looked down, his shoulders tense.

"Did you... hear anything about your father?"

"Nothing." Denum shook his head- looking tortured. "Ryou couldn't tell us anything."

"I'll go ask Rathi," Shotaro informed, moving to stand.

"You ask?" Denum blinked. "You might kill a bystander."

"There aren't any left," Shotaro reminded in an empty voice as he slipped out of the room.

"That's your dad's husband, right?" LiSen asked Denum, once Shotaro was gone. "He's really nice..."

"He's not bright though." Denum sighed. "And he doesn't like me and Kayen."

"Are you kidding me?" LiSen asked, frowning. "He was telling me how worried hei s about Kayen and how proud he and your father are of you."

"Huh?" Denum blinked. "What? Why?"

"He was really nervous about Ryou, I think," LiSen informed. "He thinks its all his fault. And he was scared for you. He thinks you hate him, though."

He turned his face away.

"It's not my business," He admitted. "But... he's really proud of you... especially since your dad cheated on him and you were born. I mean... he really loves you, Denum. Like you're his own..."

Denum stared at LiSen a moment before looking away.

"I don't hate him...I don't know where he gets that." Denum said. "I just don't understand him...or dad for that matter, you know?"

"I get it," LiSen admitted. "I don't get them, either. Subjecting themselves to science is one thing... but their own son?"

He slowly reached for Denum's hand, before pausing and lowering his hand back to his lap.

"My parents were just too poor to pay for food," He explained. "So they sold me and kept my big brother."