"You did a wonderful job today." A dark voice cooed, their body concealed within the shadows that loomed over the dark hallways known to be Big Madam's property.

Behind the rusty cell gates a pair of blood red eyes stared intently at the figure, not moving a single inch. The haunting melody of the woman's words mixed with the eerie feeling was forever imprinted into the walls, but the boy was practically immune to it by now.

"I did?" His voice was heard barely louder than a whisper. Behind the soft tone there was a fleeting glimpse of happiness which Big Madam managed to notice.

"Yes, look at all the good boy points you earned! I'm proud of you Rei." She answered, making the boy's dry lips stretch into a pained smile.

"Since you've behaved so well lately I got you a present."

His heartrate increased, reminding him that he still had something alive inside of him no matter how dead he truly felt. His thin, dirty fingers curled around the grimy bars, hoping the present was what he thought it was.

There was only one thing he'd been wishing ever since Emi had gone, and it was for her to come back to him once again. The boy craved to be near her, it was almost unhealthy how many times he'd wished to be at her side. She was his little escape from the hell he'd been living in, and ever since she had gone all he'd done is wish for her to come back.

It didn't matter if she was to blame for all the suffering Big Madam had put him through. It didn't even matter if the woman had told him bad girls needed to be killed. Emi could never be a bad girl, could she?

The sound of a gate unlocking reached his ears and he immediately swallowed his nervousness and stood up. Maybe this time it would really be her. Maybe today his mind would be able to rest and get the sleep he much needed. Maybe, after so many years, he'd finally get to smile after all.

"Follow me."

And that is exactly what he did, what he had been doing his entire life. Following Big Madam's footsteps, becoming her shadow.

"You're going to love this one, alright?" Came the woman's voice as Rei attempted to follow patiently behind her, but his heartbeat proved otherwise.

After what seemed like an eternity they finally arrived at the familiar room where he'd seen Emi for the very last time. The same room where that blonde woman came and took her away from him.

But what was waiting for him didn't even come close to what he expected. The familiar figure he was yearning to see, his Emi, was nowhere in sight. Instead another figure took her place, making Rei's fists curl in frustration and his blood start to boil.

She was doing it again. She was trying to make him forget.

"Doesn't he look lovely?" Big Madam excitedly said, her big hands roughly pushing Rei forward, closer to the startled boy in front of him.

Piercing green eyes shone with confusion at the snow haired boy, his own redheaded locks framing his delicate face. He looked a bit older than Rei, his face more mature and resembling someone in their mid teens while Rei was barely thirteen years old. Neither boys looked too happy about their meeting and it proved right when they both spun around at the same time, facing away from each other.

"Mama-" Rei began but his words were cut short by the own woman.

"See Rei, I got you a friend. Isn't that nice?"

The boy remained silent, painfully swallowing what he was about to say. He didn't need a new friend, He needed Emi.

"I expect you to at least try to get along with him, since he's your partner for the next scrapping at the restaurant." Big Madam explained, her golden brackets glowing with fresh saliva that flew out of her mouth with every word.

Rei gritted his teeth.

"Mama, when is Emi coming back?" He dared to ask, but very soon regretted it once the smile on the woman's face dropped.

"She's not coming back." Big Madam glared at him, her expression taking an evil turn as she continued. "I'm not sure if she's even alive."

Rei's left eye twitched. His teeth felt like they would soon break through his skull as his nails painfully dug into his palm, his curled fists drawing out blood.

"She's alive." He muttered. "I know she is, I can feel it."

"Whatever you say, darling." Big Madam smirked, adjusting her stare on the foreign boy a few feet away.

"I want you to familiarize yourself with his fighting style. You have five days until the restaurant." She instructed to the snow haired child as she grabbed both boys' hands and dragged them out the door and into the dark hallways. Soon they found themselves facing those God forsaken cells, where she threw Rei into his and opened up the one who formerly belonged to Emi.

Rei took a deep breath, trying to keep his cool as he watched Big Madam shove the resisting redhead into the cell that once held the person he most cared about.

"I expect you both to work well as scrappers. You wouldn't want to lose good boy points, would you Rei?"

Something inside the boy made a somersault, his head shaking quickly from side to side as his scarlet eyes widened with fear.

"Good." She replied, eyeing the redhead one more time before turning around.

"His name is Ayato Sakamaki. Please, try not to kill him too soon."

And with that the woman walked away, leaving the two boys drowning in silence. The tension was suffocating, but each boy had different reasons for it.

"Ayato..." Rei's soft voice resonated through the cell.

The boy in question furrowed his eyebrows in response.

"Don't you even think about taking Emi's place." Rei whispered, taking a deep breath before continuing. "If you do, I'll have to kill you."

"Who do you think you are?" The redhead growled a response, his emerald eyes rolling in irritation. He had no clue who the crimson-eyed boy was, or why was everyone mentioning the name 'Emi', but he intended to find out. Maybe not now, but soon he would know. He was Ayato, after all, he could do anything.

"It doesn't matter who I am. You should be worrying about what I'll be very soon..."

Ayato squinted his eyes at the snow haired boy, daring him to continue the sentence.

"I'm going to be the end of you."

----------------------
FLDSMDFR!

He's Ayato, in case you were wondering.... Hot vampaia >:)

Hello guys! So this update was short, but it came rather fast right? No? PLS LOVE ME :"D

ANYONE NOTICE ANYTHING REGARDING THE CHARACTERS?! Wow, how obvious am I? XD

Anyways so I was already planning this chapter out, but a comment I recieved on my last update urged me to post it now (the one asking for a Rei POV)

And this won't be the only one in his POV, I have several more planned out already! Unless you guys don't like his POV.... :")

Remember when I said the story is nearing the end? Well, we're in the final events, but I still have like 10 or so chapters planned already so...It won't be ending as soon as I thought.

Senpai held my hand for like 5 seconds today, so I'm very hyped XD

Anyways thank you all for the support this story gets! It really keeps me going guys. XD