{These characters are not property of me. I would never attempt to claim them as my own. This story may not be used without my permission, and may not be used to make money in any way, shape or form. Characters and certain situations were created by Rumiko Takahashi, so don't try any funny stuff!}

"Week's up, 377. Aren't you happy?" Kenzo began unstrapping him.

He opened his eyes, the room coming into focus. He looked at Kenzo, not quite registering what was going on. "Week?" He was disoriented from spending a week in his room, most of it in bed, with minimal human contact. His normal schedule had been completely disrupted.

Kenzo had finished with the restraints and helped him sit up. "Yeah. It's time to get you cleaned up." Kenzo helped him stand up; he was desperately in need of a shower. "Geez, 377. You need a shower bad."

He put his arm around Kenzo, not quite able to support himself. His legs were rubbery from being in bed so long and his back was stiff and painful. Whenever he moved, pain shot through his entire body. He groaned and grimaced as Kenzo helped him to the door.

"Is your back still that bad?"

He nodded. The entire week, his battered back had never stopped hurting. The muscles had spasmed and tightened, and there had been no one to help him.

"Well, I shouldn't really give you this, but you need to be able to walk," Kenzo said, pulling out a syringe. Kenzo stuck him in the arm with the needle and put the syringe away. "That should help in a few minutes."

Kenzo helped support him as they walked slowly to the showers. Whatever Kenzo had given him hadn't kicked in yet as they entered the changing room. He wasn't able to undress himself and sat heavily on a stool.

Kenzo began to remove his clothes for him. "You know 377, I'm too good to you. If Yasuo was here, he'd make you crawl, then let you lay there until you could do this yourself."

'At least Yasuo is honest. He doesn't do anything to someone who's helpless. I could have defended myself against him. I can't against you, you slimy piece of shit.' The ferocity of his thoughts surprised him. That type of language was not normal for him, but everyday, he found himself slipping. He used such crude and informal language to everyone, the doctor, the orderlies, the other patients...

He was struck by a sudden surge of energy. Apparently, the injection Kenzo had given him was kicking in. He knocked Kenzo's hands aside. "I can do it myself," he growled.

Kenzo stood up, a bit surprised. "All right, 377. Do it yourself."

He yanked off his dirty clothes and threw them in the cart. He stood up and marched into the shower, his anger building. The water came on and washed over him, washing the filth from him. He washed, scrubbing thoroughly, and washed his lengthening hair. He turned around and let the hot spray pound on his back. It hurt, but he knew the heat would do it good.

"Come on, 377. Time's up," Kenzo said from the doorway.

He stepped back into the changing room, snatching the towel from Kenzo. The scowl never left his face, the anger never left his heart. 'Fucking bastard.' He looked at Kenzo. 'I wish I could fucking kill you. Five minutes alone with Yasuo's strap and you'd never fucking touch me again.'

He threw the towel in the cart and grabbed his clothes. 'Shit. I should beat the hell out of my sister for getting me into this mess. I wish I could see Nabiki...'

Those thoughts surprised him. He had never felt so strongly about what he had done. Violence towards his sister was something he never considered before. And he felt something more than just a need to apologize to Nabiki. He tied the pants and slipped the shirt on. 'Damn I'll be happy to get some real fucking clothes...'

They were sitting downstairs with the side door open. Tatewaki was looking outside with a blank look on his face; Nabiki was looking at him worriedly. He said he didn't feel like talking anymore, but he looked completely out of touch with reality.

Nabiki got up and went to the kitchen, where Kasumi was preparing lunch. "Kasumi?"

"Yes, Nabiki?"

"I'm worried."

"About Takuma-chan?"

"No, but I probably haven't thanked you enough for helping me out with him."

"It's no trouble. It's the least your family can do for you."

"Well, thanks anyway. Actually, it's Tate-chan I'm worried about. He was talking about being in the hospital, and now... He won't say anything at all."

"Maybe he just needs some time alone. I'm sure it couldn't have been a very pleasant experience."

"He said he hated it."

"Nabiki, could you go to the market for me? We're all out of carrots."

Feeling a bit blown off, Nabiki agreed anyway. "Sure. I'll be back in a little bit."

"Thank you."

Nabiki left the kitchen and gave Tatewaki one concerned look. "I'll be back in a little while, Tate-chan." When he gave no sign of having heard her, she put on her shoes and left.

Kasumi dried her hands and left the kitchen when she was sure Nabiki was gone. She watched Tatewaki for a few moments, then went upstairs.

Quietly, Kasumi made her way back down the steps holding Takuma. She sat next to Tatewaki and looked outside with him. "Nabiki said you had a hard time in the hospital."

Tatewaki's head turned slowly. He looked at her, then the baby in her arms. "I did."

Kasumi turned her body and handed Takuma to Tatewaki. "She's very worried about you."

He took Takuma. "I know. We both have our problems."

"I'm sure you could get over them together. You just have to let her..."

He was looking at Takuma, brushing his hand over the child's thin hair. "How can I burden her with my problems when she's already suffered so much? And at my hands."

"As strange as it might seem to most people, she cares about your well-being. She cares about the well-being of her family. And that's what I care about." She put her arm around him.

He shook his head.

"Not again, 377." Yasuo sounded disappointed.

He looked down at himself. There was food all over his shirt, his tray on the floor, and there was food all over Yasuo. Whoever had shoved him had blended back into the crowd. He began to shake his head. "No, Yasuo. It wasn't my fault. I didn't do it."

Yasuo grabbed his arm and pulled him into the hall. "377, what's wrong with you? Why do I have so many problems with you?"

He immediately dropped to his knees with his head bowed and his hands up. "I didn't do it. It wasn't my fault. I do what Yasuo says."

Yasuo looked down at him, the irritation draining away. 377 was only a boy after all. He had been under Yasuo's watchful eye for three months and hadn't received one visitor. Yasuo knew his file, knew what he had done. Yasuo couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him.

"Get up, 377." Yasuo's voice was noticeably softer. "Just be a little more careful next time. Come on, we'll get you a clean shirt."

Yasuo watched him stand, his body shaking slightly. "Thank you, Yasuo." He left his head bowed, grateful to avoid isolation or another beating.

"That one act of forgiveness and understanding... You couldn't possibly understand."

"You're right. I can't. But I'm sure Nabiki could."

"I'm back! Carrots were on sale even." Nabiki walked in and saw the two sitting together. "Kasumi, I got your carrots," she said, a little bewildered.

Kasumi stood up and took the bag from Nabiki. "Thank you. Lunch will be ready shortly," she said, and walked back to the kitchen.

Nabiki sat next to Tatewaki, seeing he had Takuma.

"Nabiki," he said, his voice quiet and serious. "I have to tell you about something. I just can't hold it back, I can't keep it from you."

It was just before dinner and they were all being taken to the dining hall. He wasn't sure exactly how things got started, but he felt a rough shove in his back and then a fist connected with the side of his head. He stumbled forward, putting his hand to his head, before he turned; he was pissed. There was a burly man with a scar on one cheek snarling at him. "What the hell..."

The man lunged at him, large callused hands closing on his throat. He was knocked to the ground, with the man on top of him, choking him. He struggled a bit, then relaxed. He shifted his weight and sent the man pitching off to the side.

Before the man could recover, he was there, beating the man. His fists were falling over and over again, until his arms were tired and his knuckles bloody. No one bothered to stop him either.

Kenzo watched the two fight, stopping other orderlies from breaking them apart. Finally, when he slowed, when it seemed the man underneath his was dead, he was pulled away. The doctor had showed up by that time and looked at him disapprovingly.

"Well, 377, I had hoped we could avoid this. EST," the doctor said and pointed down the hall.

Kenzo watched him be dragged away, smiling with a hint of satisfaction.

His shirt was ripped off and he was thrown onto a table. He started to sit back up, but was slammed back down. Then there was the familiar feeling of the restraints on his wrists and ankles. But this time, they weren't the leather cuffs with the fleece lining; they were nylon. They were looped through several rings, making it so he couldn't move his arms or legs at all. It didn't stop there, though. Another nylon strap went over his chest, so tight he had a hard time breathing; then one went across his forehead, keeping his head pointed straight. Several electrodes were attached to his chest, one over his heart, and two more were placed on his temples.

The doctor appeared before him. "377, we tried to give you the benefit of the doubt all those other times, but you've gone too far."

An orderly placed a large plate in his mouth that prevented him from shutting it all the way. He tried to ask what was going on, but the plate prevented it.

"Start him at something mild, then move up. Make sure he remembers it. And get him ready to move to the second floor," the doctor said. There was the sound of the door shutting.

The second floor? But he didn't belong on the second floor. Didn't they understand that it wasn't his fault... And then the pain started. He tried to scream, but his voice left him.

Raw, electric fire burned his every nerve. It even felt like his brain was ablaze. And it wasn't stopping, it just kept getting worse and worse.

He bit down on the plate in his mouth and squeezed his eyes shut when it felt like they were going to burst. He arched his back as much as the straps would allow, his hands opening and closing spasmodically. It felt like his heart was ready to explode.

And then it stopped; the immediate pain ended. His body was filled with a dull ache and his heart was beating wildly. He opened his eyes, his vision blurred by tears. He gasped for breath when he realized he had been holding it. His teeth hurt and there was a ringing in his ears.

He tried to speak, but only managed in dribbling spit down his cheek. He heard the click of a dial and tried to speak again. "Ga..." was all he managed to get out before it started again. Then he did manage to scream.

Yasuo stood outside the room, listening to the screams. It wasn't right what Kenzo had done, it wasn't right to punish him like a criminal. Yasuo opened the door.

"Stop it right now! Can't you tell you're frying him?"

"It's what the doctor said," answered one thick-headed attendant.

"Yeah, well the doctor doesn't know anything about this patient. Turn that off!" Yasuo had to yell to be heard over the screaming.

The attendant responded and turned off the electricity. "He's only a kid, he can't handle that much..." Yasuo removed the plate and began peeling off the electrodes. When Yasuo pulled off the electrode over his heart, he yelped and struggled weakly as a flap of burnt skin was pulled away with it. "Fuck," Yasuo said, looking at the bleeding wound.

Yasuo went to the cabinet where the medical supplies were kept and got out a syringe and some sedative.

"Hey, you can't do that," said the other attendant.

"Shut up. Just report me to the doctor and let me do this." Yasuo filled the syringe and administered the sedative. His struggling died down and he passed into unconsciousness.

Yasuo bandaged the wound on his chest and unstrapped him. "If the doctor wants to know, I'm taking him back to his room - 377." Yasuo lifted his prone figure and carried him back to his room.

Yasuo got him situated in his bed, knowing he would be out for at least another hour. Yasuo was just locking the door when Kenzo came up and started talking.

"Hey, Yasuo. Don't you know he's going to the second floor?"

Yasuo glared at Kenzo. "No he's not, so why don't you just shut up, you piece of shit. I saw what you did."

Kenzo looked surprised for half a heartbeat. "What are you talking about, Yasuo?"

"Don't play innocent, Kenzo. I saw you hold Minoru back. You let 377 beat 362... Almost to death."

"Quit making up fantasies, Yasuo."

"What's wrong? Wouldn't he cooperate and be your little toy? So you decided to get him moved and maybe someone who would participate in your twisted little games would be put in 377."

Kenzo's eyes narrowed.

"What did you give 362 to have him jump 377? Did he know he was going to have the crap beat out of him?"

Kenzo's silence was all Yasuo needed.

"You bastard. You let 377 have his brain fried... You know he doesn't belong on the second floor; he'll get eaten alive down there. And all so you could have a new boy- toy. You make me sick, Kenzo."

Yasuo walked off towards the elevators. The doctor was going to get a rather thorough report about Kenzo's actions. Kenzo would be exposed and removed from the hospital. Kenzo most likely wouldn't see another health care job again. Given the chance, Yasuo would have liked to strap Kenzo to that table.

"Wake up, 377. You have to wake up now."

He opened his eyes, his whole body in pain. There was an orderly in his room he didn't recognize. Fear ran through him; he was on the second floor. He was stuck with the really violent patients, where it was easier for the orderlies to just let them fight, than break them up. "I don't belong here! I should be on the third floor! None of it's my fault!"

"You ARE on the third floor, 377. Now get up. Showers are in 15 minutes." The orderly left the room.

He sat up, feeling more confused than ever. he was still on the third floor, apparently in his own room. But he had heard the doctor say that he was to be moved to the second floor... And where was Kenzo?

He got out of bed and immediately sat back down; he felt all woozy, like his body was out of balance. Showers... That meant it was... He wasn't really sure what day it was anymore. Only that is a shower day.

The door was unlocked and opened, and in walked Yasuo. "How do you feel, 377?"

"I don't know. I hurt all over."

"That's to be expected. They cranked it up pretty high on you last night."

"Oh." He sat in thought a moment. "Where's Kenzo? I didn't recognize who was in here earlier."

"Kenzo's gone. Toshio will be your new day orderly."

"Oh," he said again. "You mean Kenzo's not coming back?"

"Nope."

"Am I being moved to the second floor?"

"Nope."

"Oh." He was silent after that.

"You'll like Toshio. He's a good guy, he'll treat you honest." Yasuo started to leave.

"Yasuo?"

"Yes, 377?"

"Thank you." He bowed to Yasuo.

"It was no problem."

"I'm sorry you had to go through all that," Nabiki said, not sure of a proper response.

"So am I. I don't think I... want to talk about it anymore."

"Then we won't." She leaned against him and looked out at the birds chirping in the trees.