Polokins, Deshykins and their army of mutated chickenkins. :)

Kougu stared at the ground in obedient silence, no bothering to object or defend himself, since the stream of words seemed to be running from her mouth with no end. Plus, it did not take a genius to see that she probably had no intention of listening, even if he tried to explain to her that he would not, nay, could not succumb to her wishes, no matter how long she interrogated him for. He did not attempt to voice his opinion on how she could not possibly understand him until she knew him completely... Though she would never get that chance. Even he had missed that chance... He barely understood himself. It was not possible for others to understand. In some ways he wished it were, but he was unique. He had been... Too unique...

The rusty hinges of the door creaked slightly, and the boy winced at the noise, terrified that he might be caught eavesdropping. Thankfully, his parents' voices were raised to such violent tones that a bomb could have gone off, and they would not have heard it. He watched through the keyhole as the heated argument unfolded. His parents were both on their feet, his pregnant mother angrier than he had ever seen her before with her long blonde hair flying about like a lion's mane. His father, tall and dark haired, was yelling his lungs out, his face flushed beet red and a vein throbbing in his temple. It was the first time the boy had ever seen his father lose the cool, calm composure with which he always acted. For a brief moment, fear choked the boy, but he forced himself to keep listening. By now he knew one fateful fact: They were arguing about him. "-Raised him just the way you told me to - now this!" His mother was yelling, making violent hand gestures as anger radiated from her every word. "-Just like you!" His father was retaliating at the same time, shouting louder to make his protests heard over his wife's high pitched tirade, "He's too damn soft! Not going to be any use to me the way he is! You *** him up, you did!" His father was in a blazing fury now, and the boy quailed beneath the wrath in his voice, wishing that he could run, yet unable to tear his eye away from the keyhole. "He's special!" His mother shrieked, her voice breaking into hysterical sobs as tears flooded from her eyes. "He's unique! He-" She broke off with a hiccup as the boy's father cut her off, roaring louder than ever. "Special?! Unique?! He's nothing! He's not even a person. He doesn't need a personality, so stop spoiling my attempts to crush it! What use will he be with opinions of his own?! Don't you go forgetting-" He growled as his wife interrupted him, her voice now so high with hysteria that the boy could only comprehend some of the words. "...What?! ..." He pressed his ear to the keyhole instead, just in time to catch a high pitched note of sarcasm. "... Little 'agreement'?! ... My son! ... You-" She broke off, took a deep breath to steady herself, and went on in a calmer voice, her speech clear again now. "I don't want to be a part of this any more." She concluded coldly, glaring up at him. He looked taken aback and, for a moment, even upset. Yet he quickly got a grip on himself, replying in a calm tone to rival her's. "Be a part of what? Saving the world? Fighting for the greater good? If good is to prevail over evil, then sacrifices must be made. You should understand that." He finished coldly, waiting tensely for her answer. "I won't let him be sacrificed." He replied firmly, through a tremor shook her voice. Her husband ran his hands through his hair, seeming suddenly weary. "Very well..." He muttered softly, "But then you are standing between me and my goal." The conversation ended there, as the boy heard his father's footsteps coming toward the door. He turned and dashed away, moving as quietly as he could. What did it mean...? He didn't understand...

Kougu shook his head, forcing himself to focus, and biting hard on the inside of his cheek to distract himself from the relentless torment of his memories. "I... Don't mind that you ask questions..." Kougu began softly, staring uncomfortably at the ground, he raised his head for a moment and parted his lips to continue, then noticed that she had stepped toward him, and felt panic dry out his mouth and render him incapable of speech. As she jumped backwards, a whole new degree of panic flooded his face. Not just panic, but fear. Despair. He knew what might happen. She might trip, and fall on the stairs. She might be injured, she might endure pain... The thought was almost more than he could bare. He had to do something, he couldn't just sit back and watch this unfold! He reached out to grab her hand, but found he was too late. He watched, as though in slow motion, as she crashed to the ground, pain knifing through him at the sound of the impact. He could not stand seeing people get hurt... He would do anything to avoid it, anything... Just to have to see another person in pain... It stabbed at his heart and shredded his soul. He quickly rushed to her side, then stepped swiftly back again as she began coming round. He dropped his gaze again, fidgeting slightly, and tried to hide the fact that his legs were shaking from relief when he realised that she was okay. He slowly raised his head as she spoke, meeting her gaze with eyes full of doubt and disbelief. He wished he could believe her. He wished she could understand... Though even if she had found some small insight into his words, thoughts or actions, he knew she could not fully understand him... Life had taught him that it was not possible. She did not understand... She didn't... She couldn't....

He suddenly shook his head, breaking his thoughts off the roundabout track they had got stuck on to listen to what she said next. For a moment he simply pondered over her entire statement, then one specific part began to sink in. She... cared? Was that even possible...? It could not be true. She was mistaken, he was sure of it. Human emotions wee troublesome things... They were never certain. Thy were often mistaken... And in his case, they were often denied when complications arose. Just like that moment. If, by some arcane aberration, she did in fact care... Then what did it mean? She wanted to make sure he was safe? Alive? Perhaps that was what he was doing... Caring. He did not want to see her get hurt... Maybe, just maybe, she felt the same way? He had never thought about it like that before... Never considered the fact that other people might share the same thoughts and emotions that he did... That same terror of seeing others hurt... He shuddered slightly at the thought, then gradually raised his eyes to look at her. The hesitance in his actions hinted toward timidity, yet his gaze was solid and steely. Kougu was weak, he was frail and he was fragile... Yet at the same time, he was as tough as the hardest of diamonds. He was not normal, not by a long shot, yet he was now beginning to understand... The reason his traits so often contradicted... It was not because of him, but because of his past... It had made the impossible possible. That was what made his father a great man...

Finally, Kougu found his voice again. "I appreciate that... I really do." Kougu informed her quietly, his voice holding the enough sincerity to pledge an eternal oath. "I am sorry that I alarmed you, the entire situation was bad judgement on my part. Please don't think on it. I won't be caught unprepared again." He promised solemnly. The intensity of his gaze was shocking. He was seldom able to maintain eye contact for more than a few moments, yet now he would not let his gaze drop. His dark eyes were deep and soulful, and while they seemed to tell a story, they gave no hint as to what it might be about. Just like everything about him... Aways cryptic and mysterious... He took a deep breath, then released it slowly, preparing himself for a self sacrifice that was far more risky and difficult to him than jumping in front of a gun. "Very well." He muttered softly. "If it will put your mind at rest, the I shall examine that room." He finally acquiesced, yet it was abundantly clear that he was still unwilling to venture into the place that caused him such pain.

Eva began swaying on her feet. He head trobbing from the pain. She reached her hand back and gently rubbed her head. Only to find a horrid sticky substance. She winced and drew her hand back. She looked blindly at her hand. It was covered in a crimson red sticky goo. She had split the back of her head open. Her hair was laced with blood. She scrunched her hand up into a fist, her nuckles turning white with the strength she used. He could see it. She didnt want him to notice it. How was she going to cover it up? he was going to notice it sooner or later, thats if he hadnt already. She winced in pain again. "I'm glad you dont mind my constant blabble" her voice was soft and beginning to weaken. The picture infront of her begging to fade and spin around. She forcibly grabbed hold of the step she was now sitting on. trying to hold herself still, yet the spinning kept going. Her eyes half rolled into the back of her head. She forced herself to open them. she wasnt going to pass out. she couldnt.

Eva watched him carefuly. He was in his thinking mind again, far away from reality. Hopefully he hadnt noticed her cringeing in pain. She force a smile to her lips as he was shaeing his head, and acting like she wasnt really there. He truly had gone into a dep thinking state. His riverie soon broke. He spoke but he vioce seemed in distant lands. Was he speaking to her, or himself. she didnt know what was real or a dream anymore, they seemed to be merging together. he was talking again, she didnt hear what he had spoken, but her head seemed to be bobbing in the motion that she understood what he was saying.
He was talking to her again, but this time she understood a little of what he was saying. She managed to find her lips and made them move. "You dont have to do anything. If its someone they have no means of escaping without us seeing them first" She winced in pain. her words had drained her last bit of energy she had. her breathing cam quick and heavy. Now he would definatly notice something was not right with her. Her vision black out...

She was back in the bright room. Another guy had joined the first man. Both wearing the same outfit. yet one was tall and the other short. She snorted out a laugh at the guys. "I am not giving you anything!" she laughed harder and kicked out at the shorter guy. her long legs reached him easily. he buckeld over from the waist. She had kicked him so hard his knee's had jammed. He screamed out in pain, then the other guy picked her up buy the neck along with the chair attached to her.

Panic jolted through Kougu as he rested his full attention on her, only to find that something was not right. Why hadn't she said anything?! He might have been able to help her sooner! Muttering frantically under his breath, Kougu turned to dash toward the bathroom where he kept his medical supplies, then he paused and cast a nervous glance toward the top of the stairs. Damn... He had caught on to her paranoia. Biting his lip in concentration, he knelt beside her and carefully pulled her arm over his shoulder, then gradually straightened and dragged her as smoothly as he could. It turned out he was a fair deal stronger than he looked, and moving her was not too difficult. He slowly lowered her onto the couch, making sure her head was properly supported, then turned away and dashed toward the bathroom, ripping the cupboards open and grabbing all the supplies he might need. It was at times like these that he became slightly thankful for the upbringing he had endured. Slightly. He shuddered at the memories, then dismissed them as he rushed back to the woman's side. Sharp blow to the back of the head... She would most likely have a concussion. He examined the wound with a professional's gaze, and finally came to the conclusion that her life was not in danger. Or so he hoped. He pulled on white rubber gloves before setting to work. He cleaned the wound with a damp gauze, then grabbed a wad of cotton wool soaked with antiseptic liquid, and pressed it lightly to her injury. Once he was sure it was clean, he put a wad of gauze over it, and bandaged her head professionally. Finally, he filled a bag with crushed ice and set it beneath her head, hoping that it would reduce the swelling quickly enough that no pressure would be put on her brain. He stepped back to admire his handiwork for a moment, then remembered something he had forgotten. He grabbed an injection needle and filled it with an instant painkiller. As he was about to pierce the skin on her arm, a sudden thought struck him. The needle had upset her before... If he wanted to save her a little bit of panic, he ought to try another method. He cast her one final concerned glance before trudging over to the kitchen, seizing one of his many pills that were scattered all over. He dropped it into her mouth, then waited for her to swallow it. He breathed a sigh of relief as it went down. He had been lucky. More often than not, that method proved ineffective. Kougu knelt on the floor beside her, then bent over her and gently pulled her one eye open to check the pupil. A frown of concentration crossed his face as it hovered mere inches from hers, yet he did not seem able to think about anything other than the job at hand. He did not even realise just how close to her he was... For him, that was an aberration of note.

She chocked and gasped for air. Her legs flailed around. "You pathetic teenager!" the other man growled in her face. "You think you can out samrt us dont you? Huh?" He got right up in her face, and she spat at him. He dropped her on the floor as she had hit him the eyes. She had good aim and never ceased to fail. She landed with a crash on her side. Her ribs crack under pressure. It had knocked all the wind from her and now she lay trying to get air into her lungs like a fish out of water. Her eyes were bulging. The pain sucumbed her and took away her consciousness.
She awoke to find herself strapped to another chair, in a different room. This time they hadn completely taken away all forms of movement. She was wrapped up lke a mummy, except for her neck and head. The room was the same as before. A blinding white covered the walls. Except that there was no screen in this one, just a video camera directed right at her. She was in the far corner of the room. The size seemed stupid as for she was tied up, and could not even use the rest of the space. Why had they put her in such a large room? Thats when something made her look into the corner closet to her. There was a heap of clothes, wait not clothes, but human. She gasped. She new exactly who it was before she even had to look properly. It was her father.

Eva eyes began to flicker, but then stopped. Her fingers twitched, but nothing more. She was not ready to come around just yet. Her chilhood memories dragging her back holding her there. She could release them, she was stuck on the world of the inbetween.

Kougu slowly straightened again as he finished his observations. He walked over to the kitchen and stripped off the rubber gloves, throwing them into a near empty bin beside his kitchen bin, clearly meant for medical waste. He glanced back toward the woman, suddenly wondering what he should do. She was injured now... That meant he would probably be stuck with her for a while, since his conscience would not allow him to let her risk aggravating her injury. Of course, that was extremely troublesome and problematic for him, especially if she decided to star asking questions again... Still, at least he was able to tolerate her presence... And at least she did not intentionally push him too hard... Well, other than the interrogation. He sighed, even more confused than before he had started thinking on it, and ran his hands through his hair in a weary gesture. His fingers brushed lightly over the scar on his temple, and suddenly an image flashed through his mind. A man, running his fingers through his dark hair, just as Kougu was doing at that minute. His eyes widened in shock and he dropped his hands to his sides instantly. He stared unblinkingly into nothingness, slowly dragging himself onto the arm of the couch and sitting there in a daze of despair. What was happening to him...?

She didnt say a word. She blinked in horror. was he dead? Alive? Injured? dead? The word Dead kept coming across her mind, each time giving her a freash slap around the face. Her eyes began to water.
The guy in the corner stiflled a moan. he was alive, or atleast not dead. "Father!" her words came out slow and gentle. His moan became louder than before. She tryed to get her feet to move alittle but it was too hard for her weak, damaged body. She rocked her chair from side to side. tru#ying to tip it over. The motion got bigger and bigger untill her face ebventuually met with the cold hard floor. It made her vision shimmer from the hard impact, but didnt knock her out. She used her body like a catterpillar and pushed herself forward. She pulled her legs up the best she could them pushed her body forward. She made it across the floor inch by inch. And by the time she reached him, she was almost out of breath.
her turned to face her. His face was pale and bruised. His arms and legs bound. tears began to overspill again. He turned over so he was now facing her, it seemed to cause him too much pain yet he still did it. "They will kill me" was all he said. then his eyes closed from exhuastion

Eva gasped and suddenly sat bolt upright. She was somewhere new. Her vision blured and swarmed around her. She had moved to quickly. Her eyes closed and she slumped back against the.. wait what was she laying on. She felt around with her hands. She was layed on a couch. Dam. He had seen her pass out and must have moved her. She hated the fact that he was now caring for her. She winced at the thought. She hated being taked care of, she hated being modycodled. She pushed herself up into a sitting position and swung her legs over the edge of the sofa. Her hands went to the back of her head instictivley. She could not feel the smoothness of her hair, but the horrid texture of a bandage. A horrid expression spread across her face like a wild fire. She began undoing it and tryed to stand at the same time. This was clearly not a good combination.

Kougu slowly raised his head and glanced over at the woman. "I know it's unpleasant, but please bear with it." Kougu requested politely, his tone somewhat dull and emotionless, making him seem almost robotic. His mind was still elsewhere. "If you want to recover quickly, you need to keep it bandaged and keep the ice on it. That was a nasty knock you took." Kougu informed her, his voice still somewhat distant. Was it true...? Was he becoming like that man...? The thought scared him, and he suddenly found his hands trembling in his lap. He tucked them away from sight for fear that the woman would notice. He had not meant to insult or upset her... He had only been trying to help... He had to help. Yet now it seemed he had only made it worse... Perhaps he was turning into that man after all. Working for the 'greater good' that he saw in his own mind, yet causing people to suffer along the way... The prospect was too dreadful for Kougu to comprehend. He released a soft sigh, determined to hide his distress as best he could. It was simply a weak moment... He would find a solution, and he would get over it. At that moment, the woman's safety and well being were his first priority.

Eva studdied him carefully. She slumped her shoulders and gently placed herself back onto the sofa. She looked at her left hand and realised that it was still covered with blood. She cringed away from it. Her voise came out all wraspy and weak. "Can i have a wipe please" she asked carefully looking away from her hand. She didnt mind the blood one bit, it was just making her head hurt more and her stomach lurched and wretched. A queesy felling. With her right hand she grabbed the ice and pressed it against her head. She gasped in pain. Just the slightest movement or brush against her wound made it scream with involentry pain. She looked at him again, just moving his eyes. He was fidgeting. And shaking. Something had upset him. He loked like he was going to have a nervous break down. She instantly wanted to help him, but when she moved the pain caused her to fall backwards. She was stuck again. Not knowing what she could do. she sat there watching him as he tryed to hide his quivering. "Are you okay? did i hurt you?" She asked hoping that she wasnt causing him pain. she couldnt bare that. She had already caused to much of it in her life.

"Oh... Here." Kougu replied, grabbing an antiseptic wipe out of his pocket and handing it to her. Now that he had some physical action to complete, he was able to snap out of his dazed mental state enough to focus on the present. He was glad that she had chosen to take his advice this time... It would save him an awful lot of grief, and he was thankful for that. He raised his head to watch her expectantly as she spoke again, frowning slightly in concentration as he tried to think of a safe answer. "No, I'm fine." He replied quietly, not bothering to elaborate on that statement. It was truthful, even if it did not tell the whole truth... He was starting to realise that he was freaking out over nothing, though. Just because he shared a few of his father's old habits did not mean his personality would wind up the same... He shuddered slightly at the thought, then shoved his mind onto a different track. There was no point dwelling on the things that were sure to upset him, especially since this woman did not seem to like it when he was upset, and the last thing he wanted to do was cause her even more discomfort. He had inflicted enough harm already... That was the exact reason why he wished she's never found him collapsed in that alleyway... Look at all the suffering and panic he had caused her since then. He really was pathetic... Still, all he could do was try his best to make some small difference in whatever way he could. At least the woman was alive. That was good enough for him... At least he had managed that much...

Eva gently took the wipe from his hand. Her fingers gently brushing along his. It sent a chill up her spine. She had never really touched him before, not when he was conscious anyways. She quickly drew her hand back and lowered er head. She could feel her cheecks warming up. Why was she so embarrased all the time around him? She was just not her usual self with him it scared her yet also comforted her. She wiped her hand, having to dropp the ice pack. She sturggled to do so, what with her head throbing, dizziness was coming back to her and she barlet had the strengh to rub of the dry crips blood. She sighed and slouched back into the sofa. She was hating what she was about to do, but there was no other way. she sighed and then met his gaze. "Im sorry for putting you through this, but im affraid your going to have to lend me a hand" Evas voice was dry and cracked. She closed her eyes ready for him to jump and run away, or to just refuse. She didnt know what was coming. But she hated asking for help. but as she had told him a few times, sometimes you just had to suck it up and bare it. She was and was eagerly waiting for him. Whatever his decission was.

Kougu raised his head as she spoke and offered a tense smile. He had to admit to himself that he found the prospect of having to draw near to her somewhat distressing, but he also knew that it would be all right if he was doing it to help her. He got to his feet, abandoning his seat on the arm of the chair, and walked off a short distance. He returned with a fresh pair of medical rubber gloves which he tugged on over his hands before grabbing another wipe from his pocket. He dropped to his knees beside the couch and reached out for her hand, taking it gently and rubbing it clean with firm strokes. He was clearly taking the utmost care not to cause her any pain, for the pressure of his grip was distributed evenly between each finger, and he had placed each of them strategically to avoid putting pressure on bones or nerves. He was overdoing it to a ridiculous extent, of course, but that was simply the way he was. If he had to do it anyway, he would put in a hundred percent effort. Kougu remained silent, concentrating hard as he worked, which thankfully saved him from feeling awkward. He was glad he could do something, no matter how repulsive he found the prospect of closeness. He was slowly starting to tolerate it a little better though... At least, he thought so.

Eva opened her eyes to only watch him with curiosity as he dissapeared. She was about to get up when he came back. He had segical gloves on. He was slightly Odd, it was only dried blood for crying out loud. She rolled her eys, but gave him a gentle smile. She watched as he gently place his hand on hers and began wiping away the blood. She was glad she could relax for once and not have to fret about herself. "Thank you" She mummbled and was watching his face now. She looked down at her hand just as he was about finished. before he could move away she grabbed his hand. Her grasp was weak but frim. She waited for him to look her in the eye. Hoping he wouldnt run off fromher touching him. "Thank you" She mumbled again. "Im sorry for being a pain earlier, its just that i ... i dont like to be nursed. I hate it. I hate people having to worry about me. I am not used to it either" She lowered her head. But it hurt so much she almost screamed. She bit her lip. Hoping he wouldnt notice. Black splotches began to appeare across her vission. She focused her breathing and tryed to not black out, again. She breathed heavily. She slowly moved her ead back and rested it on the back of the sofa. her eyes clampped shut, Still biting her lip.

Kougu was about to move away when he suddenly felt her grab his hand. He flinched as though he had just been punched and tensed up instantly, slowly leaning away from her, yet fighting the urge to get up and pull away completely. "Don't worry about it." Kougu replied stiffly. He would have tried to smile, but his face felt as though it was made from stiff cardboard. He narrowed his eyes in concern as he noticed the signs of pain, though she hid them well. "You should rest." He adviser softly, gently prising her fingers off his hand before retreating all the way to the kitchen, apparently just to throw the gloves away. Yet even after he had done that, he simply stood there and fidgeted for a while, trying to reason with his slightly traumatised mind to move in the general direction of the couch once more. Finally, he managed to drag himself back into the lounge, then stood uncomfortably beside the couch, no longer daring to venture close enough to seat himself on the arm. "I'm sorry for having to do something you hate." Kougu murmured quietly, not making it clear if he was speaking to her, or just thinking out loud. His eyes remained trained on his feet for the entire time, since he knew they would only dart away again even if h did try to look at her... "And I'm sorry for apologising now." He added, his lips twitching in what might almost have been an amused smile.

Eva smiled at him, one of the many few things she could do without causeing herself too much pain. She felt him as he gently removed his hand from her grip. She opened her eyes only to find him walking away. She tryied to follow him with her gaze, but it was just too much for her. She silently gasped in pain. Trying not to be heard. He kinda cared about her welbeing in a weird way. He was trying his best not to touch her much but then at the same ime trying to help her get better. She felt like a jerk making do things he hated. She was properly causeing him much pain too. he was taking a long time in the kitchen. Hiding from her no doubt. However just then he return and starltled her when he spoke. She was so engrossed in herself that she didnt even hear him coming back. She almost jumped of the couch and moving too quickly fell back aginst it in a dizzy rush of movement. "It is not your fault you pretty much had no choice. And im the stupid one for making you do things you dispise." She half smiled at him and shrugged one shoulder. She smiled at him for appologizing for appologizing. "do you have a spare room, i wont sleep well here, unless you wanted to take me home" She shrugged, she didnt know what she was doing, and she flushed for asking that. she wanted to take it back, but it was too late now.

"Careful..." Kougu warned, his eyes narrowing in concern as she almost jumped off the couch. He gingerly sat down on the arm of the chair again, attempting to force himself to relax, though he was fully aware that such actions were laughably futile. He simply smiled in response to her first statement, not really having anything more to say on the topic. At her next question, however, he frowned thoughtfully. He was well aware that she was in no fit state to move, and he would not really mind having her in the house as long as she kept far away from him, but he certainly did not have a spare room. Unless one was to count- But no, in his mind that room no longer existed and it never would again. On that point he would not bend. Still, that did not help his predicament. When the answer finally came to him, it was so simple that Kougu could have laughed out loud at his own stupidity, though of course, he did not. "You can use my bed." He offered with a vague smile, glad that he could be doing something to help, especially something that did not freak him out at all. "It's just across the hall." He said, turning and pointing in the direction of the room. "I'll help you walk there if you wish." He offered stiffly, glancing away and staring blindly into the distance. It had to be done. He had done it without a problem when she was unconscious, so it should not be any different now.

"You just startled me thats all" She half grinned almost a grimmace. She was fine except that the long day had caught up with her. She was completely out of energy. She was going to ask whether he had some kinda of high sugared food, but though secondly of if. She was a bad enough burdon on him already. She didnt need to add to it. She wasnt reallly paining attention to him, when his words struck her up tight. His room? He wanted to give Her, His Room! She didnt know what to do. She couldnt take his room, yet she had no energy to walk herself home. She was yet again stuck for an anwser. This was not like her, she always had anwsers no matter what the question. She nawed on her finger unsure what she was going to say. What the hell was she going to say? If she didnt except he would be hurt, but then if she did, she would feel strange being in his room. She was just so canfused, everything wasnt making sence. He was messing up her emotional well being. Yet she just couldnt stay away from him. What was this stupid thing about him, that drew her always closer, a dangerous close. She sighed she was just going to have to accept. Eva looked up at his face slowly. She took a deep breath and then spoke. "I guess i could, but then were would you sleep, you need to also. You dont look good" She yet again blurted out a rude comment. Her cheecks flushed. She hoped he didnt mind her telling him the exact truth. Cause he really did look like death. She suddenly then got the urge to touch his face, feel his boney structure. Examine his pale skin. She drew back as far as the couch would allow her and closed her eyes. Hopefully he wouldnt take it as pain. "Okays well i think i could walk there by myself, but your welcome to show me the way" She smiled gently and began to move of the couch. Her head was getting slightly better, her movements not causeing too much pain or another round of dizziness. her felt were now on the floor and she began to stand. She slowly pushed herself up, but when there was no cocuh left to help her she moved too quickly. The room span before her and she swayed on her feet...

"Oh, don't worry, I never sleep anyway." Kougu replied with a slight smile. He watched her efforts for a moment, then rolled his eyes and chuckled softly to himself. There was no need for her to try to do everything herself... Though he could not deny that he admired her courage and determination. Still, at times it seemed to border on foolishness. He stepped beside her and grasped her shoulder gently, steadying her in an effort to make her balance come easier. "Come on." He offered quietly, taking a step in the direction of the room, "You shouldn't be on your feet for long, it will only slow your recovery." Kougu informed her. He watched her for a while, wondering how she would react to his efforts to offer assistance. He assumed that she would be bitter at least, probably condescending. All the same, he never minded much. As long as people left him alone for the most part, he would tolerate just about any personality traits. He was an accepting person, really... Just a bit of a loner. And a weirdo for that matter... Though none of that mattered much at that moment. Kougu shook the thoughts away, forcing himself to focus. He glanced back at her, trying to keep his nerves calm and avoid the desire to run as far away from her as possible. There was no need. He was simply being... Well, himself.

Eva wanted so badly to flinch away from him. She took a deep breath and then leaned on him for support. She didnt realise how weak or tired she was untill she was using him for the support. She stifled a huge yawn and then rested her tired head on his shoulder. She patted his amr half in and out of sleep already. "You need to" Was all she said when her eyes closed shut and she was sleeping. However her legs still moved and she was still walking but resting on him. "Okays i wont be on my feet for long dont worry" She had no idea what she was saying or replying to, just that something was making her reply and walk. She began dreaming before she even new it, or was in bed for that fact...

Eva was no longer in the bright white room. She was in a damp cold, cemented area. There was no natural source of light. She was underground. A basement, or tunnels. She was again tied to a chair. Amrs behind her and legs tied to either chair leg. There were guys in another room watching Tv, she could tell by the flickering light it eninated. "Oi" she shouted and expected someone to soon come to her. They wernt bothered at all they just banged and yelled at her to shut her trap hole. She moved side to side on her chair causeing the legs to make loud baging noises everythime they hit the floor. It echoed through the place. She heared the scraping of a chair baing force back. Someone was coming to her.

Her head josleted and it woke her from her riverie. "Huh! Where am i?" She asked and looked up, her face so close to his, the closeness even startled her this time and she drew back from him so fast her almost stumbled backwards. Her feet losing grip of the ground.

Kougu blanched as she patted his arm, freaking out instantly. By the time he became aware of her head resting on his shoulder, he was shaking so violently that it was a wonder she was able to keep it there at all. The urge to fling her from him as hard as he could, and run far, far away was so great that numerous times he felt his muscles twitching in preparation for doing just that. It was all he could do to resist the powerful urges, and it took a massive toll on his strength. He was biting his lip so hard that his teeth ended up sinking half way through it before he became aware of the pain and let go. His legs trembled and threatened to buckle with each step, and a lump was forming in his throat, blocking the passage of air. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead, sending feverish chills throughout his body, yet he forced himself to keep dragging her forward. It was torture to him... Like having his bones broken one by one, or being tied to a pole and left to die a painful death as shoots of bamboo slowly grew through him. Yes, his knowledge of torture methods was wide, yet he was well aware that of all those he had experienced first hand, even the most painful, this was by far the worst. Finally he got her to the bed and took a deep breath to steady his nerves. It would not do for her to see him in such a state. Yet as she suddenly woke, it became too much for him and his grip on his sanity was finally ripped free of his grasp. He started shaking violently, his vision burring from the frequency of the movement. His eyes slid out of focus, almost as though he was in some sort of trance. For a moment he froze, then he grabbed at her as she stumbled and almost fell. He steadied her, then released her instantly, leaving her standing beside the bed. For the space of a mere fraction of a second, he was still. Then Kougu spun around and darted from the room, letting the door bang shut behind him. It had been too much... Far too much... He just could not handle it. He dashed into the lounge, climbing onto the couch and pressing himself into the corner, drawing his knees up to his chest like a traumatised child and staring blankly into nothingness, yet still sweating and trembling feverishly, as though he was deathly ill, not simply upset because of a little too much closeness.

"Than..." Eva let her word trail of, He had stopped her from failing yet fleed right after. She looked at the door hoping to see him return oor to get an anwser. She looked around. She was in his room. She felt lost and alienized. She hugged her amrs around herself and began shaking. She lookeda round herself. His room was spotless. Too spotless. It kinda fraeaked her out more. The room was white, a blinding white. It brough back her old memories. The bed was a double sized. This room she would sware she had seen it before ...

Foosteps came closer and closer. They were not coming from the direction she would have though. They were from behind. They got louder, and then stopped. She flinched away from the silence. Nothing happened. She then felt the prick of eyes on her back. There was more than one of them, and they had been running. "Eva?" one of them called out, it was quite so the other guys wouldnt here them, but loud enough for her too. "We will get you out of here!" where the last words she herd from then and then receding footsteps. The she herd the loud crashing of gun fires. They had either been cought and died or they had killed the gaurds. She hung her head. Only to find herself being ripped of the chair and flung over someones shoulder. She hit her head hard on his back and black out.
She woke to a white room. The sheets were scratchy. Sheets? where was she. She sat bolt upright and looked around. She was in a strnge room. Like a sceientist lab. The walls where white. the sheets also. The bed double sized. She looked down at her self, to see she waant wearing her original clothes. The door creaked open and in walked...

she was nocked back to reality. this room she didnt regonise it personaly, but from experience. She has been somewhere simular. Terrified. Forgeting all about her head injury she flew from the room in a cloud of dust. She hit the wall of the hallway just outside the door and slid to the floor. She wrapped her amrs around her face to try and cover the image. "Stopp go away!" She cryed out, forgetting that she want in her memory anymore.

Kougu jerked back to reality as he heard a shout, terror flaring up in him, causing his eyes to widen as he flung his weight backwards, flattening himself against the couch. For a moment he remained still, breathing heavily with his rapid heartbeat visible through his shirt, then he managed to calm himself just enough to bring the woman into focus. Forgetting his own issues, he scrambled to his feet and dashed to her side, dropping to the floor beside her so quickly that he bruised his knees. He thought he recognised what was happening... He had gone through the same thing so many times, and he knew the pain. He had to help her... He could not stand to see her suffering. "C-c-c-c..." He stuttered incoherently, unable to form words in his state of complete panic and shock. He took a deep breath and placed a hand on her shoulder, tension shooting from his fingertips up his arm to envelop his whole body, so intense that it caused him extreme pain. His tongue darted over his bleeding lips, then he tried again. "Calm down." He murmured softly, shaking her gently. Then another bout of panic struck, and he shook her again, slightly more violently this time. When he spoke, there was nervous urgency in his tone. "Snap out of it! You're fine!" He informed her in a hysterical voice, the pitch of his tone rising as terror rippled through him. He could not be so close to her so soon after such a freak out... He was going to lose it. He was going to go insane... Yet he had to help her. He would do anything to save her suffering...

Eva could feel someone shaking her first it wasnt so bad to endure but then it became more volent. She didnt dare open her eys to that horrid memory. She had to wake upi. She shut here eyes so tight she could almost see her brain. "Stop it go away!" She screamed and tryed to scrabbled back, finding only more wall pressed aaginst her back. She could her a familular voice deep in her mind. "Leav me Alone!" She screamed louder, wrapping her amrs tighter across her face. Sheilding herself from them, Him, she whoever it was. A voice louder than before hit her again. She really did regonise it. She focused on it. and she new who it was, it was Him. He was trying to snap her out of it. just like his wordds had siad. Her eyes opened and she saw him right inf ront of her. Before she even relalised what she was doing she flkung herself at him and wrapped her amrs around his neck. "Please!2 she begged her voice weak and scared. "Dont let him get to me!" He would know who she meant. Tears began rolling down her face.

Kougu heaved a sigh of relief when she came around, then it stuck in his throat as she threw herself at him. That way way beyond 'too close'. Way, WAY beyond. Kougu stiffened and froze, staring blankly ahead of him. He didn't know what to do. Even to himself, he could not describe the feeling that engulfed him. All he knew was that he was slipping, and fast. His heartbeat was pounding in his eardrums, veins poking up through his thin skin as his blood pressure began a rapid incline. He couldn't draw breath, he couldn't move... It was as though his body had shut down. His heart continued to beat; louder, faster and more desperate than ever, yet the rest of his body refused to function. He was slowly suffocating, trapped in his own maddened mind and being slowly put to death by his own disobedient body. Kougu clenched his teeth and drew upon the last of his breath, knowing that he could not hold on for long. "You're... going to be... Okay..." He gasped breathlessly, using sheer willpower to drag his limp arm upwards and pat her briefly on the back, the closest he could come to a comforting gesture. "It's... Not real..." He reassured her, practically spitting the words out as the final hint of oxygen left his lungs. For a moment he stiffened, trembling more violently than ever before, then he went limp and keeled over. For a moment it seemed he had simply fainted, then a tremor ran through his body and he started shaking and choking as though he was having a fit, his eyes rolled back in his head and his mouth foaming slightly. It continued for a few short seconds, then he went limp again and was still, his lungs unmoving, and his rapid heartbeat gradually slowing. It dwindled dangerously close to nothingness, then his unconscious body drew a shuddering breath, his lungs starting to function once more, and his heart settled into a steady rhythm. It the one moment when his heart had neared silence, a second beat could be heard... An ever so faint mechanical clicking, seeming to come from somewhere near his head... So soft, it might not have been there at all.

Eva rested her head on his shoulder, still hugging him tightly. She didnt want to let go. All she could think about was the guy from her flashback. His voice was still distant and faint, but she could make it out. "I will only be okay if he doesnt find me" She said through sobs. His shirt was beginning to get all sogy from her tears. She then felt his arm move and he rubbed her on the back. Thats when she realised what she was doing. She had passed the too close zone, even the dangerously close zone. Her eyes flew open and she began to back away when she felt him begin shaking. She rested her hands on his shoulders and pulled away from him so she could see his face. What was happening to him? Thats when she felt his body stop and go limp. She moved closer to him, he wasnt breathing, she rested her head in the place of his heart when he suddenly began breathing and his heart pumping again. She instantly threw herself backwards dropping him to the floor. Her heart racing, breathing quick short breaths. He had made her jump, she hadnt expected him to start breathing so suddenly again.

Kougu remained unconscious for a while, his breathing and heart rate gradually recovering from what must have been some sort of minor heart attack. He had freaked out, just as he had predicted, and the result had been a close brush with death. To think that life was so fragile... That something so simple could trigger such a violent reaction... Kougu's body remained unmoving, though his mind was slowly starting to function again. He felt terrible... He had wanted to comfort her, he really had, but it was just too much... He only hoped that she would not worry. Already he hated himself for not being able to alleviate her pain. If he caused her additional suffering, he didn't know how he would cope with the shame... Kougu began trying to wake himself from the darkness, determined to regain consciousness as soon as possible. Unfortunately, his body was not yet prepared to cooperate with him.