I open my eyes. I don't remember closing them. My lungs are burning . . . so is my head, my neck . . . All over me, I feel blood. Drops, smears, pools . . . I can feel it as easily as I can feel a bug landing on my arm. I feel sick. Kiyoshi's arm is curled around my waist, and his other arm is draped across my now bare chest, thin fingers gently curled about my bruised neck. I finally realize I'm on the ground, on my side, with my brother . . . my older brother, pressed tightly to my back. At least my shorts are still on. I whimper involuntarily as thoughts flood my injured mind. Kiyoshi lifts his head at the sound I make, and I can feel his hot, moist breath on the back of my neck.

"Kito? What's wrong?"

I hate it. I hate him. He sounds worried. It's this tone he's got, and he only ever sounded like that once before. I was broken when my dog died, and Kiyoshi was there, holding me, stroking my hair. He sounded worried then, like now. I was crying so much I couldn't breathe. Just like earlier. I couldn't breathe. He kisses the back of my neck as I shudder.

"Kito?"

"W-what did you do to me?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all. You should thank me."

"It hurts."

I can barely sit up, but I do enough to see him. I realize it's his blood I'm covered in, not my own. The only blood from me is the small trickle from the back of my head. His thin body is littered in slashes and cuts . . . from a knife, I'm guessing, since his is sitting only a few feet away, stained with blood.

"Poor doll. Why does it hurt?"

Suddenly, I'm angry. He hurt me, he touched me, he kissed me, and then he asked me if anything was wrong.

"You did this! You know why it hurts! W-What's wrong with you?! Wha-"

He cuts me off by tightening his grip about my neck, just enough to make it start throbbing again.

"Shush. Understand this, Kito. I saved you. I saved you from being alone. I saved you from cruel girls and boys. Thank me."

I'm silent. He tightens his grip. I squeak.

"Thank me!!!"

"T-Thank you." My voice cracks.

I feel his fingers relax as he lets out another chilling laugh. He soothingly massages my side, and I can't help but lean into his touch.

"Such a good little brother. You're mine, now. You may look at no one but me. You may think of no one but me. You may touch no one but me. You may love no one but me."

". . . what if I don't want to?"

He pulls me down. I fall the short distance to the floor. He's so much stronger than I am.

"I didn't kill you the first time, Kito. But I can always try again." His voice is a gentle, lulling purr.