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"Ryuu-kun?" an eleven year-old Sakura said quietly, opening the door to her brothers room. It was a good size for a teenage boy. Big with little in it. It was pretty much empty besides the twin sized bed, the dresser, the oak desk, and a small mirror. The door to the adjacent bathroom was open so she supposed he might be in there. Sighing she stepped into the bedroom and went straight to the bathroom where her older brother was currently sitting on the floor, banging his head on the drawer on the bottom part of the sink. Something he normally did when he was frusterated. "Why do you do that oni-san?" Sakura asked curiously.

"I'm thinking."

"About what?"

"You ask a lot of questions."

She was silent after his statement. He'd been grounded again because of her telling their mother he was going to try to run away for the second time.

"Are you mad at me?" Sakura asked softly.

"No."

"But I got you in trouble." she whispered.

"It's fine." he said, clearly irritated.

"How long did she ground you for? Can you leave your room?" Sakura asked, worried that she'd lose her playmate.

"A month and no, I can't."

"If I asked her do you still think she'd let you play with me?" she asked timidly. Ryuu stopped banging his head and looked up to her. "Why would she do that?"

"Because I'd be all alone. Everyone else is to busy to spend time with me." she said sadly, amber eyes looking down at the floor.

He sighed, got up and embraced his younger sibling. "C'mon, let's go on the roof."

"But you said you couldn't leave your room."

"If i'm on it right above my room it still counts as my room." he explained opening the door that led to the small porchdeck outside his room. Along the side of the outside wall was a wooden ladder that the two normally used to get onto the roof. She climbed up it first as Ryuu closed the door to his room before following her. The sun was just beginning to set, making the sky an array of vibrant colors. Lying down on the tiled roof, Ryuu sighed. "It's pretty." Sakura said softly, eyes on the setting sun. "I guess." he said, pale amber eyes closing. "You know it's sort of funny, everytime I see the sun set it always reminds me of your eyes."

He looked at her admirably. "I suppose so."

   He was running. Running away from that cursed house that had become his cage. He didn't say goodbye to anyone, just collected a few things, waited for the storm to start, and left. His parents wouldn't miss him, they were to busy for him anyway. Momoko wouldn't miss him, she'd told him he was just a rebellious boy. Sakura. Sakura would miss him. Shaking the thought he headed for the West side of town.

The West side of the Hollow was the worst part, but he needed to go through it to get to where he wanted to be. Through it was the fastest way to get to the North side. The streets here were littered with alleyways. Inside them dwelt the most terrifying monsters, waiting to trick and devour their prey. Here was also where pets where sold. Humans sold to dealers for tremendous amounts of money. Men would sell their own sons to these dealers, dealers who'd sell them to upper level demons. Most people in the streets were there looking for pets.

Children to serve and please them. Ryuu, being no older than fourteen stuck to the shadows, afraid of meeting one of these dealers. Coming from a respectable family, he knew very well what they did to pets and he didn't like the idea of it one bit. Walking through the streets unnoticed he saw several dealers, several people lined up to buy them, and several people dealing out hundred dollar bills at a time.

Rain came down hard now, drenching him. Lightning crashed overhead and against his better judgment he went down the nearest alleyway. It was dark, damp, and smelled of blood. Ryuu sighed, it wasn't going to get any better than this. He slumped against a wall, tired and cold. Closing his eyes he reminded himself that within a few days he would be with Yuki and she'd take care of him like she promised.

"Look what we have here?" a female voice said slyly. She was tall, with a black raincoat, it looked like leather. Behind her stood few other people. A muscly looking older man, a young girl looking about ten, and a boy that looked only a little older than he. The woman eyed him with interest. Ryuu stood up, ready to defend himself if nessacary. She laughed. "Don't worry little one, we won't hurt you." her voice was hypnotic, almost making him drowsy. "Shiro-kun, would yo-"

The younger boy cut her off. "I want no part in this."

The woman sighed. "Very well." she muttered, turning to the mucusled man, she whispered something to him and he smirked. Ryuu shuddered, and before hearing anything else he bolted out of the alley. The rain was hard, and it blurred his vision but he kept running. Hearing them behind him he ducked into another alley and ran into someone coming out of the back of a resturaunt. She was beautiful, perhaps only in her mid twenties. Her hair was a silky pitch black and it was up away from her face. She had alabastor skin that looked smooth like expensive China. Wearing a silk red kimono and bright red lipstick she looked serene. "Shihori-san! I had no idea-" the woman in the black leather coat started.

"Quiet Seiren, i'm keeping this one." she said, hand gently caressing the side of his face. Ryuu froze. Shihori whispered something in his ear and then he collasped against her.