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Chapter Text

  Place oval tower

       "You!  run that way!", said mink running towards  the other side of the corridor while aoba stood there he could hear the gun shots behind the partition they were hiding. "But mink!", he said little bit unsure. "Just run! ", he said really annoyed. Aoba pursed his lips in anger," how can he be this rude ?", he wondered but decided to run anyway. He took a deep breath and started running straight ahead. He was really worried about ren with a new chip, he was wondering when he will be able to check on him. He ran past few closed doors all were electric completely sealed. He stopped in front of a door when he saw toue's men where few feet away from him, they weren't looking at his direction. But he can be easily seen if they just turn this way. He slowly moved near the door to just get away from their sight. All of a sudden he heard a clicking sound and the electric door opened which made him slightly jump but before he could react he got dragged into the room by a unknown force.  He saw himself flying and falling down on his back inside the room with the room closing on the same instant. "shit!", he cursed when he fell on his back which actually hurted a lot. He got up and looked  around . He froze when he saw someone standing right behind him and felt the person was someone familiar. It took him seconds to figure out who it was, it was sei the boy who he saw in tv with toue . He gritted his teeth at the boy because someone associated with toue is not going to good. The conversation between them didn't go well. But within minues the boy disappeared. He stood there in complete shock because he didn't get any clear information from the boy. Moreover, "why on earth he should destroy the boy's mind?", he wondered. while he was lost in his own thoughts. Something smacked his head from behind and everything got  blurred. Aoba fell to the floor but before his face hit the floor everything became dark.     

When aoba woke up, he was strapped to a chair but when he saw the people in front of him. He immediately thought they would help him but the series of events which happened afterwards showed him the unknown sides of the people who he thought were his friends . After knowing his past and their part in toue's mission. Aoba knew from bottom of his heart that he had done a big mistake.

Virus and trip were grinning at the pitiful sight in front of them. Aoba couldn't move from his seat. Even the slightest movement he tries to make will simply give him a big shock. One big shock was enough for him to learn not to move. Among the sea of unfocused faces ( morphine), virus's and trip's excited faces were standing out. With sweat trickling down his face, he saw his so called friend's with utter disbelief. The words sinked very slowly in his head. It took minutes for him to realize that he was a designer baby that too from toue's lab. Though virus had explained everything to him slowly and clearly. He felt his brain was being rushed to understand ,     " what he had just heard?". He looked at them in desperation because he was not sure what is going to happen next . Will he be taken to toue's lab?, Will he see his dying brother?, Will he be forced to control people or Will he be experimented?. Questions continued popping in his head and they wouldn't stop. Aoba couldn't think anything against the wave of questions in his mind. He simply looked at them in defeat and waited for the worst to happen. Virus and trip had moved away now and were talking slowly, both looked very serious.

"I think this will be our best chance virus", said trip with desperation in his voice.  Virus was not convinced and he was looking a bit tensed. He was deep in thought ,thinking about the pro's and cons. "Iam not sure trip we might get executed" , said virus slowly. Trip folded his hands together in annoyance,  " oh come on", he whined. " You were one who told me we are going to get executed anyway", he said looking at virus who was still looking away deep in thought." Virus we didn't escape before because we didn't have aoba now we have him, can't we leave now?", asked trip stressing the word aoba. Virus didn't expect to get aoba on their hands, it was not their interest to hand him over to toue as well. For that they would make him escape from them just disabling the electric chair will be enough. But what if akshuma gets him or toue's men capture him. It would be a complete waste. They will not be able to save him if he is taken to the laboratory at place x because even they do not know the location. Meanwhile, virus has his own doubts on toue. He is still not sure when they will get executed. Once handing over aoba they will definitely get killed. Even if aoba escapes from the oval tower, toue will be on the prowl to capture him. It's not to going to end till aoba is captured. They have no other go but to leave midorijima and tokyo for now with aoba. He saw aoba's terrified face across the lab and gave him a smile. Trip looked at him hopefully. He turned to face trip with a smile, " we will leave trip", said virus but trip gave him a meaningful look. "with aoba", clarified virus. Trip smiled and said ,     " thank goodness you agreed". "Just needed sometime thinking",  said virus pushing his glasses up. "What now?" asked trip now looking at aoba.  

   Aoba's heart raced when he saw trip and virus walking towards him they had been in a conversation for sometime but he didn't know what it was about. He looked at them with panic evident in his face. "Why don't you play with virus for sometime aoba", said trip smiling charmingly at aoba. This really angered aoba. Trip sniggered when aoba gritted his teeth. "Alright then i will be back", said trip walking away towards the darkness. Aoba was left alone with virus. Virus was still smiling at him but aoba was looking away obviously avoiding virus's eyes. "You have a beautiful hair",  commented virus making aoba to look back at him. Aoba looked at him in anger now. When trip came back, aoba was looking down now though he was angry, he was clearly scared. He didn't see the thing getting exchanged between the two. All of a sudden virus placed one of his hands on aoba's chair right behind his head and brought his face little closer to aoba forcing him to straighten.  Aoba felt virus's hot breath on his face for the first time which momentarily silenced him . Virus has never come this close to him before which almost stopped his heart. But virus's smile was still in place, " Are you ready to meet sei, aoba-san?", he asked. While aoba opened his mouth to respond suddenly he felt a sharp pain on his neck. He gasped in pain and shock .In his peripheral vision he saw a syringe with green liquid being injected in his neck. But it was too late to notice because he got injected already. Aoba saw virus straightening up, he didn't see the syringe on his virus's hands. It took only seconds for aoba to fall forward without control getting a big shock. Within moments a leather gloved hand held his face up from falling to stop from getting electrocuted, it was trip. Virus took a small remote from his pocket and pressed few buttons .The chair was disabled. They both unstrapped aoba and trip scooped him up in his large hands. Aoba couldn't move his body, he couldn't even lift his head . He felt his head hanging in the air while trip easily carried him away. His vision started to blur bit by bit. Soon, he was placed on rough surface .

Virus looked at the morphine members, he chosed ten members to wait for intruders. While he ordered the other thirty to kill each other until he told them to stop. He didn't want toue to find about them. He had to make it look clean. Only five survived from thirty. The other five waited for his orders. There were also told to wait for intruders. Virus then walked to their personal lab. Aoba was laying on the cold slab still conscious his eyes fluttering. He was trying to talk. Ofcourse he cannot talk louder or use scrap but they must be careful. He turned to see the morphine members , piling the dead bodies together. He walked to see trip disabling aoba's coil. They took aoba's blue duffel bag and opened it. Virus removed aoba's pink headphones from him and placed it near trip. Virus took aoba's tablets from the duffel bag and kept it in his pockets,  he might need them he thought.

Aoba felt someone was touching him. He could make out it was virus and trip. But they were looking blurry to his eyes. He layed there not able to move even an inch. Suddenly something striked him, he decided to call ren for help. " re..", he muttered but something was above his mouth at the same instant. He heard virus telling, " Aoba-san please be quiet  ". But something was still closing his mouth it took him minutes to find out that it was virus's hands pressed over his mouth. Aoba suddenly heard clear's  shouting , " aoba-san!! Where are you?". Aoba stiffened at clear's voice, he heard koujaku's voice as well all searching for him at a distance.  He heard mink's voice asking noiz to track his coil. Aoba was suddenly overwhelmed with shapeless emotions welling up in his chest. They were only a little distant away from him yet they couldn't save him.  Neither they could find him nor he could call them. He felt tears flowing down his face falling to his sides. His mouth was still closed.

When virus heard mink asking noiz to track aoba's coil. He turned to see trip who was now working with aoba's allmate. Trip's fingers were fastly typing over his laptop. " I have completely erased the data's in aoba's coil no one can retrive it including that nerd(noiz) and no one can track his coil either", said trip smirking. Virus was looking at his watch for sometime now with his left hand pressed over aoba's lips. It's been ten minutes so he slowly removed his hands. Aoba still had his eyes open with tears flowing through him. Virus slowly wiped aoba's tears with his fingers. Now he started with aoba's brain nuts jacket. He adjusted aoba to lay on his sides alternately to remove his jacket. He neatly folded and kept it aside. Right after he finished pulling aoba's navy blue shirt off his head, trip had finished taking all the datas of aoba's allmate in his laptop. He had erased all data and disabled the allmate. They then both started undressing aoba-san further.

Trip started with aoba's belt while virus packed everything in aoba's duffel bag. He kept aoba's coil, headphone, his shoes everything into the duffel bag. Soon, aoba's neatly folded clothing followed. Virus zipped the duffel bag with a smile." Alright then trip get me the the body bag and the suit i made for aoba-san, We are taking that as well", said virus. 

Aoba's consciousness was slipping away now he could hear virus's and trip talking but he couldn't understand them. He couldn't see anything it was extremely blurry. But the only sense he had was coldness. He felt slightly cold now but unfortunately he didn't know that he was completely naked. He couldn't hear koujaku's or clear's voice again. Aoba layed there in desperation thinking about his new fate.

Aoba's vision soon darkened and he was gradually pulled into deep sleep. Trip rummaged through the drawers and took a metallic box which contained aoba's suit. The suit actually had nothing for a top. It was a black strechable leather top with two sleeves attached to the collar with a belt to fasten around the neck. The metallic studs in the sleeves were arranged in a pattern so they can be locked together. Then, a tight black leather pant with a belt and a pair of leather boots with same pattern like the studs in the sleeves. Finally, a black mask which will only cover the mouth but with a chocker. It basically sticks to the face. Virus designed it this way because he didn't want to fasten the mask around aoba's hair. Keeping in mind his hair is sensitive. Trip started with the choker, slowly pushing it in aoba's mouth so he wouldn't shout if he wakes earlier. Then, he sticked the mask to aoba's face gently pushing all his hair away from his face. He then proceeded to dress aoba. Within minutes aoba's was in the leather suit which didn't cover his torso and back. His hands folded together locked by the suit and same with his boots which was also locked together. Virus took the body bag from his cabinet which has attached oxygen cylinder inside the bag. Virus attached the nasal canula to the oxygen supply and then sticked it under aoba's nose. He didn't want to risk aoba's life while fleeing because they don't know how long it will take to get safe. He injected two more shots on aoba's arms to keep his body stable in seduction.  "Five day huh?", asked trip." Five days", said virus pulling off his gloves. Together they shifted aoba into the body bag and zipped it. They collected few more important secret documents , important drugs from their lab then they erased everything from their lab systems.  They had set their lab to explode in thirty minutes and walked to the helipad both of them holding the body bag from its sides. Something ran in front of them and stood there looking at with angry eyes blocking their way. They both snickered. "Perfect timing ", said trip smiling. "Perfect timing",  confirmed virus pushing his glasses up.

Kojuku, noiz and mink were fighting with the morphine gang. They couldn't find aoba in that room. The room was basically a lab with specimens stored in glass containers which was sort of creepy. Noiz soon alerted the gang that the room is going to explode in thirty minutes shortly after knocking out the entire morphine members. Clear had gone to search in another part of oval towers for aoba. The lab was lit only in the middle part and the other parts were immersed in darkness. But still they searched aoba. Only after searching the room entirely they knew that the room was not just a lab. It was a biggest mortuary they have ever seen only part of it was lab.  After walking towards the extreme right of the lab, they they found a opening which leaded to another lab , there was a mortuary slab with aoba's blue bag on top. They rushed to it and went through the things inside the bag to find all aoba's belongings from his headphones to his inner garment. Koujuku gritted his teeth clutching aoba's coil, they didn't know who took aoba away. Noiz warned them they should leave the lab immediately. So, with a heavy heart everyone ran out of the room. Hoping to find aoba at someother part of the oval tower.

To  be continued...

Chapter Text

         It was one of those hot summer day's where the time was slowly crossing the noon . A black car was speeding away on an empty lane in the highway with all its windows rolled down when everyone else in the city had decided to stay in . There in the front seats of the car sat two blondes. The taller one was behind the wheel driving in one hand with his other hand constantly reaching for the water bottle while the other blonde sat by him with his fingers entwined and legs crossed. The heat was unbearable. They drove along the highway with their face's being whipped by the hot air non stop. Trip was mopping his face with his rolled up sleeves swiping off his sweat. He didn't know that the place they have chosen to hide will be this miserable. Both of them sat there enduring the heat. Virus was in agony too. The only difference was he was silent about the blistering heat. Both of them had their white shirts sticking to them with sweat tricking down their backs. They had kicked out their shoes to avoid the burning sensation in their feet. Trip was too annoyed by the heat no matter how much water he drank his mouth gets dry by the next minute. They were helpless because they couldn't find any gas station nearby. This place is too secluded for its own good. They didn't have a choice but to reach their new arranged home without their air-conditioner ON. Shortage of gas on their car had struck them like a knife to their guts. Trip was 100 percent sure that he would die if he is out of water even it is for ten minutes in this place.

      If they want to explain this heat in simple words it was like fire is being sprayed at them yet they didn't have a choice but to endure it. "Gaah! virus!, why did you choose this place? And on top of that why this damn time?", complained trip. Virus let out a sign and  replied," don't you know why?, we will easily get lost  if we travel in night in this place plus most of the places here are not even in gps. So, we have decided to travel in day rather than night". Trip was silent for a while after hearing that reply from virus. He took one more sip from his bottle and again mopped his face. His face was burning even more now as the temperature increased. He peeked at his non-twin from corner of his eyes. His eye's widened In shock when he saw virus was smiling to himself. He was sure that virus is going through the same agony as him. His hair was a mess , looking like haystack,  clumped together yet pointing in endless directions. His left eye with an infection and his face completely red with sun burns. His white shirt crumpled and creased not to talk about his crushed suit jacket and tie at his foot. He was really far away from his comfort zone. Trip knows virus's mentality like back of his hand. Trip knows how much personal attire means to virus. Even it is his last day on earth, virus would still dress top notch and will easily conceal all his emotions with a perfect smile. No matter what life throws at him, virus will show off his cool aura. Trip took a lot of effort and time to copy that particular trait from virus. But trip also knows how uncomfortable virus can get even if his tie is not straight. Now he is sitting like a complete disaster beside him and he is smiling like it is any other day. "what?", asked trip slightly confused thinking his partner might have gone mad in the heat. Virus slightly streched his hands still smiling and told him," trip! we are finally free". It took a while for trip's brain to process. It's true that they are free but still he couldn't feel it. While trip was drowned in his own thoughts. Virus folded his hands and asked him," what ? weren't you the one who told we must escape from toue?", mocking him. "Yeah.. but", said trip scratching back of his neck, " I never thought that we would face this much trouble", he said confessing. Virus nodded, "That's true but iam still happy that we survived for seven days straight and we are almost going to be safe". Trip shrugged lightly at virus thoughts. "Maybe i will feel the freedom when we reach our destination", he admitted sheepishly while virus gently laughed. Virus leaned back slightly on his seat. " How long it's going to take to reach our new place?", he asked trip. Trip pursed his lips for sometime and said, " around two hours i think" after some thinking. "Shall i drive?", asked virus to give trip somebreak because he has been driving for almost seven hours straight. "Nah..", said trip sipping on his water bottle. He didn't want to think on getting caught or killed by toue's men. He really needed something for distraction so he will better drive for now. Virus just streched his hands forward and his thoughts somehow took him to the day back when he first met trip in the oval tower.

# FLASHBACK AT OVAL TOWER #

Virus stood in one of the biggest halls in oval tower where all his fellow mates were scattered among the hall in small groups while he stood there all alone preferring to be alone. He was just 12 and was looking at his fellow mates in frustation. For one reason they were too noisy even for a hall this big. They were directed into his hall an hour ago and still he didn't know why?. Only then after sometime he saw the purple lights fixed above on the ceiling scanning them in groups. So it's another experiment. He wasn't concerned about the experiments that he is going through anymore. He just want to lie on the mortuary slab some day soon and rest in peace. Being just 12 and having a mindset like this might sound alarming but not for virus. He was very sure that he won't last more than ten experiments from this one. He could feel his body getting weak as days were passing. He could see that its all going to end soon for him but he was glad. "No more fear of what he might lose? No more agonising pain in his body, No more screams of fear and pain during nights in his room from other children, No more will his body go through weird things like vomiting blood, No more...",he thought. He has made up his mind that he would die soon but not his inmates. They were happily chatting with eachother still thinking they can get away from his place. But all of a sudden the crowd started moving around him as if all are moving away from something while he moved back towards the wall . Virus saw through the crowd on the other side of the hall. They were still moving from something. Virus couldn't see what it was but suddenty his eyes focused at a boy who was cluctching his shoulders and was running away towards the rest of the crowd probably he was the victim. "It's him", said one of the boy's who was standing a few feet away from virus. Virus could see the bewildered expression on the boy's face and still couldn't understand any of it. "Who?", asked the other boy. The boy started moving away from something pulling the boy beside him with him and said, " the blood drinker". After hearing that virus's eyes immediately scanned the group for the boy . The blood drinker had been the topic in his room for almost a week in nights. The boys were talking that there was a new boy who is behaving like an animal. He would hit anyone who comes even a feet near him or bite them. But most importantly he draws blood through their skin with his teeth. It seems the boy was kept alone most of the time or either locked up somewhere. The caretakers use electrocuting rods on the boy to separate him and the other children during fights. Even after getting electrocuted several times he is still behaves the same just like an animal. Virus was really nervous about this new boy he didn't want to be bitten. The torture that he has endured so far is already enough for him. The problem is he hasn't seen the boy yet. So, he wouldn't be able to identify him but still he tried to scan the room for the boy. The boys's were still moving away when he saw the boy. The boy was walking among the crowd where the others were hastily getting back giving him space.  Virus saw from his peripheral vision  when the bewildered boy pointed his fingers at the boy. Virus's eyes again reached for the boy who was in middle of the hall now . The boy who was called the blood drinker had a red hair and was dressed like the rest of them. With his hands in his pockets, he was swiftly walking towards the other end of the hall towards him. When the boy neared him, virus could see bruises and bandages all over his face. The boy had a serious expression on his face . Virus tried backing off but thudded against the wall. He knew that the boy was walking towards him. The boy with red hair focussed on virus now closing on to him and virus was scared  yet he didn't show anything outside. Both of their eyes locked at eachother for couple of minutes. The entire crowd moved away from them. "He is going to get the freak this time", said someone from the crowd. Obviously he is the freak but now he was concerned about his current situation. The boy was standing right in front of him now just a feet away with his hands still In his pockets. Virus thought of multiple ways to get away from there but he is trapped rightnow for the experiment. He could see the other children had gathered around at a distance looking for a fight but virus doesn't fight and never runs away from his opponents too. Even if someone hits him, he will just brush it off and leave from there. But today he is going to be bitten by this little animal with chances of his blood getting sucked. He stood there as causual as ever. He knows that caretakeres will not enter this room under the purple lights to save him so he had to endure the pain until the experiment ends. The boy who was standing till now walked towards him with virus still standing there with his only book not even trying to brace himself. Virus's heart raced when boy the neared him even further. But shockingly against the odds the boy just stood beside him leaning against the wall with his hands still on his pockets. The entire hall became silent until the experiment ended. They were all suprised that the boy didn't harm virus. Virus was also shocked but only thing is that he didn't show it outside. Virus was also relieved atleast there wouldn't be a scene in the hall rightnow. Soon, they were let out of the hall and asked to return to their respective rooms. Virus stayed by one of the labs and was going through some books. Though he knew that reading these books are not going to help him survive but learning new things was the only thing that he liked doing. It was the only remedy for his miseries. He still felt bad that he wouldn't be able to learn more because of his short life span but he had to face the reality as well. Hoping is simply not going to change anything. After the session in the lab seeing the researchers talking about the new experiment. Virus felt somewhat light headed maybe the after effects of the experiment so he decided to return back to his room which he is sharing with ten boys right now. He always dreamed about learning new things and also wanted to do research like other researchers. But he couldn't bring himself to wish for it. He slowly walked back on the narrow hallway with rooms on both his sides. His room is the second last on the the left of the hallway. He walked really slow now slightly dizzy due to the purple lights when he heard another set of footsteps behind him. He just casually turned to see who it was and to his horror it was the red haired boy. Virus pushed his glasses up and turned towards the boy. He didn't want to fight with the boy so he tried talking with him. "What's your name?", asked virus while the boy looked at him for few minutes and didn't answer him. They stood there looking at each other for some time. Virus signed and he was getting really dizzy now. He just wanted to lie down for now in his bed. Virus looked at his room longingly but he was afraid to turn away from this boy because who knows when he would bite him from his back. "Trip", said the boy while virus looked back at him . " So you can talk? ", said virus for which the boy shrugged. "What an attitude ?", thought virus clearly annoyed. "How old are you?", asked virus this time."Six", said trip. "If you are six, you must go to that room", said virus pointing the second room in the hallway on the right. Once virus was sure that the boy will not bite him, he turned his back and walked towards his room again. But still he heard the footsteps at first he thought trip was walking towards his room but when he turned back he saw trip was right behind him. He let out a tired sign. "Why it has to be him?", he wondered in exparation. "Why are coming with me?", asked virus really annoyed. Trip just looked sideways with his eyes slightly down and he said, "Because i belong with you". Virus's heart stopped for a second after hearing those words. He looked at trip with complete shock his mouth slightly open. He couldn't  believe that a brat six years younger than him has broken his perfect mask which he had been hiding in for most of his life. Virus usually not bothered about anything like this in his life suddenly felt something for this boy which slightly scared him. He just wanted to be dead inside without any feelings. But trip's words made him feel weird. Virus didn't want to let his guard down once again. So, he abruptly turned and left to his room ignoring trip. From that day onwards trip was always following him. Until, he gave up on ignoring him.

"Hey, can you see the map?", asked trip bringing virus back to the reality. Virus signed and looked at trip the one who forced him to live a little longer than he had wished for. He was the reason that he was alive now. "Sure", he said pulling the map from the glovebox. They reached their destination around four. Trip parked the car in and got out of the car without even turning it off. "Hey", complained virus looking annoyed at trip who was walking fast now towards their new house but his lips twitched into a smile when he saw how pathetic was trip rightnow. He didn't mind though so he rolled up the car windows and turned off the engine. Pulling the car key's, virus got down from their car. He stretched a bit to relax his stiff muscles. Trip was dead tired so he didn't even pause once to see their house outside. Trip twisted the key and opened the door which leaded to the first room. He slowly dragging himself from the front room to the living room unbuttoning his plaid vest and removing his tie. He threw them to the couch and fell on it exhausted his head sinking in the cushion. Virus was standing outside a few more minutes. He still had some energy left so he used it to carry the body bag with aoba from the car's back seat. He carried it straight to the bedroom and placed it on the cold floor. He gently took him off from the bag and layed him on the floor. He was still on the suit with choker and restrained. He slowly brushed off aoba's hair from his face which was wet with sweat now. He removed him from the suit and took off the choker aswell to relax his jaws. Aoba was completely covered with sweat. Virus thought to himself that if aoba was awake he would have definitely died in this heat. Aoba needed two more shots on the fourth day to keep his body stable when they knew that the place they were staying was traced by toue's people. They had to quickly leave that place. They got almost killed that day but somehow they  managed to pull through. He was glad that nothing happened to aoba while they were completely busy with fleeing. They had to do too many things to escape. First thing, they have faked their deaths. They set the entire house in fire with bodies of their arranged assassins. While virus killed the two, trip managed to send messages to the toue's members from the assassin's device that they have been killed. Then, they had managed to get fake identities for both of them and now currently decided to hide in this country. They have already made lots of money by selling toue's experiments in the first day of their fleeing. He is not going to be happy about it but they don't care. Trip has also plucked a job as a professional hacker in one of the dark web companies. So, he can do work from home keeping an eye on aoba while he can move around with his job as a genetic engineer. This place was the only option for them to choose in the short amount of time that they have been forced upon to react . Since, their old place was easily ambushed by toue's people. They both didn't have a choice but to choose the most remote place. Virus was too tired but he didn't want to leave aoba this messy. So, he managed to get a clean soft white cloth from one of the bathroom cabinet's. He proceeded to wet the cloth and wiped the sweat from aoba's face and body. He then lifted aoba off the floor and layed him on the bed. Aoba was completely naked so he pulled a thin grey silk sheet over half of his body. He turned on the air-conditioner. He then slowly sat beside aoba on the bed. He was immensely happy that they have aoba now all they have to do is make him their's. Virus slowly traced his finger along aoba's blue eyebrows  then slowly moved down to his temples and cheeks. He adored him while he gently took a piece of aoba's blue hair and examined it between his fingers. Virus lowered his head slightly to kiss it. The most attractive part of aoba for virus was his long blue hair. He could just look at it all day long. He kissed it once again and let it fall back to the bed. "You will soon become our's aoba-san", whispered virus to the figure in deep seduction. Virus smiled while his fingers were tracing along aoba's partly opened lips this time. He gently kissed aoba's beautiful lips. Then, planted a small kiss along the edges of his perfect jaws which his fingers had traced earlier. He stood up from the bed smiling to himself.

He walked back to the hall and saw that trip has slept on the couch. He then walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge. He pulled out an water bottle. He stood there for sometime drinking the water with sweat tricking down his face. He really got pissed now because he was in the air-conditioner just minutes ago and now he is again sweating bullets. He wished this place could have little more aerated but with aoba they had decided against it. He is going to spend most of his time in that room but still they have to be careful. Virus returned to the hall tucking his shirts out and plopped down on the couch opposite to trip's couch.  He proceeded to drink the water emptying the bottle. He sat there watching trip's tired face who has just slept by sitting on the couch. Though trip was really tired in his sleep, his face was not peaceful. "Still worried about getting caught", thought virus. He sat there waiting for trip to wake up while his thoughts wandered around aoba. It's still unbelievable that they have aoba now all to themselves. He wondered, "what sei will be doing now?". They have never been away from midorijima all their life maybe twice or thrice to take sei for an experiment to one of the coldest island's. Now that they are free, he felt relieved and anxious at the same time. They had to start a new life now on their own but he was confident that he and trip can handle it.

Trip woke up after almost three hours. He stretched himself a bit and walked around the new house for the first time. Virus now layed himself on the couch on his sides dragging a cushion under his head. The house had a small front room which leaded to the living room. They have two bedrooms with attached  bathrooms. Both the bedrooms were connected to the living room. The living room extended to the kitchen. The kitchen was modular with grey cabinets. It was moderately sized but spacious enough for trip. Thankfully, the pantry was stocked for atleast a week. He signed in relief. The kitchen had a dining table . He also noted a refrigerator and a microwave. He opened the refrigerator and pulled out a water bottle aswell. He drank some and returned the bottle to the refrigerator. The first room was empty right now. The hall only had two set of couch's and a coffee table between them. There were no windows in the hall which made him instantly regret. Infact, the kitchen is just an extension of the living room  separated by a glass partition.  He then opened the door attached to back of the kitchen which opened to another room which they are going to use it for their experiments. He closed it and walked to the first bedroom which was parallel to the hall. The air-conditioner was on and in the bed was lying aoba with his beautiful hair sprawled around him. Trip walked towards him and sat on the edge of the bed. He tucked out his shirt still looking at aoba. He gently dragged his fingers along the aoba's cheeks. He couldn't believe it was aoba who was lying on the bed. Several times in his life he had dreamed of having aoba in his bed but never thought it could become real. He was the most beautiful person he has seen in his entire life. The only person in this entire world who made them happy. He was so pure for this cruel world. They both dearly loved him to their core's. He was the only one they care about other than themselves. It was silly for trip to think that aoba might disappear into a thick poof of smoke. It's only natural thought trip because it was too unreal to have someone as graceful as aoba as their own. Trip chuckled to himself and got up from the bed. 

He found their travel bags under aoba's bed and pulled it out. He digged in and took out a new outfit for him. He then shedded his clothes looking at the seducted figure and walked into the bathroom. The bathroom was really big and classy. There was a bathtub and a glass cubicle with shower. He walked into the cubile and had a long shower. Honestly, he wished he could stay in forever. It was so soothing to stay in the cold water. After enjoying his shower for sometime, he stepped out of the cubicle. Trip then dressed himself and walked back to the bedroom styling his hair with his fingers. He walked back to the hall and saw virus has slept with his glasses on. He signed and removed them gently. He kept them on the coffee table and walked into the kitchen picking up his apron. He cooked something for him and virus. They hadn't been able to eat anything with a straight mind for seven days and this is the seventh day. So, he managed to do something good for both of them. By the time, he was done with the cooking he saw the sky has darkened. The window in the kitchen was the only source to the outside world in this house. They didn't complain about it because of having aoba. He then saw virus waking up and walking towards the bedroom. After sometime, he saw virus coming out with a new outfit and wet dripping hair with a towel around his neck. Trip set the table while virus sat on the table toweling his hair.  They both had a silent meal . Trip did the dishes while virus waited for trip on the table. Soon, trip joined him and both their face's turned serious.

"When he will come around?", asked trip while virus flipped through his small diary and saw the time of last shot for aoba. He did some thinking and said," After 9 hours". "Precisely now its eight in the night trip so he will wake up between 5 to 6 in the morning", said virus.  "Woah!", said trip while virus simply shrugged at him. "So, what should we do after he wakes up", asked trip with his hands on his cheeks. "No! before", said virus correcting him. Trip's eyebrows raised in suspicion and he asked," hey!, what are you upto ?". Virus simply said, "we are going to break his mind". Trip got up from his seat with shock running over his entire body pushing his chair to the floor. " we what?", stuttered trip looking at virus. Virus just gave him a stern look and asked him," trip?, are you out of your mind?". "Hey! that's my line", said trip still standing with hands on the table now. Virus motioned trip to sit with his hands. Trip was still confused but he did what he was told. "Do you think that aoba will accept our confessions ? If we propose to him", asked Virus pushing his glasses up. Trip had his fingers entwined now almost lost by the sudden realization while virus signed and continued. "There is not even a slightest chance for aoba to choose one of us and only in your dreams he will choose both of us", said virus in a calm voice. But the thing that he had said rightnow is 100% true. The chances are that aoba is only going to fight against them and resist. There are people he thinks he has to save. Trip was pretty nervous about virus's idea. Nothing can be scary like virus's mind. Trip will mostly attack a person directly. He will either threaten or hit his target. But it's a different situation with virus. Virus never uses violence as a tool to bring his victim down. He never confronts his opponent directly. He always comes from the sides. The victim will never know that virus was his opponent at all. Virus will stay by his victim and turn his world upside down. Virus's words alone can break the person into pieces. He remembered how they tortured a person who tried to steal information from toue before when they were in midorijima island. Trip did only the kidnapping part and rest was left to virus. Virus easily reached to the core of the person breaking all his barriers. Virus striped everything off that person from his dignity to self-defense. The person's mind was crushed by virus like a piece of paper. By the end of the process, the person was nothing but was an shattered empty shell. Virus then easily pushed the person to his own death. The scary part is virus didn't use any of toue's mind controlling tools it was just words that killed the person. He is one of scariest manipulators anyone can come across in the planet. Trip didn't worry about anyone else going through that horrible treatment but aoba. He is scared rightnow. He didn't want aoba to go insane but making him their's is also important. "Virus?", said trip hesitantly. "We won't hurt him bad right?", asked trip nervously looking at virus's eyes. Virus had his cheeks resting in his left hand and his eyes narrowed at trip. Trip gulped nervously. He has never talked back to virus or disagree with anything that he had said before. Virus simply said ," listen" with a stern voice. Trip nodded still nervously. He still remembered how their victim simply cut his own wrists after hearing virus's final words and died. He gladly died like he was really not worth it. " Trip, we are not going to destroy him okay? ", he said and paused to see trip's still nervous reaction. He signed now really frustrating. " Stop over reacting! " he said to trip. "Anyway trip he will never accept us as his love interests or will never ever get into a relationship with us", said virus in exparation. "He now knows that we worked for toue all these years and top of that we were morphine leaders, you think that he will accept us ?", said virus. " Try to think and understand trip", said virus. Trip now knew that there is no other way other than breaking aoba down. But suddenly something striked him. " How about we erase his entire memory and pretend that he belonged to us before his memory loss?", said trip slightly cheerful. But virus shook his head. "Trip, if we erase his memory completely, chances are scrap will fully take over aoba and you won't have aoba in aoba's body at all besides he doesn't have his guardian with him. So, scrap will completely take over him. If thinks get worse aoba might end up in coma", said virus slowly with regret. " I thought about it too", said virus making trip to look at him with suprise. Trip now knew there is no way around so he slightly pursed his lips in concern. "Alright, tell me about your strategy", said trip surrendering.

" We are going to cut down his senses for now and leave him to get him adapted to it", explained virus. "How long?", interrupted trip. " For first three months its going to be intermediate and the fourth month will be a bit more difficult ", said virus. "How are we going to cut down his senses?", asked trip scratching his head while virus chuckled. "You will see", he said looking into trip's eyes with a smirk. Trip then prodded," after that ". "Well after that...hmm", said virus musing. " A normal person would be completely broken after months of not having any senses and would accept anything to avoid the old treatment but i don't know how aoba is going to react", said virus shrugging. "What if he doesn't break? ", said trip. Virus replied calmly, " then we will break him with little physical abuse and a bit more mental torture". Trip signed and asked the final question ," how long will it take aoba to become ours?". "Maximum two years trip", replied virus and chuckled at trip's horrified expression. " what?", whispered trip while virus got up from the table and walked back to the bedroom where aoba was sleeping. Trip was really unhappy with this two years project but he also knew that they should be really careful with aoba. He is not someone that they can lose at any cost. Trip made ready the other bedroom while virus examined aoba's health parameters. They both left aoba sleeping on the bed in the first bedroom and they slept on the second bedroom. After days the blonde's slipped to a satisfied sleep.

It was three in the morning. Virus and trip were standing over and looking at aoba's naked figure who was now brought down to the floor. He has started to stir in his sleep. This will be the perfect time to cut down his senses. They both got down to the floor beside aoba who was just hours away from waking up.

Aoba slowly woke up with his head wrapped with the gloom. He didn't want to open his eyes yet. Because he couldn't get his head out from the dizziness. All he could feel was his mind. For sometime, he couldn't feel any part of him. His brain was very slow taking forever to process. Within minutes , Images started racing in his head which was all cluttered and unpredictable. His mind was completely restless for a while lost on chaos but it was slowly trying to focus. It felt like it took an hour for his puzzled mind to settle down just like the dust settling to the ground after the wind. But soon he started to feel things. The first thing that striked him was his headache. The slow thrumming sensation was slightly making him dizzy as usual yet he tried to focus. Something was off was all he could make out when he felt the chilness  slowly creeping onto him. It didn't take him minutes to slightly shiver. Slowly but steadily he started feeling his entire body. He felt his bangs matted and sticking to his face while the rest of his hair was sticking to his back. Was he sweating? He wondered. He couldn't be sure at first. But he was cold not unbearable yet still cold. Was he lying on cold wet floor? He wondered. "No", disagreed his mind but it was still fuzzy. He could feel his breathing but not hear them. Minute by minute the clouds in his mind slowly cleared. They were still there but he could see through them now. He felt himself lying on his sides on something. As seconds passed, he knew he was lying on some cold floor. It felt like he was lying on a tiled floor. The details were getting added now. The chilness was on both the air and the floor. Aoba could only feel his sides. He was lying on his arm and sides of his thighs. But again something was off, he could feel his heart rate now slightly bouncing from inside his chest. This time he felt something was pressed against his ears. He couldn't guess what it might be but it was slightly uncomfortable. He couldn't move yet. He was still dizzy but his senses where slightly getting better and better. He wondered how he can remove it. Out of reflex, he tried to bring his hands up but he couldn't move them. His ears were really uncomfortable now, he really wanted to remove that thing. He could move his fingers but not his hands. He thought maybe it will take sometime. Soon, he could feel something else. The pain in his waist. As time passed soon he felt the pain on his waist was actually killing him. Only now he is feeling the pain. He couldn't guess why it was hurting. He tried to move his legs and soon found out he couldn't move them either or precisely feel them. He wondered why he is not able to feel his lower body. He could feel his breath racing and panic slowly sinking in him. He took several deep breaths to calm down. He still couldn't hear anything. His headache was getting intense and his mind was nearing clarity. But they didn't get him any joy. Because now the pain has extended to his thighs. It took him a while to understand that his thighs were a bit higher than usual. His position was troubling him. It looked like he was lying on a balled position. But why he wondered. He tried to move again this time  he managed to move his arms . He signed in relief as his hands got slightly lifted in the air. But the relief was short lived when he found out that he couldn't move his hands above few inches. He felt his fingers getting fisted in fear. He tried to move once again and still he couldn't move it above few inches. He tried to move his painful thighs now and same helplessness was felt. Aoba's mind was just seconds away from the awareness. He could feel every part of his body now. But still he couldn't understand why he was in a balled up position. He again tried moving his hands and this time he figured out why he couldn't move them. He felt something cold around his wrist both of them. They were cold and was hard like metals. Aoba this time tried to lift his hands not to the the sides but to the front and to his horror he noted his legs slightly got lifted along the direction of his hands. It took him moments to understand that the thing around his wrists and ankles are nothing but hand cuffs. His eyes which he couldn't open before tried to jolt open. But to his biggest horror, he couldn't lift his eyelids. Only then everything sinked in aoba's head. The first thing that he knew was that he was butt naked, his hands were cuffed together with his legs bringing him to the most uncomfortable and painful position. But the most scariest thing was that he couldn't see anything because of being blindfolded and he couldn't hear anything not even his own cries because he was earplugged. He tried to rubbing his ears against his shoulders to remove the earplugs but they were deep inside his ears. None of his movements helped him to remove the blindfold aswell. It didn't even take ten minutes for aoba to start thrashing and screaming against the handcuffs with the effect of drug slowly wearing off while a pair of white shoes and a pair of white boots were a few feet away from him.

Chapter Text

     In the middle of nowhere and amidst the repeated blow of hot airs, not even the time is thirty past eight in the morning but still sweating like a pig, trip was vacuuming the living room of their new home with sweat trickling down his face. It's just day one and it has already started to hit him right on his nerves. He wiped off the sweat in his forehead on his sleeves and continued his work. When things comes to household chores in vitri's house. Trip is the one who has to cook and clean. Because that four eyed bastard will just sit still with his legs crossed ,his fingers curled over either a coffee mug or a wine glass and only complain. No matter how many times they fight on this issue. Virus is one who always win. Perks of being older and trip lacking the skill to say "No" to him. Though their condition was terrible, trip managed to look at aoba's bedroom for the 50th time of the day. He was really feeling bad for his baby. He didn't know what virus was doing inside that room. He wished aoba would give up soon so that they can move on to the next part of their strategy. When you a have to hurt a person you love, it hurts on both sides and he hated it. "Hmm..", he sighed and wiped his face once more with his sleeves. He had vacuumed all the rooms. Next, he has to do the laundry. They had bought a lot of winter clothes according to their planned hideout but since they were easily ambushed.       

             Now they are stuck in this place. Fortunately, they could use their dress shirts and formal pants. But trip was too tired already so he decided to take a break. Heat really exhausts him.

                                                                                                Inside the bedroom, sat virus stiff on his working chair in front of his working desk, his perfect fingers working over his virtual keyboard and his eyes trained on the virtual screen. One could say, he is in grave danger. Both him and trip, even aoba if they don't know what he is?. They are both having a million dollar worth experiment subject as their captive. Trip informed him that their idea of swapping their assasins body on their place has blown up already. Ofcourse, toue's men are not fools to fall for that simple trick but anyway it gave them the required time to find a new hideout for themselves. But his work still remains the same as of swimming among the group of crocodiles without getting shredded into pieces. If someone knows that they escaped from toue, they are definitely not going to get any help. Probably a sooner death will greet them. No one dares to go against toue. So, they have to pretend they are someone else. The client that he is going to work right now is someone who runs one of the most dangerous chains of trafficking and prostitution. If he doesn't  get something that had been promised to him. The person in charge will be restrained with ropes and will be dipped into the pool of home grown piranhas, a collection done by the man himself. It's better that he is not going to meet him in person but he has to meet up with his associates. He has to give them a promised drug for training his sex slaves. The drug named as "10Heels" by his client whom he had only talked over in phone. The drug is given over a course of three months to the victims who will naturally become submissive and easily aroused. He is definitely not proud for creating this drug. He thinks anything related with prostitution or women as a shitty job. People will never believe that he has never fucked a women in his life. Eventhough he gets lot of attention from them. But money is their number one criteria for now. They have to grab whatever they get.  If the drug doesn't work, he will be in grave danger but  he is already in grave danger so he is not too bothered about it. He had already received half the payment in the morning in his anonymous account and he has started working on it.

              He would occasionally peek at the blue beauty in front of him on the floor who had stopped thrashing around for now. He could hear slow sobs from him but he continued doing his job anyway. He has sent the mail and confirmed his meeting with the client's associate which is supposed to be next week. He had been working on a new drug since he was in oval tower's. Now, he has just continued his research again. He has been working on it from half past five in the morning . Research is always painful but virus is always fond of it. It's been almost three hours for now. He decided to take a break as he sat on his seat arching his back as if on a que trip peeked inside the room. "Need something?", asked trip to the older blonde. "Hmm..sure. Can you get me some coffee?", said virus still arching his back. Trip went back to the kitchen closing the door. He came back withinn five minutes with two steaming cups of coffee in his hands. He placed one for virus on his table while he sipped on his cup. Virus's face cringed when trip noisily dragged a chair towards his table still sipping his coffee. Trip just said a small , "sorry", to the old male who gave him an annoyed look. Virus continued drinking his coffee anyway. Trip relaxed a bit to the chillness in his room but all his relief evaporated when his eye's landed on aoba. Trip looked at aoba who was silently sobbing now. But he saw something really unexpected. His mouth hung open at the sight in front of him. Aoba was lying among the pool of his own blood. His skin around his wrists and ankles were heavily bleeding. Not only his skin but even his hand cuffs were covered in blood. There was lot of blood than he had imagined. He wouldn't be suprised even if his hair is in blood. How did he make himself bleed this much?. Trip slowly went near aoba whose face was tear stained now. He was still crying. It looked like he is very much exhausted trying to break free. Trip looked back at virus who has continued working on his virtual system. "Virus!, look there is lot of blood ", said trip slightly alarmed. "Yeah..", said virus nonchalantly. Trip was annoyed. He walked back to his partner. " Oi?", said trip pulling on virus's white sleeves. Virus signed and said, "what trip?". "He is bleeding a lot", said trip in a small voice. " Ofcourse trip, if we hand cuff a person, make him immobile, without giving him any clue in what situation he is in rightnow, he is going to try to break himself free even if his brain tells him that it is completely useless", said virus in his usual neutral tone. Trip's lips were pursed together in a straight line. He didn't like it. Virus's idea of blinding and ear plugging of aoba is fine but making him bleed like this?. Is it really worth it?.He signed and said, "I mean virus, can't we use leather cuffs on him instead of the metal one's, he wouldn't bleed like this right". He looked at virus hopefully but virus simply frowned at him. Trip saw virus taking a deep breath through his nose. "Trip", he called in a gentle voice, jerking his chin to door, he got up and walked out of the room. Trip followed the other male as if aoba is going to hear them.

           They were back at the living room. Virus settled on the couch and trip stood in front of him looking down at the other blonde with his hands on the pocket. Virus just looked sideways without saying anything to trip which really annoyed him. It took few minutes for the older blonde to start talking. "Trip, i can say only one thing for now. The more he is struggling. The sooner he will become ours", said virus. Trip signed and still looked at him for more explanation. "Alright, all i mean is, if he is going under more physical pain now, there are chances that he will soon giveup", said virus signing. Trip didn't look convinced more like he still didn't understand. Virus is always like that, talking something that never makes sense. But he dropped the subject for now. He knows that whatever virus is going to do will be only good for not two them but three of them this time. Trip now moved to do laundry while virus went back into the bedroom to continue his work. The following days passed as slow as possible for all three of them.

             Aoba's world had been turned upside down. He seriously didn't know what happened after he fainted in oval tower. The final scene that he saw was the blurred images of virus and trip moving around him. His friends desperately searching him while he layed helpless. He trusted those two. Virus and trip have been very nice to him in the past. They would always help him. Especially, virus was very caring. He would always say to him to stay safe but now they have handed him over to toue just like that. Their five years of friendship is just fake. Nothing was true, everything was betrayal. He cursed himself it was his fault that he went into oval towers with mink. He should have waited for his friends. His brother sei. Just thinking about him was making his blood boil. How can a person be mercilesly tortured from his birth for twenty three years?. Is it even right?.
He had tried to get free from the steel cuffs and only ended up with pain. Blood, he knew he was bleeding a lot but he didn't care. He just wanted to be free. He wanted to go back to granny. He wanted to save his twin brother sei who had been waiting for him all these years. But he couldn't. He was now lying here motionless. He cried, he screamed as time passed he even threatened which was very unlikely of him. His actions came to a halt when something was pressed against his dry lips. A water bottle, water!. A gentle hand lifted his head and gave him the magical drink. The bottle would be pulled often from his desperate lips and returned to him after small gaps. But in the end, his thirst was ceased. But then came the ugly part, something was forced down his throat it took minutes to understand that those were tablets. In his usual fear of being drugged, he spat the tablets out. But still the invisible hands managed to pry open his mouth and place the tablets inside. His mouth would be forced shut then and his throat would be roughly rubbed down by the fingers until he swallows them. It took more time for him to understand that the tablets are given in the place of food because he feels slightly energized after that. He cursed at his captors and sweared at them. At one point of time, he was no longer afraid. He was just angry. He was angry at himself for stupidly following mink. He was angry at himself that he tried to stop toue eventhough the chances of winning was nothing. He was angry because he was blind and deaf. It was only because of him that now he was lying on a cold floor not even knowing where he is rightnow or if anyone is with him. He never even imagined that he would be left cuffed on a floor, butt naked in a chilly room. Sometimes, he wondered he was kept in some cold section in toue's lab. He knew, he is in toue's lab maybe people in white coats are walking around him. Maybe they are talking notes on his physical vitals. He felt disgusted and ashamed because everyone of them would see his naked body. His pathetic position and his ill fate. Only sometimes, he is freed from his cuffs and he is gently pulled up. Not by one but two pair of hands. At first he thought he could fight or atleast make an attempt to escape. But when the swirling feeling hit his head when he was made to stand making it impossible to do so instead he simply staggered in whatever direction the hands leaded him. Soon, he was pushed inside a small room. He could guess he was in a small room because his movements where obstructed by tiled walls. He tried to snatch away his blindfold but disapponted flooded him when he felt something was around his head. It felt like his head was struck inside a spherical fish tank. Somepart of his brain told him, it was an artificial oxygen globe used by miners who work underground with limited oxygen supply. It was not there seconds before so it was artificially created globe field to stop him from snatching his blindfold, getting his vision back or pulling out whatever is inside his ears. He still tried to reach for his face but he simply couldn't. The desperation of not being able to touch his own face drove nails of fear into his heart. He could feel his lips tremble and his frame shake from sobs as he fell to the floor. Somewhere there was a deep message hitting him inside his head that he belongs to them but not to him. He couldn't take it anymore so without his knowledge, he started screaming and hitting around the wall. Funny he could only imagine himself screaming and not hear him. He expected the hands to come back but fortunately he was left alone and allowed to get up from his own breakdown. He couldn't even bring his hands to wipe his running nose. Pathetic!, cruel!, stupid!, idiotic!, cunning! Words went on and on inside his head. He didn't know what toue is going to gain from this. It took him a while of tracing the room and stumbling around to find that it was a restroom. He was left inside alone to use it. Something, he was grateful for among his miseries. But soon he was snatched back and left motionless on the floor. As sometime passed, he was again raised from floor but this time he was dragged somewhere else. He didn't know it was somewhere else until he was lifted off in the air probably in bridal style. He felt hands around his back and legs. He tried to push off the person in shock, trying to get away from him. He almost feel off his hands when another pair of hands intervened to keep him in place. He was still agitated but he somehow sinked to the body heat of the person. He felt the fabric against his naked sides and some buttons. He was wearing a shirt. But he was too hot. Aoba could feel the muscles below his shirt. He must be so bulky he guessed. Before his mind could work to guess the person, he was gently placed in something. Water!, fucking cold water!. He shivered instantly. what are they playing at?. He was angry. He tried to get out of it but was pushed down again. The gentle hands pinned his wrists to the side of the bathtub maybe restrained his wrists to the sides of the bathtub because he found himself struggling against something soft or it must be a leather cuff. "Let me go!!", he demanded hoarsely and as if he hadn't said anything. A pair of rough hands pinned his ankles down under the cold water to stop him thrashing around. He shivered for several minutes that way until the water's temperature increased until the chillness was bearable or even soothing against his self-inflicted wounds. He was so slow to speak or respond to his environment. Not able to see a damn thing, not able to hear a damn thing, not even knowing there is someone listening to him while he is shouting. He broke down immediately as none of his little shoutings yielded any attention. He hung his head in sorrow and betrayal as the water level rose upto his chest. As sobs escaped from his whimpering lips, he felt the same gentle hands over his hair, tugging at his hair band. He stiffened immediately as his hair band was gently pulled off from his hair leaving his hair open.  He felt his hair being parted and left over both of his shoulder fronts. He was slowly breathing now waiting for the next move. He knew they are giving him a bath but never in his dreams he thought they would be washing his sensitive hair. As the water ran through his scalp to his face. He gave out a small, "please". He knew very well that its going to hurt badly but do they know. As, expected both the hands ran through hair now sorting them. He let out scream in mute even though the hands were gentle on him. "It hurts", he hissed, as he tried telling them but to no avail as the washing just continued. He tried to move his head forward but he was yanked back by the gentle hands this time as he struggled to get free from the restrains and the rough hands which was still having his legs in place. Another blood curdling scream ripped through his throat. He couldn't twist around without hurting his hair so he soon gave up as he settled down to pleas. The process of shampooing and conditioning happened with change of fragnance in the air, the only sense that he is able to use without restraint. "Why are they adding green apples to my hair?", he wondered sadly. He was reduced to tears by the final rinse of his hair. But he completely forgot the next humiliating process. He again stiffened as the gentle hands moved down towards his torso. Aoba spent the next several minutes with shame and humiliation. The hands over him was completely professional. There was no perversion against his skin even for a second. But just getting a bath from a stranger hands was more than enough to drive him crazy. He turned his head to the sides, as the hands reached further down towards his intimates. He could imagine himself blushing violently if any blood left in his body as he was washed down there. He bit his lower lips still with his head turned to his side, breathing through his nose throughout the process which actually lasted for minutes though he felt like it was hours. He signed in relief as the hands now moved below his knees. The knots of tension in his body finally released when he was again pulled up from the bathtub. He was made to stand completely naked with the stronger hands holding his hands back together while he was toweled softly from his head to toes. He didn't know why but only by the end his face was wiped with several wet towels without disturbing his blindfold which was still wet and sticky but still intact over his eyes. Finally, a dry towel was patted on his face removing any moisture left behind. He couldn't  fight them now as his energy was completely drained as he struggled a lot in the bath. He didn't have any clue as he was again dragged somewhere or probably the same spot where he layed struggling all this time as felt the familiar chillness. He was easily overpowered as the cuffs linked his wrists and ankles together. But this time,  he was chained to the floor in a little relaxed manner. Instead of balled position, he was made to lay flat on his back with his wrists chained above his head and ankles chained together below him. But this position made him completely exposed and vulnerable. He was again given water and tablets. He could also sense the taste of his head ache tablets that his granny made for him back at home. He silently sniffed now as his head became heavy and groggy thinking about his granny. The one person who took care of him from the start. The person who was also the reason for his miserable fate. If only she had dismissed the theory long before. Both him and sei wouldn't be suffering like this. As guilt chewed on one side and anger ate him away on the other side of being a failure. He layed there on his own pieces of miseries. Aoba now knew that he can never feel whole again and whatever toue has planned it is happening already. He has to walk in pieces for rest of his life. With his depression seeping into his skull, aoba lapsed to sleep now so that  he can wake up once again to his miseries. No matter how much time passed this ritual just repeated itself again and again. At one stage, he lost the count of the ritual and found himself breaking bit by bit. His hallucinations worsened as time passed. He couldn't stand his own mind anymore which was very active at the same time it felt mushy. His enemy now was his own mind rather than the people who was restraining him in the most uncomfortable position throughout the day which was constantly stirring all the uncomfortable and sad memories of his life time. He could never look on to bright side or does he even have a future at this rate. His captors must have been very smart. They have easily isolated him from rest of the world just like that and also negelected him like he is nothing but a mere thing. Thrown him somewhere like he is nothing leaving him all by himself whose brain was self-distructing bit by bit. He also hated to admit to himself that he was actually looking forward to feel his captor's hands. He has vomited multiple times by just the sick thought of it since he couldn't help himself otherwise. Because, that was the only human interaction he could get in this miserable time. Aoba didn't know it was day or night, evening or afternoon but all he could do was to wait for whatever the fate has planned for him. 

         It's been two and half months since they escaped from toue. Virus was normal with his life routine. Other than taking care of aoba there was nothing more he was concerned about unlike trip. Trip was super stressed. It's not the work pressure but something was seriously bothering him. Like for virus tricking someone is second nature, for trip it is hacking . From his small age, he was always interested in other people's stuff or more like their secrets. Even this interest of him was pointed out by virus. No one knew he was hacker. Not even toue. Virus always said that they have to be exceptionally talented only then they can make their way out of oval tower. They would have escaped to another country long before if it weren't for aoba. Keeping tab on him was the biggest headache they both managed together. More like looking after a child. They have been looking after him from his the age of 17.

               When coming to the point of victimizing someone. Internet is a very convenient platform.  The people in the internet are always after their uncontrollable desires. They tend to share lot of their secrets with internet rather than with people. If you just get to know what they see and search in internet, you can easily pin them down by their interests. Most of them make their way out normally but some turns into misfortunates. There are numerous violence against the victims of internet. Trip's job is mostly simple, he has to get into the victim's profile and gather some information which is enough to get them in trouble. Once done, he will pass it to his client anonymously. The client takes care of blackmailing, threatening, trafficking or even murdering. Trip is definitely not worried about that. Maybe, he is still afraid of toue tracing them. No, not that either. Aoba is half the reason. Virus told him in the morning that he is going to add a chocker to aoba. So, from today aoba will be deaf, blind and also mute . He signed in frustation. He didn't want to sit infront of his laptop anymore. He didn't want to admit that he hates aoba's suffering. Virus's pretending of " I don't care", is also not helping him with the frustration either. The older male is always like that keeping all his feeling's secured under his hood. He just wanted some distraction. He walked over to the kitchen in pretense of cooking something. He decided to make lunch, something with more vegetable chopping which might help him to calm down. He pulled out his favorite knife and started with the cabbage on the chopping board. His lunch menu today is chicken yakisoba. Virus doesn't mind much about food as long as they are edible. While trip's knife went through the cabbage, he saw virus walking around the hall with the towel around his neck and his hair dripping from his peripheral. "He is taking a shower in the afternoon?", he thought. It's been a while since they took a shower together. It reminded him when he was small in oval tower.

# flashback in oval tower

He wouldn't even take a shower properly back then more like he didn't care. Virus and trip had been together for sometime now. Virus still didn't like trip following around him. Trip would always follow his idol, no matter what happens around him. After, he had been with virus for sometime. No one dared to come near virus after that afraid to be bitten or getting their blood sucked. Most of the kids didn't mind taking shower at all compared to them trip is slightly better. But virus was an exception, he would always keep himself neat and tidy. His bed would be properly made every night. He wouldn't let a dust settle near him. He is such a cleaniness freak. It may also draw unwanted attention on him. The researchers having a liking to experiment on a clean lab rat.

       But there is one rule in oval tower that everyone should take bath once after they have  undergone an experiment. Virus and trip were the last children to go under the experiment that day. So, they had to shower late in the evening. Trip usually never followed virus to shower rooms but that day was an exception. They both checked the bathrooms for water supply. There was only one bathroom with water supply since in evening's the water supplies in the shower rooms are limited. Trip told him he will go after him but virus told him, "Water supply might stop after one person's usage so you better shower with me". Trip was suprised because someone like virus never likes to share their personal space with them and let alone shower with him. He didn't mind though so he entered the shower room with virus. Both of them stripped down and got under the shower. Virus turned off the shower for soap while trip began to pick his shorts. "What are you doing?", asked virus. Trip just said, "Iam done showering". But he stopped dressing and saw virus expecting him to say something. He knew he would say something. Virus's expression didn't change but he asked, "where is your toiletry pouch ?". Trip showed his pouch in which his unused soap and shampoo was in. Virus took a deep breath and asked him, "You don't know how to use this?", by holding his soap up. Trip replied slightly embarrassed ,"I know, sort off". Virus then said, " if you have them, why don't you use them? ", his voice echoing from the bathroom walls. He signed in frustration when trip didn't say anything. "Come here", he gently called trip, who hesitantly walked near him. Virus slowly wetted the soap and started applying it on trip. Trip was really shocked. As far as, he knew virus will never touch anyone and he hates being touched. Its more like he is disgusted. But today he is scrubbing him clean like he would scrub himself. He then said, "Close your eyes" and trip did as he was told. Virus then proceeded to shampoo his red hair which was probably not shampooed forever. While trip closed his eyes and felt virus fingers going through his hair. He felt love and care washing over him . His hand was so gentle on him. It almost felt like his mother's hands but sometimes even her hands would be rough on him. But still it had the same warmth and affection. Now, he felt the same from virus. Trip didn't know how to explain that feeling. It felt like he was blessed. Virus then soaped and shampooed himself. He rinsed them both under the shower. From that day, virus would always make sure trip showers properly everyday. Virus was the one who thought him most of the things from using knife and fork to read and write. According to virus, it was like training a pet or maybe taming an wild animal. He didn't note that he was getting a connection with trip. So, he decided to teach the red hair as much as possible. But there was something about trip though, he would do anything for virus. He would learn anything to impress him. He was like a child who always longs to get praises from his mother. In his case, a tight smile from virus is more than enough. Virus was motherly ofcourse in many ways. They would sometimes end up in fight as well. Trip would always do something to provoke the older. It was one fine evening when virus finally snapped at him. "I JUST CAN'T GET RID OF YOU", he almost shouted looking down at trip in frustation which was easily bounced off by trip's innocent look. Actually, trip did push virus too far this time. Virus had been  seriously learning something from the morning and he had been repeatedly disturbing him. As a result, Virus snapped and both got kicked out of the lab. Virus was too close to understanding about the working of the new drug. His quest to learn about something new is always hindered by trip. "I don't want you to follow me anymore", said virus little sterner. Trip was slightly taken aback or he was even scared. He would always cause trouble for virus but he would mostly scold him and walk away. Sometimes he won't even get angry and simply ignore him until he behaves. There were times even when he politely asked him to leave him alone. But this was really unexpected from virus. "Iam sorry!, i wi..",  said trip his eyes already filling with tears not able to believe what virus has told him. For once, he was scared about something. "No, trip. Iam done with you", he said his voice colder. Trip could only sniff and his voice broke at his next sentence, "I said, i..a. sorry", said the six year old. He wants to be angry too but he couldn't. Trip just started crying now and he was truly guilty for disturbing virus before. "Just stop crying", said virus in frustation while trip continued sobbing. "I just can't handle you anymore", he said his voice moving back to his usual lifeless tone and walked away. Trip stood there crying wiping his eyes on his sleeves. "Virus is too cruel", he thought. He never thought the older boy would break their friendship just like that. He couldn't regret less about the event or did virus even consider him as a friend.  He should have behaved properly. He shouldn't have done that. Though virus rejected him, he tried following him around for few days but this time virus's didn't pay any attention to him. He just looked at him like he was seeing through him. He couldn't talk with him either so he sadly gave up after few days and became lonely. He thought that their weird relation has come to an end.

            Trip was generally hated by everyone. He is only seen as an animal by his fellow mates other than virus. But now even he has joined his fellow mates. He could only regret about his current situation. He was walking on a deserted corridor one day and suddenly he felt someone hitting back of his head. He turned angrily, already in a bad mood. There were six boys from age 10 to 14. In oval tower, children are categorized by their age. They started attacking him all at once. It was stupid to fight back, he should have run from there. Soon, the gang overpowered him. His hair pulled, his face scratched, repeated kicks and punches landed on his body. He almost fell to the ground in defeat when one of the boy's were pulled away from him by his hair. It took only a second for him to hear a slap and someone being pushed down violently. All the five boys paused to see who had hit their friend and they were shocked to see virus without his glasses. Among the group, trip was the one who was really shocked. He has never seen virus hitting someone. He has seen other children hurting him but as far he has known virus never hits anyone back. He simply endures the pain with no expression. Virus simply never engages in violence. But now, he started hitting the other boys without any hesitation. Most of them were just slaps and violent shoves against their shoulders. Everyone ran away after hitting the ground once. It was suprise how strong he was even though he was looking very weak and puny. He had managed to send all the six boys running single handedly. There was one more thing with virus. Eventhough he looks weak, a sort of intimidation is felt whenever he looks angry or just when he looses his cool. He then helped trip up and walked towards a corner dusting him off to retrieve his book and his glasses which was hidden between the pages. His glasses is the only asset that he considers precious. He pushed back his glasses against his nose and walked back towards trip. Trip was still shocked. He never knew virus could hit someone like that. But then he started dusting off trip's shirt and shorts. Trip felt protected under those hands. Now, he felt virus was his big brother who had come to rescue him from his bullies. But then trip couldn't stop asking, "you hate me?". Virus just turned to see him, his hands slowly reaching for trip's swollen cheeks. He just flinched way from virus's touch complaining, "it hurts!". "Iam sorry, but why do i hate you?",  asked virus. "You said you wanna.. rid of me", said trip his words not making any sense. Virus paused for a minute and told him. "Ofcourse, if i tell you that iam not able to get rid of you it is simply because i don't hate you". Trip's child brain somehow understood virus's words, "So, you like me?". he said his green eyes looking at virus with fresh tears. Virus gently smiled and told him, "Yes, i like you". Trip smiled back at the cobalt eyes which were not dead for once. It was a suprise to see him smile. Virus took trip's hand and told him, "come with me, i will give you a shower and we will treat your wounds". Trip was so happy he felt thousands of emotions go through his little body. For the first time in his entire life he felt cherised. Virus was everything for him now and without him, he couldn't even imagine himself. He asked him, "But you don't like fighting?". "Yes", said virus who was leading them to his room. "Then, why did you hit them?", asked trip. "Hmm?", mused virus and he said, " i don't mind getting hurt but I don't like anyone hurting you". Trip's lips just got zipped at virus's words. "I want to protect you as much as i can until you are able to take care of yourself", said virus and smiled at trip. "Ofcourse, I can't protect from the people in the lab but still i will try though", he said but there was slight sadness in his voice because he knew it's true and there is nothing he can do about it . After virus disinfected trip's wounds who was flinching too often. They both walked towards the cafetaria for their evening snacks. "So, you save me from the bullies?", asked trip holding onto virus's hand. Virus just smiled and nodded. Trip felt so warm at virus's words. Trip told him that he can read and write properly now. Virus again smiled, "Is that so?", he asked genuinely suprised. He was teaching trip for almost six months now so he was glad about getting results. That was the virus, trip loves the most who smiles genuinely without faking it and when he cares for trip openly. To be honest, eventhough they suffered a lot in their childhood. He liked virus as a child more because he was so pure . So, pure as white. He also remembered how he almost lost that virus.

            While they were walking in the corridor, "A-334", called an authoritive voice bringing them to a pause. It was the time when virus had no name and his name was A-334 in the lab. Freak was his name around other children. Trip never called him by name anyway. Virus turned to see the man in his late forties with greying hair in his long white lab coat revealing a formal grey shirt and black pants underneath. "Please, come with me would you?", he asked virus with his grey eyes gleaming. Virus just nodded and turned to trip. "I will join you soon. So, go ahead ", he said to trip. "I will come with you", said trip but virus stopped him. "Just go", he said giving a red haired boy a slight push who reluctanly moved. Virus took a deep breath and followed the man. He is mostly called by the researcher's to get injected by some new invented drugs that's why he didn't allow trip to come with him.  They might inject on him as well so he would try to avoid that as much as possible. Dying was not a problem for virus but for trip it's different. Infact, trip dreams that one day they will be free and live a normal life. Maybe if he manages to live a little longer, there may be a chance. Virus followed the man into a brightly lit room. The light was almost blinding him. He was asked to sit in one of the stools. He sat there with his notebook on his lap. There sat three people in front of him. All in lab coats and they all looked very tired. The man who called him joined them by pulling a rolling chair towards the group. There were three men and one women with paper pads in their hands. They all sat a behind the long table. They completely ignored him and started the conversation. "The experiment type will be "DNR" for him ", said the researcher on the extreme left. His tone was completely professional void of emotions. Virus stiffened at the word "DNR". For once, he wished that he didn't know the expansion of the word. No one in oval tower's has ever returned to their bed after the experiment DNR.

Because DNR simply means, "Death No Recovery".    

        Trip was swaying his legs sitting on one of the tall chairs in the cafetaria. He was so happy that virus finally forgave him and they are together now. He knew experiments may take little time. So, he patiently waited for his idol to come back. He didn't come though. He was thinking about giving his idol a name. "How must he call him?", he wondered. Soon, the cafetartia closed. He didn't mind maybe the experiments are talking longer than usual. He walked back to his room. He didn't feel anything odd as he waited for him. He pulled out a book virus has given him earlier and started reading it. "He is going to read it to him tonight and ask him how is he doing?", thought trip. It was almost eight in the night and they were called for dinner. Trip waited for virus in his bed. He wanted to have dinner with virus today after their small reunion, if he is not coming then he would skip his dinner as well. As, the time dragged by the dinner time was also over. Trip puffed his mouth. "Why are they taking so long?", he thought in frustation and decided to get down from his bed to go check on him. Just as trip's leg reached the floor. He heard someone knocking his door thrice and saw virus coming in. There was something wrong in his face.

        It was the first time in his life that he saw virus crying. He wasn't throwing a tantrum but he was slowly sobbing. Trip couldn't understand or possibly know why was virus crying. He got down from his bed really fast and walked towards his idol. Trip's eyes was already filled with tears. Because if virus is crying then it has to something bad. But never even in his dreams, he thought virus will be soon going away from him and never come back. Trip's small fingers tightened at front of virus's white shirt. "What's wrong? Did they hurt you ?", asked trip looking into the cobalt eyes his voice already breaking. Virus took several breaths to calm himself and said, " t..trip!, iam so sorry". " Why?", asked trip sobbing now still holding onto virus. He didn't know what was wrong. "Trip!", said virus once again while the green eyes below him was painfully penetrating his soul. " Iam going to die", said virus in a low voice.

              The red haired boy looked at him with a bewildered expression. Even though he was six, he knew that virus is not going to die but he is going to be killed and he refused to believe it. "You are lying ", he shouted with fresh tears flowing down his face. He was so angry that he was shaking virus by his shirt.  "You are lying", he shouted again and again breaking down not wanting to accept that virus is going to leave him. He didn't know how long he was crying like that. Virus let him cry for sometime. "You are lying", he whispered at last after several minutes losing all his energy hiding his tear stained face in virus's shirt fronts and sobbed for some more time. Trip felt so helplesss, so little, so useless. He couldn't accept his new fate without virus. "Please don't leave me", begged trip looking up at virus again in a small voice. Unfortunately, there was nothing virus could do about it. Virus just wiped off his tears on his sleeves and clutched trip's by his elbows. He slightly pushed the red haired to the bed making him to sit on the edge. "He needed to be strong. Only if he is calm, he can make trip understand", thought virus sitting beside him in the bed. He have to make him listen.

            It took few hours for the natural blonde to calm trip down. The six year old simply refused to accept that his idol is going to be killed in the name of experiment. Virus promised him that even without him that he will be okay. He also said he will definitely get a chance to get out of here. More than his very own tragedy. He was worried about trip getting lonely and sad. He wondered , "who would take care of him, if he is gone?". He secretly wished that this experiment could have happened before he met trip so that he wouldn't have to regret anything. Besides the agony of losing trip, there was nothing more he was concerned about. Unfortunately, his wish to live longer couldn't be ignored anymore. If it was six months before, he could have easily embraced his death but now he didn't want to leave. He just wanted to stay by trip and live longer enough to watch him grow. Is this too much to ask?. He internally kicked himself for letting trip to affect him this much. Why didn't he ignore  him from the start?. Fate was always cruel with him. Trip was sleeping on virus's lap now exhausted after hours of crying. Probably for the last time. Virus's fingers absentmindedly went through his red hair with his back against the wall. He truly liked trip and he is going to miss him. Besides, this little animal was far more interesting when compared to the other lab rats like himself. Instead of feeling sad, he tried to feel happy that he got six months of his lifetime to spend with trip. It didn't work though but he still tried to look on the good side. Atleast, someone will feel sad after his death rather than thinking him as a used lab rat ready for disposal. He couldn't sleep that night.

           Unlike other times, they are not going to inject a simple drug on him and make observations. But this time they are going to inject a bio-weapon in his body, a highly contagious, lethal man-made virus , "SCARLET 15" and observe him until he dies. They have already told him or discussed the symptoms ignoring him, that he will be having at the various stages and death being the final one. Thinking about the symptoms alone was making his stomach churn. He is going to be separated from trip in five days. Soon, he is going to be isolated somewhere and the his final experiment will begin.
  

           The first two days moved like a flicker. Both of them were so sad that they didn't bother to talk much. Trip sticked up with virus as much as he could except the times the people in white coats barged in virus's room with syringes to make him sick free and check on his physical parameters. Trip requested virus to sleep with him in his room for the days until he is going to be taken away. Trip was the only kid in oval tower who had a separate room. Since, he is too brutal for the other kids. Virus agreed since sleeping alone in his bed would be terrifying. He wouldn't admit that to the younger boy though. As the nights went silent as trip was annoyingly holding onto him in their sleep. But he couldn't complain since it gave him a strange comfort. Virus decided to leave trip after the third day since he was afraid that the people in white may get an eye on his little companion. So, he told trip to stop following him after the third day as they walked towards the cafeteria for lunch. Trip's lower lips trembled after hearing what his idol told him but that was his last request. He couldn't do anything but follow it.

           But still trip wanted to give virus a present to make their final day somewhat special . Virus sat first in their usual table where they regularly have their lunch and today being their last lunch together. He waited with his plate which pitifully contained a meagre amount of sliced fruits and a slice of bread. His appetite down due to his unfortunate fate and also due to going to be away from trip soon. He sat there looking for the red hair whose appetite is mostly better than him. He saw trip approach him with his plate which had visibly less food compared to usually what he eats. Trip placed his plate on the table and scanned virus's plate with worry. "Less food!", said trip looking up at his partner. "Yes, i don't feel like eating", said virus as his eyes narrowed to trip's hand hiding under his shirt front's. " what's that in your shirt?", asked virus as trip looked sideways for the care takers. Once the six year old was confident that no authorities was nearby their table, he gently took out a small cupcake from inside his shirt and placed it on virus's plate. Virus looked at him with confusion. "Where did you get this from?", he asked as trip began licking the icing from his little fingers. The cup cake had a blue icing with added white pearls on top wrapped up with pretty polko dot cupcake liner and half of the icing smeared off due to trip's kidnapping. "I stole it from the special kitchen", said trip. "Special kitchen...", mused virus as he racked his brain. Only then, he remembered that there is a special one among them who will not be disposed anytime soon. A small boy whose name is "Sei" who is always seen near their so called master , "Toue". The  same man who always said that , "they are contributing to a perfect future where there shall be no sadness or miseries". Virus wanted to laugh at that quote because most of them like him are not going to be there to see that future. They all are going to die in this institute one day for sure. There is really a special kitchen for the boy where the food is made delicious and it is said to have some fancy desserts. Virus was little bit worried about trip for getting into trouble that too for his sake. But trip was casual as usual. No sign of guilt or regret as finished licking his fingers and picked up his fork to poke his food. Virus let out a sign. He was really not in a mood to eat anything fancy but he didn't want to turn trip's mood off too. It's been a while since he ate cake maybe before three years. So, he slowly took his fork and sliced the cup cake into two halves as trip looked at him. "You can half of it", said virus as he placed trip's share on his plate. "But it's a small cake", complained trip as he saw virus poking his share with his fork. "You can have my share too if you want", said virus looking at trip from his lashes. Trip shook his head and pouted. He didn't feel like explaining to virus any further as they both continued their meal silently. The day moved very slowly for both of them with swirls of panic hitting them at different parts of the day but still none of them loose their composure as the day proceeded.

      "Say something", said the six year old looking at ceiling of his room. Virus was also starring at the ceiling for sometime. " What do you want me to say?", said virus as both of them layed on their backs. They couldn't build a conversation more than two sentences from morning yet they felt the pressure that time is running out. There are not going to have eachother for so long it was night already. Trip bit his lips and turned to see his idol as he layed on his sides now. "Please say that you will come back", said trip in a small whisper. Virus felt his body turning cold there is no way he is going to make it. The main purpose of the virus is to observe him to see how he dies. "You know i can't say that", said virus as he felt trip's tiny fist clenching his shirt front's. "You will kill the virus and you will come back to me", said trip still in whisper as virus turned to see him in horror. "Why would you say that?", said virus getting uncomfortable. Because what trip told him was really scary. It's simply not possible. Trip didn't cry that night but the sadness was still visible in his face. "Please say you will come back", repeated trip his little voice almost in the bridge of breaking. Virus let out a tired sign. He didn't have a choice but to oblige trip's silly request. "I will come back", said virus looking at trip's eyes. Trip smiled slightly at virus's words. He was happy to hear those words of hope from virus. Somehow, whatever virus said always made him to believe it whether it is acceptable or not. Virus and trip layed awake almost for most of the night. "Trip! You should sleep", said the older as he saw trip was fighting with his sleep. "I want to stay with you", said the smaller rubbing his eyes with a small yawn. "He looks cute", thought virus as he layed in his sides now. "I will be here till morning", whispered virus slightly pushing trip to lay on his back. "Go to sleep", he pressed as he gently placed his hand over trip's chest. Trip soon fell into virus's spell as he inched near him. Somehow their foreheads touching and virus hugging him from his side. Today will be last day to ever feel virus's hands around him. Trip wanted to cry and run out as the realization stuck him but he was too exhausted mentally and physically. He felt virus's arm tighten around him as felt his heavy head sliding down even more as their noses brushed.

      "Trip!", he heard virus call him for the last time as he was halfway through his sleep. "Hmm...", he responded too tired. " The cake, it was good. Thanks", he heard him whisper but he was already asleep.

           Trip opened his eyes to see the empty space beside him and knew that virus was gone. Forever....

         He didn't know what to do and whom to follow as his eyes filled with tears. He was hating himself now and he could already feel the emptiness of death. Eventhough he was sure that virus is still not dead. He wanted to die aswell but virus told him to try to survive. Maybe he will make it out of here. He wiped off his tears on his white sleeves and noticed something was on his bed. It was virus's favorite book. Something related to brain or blood he didn't know but he took it anyway. This must be the final parting gift from virus. He gently took the book and wrapped himself in the thin sheets as his voice  broke one again, "Virus....".

Months later...

                Trip was sadly walking in the same corridor on another evening where virus saved from the bullies months before. He still couldn't believe that his idol is dead. He was still lonely as he revolved around the places where he had spent most of his time with his idol. Before, he could give him a name, he was snatched away from him. He felt helplessness radiating from the institute where he is stuck now. Before with virus, he had a pure white light to follow but now he was in complete darkness. Every children laughing and playing around him looked like monsters. Whatever their face looked like in real life, for him they were just, dirty, decaying, mocking monsters. He still bites the children around him more than before, he met virus. Everyone left him alone for their own good. Just as he thought about his neverending doom. He saw a couple of boys walking towards him laughing and giggling like they saw something really funny. He tightened his fist thinking that they are making fun of him but it looked like it was not him. He walked forward to see kids gathered in small groups who were laughing and making fun of someone. They were cruelly pointing their fingers at the figure. It's normal in oval tower for the kids to tease other kids who had developed some weird side effects due to repeated testing. Normally, he does not check on the misfortunates but this time he was bit curious. As he moved forward to see the victim. He saw some of the boys running from the corridor. He couldn't understand why they were running particularly after seeing him until his eyes landed on the figure. Trip's jaws went slack as he saw the kid who was made fun till now. He looked like a zombie, one would say. With all his blood sucked up, his skin pathetically stretched over his bones. His white shirt too loose on him. But few things remained the same his oval glasses, his perfect blonde hair and the book that he always carried around. It was hard to believe that he was able to walk. But for trip, it was no mistake. The figure was alive and it was walking towards him. Trip ran towards the figure as soon as the recognition hit him. It was his idol and he is back. He couldn't stop as he threw himself over the weak body of his idol. His idol gasped as both of them hit the floor. "Trip!?, you are heavy", said the older in a painful straining voice. Trip was slightly taken aback by virus's voice. He looked very weak as he was food deprived for months and his voice was very pathetic to hear. " Will you be fine?", asked trip removing his weight from his idol. " Well, i suppose so", said virus slightly coughing. Even though he was in this pathetic state, he managed to grin at the younger who looked at him puzzled. " You are right, i won the virus 'SCARLET 15'", he said, his cobalt eyes gleaming. Trip who was now on his knees let out a childlike gasp as something struck him. "That's it", he said looking down in awe as if he found something important. Virus just tilted his head questioningly at his favorite animal. "You kill ah virus! , so u too a virus", squabbled trip his sense of words going down hill. But virus could still understand. As he thought he must teach trip to talk properly. But the next words got him off guard. "So, iam going to call you Virus, Virus ", said the six year old his emeralds gleaming which only made the older laugh weakly. Virus wasn't going to complain about his new name. He actually secretly like it. Trip was so happy that virus was back as he hugged him one more time but with a gentleness. His idol hugged him back too without much audience as nearly everyone had evacuated the corridor fearing the blood drinker.

             Trip felt tears gathering under his eyes blurring the forgotten cabbage below him. His head still down and his hand holding onto the knife. A small sob escaped from his chest. He felt like, he had just time traveled back from his childhood. "I never knew chopping cabbage's could sting your eyes", said a voice sparkling with interest. Trip just stiffened at the voice. In his emotional turmoil and sad history, he had failed to notice someone has entered the kitchen and was standing right behind him. He decided to continue chopping his cabbage as if he heard nothing. He was already embarrassed about getting caught red handed  so he decided to atleast hide his face for now. "Trip, are you upset about aoba-san?", asked the gentle voice. Suddenly trip was angry as he gritted his teeth now as the pace of slicing the cabbage increased. "This bastard!, he is always like this distant and cold", thought trip sourly to himself with fresh tears sliding down his face. He knew the person behind him is waiting for his answer. He slowed his slicing taking a deep breath and finally kept his knife aside. "You have changed a lot", said trip placing his hands over the edge of their marble kitchen platform. He heard virus taking a deep breath and cringed slightly. He can't take his word's back , can he?. Virus can be nasty sometimes especially when he tries to talk about emotions. He waited for the scoldings for being weak. But his partner  said in a honey melting soothing voice, "Trip, i know its tough for you now but i promise everything will be alright soon". Trip couldn't believe what he heard just now. These had been the words, he had silently wishing to hear from virus for years. Trip straightened himself and turned to the person who he had been dependent for so long. "Just for a minute", he muttered as he walked towards his idol and slowly placed his head in  virus's shoulder as he took him in a hug. He hugged back virus too with tears staining his shirt. "It's alright", he heard virus saying in an assuring voice while he felt his hand patting his back. He never knew what happened to virus when they tested him with "SCARLET 15" till this date. Neither he asked nor virus told him about his near death experience. They had been near their death so many times after that but none was too scary like this one. It was an unavoidable permanent scar carved in their mind which they have to carry throughout their life. But without virus, he cannot imagine a life. He felt better after few minutes now as he straightened himself from his non-twin's shoulder. "I was thinking  about the time around when they took you for testing 'SCARLET 15'", said trip looking sideways with his eyes down. "We are past those times now, aren't we?", said virus as if he was talking to a child as trip nodded still looking sideways. "Back then, we didn't have any control over life, we just let them to do whatever they wanted with us. But now that's not the case, ne?", said virus his voice slightly cheereful as trip smiled now. He loves it when virus's voice is filled with emotions. "So, everything will be alright soon?", asked trip still smiling. "Yes, EVERYTHING will be alright soon", said virus smiling now too as trip hugged him once more this time a bit tight. He turned back to the vegetables as he continued to slice through them. He never knew what their relationship is called?. Virus had been literally everything to him, a mother, a brother, a protector,  sometimes even a friend and his master whom he shall follow anywhere in this world. They are not lovers or friends but definitely their bond is more special than that. Their mind almost works the same but they execute their actions in a different way. Their relationship certainly didn't have a name but they both dearly love aoba, their blue prince who is now their captive who will soon become their lover. Trip let out a sign of relief as his tensions released a bit after a small talk with virus.

               Virus took out the leftover lasagna from the refrigerator as trip turned to see what he is upto?. "What are you doing?", asked trip eventhough he can clearly see. "I'll be off for a run soon, as i have a meeting with a client by 3 today. So, iam just grabbing a bite", mutterd virus still hovering over the refrigerator. "Kay", said trip not offering his cooking to his idol as he moved to rampage for utensils in the cabinet above. "So, what are you making?", asked virus finally as his eyes wandered to the chicken on the counter. "Hmm, chicken yakisoba", said trip in a disinterested tone. "Alright, i shall have them. It's nice to indulge in home food now and then", said virus his voice slightly cheerful again as he returned the leftover lasagna to the fridge and took out an water bottle. They have somehow got used to their new place and hot climate now. " Oi!, virus", said trip causually. "Hmm", came a reply from virus as he raised the water bottle over his mouth. "Can i feed aoba today?", asked trip eventhough he is just going to push tablets into aoba's mouth. He waited for virus to drink the water and saw virus swiping his mouth with a kerchief.

Virus's voice was still cheerful as he politely turned down his request.

"NO"

              Aoba layed in his usual spot or that is what he thought as the tremors of his nightmare slowly subsided. He never knew where he was lying from the day one of his abduction. He had given up everything now. His pride, his dignity, his clothes, his vision, his ears and even his voice. He was no longer bothered by the chillness creeping onto his body from the floor. It was the only proof that he is alive and the only senses he was allowed to have. The wetness of the blindfold from his tears and the chillness of the metal cuffs against his limbs being his constant companions. He didn't know what he was waiting for now. Before being muted, he tried talking a lot or more like begging. But as time passed, he was made to look like a fool, a proper fool. He didn't even know whether anyone is near one when he cries or attempts to speak. Somepart of him would always say that he is talking alone and no one is listening to him. The thought of talking like a mad man alone was infuriating enough let alone trying to make a conversion to an invisible person.

            He layed stiff as his sleep dissolved bringing him towards reality. Back to the hell, where he was ever since from his abduction. The same dream repeatedly tormenting him again and again. The tears were still lingering below his eyes making the blindfold stick to his face in the uncomfortable manner though he has got quite used to it now. The hope of fighting back long gone. His brain replayed the dream or it is supposed to be a nightmare?. The dream was same as usual. It starts with him walking down the stairs in his home back at midorijima to his living room where his grand mother waits for him with a grim expression. He smiles at her first but her expression never changes and just remains the same. Before, he could think "what is wrong?", he would wake up. This dream alone was enough to drive him crazy several times. He couldn't help himself but to simply cry because somewhere deep down in his heart, he knows very well that he will not be able to see her for the remainder of his life. But as the torment he is going through is not enough. The dream was developing in his unpredictable period of being captive. The final development of his dream was the most terrifying one. He tried talking with her this time, he called her, "Baa-chan?!", as normally he would. But her expression didn't change as if she couldn't recognize his voice or more like him. A shiver ran through him in his dreams. He bet he must have shivered in reality too. Without looking at him, she would walk away to the kitchen. He tried following her and waving his hands before her to make her notice that he is back. But she didn't show any change in her already bored expression. "Baa-chan!, don't play with me", he told her with desperation. With his throat going heavy, he saw her walking around inside the kitchen completely ignoring him. He stood there rooted to his spot. He didn't know why she is ignorant to his presence. She turned towards him after several minutes as he signed in relief. "Baa-chan!, you scared me so much", his voice in the verge of breaking as he walked forward to hug her with his hands extended. But he stopped as soon as he read her face. She wasn't looking at him, infact she was looking straight through him as if he is nothing but air. It took him minutes for that awful realization to sink in his head that neither his granny could see him nor hear him. He woke up gasping around his choker and heart pounding inside him. He couldn't believe it was a dream at all. As he took comfort from the darkness. His granny couldn't see him simply because he has disappeared or taken far away from her. It's not her who is not able to see, hear or talk. It is him who is unable to do anything. As the message slowly sinked deeper and deeper. He started crying once again. The dreams may be figment of his desperation but why it was ripping his soul apart. He didn't want to go through this horror anymore with his senses being cut down. He had already told them or whomever he believed was around him when he was either given water or a bath that he would do anything for them. So, please let him see or hear or anything. But their actions continued as if he said nothing. His brain suffering a lot to form words as time passed without hearing them and even after if it is formed with great difficulty. He found himself stuttering in mute often. Even then they simply ignored him. Now, there was no need to form words because he was muted with a choker. The feelings of being isolated, ignored and completely forgotten often got him under the roots of terrors. He was always scared thinking what if he is left all alone here and completely forgotten. Now, that he is broken. He didn't know how long this life of being a show piece would continue. Being forcefully kept at a spot, cleaned from top to bottom, again returned to that spot and then being forgotten for the remainder of the time.

             He didn't know how much days has passed, or weeks, months, maybe even a year. He wasn't sure anymore. As he layed crying all alone or that is what he thought. He felt the pair of rough hands on him this time. His bath went on without a scene. He couldn't grit his teeth with the choker but it helped him muffle his cries as he was shampooed . As, the days are passing now, both the hands are washing him and both the hands are toweling him as he has stopped resisting their touches. Today his bath was bit unusual, he noted since usually, his choker was removed when he is given bath but today maybe it was exception so he couldn't flex his jaws or its just a beginning of a new trauma. They are stretching his adaptability step by step. In the beginning, when he was forcefully suppressed like this, it made him think that , he is only going to be revolting at the end. But as days passed on, he knew that his surrounding and his miserable condition is never going to change but only him who has to change, to accept, to endure, to live with his new fate and to break down into whatever is desired of him. He was now walking back after his bath with the hands leading him on softly. With the shame of walking around naked long gone, aoba thought he is going to be now tied in the relaxing or exposed position but against the odds, he found himself getting adjusted to stand somewhere by the pair of rough hands holding his shoulders. Back of his thighs, brushing against something.

" A chair ".

           He found himself gasping as the strong hands pushed him down by his shoulders as staggered without co-ordination. His ass slowly hit the seat. Soon, before he can think of anything else. His hands were restrained to the hand rests of the chair on both sides. All he could think was the feeling of wood against his naked skin. He knew something is going to happen now. Maybe a new punishment, a new torture to be added to the pile of miseries that he is already in or maybe a piece of someone's mind. He could feel his heart racing and despite the chillness , a sweat breaking down from his hair line. He didn't know what they are going to do this time?, as he settled down to anticipation with shallow breaths.

        With his heavy pair of white boots, trip walked around aoba now after restraining his wrists. With his suspenders dangling below his waist, as he stood behind aoba now. Virus on the other hand, sat on the identical chair of aoba's opposite to him and waited for his non-twin. Their beloved aoba-san is successfully going to move to their next part of their strategy now. As both of them were thrilled to see, "how he would react on seeing them after so long?". Trip's hand at first gently tucked at the leather mask sticking to aoba's face and peeled it off from his face as gentle as he could. Aoba felt cold air brushing his cheeks after so many days. Soon, his chin was pulled down gently while the gag attached with the leather mask from inside his mouth was removed. Aoba coughed a little with his choker gone, as saliva ran down from side of his lips. Trip now gently swiped off the dripping saliva with a wash cloth. As aoba now flexed his painful jaws a little. Trip placed the choker on the table set near aoba after wiping his spit off from the choker with the same wash cloth.Trip's hand now picked up the tweezer placed on the table. He slightly shifted the hair covering his ear and tucked it behind his ear as aoba waited with his toes curling against the cold floor. Trip slightly held aoba's tensed face to his chest and brought the tweezer to his ear as the bluenette tensed up against him. Aoba relaxed as soon as he felt one of the ear plug's being  pulled off from his ear. A sign of relief as tears welled up his eyes again but this time with happiness. It's all he has been wishing for to remove that damn thing from his ear. He was so absorbed with himself that he thought the tunnel in which he had been struck for so long has been finally opened. He let out a startled gasp with a shiver when he heard trip's fingers snap just inches away from his ear. Trip now repeated his action to his other ear as few more tears dropped down his face. So, there is hope that his miseries might end soon. Aoba flinched once again as trip's fingers snapped near his other ear and now he heard foot steps moving around him. Virus was still looking at the process with an amused expression. Every reaction their beloved gave out was just amazing and very interesting. No doubt that they have fallen head over heels for him. Now, trip just gently pulled off the blindfold. As a matter of fact, they often change aoba's blindfold as one per day but only when he is in deep sleep. Aoba slowly opened his eyes now but was once again greeted by darkness as he gave out startled gasp and tried getting up from his chair or with his chair since he was tied with it. But before much scene, the same pair of hands handling him pushed him down back to his seat as slow sobs escaped from his chest. "Mmph, mmph", sniffed aoba now in sudden panic as tears now freely flowed down his face without the blindfold. "Why did toue take his eyes off?", he thought in desperation and tears. He didn't even have energy to scream at this sudden horror. As the same hands stroked his arms gently which only gave him goosebumps. Aoba could now hear his own cries and also his heart beat as he was reduced to nothing now. 

Trip stared at virus giving him a mean look with a raised eyebrow. Virus simply smiled  beckoning him to continue. He is such a perfectionist freak thought trip in his mind while he mouthed a ,"sick bastard". He now again reached for aoba's face. As the blue beauty, tried to twist his jaws off from his grip. But trip was strong, as he easily held him in place and reached for the opaque lens in aoba's eyes. Aoba felt a warm breath hitting his face, he could sense the person was very close. Trip gently took it out, leaving the confused aoba who now has started blinking rapidly and soon he took off the next opaque lens which had been blocking his eyesight all this time. As the light collided with his eyes aoba immediately ducked down his head as  his vision was extremely bright as trip stood behind him. He couldn't help but blink rapidly as he lifted his head once again to look straight. He still couldn't see a thing but soon the fog in his vision cleared as his pupil's adjusted to the light in the room. His eyes could make out the light was very faint in the room and it was yellow. The light illuminating all of them, including the person sitting in front of him. He didn't know someone was sitting right in front of him as he recognized with shock. It took him several blinks as his messy vision turned into a clear picture. Each blinks portrayed his vision with different filters with none being clear. Finally, his blue lashes stopped blinking, as his honey gold orbs narrowed to focus. Aoba couldn't believe what his eyes saw at first. Maybe his optic nerve was sending a wrong signal to his brain. His brain being very slow to register whatever or whomever is in front of him.

          As, he just froze to the sight in front of him. Too shocked to react, aoba's pupil's dilated with his blood pounding behind his ear. He knew he was betrayed by them but he never knew even in his dreams that he would be tormented by them. He didn't know how long he sat like that looking at the person in front of him. But soon he couldn't hold down his sorrows anymore as he broke down to anguished cries with clear disbelief and betrayal. His heart was so heavy that he almost wanted to die. But nothing affected the person who was sitting opposite to aoba as he was illuminated by the yellow light from behind which was outling his face and his perfect blonde hair carefully spiked . Dressed up in his signature black fitted suit not mistaking his tie and his white shoes as he sat cross- legged with elegance. As for his face, the light partially reflecting off from his glasses as aoba couldn't see what's in those synthetic eyes and his perfect fingers crossed under his chin.

          But the thing that troubled him the most was the dangerous smile placed on his face which made his blood run cold. Aoba's self-conciousness triggered as he was sitting worn out and distraught sitting naked bound to the chair. Aoba couldn't believe the first word that's going to come out of him after getting back his senses has to be his traitors name. As his chapped lips slowly moved to acknowledge his tormentor in a small broken whisper still in disbelief.

" Virus".