How this warrior could've been restrained was only though magic. His muscles were so weak he was unable to break out of the bindings that held his body to the chair. The rag around his mouth kept him from calling out to anyone. It wasn't like there was anyone there anyways. The room he was in was pitch black other than the spotlight just above him.

He looked down to see ropes coiled around his wrists and his upper torso. No doubt similar ropes bound his ankles to make sure he couldn't lash out against them. He looked back up again, and on closer inspection there were people in black cloaks sitting in the shadows. There were gaps in between the people, and he had no why.

The rag was removed, but in return a cold hand slipped around his neck. He snarled in response as another hand was placed over his beating heart.

"You're such a bad boy. You shouldn't growl at the one who's keeping you alive." the voice from behind him was soft, but threatening at the same time. It only made him growl a bit more before the hand around his neck violently squeezed it.

He'd normally be able to escape this, but none of his limbs were available. His mouth was open to take in air, but nothing was getting to his lungs that were beginning to burn. He made a few gagging sounds before the hand let go. Casshern's head bent forward  as he gasped and tried to regain the oxygen he lost.

"Now are you going to be a good boy?" it purred.

"Bastard..." he spat back, only to receive the same treatment. This time the hand made it last longer before Casshern was allowed to breathe again.

"You don't listen well do you?" that damned voice even laughed a little at the end. Casshern new it would eventually kill him at this rate, so he had no choice, but to comply to it.

"It's you fault you know. All of it." the voice continued.

"What's my fault?" honestly Casshern didn't know.

"You hurt him. You hurt her. The only two that loved you."

Casshern gave a loud gasp at his realization, which in turn made the voice chuckle. That was impossible. There was no way it'd ever happen. He'd never hurt Ventus, or Ringo.

"No... no!"

He heard whoever was behind him shift to get on their knees. A pair of lips got dangerously close to his ear and whispered, "Don't go denying it now. You know you did it." those same lips went down to his neck and slid their tongue up it's length, causing Casshern to shudder. This felt wrong, all wrong and it caused Casshern to try and break his bindings unsuccessfully.

"Shut up!"

"Oh? Why would I do that? I am speaking the truth. Don't try and tune me out." its lips pressed against his neck, then bit into his skin with enough force to draw blood from him. He hissed and fought harder. There was only one person he allowed to do this to him, and it wasn't the voice. This was wrong on many levels.

"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!" the last one had an edge to it. He even raised his voice. He'd do just about anything to escape at this moment.

"You don't want to hear the ugly truth? Well then, I'll simply show it!" before Casshern could say anything else a spot light came on.

Below one of the lights was a small and frail frame. She was sprawled out on the floor, her clothes torn, and her tiny bottom lip split open. Her left elbow was bent in a position that shouldn't had been possible as was her right ankle. Her small head had been smashed in on one side, her small brain spilling out. Both of her eyes were broken (they were made out of a special type of glass) and there was no life in them anymore. Her body was still, which was no surprise.

Casshern made some form a shriek seeing this as he fought as hard as he could to get out, "NO! NO! NOOO!" he screeched. All he could hear around him were laughs, from all the cloaked figures and the voice behind him. No matter how much force he put into his movements the rope would not break. It felt like the ropes around his chest tightened, constricting him further when it was his own shock and grief.

"RINGO! RINGO NO!"

"There's only one person in here who could've done this."

"No... I would never..." tears began to well up in his eyes at the sight of his little girl, dead on the floor. She must have been in so much pain...

"Five completely crushed bones. Three broken ones, many bruises, her head smashed in, that finally ended to poor girl's suffering." that same tongue licked the blood from the wound its teeth created. He hissed in pain, but that was enough to let the tears fall. In turn the laughing began again.

"No... I didn't do this! You god damn murderers! I'll-"

"Even if it was our fault, what could you do about it? Look at where you are." it purred and nipped at his ear, "Broken already? Wait till you see what you did to Ventus, your lover."

The second spot light came on. Ventus was in even worse condition, most likely because his body could take more. Some of his fingers were bent backwards. His ankle was in an odd position, and his right hand was missing. It had been torn clean off. His jaw was at an awkward angle from it being broken. His clothing had been torn, and blood had been drawn from claw marks.

But his face. Ven had been conscious the whole time before he died. He had been beyond terrified.

This time there was screaming bouncing off the walls, drowning out the laughter of the others. He squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to deny what he'd just seen, but Ven's face was burned into his mind. His screams didn't even sound human anymore. The only break was when Casshern had to breathe. The hand squeezed his throat one more time to get him under control.

"And you said to them you wouldn't hurt them." the voice sneered.

"NO! NO! NOOOOO!"

"Then again it wasn't all your fault." the hand on his heart slid up to his skin and forced Casshern, who gave a strangled cry, to look upwards as the source of the voice stood up.

It was a pair of gold eyes in a familiar face, wearing Xehanort's black cloak.

It was him."

"WE DID THIS TO THEM."

---

He woke up with a gasp. He looked down to see Ventus still curled into him, still breathing. Ringo's small frame was in between the two. He sighed in relief that it had all been a dream.

KITTENS

He sighed into the open air. The days felt so long. He had a family to attend to, and a dawn to fight for. He wouldn't stop fighting until this whole thing was over. Even if it killed him.

There was nothing waiting for him after the dawn the city will bring. At least as far as he was concerned. He sat for a moment on a piece of rubble. The dirt caked his clothing and it very noticeable as he pulled the sweater closer to his thin body. Those  blue eyes were still gentle as they've always been, and the shadows in them partly lifted. But they were still sad, ever so sad eyes.

Friender gave him a scare when he jumped up and start barking. He had little time to stand up before he was being pulled along, "Friender? What's gotten into you?" it wasn't a zombie attack, he was much too jumpy for that. His body wasn't tense.

The dog looked down the street. Casshern had to squint. And even then he had to rub his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things. No, no she couldn't be here.