[hr][hr][i][h1][color=cadetblue]Naoki Lee Yagami[/color].[/h1]
[@FernStone][/i]
[hr][hider=Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica OST - Cor Destructum][youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksGFoMNBKBY[/youtube][/hider][hr]
[b][code]Unknown, a few days later_[/code][/b]

Today was one of those rare occasions Naoki was allowed to step out of his prison room; however, it didn't mean that he could stroll out of the cage freely. Flanked by the usual towering guards on either side, he was dragged down the dim hallway by the chain of the cold metal cuffs around his wrists. He couldn't walk as fast as the two burly men, not with another set of chained cuffs weighing down his ankles.

This was his 'reward' for the smooth session with Yang Jun a couple of days ago - a chance to meet his parents again. Although he had been relatively obedient to the cult, that old hag felt the need to give him a little more motivation... or rather, to remind him of his position.

[i]To know his own place.[/i]

The guard on Naoki's right stepped forward to a blinking red light ahead (which he could barely make out a card reader-like device in the dim lighting), leaving the guy on the left to keep the boy on the metal leash. The Right Guard pulled out a badge from the breast pocket of his black business suit and held it in front of the reader-device. The red light turned green and a groan echoed down the corridor as the door opened slowly before the trio.

Beyond this door, behind the metal bars that split the room into half, the thin, ghastly figures of Reiji and Yui Yagami scrambled forward - teary-eyed at the sight of their son, who had lost some weight since they last saw him, but still alive.

"[i]Naoki...[/i]" Yui stretched out a trembling hand through the gap between the bars. "[i]I'm sorry... So sorry...[/i]"

"[i]You have only one minute,[/i]" the Left Guard released the wrist shackles and kicked Naoki on his back, causing the boy to trip over the chain around his ankle cuffs and fall flat on his face. Both men then left the room, leaving the Yagami family on their own.

Naoki got up and rushed to his mother, grabbing her outstretched hand - and he was shocked that her fingers were covered with blisters. "[i]M...Mum? What have they done to you?[/i]" Yui's lips were pale, and there were blood stains all over the white gown she was wearing.

"[i]Don't worry too much about us,[/i]" Reiji spoke as he placed a bandaged hand on Yui's shoulder. "[i]They won't kill us - they still need your power.[/i]"

"[i]But---[/i]"

"[i]Son,[/i]" Reiji's deep, bass-like voice was hoarse, but firm. "[i]Stay strong. Remember, '[abbr=塞翁失马，焉知非福]every cloud has a silver lining[/abbr]'.[/i]"

"[i]Well said,[/i]" a raspy voice suddenly spoke from behind Naoki. The boy quickly turned his head around - and he narrowed his eyes.

Yui looked up, the gentle face she gave to her son was immediately replaced by an expression of pure loathing. "[i]...Lee Hwee-Suan.[/i]"

The old woman called Hwee-Suan shook her head, disappointed. "[i]I do not remember bringing you up with such impudentness, You-Hwee.[/i]"

"[i]'You-Hwee' had already died long ago,[/i]" Yui said coldly. "[i]And I don't remember having a bitch for mother.[/i]"

Reiji tightened his grip on Yui's shoulder; Yui understood his silent warning and swallowed the rising anger inside her. "[i]I'm grateful that you went through the trouble to bring Naoki here to visit us,[/i]" Reiji began, his tone still calm and well-controlled even as he faced his evil mother-in-law. "[i]But I can't help wondering the...[/i] true [i]purpose of this little 'reunion'.[/i]"

"[i]...Sharp as usual,[/i]" Hwee-Suan commented, directing her attention to Reiji. "[i]I can see how you are able to capture the pure heart of my poor daughter, and use her to point her sword at us.[/i]"

Reiji said nothing - he merely regarded Hwee-Suan with a look of muted pity. However, his wife didn't share the same sentiment as him. "[i]Leave Reiji - and Naoki - out of this,[/i]" Yui said through gritted teeth. "[i]Let them go. They don't belong in this damned cult.[/i]"

"[i]No, no - I cannot do that,[/i]" Hwee-Suan wagged a finger at them. "[i]'Meng You' has the potential to become an even more powerful seer than you, You-Hwee.[/i]" Then she narrowed her eyes at Reiji. "[i]And it would be a problem if we let go of such a dangerous liability to roam around freely, hmm?[/i]"

Satisfied with the silent rage from the family of three, Hwee-Suan clapped her hands together, and the two guards who brought Naoki here entered the room. "[i]It seems that I will still have to educate all of you further...[/i] to know your place."

Reiji's face went even paler than it already was. "[i]Wait... get Naoki out of here first.[/i]"

"[i]You did ask about why I brought this failure here just now, didn't you?[/i]" A sadistic smile appeared on Hwee-Suan's wrinkled face. "[i]It is to give him a lesson he will never forget.[/i]"

"[i]You---![/i]" Before Yui could spat out a curse, the horrified couple was forced to watch Hwee-Suan torturing her own grandson with a whip.

Of course, Reiji and Yui weren't spared from the physical agony, either.

Naoki raised his head in time to see the guards entered his parents' cell, and they were given the same treatment... with a [i]flaming[/i] whip.

[hr]
The men threw a sobbing Naoki - all beaten-up and chained - onto the hard floor of his prison bedroom, before Hwee-Suan strolled in after him. "[i]I should be giving you a good rest after such a, ah,[/i] difficult [i]lesson, but unfortunately we do not have much time to deal with your little tantrums.[/i]" She placed a similar A4-sized brown envelope as before on his calligraphy-littered table. "[i]Another work for you - and this one is even more important than the previous vermin.[/i]" With that, Hwee-Suan left the room, ignoring the seething look Naoki was throwing at her.

Naoki wobbled to his feet, inching slowly towards the table. He poured out the envelope's content with one hand.

On the very first page was a name: [i]Vien Phan[/i].