Final Fantasy and its characters are owned by Square Inc., and I do not claim them as my own. However, this story, and all original characters do belong to me.

The next day, I was taken by surprise when I came to consciousness lying on the floor of my prison room. I was no longer bound to the wall; my arms and legs were entirely free. However, my supplies were still gone, and so was the Satsu-Masamune, which had been on the floor of the room for the duration of my restraint. I tried tapping the region of my mind that would allow me to command it, but nothing... I heard no echoes, not even a whisper.

I pulled myself up. My body was still weak. Hurrying to the door, I leaned myself against it, chest first, and banged on the wood with open hands. I needed to know what was happening. When I heard the doorknob begin to rattle, I took several steps from the door and waited. I didn't want Sephiroth there� What had gotten into me�?

Sephiroth threw the door open and walked in, carrying with him a tray holding a simple meal and a bottle of water. He carelessly dropped it upon a table then approached me. Every step he took towards me, I took backwards and away from him.

"What's the matter�? Afraid of something? Afraid of� me?" A wicked smile came across his lips. "Don't be so nervous� you're my toy now. Hojo won't have you back." I found soon that my back was against the wall opposite the door and groaned under my breath. "My new pet. What shall I call you...?" His hands found mine, and he grasped my wrists. "Kurai. I like that." Moving my wrists with his hands, he held my arms up on either side of me against the wall.

"But I wonder� why a female clone?" He seemed to be thinking out loud, and I barely listened to him. "Hojo must know something that I don't� it's the only explanation."

His left hand briefly moved off my wrist, and I could feel him running his fingers along the tears in my shirt, gashes that had been there for several days, the result of his violent outbursts. His hand then went back around my wrist. I felt suddenly strange there, not bound but still held against the wall, and by his power. When the time came, I would retaliate... I would get him back for this, I swore to myself. "Why did you untie me? You said you'd kill me," I said bluntly. I was growing bored of his talking to himself, and I wanted some answers.

Smiling, his eyes lit up with an odd inner glow. I knew this expression was not friendly at all. "Because you've become my toy� Kurai. You're mine. Besides, I've found that you could be very useful to me�"

"So you're going to use me to bother Hojo, is that what�?"

"Precisely. And he'll want you back, too. I just don't know why yet�"

I was relieved when he took his hands off of my wrists and turned to leave. Crossing my arms, I slumped into a sitting position against the wall, and looked up when he addressed me again.

"Tell me you won't try to leave. It would be unfortunate for you if something� were to happen in result."

Before I could retaliate with words, he had left the room, and promptly locked it. Now, if only I could recall how to use my magic... perhaps I could escape the mansion.