The hands are everywhere. Clawing, scratching. They latch onto his ankle and drag him backwards; his back is agony as cuts are reopened to seep into his shirt. The voices snicker and taunt him as he curls into himself and begs for forgiveness, with tucked knees to his chest and his exposed arms to shield his head. His ankle is stamped upon and he grits his teeth. A kick meets his ribs and he remains silent. The voices are growing angrier and the actions become more violent. Eric finally screams as a strong hand rips through his hair to haul him to his feet, narrowed eyes glare into his tear streaked face. He knows in his heart that he won't see the sun rise, ever again.

'You have to earn your food, mongrel'.

Eric jolts awake with heavy, uneven breaths that reverberate in his lungs. His fingers cover his eyes to the images and he pretends that his lashes aren't wet. It's the first time in weeks that the memories have resurfaced. His body grows cold.

He wordlessly kicks the bed sheets away, freeing his limbs and he closes his eyes and begins to slowly breathe just as Fujishima had told him to.

His neck weeps and he has no energy to wipe the crimson trickle from his cheek. He's sprawled on the concrete of the newest warehouse as a chill slowly takes hold. He closes his eyes to the welt across his arms. His attacker is fresh faced, new and inexperienced, he also feeds on the adrenaline that clouds the men's minds, and he kneels before Eric and smiles wickedly down at him, he doesn't demand to be acknowledged, he already knows that he'll never be forgotten. Eric waits until the man lumbers away whistling after a job well done, he uncurls his fist slowly and winces. Three broken fingers for his efforts. His other hand is untouched and with this he reaches into his trousers pockets and withdraws the stolen blade, it's not enough to finish the job but it will quench his need.

Eric gasps and his fingers massage into his scalp. The faces swim behind his eyelids and he sobs. He sobs for all the years he lost, for the strength he couldn't muster. He sobs for the parents who left him alone. He tucks his face into his knees and quietens himself; he doesn't wish to wake the household. He can do this alone.

Izumo once sat with Eric and explained about post-traumatic stress, he was out of his depth in understanding but he was persistent that he would always listen. Totsuka had been the same. But now Eric is alone in his allocated room, shivering against the past that haunts him. He closes his mouth to the idea of calling out for help; he won't trouble Fujishima's family any more than he has already done so.

Eric hunches to hug his knees tighter, and closes his eyes to the past he can't deal with. He knows that he can't sleep now. It's all too vivid.

'Eric?' comes Fujishima's concerned voice from the open doorway; Eric turns blue eyes to his friend with a shaky smile. 'Are you okay?'

'No' he replies quietly, he knows there's no use in trying to deceive his friend, Fujishima deserves the truth. 'I had another nightmare'.

Fujishima runs a hand through his hair and nods; he thrusts his hands into his coat pockets and nods again. 'Let's go for a walk, it's still early' he states with a reassuring smile. Eric returns the smile with a quick wipe of his eyes.

'As long as we get to see the sun rise'

'Deal'