The cage he was in was decidedly poisonous, the stench of his emaciated, uncared-for body beyond suffocating. The rags he had been wearing had been on his body for a long time, only being changed when they were so worn that they no longer resembled cloth. He had been changed quite a few times now.
The reek that permeated his nostrils wasn't nearly as potent as it had been some time ago, but many of his fellow children prisoners had disappeared. He didn't know if they were alive of dead, simply that they were...not there.
"The Kagamine, aye?" one of the many shadowed faces around him asked.
They all came in masks, their voices muffled and snickering.
They were talking like he wasn't there, like he wasn't listening, like their hands weren't currently groping around his body to check that he had enough flesh on him. They'd tried to feed him well, although he'd denied most of it – attempting to give it to the other captives – but lately he'd regained weight in his lonely little cage. After all, if he didn't eat it willingly, they'd shove it down his throat, and he had a bit more pride than to have them feed him.
He felt familiar shackles latch around his wrists and he felt his body steel against the contact. He struggled a bit more against the arms holding him, but didn't as much as whimper.
"First one to make him scream gets an extra reward," one of the men chortled to the others, who guffawed in return.
Those cold hands dragged over his flesh quickly enough and he found himself lifted off the ground and being carried over someone's shoulder to the room with a draft. His skin crawled like a hand trailed down his spine. The room with a draft was worse than any of the others… the room with a draft meant…
His restraints were stretched taught until he was spread out across the floor, his legs wide and his arms helpless to defend himself. Those brutal hands tugged at his meager coverings for a few seconds before they gave and his backside was exposed to the room.
He heard huffs of air, gasps and eager exclamations that he tuned out. He had no wish to hear his captors as they… as they…
The boy flinched at the calling of his name and at the texture of a hands gripping his thighs.
He almost broke… almost cried out, pleaded for the torment to end, but remembered himself at the last moment and bit his tongue instead. Blue eyes opened against a blindfold and, for the first time in the lifetime that he'd been there, he attempted to look around to locate the person calling him. He could see very little beneath the blindfold, only a few different tuxes and occasionally the flash of one of the gentlemen's hair… but they weren't moving, weren't calling out… there was only one thing in the entire room that appeared to have motion, a thick darkness that swam lazily across his vision.
"Kagamine Len..."
Len didn't see its eyes; it had none, but he had the distinct impression of eyes staring down into his. The creature had no form, no real shape. It vacillated and wavered between human, animal and other things found only in fevered nightmares. It couldn't make up its mind about what shape to take. Rapidly it shifted from old man to young woman, from black bird to great cat. It was a thousand things and nothing all at once.
Len struggled against his restraints uselessly as he observed that unfamiliar creature reaching for his body. True, he'd been touched by hundreds of men – he had no doubts – but he never enjoyed it, and he would never give in to it without a fight.
"Well, aren't you…" there was humor in its voice. "A very small master." Bright teeth grinned at him like a Cheshire cat. "You have summoned me."
"You have summoned me…" it repeated, lips moving against Len's skin. "This fact will not change for eternity. What has been sacrificed will never be returned." It paused and watched Len for any sign of comprehension.
I'm your sacrifice? He thought. Somewhere in his dying body a fire ignited. That's not fair! I've been used… they gave me no choice. I was used! First I was their toy, then they wanted to kill me to summon you… The demon stared at him with curious eyes. They used me and now they want to use you…
The demon's grin widened. "But, you have summoned me…" Len nodded. He understood; his soul was already the demon's, he wasn't going to get it back. He had nothing more left to lose and so much to gain. "Now…" the demon kissed away the blood from his lips. "Choose."
"Is this happening inside my head?" Len asked as he tested his bindings, realizing he had none.
"Now," the demon said patiently. "You give me a name, a form and a function."
"Why?" Len felt oddly nervous being put on the spotlight this. It was utterly absurd to feel like this after everything that had transpired tonight.
"You are my master." The demon indulged. "I will serve you and you alone for as long as you live. You need to tell me how you want me." It chuckled, a low rumbling sound that was almost a purr. "I doubt you want me like this all the time… I can be your familiar, the black cat on your doorstep or the raven on your shoulder, ready to pluck the eyes from anyone who opposes you. I can be the general of your army, the advisor at your side. I can be the woman who warms your bed and keeps your body happy. I can be your assassin, the poisonous snake who lurks in the bed of your enemy." The demon paused to look at the boy. It made a thoughtful sound.
"Perhaps not…" its voice changed, becoming something comforting, soothing. "You are a very small master after all." Its sharp teeth dulled; its smile became gentle. "I can be the kindly old cook who bakes special sweets just for you. I can be the nursemaid who holds you through every bad dream and thunderstorm or the doting old uncle who brings you every toy you ever wanted. Or if that's not enough…I can be your older sibling who is always there to listen and protect you from the bullies who would steal your pocket money."
"A sibling..." Len mused thoughtfully, knowing he had all the time in the world. "I've always wanted a sibling." he decided. "You'll be by my side whenever I call. You'll protect me. You'll do you own life, but still be present in mine. You'll never betray me. You're right, I am small, so you shall be my power."
"Ah…" the demon sighed happily, its voice shifting into a cheery pitch. "I knew you would be a challenge. I will be one hell of a sibling then." The indistinct mass of shadows was replaced by a young girl in grey. "Does this meet your approval, Otōto?" she asked with a pleasant smile.
Len just looked at his newly-created sister. "A twin? I will call you Nee-chan, I suppose. Fix your eyes, please." The demoness' eyes were still a glowing cyan, and the moment the words left his lips it had been replaced with a more normal shade. "If this form makes you happy… please, my name?"
"Rin…" Len answered without thinking. "Since you're my twin, a reflection."
The newly christened Rin smiled in approval. "What should I do first for my little twin?"
"Rin, do me a favor, and please please KILL THEM!" Len shrieked forcing himself into a sitting position.
"Yes, my brother," the taunting figure above him stated before an inky blackness descended upon the room and the sound of screams echoed in the air.
Len had never heard a sound more musical. He howled with uncontrollable laughter as the people were killed, tears streaming down his face as his weakened body struggled to keep him upright.
He was in such a state of hysterics that he didn't even notice the blistering pain that rushed through his right eye moments before his vision went black and a bright, burning lavender seal appeared where there had once been blue.