Ariel peeked into the room.  "Em... if I might have a moment?"
          Helena looked up from her crossword puzzle.  "Are you done yet?  I want to try him out."
          The redhead fidgeted.  "I need to take some measurements on him first."
          "Very well," Helena said, pulling the Japanese book Shin was reading out of his hands.  "Just be quick."
          With a nervous nod, the redhead hurried to Shin's side with some measuring tools and a needle.
          "You're going to inject him?" Helena asked sceptically.
          Ariel looked down at the needle and hastily put it to the side.  "Erm, no.  I just finished with that....  Gabriel, you see.  He needed a vitamin injection."  His face flushed a bit.  "I must have forgotten that I had it.  Terribly absentminded of me."
          "I didn't need to know that," Helena growled.  "Now get to work."
          "Of course," Ariel said, ducking so that he was almost hiding behind Shin.
          Shin looked at the man nervously. "What-- what kind of measurements are you going to take...?" he asked meekly.
          "Oh, the usual sort," Ariel said with a slight hand gesture.  "It's remarkably... unintrusive."  He looked slightly disappointed as he poked one of the tools at Shin's head.
          Shin winced slightly, feeling uncomfortable, and pulled into himself slightly.
          "Did that hurt?" Ariel asked with interest.
          "A little," Shin admitted. He shook his head slightly. "It's more.. reflex from being poked at... I think..."
          "Oh," Ariel said, looking disappointed again.  He pulled out another tool and made some more measurements.  "Well, he really is rather powerful," he said after a moment in a voice that was a shade too loud and held a scant amount of panic in it.
          "What do you need that for?" Helena asked with narrowed eyes.
          "Eh... for calibrations... power level needs to be established so that he doesn't break the machine, and...."  He trailed off as Helena lunged out of the door and dragged Gabriel into the room by his lapels.
          "Tell me what you put him up to," she demanded, shaking the older man.
          Roughly pushing her hands away, Gabriel adjusted his shirt.  "It was obvious that the Shadow was lying in his report to Omadon.  Now that I have proof of that, I might go to Omadon.  I know he's been looking for something to use against this castle for ages.  What better way to win my position back?"  He smiled smugly.
          Helena's eyes narrowed and she hovered off the floor a few inches.  Ariel slowly inched toward Gabriel, watching her with fear.  One of her hands shot out and grabbed him by the arm, pulling him squirmingly closer.  "Every time you do something to Lord Kajiro or to my Child, Gabriel Versailles, I will touch your brother."
          Ariel's eyes widened and he tugged futilely at his arm, hysteria entering his face.  "Oh God, let go! LET GO OF ME!"
          Gabriel stepped forward, eyes blazing anger, and slapped Helena, pulling his brother out of her grip.  "You dare!?  Come, Ariel.  I must go speak with the Shadow again."  Without a backward glance, he pushed the almost hyperventilating Ariel out of the room.
          Helena's feet touched the floor again.  "I have your first test, Shinkou," she said in a dark voice.
          "T-test...?" Shin asked in a small voice, utterly frightened.
          The vampire was silent for a moment, listening to brothers' retreat.  "I want you to go into Ariel's head and give him a nightmare," she said.  "Give him the nightmare to end all nightmares."
          Shin paled slightly. "Night...mare...? But... h-how...?"
          "You're the Dreamer," Helena snarled.  "Go into his head and feed him his deepest fears.  Gabriel will learn better than to threaten me."
          "But I-- I don't know how!" Shin protested. "I haven't even been able to Dream since I was three! And I never went into anyone else's head besides Papa's and even then--"
          "But, but, but," Helena snapped.  "It's your talent and you'd better have some clue how to use it.  If I hear another protest out of you I will turn your blood to flames."
          Shin went dead white and looked at Helena in utter fear.
          "Now do it!"
          Shin's eyes closed and he went limp, instantly falling asleep.

          His eyes opened again in his Dream. Shin bit his lip, looking at the bright plastic of the child-side table that had been in his dream since his ability was sealed, a pale grey stuffed wolf sitting in one of the small chairs.
          He gave a deep exhale, concentrating, trying to remember how he had manipulate the Dreaming when he was younger.
          "Just will it to be," a somewhat rough voice spoke.
          Shin looked around. "Who...?"
          There was no response.
          Shin shivered slightly. 'Shouldn't be afraid... this is my mind..." he thought. 'Maybe it's just my subconscious, or a memory, or something...' He shook his head. Closing his eyes, he concentrated, mentally reaching out to find Ariel's mind.
          A moment later he found himself looking at the man, who was shakily downing large handfuls of pills.
          'Don't do that...' Shin thought, reaching out to the redhead.
          Ariel's eyes closed and he slumped over on the counter, asleep.
          Shin bit his lip a moment, then took a deep breath before entering the sleeping man's Dream.
          An almost ghostly child was there, staring at a photograph.  Slowly, the photograph grew to take up immeasurable room.  On it were two children, two men, and a woman.  The children were obviously Gabriel and Ariel, though much younger.  The woman looked much like Gabriel, and Shin somehow knew she was their mother.  Of the two men, one had bright red hair like Ariel's and the other the overbearing nature of Gabriel.
          The red-haired man disappeared from the picture, then the woman, then the other man.  Finally, the only ones left in the picture were Gabriel and Ariel.
          Ghostly voice sounded around a corner.  Always whispers, always just out of sight.  Affair... bastard... trial....  Wounds blossomed on the ghostly boy's face and body as almost unseen assailants threw words at him that cut, and blows that broke.
          Gabriel appeared, hurting almost as much, but there to protect.  Gabriel's touch, the only one that could be endured after so long, even though it hurt as well.
          Shin pulled out of the Dream, pulse racing, reeling from the overload from the red haired man. 'That wasn't just a dream...' he thought, unconsciously sitting in mid air, and over his heart as he stared at the sleeping man.  After a long moment he entered the man's Dream again.
          The flow of images was less this time, the majority of them repeats of the first presentation. Fascinated, Shin watched as memories played themselves out around him.  'So much pain....' he thought as he walked past memory after memory of similar events.
          Finally, he reached the end of the maze, to where the redhaired man's true Dream lay.  Shin winced, seeing Ariel captive underneath his brother in a situation that was very unbrotherly.  Unconsciously, he reached out into the dream. "Stop hurting..." he near silently begged. "Please... stop hurting."
          There was a jolt and Shin found himself outside the redhead's mind once more.
          Ariel jerked out of sleep, breathing frantic.  With shaking hands, he pulled one sleeve off of his grey jacket and prepared a needle.  Closing his eyes, and breathing a near silent sigh of relief, he plunged the needle into the vein in the bend of his arm.
          With steadier hands, he wiped the needle clean and placed it back on the table, then turned to look at the door.  "Gabriel," he murmured.

          Shin's eyes opened and he sat up, shaking his head slightly as if to clear it.
          "Well," Helena demanded.  "Tell me what you did."
          Shin grimaced slightly. "I-- He was already having a nightmare... I... I think I scared him into waking..."
          "You should have done something.  How can I threaten Gabriel without this as backup."  Helena crossed her arms, glowering.
          "I..." Shin hesitated a moment. "I know what Gabriel's afraid of being found out..." he said softly. "I saw it..."
          "Tell me," Helena ordered with an expression of gleeful anticipation.
          Shin hesitated a moment. "He...'s been...." he hesitated again, then sighed, looking down, shoulders slumped. "He's having sex with his brother..." he said in a quiet voice.
          The vampire made a noise of disgust.  "I hadn't thought he'd lower himself THAT much," she said with a sneer.
          Shin pressed his lips together to keep from saying anything.
          "That's over now," she said, anger and disgust leaving her.  "And now we know what you can do."  She pursed her lips.  "I do wish he would hurry with that machinery."
          Shin looked down again, stopping himself from coming to Ariel's defence. "You trusted me enough to this, yet you still want to watch me Dream...?"
          "I got carried away with my anger," she said dismissively.  "Besides the fact that Gabriel has to be shown that he can be brought down instantly if he tries something."
          Shin sighed.

          "I have you this time, sir," Gabriel said, slamming his hands down on the table on which Kajiro's current book rested.
          The Shadow didn't look up.
          "That new Child of Helena's isn't as weak as you made him out in your report."
          "I have not yet had adequate time to test his abilities to the fullest," Kajiro replied in an unconcerned manner.
          Gabriel sneered.  "You put him at the lowest end of the spectrum, sir.  I know your methods better than that.  If you brought him here it means that you know exactly how powerful he is."
          "It is very difficult to truly assess the power level of one who has only recently come into his own power."
          "Don't try and make me believe you'd send a report out without full knowledge," the dark haired man said, smirking.
          "It is Omadon's policy to send information upon acquisition of a new Child. I do not wish reprimand to be issued for waiting to send report."
          "With a subject this old?  Don't insult my intelligence, sir.  To take in someone of that age, you must have been studying him for years.  You know his power level."
          "His ability has been sealed up to this point, Gabriel..." Kajiro's voice was tinted with irritation.
          Gabriel snorted and leaned over the desk.  "And if you knew about that you were probably the one to seal him and to break the seal.  I'm on to you, Lord Kajiro, and I can tell Omadon and get you into more trouble than you want."
          Kajiro was silent a moment. "What are you aiming to achieve, Gabriel?"
          "Power, sir," Kajiro said, sticking a finger in the place that would be a face if Kajiro had one.  "Get me another Child."
          "Procuring another Child would do little to help in your pursuance of rank if your treatment and usage of them is that of your previous. And you are quite aware that Omadon's current policy of Child holding only permits one per Alliance Master."
          "So request another one, my Lord.  Everyone knows you have several around.  And if you're giving my brother one..."  Gabriel snarled slightly, baring uneven teeth at the Shadow.  "If you insist, against all sanity, on giving Ariel a Child I should get one too."  He pulled back away from the table.  "And as for usefulness, that's not your concern."
          "There is no lack of reason in the giving of a Child to Ariel," Kajiro replied. "And do know that any Child I procure for you will be from a very limited stock."
          "As I said earlier, Ariel can't handle the strain of having a Child."  Gabriel's eyes flashed burning ice. "If you wish to kill my brother and this Child, this is your own business."
          "I have fully investigated the Child Ariel is to receive. She will do him no mental harm. She is capable of attending to herself if the need arises."
          Gabriel sneered.  "It's not a Child's place to see to himself.  As I told you earlier."  He turned his back and sauntered toward the door.  "As long as I have a Child brought here for my exploitation, you are safe.  I am watching you, sir."

          "Dad wants to see you," Aralu greeted, entering Shin's room.
          Helena looked up.  "Me?  Whatever for?"
          The younger woman shrugged.  "Something about Gabe.  I'll keep an eye on Shinkou for you."
          "Gabriel," the vampire muttered.  "That man should be exiled."  She walked out of the room.
          "Hey!" Aralu said cheerfully, sitting next to Shin.  "I brought your back brace."
          Shin looked up from his book, blinking. "Where was it...?"
          "Kokusei's underwear drawer."
          Shin blanched slightly. "Under...wear.. drawer...?" He sighed. "So that's why I could never find it..." He sighed again.
          "You let her do this often?"
          "Didn't really know it was her..." Shin defended slightly. "I kinda figured, but..."
          "So you could have taken something of hers.  Shown her what it's like having something you rely on taken away.  Then maybe...."  She paused, appearing to consider something strongly.  "No, no I take it back.  It wouldn't have made a difference."
          Shin looked down, playing with his hands slowly. "She wouldn't do it to hurt me.... not intentionally...."
          Aralu snorted.  "Like hiding your brace isn't trying to hurt you."
          Shin tensed slightly, then relaxed, sighing in defeat. "She means well..."
          The woman shrugged.  "She might, but I think she's just careless."
          "You don't know her," Shin protested softly, still looking down.
          "Oh please.  Can you really tell me that forcing you to eat a rare steak when you were twelve because, and I quote, 'you needed the iron' wasn't careless?  Anyone with a brain would have noticed by then that you don't really eat red meat."
          Shin looked up, eyes wide. "How... how do you....?"
          "Oh, I was over for dinner that night.  Stupid girl has no observation skills at all if she can't realize that her own brother who she ostensibly takes care of is almost a vegetarian."
          The pale haired man blinked. "Over... for...?" he repeated. "But... Mom wasn't even home that time, how could you....?"
          She shrugged.  "Someone had to keep an eye on you.  What if she's knocked over something burning while she was yelling at you to eat the steak?  She HAD put up candles."
          "But..." Shin protested faintly. "How....? I-- I don't understand...."
          Aralu shook her head.  "Didn't I just tell you I was there?  Don't you pay attention?"
          "But no one else was there by Ko and myself!" Shin protested.
          The redhead smiled condescendingly.  "You're still trying to apply the rules of the outside world to us?  How cute.  I was there astrally."
          Shin looked down. "You don't have to make fun of me...." he said in a small, slightly depressed voice. "I'm not used to this..."
          "I call you cute and you say I'm making fun of you," Aralu said with a shake of the head.  "Most guys would be flattered.  Jack would be jealous."
          Shin gave a small smile. "It was more how you said it... and Ko's the only one who ever calls me cute, and she always meant I was acting like I was five..." he said softly.
          Aralu stared at him a moment.  "I was acting like...."  She got up and started hopping around the room, flailing.  "Ew!  Ew!  Ew!  Get it off!"
          Shin blinked. "Are... are you okay....?" he asked, slightly worried.
          The woman paused and looked at him.  "I'm trying to rid myself of the aura of your sister," she said with great dignity before resuming her hopping.
          Shin blinked again. "But... you don't have any...." He paused. "And I don't know how I can tell that, but I can..." he said, slightly worried.
          After a moment, Aralu sat down again.  "I was speaking figuratively," she explained.  "And you can see auras now?  What's Helena had you up to that you're developing this fast?"
          "I--" Shin faltered. "I can't-- can't really SEE anything, I-- I just--- I know you don't have any..." he trailed off, looking up at Aralu meekly through his bangs.
          Mussing his hair, Aralu smiled.  "You really are cute.  And I DO know I'm not your sister.  Believe me, there are few things that please me more.  But you should put your brace on now, shouldn't you?"
          Shin hesitated a moment, then nodded.
          "Need some help or something?"
          Shin curled in slightly, shaking his head. "Just-- look the other way please...?"
          "Hm?" Aralu asked in slight confusion.  "You're just going to take the top part of that off, right?  What's wrong with your chest?  You don't have any weird tumors I don't remember, do you?"
          "I-- just..." Shin squirmed slightly. "I feel self conscious..." he said in an apologetic voice.
          "What's to feel self conscious about?" Aralu asked.  "Here, I'll take my shirt off too if that helps."  She reached for the buttons.
          Shin gave a mild shriek and turned around, facing the wall.
          Aralu sat back with a laugh.  "Sorry, I just couldn't help myself."
          Shin looked down, fists clenched. Slowly, his shoulders slumped and he closed his eyes, unhappiness welling up inside him. "I want to go home..." his said in a near whisper.
          "Oh-- hey.... Don't do that...." Aralu said, sitting up and reaching a hand out toward him.  She winced slightly.  "Come on, it's not as bad as all that.  Your head's fixed, you don't have to worry about your sister not realizing things about you, 'cause we've all studied you for so long that we know what you're like better than she does.  And we can help you with your Dreaming too....  Come on, stop being miserable.  It's giving me a headache."
          "How can I NOT be miserable!" Shin near shouted, turning around. "I don't know where I am or what's going to happen to me, I have people poking at me even more then I did any other time, I'm being constantly watched by people who scare me who I don't understand and I'm being near controlled by someone who bit me and treats me like an object and dresses me like a doll and I--" he broke off and buried his face in his hands. "I'm frightened and I don't know what's going on and I just want to go home..." his said, voice miserable.
          Aralu flailed again, then leaned over and hugged him.  "Stop it," she muttered.  "Misery is sour and I have a sweet tooth.  She only bit you a little, and she dresses everyone up like dolls.  And we only poke because we care."
          Shin nearly melted into the hug, eye watering slightly. "I'm sorry..." he said in a small voice. "I'm not as strong as I should be...."
          "So... what'll make you feel better?"
          "I don't know..." Shin said in a small voice. "I'm just afraid of what's going to happen, and confused about what's happening in my head and I'm half afraid that Kim'll hate me because I ran away..."
          "I can bring her here," Aralu offered.
          Shin looked up, eyes wide and terrified. "No!" he exclaimed, fists clenching in Aralu's shirt. "No, you can't do that...." his voice dropped to a near whisper.
          "Why not?" the woman asked as if it were only natural.  "You want to see her, she probably wants to see you.  It's perfect."
          "But-- you-- I-- I can't protect her from anything here, I can barely protect myself!" Shin protested, nearing a panic.
          "Protect?  What do you need to be protected from?"
          Shin went to answer, then paused and bit his lip. "Just please don't bring her here..." he begged.
          Aralu shrugged.  "Ok.  If you don't want me to I won't.  But hey, if you think she'll be angry because of your disappearance, why don't I tell her you're ok?"
          "You'd do that for me...?" Shin asked in a hopeful voice. "And-- and make sure she's safe...? I--" he hesitated a moment. "Ko hurts her... not meaning to!" he added quickly. "But, I--" He shook his head slightly.
          "Sure.  I'll go check on her.  Be back in a few minutes."  She stood up, waved, and disappeared.
          Shin blinked a few times, then shook his head. "I don't understand her..." he sighed before going back to his book.