Blue eyes fluttered open, and a silver haired boy sat up in bed. ‘Where am I?’ He wondered. Then, ‘Who am I?’ The silver haired boy couldn’t remember who or where he was.

“Ah…good. You’re finally awake, my pet.”

The silver haired boy looked towards the sound of the voice and saw a blond man setting in a nearby chair.

“Who…Where…?” The boy asked, trying to figure something out that made sense.

“My pet, do you remember nothing?”

The boy shook his head, then slowly looked around the room. It was a large room, with a large bed, a fire place, a chair, and several book shelves.

The man, dressed in a suit and a white mask, moved from the chair to the bed. He cupped the boy’s chin in his hand and made him look at him. “You’re name is Inu. And I’m your master.” He said, softly. “See?” He continued, showing the boy the mark that he had on his arm. “This mark on your arm shows that you are mine.”

“How am I yours? If I don’t remember anything…I don’t think that’s fair. For all I know you could be lying to me.”

A slap reverberated through the room, and the boy’s hand went to his face. Tears welled up in his eyes at the stinging in his cheek.

“I don’t lie, Pet.” The man. “You are mine. Now, forever, and always.”

Tears fell down the boy’s face. And something inside him crumbled. He fell into the arms of the other man, crying. “I’m sorry, Master. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me?” He begged through his tears.

The other man put his hand to the boy’s head in a soothing manner, and petted him as if he were a dog or a cat. “It’s alright, Inu. I forgive you. But it seems that because you have lost your memory you must learn of me all over again.”

The boy wasn’t sure what that meant, but he nodded, and clutched to the suit coat the other man was wearing…

*****

The blindfold itched, as usual, and Inu reached up to scratch at the flesh underneath it. His hand was smacked for what seemed the 18th time that morning, and he dropped it back into his lap, not saying a word.

“Why must you scratch like that, my pet?” A smooth voice came at him from the dark that surrounded him.

“It itches, Master. I only react on instinct; to make it stop itching.” Inu replied.

“Well, I suppose dogs must scratch. Just try not to scratch so often, Inu…you’ll appear to have fleas.”

“Yes, Master.” Inu said quietly, lowering his head, and trying not to scratch.

“Inu.” The voice said again, “Come here. Let me pet you while I watch the games.”

“Yes, master.” Inu replied, laying his head on his master’s lap.

“Good, Inu. You’re so obedient.”

“Thank you, Master.” Inu acknowledged.

Arbitro put his hand on his pet’s head, and started to pet him, as he watched the games with a sort of bored expression on his face.

*****

Later that night, as Inu lay there while his master took him, his thoughts were not on what was going on. Instead, his thoughts were on ways to escape, as over the years, Inu had grown a mind of his own, and didn’t like where he was at.

Inu…or Dog…had been with Arbitro for as long as he could remember, but he was not happy. He knew the rules of being a pet…he knew them by heart…but he wanted out. He knew that he would be hunted, and punished if ever caught…but he wanted out, and he was going to get what he wanted.

*****

Inu ran through the streets, leaving things as he went. The first thing he left was the blindfold, in order for him to see where he was running. The second thing, were the rings in his chest and stomach. He wasn’t sure where he was going…He only knew that he had to keep going.

Then, suddenly, Inu was falling. He had no idea where he had gone, but he was falling. Cold water rushed over his body, and he struggled to swim to the top. Once there, he took a large breath of air, and treaded water. He glanced around, squinting his eyes against the brightness of his surroundings. He saw land, and swam towards it. When his hands and knees touched the sand in the clear water, Inu turned and looked up…It seemed like he’d fallen right out of the sky. How was that possible? He shook himself. He didn’t care how that was possible. He didn’t care! He only knew that he was free. He only knew that now…maybe, he could put his heart back together again. Maybe…if it were possible…

*****

“Hello!” A female voice came at Inu out of the blue; in fact, almost literally, as he lay there on the sand, starring up into the blue sky.

“Hello?” He asked, testing his voice and slowly setting up. He looked around and noticed a girl.

“My name’s Kairi. What’s yours?” She asked, offering her hand to help him up. “And where did you come from?”

Inu took her hand, but wasn’t quite sure how to answer her questions. “I’m…not…sure…” He said, slowly, trying to think about something that he could say to her.

“You don’t remember?” She asked.

He looked at her…then down at the sand. “No…I don’t remember…” He said.

*****

It had been almost a week since Inu’s arrival at this strange, exotic island that Kairi called Destiny. He had been thinking long and hard about another name for himself. He didn’t want to be called “Dog” anymore, and wanted something else. He had thought about how he’d come to this place, how he’d reached the shore of this strange “Destiny Island”, and suddenly thought of the perfect name. Riku. Riku which meant “land” or “shore”. He also remembered the other Japanese meaning to this word. “The Agony of Seperation”, and thought that it fit him perfectly. Him, and his broken heart…