Pain.

That's the next thing Fuego remembered.

Unrelenting, overwhelming pain.

He couldn't move. He could barely even breathe. What was going on?

He finally managed to open his eyes enough to realize where he was.

He was in golden chains, locked up in a cage that was also made of gold.

No wonder he was in so much pain.

He forced himself to open his eyes more and was surprised to see Dokusei silhouetted in front of him, her solid green eye glowing menacingly.

He gulped. "D...dokusei?"

His voice was raspy. He coughed. It hurt even more to speak.

"You have failed me, Fuego. I told you to WEAKEN intruders, not KILL them."

"B-but I did weaken her...! S...she'll reform...she'll be weak for a while!"

"That does not change anything. You have failed me, Fuego."

Fuego whimpered and struggled to get up, but the golden chains held him down. It hurt too much, anyway, so he held still.

It was then he realized he was bleeding.  There were cuts all over him, each one dripping out amber-colored blood almost exactly alike to Kasai's.

Remembering what he did filled him with guilt.  He didn't like the fact he had to hurt his sister, even if he wasn't supposed to kill her.  He couldn't bear to hurt her like that.  It was too much.  She'd never forgive him, he thought.  He was as good as dead.

He managed to clench his burning hands into fists and glared up at Dokusei.

"... I don't want to help you anymore." he finally said.

"...what?" Dokusei growled, her eyes narrowed at the young phoenix.

"I said I DON'T want to help you anymore!" he repeated, louder.  "IT'S YOUR FAULT I HAD TO HURT MI HERMANA!  EVEN IF I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO KILL HER, I WOULD'VE HAVE TO HURT HER ANYWAY!"  He coughed from shouting too much.  He could feel his strength and energy draining from him.

Dokusei glared.  "Well then...if we won't have your services, I won't have to worry about 'accidentally' killing you."

Fuego hesitated, his eyes widening.  "No...." he whispered.

Usually, he wouldn't be afraid of death, because he'd reform anyway.  But if he died while he was surrounded by gold, he might not be able to reform.  Even if he did, he'd be too weak to move, and only get weaker.

Dokusei just smirked darkly.  "Well, you're useless to me now, aren't you?  You disobeyed, and you refuse to serve me now.  There's no point keeping you alive."

Fuego gave a scared whimper.  He didn't like this at all.

He hesitated as his vision started blurring.  The last thing was Dokusei pulling something out — his vision was too blurry to tell what it was — and he blacked out.