Not sure how this turned out... it is meant to be the first chapter of a fic, but I'm really not sure if I should continue – if anyone wants me to, I will – otherwise it can remain a very weird one-shot.

This chapter is therefore just a kind of teaser – if I do continue the chapters will be longer.

He has no emotions.

"Kazuki."

The deep voice bids him enter the room, and he does – because he has no emotion, so he will do as he is told.

Standing before the tall man, he waits; the man will talk only when he is ready, and not before – and the one the man calls 'Kazuki' knows not to speak unless spoken to. But he does not care, for he has no emotion.

"Kazuki", speaks the man, again.

"Yes, Father. What is it you require of me?"

Kazuki calls the man 'Father'... of course, the man is not really Kazuki's father, but the man likes Kazuki to call him that, so Kazuki does. He does not mind; he will do whatever the man tells him to do. He always has, and always will.

"Are you happy?" asks the man. His voice is quiet, but it is very deep and holds great power... and great authority.

"No, Father", replies Kazuki. "I am not happy; I cannot feel happiness. I know no emotion."

But the man knows this already – why, then, does he ask? Kazuki wonders, but he will not question – it is great foolishness to question the man he calls Father.

"Good", the man says. "Very good. Are you ready, then, to do what I next ask of you?"

"Yes, Father. I will do whatever you tell me to do."

The man laughs then, and Kazuki must look up in order to see the man's eyes as he stands, because he is so tall.

"You will go to a place, then. You will pretend to be human – everyone must believe that you are human, there. Do you understand this?"

"Yes, Father. I understand."

But the man is not yet finished.

"That is good, Kazuki. But there is one thing. Be wary. Because you are pretending to be human, you must act human – pretend to feel."

"I do not understand."

"To feel, Kazuki, is to have emotions."

"I have no emotion, Father."

"No. But you must pretend that you do. And you must be wary - you must pretend only to feel... but you must not feel. You must show emotion, but not be feeling any. Do you understand this?"

"I understand, Father."

"Good."

And it is good, because Kazuki is doing what the man tells him to do; so it must be good.

The man runs a careless hand through Kazuki's hair, and Kazuki shivers. He knows no emotion... but this man, whom he calls Father; he can make him shiver. In fear? In anger? Kazuki does not know, because he cannot really feel any of these things...

"Go now", says the man, interrupting Kazuki's thoughts.

Kazuki turns to leave, but the man stops him.

"One more thing", he says. "Your name – Kazuki – it is too uncommon, and will draw attention... you must take another name instead while you are on this mission. What name will you take?"

"Nataku".

He says this without thinking, and the man smiles – Kazuki shivers again at the sight.

"Very well. Go then... Nataku."

And Kazuki, now Nataku, leaves as quickly as he can without appearing to hurry, because he no longer wishes to be in that room, where a tall man sits and smiles in a way that can make the emotionless now feel... fear.