One. A single red line blooms. Jade could almost see the exact instant that the blood rushes to Shinjirou's skin, marking the exact place where the whip had landed. He waits, allowing the pain to spread.

Two. A second line appears next to the first, with less than an inch between them. Jade frowns, dissatisfied. He had wanted the two lashes to be side by side.

"Do you understand why I'm doing this?" He adjusts his stance, watching Shinjirou tremble and forcing himself to feel nothing - no hesitance, no guilt, no exhilaration.

Three.