-SLAP!-

"I told you to clean this up!"

Kallen was sickened.

Her mother was just letting those…those Britannians push her around and she wasn't even trying to fight back.

She just wouldn't fight back!

Kallen looked away with disgust. If her brother was still alive, he'd…but Kallen wasn't her brother. She wasn't as strong as him-or as nice as him.

She certainly wasn't as soft as him.

Kallen walked away, unable to stomach the fact that she was related to such a weak woman.

Kallen was sickened.

That woman…to think she'd go as far as to use Refrain!

"How weak a woman are you?" she whipered. "Clinging to Britannia, clinging to a man…now Refrain?"

Did she want to hurt herself that badly? Why?

Why hadn't Kallen been enough?

"Kallen…"

Kallen's ears perked. Did her mother just…call out her name?

"Kallen…I…I am always here for you…"

Kallen's eyes widened. Always? Her heart began to tremble. "You mean-you mean that's why you've never left? You stayed because of me? For me?" her voice shook. "You idiot!"

No… no, I'm the one who's the idiot !

Kallen began to cry. "I'm such an idiot!"

Kallen was sickened.

Her mother was in the hospital, recovering from her addiction. She couldn't move, much less speak. Worse, she had just received her sentence-she was to be locked up for 20 years.

Twenty years! For something that Britannia did! For something that was not entirely her fault!

Although it was Kallen who drove her to do such a thing…

"Oh, Mom," she whispered, "I love you. I love you. And I swear-," she clenched her fists, "I swear- I'm going to fight for a life for the both of us. I'll fight so we can be together! So please (her eyes began to shine with unshed tears)…please wait for me!"

Kallen suddenly felt a cool hand land on top of her's. She looked up. It was her mother's!

"Do your best…Kallen." The words came out in a small whisper.

Kallen began to cry, her teary eyes holding a determined glint in them. She nodded. "I will!" she put her other hand over her mother's.

"I will!"

Kallen was happy.

Japan was free.

The world was at peace.

And best of all, she had her mother back. The two of them were now living together again.

Happy and free.