Moon: So, THIS IS DA LAST CHAPTER! But there is an epilogue. Anyway, the genre suddenly switched. Warning: This chapter is kind of really sad, so . . . you might want to get a box of tissues ready next to you. Well, as usual, please review!

XxX

I burst in through the hospital doors, not caring about people staring at me. I was so furious I didn't even realize the tears streaming out of my eyes. It wasn't fair. This shouldn't happen. I ran, not knowing exactly where I was supposed to be heading, but not giving a crap about my whereabouts.

Then I was hit by a dose of cold reality.

Taking all my anger out on my legs wouldn't get me anywhere.

I stopped abruptly in the middle of a random hallway. I glanced at the floor, so pristine; and caught a glimpse of my reflection. My bloodshot eyes and tearstained cheeks were horrifying to look at; I realized I was acting as though someone died. But that couldn't happen. Toby couldn't die. And as I stopped acting like it, it was easier to stop believing it. I was overreacting. I couldn't walk into a hospital room like that!

I started walking slowly. I found the restrooms by some miracle, and splashed icy water on my face. I rubbed my eyes. When I looked into the mirror, I still looked depressed, though less terrifying. I mustered up a smile. There. That looked more like the old me.

When I walked out, I somehow managed to ask one of the people at the reception which hospital room he was in. Then I started running again. What had Zeo told me? That Toby had collapsed. That didn't mean anything serious; he could have been dehydrated or something. I really was overreacting.

Then I was outside the doors. Taking a deep breath, I walked in.

I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe a picture straight from a horror movie? All I saw was Toby lying senseless in a bed. He looked pale, but fine. My heart rate slowed. Zeo and Masamune were standing by the bed, but it was Leslie I wanted to see. She was sitting in a metal chair, her gaze fixated at her shoes. I walked over to her and sat down next to her.

"Hi," she muttered, still staring at the ground.

"Hi," I whispered back. I glanced sideways at her. She wasn't crying now, but she looked like she had been. I touched her arm. "It's going to be all right."

There was silence.

"Yeah, I know," she said finally. "It's just that . . . the news was so sudden and . . . I honestly didn't know what my reaction should have been. At first, I felt neutral. The news didn't really upset me. But then I felt selfish for staying calm, so I forced myself to cry. I know, it's stupid, but~" She broke off.

"Well, he looks okay," I choked out. I wish I was still in that bush spying on Zeo and the others. Talking about the cat. Even sleeping in that couch back home, dreaming about Angelique, that girl who was stalking me. Anything but this.

"What about you?" Leslie asked me suddenly.

I was startled out of my reverie. "What?"

"You had just confessed to me that you liked my brother. And now he's in some sort of coma." She cocked her head towards me. "How do you feel?"

I felt embarrassed to tell her that I had been crying my eyes out and practically running around the entire hospital in a fit of rage. Instead, I twisted it around; "How do you think I feel?"

"Heartbroken," she replied immediately, earning a light punch in the arm. "No, wait. More like depressed." I gave her a small smile. She reeled back, slightly shocked. "I'm actually right?" she burst out, surprised. Masamune and Zeo glanced at us for the first time.

"True to some point," I whispered to her.

Then Zeo's voice broke through, "He's awake!"

I bolted to the bed and blurted out, "You're okay, aren't you?"

Toby smiled slightly. "You tell me. Do I look like I'm about to die in twenty seconds?"

"Well . . . no," I told him. "But looks aren't everything."

He considered this. "True." Then he gasped in pain. I backed away, not knowing what to do. He recomposed himself and turned to Zeo and Masamune. They both nodded twice. It was like they were communicating telepathically.

Then the nurse ushered us out.

As I watched, they inserted a needle into his arm and he calmed down. His breath slowed. His eyes closed once more.

I kept my cool until we were outside. Then I couldn't contain myself. I burst into tears, oblivious to the world around me. I vaguely noticed Zeo wrap his arms around me and pull me close, trying to soothe me. While Leslie gazed at the stars, Masamune looked on, not quite knowing what to do. I bawled, trying to expel every molecule of sadness that existed within me. Leslie gazed at me, concerned but with a gleam in her eyes, and I finally understood what she was talking about. When, in my mind, it was too late. I wanted to kick myself.

One week later...

I was trying desperately to find that stupid training lot. Zeo and Masamune had rushed on, leaving me behind, and Leslie stayed back to practice her dancing, as usual. Since I didn't enjoy the prospect of sitting cooped up in her house, I had tried to catch up with them. Unluckily for me, I had no clue where they were.

I had been trying to forget about Toby. Zeo, Masamune and Leslie kept visiting him, but I stayed back, not wanting to experience the overwhelming sadness I had felt before. Until he got better, I would live my own life like nothing happened.

I was so wrapped up in my thoughts, I didn't notice the man limping over to me until I bumped into him.

"I'm so sorry!" I squealed.

I surveyed the man. He was on the ground, one leg splayed out and the other tucked in close. He gave me a crooked smile. "It's all right." Then he winced. "Though I think I sprained my ankle. Can you help me?"

I nodded. "I'll just go find my brother and~"

"No!" he cried out. I gazed at him, puzzled. "I mean," he said, more composed, "Just help me up first. If it's just a sprain, then I can handle myself. But if it's broken, I'll need more assistance."

Knowing nothing about broken ankles, since I had never broken any part of my body, I offered my hand. But the next few events were the worst.

He grabbed my arm and yanked me down, muffling my scream with a rough cloth. A sickly-sweet aroma drifted through my nostrils, and I got dizzy. I collapsed on the ground, trying to stay awake as the man dragged me away, the last thing I saw before losing consciousness was the most mystifying:

Angelique stared at me, horrified as my world dissolved into black.