Survival of the Fittest Shrink

By Phoenix Guardian of Fire and lOSTmYpAIN

lOST here. I am so glad I finally finished this chapter. Aren't you all happy too? And it's LONG! It was so worth the wait, am I right or am I right? Anyway, here it is. Enjoy.

BANZAI!! WE MADE IT TO CHAPTER TEN!! EVERYBODY DANCE!!!

Disclaimer: We own Gravitation. No, we really do.

(In case you didn't realize it, that was sarcasm.)

 Chapter ten: Scars of the Past

Daisuke and Ketsueki turned down the labyrinth of hallways. Both chattered on about old times until Ketsueki noticed his sister had stopped. He turned to see what was wrong. Daisuke's eyes were large (A/N lOST: Well, for her anyway.).

She stared at the scene in front of her. Her best friend Kaiya was sobbing into Hiro's chest.

"What's wrong?" Ketsueki asked.

"That's Kaiya." Daisuke whispered.

"And Ren?" Her brother asked, anger seeping into his voice. Daisuke shook her head.

"That's Hiro." She answered, walking over to them.

"Daisuke, where've you been?" Hiro asked. His face was torn between a grim look and a goofy one.

"The clinic; I fell. What happened here?" Hiro shifted Kaiya in his arms, silently communicating that Kaiya was the one that needed to explain.

"He was here." Kaiya said gravely.

"Who?" Ketsueki asked, joining his sister in staring.

"Akuhei." Hiro answered for the girl. She shuddered at the name. Daisuke froze.

Daisuke met Hiro's eyes with a look of confusion. Ketsueki just stood there, the tense atmosphere getting him utterly lost. Who was Akuhei?

"Why was he here?" Daisuke asked, her voice flat and even.

"My mom thought he was sorry. She somehow thought bringing him here would save everything. Dad and I knew that wouldn't work so, damn it, why can't she?" Kaiya spat between gulps of air to calm herself. "How could she bring him here? He's not sorry; he belongs in a fucking straight-jacket!"

The trio watched silently as Kaiya went off, cursing her half- brother and mother.

"And then they bring the bastard here and he chases me down, pins me to the fucking wall and tries to rape me again!" She continued.

Ketsueki's eyes widened. He turned to Daisuke to ask something. His eyes bore into her gray ones. She firmly shook her head. Daisuke knew that right now wasn't the best time to reveal her friend's dark past.

"Daisuke!" A short boy cried as he came into the hallway from around the corner and latched himself onto her. "I was so worried!" He cried. Daisuke wrapped her arms around Ren silently. Ketsueki raised an eyebrow at this while Kaiya gave a teary smile.

"Ren…" Daisuke began. The boy pulled away and looked at her questioningly.

"Oh!" Ren gasped.

"I want you to meet someone." They said in unison. Hiro chuckled at the couple. Ketsueki shook his head. Who were these people?

"Nii- chan, this is Tao Ren." Daisuke said to her brother, while Ren introduced Daisuke to his sister.

Jun and Ketsueki exchanged amused looks while their siblings eyed them hopefully. Jun was the first to break the silence.

"Nice to meet you Daisuke, you and your brother, Ketsueki was it?" Jun asked.

"Yes, and I'm glad to meet you and Ren as well." Ketsueki returned the greeting. Ren smiled while Daisuke only smirked slightly.

"I really hate to break up this party, but we need to get back to the Group therapy room." Hiro said, pulling himself into a standing position, bringing Kaiya along with him.

"Right," Ren agreed regretfully. His hand gripped Daisuke's fearfully, he didn't trust anyone's parents, especially his own. Daisuke gave a reassuring squeeze. Hiro pulled Kaiya into the crook of his arm, brushing the scrapes on her back.

"Ow." Kaiya breathed, resting her head on Hiro's shoulder.

"Maybe I should take you to the clinic?" Hiro suggested.

"No, I'm fine, just sore." She said. Hiro blushed at the double meaning. Kaiya caught him in the act.

"You're a pervert!" Kaiya gasped, pretending to be shocked. The others snickered. Daisuke stared.

They continued onward to the Group therapy room. Jun and Ketsueki watched their siblings hold hands. The winding hallways led them to their destination.

"Hinko Kaiya!" A voice shrieked. Kaiya's eyes widened as she watched her mother fly out of the room, furious.

"Mom wha-?" She trailed off, pulling away from Hiro.

"You shouldn't have run away! Don't you understand that Akuhei's feeling guilty as it is?! And, dammit Kaiya, you're making it worse! Akuhei goes to your room just to remember before he made his mistake."

"Stop lying for him." Kaiya said flatly. "Don't make excuses for him. He doesn't feel guilty at all." Then as an after- thought she added, "The only reason he goes into my room is to jack off."

"He does not! Kaiya, why are you so hell-bent on keeping him away from you?!" Her mother screamed. By now everyone was outside the room with them, watching the mother and daughter argue. Kaiya's father was held back by Kosuke.

"Kaiya needs to let it out." Kosuke said, her father slowly nodded and continued to watch helplessly.

"Kaiya! He's sorry dammit!" Her mom insisted.

"If he really was, he wouldn't have gone after me to rape me again!" The next sound echoed through the hallway, the sound of her mother's hand connecting with her cheek.

No one dared to move. Kaiya slapped her back, harder than necessary. Her mom hit her back. Back and forth they hit one another, until her mother's diamond ring caught on Kaiya's skin and drew blood.

Kosuke and Hiro sprung into action, pulling the two apart.

"Stop it! Let me go!" Her mother roared. "She's why my precious Akuhei did what he did! She seduced him!" The members of the mental hospital growled. K pulled his gun off of its holster, and cocked it.

Yuki pushed Shuichi behind him in a protective stance, ready to fight Kaiya's mom. Tatsuha and Ryuichi gaped while Maiyo gave Kaiya a sympathetic look.

"Pinako, honey, stop." Hinko Keisuke ordered his wife.

"No! That bitch sent my son to prison, used all her money for drugs and alcohol, and to top it all off she tried to kill herself to make me look like a bad parent!"

"Because you are!" Kaiya spat. "Your son's a psycho and so am I!"

"Oh yes, you're 'crazy'! The only reason you pulled that stunt was to fuck another person into jail, that Dr. Hikari guy! Got him sent to prison for statutory rape!"

Hiro froze. He felt his heart break. Now he understood. Kaiya wasn't really in love with him, she loved Hikari. He walked away.

"Hiro!" Kaiya pleaded to his retreating back. He kept walking. Hiro's mother called after him as well.

"Hiro, please don't go." Kaiya whispered.

Tears leaked out of her eyes. Akuhei turned the corner, walking past Hiro towards Kaiya.

"Don't cry Kaiya. I'm here." Akuhei said with fake reassurance.

"Go to hell." Kaiya said before going after Hiro. Daisuke stood still.

'What just happened?' She wondered. "Do you think we should follow?" Ren looked at Daisuke, trying to come up with an answer. He shook his head. Despite what Kaiya had done for him and Daisuke he still couldn't get that image of her out of his mind from the first day she was there, slitting her wrists with scissors.

A skinny young woman stomped into the hallway, dragging a struggling six year old behind her. She could have only been thirty years old maximum (A/N lOST: Just so you all know, she was 15 years old when she had Ueki and 16 when she had Daisuke).

"Mom." Ketsueki said, surprised to see her. The six year old stopped struggling and perked up.

"Dai!" She squealed, shaking her hand loose from her mother's tight grasp. She hugged Daisuke around her waist. "Ketsueki read me all your letters!" She chattered on, innocently unaware of the conversation she had interrupted.

Ketsueki never took his eyes off of their mom.

"I thought you were too good to be in this place." He said, resentfully. Their mother rolled her eyes and pointed to the little girl who was unknowingly strangling Daisuke.

"Ariko wouldn't stop screaming until I took her here." She said, seemingly uninterested. Her eyes flickered across the room disgustedly but she made no comments about it.

Daisuke was surprised that Ariko remembered her. She hadn't seen her since she was four years old. The little girl had Daisuke's fiery hair, but it was tied up in pig-tails by pink ribbons almost too big for her head. She talked animatedly, wanting to catch up on everything that had happened since Daisuke had left.

Daisuke let a small smile escape for a small second, before it vanished very visibly. For the first time, Daisuke frowned. Ariko was too caught up in her own little world to notice the sudden change.

Running her fingers along Ariko's cheekbone, she traced the outline of a faded scar. Several more covered the poor child's arms and legs, but they were concealed by the long sleeved shirt she was wearing. Daisuke's eyes fogged over.

Was her mother doing that again?

Ariko looked curiously at her older sister, finally realizing that she wasn't listening.

"Dai?" She wondered. Daisuke shook her head.

"Go on. I want to hear all about it." Again, Daisuke surprised herself. The tone of her voice seemed different than its normal indistinct drone.

Maiyo took advantage of the gap in the child's incessant chattering.

"How about we relocate back into the room?" She suggested, glancing worriedly down the hallway where Hiro and Kaiya went down.

"Tell Kaiya we left." Keisuke said following his wife and step-son, "and that I love her." he added before they disappeared down the corridors.

"He seems to be the only one who cares about Kaiya out of that bunch." Kosuke commented. Maiyo nodded.

"Almost like her mother loves Akuhei more," She added.

"I guess that has something to do with Kaiya's condition." Kosuke smiled at Maiyo before going into the room.

Maiyo's stomach did flip-flops when she saw that smile.

'No. I have to keep things strictly professional between us.' She thought before following.

Daisuke sat beside Ketsueki, both of them facing their family. Ren and Jun sat themselves on the other side of Daisuke.

"So." Jun began. "What's it like without having your daughter at home?" She asked, trying to make conversation.

"None of her chores are getting done now that's she's gone, but I'm happy that she's getting fixed here." Her mom said.

"She doesn't need to be fixed." Kaiya said, walking into the room. "She's not broken, you can't change someone, only help them." She added.

"Who are you?" Daisuke's mom scoffed.

"Hinko Kaiya." She introduced. "I'm Daisuke's friend."

"Friend? Daisuke would never be friends with the likes of you. You don't understand what kind of family she's from! Where's that charming girl Sakura Rei? Now she's the kind Daisuke is friends with." She ranted.

"Mom!" Ketsueki barked. "You should be glad for Daisuke! She has friends now, she's improved so much!" Daisuke watched them defend her.

"Daisuke does not associate with tramps like you Hinko-san." Her mom insisted. Ren sat trembling, getting angrier at each word.

"Stop it. Daisuke is a person, and she can be friends with Kaiya if she wants to." The Tao stuttered quietly. Daisuke's mom blinked.

"And who might you be?" She asked, as if she just realized he was there.

"T-Tao Ren." He said in the most confident voice he could muster. "I'm Daisuke's boyfriend." Daisuke's mom completely forgot their conversation they were having just a moment ago. Her eyes lit up and she beamed at the boy. He eyed her suspiciously.

"Tao? As in the great Tao family from China?" She smiled at him. "I am honored." Ren gripped Daisuke's hand, but never took his eyes off her mom.

A nine year old boy dragged himself into the room, completely worn out. The toddler he was carrying giggled hysterically at his effort to carry her on his shoulders.

"Thanks for leaving us behind, mom." He grumbled. He pointed at the little girl he was carrying. "This kid had way too much fun watching me get lost in this place." Daisuke's mom glanced over her shoulder apathetically.

"What took you two so long, Taizen?" She said impatiently. Taizen stuck his tongue out at her when she wasn't looking. The two year old laughed louder at this.

Taizen caught a glimpse of Daisuke. He smiled widely.

"Hey, 'Suke!" He chirped, his mood completely changing. "Long time no see." Daisuke nodded, signaling for Taizen to continue. "I don't think you've seen Shiuten since she was months old, have you?" He sat the chubby child down on the ground carefully. She wobbled a bit, but after Taizen helped her take a few steps, she walked on her own. "Go to Daisuke!" He cooed. "Over there!" He turned her towards the direction of Daisuke.

Shiuten took a few steps towards her, before completely changing her direction and climbing into her mom's lap and sighing contently.

Daisuke stared at the floor. It was to be expected that Shiuten wouldn't recognize her. Seeing her family almost made her feel sad. She had missed so much of her family's life. Daisuke looked towards the ground shamefully.

Her mom stood up to leave.

"Ketsueki, are you going to drive yourself home?" Taizen asked.

"Yes. Don't worry, I'll be home later Zen." he answered. Taizen nodded before leaving, hoisting Shiuten back into his arms.

"You drove here on your own?" Daisuke wondered aloud.

"Yes I did! When you and Ren get out of here, I'll drive you two to your dates." He laughed.

"I will too, I am Ren's sister." Jun chimed in. The group chuckled.

Daisuke felt a little hand tugging at her jeans. Ariko looked up at her cheerfully.

"We'll see each other again soon, right Daisuke?" She asked hopefully. Daisuke nodded.

"Remember: when I'm not there Taizen and Ketsueki will look after you." She said. "Stay away from mom when she's mad." The six year old nodded, knowingly. Swooping up to kiss her on the cheek, she followed Taizen out the door.

Daisuke helplessly watched her go.

Out of habit, she wiped her expression clean of all emotion before turning to Kaiya.

"What happened with you and Hiro?" She asked, curious to hear what had happened between the two.

Kaiya's smile fell.

"He won't talk to me or look at me. I don't know if I can talk to him or even face him." She sighed. "Maybe your mom was right, Daisuke. I am a tramp."

"Don't let her get to you, okay?" Ketsueki said. "Of all people, you shouldn't listen to her."

"Sure." Kaiya mumbled before letting her mind wander to Hiro.

Hiro lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

He didn't know what to do. He felt so betrayed by Kaiya that he was confused.

Did she ever really love him or was he just a replacement for Hikari? He was sure of his feelings, but what were hers?

The next day everyone was silent at breakfast. Well, everyone except for Rei that is.

"Kaiya and her dysfunctional family ruined our family day. I really hope that we get rid of her soon so it can peaceful here again." She ranted. "Where is she anyway?"

Hiro, for the first time, noticed she was gone. His stomach felt uneasy. Something just seemed wrong to him.

"Daisuke…" Daisuke stopped glaring at Rei to glance over at Hiro. "Where is Kaiya?"

"Shrink's office. She had appointment." Daisuke answered. He felt relieved. Breakfast went smoothly after that.

"Are you sure this will help?" Kaiya asked hesitantly.

"Positive," Kosuke answered. "Moving you into individual sessions during your free time will help you get all of your anger and other emotions out in a non-destructive way."

"You want to get rid of me, don't you?" She questioned.

"Kaiya, it's not like I'm moving you to another group. Speaking of which, it's time for Group Therapy, let's go." He ordered.

Both Shrink and patient walked silently down the hallway to the room.

Maiyo was already there with K, Yuki, and Shuichi.

"How you holding up?" K asked her.

"… I'm alive aren't I?" was her whispered answer.

"Want me to shoot him?"

"No, but can you shoot me?" She asked hopefully.

"Kaiya!" Kosuke shouted, giving her a disapproving glare.

The four took their seats and waited for the others to come. When Hiro walked in, Kaiya looked away. She couldn't face him. He probably hated her. Damn, she even hated herself.

Hiro silently sat next to her, watching her. He didn't know what to say. Yes, he loved her, but he was still pissed. He scowled as he thought about it.

"Alright. Now that everyone is here, let's begin. How about we talk about family day? Yuki and Tatsuha, do you two want to start? How'd it feel to see your family?"

"Alright." Yuki replied. "I saw my sister and brother-in-law."

"And they said they loved my face!" Tatsuha cried in childish delight. There were a few scattered chuckles.

"Any volunteers to go next?" Kosuke asked. "No? Kaiya, you go."

"No." She whispered shaking her head.

"Why not?" Hiro growled. "Embarrassed about how you LIED to me and everyone found out you fucked a shrink. You doing Kosuke now, too?" Kaiya didn't answer. She stared at the floor, her hair shielding her face from their vision. She did this so they wouldn't see her cry.

"Huh? Kaiya you going to act all cool and aloof about it?" Hiro taunted.

"Stop." She pleaded. No one moved or said anything.

"Why? You sure as hell didn't stop to think while you were fucking a shrink!"

"I'm sorry dammit! I was confused and I…" She trailed off, her voice broke into sobs.

Hiro froze. The only time he'd ever seen her cry like this was when he pulled Akuhei off of her.

"I was drinking and… he was only supposed to drive me home… things got out of hand… and the cops were there," her sobs distorted her words into incomplete, fragmented facts.

Eyes widened all across the room. Kaiya stood up and ran out of the room. Sobs echoed down the hallway. Hiro sat in his chair and hung his head. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

Whoever this Hikari was, he'd taken advantage of Kaiya in a drunken state and made her believe it's what she wanted. Hiro was disgusted with himself for treating her so badly.

He stood up to go after her.

"Ass," Daisuke muttered as he left, dashing out of the room to where Kaiya sat in the hallway bawling. He pulled her into his arms.

"H-Hiro wh-what are y-y-you d-doing?" She hiccupped.

"I'm sorry. I had no idea." He whispered into her ear. "Don't cry."

"Hiro, I'm s-sorry t-too. I should have t-told you." She said as she calmed down.

"You're aloud to have secrets. Just try to keep them in the closet or something." He chuckled. "Come on; let's go back to the room."

"'Kay." She answered timidly. Hand in hand they walked back into the room, which became silent as they entered.

"So are you guys back together again?" Shuichi asked as Yuki ruffled his pink locks affectionately.

"Yeah, everything's alright again." Kaiya answered, taking her seat with Hiro. A few people snickered as the two unlocked their hands, embarrassed.

"So when's the wedding?" Punk rocker Ryuichi asked. Maiyo stood behind him holding Kumagoro.

Hiro and Kaiya blushed and looked away from each other.

"Alright, enough teasing, let's get back to work. Daisuke, why don't you tell us about your visit?"

The room tensed when they actually heard Daisuke's voice without extreme coaxing on Kosuke's part.

"My family actually came." She said, a hint of shyness in her voice even though her tone was still flat.

"Go on. How were they?" Kosuke asked.

"They haven't changed. Otou-san couldn't make it because he was working as usual. Okaa-san only came because my little sister, Ariko, dragged her here. Shiuten was really young when I came here so I didn't know much about her. Taizen is taking care of them like he promised me he would. Ketsueki stayed the longest and met Ren." She glanced at Ren and stopped talking. Kosuke nodded.

"You're doing well today, Daisuke." He said, writing something down on his clipboard. "You're talking more often, but you're still talking in lists. We'll work on that later, okay?" Daisuke nodded soundlessly.

The bell rang, making Ren cringe. Kosuke stared at the clock, taken aback.

"That's strange." He said. "I was sure we'd have plenty of time to go through everyone." Rei rolled her eyes.

"It's because Kaiya had to get all the attention with her little sob story." She grabbed her stuff and turned to talk to Daisuke.

Daisuke was no where to be found. As soon as the bell rang she had bolted out the door. Ren stared after her anxiously. Ever since family day she had been acting weird. He followed her to see what was up.