This is for the best. I know you're hurting right now Kouta, and I'm sorry for that. But really… this is for the best.

XXXXXXXXXX

She was in a happy mood. She was in such a good mood she was even humming, something she almost never did. She was humming that haunting melody from Kouta's music box. She absolutely loved that tune.

It reminded her of Kouta.

He'd come over and they'd had a wonderful time. They'd splashed around in the pool, had dinner, watched a romantic movie together (Kouta hadn't wanted to but she had guilted him into it,) and then played some video games. When it had finally gotten late they'd gone to take their separate showers and get ready for bed. She had on her usual oversized cotton shirt that hung down past her knees. Still humming softly she went into his room and slipped into his big warm bed. She curled up against him and gently rested her head on his chest.

This was the thing she would miss most when the time came to say goodbye. This incredible feeling of warmth and security she had when she fell asleep with him. When she was with him she felt safe. Her logical side told her that was silly. He was just a nine year old boy. How could he protect her from all the wicked humans out there? But even if it was an illusion she still treasured that feeling he gave her. She had begun wondering if this was how ordinary children felt when they were with parents who loved them. This sense of peace and comfort, was this what love felt like?

"Lucy?" He whispered.

"Yes Kouta?"

"Is… is it really o.k. for us not to yell anyone that your dad's gone?"

"Of course it is," she answered calmly. "He had to go back to Tokyo and won't be back before it's time to go. If you tell your dad he won't let you come over anymore."

"I know, but it's not right. Isn't it really bad for me to lie?"

Now that was a tough question to answer. She despised liars and sure didn't want Kouta to become one. "Lying is very bad," she answered. "And you definitely shouldn't lie except when you absolutely have to. It's all right to tell a lie if telling the truth would be much worse."

"Do you really think so?' He asked quietly.

"Yes I do Kouta," she told him. "I really do."

XXXXXXXXXX

That final week of June was wonderful. She came over to Kouta's uncle's house to play and hang out and then they would walk together over to her house. She got to spend most of each day right by his side. The only downside was Yuka. She was always there trying to distract him and steal his attention. She would complain regularly that Kouta didn't spend enough time with her and that it wasn't fair. Being the kind boy that he was Kouta would then try and pay more attention to his cousin, which annoyed Lucy.

So when she was hanging out with him and his family she was forced to share. During this time she also made a point of trying to give Kouta's father a good impression. He no longer tried to ask her questions or tried to keep Kouta from coming over. He had definitely accepted her.

And yet… she still saw suspicion in his eyes. It was well hidden. Not the blatant mistrust that had been there before, but something much more subtle. She would have liked it if he had trusted her completely. But so long as he was o.k. with her being with Kouta that was good enough.

Kouta and his family would be leaving for home on Saturday night, after the festival. The adults all wanted the two families to spend most of that last day together in private. So she and Kouta decided to spend Friday at the zoo before returning to her house. On Saturday she would meet him and Yuka and Kanae at the festival where they would say their goodbyes.

When Friday came she and Kouta took the bus out to the zoo. Despite Yuka's annoyances and the occasional childish outburst from Kanae that last week had been terrific. But it had gone by so fast! Now she had only this last day to really be with him and then just a few hours tomorrow. After that she would be cat out of heaven and returned to hell for another eleven months. She was dreading that final goodbye. She already knew her heart would be breaking. But though it would be hard she would deal with it. She would go back to her lonely existence and work even harder to make as much money as she could for next June. She could bear eleven months of misery so long as she knew she would get to be with him again.

XXXXXXXXXX

The two of them were standing in front of the elephant's cage. "I still can't believe how big it is," she said.

Kouta laughed. "I remember how excited you were the last time we were here."

"Well I'd never been to a zoo before."

He smirked. "Really? I would never have guessed."

"Hey! Don't be mean!"

"Sorry."

"You know, I really like coming to the zoo and seeing the animals. Let's do this again next year."

"If you like it so much why don't you have your dad take you?"

Lucy shook her head. "No, I want this to be something I only share with you Kouta. This and attending the festival are very special memories to me. I won't ever go to a zoo or a festival unless it's with you." She reached out and took a hold of his hand. "You… you're very special to me Kouta."

Hearing her say that made him feel really good. "You're special to me too."

"Kouta… let's… let's make a promise." She held out her hand and extended her pinky.

"What sort of promise?"

"Let's… let's promise to always care for each other and always be there for one another… for as long as we live Kouta."

"O.k." He said seriously. He hooked his pinky around hers. "I promise to care about you and be there for you Lucy."

"For life," she added fervently. "This promise is for life and we can never break it!"

He smiled. "Sure, for life."

"For life," she whispered back.

XXXXXXXXXX

After the zoo they returned to her house where they decided to eat nothing but sweets for dinner. Lucy didn't think it very healthy but it was what Kouta wanted. They ate candy and cookies and shared a gallon of ice cream. Since it was their last night they also decided to stay up extra late. It was just after midnight when Kouta announced he was too sleepy to kill any more aliens or slimy demons. They went to bed and soon fell asleep.

Early the next morning Lucy awoke to a loud knocking coming from her front door. She glanced at the clock and saw it was almost nine. Damn! I slept in late! Normally Kouta would be home before eight thirty. "Kouta wake up! It's nine!" She jumped out of bed.

"Huh?" he asked sleepily.

"Wake up it's late!" That was all she had time to say before racing down the stairs and opening the front door. She was not surprised to see Kouta's father standing there waiting.

"Good morning," he said pleasantly. "Is Kouta still here?"

She apologized profusely about his being late. Kouta's father didn't seem to be upset, he just asked his son to hurry and shower so they could leave. He declined Lucy's offer of making breakfast though he did allow her to make some tea. The two of them were having some when Kouta came bouncing down the stairs. He had his overnight bag slung over his shoulder and his hair still wet.

"Kouta, why don't you go wait in the car? We'll leave in a little bit but I'd like to have a talk with Lucy first."

"Ah, o.k. dad," he looked over at her. "I'll see you tonight Lucy."

"Yes, I'll see you." Lucy called.

Kouta hurried out the front door leaving Lucy and his father sitting at the kitchen table having tea.

"I am really very sorry for making him late sir," she said.

"That's not really important," Kouta's father said dismissively. "If you wish to apologize please do so for deceiving not only me but my son as well."

"Wha… what do you mean?" She felt a cold fear. His tone was friendly but his eyes were suddenly hostile.

"Where is Mizuto? Shouldn't he be here?"

She bowed to him in her seat. "I am very sorry sir; he was forced to return to Tokyo just last night."

"Really? So if I go out to the car and ask Kouta he'll confirm that?"

Her fear began to grow and there was laughter inside her head.

Seeing her hesitate he put down his tea cup and frowned at her. "Is Mizuto really your father? And is he really a businessman?"

"Of course he is," she lied.

"Please stop lying to me." He said with a touch of anger in his voice. "Perhaps he is your father, though I doubt it. But he is definitely not an executive. He knew nothing about the business world or about the world economy. He did not even know that the franc was replaced by the euro two years ago. The fact that he did not have an expense account or even a credit card is suspicious, as is the fact he had no business cards. I noticed that he paid for meal with cash. I've also noticed that you do the same. You gave Mizuto his money didn't you? Who is he really? Did you just hire him to try and fool me?"

The laughter grew louder. He knows! The voice cried out.

"He is my father," she said slowly. "Of course he is."

"And he was staying with you until just last night?"

"Yes."

"Then why have I not seen his car in the driveway? I've driven past here late every night this week and I haven't seen the Mercedes even once." The anger in his voice was rising. "I asked Kouta every morning how your father was and every morning he said he was fine. My son lied right to my face, and you are the reason."

"No, I just… I…"

"Stop lying!" He said. "That man is not an executive and I am almost certain he is not your father. Now I want to know the truth, just who are you? No child should be living alone unsupervised and I can't imagine the parent who would give a little girl so much money. I want to know who your parents are and where that money comes from."

She stared at him and felt the fear and panic growing. No one had ever caught her like this. Once in awhile she'd aroused suspicion and a few of her lies had been questioned. But she'd never had anyone call her out before. Never had someone see through her completely.

He knows! He Knows! He knows!

Shut up! "My mother is dead and you have met my father," she said and tried to sound offended. "My father gives me the money because he loves me."

"No," he said with firm conviction. "Mizuto doesn't love you." He looked at her a bit sadly. "Does he even know about your birth defect?"

"What birth defect?"

"Your horns," he said. "The ones you go to so much trouble to hide."

"What?!" She jumped out of her chair and scrambled away from him as though he'd grown some horns himself. "You saw them? When?!"

"The night I stayed over," he said calmly. "I saw them while you were sharing a bed with my son."

He knows we're a freak now! What father would want his son to be with a freak?!

She looked at him hatefully. If he knew about her horns then the rest didn't matter anymore. There was no reason to put on an act. "And what did you think of them? Did they disgust you?" She pulled off the cap she was wearing. "You think I'm a hideous monster now don't you?"

"A monster?" He said in surprise. "Do I seem like that sort? I understand that they must have made things hard for you. I honestly feel sorry for you."

"Liar," she spat back. She could see the loathing in his eyes. She put her cap back on.

He stood up so that he could tower over her and look down. "You are in no place to call anyone else a liar. You've been lying about everything right from the start. I don't know who or what you really are, but I do know I want you to stay away from my son. I've allowed you to see him up until now because he happens to be very fond of you and I don't think you're any sort of physical threat to him. I'll even go ahead and allow you to see him tonight and say goodbye. But after tonight you are never to see or talk to Kouta ever again. If you happen to be here when we visit again stay away from him. If I ever see you near him again after tonight I won't just call child services, I'll also call the police. I can't be sure but I wouldn't be surprised if you're involved in fraud and other possible crimes. Consider this your only warning." He began to leave.

"It's because you think I'm a freak isn't it?!" She yelled at him. "You don't want me with him because of my horns. If I were normal you could forgive me!"

He stared at her. She was shaking. She was like a furious little dog waiting for the chance to pounce. She'd been so convincing up until now, but faced with the truth she seemed barely able to control herself. "This has nothing to do with your birth defect." He told her. "So long as you don't try and see Kouta after tonight I won't tell him about my suspicions. So please, for his sake as well as your own don't bother him anymore." He walked away.

She was left alone. He wants me to never see Kouta again.

He knows! He Knows! He knows! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!

She stood there silent as a mouse and listened until the voice finally faded away. Then she went upstairs to get dressed. She knew what she had to do.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Where is she?" Kouta said miserably. It was almost time for him to leave and she hadn't shown up.

"Maybe she just didn't feel like coming," Yuka said. She was relieved. Kanae had wandered off again and there had been no sign of the pushy red head. She had actually gotten to have him all to herself for a change. "Kouta I have to use the bathroom, I'll be right back."

"Sure," he said. He watched her go. He couldn't help but worry about Lucy. Why wasn't she here? Had something bad happened?

"Kouta."

He turned around and there she was! She was standing there in a plain tan shirt and shorts with a dark brown cap. She was smiling at him as though nothing were wrong. "Lucy! Where have you been? I have to leave soon!"

"I know Kouta, and I'm sorry. I was waiting for you to be alone."

"What? I don't get it."

"I don't want anyone to know I gave you this," she held an item in her hand. "Take it, it's yours, but don't tell anyone you have it until you get home o.k.?"

"A cell phone?" His dad had one, but he wasn't old enough to use one yet.

"I have one too," Lucy showed him another that was the same model. "I've already activated your service and the number is active. I've also programmed my number into your phone. Anytime you need me call me and I'll be there for you."

He looked at her confusion. "Well this is really cool but why did you have to give it to me when I was alone?"

"I just didn't want anyone complaining about it or telling your father I gave you a gift."

"Why?"

Because if your father knew he might make you throw it away. "I just think he might not want you to have it. So don't tell him about it until you get home, o.k.?"

Kouta looked unhappy. "I don't want to tell him another lie."

"It's not a lie," she said. "You'll tell him about it, just not right away. That's not a lie now is it?"

"I… I guess not."

She reached out and gave him a fierce hug. "I'll see you again next June, but call me anytime you need a friend or just want to talk. I'll answer if I can and if I can't I'll call back as soon as I can." Before he could say anything she let go of him and ran away. "Bye Kouta!"

"Bye!" He called after her. Just like that she was gone in the crowd. He took the cell phone and slipped it into a pocket.

Not too long after Yuka came back his uncle arrived with Kaene in tow. It was time to go.

XXXXXXXXXX

They arrived at the near empty station a little before eleven. Yuka and her father were there to wish the three of them a safe journey. Few people were taking the late train. He spotted a couple teenage girls who were likely college students and a man in a large trench coat and hat. The man seemed to be feeling the slight chill in the air as he had his collar turned up shielding his face.

As the monorail approached they all turned to look at it. As was his habit Kouta's father was the one nearest to the edge of the platform. He wanted to get everyone on board and settled before the train started to leave. He was standing a good two feet from the edge. As the train pulled in he was about to say something to his brother when he felt something shove him in his chest and he was sent flying through the air. He landed right on the tracks in the train's headlights. He had just enough time to see the horrified face of the driver and hear the screams of his children.

Just before the entire mass smashed into him and sent him flying with an explosion of blood.

XXXXXXXXXX

No one had seen her runaway from the scene. All eyes had been in the other direction, on Kouta's father and the train. Even if someone had noticed so what? Everyone would say it was some kind of accident. He had just lost his balance somehow.

She found a deserted alleyway and tossed away the trench coat and the man's hat. She'd used her vectors to, 'stand' a couple feet in the air. With the trench coat gone she was just an ordinary little girl on her way home from the festival.

An hour later her cell phone rang. She knew who it had to be. "Kouta?" She paused. "What? That's horrible! Oh Kouta I'm so sorry! Yes! Yes of course I'll come down there!" She listened as he sobbed, it broke her heart but she steeled herself. "Kouta, I'll be at the hospital soon, I promise."

This is for the best. I know you're hurting right now Kouta, and I'm sorry for that. But really… this is for the best.