Hey readers!

Chapter ten of Panic! W00t! I like this chapter. Makes me smile and frown at the same time. Though, this one isn't a sad sad. It's happy and then sometimes happy sad. I dunno. It's complicated. You'll see. I promise you next chapter WILL be happy. I can't wait to write next chapter :D Haha. BUt I do love this one. Thanks for reading all the way up to here!

Animic

X

Guardian Angel

Mikoto continued to attend school without a word to anyone. Haru continued to watch over her, but never said a thing. Always in the background. Always watching out for her in case she fell, but never allowed to catch her. Speak to her. He couldn't talk to her. If he did, Akito would find out somehow and kill him. He didn't get it. Why did Akito love to see his family suffer? It just didn't make sense. He didn't want any of them to be happy as long as he kept his stupid family close.

She remained to be slightly beat from her Aunt and Uncle, getting locked in the junk room upstairs. She hated her life and tried to run away again countless times, but to no avail.

Mikoto finally got a chance to escape from the police officer that was always keeping an eye on her. They could try to contain her, but that didn't mean she wouldn't try to escape. Mikoto tried to escape their grasps consistently. Suddenly, her arm was grabbed by a much stronger man.

"Who'd you tattle on, Mori!?" he yelled. Mikoto squinted and looked up to see her Uncle glaring down at her. She winced and struggled, trying to get free of his grasp.

"W-what are you talking about?" she asked, nervously. Her voice was low and shaky. The voice of a person who wasn't used to talking. Haru was standing near, observing the whole situation. He longed to help her out. To prevent that man from being so cruel to her, but he couldn't. It killed him.

"Don't act dumb, kid!" he yelled. "You told the police about your little injuries, didn't you?!"

Mikoto widened her eyes. She hadn't told them. Years ago, she almost was about to tell the police but her Aunt and Uncle beat her out of it. Telling the police anything about what they did to her scared her stiff. She didn't want to revisit it again.

"I. I didn't. I swear!" she said in desperation. Tears were falling down Mikoto's face as she tried to break free of his grasp. Mikoto knew she was in for it. She saw the shadow of her Uncle raising his fist when suddenly, his grasp on her was released.

"Don't even think about it, buddy." Haru had walked over, completely pissed. His lip was trembling in anger as he glared at Mikoto's uncle. Mikoto didn't have the slightest clue what was going on.

"Who the hell are you?!" Uncle Paul yelled, his tone booming across the field. Mikoto widened her eyes. She was on the ground, now, recoiled on the concrete.

"I turned you in, you asshole. My cousin, doctor Hatori Sohma. Heard his name before?" Haru said. His tone was just as ferocious. Uncle Paul gulped slightly as he stared at Haru. He seemed to recall who Hatori was. "We warned you if we saw more injuries on her, we'd turn you in. We kept our promise," Haru said through grinded teeth.

Suddenly, a policeman was beside Haru. He was folding his arms at Mikoto's Uncle and then held out a pair of hand cuffs. The policeman had witnessed the entire scene and was convinced of everything that had happened. The policeman put Mikoto's uncle into the police car and drove off. Haru breathed in and out a few times, completely shocked. Mikoto was free. Free of those terrible people.

Mikoto! He suddenly remembered. Haru looked where he had seen Mikoto last but she was gone. Haru widened his eyes. Where did she go? Then, he remembered that's exactly how Mikoto was before she met him. Haru sighed. She was on her own now again. Back on the streets. A street rat once more. He mentally slapped himself. Oh well. She's probably happier now that she's free.

~*~*~

When the whole scene was occurring, Mikoto made a run for it. She knew what was going to happen afterwards. She was happy that her Aunt and Uncle were finally getting what they deserved, but Mikoto refused to be pegged as an orphan and put in an orphanage or something. Mikoto refused! She would be fine living by herself on the street for the rest of her life.

Mikoto stayed the night on the street, sleeping under a bridge. It wasn't exactly comfortable but she'd just spent that last couple weeks in a room that she was locked inside with a bunch of junk. Anything was better than that. When she woke up, she was starving. That was something she'd have to get used to, she supposed.

The following morning, Mikoto ran to the only familiar place she knew. The dojo. She had been going to this dojo since she was around twelve. She used to run away a lot and trained until she was a black belt. She was nothing against her master, though, that was for sure.

She was out of breath when she reached the dojo. She just had that odd panic feeling that she was being followed or something. Perhaps she was just being paranoid. Oh well. Mikoto flew the door open and breathed heavily in and out.

She saw her master sitting in a chair in the living room. She widened her eyes and bowed slightly. Her master, Kazuma immediately stood up. Mikoto had lied to her master for many years. She told him that she had been living with her brother because her parents were in Australia. She felt terrible for lying to him, but she didn't have much choice.

"Hello, Mikoto," Kazuma said with a sigh. "How…how are you?"

Mikoto widened her eyes. She'd have to lie. Again. "Uhm…fine. I'm fine. Perfect. Just…wonderful."

Kazuma looked at Mikoto with worried eyes. He understood completely. She had lied to him before. Before, he had no idea. It was so depressing. Mikoto had had such a sad life. It was kind of hard to comprehend. How such a tortured person still had the will to live. Not that he was upset that she was still alive. He just didn't know how she took so much tragedy, and right after her life got good, it was taken away from her. And now she has no memory of those happy times whatsoever.

"I heard what happened with your Aunt and Uncle," Kazuma finally said. Yes, he had heard. Haru had warned him of it. He knew that Mikoto ran away yesterday and that Haru was trying to find her. He was out all last night looking for her. Looks as if he's trying to ignore Akito's orders. Kids got some guts, that's for sure.

Mikoto looked towards Kazuma daringly. She didn't understand. He didn't know that part of her life. "Wha-What are you talking about?"

"Mikoto, I know you've lied all this time. It's okay. I can help you, you know," Kazuma said. Mikoto backed up slightly away from him. She was about to stop when she heard the other door open. It was that white haired boy from before.

Haru walked in and saw Mikoto immediately, but he knew what would happen. She would run away, and that's exactly what happened. Mikoto was gone before Haru could say anything. Haru shook his head. He wasn't going to even try to catch up with here. She was fast.

"At least she's alright," Haru said with a low sigh. Kazuma looked towards Haru who looked more depressed than he had ever seen him before.

"She's back where she started, at least," Kazuma told him. "Haru, I know what your trying to do, but she won't remember you. She won't, Haru."

Haru frowned at Kazuma. "What do you know?!" he said angrily. Haru stormed out of the dojo and slammed the door. Kazuma was left staring at the ground. When did it get so complicated?

~*~*~

Miles away, a middle aged woman's eyes opened. The room she awoke to was bare and dull. She didn't know where she was, but she did remember what happened. She remembered the accident, but not everything about it. Or even how it was she survived. The woman started to stand up and got a complete head rush. Like she hadn't stood up in years.

"Hello?" the woman said looking around the room, but there was no life in it. She grabbed a robe and wrapped it around herself. She opened the door and looked out realizing she was in the hospital. She stood open mouthed and watched the nurses and doctors run through the hall when one of them recognized her.

"Kimiko Mori?" a nurse asked.

"Y-yes?" the woman named Kimiko asked.

"Your awake? That's…incredible!" the woman said.

"Yes…it is. Why? How long have I been out?"

The nurse looked at the girl in disbelief. "About ten years."

Kimiko leaned against the wall in shock. Ten years? What about her babies? She lost her balance and used the wall for support. Ten years…what was she to do?

~*~*~

Weeks later, Haru sat in the classroom with his hand against his cheek, staring dumbly at the teacher in front teaching. Every so often, he would glance at Mikoto's empty desk and it broke his heart slightly. He had looked for her since the beginning of time, it seemed. He couldn't find her anywhere. Not even anywhere on the streets. Then again, Japan was a country. She could be anywhere. She could be dead for all he knew.

The door opened suddenly which knocked Haru out of his shock. A middle aged woman walked in with baggy eyes and clothes that seemed way out of style for the present time. "I was told this was Mikoto Mori's first hour?" she asked.

Haru widened his eyes. He was about to say something when the teacher spoke first. "Oh, are you her mother?" the teacher asked. The teacher was aware of the current situation. Not everything. He just knew that Mikoto had run away.

"Y-yes," Kimiko said nervously. Haru was out of his seat in an instant and walked towards the girl.

"I will speak with her," Haru insisted. The teacher was about to protest but put it aside. The teacher knew, for the most part, that Haru and Mikoto were friends. Or, used to be. Haru took the lady outside and pursed his lips together at the girl.

"Your Mikoto's mother?" he asked in disbelief.

"I am," she sighed. "Why? Is something wrong?!"

"Haven't you been in a coma for the past-"

"Ten years…yes. Please. Where is she?"

Haru looked at the girl painfully. It was hard to tell a mother that her child that she hasn't seen for ten years is missing, but she had to know some time. "For the past few weeks, Mikoto has been missing. We can't find her."

"We?" the girl asked.

Haru bit his lip once more. It would be kind of hard to break the truth to her without telling her the whole story but he couldn't. Not without Hatori here. "Me and my family."

"Your family?" she asked. "Have you been keeping an eye on her? But, I believe I left her with my sister and her husband."

"Your sister and her husband were recently arrested….for child abuse," Haru said. It was easy to tell, even on the outside, that the ladies heart broke. She seemed to put the pieces of the puzzle together that her sister had abused her daughter. It must have killed her. "I'm so sorry. I would like you to speak with some of my family. We may be able to help."

The woman nodded and Haru let her towards where Hatori lived. He ignored the fact that he was supposed to be in school. This was much bigger than school. This changed everything. This gave Mikoto a hope for a new life. If Haru couldn't be there for her, her mother could now. It was perfect. There was no way Haru could possibly get the closeness he had with her before. No way. And even if he could, she would only be taken away from him again. He didn't think he could emotionally take that twice.

~*~*~

"Hatori…she has to know," Haru said. Kimiko, Mikoto's mother, was sitting in a room with just Haru and Hatori. They were debating on telling her the full story. Being it her mother, it seemed essential. Otherwise, they would have to lie and Hatori is a terrible liar.

"Very well. I shall sum it up for you. However, there is certain information about this story that must remain confidential. I hope you understand. Miss Mori. At the start of the year, me and certain members of my family became close with your daughter, Mikoto. Mikoto had run away from her Aunt and Uncle and we were there to take care of her. However….she found out about a certain family secret of ours and our leader, Akito Sohma, wouldn't have that. He ordered me to have her memory erased."

"Memory erased?" asked Kimiko.

"Yes. I do erase memories. Not usually but when it is needed. Yes. I didn't want to erase Mikoto's memory but was forced. See…Mikoto grew to be a very special person to Haru here," Hatori said. Kimiko glanced down at Haru and his eyes immediately reached the ground, nervous.

"You didn't have to tell her that, Hatori," Haru grumbled.

"I believe it is a necessary part of the story," Hatori told him. Haru grumbled once more and Hatori smiled, continuing. "Her memory was erased and we sent her back to her parents. However, I informed them I would be keeping an eye on her and so we did. A few weeks after she was living with your sister and her husband, we found new bruises. Injuries, that we were positive came from her Aunt and Uncle. The proof was presented and they were arrested. However, Mikoto must have been frightened and ran away. She probably didn't want to go to an orphanage and we've been looking for her for awhile now. We can't find her anywhere."

Kimiko widened her eyes at all of this information. It was so bewildering. Erasing memories. Family secrets. She wondered what the family secret was but she suspected that was what the confidentiality part was for. She knew they wouldn't tell her. No problem there.

"So you were taking care of my baby before?" she asked both of them. Hatori looked at Haru and nodded who finally gained courage to speak.

"Yes, but you should know. Ever since your family had the car accident…Mikoto's had a problem. She has a Panic disorder and doesn't speak often. She skittish and mistrusting. When we finally got her to trust us, she opened up a bit, but now that her memories erased…..she's back to how she was," Haru said. He could barely contain himself but fought as he spoke.

"A panic disorder?"

"She has frequent panic attacks," Hatori finished. "That is why it is important that we find her as soon as possible. They can get quite bad sometimes."

Haru pursed his lips together and took a deep breath. "Your daughter means more to me than almost anything else. I don't know….exactly why I told you that. But I want you to know I'm trying everything I can to find her."

"She doesn't remember you, does she?" Kimiko asked. Haru let out a cough and a tear slightly crept out of his face. "I'm sorry. Thank you…for caring so much about her."

They sat in silence for awhile. It was hard for Kimiko to take all this in but she understood what had happened. For the next couple days, they spent all of their time looking for her. Haru and Kimiko went together and became rather close, but they didn't find Mikoto. They had run out of places to look.

It was seeming hopeless for a long time. They were walking through the forest back to where Hatori lived. Hatori had offered Kimiko to stay there for awhile until she got on her feet. She didn't seem to have much effort to get on with her life now that everything she had in her life was gone. They needed to find Mikoto fast, before Kimiko gave up hope.

Suddenly, they heard something in the woods. A whimpering and Haru got a feeling of déjà vu. He had heard that voice before. He had been in this situation before. He motioned for Kimiko to follow him and he went through the woods. It took awhile, but he finally found the source of the noise, and it was what he expected.

Mikoto was on the ground curled up in a ball on the ground. She was whimpering and wincing. It was clear she was having another one of her panic attacks. Kimiko immediately ran to her child but Mikoto recoiled into her shell. She didn't seem to see any of them, just her stomach.

"Mikoto…it's me," Kimiko said. Mikoto slowly opened her eyes and looked into her eyes. "It's mom."

Mikoto widened her eyes and gasped. "M-mom?!" she exclaimed. Mikoto stood up from the ground and hugged her mom as tightly as she could. Kimiko squeezed her just as hard. They were both finally happy. Finally with the person they'd been needing for the longest time. Haru, with a smile on his face, walked away from the two. They didn't need him anymore. Mikoto had found her mother and her life would be good from now on. Neither of them needed Haru anymore.

Haru fell asleep that night. He couldn't stop thinking about the both of them. Kimiko and Mikoto. Such different people. Haru had a feeling that Mikoto was somewhat like Kimiko before the accident happened and then she turned into this skittish, mistrusting mess that had to be glued back together. Well, Kimiko would have to glue her back now. Haru would always be there for her, though. If she needed him, for some reason. He would still be watching over her at school and when she walked. He would always be there for her, whether or not she realized it.

Hi! Hope you liked this chapter. Happy things happened in it. Her mother is back and her Aunt and Uncle are locked away. :D Life is good. Well, not Haru's, but everyone else's. haha. Next chapter will be happy for Haru, though. I promise you.

Review?? Thanks for reading!