A/N Ok this is actually PART 1 of chapter 11, I realised the whole chapter together could have been well over 8,000 words, so I decided to split it into two, so I might have part 2 up by this evening or tomorrow morning. This is mainly a drama piece, part 2 has all the action, anyway enjoy!

When Junpei and I enter the dorm, we are met with the sight of several men setting up huge platter plates on the table in the lounge.

Mitsuru was there was well, speaking with a men in a chef's hat.

She had turned to face us once we had opened the front door. She smiles.

"Ah, welcome home. It seems you didn't get my message."

I look at her in confusion. "What message?"

"I told Yukari to tell you that the party is going to be held later on tonight. I received a call from my father informing me he would be coming to see us, as he heard of our success. I invited him to come and he agreed, but he is only available later on this evening. I hope it isn't too inconvenient."

Junpei opens his mouth to complain, but I quickly butt in. "Oh, no worries at all Senpai, we don't mind waiting. Right Junpei?"

When he still looks irritated, I nudge him in the ribs.

"Ouch! Umm uh, yeah no problem at all." He gives me a glare.

I smile pleasantly at Mitsuru before dragging Junpei by the arm up the stairs.

"Why the hell did you hit me?" He said, rubbing his side when we reached the vending machines.

"Because you were acting like an ass." I reply in a hiss.

"How? She just suddenly changed the schedule cause of her father, and she didn't even tell us."

I sigh. "She did tell Yukari to tell us."

"But she didn't, and why couldn't she have told us face to face?!"

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "I don't know, she is busy all the time, she probably just thought we would understand, which we do, right?"

He pouts in annoyance. "This is our celebration though, Mr All Rich and Powerful should change HIS schedule to fit ours. Mitsuru shouldn't put up with that."

"She's probably used to it, and besides, she is probably just happy to see him at all, no wonder she would change the time, I would have."

"I wouldn't. Not much point.." He looks off to the side and his voice fills with venom. "my old man wouldn't show, hell, he'd probably just drink himself stupid on cooking wine again and get hit my a bus on the way over. It would only serve him right."

I gape at him. "Junpei! That's an awful thing to say!"

He fixes me with a hard look, anger in his face. "True, though. You really have no idea the hell that… bastard has put me through. Put my mother through before she died…"

He turns away from me and stares at a fixed spot on the floor, his eyes were half closed and I could see bottled up pain from years of suffering hidden in them.

I place my hand on his arm and turn him back towards me. " Hey look at me, ok? I know you and your Dad have a troubled history, but you shouldn't say things like that, he's still your father."

"I wish he wasn't." He whispered

I stare at him in shock. "What…?"

His expression becomes even angrier and spat, "You heard, I said, 'I wish he wasn't', he is not my father, not to me, he's just some ass that got my Mum pregnant. He is not a part of my family and never will be."

I stare at him throughout his rant and I don't recognize the person in front of me. He is shaking in anger and is grounding his teeth together.

I shake my head. "You don't mean that…"

He tightens his hands into fists. "He's nothin' but a dead beat, and I won't have anything to do with him, you know why? Cause I don't have any obligation to… I'm sick of this conversation, I'm going to my room."

He turns and starts to walk down the hall.

I start to get really angry. "No obligation?! He raised you! Mostly on his own as well. Alcoholic or not, you wouldn't be alive without him!"

He stops and turns back, "No… you're wrong… I'm alive now because I DON'T have him anymore."

I fully lose my temper. "Would you stop acting like some self righteous prick?!"

"Self righteous?! That man was a nightmare!" He yells back

"That man is very depressed and ill! Just think of it! He lost his wife and was tricked to giving away his lifes savings, wouldn't you want to do anything to get rid of those memories!"

He quivers in anger. "Not like that… there were other ways to handle it."

I let out a breath I had been holding. "I know that, but when you're desperate, even the best people do stupid things."

He swallows and looks at the floor, I go to move towards him, but his next words stop me dead.

"Why are you taking his side…?"

My eyebrows raise so high, I'm surprised they don't leave my head.

"I never said I was…"

"But you keep making excuses… you keep trying to make me think he's a good guy, but he's not… he's really not."

"Listen Junpei, I'm on your side, ok? All I'm saying is you should try and find it in your heart to forgive your father for…"

Junpei looks up sharply and cuts me off. "What?! Forgive him?! Why the hell should I?"

"Because he has no one else." I try to reason. "You're his only family, you're his son. I know he doesn't show it, but I'm sure he loves you… and deep down, through all your anger, I think you still love him too."

He shakes his head and gives a hard, mocking laugh. "You are crazy, do you even hear the bullshit you are spouting? I am NOT going near that man again, he has been in my life long enough, it's time I let the past be."

I narrow my eyes. "I thought you were better than this, Jun. I thought you were brave and knew when to do the right thing.. I guess I was wrong."

His eyes widen at my words, but in a space of 5 seconds, his expression changes into red-faced fury.

"Who the hell are YOU to judge me?! You can't even imagine my life there! Oh but you wouldn't understand that, would you? Cause your life was great, great, great before, wasn't it?! He points at me. "I wouldn't lecture me before taking a good, hard look at yourself first."

I gesture to myself, "At least, I know if my parents were still alive, I could have seen both sides of the story before talking shit about them!"

He shakes his head. "Don't fucking lie to me! If you were in my position, you wouldn't say that… You know what, I'm done with you." He holds his hands above his head and turns around to continue down the hall.

I smirk smugly. "There you go Jun, be a hypocrite, run from your battles."

For the second time, he turns around. "There is no battle, there was never a war to begin with."

I shake my head. "You're a coward Junpei, and I'm ashamed of you."

His eyes burn with hatred.

"At least I'm not some stupid little girl who got knocked up because she couldn't keep her legs closed!"

The silence after that is deadly.

As soon as the words left his lips, his eyes widen and he slaps his hand over his mouth…. too late for that though.

I begin to tremble as his words echoed in my mind. Rolling over and over, like thunder.

I suck in a noisy breath and let it out again. I swallow bile in my throat.

I watch his face, and I see remorse wash over his features.

"Mina, oh God, I'm sorry, I'm so so so so sorry. I swear, I didn't mean it, really I didn't, you have to believe me."

He started to make his way over to me, but I back up.

"No, Junpei. It's fine. I get it." My voice sounds dead and hollow.

Junpei shakes his head frantically. "No you don't, please, please don't do this. I was just being a dick, ok? I was angry and wasn't thinking straight…"

I back up even further. "No… no, It's fine… you can't help how you truly feel."

I quickly turn on my heel and sprint up the stairs. I hear him following me, calling my name.

I raced down the hall, open my door and quickly slammed it shut and locked it before Junpei could reach me.

He immediately started pounding on the door. I pace up and down my room with my hands in my hair and tried to ignore his pleas for forgiveness. His voice sounded desperate and if it were any other time, my heart would have gone out to him.

I sit on my bed and stare out the window, until, an hour later, he stopped shouting.

The silence unnerved me. I almost wanted to hear Junpei bashing my door down again… it helped me not to think, but now in the quiet of my room, my mind whirled.

I knew, somewhere in my heart, that Junpei truly hadn't meant what he had said, but my head said something different. It kept saying how this is true reaction, now he has had time to adjust to being the only person (besides Koromaru) who knew of my pregnancy and now hated me because of it.

I pull my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around them. I wish that I could be anywhere else but here, or if not, at least be a little older and maybe a little wiser, maybe then this wouldn't be as bad. I lie back flat on my back and stare at the ceiling. I let Junpeis words rush through my mind once again. I blink furiously to fight back tears.

'I will not cry, I will be strong.' I say to myself. I look down at my abdomen and after a minute, a small smile slowly blossoms on my face. I take my blazer off and pull my shirt up, until my tummy is fully exposed. When looking at it, you couldn't tell at all that anything was different, but I knew my body. My stomach was still flat, but it wasn't as firm as it used to be.

I gently place my hand on the bottom of my belly. My smile becomes gentler as well.

"Hello, little one." I say. "I guess this is the first time we've talked, huh?"

I shake my head at my attempt of one-sided conversation. I grow serious again.

"Listen… I want you to know that everything's ok…ok?" I swallow. "I know some very bad things were said, but you are not to blame, ok?"

I bite my lip. "…Just understand that… Uncle Junpei didn't mean what he said, I know that, deep down. I was a little shocked, don't get me wrong, but he isn't horrible like that. So I want you to forgive him, ok?... And I'll do the same… but only if you do." I wait for any kind of sign, but none comes

I purse my lips but after half a minute I smile. "I guess you truly are Shinjiro Aragaki's son or daughter. Far too quiet…" I start to feel a burning sensation in my throat and I try to clear it. I change the topic.

"Ok Junior, I'll give you another chance. If you forgive Uncle Jun, say nothing… if you don't say, 'Junpei is a big, fat meanie.'"

I wait a minute, and there is only silence. I smile. "That's my boy… or girl... you know? I think you'd like Junpei, he's a huge goof, always cracking jokes… even at the most awkward of times. I mean you were there that day, at the Beef Bowl, you know the one? With the whole biggest person thing? Yeah, get real used to that."

I smile fondly. "In all seriousness though, he is my best friend, all that stuff you heard wasn't the real him, he is much kinder and selfless and I honestly don't know what the hell I would do without him… pardon my French. Just… close your ears if I swear again , ok? Though you probably don't have ears yet, do you?"

I purse my lips. "You don't talk a lot, do you? You remind me of Akihiko- senpai… you've met him, he's a boxer and acts tough and he is tortured by his group of fangirls, but really he is oblivious to what they want, it's hilarious. " I pause. "He's… also your Dad's best friend, so be nice and polite to him, ok?"

I swallow. "I want to tell you now, you might hear bad stories another boy who lives in the dorm, Ken Amada, but please, don't judge him .He has a kind heart and is only trying to help, he acts older than he is so we take him seriously, its kinda adorable, really. He didn't plan for any of the bad stuff to happen to your Dad, he was only scared and angry about his Mum and people so stupid things when they are angry. You see… something bad happened a couple of years ago… there was an accident and… Ken's mother passed away. Ken blamed your Dad… and he also blamed himself. It was only an accident though, your father would never intentionally hurt anybody. Just remember that."

I slap my hand on my duvet. "Look at me being all depressing, Ok I'll change the topic. Mitsuru Kirijo, she lives here too, she's the one me and uncle Jun were fighting over..as well as other things… Anyway, She is insanely rich and very pretty, but watch out, she is a perfectionist and she can be very cold and is very interested in our studies!" I chuckle to myself.

"Then , there is Fuuka, she's a real dear and really interested in computers and electrical stuff. She never has anything bad to say about anyone, she used to be very timid, but since one of her friends moved away, she's kinda come out of her shell a lot… but no matter how hard she tries, she really can't cook too well, your father took a stab at teaching her… it didn't go so good." I smile at the memories. I shake my head in a fond way.

"Let's not forget Miss gossip queen herself, Yukari. Yukari is a special breed of person, little one, she seems to feed of the lives of others… not literally, but of their news. She loves make-up too and all that girly stuff, she can be kinda a bitch occasionally too but, I can't say too much bad stuff, she did save both our lives last night, I guess that is what comes from being an amazingly talented archer. She is a kind friend, so you better thank her a lot when you grow older." I tilt my head in thought.

"Let's see.. the only guys left are Aigis and Koromaru. Aigis is a robot girl… I know isn't it crazy? We found her on a trip we took to Mitsuru's Dad's house. She had just woken up and was all emotionless, but now she is starting to gain feelings, so it's like she's a real person now. She's very protective of us, I'd think you would like her."

I clap my hands together. "And last but certainly not least is that adorable ball of fur, Koro-chan. He is the best, most loyal dog you will ever meet. Do you know he can smell you? True story… I wonder if it's something you ate…" I pause. "I'm only kidding, geez, no need to give me the silent treatment." I laugh at the baby's expense and gaze at my stomach. I feel a strange emotion, something I've never felt. I realize that I have a sudden instinct of protectiveness and I get such a strong rush of love, that it scares me.

I adjust myself so I'm leaning on my two elbows. "Look, I know you probably can't understand a word I'm saying, let's face it you're a big ball of cells, but… I can't help but think there is something very special about you. Against all the odds, here you are… " I gesture to my stomach, "…I have a feeling you're going to do great things, huge things even." I pat my tummy. "And I'm going to be there to help you, always… wild dogs couldn't keep me away, I'm very stubborn… ask my friends."

I giggle for a minute and then give a contented sigh. "There was a time when I was scared of the thought of you, I'm still kinda scared, but…not as much as before." I sit up straight and look at my door. "Ok little one, I have to go now, but I'll try and talk again soon… bye." I wiggle my fingers at my stomach and pull my shirt down over it again.

I hop up from my bed and just stand in the middle of my floor. I look over at my clock. It was 7.00pm , I had been in my room for 2 hours.

I looked back at my door and my expression softened. I knew what I had to do.

I crossed the floor and it unlocked and opened my door, and standing in the doorway was Junpei.

I look at him in shock. He had a small smile on his face.

"Uncle Jun, huh?... I could get used to that."

I feel the sudden urge to cry, and Junpei wraps me up in a hug. I hold on tightly.

"Mina… I just wanna say that I'm sorry, ok? I don't think you're stupid or…"

I shush him. "It's ok… I forgive you, but just know It did really hurt."

He holds on tighter. "I know... I feel like an asshole."

"I know, you kinda are." I tease.

"Hey! I thought you had forgiven me?" He says indignantly.

"I have."

I feel him smirk. "…But only because Junior has, right?"

I nod. "Count yourself lucky… by the way, how much of that did you hear?"

He lets me go and steps back. "Uh, not too much."

I raise my eyebrow and he scratches the back of his head. "Well.. actually a lot."

I shake my head, but smile at the same time. "I could report you for listening in to private conversations."

This time he raises his eyebrow, "But I wasn't… you were talking to your stomach… not much conversation going on there."

I purse my lips. "Come on you dolt, let's go see if the party is starting soon."

We go down to the lounge and we see the same men, bringing in boxes from outside. Mitsuru was inspecting one of the boxes with different man than before. She looks up when we arrive.

" You both seem to have a brilliant sense of smell."

I shrug, " Only when it comes to sushi…"

She smiles at my answer. "I hate to disappoint, but we aren't ready yet, I have to inspect each platter to see if they are satisfactory."

Junpei looks surprised. "Wow, senpai, you don't have to do all that."

She shakes her head. "I promised the best, and everyone shall get the best.

I look at Mitsuru, impressed. "Thanks, senpai, that's really kind of you."

She dismisses my praise with a wave of her hand. Junpei and I go back upstairs again to wait for the party to start. At 9.00pm exactly, Akihiko comes up the stairs.

"Yo, Mitsuru said the food is ready." Junpei jumps up.

"Finally!" He rushes down the stairs before us. I shake my head and stand up.

Akihiko stands by the top of the stairs and watches me walk over.

I smile pleasantly at him. "You hungry, senpai? I've been waiting ages for this."

He swallows and nods. I scrunch my eyebrows up in confusion.

"Do you not like sushi or something?"

He looks up at me. "No, no… I like sushi."

I raise my eyebrow. "O-ok then, let's go down then, before Junpei eats everything."

My attempt at humour doesn't work. He gestures for me to go first and I make my way down to the party.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000