Chapter 12

The answer came sooner than Black Jack thought when he confronted Ramona. She confessed to what she did to the bully, and repeated over and over how sorry she was. Black Jack acted upset, but he was actually a little glad. It was his son, after all who was injured. The boy, Eijii, was suspended on top of the beating he received. Black Jack kept his satisfaction to himself, not wanting to upset anyone. When Pinoko heard the story, she smiled a little, remembering when she trained Sharaku to be tougher. She kept in touch with him, even when everything seemed like it was falling apart.

Ramona felt horrible for the next few days. She thought Black Jack, the closest thing to a father she'd ever had, was mad at her. The worst part was, she knew it wasn't her fault. Not at all. Maybe it was her inner monster, or maybe, something worse. Ramona felt as if she wasn't controlling her own body…it was as if she was a remote controlled human. She still kept an eye on Yukia as he made his way to school. Black Jack drove him to school on days that he could, which was, strangely, often. Ramona envied Yukia's happy, young life. Sure, he had it rough for a while, but that time was short. She wished so very badly to be "normal". The problem is, she didn't know what "normal" was. Was it being able to smile all the time? Being nice? Never telling a lie? What was it that made others "normal"? Hikaru treated everyone as if they were "normal", but secretly, Ramona knew they weren't at all. That much was blatantly obvious. People weren't born with white hair, or scars, or a horrible fear of waking up on an operating table. Ramona sat on her new bed and cried.

Rain entered the room suddenly, and quietly asked," What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"Everything. Nothing is….right! Rain, tell me why I'm alive!"

"…Ramona, don't talk like that. You know everyone has their purpose in life. Do you remember when I told you that?"

"I don't care! Stop treating me like I'm a baby!"

"What are you talking about?"

"The way you always tell me everything's gonna be alright, it's not true!"

"Ramona, Look around you! Isn't this what we dreamed for as kids?"

"No. I dreamed I would be returned to my parents…but…" her voice faltered and she wept silently. Rain could hardly hold in her tears. Not tears for Ramona, nor herself, but for all the years she held in those tears. She sobbed heavily. Ramona looked at Rain, shocked. Rain never cried; no matter what. Ramona stopped crying out of pure shock at the pitiful cries that escaped Rain's throat.

"…Okaasan?" Rain breathed, unsure if the woman on the floor was truly her. She didn't reply.

"Okaasan!" Rain screamed, knowing for sure it was her.

"…Oh, no no no….." a deep voice whispered.

"Did… you…see?" Rain could only look up in fear at the shadowy man.

"No, don't!" she screamed, sprinting towards the door of her small house. He wasn't too far behind her. She not only heard the footsteps following her, but she felt them, too. The little girl ran as fast as her legs would carry her-anything to get away from the man. She reached the door. As long as she could get out….the door was locked from the outside.

"Please, please!" she begged, straining her arms from pulling at the doorknob. She was trapped. No one could save her. The man ran towards Rain, a wicked smile spread across his face.

"D-don't hurt me!" she pleaded, hoping with all her heart he wouldn't harm her as he did her mother.

He stopped a few feet away from the scared little girl." Fine. I won't kill you. I'll spare your little, worthless life." He pressed a sharpened knife against her throat," If you do everything I say." The girl nodded vigorously through her sobs.

"Good girl. Give me your arm." Rain obeyed, not wanting to die early. He injected her with something, and she suddenly felt tired.

"You and me are gonna get along just fine…" his voice faded away with the rest of the world.

Rain finished crying, and looked around the room. A few people gathered to see the strange sight.

"R-Rain?" Daichi breathed, concerned.

"…I'm fine. Don't worry about me," she announced coldly. Ramona seemed to be looking somewhere far away as Rain exited the room. Kinji and Daichi stared at Ramona expectantly. She snapped back to reality and sighed. She too left the room. She decided to visit Yukia, since she hasn't seen him and she wanted to escape the awkward situation. Ramona took her time when she walked to his house, as she wanted to feel the chilly air against her skin. She smiled sweetly as she approached the small house. The salty breeze swept her skirt and scarf softly. Ramona knocked on the door and waited. Instead of Pinoko, Ramona was greeted with Kiriko. She sighed a little, as she hated the way he talked to her. He loved to tease and taunt her, and he loved to see her reaction.

"What do you want, sweetheart?" he asked, a smile crossing his face.

"I came to visit Yukia, eye patch." Ramona replied, unable to come up with anything better. He opened the door a little wider and she went inside. Kiriko slammed her long scarf in the door, choking her a little. Ramona clenched her fists tightly, wanting to hit him so badly. She took a deep breath, and took off her scarf. Ramona made her way to Yukia's room, leaving the scarf on the floor. Yukia wasn't too excited to see her. He sat on his bed and barely spoke.

"Are you okay?" Ramona inquired softly.

"…I dunno. Maybe. Maybe not…"

"Stop it!" She shouted. Yukia looked up from his book, having a new, colder look in his eyes, like his father.

"What am I doing?"

"You….You're all depressed and quiet! Where did the old Yukia go?"

"….I-I don't know," Yukia began to cry. He hugged Ramona and sobbed, "Gomenasai!"

"Stop crying," Ramona ordered, tipping the boy's chin up," You've had too many tears in your life already." She dried his tears sweetly, just like how Rain did. Yukia obeyed, his big eyes still shiny.

"Did you see what I did?" Ramona asked playfully, trying to lighten the mood.

"…No."

Ramona grinned and stated,"All I'm gonna say is Eijii won't be messing with anyone anymore."