KAITO
"You don't have to do this." I said, watching the teen sitting in the passenger seat next to me. "We can leave if you want."
It was hard to believe that Jodye and the twins were teenagers now. They had turned thirteen a few weeks ago.
"No. I need to face her." Jodye stared out the window, "It's the only way I'll ever be free."
I had driven her to the woman's prison just outside Tokyo. We were parked, and I was waiting for Jodye to make a move. Jodye had been the one to ask me to bring her here.
"I'm here for you. We can do this another time if you want." I said.
"No. Delaying will only make this worse." Jodye opened the door, "I'm facing her."
I pulled myself into my chair and followed her. She was right. She needed to face down her old teacher. She would never heal without doing this. We entered the prison where Zaito was waiting. He led us to an interrogation room where Tiffany Shia, Mrs. Shia to Jodye, was waiting. Zaito and I stayed back while Jodye sat down before her former teacher. They stared at each other.
"There is so much I want to say." Jodye finally broke her silence. "I need to know one thing. Why? Why did you treat me the way you did?"
"Deaf means retarded, freak." Shia's tone was cold, "I treated you the way you deserve to be treated."
"You believe the stereotype."
"It's not a stereotype. It's true."
"Do you really think I'm retarded?"
"Yes. You poor, delusional girl. You've been fed lies your whole life. The truth must hurt."
"Am I human? Don't I deserve to be treated like a human?"
"You should be locked up in Tokyo Mental Institution, which is where you are going once the judge throws out the charges against me."
Jodye took a deep breath, "There is one problem." She turned her head a bit to show her right ear, "I am no longer deaf." She turned her head again to show her left ear, "I had surgery to correct a deformity in my ears. My hearing is now slightly above average."
"Why that is amazing! You are normal!" Shia's tone dripped in sarcasm.
"I am the same person I was when I was deaf. No, don't interrupt. Let me talk. You hurt me badly. Your words have left wounds, deep wounds that may never heal. You never used my actual name. You never realized the gem you had. You could have helped me achieve greater heights. Instead, you broke me. You shattered my spirit and crushed my will. I am broken on the inside because of your belief that I was a stupid retard." Jodye choked back a sob.
I rolled to her side and squeezed her hand comfortingly.
"Tiffany, my cousin, Saito Shion, teaches your class now. He came to me because he was worried about Jodye. He said that she would cringe and shrink down in her seat each time he walked by her desk. She jerked away with a yelp when all he did was put a gentle hand on her shoulder. She shrank away from him each time he leaned over her to help her with a math problem. You abused her, didn't you?" I asked.
"No, I did not abuse her in any way. It is not my fault Jodye got treated the way she did. She was a bad student and a bully. I had to get hard on her. It was the only way I could work with her." Shia grinned.
"Liar! You know that is not the truth! Own up to it, Mrs. Shia! You are a bully! I came here hoping to talk and maybe forgive, but I see you are still the same! You are a cruel woman! Stop spewing lies and admit what you did!" Jodye exploded, "You are heartless! You brought this upon yourself!"
"No, you brought these frivolous charges on me!" Shia shot back.
"You are an evil woman!"
"That's enough." Zaito cut in, "I believe the evidence. Jodye talked to the principle back in November and he had a hidden camera installed in your classroom. You can deny everything all you want but the evidence does not lie."
"No other student will suffer at your hands again. I saw it all, and your behavior is despicable." I nodded, "I will be taking over your class starting next school year. Saito is going to teach at the high school."
"I don't hate you, Mrs. Shia." Jodye said, "I want to forgive you, but right now, I can't. Someday I will be able to forgive and forget, but that day is not today."
"All of you deaf freaks are the same! My twin sister was deaf! She got all the attention, all the love! I was ignored! My parents doted on their pride and joy, who made my life a living hell! She got what was coming to her! Dumb retard didn't deserve to live! After she was gone, life did not get better! My parents built a shrine to my sister and continued to ignore me! It was like I didn't exist! I'm glad they got blown up! It served them right!" Shia screamed, "I'm the one who is broken!"
Jodye surprised me. She stood up and walked around the table. She knelt, and hugged Shia.
"It is okay. I am not mad at you. My own life wasn't easy ether. I understand your pain. I know what it is like to be ignored. My own parents aren't exactly parents of the year material ether. I have a sister who is insane and a dead brother. I too was pretty much left to my own devices. I have never once hated you." Jodye soothed.
"You are right. I am evil. I didn't realize how much alike we are. The way I treated you was wrong. I abused you. You should hate me. Why do you not hate me? I don't understand!"
"I don't hate you because I knew deep down that you were hurting and lashing out acted like a bandage to your psyche. It made the hurt go away for a little bit. It wasn't just you. I admit, I acted out a little too. For that, I am sorry. Yes, you did hurt me, but I'm past all of that. I only want you to admit you did wrong and get the help you need."
"I can do that." Shia wiped away a tear, "I will make things right. I will get help. I didn't realize my hurt was hurting you. I'm going to get better."
"I am not ready to forgive just yet, but this is a start on the right path." Jodye smiled.
AKAITO
My wedding day was here at last. I paced, waiting for the ceremony to start. I glanced at my best man, Kaito, who was sitting on the couch. I was proud of how far he had come. He was in the process of being fed by Len. I did wonder if he would finally be freed from the feeding tube. Oliver had said that it could take up to a year before Kaito was strong enough to be able to swallow safely.
"You nervous?" Kaito asked.
"Yes, I am." I took a deep breath, "You weren't feeling good earlier. Are you sure you are okay?"
"I'm fine, Akaito. It was just a little bit of heart burn. Relax." Kaito smiled, "It is perfectly normal with a feeding tube."
"There you go." Len said, "Feeling better? We don't need you getting sick during the ceremony or the reception."
"I'm fine, you two. Caito already fussed over me earlier. Akaito, he brought his black medical bag with him."
"I wouldn't be surprised if he has a fully stocked operating room in it." I sighed.
My cousin, Caito, was a doctor, a very annoying, over dramatic doctor. He practically operated on tiny injuries. Rin had tripped earlier and scraped her knee. Caito was still treating her. You'd think it would only take a minute, but Caito was over through. He had all but performed an endoscopy on Kaito this morning after Kaito had admitted to having a little heart burn.
"I bet he is operating on her." Len said.
"I wouldn't be surprised." Kaito agreed, "Half of my family is insane."
"Oh boys!" Kaito and I both went white. There was no mistaking Aunt Shion's voice. Our aunt breezed into the room. She made a beeline toward me and ripped my tie off. "You call that tying a tie?" Aunt Shion asked, "Allow me to show you how it is done." She retied my tie and turned on Kaito next. "You look a little pale. Are you sure you are feeling all right?" She redid his tie too.
"I'm fine, auntie." Kaito reassured, "We need to get going."
"I should have Caito take a look at you."
"No need!"
"If you start to feel unwell, tell me."
"Fine. We seriously need to get going."
"Do you want me to push you? I don't want you tiring yourself out."
"I can handle wheeling myself, auntie. I know you worry because you care, and I do appreciate it, but please, there is no need to hover over me. You've done enough of that already. I promise, I'll let you know if I start feeling sick."
"You are due for your Celta and your next dose of pain medication." Len opened the black medical bag, "Pill form or injection?"
"Injection. I'm still working on relearning to swallow." Kaito decided.
Len prepared the syringe and did the injection into Kaito's right side. It was easier to do the injection there over his arm as he was still very skinny. He had gained back some of the weight he lost, but he still had a long road of recovery to go through.
We headed outside for the ceremony to begin. Yes, I cried. Miku looked amazing in her wedding dress. Luka had done an awesome job with Aunt Shion's dress. Before long, Miku and I became husband and wife.
LEN
The new school year had begun, and it was the first day. Rin, Jodye, and I had scored the same math class and teacher. I entered my new math classroom, froze, and tried to back out. Unfortunately, Rin and Jodye were behind me.
"Yes!" Jodye claimed a seat, "Best teacher ever!"
I chose a seat next to her, "I'm in hell!"
Rin sat on my right, "Is it fun, Len? We get to be taught by Kaito!"
"That means no more 'forgetting' to do your math homework!" Jodye said.
"Who knows? You might finally score an A!" Rin added.
"I've arranged for your teachers to let me know what homework they gave you." Kaito said.
"I'm so doomed! I'm going to have to repeat seventh grade!" I whined.
"That means you'll have to take my class twice." Kaito rolled out from behind his desk as the rest of the class arrived and took their seats. Several girls stifled squeals as they realized who their teacher was,
"Rin, Jodye, make me pass seventh grade!" I cried out.
"I also teach two eighth grade math classes." Kaito finished, "Welcome, class! My name is Kaito Shion and I will be your math teacher for this school year. Len will probably tell you I am a harsh task master." I sank into my seat while laughter rang out, "The truth is, I will work you all hard. Let's have a great year together, and hope Len actually gets his first A." More laughter. It was no secret that I never got As.
We knew our Kaito was back.
Queen Sunstar: Yes, the entire story is finally done. I'm going to take a break from writing Vocaloid stories for a bit and focus on my Pokemon stories. I've got stricken, A Bedside Vigil, and soon to come, Dark Hero. My next Vocaloid story will most likely be Silent Wings.