A/N: This chapter is about what happened between Ayako, Rukawa, Hanagata and Fujima.

Chapter 7

(Ayako)

Rukawa put on the head band and I could tell he was nervous despite how well he hid it.

"You sure it'll work?" I ask Jin.

Jin nodded, "Yep. Fujima can only get into people's dreams by tuning into the frequency of his victims' brainwaves when they're asleep. Apparently everyone emits a unique and consistent brainwave pattern, when they're asleep. My head band works like a de-scrambler. It absorbs the waves Rukawa-sama emits and transforms them to a different frequency. Fujima is unaware of this and therefore will not be able to track down Rukawa-sama. Don't worry."

I looked at Rukawa, "I'll stay here. If you begin having a nightmare, I'll wake you."

He nodded and shut his eyes.

.

(Sendoh)

I watch the monitor, 'He doesn't appear to be having any nightmares as of the moment…'

"Shouldn't you be resting as well? You've been awake almost as long as he has."

I turned to him, "Jin…I'll get some rest soon. But my room has been destroyed."

"Room? We got real rooms for you to pick from, don't worry. But if you want, you can watch Rukawa-sama some more. Apparently no one trusts my creations to work. The pain," he said dramatically, "you can go to his room and help Ayako watch him."

"Ayako's there. That's enough. A real room? I can't accept that, I'm still a prisoner," I said looking at his sling, "your arm ok?"

Jin looked at his shoulders, "Fine, it's my shoulder. Cracked some bones, but nothing serious. You're not a prisoner, I've never met a prisoner that can come and go as he please."

"There's actually something I want to know but I didn't want to bug you guys seeing how busy you were…"

"What is it?" he asked.

"Why does Fujima hate Kaede?" I asked.

.

(Jin)

"Because Rukawa-sama killed Hanagata-san."

"No," Sendoh stated, "Kaede won't do that."

"How can you be so sure?" I asked.

"Because I know him and he's not like that."

I looked at him. I had an idea as to what his true mutant powers were. I saw and heard him use his powers twice, and I noticed something peculiar. It would explain how he knows us, but I was scared, afraid to verify my suspicions.

"Jin?"

I smiled, "You asked the right person. Only three people alive today knows the actual truth. But I can't tell you. The choice is not mine to make, I accidentally found out through my trusty video cameras. But I can give you a clue to the events that led up to it. Actually they're not much of a clue."

"I would still like to hear."

"It began with a mission. Ryota with his speed was asked go in to a secret lab and obtain some documents. But when he came back, he was poisoned. It wasn't that bad in the beginning but his condition got considerably worst. Fujima being Ryota's best friend snuck in to the same facility in attempt to find the antidote and ended up contracting the same disease. Ryota died before Hanagata found the cure. But Fujima was saved. As to why Rukawa-sama killed Hanagata-san…that I can't tell you."

.

(Fujima)

I was growing extremely impatient, 'How can Rukawa still not sleep?!'

I took Hanagata's picture and ran my finger's over it, "I promised you I'll avenge your death. I'll never forgive him for killing you. I still remember how he looked at me that day…"

~Flashback~

I woke up feeling extremely tired.

'Where's Toru-kun? He promised to be here when I awaken.'

I smiled, 'Maybe he's just tired and is in his room sleeping.'

Slowly I proceeded to his room but found it empty, 'Where can he be?'

I began back to my room but as I walked by Ayako's room I heard Rukawa asked, "Are you ready Hanagata?"

I smiled, 'Found him.'

I peeked through the crack and spotted Ayako, Rukawa, and Toru-kun gathered inside in a semi circle.

Toru nodded.

"Any last words?"

'Last words?! What's going on?' I wondered surprised.

"Tell Ken-kun, I love him," Hanagata said.

I pushed open the door and wanted to say, 'Toru-kun, I'm here…'

But the words didn't come out. Ayako had her hand on Rukawa's and looked distressed, "Don't do it."

That was when I noticed the gun and found my voice, "No!"

It was too late. Rukawa pulled the trigger and Toru fell back to the ground. Rukawa was staring at me, obviously stunned. I knelt down beside Toru-kun and looked at the bullet wound in his chest. I grabbed Rukawa, "Why did you do it?! He treated you like a brother! Tell me why!!"

He looked at me blankly, "I can't explain my actions."

There was no remorse or guilt in his eyes, just plain indifference.

"Are you going to kill me too?" I challenged.

"I won't do that," he stated.

"Mark my words Rukawa Kaede. If you let me go today I will exact my revenge on you! I will make you regret what you did today!!"

"So be it," he stated.

~End of Flashback~

I shut my eyes, 'Why? Why did Rukawa do such a thing to you, Toru-kun? How could he?'

.

(Ayako)

I looked at the peacefully sleeping Kaede, 'Why do you always take responsibility for everything? If Fujima knew, he'd understand that you're suffering as much as him, if not more. If only he knew the whole truth…'

~Flashback~

"Come in," I said.

Hanagata walked in looking gravely.

"Hanagata why are you here? Shouldn't you be resting, or with Fujima?"

"There's something I need to ask of you."

"What?" I asked.

He pulled out a gun and stated, "Kill me."

"What?! No way! Get out! It's not funny."

"I'm serious. I'll die soon, you see there was no way I could figure out a cure for them, not without knowing the properties of the poison. So I extracted the poison from their blood and injected it into myself…"

"But you found the cure, you can save yourself too."

"I tested many possible cures on myself before finding the right one. Those chemicals shouldn't be mixed. Now within my body there is another, stronger poison."

"You can find the cure for that, can't you? I mean you shouldn't give up, you can't-"

"Impossible. It's begun. I'm in a lot of pain right now. I tried using large doses of morphine to ease the pain, or at least to enable me to sleep but I can't even do that. The pain is too strong and intense, and a higher dosage will kill me," he said softly and then his voice turned bitter, "I wanted to take my own life…but I couldn't. I really love Kenji. I can't bring myself to do it, to leave him alone in this world. But I can't let him watch me in die either, if he finds out the reason…it will kill him."

He was crying silent tears.

"Why me?" I asked, "why did you pick me?"

"Because you understand how it feels to watch someone you love, die slowly. You won't want Kenji to suffer the same fate as you," he said, "I'm sorry, I couldn't save Ryota…"

'Ryota…' I thought.

"I know it's asking for a lot Ayako. But I can't bear this anymore. I…" his voice trailed off, "Please…"

I took the gun with shaking hands and held it up to his heart. He shut his eyes, 'All I have to do is pull the trigger. I can do this, I can! I…'

"I can't do it," I sobbed collapsing onto the ground, "I'm so sorry, I can't…"

"Then I'll do it," came a calm, emotionless voice.

I looked up, "Kaede…how long have you been here?"

He helped me up, "I wanted to talk to Hanagata-san, so I followed him here. I heard everything."

I looked at him as he took the gun, "His wish is to be put out of his pain. I will grant you that wish, Hanagata-san."

I saw sorrow and pain in his eyes as he said those words.

Hanagata looked at him, "Kaede…arigatou gozaimasu…"

Rukawa shook his head, "This is all my fault. Had I not order Ryota to go and steal the documents, none of this would've occurred. I'm truly sorry, Hanagata-san."

"Don't be. You're leader now. Your job is the make tough decisions. No one blames you."

Rukawa eyes went hard then as he asked quietly, "Are you ready Hanagata?"

~End of Flashback~

'It took immense strength to pull that trigger. I couldn't do it, as I was about to pull that trigger it felt like a part of me was dying. But Kaede cared for him enough to do it. If Fujima only knew…I still remember what Kaede said afterwards.'

~Flashback~

"We got to tell him the truth."

"We will do no such thing," Rukawa stated, "Hanagata's wish was for Fujima to not discover his real cause of death. At least now we don't have to make up a reason for what happened to Hanagata."

"But he hates you. He wants to kill you," I pointed out.

Rukawa replied listlessly, "He should as well. I did kill Hanagata. Whatever the reason, I killed him. Plus hate is a very human emotion, it proves you're still alive."

"What kind of life is it if all you're capable of feeling is hate?" I argued, but I knew I was fighting a losing battle, he had his mind made up.

"That's where you're wrong. He may hate me but he is still capable of love towards other people. Can you imagine the alternative? If he knew he was the cause of Hanagata's death I don't believe he'll be capable of feeling anything but guilt and self hate. Promise me you won't tell him Ayako."

"Kaede…"

"Promise me, Ayako-chan," he said firmly.

"I…I promise."

~End of Flashback~

.

(Jin)

I looked at Sendoh who was focusing all his attention on the monitor for Rukawa's room, 'He really cares about Rukawa-sama. Rukawa deserves, no, needs someone like him. Whether my suspicion about him is right or wrong, it's not important. I guess some things are better left unknown.'

I yawned and began back to my room.

~T.B.C

A/N: Oooooh, more background. People got to be please *L*

Ryota, mutant powers = speed, like Peitro aka Quicksilver in X-men

Hanagata is a human, that was Dawn's physician.