Remnants of a Broken Past.

Stitch sipped his creamy latte. He sat outside at the coffee shop, staring at the people as they passed him by, eating his two doughnuts. 625 and Angel sat with him, talking and giggling with each other. Stitch smiled, they were a cute couple...

Angel looked at Stitch, "Hmmm, your love for coffee hasn't died, that was your third one!"

Stitch grinned, "It gives me the energy I need to put up with your husband."

625 laughed, "Oh come on, am I that bad?"

They all laughed, Stitch was having a wonderful time. The sun was out, the day was beautiful, and thanks to Angel's willingness to show them the new coffee shop, they were outside enjoying it. Angel looked off, a nostalgic look in her eyes, "So much has changed since you two left, so much is new..."

625 looked at her, "Yes, tell us what some of our experimental buds are doing these days."

Angel pointed up the street, "Up that way is the hair parlor Clip runs, her husband Sparky likes to visit from time to time."

Stitch looked up the street, "Clip and Sparky? That's surprising..."

Angel nodded, "Yep, happened a few months after you two disappeared."

"Say, how's fish-face?" 625 asked, a devilish grin on his face.

Angel looked at him, "Well, you won't believe this, but he's the chief of police. He still insists on being called 'Captain Gantu'."

625 laughed, "That chowder brain..."

Thus the friends sat and joked around, nothing seemed to matter for the moment. In a single conversation, Stitch seemed to forget his troubles. They seemed to melt away in a pool of pleasantries. The three sat at that table, joking and laughing, when Angel looked at her watch, "Ooooh, come on, we'd better head to the movie, it'll be starting soon."

Stitch smiled, Angel had talked them into going to see Hitch. 625 had tried with all his might to get her to go see Constantine, but Angel was adamant about the love movie, so 625 had submitted to her will. They got up, paid their tab, and began to walk for the small movie theater.

On the way to the theater, Stitch's eyes were everywhere. All the new sights to see, they were overwhelming! Stitch watched the people train in Kixx's Fitness Club, Stitch smiled as he passed French Fry's restaurant, and Stitch could barely believe his eyes when they passed Spike's recuperation center. Stitch couldn't believe it, all the experiments, had done so much for their lives...

They rounded the corner, and found the movie theater, deserted. Stitch wasn't surprised though, it was only three o'clock in the afternoon. Angel walked to the movie ticket counter, and paid for three tickets to go see Hitch. They walked inside the movie theater, where it was as empty as the outside. The snack booth was open however, and Angel and 625 moved in on it. Stitch waited, he didn't feel like popcorn.

Stitch began looking around the movie theater, it was just as quaint as it was all those years ago. Stitch could still remember...that day it all began...

It was three o'clock, time for Lilo to be home. Yet, for some reason, she was late. Stitch waited for her, they were supposed to be seeing The Ring. Stitch had wanted to see it so badly, why was Lilo taking so long?

Suddenly Lilo burst through the door, a brilliant smile illuminating her face. Stitch watched her run to their room, giggling all the way. He stood, and faltered, he was still getting used to the new height enhancements Jumba had given him. He stumbled over to the elevator, almost tripping under his new height. He rode the elevator to the top where he found Lilo talking on the phone, giggling with every word. Stitch sat down and listened to the conversation, waiting for Lilo to notice the time.

"Yes...I know...Isn't that great! Oh my God I can't wait!"

Lilo hung up the phone and seemed for the first time to notice Stitch, "Oh Stitch! You'll never guess what happened today. You know Ricky from History?"

"Ih."

"Well, we're going to go to the Fall dance together! Isn't that great!"

Stitch stared at Lilo, he knew she really liked Ricky, yet he couldn't help to feel a twinge of jealousy, "Weega, gonna see Ring?"

Comprehension seemed to dawn on Lilo, "Oh no! Hold on, I'll get ready."

Stitch left the room so Lilo could change. In the living room he sat down and began to stoically stare at the wall, as if it would clarify all of his quandaries. She had been so happy when she came in, Stitch had never seen her so happy...he had never made her feel that way...

Lilo appeared in the elevator, "Come on! I don't want to miss any!"

Stitch got up and tumbled to the floor, Lilo smiled and helped him up, "You need to be more careful, but you'll get used to the new height someday..."

Stitch felt like a fool, but he allowed Lilo to help him out the door and to the movies. All the while wondering, fearing that he was losing his best friend...

"Stitch? Stitch!"

The voice snapped Stitch out of his revery, Angel stood at the theater doors, "Hurry up! It's starting!"

Stitch nodded and ran for the door, Angel disappeared inside with 625 to get them some seats. Suddenly, an arm shot out and grabbed Stitch, the arm whirled Stitch around, and Stitch, confused, looked at his attacker.

It was Houdini, one of Stitch's old experiment friends, Stitch smiled, "Hey Houdini! How have you-"

"Quiet! Listen Stitch, hear me out..." His voice was hoarse, and Stitch noticed his eyes were bloodshot with countless nights without sleep. Stitch noticed the clothes Houdini wore were nothing but rags...

Stitch looked at him, "Houdini?"

"Why? Why did you come back!" Houdini's voice was so raspy, it amazed Stitch, "Now, of all times...you choose to come back? Hahahahahahaha!"

Houdini doubled over with his maniacal laughter, then he erupted in a coughing fit. Stitch looked at him, and began to approach Houdini. Yet when Houdini saw Stitch coming closer, he swung his fists at Stitch to keep him away, "Noo! Don't touch me! He'll know! He'll seek you out! Can't you see it on me! Can't you smell it! That stench, that foul odor! He has marked me...he knows what I do now..."

Houdini fell to his knees and looked at Stitch, "I saw you...in the coffee club...didn't recognize you at first...but he did...oh yes...he was there too..."

Stitch began to back away from Houdini, "What...what are you talking about?"

Houdini lunged and grabbed Stitch's shirt collar, "FEAR HIM! KNOW HIM! You must feel him! Do you not! How can that be! It is as clear as day..."

Houdini pushed Stitch away, and began to fiddle his hands and mumble incoherently. Stitch was definately worried now. Houdini looked at the floor, yet continued to talk to Stitch, "You are in grave danger...oh yes...he will know...even now he watches me...I am next..."

Houdini turned and ran for the door, Stitch yelled after him, "Wait! What do you mean? Houdini! What's wrong Houdini?"

Houdini stopped and turned to Stitch, "We cannot atone...we cannot run from our sins..."

With that, Houdini crashed through the door and was gone, leaving a very confused and worried Stitch. Angel came from the theater and grabbed Stitch's arm, "Hurry! The previews are ending!"

Angel then noticed the look of fear in Stitch's eyes, "Stitch? What's wrong?"

"Houdini...he was just here..." Stitch turned to Angel, "What's happening Angel? What is wrong with Houdini?"

Angel appeared distraught, then she seemed to calm, "Houdini...is mad Stitch...but of course you know this..."

Stitch looked at the path Houdini had used to escape, "Yeah, I caught that much..."

"Just...one day he was normal...then he changed Stitch...some things change that can never be changed back."

Stitch looked at her, Angel seemed suddenly sad. Stitch opened his mouth to say more, but Angel beat him to it, "Come on. The movie is starting. I know you'll love it!"

She pulled him towards the movie, and Stitch looked at her. One minute she was sad, yet now she was jovial again. Yet Stitch put aside his worries for now, and entered to watch the movie.

Outside, the wind stirred, and the cloaked figure moved on. He walked to the movie theater, and stared at it. He sat there for a long while, his cloak billowing in the wind. He watched the theater for awhile, and then moved on, his boots walking soundless against the pavement...