Here I am, look at me, we can fan fiction together! Ahem, well, here I am with another update, peeps! And about time too, I'd say! Once again, don't own, you good peeps no sue, k? Now, reviewer answer time! And remember, please review!

Betrayed by Darkness: I'm updating! Yeah I know, Kai's life is pretty sucky at the mo… :-C

sproxy23: Okay…right. The reason it was painful to write…FOR GOD'S SAKE! I MADE HIM SUICIDAL! AND HIS GRANDFATHER… I MEAN, JEEZ!

EagleFox: Hey! I'm updating! And it's nice to know I've finally written a worthwhile story!

PandaPjays: I'm updating! Wow, another life goal I'm closer to reaching! And I have chapter 5 half-written at the mo. Enjoy!

freya kurenai: I'm glad you like it. But… you said Kai's feelings are connected to yours…in what way? Either way, I really hope you get out of it soon…cause you probably mean more to people than you know…stay with me here, ok?

cath-gem-we-luv-anime-woo: Why is your name so hard to type? Guess that means you read the last one this time, huh?

storm-of-insanity: Nice nickname for Kai! Answer should come in the next few chapters…stay with me, ok?

Shizuka-Yuki: Ermm, yep, that pretty much sums up that chapter! Hee hee, lol! Enjoy!

natakuchan01: Hey, aren't you onetime23? Heh heh, you'll just have to wait and see! Cause I have all the answers, yay! I'm so glad you like it!

AnimeBando33: Yep, I know, Hilary can be as tactless as Tyson sometimes…your damn right it's my story! Ha ha, lol! Enjoy the next instalment! (BTW, this thing has 12 chapters you know…)

Reka: Hey! Look, I'm updating! Wow, that's 2 people who have worshipped me…I must be getting better at this… Enjoy!

Chapter 4: So Long and Goodnight

'Why should I care?
Cause you weren't there when I was scared,
I was so alone,
Yeah, you need to listen,
I'm starting to trip, I'm losing my grip,
And I'm in this thing alone…'
Losing Grip, Avril Lavigne

Kai's POV

Finally, the bell rings for break. Time to go. This may be the only chance I get.

I know where I'm going. The boys' bathroom. Quiet, secluded and usually deserted. The place where I'll finally break free of the chains that bind me here. No one will miss me. No one ever does. It could be hours before someone notices my absence. But by then, I'll be untouchable.

I make my way there, unmarked by the other faceless students. I'm just another face in the crowd. Good. I don't want to be noticed.

Suddenly I hear my name called.

"Hey Kai." I turn to see one of the English exchange students, Helena. What does she want?

"I was just wondering… are you, well, alright?" She looks at me concernedly. Why? We've hardly spoken. "I mean, cause you seem a little down. You look kinda ill. Is everything okay?"

No, Helena, everything is wrong. Everything. "I'm fine," I say, lying through my teeth. I look down to see the book in her hand; Chinese Cinderella; the Secret Story of an Unwanted Daughter.

Unwanted. That's what I am. It's what I always have been.

"Oh. Oh, well…I'll see you in class then." I nod absently and continue on my way. There isn't much time left now.

Finally, I reach the bathroom. No one else in there. I'm alone. Quickly, I take off my bag and find the Paracetamol, along with a bottle of water. I'm ready. It's time.

The thing is, I'm having second thoughts. It's now been two people who've asked me about how things are. The first…well, Rei's my friend, I guess, so he's more likely to notice…but the second. I barely know her. Why is she so worried? What do I mean to her? Maybe I'm not as good at hiding as I thought.

The point is, maybe I am worth something to these people. Maybe…

In my mind, I hear Tyson's voice echoing…

'Jeez, Kai, stop being such a sourpuss!'…

…'That guy annoys me so much! He's such a jerk!'…

…'Yeah, whatever Mr. Grumpy Gills. Lighten up!'…

…'Can't you just let us enjoy ourselves for once?'

No. I obviously don't mean anything to them. I'm not wanted. I'm not needed. Not at all.

My hand shaking, I gulp the tablets down. All thirty of them. Now I can only wait.

Too bad, Tyson. Maybe you'll see why…I'm just sorry it had to come to this, everyone.

My vision is going blurry, I feel dizzy. No more time for doubts now, I tell myself, and sink into blackness…

Rei's POV

"I haven't seen Kai since break. Where do you think he is?"

"I don't know. But, knowing Kai, he'll turn up eventually."

It's lunchtime, a full twenty-four hours since I promised my self I'd discuss Kai with the others. Seeing as so far I've failed miserably, now seems a good time to bring it up, as they're talking about him.

"Speaking of Kai, I think there's something he isn't telling us."

"So? There's lots of things Kai doesn't tell us," Tyson yawns.

"Yes," I say patiently, "but this is different. Just yesterday, I saw him in the park. It was really early in the morning - it couldn't have been more than seven o'clock - "

"So what were you doing up at that time?"

"That's not the point!" I sigh. "He was sitting on a bench. All hunched up. I could have sworn he was crying. He's obviously real unhappy about something."

"Kai doesn't cry!" Tyson snorts incredulously.

"Just because you haven't seen him Tyson, doesn't mean he doesn't!" Hilary roars, advancing on Tyson whilst myself and Kenny try to retrain her.

"Hilary, please. The point is, he was covered in bruises, everywhere I could see. And he wouldn't tell me how he got them - at least, not any believable reason…"

Everyone has gone quiet. Even Tyson and Hilary.

"What are you trying to say, Rei?" Hilary says, white-faced.

I sigh, unsure how to word my suspicions. "Put it this way. I think something is going on that we don't know about. I think… I think someone's hurting him. Real bad. I think he needs our help."

Hilary gasps. "You don't think -"

The end of her sentence is cut off by the door banging open. I look round to see…what's her name again…Helena running through the door sobbing. She's crying? What's happened?

"Are you Kai Hiwatari's friends?" she says hysterically.

"Yeah, that's us," Tyson says uncertainly.

"What's happened?" Max asks with a worried frown.

Shaking, she breaks down completely. "Oh - (sob) thank God…It's - well, I was with my brother…" she takes a deep breath before continuing, "He went to the bathroom…I waited for him outside it…oh God…next thing I know, he opens the door (sob) and yells at me to lend him my phone and go get help…over his shoulder…oh my God…" she looks up at us all. I feel my blood turn cold. What comes next won't be good. "Kai was lying there (sob) - he's not breathing. We - that is, me and Jack…" She's shaking so much with shock, she has to sit down. "We think he's tried to kill himself!"

ghostymangarocker: Oooo… evil cliffy! Well, I know I don't usually put an author's note here, but I guess most of you are wondering: why the OC? Well, I needed someone who doesn't know Kai well to find him, and Helena also represents the general public, who may have noticed Kai's… well… depression. (Borrowed the idea from Shakespeare!) The point is, even peeps who don't know you can see if summit's wrong… anyhow, this is NOT the end of the fic! This thing has 12 chapters ya know! Sorry about this rant here. See you when I update!