(Ulrich P.O.V.)

I get back from Yumi's at about 7:15.

I've been gone for two hours, I should probably call the guys and tell them I'm alright. Nah, I can tell them later… I don't really feel like talking right now.

I walk to my dorm, but I can't seem to sit still, it's haunting me….

(Flashback)

"Did you know William was possessed by XANA before or after he kissed you?"

A pause

"After." She answered slowly

"What about when you slapped him?"

"Before."

I knew it, she let William kiss her, and she likes him. She only slapped him when she saw he was possessed.

(End Flashback)

"Dammit!" Ulrich says to himself.

I'm going to go and take a shower, usually that helps me calm down.

I walk over to the closet and grab a fresh pair of clothes, and head out the door to the showers. I walk inside and head over to a stall. Then I hear the door close.

That's weird, I wouldn't think anyone else would take a shower in the evening…

I peek around the corner, and there's Macas, walking with his head down. He's got a dark red robe on, but I can still see his blue shorts underneath. And just a little bit of his torso.

Wow, Macas must work out a lot… I wonder if he'll spar with me sometime? He's probably pretty good.

I slip back around the corner and out of sight. I don't want to talk to him right now either. Macas walks into a stall and takes off his robe, he hangs it on the hook outside the curtain. By doing so, he revealed his back to me.

I gave an audible gasp.

Macas' entire back was covered in bruises and cuts. Some were old and fading, some were fairly new, but there was one on his arm that looked like he got it just today. You would be hard pressed to find a new spot to give him a bruise, he had so many.

(Macas P.O.V.)

I walk into the showers and see an empty stall. I take off my robe slowly, it really hurts a lot. Then out of nowhere I hear a gasp. I freeze. Then I slowly turn to find Ulrich staring at me.

(Ulrich P.O.V.)

Macas turns towards me, having heard me, and I nearly cry. His front side has just as many bruises as his back, and his arms are covered in cuts and welts.

(Macas P.O.V.)

"Ulrich, I, uh… didn't see you there." I say, hoping he would be like Odd and not say anything.

Oh shit, now someone knows.

"Macas, how did that happen?" He asks slowly.

"I uh, fell down the stairs?"

"Yah right, like I'm going to fall for that. Unless you fell down the empire state building's stairs, there's no way you could have that many."

"Look Ulrich, I don't want to talk about it, okay?"

"Macas, something happened. It won't help to keep it a secret. Soon somebody less nice than me will find out and it'll be all over school."

Dammit! He's got a point. I can only keep this a secret for so long. If I tell someone, they can help me hold on until most of them are gone. I know most of the cuts will leave scars, but I can live with that. I have no choice, I have to tell him.

"Okay, okay. I'll tell you. Meet me in my room in one hour, and I'll tell you then. I'm… I'm just not ready yet…"

"Okay, I understand."

I walk away and take my shower, being careful not to induce more pain. This is becoming really hard considering my condition. After a nice, long, half-hour shower, I get out and head for my room. I sit and just think for a while.

It's been about forty-five minutes since I told Ulrich to meet me here. I know that I need to tell someone, but I've never really wanted to. I didn't even tell my friends at my last school, and I knew them for a year-and-a-half. But here I am telling Ulrich after only knowing him for less than a day. Great, nice job idiot. You haven't even been here a day, and your already promising to confess your darkest secret. I am such an idiot. Ten minutes until he gets here. Augh, this is killing me! I'm going insane, Why can't he just leave me to my own life?

Suddenly there's a knock at the door. Why would he be here 9 minutes early?

"Come in…" I say.

"Hello, Macas. How's your first day been going… you bastard!" Wait a minute, that's not Ulrich! I look up to see Sissi, the bratty girl who thinks everyone loves her.

"What do you want Sissi, this is not the time."

"Why do you want to keep me away from Ulrich?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, you know. But answer my question. Why did you do it?"

"I don't even know what the hell you're talking about."

"Oh really?"

"Yah, so go away, bitch."

"Fine, but have you know, that when Sissi wants something, Sissi gets it!"

"Go away."

Sissi stomps out of my room, finally leaving me in peace.