(Author's Note: This isn't chapter 8, although you could probably tell from the title. You see, the laptop that I usually write these chapters on broke, so it had to get fixed, which for some reason took almost three weeks. Since I don't want to have another ridiculously long delay between chapters again, I decided to make this little mini chapter. Enjoy!)

Bonus Chapter: Natsuki

Sadness. Guilt. Pain. It was all I felt.

Why is this all I feel?

Why is this all I?

Why is this all?

Why is this?

Why is?

Why?

Who am I?

Where am I?

Why am I crying?

Who is that woman sitting next to me on this bed?

I tried to move my body, but I couldn't control myself. I couldn't stop crying. I tried to think.

'What's happening?' I thought. 'Come on, think!' Digging through my memories, I suddenly remembered.

My name is Natsuki Kurushimi. I am five years old. I am in my bedroom. I'm crying because my father won't let me leave my bedroom until he's done talking with his co-worker. The woman next to me is my mother, who is trying to make me feel better. It isn't working.

"Why is daddy so MEAN?!" I heard myself cry out. I couldn't control what I was saying. It was like I was only an observer of what was happening. I began to panic, but then I quickly calmed down as I heard my mother's voice.

"He's not mean, Natsuki." She told me softly. "He's only busy. He really does care about you, you know. He just chooses not to show it." That was a lie. He never cared about me. The only reason why I stopped crying when she said that was her voice. It was so soothing and calm. Like a soft and fluffy blanket.

"Mommy, when will I be allowed out?" I asked. My mother pursed her lips, and my heart somehow dropped further. That look never meant good things.

"It will be quite a while, Natsuki." She admitted. "However, you won't be alone this time." I was never alone. My mother was always with me when my father was being mean.

"What do you mean?" I asked. My mother smiled happily, then said:

"This time, daddy's friend brought his son." She explained. "You two can play for a while until they're done talking, okay?" I was amazed.

"Yay!" I exclaimed excitedly. "Where is he?" My mother held up a finger.

"I'll go get him now, Natsuki." She then got up and exited my room.

I was so excited. This was the first time I'd ever been happy during one of my father's meetings. I waited impatiently for my mother to return, and when she did, she was being followed by a boy about the same age as me. I couldn't see him correctly, though. Whenever I tried to focus my eyes on him, they unfocused. The 'me' that I was watching through didn't seem to mind, though.

"Hello!" I marched over to him and held out a hand. "My name's Natsuki! What's yours?" The boy reached out and took my hand, giving it a firm, but slightly lazy, shake.

"Hello there, Natsuki." He greeted with a smile. "My name's ^$*%^##*()." I was confused by the strange garble of sounds he'd just made, but once again, the 'me' that was actually there didn't notice.

"Hey, do you read manga?" I suddenly asked. The boy gave a wide grin, indicating the answer he was about to say.

"Yeah, I love manga!" He answered. "I assume you're a fan of Parfait Girls?" I gasped.

"How did you know?!" It seemed like this 'me' thought he was magic. My bubble was burst when he pointed to an overturned pile of that very manga in the middle of my room.

"That's how." He quickly seemed to notice my disappointment, then quickly added: "Hey, do you want to read it together?" That statement instantly perked me up, and I frantically nodded my head. Both of us giggling, we quickly ran over to the manga and began reading.

I was suddenly yanked back, but not physically. My body was staying still, but my vision jerked back and upward into the air. I looked down at the scene and saw myself from the third person. It was weird, but my vision didn't stop moving. I kept going up. Through the ceiling and into a black void of nothing. I was scared.

I suddenly heard a loud scream of anger from all around me. I recognized the voice, and all it did was deepen my fear. I frantically looked around, trying to find the source of the voice, then saw him:

My father was in the distance, slowly walking towards me with heavy steps. I began to feel a dull pain throbbing in my body, then it suddenly worsened into a horrible, stinging pain. I clutched my body, then realized I had no body.

My father was now halfway towards me. It didn't make sense for him to be so close in such a short amount of time, but I was too focused on the pain to care. He came closer and closer. His footsteps got louder and louder. The pain got worse and worse. Then, he was right above me.

"FOUND YOU!" He shouted as he reached down at me. His hand was open, ready to grab me. I was terrified and in excruciating pain. The pain doubled for every second his hand got closer. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't talk, move, or even close my eyes. If I could scream, I would've. The hand got closer, closer, then just as it was about to touch me...

"Nat... wake up."

I was ejected from my dream and found myself back in Alex's room in Mc's house. Alex was looking at me with a worried expression. My gaze glanced down his body, and although I could see them, the presence of his injuries were very obvious to me. Tears began to fall from my eyes, and I threw my arms around him.

"Why?" I asked. "Why did you help me?" I was pushed to the edge. I couldn't take it any more. Why did Alex help me?

"What do you mean?" He asked back. He should damn well know what I mean! I wasn't worth it. I wasn't strong. I... I...

"I'm not important, Alex. I'm weak. Why did you help me? I'm only going to weigh you down." I was sobbing lightly into his shoulder. He said nothing for the longest time, then pulled out of the hug and climbed into the bed with me. He shuffled up next to me and I gasped in shock. He put his hand on my cheek, which helped a bit, then said:

"What are you talking about, Nat?" He whispered. "Why wouldn't I help you?" I just told you why, Alex! I'm useless! It's all my fault! It's because of me...

"It's because of me that you got those injuries." I was heavily crying. "It's because of me that you got hurt. Alex, why aren't you angry with me?" Alex looked hurt but tried his best to hide it with a smile. I, on the other hand, couldn't stop crying.

"Nat, I chose to protect you with my body." He told me. "I don't care if I get hurt, as long as you're safe." That didn't stop me from crying, but he at least lessened it by a bit. Even so... I didn't get it. I couldn't get it. I...

"I don't... understand..." I sobbed lightly. He pulled me into an embrace, and my world felt warmer. I felt calmer. I still felt a lot of guilt, though.

"Nat, I've lost so many people before." He uttered. "I'm not losing you as well. Natsuki, I love you..." He pulled me into a kiss, and my world was alive again. A lot of thoughts flowed through my head during that kiss. The most prominent being 'what does he mean by 'lost people'?', but they were all background noise as I melted into the kiss, finally calm. I pulled away from the kiss to tell him:

"Alex... I love you too..." I confessed. I gave him a warm smile, which he mirrored. The two of us cuddled up to each other, eventually drifting off to sleep again. For once in my life, I felt safe. I finally felt happy. I no longer wanted to die. I wanted to live on with Alex. I finally had meaning in my life. I wouldn't die.

Not this time...

End of Bonus Chapter