Alisi Thorndyke: Hey Matt. :) Great chapter 8. :) Finally they caught the two that tried to kill Shuko. :) Great job, can't wait to see what happens next. :)

Alisi T. :)

Me: Thanks. If I know anything about your reaction to certain events, I think you may really like this chapter.

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A random EXE fan: Hm? Why is nobody reviewing this story anymore? I mean, a story this good deserves more than it got!

Anyway, I stumbled upon your story a few days ago, while I was sulking online after a particularly bad day, and I began reading it out of curiosity. I had never seen a -purely- Tohru x Shuuko fanfiction before (I say purely because Anime Master ZERO's 'RockMan.EXE: The College Years' does feature this pairing towards its end), and I was curious to see how you would have pulled off a pairing I had hardly ever even heard mentioned before. I must say, I'm pretty impressed with the results. I liked the buildup, and how you described the character relationships, AND I have to say you have pretty good lexicon and grammar skills.

That having been said, I found a few faults as well: I'm not really a fan of making a character's family (in this case, Shuuko) into bad people or something, especially since (from what I've seen in MegaMan Battle Network 4 Blue Moon) Shuuko's brothers are actually quite nice and supporting to her. Pardon me for speaking my mind, but portraying them the way you did in this story... well, that I could have done without.

Oh, well, it doesn't change the fact that I am enjoying your story and will continue reading it. Hope we can read the next chapter soon and... know that you've gotten yourself a Tohru x Shuuko fan here!

Cheers!

Me: Yes it does. But I would be willing to bet that it will cultivate more reviews over time than most stories which are only popular while they are new.

I purposefully wrote a Tohru x Shuko fic BECAUSE there wasn't any. I know there are those who like the pairing, so I went ahead and wrote this. I'm very glad you think I pulled it off well. :-) Oh, and thanks for the grammar compliment. At first I was like "Duh, me not know lexicon!", but I get it now.

Don't worry, I don't explode if someone dares to show off a fault in my story. I hadn't considered that people would be more confused when they read that than what I had anticipated. I thought people would make the connection and realize they were momentarily covering up what was going on.

So, Mr.(Or Miss) Random exe fan, I hope you like this chapter!

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Maurice A. Nigma: From what I could tell, it's good that Netto finally got it through his thick head and finally understood how Meiru felt about him. To be honest, I think that those two make the most adorable couple that I've ever seen. Sure, his girlfriend could become as stubborn as a mule and she's strong enough to get the guy to follow her everywhere she goes, but that's what I like about it. Hehehehe! Not to mention the part for when they act out a part from some romance novel. In any case, this story is really starting to heat up now that Enzan is on the case of Shuko's attempted murder. Man, I've never really expected for her twin brothers to be as evil as...well, as evil as they could get. Man, what a sick way for Shuko to live. I mean, having to deal with a mother who's part of a cult that while her dad just sits by and do nothing to stop it. I've never heard of anything so sick in my entire life. It almost makes me wish that Tohru would go up the guys and strangle them. I wonder how he's going to support Shuko now that she doesn't have anyone else to take care of or look after. And is it really the end of the story or just the beginning? I guess I'll have to read the next chapter in order to find out. Good work as always man and I hope that I see the next chapter soon. Later!

Maurice A. Nigma

Me: Do you mean they acted out a part in my story or in the anime series? Just curious. I hope my story was satisfying. ;-)

Enzan does not get that involved, believe me. He isn't excluded, but he is not too involved. I'm sorry if I disappoint you, I know millions of people love Enzan.

Never? It has happened before, though particular aspects such as a cult that demeans women aren't quite so frequently included when I hear about them. There are abusive families out there, and left long enough they can really mess with the mindset of their child. I figured it would make sense for something of that kind to have happened to Shuko. This leading up to the reason why forgiveness was such an unfamiliar thing to her and etc. etc.

Tohru won't have to strangle them. You'll get satisfaction, and so will he. But the way you do will be totally unexpected.

How will he? Well I'm not gonna help ya, I guess yall'll have to read for yerself! Gu-huh!

Glad you like it. Love big reviews. ;-)

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Anonymous: Whoa. That was PERFECT! To me, that was an unexpected but logical(and freaky in a good way?)reason for Shuko's "sadistic streak". Keep writing!

Me: As long as it's good and logical, I don't think it matters if it is freaky. It's freakiness may simply be an attribute to its unexpectedness. I hope you read and review this chapter too!

WARNING

THIS STORY HAS A VERY VIOLENT DEATH IN IT, WHICH- IF IT WERE ON SCREEN I DOUBT WOULD MAKE IT WITHOUT GETTING THE HIGHEST ADULT RATING EVER. IT'S FAIRLY GRAPHIC, SO IF YOU READ ON, KEEP THIS IN MIND. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

"They told me everything about you, Shuko-chan. You don't need to hide anything now, I know about your life and your brothers and what they did to you. I can't tell you how sorry am."

A few days after the arrest of the Kiddo brothers, Tohru had returned to the hospital. Dr. Light had made his final diagnosis on her health and informed Tohru that Shuko was too weak to walk and must be confined to a wheel chair for the rest of her life. Tohru had immediately rushed to Shuko's room where he told her about her brothers' arrest.

Shuko no longer required a breathalyzer or heart monitor. She sighed deeply. "That's very sweet of you, Tohru-kun. I'm glad this is all over. But… it's all too late, you know."

Tohru nodded. "Yes, I know."

"I suppose I'll live." Shuko said optimistically. "I can probably live in a nursing home. I may be confined to this wheelchair, but I can walk when I have the strength. So I'm sure I'll do alright."

Tohru wasn't fooled. He knew what living in a nursing home might do (At the same time he was impressed by how optimistic Shuko tried to be). "Shuko-chan… A nursing home would be a terrible life for someone like you. You'd probably live for a few months or years and then die."

Shuko smiled; embarrassed. "Yes, I know… But I'm free of my brothers now. I don't have to worry about them any longer, and I have to start somewhere."

Something in Tohru's heart made his face gleam with delight. That was it. Netto was right when he said there was something in Shuko for Tohru. It was the way she looked when she smiled. When she was happy, when her face was free of depression.

"You may start to fight now if you wish." he said, reaching over and gripping Shuko's hand. "But from now on, I'm going to look after you. Not some nurses in a home who might care nothing about their patients or their lives."

Shuko put a hand to her mouth. "T-Tohru-kun, what do you mean? I mean… I thought you'd want to avoid me as much as possible. I mean, I wasn't honest with you and I blamed you for something that wasn't your fault and… I thought you wouldn't like me."

It was Tohru's turn to look embarrassed. "I did at first… But if there's anything in the world I'd rather have, it's your happiness. Never mind what we did a couple of weeks ago, I want nothing more than to make sure you live a happy life free of depression. I couldn't bear it if I saw you wheeled off to a nursing home where you would die without any friends or… family of any kind."

"You're g-going to marry me… aren't you." Shuko said breathlessly.

Tohru's face turned redder. "… I'm asking you... Unless you wish otherwise…"

Shuko slowly shook her head. Then she bent her head down and kissed Tohru's hand. "I don't. I… Oh I couldn't wish for anything else!"

ONE MONTH LATER…

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The trial was not as easy as one would think. For one thing the security surveillance tapes at Waterworks only captured two men in ski masks and other such concealing apparel. Shuko's testifying statement was made out to be a lie built on hate by her brothers lawyers and the proof would have boiled away to nothing and the trial dismissed had Enzan not arrived with an audio recorder with which he had recorded the discussion he had with Jerome and Hector when they were first arrested.

"Your honor, we have considered the evidence and have come to a verdict." said Dr. Froid, the elected chairman of the jury. "We have found Jerome Kiddo and Hector Kiddo guilty on two counts of abuse, one count of conspiracy to commit murder and one count of attempted murder. We ask that these men be sentenced to death by Gassing."

"I'LL BET THERE WOULD BE WAY MORE CHARGES IN REAL LIFE, BUT THAT'S ALL I CAN THINK OF:-)"

Shuko's face was void of feeling for her brothers, and only Tohru could detect a single slight feeling of pity emanating from her eyes. Netto looked extremely satisfied. Enzan looked slightly proud of himself. Meiru and Yaito simply looked worried as they had throughout the entire trial.

The jury and all the members stood to their feet as Jerome and Hector were led out of the bar and towards the door. Jerome wrestled out of the grasp of the police officer who was holding him and ran up to Shuko. "You agreed to kill us, Shuko! What kind of a sister is that, huh? I guess you and your friends must think you're doing good, but really your only doing to us what we tried to do to you. Think of it when we're dying there in the chambers and remember that there's no difference between us!"

The police man caught up to him and cuffed Jerome's wrist to his own.

"Remember, sister! Remember!" Jerome shouted.

------ "She'll remember alright, and she'll remember this too!"

To everyone's horror an old man suddenly leapt from his bench and lifted a large shotgun to Jerome's face and fired. Enzan and Netto quickly turned Meiru and Yaito's faces away from the sight of Jerome's head as it blew apart from the force of two loads of shotgun shell straight to the face. Hector gave out a terrified squeal. The old man turned to him and whipped out a small pistol and shot him through the heart. Hector screamed aloud and then went limp in the arms of the officer who held him.

The jury went into panic. Netto and Enzan threw the girls to the floor and then opened the doors to the courtroom, allowing the terrified jury to flee the gruesome scene. Dr. Froid launched himself at the man who had killed Jerome and Hector and managed to wrestle the guns away. The old man put up little struggle and he was soon cuffed. Enzan and Netto shut the doors to the courtroom and then joined Tohru.

"Immediately we need to have this room cleared and quiet." said Enzan. Addressing the old man he demanded "Who are you? Why did you just shoot these men?"

The old man lifted his gray haired head and motioned toward Shuko. "I… Am her father."

Shuko jumped with shock. She stared intently at the man and slowly nodded. "It is you… Dad."

Mr. Kiddo gave a weak smile. "I'm glad you recognize me."

"Look here." said Enzan. "Why did you kill Jerome and Hector Kiddo?"

"If anyone in the world owed their child a debt, I did." Mr. Kiddo answered dismally. "I didn't leave my children of my own accord. My Wife made me do it… I…I never was a strong man, and I let my wife inject her hate into my sons.. And I let them all destroy my daughter. I felt I might be redeeming what I had lost through my cowardice by ensuring to the highest degree that my sons would die and not live for their actions."

"You certainly did make sure." Netto remarked. "But sir, it will be you who will be executed now for what you have just done, justified or not. Why did you do it?"

"I have no further wish to live with my feeble character any longer." the man replied. "My wife died telling me what a miserable waste of a man I came to be. That was two months ago, and then I found out what my sons had done to my daughter and I felt there was only one thing I might do to prove myself, and to do a service to a daughter whom I'd left to… Oh, never mind. I'm sure you men can draw your own conclusions."

Mr. Kiddo was escorted out of the courtroom. Netto attended to the girls who were lying underneath the benches nearly frozen with fear. Shuko was so shocked and frightened by the appearance of her father and the grisly death of her brothers that she couldn't cry, faint or speak. Tohru carefully pushed her out of the courtroom, following Enzan and Netto as they comforted the frightened girls.

Shuko recovered of her shock shortly after she arrived with Tohru and Dr. Froid at their home. With Tohru's help she cried for only a few minutes. Dr. Froid was interested in his sons careful attention to Shuko, and he took Tohru into his bedroom to talk about it.

"Son, I think I know what's going on between you and Shuko." he said. "I can't say I agree with it."

Tohru didn't bother pretending to be innocent. "You should let me explain to you what is going on before you make any decision on this."

Dr. Froid listened patiently to Tohru's story and how the 'goings on' between him and Shuko came about.

"I still don't think that you're doing the right thing, Tohru-kun." said Dr. Froid standing up and pacing. "You only seem to be doing this out of sympathy. Shuko-chan will be nothing but a burden to you and you'll begin to tire of her. Don't let your immediate feelings push you past the point of no return."

Tohru sighed and shook his head furiously. "That won't happen, Father. I'll take care of Shuko-chan as long as I live and she and I will be happy together. Besides, it's not wrong to marry someone out of sympathy, and Shuko-chan told me she could ask for nothing more."

He paced up and down the room along with his father. He continued "She didn't refuse me because sympathy was all I had, but she accepted me because nobody has ever shown her any such care in her life! She's starving for love, and I love her, Father. I can't give you a logical reasonable explanation for why I do, I only feel my spirit soar whenever I see her smile."

Dr. Froid continued to pace, but slower now. Tohru once more continued to speak, trying to reach his father's heart. "When I see her without any sign of her past life weighing on her mind, my soul wants nothing more than to bring more happiness into her heart. And I believe I can give her that happiness. My intentions are set, Father. But I must know if I have your approval!"

Dr. Froid groaned and took a seat on his bed. Tohru watched him hopefully, as a son ever does when he waits in nervous apprehension of his family's response to such a request. A million thoughts shot through Dr. Froid's head as he processed the reality that his son was going to marry. And to someone he himself scarcely knew. He thought of his wife and how they'd both fantasized about seeing their only son growing up and falling for some pretty girl and eventually getting married and living happily ever after like they had.

Or at least, expected to have. And the future in front of his own son looked darker than his own. But he looked at his son. It was clear that he loved Shuko and that his intentions were unselfish and even… admirable.

"It seems as though you've decided to go through with this whether or not I give you my approval." he remarked.

"I am a grown man, Father. I don't want to go against your wishes, but someone needs me even more than you and I need each other."

Dr. Froid stood up, walked to Tohru and laid his hands on his shoulders. "I know, son. Love can work this way, and I won't fault you for it… So I've decided I will give you my approval. I think… I think you deserve a lot of respect for what you're doing."

Tohru smiled and hugged his Father. Dr. Froid felt the feelings of great age come upon him as he tearfully hugged his soon to be married son.

"I wish I actually felt like I deserved a son like you, Tohru-kun. But you're a gift from God, and I don't think Shuko will think any differently when you two are married!"

It was by a stroke of good fortune that I happened across these files of mystery data on the net. They were three letters. One was delivered to Meiru and the other to Tohru. Another which I first had to unlock turned looks like a message or journal entry (I think journal entry) from Shuko. The first two came from Doctor Thomas Light. I can't explain these, how I found them, or how they came to be there, but I felt it my duty to let you readers know what was contained in these things as it does somewhat relate to this story. Please note I have no idea when these were written or sent, or if they even were sent. Just read them.

-Dear Meiru-chan-

I've heard of you and your coming marriage to Netto-kun. Allow me to express my best wishes for you and your future life. I'm sure Netto-kun will make you very happy, and what's more I believe God himself bestows his blessing on you two.

If I may approach you as a friend of your soon-to-be-husband-and-fellow-Christian, let me give you a word of information. Marriage to a person outside the faith of Christianity regardless of deep love is not right, nor is it biblical. Happily though, it was by great fortune that Netto happened to be converted just the same day you asked for his love. You may take this note as a friendly reminder to read your Bible a little more thoroughly. And don't forget to read it to your husband!

Best wishes, Doctor Thomas Light

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Dear Tohru-kun-

I received word from your father of your intent to marry Kiddo Shuko. He has given me his opinion on the subject and I've come to my own. I'm uncertain as to how the Lord feels about this course of action. I see it only as a man; And that is a great personal sacrifice and symbol of great compassion and love. And I can't help but admire it. I must give you a stern warning though. Don't let yourself be the main source of her happiness. Her health is too delicate a state to hang off of one thread. Have her spend time regularly with other people, but most of all show her to the Lord. As she takes to you for love and happiness, use that to bring the Lord into her life. She will be twice healed and she will have the safety of going to heaven. A place where tears never flow and happiness lasts forever and ever.

Best wishes, Doctor Thomas Light

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Something happened that I never thought possible. I had earlier resolved that because of my (possibly mental) condition that I would break of connections with Tohru-kun. I was doing him harm in my desire for happiness, feeling a failure on his part if he didn't fix my problem. I became too dependant on him. Now, as things seem to have gotten to its worst, Tohru-kun has come to me and asked me to marry him. It was so… unexpected, it took a few moments to realize that I wouldn't need to depend on optimism so much to keep my existence from totally fading away. And in those few moments I came to love him so much… I must rest for now, it's still so much to take in… I am going to be married!

Now if any of you silly slappy readers have read to the end of this chapter, FREAKIN' REVIEW IT! Please:-)