So, I'm sorry if this is a bit OOC for Mei. I'm writing from, it might sound corny, my heart. Also, I forget what grade Mei was in when she got blamed for killing the rabbit and what Mei's Mom's name is. And I just picked a popular Japanese female name.

-0-

"Even if I say 'I'm Sorry', does it really mean I'll be forgiven? If 'I'm Sorry' is really that powerful then why do we still have Nuclear Warfare?

Even now she still gets bullied. Indirectly when she is out with Yamato, when she hears other girls whisper about her not being good enough for him. More direct when she is pushed and shoved by jealous others. And she admits that she even bullies herself, a bit. When she thinks back and considers that maybe there is some truth in their comments. Or when she thinks all on her own that she isn't good enough.

But out of all the bullies she faces, none have been as bad as her. Abe Ume. In a way she was the one who started it all. She was the one who said her Mei's name, blaming the rabbit's death on her. The one who started her thinking that everyone was the same as her.

Mei and Ume shared the same class together throughout the rest of Grade School. Once Middle School started the two went to different schools, Ume changed cities all together. And Mei stopped thinking about her for the most part, out of sight equals out of mind. But she popped up every now and then. Whenever Mei saw a rabbit or any kind of bunny related items. Or when she saw a group of children ganging up on a single person. Even when she saw someone that she thought could have been Ume.

This time it was when she looked though the yearbook of her Grade School. Her Mother decided it was time to do some Spring Cleaning. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of November or not. The boxes stacked and piled up inside her bedroom. No choice but to go through them. Just One box cleared and the yearbooks turn up.

Going through them Mei noticed something odd. A signature. Mei never had anyone sign her yearbook, just like she never sighed anyone else's. But there it was, a signature in sparkling pink pen, Ume's favorite color. A character scribbled and crossed out. She isn't sure but Mei thinks it is says 'gomen nasai', but she isn't sure. She isn't sure what this new feeling is, either. But Mei thinks it's something she won't be able to ignore.

"I wonder…."

Mei is right. The strange feeling doesn't go away. It stays with her throughout the night and by the time all the boxes are gone through Mei isn't sure what is even in them. So she goes through them again and the second time around she still isn't sure. But she decides to go to bed and deal with it tomorrow.

During school she can't concentrate. The feeling is even stronger. She finds herself going back in time when she sat next to Ume. Before and after. And no matter what she tells herself she can't help but do it again and again. She's on auto pilot, pushing pass everyone in the halls. She doesn't hear Asami or Aiko greet her in the morning. She doesn't see Yamato wave to her from the stairs. And she doesn't even feel Kai pat her shoulder in class.

And then she gets an idea. It's crazy and insane and stupid and half baked and it will never work. But Mei still plans to go through with it. She goes home and gets the phone book out. She searches and searches, goes through all the Abe names. Ume's father's name was Akira, Mother's name Mika. She writes down every Abe Akira. Then she writes down ever Nakashima Mika.

One by one she calls each number and has the same conversation. It all repeats and ends the same.

"Yes, hello….I was wondering if Abe Ume shared this number….Ah, okay. I'm sorry to have bothered you."

No Abe Akira has a daughter named Ume.

"Yes, hello….this might sound a bit strange but I'm looking for a girl named Abe Ume….Ah, okay then. I'm sorry to have been a bother to you."

No Abe Mika or Nakashima Mika. There is no Abe Ume in the phone books.

Mei can't help but feel a bit defeated. She sighs and falls down on her bed, her head hitting something hard. On top of her pillow was the yearbook. She sighs again and thumbs through the book, she lands on Ume's page and she always ends up back on the page with pink sparkle ink. And then she notices something else.

In the same pink ink with sparkles, in the upper corner-written so small, there is an address. She recognizes the address; it's in the country outside of Tokyo. Today is Wednesday, she will leave Friday.

Mei is still out of it, she is still on auto pilot. The last thing she remembered was waking up this morning. The next thing she knows is Kai sitting in the desk next to her. He tells her it's time for lunch, he wonders if she is going to eat today. And for whatever reason she tells him everything.

"Do you….want me to come along?"

And so it's been decided, Kai will go along with her. When Friday comes Mei apologizes to everyone. She tells them she's had a lot on her mind, but not to worry. Soon everything will be back to normal. When school lets out her and Yamato walk home together. She doesn't tell him everything. Just that when Saturday comes she will need him the most.

He has a hundred questions he wants answers to but he knows better. What's going on? How can I help? What's the whole story? Is there anything I can do? What does Kai know that I don't? Why didn't you come to me? How can I help you, Mei? She only tells him that she doesn't know what to expect, what is coming next. So Yamato does what he knows is best.

They stop when they reach the entrance to Mei's apartment building. Before she lets go of his hand he pulls her close against himself. He wraps his arms around her and kisses her head, she tightens around him, too. When they part he smiles a smile that is somewhat sad.

"You can call me and I'll be right there."

Mei only nods her head. Yamato doesn't say anything else and watches her as she walks away. Once she's inside and he can't see her anymore he sighs, he can let his face fall. He feels useless and helpless in the situation but he doesn't want to let her know that. He only leaves once he sees Kai walking into the building.

Mei doesn't know what she is going to do when she finds the address. She hasn't thought about the next step after this one. She doesn't even think about it. And the entire train ride a new thought hits her. Shouldn't she have wanted Yamato to have come with her? Why did it seem more comfortable with Kai? She doesn't get to think too much on it because it's time for them to get off.

The two ask for directions to the address. It's not too far, only seven or so blocks away. The two set off and don't say a word. They walk for a little less than twenty minutes before they reach the house. It's an older house, for sure. It has two levels and sits at the end of a long gravel trail. The grass is long and green, just a single cherry blossom tree in the front.

Kai asks if it would be better for him to wait at the cherry blossom tree. She says no and they both walk the long dirt path. When they gets to the door she wastes no time. Without having a plan she knocks on the door before she can think one up. And before she can run away the door swings open, an old frail looking woman is on the other end. Her hair so white it looks like snow.

"Can I help you?"

"….Um….I'm sorry to be a bother but I was wondering if a….girl….if a girl named Abe Ume lived here?"

Mei is a bit shocked when the old woman smiles and nods her head. She is grabbed and pulled in and told to follow. She grabs Kai's shirt, dragging him along. They ends up in a room with chairs and are told to sit, they do and the old woman goes off into another room. Only a short time later a young girl comes into the room.

The girl is pretty. She is tall and thin, wearing only a tank top and cut off shorts. Her eyes are big, widened from shock maybe. Her lips are parted, her jaw dropped. She moves her hair out of her face to get a better view, or to make sure what she's seeing is really what is in front of her.

"Abe….Ume?"

"Mei."

There is only silence. Ume hasn't moved from her spot, Mei is making eye contact with everything but Ume, and Kai isn't sure what he should do. Right now would it be best to keep quiet? Probably.

"….What are you doing here?"

"….Why I'm here…."

Ume relaxes in the blink of an eye. Letting out the air in her lungs she combs there her bangs. Mei seems just as relaxed and now Kai is on edge. Shouldn't there be more tension in a situation like this? He thinks so.

"I guess it doesn't matter. How have you been?"

Ume turns her attention to him. An eyebrow raised she asks who he is. If he is, maybe, by any chance, Mei's boyfriend.

"No! No! Kai-kun is a friend!"

"That's right! I'm just a friend!"

"You have friends now?"

Kai isn't sure what to think but can't help in thinking how blunt Ume is. Or maybe she's just rude. Mei tells her she has many friends, now.

"That's good. I'm surprised."

It goes back to being quiet and both girls seem to be fine with it. He calms down a bit when he sees how calm Mei looks. In fact, even Ume looks calm. The two make small talk that never last more than one reply before Mei asks how the other is doing. She laughs.

She tells Mei that when they were in second grade her Grandfather got sick. When she entered 5th grade her Grandfather was on his deathbed. When it came time for her to start Middle School her Grandfather died and her and her Parents were moving to take care of her Grandparents. Only a year after her Parents left for America, leaving her to take care of her Grandmother.

"You signed my yearbook. Why….did you?"

"I don't remember the exact reason why now. I wanted to say sorry, I know I did something terrible to you. I couldn't face you back then so I wrote it, thinking that was good enough."

"Ah….I see…."

"You know….lately….lately I've been catching myself glaring at people. Not just anyone, but people who are happy. Like when me and Obasan go to the supermarket, and I see people who are laughing and smiling-when I see my reflection; I'm scowling. When I go out alone and see a couple….I just want to punch them in the face."

Ume blinks her eyes as quick as she can and looks away from the other two. She swallows the lump in her throat and laughs nervously.

"When I catch myself doing it I look away and scold myself. But I always do it again. I'm hating happy people, people who look happier than me. And I don't know what to do about it, but when it comes down to it I don't think there is anything to be done. And when I think about it, I feel so bad. I want you to leave now. Please leave and don't come back. I don't want to see you."

Ume is almost crying, the rims of her eyes are about to overflow. She looks away as Kai and Mei raise up from their seats. Kai leads the way and is half way to the door before he realizes Mei isn't behind him. Instead she is back with Ume. Kai decides it's best to wait outside.

Outside is the woman. She turns her head and smiles at him, thanking him for coming to visit her Granddaughter. She explains that Ume doesn't have much friends, none to her knowledge, but that it is nice for her to interact with people her own age. Always hanging around old people will make her age too quick.

Kai is thankful that Mei comes out quickly. Without saying anything they head back to the train station. When they are almost home Kai finally speaks up.

"What did Ume say?"

"….That she was sorry."

-0-

After I wrote and posted the first chapter I started to think more about the girl I bullied. I could never remember how to spell her name or what her last name was. So I didn't really get far when I started to look for her. But after I posted the first chapter I got bored and started to clean out my room. And what do I find? A class photo. I finally found her entire name and now I can look for her. But I'm not sure I'll have enough balls to actually talk to her.

On an off note; the first chapter was meant to be a oneshot. But now I really like the idea of doing a chapter for each character. Because everyone has been bullied at least once, or has been the bully. Right? And I mean the cast has been hurt, too. Asami by other girls, Aiko by her first boyfriend when she was chubby, Kai by Yamato kind of was a bully in a way, Megu and Mei. I just don't know if anyone wants to read.