The middle section is based off all the images I've seen of little Kuro'o- always in a wheelchair, despite the fact the accident hadn't happened. So this is my theory. And, yes, the final chapter- the most important person in Black Jack's life...

Mother

"Mama?"

"Yes, honey?"

The little boy's face was hopelessly earnest as he whispered, "The kids at school make fun of my name."

His mother only smiled. "All of them?"

"No," he said. "Most of them."

"Who doesn't?"

"Takashi."

"Then he's the one who should be your friend."

He opened his mouth in confusion, but she shushed him and returned to her radio program, humming peacefully. He shut his mouth and decided that Takashi was basically his friend already.

"Hold my hand."

"Will this hurt?"

"Shhh, it'll be over soon."

"But..." said the child, worrying his lip. "You didn't answer me. Is it gonna hurt?"

"Yes," said his mother honestly. "But it'll be over soon."

"It can't hurt too much more than it already does," said the child, unwittingly breaking his mother's heart.

She smoothed his black hair back, trying not to look at the broken mess that were her son's legs. They'd said it was fixable, that he'd heal. She'd have to put her faith in the doctors.

"One surgery, and you'll be done," she promised. "Then no more doctors."

"Really? No more doctors?"

"Really."

Sitting at her bedside felt like the most exhausting thing he'd ever done.

Getting there was the biggest problem. He had to beg a nurse for hours to take him, and when they did, they'd have to lift him into a wheelchair and push it down the hall, forced to listen to their false assurances. He didn't care if he would get better. What was the point, without his mother?

He was there every second he was allowed, and when he wasn't with her she was in his thoughts every moment of every day. It still wasn't enough to save her. Even though he wished and prayed and hoped every waking second, it wasn't enough.

She died anyway, moving her lips just long enough to beg him to forgive the father who had left him.

Kuro'o Hazama watched his mother die, and that was when he decided he would become a doctor.

He never stopped thinking about her, not until the day he died.

Thanks you for taking the time to read this story- I hope you liked it! :) And remember, reviews are love. :3