AH, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GET THROUGH ANOTHER WEEK! HELLO MY FRIENDS, AND WELCOME!

LISTEN FRIENDS! THE *HnKnA MOVIE* HAS BEEN TOTALLY ENGLISH CAPTIONED AND PUT ON ZE YOU-TUBE! FIND IT AND ENJOY! IT'S SIMPLY HEART NO KUNI NO LICE MOVIE, POSTED BE animefreedome24! BLESS YOUR SOUL!

Ch. 47: A Calloused Heart

White and I strode through the next door, a plain dark green one that we found on C.J's orphanage room wall, to the next memory. We now stood in what I recognized as the playgrounds for the orphanage I saw out of C.J's window. So we're still here?

I looked around, seeing kids playing a little ways from us. And a group running towards us. Scratch that, one running towards us, the others CHASING that poor kid.

At first I really didn't recognize her. It wasn't until she tripped and fell right in front of us that I saw C.J past the super long (I mean ankle length,) blond ponytail. She was wearing the exact same thing we last saw her in, except in white stockings and was maybe a year younger than the last memory. C.J's hat, knocked off from the fall, landed at Whites feet.

C.J scrambled frantically to her feet, terror that I've never imagined on her face before, only to be pushed back to the ground hard as the other kids ganged up on her.

I expected her to jump up and pulverize them. I expected her to maybe kick them back. Hell, maybe even just shrug them off. But she didn't.

When the kicking and senseless violence started, when the names and insults started flying, C.J curled up and took it.

The little monsters were yelling at her, but I couldn't make out the words. They were just noise compared to what I was seeing. C.J, circled by a ring of torture, huddling herself and trying to protect her vitals from the vicious attacks.

I don't know how long we stood there, watching in horror and shock as C.J was beaten to a pulp right in front of us. I heard White grip my arm, hard enough to badly bruise my arm. I swear, I could feel the rage just seething off of him.

At some point, after what felt like 2 hours (though it was probably more like 5 minutes,) the kids backed off. They laughed maliciously and walked away. One of them, the tallest boy, glared and then, to our rage, spat at C.J. He just narrowly missed her head.

"Filthy little monster."

The brat's voice echoed like the voice of a snake. And then he left.

We stared after him, stunned speechless. What is he talking about? Monster? Why the hell did they attack her?!

C.J stayed curled up, watching until they were gone for sure. She stood up, shakily. I now could hear the tiny girls wheezing breath whooshing out of her small chest over the laughter of children. She turned to the trees; to us.

White stopped breathing entirely.

C.J's right eye was stained a painful red, sure to be a black eye. Red blotches were scattered on her bare arms. A trickle of blood ran down from a badly split lip. Salty tears ran down her young face.

C.J stumbled to the trees, not stopping at the first one but going further in. C.J stopped once she was out of the immediate line of sight of the playgrounds. She put her tiny hand on a tree and shook like the leaves above us. She sank to the ground with her long hair from her low ponytail covering her back like a golden blanket.

"…I'm not a monster."

P.O.V: Peirce

The mantis creature swung its razor sharp claw, the very air slicing at the blade. I managed to duck out of the way of the shadowy things scythe, only to trip and fall on my face as one of the small ant things bombarded me.

I couldn't see the others past the creature's clammy black flesh, couldn't sense them past its heavy scent of rot and death. I grappled with it, shocked at how strong and fast it as. Every time I got a hold on it, it would either wrench itself out of my grip or just slip out with its weirdly slick and slippery body.

The sounds of gun fire and yelling were all but drowned out by the sound of my ticking clock in my ears.

Tick tock, tick tock.

The creature raised its stubby arm, tipped with three massive, deaths black claws.

Tick tock, tick tock.

The deadly claws arched straight for my clock.

Tick tock, tic-

P.O.V: Black

C.J had lingered when the caretakers had called for the kids. When she finally dragged herself up and trudged up to the woman, she had to come up with an excuse for her bloody self. Though, to White and I's dismay, the woman clearly didn't care very much because she bought the 'I fell' excuse.

C.J went up to her room the second she was excused. We ran up behind her, easily keeping up with her tiny legs. She ran into her room and slammed the door.

Luckily, we're like ghosts here and just phased through. We were just in time to see C.J standing in front of the door, wincing as some other little girl snapped at her.

"Thourn! How many times have I told you not to slam the door?!" C.J stared at the floor. "Sorry Tri." Nothing more. Instead of running to her bed, C.J walked out of the room and ran higher up stairs. Her room was on the third floor, so we were pretty high up already. How many d***** stairs does this place have?!

On the fourth floor, C.J stopped, opened a door, and walked in. Upon poking my head in, I saw this was no more than a janitorial closet. And apparently not in much use anymore. There were cobwebs on the broom. C.J twisted about the sanitation tools to her knees.

To my surprise, C.J pushed a dusty mop bucket aside, and reached out to the wall. With a small push, a panel door swung inward. C.J crawled through the small door.

I looked at White and shrugged, and then walked through the closet to the low and narrow hallway past it. It was dark. It was dusty. It was spider infested. It was defiantly not the place for a little girl.

C.J leaned and picked up an ever so convenient flashlight in the corner. She flicked it on, scattering spiders, various bugs, and from a loud scuffling in the dark, possibly a few rats. (Though I didn't see any droppings…so yay.) C.J started walking, seemingly aimlessly, taking corners (of which there were many) and trotting with a slight limp from her beating.

I noticed streams of light across the floor that didn't come from the flashlight. I looked down to see that there were vents low near the floors. I heard voices and other general racket on the other side. White noticed them as well, "We must be in the walls."

Finally, C.J stopped. There, in front of us, was a decent sized alcove in the wall, big enough to be a nice bench for an adult. Or a bed, for a child. Cheery Christmas lights had been strung around it, and beat up quilt sat laid out on it.

C.J flicked off her light and went over to it, sitting down and pulling her knees up to her chest. I got closer, unable to see her face in the gloom. As the red and green lights managed to touch her face, I jumped back. Tears slid down her face, turned to crystals by the tiny lights.

She put her head down, "I wish you were here, Ni-san."

P.O.V: Peirce

I caught the things deadly claws in a solid grip and managed to peel it off of me before it managed to twitch itself loose. I jumped to feet, and turned in the direction that the main struggle was still going on. Ace and Yuri were holding their own against the shrieking mantis, and Boris was struggling with a horde of creatures not unlike the one in my grasp. It wrangled violently. I gripped it's wrists tighter.

P.O.V: Black

We leaned against the wall of the guts of the orphanage. C.J had curled up and fallen asleep on that dusty blanket, tears still clumping her lashes. I couldn't help but stare. C.J was the bravest, boldest; most mule headed human being I'd ever met. And from the looks of it, she was that person on her fourteenth birthday. So what happened between then and 'now'?

"…How long, I wonder." I looked up at White, "Hm?" He was staring at C.J, a weird look I've never before seen on his face. "I wonder how long C.J sat here, all alone in the dark. How many times did she cry herself to sleep?"

P.O.V: Peirce

P.O.V: Black

The next door was set in the wall just in front of C.J. I'm not sure when or how it f****** got there, but it was. This one was less…gaudy, than the others. It was a plain looking off white door with a steel handle and a window at average eye level. A grid of wires crisscrossed the glass.

I nudged White and brought his attention to it. He looked at it for a moment before nodding and starting towards it. I followed, grateful for the change scenery.

From the walls of the orphanage, we stepped into a decently lit office/study. The walls that you could see where a dark green, though most of it was covered with tall bookshelves. A middle aged man sat in a plush arm chair across from a futon. C.J, just as small as she had been in the last memory, was laying on the couch, fiddling anxiously with strands of her long hair.

The man smiled warmly at the little girl, "Now, C.J. I was told you were having some bad dreams. Is that right?" C.J hesitated, and the nodded quickly. He smiled again, "They must have been very scary. It says here that you woke up screaming. …Could you tell me what they were about?" She shook her head.

"Aww, why not? You know I'm here to help you C.J." C.J bit her lower lip, as though she was thinking about saying something, but then bailed. "I can't tell you because I don't remember."

"You don't? None of it?" She stared at the ceiling, "…It's just one dream. Over and over. And I don't remember it; just that it's really scary."

"Hmm…C.J, I need to know what those dreams were about if I want to help you. I have a way to find out, but you need to cooperate. OK?"

She stared at the tiles above again, before nodding. The man smiled, getting up and putting down his clipboard. "Alright then C.J, I need you to try and relax. Just think about the thing that comforts you the most."

C.J paused in her fidgeting, then put her hands on her stomach and breathed deep. "There's a good girl. Now then," He came over, and knelt down next to the couch, dangling what looked like a locket from a chain in front of her elevated eyes, "watch this carefully. Listen to the sound of my voice, and watch the locket as it swings back and fourth."

I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. This guy was f****** hypnotizing a little girl?! Believe me, White and I have used that method on others for interrogation purposes. But only in the most extreme cases! One f*** up, and you risk turning the hypnotizer's brain to useless mush! I could just feel White's anger fuming again.

"…Now then C.J, I want you to dream. Tell me what you see in the dream."

For a moment, C.J was silent. Then, she actually smiled a bit. "I see Ni-san…and Mommy and Daddy." I perked at this. Yes, I heard the story with her mom and bro too, but a dad? That was new info. "Where are they? What are they doing?"

They're…home. They're in the living room door, calling me to come inside with them." "Are you going to them?" "Yes."

For a moment, C.J's little face was bright and happier that I'd ever seen her. …Then, her brows pushed together. "Ni-san? …Mommy, Daddy? Where are you going?" "C.J, what happening now?" "They're going away!" C.J's face was contorted in panic and fear, "Please wait! Don't leave! ...What's happening?!" "C.J, tell me what you see." "Everything's going dark…I can't see!"

C.J was shivering now, cold sweat breaking out under her bangs. He quickly swiped the sweat away, "Relax C.J, I'm here with you. Now tell me what's happening."

"It's so dark…" she shivered violently, "it's so cold! …W-…What?! AAEEEIIIIIIIII!" Her ear splitting scream of terror pierced my ears like nails.

"C.J, what going on?!"

C.J was looking about with eyes that didn't see the room we were in, but the nightmare that had invaded her mind. "Something's got me! It's…it's so cold! Someone help!" "I'm right here! You must calm down!"

Her eyes, clouded and foggy, were wide with fright and pure terror. She was thrashing now, trying to shake off her phantom invader. "NO, LET GO OF ME!"

Startled by her strong reactions, the man tried to restrain her, earning a good sock in the temple. He backed off, fearful of C.J's episode that was worthy of a demon possession movie.

With him off, C.J jacked into an upright position, now apparently too afraid to speak as she looked at the walls and ceiling, but not really seeing them. She stared wilder, unsure of which way to turn. The, she was twisting her head this way and that, her breath hitching faster and more irregular with each turn.

I barely heard her denial pass her lips at first. "…No…no, no, no, NO, NO, NO, NO!" She stared up and screamed at whatever monster of unseen malicious ghosts her mind had conjured, "I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! I'M INNOCENT!"

She looked down and tried to stop her ears from the accusations going through her head. At that moment…I swear I heard what she heard. A muddle of voices all saying different, but relative things. Things like murderer, monster, pathetic little vermin…demon. But above all, 'GUILTY'.

She broke down into hysteric tears, "I'm in-i-innocent…I d-d-didn't d-do it…I didn't!"

P.O.V: Peirce

Ace dodged a the attack of one claw, only to be blindsided by the other. He managed to get out of the way, only to plow into Yuri. They scrambled, now on the ground and Ace's sword having tumbled out of reach.

The yelled as the mantic brought it's claw back down, narrowly missing both of them. Ace looked over, actual worry on his face, "Umm, a little help here kittie?!"

Boris growled, throwing another thing off of his arm. "I'm busy!"

I gritted my teeth, even if Ace does get his sword, it's no use. Regular weapons seem to be useless against this thing! I blinked an the looked down at the creature still writhing against the shackle of my hands. I frowned, "Though you're obviously much weaker than that one over there…."

I released one hand just long enough to transfer it to the things ankle. It was now upside-down, and shrieking in displeasure. I had to hold it far from my body to keep from getting gutted.

P.O.V: Black

I yanked White out of that memory as soon as I saw the door. I didn't want to have to see the big, scary looking guys with the giant trank needle 'restraining' C.J. Great Dealer, I know 12 or 13 is older by kid standards, but she's still a d***** little girl! That needle was a long as her f****** head!

I kicked down the next door, not bothering to noticing what it looked like, and just prayed that this memory was better than the last one. C.J's shrill screams echoed behind me.

We were now standing in a waiting room. C.J was standing in front of an unfamiliar man and woman, a suitcase in hand. She was looking up at them as they looked at her with faces of pleading.

The man knelt don't and took hold of C.J's shoulders, "I'm sorry C.J, but now that we have a baby coming…we can't afford to take care of two kids." The woman looked like she was about to cry, "I'm so sorry C.J…if there was any other way-"

C.J, to our shock, just smiled sweetly and pulled away from his embrace, "No, it's really alright! I'm fine!"

I could see it. I could see how she felt behind the front. Past the words coming out of her mouth to the ones she really wanted to say, to shout. No, I'm not ok.! How could I be?!

The man looked concerned, "Are you sure?" She nodded, "Yup! You just do what you have to for your baby!" You promised we'd be a family. So why are you leaving me here?!

The woman looked at her, "Are you-" "Really! I'll be alright! I always have been!" No!

The man stood, "Then…bye-bye C.J." C.J hefted her suit case and grinned, "Good bye!" Don't go! Don't leave me! I don't want to be alone anymore!

….

C.J ran straight to the hole in the wall. She didn't even bother to put up her suit case. She dragged it in with her. She stumbled as quietly as she could through the dusty walls, trying not to bump the suitcase.

As soon as she got to the alcove, she sat down, put the case on the floor, and curled up into a ball. Now, the tears came.

C.J's cried quietly for the most part, breathing raggedly the rest. At some point, she sat up and grabbed the threads of long hair by the roots. Her words were a whisper, but they sounded like a scream, "Am I…really…THIS unlovable?"

P.O.V: Peirce

I raised my free hand to seize one of the flailing arms. I took a deep breath, and bent down on the claw as hard as I could. There was a horrendous snapping, and the creature's longest claw was in my hand. The creature squalled in agony as a black, gooey and tar like substance that smelled like rotting fish gushed in record amounts from the bloody quake…all over me. Just…just GROSS.

P.O.V: Black

C.J sat on the bench, still hyperventilating. She looked at the suitcase and reached for it, opening it with a clack and rummaging through the sparse clothing there. Then, she pulled out a piece of paper.

C.J sat back up, staring at the torn photo. I leaned in, somehow not surprised to see it was the photo of her and her brother; the same photo that could occupy the bedside table of her room in just three or four years.

She stared hard at her brother's face, as though all the answers of life lay in his long frozen features. Slowly, C.J's face smoothed, the line in her brow vanishing and her twisted mouth becoming a content smile.

She sighed and lay down on the dust quilt, a look of Zen on her face. "Yes, you're right again Ni-san. You're always right."

P.O.V: Peirce

I looked over at the still struggling to get ground duo fighting the giant mantis like thing. I looked down at the squirming thing in my grip. I glared at the mewling little thing, "I've had enough of you!" With that said, I chucked the creature as hard as I could at the big one. I nailed it right in the head!

Startled, the thing looked over. As it was spinning to face me, I ran up and jumped as high as I could get on the thing. I managed to catch what must have been some sort of spike and started groping for another one as the thing started bucking. It was as cold and clammy feeling as the other thing.

I managed to get to a smooth back, near a scrawny stalk like neck. I got up and raised the still gory claw, and brought if down at the neck.

The thing didn't even have time for a final cry before its head, and the focal still set in its forehead, was rolling on the ground.

P.O.V: Black.

We had managed to find the door to the next memory, which I can only assume led to very soon after the last incident. We were in the orphanage cafeteria, following C.J as she took her tray over to a vacant table.

She was just taking her first bite when a group of brats sauntered over and slammed a book of 'Texas History' that was the size of Texas down on the table in front of C.J. she didn't even look up.

It was this moment that I recognized these to be the kids that had pounded the crap out of her. I couldn't help but shiver; were we about to whiteness C.J getting beat up again?!

The tall boy, the one who had spit at her before, grinned at her, "That's a really good lunch there. Far too good for a little murderer. Hand it over, there are a lot of kids who deserve to live more than you do."

C.J was silent. He leaned in, trying to be threatening. "Well?!"

"…no…."

"What was that?"

C.J looked up, a wonderfully familiar look of defiance and rage in her brown eyes. She barred her teeth. I was ready to start cheering.

Then, in the usual C.J fashion, she did something rather…unexpected. She had been wearing that super long hair of hers in a thick, tight braid, held at the end with a cheap hair tie. She reached back and grabbed the top of the braid with one hand, and reached in her pocket with another. She yanked out a pair of scissors.

"I F****** SAID NO!" Without a moment's hesitation, C.J raised the shears and snip snip! She was holding her long braided hair in her hand!

…..

C.J was sitting cross legged on a familiar therapist's couch. He stared at the report in disbelief. He looked up at C.J's frayed and short locks, and then looked back at the report. After a few seconds of awkward silence, he looked up over his glasses, "…You beat the boy with your own hair…?"

C.J sat there, doe-eyed. In a classic angelic voice, "It was for a good cause."

"Good cause?! You put him in the hospital…with your hair!" "I know! Hair; who knew, right?" She huffed, "I just wish they'd let me keep it. I could brand a freaking T-Rex with that thing!" "Apparently! You broke nearly every bone you hit! …And you didn't miss much either!"

He sighed and leaned back in his chair, "Good God, two weeks ago, you were a meek, sweet little girl. What on earth brought this…this change?!"

C.J tapped her chin thoughtfully. "…Actually, it was the night that one couple brought me back." She opened her eyes up, "You have all my files, you already know that's the 15th time I've been brought back. Well…I guess this one was the breaking point."

"I was frustrated, betrayed, and angry. And afraid. I didn't want to be alone. And then I realized, who said I was alone? And even then, what's so scary about being alone? You can do what you want, when you want, there's no one to tell you what to do. Not a bad deal, if you ask me."

He frowned, stunned by this speech, "B-but C.J, every-!" C.J waved him off, "Yeah, yeah, I know. Every child needs and wants love and discipline and what not. When they brought me back, I felt unwanted, insecure and…unlovable. But I WAS loved. My big brother, and even my mother and father, at some point, loved me. And I've gotten more than enough discipline at this place."

"I can't let what happened to me run the rest of my life. Affect, but not run. I'm cautious, I'm world weary, because of the things that have happened to me. I know that I was robbed of my child hood and innocence. And that's why…."

She leaned forward and put her feet on the floor, "That's why I want to be a person who stops the bad guys! I want to bring justice to those who deserve it and defend the weak! I…want to be a detective!"

AH, SO MORE OF C.J'S PAST (INCLUDING WHY SHE IS…WELL…HER.) HAVE BEEN ANSWERED! ANY QUESTIONS, JUST ASK ME!

PLEASE DROP A REVIEW, OR SUGGUESTIONS, AND SEE YOU NEXT TIME!