Why the HELL was he here? What?!

I went to stand up to go over to confront him, but he swiftly turned and disappeared before I could even put my foot on the ground. Chopsuey had no idea about Nani's wedding, yet there he'd been in a tuxedo and with some weird looking cane.

What a weirdo! What had made him think he was welcome here?

"..." I looked down in frustration. There was no doubt in my mind he was going to go after Lilo and torment her. She'd gone with Nani out into the lobby of the resort and I was among a few guests that remained in the function room because as much as I wanted to, I couldn't bring myself to move until my father came back from whatever it was he was doing.

I was too out of it. Those hallucinations had really screwed me up and made my head hurt.

There was just no possible way the GPS chip was responsible for what was happening to me. It made no sense. The chip was designed to benefit me; it's purpose was to update Jumba on any changes to my physio-biomecanology. His numerous scans had all returned as normal. I had pondered on why he'd needed to knock me out that time he'd fixed the chip to it's original position, when he'd only induced a local anaesthetic to implant it in the first place.

Perhaps it had gone into the base of my skull much deeper than I thought after that fall. I'd been getting a lot of weird, unexplained pain from there.

Where had Jumba got that chip from? He'd told me he'd created it himself, but with what components? I'd certainly never seen anything like it before during the time he'd showed it to me. I had a nagging feeling in the back of my mind something else was going on. Something obvious I was missing. But as much as I tried to figure out what it might possibly be, I couldn't.

It was another twenty minutes before Jumba returned. My perspiration was getting worse; I wasn't exactly hot but it did make me feel very gross and uncomfortable.

"626! Come with me."

Before I could even open my mouth he scooped me up and carried me into the toilets. I wondered why, but realised it was the only isolated and private place available. He turned me around and set me down next to a sink before holding up a device and I could feel him push it to the back of my neck.

It beeped after a few moments and displayed some results on the screen.

Jumba grunted. I looked at him slightly over my shoulder.

"Well, you were right, there has been reprogramming in sector D97A. Was undetectable from scanners due to blanketing effect, as I mentioned."

"What does that mean?" I asked quietly.

"Whatever occurrence reprogrammed cell and bypassed original programming protocols did so in such a manner that two specific traces were scattered into unrecognisable pattern from original and then once reorganised, shifted out of alignment by two nanometres."

I just stared at him. I really had no idea what he was saying.

"Think of DNA. Once broken apart, and put back together, is not the same, correct?"

"You're telling me is what happened in cell?"

"Yes. Something like that. Basically my original design was altered and due to that, the blanketing occurred."

"Was undetectable?"

"Yes. However..."

I paused. "Narchuba?"

He sighed, running a hand over his head. "Chip is fine. No abnormal readings. Is no explanation for reprogramming."

"Well... Stitch fall, down hole. Then step on power line. That do it?"

He stared at me. "Possibly. I know what part of problem is. But without knowing full problem, we are back at square one."

"Full problem?"

"What triggered the reprogramming, and how."

I looked down. "..."

Jumba sat down against the door, staring at his device for a few moments before pulling his laptop out of his bag and starting to type.

"Hmm..."

"Pa? Where did you get that chip?"

"I made it, 626, do you not remember?"

"Ih. Nota. But... components. Where get?"

"Catalogue. Similar to time I ordered first fusion chamber."

"So, pa not know where chip initially sourced from?"

"Um... well, no. Did not think was issue at time. Remember, we were banished to Earth 626. Is much harder for me to access previous suppliers now, when back on Kweltikwan was much easier. Admittedly, I've had to use... uh, 'secondary' sources at times as result, sort of like when ordered original fusion chamber from catalogue as just mentioned. Grand Councilwoman has blocked access to many reputable suppliers on account of banishment and I've already received warning before for trying to bypass this. Have not wanted to risk since. We are on thin ice with the council as it is, lucky to even be alive as we are."

That made me think. It wasn't long after Jumba had installed that chip that Chopsuey and the 6-26B's had come to Earth and tried to kill me. Before that we'd had no issues.

"So not know where chip was from?"

"Sorry 626, I don't."

"When working with 6-26B's were gang involved with dealings?"

He stared at me. "Son, that was many many years ago. I barely remember."

"Pleechi-ba tito."

He sighed, but seemed to think. "Yes. But was the usual. Illegal substances and such. Some of which I needed for my work."

"Did Jumba friends from gang, get Jumba components and parts for work?"

He nodded. "Zhanthar worked for a supplier. He would provide me components I needed for specific weapons."

"Was still involved with supplier before attack me?"

"I suppose," he stared at me for a while. "You're getting at something, aren't you?"

"Ih. Think about it. Wanted to bump Stitch off, ih? Work with Chops?"

"Mhmm."

"Only after Jumba install chip they be finding us. Zhanthar not know what Jumba work with, but Chops do. Tracking us. Perhaps, chip you sourced was from Zhanthar supplier. Maybe, bad alien, he know Jumba order, and tamper. On account of Chops. He could figure out order from Earth was you, use to somehow track."

My father stared at me in disbelief. "You're right..." he breathed. "I made you too smart 626, how did I not even begin to think of this?!"

He put aside his laptop, rushing over to me and pressing a few buttons on his device. He turned me around again and held it to the back of my neck. The scan was much longer this time, but he seemed a bit dazed.

"What is it?"

"I–I need to get that chip out of you but..."

I had a bad feeling about my hunch. He confirmed it.

"Neesa?"

"It's been inside of you for too long now. The damage may be irreversible. Also accounting the fall and the electrocution. If it is, then... programming will still initiate. And will be nothing I can do about it. Removing cell would kill you."

"We have to try!" I stood up, taking my fathers hands into my paws. "Even if is too late... trying better than nothing, right?"

"Yes... yes, you're right, 626. I'll do procedure here. Is no time to go back to ship."

"How?"

He stared at me. "626, you know I can do pretty much anything, yes? Came prepared. Is critical time."

"Oh."

Jumba barricaded the door before pulling things out of his bag. A few moments later, he'd set up a makeshift area to carry out the procedure. I didn't even start to complain this time when he shaved the back of my head again. He was trying to save my life. Save everybody's life.

He prepped me, starting the procedure and twenty minutes later, the chip was out of my head. He stitched me back up and cleaned the back of my head, placing a bandage there again.

Jumba analysed the chip under his device, using a different type of scan. I could see him starting to perspire.

"Well, chip was sent from supplier Zhanthar was working for. The components all look the same, but I found this..." He turned the laptop to face me. "See that?"

I squinted at the screen. There was a tiny discoloured patch that stood out in the centre of the chip. It was very tiny; I could barely see it, even with my good vision.

"Tracking device. Completely hidden and undetectable from my scanners. Since he was working with 621, he would have known what types of scanners I work with and altered chip so anomaly remained undetected."

I nodded, holding onto Jumba's arm. "So...?"

He looked at me. "Two pieces of puzzle solved. But still cannot explain how chip caused cell to activate... but, I have possibly theory."

I stared at him. "Ih?"

"I can say that yes, chip was mostly responsible for changes, 626, like the green eyes and you attacking beyond your control. The fall must have jolted the tracking device, damaging it slightly when it shifted in your head, however the electrocution was possibly the main trigger; Zhanthar's hidden tracking device was altered entirely after electrocution. The only possible explanation I have is that once chip was fried with electricity, it's outer shell was safe due to protective sheath, but inside was different story – it must have sent out some type of frequency of a range undetectable to my scanners and that's how it must've reached the cell. The frequency was strong enough to alter traces in D97A sector, scattering and reorganising original pattern, causing it to shift by the two nanometres but was also was strong enough to manipulate the organic circuitry tracks in your brain..."

I was perplexed. "Chip is responsible for making cell be reprogrammed and switching? For weird things happening to Stitch?"

Jumba nodded slightly. "Is only reason that makes sense. If otherwise, then... well, unnatural forces at work because I cannot explain at all."

Jumba looked very pale. I gripped his hand. "Pa?"

"...I'm responsible..." he said softly.

"Gaba...?"

He sounded breathless. "It's all my fault. By... trying to help you, I... I ended up destroying you instead. I've been killing you slowly without realising it..."

My eyes widened.

"All because I decided to cut corners in ordering the components for that chip! 626, the programming and cell being initiated is MY fault!"

"No!" I yelped. "Is no possible way you could have known!"

"I told you! I TOLD YOU!" he roared, standing up and slamming his fist into the wall. It left a hole. "I'm nothing but a murderer!"

"NAGA!" I roared. "Naga say that! Isa not your fault!"

"IT IS! I should never have put that chip in you, 626! If I hadn't of you'd be fine!"

"I MIGHT NOT BE FINE NOW, BUT YOU'RE STILL MY PA!"

He went quiet at that. I climbed up on him and threw myself over his shoulder.

"For as long as Stitch alive, Jumba... there. You help me. Boochita nasq reeba Stitch. Always trying do better... kalto chi-chabada. And for that, I love you. Best papa. So, naga mad. Naga Jumba fault."

"How can I accept this, 626? Is the FOURTH time I've failed you."

He slumped down again and I fell with him.

"But you haven't."

Jumba looked confused. I put my paw to his cheek. "You gave me life. Because of you, I met Lilo. So many good things happen, for both of us. Even if, time nearly up, is all that matters."

"You're not mad?"

"Naga. Jumba make mistakes because Jumba have heart."

"What do you mean?"

"If Jumba cold heart, like Zenda... he no try to fix things. Make things right, or care. Would leave Stitch to die, like when you shoot me. Neesa naga... Jumba didn't. Saved meega. All you do, tire yourself out. Stress. All for my benefit. Make self sick..." I gripped his hand. "You're my father and I know you love me."

That made him break. I hugged him tightly for as long as he sobbed. Eventually he stopped.

"I love you. Nothing to forgive because Jumba do no wrong," I told him, grabbing lots of toilet tissue from a cubicle and helping him up. He dried his face.

"..."

He was quiet after that as he packed up his equipment back into his bag. Before he went to leave he stared at me.

"Have spent entire life trying to fix wrong doings, son. I can only be thankful you see that, despite everything always seems to backfire on me. Go wrong. It's not intentional. And I'm glad you see that."

I nodded.

"Is nothing I can do for cell now. All my years worth of work and stress, did not pay off. All because of one stupid mistake which I should have thought better about. Now, we must face this. And I will be there with you the entire way, up until we both die."

"Is not true, did pay off," I told him. "But... what if we don't die?" I asked quietly.

"Then that would be due to miracle. God help us all."

I looked down.

"I love you, son. With all my heart."

He left, and I was left alone.

I eventually left the toilets. Thankfully nobody had tried to use them while we'd been in there. They were all too busy with the ceremony outside.

I felt numb as I walked away from there. I didn't know where my father had gone, but I could tell he just wanted to be alone. I walked past the guests, chatting and laughing. Drinking alcohol. The smell of wine and beer made me retch slightly.

Some of them stared at me. Adults, children. I didn't know them nor did I even care to want get to know them. With the cell changing me, they wouldn't even be alive any more shortly if I wiped out the Earth like I did Turo.

The music was annoying me. I could see Nani chatting away happily. At one point I passed by her and we made eye contact briefly but she just looked right through me.

She had no idea how broken I was. How broken Jumba was. It was her happy day. Had to respect that, after all.

For me, it was the single most worst day of my life.

I sat outside of the lobby shortly after that. Everything was a haze. I didn't want to talk to anybody, but I ended up being forced to when Iwalani found me and pulled me inside to meet people. Jumba was in there, also dealing with the same thing. I could hear him talking about me to some of the guests, but there was no heart or pride in his words.

Jumba loved me so much. This had been the one thing that had entirely destroyed him.

I eventually found Chopsuey. He was standing beside Lilo and he grinned at me when I approached. Lilo was staring into the distance, looking mortified and uncomfortable.

"Yo, 626. Probably wondering why I'm here, aren't you?"

"..."

"See, I'm also part of the family. So it means I should be here, right? Like my suit?" he grinned, lowering his voice and leaning closer to me. "I stole it... but don't tell anybody, okay?"

Lilo eyed me slightly. I could tell she was unsure of what to do.

He leaned against the cane. I eyed the weird ball on top, shortly after realising it resembled that same pod I'd seen him go into before when he'd been dehydrated.

"Since that human woman is having some kinda big celebration I got her something too!"

"...?"

He pulled what appeared to be a necklace out of his pocket. I stared at it for a moment before I realised what I was looking at. It was made entirely out of teeth.

"Gaba eiek?!" I stepped back in disgust.

621 grinned. "Think she'll like it?"

"How many animals did you harm for that?!" I roared at him and Lilo put her head into her hands.

"Lost count!" he responded. "I'll go give it to her."

"NAGA!" I screeched and he paused.

"Maybe later then?"

"GET OUT OF HERE! SICK KAPHONG!"

"Tsk tsk," he shook a finger at me. "I'm a guest, 626. That's no way to treat a guest now is it? Besides, me? A monster? Are you sure about that?"

I snarled. "It was you, wasn't it?"

"Hmm?"

He crossed his arms behind his back and circled me.

"YOU! You did something! To that chip!"

He tilted his head in confusion before he smirked. "Oh! About time you finally figured that out! Wow, and it took you THIS long?" He poked my chest. "You're slacking, 626. This place has made you too soft."

My heart was racing. I clenched my fists.

"Tell me, was it Jumbo that figured it out first, or you?"

I leaped at him and pushed him back into a wall, hard. A picture above me fell down and smashed on the ground.

"You don't know how much damage you've done... what you've caused..." I snarled.

"Speaking of damage, might want to watch yourself!" he spoke to me, backing away quickly when I turned to see Nani and a few guests rushing over towards us. "Causing quite the scene, you are!"

I snarled at him but he tipped his hat at me and fled.

"Stitch!" Nani, Iwalani and a few others had come over to us. Nani's eyes widened at seeing the broken picture and her mouth flew to her hands in shock. From the look of it, I knew it was expensive to replace.

"Did you do this?!" she said, turning to face me. "What happened?!"

"Naga I– "

"Of course you would!" she roared, not even giving me a chance to speak and cutting me off before throwing up her hands. "I WARNED YOU! THIS WAS WHY I DIDN'T WANT YOU HERE WITH HOW YOU'VE BEEN! FIRST THE TREES, THEN THE WINDOW AND BATHROOM. NOW THIS. ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE THIS AS HARD FOR ME AS POSSIBLE?! RUIN THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE?!"

I just stood frozen in place as Nani went full on psycho on me. With everything else that had happened, it was honestly barely affecting me at all that point.

"YOU JUST CAN'T HELP YOURSELF CAN YOU?! GET OUT!" she screamed.

"Nani!" Iwalani cried, and the others backed away slightly, unsure of what to do. They stared at me in shock.

I just turned and left.

I heard Lilo crying out after me as I walked away, but Nani stopped her from following me. I just left the venue and headed home.

I was blank. My emotions had gone, and everything had finally died inside of me. I felt nothing anymore.

I should never have come.

It took a while to get back home. I didn't bother using my super-speed as I couldn't be bothered doing so. Once there, I climbed on my bed after tossing aside my wedding outfit and just stared up at the underside of Lilo's bunk.

I remained that way for what seemed like hours.

That didn't go to well, did it?

She never cared about me.

Ready to join me now?

She'll never understand.

I'll be waiting!

Go away.

I turned over on the bed. All I could do was lie there and stare blankly at nothing.

This was it. There was nothing left. Jumba was broken. I was broken. Everything was going so wrong and I didn't see how things could ever get better now. Nani had embarrassed me in front of those people, and screamed at me. I'd ruined her wedding.

I sat up. I went into the bathroom, closing the door behind me and slumped down against it.

I can't give in.

I couldn't. I just couldn't. Giving in meant ending it all. Losing Lilo. But it was too late anyway. I looked down when my chest started to glow. Gradually my skin seemed to dissipate and I flinched, but then I realised that it was going see through due to how bright the glow from my chest was. I stood up and stared in the mirror as this happened. I could see my skeleton and the bones of my extra arms folded up against my insides. The glow was orange but I could easily see the source of it.

As I suspected, it was the cell. It was in it's final stages before it switched to green. With how bright it was now, I could tell.

I looked at myself. My eyes had turned red and my body was slowly changing into that form I'd seen back in the motel with my father. I just gripped the sink and watched. I didn't cry out in pain nor I didn't react to it. I just watched.

Two spines grew out from my shoulders. The fur on my head spiked up and my body seemed to stretch out to become more and more like Chopsuey's. I became much thinner and taller and my claws lengthened.

And then it stopped. I just stared at the sight. I looked horrific, but that didn't phase me at all.

I turned on the faucet and started filling up the sink with water. As it filled, I thought about putting my head in there and drowning myself. I really had no choice at that point. It was go forward and die, or go forward and die but everybody else would be safe.

Just as I was about to put my head down, I heard a voice, but I felt too out of it to make out who it was right away.

"Stitch? I'm sorry. Come back, please! I was angry... I didn't mean it!"

Footsteps. Somebody was out there, looking for me. Soon enough the bathroom door opened up and the person made themselves known.

It was Nani.

The silence was unforgiving. I heard her breath hitch in her throat and I could see her muscles tense up. Her heart had started pounding hard against her chest, and I could smell her flight or flight reflex kick in as adrenaline pumped through her veins.

She was absolutely terrified by what she saw.

"...W-w..." she couldn't even get the words out. I just stood as I was, staring at her behind me in the mirror.

"...Stitch?" she eventually asked, her voice so quiet I could barely make it out. She sounded breathless.

Apprehensively, she took a step forward.

"What are you...?" she asked shakily. "What's happened to you? Oh my God..."

I could see her looking at my chest, seeing my insides on display. She didn't appear to be grossed out or sickened by it, but I think she was far too shocked to have an immediate reaction to it anyway.

I was quiet before finally answering her. "I'm a monster." My voice sounded different.

"What... what do you mean...?"

"Exactly what I said. Why are you here."

She didn't answer me and she screamed slightly when I turned to face her, backing against the bath.

"Well?"

"I-I" she stuttered. "I felt terrible for yelling at you like that. I wanted to... come to see if you were okay. I wanted you to come back."

I just looked at her deadpan. "You never wanted me there to begin with."

"I do!"

I turned back to the sink. "There is no stopping this."

"What?" she rasped.

"This..." I gestured to myself. "It's too late."

"What are you saying?!" she cried, rushing over to me but when I faced her again she stopped. She was too scared to get any closer.

"Go back to the wedding."

"What are you...?"

I didn't answer her. I just turned and stared down into the sink.

"NO!" she shrieked when she saw the sink was full and quickly picked up on my intentions. She must have gathered up some sort of hidden courage because she grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "NO, DON'T!"

"Why?"

"Damn it, Stitch! We've been through this!"

I shook my head. "This cannot be stopped. To save you, I need to do it."

"Why though?!" she cried. "What is happening to you?"

I went to answer her but felt something snap inside of me. The light of the cell stopped glowing, dimming down and my skin returned to normal. I closed my eyes as I felt my body change again.

When I opened them, I was myself again. Short and stocky. I let out a shaky breath.

Nani was still shaking, but she took my head into her hands, making me look up at her.

"What. Are. You."

"Monster..." I seethed through my teeth. "Stitch. Isa. MONSTER."

She backed away from me again, speechless.

"I... you mean... what you said before was..." she trailed off.

I nodded. "Tried to tell you, just ignore Stitch!"

She looked away. "What's happening to you?"

I turned away from her, looking at the floor. "Something very bad."

Nani sniffled. She sat down against the bath, not seeming to care too much about her dress.

"Is it going to happen again?"

"Ih."

"What happens then?"

I just looked at her. "..."

"Well... you and Jumba are still coming clean about this, right? Surely this has something to do with it?"

I nodded.

"Okay..." she breathed, rubbing at her temples, "I came here to get you. I want you back there. Not here. I don't care about the picture anymore or the cost, but I do care about you."

I just stared at her. She reached behind her into the hallway, searching for something and when she turned around I realised she was holding the white and gold duck. Quietly, she presented it to me.

"..."

I stared at it for the longest time, before looking up at her. "..."

"I'm sorry."

I closed my eyes.

Shortly after, I sat on my bed as Nani dressed me back into my suit. I watched her, pondering on why she'd come back for me.

She didn't say anything, hitching up the pants before buttoning them up and fastening the matching black belt securely around my waist. Once doing so, she helped me into the shirt and tuxedo, gently buttoning up the front before sitting the top hat on my head and fixing my bow-tie.

"There."

I stared up at her and she stared back at me.

"Remember that night, you stayed home to be with me when I was sick?"

"Ih?"

She looked to the side. "I still think of it," she admitted. "Sometimes when I'm at my lowest."

"Why?"

"Because, it meant a lot to me."

"..."

Nani took my paw into her hand. "It's why I came back. You have a pure heart, Stitch. I've been so strung up and blind-sided by my stress that I entirely lost myself in the process. I've had so many bad things happen since mom and dad died. When you came along and cheered up Lilo, you made her feel alive again. You understood her. And I was happy for her, of course. But I didn't have that. Not for a long time."

"G-gaba?"

"I had nobody, Stitch. There was David, but he didn't understand exactly how I felt or what I was going through, even though he supported me. I pushed everybody away out of fear of losing them too. It's been hard to let anybody in. I just wanted ONE person to understand me that didn't want to be with me just for the sake of going to the movies, or on a date. Or just to try and distract me from everything with small chat. I just wanted somebody to sit and be with me to show they cared. As much as I love David, he didn't do that. His way of support was trying to make me talk, but it was hard for me. And when I didn't he got frustrated, thinking I was fobbing him off instead of trying to understand I wasn't ready to talk."

I tilted my head.

"That's why I appreciate what you did," she sighed. "That night, you didn't sit there chatting to me. You just wanted to be with me for the sake of it. Nothing more, nothing less. It was to make me feel better and ensure I wasn't alone."

I nodded.

"You understood what I wanted above anybody else."

I shrugged. She drew me into a hug.

"You're different. I don't know what it is, but something about you is just different."

"Stitch just himself."

"Forgive me..." she rasped, tears in her eyes. "I was foolish... It finally hit me after you left."

She pulled back from me and I put my paw to her cheek. "I forgive you. It's okay."

Nani closed her eyes at that and put her hand over my paw. "Let's head back?"

"Ih. Chi cabada Stitch..."

"What's that?"

"I was there for you. Please Naanee... be there for me now."

She smiled slightly, eyes glistening. "I will. I promise."

And with that, Nani picked me up and we started to head back to the resort. One bad chapter of my life had come to an end. Soon, another would begin.

It had only been a small amount of people that had actually seen what had occurred between Nani and I before. When we arrived back, they simply smiled at me and acknowledged me, like nothing had happened.

I figured Nani had said something to them, or explained everything. In a way, her outburst at me had been similar to my outburst in the ship hours before. Perhaps that had been her breaking point.

Lilo was in my arms the moment Nani put me down, hugging me as hard as she could.

"I talked to her. We had a fight, but... she finally came around," Lilo muttered into my ear. "I told her it wasn't right."

I nodded.

"Are you okay?" My angel asked.

"Ih, Lilo. For now."

She put her hand against my cheek.

Shortly after, Lilo and I sat off to the side in the function room as a slow ballad played. The bride and groom were dancing slowly in the middle of the floor. Lilo was watching quietly, smiling, and the rest of the family and guests were stationed around, also watching.

I hadn't seen my father in a while, but I had a feeling he was still there.

I nudged Lilo. "Thirsty?"

"Yeah..."

"I'll get drinks."

I stood up, heading over to the beverages area to pour us some pineapple juice, but I ended up nearly slipping for a moment and looked down to see that a drink had spilled onto the floor. A cup had been knocked over and I guessed that one of the guests had done it in their haste to watch the dance. Since everybody had their backs turned, nobody had seen it happen.

I looked around for a staff member to try and bring their attention to it, but nobody was around. I was blocked by the guests for the time being so I couldn't leave the room without either crawling on the walls or pushing through their legs, and I wasn't particularly in the mood to do either at that moment; I just wanted to be with Lilo with what time I had left.

After I had poured us the drinks and started carrying them back, I saw somebody step away from the crowd and head towards where I was. Before I could warn them to watch out for the puddle, they stepped right onto it and careened over hard, falling against a table. It was a bit like a domino effect; the table toppled over, taking down another one with it. That table fell against a chair and the chair ended up also toppling over and taking down a decorative palm tree – THAT fell onto a cable behind it, snapping it loose from its hold and as a result one of the overhead decorations started to fall down.

"WATCH OUT!"

I threw the drinks aside and leaped into it's path to catch it, hearing a male voice cry out in horror. I caught it just in time, and the guest had his hands covering his head. I realised who it was after a moment or so – Mr Kuakini.

He stared at me, looking utterly shocked before looking at the decoration. I put it down.

The other guests clapped. Nani had her hand to her chest.

"What happened?!" Behind me, a staff member finally came forth, and they attended to the guest that had slipped. It didn't take them long to figure out what had happened and after that incident, things resumed as normal pretty quick. The spill was cleaned up. Mr Kuakini wasn't hurt, but the other guest had suffered a small laceration to their leg.

I resumed getting the drinks, when Mr Kuakini stood over me.

"..."

"Are you okay?" I asked him. The others had all resumed watching Nani and David dance so nobody was really paying us any attention.

"Yes. Bit of shock though. Thank you," he put his arm behind his head. "How are you enjoying the wedding?"

I stared at him. "Ignoring bad, focusing on good."

"I see. Nice tune they picked... actually, it's the same one from when Alanna and I had our first date. Quite fond of it."

"Floats your boat and hits all the right notes," I responded jokingly, the only thing coming to my mind.

I didn't see his jaw drop as I carried two more drinks over to Lilo.

"Thanks Stitch..." my angel said once I sat down beside her. "Nice save!"

I smiled. She rested her head against my shoulder.

Nani and David danced for a while. Once their dance was complete, the other guests started dancing. I offered Lilo a dance, but she just wanted to remain where we were. She just wanted my company.

We were off to the side away from the guests at that point, and Nani came over to us. She looked down at me with a torn look on her face and I could tell she was still battling her feelings over what had happened before. She picked me up and hugged me.

"Thanks for stopping a bad accident from happening. I guess, it was a good thing I went back and got you, huh?"

"Ih."

She put me down. Lilo smiled at her.

However before I could speak again, Chopsuey swiftly appeared and Nani backed away a little in shock. I stood in front of the sisters and growled.

"Wha...? " Nani stuttered."Lilo, what is he doing here?!"

"Hi! Nani, right? Nice to meet ya!" he pulled off his hat. "Name's 621. Or 'Chopsuey' as that fat idiot calls me."

"Y-you're..."

"Y-yes. Y-es I-I a-a-am."

Nani looked agitated at hearing him do that, but 621 put up a paw before she could retort.

"Not a fan of my charming wit? Sorry," he grinned. "I got you something! Seems like an important day for you, so I came prepared."

He was about to pull out the necklace, I realised. Lilo must've realised as well, because she bolted up almost instantly and stopped him, starting to push him away. "You can give it to her later! I need to talk to you for a moment!"

"If you say so, hatchling. Catch 'ya later!"

Lilo pushed him away, much to Nani's disbelief. I followed them but I didn't interrupt Lilo from talking to him. When I tried to, she thrust her hand at me to back off. She down with him on a bench.

"Uh... now that you're back I wanna know! Why'd you do that?"

"Gaba?"

"Hurt animals and use their teeth."

"Oh!" he grinned. "Well, it was a last minute idea. You like it?"

He went to pull out the necklace again but Lilo stopped him. "No! I don't want to see it! But... why? Why did you do that?"

"Why not?"

Lilo stared at him. "Don't you feel bad?"

He looked confused. "Bad? About killing useless creatures that do absolutely nothing productive?"

I snarled at that and he just looked at me with sluggish expression.

"YES! BAD!" Lilo clenched her fists. "You just can't do that! Why would you do something so horrible?!"

"What is horrible about it exactly?"

"Those animals did nothing to you! Yet you hurt them and did something so cruel to them... how did you not feel bad about doing that?"

Chopsuey shrugged. "Was I supposed to feel bad?"

"YES!" Lilo roared. "You took away their lives for no good reason!"

He stared at that at her at that, seemingly unfazed. Lilo scowled at him and I just wanted to punch him.

"Didn't Jumba dehydrate you just before? Put you in that glass container?"

The alien nodded. He crossed his arms as he stared at her. "Your point, meatbag?"

"And you HATED it, right? You hated that he was going to destroy you! You didn't want to die just for being you and not being good enough!"

"..."

"Now think about that and apply it to those animals! How they would have felt, when you took away their lives like that. I know you feel pain because if you didn't you wouldn't have cared so much about what Jumba did to you and you wouldn't have attacked Stitch!"

He stared at her, avoiding my gaze. "You know nothing about me, hatchling."

"I know enough."

"What do you know about me then?" he growled. "Spit it out!"

"I know that you hate Stitch because Jumba neglected you for him. All you wanted to do was prove yourself but you could never be heard."

"..."

"You just want to be heard, don't you? And that's why you did it."

Now I just felt uncomfortable.

He scoffed. "Kid, I did it because I don't particularly care. I spent the majority of my life killing creatures back home and on Jumbo's missions. It was my purpose."

"But that's not your purpose anymore, correct?"

A grunt. "No. Because now I got no purpose."

"Well, what if you did?"

621 tilted his head at her. "What do you mean? How could I possibly have a purpose other than what I was designed for?"

"Because everybody has their own purpose, 621. You can do what you like with your life. You don't have to follow what you were made for because your creator made you that way and ignored you. You have your own mind."

621 closed his eyes. "Why should I feel bad?"

"Because you have a conscious."

He sighed. "It's hard to feel a need to care."

"It can be. But you can learn."

"Why should I?"

"Because I know you can do it if you really want to. You haven't hurt me yet and I have a feeling you won't. That's why I don't feel scared to talk to you."

He laughed slightly. "It's not worth it. Besides, you're different to those two goons," he flicked his paw at me and I growled. "I like ya, kid, you're interesting."

Lilo looked away. "Did you hurt them because you've been hurt yourself?"

"The pests?"

Lilo just stared up at him.

"Eh... I won't do it again if it bothers you that much."

"You shouldn't do it anyway, because it's the wrong thing to do."

"Does it make you unhappy?"

Lilo stared up at him at that. "Yes. Why?"

He never answered her. Instead, he stood up and pulled out the necklace before tossing it into a bin.

"There, gone."

"...?"

"Well, go on then! Since that's so bad here, what's supposed to be good?"

Lilo smiled at hearing that. I had no idea what to make of the situation, so I just opted to walk away and let them talk. I trusted Lilo enough to know what she was doing and even though I utterly despised it, I respected her wish to talk to him. I turned back as I went to leave, though.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on her."

"Here? With all these people around? What do you take me for, 626?" he responded, leaning against his cane. "A monster?"

I sneered. "Haffu hak kaphong queesta..."

He snorted, but laughed at me as I walked away from them.

I sat and watched them from a distance, outside in the lobby. By Lilo's body language I could tell she was still a little apprehensive of him, but they seemed to be getting along okay. I was annoyed and angry that she could even tolerate being near him after he threatened her life, but I couldn't stop my angel from being herself either – always trying to help others. She'd done so for me, now she was doing so for him too. She had no idea what he'd done. What his tampering with that chip had meant for me.

Truthfully I wanted to kill him.

Heh heh heh... so why don't you?

I closed my eyes. SHUT UP... shut up, shut up, SHUT UP.

If you insist, but just know this. You don't have long now so make the most of your freedom.

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing back tears. No, I had to be strong. When I heard footsteps behind me, it distracted me and I turned to look, ears flipping up.

It was Mr Kuakini. He looked torn.

He was quiet for a while before gesturing to me. I followed him quietly and he took a seat outside of the hotel on a bench near the parking lot, staring down at the ground with his hands in his lap for a moment before looking out into the distance.

"..."

I sat down beside him quietly.

After five or so minutes had passed, he reached into his suit. He pulled out the journal and held it in his hands.

"I read this."

"Shouldn't have," I responded. "Bad."

"Yes, it was. I had no idea he was truly suffering so much with his conditions mentally, but... what I want to know, is why YOU read it because..." he looked at me. "I have a feeling you're hiding something from me."

I frowned slightly. "..."

"You would never have found it had you not fallen onto that marble bag. I would never have found it had it not been for you and I would never have even thought anything was underneath that floor. But it was something I needed to see. Even if too late." He put his hand to his head. "An insight into my son that I had no idea about. So tell me," he faced me. "Why did you read it?"

I looked away from him. "I needed answers."

"To what?"

"Dreams. Visions."

"Visions?" he repeated, and I nodded.

"I have visions. I'm not Stitch in," I told him quietly. "Somebody not myself, like... I am in their body. Shoes."

He stared at me.

"I get lots of thoughts, not my own."

"I see..." he closed his eyes, looking down at the journal and running his hand across it. "The last entry bothered me. A lot."

He looked at me again and I could see pain in his eyes this time. He went quiet again and I watched a few people walk past us.

"It's you, isn't it?"

My eyes widened at that. I stared at him. "..."

"Mitch. You came back."

My throat locked up. No... I wasn't... I was Stitch! But... was I?

Who was I?

"I– "

"That's how you knew about that chair. Why you keep clenching your fists and standing that way. Getting so distracted easily... the freckles. The birthmark..."

"No..."

"YES," he responded. "I know, because you SAID it."

"Said what?!" I jumped up, facing him.

"Floats your boat and hits all the right notes..."

What?! That stupid saying? I'd learned that from my father. How could...?

"He said that. He SAID that Stitch! As stupid as it was, it was his thing. Just like those weird quirks you have."

I had nothing to respond to that with. He looked at me before taking my paws into his hands. "That last entry... Mitch didn't want to be himself anymore. And then, he died."

"..."

"You said so yourself, you were created when he died."

I closed my eyes. "You're..."

"I'm what?" he asked quietly. His eyes were glistening though.

"You're... not my dad anymore. Jumba is."

That did it. It was the first time I'd seen him actually cry. He let go of my paw and sat back down on the bench.

"So I'm right?"

Reluctantly, I nodded. I sat down beside him. "I'm Stitch. But he is me too. Took while, but figured it out."

"What... do you mean?"

"I defied all original programming. Disobeyed Jumba wishes. Because something... in here," I put my paw over my chest. "Something stop me. And after meeting you, I eventually learn. I have human soul. Heart. Because even though, I alien. I not act like how should act."

He was quiet.

"I... feel. Lot's of things. I came to you for work, out of all people. Not know why. But... when find journal, things became clear. Been having lots of dreams. Not me, not my own dreams. Or thoughts. But of boy. Your son. I look through his eyes in them. Leg's feel like jelly."

He looked astounded. I kicked my feet.

"Room felt familiar. Could not figure out why, until realised..."

"Realised what?"

"I smell scents. Good nose, ih? Well... I was in that room. But never been there before. All over it. My scent."

A weird look crossed his face. "Uh... what?"

"Mitch have same scent as me."

He stared. "What does that mean though?"

"Can only have one scent," I said softly. "No two alike."

His eyes widened. "What are you saying?"

"One in same. He is me."

The man put his head into his hands. "You were reincarnated, as..."

I shrugged. "I guess I was."

He bent in front of me at that and stared right into my eyes. It made me feel a little uneasy but I knew what he was trying to look for. For me however, it was like déjà vu. Despite having no memory of it, I'd been in this exact position before.

Something manifested. A memory. And it wasn't my own. A blurred figure, calling my name. I was struggling to sit up, but it was hard. I couldn't feel the lower part of my body.

"Mitch... Mitch..."

Where am I?

"You're finally awake!"

Did something happen to me...?

I looked down. I was in a hospital bed, but it kept distorting. The images around me flickered, like static on a screen.

"We will get through this... "

Get through what...?

Another person appeared beside me but his face was blurry. A doctor. "The disease is spreading faster than we anticipated. We've done what we can but sadly, there is no cure for Juvenile Huntington's, as you are aware. I'm afraid he won't be able to walk normally anymore now."

Alanna was gripping Mr Kuakini's hand. She looked different.

I went to speak but no words actually came out of my mouth. I kept trying and trying but they couldn't hear me.

"Stitch?"

The vision distorted and I snapped out of it to find Mr Kuakini still staring at me. The vision faded but my vision still swam.

"Huntington's?" The word left my mouth before I could stop it.

He let out a choked noise slightly, before he threw his arms around me tightly. I tensed up but eventually relaxed. It felt so familiar.

"It's you..." he muttered over my shoulder. "God... thank you..."

I simply hugged him back.

We took a walk around the hotel perimeter after that. There was a garden area off to the side, with a fountain and grass. I ran over to peer into the fountain, Mr Kuakini right behind me.

"After Mitch died, I prayed every single day since then that I would somehow see him again. I was tormented. I couldn't let go, even when Alanna and Kalia accepted it and moved on."

I looked at him. "He felt torn too. Didn't want to go."

He gazed at me at that. "Was that something you read in the journal?"

I shook my head before looking into the fountain again. "Naga. I just know."

"I see." He smiled. I realised it was the first time I'd seen him actually do so. A genuine, happy smile – like he'd had a weight lifted off his shoulders.

He sat down on the edge of the fountain beside me, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a chain, showing it to me.

"Do you remember this?"

I stared at it. He put it into my paws. "..."

The metal gleamed in the light. At first, I didn't recognise anything about it, but the more I stared at it, the more familiar it seemed. Especially the rainbow tint it had underneath the light. Not to mention, my scent was on it too.

"Yes," I admitted. It seemed vaguely familiar in a way I couldn't explain, much like when I was inside of Mitch's room. "Not remember where from though."

"It was my final Christmas gift to you. When you were human."

I nodded. I held it up and twisted it about.

"Don't you think I'm crazy?" I asked him, and he looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

I pointed to myself. "Idea of me being Mitch."

He smiled slightly at that. "I did at first, because it IS crazy, y'know? But you've done so many things I haven't been able to explain and there has been signs. Lots of them. Besides, I never told you what disease Mitch had, yet you said it to me just before. How did you know?"

"I don't know," I responded. "I had vision when lucha at me. Trigger memory, in hospital bed, with doctor. Said it."

He nodded. "Mitch was in the hospital a lot before he declined."

"Legs feel like jelly sometimes."

"That would be why. He lost function of them," Mr Kuakini gazed at me. "It's so uncanny, how much of him I can see in you..."

"Gaba eiek?"

He put a hand to my cheek. "His favourite colour was blue. That exact shade you are. Even though his eyes were blue they appeared really dark at certain angles, just like how yours look. Are your eyes black?"

"Actually, they are blue," I told him. "Only look black."

"They are?"

I nodded. "Certain light."

He drew his hand down and ran it across my shoulder. "See? It has to be you in there somewhere."

I looked away from him.

"Why did you come back?"

"I can't answer that," I told him truthfully. "Because, I'm Stitch. Neesa... I know he missed you. I feel that, strongly. In heart."

He looked saddened.

"You're no longer mine..." he told me, gripping my paws. "You have a new life now. A new family. While I know that you're in there, I have to let you go."

"Are you going to tell others?"

He smiled. "No. This was something I personally wanted. Maybe, one day... but I'd probably end up being called crazy myself. But, in my heart... I know it's you."

"Ih. He is in me," I told him. "I am Stitch, though."

"I know. I can respect that. But you will always be my son."

I knew this revelation was going to change the way we interacted. But with what was happening to me... perhaps this was the only time he would get to see me for who I was anyway. He deserved to be happy after enduring so much grief. I hugged him.

He was a little startled, but he hugged me back.

"I've missed you... So much."

"I know." I eventually drew back and stood up. "Stitch need to go back. See you later, ih?"

He nodded. I gave him a smile before turning and heading back to the lobby. He remained where he was, and I could see him gazing at the chain as he disappeared from my sight.

I felt like a small weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I hadn't been so crazy after all.

I really was a human. Once.

I smiled, making my way back to Lilo.