[Kai/Gazette] The End [17: Don't Jump]

Natsumi swung at Natsuko. "Move it!" she screeched. Natsuko took the punch, allowing it to hit her left cheek directly. "I only made you my other personality just so I can handle the pain when I lose something or someone... Now, here, I've lost everything that can be found simply by waking up." The door behind Natsuko was chained and locked, Natsumi was sure that only she could open it.

"If you open that door, you won't need me anymore. You'll also wake up, but..." Natsuko trailed off, sounding sincere and caring for once, "you'll be facing what I've faced for you. If you make it through, I'll disappear." Natsumi pushed her away and headed towards the door.

SMACK!

"You know..." Natsuko began, holding onto Natsumi's wrist, "I really like you, Natsumi. I want to protect you. That's why I've killed Mao for you."

Natsumi glared at her other personality. "Is that why you wanted to kill Kai-kun? Dr. Shiroyama, too? That's why you stopped me from having any friends? So you can prevent you from disappearing?" Natsuko smiled wearily.

"I suppose... You've gotten stronger." Natsuko chuckled before frowning. "But you definitely can't handle what lies behind that door!" Natsumi looked down at the darkness below her feet.

"If you could endure it..." Natsumi stepped forward, "Then maybe I can bear with it. Even if the chances are lower than 50%, I still want to wake up as soon as possible." Her hands grasped the cold metal as Natsuko's hand fell. She didn't have to look behind her to see that Natsuko fell to the "ground" with a tearstained smile. "I see you have human feelings as well... Farewell, Natsuko. Living with you for years has been..." Strangely exciting.

"You are not Natsumi..." Hana-san said, staring at the girl standing in the middle of the bloodied field, littered with corpses of the ones in the death row--including some other prisoners. "Where is my Natsumi?"

"Sleeping in this body," Natsuko answered, the green eyes were tinted with red and the blond hair had black streaks throughout. She twirled the crimson stained silver sword, the drops of blood hitting her face. "Is this okay? These are the bodies of those who are in the death row and those about to be placed in the death row. With a man's help, I was able to trick them out here. Single-handedly, I have slain them. Are you proud, Natsumi's mother?"

Hana-san narrowed her eyes and hissed, "And of what should I be proud of, Demon? Give her back, my daughter."

"She is the one who created me in order to face the things that scare her. I have only taken over her body temporarily to test my strength," Natsuko said in monotone, "because you who had trained her to be strong had failed long ago. Do not worry. I shall remain in sleep for a while." Natsumi's body collapsed.

The scene changed. Natsuko was laughing wildly as a half-sober, half-drunk Hana-san whipped her with a belt. Blood poured from her fresh wounds, but she laughed. "You know WHAT?! I think that Natsumi would hate your guts for this! Ha-ha-ha!"

The scene had changed again, and Natsumi was given to a Chinese family.

The scene had changed once more, and Natsumi was reliving that day.

"Mao!" Natsumi exclaimed in fright and horror as Mao grabbed his father by the collar of his shirt.

"You bastard! Every time you get fucking drunk, you always get into bed with a fucking prostitute! I'm sick of it! Now you want to divorce Mom because of a whore?! Mom LOVES you! But I don't know what the crap she sees in you! What the hell are PARENTS exactly, huh?! Is this a good example for Li?!"

"Mao!" Natsumi shrieked as he pulled out a knife. Huang restrained her.

"It's no good! Mao's taken some drugs and his emotions are taking over! We can't save him!" Huang reasoned as Natsumi wailed. He blocked Natsumi's view. The door opened as soon as the cry of pain was heard. The father collapsed to the floor, blood rushing from his head. Li trembled and screamed in terror.

"Daddy!"

"He's not our father!" Mao screeched.

"What about MOTHER, Mao?!" Natsumi bellowed.

"SHE'S DEAD!" Mao cackled as he advanced towards Li.

"Mao! Mao! Stop!" Huang shouted. Li shook in fear. Natsumi yanked Huang's hand off.

"Li!" Natsuko...

"Mao!" Huang screamed once the knife was raised.

"We should all die!" Mao slurred.

The police kicked open the door right after Li was stabbed. The police gave him three warning, but he ignored all of them. They fired, causing Mao to laugh. Natsuko grabbed a gun nearby, one that Mao had dropped.

"Huang~ Natsumi~ I will come for you! Natsumi, I will save you from your mother, and Huang, you better be prepared to die!" Natsuko pointed the gun at Mao and pulled the trigger.

"If you ever need me, then you just call out my name. If it's interesting enough, I'll be back," Natsuko notified.

~*~

"Doctor! Doctor!" The heart monitor's rapid beeping had caused Kai enough worries. He didn't have to watch the medical staff rush here and there to calm down Natsumi's seizure, yet he couldn't look away. The beeping slowed down. He saw the staff sigh in relief. Otani-sensei opened the door and grinned.

"I have a really good feeling inside my gut," he said before leaving. The nurses followed him one by one before allowing Kai to enter. Natsumi turned around to look out the window.

Wait... What?

Kai blinked. "Natsumi?"

"Yeah?"

"Natsumi!"

"What is it?"

Kai laughed at her response. Of course, probably only Natsumi could find waking up from a coma like waking up from a nap. "It's been six days... Do you know how much you worried me?"

"I heard it," Natsumi said.

Kai titled his head. "Heard what?"

With a smile and a blush, Natsumi turned back around and answered, "Your voice." Kai's face flushed. "Thank you, Kai-kun. Would you come visit my mother with me?" Natsumi stood up and pulled him along. Without a thought about her attire, she ran up to the front desk. "What room is Solace Hana-san in?"

"How did you know?" Kai asked her.

She grinned. "Remember? My brother told me? I remember." The nurse gave her the directions and blinked.

"Why was that girl wearing hospital clothing?" Her eyes widened in realization. "Otani-sensei!" she cried, seeing the said man pass. Back to our main characters, Kai and Natsumi were outside Hana-san's hospital room. Natsumi was panicking as the doctors went back and forth to try to control Hana-san's coughing fit. She found it somewhat strange that she was worrying for this woman who she hadn't seen for years.

Finally, everything seemed to slow down. Natsumi barged into the room. "Mother?!" Hyun and Van followed them. The old woman smiled.

"Come closer, Dear." Natsumi walked towards her mother, who grasped one of her hand. "Thank you...for coming...with him." With a glance towards Kai, she addressed him, "Yutaka-san, please take care of my only daughter." Kai nodded mutely, watching her. "Now...my dying wish..." Suddenly, Kai noticed that her voice was hoarse and raspy. She coughed, causing everyone to be frantic. Calming down, she closed her eyes.

"Mother?" Natsumi whispered, a tear sliding down her cheek.

Otani-sensei came in and escorted the young woman out as another doctor took care of Hana-san.

~*~

"Ah! Don't jump!" Kai cried, hugging Natsumi. She scoffed--now dressed in a black sweater and pleated skirt with knee-high black boots. Her smirk faded into a frown as she sat down in Kai's lap. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head.

Kai sighed and rested his head on her shoulder.

"What's wrong with you?" she retorted.

"We finally get to see her...but she died..." Kai murmured.

"Isn't that okay? We got to see her before she died, and she got to see me with you," Natsumi replied. "Kai-kun, I have something to tell you about the scars on my legs... They were because of my depression, my loneliness, and isolation. Nobody approached me, so I didn't talk to them. Hmm... One would call it anti-social. It was stupid, what I did, but I couldn't help that my life was a tad bit screwed up." Natsumi chuckled. "Even right now, I'm not sure if I should tell you this. Most of my life revolves around self-debate and choices."

"Isn't that a form of shyness?" Kai whispered in her ear. She blushed.

"W-well... I suppose," Natsumi mumbled.

Kai grinned. "Natsumi, did you know that I once said that shy girls were my type?" Natsumi rolled her eyes before Kai kissed her cheek. Her eyes widened and she felt heat rush to her cheek.

"K-K-K..."

"Ano... Would you like to start over?"

She shook her head. "No, I like the way things are progressing," she snapped quickly. Kai dropped his eyes.

"I see..."

"But that courage you mustered up won't be forgotten. Instead, I'll return it," Natsumi said softly before kissing him back.