• March 13th •
• 4am •
○ Ryuuji's P.O.V ○

I lay awake , staring at the ceiling. Ever since I went to that prison, I've repressed a memory and can't figure out what it is. I know I should just let it go, but for the past 2 months it's been keeping me awake.

I turned onto my side and looked out the window from the top bunk. When I saw the sun rising I sighed.

"Why? Why can't I sleep?" I whispered, careful not to wake up Junior.

I put my arm over my eyes, and finally, fell into deep sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

○ Ryuuji's P.O.V ○

Although he had fallen asleep, he kept on having horrible nightmares that seemed like flashbacks.

"*mumble* run *mumble* okasama (mother) *mumble* where's dad? *mumble* don't leave me alone, please." Ryuuji mumbled in his sleep.

He jolted forward in shock. His breathing was heavy and his chest was hurting from how fast his heart was beating.

He felt the cold sweat drip down the sides of his face. He looked under his bed to find Junior gone.

He had finally found that memory, and it wasn't one he wanted.

He knew his parents had died, but how they died became a repressed memory.

Before being kidnapped and after his parents death, he was a cold hearted guy. He never cared for anyone after that, and didn't care if anyone tried to help him, he knew he'd always be on his own.

Somehow after being kidnapped and experimented on, it pushed back those feelings making him seem like a regular guy. But now that that feeling has returned, he doesn't know if he'll be able to keep up that act.

He swung his legs over the bed and jumped down. He hung his head and walked to the bathroom.

~ 1 hour later ~

"Hey! Look who's awake!" Junior slapped him on the back.

"Hey" Ryuuji tried not to make it obvious he was hurting.

"Are you alright? You look pale." He tilted his head.

"I'm fine, honestly"

"Okay, if you say so. Come on, today's our last day" Junior grabbed Ryuuji's arm and ran outside.

When they got outside they saw Yumi and Aalia practicing martial arts togther.

"Hyah, hi-yah" the two of them sparred.

They were both good, all of their training was paying off.

It ended when they both moved too quickly at the same time and ended up kneeing each other in the stomach.

They both fell down in pain, but got up.

Sargent Hideko decended the stairs.

"AAAAAATTENTION!!!!"

The four of them lined up side to side, with their right and in a fist over their heart and their left hand in a fist at their lower back.

"I am proud of everyone of you" she paced in front of them.

"You have shown courage, determination and passion. It was an honor teaching such great students. You are now ready to start your missions"

Aalia thought "is she crying?"

"As much as it hurts to let you guys go, you are all ready to graduate from my school" she handed each of them a scroll.

"We will meet again" she bowed and left.

"Wow! I can't belive we graduated!" Aalia squealed.

"I'm so happy!" Yumi squealed too.

Junior joined in and the three of them were laughing, but Ryuuji couldn't find the need to smile or laugh. He just walked back to his room, hoping no one would spot him.

Yumi and Junior didn't seem to notice, but Aalia did.

"Why is he so sad all of a sudden?" she started to walk in his direction, but was pulled back by Yumi.

○ Ryuuji's P.O.V ○

"*sigh*" I closed the door and climbed to the top bunk.

I pulled the blanket over my head and closed my eyes.

"Why? Why can't I be happy?" It's not easy letting those memories go.

After 10 minutes I got up and started packing my things.

• 1pm •

We said our goodbyes to Sargent Hideko and left.

As we walked home I kept thinking about that day over and over agian.

I heard a faint noise, like someone was calling me and I snapped back to reality.

"Ryuuji. Ryuuji. Ryuuji!" I saw Aalia yelling to get my attention and pulling on my arm.

"Hm?" Was all I could say. When I looked at her I instantly looked away.

"Ryuuji what's wrong? You seem. Different" I avoided her gaze as best as possible.

"I'm fine"

"You don't seem like it. Please, talk to me"

"I said I'm fine" I raised my voice slightly and she fell silent.

● back at the mansion ●

I threw my backpack across the room and landed face first on my bed.

"I might as well get some sleep" I closed my eyes and soon I was surrounded by drakness.

"Where am i? Am I dreaming"

Suddenly I was little and staring at a fire and crying.

I woke up in a shock

"No, it's too painful" I combed my hands through my hair.

"I need some water" I grabbed a glass and filled it with water from the tap. I gulped it down.

I sat by the window and looked at the sky, it was raining heavily.

*knock knock*

"Come in"

I saw Aalia open the door and walk to me. She sat down beside me, with a pained look.

"Ryuuji, what's wrong? I know you said everything is fine, but I can tell it's not. Please just tell me, you can trust me."

She looked into my eyes with her beautiful blue and hazel ones.

"I..." I was at a loss for words and I felt my eyes start watering.

She seemed to notice and she looked even more sad and hugged me.

I was shocked at first, but I hugged her back. I didn't want to cry, I didn't want to show her my weakness.

I buried my face in her neck and held back the tears that threatened to spill.

I felt her hand rub my back soothingly and I hugged her tighter.

"Is it something to do with your parents? Were they mean to you? Did the treat you horribly?"

Her words seemed to make me mad. I let her go and frowned.

"Just let it go" I got up.

○ Aalia's P.O.V ○

I didn't mean to make him mad. I stood up and looked at him, but he avoided my gaze.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you mad. Just please tell me what's wrong."

"I said to let it go. It's no big deal"

"Yes it is! Why can't you trust me?!"

"Just stop, I'm fine"

"Stop it! I know you're not! Stop hiding it and just tell me!" I didn't know why I was yelling, but I couldn't stop. I could tell he was losing his patience with me.

"I, said. Let. It. Go" he frowned at me, but that didn't seem to stop my yelling.

"No I will not leave until you tell me!" My arm moved by itself and almost slapped Ryuuji, but he grabbed my wrist and squeezed it.

"Huh?!" He threw me at the wall and I arched my back in pain. I hit the wall hard, and the pain wasn't going away anytime soon.

"I said I'm fine! Stop trying to get into my personal life! No one cares about me, don't pretend to!" He yelled at me almost in tears. I could tell I made him angry, his eyes had a demonic red glow to them.

"Just stop. Don't pretend to care if you're just going to leave me in the end."

"Huh?" What is he talking about?

He had my wrist pinned against the wall and I could feel his nails digging into my skin. The pain from my back and wrist were excruciating and I felt like crying.

Ryuuji noticed and let me go. I just ran away, slamming the door behind me.

I felt tears run down my face as I ran to my room. I locked the door and sat by the window. I grabbed a pillow and cried into it.

"W-why did he do that? He's n-never hurt me b-before?" I kept stuttering.

I just looked out the window, my tears and the rain falling at the same time.

○ Ryuuji's P.O.V ○

I tried to calm down.

"Why did I do that? There was no reason. Great now I hurt her" I sighed and sat back down by the window.

I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

○ Third Person P.O.V ○

Ryuuji was now going to see that memory unfold before his eyes.

♢flashback♢

"Ehhehe" child laughs could be heard.

A woman, a man and their beautiful baby son sat in a kitchen laughing.

Their son was now 5 months old.

"You are so cute" the mother pinched her son's cheeks.

"Hohoho" the father laughed at his wife's actions.

They looked like the perfect family.

*knock knock*

"I'll get it" the father stood up and walked to the door as the mother put the baby's head on her shoulder and started burping him.

"How can I help you?" He asked the men at the door.

Suddenly one of them jabbed a knife in the father's stomach and he fell to the floor in pain.

*gasp* the mother instantly stood up.

"Kill her!" one of the men shouted as one stepped forward with a knife.

The father grabbed the guys ankle pulling him down and tackling him.

He looked at his wife and son with tears in his eyes. "Run!!!!!"

She ran as fast as she could holding her son tightly.

*bam!* a gunshot could he heard in the distance.

"After her!" She looked back and saw five men running after her.

She looked at her baby and ran for her life.

As she ran, her baby looked at the scene, not knowing what was happening. All he could see was a bright orange light emitting from what used to be his home.

She noticed that they were falling behind and quickly climbed a tree. She hid behind the leaves and covered the babies mouth with her hand so he wouldn't give away their hiding spot.

"Where did she go?"

"I don't know. But we need to find her"

"Let's split up"

They all split up. She waited a couple of hours to get down.

The baby had fallen asleep and she was glad.

She carefully walked out of the forest, making sure not to run into those men.

She saw a man on a horse with a wagon behind him.

She was skeptical about talking to him, but she needed to get to safety.

As she got closer to him, he looked familiar.

"Sophia?" He looked at her.

"George?" George was a friend of her husband's, he always visited them.

"What are you doing here It's dangerous?" He got off the horse and walked to her.

"Please you need to help me. Some men killed my husband and they are after me now."

"You!!" She looked back and saw the men from earlier.

"Please help me" tears rolled down her face.

"Quickly, get in the wagon" he pulled out a gun and started shooting at them.

When he saw that Sophia was on safely he jumped on the horse and quickly drove away.

She held her baby tightly as she hid behind the boxes so the bullets wouldn't hit her.

After two hours they were in a different town.

"Here take this money and stay here. They won't find you here, I will keep driving and lure them away from you."

"Thank you so much"

"Don't mention it"

He drove away and she instantly went to a store.

He gave her a lot of money and she bought some food and baby items.

She went to a motel and locked the door as soon as she got in.

She sighed in relief and looked down at her baby, he was smiling at her.

"Oh Ryuuji, I promise I won't let them hurt you"

~ 9 years later ~

Sophia hasn't seen those men in over nine years.

She got some jobs and bought a small apartment. She needed to pay for her son to go to school so she got multiple jobs.

Unfortunately, she worked very late and was always tired from her long day.

She had taught him how to cook so she didn't worry about making him a meal.

When she walked into the apartment she was greeted by a pleasant smell.

"Okasama!(mother)" Her son ran to her and she hugged him tightly.

"Come on! Food is ready!" She sat down at the table and he placed a plate in front of her.

They were rice balls with different meat fillings.

They both ate togther, happy.

"Okasama? Do you ever think dad will come back?" He looked at her with a sad expression.

She put down her glass and looked at him. "I'm not sure honey, but wherever he is, remember he loves you"

"And I love him too"

"I'm glad, now go to bed"

"Goodnight" he kissed her on the cheek and went to bed.

~ one week later ~

It was now Saturday and Sophia had a day off to spend with her son.

"Ryuuji I made lunch" he ran out of his room and sat down at the table.

*ding dong*

"I'll get it" she got up and looked out the peephole. And to her horror, she found the men from 9 years ago at the door.

She turned around and placed her finger on her lips, telling Ryuuji to be quiet.

He nodded, scared.

"We know you're in there!! Open up!!" They banged on the door.

She carefully walked towards her son, but one of the men had shot a bullet through the door and many followed after that.

One hit her shoulder, another her legs and another one through her chest.

"Okasama!!" The frightened boy yelled and ran to his mother.

The men broke the door and entered.

"Looks like the job is done"

"Almost" they smiled at each other as the young boy hugged his dying mother.

"Ryuuji... I love you....r-run *bam*" they shot her in her head, sending blood splattering all over the place.

They laughed and left.

"O-o-okasama" his tears fell onto his mother's face as he felt her body go cold.

"I love you too" he got up and ran outside.

"Someone please help!" He begged people to help him, but no one would look his way.

"Please" rain fell on him as he realized that no one cared.

He couldn't go back there, the image of his mother's dead body scarred him.

He sat in an alley and hugged his knees, crying hard.

~5 months later~

He was getting hungry, be didn't know how to steal so it wasn't easy getting food. Most of the time he just ate from the garbage.

"Excuse me? Have you heard of a woman named Sophia with a son named Ryuuji?" He heard a woman ask.

He looked and saw his aunt (his mom's sister)

"Aunt Rose!" He yelled and ran to her.

"Ryuuji?" She hugged him.

"I'm so happy to see you"

"Me too kid-o. Could you please take me to your house?"

"Sure" he took her there.

His mother's body was removed, but the blood stains were still there.

His aunt looked around and found some money. She stuffed it in her bra and left, he ran after her.

"AUNT ROSE!"

"What?" She frowned and looked at him.

"Please help me, I can't live on the streets anymore!" Tears fell down his face.

"Sorry kid, but I can't take care of you" she walked away and he grabbed her arm.

"Please! Please!" He cried harder and pulled her arm.

"Get off of me brat" she kicked him and left.

He walked back to the alley and cried.

"No one loves me, no one cares about me" he hugged his knees and fell asleep.