Continued From: When the World Falls Apart

Juka was wheeled down The familiar Mansion hallways upon his gurney by 2 medical professionals. Or at least the Mansion hallways should have been familiar, but instead of seeing the comforting tile floors and myriad of mutant boys and girls, all he saw were threats, threats all around him. He had thought Aura was his friend, thought she was a good person who had helped him find his precious kitties and she had betrayed him and tried to kill him, so why not all the children as well? Why not?

The trip the infirmary passed in a blur. Once again Juka tried to dismiss his bubble and once again it defied him. So not only was the world filled with evil and betrayal but even his precious bubble that had never done him wrong before, even that seemed to hate him. All he wanted was to pass into unconsciousness, to not have to feel the horrible pain flowing through his chest, pain from a wound Aura had dealt him, and to escape from the knowledge of the darkness in the world, the darkness in the hearts and minds of humans and mutants alike. But he couldn't. Perhaps he would never again be able to do so. Perhaps he would never again be able to live like a normal person. And even if his bubble did start obeying him again, he could never live as he had in the past again, could he? Knowing what he now did?

Juka lifted his head as far as the straps on the gurney would allow him to do so in order to get a better look at the wound he had taken. Odd that he hadn't yet seen what had happened to him, only felt it. Perhaps he dreaded to see it. The wound was horrible, a gaping hole in his chest, just below his right shoulder. There should have been blood and a lot of it, yet somehow there wasn't a drop of it. Somehow he was preserved in his current state, barely alive and filled with an agony of pain and yet not able to die, not able to bleed. He wished he could die. He wished it would end.

Shana walked down to the infirmary she had that Juka had been hurt badly. Juka's nature was not Shana's favorite, but he had been quite nice to her and in a way Aura saw a kinship, even if their was not one. She was trying to blend in and be female, which she was finding quite easy, but juka well was a man in a dress and happy about it. The concept was hard for Shana to truely grasp, she watched Juka wishing she had his confidence or atleast that which he projected. . So Shana had left the fortress she called a room and ventured down to the medical area.

Shana had rushed blindly into the the area whare Juka was, and fought very hard to keep the contents of her breakfast in her breakfast from finding the floor. The would was horrible, the cut looked like it was very deep, in fact, had a human taken the blow they likely would have been dead from the bleeding alone, but their was no blood. As bad as it looked the blood was absent. The pain was evident on Juka's face and that look alone upset Shana, she had not known Juka long but he did not seem the type to be upset or sad.

Shana conferred with a Doctor and found out Juka's was bubble preventing them from doing any more then telling him it would all be ok. With a sight and a tear in her Eye she moved bravely to Juka's bedside. She smiled as best she could as she walked up to him "Im so happy your still alive" she said looking at him, it was hard not to cry right there, but she was trying to stay strong for him. "What happened to you, what kind of monster did this?" she asked her tone showing she was upset by what happened to him.

Kasumi is walking down as she sees what is going on soon her eyes grow wide. She sees Shana and Juka. Soon her heart starts to beat fast what could it be?! She did not care soon she runs as she sides to stop forgetting that she has work out shoes on. Some of her long red hair falls over her shoulders. Kasumi's eyes looked to Shana and Juka. Shana;s voice comes to her ears as she speaks keeping her voice clam and steady "It will be alright Juka. Do not worry it will be all alright."

Kasumi gives Juka a gentle smile as she stands there. She is not sure how she can clam him down. She sighs a little bit. She knows how it felt when she almost died that one day. The wound that Juka has is nothing to what she had. Kasumi remembers that she almost died that day. She hated that day. Yet she will keep that in the back of her mind. Soon her hand rest on Juka's shoulder as she smiles more. She will keep him clam and keep herself clam like she always does.

Even if her heart is pounding in her chest. She would not give it away. She thought a hug might be to much for him right now. But always a hug made her feel better but she was a woman after all. So he may get scared of freak out she will not go any father "I am happy that you are still with us." She has seen Juka around yet she has not got to talk to him yet. What a meeting eh? Soon she shakes her head "I am Kasumi" She speaks in a soft voice.

Juka closed his eyes tightly, trying to block in a vain effort to both block out the pain and ignore everything that was going on around him. He heard conversation going on around him, the now familiar voices of the paramedics talking to an all together unfamiliar voice, presumedly that of the Mansion healer or doctor or whatever he happened to be. The voices got more distant for a few minutes, presumedly because the medical professionals had moved out of hearing distance to discuss him privately. A few minutes later the unfamiliar voice returned.

The unfamiliar voice began talking to Juka and it took him a minute to tear his mind away from the horror in his chest to make out the words. He was, apparently, being asked to remove the bubble. He was being explained that nothing could be done for him unless he did so. "Can't" Juka said weakly, despairingly. He kept his eyes tightly closed. Eventually the voice stopped speaking but he could hear sounds of someone moving around. He felt pressure on his bubble, as if someone was trying to test its bounds and how it functioned. And then, finally, he was left alone in silence.

The silence was the worst part, that and the feeling of alonness. As much as Juka had wanted the doctor to leave him be, suddenly now that he was gone Juka couldn't take it. He couldn't take being alone with his thoughts and nightmares and pain. He needed comfort, not that he could trust anyone who offered it, not anymore. And then, as if his prayers had been answered, not that god, if he even existed, gave any sort of care about him anyway, Shana appeared and although he didn't know her well, he took comfort in her presence. At least he was no longer alone. And then another woman appeared almost immediately afterwards, someone he had seen around the Mansion, quite difficult to miss given that she was spotted, but hadn't had the opportunity to meet.

"I'm not sure that I'm happy to still be alive," Juka answer, despairingly. He looked down at the gaping hole in his chest. "Not only do I almost get killed by my power betrays me. The only thing I ever held truly dear and it betrays me when I need it most.

"I was attacked by someone I thought was a friend, she helped me find my kitties. Her name is Aura and she's a murderer. I tried to stop her but..." He cut himself off abruptly. "I wish we could have met in better circumstances Kasumi. I'm not normally like this."

"I believe your powers are acting as they should, Juka, without that bubble, the blood loss alone would have killed you. Your powers have saved you Juka. I have heard of Aura.....however i think it may be best to let Kasumi handle that part. Some people simply can not understand peace, juka. I Know it hurts and not your body but in your mind as well. The fact that it hurts just makes you a person" she said to him still smiling though it was hard. she regretfully had to look away from Juka and take a slightly less direct view of the wound.

"From hat Sumi has told me, Aura is a strong fighter wo fights all the time. You tried to do what was right, their's no shame in that" she said softly wrapping her Arm around Kasumi's neck. Both to support her, and herself. Juka's wound was not the real issue here, no his mental state was, he had to pull through this, had to beat this. She was confident he could do this, but figured he would need a bit of help as well. She was glad she had finale reduced the urge to puke right thare. One of many reasons she had made a lousy solider. Why did this Aura girl do this to her friends, and had she killed those men? Their had to be a reason for it.

"Wait till you see him healed" she said to kasmui really wanting the flamboyant Mutant to get up to his old self again. True it could be a bit much for her, but maybe that was her fault, maybe she simply disliked the attention more then she should that he drew to all around him.

Kasumi shows tears in her eyes soon she wraps her arms around Juka speaking in a sad voice "Aura had done the same to me. But we are here now." She backs up as she nods to herself "You to not have to worry alright? I am so happy that you made it. I will be your friend no matter what." Kasumi smiles more soon Shana is holding on to her as Kasumi wraps her arm around Shana;s wast to keep her up.

Smiling still to Juka as she keeps her gentle green eyes on her. Kasumi has no evil bone in her body or any want to hurt anyone in this world. She hated seen others be hurt "On you are healed there will be no marks... I was healed and there was no scar left on my body. I think I see one but it is in my mind. No one but me sees it." Closes her eyes as she sighs "I know it is very hard to get over a close friend hurting you. But Juka you have my word that I will never harm you."

Once again Kasumi nods as her eyes show a deep passion "We are now friends and I will not let anything bad happen to you." Her voice becomes powerful and proud as she speaks of this but she is not lieing. She will not let anything happen to Juka. Kasumi fights for the rights of others form her passion and love for everyone in this world. She thinks that every one does not need to fight. That fighting is useless and will lead to pan. In this case she is very right. All that fighting has brought is pain to herself and Juka. She hopes that it does make him feel better.

Juka knew that what Shana was saying was true, that his powers were preserving his life. It was just that, at that very moment, he wasn't certain that he wanted his life to be preserved. What was the point of living when the world was that dark and that evil? And what quality of life could he possibly have when he was condemned to be in as much pain as he currently was? He could barely muster a smile in return for her kind words.

"Do you think trying to do the right thing is worth it? When this is the result? Do you think it even makes a difference? She's still out there, still killing. What can I do, what can anyone do, against someone like that?" Despair coloured his words. Through the despair, however, he saw the faintness glimmer of light. Here was Shana, trying to comfort him in his time of greatest need and pain and for no personal benefit of her own. Did that mean that there was some good in the world after all? Something worth fighting for?

And then there was Kasumi, a stranger who had been through the same thing as he had and she had pushed through it. That meant that surely he could as well, couldn't he? "No one can heal me so long as my bubble remains around me. No one can touch me, no one can operate on me effectively. It preserves me but it doesn't help me." Frustration that. That he could live but not be healed. He accepted Kasumi's embrace, the bubble contracting as she wrapped her arms around him compacting. He couldn't feel her physical touch, but the fact that she offered such comfort was enough.

"You don't know what this means to me," he said, his voice breaking. "I don't know what will become of me." At that moment one of the doctor's returned, offering instructions on how Juka might bind his wound so that it would heal properly and avoid infection. Though he was fairly certain that infection was not a risk so long as his bubble remained. He also offered him a pill to help with the pain. Extending a tendril he accepted the pill and moved it into his bubble. Swallowing it he waited for its effects.

"Of course it was Juka, after all if someone does not try how many more out there might die? By confronting her you may well have saved more then a few people life's. You got hurt yes, but someone brave, like you will stop her some day and show her how wrong she has been to so willingly hurt people. Still i wonder why she left you alive? Maybe their is a Little good in her after all" she said the last part in a bit more of a whisper. She regretted saying it once she did, the last think Juka likely wanted was to hear sympathy for his attacker. Still she could not help it, Shana tried to see the good in everyone, even people like Aura, their had to be a reason she was doing this.

"Love and regretfully pain are apart of the world, don't let this event take away from that happy person you always were, in fact embrace it more, as now you can understand how valuable that really is" she said to him, watching as he took the pill. She wished she could help but their really was nothing she could do. "bringing peace and joy into the world is very importent, i have often wished i knew how to be as care free as you always seem be" she said honestly, she did admire Juka for that wished she could embrace it herself, but it was just so hard, more so when juka made it seem effortless.

"Ask the doctor to talk to one of those in charge of the mansion, I'm sure do to you and Kasumi, they will do something to stop her, it id part of their job to keep us safe right?" she asked with a smile still trying to give Juka hope, barely noticing her stomach failed to hurt anymore. "Pain can be hard to deal with Juka, but the worst pain is in here" she said holding her hand to her chest. "I left my home country trying to run from it, but I'm still just the scared person i always was, to get better Juka you must get over what Aura did" she said moving closer to him.

Kasumi moving her eyes form Juka to Shana as she nods "I know it hurts really bad Juka not in the body but the mind and the heart." Looking down with her eyes as she shakes her head soon her hand comes up as she wipes a tear away with her fingers "I am still hurt after what Aura did to me... if it was not for the others I would of died right then and there." Closes her eyes as she sighs "Do not forget people that care for you Juka not ever."

Kasumi sounds much like a mother with her soft soothing voice. With the deep caring with in her words. Kasumi is trying her best not to cry yet the pain with in her heart is still new. Aura was one of first friends that she made here soon she nods to Shana "My mom and dad is on the other side of the US so I know how you feel." Soon she presses her lips together "That is why we have to stick together when we are hurting." She nods "It will be the best for all of us.

Kasumi smiles to both of them as she rest a hand on Juka's shoulder then Shana's shoulder "As long as you can find hope we will be alright."Some of her hair falls over her eyes. She looks at Juka as he takes the pill "If you need help to your room I will be more then willing to help you." She did not want to leave Juka alone right now. She will help him anyway that she can.

Juka never knew that people actually cared for him this deeply. He knew people liked him and often envied him. He knew that they enjoyed seeing him perform and were often shocked by his appearance and his antics. But that someone actually cared what happened to him beyond whatever his next outrageous act happened to be? It was an entirely new experience. Even his darly Jewely had never shown this level of affection towards him, more of an amused tolerance than anything else. These two women, one who he barely knew and the other who he had just met and the depth of caring they showed him, words couldn't properly describe what it meant to him. He had no idea how to show his gratitude and had no idea what he had done to deserve such people in his life. He knew at that moment, however, that he would prove himself worthy of it, no matter what it took. No longer would he be Juka Miami, the visual kei star and physical model of perfection. He would now be something more, something that mattered. Because people thought he mattered.

"I think...she was having fun," Juka tried to put Aura's attitude during the fight into words that made sense. "I don't think she was trying to kill me at all. I think she wanted a challenge and the only reason she attacked me was because I was trying to defend a human. I think if I wasn't a mutant she would have killed me but she left me alive because of what I am. I don't think she hates me at all." It was an odd and puzzling realization. How could one commit such a hanous act against someone they didn't hate? Someone that they, perhaps, even still liked? It didn't make any sense and yet he was fairly certain it was true. "She has to be stopped though. Before she hurts or kills anyone else. She has to be stopped."

Juka took what comfort he could from the two women but it was a bitter comfort at best. "My parents hate me." It was a reality he rarely thought about and one that was painful to face. "They don't even know I'm a mutant and they still hate me. To them I'm a failure. It doesn't matter that I was adored by countless fans and that I was good at what I did, I'm still a failure in their eyes. They sent me here so that their 'problem' would go away. You're lucky to have parents that care."

Juka began bandaging his wound as the doctor suggested he do, binding it tight. He waited for the effects of the pill to kick in but so far there was nothing. Was it supposed to take that long to work? Or was it perhaps yet another result of his newfound power? It would be just his luck that he couldn't even gain the partial reprieve that the painkiller could offer him.

"I don't think I'm able to sleep. I don't think my bubble will let me." He was struck by how ridiculous that sounded, no matter its truth. "But if you could stay with me..." he looked from Shana to Kasumi and back again. "I really don't want to be alone right now."

"Sounds like she has some type of mutant supremacy ideas, it would explain why she did not kill you, more so if she only attacked you for protecting humans. "From what Kasumi told me she is young as well, she might not even understand what shes doing is wrong" Shana said trying to peace together what the girl may have been thinking, in her attack. Their was always a reason and though the reason for Juka was made clear by Juka's words her seeming hatred for Humans did not. "But from what Kasumi told me, their were no Humans around when she was hurt" she said in thought.

"What matters Most Juka is that you like and enjoy ho you are, if they beleive such things, well that will just have to be their loss, but if they did not we would have never had the pleasure of meeting you" she said keeping her smile. "My Mother cared for me as well, it was her reason for sending me all this way" she said implying her own might well be different. It helped that kasumi was good at comforting people as well, Shana was unsure she could make it through this without her friends support.

"We can stay as long as you need us" Shana said breaking away from kasumi for a moment. She had to admit the area was making her nervous, Doctors always did as their exams made discovering her easy. "You have friends which means you never have to be alone" she went on to explain, and despite her own discomfort with the idea, she would stay because though annoying at times, Juka was her friend and he needed help. Shana had always liked to help people, even those she did not care for, even had it been Aura sitting here, she would have done her best to help. Still he was right, Aura had to be stopped, Shana began to think about trying to reason with Aura but she knew Kausmi and Juka would try and stop her so she kept the idea to herself.

Soon Kasumi sits by Juka as she wraps a arm around his shoulder and nods "I can do that. I know Shana will stay also. I will not leave you behind in your time of need." Keeping a arm around Juka. Kasumi deeply wished that she could do more for him but if staying with him is what he needed then she will stay. Soon Kasumi soon smiles "We can go to my room. My mom and dad got me a PS3 for my birth day and I have a lot bored games also. I can make us something to eat also."

Kasumi beams she loves to cook she will have to make something for Shin soon. Well tonight she can not she will stay with Juka "We can all make something." Something like that will always make people feel better. Some of her hair falls over her eyes. Kasumi is growing her hair out now. She has had her hair short for a very long time "We can do each others hair and make-up also." She wants to see how she looks when Juka gets a hold of her. He does such wounder full work on himself that she wants to find out everything.

Kasumi smiles to Shana as she nods "We will all have fun I think we all need a night of this." Kasumi has been working so hard she needs something like this. She hopes that she can make Juka feel better also but she has a naet to do things like this. Friends will always come first in her book always.

Juka listened to everything Shana had to say about Aura, replaying the scene with her over in his head. Mutant supremist. Yes, that sounded right to him. But to say that she didn't know what she was doing, no matter how young she might have been, that couldn't be possible could it? One couldn't commit acts like that and be completely unaware of their personal evil could they? It might have been fair to say that her circumstances forged her and thus her actions and beliefs weren't entirely her fault, but Juka wasn't nearly ready to release her of responsibility. Some actions could be mediated by circumstances, but actions like that, actions so callous and so evil, it didn't matter the circumstances. To kill someone was evil, no matter the reasons why. No one had the right to deciede who got to live and who got to die.

"She knew what she was doing," Juka disagreed steelily. He was now feeling certain that somehow his bubble was preventing the painkillers from working. "But she was a mutant supremist. If I hadn't stepped in she would have..." he had to stop speaking and forcibly suppress the images of her murders from playing through his head once again. "If I hadn't stepped in she woudl have kept killing, I know she would have. And she may even have continued killing after I left. How can anyone do things like that?" He felt like a lost little child.

"Thank you both from the bottom of my heart for staying with me," Juka told them both, managing a weak but authentic smile. "I would love to come to your room, Kasumi dear. Much better than this dreary place. Although I think it might be a little difficult to do my makeup since I'm stuck in a bubble." It was said with a wry smirk.