The Differences

Part One: Chapter Three

Even though neither could hear Onyx's scream, they knew very well his emotions. His pain. From the bottom of their hearts they could feel his blazing anger, his crestfallen sadness, and his shallow embarrassment. However, he was the only one who experienced those emotions. Days, weeks, went by. Maeko remained unphased. The three remained broken for the longest time. Both Onyx and Zero had lost their best friend, and only Zero knew Maeko murdered her. Not even Maeko was conscious or accepting of the fact that she just committed her very first murder.

"I could've sworn it was a dream. It had to be a dream. There is no way I'd ever bare the hands of someone who is a murderer" thought Maeko. Maeko was startled by a knock on her door. She opened the door cautiously hiding behind it. The door revealed a Zero, suited in black. She immediately shut the door in his face. "HEY MAEKO- OPEN UP!" he said banging even louder on the door. Maeko sat with her back against the door covering her ears with her hands and closing her eyes. The knocking stopped. Maeko opened her eyes, looked up, and walked away from the door. Seconds later, Zero had broken through the door which was now in pieces. "YOU JUST BROKE MY DOOR!" said Maeko. "I have my reasons..." said Zero. "What are your stupid reasons?" asked Maeko.

"Faith's funeral is today. You're attending"

"T-today...? I would feel really bad if I didn't go..."

"Yeah. Get ready and dressed. It starts in three hours"

Maeko rushed up the stairs and threw on a black dress. "How am I gonna hide my ears?! I can't wear my beanie" said Maeko. "You can wear a hat" said Zero. "There's almost no hat I can possibly wear that will look natural at a funeral" said Maeko. "There is a hat, but it's mens.." said Zero. "You don't mean..." said Maeko. Zero sighed. "I thought of this problem ahead of time, so I already bought you a fitted suit" said Zero. "How did you know my size?" asked Maeko. "I guessed.." said Zero.

Maeko changed out of the dress into a suit. It was very tight, but it fit. "Okay, I'm ready to go..." said Maeko. "Get in the car. I got us a limo" said Zero. "Okay...wait what? How?" asked Maeko. "Shhh" said Zero, pushing Maeko in the dark limo. Inside were several other people. Onyx, and another girl and a guy of which she didn't know. The girl had long black hair that faded into red. Her eyes were a glowing green. She was very mature looking. The guy had red hair and looked very approachable. "Will you guys please introduce yourself to Moe? He only recently met Faith and doesn't know many people" said Zero, pointing at Maeko. "Ahhh, I'm Onyx" said Onyx. "I'm Calypso," said the red/black haired girl. "I'm Dingo" said the red haired guy.

"Ahh..looks like I'm the only girl here. Man, that sucks" said Calypso. They arrived at the funeral shortly after getting in the limo, and the funeral service initiated.

"We'd like to um- thank you all! For...coming out to see this..." said the guy in front of the podium. Maeko nudged Zero. "He doesn't know what he's talking about does he..?" asked Maeko. "Why...did she have to die?" the man began crying. Zero stood up. "Sir, if it is too much trouble for you, I can finish your speech" said Zero. The man curled up on the ground. "It was probably you, wasn't it..." he said. "YOU WERE THE ONE WHO KILLED MY DAUGHTER, RIGHT? YOU CATS SHOULD'VE NEVER BEEN ACCEPTED AS HUMANS" he said. "What has this funeral turned into? He's going mad..." Maeko thought to herself.

Just when she thought it couldn't get any worse, he pulled out a gun. Gasps and screams were heard all over the place. He fired twice at Zero. Zero sped out of the way and in a flash he had restrained Lemon's father. The second bullet was in Calpyso's fingers. She was holding it and looking at it between her fingers, then she crushed it. "You sure are having fun aren't you? You're not even her real father. You're an impostor. Where is her real father, old man?" Calypso said, turning her head to look at the man. Zero ripped off the man's wig to reveal it was not indeed her father but an impostor. Onyx stood up.

"Can we please...just have a funeral like normal people? Don't you think that Lemo-, no, Faith, just wants a peaceful funeral? Why can't anything ever be peaceful.." said Onyx. Dingo called the police, and the man was arrested. The funeral continued as planned. A new girl walked up to the podium and took over the crazy man's place. "Some of you may not know me, but I am one of Faith's best friends. My name is Rayne" said the girl. She looked around the crowd. "Faith never told you guys about me because she likes to keep my identity a secret. I'd like to inform you all of one thing. Faith's death was no accident. She was murdered. How do I know this? I was a witness. And the murderer is present, here at this funeral" said Rayne. Everyone ran and panicked. Maeko stared at Rayne. "Come on, we gotta go before someone suspects you!" said Zero. Maeko remained frozen.

Zero picked up Maeko and ran down the street into an alleyway. "Why are you helping me get away with this?" asked Maeko. "I don't think it's your fault that you killed her" said Zero. Suddenly, a dark figure appeared in the shadows of the alley. "Figures you were the killer" the figure stepped out of the shadows. "And you helping her? I sure didn't expect that, Zero" said Calpyso.