Later, 3:00 PM~ I'm sorry for the sloppiness, Diary, but my hands are shaking so badly that I can barely write.

Papa's lab exploded.

I was standing right in front of the glass surrounding his crazy machine, as he and his friends discussed the finer points and Kaori checked on everything to make sure that it was alright. Mama stood with me, explaining what it did. After all, she did have the same qualifications as him as a scientist. That's how they met, in fact. But suddenly I looked back at Papa for a split second, and when I turned around the machine was surrounded by a dark smoke-like gas with purple lightning surging through it. Kaori ran over to Mama and I and asked if we saw it too. Papa didn't notice, but I nodded my head and Mama commented that something was wrong. They all looked toward Papa, his mouth wide open with horror. I looked back, and the dark matter was heading towards the glass. I tried to scream, but it was too late. And then, I guess, I....died? I don't remember being in my body, and heard Mama calling out to me but I couldn't see her. The next thing I remember is Papa gently shaking me, Kaori at his side. But she doesn't look like the Kaori that I know and Papa doesn't look right either. She was glaring at me with a look of loathing so intense that I had to turn away, and her clothing! Beforehand she had always dressed in simple modest, but attractive clothing under her lab coat. Now  the lab coat was gone and so was a lot of the cloth that usually covered her. Diary, her neckline nearly went down to her navel and her skirt couldn't have gone past her mid-thigh! She was hanging all over Papa, cooing in his ear and rubbing his shoulder. It was disgusting. And Papa, he didn't do anything to resist it! He had a warm expression on his face, but his eyes were stone cold. He also had an odd insignia on his left glasses lens- where did that come from? He said, "Hotaru...there will be some...changes around here from now on." His expression scared me so much that I almost cried, but that wasn't the worst part. "Oh, " he added, "your Mama is dead. You will now be in Kaori's care as I will not have enough free time to look after you. I have a new important project now and my lab is off limits unless you have permission. I have successfully gotten a grant to start Mugen Gakuen, the school that you will be attending from now on. Also, you will no longer be allowed to go to regular doctors; I will now take care of all of your medical needs. Understood? Good. Kaori, help Hotaru get situated." I couldn't believe it, treating me like something insignificant, preferring Kaori over me! And that..that..witch! She had the nerve to whine to him about watching over me! What has happened, Diary? Everything's different..even I am. Papa added a robotic arm to me! I'm not his daughter anymore, I'm his latest experiment! I look older too..more like11 than 8. What's wrong? What can I do to stop this all? I'm afraid...I wish Mama were still alive.

2 Months Later...

Entry Two, 4:00 PM~Hello, Diary! I haven't seen you in awhile, now have I? I guess I completely forgot about you after that...day. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to; I just wanted to forget everything. It's not that I don't love Mama, but our household changed in so many ways...Where to start? Kaori hates me. In front of Papa she calls me Hotaru-chan and acts all sticky sweet and weak, but away she's horrible! She calls me "Brat" and "Scum" and makes me do everything for her. And she makes me call her "Kaolinite-sama", where did that "nite" part come from? And her advances towards Papa are far more obvious. She follows him everywhere, often wears little else but a half-open lab coat, and insists on sharing a room with him, just in case "something happens". What a tramp. I need to push that to the back of my mind now though, I've got bigger problems to handle. I started school today, and for the first time in my life, I wasn't well-liked. I mean, before I had never been "Miss Popularity Queen", but I had always had a smattering of loyal friends. Now I'm not just ignored...I'm hated. They think that I'm weird because I'm wearing my winter uniform and it's spring, but..well, they don't understand. I showed them my scars and told them why, but they seemed even more repulsed...what did I do wrong, Diary? I know that you can't answer me, but writing here makes me feel better.

On to S...