Author's Notes: Setting three years after coming back from the Digital World.


Remembering

Chapter One: Alone With You

Izumi sat there, eyeing the body she knew as Minamoto Kouji. He was wearing his indigo brown-striped bandanna around, wrapped on his forehead. He wasn't wearing his usual blue jacket, yellow shirt, and black pants. Instead was in hospital clothes; hooked onto an intravenous solution. He was in pain and groaned every couple of hours. Izumi fixed the bandages that came loose every time he tossed and turned. She sat in her chair, gazing at his silently, hoping he would wake up and mumble, "I'm okay, Izumi," or even a blunt, "I'm fine, so leave me alone." Kouji turned his resting head towards the direction of Izumi, either unconscious or asleep, she didn't know. Izumi gazed at him, seeing he was sleeping peacefully, yet dripping in pain and agony at the same time. She leaned slowly to his bed and untied his bandanna and set it aside on the nightstand. He was sweating. Izumi got up, and requested from the nurse for a bowl of ice water and a washcloth. She came back with the items and sat in her chair. She soaked the cloth into the ice water, wrung it to release excess water, and slowly raised it to Kouji's forehead, gently wiping it. She set the bowl aside and pulled up his blanket covers as to not let him catch cold. She walked outside of his room, sliding the door behind her. She leaned against the wall next to his doorframe; slowly coming down into a sitting position, then gave a heavy sigh. Minamoto Kouji was behind her, resting calmly in a room behind her, taking care of him. Although his stepmother, Satomi, his father, Kousei, and his brother, Kouichi were there to take care of him, none other than Izumi cared about Kouji's well being the most. She just didn't know it yet. As she sat on the cold green marble floor, she thought of all that happened earlier this day.

It was a sunny day in Jiyuugaoka. Izumi had an 'as-usual' boring day of eighth grade. She was walking home, feeling upset and annoyed with her so-called friends. They were angry with her again only because Izumi didn't wish to go to the library with them. As she was on her way to the subway to go home, she spotted Kouji among the crowd, casually walking, hands in pockets, and all. She was going to say "Hello" to him despite the fact that he'd probably ignore her or stare at her for three seconds then walk away. As they walked closer to each other, Izumi walked up to Kouji.

"Good afternoon, Kouji," Izumi said cheerfully.

"Hi," Kouji said bluntly, with no feelings whatsoever, not even looking up.

He walked away to the intersection, walking away from Izumi. Izumi was still staring at him from behind. "Kouji…" she thought, as Kouji looked both ways to see any incoming cars. Izumi was still standing still though the moving crowd, staring at him walk away across the street. Kouji stepped into the intersection and crossed. As he was twenty feet away from his destination, a black car turned from the right side of where Kouji was crossing was driving at a fast rate. The person in the car was also driving against traffic, seemed to be speeding, and was heading towards Kouji. He gasped as the car kept coming. Fortunately, Kouji had quick instincts and attempted to run out of the way. Unfortunately, he was too late and the side of the car badly came in contact with his clavicle and the most part of his left shoulder. Kouji reeled around twice before hitting the black gravel ground, flat on his cheek, unconscious. Izumi stared in horror of what she had just seen in front of her emerald eyes.

"Kouji!" she called, running to him, not bothering to look if any incoming cars were approaching. She ran to his side; put her hand on his right hand, which was lying on the asphalt.

"Kouji, are you all right? Please, just wake up Kouji…" and as she knew it, she was taken with him to the paramedics and to the local Jiyuugaoka Hospital, sitting outside of Kouji's room. She remained there, thinking of all that had just currently happened. It felt like fate. Just then, her cell phone rang. It was her mother.

"Hello mom," Izumi said casually.

"Izumi! Where are you?" Mrs. Orimoto said in a jumpy tone.

"I'm at the Jiyuugaoka Medical Hospital, watch—"

"What? You're at a hospital? Are you hurt? What are you doing there?" she replied curiously, and very fast.

"Mom, I'm fine… I'm just watching over a friend."

"A friend? Which friend?"

"Someone from school."

"What happened?"

"I'll… I'll tell you later, mom," Izumi said, and turned off her phone, and put it back in her bag. She felt afflicted hanging up on her mother, but she didn't want to worry her. She gradually stood up, and stared into the ceiling. She looked down at the floor, then slid the door to Kouji's room, and went to the cushioned chair next to Kouji's bed, where he was still resting tranquilly. She fixed the bandages on Kouji's face, where he had slammed his cheek on the road. Just then, she heard some footsteps coming from the door. She turned her head. The door slid slowly. It was Kouji's family.

"Excuse me, this is Kouji's room, am I correct?" Mr. Kousei Minamoto asked.

"Yes, it is," Izumi said raspilly though her throat while standing up slowly. Mrs. Satomi Minamoto ran to Kouji's side, which was still lying down, asleep.

"Kouji!" she said in despair.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" Mr. Minamoto asked with concern to Izumi.

"My name is Orimoto Izumi. I am a friend from school."

"Kouji's never talked about any of his friends," Mr. Minamoto questioned.

"Well, I'm an acquaintance."

"Can you please tell us what happened?" Mrs. Minamoto asked, pulling up a chair.

"I was on my way to the subway home and I saw Kouji walking along the sidewalk. He approached the intersection when a black car, the driver is still anonymous, came in contact with Kouji. Kouji attempted to run away, but it was too late, and the car rammed into Kouji's shoulder. The doctor told me that his clavicle is completely shattered and he might need an operation. He is still unconscious until now," Izumi said in a downcast tone, very quietly. She cleared her throat.

Mrs. Minamoto had a tear in her eye, but she held back. Mr. Minamoto took a step forward and said to Izumi,

"Thank you very much, Izumi. We are indebted to you. We will take care of Kouji now."

Izumi didn't say anything, but she didn't desire to leave Kouji in his condition. But she got up anyway, opened the door, and slid it behind her. She walked through the bland halls, her fuchsia shoes making squeak noises. She exited the hospital and headed for the subway home. She paid her fare, walked up the stairs, and boarded the train home. She walked slowly to her home. It was a warm night. She knocked on the door of her house, and her mother instantly opened the door.

"Orimoto Izumi! Just where have you been?" she asked in a furious tone.

"I already told you on the phone where I was," Izumi said softy, entered through the door and took her shoes off.

"Well, you should have told me WHY you were there."

"Mom, a friend was hit by a car. I was the only one who knew was familiar with this person."

"And who is this person?"

"Someone at school," Izumi concluded and walked to the kitchen.

"Who, may I ask, Izumi?" Mrs. Orimoto asked again, following her to the kitchen.

Izumi sighed. "Mimamoto Kouji, Mom," Izumi said, opening the refrigerator, grabbing a bottle of water.

"I don't know this person, but I have to run to work. They called. I made you some instant ramen. Your father is still at work. Bye Izumi," Mrs. Orimoto said, and walked to the door. "When I get home, I'd like to hear more about this situation," she concluded and ran out the door.

Izumi took the ramen to her room and sat on the white carpet. She sat quietly in her room, slurping her noodles. "Why did I watch over Kouji?" she asked herself. "He's never been nice to me. He's so pessimistic. Always tells me I'm either annoying or wants to be alone. It's been three years since we came from the Digital World… come to think of it… he has done a lot for me." Izumi sat there, clutching her ramen, thinking of everything that happened with him. She remembered the time he came out to save her when she had collapsed from the dangers of Woodmon. The time he protected her when Chakkumon went berserk. When he had came up with the idea to free her from the clutches of Calamaramon. She also thought of the times she had accidentally clung to Kouji. Like when they were exploring the Dark Area and clung to Kouji. She chuckled at the thought and finished the remains of her ramen.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Mr. and Mrs. Minamoto were still there, sitting at Kouji's side, staring at him, hoping to wake up.

"Kouji, I'm sorry," Mrs. Minamoto said, with a teardrop falling from her eye. Mr. Minamoto came by her side and comforted her. All the while, Kouji was in his bed while many thoughts illuminated throughout his mind. He saw many images of Izumi, one where she was running to him. Another one where she was calling his name. While all this was going though his head, he was starting to frown. Mrs. Minamoto was staring sadly at him. "I wonder what he's thinking," she said softly to Mr. Minamoto. "He's frowning," he said five seconds after. Kouji sprung awake. He opened his eyelids gradually. Mrs. Minamoto's eyes lit up, seeing that his son was finally waking up.

"Orimoto!" he whispered loudly through his breath.

End Chapter One: Alone with you.

Onto Chapter Two.