True Remembrance.

Disclaimer: I do not own KHR. It's owned by Akira Amano, the author of the said series. If you want to use this format please credit me! Thanks.

One time, my friend who studies over at Kokuyo high invited me to go over their school for a tour; while we were walking, a guy walking in the corridors has caught my attention. I studied his mystifying looking face and his strangely attractive heterochromatic eyes that suddenly seem that I was hypnotized by him. And in that moment, I suddenly fell in love with him the first sight. I asked my friend "Hey, who's the guy?" I pointed to him walking in the corridor. "Huh? Him? Oh, that's Mukuro Rokudo. Well, never mind him…"

"Huh? Why? Is the guy really that unapproachable?"

"Yep, especially whenever his two creepy men are around. They really make us shiver with their creepiness. They just simply give me the hives..."

And so from hearing my friend's statement about him, I suddenly felt my admiration for him draining out. But then again, why should I give up just yet? I still have to see it for myself whether if the rumors about Mukuro are true.

When my tour around Kokuyo was over, I left for home on my own because my friend can't come with me on the way home together since there was an urgent matter she had to attend to.

As I was walking home back to Namimori, I was suddenly blocked out by some freak weirdo guys from another school. A gangster group, no doubt they are just by looking at their rowdy, tough-looking faces. And judging from the nasty and creepy, perverted look on their faces I could already tell that they also wanted something from me. I smell trouble brewing... and things are getting ugly.

I froze in where I stand. I attempted to neither run nor shout for help but I didn't because of a warning to do something much more badly than what they are supposed to do with me. And slowly, the group of nasty looking men started closing in on me. I glanced to the left, to the right and at the front and the back to see if there's someone approaching to help me, but there was no one in sight. I lost all my hopes and I just shut my eyes tight and I prayed that someone, anyone around would be able to help me in time.

"Ku fu fu fu…"

I heard a laugh. One by one, I could tell that the thugs are being taken care of as I can hear moans and groans coming from them. Defeated, they retreated and disappeared. I wonder who saved me.

"You can open your eyes now." A smooth voice spoke.

As I opened my eyes, it was Mukuro Rokudo of Kokuyo who was in front of me. I can't believe it, he's the one who saved me! Lucky, I thought.

"Th-thanks for saving me Mukuro-san…" I stuttered while saying my thanks.

"Ku fu fu fu… no need to. Those thugs are common around here so it's not advisable for a lady like you to stay around here for too long. You better get a move on. They might come back."

"I see. Thanks for the advice. Well then, I shall get going."

That night when I got home, I kept thinking about that event I wasn't able to go to sleep. I pictured his cool and calm face staring straight into me that makes me feel so bubbly. I kept screaming at the thought of that that I have woken up my mom and she went to my room and told me to get some sleep already.

In the morning of the following week, we were supposed to carry our painting materials to school for art class. And later on class, our teacher told us to do today a painting of something that inspires me to be more motivated in life. This is it! The timing couldn't ever be so perfect; it's a very reasonable excuse for me to go to Kokuyo see my crush (Mukuro) again.

I phoned my friend and I asked if I could go over there to do my painting because it's the place I've chosen to do my work. But she said no because they could never get such a permission themselves for students from other schools to do such work as that unless if it's something more of a collaboration. I sighed. I guess there's no getting through to him. And then I got an idea. I asked her to meet me outside their school right now.

My friend stood waiting outside carrying a small paper bag with clothes inside. As you can guess, I have asked her to let me borrow a set of uniform from their school so I can be able to go inside without any hassle.

As I approached Kokuyo High, my friend handed me the bag and led me to an unused facility to change clothes there. My senses were tingling with such excitement I can hardly wait to try their uniform on. And this is the first time that I was ever going to do this stuff just for the point of "stalking" is really nerve-wracking.

After I finished changing my clothes, I stepped outside wearing the Kokuyo uniform my friend borrowed for me. I also inquired which class Mukuro belongs to so I can time up his dismissal to get a chance to be able to study his face so I could be able to paint him. While I was already finishing the question I noticed my friend was raising a brow on my query.

"Are you really serious on doing that? Believe me that's just plain crazy. What did you ate last night that suddenly got you to start tailing him?"

"I know you're never gonna believe this but… he saved me from a bunch of thugs yesterday and he was so awesome…"

"Yeah right, well, ok if it's Mukuro you want then I won't stop you. Dismissal's in 10 minutes. Oh and one more thing before I go..."

"Yes?"

"You better keep an eye on the surroundings. Because you may never know, danger lurks everywhere. Keep your eyes and ears peeled open you hear? Call me if you need anything ok? Well good luck on your stalking business!"

"Wait! I didn't say I was stalking him!"

"OH, yes you did. Your face says so."

"Oh you wouldn't tell won't you…?"

"Haha, just relax. Your secret's safe with me. Go get 'im partner!"

And she goes back to where she came from, to her class I mean. As I watched my friend disappear into the side entrance to the building beside the unused facility, I set into motion in finding a good spot to position myself to get a clear view.

I decided I'd be waiting for him to come out underneath a huge tree in the front of the school where it can see all the students that would pass out the school. I readied my sketchbook, pencil and eraser. To my excitement and maybe, impatience for their class to be dismissed I kept frantically looking at my watch. A minute more to go…oh boy I can't wait.

A minute later, the school bell rings. It motions that classes are already over. I saw the students already pouring out. I scan the students going out one by one and keeping a very keen eye being careful not to miss Mukuro. But then I suddenly lost count with the heavy crowds that instantly made me dizzy. Now it's impossible to find him at this rate!

And then slowly, the crowds begin to thin out one by one. In that small group I can hardly spot him, where could he be? Or maybe he went to another exit? No, that can't be possible. My friend says that the only exit in the building is through that only gate except the fire exits which are not open unless activated by a fire or any natural disaster.

I was starting to have second thoughts to give up already and go home. Maybe he wasn't at school today after all. Or maybe, he found out that I was stalking him so he was avoiding me! Oh man, maybe he really was. As soon as the crowd had already evaporated by now, I was preparing to pack my stuff when something caught my eye. And then I saw someone left standing behind the crowds. My spirits rose in the instant that I saw him. Yes, it was none other than Mukuro.

Calming myself down, I immediately took the time to study his face and his posture. Once I think I've gotten the hang of it, I made a sketch of him in my sketchbook. I was already going to finish the last touches with it and so I lowered my sketchbook to study him again. And to my surprise, he was standing right in front of me! I leapt in surprise and was in a total mess. Mukuro laughed at me stumbling over in my materials.

"Oya oya, what's that you're doing?"

"W-what? Ah oh, nothing I'm just sketching…something…"

"Really, is that so? Did I distract you?"

"Ah, no I'm almost finished by the way ha ha ha…"

"Ok then, just keep it up. And oh, you wouldn't want to stay here late. There are a lot of bad guys in here you know."

"Yeah, I know. I'm packing up already. I'll be leaving a bit soon."

And with that, he left. As I watched him go out the gates I was suddenly like spellbound, like in a daze. I couldn't think of anything but that for the next two minutes. If you would say I was love struck. I finally snapped out of it when a guard tapped me in the back and I hurriedly packed all my stuff and ran home.

Back into my room, I was up all night doing my sketching on the canvass my lovely er, well you know who it is definitely didn't you! I sometimes get so frustrated doing his pi-I mean his awesome hair. Finally, after a rough 2 and a half hour work on the portrait, I was happy enough that I got it right. And then I started outlining it and then to coloring…

Before I knew it, morning was already pouring out of my windows because I was awakened by the strong beam of sunlight that hit my face.

"What time is it already~?"

I glanced at the clock beside my table. It read 7:15. What? 7:15! Oh my god I'm gonna be late already! I ran down the stairs in a panic frenzy into the bathroom to take an ultra short shower and hurriedly prepared for school.

I ate down my breakfast in a breeze and raced upstairs to get my bag and my finished canvass painting which was supposed to be passed later on this morning and back down again to have a running start for school. I said goodbye to mom and went on my way.

I took another look at my watch again. It read 7:50. I have only ten more minutes to reach my school in time before the bell rings. And it's still three blocks away, I can never reach it in time… even though I'm already tired from running I didn't stopped for time is of the essence and I simply can't afford to lose any minutes left.

I finally reached the final crossing path to the school. My watch now reads 7:58, only two minutes short for being late. And there's a heavy traffic jam occurring at the moment and it seems that it wouldn't subside that fast. What a great way to ruin my mood. I tapped my foot impatiently as I waited for the lights to turn red.

After a brief three minutes had passed and the vehicles had started to travel smoothly on the road. And then the red lights flashed. At last they finally let us through. I immediately made a running break from the crowd but it seems that I'll never be able to reach the school in time but huh? Why do I hear people telling me something? I turned to my side and all I can see is bright flashing lights and I saw my life before my eyes…

*Crash! Bang*

What the? What's happening? Why are there people crowding all around me? I was supposed to be in the school grounds now, why I was lying down? And slowly my vision faded out to black.

Mom was sitting next to a hospital bed in Namimori General Hospital. She was taking care of her daughter who was hit and run by an over speeding vehicle. And for a week now, she still hasn't woken up yet from her coma.

*knock knock*

There was somebody at the door. Mom opened it and she had let the visitor inside. It was her daughter's friend who studied at Kokuyo high who decided to drop by and check in on her. She seems so worried and concerned about what happened to her. The friend placed the flowers she had brought in the vase beside the patient lying still on the bed.

"My poor friend, what did she ever do to deserve such a thing like this?"

"Life is really unpredictable, my dear. Things like that happen. But don't be that upset my dear sooner or later she'll be ok."

"I sure hope so. Hey, wake up soon ok? I miss you so much…"

After a half hour, the friend said goodbye and left. Mom approached the patient on the bed and sat again on the chair beside it. Grasping the small, petite hands she silently murmured a prayer to the heavens above. Wishing that she would wake up soon…

The night was already coming. Mom prepares all the stuff that she needs to carry home. Unfortunately, even if she wanted to stay here overnight, she couldn't because there's everyone waiting for her at their house. She stroked gently her daughter's face and kissed her in the forehead.

"I'm sorry I have to leave honey, but don't worry I'll be over here again the next day. Good night."

With a final look at her daughter, she left.

Meanwhile…

"Ken, Chikusa I'm going out for a walk."

"Sure Mukuro-sama."

"Please take care of yourself."

And Mukuro suddenly disappeared into the mist.

Back at the hospital, a cool wind suddenly encircled the room accompanied by some wisps of indigo. And from that, something materialized. And in the darkness, an eerily pair of eyes can be seen.

Mukuro Rokudo decided to pay a little visit to the hospital. He went to the room where [I] was. Once inside, he sat on the chair beside the bed; he studied the girl lying still and motionless.

"This girl is…"

Mukuro recounts the memory when he has encountered a girl being closed in by a bunch of gangster boys in the streets. And the one of which the girl was doing some sketches in the school's front.

He inched a bit closer. Recalling her face from the past, it matched. There was absolutely no mistaking this one. It was really her.

This is already enough, he thought. I'm sure she'll be happy enough that I watched over her even for a short period of time. Wonder when she will be waking up? I can't wait until I could see that painting of hers.

Before he left, he whispered something in her ear.

"I would really want to see you again."

I finally regained my consciousness once again in a chilly Thursday night, I found myself with dextrose in one hand and the smell of medicines hung in the air. I'm in a hospital, but why again? I can't remember. As I looked around the room, there was my mom sleeping in the chair beside my bed. I roused her up gently to tell her I was awake.

And when she realized I have woken up, she was brought to tears and hugged me so tight. She told me that I have been in a coma for around two weeks. She was really worried and my friends too. Being gone for such a long time I suddenly missed a lot of things. But then again I'm really happy and blessed to be awake again from such a condition.

The next day I was already discharged from the hospital in tip-top shape. The effects of the coma have completely disappeared and I have recovered fully. Finally able to go outside again after a long time, I felt really lost and dazed for a while, and somehow I feel like a lot have changed. But it all felt the same as I always had.

We headed to the Namimori Shopping District for a while to buy some ingredients for today's dinner. There were few people than I have expected. It's always packed since it is rush hour. It was a total surprise. Then again, it's just only natural that we shouldn't always expect the expectable.

My mom told me to go and enjoy myself for a while, go window shopping or maybe have a bite at the cake shop I always frequent after school. I just told her that I'd be fine just walking around.

I've noticed while I was walking around the shopping district there were renovations going on at the moment. Some of my favorite shops were closed because of it. Too bad, I can't enjoy some of my favorite gelato and pizza fix since the Italian café was going under it too. I just continued walking around until I came across Yamamoto.

"Hello there Takeshi-kun!" I greeted him.

"Oh hi, I see you're already all recovered now aren't you? Everybody missed you, you know."

"Yeah I know. I heard you guys visited me there when I was still unconscious."

"Of course, we were worried about you when we heard you got in an accident."

"AH!"

He searched through the contents of his bag. And then he handed me a bento filled with sushi his father made.

"Here take this. I was supposed to visit you later and give this for you. My father made it. Hope you like it."

"Sure, thanks a lot Takeshi. I appreciate it."

"You're welcome. Oh anyways, I'll be going now. My father needs this right away. See ya!"

I waved goodbye as he pedaled away from me. With the bento from Takeshi's dad in my hand, I retraced my steps back to our meeting place with my mom.

I found my mom standing in the front square waiting for me. It seems that she had finished all her groceries. When she saw me approaching, she picked them up again.

"So how's your little walk? Did you enjoy yourself?" mom asked.

"Yes, it was a very pleasurable walk indeed. And here, it's from Takeshi. They're sushis his dad made for me."

"I see. I'm glad you had fun."

And we went home. Seeing our house again after a long time in the hospital was a welcoming sight to see. I never thought I would be so homesick that much. Well who wouldn't be?

I went straight ahead to my room upstairs. It felt relieving to see it as I last left it. I sat in my bed and arranged the thrown clothes on top of it. And in the mess was a sketchbook. I opened it and found some drawings of a boy with a weird hairstyle like a certain yellow skinned fruit. Somehow there was a feeling of déjà vu, as others would call it. He seemed familiar but why do I seem to know him? Have I seen him somewhere before? Even if I tried to think about it, my mind is still blurry. I really can't remember anything about this person at all but, from all these sketches of him that I had plenty of in my sketchbook. Somehow I felt that this person is really something that had my full attention. And in one corner of the room was a canvass with a painting of him in it. But now's not the time to be nostalgic. I'll be risking myself a painful headache trying to recall them back.

As time passed by I slowly felt being haunted by the spirit of him that I painted in the canvass. It seems to call me to wherever he was. And in the deep recesses of my mind I could hear, a message.

"I would really want to see you again"

But then again, see WHO exactly? It's already been a month after I got into an accident and now, these things came bugging me back again. I'm finally starting to think I'm going bonkers. I definitely need something to take these off my back.

The next day, my friend called me and she asked if it's ok if I hang with her. But I didn't feel that much going out today so I turned down her offer. I just wished her lots of fun today. I hung up and plopped my phone down in the adjacent table. Thinking back what I said earlier, what's done is done and I'm sure she understands that I cannot go out with her for a reason.

And that is…

-c o n t i n u e d.