The Forgotten Memories

Genre: Romance – Angst – Hurt – Comfort – Drama

Rating: R15

Pairing: (mainly) Izumi no Kami Kanesada x Horikawa Kunihiro

Side pairing: Yamato no Kami Yasusada x Kashuu Kiyomitsu

Summary:"Kunihiro? That guy has always insisted that he is my partner… but somehow… I can't remember since when… Hell, I'm not even close to him… He is too persistent sometimes."

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction made for personal satisfaction. Touken Ranbu belongs to DMM and Nitroplus. No connection is implied or should be in inferred.

A/N: Okay first of all, I would like to send my thanks to my aarin pet, preciiousmochi who helped me to beta-read my writing.

This is made for my favorite pairing – Izumi no Kami Kanesada x Horikawa Kunihiro. You both are too adorable for me to not notice it. Oh yeah! Cheers for Ichigo-nii for his brotherly figure. I need him in this story xD There's a slight Yamato no Kami Yasusada x Kashuu Kiyomitsu pairing.

I hope you guys enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing.

All feedback and constructive criticisms are welcomed to improve my writing.

Cheers!

Chapter 1: The Wound

What will you do when you realize that someone you look up to slowly drifts further and further away from you? Obviously, you'll try to gain his attention back by being persistent. This is the act of fear from losing someone dear, even if that person will hate you for it.

"Kunihiro? That guy has always insisted that he is my partner… but somehow… I can't remember since when… Hell, I'm not even close to him… He is too persistent sometimes."

But… what will you do when that someone actually loses his memory of you…?

"Kane-san, Kane-san!" the boy around the age of 15, if you counted in human age, ran towards the long haired man. The taller man scoffed when he heard him, grimacing when the so-called partner of him approached him in hasty steps.

Horikawa Kunihiro slowly touched the man he just called Kane-san. His lifetime partner, Izumi no Kami Kanesada; the man he looked up to. The man who had caught his attention the first time their eyes met. His blue orbs were so similar to his; it was as if they are twins. His only brother-like and partner for life.

Horikawa smiled in reply to Kanesada's mocking face. The man turned towards him with unmasked annoyance.

"What is it now? Do you have a problem with me wandering around here?"

"Obviously, yes. After yesterday's battles… Are you alright now?" Horikawa looked at him in concern. His opponent sighed and rubbed the back of his head.

"I'm alright, there's no need to worry about every single thing, Kunihiro." Kanesada walked away from the flower bushes that he was just tending to. Together they walked towards the porch.

Kanesada slumped down on the wooden porch lazily. No orders were made for him today. Yesterday's battle was a rampage; he could barely recall what happened after he was heavily injured. He really thought he was done for. Kunihiro was panicking and overreacting as usual. He wasn't even allowed to leave his room until his wound healed. This only worsened his mood.

"Damn Master for making me like this."

"At least he ordered us to retreat." Horikawa replied with a smile, looking down at Kanesada who was staring at the clear blue sky above. Their eyes met for a second before Kanesada sighed and left for the room, ignoring Horikawa on his way inside.

Horikawa looked at his disappearing silhouette in silence. He lowered his gaze to the floor, remembering the event which unfolded yesterday. His hands trembled at the sight of blood all over Kanesada's clothes.

"Kane-san! We did it!" A cheerful sound could be heard in the middle of the battlefield. As Horikawa turned to his right, his eyes widened at the sight of blade being thrust in his direction.

"Baka, Kunihiro!"

The next thing he knew, he was knocked down by an impact. The thunder roared loudly, piercing their ears. Horikawa coughed several times, trying to get off from the ground. He snapped his head upwards when he heard Yasusada shouting Kanesada's name.

"Kanesada!"

A loud explosion was heard shortly after. Arrows were flying rapidly towards their direction. Horikawa dodged the attack by rolling on the ground, and swung his sword to deflect the arrows.

The Kebiishi was stronger than what they had anticipated. As the smoke started to thin out, Horikawa saw most of his teammates were wounded. The sight before him paled his feature.

Kanesada had defended him from the bullets and arrows. The taller man was heaving as he clutched at his own chest. Blood was soaking on his clothes, dyeing it redder than ever.

"KANE-SAN!" Horikawa's terrified voice could be heard from miles away. He was horrified while he clutched his partner's soiled blue outerwear clothes. Their master ordered for a retreat as soon as Taroutachi managed to wound the enemy boss.

That day Horikawa refused to eat until Kanesada was refined. He brought the blood soiled outerwear which his partner used to wear for battles close to his heart.

"All teams, line up!" Horikawa raised his head at the sudden call. He quickly rose to his feet, running as quick as he could to gather at the Citadel's gate. As soon as he reached the gate, he spotted Kanesada who was approaching lazily. Kashuu Kiyomitsu noticed him and waved.

"Kanesada, are you well enough to join the formation?" he asked in worry. Yasusada appeared behind him and circled his arms around Kashuu's chest.

"Yeah, you were badly injured and…" His blue eyes stared at Horikawa who stood before the three of them. The boy shook his head and smiled. Kashuu elbowed his twin.

"Ouch! What was that for?" Yasusada rubbed his stomach in annoyance.

"Quit it, don't make Horikawa grieve over it."

"I was just stating the fact that…. Ouch... hey!" Yasusada winced when Kashuu pulled his ear, preventing him from talking further and practically dragged him away from the two.

Kanesada snorted.

"What's with those two? So weird…"

"Kashuu-san has a point though, are you alright with joining the formation?"

"I'm alright, don't worry." Kanesada shrugged, pulling up his sword. He noticed an amulet dangling from the hilt of his sword.

"What's this? What a bother…" He yanked it off and threw it to the dirty ground.

"Ah!" Horikawa gasped at the thrown amulet. He picked it up and stared at it, completely dumbfounded.

"Kane-san, here! I make this for you."

"What's this? So ugly." although Kanesada laughed at the phoenix's handmade amulet, he reached for his sword and set it around his sword hilt. Horikawa's smile widened when Kanesada rubbed the top of his head, his cheeks tinted slightly red at the affections.

"Thank you. I won't let it drop during battle."

"If that happens then I'll make a new one again and again."

Kanesada laughed at his silliness.

"Baka…"

Horikawa rubbed the tears that welled up in his eyes. He took the amulet and put it inside his pocket.

"What's wrong, Kunihiro? We have an expedition. Hurry up before they leave you."

"Right! I'm coming, Kane-san!"

He quickly ran up to join his team.

TBC