You woke up the next morning feeling much better than last night. Still slightly weak, you looked for the time. A small box blinked a red 10:00 am.
'It must be morning.' You thought to yourself. 'But didn't Shuichi say he wasn't going to see be before he left? Maybe he doesn't have class yet.'
With caution, you raised yourself out of bed. Like a toddler taking their first steps, you wobbled. Your legs were quite healed, but you were determined to get out of bed. You were about the fall, but you braced yourself on the dresser. On the dresser you saw a note. You picked it up and read it.
Dear Miss,
First, we need to figure out your name. I can't just call you Miss or Mysterious Girl From the Park. When I came into your room before school, you were sleeping and I figured you needed the rest. So I let you sleep and wrote this note instead. Your clothes are on the table by the door. Also, if you want to take a shower, there is one down the hall to the left. I'll be back around 3:00 pm. Help yourself to anything you need.
Take care, Shuichi
'A shower?' You asked yourself. 'I definitely need a bath. I'm covered in mud.'
Carefully, you walked into the hall. Using the wall as support, you opened the only door on the left. It was a small porcelain room. You walked inside and closed the door. It was the strangest thing you ever saw.
'Ok.' You took a deep breath. 'It's so white. I know that a toilet, that's a sink and that looks like a bathtub. How does it work?'
You turned one of the knobs and water came out of the faucet. It felt cold. Curious, you turned the other knob and the water warmed. Feeling proud of your for figuring out, you smiled. Then you undressed and slipped into the heavenly water. You sorted through the bottles trying to find soap. Shampoo, conditioner, and bubble bath was all you saw.
'So complicated,' You thought as you read the labels. 'I feel like I knew I simpler way before…'
As you washed, you noticed had forgotten to take a ring off your finger. You tugged at the piece of jewelry, but it wouldn't come off. Even with the soap and water, the emerald ring stubbornly stayed put. Frowning, you gave up and let the ring stay on your left hand.
You emerged from your bath and wrapped a towel around you body. Then you caught a glance at your reflection in the mirror. Without taking your eyes off the mirror, you traced the bruised area around your neck with your fingers. You see the outline of hands in the purple and yellow bruising. Shaking your head, you forced your eyes to leave your reflection. For some reason, you couldn't believe it was you.
'What did I do?' You wondered. 'Who am I?'
After you dried, you walked back into the room you started in. You put on your kimono and picked up your coat. You could feel something in a pocket. Intrigued, you carried it to the bed and sat down. Your fingers searched through the pocket until you came upon a chain. When you pulled it out it appeared to be a necklace. Gazing at the sapphire necklace, it seemed familiar. A feeling of nostalgia flooded over you, but no matter how much you tried, you couldn't remember why. You flipped it over. It was engraved. Jun, it read.
'Jun?' You thought. 'That's my name. I don't know how, but I'm sure that's my name.'
As you ran your fingers over the jewel, you wondered what other answers it held. You put it on and hid it under your kimono. You believed that if it were closer to your heart, the necklace would surrender more answers to you.
Up against the wall, there was a bookshelf. You ran your fingers along the titles. Even though this was the first time you remember doing this, your fingers knew the movement very well. Plants and Their Abilities you stopped when you read the title. Paging through the book, you got the feeling you read it before. The feeling was similar to when someone loses their page in a book and they skim through the pages until they find where they felt off. Only, you knew this book very well. You could finish every sentence after reading the first few words. The book was ingrained in your memory; you just need the right clues, or the first few words, to remember.
'This book,' you pondered, 'I must have read it before. With the right hints, will I remember my past just like the words in this book?'
Your eyelids began to feel heavy. Closing the book, you headed for the bed.
"Jun." You said aloud as you crawled under the covers. It wasn't long before you were fast asleep.
The feeling of someone's fingers on your forehead woke you up. With a groan, you sat up and opened your eyes.
"Oh, Shuichi." You smiled.
"I'm sorry," Shuichi apologized. "I didn't mean to wake you."
"That's ok." You replied. "I probably should wake up."
"I don't know about that." Shuichi shook his head. "You should sleep as much as possible until you regain your strength."
"I'm not going to regain my strength sitting in bed." You protested. "I felt much better after my bath and moving around this morning."
"And then you slept until 5:00 pm." Shuichi pointed out. You folded your arms he was right, but you weren't going to admit that. "I brought you some soup. I thought it might soothe your throat."
He handed you a bowl and a spoon. The soup was mostly broth, but that didn't matter. With all the excitement, you had forgotten how hungry you were. The liquid warmed your throat as it slid down.
"I see you were doing some light reading." Shuichi gestured to book on the night table.
"Yes." You nodded. "It brought back some memories. I think I read it before. The words are familiar."
For a split second he lost his cool composure. You could tell this surprised Shuichi.
"Anything else?" He asked.
"Not much." You sighed. "I don't understand how I can know a thousand page book by heart, but not remember anything else."
"It will take time." He encouraged. "Miss, I-"
"Jun." You automatically corrected. Shuichi gave you a confused look. "My name is Jun. At least, that's what I think it is."
"What makes you think that?" His face was strangely serious.
"Just a feeling," You lied. You didn't know what he would think if you pulled out the necklace. Part of you knew you could trust him. He had been so kind to you. Another part was frightened. It was the only thing you had as a clue to your past. You didn't want him to take it away. "But, I'm certain it's my name. It feels… right."
Shuichi was silent. At once you felt like you said something wrong.
"I'm going to go find you some other clothes." Shuichi stood up. "I think my mom might have some old clothes that fit you. Please, stay in bed and rest."
He left the room. Sighing, you turned back to your soup.
'It's just a name.' You thought. 'No need to get huffy.'
Shuichi shuffled through his mother's old clothes. However, he wasn't really focusing on the task.
'I didn't mean to sound so upset.' He sighed. 'I wonder if I should apologize. She doesn't know what that name means to me. Jun is a common enough name…' Closing his eyes, Shuichi remembered what he felt in the park. It definitely was Jun. Her scent, her aura, everything, but it all disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Shuichi chuckled at the thought that this Jun and the Jun he knew could be the same. But he quickly dismissed the thought. 'This girl is a human. Everything about her suggests it. Her wounds haven't healed and she isn't emitting any spirit energy.' Shaking his head, Shuichi returned to trying to find clothes that would fit her.
"Jun." You heard a soft voice whisper. "I'm going to go to school."
You looked toward the door. It was cracked slightly.
"I'm already awake." You called.
Shuichi came into the room. You were sitting on the floor reading a book you found on his bookshelf.
"I brought some clothes for you." Shuichi put a pile of clothes on the dresser. "If you get hungry while I'm gone the kitchen is downstairs. Help yourself to anything your need."
"Thank you." You smiled.
"What are you doing?" He asked. "You're supposed to be taking it easy."
"I can't stand sleeping all the time." You answered. "I was hoping reading might spark a few memories."
"Any luck?" Shuichi leaned against the bedpost.
"I'm afraid not." You sighed. "Little tickles, but nothing like with the other book."
"Well, don't strain yourself." Shuichi ruffled your hair like a small child. "I'm going to bring some friends over after school. Maybe they'll know something about you."
"I hope so." You straightened your hair.
You hadn't really thought about it before, but it was incredibility lonely. Without friends to visit or even memories to look back on, you were alone whenever Shuichi left the room. It made you wish he were always with you, even if he was scolding you.
"I'll see you after school." Shuichi headed for the door. Before he left, he turned around. "Please try to rest a little."
You giggled. He was so persistent. Too bad you were determined to stay out of bed as long as possible.
