Author's Note:Once again, the procrastination set in, and I took forever to update. My apologies. I completely changed how I planned to end this, and it wound up much less dramatic than I wanted it to be. Without further ado: Chapter Three of Forgotten: Forgotten!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the order of the following words and the plotline they spin.

Forgotten

A familiar feeling of foreboding. The flash of an image in my mind. His face before my eyes without his presence in the room. His name pulsing in my mind to the tune of a swirling despair.

"Kotarou!" I shouted his name, tearing blindly through the house until reaching the bathroom door. I paused briefly, my hand above the doorknob, regained enough composure to call, "Open the door or I'm coming in there."

Had I really expected him to open it? Not at all. Waiting only a few seconds, I wrenched the door open, plunged into the room, and saw a sight of pure heartbreak.

Kotarou sat limply in a chair near the tub, a towel draped haphazardly over his lower body, his eyes glazed over but steadily streaming tears, and a razor gripped loosely in the fingers of his right hand. I crossed the room in a frenzy of panic, unsure of what I would find upon further inspection. There was a small trickle of blood leading from his left wrist to the palm of his hand, but nothing else. I flipped his arm and stared at the cut: thin, horizontal, and not deep enough to cause lasting harm. It was what some would call a hesitation mark. No, I knew enough of wounds to be sure he was in no physical danger. What truly frightened me was his silence.

He had remained sitting in the same position in which I found him, with his head hanging and his expression blank, the entire time I checked for injuries. I had suspected something odd from the moment I sensed Kotarou's plight; never before had his emotions so completely engulfed me until I felt they were my own. I continued calling to him, shook him slightly, patted his face, but nothing brought him out of his stupor. I was terrified, powerless, baffled. At a loss of what to do, I pulled him to me in an embrace, feeling his continuing tears drench my shoulder.

"Tatsuki… I'm sorry." For a moment I stared into Kotarou's face, dumbfounded, before realizing the voice had come from behind me. Udou stood in the doorway, his eyes full of sympathy. I narrowed my gaze at him until it became a glare.

"You. What are you doing there? And what's wrong with him? You know, don't you? Do something!"

"I followed you when you rushed off earlier. Figured there was a problem. And it seems you still haven't learned to close doors. That answers your first question. As for what's wrong, I'd say he's in shock. That," he said, motioning toward Kotarou's face and condition in general, "is like a self-induced coma. I warned you he may not be able to handle the newest development in your relationship once he fully thought about it, but even I didn't expect this. There isn't much I can do."

I clenched my jaw in rage. At the usually superhuman Udou claiming helplessness, but more than that at myself for causing this whole thing. Why didn't I just stifle my feelings? I should have known. There can never be a happy ending for someone like me. Now what? If only Kotarou didn't know about any of it: my love for him, his acceptance of my feelings and his reciprocation of them, his role in my powers, his own powers, the whole confrontation with Koutari.

Wait… If he didn't know there would be no problem, right? His mind and body would revert to the way they were before. If Udou used his powers to give Kotarou knowledge of the past – his role in my powers – can he not just as easily take away information? Remove everything causing this overwhelming pain? I had to ask.

"Udou… You once made Kotarou cognizant of my past. Can you wipe his memory?"

"You sure that's what you want? For him to forget everything the two of you could have had?

"I can't have much with the way he is now. Whatever it takes to get him out of his current state. Make him forget it all so he can go back to the way he was. I would rather everything be forgotten than have him like this. Just do it. Please."

I watched as Udou sighed and approached Kotarou. He placed one hand gently on each of Kotarou's temples, applied the slightest amount of pressure, and closed his eyes for the briefest of moments. Then, he simply let go and stepped back. I was amazed at the rapidity with which Kotarou began to recover.

He slowly opened his eyes, blinking up at the two of us, confusion in his stare. "Tatsuki? Udou-sensei? What's going on? Where am I?"

Udou threw me a sidelong glance, and I nodded at him before he began to spin an intricate tale of the trip we had supposedly been embarking on before Kotarou fell at the airport and hit his head, getting amnesia and being sent here to recover. I was somewhat impressed by the ease of Udou's lies, but more overcome with my own conflicting emotions. Of course, I was happy that Kota had woken from his stupor, but the harsh reality that my one chance with him had come and gone – the very prospect of which had sent his mind reeling to the point of breakdown – left me drained and glum. I murmured a good night to Kotarou, Udou, and Kiba as they continued discussing Kota's amnesia in regards to the planning of the trip.

I was briefly aware of Kotarou yelling something about me being an uncaring bastard for leaving as soon as he woke up after his supposed airport injury; in response, I nonchalantly waved a hand in his direction as I continued down the hall to the room in which I was staying. He continued ranting at me, and I noted that at the least he was himself again before allowing my suppressed emotion to surface. I shut the door behind me, leaning heavily against its rough wood, and covered my face with my hands. Gently brushing over my lips with my fingertips, I reminisced on the feel of Kota's lips on mine. It was a sensation I would never know again. As a sudden wetness ran over my thumb, I became aware of the tears streaming down my face, the grief overpowering me, and my body sinking to the floor. I drew my knees to my chest and rested my head upon them, knowing that after tonight everything would be the same as always, but harder than ever for me alone.

Only I would suffer from tonight's events. Only I would yearn for my great love and know with more certainty than ever that I can never have him. Always the martyr I am. Only for him. Only I will know the pain of it all. Of everything that has been forever…

Forgotten.


REVIEW! It will make me a happy author. Flames, constructive criticism, and positive comments are all welcome. Thank you in advance. Now that you've been thanked, it would be rude not to review… XD

Author's Note: I don't like this chapter at all. The plot is almost what I intended, but the writing is cold and lacking emotion. I usually write when I'm feeling angsty, so I guess I wasn't upset enough while writing this? Sorry. Please review anyway. There is a slight chance I will do a follow-up chapter if it is requested. Otherwise, this is officially finished. Thanks for reading and many thanks to those who reviewed.

Poll: I put a poll on my profile asking about how other authors plan their fics because I think I need to try something different than usual. Please vote. Thanks.