Disclaimer: all SM characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi. But this story belongs to me. Please do not steal.

.


Something has left my life, and I don't were it went to.

Somebody caused me strife, and it's not what I was seeking.
Didn't you see me? Didn't you hear me?
Didn't you see me standing there?
Why did you turn out the lights?
Didn't you know that I was sleeping?

Say a pray for me, help me to feel the strength I did.
My identity, has it been taken? Is my heart breaking on me?
All my plans fell through my hands, they fell through my hands.
Empty, all my dreams, it suddenly seems, it suddenly seems
empty

.

(Empty- The Cranberries)
.


3

Moving his hair aside, he inspected the stitched up wound. It still looked reddish, though obviously healing, and if after two weeks it looked like that, he could only imagine what it must have looked like when he first arrived to the hospital.

It wasn't exactly small, but it wasn't huge either. And he wondered how four little stitches could cause so much trouble.

Eight years...

They told him he had just lost eight years of his life because of a post traumatic amnesia. And he just couldn't believe it. He still felt the same, he looked the same, and the whole amnesia thing seemed like something taken out of a movie or something. Or maybe just a really bad joke. But he highly doubted Taiki, of all people, would take part on such a joke. And as annoying and kind of fussy as Yaten could get at times, he really didn't think he would ever come up with such a mean, heartless joke either.

Kakyuu was dead.

They had failed. Miserably and greatly.

Opening the faucet, he splashed fresh water to his face, before looking at his own image again.

Their princess was dead, their home planet was dead as well. Galaxia had been long defeated, and they have been living on earth for over four years now. School was over with -that was actually kind of a relief-, and with Kakyuu dead, there really was no reason for the Three Lights to still be around. Though he was still in the music business. A big shot singer, or so they told him.

What else was different?

He frowned, inspecting the image the mirror gave back to him, and the magnificent, burning phoenix decorating his shoulder.

Oh, right. That was new, too. Though he did remember toying with the idea of getting something like that, so it wasn't completely unexpected. The tattoo over his bellybutton, on the other hand, was.

There was another one over his shoulder blade, and though he couldn't really see it properly, he could recognize Kinmoku's ancient language and the ever burning flowers. It looked nice, at least from what he could see in that small mirror hanging on the bathroom wall of his hospital room. And if he was completely honest with himself, he could actually picture himself getting something like that. A tribute, forever marking his skin the way She had forever marked his heart and soul.

He had dreamed of Her last night.

It was all a confusing blur, but he knew he had dreamed of Her. He remembered calling out to her, and feeling her presence around, hearing her voice. He couldn't really tell if it was just his confused, fragmented mind bringing her back to life in his dreams, or if maybe it was a lost memory. And, what frustrated him even more, he couldn't remember actually seeing her, or anything of what she had said.

He chuckled then, lightly shaking his head. Well, that seemed to be quite a problem of his lately; being unable to remember things. Like the past eight freaking years of his life.

So here he was now. A grown up, twenty four year old singer from another galaxy, living on earth. Go figure.

At least he was still good friends with the girls, according to what Yaten had said about them surely coming by to pay him a visit today. And he was glad about that one; some dear old, familiar faces wouldn't hurt. Though he wondered if they looked any different...

He surely didn't. Not that much, anyway. Except maybe for the tattoos.

And the bruises, of course. But as he eyed the already fading bruise over his side, he figured, now that he was awake and slowly getting his strength back, it wouldn't take that long for his fast healing process to fully kick in, making that cast on his left leg to be gone. It was definitely annoying, and so was the stitched up wound on his head. And it has been particularly hard to convince the nurse to let him take a shower by himself.

But there was just no way he would let some strange woman give him a bath. It was just too embarrassing, humiliating even, and he was not a baby. But after assuring her he would properly wrapped the cast so it wouldn't get wet, promising to be particularly careful when washing his head, the nice old lady had finally gave in and agreed to let him take the much needed shower by his own means.

While Yaten was busy doing whatever it was he had to be doing -something about having to run some errands before coming by later in the afternoon-, and Taiki was talking to the doctors, taking care of some bureaucratic hospital papers or something like that, he took advantage of being alone for the first time since he woke up on that hospital. The nice, hot water felt great, relaxing his body and mind, granting him a few minutes of peace of mind after being bombarded with information, facts, and news that he just hadn't quite digested yet.

How could he? It was devastating...

And if that was not enough to put him on edge already, some nurse had came into his room that morning, with a big, happy smile on her face while carrying terrible food that was supposed to stand as his breakfast, talking nonstop about how much she liked his music and then promptly asking for an autograph. Usually, his fans weren't much of a bother to him. But he was on a hospital, all bruised up and pretty much having the worst day of his life -as far as he could remember, anyway-, and all lady nurse could think of was an autograph?

He shook his head, taking the clean pajamas, thanking Taiki for bringing them so that he wouldn't have to wear those ridiculous hospital robes.

He couldn't really blame the nurse for being that ridiculously cheerful -even at such unholy hour of the morning-; she probably didn't know. Both Taiki and Yaten had said something about keeping his memory loss as secret as possible, and only their small group of friends and his doctors were aware of that little fact. Which was probably a good thing; he really didn't want to be the center of the entire media's attention, telling oh such sad stories about him.

But then again, if he was such a well known singer now, they probably already had, with him being hospitalized and all. But why feed the craziness? And, he figured, as much as things may have changed in the eight years he couldn't remember, Taiki was still the smart, centered one. Chances of that ever changing were slim to none.

Fighting with the cast, he put on the deep blue, cotton pajama pants. Careful not to hurt his somewhat sore ribs, he put on an undershirt before putting on the shirt that matched the pants. He usually slept with just his pants, or underwear when the weather allowed him to, but a cold was probably the last thing he needed right now.

He tided his now -finally- cleaned hair in his trademark low ponytail and stepped out of the small private bathroom and into his equally private hospital room. There was a colorful 'get well soon' bouquet resting on a table, along with a bottle of water, the remote control of a tv he was not in the mood to turn on, and a small, half empty clutch bag with his razor and a few other personal items.

Exactly how he had left it before going to take his shower. But what wasn't there before was the girl now sitting on a chair next to said table.

She was reading a book of some sort, and he knew she couldn't be older than seventeen. Eighteen, maybe. Not because he was an expert on ages, but because the clothes she was wearing told him so; black plaid pleated miniskirt, a white long sleeved shirt with a small red tie, black thigh high socks on her crossed legs, and mid-calf low heel boots on her feet. The black coat and red scarf resting on the chair behind her completed her high school uniform, along with the black suitcase resting on the floor.

She had straight, jet black hair that reached all the way to her shoulders; her bangs falling over her forehead and covering her eyes, until she raised her face to look up to him, and he noted her startling, dark purple eyes.

"Hi!" she greeted him, smiling warmly and gently.

It was an honest, true smile. Filled with kindness. And he found he liked that. Her soft voice and that kind expression all over her features felt somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place a name to that youthful face in front of him now.

"Hi..." he greeted back, frowning.

She titled her head to a side; her hair brushing against her shoulder as she did so, and her smile never leaving her features, but turning into a half amused, half understanding one. "You don't have the sightless idea of who I am, do you?"

"No," he admitted, scratching the back of his head as he made the rest of his way to the bed. "Sorry."

"It's ok," she said, waving her hand and closing her book, as she uncrossed her legs and stood up. "I was just a kid eight years ago, so I can't really blame you..." she said, shaking her shoulders a little and giggling softly as she got on her knees over the floor; big, purple eyes looking up at him now. "Is this better?" she joked.

He blinked at the kneeling girl, and she giggled again, standing up and gently tapping her knees to clean her socks, before getting closer to him and extending her hand out to him. That sweet, kind smile coming back to her features.

"Hi, I'm Hotaru," she introduced herself.

"Hotaru?" he repeated, accepting her hand and shaking it, now really confused.

Sure, eight years was more than enough time for the little girl to grow up. But, why was she here? First Tenoh last night, now her. What was next? Michiru swinging by and playing a serenade for him?

"Yup," she said, nodding her head, folding her hands behind her back and rolling on the ball of her heels a little. "Didn't they tell you?" she then asked, still smiling gently at him. "You and I are good friends now."

"I'm friends with an Outer," he said, in a questioning tone.

She giggled softly at that. "Oh, yeah," she said, slightly rolling her eyes, definitively amused now, as if she was laughing to some joke he didn't really catch -at all-, before shaking her head and that genuine, joyful smile came back to her lips. "Now hurry, before it gets cold!" she then said, tapping the bed for him to rest on as she made her way to the door.

Frowning and following her slim figure around with his eyes, he sat down on the bed, mindlessly moving the covers aside. His frown deepening when she popped her head out into the hallway, looking one side and then other, before getting back in and closing the door. A satisfied, happy smile playing on her lips.

"Cost is clear!" she announced, hurriedly making her way back to the chair and taking her suitcase. Walking up to the bed, and then pushing the overbed table so that it was right in front of him.

"Before what gets cold?" he asked, honestly confused.

Purple eyes looked at him then; a mischievous light shining in them, as a cheeky smile came to her lips. "What kind of friend would I be, if I let you starve to death?" she asked. "Or worse, having to put up with terrible hospital food? Not a good one, right?"

Despite his frown, he still chuckled at her, curiously studying her movements as she placed the suitcase over the bed.

"And you're the one always saying there's no fun in cold melted cheddar..." she continued, shaking her shoulder and then smiling up to him again. "And you're totally right on that one, so," she added, as she finally opened up her case, taking out a paper bag, "viola!"

He blinked, once, before a smile came to his lips at the brown paper bag with a few greasy spots and a logo he could recognize anywhere she just presented to him. And if the logo was not enough, the delicious smell coming out of it surely did the trick.

She took a white package out- just the right size to host a heavenly treat in there-, placing it over the table, right in front of him. "Double cheese, extra onions, full burger for you," she said, as she took another package out along with a soda can, "with fries."

He chuckled, slightly shaking his head, both amused and amazed, as his stomach reacted to the enchanting smell and he reached for the burger, opening up the package and doing a small, quick inspection.

"I specifically asked for extra, extra mustard," Hotaru said, obviously guessing what he was looking for, as she took out a smaller burger pack that, he guessed, was for herself.

A happy, satisfied smile came to his lips when, indeed, he noticed the generous amount of mustard over his deliciously looking burger. "I like you," he announced, unbelievably grateful for the girl's thoughtful gesture.

"I know you do," she said, waving her hand and taking a small bite from her own burger. "You always say that," she added, jokingly. But then she frowned. "Of course, you usually say it whenever I'm completely humiliating you on Call of Duty," she said, eying him and arching an eyebrow, "so I'm not so sure you're one hundred percent honest, there..."

He raised his eyebrows at that, honestly surprised. "Video console games?" he asked, intrigued.

"Play Station," she answered, nodding her head. "Three," she added, smiling widely.

He returned the smile at that, taking a big bite out of his burger and looking at her. "We should definitely have a date the second I get out of here," he stated firmly, after a moment of silence. "You, me, and that console."

"You got it," she agreed, again nodding her head, before taking another small bite from her burger. "Just try not to beg for mercy and use old, lame tricks on me so that I would let you win."

He laughed at that, and she glared at him. Though a small, amused giggled escaped her.

"That's just me appreciating a good challenge," he said, highly amused over having to justify himself about something he didn't even remember doing in the first place.

She frowned at that, turning to look up at the ceiling in a thoughtful manner. "No," she disagreed, shaking her head and looking back into his blue eyes. "I'm pretty sure that's you trying to trick me into going easy on you."

"I would never," he said, putting a hand over his chest as a faked, hurtful expression took over his face.

"You totally would," Hotaru argued, sending him a scolding glare. "You do know that classifies as cheating, right?" she asked, with a half accusing, half teasing tone to her soft voice.

He laughed again at her remark.

He could tell by her easy going attitude and her cheeky smile that they were, in fact, good friends. And it surprised him to find himself actually liking her, despite her being an Outer. Though he knew she was more than able to turn her entire attitude around and be just as demanding, set minded and cold as her comrades. But right now, with her school uniform and eating her burger as she laughed along with him, she was just a girl, genuinely enjoying some time with her friend.

"It's called distracting your enemy," he said, in a teasing, superior tone.

"It's called cheating," she insisted, correcting him. "Papa's so right about you," she then added, shaking her head.

The second the words left her mouth, purple eyes went wide opened, and she looked like a deer caught in the lights for a moment. And he frowned, shifting uncomfortable over the sheets.

"What do you mean?" he asked, fully aware of who she was referring to. "What does she say about me?" he inquired further, not really sure he actually wanted to hear the answer. Not that it was that hard to guess, anyway...

She shrunk her shoulders then. "Just that you'd do whatever it takes to get what you want," Hotaru answered in a low, almost apologetic tone. "If you really, really want it," she then added, switching back to her normal, sweet tone.

He tilted his head to a side, wondering for a moment. That wasn't exactly a bad thing per say; there was nothing wrong with being a persevering person. But somehow, coming from Tenoh, he knew she didn't exactly see it as a compliment.

"And that includes cheating, right?" he asked, somewhat annoyed. Though he did try to keep it from pouring it into the young girl.

"When it comes to Call of Duty, yes," she stated, nodding her head. "Oh, and when playing basketball, too," she then added, matter of factly, as it was her turn to send him an annoyed look of her own when he chuckled.

"What? No," he said, frowning, but still smiling innocently at her. "I never cheat in sports."

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said, teasingly, "but picking people up and dragging them all over the court just to keep them from scoring against your team is cheating in my book."

He laughed again, both at her little tail -that definitely sounded as something he would do just for the fun of it when playing with friends- and at her cutely, though faked, annoyed face. "Then your book is wrong," he joked, playfully winking at her.

"No, it's not!" she argued, pushing his arm in complaint, and then just laughing along with him.

Yes, he definitely liked her. Her melodious laughter was contagious, and she was fun to hang around. She could easily catch his jokes and even play along with him, and Seiya guessed she was able to see through his goofiness and just take it for what it was, without getting embarrassed, or worst, annoyed -unlike some other people he knew...

She finished up her burger, cleaning her hands with a napkin and smiling up to him. "So, how are you?" she asked, softly.

He let out a sigh at that, running a hand through his head. "I'm... tired," he finally answered, chuckling lightly. "Believe it or not."

She giggled at his last comment, slightly shaking her shoulders. "Oversleeping so much can cause that," she noted, teasing lightly. "And, ironically enough, you just need to rest now."

Chuckling at her cutely frowning face, he nodded his head. "Yeah... rest, take things easy and go slow..." he counted, remembering what the doctor had said to him the night before, after he woke up. "I'm gonna be bored to death for a while."

"It's for your own good," she offered. "So you can regain your strength and all."

"Yeah, I know," he agreed, making a small ball out of the now empty box of his burger and putting it back into the paper bag. "But knowing it doesn't make it any less boring."

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll have a bunch of people waltzing in every day to keep you company."

Something in the way she said that made him frown, following her movements with his eyes as she stood up, taking the paper bag with the remains of their quick yet fully satisfying lunch.

"You won't be coming back?" he asked.

She stopped cleaning up the table to look up at him. "I don't wanna bother you," she answered, almost shyly shrinking her shoulders.

"You said we're friends, right?" he pointed out, smiling warmly to her. "You seem pretty nice, and I like having friends around."

"I can come by tomorrow after school," she offered, smiling again.

"Great," he agreed, nodding his head. "You think you could bring me something to read? A book, a magazine... just... something."

She seemed to think about it for a moment before finally nodding her head. "I'll see what I can do about that."

"Thank you," he said, satisfied.

But before Hotaru could say anything else, his bedroom door opened up, and in walked Taiki, carrying a coffee cup in one hand and his jacket in the other. He stopped on his tracks for a moment, frowning curiously, almost surprised at the black haired teenager, before a warm smile came to his lips.

"Hi!" she greeted him, waving her hand.

"'Taru," he greeted back, nodding his head. "Didn't know you were coming by today."

"My biology teacher didn't show up, so I got out of school early," she explained; her sweet, soft smile never leaving her young features.

Taiki frowned at that, placing his coffee cup on the table and throwing his jacket over a chair, to then turn around and look at them, crossing his arms over his chest. "I see... so why does it smell like a McDonald's in here?"

Seiya chuckled, and big, purple eyes looked up at the tall brunette man. "I don't know what you mean," she said, innocently battling her eyelashes at him.

"Sure you don't," Taiki said, obviously not falling for her act.

The interaction between the two told the black haired man they were obviously used to each other. Maybe the little girl he used to know had now became good friends with all of them; she surely seemed nice, and cute enough to win everyone's heart with just her soft giggles and her big, shining eyes.

"How are you?" the brunette asked, changing the subject and walking up to the bed, looking down on him with a gentle, genuinely concerned look upon his face.

"Great!" he answered, smiling widely. "When do I get out of here?" he then asked, anxiously. "I have a date with her and a PlayStation, and I would love to set a day for it," he said, pointing at the teenage girl.

Taiki chuckled, bemusedly shaking his head, shoving his hands into his pockets as he turned to look at Hotaru. "I see you've already got him into that thing."

"It's tradition!" she defended herself, shaking one shoulder. "Just because he decided to forget all about us, which, by the way, totally offended here," she said, looking into his deep blue eyes for a moment as she said that, before turning back to look at the tall man, "doesn't mean I can let him break every single tradition just like that."

"Tradition, huh?" Seiya repeated, amused by the girl's defensive little speech.

Yet something in the way she said that, implying it was not just the two of them, made him wonder. He knew there was just no way Taiki would ever play anything even remotely like that, but Yaten probably would, if he was bored enough and there was nothing else for him to do. He wondered how this tradition of them was, wishing he could remember hanging out; no worries, no concerns, just a bunch of friends having a good time.

Even with the three of them, the room felt suddenly empty, and he became very aware of the empty hole in his own head where memories should be. Not for the first time, he wondered what else was new.

What else was different?

An inexplicable sense of nostalgia invaded him then. A loss. A silent, hidden sorrow, deep inside. Something was missing, he could feel it. He just didn't know what; he couldn't quite put his finger on it. And as he vaguely listened to the conversation going on around him, he wondered, how could he miss what he couldn't remember?

.


Next on Remember me?: "You know, we can always try hitting his head real hard. I figured, one hit took his memory away, maybe another one would bring it back"