Take your time with this. Some feels might get hurt.


Natsumi closed her eyes blushing even brighter and giggled before she pulled out her chart and added to the list. When she was sure she added all that she could she tucked it back into her bag and changed into some fluffy sweat pants and a long sleeve shirt.

Then she pulled out a small shoe box from under her bed. After lifting the lid three red envelopes could be seen. Natsumi placed the one she had been reading in front and slipped the lid back on before stuffing the box into the shadows under her bed.

So she's collecting them now?

After letting out one final, tiny giggle she wandered to her sliding door. She took a few steps onto the shared balcony and breathed in the fresh crisp air. The rustling of a nearby tree startled her slightly; it was odd without any wind to blow against it. She stared hard into it waiting to see the cause, but all she saw was a darkened space; a shadow.

"I know you noticed me here. I'm sorry if I scared you." A voice spoke from the leaves; the deep one from her dreams and memories.

Look who's here. I guess I'll leave them alone for some uninterrupted catching up.

"Wait. You're the one who sent me those letters right?" Natsumi asked praying that it was.

"Yeah, that's me." He responded with some defeat in his tone.

"Can I see you?" Natsumi looked harder into the tree. She wanted to know the mysterious man's appearance.

"Not yet. I'm sorry again for how annoying this all must be for you."

"It is, but I feel like it's worth it. I really want to know who you are, again." Natsumi smiled with some embarrassment.

"I knew you would." He chuckled softly. Natsumi listened to it and remembered hearing it thousands of times before.

"Your letter said that you can't tell me everything. At least not right away, so why are you here?" Natsumi asked.

"I wanted to see how you were doing. If you remembered me yet, if you remembered anything." He shifted slightly getting a better seat on his branch. "I got your letter. I kinda rushed right over after I read it. To answer your question about telling you everything upfront, if you remember too fast your brain could shut down. The method used to block, and in most cases erase your memory, is still in testing right now and it has different effects on different people. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if you lost even the tiniest amount of brain function because I was careless."

Natsumi could hear his teeth clenching. The intensity of his voice was unmistakable.

"You really care about me, don't you?" Natsumi blushed with a soft pink.

"I do. I always have." He sighed softly. "I need to leave. I don't want you to catch a cold and my friends are expecting me back. I know one idiot who will whine that I came to see you but he couldn't see his partner."

"Wait so there are more of you, looking for other people who lost their memories?" Natsumi leaned over the railing, speaking as fast as she could before he left.

"Yes. There are four others. You know about two, Koyuki and your brother."

"Well that explains the letter he found today. And I was right when I guessed he was talking about you when he wrote Corporal Grump."

"He just got that today? He was supposed to get it days ago, the same as you. I swear one day I'm going to beat the idiocy out of that guy." He pounded his fist into the trunk of the tree shaking some of branches. Luckily it wasn't anywhere near autumn when the leaves could have fallen off.

"You mean K? The guy who wrote Fuyuki's letter?"

"Yeah. I'm sure you'll hit him on the head once or twice when you remember him."

"Is he that much trouble?"

"And then some. But he has good intentions, most of the time. Anyway I should leave."

"Will I see you soon?"

"Of course. Don't worry Natsumi. You'll figure everything out soon enough. Here, catch." A small square package flew to Natsumi. She caught it easily and saw that it was a CD. "It should help you. We used to joke about what songs best resembled us."

"Thanks." When she looked at the tree again the shadow was gone and the leaves didn't rustle anymore. Her voice filled with sadness. "He's gone."

I guess that means I can come back now. So it looks like there is a logical reason why the frogs are keeping their distance. What? I didn't say I wouldn't listen.

Natsumi looked at the disc again and became anxious to play it. He said it might help me remember. She popped the disc into her stereo and waited for the first track to start. One by one she listened to each song.

1. Whispers in the Dark-Skillet

2. Calling You- Blue October

3. You-Sarina Paris

4. Far Away-Nickleback

5. Summer Rain-Belinda Carlisle

6. ET-Katy Perry (NOT ft. Kanye)

7. Your Guardian Angel-Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

8. I fell in Love with an Alien-The Kelly Family

When the ninth track started it was less like a song and more of a home video recording. Natsumi's spine tingled at the laughter she heard.

"Kukuku, Hello there. I highly doubt you'll remember me without remembering Mr. Macho first but I don't really care anyway. He doesn't even know I'm putting this onto his little gift for you. What you might hear will confuse you and possibly unlock more of those pesky memories that could actually ruin what little brain function you actually have.

I'm such a jerk like that so get over it already KU! He's going to go berserk when he finds out I did this. Things have been getting boring around here so this'll be fun."

I fell asleep during the songs but that laughter. I couldn't stay peaceful enough to sleep through it. Will he ever be less creepy?

There was a short pause before Natsumi suddenly heard the gruff voice she could recognize as her forgotten admirer.

"What do you want now?"

"Oh nothing. Just testing out my new equipment. Kuu~"

"Take it somewhere else."

"What's got you all grumpy? Do you miss her?"

"If you ask me about her one more time I swear I will tell your pet over there how you feel about her." Natsumi could hear that he spoke through gritted teeth.

I think this is just fan service. I'll only listen every now and then in case I hear something worth narrating.

A small burst of static hissed out before the track continued.

"Get out of my face, I'm busy."

"Kuku. What could someone so simple minded as you possibly be busy with?"

"I'm writing a letter. You know the ones we're supposed to send to our partners?" A hint of annoyance rose in his voice.

"You're still working on that? I finished mine weeks ago."

"Yeah well some of us actually care about our partners. Enough to take the time in writing meaningful letters."

"You said letters as in there will be more. Ku, you're not still infatuated are you?"

"I WILL SHOOT YOU IF YOU DON'T LEAVE NOW!"

Another shot of static before it was a clear recording of the creepy voice that Natsumi could only describe as yellow.

"Me again. I thought I would throw on this little reject of a recorded voice letter before we decided to go with traditional mail KU! Enjoy."

He is- I was going to say he is a jerk but that's just been over stated by now. How about a quote huh? "Oh that Sergeant Major, you're such a rascal. By rascal I meant crazy poo." That would be by Tamama in episode 27. Now some of you want to go watch it huh? I know I would love to be able to just go and watch my favorite episodes instead of sitting through this torture. This is more for teenage girls than me.

"Hey there Natsumi, uuhhh. You are going to cut out the awkward parts and the parts I decide I hate right?"

There was a muffled voice in the background that Natsumi couldn't make out.

"Yeah I figured you'd say something like that. Anyway, Hello Natsumi. Yeah this is unusual but I need to inform you of some facts.

You don't know who I am; but only for the time being. You'll remember me, I hope. I can only tell you so much through the process. If I tell you too much at once you could be in danger and your health will be compromised.

Now that I think about what I just said that sounds really dramatic. I don't want to scare you. I do believe that you can pull through this perfectly; as you always do. I have always admired your ability to succeed.

I'm sounding more and more like a creep with each word aren't I?

I'm just going to finish this up real fast. I used to spend time with you but something came up and you had to forget about me. Since that's no longer required I can help you remember again. I promised that I would when I came back and I intend to keep my promises to you.

Please Natsumi, don't forget about me."

His voice grew quiet with the last sentence. It hit a point in Natsumi's heart and she wanted to cry. I'm so sorry I did.