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Okay, so I know I've lost my memory. I also know that I'm currently in a house with people who know who I am and even through all of this craziness, everyone is cool. So, shouldn't that reassure me some?
Yeah, I just need to take it one tiny bit at a time. Things will come back to me, everything will make sense and my life will continue. No need to panic because all of this is so... I can't even think of the word. Great, my I.Q. must have went out the window too.
Frowning, I exit the room for the stairs, but before I can fully take the first step a grunt stops me. It came from the room I'd just vacated. I squint my eyes and frown in frustration. How stupid of me to forget the other two may need help. Quickly I take a sidestep back into the room to see.
Kosuke's gently holding his sore stomach while bracing a dizzy grandpa. How inconsiderate of me to have walked away without a second thought. Hopefully they're not mad at my rudeness. Probably not now that I think about it. Surely I'm not rude under normal circumstances? It's probably just the astonishment of the situation that made me forget my manners.
"Does anyone need a hand?" I speak to get their attention. Both men stop fumbling to look up at me. Suddenly I feel out of place. Maybe I don't regularly have good manners. That makes me feel ashamed at myself. Perhaps my face gives away my thoughts, because Kosuke smiles in a comforting way.
"It's okay, Daisuke. I have it from here." He glances down at the old man. "Luckily, we didn't get hurt so much as winded." The old timer chuckles and moves to stand up on his own. Relief flows through me at seeing that he's not injured.
"I maybe old, but I'm still tough. I'm not going to go down that easily just yet." With only tiny winces he stretches. "Focus on yourself for now, Daisuke and try not to worry. Things here maybe crazy, but they will makes sense to you soon." Before he continues, something changes about his demeanor and I freeze up on the inside. "Just promise me when the memories start coming back that you'll take them calmly." His almost neutral expression is careful not to give much away, but his sternness holds plenty of caution. I'm not sure how to take this. It's scary to think there is something about myself that could floor me right back out of my mind. At least, that's how I'm interpreting this. I blink at him owlishly, a simple plea for his understanding.
Kosuke sees this and walks over next to me. When he reaches out to hug me, I let him. And, it's the best feeling I've had since I woke up to this mess on the couch. Tears sting the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall and be seen.
"Daisuke," he starts then pauses for a second. "If nothing else remember that we're here for you always. If things become too great to handle, give it a moment and talk to us in the meantime. I promise after we relax with the good meal Emiko has for us we'll explain things a little better. And With might just be able to help you a lot more than we can. You'll make it through, I promise you."
My unsteady world suddenly found a brace and the relief that came was enormous. I return the hug clumsily at first. Not trusting my voice at the moment, I nod into his chest in answer, then I gasp and step away. I hadn't thought at all about his sore stomach.
"Kosuke, I'm so sorry! I didn't hurt you did I?" He looks at me with a small smile.
"Of course not. Now let's go before Emiko gets mad and refuses to feed us." Is it just me, or is there a hint of a sad vibe coming off of him? Could just be all the what-not events from earlier hanging around up here; supernatural stirrings and all that. Shrugging it off, I turn around for the stairway once again.
With all of the weird events going on it isn't a surprise when my cursed logic tells me to stop. We've almost made it halfway down before the impulse gets too great and I stop. This causes an unpleasant reaction behind me because before I can call out a warning, "gramps" trips over Kosuke whom then leans heavily against my back. I throw my arms to either side, bracing against the railing and wall. Grimacing, I attempt to keep them from tumbling down the rest of the way. Smart move dumb ass!
"Sorry everyone," I manage to say while holding their weight back. "But, for some reason there's this strong warning against us going down any farther." Kosuke shifts and for a second butterflies are set loose in my stomach. Certainly my weak hold will be broken? The carpet doesn't look so soft down there from up here.
"Daisuke!" the old man shouts. It sounds muffled and I wince. He didn't land well. "Move it! That trap was disabled long ago." After a few more wiggles and squirms that loosen my hold precariously, they finally get set and I let go. A trap? That seems very familiar.
"Okay, sorry." Well, this is embarrassing. Quickly, I resume walking to put distance between us, not bothering to look back. Behind me I hear Kosuke ask gramps what the trap was as he pulls him upright.
"Oh, nothing much. Just a couple of thin dipped throwing needles spring loaded to set off near your ankles."
Kosuke sounds horrified when he replies a moment later. "W-what? How could you set something like that up for him?"
"No need to worry, Kosuke. They were only dipped in an oil. I forget the name of it now, but it would cause nothing more than an itch. Kind of like a mosquito bite." The old one laughs then continues on while our feet thud gently against the stairs.
"I remember how Daisuke would set it off almost everyday while in his hurry to get to school. It was so bad one time he had to hop and scratch all the way there." Ceasing my walk, I turn to look at them. I can't believe the old man is that mean! At least Kosuke is wearing the same look as me. Note to self: don't trust the old man. I shake my head and start back for the kitchen. I can already smell the wonderful food and my stomach rumbles in appreciation. I didn't realize it, but I'm ravenous! There's a fine line of control left that keeps me from running. I won't be rude again. I'm determined. But, couldn't they walk faster!
The kitchen is beautiful. Sparkling clean, it shines like new with the sun filtering in through the open windows. A pleasant breeze comes in and the soft colors along the walls makes the whole kitchen feel enveloped in a sense of peace. But, the food is the focal point for me. Over a good-sized glass table it all stands present. Every inch of the glossy surface is covered. With the sun shining in on it, one could say it shines with love.
"Wow!" I breathe. "It's like Thanksgiving made Japanese style." Kosuke laughs at this, but he soon grabs his stomach with a grimace. Catching me watching, he goes into an embarrassed stance: the typical smile with the hand behind the head.
"Guess I'd better sit this out for now. I'll just find Emiko and let her know." Turning toward another door, he walks away. I watch him leave until I hear a chair move from beside me. Darn, he picked the chair nearest the chicken. Thinking this, I quickly shake my head and chastise myself. That was a rude thought. If he wants the chicken let him have first serve, he is my elder after all.
I'm curious though. Where's Hiwatari? Maybe checking the arranged chairs would show me. I pull out a pushed in chair to look in it. Obviously not here. I go for the next chair which is turned at an angle. Nope. And, the last chair is pulled too close to have him either. Then, where? I start looking around the kitchen.
"Daisuke." I nearly jump at the sound of my name. "Come and eat. Worry later." Gramps points to the empty seat that I had first pulled out.
"Coming." But, I feel bad not waiting for everyone. He must able to read me because he goes into an explanation.
"Emiko is busy with Hiwatari and doesn't want us to let the food get cold. Not when she worked so hard on it, and Kosuke won't be able to eat just yet. You and I, however, need to keep our strength up and I see no reason why not to." But, instead of reaching for the nearby stack of plates, he grabs a newspaper instead and begins reading it. I take a seat and sit back to stare longingly at the food, not able to make myself ignore the others.
I feel him stare at me from over his newspaper. Looking at him confirms this.
"What?"
"Eat."
I shake my head. "Eat," he repeats, but Emiko rushing in stalls my next answering "no". The little rabbit is right behind her. It's a fluff ball that keeps careful stride with her.
"Kyuu! Kyuu!" Jumping happily, it hops right underneath the table. With all the food I can't see through to him. Deciding to ignore him for the moment, I find Emiko's busy sticking her head in a cupboard.
"Um..." I hesitate, not wanting to bother her. She quickly finds what she's looking for and comes back out. "Emiko, is Hiwatari alright?" She looks towards me while rinsing the small cup out.
"He's fine, dear. I'm not sure how, but he's only going to be sore for awhile. Liquids are a definite must right now. He's so dehydrated that I've got to wake him up somehow soon." She walks past the table for the door leading back to Hiwatari. She goes a small distance before stopping and turning back to me. Raising an eyebrow, she questions me.
"Why aren't you eating? The food is edible so eat." Gramps chuckles softly. I nod, giving up. Fine, I get it. When she doesn't immediately move, I grab for a plate.
"And, Papa, the same goes for you." Satisfied, she heads her way again. The old man sighs and I grab two plates.
"Want me to fix yours?" I ask him. He nods. Looking back at the food I wonderwhere to start.
We eat in silence for awhile. Then, after finishing my final plate, I get up to clean the dishes. And, there are a lot of dishes. I blush with embarrassment. Most of them are mine.
"Let the dish washer take care of those, Daisuke." A page of the newspaper gets turned as he says it.
"Right," I grab the stack and pile them into the washer. The door I was anxiously watching all throughout eating flies open as I fill up the soap container. Emiko was coming in carrying a bundle of some sort. She carefully makes her way over to the turned out chair. I close the door to the machine and start the device hurriedly, wanting to make it over to her fast.
What in the world is she carrying?
"Can I help you, Emiko?" Walking over to her side, I can see that the bundle is an intricately wrapped blanket. Sticking out everywhere at the nearest end at odd angles are tufts of slightly dampened blue hair. Halting fast, I stifle a laugh. Oh, poor Hiwatari! He got a bath... (Having to put a hand over my mouth now.)
"Yes, you can. Hand me the little cup on the sink counter." She goes to peeling the tips of the blanket from a small pale face ,not noticing the slight snorting noises that I'm making. He lips do looked parched. I frown upon noticing. Funny, I know what he can turn into, but I'm not frightened off by him. Perhaps my earlier out burst upstairs leaned more towards shock rather than fear. Straightening, I go to retrieve the cup.
"Emiko, you've become too attached to that Hikari," gramps states.
"Hush, Papa, he's not a bad kid," she retorts. Prompting him up gently, she smooths his hair away from his face. I agree with her. The more I look at Hiwatari, the more I feel this connection with him. Whatever that may mean.
"The cup, Daisuke. And fill it from the small pitcher over by the stove please." Snapping back shows I've stopped in my tracks. Come on brain, walking and thinking at the same time are possible.
After handing the cup with the clear looking fluid to her I excuse myself back to my chair.
"Kyuu!" Something grabs my pants leg. Bending down under the table, With comes into sight.
"Kyuu. Kyuu!" He seems nice. Cute and fluffy with nice long ears and feet, plus big strawberry eyes. There even is a grin on his adorable face. Definitely not a regular rabbit.
"Alright, Hiwatari. Time to wake up, hon." Her voice causes me to look over in their general direction. From under here, I have a perfect view of "the bundle". Emiko's face can hardily be seen, but her arms aren't hidden from view.
"You have to drink this, okay?" She tries to easily shake his shoulders. No response is comes forth.
"Oh, I knew he was going to be difficult. He didn't even stir the slightest bit when I rinsed the blood out of his hair. Mind you I didn't use cold water, but still. That darn Krad! If only I could get a hold of him somehow!" Her hand thumps the table with a hint of force. Plates clank in response. Does this mean he didn't get a full bath? That's good news for him.
"Papa?"
"Yes, Emiko?" Another page is turned.
"Could you fetch me the smelling salts please?" The old one sighs, then gets up. A few moments later he's back handing her some sort of small green glass bottle. Something instinctive kicks in with me and I know that those salts are unpleasant. How do I know this? And why am I suddenly cringing from it?
She opens the bottle with a flex of her thumb. Immediately, I hold my breath.
"Kyuu." With shudders for a second.
"You as well, huh?" My voice has that nasally sound. I don't want to chance breathing right now. Even with all of this going on, Hiwatari is obliviously asleep. He's in for a rude awakening! He in not going to be happy! The bottle starts dipping towards him. Oh, this will not be good! She makes a quick pass by his nose. The reaction is instant. He shakes his head and snorts softly, then rolls towards Emiko's chest. Wow! He's a heavy sleeper. That, or he's really out of it.
"Wow! Unbelievable. This little guy is gone. Papa," her chin moves in the direction of gramps, "the salts barely stirred a reaction."
"Hmm?" he sounds surprised. "Those are the same type of salts we used on Daisuke, right?"
"Yes." She looks back down at the stubborn Hikari.
"Wow. I know back in the early years of training, when breaking out of windows was new to Daisuke, that worked well enough. Even after ramming himself into tempered glass all it took was one whiff of that stuff to bring him around." I look over at him. So that's where I've tried it before... Yeah, I remember that now! Yuck! That was a bad smell! I smile and it catches the old timer's eye. He returns it knowingly. My memory is returning! Yes! Back in business!
"Kyuu!" My pants get tugged again.
"Okay, I'm back, With," I resume watching from under the table. It's kind of fun and it feels familiar to me, or at least something like it does. Do I normally watch people? Or is it the hiding and waiting part that's making me feel nostalgic? Hmm...
"Okay, we try again." I watch aptly as the bottle is tipped towards his nose again. She has to shift a bit to angle it properly. The pass is made, but this time there's no reaction from him.
"Well, this is new." A frown is evident on her face. "Any ideas, Papa?"
"Hmm.." He begins thinking. Well, now what? I slump back up in my chair. A yawn escapes soon after. Then something tickles my face and I stop the leisurely motion to open my eyes, finding something thin and purple in front of my vision. What's this? Reaching up, I grab onto it and tug at it.
"Ouch... Huh?" Is this connected? I hear a sharp intake of breath from in front of me.
"Dark?" Emiko asks. I blink and look over at her with worry.
"I'm still me, right? Is this part of getting my memories back? If so, I don't understand." I quickly turn in my chair to face gramps.
"It's just a bit of his hair that has changed, Emiko. It merely means things are going in the right direction for us." His eyes stray from hers to mine. "Just remember what I said. We can discuss this later after your mother gets through."
My mother? Steering back to Emiko, she confirms this with a nod.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" I question.
"Cause I didn't want to rack your brain farther." She glances back to Hiwatari. "I wanted you to remember on your own." Now I feel very bad. How could one truly forget their own mother like that?
"It's okay, Daisuke." She chuckles lightly. "Now you can't call me Emiko anymore." Now I have a burning question. Should I ask it? … Nah, I'll wait. I want to remember if Kosuke is my dad or not on my own. It shouldn't be so hard with things slowly coming back to me.
"Alright, one more try," she says as she dips the bottle once more. Poor Hiwatari. He may as well wake up because she won't truly stop until she wins. … Hey! That's another bit of info! Yes!
Smiling, I watch as the bottle comes away from his nose again. This time the reaction is strong. Blue eyes fly open and he gasps while bowing heavily upwards. The only thing keeping him steady would be the blanket and one arm from my mom. A hysterical laugh bubbles up and I choke trying to hide it. He's definitely awake!
"Whoa! Finally awake!" Emiko beams at him. He just relaxes and goes limp. His eyes close till they're only halfway open. He looks like he's in a daze. Low blood Pressure.
"E- … Mom." She looks up at me as I lift back up from underneath the table. "He has low blood pressure so he doesn't really know what's going on at the moment."
"Oh. Well that may make it easier for me to feed him." I look at her in horror. She smiles at me, reminding me a little of a girl with a baby doll. Hiwatari gets back our attention by wiggling slightly in his confining blanket. It's wrapped so he can't move well. Guess that may have been the point. After finding that he can't move properly, his clearly dazed mind seems confused. He moans softly in his distress.
Even though I know if given a moment he'll be able to respond correctly to the situation, it doesn't stop the fact that protective instincts are triggered as soon as he issues that moan. I want to help him. Without much thought, I'm out of my chair and beside the two.
"Sit down, Daisuke. I've got it," she tells me without looking up.
"But, he wants the blanket off." Maybe he's hurting? I hope not.
"I'm not removing the blanket. He'd be cold without it."
"Then, is he in pain?"
"Maybe a little. After all, he's been through an awful lot today. But, I think it's just because he's not use to being restricted so much in his movements." She smiles again when he moves. "I'm just glad he's alive." She looks at me then. "You know it's because of you, right?"
"Me? I didn't try to focus too much on earlier, but I do know something strange happened up there." But what exactly did I do? She looks down again.
"Whatever took place, it's the cause of your memory being shot. I'm not sure how a miracle like this was possible, but you saved him. And, I'm sure you'll be alright here shortly, too." I watch her, stunned for a few minutes. That's when I see a tear roll down her cheek.
"My son is a true hero." She looks at me with calm watery eyes. So many swirls of emotions are alive within. I feel my own heart stir in response. "That makes me a very proud mother." I clasp a hand to her shoulder and I don't know why, but it feels right when I lean my forehead to hers. This feels all the world like the most natural thing between us. It's like something we always do to show supportive comfort to one another.
"Alright, enough of these tears." She pulls away and wipes her eyes. "We've got a job to do. Hand me the cup, and could you get me a straw please?" I smile wide.
"Of course!" Turning back towards the kitchen sink, With jumps on my shoulder and I catch grandpa smiling at me. I barely register that I've realized another fact. He's my grandpa. Things are going to be okay.
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