A/N: Whoo! New chapter! Thank you for the reviews. 14Phantom, that must have been scary for your brother! I know if I ever lost my memories, even if only for a short while, I would be really scared (not that my memory is all that great in the first place. I can barely remember anything past like, six years ago. It's really sad how bad my memories of my middle school/elementary school life are.). I'm glad your brother is okay now though! Thank you Akiko88!
Here's chapter 12, please review. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 12
The young girl with long, black hair awoke with a painful groan to the sound of a metal knife clattering against the ground. Her back was in great pain, but she sat up. "Where am I?" She asked, looking around the unfamiliar room. An old woman with graying hair stooped to pick up the knife in the kitchen and then smiled at the girl.
"Sorry, I was being too loud and woke you." The old woman apologized.
The young girl shook her head. "No, it's alright. Where am I?" She asked again.
The old woman's smile widened. "This is my house. My son found you collapsed on the street and brought you back. My name is Yamashita Kanae. You can just call me Kanae. So what's your name?"
The girl frowned, trying to remember her own name. "I-I don't remember…" She whispered, frightened. "I-I don't remember my name…" Her eyes widened and her she gripped her black hair tightly with both hands, trembling. "I don't remember…I don't remember anything." Her voice rose hysterically.
Kanae rushed to the girl's side and put an arm around her shoulder. "It's alright." She said soothingly. "Don't worry; I'm sure you'll remember soon enough. Then…for the meanwhile, I'll give you a new name how about that? Don't strain yourself. You're still sick."
The girl looked up at the kind woman. "A new name?" She asked haltingly.
"Yes." Kanae nodded. "Let's see, how about 'Miku'? It means 'beautiful sky.' Your eyes remind me of the blue sky outside." She said tenderly.
"Miku…" The girl repeated, savoring the word.
"Do you like the name?" Kanae asked.
She nodded, a smile forming on her face. "Yeah, I like it."
Kanae stood up. "Then, you'll be Miku from now on, alright? Now, lie down and rest. I'm making some breakfast for you."
In the meeting room of the Shinsengumi headquarters, Saito felt his heart sink. "Amnesia…" He repeated. Memory loss.
Okita quirked an eyebrow. "Huh, how long does it last? Did she forget all of her memories?" He asked Sannan-san.
Sannan-san shook his head. "I'm not sure. A few days? A few weeks? I don't know. Besides, we won't know for sure until we've found her."
At that moment, Sano, Shinpachi, and Heisuke burst into the room, dejection written on their faces. Hijikata followed them with his purple eyes as they took their seats. "Did you find her?" Hijiikata asked.
Sano shook his head and closed his golden eyes. "No. She's not in the compound, that's for sure."
Sannan-san's eyebrows drew together. "This is quite problematic." He said, crossing his arms.
Hijikata sighed. Then he glared at the captains sitting in the room. "Keep an eye out for her when you're out on patrol. She couldn't have gotten very far with that wound and her high fever." Then he stood and left the room. Sannan-san and Kondou followed suit. A heavy silence filled the room.
Heisuke was the first one to break the silence. "Is there something wrong with Aoi?" He asked.
"We think she may have amnesia." Yamazaki replied.
"Amnesia, huh…" Sano repeated, tisking. "This is bad." The silence that fell again was even heavier than the first. But this time, no one dared to break it. The men sat there solemnly, with grim faces.
The sun had set and Miku was resting in bed when she heard a male voice call out, "Mother, I'm home!" A young man with short, black hair that framed his face and glittering black eyes appeared in the living room. Miku shrunk back a little in fear.
Kanae laughed. "Welcome home Kojiro. Miku, there's no need to be scared. He's my son."
Kojiro looked from his mother to the girl. "Miku…Is that her name?"
Kanae shook her head forlornly. "It's the name I gave her. It seems she can't remember anything about herself: her past, her name, where she came from…"
Kojiro looked at Miku for a moment, and then bowed. "It's nice to meet you Miku-san. I'm Yamashita Kojiro."
Miku stayed silent for a moment, keeping her wary gaze on the handsome young man. The she inclinced her head forward. "It's nice to meet you Yamashita-kun."
The young man scratched his head and chuckled. "Ah, since I'm calling you by your first name, you can just call me by mine."
Miku's sky-blue eyes flickered to the left. "Then, Kojiro-kun."
Kojiro smiled widely. "That's right. How's your fever, Miku-san?" He asked.
"It's alright, thank you." She let out a dry, rasping cough.
Kanae sighed. "Her fever is better than it was early this morning when you brought her in, but it's still dangerously high. But that's not all. It turns out she also has a sprained ankle and an infected wound on her back. The sprained ankle shouldn't pose too much of a problem, but I'm worried about that wound on her back."
Kojiro's black eyes widened. "An infected wound on her back?" He turned to Miku. "How did that happen?"
Miku's beautiful sky-blue eyes tightened. "I don't remember."
Kojiro protested, "But-"
However he was cut off by his mother. "Kojiro," she said sharply. "It's alright. She doesn't need to remember. From what I could tell, it seems to be a made by a sword. Maybe she got into some trouble with the rogues? In any case, if I don't treat the infection, she could die." She looked down, confused. "But it seems she's gotten medical attention already. The infection doesn't seem to be as bad as I thought for a wound like that. Plus, the wound's been cauterized. I have some herbs that can help stop the infection, but a lot of it will depend on her willpower." She looked down at Miku and smiled. "Now, why don't we have some dinner?"
Saito sat in his room, cleaning his katana. The light from the lamps danced on the walls and brightened the room, but he felt as dark as the night outside. "Everything is my fault." He thought to himself. "If only I hadn't been as selfish as request for her to patrol with me that night. If only I hadn't fallen asleep, she might still be here." He lifted his katana slightly and gazed at his reflection in the polished metal. His face looked the same as it always had, but his eyes were different. They held emotions that had never existed before. His visage was calm and composed as usual, but inside, he was struggling. "Why? Why did she have to disappear now, when I've just realized how I feel about her? It's taken me so long to realize my feelings, but she's not here. Why is it that I've never realized it? Is it because I am a samurai? I've always thought that being the best samurai I could was my life, and that was all I wanted. I was happy carrying a sword, fighting for what I believed in, but why? Why did she have to enter my life? Why is it that it's only after she's left me, possible for good, that I realize it? That I love her." Saito tightened his grip on the hilt of his katana and his eyes darkened. "I love her." He breathed out quietly.
Saito sheathed his sword and stepped outside onto the wooden porch. He looked up at the small sliver of moon hanging in the sky and vowed to himself, "Tsukahara," He thought, "I promise that no matter how many days or weeks might pass, no matter how many cycles the moon should go through, I will find you." He brought a hand up to his chest and squeezed, and his midnight-blue eyes narrowed.
Days passed. Miku's fever had subsided, but she was still bedridden due to her back injury. Kanae kept her company during the day. She would tell Miku stories about her past, but at night, Kojiro would return. He would tell Miku about his shop, that day's sales, and the customers; he would usually bring back little trinkets for her. Sometimes it would be a pretty flower he had picked, or sometimes it would be a dessert he had bought and eventually, Miku became part of the family.
"So, Miku-san," Kojiro said through the dangos he was eating. "You still don't remember anything about yourself?" He asked.
Miku shook her head. "No, I don't remember anything. Every time I try, I seem to be hitting a wall. I can't recall anything before that day you took me in."
Kojiro looked down. "Hmm, I see."
Kanae entered the living room carrying three cups of tea. She set them down and turned to Kojiro. "Was everything peaceful today?" She asked him.
He nodded. "Yeah, for the most part. There was a small scuffle between some rogues and the Shinsengumi, but it didn't cause too much trouble." He said.
Kanae looked worried. "The Shinsengumi…" She muttered.
Miku's head throbbed and she brought up a hand to rub her forehead. "Shinsengumi…" She said haltingly. Something flashed in her memories. She tried to dig deeper, but a voice distracted her.
"Miku-san?" Kojiro's voice was concerned. "Are you alright? Are you still sick perhaps?"
"Yes, I'm fine." She replied shakily, her face pale.
Kojiro frowned. Then he turned to his mother beside him. "Say, mother, why don't I take the day off tomorrow and show Miku-san around town? She's not sick anymore, and her injury is getting better. I think some fresh air will do her good."
Kanae contemplated the idea for a moment. Then she nodded. "Alright, that's a good idea. I'll take over the shop tomorrow." She stood up and reached down to pick up the dirty plates. "Get some rest Miku. You'll need the strength tomorrow." Miku nodded and slid down into her futon.
Kojiro stood to leave as well. "Good night Miku-san."
"Good night Kojiro-kun." Miku said. He blew out the candles and left. Miku rolled over in bed, thinking for a while. "Shinsengumi…" She whispered. Somewhere in the depths of her memories, something stirred.
The next morning, Kanae shook her awake. "Miku, wake up, I have breakfast prepared for you." Miku groaned and stretched. The she stumbled out of bed and headed to the kitchen where Kanae had prepared a bowl of rice, miso soup, and a few side dishes.
"Where's Kojiro-kun?" She asked, yawning. She picked up a pair of chopsticks and began eating.
"He's setting up the store for me. Then he's going to come back and get you."Kanae replied. "Oh, after you finish eating, I've prepared one of my old kimonos for you to wear."
Miku paused. "Ah," she exclaimed. "Actually, is it alright if I wear men's clothing instead?"
Kanae frowned. "I guess…" She said bewildered. "Why though? You're a girl."
Miku shrugged. "I don't know, I guess I just feel more comfortable wearing men's clothes."
Kanae thought for a moment. "That reminds me, you were wearing male clothing that day Kojiro picked you up. Well, it's fine I guess. I'll find something of Kojiro's for you to wear."
Miku bowed slightly. "Thank you very much. I'm sorry for the trouble."
Kanae laughed. "Oh, it's no trouble. You're pretty much like family."
A short while later, after Miku had finished breakfast and changed, the door opened and Kojiro called out, "Hey, are you guys ready?"
Kanae called back, "Yes, we're coming now!"
At the entrance of the house, Kanae turned to Kojiro and Miku. "Be careful. Kyoto's a big city and it's easy to get lost in. Don't get into too much trouble alright? Stay out of the way of the rogue samurais." They nodded and Kanae left for the store.
Kojiro looked at Miku with his black eyes. "Then, shall we go?" He smiled at her.
The two of then walked around the town slowly, looking at the different stores and at the scenery. Miku took a deep breath. It was good to be outside after staying indoors for so long. Time passed quickly, and soon, the sun was high in the sky. Miku's stomach growled and Kojiro laughed. "I know a good restaurant just up the street. Why don't we eat there?" He asked her.
Miku hung her head in embarrassment. "Yes, thank you, I'm sorry."
Kojiro chuckled. "It's alright. It's my fault for forgetting the time."
The two of them walked down the street slowly. Suddenly, Kojiro stopped and made a weird noise. Kanae stopped as well. She looked up at his handsome face. "Kojiro-kun, what's wrong?"
Kojiro glowered. "It's the Shinsengumi."
Miku's eyes widened. "The Shinsengumi?" Further down the road, she saw a group of men wearing blue haoris with white jagged stripes. Leading them, at the front, was a handsome young man with long violet hair, tied with a white strip of cloth, and mysterious, dark-blue eyes. His white scarf fluttered in the air, his katanas hung on his right, rather than his left. The way he held himself, with determination and honor, and the gracefulness with which he walked made him look like a god. Miku felt her heart squeeze tightly and she heard a clanging of swords in her head, even though there was no fighting going on.
The Shinsengumi marched past Miku and Kojiro without sparing them a second glance, but a couple yards down, they stopped. The beautiful man at the front spun around and stared at Miku. She shrunk back in fear, and Kojiro angled his body so that he was shielding her. The purple-haired man approached the two of them slowly, and with each step, his eyes grew wider. He finally stopped in front of the two of them. He stared at Miku as if he had just seen a ghost. His hands snaked around Kojiro and grasped Miku's wrist. She gasped and tried to pull away, but he didn't let go. Kojiro whirled on the man and hissed. "Let her go! Who do you think you are! Miku's done nothing wrong."
Saito stared at the girl. "Miku?" He asked in horror. "No. Your name is Aoi. Tsukahara Aoi. Not Miku." His voice shook slightly "Tsukahara, I've finally found you."
Miku tried to twist out of his grasp. "No, let me go! I don't know who you are! I don't know who this Aoi is!" Tears gathered in her eyes and spilled out.
The man from the Shinsengumi pressed forward. "Tsukahara, don't you remember me?" He pleaded. "The Shinsengumi's third unit captain, Saito Hajime! You saved my life!"
"No, stop it! I don't know! I don't know who you are!" Miku sobbed. Kojiro grabbed Saito's arm and tried to pull his arm away from Miku, but to no avail.
Pain filled Saito's heart. It was torture. Never before had he felt such agony. None of the wounds he had ever received in battle before could match up to this. He dropped Miku's hand and wrenched his own away from the man protecting her. He glared at Kojiro for a moment, memorizing his face and appearance. "I should be there." Saito thought jealously. "I should be the one standing next to Tsukahara, protecting her. That was supposed to be my place." He whirled around and walked back to his squad. "We're leaving." He said to his men.
One man foolishly argued back. "But-"
Saito fixed him with a deadly glare, his dark-blue eyes flashing. "We're going back to headquarters." He continued down the road, the third unit following him.
Aoi stared after him. Her fingers rubbed the place where Saito had gripped. The skin there felt like it was on fire. A memory stirred. She remembered cherry blossom petals dancing in the spring wind as they gently fell to the ground. Then her vision blurred and she collapsed.