Chapter 21

"My wife doesn't remember me." Gingka stated. "The woman I love, the person I've known for over 7 years, doesn't remember me." Scoffing, he ran a hand down his face and laughed without any humor in it. "This is unbelievable."

Gingka and the doctor stood outside Madoka's hospital room, staring into it through the large window. Finally, the doctor managed to sedate Madoka and now she was sleeping peacefully in the bed. Gingka folded his muscular arms and pursed his lips.

"Is there anything you can do?" Gingka mumbled, his eyes glued on Madoka.

"Unfortunately there isn't anything we can do. If we try, we would just make her condition worse. We have to wait it out."

"Is her memory loss temporary or permanent?" He pondered aloud, worried as to what the doctor would say.

"We don't know." The doctor sighed, a sympathetic expression on his face. "Temporary memory loss could last from one week to one year. It all depends on her brain. Permanent memory loss is well, permanent."

"What's gonna happen when she wakes up?"

"We'll keep her for two days to help her heal. When she wakes up, we'll talk to her and try to let her know what exactly is going on."

The doctor and Gingka stood next to Madoka's bed, waiting for her to wake up any second now. Gingka just got off the phone with his dad, letting him know of the situation. Ryo insisted he come to visit, but Gingka countered that she needed to rest as much as possible. He then told his father to let everyone else know and that he'd keep them informed.

Gingka tensed the moment he saw Madoka's head slightly twitch. They watched as Madoka slowly opened her eyes and blinked. She cringed before looking down at her casts on her forearm and ankle. Then she looked up at the doctor and then Gingka.

"What's going on?" She whispered hoarsely.

"Mrs. Hagane-"

"That's not my name." She interrupted, a look of confusion written on her face.

"Madoka," The doctor continued, glancing at Gingka with an apologetic look. "You've been in a car accident and have been severely injured. You lost some of your memory in the wreck. Can you tell me, how old are you?"

Madoka opened her mouth to answer but froze. Furrowing her eyebrows, she looked down at her body. "Well…I-I was 11. But, my body wasn't like this the last time I remember…" She mumbled.

"9 years?!" Gingka's eyes widened. "She lost 9 years of her memory?"

Madoka looked up at Gingka, a glare growing on her face. "Why are you even here? I don't know you."

"I'm your husband!" Gingka replied, glancing at the doctor who looked extremely worried. "You know, your best friend for 7 years?"

"I'm not married." Madoka scoffed, not believing a second of it. "I'm not old enough-"

"You're twenty, Madoka." Gingka interrupted, giving her a stern look. "And look at your left hand."

Pursing her lips, she glanced down at her left hand and immediately froze. She slowly brought up her left hand that was wrapped in a cast, staring at the wedding ring on her finger. "How is this possible?" She whispered, looking at the doctor with panic. "I don't even know him!"

"Madoka-"

"Gingka let me talk to her." The doctor quietly stated, before looking back down at Madoka. "Listen, Madoka. You've been in a car accident. That's why you don't remember anything the past 9 years. But I assure you, you've known Gingka for 7 years and you are married. You don't remember it. Your memory may come back soon but we won't know for sure. It's possible you won't even remember the past nine years ever again."

Madoka's breathing began to grow as her eyes darted around the room. "I don't want to be here. Take me home!" The monitors began to beep hysterically as Madoka began to thrash around again. She beat against Gingka and the doctor, screaming bloody murder. Other nurses and doctors came running in to help sedate her once more.

A nurse quickly got a needle and shot her in the thigh. Madoka slowed her movements as her eyes began to droop increasingly. She lye back as her eyes closed completely, leaving a panicked doctor and a worried husband.

The next two days were complete torcher for Gingka.

He didn't get any sleep since he was either dealing with Madoka or informing all of his friends about Madoka. Either way, he was completely exhausted. He felt his entire body was dying for a few hours of sleep. Not to mention he was incredibly sad. His heart felt like breaking every time Madoka looked at him like he was a stranger. He felt like he lost his soul mate right in front of him.

Groaning, Gingka sat down in a nearby chair in Madoka's hospital room. It was now the day Madoka gets to go home. After hours and hours of fighting, she finally let Gingka take her home. She asked why couldn't one of her parents pick her up but Gingka sadly informed her that her mother died of cancer a few years back and her father was missing. After another few hours of her crying, she finally got up and got dressed in the clothes Gingka brought her.

Right now it was around 6 at night and Gingka just got done with signing all of the papers for check out. Madoka stood in the bathroom, now in dark blue short shorts, a white t-shirt, and red converse. She was staring at herself in the mirror, frowning. Madoka pulled at her longer brown hair that was messy from lying in bed for two days straight.

She placed her hands on her hips and furrowed her eyebrows. "Since when do I have hips?" She mumbled, turning around and looking at her butt. After complaining about having curves, Madoka looked down at her chest. "Since when do I have boobs?"

"Madoka, we need to go." Gingka softly laughed, staring at her from the doorframe.

"Why do I look like this?!" Madoka complained, rubbing her hips.

"You're a woman now. It happens to every girl." Gingka shrugged, gathering up her belongings.

"Well I don't like it." Madoka grumbled as she walked out. "Last time I remember, I didn't have to wear bras."

"You'll have to get used to it." Gingka told her as they walked out of the hospital room. "You're not getting younger."

She rolled her eyes as she tried to keep up. Her ankle got better after the two days but it was still wrapped up. When Madoka walked, it wasn't a bad limp and she could still get around. Her knee got better but she still have to be careful with it. Her left arm was still in a cast and there was still a few cuts and bruises on her body. Other than that, Madoka was completely healed.

When they made it to the car, Gingka put the things in the back before walking around and opening up the passenger car door. Madoka glanced down into the car and furrowed her eyebrows. "I was told not to get into a car with a stranger."

"Well I'm no stranger." Gingka countered, his hand still gripping the car door. "Please, M. Get in."

"Okay," She whispered cautiously as she got into the car.

Sighing, Gingka got into the drivers seat and started the car. "This is getting off to such a great start." He mumbled sarcastically, putting the car in reverse.

The car ride home was awkwardly quiet. Madoka was looking out the window, chewing on her bottom lip as Gingka stared straight ahead, having no idea what to say. What do you say to the person you knew over 7 years that has no idea who you are?

"Are you hungry?" Gingka asked, not being able to bear the silence anymore.

Looking over, Madoka nodded slowly. Her eyes met his for a second before she quickly looked away. Rubbing his lips together, Gingka pulled into Benkei's burger joint.

"An old friend owns this place. He'll be nice to you, don't worry." Gingka informed before getting out of the car with Madoka right after him.

The sound of soft bells chimed through the fast food restaurant as the two walked inside. Seeing, Gingka, Benkei walked out with a huge smile on his face. "Gingka!" He shouted before grabbing Gingka and bringing him into a bear hug. Benkei's eyes met Madoka's causing him to immediately back away.

He smiled sadly, holding out a hand. "Madoka, so glad to see you're okay."

Madoka shook his hand cautiously.

"Oh! I'm Benkei. I've been your friend for a while. Almost 7 years." He informed, his eyes glistening. "I hope you can remember soon."

"Thank you?" She mumbled, unsure of what to say to that.

"Anyway, I'll get you guys something to eat." Benkei smiled, looking down at Madoka before walking away.

"He kinda scares me." Madoka told Gingka as they sat down. "Has he always been that big?"

Chuckling, Gingka nodded. "Yeah. If you can believe it or not, he's gotten bigger from the past years."

"Wow," Madoka blinked in surprise. "But he seems nice."

"He really is." Gingka replied just as Benkei set down their food.

Gingka opened the door to their apartment and allowed Madoka to walk in first. He set down the bags he was carrying and turned on the lights, watching as Madoka looked around.

"So this is your apartment?" Madoka asked, walking over to a nearby table with pictures on it.

"Well, it's our apartment, but I guess you could say that." Gingka mumbled, taking the bags into the bedroom.

While he was doing so, Madoka stared at the pictures on the coffee table. She stopped when she saw a picture of Gingka and herself, clearly on their wedding day. Rubbing her lips together, she looked to the next one and saw Gingka and herself again, this time standing on a beach. The next picture was Gingka, herself, and a bunch of other people she didn't know. However, she recognized Benkei in the back.

"It's weird staring at pictures of yourself you don't even remember taking or being there." She told Gingka who stood in the kitchen, observing her. Madoka looked at another wedding picture. "So we really are married."

"Yep," Gingka responded as he grabbed a beer from the fridge. "Almost one year. Actually it will be one year next Friday."

Madoka nodded as she walked around and sat down on the couch. She sighed, staring at the blank TV screen. "So, the doctor told me you're a famous blader. Do you have any videos I could watch? Maybe it will help with my memory."

Gingka blinked in surprise but soon smiled. "Okay."

Madoka sat on the couch, staring at the TV in curiosity. They were on their second video, a tournament Gingka participated in 6 years ago. She asked a few questions about him but other than that, they sat in silence, watching the videos.

Her blue eyes were wide as she watched the tournaments, completely intrigued. She would occasionally gasp when she saw herself on the TV but then her face would look confused for the seconds that followed.

After the fourth video, Gingka turned it off. He turned towards her and raised his eyebrows, hoping she would remember something.

Pursing her lips, Madoka shook her head. "I still don't remember anything." She softly stated with a slight shrug.

"That's okay," Gingka sighed, while standing up. "We can try again tomorrow."

"Is there a spare bedroom I could use? I just don't really feel comfortable staying with a guy I don't know…"

Gingka smiled, but there was hurt in his eyes. "You can stay in the master."

Madoka climbed into the unfamiliar bed and looked around. She could see different pictures of her and Gingka scattered throughout the room, her own clothing lying around, and a few items from her childhood on different tables. Madoka assumed the things she didn't recognize were Gingka's, which caused a feeling of confusion and shame stir up inside her.

Shaking her head, she lied down on the bed and sighed. Madoka had a feeling tomorrow was going to be hard, very hard. And she hated the fact that she didn't remember anything the past 9 years of her life.

Shifting sleeping positions, Madoka took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. With one last glance at a picture on the bedside table, she finally closed her eyes.