Hi no Himitsu (The Fire's Secret) : Chapter 27 - MEMENTO

Jisho/Dictionary:
ANOOO
… Well… Umm…
ARIGATOU /DOMO ARIGATOU GOZAIMASHITA
… Thank you
BAKA / BAKERO
… Fool / Stupid
BISHOUNEN
… Pretty boy
DAIJOUBU
… It is ok
GOMENE / GOMEN NASAI
… I'm sorry
HAI
… Yes
HONTOU
… Really
IMA-YO
… Now
ITTE
… Ouch
IYA
… No
KUSO
… A curse word
MADA
… Still
MASAKA
… No way/But…
MATTE
… Wait
MIKO
… Shrine attendant
NABE
… One-pot stew
NANI
… What?
OJII-SAN
… Grandfather
OMI-AI
… Love matchmaker
OTOO-SAN/OTOO-SAMA
… Father
SENSHI
… Soldier (in this case, referring to the sailor senshi)
SHINOBI
… Ninja
SOU KA / SOU DESU KA…
Oh… Is that so
SUGOI
… Great
TAIGA
… Japanese period soap operas (i.e. about samurai)
TORII
… Arches in the Shinto temple entrance
URUSAI
…Shut up!
WAKATTA
… Understood/Ok
YOSHI
… Ok/Good

In the Previous Chapter:

The New Year came and as Ami was about to battle to win as the Iron Grandmaster, she instead used the opportunity to announce a search for the true Iron Grandmaster, hoping that Soujirou Nishimura would listen.

While Minako shared Ami's determination in winning back their shittenou, Makoto has given up, even as she and Minako saw the huge billboards of Sanjounin and Kenta in Shibuya, adding pain to their longing.

Kenta had announced that he, Soujirou and even Sanjounin had shared a dream about Elis, which he thinks would be the key to finding the reason for their accident and their lost memories. Kamui has no such dream except for Rei Hino as a princess in a fantastical land. Despite Suzaku-sama's pleading, Kamui instead chose to follow his heart and use the "Law of Fourth Chances" to determine his fate instead of his inability to make firm decisions like the 'old Kamui.'

Kamui decided to use this law to ask Ryoichi Hino for permission to marry Rei Hino during his meeting to persuade Hino-dono in becoming Chief Cabinet Officer in his father's behalf. While Hino-dono was impressed with Kamui, he denied the position and happily blurted out that he had given his approval for Kaidou-san to marry his daughter. This led to Kamui's resignation to follow his heart and dismiss marrying Rei Hino as illogical.

Usagi and Mamoru in the meantime have seen the huge billboards of Sanjounin and Kenta and prayed that the shittenou would regain their memories for the sake of Ami, Rei, Makoto and Minako. Just then, Kenta, after sensing that he had seen his 'prince,' received a call from Soujirou saying that he has regained his memories.

(Remember: Kamui Asano is Jadeite; Kenta Maeda is Kunzite; Soujirou Nishimura is Zoicite; Sanjounin Masato is Nephrite. See Author's Notes on WHY these names.)


Junihachinichi. Ichigatsu. January 28.

"Is that your choice, Kamui? I didn't expect you to decide very early especially since your mother stressed that you need more time to recover from your accident."

"It is, otoo-san," Kamui humbly answered, bowing low to his father.

"Very well. I shall be speaking to the Emperor in the middle of next month and tell him your decision," Junichiro Asano answered without any expression of elation, much to Kamui's surprise. "What did Hino-dono say about joining my cabinet?"

"He is sending his regrets, otoo-san, but I urged him to keep the proposal for him to reconsider."

Junichiro Asano crinkled his forehead and rose from his chair to stand in front of his table right in front of where his son stood. "Hino-dono declined being my Chief Cabinet Secretary?" he rephrased, sounding surprised that his generous proposal was rejected.

"Hai," Kamui replied. "He said that his constant changing of parties within Parliament will be an issue with some of the MPs in the DLP and he wishes to first prove his loyalty as a regular DLP member."

"Sou ka na…" Junichiro Asano continued to sound doubtful. "But with his latest performances...him stirring a coalition and forming his old faction in the DLP against me is contradictory to that."

Kamui nodded. "He still has his pride."

Junichiro Asano shrugged. "I just thought that with his return to the DLP and my election as prime minister, he would forget all the party lines."

"I am sure that he is still willing to serve, otoo-san… He is still the most qualified for this post. We can still get him to reconsider."

"I know that you have been one of his fans, my son!" Junichiro Asano laughed, patting Kamui on the shoulder. "I am just saying that even great men such Hino-dono and I have to deal with a little weakness called pride. Even then, you and I know that Hino-dono does not like to be just a regular MP."

"But I have already decided on him!" Junichiro Asano grinned. "His participation in my cabinet will forge a stronger DLP by finally uniting our two biggest factions. Unity is better, isn't it? Now tell me how your meeting ended, Kamui."

Kamui coughed. "Anoo...Hino-dono...uhh… congratulated me regarding Suzaku-sama," he answered reluctantly.

"Very good," Junichiro Asano said with his signature Asano smirk. "Hino-dono never comments about non-political topics to people he doesn't like. This means you must've said something to earn his favor!"

Kamui's eyes widened in disbelief. He has earned Hino-dono's favor? "How do you know this, otoo-san?"

"'Know thy enemy as thy knows thyself' speaks Sun Tzu," Junichiro Asano explained mimicking an old samurai teacher in one of his favorite taiga dramas. "I am also a good judge of character. I am right to trust you in giving this proposal to Hino-dono. I am sending you again to ask him to reconsider."

Kamui gave a short bow to his father. "I will do my best, otoo-san," he said despite the heavy resistance within him.

Junichiro Asano nodded cheerfully and leaned on his desk. "You don't have to worry about anything, Kamui. I am sure the Law of Fourth Chances is on your side. It has always been on mine!"

Junichiro Asano gave a strong pat on the shoulder on his son to show his appreciation and confidence, but that parting gesture didn't improve Kamui's mood. Nishida noticed this immediately as soon as he saw Kamui walk out of his father's office.

"Is there any place you would like to go to, Kamui?" Nishida asked, walking briskly by Kamui's side as the latter seemed almost like he was running to his office.

Kamui shook his head. "I just need to send a message to Ono-san to arrange another meeting with Hino-dono and then there's just one other thing that I need to do."

Nishida nodded. "It's nearly the end of the month. I thought that you would prepare for your engagement announcement?"

"My father will talk to the Emperor himself and then we will prepare shortly after that. He sounds more enthusiastic about Hino-dono's decision than meeting with the Emperor regarding my decision."

"Sou desu ka?" Nishida raised an eyebrow. "That's quite strange, don't you think, Kamui?"

"My father is a very strange man." Kamui shrugged.

Nishida drew a heavy sigh that led him to give a short whistle. "Anoo… don't you think it's better to talk to her instead?" Nishida sounded very cautious in referring to Hino-dono's daughter.

"I am doing a courtesy call to Suzaku-sama next week," Kamui gave a gruff answer.

Nishida scratched his head and uneasily fidgeted in selecting his words well until he blurted, "Anoo-"

"-Nani-yo, Nishida?" Kamui asked coldly with the sharpest look on his face.

Nishida bowed his head low in shame after realizing that he was being chastised for making an effort to correct his young master. "Gomen" he quickly apologized, giving a heavy and loud sigh once again for not having the opportunity to convince Kamui.

"Nishida," Kamui called out, still unfazed at Nishida's apology.

"Hai?"

"Isn't this what everyone wants of me? To be decisive and honorable just like the old Kamui?"

Nishida wanted to disagree but immediately decided that it was more tactful to stay silent. The old Kamui was decisive because the old Kamui was always sure whenever he made a decision. Nishida was certain that the Kamui before him was not sure when he made this decision.

"Old Kamui… New Kamui…. it doesn't matter…." Kamui muttered irritably after Nishida's long silence. "I'm starting off fresh, Nishida."

Kamui then shoved a heavy black object on Nishida's chest, who the latter immediately realized as what he recalls as one of 'the old' Kamui's most treasured possessions - the old phone that fell in the Sumida. It seemed as though it was only a moment ago when his young master entrusted that phone to Nishida to use as a tool for Kamui to regain his memories, and now, it was being given to him with resentment.

Kamui gave that phone to Nishida because it was being given up. His young master had given up a prized possession for what it ultimately stood for.

"Sou ka…" Nishida murmured with a heavy heart, still glancing at the broken down phone. "This is the one thing you need to do?"

But Kamui shook his head.


Tsuitachi. Nigatsu. (February 1)

"My love… it is…."

"It is?"

Minako's eyes had a glassy look when she listlessly looked at him. This was indeed the perfect moment when she would fall into his strong arms and he would catch her fall gently like repeated frames in slow motion. He then slowly moved closer and closer to her that she happily fell into a swoon.

On the hardest wooden floor right in front of him with the brightest spotlight glaring at her.

"Itte…" Minako murmured softly, rising weakly in pain from her fall.

"CUT!" The voice of the great Takei roared across the set so loud that the one who held the spotlight shook in fright.

"Takei-sensei… gomen!" the actor in front of Minako hastily apologized as he walked over her with his hands clasped. "I think she did not rehearse this scene so well."

"She?" Minako rose defensively. "Why 'she?' It is always 'she' did not memorize the lines! 'She' did not understand the blocking!"

"Aino-san, daijoubu… all you have to do is apologize to Takei-sensei," he told her, raising Minako's rage to a boiling point and turning her face red from bottling it in trying to think of a more 'civil' reply.

"Urusai, Yoshida!" yelled the great Takei once again to the actor in front of Minako. "You are fired!"

"Fired? But why, Takei-sensei? Why? She was the one-"

"It is not 'she,' baka! It is you! You failed to catch her! You are fired!" Takei-sensei yelled once again with great conviction that easily appeased Minako.

It was Yoshida's turn to have his face filled red with rage. "It is her fault and you fire me!"

"Mada-" Minako began to protest.

"-But this will be a loss for you! You have fired me, Kuwata Yoshida, your great star!"

And then the great Takei took a moment of silence before finally yelling, "Get out!" shaking the wits out of everyone there including the great Kuwata Yoshida who exited shaking profusely as he walked out. The entire crew was new and only five actors, including Minako, stayed long enough for this long delayed play to be used to the great director's yelling.

Besides, all she could hear was the yelling anyway. The spotlight was too intense for her to see anyone below the stage, which is probably why Takei-san was convinced enough to scream all the instructions in the scariest tone.

"My great play, my masterpiece has long been delayed," she could hear the great Takei loudly lament. "I was stuck with the worst actors in history… I might as well die!"

"Anoo..Takei-sensei… gomen nasai…." Minako apologized to the glaring light in front of her, not knowing where Takei actually was.

"No! I do not need any apologies!" Takei yelled out once again surprising Minako so suddenly that she almost fell back. "I need real talent. I need a veteran. I need an experienced actor who knows all this at the back of his head! I need a real star!"

"Mou… Takei-sensei, that is too much compliment…."

Minako was taken aback at the voice that she just heard. It was eerily familiar that her heart jumped to ten beats at the sound of that voice. But it can't be… It can't be him. He does not remember….

"It is not too much!" Takei yelled his protest. "This is just what I need. I don't care if we have to start all over again just so that we can get it right!"

"We do not have to start all over again," the voice gently explained. "We just have to get the crucial scenes right and rehearse the rest to make it in time."

"There are about eight crucial scenes. How confident are you that you can-"

"-Very confident, sensei… because you are the director."

Sugoi… He has spoken with the greatest tact. What a relief. Minako was sure that it was the most tactful thing said to Takei since this morning. The silence just now just means that Takei is not only relieved that his play can be shown in time but that he was also given a very 'truthful' compliment.

"Very well," the great Takei loudly greeted. "I think you will be assured of a good cast since we have worked on the same thing for a long time. Aino-san! You will now have to work making sure that the new lead will fit right in with your part!"

Minako gave a low bow. "Yes, I will, Takei-sensei!" she announced enthusiastically.

"Who are you talking to, Aino-san? We are right here!"

"Sensei?" Minako tried to look through the glare. "But I can't see you in this light."

"Baka na…. I said, CUT! Didn't I?"

The light instantly went out after Takei's booming command and he continued to scold the crew as Minako closed her eyes to clear her eyes of the after images still present in the dark. One of those images was Kenta Maeda, smiling pleasantly at her just right in his latest Kin billboard. This was the only after image that Minako treated with glee.

"Aino-san! What are you still looking at over there? Go on and walk right here!"

Minako nodded and opened her eyes, still recovering from some huge specks from the glare. She was able to follow Takei's loud voice and was now able to make that familiar shape of him. She could also see someone standing beside Takei-sensei that resembled that handsome after image she just saw. But of course, it couldn't be. Minako was breathing fast in excitement but it was better to just fix her vision so she could get rid of all this wishful thinking.

"Go up the stage and meet your co-stars!" Takei-sensei instructed. "We shall start work right away!"

Minako closed both her eyes and rubbed them with her fingers until she was sure that there were very little specks of the glare left in them. Takei-sensei's protege wasn't in any haste and she could hear him climb the stairs to the stage before she could open her eyes.

And the slow motion frames that Minako was aiming for came in the same rhythm as his step and the opening of her eyes like the perfect scene. Because in Minako's clear vision, this was indeed Kenta Maeda in his full glory. (Whatever Kenta wore, that was to Minako, him in his full glory.)

"You were perfect in your scene, Aino-san, except for that last part," spoke Kenta Maeda just at the most fortunate moment. "But do not worry. I am here now to play the part who will catch you."

The most satisfying words. It's just too good to be true. Of course, Minako's swoon by this time was by no means deliberate.


Mikka. Nigatsu. (February 3)

"I guess everyone is here, including our Prince Kamui," Sanjounin grinned as the four of them were all gathered in his apartment.

"Hai… although I don't understand why we have to meet here," Kamui winced, scratching his shoulder. He remained standing as he did not find a suitable place to sit. "It's like no one has lived here for years."

"Sou… Why did we choose this place?" Soujirou grimaced himself as he sat on a pile of clothes on the sofa.

"Because I will cook a decent nabe for all of us!" Sanjounin proudly grinned. "I discovered that I can cook! And cook well!"

"We are friends, Sanjou-kun… but this is not good way to entrap us to that," Kamui threatened seriously, almost tripping on some piece of...whatever it is lying on the floor. "Stop kidding around."

"I am not kidding," Sanjounin scowled. "My cooking skills have mysteriously returned."

"Wakatta, Sanjou-kun. We shall settle that later," Kenta called out. "Let's move to our purpose of being here. Soujirou has remembered the details of our accident."

"Sou desu ka, Soujirou? You remember?" Sanjounin gasped.

Soujirou gave an uneasy scowl. "Most of it, but not all of it, apparently. I still have some gaps."

"Then can you tell us who Elis is?" Sanjounin inquired, surprising Kamui even that he knew Kenta told him. It was still a surprise to hear from Sanjou-kun's own mouth that they all share a fantastical dream.

Soujirou nodded. "Endymion's heir. Endymion is our prince!" he announced happily. "Elis has come here to steal the kingdom that he thought was his inheritance and used us to take over the world!"

A big silence. Mouths have dropped.

"Your humor has mysteriously returned with Sanjou-kun's non-existent cooking skills," Kamui replied, stressing his words to its full extent of sarcasm.

"You don't believe me? I am not making this up! Isn't this our dream?" Soujirou insisted.

"I must admit that it sounds too strange even if we all shared that dream," Kenta commented. "In my dream, I know that I am searching for a prince. But we have no prince now except for Suzaku-sama, who is a crown princess."

"Except for Prince Kamui," Sanjounin joked, obviously irritating Kamui. "If everything works."

"What else do you remember, Soujirou?" Kamui asked instead, changing the subject.

"I don't know anything else regarding that. I just know that Elis has used us to destroy this world and our prince. He was the one responsible for this accident. If we find our prince, then we can know how Elis caused our accident!"

"Find our prince…." Kenta repeated and paused to think (with everybody waiting for his answer.) "That is what we shall do."

"Kenta! Are you serious?" Sanjounin protested. "You just said there is no prince in Japan! How can we find him?"

"I don't know," Kenta softly replied. "I just know that he exists."

"And if we do not find him?" Kamui asked, feeling greatly pessimistic.

"Then we'll just have to rely on our own thing, Kamui!" Sanjounin shrugged, smirking. "Just like Soujirou here! If he was lucky enough, I'm sure we'll get our missing memories back ourselves!"

"Baka! You make me sound like I'm the shallow one when I'm the genius of Tokyo Tech!" Soujirou proudly complained.

"Did you call me … baka?" Sanjounin teased, trying to act seriously threatening.

Soujirou gulped. "I just mean that I know the science of I have easily regained mine! There are studies to show that there are special things that will help trigger these memories. It could be something as trivial as a souvenir or memento. Or some event that would remind us of things that happen. Our brains will return to that part of our memories that easily recognizes it!"

It was Kamui's turn to gulp at that. There were mementos that failed and only one more that he hasn't gotten rid of.

"Hontou? Then what was that thing that triggered your memory?" Sanjounin challenged.

"The mask adorned with little jewels that I found mysteriously," Soujirou answered. "I have missed the episode but the advertisements showed Mizuno-san on television calling for the true V-Knight until its last episode on February 15."

"That call for the real Iron Grandmaster? Do you think-"

"-I am V-Knight! Who else? I have defeated every whiz at Tokyo Tech except one," Soujirou sadly explained. "I haven't had the opportunity to battle her. I guess I have chased her all my life except for that one moment where she might think that I might be her nemesis and not think of me as someone deeper than that."

"Masaka.. Soujirou, you mean that hot chess girl is your-"

"-My true destiny," Soujirou amorously declared with hearts in his eyes.

"This is more fantastical than this Elis," Kamui chided once again. "I'll take my chances with Sanjou-kun's nabe."

"Hold on, Kamui… Soujirou may be for once, seriously right about something," Sanjounin's tone was serious, surprising Kamui yet again. "If you remember this hot chess girl more vividly than our accident, it must be serious. He's never been chased by a girl before."

Soujirou fatefully and tearfully nodded. "Despite my intellect and charm...it is just this once!" he sobbed.

"Then can you tell me about my own dream girl?" Sanjounin was smiling ear to ear when he asked. "Does she have anything to do with my great cooking skills?"

"I do not know, Sanjou-kun," Soujirou sniffed. "I remember that you have a girlfriend but who she really was is vague. I can't remember her face."

"Sanjou-kun always has a girlfriend." Surprisingly, it was Kenta not Kamui who commented.

"But this girl must be special that she made me improve on things I'm not normally fond of," Sanjounin sighed. "Guess I will just have to wait until Valentine's Day when my song is released… then she will find me."

"Then we both don't have much time… Mizuno-san is waiting for me to appear on television to beat her," Soujirou worriedly said.

Sanjounin nodded. He then leapt to his feet, surprising everybody else. "I just wondered...if Soujirou's theory is correct and the memento that led him to remember was the mask of V-Knight…then there must be something in here that could also help me remember once I find it."

The three others slowly panned their gazes around the small apartment with clothes all over the sofa, dirty pots in the sink, and various other messes piled on top of slightly recognizable instruments.

Sanjounin preceded everyone after giving a heavy sigh. "I suppose it will take a while to get through all this carnage," he murmured.

"Yoshi! Then I guess you better get started now!" Kamui told him, nodding to Sanjounin before heading out his door.

"Matte! I am still cooking nabe!" Sanjounin protested trying to make his way among all the mess and piles to stop Kamui at the door.

"Next time, Sanjou-kun!" Kamui said with a smirk, before finally heading out the door.

"Next time, Sanjou-kun!" Soujirou happily greeted as he wheezed his way quickly out the door himself.

Sanjounin was shocked to see the skill Soujirou had in escaping the piles from his own apartment, as though he had this magical gift of appearing and disappearing. He was even more surprised to see Kenta still sitting on his chair, although Kenta seemed to be thinking about something else other than Sanjounin's cooking.

"So, Kenta-kun… do you have any memento that you need to find?" Sanjounin asked, knowing he had guessed correctly.

Kenta shook his head. "We just need to search for our prince," he answered with finality.

Outside, Soujirou was trying to catch up to Kamui, of which the latter knowing that Soujirou was able to gain his pace on the sidewalk, began to walk slowly in order to catch up to Soujirou with ease. Kamui could see that Soujirou's worried disposition has not dissipated as it was apparent that Soujirou was thinking of the same thing. Kamui took his time to walk in silence by Soujirou's side still deliberating whether to ask Sanjounin's question.

Still deliberating in his mind because he had told Nishida that he was already the old Kamui who had made a decision. He was telling himself that he was going to stick to it no matter how much his heart ached curiously for an answer. And his heart, that broken thing that he did not wish to listen to anymore, kept furiously hounding Kamui to ask his question.

"Soujirou," Kamui finally called, then stopping his mouth from saying anything further.

"Yes?"

"Do you remember anything… about me?"

Soujirou stopped in his tracks and tried hard to think. "I think so..." he answered.

"Sou…" Kamui nodded and continued to walk. That Soujirou could not add anything else must mean that it's a sign for him to continue what he had thought of.

"Tell me something specific and I might know," Soujirou encouraged cheerfully. "Is it something about your law school degree? Or your father's campaign?"

Kamui sighed heavily and shook his head. "Tell me if you remember…" he began nervously. "… When did I plan to marry Suzaku-sama?"

Soujirou's smile instantly faded, as if adding more insult to Kamui's thoughts. "I remember that your father has mentioned this match, but I do not remember that you had plans to finalize that with Suzaku-sama."

Kamui nodded wistfully. "Aaa...Maybe not all of your memories have indeed returned."

Soujirou held on to Kamui's arm to stop him from walking any further. The gloom on Kamui's face seemed more evident and Soujirou wasn't sure that what he was going to say could change it for the better.

"I was searching through the files for Mizuno-san's website and I saw that I have a folder about you as well," Soujirou told him.

Kamui raised an eyebrow. "You were also stalking me?" he asked, looking quite disgusted.

"Iyaaa! It was never about you! It was always about Mizuno-san!" Soujirou complained, squealing his mutual disgust. He angrily whisked his hand into his pocket and fished out his cell phone.

"But you had all thought of me as Mizuno-san's stalker that I have searched for all the women you, Sanjou-kun and Kenta-kun adored and then I saw that yours was particularly a little bit popular being secretly stalked by other men on the Internet," Soujirou continued to talk while irately fidgeting the screen on his cell phone. "And just last year, almost made infamous by her association with you!"

"Soujirou… slow down. I am getting confused." Kamui gestured to rub his temple with his fingers to show a headache. "How can I make Suzaku-sama infamous? The Emperor would not give his permission to me if I have dishonored her in any way."

Soujirou shook his head and with a worried look on his face, he showed the face of his mobile phone to Kamui. "I was not talking about Suzaku-sama," he said. "I was talking about her."

Soujirou had zoomed an old newspaper article that showed Kamui running by the shore of the Sumida. The fireworks had flashed in the sky. It looked as if they had really flashed in Kamui's eyes because he had seen the colors come alive before him. This was because he just now remembered how this day went - the day he was bored to see another ceremony sponsored by his father in the Sumida festival. He remembers the calm of that river and the darkness in the sky as a fitting backdrop to the fireworks his father and Hino-dono donated.

Most of all, Kamui remembered that feeling of holding her, even though it seemed (almost) against her will.

"Reporters!" Kamui answered what was in her thoughts. "We have to get rid of them."

"Matte!" she shouted, skidding her heels to stop. She shrugged his hand off her arm and looked at him angrily. "There must be a better way than this!"

Ten minutes later, Kamui was rowing a boat on the Sumida along with a few couples wearing their yukata and waiting for the fireworks to begin. Hino Rei was resting her chin on her hand, her eyes fixed on the sky waiting for the fireworks as well. Kamui laughed. He did not expect the situation to progress this good - sitting with a bijin on a boat on the Sumida waiting for the fireworks, like a perfect high school date. It was her idea.

"Kamui? Oi...Kamui?" Soujirou called out to his friend to break him out of his dazed silence. "I do not remember her name… but this is her. Your miko. It says here that she is your girlfriend, which is probably why I remember you mentioning her more than Suzaku-sama."

Girlfriend? The word sent a shiver down Kamui's entire being and right through his memory.

"About the caption in this newspaper where they said you were my girlfriend..." Kamui's voice trailed. "I hope that didn't anger you."

"No, it didn't," Rei answered, shaking her head, giving him a faint smile for reassurance. "After all, it was just-"

"-A mistake," Kamui repeated out loud in front of Soujirou.

"Nani?" It was Soujirou's turn to be confused.

"She is not my girlfriend," Kamui flatly reiterated.

"Sou desu ka…." Soujirou scratched his head as he zoomed on the caption on the screen of his cell phone. "I just don't understand why the caption here says that she is."

"You just have not regained all of your memories, Soujirou."

"I know! I know! You keep telling me! But as vividly as I remember being V-Knight in Ami-san's world, I will certainly remember everything else!" Soujirou exclaimed in exasperation. "But don't you remember even just a little from this?"

Kamui took one more glance at the photo that Soujirou was cheerfully pointing at. It was just one memory, and what he saw in his head right now was just one small glimpse.

"No," Kamui sullenly replied, instantly discouraging Soujirou's hope that he had given Kamui a breakthrough.

Kamui walked swiftly past Soujirou so that he would not be obliged to look his friend in the eye or else Soujirou might just see through him-seeing how his face evidently shows how much his heart was sinking.

So for now, it is best to just lie to Soujirou.


Touka. Nigatsu. (February 10)

"Rei-chan…." ojii-chan called out for the third time and was disappointed that he was again not heard He then grabbed his scarf and tied it around his neck to move closer to his granddaughter, who was preoccupied with sweeping the fallen leaves on the shrine's path.

Lest the old man strain his voice any further, Phobos and Deimos came over with the former flying to perch on Rei's broom and the other on her shoulder. This was the only time that Rei came to her consciousness that someone was behind calling her name.

"Ojii-changomen, I was preoccupied," Rei said apologetically. "I will finish this soon. You don't have to stay outside in this cold."

"I love this weather," the old man cheerfully told her. "I am worried about you. We have closed and there is no one coming. You don't have to do that anymore."

"I want to," Rei insisted, smiling.

"Don't you have any work for school or for Ono-san?"

Rei shook her head and began to sweep the leaves with her broom again. "Those are all done."

Ojii-san nodded. "So I guess you ran out of busy things to do…to keep him out of your head."

Rei stopped sweeping abruptly, feeling ashamed that her grandfather had noticed. "I just prefer to do this, instead, ojii-chan," she replied defensively.

"And going to the Sacred Fire to meditate just makes leaves your mind empty to think of him."

So she had been discovered and her ojii-chan was keen to know all this time. "I have done all I can. I called him but he would not call me back," Rei said, since it was of no use to hide what has been discovered. "Whenever I try to see him, he is always out. And I just cannot catch him."

"You...cannot catch him? It does not sound right. I have spoken to Asano-san myself before and I know that if he wants to be here, he will move mountains to be here."

"But what if… he doesn't want to more mountains anymore...ojii-chan?"

Her grandfather sighed at the sight of the huge cloud of gloom that loomed on his granddaughter when she had spoken that. "You mean… he and Suzaku-sama?"

Rei kept sweeping, preferring not to reply.

"Your mother once told me that everything about love is a risk, and that trusting and waiting despite that risk is what makes that love," spoke ojii-chan tenderly. "I guess this is why she continued to wait on your father despite everything else until the end. I have seen the hurt she endured at that time, but of course...I have not realized your father's devotion to his work or to his wife until recently."

"But the thing is even though I did not know the mutual trust they had for each other, I wish I had intervened so that I would not see my daughter suffer through all that," continued ojii-chan, a little bit tearful at the remembrance. "I wished I at least offered a way for your mother to escape the pain even just for a little while."

"Ojii-chan…" Rei called out, speechless and touched by her grandfather's words.

"Which is why, I am intervening on your behalf, in this case."

"What do you mean, ojii-chan?"

"I know how well you think of Asano-san. But if in the case that he decides otherwise…." Rei's grandfather paused, scowling for a bit thinking of that ugly possibility given that he has an equally high regard for Asano-san himself (for his granddaughter). "...I am willing to give you a way of escape, even if it's just for a short time, to leave Japan and go to Hawaii."

"Hawaii?" Rei was completely surprised at the unlikely suggestion.

"I have an old classmate there in Ishizuchi Jinja who is ready to help you on my behalf," her grandfather explained. "He is excited that you can go and teach some juniors on how to be a miko."

"In the case that Asano-san chooses to get married to the Crown Princess, you can sit out all the depressing news about this event, which I am sure will be shown everywhere in Japan. You can stay there in Ishizuchi Jinja where you will be busy and you can stay as long as you want."

Rei heaved a little sigh and smiled weakly at her grandfather. "It...does sound like a good plan."

Ojii-chan smiled at his granddaughter's trite yet meaningful answers. The expression in her eyes were clearer in confirming his suspicions. "It's a good plan for me because I will also have to sit out seeing any kind of pain you might experience...or at least try to hide from me," he gently told her. " All you have to do is ask. Everything has been arranged."

Arigatou gozaimasu, ojii-chan…." she told him appreciatively, giving a short bow to her grandfather.

But Rei's ojii-chan walked closely toward her and she looked up after hearing his wooden sandals clunk on the path. Her grandfather bent his head down until he was at the same eye level as she, and gently poked Rei's nose with his finger. "But in case you're still waiting for a better answer, the answer is that - until then, you must not give up."

"This might just be the third chance!" ojii-chan encouraged with a smile.

Rei's eyes popped in disbelief. "Ne...ojii-chan… you can't be referring to the Law of Fourth Chances?"

Her grandfather nodded "If it fails, you have another one," he cheerfully added.


Jugonichi. Nigatsu. (February 15)

"It starts now."

Four of them had said that today at different hours after spending their yesterdays, a Valentine, alone, contemplating about this eventful day.

...

Gozen Rokuji Sampun. (6:03 am)

Sanjounin was up all night just after his single was released. Morie-san said that there would be a gestation of two weeks to know if it has gained acceptance from the public, but Sanjounin could not wait.

It doesn't matter to him if Japan would love his new band. What matters is that the literal girl of his dreams would hear it and know that it her who he was looking for. Sixteen hours after Morie-san announced that 'Nephrite' was launched into the world, Sanjounin still sat in his messy and soon to be dank apartment waiting for a call. Or a visit. It sounds impossible but he knows of no other way that could work.

"It starts now," Sanjounin shrugged as he picked up all the dirty clothes from his floor.

Two weeks. Kuso! By that time, he would have cleaned his living room at least. The agony of waiting would be suppressed by this kind of work.

...

Gozen Juuji. (10:00 am)

Soujirou congratulated himself for slipping into the studio without being recognized as…well, the acclaimed V-Knight. Nobody of course would think that the chivalrous bishounen chess champion would be a secretary - a female secretary.

Soujirou quietly and masterfully slipped into the shadows of the set in four inch heels like a shinobi. He was now standing atop a ladder on the sides of the set where he could see and hear the entire show completely. But this shinobi's heart was tested at the sight of Ami Mizuno walking slowly towards the set with her head bowed. Soujirou could see her being harassed by the director and producers for causing delays in the airing but she seemed to hear nothing of their rants.

"Mizuno-san, I beg you!" one of them knelt down to ask her. "Do you think V-Knight would come?"

Ami Mizuno raised her head and nodded. "I have asked him," she said softly. "I believe in him."

"Mattaku… We are supposed to air live right now!" the director screamed in panic. "What shall we do?"

Ami calmly moved past from the panicking herd and went straight to the center of the set where the two chairs flanked a table that had the Iron Grandmaster chess board. She looked wearily at the empty chair in opposite her and after gaining her composure, sat down on the chair in front of her.

"You can start airing," Ami Mizuno said. "We will all wait for V-Knight. If he doesn't show up, then you can declare that I have lost for forfeiting to a champion."

"Mizuno-san, if you understand how television works completely," one of the producers began. "All this waiting for V-Knight will just boost the ratings. The audience would love to see you wait there for V-Knight whether he shows up or not. But if he does not, we will have a good show but you would have lost a good reputation for losing your own bet."

Ami nodded. "I understand. But as I said, I believe in him."

"Why?"

Ami smiled and said to them, "You can start airing now, Idei-san."

The producers were last to leave Ami Mizuno, aghast at her determination because they did not understand the reason behind it at all.

"I did say it before...that I will let you win," whispered the shinobi in the sidelines. "But I'm glad that you know that it just won't be in this way."

"We are airing in 4...3...2…." the director began counting.

"...1! Ima-yo!"

All the lights opened and shined beautifully on Ami Mizuno as the announcer spoke of a mysterious moment, himself wondering whether V-Knight would appear as Mizuno-san has challenged.

Soujirou wiped the lipstick from his lips with his glove and smiled at the newly bejeweled red mask in his hand. "It starts now," he whispered.

….

Gogo Niji Sanjuuyonpun. (2:45 pm)

Kenta Maeda sat next to the benches near Hachiko, near the Shibuya station. It was cold enough and he was thankful that his scarf was able to keep him warm and hide half of his face from the public. He also tied his long hair into a bun and put on his shades so that he could not be recognized while his billboard was still incredibly visible at the Shibuya crosswalk.

"It starts now," he told himself as he scoured the crowd for a familiar face. Kenta thought that if he had seen his 'prince' here, then he would be able to find his 'prince' in the same place. In the same crowded place where he felt his presence trigger a great force in him that he cannot explain.

As he waited, his cell phone began to vibrate. He had just received an email message from the old-fashioned omi-ai he had earlier contacted. There were only four words in that message but those were enough to rivet some enthusiasm inside of him.

The omi-ai simply said, "I have found her."

….

Gogo Rokuji. (6:00 pm)

Kamui Asano's warm breath misted before him and was not much comfort to the chilly breeze stinging on his cheeks. He has been here since 5:30 pm but he did not even put any effort to rise on a single step from then on. It was strange because shortly before 5:30, Kamui was incredibly resolute to climb the steps of Hikawa Jinja until he saw the tops of the torii posts hovering high as he was halfway through it. Then he heard his heart beat beat loudly than the steps he made, which made him stop, because that meant that he was losing his breath. And he was also losing the part of him being staunchly resolute.

His watch now read 6:02. That was more than enough time to stay where he is. So he reluctantly ran through the steps until he was panting when he reached the top. He ran so that it could already be over but reaching the zenith was another hurdle. Kamui could see the torii post and the Sanctuary where the Sacred Fire was where he was. But he did not see Rei Hino.

Why do I want to see her anyway? he thought angrily. Kamui rehearsed that line in his head that it was all done. There was no turning back.

Tame, Izen no Gogo Yonjihan. (Because earlier at 4:30 pm)

"Hontou, Asano-san?" Suzaku-sama gave a huge smile, unable to conceal her excitement.

Nishida coughed loudly and then gave a huge sigh, a reflex showing his hesitation, but to which reaction Kamui knew Nishida decided not to control on purpose that Kamui prompted to give a strong nudge to Nishida's leg in order to remind his valet.

"Hai, Suzaku-sama," Kamui answered formally. "My father is meeting with the Emperor today regarding our engagement. They will let us know when will be the proper time of our announcement."

"I am so glad, Asano-san," Suzaku-sama said, beaming at Kamui. "You have made me the happiest woman in the world today."

Happiest woman in the world. He should've been honored. And exhilarated at the thought that the Crown Princess herself accepted his proposal. Maybe it is just the manner of it all. The entire courtship with the Crown Princess seemed more like a business proposal.

Kamui felt like he was dragging his feet to the Sacred Fire. There was no one to stop him there or so he thought. Phobos and Deimos remained perched at the torii post waiting for their master until they saw the present incarnation of their former enemy. But when he returned, Phobos and Deimos knew that this present self that came to Hikawa Jinja has lost all the demonic power of Metallia and Elis, but has regained for himself a different kind of negative energy. So they hovered around Kamui during his entire walk to the Sacred Fire but his thoughts rendered him ignorant of ravens that flew above him.

So Phobos and Deimos immediately swooped down in front of Kamui's path, just a few feet away from his intended destination as an order to stop. Kamui was surprised to find two ravens looking strange at him and took another of his moments to postpone his walk towards the Sacred Fire. Kamui realized only fear at seeing them. He did not understand why because only his instincts remembered how he was attacked by these two on the very same path.

But then, the shades of night were appearing. His watch said it was 6:13. Kamui gave a short bow to the ravens and uttered, "Gomen," before making a mad dash to the Sanctuary. Kamui was sure that he was going to be chased but the two ravens were disheartened that they were not able to stop the present Jadeite from doing what they can only sense as detrimental to their Princess. They instead flew back atop the torii post to wait for their master, who they was sure was coming in only a few moments, as she always did at this time. Their job as her guardian was to warn her and they could only hope that they could tell her in time.

Kamui, in the meantime, felt a different kind of calm inside the Sanctuary. The Sacred Fire was completely ablaze but its flames were quite soothing, especially on this rather chilly night. He let himself wonder why Rei Hino in the past would choose this place to meet him and tell him that she could help regain his memories.

There were harder memories that he had indeed regained but those were not through her help. Even Ryoichi Hino confirmed that the flashback in Kamui's mind, where Kaidou and Rei Hino were caught in a kiss right before this Sacred Fire, only meant that Kaidou-san sought to marry his mentor's daughter. Kamui was standing right at the place where he saw that kiss happen because the small glimpse in the past concurred with the exact margins framing in his memory, as though standing at the same scene helped recreate it again right before him. And thus, it allowed his heart to break for the third time.

"This is her...Your miko!"

Soujirou's voice echoed in Kamui's head as he reached for the wood block that contained his own handwriting. Why would he ever wish for Rei Hino? It will be an unlikely match for rival families to marry anyway. There were many obstacles to it.

It is as it should be. Kaidou-san will take care of Rei Hino. Kamui is in a rare position where he is highly favored by the Emperor, as the very son of the prime minister himself. And after all, he had already given his father and Suzaku-sama his decision. That was final.

The Sacred Fire furiously whipped its flames and Kamui thought that it had called him by name. An old name. And beckoning it to come near it to offer its refuge, as though it was to tell him its secret.

So Kamui, continuing in his former resolute line of thinking, felt the final ridges of the wood block on his hand and then later summoned all of his will to reach into the Sacred Fire without it. The wood block flew straight from Kamui's hands into the hands of the flames as though in a slow, dreamlike manner, after it was hastily thrown away.

"It is too late, Rei-san," Kamui muttered to himself sadly, as he watched the wood block disappear in the huge flames. If Soujirou was right and an important memento would enable them to remember everything well, then this wood block that Nishida claims he himself had hidden in order to help him remember, would do the trick. But they were both of no use that Kamui stood to this day, the saddest of all favored sons. He turned his back on the Sacred Fire, still a skeptic of all his decisions, and was set to walk back to his house firmly resigned on his calculated risk.

But that was until something sought to prove Soujirou correct. The wood block crackled under the heat of the flames. The large crackling sound seemed so unusual for such a small thing to be burned. But that was because this was no ordinary fire.

Kamui looked back to see the crackling noise underneath the flames. Then in the same way that he had stepped how this exact place reenacted the scene where Kaidou-san has kissed Rei, the same scene under the fireworks that he had remembered earlier had come alive. Then the different images came flashing fast like bolts of light hitting his eyes and sending different images from all the places he and Rei had stepped on.

All these were the scores of flashbacks running down Kamui's head at the moment, in the same fashion as the one Soujirou felt when he saw his own memento, the mask of V-Knight. Now, Kamui understood why it was difficult for Soujirou and how Soujirou had gaps in remembering everything. It was the rush of all these memories that came in sordid and immediate flashbacks and it would take some time to comprehend and piece them all together chronologically.

Rei Hino had appeared to him as a princess of Mars. She walked before him as a senshi of the past fighting Beryl and in this present one fighting Elis. She came before him as a cautious miko, wondering about his curiosity of her.

In all of these scenes, she had appeared as beautiful as the moment Kamui first saw her.

And the last one made Rei appear before Kamui in a red dress and purple scarf, with her dark eyes glistening under the moonlight. Kamui realized that the light that shown on her was the one above the Tomesatsu, after the fireworks were finished. There was a thrill, this excitement inside of him welling deeper inside of him as that night. The cold miko of Hikawa Jinja was finally letting him see her, completely through her vulnerability-one that he had already known before but one that she herself was only willing to admit to him right now.

"It is too late now, isn't it, Kamui-san?" Rei told him, trying hard to smile.

"Too late…." Kamui sadly repeated, only this time, he was not asking her.

"If you would just marry me instead...K-Kamui-san...b-because…" Rei struggled to say.

Kamui bit his lip in constant impatience.

"B-because...I love you."

The last words seemed to fill the place with echoes. Rei Hino's image disappeared quickly right before Kamui but those last words faded slowly as they now were etched firmly in his memories, complete with the exact emotions and thoughts that he was feeling at that time to confirm that Kamui's memories have all completely returned.

As it turns out, Kamui's memento was not the wood block that contained his wish. It was the Sacred Fire that he had earlier sought to confirm that one memory about Kaidou that kept him from Rei. In return, the Sacred Fire only desired to share to him its secret as a witness to everything about its miko, to the one guy who mattered to her the most.

What have I done? His father already received his decision. The Crown Princess was already planning the announcement. There's so much tension in his heart right now as to why he had jumped into this conclusion.

All of that made Kamui storm out of the Sanctuary with him hearing his heart beating louder than his steps once again. The night was darker than usual but it would be another sound that would give him another memory of his darkest day. He heard wings flutter above him because the ravens were frantically calling out to their master. And Rei, when she had seen that favored figure of Kamui in the distance, took no stops in rushing at after him that Kamui found his path blocked once again.

"Kamui…" Rei called out, her piercing dark eyes glistening again, as she smiled at him. Phobos and Deimos sadly stood by their princess and anxiously waited with her for Kamui's response.

Kamui could not speak for awhile. He was out of breath as his heart was beating faster than usual. The real Rei Hino once again appeared to him, and this image is one of her that he had longed more than ever because it was not a faded vision of her looking ever so beautiful. It was the solid reality of her, with the wind blowing her long, dark tresses in place, only to elegantly fall on her comely face with an expression that was longing for him.

Rei had absolutely no idea that just by standing there, she had wrecked that much damage to Kamui. Shenoticed how distraught Kamui was and felt extremely worried by his disposition.

"Kamui...I wanted so long to see you," she could not help saying anyway. "You were so busy whenever I came so I tried to call."

Kamui fell into a deep silence for awhile. It is not too late… he wanted to say again. But that would be false hope. Now that he remembered the one who mattered most in his world, it was unfair for her to receive that.

"Rei-san...gomen nasai. I have only come here to ask for Kami-sama's blessings," Kamui told her. "And then I have to go and continue my business, especially… "

Kamui swallowed hard before he could continue. "… before Suzaku-sama and I make our announcement."

Kamui could see the immediate inhale of surprise on Rei's face. It only took a few moments before she understood the exact consequences of what Kamui had told her. But it was better this way.

"Kamui-san…but your memories?" Rei asked, trying her best to stay calm. "Do you remember them?"

"No…" Kamui could not look at her as he spoke.

"Then we still can-"

"-You have done so much for me already, Rei-san. You do not have to do anything more to help me regain my memories."

Rei tried to smile. "It is no bother for me to do it for you, Kamui-san. There is nothing else I want for you but for you to regain what you have lost."

"It's because you want the old Kamui back, the Kamui that you remember!" he told her gruffly, escaping her gaze by looking down at his feet. "But I have decided that I will start fresh and move on without that part of my past behind. This new Kamui will not have any burdens of that accident and will go to great lengths to honor the politics that you have despised."

Rei can't help but be surprised by Kamui's sudden coldness. She inhaled deeper to keep any of her tears from falling. As she did that, the cold breeze swept Kamui's cheek and he looked up to see Rei Hino biting her lip with glassy eyes. He realized that he had dropped harsh words to her and she was coping to keep her armor back on, with her pride intact, the same distance the first time he met her.

He then proceeded to take three more steps taking it as his cue to leave. He did not want to suffer anymore for an explanation. Kamui was aiming for a quick exit so that he could proceed to another mad dash where he could go to a place where he could not see that face of Rei Hino that he had hurt that day. Except that as soon as Rei felt the nearness of him, there was a part of her that ached more in missing his presence-and this part of her weighed more than her pride.

So when Kamui was exactly by Rei's side, she was swift enough to grab his left arm with her left hand, such that they were standing side by side yet looking the opposite way. Kamui had nothing on him except to stop even though reason once again told him he did not have to. But there was no way that he can betray his true instinct, which was to linger by her side.

"It's true that I want you to remember your past. It's because I know that it is important to what you have become," Rei bitterly admitted to him, leaning her head on his left shoulder. "But it's not true that I only want the old Kamui."

Rei took a moment to compose herself, taking deep breaths to make sure that she will speak the right words. "It did not matter which Kamui came here, just as long as he was Kamui. Just as long as he was you."

Silence. This was Kamui thinking of a logical answer. A logical unhurting answer, except that he had none left in him save for the truth.

"Arigatou, Rei-san, but…" Kamui finally spoke, gently removing her grasp from his arm. "...But I have already decided."

He took two slow steps towards the exit and without looking at her parted bitterly with, "It is too late now."

Kamui briskly walked down the stairs of Hikawa Jinja without looking back. It was a temptation he continuously fought every five steps down that long descent. It seemed to him like a contest of will power as to how much more he can take. Kamui reminded himself that he had already give his father his decision...that the Emperor is more willing to accept him as a son-in-law rather than Hino-dono...that going back against this would endanger his and his family's honor for years to come….

...That Rei Hino would be better in the care of Kaidou-san.

Then, Kamui Asano reached the final step and found himself walking listlessly down the sidewalk of Hikawa Jinja and came to the place where his car was parked. That was where he got the courage to look at his left arm and gently felt the part where Rei Hino leaned her head.

His sleeve was slightly damp. Those were her tears.

It was still a cold, wintry night that February after Valentine's Day. But Kamui still took off his coat and felt that the breeze of the night stinging all over him as good enough penance for the hurt he has just inflicted on her. Then, after he gently caressed that part in his sleeve where Rei Hino's tears had fallen, he embraced his coat as tight as he could to feel that last remnant of her.

Kamui closed his eyes and imagined the images of her have returned. All of her that were smiling at him…relishing the best of these memories for the last time.

- tsuzuku -


chiisai noto:

Remember, Kamui = Jadeite. Kenta = Kunzite. Soujirou = Zoicite. Sanjounin = Nephrite. Just a little reminder. ;) Oh my gosh… you have no idea how it hurts for me to write this. ;_; Ashita Hareru Kana by Kuwata Keisuke (the Piano Instrumental theme from Proposal wo Daisakusen dorama) is even being played as I write, deepening the pain. Of course, it doesn't end yet. How it ends… I am writing that. Thank you for staying by this story all this time. For a lot of this, I am looking at how this would appear on Japanese dorama and yet staying closely to the attitude of the manga.