Chapter 29: Starting Over

KAKASHI'S POV

Akemi stared at me… and I continued looking at her in astonishment. Has she… forgotten me? But how?

"What?" I asked, surprised.

Akemi scanned the room wearily; her tired and slow moving eyes slowly looked around the room. She finally set her eyes on me and I quickly avoided her gaze. I quickly stood away from the bed and then slowly looked back at her.

"Ah…" she replied, almost a whisper. "I don't remember…"

She tried sitting up from her bed and I helped her. At first Akemi flinched when I touched her, then she finally managed to sit up. Did she flinch from pain or from me? She reached for her glasses and had put them on.

"Well… my name is Kakashi, Hatake Kakashi," I said. "You're a team member in Team 7… I am your teacher." I was still unsure of her. Was she pretending?

"Sensei…?" she asked. I nodded slowly.

Was she playing a prank on me? But I looked into her eyes and saw nothing but the truth. She has forgotten… everything?

"Who am I?" she asked, staring at me again.

It took me a second to respond. At first, I thought I would be happy that she would be awake; it's amazing that she finally awoke from her coma, but not like this. I clenched my fist behind my back and pushed myself to continue.

"Uh…" I said slowly. I couldn't say it.

Akemi-chan…?

"ONEE-CHAN!"

I spun around from where I was standing and I saw the shocked expressions of the kids from Team 7. Naruto, Sakura, and even Sasuke had shocked expressions from their faces. However, Akemi looked at them with tired eyes, not surprised and didn't even show any expression.

Naruto was the first to run to Akemi, but stopped midway because he sensed something was wrong. I saw Tsunade entering the room as well.

Akemi was confused. She looked at Naruto.

"I… I'm sorry but…"

"Onee-chan, it's me, NARUTO!" said Naruto, sounding like he was boasting. "The pretty pink haired girl was Sakura, remember? And the brat with that shit looking hair is Sasuke!"

"Naruto…" said Akemi slowly.

"At least I'm not dead last," said Sasuke coolly.

"SAY THAT AGAIN!" roared Naruto. I sighed. Seriously Naruto…

"Dead last," said Sasuke, smirking at him.

"Why you…"

Tsunade also looked at Akemi strangely.

"Akemi… do you not remember?"

She looked at Tsunade and looked sadly at her blankets.

I saw Tsunade staring at her, a surprised look in her eyes indicated that this was truly unexpected.

"Well… I think this condition was left from my charts," muttered Tsunade slowly. "Ah, I thought something like this would happen but…"

"You mean she just had amnesia?" I whispered.

"Hmm… she might've gotten it when she was kidnapped from the Akatsuki," said Tsunade. "Concerning further details, I don't know… Maybe they tried erasing her memories to make her more vulnerable."

I nodded slowly and looked at Akemi. She had a puzzled look on her face but was smiling at Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. But… this is just great. In a way, Akemi is alive and well but…

I feel as though she passed away and this person is… someone else.

"Sensei," said Akemi, as I blinked.

"Yes?"

"Who am I?"

Naruto stared at Akemi in surprise. So did Sakura and Sasuke.

The times when I first met Akemi… when she called me a rapist… when I turned into a dog… when we entered into that contest…

But now… she doesn't remember any of it? Not even from the times when we were together or her life in Konoha?

I tried to speak but I couldn't. My mouth was open but words didn't come out. My body ached so badly I felt like I was shaking a little. I clenched my teeth and tried saying something but…

"Your name is Fujibayashi Akemi," said Tsunade, noticing my pain. "You are twenty-four years old and Japanese. Your family life is unknown… rather… it is unspeakable. You came here… in this village about eight months ago."

"You were in this hospital because of a battle you were involved in," continued Tsunade, "That man standing there is your sensei, Hatake Kakashi. These three children next to you are called Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto. I am Tsunade, the Hokage of this village of Konoha."

Akemi looked at me but I strained myself from looking sad and smiled right back at her. Akemi averted my gaze and instead noticed the bandages on her arm and chest.

"Do you remember anything at all?" asked Tsunade again.

Akemi looked at her bandaged hand. The she looked at me and I dared to see her face. I smiled at her.

"No…" she said, shaking her head.

Before she opened her mouth Tsunade spoke again.

"You were unconscious for more than two weeks," explained Tsunade. "You were kidnapped by an organization called the Akatsuki. They must've erased your memories… but… you were badly wounded and so I treated you."

She nodded slowly and continued gazing on her arm.

"Thank you."

Tsunade smiled.

Sakura was crying, holding Akemi's hand and smiling brightly. I wondered if she was crying because she sadly knew Akemi didn't remember her or if she's happy she's alive. Sasuke was just staring at Akemi, with a slight glare in his face. Was he upset Akemi was not herself?

And Naruto… it hurt to see him so happy. Akemi… won't be Akemi anymore.

"Is there a way to cure this?" she asked.

I blinked again. She wanted to remember?

"Uh…"

"It's a possibility," Tsunade cut in. "It's better to stick with your team and find out a lot about yourself. Maybe you'll remember if you get enough information. This might just be simple amnesia… however, further details I do not know."

"Onee-chan, do you know how to make a rice omelet?" Naruto asked.

Akemi stared blankly at Naruto.

"I'm not sure… I think so."

She looked sadly at Naruto, who beamed at her.

"Don't worry, I'll teach you!" said Naruto happily. "You used to make me rice omelets most of the time, my favorite; second to ramen. I finally perfected it…"

"Sure…" muttered Sasuke.

"What was that?"

"Kids… I have to show you something really cool," said Tsunade quickly, noticing my blank looks. "Er… come outside for a bit."

"But—."

"GO OUTSIDE!" roared Tsunade.

Akemi looked like she was lost in a trance so she didn't notice Tsunade's flaring temper. Naruto and the two others quickly escaped her insanity and ran out the door.

"BYE ONEE-CHAN, SEE YOU—!"

But before he said anything else, Tsunade closed the door behind her.

There was a brief silence as I slowly looked at Akemi's face. She was looking right back, smiling and looking as if I was going to tell her something. I grinned back, hiding my emotions.

Akemi stripped her shirt to reveal a heavily bandaged chest. There was white linen that covered her chest all the way to her abdomen. It pained me to see her this way…

She slowly touched her stomach and winced from the pain.

"You were… slashed from your chest… down," I explained. "It looked fatal but… miraculously you survived."

She looked at me and noticed my wounds.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Did you save me?" she asked.

"I… well…"

"Thank you," she said, smiling brightly, but looking at her arm. "Thank you for saving me…"

She raised her head at me and smiled at me.

"Anyways… you should rest up," I said, nearly going to the door.

"Sensei."

I stopped for a brief amount of time and then continued walking until I had my hand on the handle of the door.

"Why am I here?" she asked, confused. "What is Konoha?"

"Please rest," I said quietly. "You need your strength for a new day tomorrow."

I turned the knob on the door.

"Sensei… I'm sorry."

I turned to see her face and she looked at me with sad eyes.

"It's not your fault you can't remember," I said, still grinning.

"Were you close to Akemi-san?"

My smile faded and I turned my head and faced the door again. I couldn't look at her anymore, not now…

"She was my student, of course," I said slowly. "Please rest."

And then I exited.


Tsunade beckoned me to come to her office after I left that hospital. She explained that the Gin Urufu was still inside Akemi and that now Akemi is more vulnerable, seeing how she might've forgotten about the beast within her as well as her name.

"Before Akemi used to be in danger because she had wounds that never healed," said Tsunade. "She was supposed to die that day Kakashi… something was up."

"What do you mean?"

"Akemi… has no major wounds whatsoever," said Tsunade. "Her healing is coming to a completion. All she has are slight cuts and a few minor bruises."

"You mean… the wolf…?"

"The demon within her did not have healing capabilities like Naruto," she said, reading through some of Akemi's medical charts. "You told me that Naruto and Akemi had a demon combat, yes?"

"Yes."

"In my theory… she must have absorbed some of Naruto's powers."

"How?" I asked. "Can demons do that to one another?"

"No… but Akemi's demon… it seemed as though the Nine Tails and the Gin Urufu had similarities between them," said Tsunade, looking concerned. "Akemi might have triggered the power when Naruto's demon fox had come out of him. And as I remember correctly, the Nine-Tails had healed nearly all of Naruto's major injuries in the past."

The fox was screaming when I tried rescuing Akemi. Was the wolf consuming the fox? I wish Sai would tell me more about this…

"It may be hard… but…" said Tsunade, looking sadly at me. "You need to be close to her at all times. Starting tomorrow Akemi will have to stay at your house. I can't take any more risks. Akemi should not be reminded of the wolf either… it's too dangerous."

"I really can't—."

"Kakashi, please," said Tsunade. "Please do this…"

I sighed and looked at the many missions on her desk. All were left undone since two days ago. I also noticed Akemi's charts a large stack of books about the brain and other surgical remedies concerning Akemi. Well… I felt bad.

"Alright…"

"Thank you," she said.

I bit my lip as Tsunade started opening another book on her desk.

"Hokage-sama…"

"Yes?"

"Will she… remember?" I asked. "You said it might be some time before she does, but that was because the kids were there."

Tsunade gave me another sad look.

"I really don't know… memories are often remembered during symptoms of amnesia… but it depends on the patient," said Tsunade. "We just have to hope she does remember."

"Ah…"

She continued gazing at me.

"It must be really hard to see her this way."

I walked towards the door to exit.

"It is," I responded.


I didn't sleep at all that day… a lot was in my mind. I didn't drink or eat anything either. How can she forget everything? She didn't even know my name or her name?

The next morning, as I was approaching my students for another mission, I saw everyone looking tired and underfed… and the reason was obvious. Everyone was looking awful, especially Naruto.

The thought death of Akemi's death beforehand was very hard to handle. But she was okay… she was healing; however, she didn't remember a single thing about us or herself. I was beginning to think that if Akemi's death was apparent, I would have consider it more than Akemi not remembering me.

"Hey, guys cheer up!" I said. "She'll get her memories soon."

When I examined Naruto closely and saw his swollen red eyes.

"Naruto…" I said sadly.

He nodded. He probably cried because Akemi really forgot about him or she's moving in with me.

"So…"

I saw Akemi come to us, trying to run. But… the wound on her back…

Before I reached her Naruto ran towards her.

"ONEE-CHAN, be careful!"

Yet still he calls her onee-chan.

"Ah, thank you Naruto-kun…" said Akemi, smiling as Naruto supported her.

Naruto and Akemi made it to us. She was slightly limping, just a little. I saw her using a crutch to support herself.

"Hello," said Akemi cheerfully. "So… what's there to talk about?"

I glanced at Sasuke and Sakura. Sasuke was looking further out the distance, entirely away from Akemi's view. Sakura nervously smiling and was the first to talk.

"Well… do you know what a ninja is?"

"Uh…" said Akemi. "What do they do? Don't they throw knives or something?"

It seems she remembers basic facts. The only things she had forgotten are her identities and the memories of her life events.

"Disappear in a puff of smoke!" exclaimed Naruto, becoming cheerful once again. "The best job in the world!"

"Oh, are you a ninja?" asked Akemi.

Naruto nodded.

"No way."

" YES WAY!"

"Show me," said Akemi, grinning.

I thought Akemi would be afraid and psyched… yet this Akemi is so relaxed. Her personality must have erased along with her memories. Tsunade had told me that can often happen to a person.

I sadly stared at Naruto and Akemi, seeing Naruto disappear and reappear in a puff of smoke. She applauded and Naruto took a bow.

After several discussions, she finally knew about our world of Konoha and the other countries. She didn't take this serious at first, but gradually became convinced with enough proof.

That day Akemi and I walked to my apartment after several discussions with the kids. It was almost midnight… Akemi was cheerful and she kept asking me how we both first met. I tried denying her about it many times but…

"Please sensei!" said Akemi. "It must've been really funny. The kids were laughing about it but they wanted you to tell me."

"Really?" I asked. "Well… it was sort of an accident."

"Aw… but I really want to know," she said, nudging me on the arm.

Playful and cheerful, as I've known her, I couldn't help but smile. She's Akemi… her personality… but then again she is not Akemi. The book attacks… I wonder if she remembered them.

"Sakura-chan told me that I used to call you 'Kakashi-chan'," said Akemi, looking at me and smiling. "Were we lovers or something?"

I clenched my fists in my pockets but I urged myself to proceed.

"No… you only called me that because you thought of me looking like a girl."

Akemi laughed, holding her stomach. I've never seen her laugh this much for a long time, and again, I grinned at her. It was painful… telling her why and what she used to do… but I guess if she had to leave back to her world this was for the best.

"Sensei…. I must've been really mean!" said Akemi, smiling brightly. "But I don't think you look like a woman at all!"

"Hmm, really?"

"Yeah, you're really handsome," said Akemi. "I'm surprised you don't have a girlfriend."

"Why, thank you!" I said, still smiling.

She grinned at me back and looked at her feet while walking.

"It must be lonely," she said, kicking at the rocks beneath our feet.

"Well… I wasn't so lonely before," I said,

"You had someone?" she asked. "A lover? A relative?"

"Hmm…"

"Tell me!" she said, nudging me again. "C'mon tell me!"

I sighed. How did she become so bouncy?

"A lover, yes?" she asked.

"Well… not love at first sight but…when I met her…"

"Yeah?"

"Well… I found her naked."

"…"

Akemi stared at me, no… jeered at me.

"You didn't do…?"

"No," I said, a little too quickly.

"What happened to her?" she asked unconvinced.

"Well, that I don't know," I said. "But… when I held her she woke up and called me a rapist."

Akemi laughed.

"And you liked her after that?"

"Well… not technically after that," I said, I gazed at the sky to avoid her face. "But I… did feel an attraction over some time."

"Aw…" said Akemi, obviously making fun of me. "And then?"

I looked at her. She was truly interested in the story, staring at me… hungry for more. By the look on her face she was obviously not regaining any of her memory back.

"She used to hit me a lot because I teased her… but I didn't mind because she was so cute," I said, finally stopping near a corner. "She always told me that she was ugly… but to me she was the most beautiful person I ever saw."

Akemi continued staring, as if I was telling some kind of drama type story. I grinned and continued on.

"Then… I knew she was shy because whenever I was close to her she would try to avoid me," I said. "I liked being near her… she was so full of life and I just felt… happy."

"I remember I kissed her one day because I thought she was jealous," I continued. "She actually kissed me back… just a little bit. But I didn't mind because at that time I knew… that she had actually accepted me and wanted me."

"She was in danger and I had to protect her," I said sadly. "We couldn't be together because… of some difficulties."

Akemi was silent as she gazed at my face. Her mouth was parted in either surprise or… something else, which almost made me chuckle.

"Well… yeah that's about it," I said.

We were arriving near my apartment.

"But… where is she now?" asked Akemi, urgently.

I looked into her eyes; she looked so much like Akemi, yet she wasn't. I was gazing into her eyes really hard… hoping she would remember just a little bit. But this was reality, and instead, I shook my head.

"She died," I said, digging into my pockets for my keys and avoiding her gaze. "She died a long time ago."

The long silence made me look over my shoulder to look at Akemi if she was still there. Her expression was sad, almost in mourning. Her eyebrows furrowed and her mouth parted in a sad way. She stared at me, oblivious to the cold…

"I'm sorry," she said.

I had a strange urge to hug her… just once. However, I shook this off, grinned at her, and turned myself back on the door.

"It's fine," I lied. "It was a long time ago."

We both entered into the apartment.

"You can take my bed," I said, as she looked around the place. "I'll just sleep—."

"No, that's fine," she said, smiling at me. "I'll sleep on the couch.

"Ah…"

As Akemi got ready for bed I greeted her again after we both had brushed our teeth (individually, of course). She seemed comfortable enough sleeping on the couch. She fluffed the hard pillows, and made me laugh when she punched them in frustration for more comfort. I sat near the edge of the couch as she lied down on the couch, grabbing some of her blankets.

"Sensei."

"Hmm…?"

"Am I… a bother?"

I looked over to her, surprised yet… sad. She grinned at me, unnoticed my reactions, but it was sort of grim. Of all the things… even with her memory erased I can't help but feel happy.

"Hmm… yeah," I joked, messing up her bangs with my free hand.

She yelled in enjoyment, trying to mess up my hair too.

And at that second when I thought the Akemi I knew was gone… I thought to myself… Akemi can come back, she can… can't she?

As soon as Akemi came to mess of my hair, she tripped over the blankets and we crashed below on the floor.

We were laying face close on each other, Akemi was on top. I stared at her and she stared right back, the enjoyment was gone from her eyes and instead was replaced by shock. The Akemi… I knew had appeared once again to my eyes.

No… she was gone.

"Sorry" I said, gently moving her away from me and standing up. She also stood up, but the enjoyment came back into her eyes.

"It's okay Sensei."

I grinned and continued to my room door.

"Can I call you 'Kakashi'?"

I stopped for a fraction of a second. Usually the old Akemi called my full name if she was being either serious or upset. However, I reminded myself again, this is someone else.

"Well… what about 'Kakashi-sensei'?" I asked.

"Aww… why not Kakashi?"

Again I smiled then headed to the door to my room.

"Good night!" she called

My voice was cracking so I simply nodded. Then I entered into my room, dark and gloomy as it can be.

To be continued…