The Common Thread: Part 36

"Mum! It's good to see you too, but I can't breathe!"

"Iymo! My boy!"

"AH! Too tight! Too tight!"

"Oh, Uminu and Chad, come over here!"

"It's good to see you as well, Mrs. Karci. Ouch!"

"My boy and his friends are home safe! I don't know what happened out there, but I have a funny feeling that you two helped bring my boy home safe and sound, so I don't think I can ever thank you enough!"

"Oh, you could start by allowing my hand to regain some feeling…"

All throughout the rest of the day, people came from all over Cranbury when they heard the news that the three brave young men had 'come back from the dead' at first to disprove the impossible rumors only to discover the reality of the heartrending miracle. As such, Iymo, Uminu and Chad had to endure similar reactions to what they had received from the Karci family and staff at the hospital. By the end of the day, it would not have been much of an exaggeration to say that the fine young men were far more exhausted by all the fuss made over them than when they had fought in the army. However, as bone tired as they were at the end of the day, no one could mistake the looks of happiness and contentment on the young soldiers faces.

After all the curious and ecstatic visitors were kindly thanked for their concern and seen to the door, everyone else sat down to a very satisfying dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Karci asked Iymo, Uminu, Chad, Orihime, Kyan, Yiru, Rinu and Nano to join them in the sitting room once they had finished the exquisite meal. Once everyone was comfortable settled in the room, Mr. and Mrs. Karci exchanged a look before Mr. Karci began.

"I realize that today has been a long day for you three and I promise this little gathering will not last any longer than it has too. I believe though, that everyone here is highly anxious to hear the story, if you think you can manage to relate to us what happened."

Uminu nodded and looked at Iymo and Chad before he said, "Well, I guess that means that I'll have to play storyteller then since obviously Iymo is not exactly prepared or capable of relating any details of our adventures and Chad is…well, you know how he is. Where should I begin?"

Kyan folded her arms and looked seriously at Uminu as she said, "Normally one would start from the very beginning, but in this case since we did get letters from you guys up until we received those telegrams, why don't you explain exactly why you guys or your superiors or whoever thought it was a good idea to send us those false telegrams?"

Uminu nodded and looked at the floor as he said, "That would make the most sense. As you have probably figured out by now, those telegrams were faked and while Iymo, Chad and I did know they were being sent out, it was completely out of our control. They were sent out because our division was being sent on a top secret mission and if anything happened to us while we were on the mission, either killed or captured, we were not supposed to technically exist. Because we completed our mission successfully, due to its high risk, we were allowed to go home early. Also, Iymo was seriously wounded along with myself, so that solidified our opportunity to go home."

Rinu cut in, "Wait a minute, you were wounded too, Uminu?"

A resigned look crossed Uminu's face as he said, "Yeah, I was."

Before anyone could ask, Uminu gently reached over with his right hand to roll up the sleeve covering his left arm a little way, just enough to reveal a bandage wrapped around his arm. He carefully unwound the bandage slightly, to expose skin and flesh that had been badly burned. Since everyone there were of the medical occupation, this sight did not turn anyone's stomach in the slightest. However, because they were professionals, they could tell at a glance how serious the wound truly was.

Again, before anyone could ask the next most obvious question, Uminu said, "I can't give you any details as to how Iymo and I came by our respective wounds, but I speak on behalf of both of us when I say that we would do it all over again without any hesitation. After our mission was completed, we were taken to an army hospital where we were given enough treatment to prepare us for the journey home. Iymo was unconscious when he arrived and when he woke up, we quickly discovered the loss of his memory. It took us a while to explain where he was and what he was doing there and we eventually figured out that he had lost a little over two years of his memory when he said that the last thing he remembered doing was getting ready for his dad's surprise 40th birthday party that had been scheduled, according to him, for the following week."

Iymo rubbed his temple as he looked at the floor and mumbled, "I feel like I've forgotten something extremely important…what is it?"

As Iymo's voice was barely audible, only two people heard his comment before Uminu finished, "And now we're back home. Man, because we have to omit more than half the story due to national security, it really sounds kind of lame."

Mrs. Karci shook her head as she said, "Personally, I'd rather not hear about all the hardships you boys went through. As a mother to Iymo and a kind of mother figure to both you and Chad, I'd rather not think about how you boys suffered during your time of service. On a different note, you showed us your own wounds Uminu and it is quite obvious were Iymo is hurt, but you never said anything about Chad's wounds."

Uminu grinned as he replied, "Chad came home because he was also immensely helpful in that little incident our division was involved in and because he wanted to come home with us and told the higher ups so. However, because he had no serious wounds besides a few deep cuts and some bruises and due to the fact that he was such an important asset to the army, they were highly reluctant to terminate his tour of duty so soon. They were about to come up some lame excuse to keep Chad around when General Zakaki stepped in and demanded that Chad be sent home with Iymo and me. Once the General got involved, the matter was settled."

Mrs. Karci smiled at Uminu and Chad as she said, "And we are grateful that such important men could be made to see reason on all your behalves. From what I hear, the war seems to be rapidly coming to a close in our favor, so more brave soldiers should be coming home to their loved ones."

Chad spoke up, "We fought as hard as we did knowing we were keeping our loved ones safe in order to come home to them."

Nodding Mrs. Karci stood up and said, "Well put Chad. And now, I think it is high time that you hard-working soldiers get your well-earned rest. I'll be sure to tell the rest of the house to rise quietly in the morning to make sure you can get enough rest to help you recover more rapidly."

As they made their way towards the door, Orihime found her progress impeded by a hand gently grasping her wrist. When she turned, she met the concerned gaze of Uminu, who put a hand to his lips and Orihime understood that he wished her to remain behind for a few moments. Fortunately, she had been one of the last to get up from their seats, so she merely waited until everyone else had filed through the doors before she turned to Uminu with a questioning look.

Uminu looked away for a few moments and inhaled slowly and deeply before he said, "I can't begin to tell you how much I longed to come home and see all of you safe and sound and yet dreaded what was to come when we finally arrived. Every time I looked over at Iymo staring mindlessly out of the window of the train, I felt my heart drop into my stomach when I thought about how he wouldn't remember you and how you might react and…"

Uminu massaged his forehead and looked at the floor as he said, "Almost immediately after Chad and I figured out that Iymo had lost all his memories of you, we left and discussed whether we should send you a letter or not. Unfortunately, that choice was never one we could make as the next day Iymo and I were declared to be fit for travel and we set out. On the train, I resolved to find you and talk to you immediately upon our arrival either at the station or here, but Iymo found you first."

Finally, Uminu seemed to summon enough courage to look Orihime in the eyes as he said, "In light of all you've been through today and despite the fact that it doesn't change anything, I just want to tell you how very sorry I am that things turned out like this."

Orihime had stood quietly during Uminu's entire speech, not moving or changing her expression from one of attentive listening. When he finished, she gave Uminu a small smile and reached out to take his left hand in her right and gently laid her left hand over his upper left arm burns covered by his shirt.

She was quiet for a time before she said in a soft voice, "Even though you can't give us any details about what happened to you and Iymo, I know that you received these wounds protecting Iymo's life. He was wounded protecting whoever your division had been charged with saving from the enemy and when Iymo was unable to defend himself anymore, you stepped in and saved him. Don't ask me how I know this and I will never press you for the details, but please know that I appreciate and will be forever grateful to you for saving Iymo's life. On behalf of his family as well, thank you for everything."

As she finished, Orihime gently placed her hands on either side of Uminu's face, prompting him to lower his face so that she could give him a tender kiss on the cheek before she wrapped her arms around Uminu's neck and gave him a grateful embrace which he gently returned. Neither one knew how long they stood there, but eventually they mutually let go of one another at which time Orihime gave Uminu one last smile before she quietly left the room. Uminu remained in that room a while longer staring thoughtfully out the window before nodding his head emphatically and walking towards his room.

As for Orihime, after she exited the room, she walked slowly down the halls towards her room, not really thinking about anything in particular when a hand impeded her progress down the hall. Since this had happened to her countless times before, Orihime barely even flinched when a warm hand enveloped her own slightly chilled hand. Looking behind her, Orihime's face put on a bright smile as she recognized Rinu, who had a concerned expression on her face, with Nano standing behind her looking just as worried.

Instinctively wanting to quell their unknown fears, Orihime said sweetly, "I'm sorry if I made you worry. Uminu just had a few things that he wanted to discuss with me and I didn't think to ask you two to stay since you both looked so tired after today. You both were so busy at the train station and I barely did anything after that incident with Dr. Keinto, so I'm sorry about that. I promise that I will make it up to you both."

As Orihime had been talking Rinu had given Nano a meaningful look and Nano had nodded her head in assent, as if giving Rinu permission to continue, to which Rinu responded by turning back to Orihime, placing her hands on the shorter girl's shoulders and asking, "Orihime, are you all right?"

Orihime blinked in a confused manner before a look of understanding crossed her face and she said hurriedly, "Oh, Dr. Keinto didn't really hurt me and you know that we've dealt with similar creeps before here at the hospital. I promise that I will steer clear of him from now on."

Rinu looked at Orihime sternly as she said, "That's not what I meant and you know it. Ever since we got back from the train station this afternoon, you've said barely a word. There is no way something like this can't affect you. Now I realize why you never really cried over Iymo's 'death'. It was because you never really believed that he was dead. Some people can just tell and you must be one of them."

Orihime looked at the floor as she said, "There were so many times that I wanted to tell you both, but I just could never come up with the right words."

Nano stepped forward and said, "We understand. For someone like me, we need hard evidence in order to believe something is true and if you had said that you just knew that Iymo was alive because of some feeling that you had, as much as I love you, I would have thought you were merely using that as a way to cope with losing the man you loved and who had died not long after asking you to marry him."

Rinu continued, "We know Iymo proposed to you in his last letter. I read it a day or two later when I started to become suspicious about your not reacting very much at the memorial. I am sorry that I went through your letters, but I was really worried about you. As callous as this might sound, I'm really glad that you received that letter later because now it is only the three of us who know anything about it and we'll figure out what to do from here."

Stepping forward, Rinu wrapped her arms around Orihime and gently began massaging the back of Orihime's head and back in a soothing manner as she said, "For now, you need to let it all go. Just let it go, please."

Orihime reached up a hand to take hold of Rinu's arm when she felt Nano hug her from behind. At that point, the wall Orihime had built up around her heart, mind and soul that entire day collapsed immediately under Rinu and Nano's gentle and friendly attack. If her two friends had not been there to hold her up, Orihime would have fallen in a heap on the floor under the pressure of despair and hopelessness that had been gradually growing inside of her ever since her encounter with Iymo. For what seemed like hours, tears poured from her eyes, more than she could ever remember crying before. Hot, salty, stinging tears dropped without pause and sob after desperate sob was wrenched from the very bottom of her body and soul leaving her internal muscles sore, so that the pain she felt emotionally could be reflected physically as well. In the corner of her mind, Orihime could sense tears falling on the top of her head and the back of her shirt and knew that her friends were mourning with her. This warmed her broken heart more than any words could ever do in that moment.

Finally, when the tears began to abate and sleep to claim Orihime, she noticed that her friends had fallen asleep gently cradling her between them. Orihime smiled as she closed her eyes and thanked Heaven for such wonderful friends. Now that Orihime had finally been able to cry and release all her sorrow, she could clearly see what she had not been able to before. Iymo was not lost to her. He was alive and as long as she lived, she would love him. She remembered how she had resolved back in Karakura Town that she would wait for Ichigo as long as it took or support him and stand by him all her life no matter if he loved her or not. This situation was no different.

Where there is a will, there is a way. Where there is life and love, there is hope. Those were two principals that Orihime would hold dear to her heart in the coming days.

Author's Note:

I have to be perfectly honest that when I first saw the pictures drawn by nekosaiko (if you want a more thorough description of those pictures, there should be one back in chapter 1), the one from WWI with Ichigo's head wrapped in a bandage and the two of them sharing a kiss was the one that really resonated with me the most. For whatever reason, when I decided to write this story I knew I wanted to finish with this lifetime and really have Orihime's steadfast love tested in some way. As Orihime realized at the end, she hasn't completely lost Iymo and she loves him just as well as before, but to have the person you love completely forget about you cannot be easy (just so everyone knows, I wrote this a while before trailers for the movie 'The Vow' came out, so this was kind of my own idea). This last part is one that I spent a lot of time trying to get just right since I didn't want Orihime's or anyone's emotions or dialogue to seem unrealistic and so I hope it worked. I hope you enjoy and just remember, the story doesn't end here…