Chapter 16, Piece 19 * * * * * * * *
"So, how are you feeling today, Seto?"
"Bored, Doctor," he replied. "When can I go home?"
His language skills were rapidly improving, the doctor noted. For the first week after he woke, Seto spoke only Japanese - although he seemed to understand English. Now, he was speaking both fluently. She'd even heard that he'd been practicing Chinese with one of the nurses. His first cognitive test placed him as a very bright 12-year-old, while he claimed to be ten. Of course physically he was 25. The second cognitive test, two weeks later, brought him up to 16. She was confident that his educational knowledge would be fully restored.
Unfortunately, there had been no one who could help assess the man's personal memories. The younger brother didn't know much about it, and there were no other resources.
The last thing Seto himself remembered was getting into a car with his father. It was heartbreaking to watch him deal with the loss of his father. The boy - the man - was inconsolable with grief.
But the brother had been instrumental in assessing how deep the man's memory loss went. And in designing a reeducation program.
"Trust me, doc," Mokuba had laughed when she'd pointed out that the lesson plans were several grade-levels too high. "He'll be through this and driving you crazy before I finish programming Module 2."
She spent an hour a day with Seto. When they started, it was to help him adjust. Now, she was trying to keep up with him! "We discussed that." She smiled. "You can go home when...?"
He huffed. "When everyone is satisfied that I am bored to death!" He pouted - which on that face should be illegal - and leaned closer to her. "The sooner I can go home, the sooner I am no longer your patient. I could be... other things."
His passes at her were getting more subtle, more adult. She had been trying to ignore them, but by chance, Mokuba had overheard the last one.
She closed her notebook. "Okay, Seto. We're both adults. Let's talk about sex." He blushed at the word and sat up again. "So, tell me about a girl you like. Not me."
He shrugged. "I guess there aren't any."
"What about any boys."
He froze. "Why would I like any boys?" He answered finally.
"Your brother seemed surprised to hear that you are attracted to me." He shrugged again. "Do you remember any special girls?"
"I don't remember anything." His voice was tight.
"Okay. We don't have to talk about that today. We'll just look at how you feel right now. Alright?" He nodded, and she smiled gently. "Did you know that Dr. Berenger and Dr. Cooper are married to each other?"
"But..." He frowned. "Two men can get married in America. I knew that. In Japan, they can't legally marry, so they adopt. You become a part of your spouse's family in a much more binding way. I think that's better. Marriage defines two roles - a husband, a wife. Adoption, however, allows you to be spouses, siblings, parent/child. You define the relationship for yourself."
"You've thought about this."
"I must have. I know it the way I know my name."
"Are you uncomfortable with the idea of two men being in a relationship with each other?"
"No." He frowned deeply. "It's...odd." He hesitated. "I know my parents were in love, were truly devoted to each other. But, at the same time, that seems wrong. Relationships are at best a distraction, and more commonly an unnecessary complication." She let him think for a moment. "Both cannot be true, can they?"
"Different relationships have different circumstances. Maybe one was true for your parents but not true for you."
"I've never had a relationship."
"Are you sure about that? Maybe this is another question your brother could help you answer."