STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY
Don't sue me please!!! (puts her hands up in the air) They belong to Sony, Nobuhiro-sama but I don't own my beaus!!! *smirks* But that will be my goal!!! I will own them. (…if I have lots and lots of money…*sobs*………..which I don't have……….*pout)
Sakura-chan's notes: So, how did you like the first chapter so far? Do you guys like it to be drama, humor??? Please review and tell me, k???
Thanks to all those who reviewed!!!!
Lin: Heya!!! Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you reviewed! Don't worry, I'll write more chapters of these!!!
Kamimura Kaoru: Arigatou for reviewing!!! *bowing, until her head hits the floor ow* Hmmm…should I tell you? Is Miyuki Kaoru??? Hmmm…Okay, I give up!!! Yup, both are the same. ^_^
marstanuki: I agree! They look alike…Hmmm…I wonder if I can make a crossover between those two animes??? What do ya think??? Thanks for reviewing!!! ^_^
kreuz4eva: Arigatou for your 'flattering' comment!!! Hahahaha!!!…demo…I really don't know much about YYH. I tried buying it but the store has only the Japanese versions and I can't understand them!!! *Wahhhhhhhhhhh!* hehehehe…sumimasen, I got carried away! Anyway, thanks!!!
Crystal: Thanks for the 'speech' and for reviewing! I'll try to fix it!
THANKS TO ALL WHO READ AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO REVIEWED!!!
Enjoy this next chapter!!!
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A MEMORY LOST
CHAPTER TWO: NEIGHBOR
Morning came and Miyuki rose to start a new day. Her dream last night was forgotten, making her mood cheerful as before. Going to the kitchen, she prepared their breakfast, which she already perfected in making. The doctor was already up, preparing the clinic for the day's patients to come in. Miyuki awoke the children, much to their annoyance and cheerfully bathe them. After her morning chores, Miyuki settled on to do some laundry.
Scrubbing on Nanaho's kimono, Miyuki's thoughts wandered…
A vision of a man with flaming red hair was doing the laundry. She could hear a woman and a child's voice arguing as the man smiled. A man, sitting on the porch was chewing a fishbone. The man with the red hair seemed amuse at the two people arguing… "Maa, maa, K-"
"Yuki-neechan! Yuki-neechan!!!" Satomi's voice called her from her thoughts.
"Nani, Satomi-chan?" Miyuki asked, concern vivid in her eyes.
"Are you trying to make a hole on Nanaho's kimono. Because if you do, you'll have to sew it up!" Satomi said innocently.
Miyuki looked down at her laundry and saw that indeed the place where she was scrubbing earlier was becoming thinner.
"Or…Oh!!! Right. Gomen ne, Satomi-chan. Thanks for telling me. Now why don't you go and play with Yoko-chan and the others. Just remember," she added seriously. "Don't play on the main streets, k?"
"Hai, nee-chan"
'Was I going to say Oro? Where the in the world did that come from?' Miyuki thought as she continued doing the laundry.
Finishing the laundry, she went out of the gate and checked up on the children to see if they were all right. They were playing beside the road, where the trees grew. A little stream was there, where the children sometimes played. She saw that the children were happily playing with their friends, Tenshi, Miho and Saori. It was such a peaceful sight that she got mad when she heard someone yelling.
Hey, be careful with that!" a man's voice said, powerful as it echoed through the street.
Miyuki turned around to give the man who yelled a piece of her mind, when she suddenly stopped. The man was beautiful, in a sense. His brown hair was long but it was tied up. He was slightly taller than her and he had an angelic face. His eyes were glittering (because he was mad at the guy moving his things) and his face was finely sculpted, like it was taken from a statue. She couldn't figure out what his eye color was so she leaned a bit. As she was trying to have a clear vision of his eyes, the man himself turned slightly and saw him looking at her. Startled, Miyuki lost her balance. She closed her eyes, waiting for the impact from the ground but it never came. She opened her eyes and much to her chagrin, saw that it was the man she was staring at. She was quite surprised that she moved so fast. She looked deep into the pools of green. Green like the bamboo trees. Looking into his eyes was like being in a peaceful place full of trees. Looking into his eyes gave her a feeling of safety. She didn't quite understand it but her heart was beating fast.
"Daijoubu?" the man asked, his deep voice rolling over her like waves.
"Hai," she managed to say, despite the fact that her tongue was tied up. The man helped her to stand on her feet. She realized that the children were looking at her worriedly. She looked at them and said, "Daijoubu. Onee-chan just fell. No need to be worried." The children looked at her once again, then at the guy who smiled at them and saw that everything was all right.
The man looked at Miyuki with admiration. This woman was so brave, looking at him though not many could do that. They saw him as a threat to society. His strategies in his sword skills and in the government gave him many enemies. 'But then she wouldn't know that wouldn't she? We just met today…Demo…Kirei...' He slightly frowned at his thought and coughed and she looked at him, questioningly. Then, her cheeks turned red as she remembered what she was doing.
"Ano…Gomen for staring at you," she said in a soft voice, her head down.
The man smiled at her sincerity. "Daijoubu. Why don't you come in and have a cup of tea. I would really like to know much about this place and get to know my neighbors as well," he said smoothly.
Miyuki started to protest, thinking of a possible reason not to be with this guy. She looked up and saw directly into his eyes. It was a mistake. It was like a kind of magnet that was pulling her towards him. She sighed, giving up.
"Okay, I'll have a cup of tea," she said. "Demo, I have to tell the doctor first."
Understanding her need to pull herself together, the man nodded. "Okay, I have to make my place more presentable while you're away. Oh, by the way, my name's Hota Shinichi."
"Hajimoto Miyuki. Ja, I'll see you later," she said, turning her back and walked off.
Shinichi stayed in place looking at Miyuki's back, thinking. 'Hmmm…An interesting place. An interesting woman. I'm sure that my stay here would be quite enjoyable.' He walked towards his new home.
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Reaching the clinic, Miyuki leaned against the door. Her heart's beating returned to normal however, she herself wasn't feeling normal. 'What is happening to me? All I did was meet the guy. I have to pull myself up if I have to meet him. I'll just bring the doctor along. I'll just tell him that we'll meet him tonight. Yes, that's what I'll do.'
She pulled herself up, fixed her hair and walked determinedly towards Shinichi's house. She knocked on the gate and it opened. Shinichi, himself was the one who opened it and led Miyuki inside.
Inside, Miyuki saw how large it was. There was an outdoor bath, a dojo, a shed and the house itself.
"Hota-san-" she started but Shinichi cut her off.
"Just Shinichi please, if you don't mind," he said, smiling. "You make me feel old."
She returned his smile and replied, "Then just call me Miyuki then, Shinichi-san."
He nodded.
"As I was about to say, will you live here alone?"
"Ah…yes, I will; however, I will teach kenjutsu so I won't be alone."
'Interesting, he will teach. I wonder if he could teach me too.' "You will teach? What will you teach?"
"Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu. It's a style that protects," Shinichi replied, his eyes suddenly burning with passion about his art.
Miyuki looked shocked at the style that Shinichi was going to teach. 'Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu? Have I heard that before? It sounds familiar…"
She stopped her flow of thoughts as Shinichi continued, not noticing his companion's reaction.
"It says, it is a sword that protects. Although it has been taught to me, I quite disagree with it. A sword is an instrument for killing. Ahhh…but what am I doing, talking about kenjutsu in front of a woman."
"Ano, that's okay, Shinichi-san. I'm interested," she hesitated, choosing her words as she said her next sentence. "Could you teach it to me too, please?"
Shinichi was shocked. A woman, wanting to learn kenjutsu? A spy would be better but kenjutsu, with a sword?
The look in Shinichi's eyes gave Miyuki the answer she already knew. No one would teach a woman kenjutsu. She just wanted to defend herself. Is something bad about that?
"Ah…forget what I said, Shini-"
"I didn't say anything yet, Miyuki-san. I was just surprised, that's all. It's unfamiliar to me that a woman wants to learn kenjutsu but I'm willing to try. Hai, Hajimoto Miyuki, you will be my first student."
"Really, Shinichi-san?!" He nodded. Bowing, she said, "Arigatou for giving me this chance. Demo…your future students might not like it to have a woman with them."
"Hmm…you're right. Well, I'll teach you alone then. After sometime, you can fight with the other students and maybe, by then, they'll accept you."
Miyuki couldn't control her emotions anymore. She jumped up and hugged Shinichi tightly. Something she normally did, without thinking. Shinichi, shocked at this display didn't know at first what to do but then, he gave in to his desires and wrapped her around his arms, gently. They stayed like that for what seemed like a year but it was only a minute.
Miyuki, realizing her position, broke off from the embrace and blushed hotly. "Gomen."
"There's nothing to be sorry about, Miyuki-san." Shinichi said, smilingly. "Now, where were we? Oh yes. Now this is the dojo," he said, gesturing to Miyuki to follow him.
Inside the dojo, there were bokkens everywhere and some protective clothing for the students.
"Gomen for the clutter but as you can see, I just moved."
"Don't worry about that, Shinichi-san," Miyuki said. "If you want, the children and I would help you."
"Children?"
"The children who were playing in the stream earlier. They were adopted by Ooka-sensei. I was adopted by him too."
"Really?" he asked.
Miyuki nodded. "Hai"
"Sou ka…" he whispered to himself. Miyuki looked at him anxiously but he waved his hand, saying it was nothing.
Picking up a bokken that was near her feet, Miyuki felt a rush of recognition. It was like she knew how to hold a bokken before. Without knowing it, both of her hands and feet went into a stance that Shinichi found surprising.
'It's the first stance of the Kamiya Kasshin Style. How…?' "Ano…It's strange for me to say it but that is the first stance of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu. One of basics in fact." Shinichi said, narrowing his eyes and looking at her strangely.
Miyuki just looked at him, puzzled. "I don't know how I did it but it just felt…familiar. Even your style sounds familiar…" What is it that is so familiar? Arghhhhh!!! I can't remember!!!" She didn't realize that she said her last two thoughts. Shinichi was looking at her again in a strange way.
"What do you mean, you can't remember?"
"It's a long story, Shinichi-san. Later, when I come tonight with the doctor to meet you, I will tell you the whole story." She said, giving him an embarrassed smile from her earlier outburst.
"Okay, I'll be preparing for your visi-"
But Miyuki wasn't quite finished yet. "Provided,"
"Provided that I what?"
"Provided that you tell me something about yourself too," she said.
"Okay. Deal," he replied, putting out his hand. Miyuki put her hand in and shook his hand. A mistake again. Electricity seemed to jolt her as she touched his hand. Again, there was like a magnet pulling her towards him and vice versa. 'What the hell is happening?.' Both thought simultaneously.
She quickly took her hand out of his grasp and held her hand. Shinichi did the same. Both looked at each other but did not know any explanations.
Trying to lessen the tension in the room, Miyuki started to say something. Likewise, Shinichi did the same. They both stopped at the same time. They started to talk again but with the same results. They stopped and laughed. They laughed so hard and Miyuki leaned towards Shinichi, trying to catch her breath. Shinichi was in an awkward position and when Miyuki leaned towards him, he lost his balance, pulling Miyuki towards him. They both fell, Shinichi cushioning Miyuki's fall. In doing so, Miyuki's ribbon became undone and her hair fell, making a curtain on their faces. Being near with Miyuki, he could smell her perfume. 'Jasmine.'
Time suddenly stopped as Miyuki and Shinichi both then realized something. 'Oh God, I'm falling in love"
Miyuki quickly scrambled to her feet and took her ribbon, which had fallen on the floor. Shinichi stood up.
"Um…I better get going. I still have to do some of my chores and cook our lunch. If you want, you can eat at our place since you are still new and tonight, instead of us going here, you can eat there too," she said, smiling. Shinichi couldn't avoid her beautiful smile so he nodded, accepting the invitation.
"I'll clean up first."
"Okay, I'll call you when lunch is ready. Hopefully, you can meet the doctor and the children as well. Ja ne," she cried out as she walked towards the gate.
Walking towards the clinic, Miyuki was puzzled by what she had learned. 'That style, that stance, the dojo, bokkens…what is it?' Tears begun to fall on her cheeks as she tried desperately to remember her past. Reaching the courtyard of the house, she could hear the children running up and down the hallway. Composing herself together, she quickly dried her tears. She took a deep breath and entered the room.
"Nee-chan, we're so hungry," Satomi said, rubbing her stomach. It grumbled causing her cheeks to turn pink. Likewise, the others' stomachs grumbled too. Miyuki sweat dropped and proceeded to go to the kitchen to get their food.
While Miyuki and the children were fixing the table and smoothing the pillows, Ooka-sensei came in. He looked delightedly at the children helping Miyuki. 'They're just like my grandsons.' His gaze shifted on Miyuki who laughed at something Shinji said. 'Ah…and here's my daughter. Too bad she couldn't remember her past but I will try very hard for my dear to regain it.'
Miyuki noticed Ooka hovering in the doorway. "Ah…here you are Ooka-sensei. Come in before the food starts getting cold," she said, smiling. Then she added, "We have a new neighbor and I invited him to eat. Will it be all right for you?"
"Ah…yes, the young man that was shouting orders earlier," he said, remembering. "By all means, let him eat here."
"Arigatou. I'll call him now. Don't wait for us. You can start eating now if you want," she said, looking at the children.
"Oh, it's okay, Miyuki. We'll wait up for you," the doctor said, sitting comfortably with the children.
Miyuki smiled as she looked at the scene before her and proceeded to go to the next house. She found Shinichi washing his hands and told him that lunch was ready. She was careful not to touch any part of his body and Shinichi did the same.
They arrived and Miyuki introduced him to her family. The children greeted him a very energetic welcome.
Then, Yoko-chan came over and tugged at his gi. "Onii-san, are you onee-chan's friend?"
Miyuki smiled at her Yoko-chan and waited anxiously for their guest's response.
Shinichi looked at the little girl that was just as tall as his legs. He replied to the child but he was looking directly in Miyuki's eyes. "Hai, I am a good friend of your onee-chan."
Miyuki, satisfied at his answer, blushed for no apparent reason. She quickly sat down and the others did the same and seated around the table and started to eat. "ITADAIKIMASU!!!" they said as they started eating. Miyuki caught her breath, waiting for the reaction of the diners. They all stopped chewing and…
"Sugoi, this is so good, oneesan!" Nanaho and Yoko said, digging at the food.
Shinichi smiled and looked at Miyuki, his eyes twinkling. "This is one of the best meals I had in my life."
Miyuki, again, blushed and looked intently at her food, poking at it with her chopsticks. Then, she let out her breath, satisfied that at last her cooking was getting indeed better.
"You're getting better now, aren't you, Miyuki?" Ooka said, looking proudly at his 'daughter.'
"Hai, I think I am," Miyuki replied, looking at the children and guests who were happily eating her cooked food. "Now you can all eat and at last, I'll be saved from all your complaints," she added, grinning.
"Ne, oneesan, we don't complain," Shinji said, grinning wickedly.
"Oh, really," Miyuki replied, disbelief evident on her voice. Then she laughed, causing the others to laugh too. Shinichi stared at her while she laughed and saw that she was more beautiful when she smiled. 'I will always keep her smiling,' he subconsciously thought. He was startled at how his thoughts were heading to but he agreed that he would definitely keep her always smiling.
After eating, the men went out to the porch to talk while Nanaho and Miyuki started cleaning up. The other children, Shinji and Yoko, played at the courtyard with the men watching over them. It was a peaceful day and the weather was not too hard or too cold. In the courtyard, there was a comfortable silence between Shinichi and the doctor. Shinichi found the doctor interesting and wanted to ask all kinds of questions about his profession. When Shinichi was young, he wanted to be a doctor like his grandfather but his father, a man practicing the art of kenjutsu, forced him to follow his footsteps. At first he didn't like it but after going to the Kamiya dojo, seeing the techniques, he went there without being forced. Also, seeing the daughter of his sensei, was an added bonus.
Shinichi smiled, remembering his little playmate when he was still studying. 'Ah…Kaoru-chan, I wonder where you are now. You must be strong now and beautiful too…'
"You must be having good thoughts, Shinichi-san," Ooka said, looking at the young man's pleased face. He liked this young man and he already saw how he looks at Miyuki. 'Interesting…he would be a good match for Miyuki.'
"Hai, I was Ooka-sensei. I was just thinking about my childhood friend," he replied.
"Ah…sou ka…your childhood must not be forgotten. It is the purest and the happiest days of our lives. Too bad when we were still children that we want to be adults but when we become one, we wish that we were still in our younger years," Ooka said, a wistful tone evident in his voice. "Listen here, young man. Do not waste your life. Do what you think is correct and most important of all, love. You must love and in return, find someone who can love you."
Shinichi's eyes widened when the old man mentioned love. "Hai, I will; however, I think I have found it already.'
Satisfied at his answer, Ooka nodded. 'Very good, I like him very much.' "So, what brings you here, Shin-san," he said, shortening Shinichi's name, much like Shinji's name.
"I lived in Tokyo but my father died. Nothing was left because he was always gambling and so he used our home as a mortgage. My mother died when I was still young so I didn't know where to go. Luckily, a relative of ours was visiting and when he heard the news, he gladly took me in because he had no children of his own. I helped him with his business, selling ships and we were fine financially. When I came of age, my 'foster' father allowed me to go out on my own. I lived on other places, but things were not…" He trailed of, remembering what had happened to him. He continued, not finishing his sentence. "Anyway, I decided to settle here to teach kenjutsu. In fact, I already have one student."
"Let me guess, Miyuki?" Ooka said, his eyes crinkled at the thought.
Shinichi nodded, "Hai, she is. I was startled because no woman ever tried learning kenjutsu, 'except for Kao-chan' but I'm willing to teach her. That is, if you don't mind."
"Hohohoho, I don't mind. It's good that she is doing something different. She is always stuck here at home, helping me in the clinic, with the children and keeping the house clean. There is more to life than cleaning," he paused. Then he said, "Miyuki is a special girl. When I first saw her, she was unconscious and had bruises" Shinichi was shocked as he heard this. He leaned forward to hear more. "She had this huge bruise on her head that caused her amnesia. That's why she can't remember anything. Not even her name."
Shinichi absorbed all that he had learned about Miyuki. He pitied her yet he knew that his pity would not be accepted. When they first met, he already knew the spirit that this woman possesses. A strong one and she was a determined woman. 'Yes, she is a special one indeed,' he thought as he looked at Miyuki coming out of the kitchen and sweeping the hallways. Her hair was now tied up in her usual ponytail and an apron on top of her clothes. She smiled at the children and Shinichi's heart soared. He stood up, knowing that he was interrupting them from their chores.
"I have to go now, Ooka-sensei. I'll be back tonight to eat with you again, if you don't mind." Ooka shook his head while smiling and Shinichi continued. "It's nice knowing you and your family and I hope to see more of you in the future. Thanks for giving me your time."
"Arigatou too, my friend," Ooka replied, standing up.
Shinichi walked towards the gate and towards Miyuki. Miyuki looked at him and smiled.
"I have to get going. My place is still a mess," he said, smiling inwardly as Miyuki laughed.
"Hai, hai. See you tonight, okay? Don't hesitate if you need anything." 'I need you,' Shinichi thought.
"Ja!"
"Ja, ne!"
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Sakura-chan: So how did you guys like this chapter? Was it too fast? You're probably wondering why Kaoru/Miyuki became quickly attached to Shinichi...Well, first, she forgot everything in her life *ahem* because of amnesia. Second, she's just a normal girl you know...^_^ hehe! :D It's a small world, ne? He teaches Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu!!! and he knows Kaoru's dad and Kaoru, though he doesn't recognize her!!! *grinning evilly* I wonder what will happen next…
Reader: What! You don't know what will happen! You're the author for crying out loud!!!
Sakura-chan: I didn't say I don't KNOW what will happen…Thanks to me, you get to read it! *sticks tongue out* Hahahaha!!!
JA! And don't forget to REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!!!