Again, as I've said, I do not own these characters!!! *smoke coming pout from Sakura-chan's head* And if you sue me…*pointing her finger towards the sue-r (is there such a word?)* I'll…I'll…Hmph! *crossing her arms and sticking out her tongue* Forget it! I'll just waste my time…On to the story. Just remember this, I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, got it?! And I also do not own Taiho Shichauzo. I just borrowed their names, okay?
Sakura chan's notes: Hmm…the title...does it seem top be grammatically incorrect or is it just me? Shouldn't it be 'A Lost Memory?' MWAHAHAHAHA!
Sakura-chan's consciousness: No idiot! It's the effect!!!
Sakura-chan: Oh…Okay!!! So, here's the next chapter! Hope you all like it!!! (RER – Read Enjoy and Review!!!) - cheesy, isn't it?
Rants: Anyway, last night I just watched the episode 26 of "You're Under Arrest". The title's something like, 'hot springs, yukata and proposal?" I didn't really read it. Anyway, it's about Nakajima and Miyuki and ARGH!!! Nakajima is so SLOW!!! I don't really like but because he's such a baka but poor Miyuki. For you guys who haven't even seen it, I suggest you watch it. Try AXN! ^_^ It's fun with a little seriousness (especially when they're catching the bad guys). Ja!!!
Oh, yeah. I got Miyuki's name from 'You're Under Arrest.' ^_^
Thanks to all those who reviewed I really appreciate it! But…
WOAH!!! I could practically feel the tension through the reviews!!! ^_^ But if I'll tell you what will happen to the characters, you'll be spoiled!!! *evil grin* hahahaha!!! I won't tell you!!!
Readers: But…but…what about-
Sakura-chan: Stop! I won't tell you (in an annoying singsong voice) *ahem* I really don't know…^_^
Chiki: Hmmm…interesting…you don't like cliffhangers!!! MWAHAHAHAHA!!! I'll put them in all of my chapters! Hahahaha!!! (joke) Don't worry, I'll try to avoid doing that but if I don't, where's the fun? ^_^ Thanks for the review! Anyway, here's Shinichi's past. You'll get to know more about him…^_^
Chibi-Gami: Oh, I can't do that! I'm evil *evil grin* ^_^ Kenshin will not yet come in here. ^_^ Sorry to disappoint you. He'll come, I thinnnkkkk…after a few more chapters. ^_^
Kiki: Can't tell ya!!! Just wait and see!!! Mwahahaha!!! Thanks for the review!!!
Crystal: Kenshin? Who is he?…Hahahaha!!! That was a joke. Just wait and see. If I'll tell you now, you won't like the story anymore pout
kawaii-kirei: Nope, they will not fight each other. Let's just say that something very bad will happen to Shinichi. ^_^ *grin*
marstanuki: Thanks! Hmmm…you don't like Nakajima. Good news! I don't like him too!!! Hahahaha!!! Anyway, here's the next chapter!!!
lildevil538: Don't despair! I'm a K&K fan too! Don't worry, he will come out in the later chapters so don't give up!!! You will see him!!! ^_^
Hope you all like it!!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A MEMORY LOSTCHAPTER THREE – SHINICHI'S PAST
After dinner at Ooka's home, Shinichi went home with a full heart and stomach. Miyuki's food was edible though it was not perfect; however, Shinichi ate it with a big smile on his face as he watched Miyuki watch him eat her food. Going in their place lightened Shinichi's mood as he temporarily forgot about his past and his present problems. Now, after leaving, all came back to him. A scowl settled on his face as he opened the gate of his home. He stepped inside with heavy thoughts running in his mind. He walked towards the dojo and lit a lantern hanging on its walls. That day, two days after he settled in, he had already managed to put some order in the practicing hall. The bokkens were all lined up in the wall in a straight line, beside them were also shinais arranged in the same way and the other things were locked up in a closet. He already cleaned the floor. He smiled at himself, 'Fixing the dojo instead of the house itself. Typical me.'
He walked in the middle of the room and sat. His thoughts wandered as he stared on the empty wall in front of him.
flashback
Shinichi was just 8 years old when he started to practice kenjutsu. That afternoon was a hard training and he just finished freshening up.
"Shin-chan," a young girl's voice cried out as Shinichi was packing his practice clothes. A girl rounded the corner as Shinichi straightened up. The girl was about 4 years of age. Her eyes were sparkling blue as she ran towards her friend, her lips forming a big smile as she found him.
"Kao-chan," Shinichi said. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with your Otou-san?" He smiled at her as she pouted and shook her head.
"Iie, I wanted to see you, Onii-san. You said, you were going to make me a paper crane," she replied, as her eyes suddenly went teary, thinking that her onii-san forgot his promise.
"Ahh…yes, don't worry, Kao-chan, I didn't forget. Hmmm...let me see," he said, as he rummaged through his sack to find the toy. Kaoru waited anxiously as she looked at her onii-san look for the toy. She loved her brother very much because he saved her from the boys who teased her. He always sided with her and protected her. Her smile went bigger as Shinichi pulled something from his sack.
"Ah," he said, triumphantly, holding the crane up in his hand. He straightened the edges as they were slightly crumpled. He decided to play a little game with Kaoru. Turning back, he put the cranes on his left hand while he put a candy on his right hand.
Curious, Kaoru asked, "What are you doing, Onii-san? Where's my paper crane?"
"It's here, Kao-chan," he answering, turning around to look at her. "Let's play a game first okay?" he asked.
Kaoru looked liked she was going to say no because she just wants to add the crane in her collection but in the end she relented and nodded her head.
"Okay, now here are my two hands. They are closed. Inside in one of them is your paper crane. On the other hand…well, inside is a surprise. Now, choose a hand to see where your paper crane is," he explained, grinning at the young girl.
Kaoru looked seriously at the two closed hands, peering at it as if she could see through it. She pouted her lips as she thought and Shinichi found it endearing.
'She looks so cute, my imotou,' he thought as he look at her make her decision.
Kaoru finally made up her mind and chose his right hand. He opened and to Kaoru's dismay, it wasn't the paper crane but the candy. Kaoru's eyes welled with tears in disappointment. Shinichi looked at her with concern. He didn't expect her reaction to be like this. He thought she would just accept it good-naturedly, but he was wrong. After all, she was just a child.
Putting his hand on her shoulder, he comforted her. "Kao-chan, here," he said, giving Kaoru the two paper cranes and the sweet, which he really meant to give her in the end. "Daijoubu, don't cry. It's just a game, okay?"
"Ha...Hai, Onii-chan," she stammered lightly as her crying died down. She tried to smile. At first it failed but after a few seconds, it succeeded. Shinichi smiled at her determination to cheer up and gave her a pat on the head, the proceeded to go home.
"Onii-chan!" Kaoru cried out with her powerful lungs as he walked out the gate. "Ja!"
He looked back and waved at her, "Ja, Kao-chan. Be a good girl, ok?"
Kaoru nodded, laughing at him, her face glowing, "Hai, Onii-chan!"
'Kao-chan is such a sweet girl. She's like my sister. I'm lucky I met her.' Shinichi thought as he recalled Kaoru's smile.
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So for three years, until he was eleven, he was trained by Koshijirou Kamiya, kenjutsu with his friend, his sensei's daughter watching him. During these years, he was very happy with his life; however, in one afternoon, something happened that would forever change his life…
"Shinichi," his father called out to him after Shinichi finished his bath.
"Doushite, Otou-san?" he asked, going to his father.
His father gestured for him to sit down. They sat down on the porch facing their garden. A silence settled around them comfortably as Shinichi thought about what his father was going to say.
"Shinichi," his father started to say, seriously. "As you know, we have some unfinished business in Hokkaido that needs to be attended. So," his father paused, allowing Shinichi to think. 'Hokkaido? That is a bit far. I wonder…does this mean that…' His father continued, "we are going to move to Hokkaido to finish this business," his father said, voicing out Shinichi's dreaded suspicion.
"Move to Hokkaido?" he asked, shocked at his father's decision. "Are we going to move back here?"
Hota-san shook his head, no emotion can be seen on his face. A samurai, like Shinichi's father must not show a weakness. Shinichi remembered it, smiling grimly as he thought, 'He doesn't want to move as well, but how could he? This has been his home for years, with his parents and okaasan.'
He gripped his fists tightly until his knuckles went white. "Demo, naze Otou-san? This has been your, iie, our home for years and you just can't possibly – " he was cut off as his father stood up.
"Shinichi, that's enough. I have already made my decision and that is final." Shinichi opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. His father, satisfied that he wasn't going to say anything else walked inside the dojo to practice his kata. Shinichi was left alone with his thoughts.
'Leave' he thought, not quite believing it. 'We are leaving and we're not coming back…demo…what about my friends? My training and most importantly…Kao-chan…I will never see her again…How can I explain this to her?' He put his on his arms and groaned. He wanted to cry but he couldn't because he didn't want his father to see him like this. His father would sure lecture him. He screamed inwardly, 'WHY? WHY DO WE HAVE TO MOVE?' He stood up and went to his room to think.
The morning, the next day, he and his father went over to the Kamiya Dojo to talk about their plans. Shinichi was preparing himself on what he was going to say to Kaoru. As they approach the dojo, they saw Kaoru with her own bokken. She was fighting with an imaginary opponent. Shinichi smiled at this sight and approached her, bracing himself for her reaction after he was going to tell her the news. His father went inside the house to talk to Kamiya-san.
As soon as Kaoru saw him, she stopped her 'battle' and ran towards him. She embraced him, tiptoeing as she did and kissed him on the cheek. Shinichi, bent down a little and kissed her on the forehead and they proceeded to go inside the courtyard.
Kaoru smiled at him, showing her growing teeth and said, "Ohayou, Onii-chan! You're early today." Then she frowned, noticing that he forgot to bring over some of his things. "Ne, Onii-chan, where are your shinai and your practice clothes?"
"Ano…Kaoru-chan," Shinichi said, pausing, knowing that he would cause her pain.
"Doushite, Onii-chan?" Kaoru asked, concern seen on her features, knowing that something was bothering her onii-chan. "Is it some boys who are troubling you? Because if they are, I'll beat them to pulp," she said, brandishing her shinai at some imaginary opponent. Shinichi sweat dropped then laughed at the sight that she made, his dilemma momentarily forgotten.
Kaoru, glad that her Onii-chan felt better, laughed too. After a while, when they both sobered up, Shinichi gathered up his courage and told Kaoru, "Kaoru-chan, I'm going away soon."
Kaoru looked up at him, surprised and asked curiously, "Going away? Why?"
Shinichi looked in Kaoru's eyes and saw that the blue sapphire orbs were glistening with unshed tears. A tear escaped one eye and Shinichi wiped it away with his thumb. "My Otou-san has something to do there and I have to come with him. We…we might not come back here…demo, I promise that I will come back to see you someday. Just wait for me," Shinichi said, looking intently into Kaoru's eyes. She was now crying endlessly and he pulled her into his arms to comfort her. Her heart-breaking sobs were tearing his heart to pieces and he could feel his own eyes welling up; however, he stopped them from escaping his eyes. He had to be strong for Kaoru right now and for both of them.
"Demo, doushite?" came Kaoru's muffled question as she pressed harder into his gi.
"Gomen nasai, Kao-chan but my father wants this. I'll come back for sure, okay?" Shinichi said steadily, barely managing it out because of his constricted throat.
Kaoru pulled up her tear-stricken face and looked at him, her eyes asking. "Promise?" she asked, holding out her little pinkie.
Shinichi's eyes brightened. "Hai, I promise," he said honestly, holding up his own pinkie against hers and clutched hers against his.
A silence ensued, both comfortably leaning against each other. Then Shinichi coughed, destroying the silence.
"Ano…Kao-chan, I want you to have this," he said, pulling out a small packet, like a size of his hand. He handed it over to her whose eyes glanced curiously at the packet then back at him. He nodded, urging her to open it.
Her eyes were surprised as she opened it. Inside the packet, Shinichi's lock of hair was settled in between the tissues.
"That's for you, Kao-chan and this is mine," he said, pulling out a similar looking packet but Kaoru's, containing his hair, was colored red with some sakura blossoms scattered all over the design while his was blue with some drawing of insects.
Kaoru understood and went inside the house. Shinichi seated on the steps leading to the dojo, knowing that she would give him her own lock of hair. After a few minutes, Kaoru walked out, holding a strip of blue cloth and a lock of her hair. As she approached him, she noticed his curious expression as his eyes trailed over to the blue strip of cloth. She sat down beside him and held her things to him.
"Onii-chan, this is a part of my ribbon, Please keep it," she explained as Shinichi put it in his own packet with her hair.
"Arigatou, Kao-chan. I will never forget you," he said, thankfully. Kaoru' eyes begun to well up again but Shinichi said, "Smile, my dear imotou so that I can always remember your face smiling."
Kaoru nodded, wiping away a few tears that escaped her eyes. "Hn."
They waited for a few minutes in silence for their fathers to finish their conversation. After a while, their fathers came out, Kamiya-san holding out an item that was wrapped in cloth.
Their children stood up. Kamiya looked at Shinichi with probing eyes. Shinichi did not flinch as he looked into his eyes. Finally, Koshijirou nodded, satisfied. He gave the thing that he held to Shinichi. Shinichi accepted it and looked at his father questioningly.
"Hota Shinichi, you have now officially finished studying in the Kamiya dojo. Here is your own bokken," Koshijirou said, gesturing at the thing wrapped with a cloth.
Shinichi unwrapped it and looked amazedly at his own bokken. He bowed to Kaoru's father as he did the same to him.
Kamiya-san continued, "You will not be trained anymore in this dojo; however, your father will be the one who will finish your training."
Shinichi nodded. He looked at Kaoru who looked at him proudly. He broke into a grin and Kaoru smiled.
Hota-san said, "Well then, we have to go now. We will leave the day after tomorrow once we have settled all our business here. If you want, you can see us off, chibi-chan," ruffling Kaoru's hair. Kaoru brightened up and nodded. "Time to go, Shinichi."
"Hai, Otou-san. Ja ne, Kao-chan."
"Ja, Onii-chan."
So Shinichi and his father left, with Kaoru and her own father waving to them as their carriage flew past the houses. Shinichi's heart ached as he thought of leaving his hometown but looked forwardly in the future when he would see his imouto-chan again.
After almost two weeks, traveling by carriage and by boats, they arrived in Hokkaido, feeling very tired. The very next day, his father started working. Shinichi's time in Hokkaido was a tiring one. He had his own studies to do as well as his sword training. He was also taught by his father all about their business. His father saw that his son had a talent in handling financial matters and trained him hard to do it. Shinichi gained new friends but he didn't forget his imouto-chan. Although his life was happy, he knew that something was wrong. Their money were slowly draining. Little did he know that it was because of his father. His father loved gambling and at every chance, gambled with anybody. That was the reason a tragedy happened.
Shinichi had already finished his training with Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu and at a young age. One afternoon, Shinichi (15 years old) and his friends were staying at one of their friend's house while his father, gambled; however, the persons he was gambling with were professionals. Kuro-san (Shinichi's father) lost but he didn't have the money to pay the men so the men eliminated him and took his house. They took the papers from him before killing him. When Shinichi went home, he found different people living there and the neighbors surrounded him, telling him the news. Shinichi was devastated. He didn't know where to go; however, his uncle who was just going to visit them arrived and so he lived with him. For five years, he helped his uncle with his business with the jobs and with his uncle's work at the government. His uncle trained him in politics and he had a talent there as well. His uncle saw that he could find better ways in improving the people's lives.
When he was 20, he became a helper in the emperor's court and his uncle was greatly overjoyed at it; however, many people hated Shinichi for it. He was able to stop some things, which he knew were lessening the people's money. His greatest enemy was named Toma Seishiro. Seishiro was a powerful man. They are both of the same age and they had the talent as well. Shinichi found out that Seishiro was hiring thugs to kill the honest, rich people who supported the emperor very much. Seishiro was angry at the emperor and the people with him because they did not help his father when he asked for their help and so revenge was his motive.
One night, he followed Seishiro as he went into an alley. He saw that Seishiro was paying a large amount of money to kill his (Shinichi's) uncle. He was outraged at this and attacked Seishiro and his thugs. He had his katana with him and so he pulled this out. That night, he forgot his vow at the Kamiya Dojo to use his sword to protect. He managed to kill the thugs who were assigned to kill his uncle and he attacked Seishiro. Seishiro was badly hurt and he already lost a lot of blood. Knowing that he would soon die, Shinichi left him alone.
The next day, all the things that he did the night before came rushing back to him. He was so shocked at what he did that he did not come out of his room. He was ashamed of himself. He remembered the little girl at the Kamiya dojo. How was he going to face Kaoru when he promised that he would not kill?
After a few threats and coaxing, his uncle was able to haul (literally) him out of his room and go to work. When he arrived, some of the people in court, friends of Seishiro sneered at him. He thought to himself, "Do they know that I was the one who killed him?' He was very nervous; however, he was able to hold himself out well.
The day went on smoothly, if you disregard the sneers and the death glares that he was receiving from Seishiro's friends. Then…
"Kota-sama," cried one guard as he ran to Shinichi's superior. Kota took the message from the guard and faced the room gravely.
"It has been reported that they found Toma Seishiro, dead in an alley with some thugs. It is said that these thugs killed him because of some fight."
Shinichi's breath at this time was held but as he heard the last piece of news, he brought it out. He was relived yet at the same time the guilt was eating him. Kai, one of Seishiro's friends saw him sigh in relief and blurted out.
"No, those thugs did not kill him! Shinichi did! Those thugs were – " he was cut off with a glare from all of Seishiro's friends.
Kota looked at Kai gravely and said, his tone chipped "This is not a joke, Kai. It is clear that those men killed him, then they died from their grave wounds. That is the end of this discussion, am I understood?" their superior said to all of them, his eyes glinting. The men nodded and continued to work. Kota gestured for Shinichi to come over and told him, "I understand that you have any enemies here. I suggest that you ignore them and do your work. Is that clear?"
Shinichi nodded.
For one year, he worked at the court but he quit, fed up with the threats and fights that had been going on. His uncle then allowed him to do whatever he wanted do so he begun to travel until he wanted to settle down. During his travel, he taught Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu. He did not go back to his hometown to see Kaoru because he was ashamed of what he did and he was sure that she would be disgusted at him for what he did. After two years, at the age of 23, he decided to settle down in Osaka.
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Sakura-chan Phew!!! That was a long one. (for me, it is. ^_^*) Ja!!! Don't forget to review!!! If you have any questions or any clarifications (whoops, I sound like my teacher ^_^), either post them in your review or email me!!! ^_^ ^_^ ^_^