Chapter 1
The boy took my hand and said firmly, "You are Rukawa Kaede."
"Rukawa Kaede?" I repeated, the words sounded hollow in my ears. I don't recognize them. There were no familiarity.
He smiled and told me, "It's alright. Everything will be ok…"
I wish I could believe those words.
"I got to go out for a moment, ok?"
I wanted to tell him no it's not ok. I don't want to be alone but I nodded. He went out with the doctor. I knew it was bad. It was always bad when they can't talk in front of you. I looked around the room. There were flowers on the table beside my bed, blue orchids, 'Are these my favourite flowers? Why can't I remember a single thing about myself?'
I looked at the window and could see my reflection on the glass. I don't even recognize myself. Staring back at me, was someone I didn't know, didn't understand. He looked troubled…vulnerable. I looked at him intensely, hoping maybe he could give me a clue to who I was. I didn't know who long I was staring, probably a very long time. I was so absorbed I didn't even realize the boy came back in.
"Are you alright?"
I turned my attention back to him, "What did the doctor say?"
"That you're ok…but you have amnesia. But only in regards to episodic memory, meaning you can't remember things about your life yet basic knowledge is unaffected."
"Will…will I ever…recover?"
He looked uncomfortable, "Not sure. It may be temporary and everything will come back to you in a few days, weeks, years, or…."
"Never," I finished for him bitterly.
"Gomen…gomen nasai…"
He looked sad and in pain. I don't like seeing him like so. It's….wrong…
"Who are you?"
He brightened up and replied, "Sendoh Akira."
"Sendoh Akira…" I said, trying to link something with his name, his face but, "nothing…I don't…"
"Don't force yourself. It'll come back gradually," he said taking a seat beside the bed.
'But I want to know!' I thought.
I grabbed a hold of him and asked desperately, "What is our relationship, Akira!"
He looked at me oddly and asked, "You really don't remember?"
"No," I sobbed.
"We're…you're my boyfriend, Kaede," he said softly.
"Boyfriend? But we're both…" I wanted to say male but somehow it seemed right. The idea that I was with him, didn't trouble me at all.
He looked like he was expecting the worst.
I let go of him and asked shyly now, "Um…can you tell me more about myself?"
He grinned, "Sure. What would you like to know?"
"Anything. Everything!"
"Well, you're in second year high school. Your 2 passions are basketball and sleeping. You're naturally…a quiet person. Your favourite words are baka and do'aho. Some people misunderstand you for a cold person. But in reality you're very caring, you just don't express your feelings well. So you're hard to get to know. But once they get to know you, they can't help but love you…"
I sounded like a complex person. Akira was very absorbed in what he was saying. I could tell him really cared for me.
A knocking at the door, "Rukawa-san, may I come in and ask you some questions?"
I looked at the two police officers and was very nervous, 'Did I do something wrong?"'
I nodded and gulped.
"We know you just woke up and we'll keep this brief so you can rest, ok?"
I nodded.
"I'm Officer Nishi and she's Officer Shiono."
I looked at them.
"Do you remember what happened 17 days ago, on November 5 around 10:30, at Shohoku gym?"
"17 days ago?"
Officer Nishi nodded.
"No…what happened?"
"Your team mate Sakuragi Hanamichi was found shot in the head. He died instantly. You were found outside the gym, unconscious on the ground. We received an anonymous call telling us to go there. We have no leads thus far, and you may be the only witness to this crime. So…"
I zoned out the rest of her words, 'A murder? I'm an eyewitness? Sakuragi Hanamichi… Why does that name sound so familiar? I know him!'
I hit the heel of my hands against my forehead, 'Who? Who is he? Remember, damn it! Remember! What happened?'
Someone grabbed my hand, "Stop it!"
'Akira…'
"I'm sorry Officers. As you are aware he suffered a huge head trauma. But what you're unaware of, is that he currently has amnesia. I'm afraid he won't be of much help…"
"Oh…"
"Well, if you remember anything. Anything at all no matter how unimportant it may seem, please call us," Officer Shiono said handing me a card.
I took it with shaky hands.
They left.
Akira asked me worriedly, "Are you alright?"
"Sakuragi Hanamichi…I know him…"
"Yeah, he's your team mate."
"What…what can you tell me about him?"
He frowned, "Not that much. I know you two were close. You call him do'aho and he calls you kitsune but those are just nicknames. You two were more like brothers. He liked a girl call Haruko who likes you. You admire him, you compliment on his growth as a basketball player. But that's about all I know. Gomen."
"No…don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong," I said.
I tried to connect the name Sakuragi Hanamichi with a face but couldn't. I knew the information was buried in my mind somewhere. Why can't I get it out!
"You know sometimes the more you try to remember something, the more it escapes you," Akira said, "but it'll pop up when you least expect it."
I knew, of course what he said was true. I needed…no, wanted to think about something else, "Can you tell me more about us? Like…how we met?"
"Sure…then I have to start with our first meeting. Practise match: Shohoku vs. Ryonan. I noticed you immediately during that game…"
T.B.C
