"Tamao' nee-san!!!" cried Pirika, startling me. I was just in the kitchen, getting something to eat for me. All of a sudden, she was rushing towards me, crying.

"Come with me!" She pulled me all of a sudden, almost making me stumble.

"W-What's with all the hurrying-" I froze when she led me to Horo Horo's room. Oh god, what happened to Horo Horo? No, he couldn't die! He promised to come back! But when I pushed open the door of the bedroom, I nearly had a heart attack.

Lying on the bed was Horo Horo, looking around the room lazily.

I ran towards him, sobbing. "Horo Horo! You came back!"

He looked at me intently, then spoke. "You…you called me Horo Horo…who are you? Do you know who I am?"

I laughed. "Oh, don't pull tricks! You can't not know who I am! I'm Tamao, your friend! I know who you are! You're my long-lost best friend, Horo Horo."

I froze when I saw genuine confusion in his eyes. "H-Horo?" I asked quietly.

"I…I don't remember…"

Faust looked at Pirika and me, then at Horo Horo, who was staring out at the window. "Temporary amnesia…it could have been because of the head injury he incurred months ago, or it could have been because of the comatose, but I assure you. It's nothing serious. Eventually, his memory would come back."

"How long do we have to wait for that eventually?" asked Pirika fearfully.

"We can't say for sure. It can come back on the day after tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or maybe even next year." Faust smiled at the male Ainu. "Horo Horo, get your rest, then you can start eating." He turned to me. "Tamao, start with soft food first, alright?"

I nodded, and Pirika volunteered to walk the doctor out. When the door shut, I walked towards Horo Horo.

"I knew you would come back," I began.

"Lucky you. You knew, and I didn't," he said sourly. "Will you tell me something about myself? Am I a bad person?"

I shook my head vehemently. "No, you are the kindest person in the world. I…we love you, Horo Horo."

He turned to me, face lacking the warm smile he reserved only for me. His eyes were vacant, as if I was just looking at a hollow, gaping hole. "Who are you in my life?"

I bit my lip. I myself didn't know how I stand in his life. I came up with the safest answer. "I am one of your closest friends."

"Do I treat you right?"

I smiled. "Of course. You treat me like no one else has ever done. You care for me and protect me."

"I see," he nodded, and within, I winced. Even our friendship, he could remember no more.

"And the girl with long blue hair?"

"She is your little sister. Her name is Pirika," I replied dutifully.

He nodded slowly. "Yes, she feels very familiar."

"That's good," I said, smiling. At least, there was still hope. And I was willing to cling on every little shred of hope there was for Horo Horo to come back to his old self.

I clasped his hands. "Listen. Horo-kun. You will remember things all in good time. No need to hurry."

He shook his head. "You don't understand. I feel so lost in my own mind and body…it's hell."

I could feel the excruciating pain in his voice, and I had to bite back my tears. Crying won't help my best friend in his situation. I had to be strong. "You won't get lost…not when I'm here." I smiled at him confidently. "Trust me, Horo-kun. I'll take care of you."

All my life, it had been you taking care of me. This is the best time for me to show my gratitude for what you've done to me all throughout the years.

The next morning, I hurriedly fixed myself. I had fallen asleep staying guard in Horo's room. I had sung him a lullaby just for him to fall asleep, and I myself had fallen asleep an hour or so before dawn broke.

I prayed that Pailong was still there- I must return to Japan to help out in the preparation of Ms. Anna's wedding.

"Where are you going?"

I jumped, startled. I turned around and saw Horo Horo, fully awake and staring at me.

I smiled. "Ohayou, Horo-kun!"

"You're leaving." There was an accusing tone in his voice.

"Of course not," I said. "I'm just going out to…shop downtown."

"I'm coming with you," he said quickly.

"You can't go out yet!" I protested. "Dr. Faust said you need rest."

"How long will you be gone?" he demanded.

"Not for so long," I said reassuringly.

"Sure?"

I nodded.

He nodded reluctantly. "Come back quickly."

I nodded and smiled. I left the room to inform Pirika that I was leaving for Japan when I met Ren Tao in the hallway. "Master Ren Tao, did you see Pirika?"

He rolled his eyes. "Do I look like a lost and found section?"

"G-Gomen. I was just thinking that maybe you saw her…"

"I didn't," he said curtly.

"Ah, thank you anyway." I bowed and hurried away. Sometimes, I really think that Ren Tao's fury with Pirika was too unreal. In the first place, it was baseless. But then, who was I to question him anyway?

Soon, after I had found Pirika, I gave her all my instructions with Horo-kun's feeding schedule and what he should be given for meals. After another reassurance that I would be back soon, the private Tao jet finally took off. I shut my eyes wearily and rested my head on the headrest, just plain exhausted from all the events that took place in the Tao mansion in less than twenty four hours. I guess this was just one of the simple and subtle manifestations of Kami-sama's miracles. The fact alone that Horo Horo still managed to wake up from months of comatose was no joke.

I then drifted into sleep.

After some hours of rest, I quickly resumed with my duties in the Asakura household. I watched as Anna-okami yelled at Master Hao Asakura to hurry up with carrying the box of new curtains to put up. He came in, struggling with an extremely large box. He must have noticed me gaping at him, along with the other members of the Asakura family. He gave us a what-can-I-do-it's-Anna grin.

I giggled. Anna-okami would always be Anna-okami, and wherever Master Yoh was right now, I'm sure he was quite happy with how the events were taking place now.

Anna then turned to me, and her face relaxed into a smile. "I heard Horo Horo woke up already."

I nodded happily.

"You can tell him that…the Asakura House is always open to receive him and his sister warmly," she said, glancing at Kino-sensei and Yohmei-sama, who were nodding.

I smiled, although I felt something pinch within me. I still had a long way to go before I could get Horo-kun out of the house. Anna-okami and the others still didn't know that he lost his memory.

Speaking of which, I had to return to the Tao mansion tonight. I promised him that I wouldn't be gone for too long.

I went back to my work so I could finish early.

I arrived in the Tao mansion, exhausted. Pirika was the first one to meet me in the hallway. "Tamao' nee-san, onii-chan has been very cranky since you left. I don't think it's a good idea for you to leave anymore. He said that you promised him you won't be gone for too long."

"I-It's Ms. Anna's wedding in days," I said.

"How can we tell him that? He doesn't remember the people in Japan anymore," she replied, near to tears.

I went into Horo Horo's room and found him moodily looking out at the window.

"Horo-kun?" I said.

He didn't reply. Obviously, he was mad at me.

I turned to his sister. "Boil water for me. I'm going to prepare food for him."

"Un!" She went out of the room hurriedly.

I closed the door behind me and sat down beside him. "I'm back, Horo-kun."

He still didn't reply.

"I-It's Tamao," I said.

"I know, and you are a liar too," he said angrily.

"I came back, didn't I?" I asked wearily.

"You said you won't be gone for too long," he continued. "I can't talk to…to Pirika without her bursting into tears. I do not know anyone else. I wanted to ask so many things…"

I nodded. "I know, I know. I'm sorry, Horo-kun. But I'm all yours tonight, I promise. I won't leave your side."

"I don't believe you."

That was perhaps the most hurtful thing anyone has ever told me. Quietly, I got up, reminding myself that he was sick and upset, and if he wasn't, that was the last thing he would ever tell anyone, especially me.

"You're leaving again," he said.

"I'm going to cook your food."

"And you will return when it's morning already."

I shook my head. "I-I'll be right back." I headed for the kitchen, wiping a lone tear that streaked down my cheek.

 I came back, carrying a bowl of porridge, Pirika behind me, carrying a pitcher of juice. "Horo-kun, let's eat!" I said cheerfully.

"I'm not hungry," he said curtly.

"Nonsense!" I said, sitting down beside him. "After all the hard work I've been through…" I spooned some porridge into his mouth. "Here, eat up."

He averted the spoon. "I'm not hungry."

Pirika looked upset. "Onii-chan, you need to recover your strength. S-So we can start walking around the compound and…and…"

Try to recover your memories, I finished quietly in my mind. I maintained the smile on my face. "But if you don't eat, how can you get out of bed?"

His eyes hardened. "I said, I don't want to eat!!!" He slapped the bowl away from my hands. Pirika gasped behind me.

I inhaled shakily, then smiled once more. "I'll cook another bowl, and this time, I'll make sure that it will be more delicious than this one. You won't be able to resist it at all," I said confidently.

"I will not eat! I just want to remember!" he yelled, desperation evident in his voice.

I got up and saw Pirika on the brink of crying. I smiled at her and gestured for her to leave. She smiled at me gratefully and left.

I shut the door and knelt down the floor. Using my apron, I wiped the floor and picked the broken pieces of the bowl at the same time. I could feel Horo Horo's eyes trained on me. I finished the chore finally. I put the glass in a plastic and placed it by the trashcan, then took off my apron.

"I know you would like to remember already, and it's frustrating," I said. "But that is no excuse to act like a toddler. Your sister is very worried about you."

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"No, don't apologize to me. Your sister would appreciate that more," I said.

"You don't…appreciate me?" he asked.

I paused.

"Is it because of that small guy with long, pointed hair pointing upwards?" he wanted to know. "I saw you and him talking."

I blinked. Was it jealousy I detected in his voice? I laughed at myself. Perhaps, it was just insecurity, because he thought that the people around him were starting to neglect him.

"No, it's not because of him, Horo Horo-kun," I said patiently. "I appreciate you very much, Horo-kun. You're my most favorite person in the world, and in all those months that you were almost dead, I never gave you up, the way you didn't give up on me that the mimosa you care for will grow up to be strong for herself."

"I did that?" For the first time, his face was filled with emotion that wasn't anger. He was looking at her, astounded.

I nodded. "You were a very wonderful person. To me, and to Yoh-sama and the others."

"Yoh-sama?"

I smiled. "Next time, I'll bring a picture, and I'll show you your friends."

He smiled slowly. "I would like that very much." He then frowned. "What took you so long if you just shopped?"

"I was in Izumo. One of your friend's fiancée is getting married," I admitted.

"Ah. Maybe I should go there too," he said.

I smiled. "Sure, but you have to eat first and gather your strength. We're going to ride a jet, and you need to keep up your strength."

"Hai, I promise," he said, holding his hand up. "Tamao, are you married?"

I choked. "O-Of course not."

"Why?" he asked curiously.

"He's not yet ready," I just decided to reply.

"When he's ready, I want to meet him, ok?" he said.

"O-Of course," I said, smiling weakly. "I'll be back. I'll just get you your meal."

"Hai!" he replied energetically.

tsuzuku