A/N: Thank you everyone and anyone who was kind enough to give me feedback! And I apologize for not meeting your standards, Cinpii-sensei... Lol. Well, enjoy everyone! And I hope I haven't unredeemed myself. Also, thanks to Ale-chan, who helped me with a little bit of referencing, Julie, who helped proofread! doomo! ^^

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"Eh… what's that?" Fuji, who was lying on his bed thinking, said out loud. There was a sound… It was faint, but it was there.  Then realization hit him in the face. My cell phone!  He almost scrambled in his haste to reach the phone in time, knowing that the conversation would be an important one.

"Hello?"

"Tezuka," Fuji replied, after he saw the caller ID. Ii wasn't necessary though. He could recognize Tezuka's voice very easily. "I heard about…"

"Its true…"

"Does she…" He paused for a second, looking for the right words. "Is everything gone?"

"I don't know… I just don't know…"

"You don't sound like yourself, Tezuka…"

"I know… but I can't do anything about it… Everything seems so lost now… As if I threw away every chance I had. There's a hole inside of me… One that I can't fill in… I don't know what to do anymore…"

"Some of these things we can't do anything about.  Maybe its time you let fate enter your life… This journey… Maybe its time to let things out of your grasp. Let it go, and let it come to you instead…"

There were unspoken words, but the intensity of their friendship created no barriers of communications.  Words are just words.  When you know and trust someone for so long in your life, countless stories shared, it becomes second nature to instinctively know.  And that was what they were. They stopped talking, because hanging up is simple. But never did they stop communicating with each other.  It wasn't verbal, and many times it wasn't, and would never be… but of the heart… That was what it is.

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It was dark. There was not much else to say.  The room wasn't shrouded in shadows for there were none.  In fact, there was no room at all.  Wall-less. Lightless. Joyless. That was the existence.  Suddenly, there was a blinding light.

"Where am I?"

His voice echoed around him.  What was once dark was now white.  It wasn't… normal… He couldn't think of the appropriate word to describe it. There was a glowing quality to what he was surrounded by… and it spoke volumes. Not because of how it looked, but because of how he felt. It reminded him of his mother. He felt a pang, but he allowed himself no more thought of her… Or so it seemed.  The brightness distracted him once more. He felt soothed by the… clarity… that encircled him.

"Untainted."  He tested the word on his lips, and he felt it again… That soothing calm that took away everything… As if knowledge was in his reach, wisdom, a small step away.

He looked down at the floor, and moved one of his feet.  It was as if he was standing on water. He could see it rippling out from the impact his foot made on the surface, and yet… it wasn't water.  He wasn't sure how, but he knew for certain that it wasn't.  The scent of lilies reached his nose. It swirled around him, and he saw a piece of paper.  One piece turned into many, and they all gathered around him, as if dancing.  He could see… What is it that he could see? It was… writing… He squinted, and all the letters came into focus. Sakuno. It was like a puzzle. The pieces of paper danced and twirled around him, but he couldn't see the edges of the sheets.  He could just see her name. Details… There were none.

Suddenly, he heard something breathing. "Sakuno…" A voice said. It was soft, comforting. Something he hadn't heard in a very long time.

"Mother?"

Everything faded from his mind.

He woke up.  He was clutching something… Groggily, he turned on his bedside light, and stared at the familiar object he was holding.  It was open to a page that was dated March 14, 2004. His journal.  Inspiration struck, hope returned.  It will be a new beginning.

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What's it like not to remember anything? Thoughts flitted through his mind as he practiced. Hit after hit, he would ask himself questions… I am not thinking about her. I am not thinking about her. He was unwilling to admit it… but she would always be in his mind, nudging at his memory. All those times she had tried to talk to him, ask him about his interests in that shy way of hers. Regret.  It was a sharp pain, perhaps one that may not last forever, but it was there, poking and prodding at his peace of mind.  There wasn't much he could say.  That feeling was there, but there was no way to describe it.  It is better not to think at all. I am my life.  All these things I can't worry about now. There are different times for different things… and right then, his path of life did not include her. That, for him, was it.  There was no more to say, no need to explain, because that is the path he chose, his decision on something that he could not control in the first place. He let go.

To Ryoma, it was just another choice in his life. Importance was never placed on that choice. It may have changed his life forever, but for better or for worse? It was an answer no one would ever know.

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He was nervous.  Will I find what I am looking for? Today would be the last day that she would be staying at the hospital, and he wanted to find It before she found it herself. It's time to tell her… whether she remembers or not. He reached the front door.  Taking a deep breath, he rang the doorbell.  A few seconds passed by, and a woman opened the door.

"Tezuka?"

"Ryusaki-sensei. May I come in?"

"Of course. I'm sorry. I was just surprised to see you here." She led him into the house, and directed him into the sitting area. "Take a seat. I will bring out some tea." She bustled into the kitchen, looking as if she was on a mission. This brought a slight raise of Tezuka's lips. Some things never change. Tezuka thought to himself. She came back out of the kitchen, carrying a tray with tea on it. She took a seat, and glanced curiously at Tezuka for a second. Neither wanted to start the conversation, but her curiousity won her over, and she spoke.

"So what has brought you here today?"

"I need your help.  I was wondering…" He paused for a second, trying to put it eloquently, so that it didn't seem like he… was demanding something. If it was one thing Tezuka was, he was not rude. Seeing him pause, the sensei was about to interrupt, but stopped when she saw him start to talk again.

"I think I might have found out a way to try and help Sa-" He caught himself just in time, but he thought he saw her eyes glint in an amused way. "Your granddaughter to regain her memory."

"Ah. Go on."

"I don't want to sound as if I'm being nosy, but I believe that there's an item in her room that may help… Is it possible for me to go and look for it?"

"Yes, of course. You are welcome to do so, but please don't take too long."

"Arigato." She nodded, and guided him up the stairs. When they reached Sakuno's room, Ryusaki-sensei silently opened the door, leading Tezuka into the small room. Glancing around, Tezuka immediately found what he was searching for. He looked at Ryusaki-sensei with questioning eyes, but she just smiled and nodded her consent. Tezuka went straight to her bed, reaching for the small painting that lay on the bedside table, and for her handbag as well.  He opened the handbag and took out a piece of paper that was tucked neatly into one of the pockets. As Tezuka was leaving the room, Ryusaki-sensei got a glimpse of what he was holding, and recognized the piece of paper in his hand. She smiled. Ah, I should have known it was he. Not only should I have recognized his writing, but also, only he can write like that. She gave a quick, deprecatory shake to her head, and led Tezuka back downstairs.  He left after exchanging goodbyes, and Ryusaki-sensei closed the door. Leaning slightly on the door, she could not help but keep smiling. Ah, Love…

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A/N: Well, there it was. Review please. I'd be glad to hear from everyone!  I think this chapter was different then the other ones. I don't know why… it just doesn't seem like my normal chapters… hahaha.  Maybe this story isn't as close to being finished as I thought…