CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Memory

She brushed the bangs from his forehead to get a much clearer view of his handsome face. She smiled as she stroked his smooth and pale skin.

She smiled sweetly at him and said in a soft tone, "Please wake up... All you have to do is to open those eyes, and everything would be alright"

She then rested her forehead on the bed and started crying. "Please... wake up... I beg of you..."

flashback

Kat and Ren sat in front of the doctor's table while Red simply stood near the door of the office. The doctor slowly sat down and looked intently at the three of them . He was old, but it was clear that he was not near of dying and was perfectly healthy. The doctor just called them in a few minutes ago to discuss Jed's current condition.

He heaved a sigh and said, "Which do you want first? The good news or the bad news?"

They all looked at each other. "The good news." Kat said, eager to hear what the doctor had to say.

"Alright, then. You do know that I've been working for the brotherhood for numerous years now, monitoring the health of every member, including Jed. For the past seven years, I have been looking after him because he is in a state of amnesia due to your father's near-death experience." He looked at Kat then he continued, "I am glad to say that the blood clot in his brain that made all these possible had just gone, due to the head concussion that he received from falling onto the rocks."

"That means..." Ren started.

"Yes. As soon as he wakes up, I assume that he'll remember everything."

"What's the bad news?" Kat asked hesitantly. She was happy that Jed would remember everything because that would mean no more nightmares and no more long sleepless nights.

"You are all aware of the bullet wound on his chest, am I correct?"

"Yes." Kat said.

"Doctor, I don't think they should..." Red interrupted.

"Oh, but I guess they should, Jared. I know that we both promised him, but it's time that they knew."

"What do you mean?" Ren glared at her brother. "What the hell are you talking about."

"Jed is sick, terribly. The bullet which penetrated his heart seven years ago had caused malfunctions to the oxygenation in his body. He has a very weak heart, and it's getting weaker everyday."

"That's impossible. You have seen how healthy he is. He works out everyday and eats a hell lot of food. How could that happen?" Kat asked as she laughed maliciously at the doctor's statement.

"Nothing is impossible, Katarina, you should know that." Red provided her with the answers. "He does live a healthy life, but have you noticed that on some occasions after every mission, he would just disappear for a few minutes? Have you also seen the several medicine bottles in his bag and also a few packs of it in his pocket?"

Kat just stared at him quietly and let him go on so he did, "He disappeared because he didn't want you to see him rub his chest and struggle to catch his breath, because he knew that if you'd see that, you'll insist on him seeing a doctor. And those bottles? I know you have seen them, but because it was unlabeled, you thought that it were only painkillers because of his constant migraines, but actually, only one of those are painkillers, the others are all for his heart."

"And you knew about this?" Ren said as she looked at her brother.

"Now don't you get roughed up with me. I only did it out of Jed's request. There is no way that I am going to break his trust."

"Since when did you know?" Kat said sadly as she bowed her head, hiding her eyes from the others.

Red inhaled deeply before answering the question. "I've noticed it a few years back but it was only two years ago that it started to get worse. That was why he wanted both of you to quit after the assassination of that American politician, and actually live your lives, because at that time, he had only five more months to live."

"Oh my God..." Ren said as she clamped her hand on her mouth.

Kat quickly blinked her eyes to stop the tears from falling and faced the doctor. "Will he be alright?"

"Frankly, no." The doctor said with a finality in his voice. "Because of what he did, the possibility of him living after all of these had become pretty slim. The normal heart rate of a person should be at least 60. A malfunction of the heart could be indicated by a heart rate of 30 and as of now, his heart rate is already at 52 and it is decreasing as we speak."

"How long?" Kat asked again.

"We can't tell. It might be months, weeks or even just in days." The doctor replied.

"There has got to be something that we could do..." Ren said as she cried silently.

"Yes, there is." They all looked up to hear what the doctor had to say. "A heart transplant."

Out of frustration, Kat slammed her fist on the table and shouted at the doctor. "Then give him the fuckin' transplant! Money is not a big deal in this situation. I want you to get my brother out of that hospital bed as soon as possible! Do I make myself clear!"

"Crystal." The doctor said after fixing his glasses. He had witnessed this scene of outrage from Katarina when he told her that her father's death was certain. He knew better than to play around with comforting words to the woman. "But I am telling you now that it won't be that easy. It is very hard to find a suitable heart for the transplant. The body might reject the new organ and if that happens, his death would be for sure."

"Do you think I fuckin' care? You've just made it clear that that is the only option for his survival right now. So I am not going to sit around and wait for a stupid miracle!" She slowly bowed her head and started to find herself on the floor. She bowed even lower and said, "Please... Save him... All of these weren't even supposed to happen to him..."

Red rushed to her side and held her in his arms, "Shhh... Everything would be alright... It's gonna be fine, he's going to be just fine."

end of flashaback

"Please, Jed... Just open your eyes..." Kat said as she cried silently beside her sleeping brother. "Please..."

"I want those damn tickets the day after tomorrow!" Yuki shouted at the receiver of the telephone. He had talked for hours to different persons at different places and he had gotten so sick of it. He wanted to have his airline tickets to America as soon as possible.

"Sir, I understand your situation, but you are not the only one with airline problems here. There is nothing I can do but put your name in the waiting list." The clerk calmly said.

"Fine!" Yuki hung up and threw the wireless phone on the sofa and plopped down on the sofa. 'Damn it. I have to get out of here...'

He knew that there was only one person that could help him with such a problem, but he tried to deny it and tried getting his airline ticket by himself. Wrong idea.

He got the phone beside him and dialed a very familiar number. He waited for someone to pick it up and fortunately, someone did.

"Moshi Moshi." Seguchi Tohma cheerfully said on the other line.

"It's me." Yuki said. "I need to get out of Japan as soon as possible."

"Why the sudden act? Your flight wasn't due until the end of the month, isn't it? Why not just wait for it?"

"You ask to many questions. I want to be out of here the day after tomorrow." Then Yuki said in a lower voice, "Please."

He heard a sigh on the other end. "Alright then. But I want you to know that Bad Luck's launching party would be that very night. Have you received the invitation?"

Yuki looked at the unopened envelope on the center table. "Yes."

"I'll call you back when I have confirmed your reservation." Before he hung up he added, "But Eiri, please, think about this."

Yuki hung up and placed the phone beside him again. He slouched on the sofa and gave out an exasperated sigh.

He remembered what happened just a week ago. 'He almost died...'

He could still remember how Jed's cold body felt against his. He wasn't breathing and blood was seeping out of his head. He was as afraid as hell to see him like that, but still, what happened didn't change anything.

He loved him, maybe he still loved him but he can't let himself do that. 'He still killed Shuichi... Nothing can ever change that.'

So he let go of him. He brought him to the hospital and left him there, then he walked away. Yes, just like that, he walked away. He wanted to forget about him and it would be better if he could get away from everything that would remind him of Jed.

Abruptly, there was a loud knocking on the door. He cautiously stood up and answered it. "What?" After taking a good look at his visitor, he sighed. "Oh, it's you again. What do you want now?"

"I want to talk to you." Ren said as she got inside the apartment without even waiting for Yuki to give her permission to do so.

She sat down on the sofa and with a quiet voice, she started. "I know that you were the one who brought him to the hospital. I also know that you are leaving the country very soon. I also know that you care for him."

Yuki glared at her and said casually as he sat down, "You assume to much."

"He is dreadfully sick, Yuki-san, and he's getting more and more unstable every hour."

"How does that concern me?" He asked as he lit a cigarette with his lighter.

"I think you can help him recover." She said, the definiteness very clear in her voice.

"Sick people need doctors, not writers." He replied as he took a long drag of nicotine.

She sighed deeply to relieve herself of the overwhelming feeling that was consuming her. She knew how they felt for each other but Yuki was clearly the person who would never admit his feelings to anybody. She also knew that both men should get together to start wherever it was that they left off. So she started with her approach. "You know, when he started to work for you, I noticed something."

What she said definitely got Yuki's attention. He was now fixedly looking at her, awaiting for her to continue, so she did. "On his birthday, he kept on looking at you. Stealing sideway glances when I was not looking."

"So what? That does not mean anything. He's my bodyguard, he was supposed to keep an eye on me." Yuki clearly stated.

"Yes, I know that, but... there was something in his eyes. I became aware of it when I caught him doing so. There was a glint in his eyes." She stopped and slowly continued, "Like... he was... Like he was longing for you."

"Look, I don't give a damn if he has this little crush on me. A lot of people do."

"But you see, I didn't just notice it in him." She said with a knowing look.

"What do you mean?" Yuki asked intrigued.

"That little kiss I gave him when you wanted to leave the party, it was some kind of an experiment. An experiment expecting a reaction and let me tell you one thing: the reaction was greatly satisfying." She looked at him and persisted. "When you saw me kiss him, you quickly turned your back on us and exited the building."

"So what? I was in a hurry. It was almost dawn and I needed to get some sleep." He said as he even glared at her even harder.

"He likes you, Yuki-san, and I can see that you care for him, no matter how much you deny it." She said.

"Why are you pushing the two of us to be together? Weren't you his lover or something?" He asked confusedly.

"Yes, I was his lover but that doesn't mean that I don't want his happiness."

'God, she won't shut up! Now I know how Shuichi felt when Tohma kept on interfering in our relationship.' Yuki thought as he looked at Ren.

"Is it because of Shindou-san?" Ren asked uncertainly.

She definitely hit a nerve by saying that name. She saw Yuki stood up and pointed the door of the apartment. "I want you to get out. Now."

Ren sighed and reluctantly stood up from where she was seated. She strolled towards the door and opened it. Without turning her back, she said, "Please be there for him... For the last time." After saying that, she exited the apartment.

'What was that supposed to mean?' Yuki thought while he locked the door. 'Weird girl.' He started to retreat from the door when he heard her speak again from the outside.

"Yuki-san... I just wanted to assure you that Jed did not kill him." Then she spoke in a much softer voice. "The earring... He never took it out... He never even looked at it... But, it was all his..."

Yuki stopped in his tracks and turned his back to face the door. He couldn't move at that time. He didn't know if he should believe what Ren just said or what Jed said to him. But why would Jed lie to him? After a few moments, he finally got the courage to move. He placed his hand over the doorknob and turned it slowly. He popped his head from the door and looked to his right then to his left. There was no sign of Ren anywhere.

He looked down and closed the door slightly. He leaned on it and thought to himself, "I really have to get out of this place."

He slowly opened his eyes as he absorbed all the details of the place he was currently in. He blinked a few times to adjust his eyes to the rays of the sun. He was weak. He could feel it. Although he wanted to get out of this place and revive everything that he'd left behind, his body wouldn't move. He was just so weak.

He smiled as looked at the ceiling above him. He remembered everything. His family, his friends, his career, his talents, his first love, his first kiss... He remembered them all. He remembered who he was. More importantly, he remembered him...

'Yuki...'

But even though he remembered who he was, he also remembered who he is... He had killed so many people throughout the past seven years. He had done so many things for those years and nothing can ever change that. How could he possibly face Yuki, when everything he had done was against everything that he was when they met each other?

He looked at the right side of bed. He smiled at the sleeping figure as he brushed his fingers on her hair. She instantly flinched and woke up. She looked at him and smiled brightly as tears started to well up on her eyes.

"Hey..." He said.

"Oh my God, Jed! You're awake! Thank God, you're awake." She dove into him and gave him a tight hug.

"Kat..." He said as he returned the hug.

"Yes?" She pulled back as she looked into those ever familiar violet orbs.

He smiled sweetly at her and said quietly, "It's Shuichi..."

Author's Notes:

I really have to take everything that I said in the last chapter. This is definitely going to reach at least 16 chapters.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I'm sorry about this chapter... I know it's not really good... The only part that I liked here was when Jed said "It's Shuichi...". Don't worry, I'll do everything to improve the next ones.

I really like deaths... I don't know why... It's more dramatic that way, don't you think? I've left a few clues in the past chapters if you just read into them more carefully. There's always something about Jed not having enough time and things like that. I just didn't show it so that it would come out to be such a shock.

At least he's alive and he remembers... But yeah, he's dying. Let's just see if he'll live.

peace out!

Today's the day you're leaving and tomorrow you'll be gone.
You're in my heart and on my mind I will bring you along.
Everything sucks when you're gone

It's not okay... I made dinner here for two.
It's not okay... I've got candles lit for you.
It's not okay... I've got your favorite records out.
And it's not okay... You should of let it be...