Yesterday's updatemissed due to confining parents. Gomen!

The Thief Kuronue: I'm so glad you found it, then:)

These Memories:
A Series About Friendship and Forgetfulness

: Before all things / I had a name / I think it left me long ago / Why can't I remember / Today I have another chance / to step out / I will not rest / until I know / what it all means / I will not give in / until I have you back / where you belong / I will not stop / because this is who I am / Maybe in time / these memories will fade away :

I Will Not Stop
Reunions can be tough, especially when he doesn't remember you.
These Memories; Part XIII

Shikamaru had returned late yesterday afternoon. Chouji had been sitting in the hospital at his bedside all throughout the night.

His friend was hooked up to what had to be twenty different machines, two monitoring his heart and breathing, at least three pumping different liquids into him, and—well, that was about it, but it was a bit unnerving.

That, and he was so thin! He thought Ino'd been thin after her last diet, but this—this was almost inhumane! And there were several scrapes and bruises on his face, bandages wrapped about his head and neck, and hands, and…Chouji repressed a shudder. What had happened to him?

There was a slight groan from the bed; Shikamaru's eyes twitched before opening, slowly, to blink up at the ceiling for a moment until he noticed Chouji, and he turned his head on the pillow to face him.

"Hey," said Chouji, smiling a little bit.

"Hey," said Shikamaru. Even his voice sounded tired. "I...hate to ask this, but...who are you?"

Chouji's heart froze. Surely Shikamaru hadn't just said that. "Chouji."

"Chouji..." Shikamaru rolled the name about in his head for a moment. "...sorry, I don't remember."

Don't remember? This wasn't right. His heart sank like a stone to his feet. "Akimichi Chouji! I'm your best friend!"

Shikamaru closed his eyes in the way Chouji remembered him fending off something annoying. "Sorry."

Chouji thought he was going to cry.

I won't stop. He's got to remember something

"Who are you?" he dared to ask. Please, please. "Nara Shikamaru." Let him say that.

Shikamaru heaved a heavy sigh and opened his eyes to stare up at the ceiling.

"I don't know. They called me Number Twenty-Eight."

That time, Chouji really did cry.