Memoir

Summary: Sequel to "Forgotten." "Time really does change everything, doesn't it? Hard to believe I'm the same person."

Author's notes: Hmm… coffee. Oh… wait, I'm supposed to be writing a fanfiction, aren't I? Sorry about that. Yeah, so I know the prologue was short. Sorry. I'll make up for it. Anywho… summer is nice, isn't it? I mean I actually have time to write now. Woo hoo! Which is great because there are people out there like

ImParanoid: Yes, yes, the prologue was tiny…. It happens. Thanks for reviewing, though! I hope that the rest of the fic ends up being longer. Keep telling me what you think!

Yeah. Love reviews. Who doesn't? Anywho, the YYH characters will start showing up in this chapter, so…. I dunno. And just to reiterate, I DO NOT OWN Yu Yu Hakusho. Don't sue, I have no money. Though I do have some paper plates with those lovely little flower patterns on them. You could have those...

All right, I'm done. Enjoy.

Part One: Seeking the Light

"For those of you who are wishing to go into fields of social work, marketing, anthropology and, naturally, psychology, the study of the human mind is necessary for success. Now I expect many of you will find this course to be—"

'Completely and inescapably boring,' Akiko thought to herself, as she doodled on the edge of her notes.

The person sitting in the seat next to her saw Akiko's eyelids dropping and gave the leg of her chair a quick and slight kick.

After gracelessly saving herself from falling from her seat, Akiko turned and gave a glare to he who had kicked her chair.

A look of amusement covered Kurama's face as the girl righted herself in her seat.

Not a moment too soon, the bell rang. Students began filing out of the classroom until only two were left.

"You looked as though you might have been having some trouble there, Akiko," Kurama said, rising from his seat and waiting for her to do likewise. "Did you stay up all night again?"

"No," Akiko said defensively.

Kurama gave her a look that clearly stated that he didn't believe her.

She sighed. "Okay, so maybe I was out later than I should've been, but I wasn't up all night."

"The playground again?"

"And the cemetery."

The kitsune frowned. "You've been going there a lot lately. Any idea as to why?"

Akiko shook her head.

Kurama's frown deepened. "Is there anything wrong?"

"Nope."

"You're sure?"

Akiko shrugged and began to make her way for the door of the classroom.

"You'll see him again, Akiko," the kitsune said, watching her leave. "He'll come back."

"Whatever."

"He will. He'll come back."

"And I'll move to New York, start a theatre career, win five Tonys and buy a deluxe penthouse apartment."

"…You could."

"No."

"Akiko—"

"Kurama, please, I'm gonna be late for work. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

Without waiting for an answer, Akiko ambled out the door, not looking back to the kitsune whose worried gaze followed her.

"Akiko, do we have anymore non-smoking tables?"

"I don't know. Let me check."

The hostess watched her co-worker's red ponytail bounce out of sight as Akiko made her way to the back of the diner where the smoke-free section was located. When she saw Akiko give the thumbs up to her, she smiled at the man waiting for a table.

"Looks like we've got a table for you, sir," the hostess said. "When Akiko gets back up here she'll show you where to go."

The man smiled. "Thanks. Out of curiosity, does Akiko do any waitressing?"

"No, sir, she's not old enough," the hostess replied smiling. "Did you want her to be your waitress?"

"Well," the man said, a sheepish look on his face. "You see, I know her from school, and I just wanted a chance to talk to her."

The hostess gave the young man an encouraging smile. "Tell you what I'll do. After you're seated, I'll tell her that you had a question about the special and I didn't know the answer. She'll come over to your table and you can talk to her."

Akiko returned to the hostess station wearing her "Hi-how-can-I-help-you" smile.

"Sixty is open," she said to the other hostess, who marked the table off the list with her highlighter.

The young man followed Akiko to the open table, waiting for her to recognize him, but she didn't. Or rather, she didn't let on that she did.

"Your server will be with you shortly," Akiko smiled, getting away from the table as fast as she could. She didn't turn to look, but she had a strong suspicion that the young man's eyes followed her all the way back to the hostess station.

The crowd that had been waiting to be seated had thinned—dinner rush was almost over. Since there were no witnesses, Akiko thought this the appropriate time to give her fellow hostess a good whack on the head.

"OW! What was that for?"

"Mira, what did I tell you about trying to set me up?" Akiko demanded, giving the other hostess a glare that would've killed half of the diner's patrons if, as it is said, looks could kill.

Mira gave a little laugh. "I didn't do anything. He asked about you. Says he goes to school with you. Recognize him?"

"Yes," Akiko said. "And I'm not interested. I don't know what you told him, but you'd better find some way to take it back."

"Aww, Akiko, look at him. He's watching you like a love struck puppy. I bet he'd leap from the roof if you asked him to."

"That's a thought."

"Akiko!"

"Look, I've told you a thousand times, I don't date."

"But you've never said why. Come on, Akiko, we're best friends. Just give him a chance, hm? For my sake?"

Sighing, Akiko nodded. "All right. But only this once. And only because my shift ends in five minutes."

Akiko returned to the table where the young man was sitting, still watching her. Trying to repress the urge to throw up at his puppy love antics, she approached him, smiling.

"Mira told me you need some help," Akiko said in a voice far too cheerful to be realistic. "What can I do for you?"

"You could start by sitting down and having a drink with me," the man said hopefully.

Akiko tried not to roll her eyes. "I'm sorry, sir. Employee policy wouldn't allow that. But I'd be happy to get your server over here to get you something." She turned to leave, but the man grabbed her arm.

"Akiko, I know you recognize me. I sit right behind you in—"

"I know," Akiko said. "Look, I'm really sorry, but I'm just not interested in dating right now, so if you'll please let me go…."

Defeated, the young man released her arm, allowing her to return to the hostess station.

"Well?" Mira questioned. "What's the deal?"

"There is no deal. I told him I wasn't interested."

"God, Akiko—"

"My shift is over. I'm going to go ahead and clock out. I'll see you tomorrow."

Akiko sighed as she turned on her windshield wipers. Things just didn't seem to want to go her way today.

"Damn rain," she said, shifting the wiper speed up. "Sunny all day long, but it just has to rain on my way home from work. Typical."

Akiko shook the unhappy thoughts from her head. If she kept up like this she'd end up getting in a wreck.

Though that would get her out of classes for a while….

Even through the smeared glass of her windshield, Akiko could see the cemetery looming before her. God, that place was creepy. She stared at it for so long that she almost forgot she was driving.

Until she glanced at the road and saw the little boy from the night before standing directly in front of her car.

"Oh my God!"

Akiko's foot slammed onto the brake pedal and her car came to a screeching halt.

Franticly, she unbuckled and pushed herself out of the car into the rain to check and see if the little boy was all right.

She ran to the front of the car, silently praying that the child would be fine.

But when she reached the spot where the child had been, there was no one there.

More soon. Read and review!

Sheepchi