Memoir

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

Author's Notes: Cats are surprisingly entertaining. Especially when you have to give them medicine. Ask me about the scratches I'm sporting now. Really. I love my kitty…. Anyway, it is now time for part two of "Memoir." Aren't you excited? Or not…. All right, enough of my nonsense. Here's to my reviewers:

mysadeyes: Thanks for the review. It would be quite funny if Akiko suddenly went all Sixth Sense on us…. I don't expect that that will happen, though. Keep on reading the fic!

sillylittlenothing: Nice to hear from you again! I'm glad you found the beginning to be "alluring." You asked some great questions…unfortunately, you have to wait for your answers. Wouldn't want to give away the story, would I?

ImParanoid: I take it you're interested in the fic. Thank you for that! Again, more good questions that will have to be answered as we go along. I'll try not to take so long, since you're so interested.

Rahasia: I'm glad you like how the fic is going so far. I hope you like the rest just as much. Sorry about the "suspense" thing, but how else would I keep people interested? Always great to hear from you! Keep reading and reviewing!

-X-1fallen angel1-X: Glad you liked the chapter! As for what's with the kid, I can't say yet. You'll just have to wait for future chapters to tell you, I'm afraid.

You're all wonderful, really.

Part Two: Under the Lights

"Tall Chocolate Caramel Latte?"

"That's mine."

"That'll be three seventy-five, miss."

Akiko dug in her pockets and pulled out some change and tossed it onto the counter.

"Thank you, miss," the teenager behind the counter said, handing Akiko the coffee she ordered.

Nodding her thanks, Akiko ambled to one of the tables in the corner of the café, taking a seat and sipping her coffee.

"Mind if I sit with you?" a voice questioned.

Heaving an exasperated sigh, Akiko looked to the direction of the voice, preparing to give someone a full scale telling-off until she saw the speaker.

"Yusuke, yeah sure," Akiko smiled. "Have a seat."

Yusuke plopped down on the chair across from Akiko, eyes focused on her tired face.

"You look like hell," he said bluntly.

"Thanks, Yusuke. Always a pleasure to hear such lovely compliments."

"No, I mean… you know what I mean. What's up?"

Akiko shrugged, taking a swig of her coffee. "I've been having weird dreams lately," she said.

"Weird how?"

"Weird like… having them when I'm awake. I keep seeing this little boy—I almost ran over him last night. But then, as soon as I think I've seen him, he's gone."

"That is weird."

"Yeah. Even weirder because I think I recognize this kid. I have no idea where I could know him from…."

Yusuke thought about what Akiko had said for a moment, frowning.

"I don't think that's all that's bothering you," he said finally. "Let's not talk here. I was on my way to the park to meet Keiko. Why don't you walk there with me?"

He stood and made his was out of the coffee shop; Akiko followed him, tossing her empty cup in the garbage can as she went.

"You seem down lately," Yusuke said, zipping up his jacket against the cool air. "And I'm not the only one who thinks that, either. Kurama talked to me yesterday. So what's the deal? What's got you so down?"

"I dunno," Akiko said, falling into step beside Yusuke. "Lots of things I guess."

"Such as?"

Akiko shrugged. "Work. School. Finals. You know. Life."

Yusuke tilted his head to one side. "You miss him a lot, don't you? That's what you're all upset about."

"God, no. Why does everyone think that's all I think about? I don't miss…. God, Yusuke, I hate it when you're right."

"You're lucky. It's a rare occasion."

Both of them kept walking in silence.

"It's not like that's the only thing I think about," Akiko said after a few moments.

"I know."

"But it does bother me. I mean, he told me he was going to leave, told me when. But still…"

"I know."

Yusuke stopped walking and turned Akiko to face him. "I'm really sorry I can't help. I wish I could." He pulled her in for a brief hug. "Call me if you need anything, okay?"

A melancholy smile spread across Akiko's face. "Okay. Tell Keiko I said hi."

Yusuke ambled deeper into the park, leaving Akiko be herself on the sidewalk.

She ran a hand through her hair and began walking on on her own.

Akiko had walked the perimeter of the park before deciding to make her way back to her apartment. She walked back to the sidewalk that had led her to the coffee shop in thoughtful silence.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she almost didn't hear Mira calling her.

Mira's car pulled up to the sidewalk where Akiko was walking, and Mira urgently rolled the window down.

"Kiko, get in the car."

Akiko took in the look on Mira's face.

And it wasn't comforting.

"Mira, what's happened? What—"

"Never mind that now. Get in the car. I'll tell you on the way."

"Okay, okay." Akiko climbed into the passenger seat.

Mira was not true to her word. She didn't say a word through the whole drive, no matter how Akiko tried to get an answer from her.

They drove as fast as the law would allow, and even then Mira said that they were probably too late.

"Mira, this isn't funny, what's going on?"

Rather than answer, Mira pointed to the building they were parked in front of.

The hospital.

"Mira," Akiko said, turning to her friend. "Mira, what the hell is going on?"

The girls both ran inside the building and up to the nurses' counter.

"Excuse me," Mira said to the nurse behind the counter. "This is Mr. Mishimi's daughter."

"I see," the nurse said softly. "Miss Mishimi, I'm afraid I have some bad news for you."

Akiko's breath caught in her throat. "What might that be?"

"Your father had a heart attack earlier today. I'm afraid he's dead."

Author's Notes: Dramatic, no? Sorry about the length of this chapter. It just worked out that way, I guess. Anywho, let me know what you think! I love to hear what you think, so please please please read and review!

Dramatic, no? Sorry about the length of this chapter. It just worked out that way, I guess. Anywho, let me know what you think! I love to hear what you think, so please please read and review!

Sheepchi