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: Yeah…. I'm going out of town for the week. I won't be able to access a computer until I get back (which really sucks, but there's not much I can do about that). But as soon as I get back, I'll have a chapter all but ready for posting, I promise. Anyway, now to thank my lovely reviewers.

DarkArcheangel: Ah, so you've noticed the light thing? Nice…. Andyeah, the chapter was REALLY short…. Sorry! I promise to work harder to make up for it! Thanks for reading and reviewing the fic.

MikoHatome: Thanks for the lovely compliments. I hope you like this chapter too.

Yoru Inu: Thanks for reviewing! Glad that you're on edge for the fic (makes me feel like I'm doing the whole "suspense" thing right). Keep reading and reviewing.

ImParanoid: Glad that I'm not taking too long; I'll try to keep the same speed (aside from this upcoming week…like I said I'll be gone). But I'm sorry, I can't put Hiei into the story any sooner than intended. Some other things have to happen first. Sorry again. But I'll keep working hard so that we can get to when he comes in. Keep reading.

sillylittlenothing: Well, not ALL of Akiko's memories are gone. Just the ones from Tierra des Ángeles and ones left over from her past live(s). And there are some things that, in order for her to live a "normal" life, she needed to forget. When Paciencia's spirit left her, all of those things went with her.

BlueWater26: Oh… don't bang your head! That's not good for you! Hopefully, whatever's confusing will be cleared up as we go along (and if it's not, let me know so that I can fix it). I do fully intend to finish this fic (I have it all planned out and outlined and everything…yay). Whatever the compliments say, I love to hear them. Can't wait to see what you think of this chapter.

All of you are wonderful. You really are.

Oh, and once again, long sections typed in italics are flashbacks/dream sequences, okay? Okay.

Part Six: Seeing the Light

Akiko released her auburn hair from the ponytail it had been trapped in all day. Yawning, she ambled to the bedroom of her apartment running a hand through her hair.

She didn't bother changing into her pajamas; she fell back onto her bed, exhausted and unnerved. Her eyes slid shut and she heaved a sigh, relieved that she could now escape the day and fall asleep.

Digging their child's grave was the hardest thing that they had ever had to do. They couldn't give him much of a funeral—they had been poor their whole lives. But what bothered them the most was that whatever it was that had killed their child had gotten away.

Even as their son's wood coffin was being covered with soil, whatever it was that had mutilated him so was still there, near their home.

The mother burst into sobs. There would be no justice for her only child.

Not within her natural life, at least.

As the last shovelful of soil was placed onto the grave, the boy's parents departed, sobbing and broken, praying that their son's death would be avenged.

Akiko awoke with a jolt, sitting bolt upright in her bed. She gave the room a quick search and was, for once, unsurprised to see the ghost sitting on the foot of her bed watching her.

"Itaka, right?" she asked, pulling her knees to her chest. "That's your name."

Smiling, the child nodded.

"You were killed by a yokai?"

He nodded again.

Akiko tilted her head to one side. "You can't talk, can you?"

Itaka shook his head.

Akiko watched the ghost boy for a moment, taking in his appearance (which was considerably easier to do now that she knew he wasn't some freak trying to kill her). Something about this boy was familiar.

"Have I seen you before? I mean before the night at the playground."

Itaka nodded fervently.

"When? Before you died? No, no… that was almost a thousand years ago."

He nodded even more emphatically than before.

"What… before you died? Really?"

Itaka crawled over next to Akiko and held her hand, giving her a meaningful look.

"Oh my God," she breathed. "I have seen you…."

"Tell me, child, are people good? Are people worth saving?"

"Just before she died… Paciencia talked to you."

"People are good. People try to be good."

"You were the little boy that she talked to that day. The last person she ever talked to…."

The boy smiled widely.

The two sat silently for a few minutes until a thought dawned on Akiko. Had Paciencia's presence draw the yokai to the boy? Was she the reason he had been murdered?

"Are you dead because of me? Is this my fault?"

Itaka looked confused.

"Were you killed because of the angel?"

He thought for a moment, finally releasing Akiko's hand.

"You were… it's my fault."

Itaka shook his head.

"It wasn't?"

He nodded.

"There was another reason?"

Another nod.

"What was it?"

A sad look spread across Itaka's face and he shrugged.

"You do know?" Akiko said. "Well, that makes two of us, then."

The phone rang, putting an abrupt end to Akiko and Itaka's conversation.

"Hello?"

"Akiko, it's Yusuke."

"Hey Yusuke. What's up?"

"A lot. Kurama's on his way to your place to pick you up."

"Where're we going?"

"Back to Koenma's."

Akiko blinked. "Why?"

"He said he's got some new information about all this stuff."

"Like?"

"Like why you can see the little kid."

Author's notes: Yeah so it'll be about a week until I update again. Sorry folks. Maybe I'll get a chance to draft a several chapters and be ready with more than one to post before I get back. We'll see, ne? Well, I really have nothing else to say except, ciao and read and review! See you in a week.