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: Hmm…Yeah. Viruses suck. I spent half the day puking my guts up (I'm sure all of you really wanted to know that… not). But I'm feeling better now. I'm sorry to say that there will be no reviewer responses this chapter. This is due to the rumours about the new Admin of this site banning them. I don't know that these rumours are true, but I don't want to take any chances. But if you want, I'd be happy to email you responses to your reviews. Just leave an email address when you review. I know it's not the same as seeing your name at the beginning of a chapter, but hey, I do what I can. So…yeah. Hope you're all well. On with the chapter.

Italics type indicates memories.

Part Fifteen: Fiery Light

Ayame had never been the mother type.

Which is why her friends were all so surprised when they learned that she was pregnant.

Actually, Ayame's pregnancy wasn't as surprising as the marriage that resulted from it. It was unfit, she had said, to have a baby without being married.

Ayame hadn't been built for marriage. But she did try. And her husband did love her. That should have made it better.

Things with the Mishimis were fine until the child was born. A squealing, healthy baby girl. Ayame found it completely revolting.

The little beast had slipped into the world, causing her mother more pain than the woman had ever imagined.

And Ayame loathed the baby for it. For the pain and for existing.

She stayed with the baby and its father long enough to give her daughter a name.

Akiko.

And then, Ayame went back to her old ways. Never in the same bed twice.

Her husband tried to win her back at first.

After a year, he gave up.

And then he too began to hate his child.

As much as he had loved her mother.

All Akiko could see was darkness. And it really sucked.

Cold air bit at her face as she peered vainly into the sea of black. She shivered.

She never thought hell would be so cold.

The slightest warmth brushed her hand and she looked to see its source.

"Itaka?"

The little boy that had now become so familiar to her smiled up at Akiko.

"Itaka, where are we?"

He didn't answer her—just as silent as always.

"Am…am I dead?"

Rather than give her any form of answer, Itaka held out his little hand to Akiko, still smiling.

Hesitantly, Akiko took hold of the little boy's hand and allowed him to lead her through the darkness.

The two of them reached an area of light; Itaka released the girl's hand.

It was then that she noticed the wounds. Scars ran across Itaka's face and arms and burns decorated his skin. Akiko gave a strangled cry at the sight of the lacerations, momentarily forgetting that Itaka was already dead.

"Oh my God, you need help. I'll stay with you until—"

The boy motioned for her to be silent. Akiko obeyed, her sense of reality slowly being restored.

Itaka smiled at her once more, then vanished, leaving Akiko alone in the light.

The light which, as soon as Itaka left, burned a dazzlingly bright shade of white.

When she opened her eyes, Akiko saw the campsite that she and her friends had left just hours ago. She looked around for Itaka, Sangre or some sign of the darkness she had just escaped, but there was nothing there.

"Hey," a voice called.

Akiko saw Yusuke approaching her, looking worried and afraid.

"What the hell happened?"

She didn't answer him; she made her way into the campsite and plopped on the ground by the remains of the fire, Yusuke at her heels.

"Where are the others?" Akiko asked in a monotone.

"Kurama and Kuwabara are out looking for you," Yusuke said, crossing his arms across his chest. "I decided to hang around in case you found your way back."

"Oh."

"Are you okay?"

Akiko blinked. "Yeah, I think so. Pretty much. Why?"

"You're bleeding all over the place."

"Am I really?"

Yusuke smiled. "There are some bandages and extra clothes in the tent there. You go clean up. Then we'll talk."

Bandaged and in clean clothes, Akiko returned to the fire, which had now been restored to its former glory. Yusuke watched her sit in silence—she didn't look at him, but rather at the red-orange flames of the fire. She didn't speak for a full minute.

And when she did, she asked a question.

"Where's Hiei?"

Yusuke shrugged. "Hell if I know. He just disappeared after we creamed those yokai this afternoon. I gotta say, he looked pretty damn pissed. Well, he always looks pissed. But this was bad. Even for him."

"Oh."

"It's not like he abandoned us, Akiko," Yusuke sighed. "He's gonna come back. And he'll probably want to talk to you. Figure out what happened."

"Yeah. Whatever."

Neither spoke for a moment. Yusuke gave Akiko a sidelong glance before beginning, hesitantly, "So… do you remember what happened?"

Akiko shook her head. "I don't really know. And even if I did, I don't think I could describe it well enough."

"That doesn't help much."

"Sorry."

"I didn't mean—"

"I know."

Akiko closed her eyes, trying to picture the little boy's face—his wounds.

"I saw Itaka again."

"Yeah?"

"He looked really bad. All scarred up."

"Weird."

"Yeah."

They both were quiet for a moment.

"Hey, Yusuke?"

"Yeah?"

"We've got to help Itaka. He saved me from Sangre. I've got no clue how, but he did. I owe him my life."

Author's notes: Well, at least I've accomplished something today. Aside from the whole puking thing, that is. I hope you guys liked the chapter. Again, leave email addresses in your reviews and I'll respond to them via email. Thanks for reading; please review.