Zoisite time. I don't own Sailor Moon. Thank you for reviewing!
"Everyone."
Sure he was expecting his brother to arrive but he did not think that he'd come this soon. And he did not expect his cousins to be here too. He thought they were still in Spain and woudn't be coming to Japan until next month.
"Keiichi."
His older cousin moved to greet him. It was then that he realized Ami had stopped wheeling him inside. He looked sideways, trying to see what made her stop but couldn't get to turn his head far enough without experiencing a stab of pain in his head and shoulder. But even though he couldn't see her face, he could feel the shock and uneasiness emanating from her body.
Perhaps she's just being shy, he thought although his instincts told him that it wasn't the case.
"Katsuji." He nodded his greeting to his older brown haired, blue eyed 19-year oldcousin, all the while noticing how much Ami's hand shook on the wheelchair. Just as he was about to ask her if anything was wrong, she started pushing him in and closer to the others. Katsuji all but jumped on him, fussing over his injuries and scolding about not being very careful.
Her other blonde haired, blue eyed 18-year oldcousin, Masaya, stepped forward to clasp his hand in a handshake. The man joked, like he usually did, at how much the color and style of the hospital pajamas suited him better than his usual dreary black attire. But it was his bluish-white haired, blue eyed 25-year oldbrother, Kazuyuki, who caught his attention. The older Onosaka was still standing by the window, frowning at something over Keiichi's shoulder.
Or someone. As soon as the thought formed, he shoved it as plain ridiculous. Kazuyuki might just be wondering who Ami and Mira were. Speaking of whom, where is that child?
He found her hiding behind Ami's skirt who was also backing away from the group. What was wrong with those two? They spent most of this afternoon bothering him with their mindless chatter but now they had gone oddly quiet.
"Aren't you going to introduce us to your friends, Keiichi?" It was more of a teasing demand rather than a question. He never had trouble with Masaya before but somehow he resented that flirtatious smile that hovered his mouth right now.
Before he could say anything, Ami snapped out of her trance and took a step forward and bowed politely albeit stiffly. "My name is Mizuno Ami and this is Mira-chan."
The girl moved to imitate Ami's action then quickly scrambled back behind the skirt. Keiichi was finding it hard to understand the weird behavior of all of his companions. Ami and Mira were unusually quiet. Katsuji had just noticed the two girls, gasped at something then was shooting Kazuyuki a worried look. Kazuyuki still had that frown on his face and had yet to say a word. Masaya was the only one acting normal although he still disliked his easy manner towards Ami.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ami-san. I can call you Ami, can't I?" Katsuji smiled an exceedingly bright smile at the woman. "You too, Mira-chan. I'm glad to see that Keiichi-kun has not been keeping to himself like he always did back in Spain."
"Big brother. You make it sound like he's some kind of recluse. But I do find it quite surprising that Masaya could corner someone as pretty as Ami-san," Masaya said as he approached the blue-haired girl to shake her hand. He did not release hers and shot a goading smile at the now scowling Keiichi. "By the way, I'm Masaya and that's my brother Katsuji. We're both related to Kazuyuki over there who happens to be our patient's older brother. Tsk, tsk. Keiichi must have hit his head very hard and forgot basic etiquette in proper introduction."
"Masaya," came the irritated warning from Keiichi. He hid his glare although it was still visible in his eyes especially when his line of vision landed on Masaya light grip on Ami's hand then back to the man's laughing eyes. And then he noticed Ami sway a bit.
"Are you alright, Ami-san?" Katsuji immediately went to her side and gently prodded his brother to move away. "You seem quite pale."
"I'm fine. I guess I just had a bit too much sun."
Of course Keiichi recognized it as the lie that it was. After all, he just used that excuse not more than twenty minutes ago when he had an inexplicable vision about those flowers. But she does look ill, he frowned at the thought. He was about to comment on it but Kazuyuki had finally chosen that time to speak up.
"Hn. You look like you've seen a ghost. Or should I say ghosts," he said with sarcasm dripping all over it.
"Older cousin. You do know how to make an odd first impression."
"Hush, Masaya. And that wasn't nice, Kazuyuki." Before he could demand him to apologize, he had already turned away. But not without giving Ami one last accusing stare, causing her to pale anew.
"I-I guess I'd better get going. Keiichi-san won't need us now that you're here. Come on, Mira-chan, I'll take you home." Ami stuttered as she bowed again.
"So soon? Don't mind my brother. It must be the jet lag."
"No, really, it's okay. Uh, goodbye everyone." And with that they were out of the door.
Keiichi mused over this. Why was she in such a hurry? Something is bothering her but what? Speaking of which, what's up with big brother? He had never been this rude before. Impassive, yes, but never rude.
Moving his gaze from the door to the window, he watched with a confused frown at Kazuyuki & Katsuji who seemed to be having the usual squabble. He tried to read their lips since they were arguing in hushed tones but he only caught bits and pieces.
...Shouldn't have taken it out on her...
...She deserved it...
...It's all in the past...not their fault...
"You like her don't you?" Masaya jolted him out of his sort-of eavesdropping.
"What?"
"That girl, Ami. You like her. And don't you deny it. I saw the way you were looking at her. And I definitely saw you scowl at me. Felt it too. You looked like you wanted to beat me to a bloody pulp."
Did he? He had to admit that the thought crossed his mind but it was only because Ami was too nice of a girl to be played at. Yes, Masaya was a nice bloke but he could be a player sometimes. Sometimes? All the time! He had never had a serious relationship with the opposite sex except with his mother. Keiichi knew that he had left a lot of broken hearts when he left Spain.
"Keiichi-kun." This time it was Katsuji who interrupted his musings. "Is it okay if Masaya and I left for a while? There's something that I have to do. Kazuyuki volunteered to stay behind."
"It's not as if I need a babysitter."
"Of course not, dear, but it would do you good to have someone to talk to. In fact, you two have got a lot to talk about."
"Like what? He was only gone for two weeks."
"Idiot!" She gave Masaya a hard whack on the head before pulling him to the door with a pincer grip on his ear. "Oh and Kazuyuki...be nice. Don't say anything that might upset me, okay?"
As soon as the door closed the second time, the two brothers stared at each other as though for the first time. Keiichi was still confused at his behavior earlier. He, of course, deemed himself as the one who knew Kazuyuki best but his brother had change.
He contemplated the changes as he stood from the wheelchair and joined his brother by the window. Kazuyuki had always been the rebel between them despite his being older. He had difficulty adjusting to all of the changes in their lives and since Masaya was younger he was more malleable thus less rebellious. But still their adoptive parents loved them unconditionally and equally.
Kazuyuki was never disrespectful to them but proved to be the cause of a major headache time and time again. He was always off to somewhere, not content with himself and his life, searching for something only he knew what. Or maybe who.
He calmed down considerably. Took on some responsibilities, even cut off his impossibly long hair much to their parents' relief. He joined the army and found that giving orders was something he was good at. He took to it like a duckling to water.
For some reason the woman in his dreams appeared in his mind.
Ami. Yes, he now knew to a certainty that the woman he had dreamt about was the blue haired Ami...had dreamt about her many times over since the first one. The question 'who' no longer existed but was replaced by insistent 'whys'.
Why Ami? Why her?
Why do I dream of her?
Why is she so sad?
Why did she leave me?
Why can't I reach her?
Why does she call me Zoisite?
And then another question pops in...
Who am I?
And another...
What do these dreams mean?
And another...
Am I falling in love with her?
"Damn dreams," Keiichi cursed, unaware that he said it in an audible whisper.
"What dreams?"
He looked in surprise at his brother before assuming an all too familiar blank face. "Nothing," he shrugged, vaguely aware that the other man did not believe it even for a bit.
There was a long silence, both of them busy organizing their thoughts, delving on memories and thinking if they should be voiced out. It was Kazuyuki who decided first.
"Katsuji was very worried about you. He even made Masaya fly in from Madrid just in case he was delayed. He felt extremely guilty that you're all alone here."
"I was worried too but not that much. I knew you would turn out well…just like before."
"Before?"
Kazuyuki went to sit on one of the chairs across the room and motioned for Keiichi to take the opposite one. When seated comfortably, Keiichi waited for his brother to continue, having his curiosity piqued.
"Shortly after we left the orphanage you had an accident similar to this case. You were in a coma for a few days then you pulled through. You were very young then, barely seven. It's no wonder you don't remember. I decided that it was the best solution to not tell you although I said to myself that I wouldn't talk about the past unless the time is right. Guess what? That time has come."
Keiichi was beginning to get confused at Kazuyuki's cryptic remarks. He frowned at the way he emphasized the word 'past'...did not like the way he said it. But he remained passive, accepting each word as though one of them might give him the answers that he needed.
"What are you talking about, big brother? What are you driving at?"
"Patience, Keiichi. You'll know soon enough," Kazuyuki replied before looking back out the window. "One day I just woke up & remembered."
"Remembered what?" Keiichi was confused. Kazuyuki never was one to tell tall tales.
"Long forgotten memories. Memories of the past. Memories of my previous self."
Keiichi was slowly teetering to disbelief.
"I know it's hard to believe but it's true. I remember the princess whom I fell in love with. I tried to cut the chains that bound her to her duties. I remember a woman who tried to keep her away. I remember the princess sacrificing herself for me."
Suddenly there was an image that flashed through Keiichi's mind, momentarily blinding him from reality. He saw Ami holding a pen up, changing into another outfit & fighting against monsters .
"You're beginning to remember, Zoisite."
At that he was jolted from his vision.
What did he call me? How did Kazuyuki know about that name?
"I can't tell you anymore,. You must try to remember on your own. We used to talk about it when we were little...about the women in our dreams. Your blue-haired beauty & my blonde. But after that accident you couldn't remember anymore. And perhaps this new accident is unleashing your past memory."
Everything was proving to be too much for Keiichi. The story...the disbelief...the dreams...the memories. His head was beginning to pound so he stumbled to his bed and threw himself on it even as slumber was beginning to take his consciousness.
Is Keiichi, or Zoisite, beginning to remember? Please RR to find out!