AN: Hello, and welcome to the second chapter of my mind's rambling. I really won't waste your time with pointless banter so, I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. Here is your chapter. Oh yea, and if you haven't read the corrections on the first chapter, please go back and reread the chapter. It makes a lot more sense now.

Losing Her Mind
CHAPTER 2
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO NORMAL?

"Kazuko?" a faint voice called out in the darkness of her mind. She had no idea where she was or what she was doing there. "Kazuko?" Again. "Kazuko, wake up!"

Her eyes slowly opened. What was going on? At first, it was mostly a fuzzy, blurry image of a young woman's concerned face. As her vision came into focus, the woman's face showed signs of relief.

"Oh, Kazuko, thank the gods above that you are okay!" the woman exclaimed, taking her into warm arms. She remembered this voice, this gentle, motherly embrace. Her arms lifted up to grasp weakly onto the woman. "Kazuko, where have you been?"

She tried to speak, but the words died on her lips. What was she to say? She had no recollection of what had happened. "I… I… don't remember."

"Don't remember what, dear?" The woman looked into her eyes as they started to water. "It's all right, child. It's all right. I'll fix you some soup and everything will be better. You just rest." The woman left, the only sound being that of a kettle steaming on the stove and the shuffle of slippers against wooden floors. She lay back in bed. 'Takumi.'

"Takumi-san (1)?"

The woman paused and turned around. "Hai (2)?"

"Ah, nothing."

"All right." Takumi walked out of the room and went to fix the girl some soup. A couple of minuets later, she appeared in the doorway with a bowl, steam rising out of the top.

She sat up, gratefully taking the soup from the woman's hands.

"Takumi-san, what are you doing here?"

"Well, you didn't show up for work yesterday. Then I came to visit you because you wouldn't answer the phone, and I found you with a terrible fever. I've been trying to get your fever down for hours. I was so worried when you didn't wake up," Takumi said with a caring voice.

She rememberedsomething, something about being in a schoolyard. "I… sort of remember being in a schoolyard. I was distracted from going to work and ended up wandering there."

"The bakery missed you. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes," she paused. "I think."

Something weird happened yesterday in the schoolyard, but she couldn't remember what it was exactly. Her eyes cast downward. She would forget anyway. How many important events or special occasions had she forgotten? Why was it now she was realizing this? What had happened in the schoolyard to start this sudden turn of events? Just what exactly was it?

:01234543210:

He sat in that same tree branch. What was he waiting for? Surely she wouldn't come back, and Kurama wasn't there because it was Saturday. This was pointless. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

"Hiei?" his head snapped towards his name. "What are you doing here?" Kurama asked, confused.

"Hn."

"O… kay."

There, now he had an excuse to stay. But he didn't need an excuse; he was simply there because he had nothing better to do. Yes, that was it.

:01234543210:

Takumi had begged and begged that Kazuko not go out today for her health, but she had to find out exactly what it was she had seen at the park. She was forgetful, not stupid. This was the first time she had ever acknowledged remembering something and also began to think about not remembering. She buttoned up her large overcoat and pulled on her gloves. Takumi was by her side, getting her outer-wear on as well. Making sure she had her keys, she opened up the door to the freezing cold weather. A chill reached her spine. Takumi looked over worriedly as the girl snuggled closer into her coat. Kazuko's cheeks turned bright pink as she stepped into the cold.

"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?" Takumi questioned, worry filling more of her voice than question.

"Yes. I have to figure this out on my own. I promise I'll be back to the bakery first thing tomorrow morning."

"All right. But please, call if you need any assistance."

She smiled her usual warm smile, "I will." The two exited the apartment and walked down the stairs. They went their separate ways.

Thinking hard as to where the school with pink uniforms was, she soon forgot how bone-chillingly cold it was and exactly what that meant. She sensed that same familiar feeling that she sometimes had, and she ran towards it. She ended up at the base of the same tree that she was at yesterday. She stared into it intently as if to find a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, she didn't have to look too hard. Shoulders slumping over, covered in snow. He sat with one knee popped up as he leaned on it. His eye cracked open. As if uninterested, he closed it back up and continued to sit there.

"Hey!" she yelled into the tree. "I want to talk to you! Come down from there." Suddenly, a thought struck her. "And if you won't come down, then at least pretend you're listening!"

"Baka na on'na no ka (3)."

"Yes, I know. But please." After a few moments passed, she thought there was no getting through to this man. She felt a cold wet drop slide down her cheek. Placing a finger to the wet stream, she felt her skin.

It felt…soft. She could feel the wetness fall off her chin into the snow. She brought her palm to her face and wiped the cold wetness away. What was that? It felt as if the feeling that caused the drop was connected to her heart, and a cold pressure settled over it. Was she sick again? No, it didn't feel sick in that way. It was just painful as though her feelings were hurt. Something that she felt shouldn't be new.

"Fine. I'll come back tomorrow and see if you'll talk then." She hadn't really thought out what she would ask. She turned on a heel and stomped off into the snow. Her hands jammed in her pockets, she felt such strong rage that he wouldn't talk, she thought she would explode.

It wasn't fair. Why should she have to suffer when she knew he had answers? Why? Her head snapped up. She felt her cheek again. That wetness. That was… tears. What a silly thing to forget. How do you forget something like that? It was dumb. It made her even angrier.

Before she knew it, she was back at her apartment. It seemed like the first time that her feet had actually remembered where they were going. She threw her coat off and made some tea. That same energy from the park flashed in her brain near her apartment. She ignored it. It was far too fast to be sure, and she was too tired to investigate anyways.

She slumped back in the couch. Looking out the window at the snow falling and children playing made her wish she could remember more. It truly wasn't fair. Why was everything so hard? Why did she leave?

She blinked, confused. Leave where? That didn't make sense. A slight burning sensation in her forehead made her stand unsteadily to get the aspirin. She collapsed to her knees as a painful surge of heat flashed though her body. She thought she was melting, it was so hot. She soon passed out from the heat.

To Be Continued…

AN: Oooooo. Cliffy. I hope that keeps you in baited breath for the next one. Thanks again to my wonderful, wonderful beta who edits like a faithful puppy slave. And to all you reviewers out there who review. I was pleasantly surprised at how many this story got on only its first chapter. I sound like a rooky. Well, thanks anyways and sayonara 'till next time.

PS: Here is that Japanese that I numbered:
1: -san this is an honor title. San is like saying Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. In this case it was Ms.
2: Hai this simply means yes. It can only mean yes. Not yea.
3: Baka no on'na no ka this means stupid girl. Baka no meaning stupid and on'na no ka meaning girl.