They were talking about her again. She could hear them through the door of the one called "Cougar's" door. They were talking about how she could have forgotten who they were. The on called Ryuhou seemed to be the most traumatized about it, even though she was sure she had never seen him before. Or, almost sure at least. Something about these people pulled at her subcounscious, but she honestly couldn't remember what it was she was suposed to have forgotten.

She sat up and walked silently over to the door, pressing her ear against it to better hear what it was they were saying about her.

" She remember's her name, how come she can't remember anything else." Came the voice of Mimori.

" Haven't you ever heard of amnesia?" Kazuma replied in his typical, sarcastic manner.

" Well of course, I am a doctor you know."

" Then how come you don't know how to treat it? Make her memory come back?"

" Kazu-kun, leave her alone." Kanami reprimanded him in her cute, bubbly voice.

" Pff...like I care anyway."

" Honestly Kazuma. If you know what amnesia is, then you should know that a persons memory can't be forced back. It may return slowly, quickly, or not at all. You never know." Ryuhou said.

" I know that!"

" Can you guys just calm down? It's not the end of the world. At least she's alive."

She frowned at what Couagr said. Dead? Was she supposed to be dead?

" He's right. We need to take this in stride. We can handle this." Mimori stated, although she sounded a little suffy. Sure enough...

" Ah! Don't cry Miss Minori."

" Mimori!"

" He's right Mimori. This isn't a crying matter." Ryuhou again. " We should be trying to help her remember us."

" I know...I just...She's really alive, isn't she?"

There was silence after that. It was if they were afraid to talk about her for too long. The conversation started up again, but gave no useful information as to who she was, and what she was supposed to remember. Schersie gave a sigh. Did they think she couldn't hear them? Or maybe they knew she could hear them, and didn't want her to worry about the things they said. It was too late for that, she was already worried.

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Cougar took a walk. He wasn't sure where he was going, all he knew was that he had to get away from everyone and everything. He was thinking about how Ryuhou had reacted to discovering Scherise was alive. It was as if he had forgotten that Mimori even existed, or had feelings. And Kazuma...Kazuma pretended as though he didn't care, but it was obvious he did. He had been a loner for so long, save for Kanami, that he had began to bottle up his feelings. He didn't know how to act around friends. And since his old ones had died...well, the man was being stubborn about admitting that he cared.

Mimori was abviously worried about Scherise, but Cougar could see the unshed tears in her eyes whenever Ryuhou said her name. If she were less of an angel, he would say that she was jealous, but he knew that wasn't the case. She was just afraid of losing Ryuhou again.

As for him...well...He wasn't sure how he felt. Sure he was glad, damn glad for that matter, that Scherise was alive, but it seemed as though something was different. She didn't gaze at Ryuhou with the adoration shining in her eyes like it used to, and she rarely spoke. It was if her entire personality had changed. Hell, she had changed...

" Cougar...right?"

He turned at the sound of the voice, only to encounter Scherise. She was wearing one of his shirts, and borrowed pants from Mimori. He could tell that she didn't have a bra on, since the night was slightly chilly, and his ears burned in embarrassment, although he wasn't sure why.

" Hello Scherise." He replied calmly, wondering why she had followed him. She looked down at the ground and crossed her arms.

" Could I..,Could I speak to you?" She asked him. He nodded, but then remembered her head was down.

" Yes."

She looked back up and ran up to him. It was then he noticed the disparity in thier heights. Funny, she had never seemed so tiny before. But then he had always thought of her as a tough person. She had always seemed tall because her personality was so large. But seeing her now, seeing her at her weakest...something was just wrong alltogether.

They fell into step, side by side, neither of them speaking. Cougar was curious as to what she wanted to talk to him about. When they were at HOLY they had gotten along, but by no means could they be called close friends. They had been more like friendly aquintances. They had merely shared most of the same friends.

They walked in silence for quite a while longe befroe she spoke again. By this time they were about one-third of a mile away from the town.

" Why do all of you know me?" She asked. Cougar was suprised. He had been expecting something a little more serious, although to her, it must seem of utmost importance. He thought quickly, remembering that Mimori had told all of them not to reveal too much, that her memory had to come back on its own.

" We used to work together." He replied.

" Where?"

" The company...was downsized. There was corruption among the higher ups."

" Mmm...I asked where, not why we don't work there anymore."

Cougar sighed. Well, so much for following doctors orders. Scherise still possesed an inquisitive nature. He wouldn't get ou half-assing all his answers.

" A sect of the military called HOLY."

" What did we do?"

" Keep the peace among the citizens."

" Oh..."

She lapsed back into silence before sitting herslf on the ground. He followed her and watched as she stared at the stars. She was different, there was no denying it. Her hair was a lighter blue due to all the exposure to the sun, and her skin had evened out into a dark tan. It was no longer red. She looked...exotic, for lack of a better word. Her eyes closed and she leaned back to lay against the ground. He avoided looking at her. He was already uncomfortable. This was the longest they had ever been alone in each other's company, and the longest he had been alone with someone else for months. Cougar wasn't sure how to act without a crowd around to show off to.

A sigh escaped her and he looked down at her. There were tears coming from the corners of her eyes.

" Did I do something wrong by being alive Cougar? Is there something wrong with not being dead?"

" No..." He replied slowly.

" Then why do all of you talk about me when I'm not in the same room as if I were some kind of insect? Don't deny it either. I've heard you."

" We don't want to upset you."

She sat up and glared at him.

" What's upsetting is to have to listen against a door to find out anything about my own past. What's upsetting is to not remember anyone or anything! What's upsetting is the fact that none of you are treating me like a real person!"

" Scherise..."

" That Ryuhou guy, he treats me like I love him or something! I don't even know who he is! I don't know who you are! I don't know any of them!"

This came as a shock to Cougar. Scherise wasn't in love with Ryuhou? She had been so devoted to him before...but maybe losing your memory made you lose your heart as well. If that was true though, then how come she was so upset?

" Scherise..." He began slowly"...you were in love with him. Before you went missing that is."

" Then how come I don't love him now?"

" I...I honestly don't know. Maybe it has to do something with your alter..."

" Alter? What's an alter?"

Cougar clamped his mouth shut and stood. She did as well.

" I've said too much. Goodnight Scherise."

He ignored her latching onto and pulling his arm as he walked back towards the town. He wasn't answering anymore of her questions tonight.

And he was going to ignore the guilt he felt at not telling her what she needed to know too.

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As is the norm, read and review or else...something will happen to you in the undefinable future that will, in all probability, not affect you.