Chapter 13 – Forgotten Memories
Night fell quickly as Hatori went to visit his cousin to discuss with him about the second stage of the Sohmas' curse. He arrived at the front door where he met Shigure, walking toward him from the opposite direction. Shigure raised his hand up to greet this silent cousin. He quickly reached his cousin and found a disturbing look in his eyes. Hatori shook his head as he motioned that they should go inside and talk. They walked in through the front gate passing the dark landscaping of the yard. They found Kyo sitting on the porch looking into the night sky. It had been two days since Tohru was admitted into the hospital and it had also been two days that Kyo was in that trend. They walked passed him without him even knowing, so as they found Yuki sitting in the living room by himself staring at the wall with his chin in his right palm. They decided to pass their little rat friend too and walked straight into Shigure's room.
Yuki caught them walking pass in the living room. 'Why didn't they come inside?' He asked himself as he felt a haunch and decided to find out what they were up to. He came out of the room and found Kyo in front. He patted the cat's shoulder lightly as he said, "Kyo…" in a low voice. His first attempt fail, so he tried again, but this time pushing the other boy forward- which made him fell to the ground.
"You damn rat!" Kyo exclaimed as he stood up.
Yuki quickly placed a finger in front of his lips to quiet the cat. "Shhhh…"
Kyo's brows wrinkled up as he looked at his purple eyed cousin. "What?"
"Hatori is here." Yuki replied.
"Where?"
"He and Shigure went to the bedroom I think."
"Why?"
"That's what I wanted to know. Want to find out?"
"Yah." Kyo agreed.
The two boys walked quietly to find the sliding doors of Shigure's bedroom. There they quietly sat by the door one at each side looking at each other. They dropped down onto their knees and lean their head lightly against the papered doors.
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In the room, Hatori seated himself so that he was facing his cousin on a cushion pillow seat on the hardwood floor. Shigure knew that Hatori had something important to say and didn't want to alarm Yuki and Kyo. It must have something to do with Tohru's memories.
"So, how is Tohru?" Shigure finally asked looking at his serious face cousin.
"Like I said earlier on the phone, she's doing fine." Hatori responded.
"Come on now, I'm not as dumb as I look, am I?"
"Well then, I'll cut to the chase. Tohru lost some memories; she couldn't remember the accident. Yet, she remembered all of us, so that could only mean that part of her memories were lost. I tried to ask her a few questions and the last thing that she could remember was something about the second stage of the Sohma's curse."
This caught Shigure's attention and he stared and smiled back at this cousin playfully.
"I know as well as you do that there is no such thing as the second stage of the curse, so I'm not going to interrogate you about your notion, but I need to know when was it that that you talked to her about it?"
"Oh… I'm busted." He cooed. "You never let me have any fun."
Hatori stared at his bouncy friend.
Shigure sighed and straightened himself up. He cleared his throat as he pretended to think. "Oh… It was something over a week ago when Tohru asked about Kyo and Yuki acting all weird. She looked so cute when she was concerned, so I stirred things up a little by telling her that both Kyo and Yuki were sick from some kind of disease that was cause by the curse. I called my creation the second stage and I used that as an excuse to ask her to marry me. I assured her that I will have everyone cured if she does…"
"WHAT?" Kyo kicked down the door on his side and stomped in. He immediately aimed his anger at the dog. Shigure pushed himself away using his hands while he was still sitting on his cushion. "So, that's why she agreed to married you? You bastard! How can you trick her like that?" Kyo kept going forward.
Shigure continued to pull away. "But in my opinion, there was indeed a second stage."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" He screamed.
"We Sohmas, who carried the curse cannot have a real relationship with anyone of the opposite sex. Now that the curse is over, the second stage begins. This is the time, where all the emotion that we compressed inside overflow with anxiety. We want to get them expose and express our feelings toward the one we love and hoping in return that he or she will feel the same. I know that you and Yuki had feelings for Tohru, but couldn't let her know due to the curse. Now that you can hold her and return her warmth, your desire built up, but still neither of you had the nerve to tell her. My stepping in forced you to confess and causes her to choose. Between the three of us, I know that I'm more like a guardian to her, so that leave you and Yuki. In the past week, it appeared that she had made her decision. Didn't she?" He sneered at the cat that was still furious at him.
"What? How did you know?" The cat lowered his voice.
"It's pretty obvious…" Shigure replied. "And I was hoping that she couldn't decide and marry me instead. I do love a cute l-i-t-t-l-e housewife." The dog teased.
"Why you…!"
"Cut this…" Hatori interrupt the cat and dog fight. "There is serious matter at state here."
"Yes, there is…" Yuki decided to come in and joined the conversation. "From what I understand so far, it seemed that Tohru had lost her memories of the past week. Am I right?" He asked his doctor cousin.
"Since the two of you have been eavesdropping, I guessed you figured it out." Hatori sighed. "Yes, it appeared that she had forgotten everything that happened in the past week or week a half since Shigure tricked her about the curse."
"No!" The cat dropped his voice. "Then does this mean that she forgot about what happened between her and I?"
"I'm afraid so." Hatori replied.
"Just when her and I…" Kyo said as he held his tears. "How can this be happening? I thought that you said that everything was okay and she'll be fine."
"Yes, everything according to the medical records and tests says she's fine and there is no evidence that I could find to show why she lost her memories. The only explanation that I could logically conclude in her case is that she somehow forgot on purpose." Hatori explained.
"On purpose? Why?" The cat breathed with a confusing face.
"Something must had happened that she didn't want to remember, so when she injured her head, somehow her brain sent signal waves and mentally she blocked out the pieces of memories without she even knowing that she did. This is not the first time a case like this happened. In the past, there had been a few cases like this and most of them were temporary."
"How long will it take for her to remember?" Yuki asked for Kyo, who had one hand covering his face with his fingers spread like spider legs.
"It hard to say… Some takes few days, others months and then even years."
"So… there is a possibility that she will never remember." Kyo voice rose with a flat tone asked hoping that Hatori will not answer his comment.
"Yes." Hatori response sent the cat down on his knees with disbelief. Everything happened so fast, but now everything went away at a faster speed than it came. The cat couldn't help, but hope that Tohru will remember soon. At this moment in time he needs her to remember.
"Can't you do anything about it? With your gifted power, can you retrieve her lost memories?" Yuki asked.
"No, I'm afraid my power can only erase them." Hatori paused to examine the three men in sorrow. No one would expect anything like this to happen to their sweet Tohru. This was an unintentional lost to everyone and especially for the two kids who were in love. Hatori could remember Tohru's voice when she said she loved the cat. Her voice sounded like it was far away trying to reach her love. He could sworn that he saw a tear drop escaped from each of her eyes when he turned around and saw her opening them. With nothing more to say or comfort to give, he continued, "Time is an essence here. All we could do now is to be supportive and allow time to play its part. Tohru will remember when the right time comes. Are you planning to visit her tomorrow?"
The dog and rat nodded, while the cat was still sinking in his thoughts.
"I suggest that you don't mention to her about her lost memories just yet. It may make her feel odd. I will tell her that she had a car accident and just that."
"What about the others, will you inform them as well?"
"I will."
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Kyo couldn't sleep last night. He couldn't allow himself to believe that everything that happened in the 10 days were gone, disappeared like it never had happened. Morning came and still he didn't sleep a wink. He decided to get up, showered and went to visit Tohru. He needed to be alone with her to find out the truth for himself. He quietly walked downstairs where he surprisingly found the dog and rat sleeping in the living room. He tried to sneak out without them noticing.
"Where do you think you're going?" Shigure asked with his eyes closed.
"I'm… um…" Kyo responded. "It's none of your business."
"I'm not going to stop you, but don't do anything foolish." Shigure knew exactly what Kyo was up to, but the easy tempered Kyo sometimes could overreact.
"I…" Of course, he wasn't going to do anything foolish. Why would the dog even care? Right now, all he needed was to see her face. "Tell Yuki that I'll meet him and the others at school later."
Shigure opened his eyes. "I see that you and Yuki have come to terms with each other. That's good to know."
"Agh… whatever."
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Kyo arrived at the hospital early; it must be only seven o'clock in the morning. The hospital didn't allow visitor until eight, so he waited in the lobby until then. He saw Hatori coming in with his suitcase. The older cousin walked by and patted him on the shoulder and left without a word. Kyo watched the mounted clock on the wall and every time the second hand of time moved, he wanted it to move again. His heart was racing, time passed slowly as every second ticked.
Finally, the time came and the nurse escorted him to the room where he could find Tohru. He opened it slowly hoping not the wake her up. He walked in with the tip of his shoes and found his Tohru sleeping soundlessly. He captured her sleeping imaged in his gleaming pupils admiring her form, then bent over and gently braced her lips. At the touch of her lips, he realized that he may never have another chance to kiss her again. He gripped onto the blanket that was keeping his love warm and struggled to keep his eyes from tearing.
Tohru opened her eyes and found Kyo only inches away from her. He looked like he was in pain. She felt her chest beating, playing a familiar rhythm that she couldn't remember. "Kyo?" She spoke his name. He immediately straightened up and looked into her blues eyes.
She seated herself up. "Is something wrong?" She asked.
"Oh, Tohru!" Without delay, he reached his arms out for her. He held onto her tightly embracing her warmth against his. Tohru could feel her chest pounding faster. She knew this feeling. She liked this feeling. Her heart was telling her that this had happened before, but her mind was telling her otherwise. Somehow, for no reason at all, she wanted to stay like this in his arm, but before long this moment was interrupted by his broken voice. "Tohru… do you remember?"
"Remember what?" She spoke into his chest and her head started to hurt again.
He let her go and turned his head away. 'It's true then… she doesn't remember.' He thought looking down at the hospital floor. After about a second, he rolled his narrowed eyes back up and at the corner of his tail end he saw her closing eyes together tightly. She was trying to ease her headache. He turned his head back completely reaching his hand out to caress the lining of her heart shaped face.
She opened her eyes bewilderedly to meet his. Her head was still throbbing as she tried to think. "Did I forget something?" She asked him. Her words sent him a few steps backward.
"Tohru." He said her name.
"Kyo?" She said again, this time she felt fluid started to form and clouded her eyes. She quickly shut them; she didn't want to worry him about something that she didn't understand.
Unusual, yet he did manage to control his feelings too, at this moment. He also didn't want to worry her. Right now, her health and recovery were more important that his own needs. He breathed lightly and said, "No. It was nothing. I was just so worried that's all. You had a car accident and it was all my fault."
"So is that why I'm here?" She asked.
"Yes, that is why you're here." Hatori came in that second that Kyo spoke about the accident. "And since, Kyo had already told you, I guessed that I don't need to explain anymore." He gave her a smile.
"But why don't I remember any of it? My head hurts…" She shook it hastily.
"You shouldn't do that." Hatori stopped her and rested her against the headboard. "It will be better soon, so don't worry. Everything checked out fine. As a matter of fact, you will be released this afternoon."
"Really? But… why do I feel like I forgot something very important to me?"
Kyo stood there holding his breath with the feeling of world on his shoulders. The muscles of his arms were all tightened stiff from his hard grip. He wanted to tell her now and again that he loved her. He stepped forward, but his attempt failed with Hatori's interference.
He stepped in, blocking the path to Tohru and stared at the cat. "I will need to do some final tests and paperwork with Tohru. You should go to school now." The cat gazed back in disappointment, but knew better to not have a fit in front of Tohru right now. He agreed silently and went off to school.
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At school, everyone who knew Tohru was anxious to go and visit her. Kyo came to school, but didn't say a thing about seeing her this morning. He was in no mood to do so. He was quiet and all to himself for the entire school day.
"Orange-top! Come on, it's time. Lets go!" Uo dragged the cat and they were tackled along behind the others. Together everyone at school went to school to visit Tohru. They reached the hospital quickly and were stopped by their doctor friend before they entered Tohru's room. He warned them about Tohru's missing memories and asked that no one say anything about it. Everyone agreed thinking it was best for her.
"Tohru!" Uo sprung the hospital's door open to greet her missed friend with a hug.
"Uo!" Tohru was happy to see her.
"How are you? Is everything okay? You're not going to die are you?" Momiji asked continuously. Clearly he was worried about his sweet friend Tohru.
"You're over reacting, I'm okay, and I'm not going to die." She replied.
"Hope you get better soon." Haru said leaning his back against the wall of the hospital room.
"Thank you." She responded.
"Oh, Tohru. What terrible person can do this to you?" Hana asked.
"It's was nothing. It's probably my own fault that I got into an accident, but I'm fine now, see? So no worries…" She replied quickly.
"I'm glad to see you doing okay." Yuki smiled as he approached her still sitting in bed.
"Me too." She returned his smile.
"Kyo, aren't you going to say something to her?" Uo asked the cat who was leaning against the door's frame. Tohru moved her head around through the crowd to find the disturbed cat. He returned her effort with silent gaze. There wasn't anything he could say to her right now.
She didn't understand why he was acting so distant, but she was happy that he came. She was even happier to find four more visitors.
"Kyo." Kagura greeted him with low tone of voice as she, Shigure, Kisa and Hiro walked into the room of many people.
"Hi, Tohru." Kagura managed a smile.
"Kagura, it's been a while. How are you doing these days?"
"I…" Kagura couldn't answer her question and looked away to find the cat with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
"She's doing fine, aren't you?" Yuki broke the silent responded in Kagura's place and she nodded.
"Big sis, I'm so glad to see you well. I was so worried." Kisa gave her a squeeze.
"I'm glad to see you, too. And you too, Hiro."
"Yah, what' the big deal anyway? She's okay, so can we leave now?"
"Hiro!"
"What?"
"Just a little longer…" Kisa pleaded.
"Okay, I'll stay, but it's just for you." He could never refuse Kisa of anything if it was what she wanted.
Tohru took a second to collect all the faces of her friends and family. "This is so nice of all of you. You didn't have to go through the trouble to come here and visit me." She said to everyone.
"This is to show that everyone cares and loves you very much, so you will need to get well soon." Shigure stated.
"I will!" She said cheerfully. "Hatori said that I can go home this afternoon."
"Yes, actually all the final testing is done and she might as well go home now. I'll go and get everything ready for her." Hatori added.
"That's great! Yeah! Woo-hoo!" Everyone exclaimed simultaneously.
Before Hatori was able to leave the room to get the discharge paperwork ready, another visitor came rushing in unexpectedly. "Tohru! Oh this is so terrible, I've heard the news." A voice loudly expressed itself over the crowd.
"Aya?" Shigure furiously opened up his eyes and stared at Hatori telling him that he hadn't told Ayame about what happened yet. He made his way through the body of people to find Ayame running into the room. "I need to talk to you."
Ayame fixed his eyes on Shigure, but something was bothering him, so ignored Shigure completely and welcomed himself into the room. At an instant reached the girl of everyone's concern. "Tohru, what bloody fiancée would allow such terrible thing to happen to you? I was so worried when I heard that you were sick. Are you going to be okay? Will you get better by the time of the wedding?"
"Fiancée? Wedding?" She dropped her face into her palms.
"Yes and the wedding dress that you ordered is done, so come by this coming Sunday and try it on. I need to make the final alteration after I see you in it." He carried on while everyone was trying to signal him to stop. "I've also finished with Shigure's tux and you should see me in mine as well. After all, I'll be the groom's best man."
Shigure coughed.
Ayame finally caught everyone's gaze. They were fiercely staring at him. "What? Is there something wrong? Why is everyone looking at me like this?"
"So… I did forget something." Tohru said softly to her hands.
"What? You mean that you've forgotten about the wedding?" He asked confusedly as his yellow eyes met the rest from the crowd. He sighed, "O…"
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Back Stage Discussion:
Ayame: Sorry! I didn't know that everyone is trying to keep me from telling Tohru the truth.
Smile: No biggy. This is how I wanted it to be.
Shigure: So… what's next?
Smile: You know… Tohru goes home, try on the wedding dress and yadi yadi ya…
Yuki: I see that we have a new staff on board.
Smile: Yes, everyone, please join me and welcome Hai Kami Cookie-Chan.
Everyone: Welcome!
Ayame: So, what will she be doing?
Smile: She will help us with the proofreading. In other words, she will beta the story for us from this chapter on. Aren't you guys exciting? With her help, I will have more time to write and less time struggling over my scribble.
Shigure: That is great! I hope she isn't a pest like the one that I have. My editor is always on my tail, but she can be fun to mess with.
Smile: I can't stop you from having fun, but it's not nice to say that she's a pest. Well, I can use all the help I can get, so Hai Kami Cookie-Chan… Thank you!