AUTHOR'S NOTE: Eeehhh…gomen nasai minna…it's been a long time since the last update! Argh! The only excuse I have is that it's been a hell of six months for me, what, with all the adjustments I have to make because Iof my internship…but--! I can promise you, this time for sure, that I'd be able to update as soon as possible. Hehehe… anyways, just enjoy the new chapter. Here's the big revelation behind Hikaru's amnesia.

DISCLAIMER: MKR belongs to CLAMP. I'm just a pathetic fan still pinning for this magnificent anime. Am I the only one here whi wishes there's a third season of this anime!

Chapter 7: CONFRONTATIONS AND CONFESSIONS

Early Saturday morning.

Instead of being in the park, jogging and relaxing, Lantis was in front of the steering wheel, with Umi, Fuu, Ascot and Ferio at the passenger seats. They were on their way to the Shidou Dojo at Tokyo, to confront Hikaru's parents and clear the cloud that was hanging in their head for some time now.

"Are you okay with the driving, Lantis?" Ferio asked from the back seat.

Lantis smiled at the rear view mirror before focusing his eyes again at the road. "I'm okay. After all, I drive a motorcycle and that's a much harder piece of machinery to control than this four-wheel drive,"

Ferio chuckled. He leaned back on his seat and placed an arm around Fuu's shoulder. "Just asking. If you need to take a rest, I'd be happy to switch places with you," he offered.

Lantis nodded, and then pushed down on the gasoline harder as the car sped away the streets of Kawasaki. The car was cloaked in heavy silence as they made their way to Tokyo. Nobody attempted to start a small talk. They all seemed to be thinking of the upcoming confrontations with Hikaru's parents, because there was a nervous energy in the air. They only stopped on the road twice; first was to eat then second was to fill up the tank of the car. After that, they rode the comfortable silence between them towards Tokyo.

When they reached the outskirts of Tokyo, Lantis looked at the rear view mirror and his eyes met sapphire ones. "Where to?" he asked.

Umi nodded forward, "Just go straight ahead. They live near the Imperial Palace, about seven kilometers away," she answered.

Lantis nodded, and then kept on driving. It was well past noon when they reached the Imperial Palace.

"Turn left, then on the first junction turn left again, and then right, and then drive forward. Their Dojo was at the end of the street, beside a small lake," Umi instructed.

"Got it," Lantis replied, and then followed Umi's directions. Pretty soon, they stopped in front of a sprawling traditional Japanese dojo. They got out of the car and stood in front of the gate, which was made of wood and cement.

"It's been a long time since we last saw this place, 'ne, Umi-san?" Fuu commented, sweeping her eyes over the infrastructure.

Umi nodded. "Yeah. I miss this place a lot,"

Ferio searched the gate for a doorbell. "There's nothing in here that would be useful to us to let the dwellers of that dojo become aware of our arrival, guys," was his long statement.

Umi shrugged her shoulders then went to the corner of the gate that Ferio missed to investigate, "They uses chimes connected to every part of the house," she explained, and then pulled down a red rope several times then went to her position again. After several minutes, they heard footsteps, and then the gate opened, and out came a middle-aged woman, about 55 years old in age, dressed in traditional kimono, and have a face that resembles so much like Hikaru's.

The woman looked at them then smiled openly, "Ohayou! What can I do for you?" she politely asked.

The group scampered and bowed down, and it was Fuu who answered the woman's inquiry. "Oh, is this is the Shidou Dojo?"

The woman nodded, "Hai. I am Shidou Hajime, the woman of the household," and before Fuu could answer, the woman clamped a hand to her mouth and smiled sheepishly at the group, "Oh, how impolite of me! To think I reached this age and learned nothing of the basic etiquettes! Please come in! Gomen nasai, I was so engrossed in getting your names that I forgot to let you in our house!" she exclaimed, and then ushered the group inside.

The group looked at one another, and a knowing smile passed between the five friends. Now they know where Hikaru got her grins and smiles.

They walked up a five-meter concrete path, with plants, flowering trees, fruit-bearing trees and a big sakura tree at the front lawn. The grounds were covered in green Bermuda grass, and there were orchids and other sorts of hanging plants in the garden. The front lawn was some sort of a mini park or something, with benches scattered at the grounds.

Hajime noticed them looking around, so she stopped in front of the sakura tree and looked back at the group. "My only daughter, Hikaru, loves plants, and she was the one who planted all these. She took care and nourished every plant in this house, and when she decided to live in Kawasaki, I continued her hobby and added some other plants, like that rose bush over there," she said, pointing at the far end of the garden where a rose was in full bloom, "And that santan shrub, which Hikaru acquired from a Filipino friend who knows of her hobby," Hajime finished.

The group looked at one another again. They continued their walk and finally they reached the house. Hajime opened the rice paper doors, and she let them in on the family receiving room.

"Before anything else, Hajime-san, I'm Asakawa Ascot,"

"My name is Fujuiwara Ferio,"

"Likaura Lantis,"

"Ryuuzaki Umi, Ma'am"

"Hououji Fuu, Hajime-san, pleased to meet you,"

"I'm pleased to meet you too. Wait just here. I'll go get you some drinks. What would you have?" Hajime excused, smiling at the group.

They all smiled back at the kind woman, "Tea, please," Ascot answered for all of them. Hajime nodded then dashed off to go to the kitchen. Then, a tall man with a mop of red hair entered the room. His men was on his right hand, and his dô was still wrapped tightly around his body. On his left hand was a three-foot long shinai, the longest that the group has ever seen.

His eyes were light brown, his nose a little pointed, with thin lips, square jaws and broad shoulders that gave him a dignified look. Umi guessed that the man was already in his 50's, maybe 57, but he was still a strong-looking man. She swallowed hard and looked at Fuu.

That is the type of man I wouldn't want to argue with, was her eyes message. Fuu stifled a giggle, and the two girls looked back at the man.

Upon reaching the group, the man bowed down slightly, and offered a small smile at them, which cracked a few folds on the sides of his mouth and eyes, giving him a more relaxed look. "Ahh, so you were the ones who rung the chimes, 'ne? I am Shidou Haido, the man of the household. I suppose that Hajime, my wife, has fetched you a drink and something to eat?"

It was Lantis who nodded this time, "Hai, Sir. Hajime-san is at the kitchen already," he answered.

Haido chuckled, "Oh, onegai call me Haido or Haido-san, to which that you prefer," he requested, a twinkle in his eye.

The group smiled back, and Haido sat at the space between Lantis and Ascot.

"So, what brought you here?" he asked, looking at the group. They were about to answer when they heard a rustle from the door, and Hajime entered.

"Haido-chan, where is your manners? We should let the guests eat first, and then we start a conversation," the woman gently scolded, but then she winked at the five friends as she set down the tray of foods.

Haido rolled his eyes but said nothing. When everybody was settled, they started a light conversation as the Shidous let the five finish their food. Then Hajime cleared the table and was about to head back at the kitchen when Haido's voice stopped her.

"Let it be, Hajime-chan. We should entertain the guests first, or have you forgotten your manners too?" he retorted coolly.

Hajime glared at her husband, "I'm perfectly fine with this! After all, you are the man of the household. It's your duty to entertain the guests," she snapped, then tuned her back to proceed to the kitchen.

Haido was left with the group laughing. "Forgive Hajime, she's really short-tempered and very persistent. You should meet our only daughter, Hikaru. She's very much like her mother, except that Hikaru's got the patience of a priest and is very, very naïve and child-like in some ways," he said, looking fondly around the group.

The five friends looked at each other again and took this as a sign that they should start their questions. Lantis cleared his throat and looked directly at Haido.

"Haido-san, anou, the very reason that we are here is because of Hikaru," he started.

Haido looked surprised, "Oh, so you mean to say, you know Hikaru?"

Lantis nodded, "Hai. In fact, we," he said, gesturing his hands to Umi and the rest," Are her co-professors in Shikigoku College in Kawasaki. We are her very good friends," he finished. He inwardly cringed. Friends… the word is very familiar to him now that he knows that there's no way that he and Hikaru could be lovers again.

"Oh," was all that Haido could say. He looked down at the tatami mat and fell silent. The group did not pressed, however. They wanted the confession to come from the father without any persuasion or anything. They just wanted the truth, because they know that the truth will set them free.

Hajime entered the room again, and she stopped on her tracks when she took notice of the serious air inside. "Is something the matter?" she asked, looking at his husband pointedly. When she got no reply, she turned her attention to the five. Lantis in turn cleared his throat again.

"We were just talking about Hikaru, Hajime-chan," he informed her.

Hajime nodded then took a sit beside her husband. "What about her?"

"We know Hikaru, Hajime-san," Lantis supplied, which caused the older woman to stop and look at her husband.

"Haido…?" there was that question in her voice that the five didn't quite understand. Haido lifted his head then nodded at Hajime.

"I'm going to tell them," he said. He then looked at Lantis straight, "You mean you know Hikaru just now or even from…before?"

Lantis nodded. "We know her ever since junior high. Umi and Fuu, were her best friends, but then, in high school, we suddenly lost track of her and had given up on searching her but by the start of this school year, we met her again at Shikigoku College, but she doesn't know us,"

Haido and Hajime exchanged looks again before Haido cleared his throat and looked among the group. "This thing has been weighing down our conscience for nine years now, and I think this is the right time for you to know the truth," he started.

"Nine years ago, when Hikaru was about to graduate from junior high, she discovered a very scandalous secret of our family,"

The others were silent, all waiting for Haido to continue, so Haido cleared his throat again and swallowed a lump before continuing, "She found out that I have a mistress,"

Umi and Fuu gasped lightly, but they didn't say anything. Haido's eyes became clouded as he looked out the window and recalled the tragedy that befell the family many years ago.

"She was devastated. My mistress went to this dojo to confront me, demanding me to choose between my family and her. I love my family and all, but I learned to love my mistress as well. I couldn't pick; it's a no-win situation. I'd be miserable whatever decision I make. And then I made up my mind that I'll live with my mistress for a few months, and try things out, and I explained everything that I decided in front of my mistress, Hajime, and Satoru. What I didn't know was that Hikaru was listening at the door, and when she heard of my decision, she threw open the door and…"

-----FLASHBACK-----

"'Tousan! Onegai, tell me that this is just a joke! Onegai tell me this is just a joke!" Hikaru exclaimed.

All four adults inside the family receiving room stood up, even Hajime who was silently crying, but the tears stopped flowing when she saw her daughter burst inside the room.

"Hikaru…such decision is irrevocable and cannot be changed…" he answered sadly, looking down at the floor.

Hikaru's eyes flashed with hatred, and nothing else. Her eyes were as fierce as eagle's and her hands were balled tightly into fists at her sides. Tears sprung from the corner of her eyes and some had already spilled to her cheeks, but she paid no heed to those as she continued looking angrily at her father.

"I hate you Shidou Haido!" she exclaimed, hatred and anger detectable in her voice, then ran out of the room.

"Hikaru!" he, Satoru and Hajime called, but she continued her descent and they just heard the loud banging of the front door indicating that Hikaru dashed out of the house.

-----END OF FLASHBACK-----

Hajime sighed, pain evident in her eyes, "She ran away. When she went out of the house, we thought that she'd be back by nightfall, that she just cooled off somewhere, on the river beside the Imperial Palace since that was her favorite spot, but when dusk came and she was still nowhere, we already grew worried and her brothers searched the whole area but they didn't found her. Haido and I had a nagging suspicion that she ran away, but we pushed the idea out of our minds because that's impossible and Hikaru won't do such a thing. But then, her brother Kakeru suggested that we look inside her room to look for clues, and so we did. Her clothes were still there, and all her other things, but Satoru looked inside her school bag and found out that her wallet was missing. We searched for her piggy back, and found it at the corner of her bed, penniless,"

Haido continued, his eyes downcast at the pain of remembering the past that haunted his conscience for nine years. "That confirmed our worst nightmare. She ran away. We were awake the whole night, calling friends and other relatives, asking them if they knew where Hikaru was. The next day, we already grew restless and helpless, so we went to the police to ask for help. They said they'd scout the whole area for her, but by afternoon they returned without her. So we just waited beside the phone, hoping it will ring and Hikaru will be on the other end of the line telling us that she wanted to go home now and just forget about everything. I also decided with all my heart that I'd stay with my family 'till the end, 'till my last breath, and I cut off all contacts with my mistress just for Hikaru to come back to us."

"And we did got a call that evening. But it was not from Hikaru. A man naming Kijiwara Saeki called, telling us that he was calling from Kôfu General Hospital, and that Hikaru was in grave danger. We rushed to Kofu as quickly as we could, and then we found out from the doctor and from Saeki-san as well that Saeki-san's car hit her, and she was in serious danger. She had a very dangerous concussion at the head, and the doctor predicted that she'd be having amnesia. When she woke up, she remembered nothing, not even us, her family. But after sometime, she finally remembered us. That's the time that we decided to move to Sapporo, to start a new life. But after a year, she still does not remember anything after her elementary days. Before school started at Sapporo, we consulted a psychiatrist and he suggested to us that the patient, Hikaru, probably does not want to remember anything from her past life. Or rather, her subconscious mind does not want to, called selective amnesia. So he suggested to us that he just hypnotize her. Give her a new life by erasing her memories. We could pick any 'life' that we wanted to implant on her mind, and that's it. She'll be a new Hikaru."

Hajime cleared her throat and stared at Umi and Fuu, "So we, together with her brothers, talked about it for two days and weighed the pros and cons. After that, we decided that it will do no harm to our little girl and we proceeded with the hypnotism. We erased all her memories of Tokyo and everything, and told her that we lived from the very start there in Sapporo. And that's the start of a new Shidou Hikaru," she finished.

The five friends were speechless. They were expecting Hikaru to be just suffering from amnesia, but they didn't expect her to be hypnotized and robbed off of her memories!

It was Umi who got her senses back immediately. "So. That's the reason why she does not recognize us?"

Hajime nodded. "Hai. But then again, when she was still in high school she would tell us that she's been having some sort of 'flashes', where in those flashes, she was still a little girl, other times she was playing with her dog Hikari in a spacious garden with a big sakura tree, but most of the time she would tell us that she's been having dreams of wearing a school uniform, mostly composed of red color with a big white bow in front, and she's talking to two girls, one in blue uniform the other in green, but they don't have faces. And then," she looked at Lantis, "She dreamt of you, or someone who looks very much like you," she said.

Lantis blinked. So she still remembered me even after being hypnotized! His heart sang out joyfully.

"But if she dreamt of Lantis, why didn't she remember him?" Ascot asked, his hands on Lantis' shoulder.

"Because we intervened with every possibility that she might remember the past that we wanted to erase from her mind. Her will was very strong that we had to bring her to a second psychiatrist when she was in college to be hypnotized again. Because all throughout her high school, her dreams of the past interfered with her chances for a new life, and we're afraid that she'd wake up one morning with the memory of her past. After that second hypnotism, she had less and less of that flashes until it finally vanished. But she still remembered her high school life, and everything that we implanted on her mind on her fist hypnotism. But just recently…" Haido trailed off then looked at his wife for support.

"Just recently, she called, telling me that she had one of those 'flashes' again. And now I know why she had those flashes again. You guys, her friends from before, triggered her memory to remember the past again," Hajime finished.

"So…"

"So, we are ready now to tell her of the truth. Because we talked about everything again, and we thought that it was unfair for Hikaru to be robbed off of her past self, her past memories, her past life…"

"But how can you do that? Bring back her memories, I mean," Ferio asked.

Hajime smiled as Haido stood up from his sitting position. "Simple. We bring her back to Sapporo, to her first psychiatrist, and reverse the process. She'll have her past memories, plus her 'implanted' ones," Haido answered. He squatted down in front of Lantis to look the raven-haired man in the eye.

"And then you two would be happy with one another again,"

Lantis gaped. "Wh-what ma-ma-made you-you say tha-that, Haido-san?" he sputtered.

Haido smiled knowingly and brightly, "Oh, I'm Hikaru's father. When she told us that she dreamt of you, we were shocked. I thought 'so Hikaru has a special someone before the accident?' and I waited for her to speak more of you. After three more dreams, my wife and I established that you were her boyfriend that she left somewhere in the face of Tokyo. After that she started talking of you, Umi and Fuu, and then this continued until college until we got her hypnotized again and it stopped,"

"So Lantis-san, we know for sure that you two love each other, and would have been together now if not for her erased memories. I saw the emotion in your eyes when my wife told you that Hikaru have been dreaming of you, you know, and you're happy because even without her memories, she still remembered you and all,"

"Plus, even if she tells us that she's happy with Rei and their relationship, my wife and I know for sure that she's still looking for that something that is lacking in her, and that is contentment. The contentment and fulfillment of being in the arms of the true person who loves her and cherishes her and whom she love and cherish in return,"