"The existence of forgetting has never been proved: We only know that some things don't come to mind when we want them."

Chapter 5: Lost And Found

Darkness, darkness, the world was covered in darkness until he tried to move against it and found a way to slice through it when a pain suddenly ran though his body, starting at his wrists and radiating downward.

'What in the.." Golden eyes flickered open for but a moment before closing again in the face of the blinding rays of sunlight that streamed in from a large bay style window. Panic seized him quite suddenly as he took in the place in all its unfamiliarity. Where was he? Why couldn't he remember how he'd gotten here?...Or better yet, why couldn't he remember anything.

Something had happened, the ache that resounded within his heart whenever he attempted to recall exactly what it was, told him that whatever it was, it had slowly been eating away at him...or at least, it felt as if it had...as if it had been slowly eating away at his heart. However, he wasn't given time to figure out much more, let alone what has caused such an ache when all of a sudden the opening of the door to the room drew his attention to it.

As far as he could see it was the only way in and out, and whoever stepped through would have the answers he felt that he so desperately needed...for something, even if he had yet to figure out what it was, was desperately missing.

The person who he assumed would give him the answers he sought, was as unrecognizable to him as the room he was currently in had been when he'd first stirred. The man, or rather the boy, actually the longer the silver haired man looked at him, the harder it was to tell which it was, for the person in question had a fairly youthful appearance but also a deep wisdom in his eyes and a wold weariness that seemed to wrap around him like a well-used blanket when he entered the room.

However when he noticed that Ayame was awake, the weariness faded a bit, and his ancient jade eyes brightened as he moved to the bedside. His stride held an almost feline grace to it, much like Ayame's own, though the obviously well-toned muscles that rippled under the man's skin bespoke of a power that the snake doubted he would have much of a chance against if it came to a struggle, though considering the fact that the other had brought him here from, wherever it was he'd been, he felt it was safe to assume that he was in no immediate danger.

This assumption was reinforced by the fact that the person in question looked overjoyed at...what?His what recovery? At his having woken up? The snake had not idea which it was and he wasn't thinking clearly besides...hell it could have been both or neither as well he suppose, but that didn't change the fact that the other would have more information then he had himself at the moment, and that was a start.

"It's nice to see that you're awake for a change," said the man who had pulled up a chair beside the bed, and before Ayame could get in a word edgewise he continued with, "And here I was starting to give up hope that you'd ever wake up again." Then more quietly he added, "my brother never did." And when that was said there was a deep anguish in those jade green eyes that quickly faded when he realized that Ayame had taken notice of it and instead of dwelling on whatever memories had caused such a look, he grinned. "Guess you're just more resilient than he was...good thing to, don't think I coulda handled seeing another die in the same fashion Indrick did...it just didn' seem right somehow."

Rick must have been his brother Ayame noted, and he briefly wonder what it was short for before he caught on another little detail. This was more subtle, but the silver haired beauty noticed it just the same, and it was simply that, when talking about things that obviously troubled him, the man before him, or again perhaps he as just a boy, would start talking with the slight hint of an accent...And also, what had he meant about seeing another die in he same fashion. He didn't remember be near death, sure he'd felt like his heart had been ripped out when he'd woken, but when he looked down he'd found it in tact, and there ha been bandages...wait...bandages?

Ayame glance down at the bandages tied securely around each of his arms, they both extended from wrist to elbow, and were wrapped tightly enough to hold them in place and stop any bleeding, but not so tightly that they cut off circulation to his arms, for which he was grateful.

"Who are you?" the snake asked idly as he tugged at one of the bandages in an attempt to loose it and see what lie beneath, which warned him something akin to a slap on the wrist and a disapproving glare.

"Jaromir Sohma," the other replied without a hitch as he made sure the bandages hadn't been upset when Ayame'd tried to loosen them.

Sohma... Now bthat/b sounded familiar...but why? Ayame fell silent as he puzzled over this recent bit of information and how it sounded so familiar..and yet...he couldn't seem to place it, and that aggravated him to no end, for he felt that everything was there, hovering just beyond his reach, ready to dip close and then dance away back into the shadows beyond whenever he attempted to grab at anything that sounded even vaguely familiar. It was as though pat of him didn't want to remember, and with the sudden recollection of the pain he'd felt well up from within him, centered at his heart, when he'd first tried to remember, he wondered if it wasn't for the best.

"So, you gonna tell me what the hell you were thinking when you slashed those up," Jaromir said, gesturing to Ayames now bandaged arms, "Or are ya gonna sit there and stare at me like I'm stupid all day."

The words brought Ayame back to the present, and stopped him from trying to remember for the moment, for it seemed that trying to grasp at his thoughts and memories, from any time but a few minutes ago, was a fruitless effort. But staring? Had he really been...

Suddenly he realized that his own golden eyes were in fact fixed on his companion and he quickly averted his gaze. "Sorry," he murmured by way of apology.

Jaromir rolled his eyes at the apology. "Geez, I don't care about that, just tell me what I have to help ya deal with so you don't try to make an end out of your life too early." He blinked then, clapped a hand over his mouth, and likely realized that probably seemed far too blunt and rather rude as well, plus who knew what it might to someone who had obviously been distressed enough to try and put an nd to their own life. "Eh sorry, that was dumb, I erm..." He thought of something but was interrupted.

"I...I don't know."

Jaromir blinked again and one could clearly see the confusion in his eyes. "You don't know what?"

"I...can't remember, every time I try to grasp something.. it slides away under these shadows and...I just can't seem to grasp anything at all it's like..." He stopped there, he had no reason to trust Jaromir even as he had no reason to distrust him, however he sill thought it best to keep the fact that part of him seemed to refuse to accept whatever those memories were and was keeping it from his conscious mind...and he also decided not to mention the ache that gripped at his heart even now, create a feeling that there was something missing...something that his elusive memories could return to him...or could they?

There was a frown that marred Jaromir's handsome, boyish features as his gaze rested on Ayame while he pushed the snake's words around in his head. Amnesia he decided after a moment of silent deliberation, and that was what made him frown. He id not know anything about the man who lay in his brother's old bed, not where he came from, nor who he was, nor what had caused him to try and take his own life, nor even what the other did remember, if anything...and he certainly didn't know what the consequences of taking him in would be, for surely there would be consequences, someone would come looking for him surely, he was beautiful even wounded, and he looked so lost and fragile right now.

The frown deepened as Jaromir realized that part of him already felt a need to protect this man who had lain in bed for weeks looking much like a a wounded animal, whom he had brought here because he couldn't bear to see another suicide like his brother's...and he'd done so without even knowing why the other had been trying to make the ultimate escape, but now, neither did the man in question...and perhaps, Jaromir surmised..it was best that way. At least then he wouldn't have to worry about trying to fix problems he likely would even be able to begin to understand even i the other'd told him about them...for he'd never been particularly good at helping other people with their problems, after all he'd attempted to help his brother and look what had happened to him.

Jaromir flinched away from the memory of his brother and instead held himself anchored with the present..with the man laying in his brother's bed, and he smiled as he reached out to put what he hoped would be a comforting hand, on the others shoulder before saying. "It's alright...I'll help you get them back...I'll help you remember." And for some reason, Jaromir couldn't help but fell like he'd just damn himself with his own words.

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Alright, thanks to everyone for putting up with this seemingly random chapter, and I promise it will all soon make sense when it is at last connected. As it is you'll likely find out when Ayame finally remembers what happened, however long it takes, which will mean an eventual reintroduction of the other cast members when they take Ayame back...and the question of whether or not Jaromir will give him back...yes, folks I've decided Jaromir is going to be a rather complex and difficult character just to make the plot more...interesting, and so, I'll attempt to make him fairly likable...most of the time.

Anyway again I'd like to thank all of my reviewers and all who are already or plan to become loyal readers of this story. Sorry if this chapter is sub par, but it is always hard for me into introduce original characters into fanfics.

And to all, feel free to comment on anything, make suggestions on things you'd like to see in the story, or request a story (as I am now taking requests).