I wake up cold and alone in our bed, Haruka has left a note for me where she had been sleeping saying there was an emergency with her car, that I shouldn't panic and that she would be home soon. I stretch out in the bed enjoying the freedom of not having anything pressing me. After an hour of drifting in and out of sleep I head to the bathroom for a long shower, I pamper myself layering on lotions and slowly combing out my hair as I hum a song I'm sure I've never heard. I dress in a green dress before heading down to the kitchen and putting the kettle on, I open all of the cupboards looking for some tea before I finally find it stashed on the top shelf. I curse Haruka's height under my breath as I reach for the tea. Something shifts and before I can work out what's happening the world goes black.

"No I'm with her now, the doctors are running tests. Of course I'm worried about that too but what can we do?" Haruka is talking on her cell phone as my ears leave their fog. My head is pounding and I feel as if someone has kicked me in the stomach but otherwise I'm feeling alright. I open my eyes and instantly recognize the hospital room I had been in only days before. Was it all a dream? Had I not gone home, was I not remembering?

"Haruka?" I say my voice barely registering.

"I gotta go, she's awake." Haruka said before shoving the phone into her pocket. "You're awake, thank god. "

"What happened?" I ask

"You were standing on a chair to get some tea and you slipped off. You hit your head on the counter."

"Oh."

"But you remember who I am so that's a bonus."

"I do remember you." I place my hand on her cheek. Her eyes are tired and full of concern.

"But the memories didn't come flooding back did they?"

"No" I frown. She looks away from me to the machine attached to my arm. "I didn't fall on purpose Haruka." I say.

"Of course not." She sounds less than convinced. There is silence for a while before I sigh. She's holding my hand but feels distant.

"Tell me about the day you fell in love with me."

"What?" she says taken back.

"The day you realized you were in love with me."

"The first time?"

"Yes, or all the times after." I smile.

"The first time is probably the best." She's smiling and making herself comfortable on my small hospital bed, her arm circles me and she holds me against her as she stares at the ceiling. "Wow the first time, I remember it very clearly."

"There were no days on Neptune, the sun rose and set but we didn't justify those with labels. It was a beautiful morning when my father placed his hand on my shoulder and told me of the arrangement. My brother Akim was going to be marrying the princess of Neptune, you." She smiled down at me and I cuddled into her mindful of the cords attached to me. "I had of course met you many times before that day, at functions and balls. I hadn't really noticed much of you other than your beautiful water hair and you're amazing laugh." She brushed her hand against my cheek and continued. "But knowing that my brother was going to be marrying you I decided to take a closer look. I slipped from my quarters early and made my way to the pool. I had been told if you were anywhere it would be in the water but I was surprised to see you dive into the crystal blue and not reappear for what seemed like ages. I was about to dive in after you when finally you emerged. Your hair was pulled back and you had a black suit on, it was clinging to your body perfect. My heart started to pound harder, finally you noticed me and I was starting. You blushed and asked if I needed anything. I told you that I didn't but I was already beginning to feel like I needed you. You said after we'd been together a while that you had already loved me and when I was standing there, mouth wide open staring at you, you knew I had finally come around. But at the pool you playfully asked me for a towel before slowly stepping out of the water. You looked like a goddess and my knees went weak. I tried to say something suave but the only thing I could think of was about you marrying my brother. You were drying your hair, looking exceptionally sexy when you looked at me with those ocean blue eyes and said in the most sultry voice 'it's not your brother I plan to marry Haruka.' I couldn't even form thoughts at that point. But you, you moved to where I was sitting, put your hand on my face and kissed me, full on the mouth. I'd never been kissed before but I knew you were the only person I'd ever be kissing after that moment. My body was alive and singing and if I had the gusto I probably would have pulled you into a dark corner and had my way with you. Instead you walked away waving at me and I went to my father to tell him that I was in love with you and that Akim couldn't marry you." She laughed. "He wasn't impressed, but my father adored me and he always gave me everything I wanted and Michiru." She paused to look at me. "You are all I ever wanted."

"Even now?" I ask through a yawn.

"Always." Haruka replied kissing my head. "I guess I should let you rest. The doctor said you don't have a concussion and that you can sleep so I shall leave you." Haruka left me alone in the dim light of the hospital room, I closed my eyes thinking of her story. I was brazen with Haruka in both stories she had told me, the one at the pool on Neptune and at the track. I went after what I wanted. I felt it hard to believe now as I lay helplessly unable to remember. I tried desperately to picture Neptune, my home planet. I thought of beautiful blue waters and the smell of salt, I pictured a large stone castle with cascading water falls, and halls that echoed laughter. My stomach flip flopped as I let my mind wander. Was it a memory or my imagination? I thought of Haruka propped up on her elbow her head blocking the sun as we lay in the green grass. She's smiling at me and I'm staring at her. She leans down and takes my lips and I close my eyes as she kisses me. Memory or dream?

I think about going to battle, remember the clothes from the picture. Mine an aqua colour matching my hair, my white gloves; the force of water surrounding me as I charge my attack. 'Deep submerge.' I hear myself whisper as I feel a rush of water. My eyes open wide, I look around the room, there are puddles of water on the floor. I quickly close my eyes again but my mind is blank now, I try to conjure the dream I was having but it's gone. Think I tell myself, think; that castle, the water. But my mind is empty. There is no castle. No water. I give up and fall asleep.

I'm not sure what time it is when I wake up, but the world is spinning. Faster and faster things are moving. I'm pulled from my bed into a large field; I smile as I watch a pretty blonde tom boy kiss her lover covering in green grass and wild flowers. I can't see who the blonde is kissing but my cheeks burn for them. My body is yanked from the field to a dark grey castle, the sound of laughter ringing through the air. I can see a table of girls all having fun, glasses are clinging as they toast each other. The blonde is there again, her arms around a woman I can't see, they seem the happiest of everyone. Next I hear the roar of car engines, and watch as a yellow roadster takes the lead the blonde behind the wheel waves at me and my heart jumps? She's driving fast but not as fast as I'm spinning, my mind showing images over and over. Pictures in my head of people, places and things I had forgotten, my memories literally flooding over me.

'There is a girl in my school, she wants to ride with you along the shore line'

'Haruka, don't. You're life will never be the same.'

'Help them? They could never understand Haruka. We must search for the talisman.'

'A world without Haruka, is not a world worth saving.'

'I love you Haruka.'

'I want to touch you one last time'

I gasp as I open my eyes feeling the memories drowning me. "I remember" I say aloud to the darkness of my hospital room.

"I remember."