A/N: Updates = Slow. I'm sorry... Things will pick up soon :D

I thank all my reviewers so far and people reading this story :D You guys keep me motivated~!

Keiichi awakened a few hours later. He sat up and yawned as he stretched. He looked over at his guest. The blonde didn't look like he had slept at all. In fact, his gaze was still on Keiichi. The brunette slowly turned away and continued to stretch.

"Well that could've been a lot creepier..." He thought sarcastically. "Picked yourself up a real psycho you did..."

The brunette suddenly frowned. He shouldn't say that...not without knowing what kind of hell this guy had been through. Keiichi glanced over his shoulder at the blonde. From the looks of it, he'd been through a lot. Keiichi instantly regretted thinking those hateful things when his eyes met with the blonde's eyes. The were so...sad looking. Keiichi felt that under the mask of mystery was a person on the verge of breaking, and he just might be the one to have to put the pieces back together. Of course, no one said he couldn't try and repair it before it breaks.

This in mind, the brunette hopped to his feet and took a step towards the blonde. He extended his hand and waited for the other to take it. The blonde boy cautiously sat up and looked at Keiichi. He tentatively took it and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.

"I'm kinda hungry," Keiichi scratched the back of his head as he looked over at the clock on his wall. His eyes widened immensely.

"Shit it's already 12:30? I can't believe I SLEPT that long..."

What was even more surprising was that none of the 'Club' members had some to bother him yet. Or maybe they had and he just didn't hear it. Keiichi figured he'd have to apologize later, just in case.

"So, do you want something to eat?" Keiichi looked back at the blonde boy and waited for some kind of signal. After a moments thought, the boy nodded curtly. Keiichi couldn't help but grin.

"Awright," He rolled up his short sleeve sleeping shirt and marched down the stairs, ready to make some breakfast. The other followed quietly behind him, barely making a sound. Once at the bottom, Keiichi rounded the corner and entered the kitchen. He opened his fridge and peered inside. He wasn't a very good cook, and judging from noises coming from his stomach, he wanted something now. He looked over at the other, who was standing beside the fridge.

"Want me to heat up some leftover miso soup and steamed rice? It's not much, but it should fill us up until a bit later. And it's quick and easy." Keiichi doubted the other would object even if he said they were having snails and worms. Keiichi considered pulling that as a joke on him, but the other seemed traumatized enough as it is...

The other gave him a small nod and took a seat at the table. Keiichi began to pull out the leftovers in the fridge and setting them on the counter. Not long after, he was dishing that heated food into bowls and setting it on the table. He grabbed his chopsticks and an extra set they kept in the house for his guest. He sat across the other after grabbing their drinks as well.

"Itadakimasu~" Keiichi called out as he dug hungrily into his food.

"...Itadakimasu..." Came a quiet reply from across the table. Keiichi's mouth dropped open. The food that was supposed to make it into his mouth hit the table. Had he heard that right? Did the guy just talk again? He wasn't sure... It would be rude to ask...

Keiichi watched the other's moves, mouth still hung open. The blonde's eyes were averted to his food. He nibbled at it at first, before he started to take bigger bites and sips. Keiichi guessed he finally started feeling awkward after being stared at like he was.

"Ha, now he knows how it feels..." Keiichi thought snidely. The other set his miso bowl down and made eye contact with Keiichi.

"...What...?" He asked, even fainter than before.

Keiichi stood up, his chair being knocked backwards. He jutted a finger out across the table and pointed it at the other's forehead.

"You CAN talk!" He accused loudly.

The blonde looked taken aback. He leaned back in his chair as Keiichi's finger drew closer to his forehead.

"You mean you could've talked to me this ENTIRE time and you didn't! I thought you were mute!" Keiichi exclaimed. He was getting more excited by the second. The other could tell. Keiichi's voice just kept getting louder.

"I mean, I'm really, REALLY, glad you can talk, but, why not sooner? You left me in silence all this time..." Keiichi realized after saying this that it really hadn't been that long...but if he said that now, everything he'd built up until now would crash and burn.

The blonde, on the other hand, looked like he couldn't decide on how he should react. He looked taken aback...astonished. Keiichi found it to be a really amusing expression. That puzzled look on his face was priceless.

"And now! Because you did this to me, I will inflict punishment down upon you!"

The blonde's eyes widened even more. Keiichi leaned over the table and watched as the other prepared himself for what was to come. The other's face scrunched up and his body visibly tensed. Keiichi reached out, and lightly flicked the other's forehead. He then pulled away and picked his chair up so he could finish his breakfast. The blonde looked up a few seconds later. Keiichi had already began eating again, as if all that had happened seconds ago never occurred. The blonde looked over at him, puzzled again. Keiichi looked up grinning.

"What? Were you expecting something more severe? Believe me, that's about as severe as it gets," He did a quick wink before taking a sip of his tea. "Keiichi's forehead flick shouldn't be reckoned with." Keiichi was quite pleased with how this was working out. He was doing his best to be a friendly, likable guy. He just hoped it would be enough to break the thick sheet of ice that was built up between them.

Of all the things Keiichi could have done to him, he wasn't expecting that. Needless to say, he was relieved, but still very surprised.

...It wasn't even a hard flick.

He wasn't sure what he did to deserve it though. He didn't feel obligated to speak if he had nothing to say. Keiichi made such a big deal out of it...maybe he just really wanted to talk?

That was a stupid question...All he'd done since they'd met was talked. A strangely, he didn't mind. He reminded him of someone...someone he couldn't remember...

He raised a hand to his head as a sharp pain shot through it. It hurt just to think about it.

"You okay?" Keiichi asked with a mouthful of food. "You gotta be hungry, eat. Or else I might eat it,"

He looked up in time to see Keiichi snap his chopsticks in a threatening matter. It almost made the other want to laugh. Regardless, he began to eat again. He picked up his miso bowl and sipped the soup. It was still warm. He finished his miso seconds later and moved onto his rice. About the time he'd eaten a few bites, Keiichi began to talk again.

"So, what, was that like, a one time thing?"

The blonde looked up at him, perplexed. What did he mean? He watched Keiichi, waiting for him to further explain himself.

"You talking. Not wanna talk to me?" Keiichi joked, trying to keep the mood light. By now, both his bowls had been polished off and he gulped the last of his tea down after he spoke. He set his cup down and pushed it aside, then kicked back and watched the blonde.

He sat his unfinished rice down and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He placed his hands in his lap and gazed at them.

"...It's not that...I just...don't know what to say..."

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Keiichi sit upright. He seemed surprised. Was him talking that big of a deal?

To his surprise, Keiichi started laughing.

"You don't know what to say? That's a good one!"

Heat rushed to his cheeks. He looked up, feeling embarrassed.

"H-Hey! Don't laugh at me..."

Keiichi began to calm down after his fit of laughter ceased. He looked up at the blushing other and smiled.

"I'm not laughing at you, just at what you said. Don't worry about not knowing what to say. Just start talking. I'll always be here to listen." He boasted. "We're friends now, right?" He rose to put up his bowls. The brunette gathered them up but didn't move. He waited for the other's answer.

It was at that moment, he began to wonder just what went through this brunette's head. They hadn't known each other for very long, and already he was considering them to be friends...

He was so trusting...

Keiichi looked a little disheartened when he received no answer. He sat back down slowly in his chair and said nothing more on that matter.

"So, can I at least know your name? Or, why I found you outside in the rain?" Keiichi questioned, his face full of sincerity.

He looked up at the brunette and sighed.

"I...don't know...my name...I can't remember..."

Keiichi cocked an eyebrow.

"You don't remember? You got, like, amnesia or something?"

All he could do was shrug. He wasn't sure what was wrong with him... He just...couldn't remember. Maybe it was something the clinic had done to him... That could be it... But the Director was always so nice to him. He took care of him while he Slept...and took care of him after he Waked. That's what the Director had called it anyway.

Irie...the Director...He never would've hurt him. He knew this. It wasn't the clinic that made him forget. It was himself. He shook his head and sighed. What caused him to have a memory block on his past...? Was it that horrific that he blocked it all out? Was he just crazy?

All these questions were making his head hurt. He wanted to stop thinking about it, until one last question trickled its way into his head.

Would he ever remember again?

He brushed his bangs out of his eyes and stared at his half eaten rice. He had to remember...He needed to.

"Hey, sorry, I...I won't push you or anything..." Keiichi's voice rang out above the silence. He glanced up at the brunette with a look of gratitude. Keiichi offered him a comforting smile. The brunette kicked back into a more comfortable position once more. The other picked up his unfinished food and proceeded to eat it. He was hungrier than he thought he was.

"So, I guess that means you don't know why you were outside in the rain either? By yourself?" Keiichi's eyes glanced over the other's arms, looking over the bruises and cuts again.

He finished his rice and set the bowl down in front of him. Keiichi rose to collect it and placed it in the sink, along with his. He then sat back down and waited for the other to answer.

"...I...I just know I needed to get away... The people there...minus one...they..." He fell silent again. He wasn't sure how to explain it. He just felt the need to leave. He didn't need to be there. The gut feeling that something bad was going to happen also contributed to his worries. He wanted to tell Keiichie everything...but at the same time, he didn't want Keiichi to worry. He seemed like the kind that would.

Keiichi waited only a few minutes before standing again. It looked like he had more questions to ask. It made sense. The blonde had done a very good job of explaining things. If anything, he only left room for more questions. He was expecting to be asked more, but he wasn't. Instead, Keiichi changed the subject, much to the other's relief.

"Here, follow me. Now that you've got some food in you, all you need is a nice bath. Maybe that will help."

He saw Keiichi smile again. It oddly enough put him more at ease. He nodded in agreement.

"...Maybe..."

Keiichi grinned again. He guessed it was because the brunette was pleased he was talking...

"Awright, follow me then!"

He did so after standing and pushing in his chair. He walked down the hallway and into a room in the back. Keiichi was already running the water when he entered the room. A fresh towel and wash cloth was already lying there waiting for him. Keiichi then began to explain how his bath worked. After this, he looked at the other.

"Anything else you need?" Keiichi asked.

He bit his lip. He looked down at the button's on his shirt and frowned. He began fumbling with the buttons.

"No...I'll be okay..."

While he struggled with the buttons, he could hear Keiichi laugh. A slight frown fell across his face. Why was Keiichi laughing at him again? He wasn't expecting it, seeing as he only said four words... none of them meaning to be funny... Keiichi had a strange sense of humor, which was unexpected.

He also wasn't expecting Keiichi to grab onto his fumbling hands and make them leave his shirt.

"Honestly," Keiichi laughed again, dropping the other's hands at his sides as he himself began to undo the buttons. "Remind me to get you a shirt with no buttons next time."

He frowned slightly, although it looked more like a pout. He used to wear button shirts all the time... His fingers were just blistered and bruised, a bit swollen even. That's why it was so difficult. That's why he let Keiichi do all the work. It was faster that way anyway...

Keiichi had undone four buttons and already he could see the bruises and scratches that were hidden by the fabric. It made him almost nauseous. He couldn't help but wonder just what caused these injuries. He contemplated whether he should ask or just leave it be.

If he asked, the blonde might not remember and just get sad again. Then there was the possibility he remembered, and the fact that Keiichi might not like the answer he received. Keiichi's curiosity won in the end, just as he finished undoing the sixth button on the blonde's shirt. He was about to ask when he heard the sound of someone knocking on the front door. He froze immediately, and waited, straining his ears to hear any sound that followed. The other sensed Keiichi's sudden surprise.

"What's wrong...?" He asked, concerned.

Keiichi didn't answer. He listened some more. He heard the knocking again.

"Keiichi-kuuuun!"

"Shit," Keiichi cursed. He turned back to the other. "I'll be right back, okay? Go ahead and get in the bath after you finish..." He motioned to the other's clothes. "...ya know."

That being said, Keiichi left, closing the door behind him.

"Keiichi-kun! Hey!"

"Coming, coming." Keiichi called out, loud enough the person outside could hear. He unlatched the door and opened it, already knowing who was on the other side. He opened the door with a smile.

"Hey Rena."

The girl smiled and pushed the white hat on her head back so it wouldn't fall. She was dressed in her casual attire: white dress, boots, matching hat, and a smile.

"Good day Keiichi-kun, you sleepy head." She giggled. "Rena baked a few extra cookies today. Does Keiichi-kun want some? Does he? Does he?" She brought out a small container she had hidden behind her back and held it out with a smile. Keiichi returned the smile and grabbed the container.

"Thanks Rena. You know how I love your baking." He complimented as he opened the container in order to peer inside. A bit of heat rose to Rena's cheeks as she giggled. Keiichi took a cookie out of the container and ate it. Good as always.

"So, what's Keiichi-kun doing later today? Mii-chan said something about trying to get the club together." Rena informed him with a smile. "Will Keiichi-kun be there? Will he?"

Keiichi immediately thought of his 'guest'. Would he be alright here by himself? Keiichi wasn't sure. He hated to turn down the club, but it didn't seem like he had much of a choice. He doubted they'd let him skip...but it was worth a try.

"Gee...I don't know Rena, I'll try. I'm kinda busy." He admitted sheepishly, hoping he wouldn't ask why.

"Ehh? Keiichi-kun! Why?"

The brunette resisted the urge to face palm. That didn't go like he wanted at all. He looked at Rena with as much sincerity as he could.

"It's...complicated and hard to explain..."

Rena looked a little disheartened. Her usual smile fell from her face and she stared at the ground.

"...Keiichi-kun can talk to Rena, if he needs to. Rena will be here for him." She said. "Rena expects you at Club today." Her usual smile returned and she began to rock back and forth on her feet. "It starts at 5, at the school. I'll make sure to tell Mii-chan you're coming! Don't be late!"

Before Keiichi could say anything, Rena ran off, as if saying no wasn't an answer. Keiichi didn't even bother. He just shut the door with a sigh. He slumped his way into the sitting room and collapsed on the couch. Looks like his guest would have to manage on his own for a few hours... Keiichi could only hope.