Douglas sighed as he dropped his bag onto the bed, the weight of his bag had upset his still healing ribs and as he ruefully rubbed at his chest, he decided to not tell Mitsukake that he wasn't taking it easy. No point in getting the doctor mad at him.
He smiled for the first time that day as he thought of his seishi brother. Thoughts of a recent conversation about old times with Michael had been alot of fun and had brought forgotten memories to mind over the last few days. Doug glanced at the clock and muttered to himself "Only 3:30 dang it, Mike doesn't get off his shift for another 3 hours. I really could use a pick me up today."
The day had started off horribly. Chiriko had overslept and arrived with barely a moment to spare and frazzled to his first class. They had been given a pop quiz and he thought that he might have gotten something less then perfect as a grade, cause he had been still frazzled due to his rough morning. He had forgotten a paper due in his room and had to convince his teacher to let him turn it in tomorrow. Only due to his excellent record and work previously had the teacher agreed to allow this one time.
Douglas was startled from his thoughts and reflections when his phone rang. Looking at his caller ID he saw it was Mike and smiled, answering it quickly. "Ah, Mits, I am glad you called, I was just thinking I needed something to go right today."
Mitsukake chuckle reached him from the other end of the line. "Ah, Chiriko, bad day I take it?"
"The worst."
"Then you are definately going to be happy I called when I share my news."
At these words and the satisfied tone in Mitsukake's voice, Douglas sat up, trying desperately to stamp down the hope that instantly bloomed in his chest. "What is it?"
"Google the name Hayden Jonston."
Doug scooted over to his desk, hissing softly as he moved to fast for his still healing ribs. Mike clucked over the phone "Be careful of those ribs boy, he will still be there in 3 seconds."
Doug chuckled and typed in "Hayden Jonston" in the image search of Google. Picture after picture of beautiful women showed up and he frowned. "Women?"
"Just keep looking, you should find a picture of him there sooner or later." Doug scrolled down and then went to the next page of pictures and scrolled down again, gasping in surprise at the second to last picture on the page. He clicked the link and then the picture at the top of the page and stared in shocked silence at a relaxed looking Chichiri in casual clothes, albeit high quality. "Chichiri" finally made it past his lips and Mitsukake chuckled. "So, you see it too."
Doug nodded dumbly, knowing Mits couldn't see him, but he couldn't help himself anyways. "Did you happen upon him or did you meet him?"
"I met him, he is a photographer and one of his models had an asthma attack today and he brought her in. He doesn't remember much, but he knew my name right off and when I said 'Chiriko' he recalled you were the youngest. I think continued exposure to you and I will help his memories return. I gave him our numbers, and I will call him later to let him know that you know about him."
Chiriko smiled happily at these words. "Thank you Suzaku, for providing us with our Seishi brother." Mitsukake chuckled at the words of praise. "I'm glad I could cheer up your day, but my break is over, I just couldn't contain myself, I had to tell you."
Doug laughed. "Can I call him?"
"Sure, let me give you the number."
After Doug had taken down the number and reconfirmed dinner plans with Mitsukake for Thursday night, he hung up. Mits had mentioned that he wouldn't be adverse to Chichiri joining them on their dinner night and Chiriko smiled, knowing that before the day was over, he would be asking their eldest seishi brother to join them for supper that week. Life was looking up.
Hayden looked up and over at his cell phone from his place, camera still directly in front of his face. Claudia glanced at him and then his phone "I'll get it."
He smiled at her and turned back to the model before him. Jill had insisted on working, and no matter how much he and Claudia had tried to disuade her, she had stubbornly put her foot down. All Hayden wanted to do was go somewhere quiet and sort out the memories that had come up with seeing Mitsukake at the hospital, especially the ones that were coming increasingly about a redhead with a sultry fanged smile.
As he clicked the camera, he half listened as Claudia answered his phone. "Hello this is Hayden Jonston's phone."
She was silent for a moment and then spoke. "Well, he's in the middle of a photo shoot, but can I get your name and number?"
She searched through a pile of stuff on a chair and pulled out a pad of paper before yanking a pen from her pocket. "Go ahead."
"Uh huh, Chiriko? Can you spell that?"
However, upon hearing the name, Hayden dropped the camera from his face and had turned from Jill. "Chiriko?"
Claudia looked up "Oh, I think he wants to speak with you. Hold on."
Hayden took the phone with a murmor to Jill he would only be a moment, but he wanted to take the call and spoke. "Chiriko?"
"Chichiri?"
"Yes, yes I am, no da." His face blossomed into a smile at the sound of the younger man on the phone. "I take it Mitsukake gave you my number?"
"Yeah, he called me and I'm glad he did. I take it you are working?"
"Hai, hai. I'm working. But I had to talk to you, you understand."
The younger man's voice was soft and serious as he replied "Hai, I do, Chichiri. Would you like to call me back later this evening whe you are done working? I have homework to do anyways."
Chichiri burst into laughter "Still the same Chiriko, always studying."
He paused "I'm not sure how I know that though."
"It's ok Chichiri, your memory will return in time. Mits said it should unlock soon, now that you have met us."
Chichiri sighed "I hope so, these half memories are driving me nuts. I think we should talk later" he glanced out of the corner of his eye at a shifting Jill and Claudia, who were talking amongst themselves, but also listening to his conversation, curious about who could pull him away from a photo shoot. "I do have one question though. After I saw Mitsukake today, I've been having strange images in my head of a redhead with fangs."
Chiriko blinked in surprise. "Tasuki? You are thinking about Tasuki?"
Chichiri felt a rush of delight flow through him at that name. "Yes, Tasuki. Genrou, no da. I hadn't recalled his name till now. Chiriko, I think he was important to me. More then just seishi brothers."
The younger man was quiet for a moment and then spoke "He was, Chichiri. I died before you two were ever together, but I saw how you felt for each other back then and wouldn't have been surprised if you had been with him after everything was over, probably for the rest of your life."
Chichiri sighed and closed his eyes. "I had thought so, as soon as I heard his name, I felt calm and impatient."
"We'll find him, Chichiri, no worries. It's just a matter of time. Look, I have to go, my roommate will be back soon and I need to hit the library before too much longer. Call me tonight and we can talk and Mitsukake wants you to join us for lunch on Thursday."
"Hai, Hai, ok. I'll see you on Thursday and I'll call you tonight, although it might be late, no da."
"Whatever is fine, I want to talk to you."
"I want to talk to you too, till later, ja Chiriko."
"Ja!"
Chichiri sighed and hung up the phone, his head dropping and he murmored "Tasuki, no da." His heart clenched in his chest and he looked up as Claudia approached him. "Are you ok, Hayden?"
"Hai, I mean Yes, I'm fine. I'm sorry, Jill, I had to take that call, I have been waiting to talk to him for a long time."
Putting his phone down, he moved back into position as Jill assured him it was alright and raised the camera to his face again. "Now, where were we?"