Chapter 2

Azure: Hey guys! Finals are over (THANK GOD) but that didn't stop my teachers from flooding me with homework!

Hotaru: Aww, that's sad. I'd thought they'd give you a break after all that work...

Azure: This is high school. Freshman year and I'm already somewhat struggling. Good job me.

Gin: What about us?

Azure: Hai hai don't worry! I'm working on it :3 it just might be a while between chapter updates. Gin, can you do the honors?

Gin: Of course. Azure does not own Hotarubi no Mori e, or any of it's characters. If she did... *sweat drop* I wouldn't know what to think...

Azure: I'll overlook that. Without further ado, let the story begin!

Okay... Hotaru, you have to stop crying... You have to get up...

I told myself this countless and numerous times until I was actually able to perform the task. It shouldn't have been so difficult, but my legs felt like lead, and there was a force that constantly kept trying to drag me down. I wanted nothing more than to curl up on the floor and sob to my heart's content, but what good would that do? Gin is alive, and he seems like his usual old self. What am I crying about?

...Probably the fact that he doesn't remember me. In the slightest. However, I found that the more I pondered about it, I found myself growing more and more curious instead of sad. Why was Gin back? Why is he still alive? And more importantly... why doesn't he remember anything? The more I thought, the more confused I became.

Perhaps it isn't the best idea to dwell on this... I thought as I closed my eyes. It wasn't long before they suddenly shot back open. "Oh yeah! Wasn't the fox spirit going to tell me more?" I questioned aloud as I glanced over in his direction. Now that my tears and depression have passed, perhaps I should go apologize and talk to him.

I carefully retraced my steps through the forest, and it wasn't long before I found the gate and the boulder. And there, sitting majestically upon the gigantic rock, was Gin. He noticed my presence quickly, and whipped his head to face me. He casually jumped off and came over to greet me.

"I sincerely apologize if I said something that made you upset. But it looks like you're doing better." He remarked as a soft smile stretched across his face. "That's good. Oh, I never got your name. What might it be?" Gin asked, tilting his head in the process. A sharp pang racked through my body at his words, but I forced myself to stay optimistic. No Hotaru. You promised that you wouldn't be like this. Besides, it's Gin! He's alive! Be happy! I steeled myself before I offered an outstretched hand to Gin. "I am Hotaru. Takegawa Hotaru." I introduced myself as Gin uncertainly grabs my hand in his and shakes it lightly. "I'm Gin. Pleasure to meet you Hotaru."

At least this introduction is a bit more formal than our first one...

I thought bitterly. I remember when we first officially met.

I was young, and had gotten lost inside the forest while trying to find my grandfather's house. While I sat underneath a tree crying, that was when Gin appeared. "Hey! Chibi!" He called out to me. I was so relieved to see someone. I got up and ran over to him - only to trip and face plant into the earth below. After a while, Gin was kind enough to lead me out of the forest. Ever since, we met up with each other, and became friends. It wasn't until later that I had realized that I had fallen in love with him.

And it wasn't until it was too late when I realized that he had fallen in love with me.

After that wave of memories washed by, an important thought struck me as I retracted my hand. Wait... Isn't Gin not able to touch humans?... If that's the case... I looked at my hand, and then immediately to Gin. He's still here. What's going on?

Worried by the confused look I was giving, Gin now had a look of worry. "Um... Did I do something weird? Was I not suppose to shake your hand?" He asked nervously as I gave a small smile and shook my head. "No, you didn't do anything wrong. I'm just a bit confused right now..." He tilted his head, puzzled, and utter confusion could be seen in his eyes. "About what?" "Well... You can't touch humans right?" Gin jumped slightly, as if just remembering that himself, and nodded. "Yeah..." "Then... How did I touch you without you disappearing?" Gin lifted and examined his arms, and sure enough, they weren't glowing green like they did back then. "...That would be a good question..." He muttered before giving a shrug.

There was a small period of silence until a thought struck me. "How about we go ask that fox spirit? Maybe he knows what's going on!" Gin seemed to have remembered the spirit from earlier, as he nodded his head enthusiastically. "That's not a bad idea! After you left, I think I saw him go over here..." He trotted up to a tree, which beyond, lay a small path into the forest. "Yes, I recall him going over here. Follow me." Gin said as I rushed over to catch up.

As we walked down the path, we spotted the occasional firefly illuminating the way. I was surprised when I heard a small voice coming from one of them. "It's that human... I remember her from last summer. And Gin is accompanying her. How? Didn't he-" I ignored the last part as continued to walk.

It was a particularly quiet and peaceful stroll through the woods, nothing abnormal or distracting. Gin kept to himself, stopping occasionally so that we wouldn't be led astray. This is kind of like the walks we would take during those days... I thought to myself as an alien feeling of forlorn washed over me. That's weird, I know I feel sad, but this... feels different...

And that was when it all began.

A boy with silver hair and a painted mask strolled down stone stairs with a young girl. The two of them held a stick, as if to help them not get separated. Why a stick though when they could be holding hands? Well, it would appear that if the boy touched a human, he would disappear forever. So, they used a stick.

The young girl was marching as she hummed, obviously happy in the company of the strange entity. Not surprising. The girl had just gotten lost in the gigantic forest a few minutes ago, scared, lost, and alone. Then the boy appeared with his mask on. After a while, the entity had agreed to help the young lost girl home. Unlike the girl however, the silver haired man kept to himself, as if he were slightly uncomfortable.

Alas, the girl then gave a giggle as the golden rays of sunlight brightened her cropped brown hair. "This is like a date!" The girl exclaimed in a childish voice, clearly thinking that it actually was one. The entity, on the other hand... "Sure isn't a romantic one." He remarked bitterly as the two continued down the steps.

Suddenly, the vision ended and my mouth flew open in shock. I remembered that scene all to well. It was when Gin first took me back home. All throughout the vision, I had felt bitterness and slight distrust. What... What was that...? I continued to ponder about what it might've been as I gingerly placed a hand on my forehead. What is going on?

"Oi! Hotaru!" Came a shout which brought me back to my sense. Standing right in front of me was Gin, with a worried look on his face. "You have to keep up, otherwise we'll- Hey are you alright?" Didn't seem like it. I was trembling slightly, and I still couldn't get that memory out of my head. Gin outstretched a hand, and placed it on my forehead. "You're burning up!" He exclaimed as he looked back at that direction we came from.

"Do you live around here? I can take you back." I told him just to bring me to the gate that "we had first met at", and that I would find my way home from there. So, we continued our journey once more.

Gin took my hand in his, and began to pick up the pace. "It would be trouble if you got lost right now. Don't let go." He told me as I felt a blush creep up on my face. "R-Right..." I muttered as we walked through the forest hand in hand. Just like back then.

We arrived back at the gate, however, I had become a lot dizzier. I wobbled with each step, almost to the point where I couldn't walk at all. "This isn't good..." Gin murmured as he looked at me, then past the gate. "No choice. I don't have enough strength to carry you, but if you can tell me the directions, I can support you." I gave a weak nod as we began to walk home.

Dawn was approaching, and I needed to get home before the rest of my family woke up. With an arm around my shoulders, it didn't take Gin and I long before my grandparent's house came into view. We made it to the outside of my room, and as quiet as he could, Gin escorted me to the door. "Because of your fever, we can't visit the fox spirit until you get better. I'll let him know the next time I see him. I'll come to check on you as often as I can." And with that, Gin disappeared back in the forest.

As soon as I began to close my eyes, my grandfather opened the door. "Good morning Hotaru! Oh goodness! You look terrible!" He ran up to me and, exactly like Gin did, placed a hand on my forehead. "You're warm. I'll get grandmother to come check on you..." He laid me in my bed, and walked off to find grandmother. My eyelids felt heavy, and soon enough, I succumbed to sleep's inviting arms.

Azure: So that was chapter 2! I hope you enjoyed :3 Again, I apologize that it took so long!

Gin: Is Hotaru going to be alright?

Azure: Can't tell you.

Gin: You can't even tell me if she's going to recover from her fever?!

Azure: Who knows? I might add a major plot twist that will decide everything in this story.

Gin: ...

Hotaru: Ignore her Gin. Please R & R!