Disclaimer: Characters are not mine.

Aftermath Part 3 – To Be Remembered

There are times when Fuuko would get a distant look on her face.

Sometimes she looks like she's sleeping and dreaming with her eyes open.

Sometimes she's just like her old self, energetic and loud; Tokiya would get wistful.

There are also times when she'd forget where she is, who she's with, and what she was just doing even if only five minutes have passed.

But Tokiya would never get tired of reminding her, especially when Fuuko had become his top priority.

And for some reason, being with her gives him a new sense of purpose, and then it dawns on him that he couldn't ask for anything more than just to be with her.

It has been four months since he found out that she is suffering from traumatic amnesia due to her accident.

He also found out that nobody from the gang had the courage to inform him about Fuuko's condition. They had thought to buy some time for Fuuko to regain her memories first before letting him see her. But fate decided otherwise when he found her in the middle of a fight.

He had been furious, no, raving mad at them.

Even Hanabishi Recca, the flame caster, had cringed at the sight.

If Sakoshita Yanagi hadn't bowed, touching her forehead on the tatami mat in his house, things might have gone ugly since he had already smashed most of his glassware and furniture.

He reluctantly forgave them.

Although they had meant well, he still couldn't get over the months he had wasted thinking that Fuuko was trying to recover from the emotional scars he had left since their last exchange and the fact that they had neglected his choice and opinion on the matter.

And to make matters worst, Fuuko couldn't even remember him at all.

It had been difficult to regain her trust but after much coaxing from Recca and Yanagi as well as his constant visits, she finally warmed up to him.

But she hardly showed any sign that she remembers anything about him.

Tokiya shook off the unwanted thoughts and just concentrated on Fuuko who's full of ardor today as she sat beside him on a bench at the park, chatting away about her misadventures with her special summer classes, which she needs in order to keep up with the rest of her classmates.

The accident has not only caused her to lose her memory, but have also damaged her capacity to retain information, which explains why she needs to take those classes. Technically they are for her cognitive rehabilitation.

After she has exhausted her stories, she turned to him and asked him about his day.

"My day's fairly okay. Not as exciting as yours though." Tokiya answered with a small smile as he offered her a pint of ice cream.

Fuuko squealed happily as she gratefully took the pint from Tokiya.

"You're the greatest." She gushed, taking a spoonful of the ice cream. "Cookies and Cream!"

"Your favorite."

"Really?"

Tokiya nodded with a smile as Fuuko smiled back and then concentrated on eating, offering Tokiya from time to time to which he always declines.

After a few quiet moments, Fuuko halted the spoon halfway to her mouth and looked at him thoughtfully.

"Tokiya-san," She started, unaware of how he inwardly cringed at the name she calls him.

He smiled encouragingly at her.

"I had a dream last night."

A look of wonder appeared on Tokiya's face.

"What was it about?"

Fuuko looked thoughtful for a while then she smiled.

"In my dream I was upset because I wrote a really good research paper but didn't get any reward. I was almost crying but someone came and comforted me."

Tokiya looked at her with surprise.

A sense of familiarity settled in his gut. He could almost replay the scene in his mind.

Only it wasn't a dream.

It happened.

"Did he give you anything?" He asked, hopeful that it could be a sign that she's regaining some of her memories of him.

Fuuko crossed her eyebrows, thinking, and then slowly shook her head.

"I don't remember. I'm not even sure if it was a guy or a girl."

Tokiya's heart constricted with pain and disappointment but before it could even show on his face, he looked away.

"All I remember is the feeling of happiness and this incredible warmth that sends my heart racing." Fuuko continued with a wistful look on her face.

Tokiya turned to look at her again.

Then he wished he hadn't.

The sight of her lively face, and even the mere awareness that she's sitting beside him so close, but him unable to reach out and hold her, is the greatest torture he has ever felt and known.

He willed himself to look away as his throat tightened with all his pent up feelings.

But it must have been still obvious because Fuuko reached out her warm hand and grasped Tokiya's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

He looked at her hand in surprise and found himself slowly looking at her and then be captivated by her deep green eyes.

"Tokiya-san," Fuuko reassured as a beautiful smile traced her lips. "Even if my mind doesn't remember, my heart does. I know my mind will eventually remember you. But until then, I have to rely on my heart. And now, my heart says that you are important to me. I believe you are."

Tokiya felt his breath hitch at her words.

Warmth filled him and slowly, he smiled.

A smile that will only be meant for her.

Skit: Starring Fuuko and Michan!!!!!

Michan: (glares) How can you not know if it's a guy or a girl?????

Fuuko: (shrugs) Actually, I believe she's a girl.

Michan: (eyebrow twitches) And how did you come up with that conclusion?

Fuuko: (looking nonchalant) The other person has long hair! Even longer than Yanagi's. What kind of guy would let his hair grow that long?

Michan: (twitch, twitch)

Fuuko: (rubs her chin thoughtfully) Hmm, come to think of it, your hair is that long.

Michan: (twitch, twitch)

Fuuko: And it's the same color!

Michan waited for what Fuuko has to say next but she kept quiet.

Michan: So?

Fuuko: Nah! It couldn't have been you.

Michan: (sweatdropped uncharacteristically) You're hopeless.

Then he turned to the author and strangled her because she has yet to make Fuuko remember him.

Will somebody please save the author? Because as much as I would like to have Michan's hand wrapped around me (but with no intent of killing me, of course) I have to be alive to write the rest of the story.

lol, please leave me a review, 'k?