Fear flooded her body as bewilderment infiltrated his.
Her confession and six-year odyssey for Naoki's love was not all for naught; Kotoko loved her lanky genius of a husband more than anything in this world. Their blossoming love helped them, showing monumental progress in their marriage. He had no longer been cold and distant, for his world began to bloom with his favorite flower at his side. Kotoko briefly remembered his loving gestures as their married years progressed, recalling his random bouts of love with bouquets of flowers and unexpected kisses. Unfortunately, his shocked and bewildered face made her fears harsh and real. Her beloved wasn't there anymore.
"That's impossible." He croaked out fearfully as he looked at his family; Naoki was uncharacteristically confused by this entire ordeal. He eyed the family desperately, hoping for an easy answer.
"Naoki-kun, it isn't! You two have been married since your sophomore year in Tonan University. Don't you remember a single thing?!" Noriko spat out, tears filling her exhausted eyes. These two weeks were terribly exhausting due to the accident; the house was in disarray, Kotoko was depressed and still injured, and now her son didn't recall the last seven years of his life.
Naoki slowly shook his head as he tightly gripped the white sheets.
As Doctor Nishigaki strode in with his accompanying nurse, a series of questions had tumbled out of his cautious mouth. Head pain, eye-sight, and cranial questions were discussed as the Irie family solemnly looked at the patient.
"So, you don't remember anything at all Irie-san? What year is it?"
"No. The year is 2009."
"Who are your parents?"
"Noriko and Shigeki Irie."
"What is your brother's and wife's name?"
"Yuuki Irie…and I am not married."
"No?"
"No."
"What is the largest and most muscular of the four chambers of the heart?"
"The…left ventricle."
"Interesting." Doctor Nishigaki breathed out, interested in his colleague's condition. After all, not many amnesic patients landed under his care. However, it seemed that there was a breakthrough in their midst.
"Everyone, mind if I have a word with you all while Naoki-san gets his blood drawn?" The Doctor murmured as he gestured to the hallway. Scratching his head, he pulled out Naoki's chart and led them outside the room.
The family followed anxiously, hoping to hear good news.
Closing the door, he turned around, "It seems that Irie-san has some type of retrograde amnesia; typically, that means that all past events and muscle-memory have been erased. However, I notice that he answered specific medical knowledge. Putting it simply, he has all of his knowledge and experiences, but he may need to remember on his own. Photos, videos, and anecdotes may help jog his memory. It's like a locked safe; the contents are still inside, all you need is the right key." Nishigaki murmured as he looked at their fearful faces.
"What about behavior? Will it revert to his current "time period"?" Kotoko's soft voice broke the silence. Everyone glanced at her with understanding expressions as they shifted uncomfortably. That's what everyone feared; a cold and distant man returning into their lives, replacing the timid, yet kind doctor. Could Kotoko handle the calculating and cold attitude yet again? The countless jibes at her ego came rushing into her mind, reminding her of some days that ended in anguish. Of course she would handle it.
Anything for him.
The absolute quiet slightly unsettled him. Lying alone in the room had made him uncomfortable, as if needing a bit more noise. He needed something, like some type of white background noise. Sighing heavily, he looked around; the table next to him housed countless "Get-Well" cards, along with small vases of flowers. Huh… even at this age he was still popular.
Looking around, his eyes fell on a familiar bag. It was nothing special; it was his dark brown satchel for school. The threading around the suede bag was slightly frayed, giving the bag a well-worn feel. Slightly smiling, he reached for it and began to rummage around. Maybe he'd find any familiar possessions? Answering his thoughts almost immediately, two slim smart-phones met his wandering hands.
Glancing at the door's tiny window cautiously, he could still see the doctor talking to his family. Naoki chose the phone with the black case rather than the brightly-colored one. He half-heartedly smirked; he figured that it was Kotoko's phone. Pressing the power button on the top right frame, he turned on the black phone. After the few seconds of loading, the lock screen met his eyes. Behind the pin pad was a background photo he would never imagine could exist. Especially in his phone!
He and Kotoko were posing quite closely next to a mahogany table, both sporting genuine smiles as they gestured the cheerful "peace" sign. Kotoko wore blue and white-striped pajamas, while he wore a light red hoodie. Surprisingly enough, the pajama set she wore was somehow familiar. He could easily image the texture of the material, yielding cool and soft cotton. However, how would he know the texture of Kotoko's nightwear? Closing his eyes, he laid back, trying to remember a time where he, indeed, felt the infamous fabric.
*Toads croaked as the steady pitter-patter of rain splattered on the roof, creating the generic song of summer. The night was hot and rainy, perfect for the farms and their crops. As the old farmhouse creaked from years of withstanding the seasons, only one person had been awake. Walking unsteadily, Naoki slightly leaned on the old, wooden doorframe; his late night chat with his father-in-law had inhibited him, physically and mentally. Sighing heavily, he looked down at the small form sprawled on the futon.
Kotoko was asleep, sporting a high-top bun as her pants were rolled up to her thighs. A small glimmer of sweat shone on her hairline, signifying that it wasn't only him that was working up a sweat. Unfortunately, her uncle's house didn't have any air conditioning or any state of the art equipment to rid them of heat.
Smiling softly, Naoki pulled out a small fan from the depths of the cluttered guest room and began to fan the sleeping girl. Almost immediately, she smiled and snuggled into the pillow, relaxing noticeably. As the night grew, Naoki began to grow weary of fanning, so he lay down yet continued his task at hand.
The small figure next to him brushed closer to his side and smacked an arm on his chest, creating some sort of sprawled embrace. Smiling wider, he hugged her while he fanned them both. The light and cool cotton under his fingertips felt smooth and familiar as he tucked her against his chest. It eased him to believe that she was comfortable enough to sleep throughout the night.*
Eyes flashing open, he looked around in an awe-struck manner. Did he have a flashback? What was that?! Another question that harbored his muddled brain was about the silently sweet memory. A pang in his heart had him feel somewhat fond of Kotoko.
Blushing furiously, he shook his head. That was not happening! Turning off the phone, he threw everything in the satchel in a hurried manner; he needed facts, reasons, anything that would undeniably prove that he was married to the girl who turned his home and school life upside down. His face crumpled slightly; how on Earth is this possible? In reality, it seemed like a sick joke. His mother got her wishes to have the absent-minded girl join the family. He didn't like her at all.
"That's not true. You like her determination and cheerfulness, remember?" Naoki's inner voice chimed quietly, pausing his inner banter. So it was true. But still, it felt unsettling to miss almost seven years of his life overnight. Naoki became pensive once more; what else could he remember?
As the family walked back into the room, they felt the tension in the room begin to thicken; His eyes seemed stoic, distant in some other world. His absent-mindedness was quite a shock; Naoki was known for being alert and coherent of his surroundings. Today was the opposite.
Clearing her throat weakly, Kotoko gently murmured to her husband, "Irie-kun, Doctor Nishigaki said that you'll be discharged by the day after tomorrow, since your cranial swelling went down completely."
"Ah. That's good news." Naoki mumbled quietly, looking down. He couldn't bear to look at her; he felt an immense weight on his heart, almost making it difficult to breathe. Could it be that he felt guilty for not remembering the tiny woman? Glancing up cautiously, he eyed his mother who was discreetly dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
He looked down again.
A few days later…
With the help of the ever-present Kotoko, Naoki scooted out of the glossy black car, holding on to the door as he looked at his surroundings. The three-story mansion cast a shadow over the entire drive-way, ensnaring the land easily. He breathed out uneasily, taking in the scenery; why did they move out of their old home?
"Ready?" Kotoko murmured quietly, as she pulled out the wheelchair from the trunk. She got no response. Kotoko watched him as he studied the front of their home with solemnity rather than recognition. He looked tired, drained almost…but he was still handsome and perfect in all the right ways. She wistfully smiled, waiting for a response.
"I suppose so. Thank you for pulling out the wheelchair." The lanky man mumbled. She smiled.
Easing into the wheelchair, he was pushed by Kotoko to the front door. Within these few days, he had slowly eased out of his shock even though nothing rang any bells in his brain. Pausing slightly, he looked at the lobby of the impressive mansion.
The granite floors shined spectacularly along with the mahogany furniture, draped with expensive-looking vases and sculptures. the house was warmly lit, showcasing Noriko's near-professional photographs. Reaching the living room, they were met with an explosion of confetti and a chorus of "Welcome Back!"
Shielding their eyes from the onslaught of colorful paper, the couple joined the family gathering. Thankfully, Kotoko didn't mention the gathering to her nor Naoki's colleagues, in hopes of having her husband eased into their normal lives first. As the family conversed about Noriko's homemade dishes, Kotoko felt off. She noticed that Naoki was glancing at their bedroom door. Inching nearer as to not distract her parents, she whispered, "Want to go to our room?"
He jumped a little in his seat and glared at the woman next to him. Funnily enough, Kotoko couldn't help but noticing his ears reddening with embarrassment.
"Look Kotoko, we might be "married" and all, but I'm not going into some foreign room to-"
"-maybe you'll find something that sparks your memory!" She interrupted hastily, trying to squash his impending embarrassment. After a suspicious look, he nodded discreetly, looking over his parents. As their parents picked up the dishes from the kitchen, she pushed him to their room. Naoki noted the name plaques on the bedroom door.
Huh. We really do share a room…His inner voice spoke in disbelief. Closing the door behind her, Kotoko waited for a reaction from Naoki.
Her ears were met with a large, choking gasp.
AN: Let me know what you think! thanks (:
*The flashback was thee episode where they visit Kotoko's mother's grave. Just my little spin on that episode.
