Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Kyo Kara Maoh, this is purely fan-made!
Chapter 3: Unforgettable Kinship
Over in the other world, Conrad was exceedingly unconvinced when Lady Ulrike told them that everything was fine. The instant my accident happened here on Earth, Conrad had suddenly froze in place as the sound of screeching tires echoed in his ears. He could almost see the entire scene as vividly as I had when it first happened too.
Then, being unable to shake that awful feeling, Conrad decided to pay the tomb another visit. Only to find Lady Ulrike talking in hushed tones with the Great One, who fell silent as soon he entered the chamber. Thus furthering Conrad's suspicions that something was up, even if the others didn't believe him, not even Gwendal.
"I assure you Lord Weller, His Majesty is just fine. However, he needs to stay on Earth a bit longer to settle a highly personal matter. That's all His Majesty the Great One would tell me," Ulrike told him honestly, "So please, don't concern yourself about his safety."
"I didn't imagine what I felt and heard Ulrike," Conrad spat, which given his timid character was rather uncomely, "Something's wrong."
Ulrike glanced at the Great One, who nodded grimly in approval before she sighed heavily, "You're right Lord Weller, there is more. But before I tell you anything I must insist that this be kept between us. We cannot risk the others finding out as well and demanding to see His Highness. He's in no condition to see any of you at the moment..."
Conrad's eyes widened in alarm and he gasped sharply, "Is he alright?"
Quickly Ulrike assured him, "His life is not in danger, as I said before, but there was an accident and His Highness was hurt quite badly at first. His wounds are healing quickly though and I'm sure that he will soon be back to his normal self again. Almost..."
"'Almost'?" Conrad repeated sternly, "Then...what else is wrong with him?"
The Great One met Conrad's fierce gaze and told him, "It appears that Yuri has gotten a mild case of amnesia; he cannot remember anything, not even his own name. However, given time, Yuri is sure to recover. Because although he has lost his memories, I can still sense his power. And that part of him will help Yuri to remember things on his own. But until then, we cannot let those who would take advantage of Yuri learn of this until he has recovered. I've already contacted my Great Wiseman and he promises to keep us informed of his progress. Once Yuri has regained enough of his own personal memories, then we will bring him back here for...further treatment."
"So what you're saying is that..." Conrad concluded a bit more calmly, "...that not even myself and the others are to see His Majesty? I suppose that makes sense."
The Great One nodded but then added sympathetically, "The Shibuya family is already hard at work helping him and likewise the Demon King of the Earth is also aiding them in the effort. Just be patient and the time will come for you and the others to have your turn in helping Yuri. Make no mistake, Yuri WILL recover from this, even if I must take matters into my own hands..." he smirked slyly, "...he has come too far as the current Demon King now for such a random tragedy to ruin it all for him. Yuri has chosen to remain the Demon King and it's too soon for a new one to replace him just yet. I won't have it. I've become rather attached to that boy and I sincerely wish to see the direction he takes this country before the end of his reign. So I promise you this, Lord Weller, Yuri will recover and resume his duties as King. I will also watch over him personally until he remembers who he is and then intervene if the need arises and not before. I suggest you do the same."
The next day, I met my older brother. His name was Shori, and, unlike my parents, Shori was able to hold himself back when he hugged my bruised ribs. However, I could tell right away that one thing about him was still exactly the same as my parents. Shori was also very overprotective of me and bombarded me with questions about how I was feeling every two seconds. But given what had happened to me, maybe they had the right to be overprotective...
Several days later, I was finally well enough to return home. When I got there, a brand new bicycle was sitting in the driveway held up by a guy around my age that I felt I knew from somewhere. This to me was both shocking and amazing. I felt like I actually knew him. But why I would feel that way about him and not my parents bothered me a bit.
"What are you doing back so early? Friend-of-my-little-brother?" Shori growled at him.
"He's a friend of mine?" I blinked, looking back at him, "Really?"
Murata chuckled softly, "Ouch. That hurts Shibuya. I'm your best friend remember?"
I shyly withdrew a few steps back from the driveway and said, "I'm sorry...I just don't remember that yet."
"It's fine. I was only kidding." Murata grinned, "Besides, that's why I'm here. I heard about what happened and came back as soon as I could to help you out. I mean come on, what kinda best friend would I be if I didn't?"
I managed a weak smile and walked back up to him, offering Murata my hand, "Well, until I remember you, let's start over. I'm..." It took me a second to remember my own name again and I said unsurely, "Yuri...? That's right, my name is Yuri Shibuya. Nice to meet you...again..." I added at the end.
Behind his glasses, I could have sworn that I saw a flash of a pained look in his dark eyes. But he hid it so quickly that I wasn't sure.
"Well I'm Ken Murata," he grinned softly, "We've known each other since middle school but it's ok that you don't remember that right now. You'll remember someday and I'll be there for you until that day comes. Because amnesia or not, I'm here for you. Just like you'd be there for me if I had the same condition." Then Murata laughed and pulled me over into a gentle headlock as he looked my brother in the eye and leered at him playfully, "Don't think for a second that this turn of events is gonna get rid of me so easily, big-brother-of-my-friend. If anything, if all of us work together, Shibuya will be himself in no time at all! All we have to do is encourage him and let the memories find their way back on their own. Right Shibuya?"
I was a bit bewildered by the whole exchange between him and my brother but in the end I laughed too and nodded, "I'll do my best."
While my parents were making a welcome home dinner for me, I started to explore the house. Under the careful eye of my older brother of course. Ken Murata was helping my mom cook while wearing a frilly apron to match hers, which seemed odd to me. I mean, who does that nowadays?
The moment I entered the house an overwhelming sense of nostalgia wafted over me. I almost staggered as that feeling suddenly rushed over me, but I managed to calm myself down by taking two breaths in and one out, repeating this until my heart stopped racing.
It was a pretty humble house, not like what I had been expecting at all. Then again, I didn't know what to expect in the first place anyway. There was a glass cabinet full of teacups in a corner of the living room along with a large sofa and an average sized television. Of to the side of the same room stood the dining table that peered into the kitchen so that we could talk to mom even when she was cooking.
On the second floor were all the bedrooms and a small bathroom while main bathroom was actually still downstairs in a room behind the staircase. I had visited the main bathroom before coming up to the second floor and for the oddest reason I felt like I spent a lot of time down here before I lost my memories.
Did I like taking long showers or something? I remembered asking myself, And why is there still water in the tub? Shouldn't mom drain it? I resisted the urge to do it myself for some reason and quickly resumed my tour of the place that I once did-and hopefully would again-call my home.
Shori eagerly showed me his room which was little more than a bed, a small dresser next to that, a closet, and a desk where his laptop sat wired up. "I'm in college right now," Shori explained to me, "I've been staying here to save money for when I move out and live on my own. Of course, even when that does happen, I'm not planning on moving very far," he smiled warmly, "after all, I can't let you out of my sight even for a second Yu-chan. You're my little brother and I promised to protect you."
"Thanks Shori..." I smiled back, sitting on the edge of his bed, "That means a lot to me. I know it's gotta hurt for me not knowing who you guys are yet but I'm starting to get used to the idea. Especially now that we're home."
Shori looked at me questioningly and asked, "Haven't you gone to your room yet? I'm sure that you'll remember much more about yourself if you take a look for yourself. And I'll be here if you need anything."
I flinched at the idea and when he noticed that, I admitted, "I know you're trying to help Shori but this is still a lot to take in. I don't think I'm ready to go in there yet. I'm too scared that I won't-" But I clamped my mouth shut as my voice threatened to crack.
A tight lump formed in my throat and my eyes began to sting with unshed tears. I was so ashamed to know how little I remembered about this place. And of course by the fact that I felt that I knew Murata more than I did my own family. That wasn't his fault but still, it left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. Of all the people I could have felt even a trace of familiarity with, why had it only been Murata?
"Yuri...? You ok?" Shori asked me when I suddenly stopped.
I jumped slightly at the sound of my own name being used and whispered weakly to myself, "I'll be ok..." then the tears began to fall despite my best efforts and I sniffled, "I'll be ok..."
I repeated this over and over, holding my face between my hands in a vain attempt to stem the flow of tears. I felt so helpless. I felt like I had betrayed my family by remembering Murata slightly more and not the rest of them.
But more than that, there was this gaping hole in my heart that had formed soon after I met my parents again. Something still felt missing. Some important part of my life that I had lost track of along with everything else.
As I sat there, overcome by hopelessness, I soon noticed the absence of a familiar weight around my neck that always used to be there; a symbol of a lifelong bond that had actually transcended it. It was calling me back to another place I considered my home, where a very different sort of family of mine was waiting for me. The actual object was sitting on the dresser in my room but it was the feelings that were attached to it that would eventually help me fill this new void in my life that I now had. And would, in its own way, help me rediscover that side of myself.
That night was the night I had my first dream about the other world. I had been too afraid to sleep in my own bedroom so my parents set up a place for me on the sofa in the living room. I curled up on my side as much as I could despite the fading bruises on my skin and fell into a troubled sleep.
In my dream, everything was warped and spinning; as if I was on neurotics or something that was making me trip out. A confused mess of familiar images and voices danced under my heavy eyelids. I couldn't make much sense of any of them, no matter how much I tried to...
It was about then that I felt a sudden jolt in my chest and the scenery suddenly blacked out; just like a television would during a thunderstorm. For a second, everything was pitch black. I was surrounded by complete silence until I heard muffled voices growing steadily louder in the distance. I moved to follow the sound when a terrible mind-consuming pain blotted out every other thought. Again I heard the sirens shrilling overhead and could see the blinding light swinging above me as the ambulance made a turn. The world around me kept fading in and out from unbearably bright to extremely dark.
The pain was the only thing I knew for certain was real. I could feel my side searing with each excruciatingly shallow breath I took. My skull was on fire and no one was there to save me from this agony. I was alone amidst a sea of strangers trying to save my life.
That is, until everything suddenly went quiet again. I felt warmth seep into my cold, numb, broken body as I lay there. An overwhelming sense of peace swept over me as I felt a familiar hand fold over mine. I looked around and for some reason I was back at the hospital. Only this time, everything, even the sky, was pure white and smelled like water lilies.
The woman that was holding my hand patted my head tenderly and started to stroke my hair, whispering"It'd not time for you to go yet Yuri. There's still too much that you can accomplish..."
I was too tired to open my eyes but I knew that voice. "Who are you...?" I asked her, leaning into her soft touch, "I'm trying. I'm trying so hard to remember, but I-"
"Hush now Yuri. Everything will be alright, I promise," and she continued to run her delicate pale fingers through my dark hair, soothing me with her presence alone.
"Mom...? Is that you?" I asked, although I already knew somehow that it wasn't her.
Her soft gentle laugh filled the air and she said warmly, "No Yuri, I am not your mother, but I do treasure you so very much. After all, you saved those dearly beloved friends of mine that I could not. And now, it's their turn to help save you..." I shuttered as her lips lovingly pressed on my forehead and she began to pull away. I didn't want her to go so I finally forced my eyes open just as she faded into the white, smiling so tenderly as she said, "I'll always be with you Yuri; and remember, even if you should lose sight of who you are or where you're from, you are never alone. There are people who remember you. They are the ones that will never leave you, no matter what you forget..."