I tried to keep myself as busy as possible, so that Hiei's words wouldn't echo through my mind. I cleaned the whole apartment thoroughly, causing Yusuke to think that he'd walked into the wrong apartment when he got home. I made breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks and desserts on the side. I exhausted myself during the day, so I slept peacefully at night. I didn't pay attention to the days passing. It was almost like I was on autopilot.

I didn't know what had happened to Tao, nor did I care. I had lost interest in him, and he didn't visit me. That ring that had been his stayed in the corner of my mind, though. I didn't mean to sound materialistic and greedy, but I really wanted that ring. I felt like if I had it, all my problems would disappear.

Then, once the cut on my shoulder had been completely healed for about a week, I saw Tao again. He came up to the apartment, and I didn't ask how he had found it out. Probably Kurama.

Both Yusuke and Atsuko were out at the time, so I served him tea. I waited for him to speak.

"I want to remember," Tao said quietly. "I've been thinking about that girl you told me about, and I can almost remember. Almost. But I feel like she's in trouble, and I need to find her."

I sighed, setting my own cup down. "I don't know what you want me to do."

"Kurama told me about your…Abilities. How you can unlock anything, right? And amnesia is sort of like a lock that holding back the memories, right? So…"

That was interesting. I hadn't quite thought about it that way. "I'll try." I held up my hands to the sides of his head. I concentrated, trying to feel for the 'lock.'

"Kurama says you and Hiei haven't seen each other for a while. Why not?" Tao asked, breaking my concentrating in more than one way. I glared at him.

"Just shut up." I snapped. Luckily, Tao didn't seem too bothered by my rude comment. I closed my eyes again, once again turning my attention to the task at hand. There - a mental wall, blocking his memories from his conscious mind. I worked on it, until it broke. Memories flooded back through his mind, and I was able to experience them too.

That little black-haired girl dominated most of my memories. I loved her terribly, and wished some day to marry her, even though I was only fifteen at the time, and she nine. I was willing to wait, though. I loved her so much. I would always protect her, as best as I could.

One particular memory stood out in my mind. This girl's real name was long, and just as pretty as she was, but I preferred to call her something else. 'Sunny.' I gave it to her because her smile would light up the room. She didn't call me by my real name, Zhao-Sui, either, because she couldn't pronounce it. Instead, she called me 'Tao.'

But then, something happened. We were attacked one day, and she was kidnapped. Thinking I would never see her again, grief flowed through me, wiping my memory of her.

I leapt back from Tao, scrambling away. Sunny. I was Sunny! I remembered my childhood friend, Zhao-Sui, and I remembered him calling me Sunny, in place of my name, Amaterasu. I couldn't believe I hadn't remembered Tao when I had first seen him. I threw my arms around him, joyously.

"Tao!" I cried. "I can't believe it's you!"

"And you, Sunny! It's been a while."

"Ten years." I suppose it was long enough that I could have forgotten him. But I still felt awful about it.

"Oh!" Tao said. "I almost forgot. How's Susano? Where is he, anyway?"

I looked down. "He's dead. Killed almost a year ago."

Tao's face fell, and he pulled me into his arms. "I'm so, so sorry, Sunny. I didn't mean to-"

I interrupted him. "No, don't worry about it. It's okay. Besides, it's all in the past." That comment reminded me about Hiei, and I felt instantly sad again. Tao seemed to notice, because he brushed a hand across my cheek.

"What's wrong?"

I sighed, thinking that perhaps it was alright to tell Tao the truth, considering we were childhood friends.

"It's Hiei. He said some stuff to me that really bothered me, and it's possible that he hates me. It just…It just really hurt me."

Tao stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Is that so? Well, maybe I should have a word with him."

I glared at him. "Don't you dare." Besides, I remembered what Tao's thoughts were from the vision. Did he still want to marry me? If so, I didn't want to tell him my feelings for Hiei.

As if to answer my question, Tao leaned forward and kissed my cheek softly. I smiled, unsure of what I felt. Tao was everything that Hiei wasn't. He was kind, and sympathetic, whereas Hiei was cruel, and distant. Who wouldn't want to be with Tao?

The truth is, I didn't. Tao brushed his lips over mine, but I barely felt it. I couldn't stop thinking about Hiei.

**************

Now that I was in some kind of a relationship with Tao, I was thinking about Hiei more than ever. I knew it was wrong to be seeing Tao when I felt nothing for him, but whenever I tried to break up with him, my voice would break in my throat. What to do…

Yusuke seemed to sense my inner turmoil, and he would glare at me occasionally, adding to my guilt. He was blaming me for not breaking it off with Tao. Ugh.

As far as I knew, Tao was living with Kurama. And Hiei apparently stayed at Kurama's often too. I could no see that turning out well. And just weeks later, I found out that it certainly hadn't.

One day, while Yusuke was at school, and Atsuko was out with a new boyfriend. I was taking care of the apartment, when I heard a quiet but firm knock on the door. Curious, I opened it, coming face-to-face with Hiei. I swallowed a gasp of surprise. Trying to act as stoic as possible, I turned away from him, beckoning him to come in. He closed the door behind him. I walked to the kitchen to make tea.

"You don't have to do that," he said softly. I sighed, turning around to face him.

"Is there something I can help you with, Hiei?" I asked, trying not to betray any emotions I was feeling. I was so happy to see him again, but already seeing him had ripped open the wounds he had caused.

He reached over and stretched the neck of my shirt to reveal the pale pink scar from the raid. "I'm glad it healed," he commented dryly. I frowned.

"Hiei, what are you doing here?" I asked again, less polite this time.

Hiei closed his eyes for a moment. "Tao…Told me you're dating him."

"So what if I am?" I replied icily. "I don't see how that's really any of your business."

"But why?" Hiei snapped. "You barely know him."

"That's not true," I said. "He's a childhood friend. That black-haired girl from the vision? That was me."

"That's still not the reason. Tell me, Tera, why?!" Hiei slammed his hands on either side of my head, so I couldn't escape.

"Because!" I yelled angrily. "He's nothing like you! He doesn't hurt me, he's kind and caring! That's why!" I hated my words. And I wished I hadn't said them immediately after. Hiei's expression was pained, and it seemed like he didn't really understand. His eyes were scouring my face, searching for something I didn't know. He leaned towards me, pressing his lips against mine fiercely. The kiss wasn't sweet like Tao's, but it was so much better. My heart began to pound painfully in my chest. I was disappointed when he pulled away.

"I don't like seeing you hurt," he whispered, his warmth breath mingling with mine. "I wish I could protect you from pain, and heal your scars, but I can see it's not my place."

He stepped away from me and walked out of the apartment, leaving me shocked and confused.