"Is that really me?" Tsukushi points at a picture in the photo album she is flipping through. "I can't believe you took me to Hawaii for my birthday."
Karin looks over Tsukushi's shoulder at the picture and laughs. "It wasn't easy. You refused to go for a while before we told you that we couldn't cancel the plane tickets or the hotel reservation and get our money back."
Tsukushi had just been released from the hospital the previous day and everyone was going to be going to a hot spring resort run by Ayumi and her husband the following day. While Tsukushi was in the hospital, Karin, Yuki, Sakurako, Shigeru, and Kazuya had explained the situation to Tsukushi. The one subject they agreed not to tell her was about the end of the wedding and March 30th. Everyone has been putting in their two cents about a certain event when brought up in the effort to help Tsukushi remember. Small memories have been coming back to her such as going to classes, playing the piano, and hanging out on a daily basis with her friends. Tsukushi was now able to recognize Karin, Sakurako, and Shigeru but not all the memories about her friends had come back to her yet. The F4 had come by to see Tsukushi on a regular basis as well, except Tsukasa who came to the hospital but was never able to go into Tsukushi's room.
Tsukushi flips to the next page. Tsukushi is caught up in the photos. All of the photos on the pages are of her and Tsukasa, ranging from Tsukasa carrying Tsukushi to her discontent, the two of them dancing, a normal side by side pose, and Tsukasa and Tsukushi kissing.
"Ah," Karin remarks as she looks at the page. "I think this was the only time Tsukasa was ever able to come see you. It was usually the other way around."
Tsukushi traces the pictures with her fingers. "I wish I could remember. I can't believe I actually married him." She gazes down at her wedding rings while her right hand fiddles with the Saturn necklace. She had decided to keep them on after being told that she was indeed Mrs. Tsukushi Doumyoji hoping the rings and necklace would bring back part of her memory.
Karin laughs, "You may not remember but I guess old habits are really hard to get rid of."
"What?" Tsukushi asks dumbfounded.
Karin points at the necklace. "Whenever you use to think or talk about Tsukasa you would start to play with your necklace, just like you're doing now."
"Oh!" Tsukushi looks at the small Saturn charm trying to force a memory to come back to her. Nothing happens. Tsukushi sighs and starts to flip through the photo album again and Karin explains what is going on in the pictures. The two go through a couple more albums before going to pack for the trip tomorrow. In the middle of their packing, the door bell rings.
"I'll get it," Tsukushi puts down the shirt she is folding and goes to answer the door.
"Good evening, ma'am. I have a delivery for Tsukushi. Am I at the right address?"
"Yes, I'm Tsukushi."
The delivery man hands her a bouquet of a dozen roses. Tsukushi signs for the delivery and the man leaves.
"Who was that…? Wow!" Karin enters the room and looks at Tsukushi's gift. "Who is that from?"
Tsukushi scans between the flowers until she find the card. Karin takes the flowers to put them in a vase while Tsukushi reads the card.
Tsukushi,
I am sorry I have not visited you personally in the hospital. I have been doing a lot of thinking recently. I don't know how well I'll be able to handle all of this. I understand know how it must have felt for you when I had amnesia but throwing a baseball at your head might not be the best of ideas. Instead, I thought there were some things I should let you know. I won't force you to wear the wedding rings, not until you remember why you are wearing them. I don't know when or if you'll get your memory back. Until then, I will get you to fall in love with me all over again. I've let you go too many times before in the past but never again. No matter what happens, we can and we will get through it, together.
I have some business to take care of first but I will be joining you at the hot spring the day after tomorrow. Relax and enjoy yourself. You deserve it.
Love always,
Tsukasa
Tsukushi rereads the note many times taking Tsukasa's words to heart. She can feel her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She puts a hand over her heart to make sure it's not just her mind playing tricks on her. When she feels her heart beat with her hand as well, it puts her in a little bit of a panic. Tsukushi walks briskly into the bathroom and locks the door behind her. She takes a deep breath and leans against the door. She glances over into the mirror and notices that her cheeks are flushed. She closes her eyes deep in thought, "My mind can't remember anything about him but my heart and my body do. Why? Why can't I remember him?!" Tears roll silently down her face.
"Tsukushi?" Karin taps lightly on the door. "Are you ok in there?"
Tsukushi swallows the lump in her throat and replies, "Yes, I'll be out in a second." She wipes her eyes and takes a couple calming breaths before unlocking the door and going out. Karin greets her with a skeptical look. "I'm fine. Doumyoji sent the flowers to say 'Get Well Soon'."
Karin sighs, "If you say so. Let's finish packing quickly. We're going to be leaving early tomorrow and we should be prepared for the long trip ahead of us."
Tsukushi nods and goes back into her room. She slips the folded note from Tsukasa in her back pocket until she can find a safer place to put it later.
