ok everyone, here's chapter 22.

Chapter 22 - What I Can't Remember

-Tenma's POV-

I looked at him, tears spilling down my face.

"What did I forget?!" I shouted, sobs racking my body. "Please...tell me..." I cried.

Warm hands held my shoulders. "Why? Why don't you remember?" he asked.

"I don't know...I'm sorry..." I quietly cried.

He brought me into a warm embrace, my face buried in his chest. "It's alright..." he said, his hands running through my hair.

-Ichijo's POV-

I can't believe she forgot...but from what I can remember, she was always like this.

-Flashback-

"Ne, Tenma?" I called to the small girl sleeping at her desk. "it's time to go."

"Go where?" she asked groggily, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Don't tell me you forgot," I said, sweat dropping. She gave me a 'sorry but yeah' look, and I laughed. "Your mother and father are having Karie-chan's party tonight, you were supposed to get your outfit and stuff with Kaname and me." I explained.

She jumped up. "I can't believe I forgot that!!"

-End Flashback-

I let go of her, and gave her a reasoning smile. "It's fine, you'll remember soon. I know it."

She looked up at me, tears still spilling down her cheeks. "Just tell me...please."

It felt as though I'd been stabbed, the last thing I wanted, was to see her cry. And by my own actions none the less.

I reached out and touched the top of her head. "Don't cry...please...just don't." I wanted to tell her why I wanted her to stop, but that would only make me seem selfish.

She moved away, towards her window. "I'm going for a walk."

"To where?" I asked curiously.

"I..." she trailed off. "The forest, where I was before," she said suddenly, jumping from the window.

I ran to the window, looking out at her sprinting form.

-Tenma's POV (Forest)-

Running through the forest, with no idea where one is, but driven by a longing, a longing to find something I cannot.

"Do you need something?" A voice called.

I stopped cold, "where are you?!" I shouted, looking all over, but finding no sign of her.

"You must find me yourself."

"How can I find you?!" I shouted.

"You'll know when you do."

Her voice, it was close, I ran to my right, and found nothing.

"Try again."

I turned to the left and ran. Though, I only found more empty forest.

"Third time's the charm."

This time, I ran straight for the clearing, found the way I came, and went straight.

"Smart girl."

I looked up, and there on that same old tree, was not a person to be seen.

"Keep going."

I ran forward, only stopping when my feet hit water, and I fell face first into a small lake.

"Very classy."

I quickly stood up, my body drenched in water. "You know why I'm here don't you?"

I looked up, and took a sharp breath. "What happened to you?"

The woman was chained and tied by vines, between two trees, standing in the water. She had bruises everywhere, and her lips were dripping with blood. She laughed. "So, what is it?"

"What did I forget?" I asked plainly.

"Why should I know?"

"Why are you chained up?" I retorted, temper rising.

"Tell me this first, who attacked you?"

"The lady in white," I answered.

She sighed, "Tenma, the purpose of her attack, do you know what it was?"

"Duh, she was trying to kill me!" I shouted, annoyance evident in my tone.

"those were not her intentions."

"Then why'd she attack me?!" I didn't understand what was going on?!

"In an attempt to permanently seal away both me, and your memories," she said.

"My...memories?"

Her face was solemn. "Haven't you had those moments where you remember things, things that you never thought you knew?"

I nodded. "But why?"

"I have yet to figure this out myself," she said, her eyes downcast.

"Then, can you at least tell me what he said? I really need to know..."

She closed her eyes, and drew in a deep breath. "He said he...loved you."

I fell to my knees in the lake. Fresh salty tears brimming up in my eye. "Why...why was that what I forgot?" I said, oblivious to the new presence in the area.

"That is not an answer I have, but one you need to find."

"Can you please just knock it off with the mind games?" I said, my tone desolate.

"No, but I'll tell you this: your tone, and the fact that you're soaked in water match very well."

"That's a little cruel, don't you think?" I retorted.

"Maybe, but you know we both have different definitions of the word," she chuckled.

"But anyways..."

I looked up, a questioning look on my face.

"You should head back, he's probably worried sick."

"No he's not, he's mad at me, I know it," I said calmly.

She chuckled again. "You'd be surprised at what goes through his head, or anyone else's."

I gathered my soaking form and began to walk away, my long violet skirt clinging to me.

As I was walking back, I felt someone's presence close to me, but my senses were cloudy. I couldn't figure out who it was.

I stood rigid, the sound of a breaking twig caught my ears, and I prepared to defend myself. "Who's there?!" I shouted into the black nothingness of the forest.

A figure stepped out from between the trees. It was Ichijo. I felt a lump rise in my throat. 'Why's he out here?'

But as the moon came from behind the clouds, lighting the area, I could see Ichijo clearly. He was white as a sheet, his smile gone, his hair tangled, and his once glowing eyes were lost and dull. He look like he'd been crying or something.

"What...happened to you?" I asked quietly.

He didn't look up, but kept walking, his eyes unfocused.

"What's wrong?" I asked, only to receive no answer, he only kept walking.

I grabbed his arm as he walked past me. "I said, 'what's wrong?'"

His head snapped up, his eyes coming back into focus. He turned and looked at me. "T-Tenma?" His voice was hoarse.

"Why're you out here?" I asked again, trying to keep the agitation from my voice.

He looked over towards the horizon. "You've been gone for a long time, I was worried, I guess."

I slowly reached for his arm again, my head lowered. "About before...what I forgot-"

"I already said it was alright," he cut me off.

"I...remember what you said..." I finished quietly, not meeting his gaze.

I soon felt myself being pulled to him, his smile returning. "I knew it. I knew you'd remember."

But all too suddenly, my knees gave way, but his grip never loosened, as I felt myself being lifted up. "Let's get back," he said, walking off towards the dorms.