Chapter 3: What Happened?

All of the previous effects of fangirling had left Aikawa's system completely.

This time, like many countless times before, she had tried to avoid her problems by indulging herself in things she enjoyed or loved - and like every other time, without fail, reality had come crashing back down on her.

Now her author was staring at her as the question she dreaded most hung in the air.

What happened?

Her eyes wandered around the room and her anxiety began to spike as she felt his heavy and questioning gaze weighing on her. She looked at anything - the floor, the IV drip, the television she had muted and left on - but those violet irises still pierced her, the power they held was suffocating.

She slowly looked up to meet his gaze.

"Well?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Of course, only you would...

She shook her head at her author who even now, despite all of his injuries, seemed to be brimming with confidence and power just when he needed it.

She took a deep and shaky breath, and exhaled deeply - her mind racing.

There was no telling how much he remembered, if he didn't even remember her.

Clenching her fists, she knew she'd have to choose her next words carefully.

Come on already, spit it out!

Usami Akihiko was growing more and more impatient as the seconds ticked by.

Hell, if he was plaster casted, beat up and couldn't even remember his own occupation, then he damn well deserved to know what had caused it.

So why aren't you telling me? he thought irritably.

His annoyance grew as he noticed her look around in an attempt to stall his question. He wasn't asking for much - all he wanted was an answer, so why was it so damn difficult?

"That's the way people are, Akihiko."

Akihiko stiffened slightly, faintly remembering a voice in the back of his head - words that he remembered being told to him long ago.

"Nothing in this world is free, and people are not so willing to give up the things they have - whether it be a possession, information or merely kindness."

"So you know how the strong survive?"

"You take that which is yours."

"You instill fear into others. Even if it is fake, no, even if everything you say is a lie, show them, 'I am better than you. I was always better than you. Compared to me, you are nothing and that is why I will take what I want'"

"Understand?"

Yes, father...he remembered himself saying.

"Ha! Good boy! You sure are a quick learner. Now, about getting you a tutor…"

Akihiko quickly snapped out of his sudden flashback.

He realized, if he wanted to get information out of her, he would have to show her that he wasn't going to put up with her stalling anymore.

Instill fear…

He crossed his arms and stared straight at her, putting all of his thoughts - all of his will - into the gesture.

He felt himself radiate power. Focusing on it, that power began to swell.

Aikawa twitched, as if she was able to sense his menacing aura, and slowly met his gaze. Her face looked conflicted, as if she didn't want to be caught in some sort of act, but wanted to confess everything all at once.

Weirdo.

"Well?" he cocked an eyebrow as one final touch.

At this gesture, Aikawa finally seemed to make up her mind, and sighed.

Clenching her fists, she turned to face him.

"You...were in an accident…" she began. "Well...it, it wasn't really your fault, but...as you were driving, another car hit yours. Well, it wouldn't have been so bad but you know, red sports cars aren't the safest vehicles…"

She paused to see if he recalled any of what she was saying.

By the looks of his blank expression, he didn't seem to be.

Good. she thought as she continued her story.

Ah, so it was a car accident then Akihiko thought as he listened intently to her story.

"Anyways, it was pouring that night anyways, since a typhoon was scheduled to come through Tokyo that day."

"But, like always, we were late with the manuscript - I couldn't hold off the printers anymore, meaning you couldn't hold me off anymore. You had to get it done that day, storm or not, or else our reputations would've been at stake. And, of course with our luck, your laptop died. So you had to write the rest of the 100,000 words of the manuscript by hand…"

Her lip began to quiver.

"I...I'm sorry, it's all my fault! You ran out of paper and I was away and couldn't bring you any, so...so when you called I made you go out and drive in the rain…"

She sat down heavily in the chair next to the bed and shielded her eyes from him, averting them to the floor.

A few seconds ticked by as she got the rest of her thoughts in order before she continued with her story.

"Well, what the police told me happened after was that someone who was driving the other way on the road lost control of their car - the rain was so heavy and it was so late at night, you must not have seen them coming and didn't know to swerve or slow down...so they hit you head on."

"The outcome wouldn't have been as bad as it is, but the airbags in your car were defective. You...you weren't wearing your seatbelt at the time either, and ended up getting ejected from the car itself and hit your head pretty hard on the pavement Your legs had gotten twisted up badly in the wreckage, too."

She paused again to clear her throat.

"When I first got a call you had been in an accident, they...they weren't sure if you were going to live. I was scared that...that I had lost you forever. I was so scared...but after your surgery, they said that you were going to be alright, and that I just had to wait until you woke up, so here I've been-"

She gestured her arm to their surroundings.

"I've been here, waiting for four days. Four days, so that I can say it personally," she put her fists in her lap and bowed as deeply as her body would allow while sitting.

"I am so, so sorry. Please forgive me. Please, for all this, forgive me."

Aikawa really looked like she was about to cry as her shoulders shook and she hung her head in shame.

They sat together in silence again as Akihiko let her words sink in.

She blames herself... he thought, his eyes softening and his irritation dulling at her honesty.

He exhaled deeply, looking again at his casted legs and damaged body then again to his editor. He twitched as he felt a twinge of guilt - he couldn't let her blame it all on herself.

"Look, Eri…" the woman flinched at the sound of her first name before finally raising her head to once again look him in the eyes.

"This isn't all your fault, okay? Things happen for a reason after all, whether they seem good at the time or horrendous, we can't change them, so stop worrying, okay? Look,"

He placed his hand on his chest.

"I'm alive, aren't I? And awake? Isn't that the most important thing right now?"

She hiccupped as her eyes began to water at his words.

"What I mean is - I forgive you. Of course I forgive you."

He gave her a reassuring smile and held out his hand to her. She looked at him cautiously, before taking his hand again and squeezing it tightly.

She let out a shaky sigh.

"Thank you."

He pat her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. He waited for her to calm down before speaking again.

"Now, now that I know what happened, can I ask you a few more things…?"

She nodded.

"Anything."

They had talked for hours, and Aikawa told Akihiko everything she had been told about his condition and that of the owner of the other car.

She said that they had been transported to another hospital and had their car separately towed before an ambulance had arrived for Akihiko, so she had no idea of their condition - or even their name. What she had known, however, is that it had to have been an equally expensive if not more expensive car as her Usami-sensei's.

They didn't live in the common man's section of Tokyo, after all.

"Those rich bastards," she had muttered.

"They probably hauled ass once they realized they'd hit someone else with as much cash as them. They probably didn't want to risk soiling their reputation and tried to run before they got spotted."

regarding Akihiko, however, the doctor had told her that they weren't exactly sure how bad his head injury would ultimately be.

When he had fallen, the impact of his head to the concrete had damaged certain parts of his cerebrum in his brain - which contain memory and the ability to process thought.

They honestly had no idea how this would end up affecting him or what memories or skills could be harmed, and wouldn't be able to tell until his anesthesia had worn off.

When Aikawa told him this, Akihiko had realized for the first time that he had never really stopped to think about it, and when she excused herself to go get him something to drink and to stretch her legs, his mind quickly couldn't stop thinking about it.

Who am I? How old am I? he began thinking.

Do I have family? Why wouldn't they be here, then… he found himself feeling strangely irritated at the thought, though he didn't know why.

Ah, well, I guess I probably don't like them then.

He brushed the backside of his hand against his cheek and leaned back into his pillows. He thought of what Aikawa had said about him before when she had laughed when he had mistaken her for his wife.

If she's not my wife...then am I in love with someone else?

His heart began to flutter at the sudden thought and a smile instantly tugged at his lips.

Yes.

He balled his sheets into one of his fists over his heart. He knew for a fact that there was someone he loved - he could feel it in his gut (since he didn't quite have his brains at the moment).

But do they love me back?

He paused, but the feeling in his chest did not go away.

Thank goodness.

So he was in love with someone who loved him back. He frowned, though, when he also realized that they - like his family - also weren't at his bedside waiting for him to wake up.

The feeling in his chest suddenly felt hollow, and his anxiety began to creep up on him once more as he wondered where they were.

Would they still love him? Would they still love him even if he had lost his memory? Even if he had forgotten them? Would they even want someone as banged up as he was?

But, right now...he thought.

Wherever you are…

I can't even remember your name.

Akihiko felt frustrated and ashamed, and tried desperately to remember anything about them at all.

He couldn't even begin to place their face, let alone their name.

Grumbling in frustration, he slammed his fist down next to him, the impact silenced by the soft mattress, and waited for what seemed like forever until Aikawa returned.

He would have many new questions to ask her when she got back.

Hello everybody! :D

I'm so sorry...this was supposed to be up yesterday, but…

*sigh* I shouldn't make promises.

Anyway, yay! Now you know how Usagi got all banged up and bruised.

Damn rich people…

(Just kidding, in case you're rich...please don't sue me)

I managed to make this chapter longer, but sadly I might have to wait until thursday to update again...I sort of put off my newspaper deadline and I'll have to crank out a story by tomorrow x.x

And I have a huge pre-test tomorrow, too...I have a feeling it's going to be a stressful day :S

Oh, well, I hope you all are doing well!

(MEET YOUR DEADLINES IF YOU HAVE ANY!)

-OopsIThoughtICouldFlyy ~(=u=~ )