Vivienne and Kenshin were waiting outside when a doctor joined them from a ward.
"How's our son doing?" Vivienne quickly asked, her wide eyes evident of how much she had cried.
"He sustained small injuries here and there, a fracture on his left arm, a concoction, and internal hemorrhage in the brain but he's okay and stable now. We'll keep a close eye on him for a couple of weeks."
The doctor told them that it was a miracle that KK was still alive. And that it was the first in the history of his career to have ever experienced anything like it. It felt like magic like an invincible sorcerer blew an awakening charm on him. But they all knew that only one person could have been in control. The lamb upon the throne in heaven.
The Kenshin couple after discussing with the doctor was allowed into the ward to see KK with a warning not to wake him up that he could use a truck-load of rest. But when Vivienne laid eyes on him, she couldn't hold back her tears; he looked helpless, broken, and hurt.
She felt guilt build up in her, all she wanted to do was hold him and never let go. At that moment, she promised herself that once KK was fine and back, she'd work on their relationship and family. Imagine they lost him? What would people say?
Kenshin couldn't bring himself to go close to him, he knew he'd failed somehow in the last three years.
They didn't expect that Vivienne's silent sob would wake him up. KK tilted his head to the direction he heard the sound come from "Mum?" they heard him call, trying to look their way but the throbbing pain in his head couldn't let him.
"KK?" Vivienne went close to him and took the empty chair.
"I'll get the doctor" Kenshin excused himself. He couldn't face his son.
"Why are you sad? I know I'm in the hospital but don't be sad, okay? I'll be fine" KK said softly.
Was her former KK back? She hadn't heard him talk this way in three years.
"I'm not sad, I'm happy. You called me mum" She realized how badly she's been yearning to hear him call her that again.
He was a bit confused "You're my mother, aren't you?" he inquired to be sure he wasn't mistaken. She nodded as fresh tears escaped her eyes. Where's Kenton?" Vivienne was taken aback, "is he okay too? I remember we were involved in an accident together. Can I see him"
What was happening?" Vivienne was confused. Has he lost three years of his memory? She couldn't find the right words to reply to him.
The door opened and Kenshin stepped in with the doctor. He checked on KK's pulse rate and heartbeat, and his stethoscope went back around his neck. "Pulse rate and heart rate are normal," he asked KK a few oral questions with his fingers and he passed the test. "Where do you still feel pain?"
"My head, and arm" KK replied
"Don't worry the anesthetics will sort that in a few days. For the main time avoid anything that will strain you or your brain; no too much thinking, okay?" The doctor smiled and KK returned the smile. He added "Let's do a little bit of an exercise. Do you know who the two extra people in the room are?"
"My parents" KK replied sharply.
"Do you remember where you were headed before the car crashed?"
KK tried to and finally said with a frown, "I was with Kenton when it happened. How's he doing?"
"That's it for today KK, have some rest now" he gave the parent duo a sign to step out with him.
"KK, we'll be back, okay? Let's have a word with the doctor" Vivienne said to him and they excused themselves outside. "What's going on with my son? He asked for his brother who died three years ago and also said they were involved in an accident together but that happened three years back"
"He must have amnesia due to the hard hit of the head I believe happened in the accident. It might take a few weeks but his memories will all be back bit by bit"
"How are we supposed to explain to our son that he's lost part of his memory?" Vivienne asked.
"Will he recover them back?" Kenshin asked
"Yes. Partial loss of memory is always temporal" the doctor replied assuringly.
"Thank you very much, doc," Kenshin said to dismiss him and prevent Vivienne from lashing out her frustration at him.
"Excuse me," the doctor said and walked away.
Vivienne sighed, frowning. She became more pissed when Kenshin tried to run away again "I'll just sort the bills"
"What? You won't even talk to your son? You can always sort the bills later"
"I'll join you" Kenshin walked away
*******
"You should go in, dear" Vivienne said when found Skylar peeking through the glass space of KK ward's door at him. He had a book across his face.
She was startled by her and stammered as she spoke "Hi...Mrs. Kenshin...I was just passing by...there'd be no need for that"
"Don't worry, he won't recognize you, he doesn't remember anything from the past three years. And no one has come to visit him for the past two weeks, he's been asking me if he had any friends at all," she took a glimpse at him "he could use some company"
"I don't know, Mrs. Kenshin" she hesitated
Vivienne smiled "It's okay dear, I totally understand you. He's been a jerk to you and I had no right asking you for such a favor, I apologize." She entered the ward and the door went shut after her. Skylar made to leave then paused and went in too.
KK's gaze flew to the door when it opened and an unfamiliar lady walked in. He smiled on seeing a different face other than his parents'.
"Hi, are you a friend of mine?" he asked overwhelmed.
Ivy looked at Vivienne before replying to his question "Um, yes"
"Please come in, I don't recognize you since I've lost part of my memory but I'm glad you're here. Please have a sit" Skylar sat on the couch. "What's your name again?"
She was tempted to say Ms. VIP but then replied "Skylar. Skylar Maverick"
"Maverick. Is this your family's hospital?" he asked
"Yes, my parents own it" she simply replied
"That's great, their services are pleasant"
Skylar was not used to this side of KK, it was like the accident made him a whole new person.
"I was told I'm in the university, an architecture student. What's your major?"
"Nursing"
"Sounds like you're following your parents' footsteps, they must be a big motivation to you"
"They are. How are you feeling?" she finally got the question past her throat.
"Better. I can't wait to be discharged, I hate it here" he realized how that came out and added in a rush "Don't get me wrong, your hospital is great but I just don't like the smell of hospitals, makes me sick"
Ivy was cracked up by his honesty "I don't like the smell either and that's why I avoid ailment of any sort"
KK chortled "The drugs are my worse"
"You can say that again"
"Thank you for making time to come see me. Maybe you could tell me some stuff about myself, Mum wouldn't say more than a few words"
"I don't think that's a good idea son. Remember what the doctor said?" Vivienne who has been listening to their conversation chirped into it.
Skylar immediately got up "I think I should leave now" She figured Vivienne would want her to leave too because they wouldn't want to be caught in their lies.
"So soon?" KK didn't seem to like the idea.
"I just remembered I've got plans for the hour, excuse me," Skylar said.
"It's a shame you have to leave, I was enjoying your company but visit again sometime, okay? The door's always open."
Skylar gave him a sweet smile, bid them goodbye, and left the room. She heaved a sigh when the door closed behind her. She felt sorry for KK, it must be so hard for him. And Saint Micheal, she hasn't seen him in a while, since KK's accident. Even when she thought of him, he wouldn't appear and she found herself thinking about him a lot lately because she's got a dozen of questions on her mind to ask him.
"I miss you, Guardian" she acknowledged in a whisper to herself, pouting. And walked away.
*******
After he found a space to park his car, KK alighted his car and got his stuff. The environment felt and looked new to him, he had to use Google Maps to locate the lecture venue that morning. He ignored the stares from people as he was in a hurry to locate his lecture hall because he wasted so much time trying to locate the building.
Walking up the flight of steps, a girl bumped into him. "I'm sorry," they said in unison as they moved back. He noticed the look on the girl's face when she saw his face like he was some monster haunting her.
"Ms. Are you alright?" he asked
She quickly nodded "Yeah. Excuse me" she hurried on, down the steps.
"Be careful not to bump into someone else" he said after her.
When he located the lecture hall and entered, the class was filled up and the lecturer was in front. He glanced at his wristwatch, he was unforgivably late by thirty minutes.
He didn't just notice his lateness, he also noticed that his presence caused a stir among the students.
"Welcome back, Mr. Kenshin" the young female lecturer who looked like she was in her early thirties smiled sweetly at him.
What? He had expected to be scolded but on second thought, he thought she must have let it go because he just got back after a while and next time she wouldn't be so nice.
"Thank you Mrs. Charles" he remembered her name from the lecture update Vivienne had gotten for him from only God knows who. It struck him; young and married? Wow! What was the rush for? "And I'm sorry, it won't happen again" he added
"Wait, did he just say sorry? I must be hearing things" Ian said to Skylar who was sitting in between him and Ryan.
KK found a vacant seat in front and sat down.
"And he sat in front?" Ryan scoffed in surprise, "new"
"Beginning of a new dawn or what? Hmm...it's like he came back to life as a whole new person" Ian added.
Skylar kept silent. She haven't told Ryan that she went to visit KK and she hoped he doesn't find out else he'd be pissed at her. The last thing she needed was KK to be the reason for a fight between them.
*******
At a table set of cement barn, Skylar and her friends. They had clear straw cups of different flavors of drinks on the table as they studied and threw questions at each other.
KK got his drink from the server behind the counter and went to look for a place to sit. He had his sunglasses on because the sun at that hour was scorching, he could feel his skin burning underneath the clothes.
Skylar caught him looking around for where to sit and lifted the book she was holding across her face stylishly to avoid questions from her friends.
KK noticed that all the cement barn seats under the shade of trees were occupied. Though knowing fully well that his fellow students on campus were avoiding him like he was some kind of plague, he still took his chances and proceeded to ask a group of students if he could sit with them to study. And the next second they were packing up and leaving. He tried to stop them, asking them to take the table back and that he should be the one to leave but they didn't heed his words.
"Seems like nobody likes you around here and you don't know why. Sucks!" he said to himself and sat down. He took out a book to start reading.
Skylar sighed silently, she thanked her stars that he didn't notice her.
He had only flipped one page open when his eyes caught someone familiar. He had only seen her once but her image is still imprinted in his memory. Skylar. It was definitely her.
She glanced his way and her heart picked up a beat when she saw him walking toward their table. Shoot! She lifted the book back to her face wishing the ground would open and swallow her.
"Hi," his voice drew all attention up at him, and they gave him the same look everyone's been giving him since today. "sorry if I'm a bother, I just thought I saw someone I knew. Skylar Maverick, right?" he asked his eyes on her.
Skylar put down the book and answered after a while "Yeah"
"You didn't show up at the hospital again"
She swallowed the lump in her throat wishing he'd stop talking.
"What's he talking about?" Ryan inquired as all eyes moved to her.
"Oh! Crap" Skylar muttered beneath her breath. She sighed "I was passing by his ward when I went to see my parents and his mum invited me in"
"I was looking out for you but..." KK was saying when Ryan rudely cut him short.
"Shut up!" he said to Skylar, frowning, "Let me get this straight, you went to visit him at the hospital and you didn't tell me? What happened to no keeping secrets?"
"If I had...if I had told you, you wouldn't..." she trailed when Ryan began to pack up his stuff. "Best, c'mon be reasonable"
Ryan ignored her and walked away. Ian looked up at KK "Yeah, she came to see you, so what? There are a lot of out here people that don't care"
"I've been getting that vibe since I arrived this morning so I know even if I don't know why" KK replied
"TsK! Are you kidding me? What's with the new attitude and don't even think we'd ever be friends with you. You heard her, she was just walking past and your mother invited her in, don't get any ideas" Remi gave him a piece of her mind.
He gave Skylar one last look before backing away. He felt betrayed and hurt, he thought he had a friend.
"Pretending to be changed or something, it's gross," Ruby said with an irritated expression
"Whatever cheap game he's playing is not gonna work on us," Remi said
"Maybe his father finally decided to disown him and he's making amends so he doesn't miss out on the Kenshin's fortune," Steven said and the others aside Skylar found it funny.
"He shouldn't make that amends close to us 'cause I might peuk on him. I'm allergic to fake people" Ian said
"Guys, give him a break" Skylar finally said other words surprising them.
"You didn't just defend that guy, Sky?" Ruby said
"I wasn't defending him but I have my reason for saying that"
"Which is? Remi asked
Skylar stood up "I'd go look for my best friend"
Steven stopped her "I think you should give him space for now"
*******