Lost Memories Chapter 1:

The Reach of a New Start

Memories, the mental faculty of retaining and recalling past experience. The act of an instance of remembering, recollection. What a person can remember from the past, something remembered, the period of time covered by remembrance. Each and every memory we had is so important. But where did those memories go? Those past moments which was part of our lives? Who am I talking about? Well, how can it be simpler? Me and my twin brother Akio. But we're also no ordinary twins; you'll figure it out in the future.

My name is Aiko, I'm not sure who I am, and where I come from and neither does Akio. We don't even know our own names or age, it was a mere guess from our appearence. We came up with our names by our shoulders; it has some kind of tattoo stating "AIKO" and "AKIO." We're thinking our parents probably came up with that idea to make sure they can tell the difference between us… We don't remember anything of our past; obviously, it was only a year ago. It came out like this.

1 Year Ago…

Running. What's going on? Where am I? I came running in the a pitch black place looking for a place to go. It was like an endless tunnel. Panting for air I yelled out for help needing a way to get out of this place. I fall down tripping by my own feet.

"Ow...," I stated staying on the ground. I seemed as if I were a seven year old child... I hear footsteps coming closer and closer increasing in sound until it stopped. I look up seeing a beautiful woman with hair as soft and smooth as silk, hair reaching the her ankles, a beautiful black dress decorated with beautiful white frills and violet roses that matched her beautiful face, eyes blue as a clear summer sea, and skin fair as can be. She was around her late twenties. She seemed like one of those girls who could be in those princess movies, no she was like she was already in a princess movie. She bent down and handed her hand to me.

"Don't worry; it's only a mere fall. Just careful with your step," she says smiling to me. She helped lifting me up back to my feet. She caressed my cheek and said, "I wouldn't want you to get hurt, my princess," she stated. She removed her hand and began fixing my hair with her long slender fingers running down on my hair. She soon stopped and stepped back. Just when I was about to open my mouth she started fading away. I was too shocked to move. Was this some kind of illusion?! I tried reaching for her hand but it only resulted into missing her. She was becoming transparent and disappearing. What's going on!? I started to try to reach her multiple times, but she was already fading before my very eyes. Soon enough, she was gone.

I gasped for air sitting up straight, rushing out of surprise. I look around my surroundings, deserted with only one person by my side. A boy, a human boy. He was lying down on his side facing towards me.I came back to my senses and began to look around. It was dry, lonely, and empty. A flat area of land. I heard mumbling to my left side and came back to looking back at the boy. He had black hair tied in a small ponytail, bangs brushing against his forehead, a dark midnight blue vest with a silver collar, white pants, a white t-shirt, and a magenta tattoo that was marked, "Akio" on his left shoulder. I'm guessing that was his name, Akio. He breathed heavily almost like he was having a nightmare and then shot his eyes open looking to the direction his head was facing with a look of surprise. He looked up to my face and blinked as I tilted my head staring back trying to process who he was and why he was even here.

He sat up Indian style and stared into my eyes and asked, "Who are you?" I blinked at his sudden question and thought. Who am I? I just woke up, not knowing anything…He continued looking at me with curious eyes, narrowing his eyes, "Well, who are you?" he asked again. I brushed a hair strand behind my ear wondering who I really am.

"Uh… Well I uh...I mean," I panicked wondering on what to say. I don't know myself…! What do I say to him? "I uh..." he blinked at my sudden reaction tilting his head a bit to the side with a confused look in his eyes. "I ..." he lowered his head waiting for my answer, "I…actually don't know…who I am…" I said nervously blinking at him with my eyes frightened and nervous. What happened? How can I NOT know my name? What could've happened before I had lost my memories? "Wait…who are you then?" I asked tilting my head staring at him with curious eyes.

He flinched and backed up his head. He seemed to be thinking too, as well. Could it be possible he doesn't know who he is either? I came closer to him looking straight at him in the eyes. He gulped and said, "I…I don't know either," he said with a nervous expression.

We both didn't know who we were, where we came from, and what happened. "Well...for one thing, I know you're name is Akio, correct?" I asked pointing at his left shoulder. He blinked at my remark and quickly lifted up his left shoulder looking up at it. He squinted as he read it wondering. He rested his shoulder back down and looked at me. He then pointed at my right shoulder. Hesitantly, I then did the same thing he did. Aiko. My name is Aiko? I blinked and looked up at him. He stood up and offered his hand, I took it and he lifted me up back to my feet. We looked around wondering where to go.

"Where do you think we're at…?" he asked shielding his eyes from the sun.

"Not sure…" I said running my fingers through my hair. I had black hair… I looked at Akio, he had blue cerulean eyes. I looked at him and he looked at me back. "What do I look like…?" I asked. He blinked at the question and jumped a little. I think he just figured out that he didn't know what he looked like himself.

"Uh…well..." he said rubbing the back of his head. He froze a bit when feeling his small ponytail and then continued rubbing. "How about we find something that we can see our reflection first, then?" he asked finally coming to a conclusion. I nodded. "Plus, we should find a way out of here before we die of dehydration, it would be best to find a village or city around here than to just stand around in the middle of nowhere." I had to admit, he was right. Where would we be able to get the things we needed to live? Sure we lost our memories, but at least we didn't lose our logic.

"Which way do we go…?" I asked him with an expression of wonder. He was looking at the direction where I was facing and shrugged without looking back at me.

"Let's just go anywhere. If we're lucky, we might have the right way to the nearest village," he stated and started to walk his direction. I blinked and looked at him walking. Should I really trust him enough? He might be telling the truth, but he might have lied too…but…I do need to survive. This may be my only chance. Hesitantly, I ran over to him catching up and walked alongside with him.

The feeling was…weird. Waking up seeing a stranger with you in the middle of nowhere, having both of the people not knowing what we did. Did we do something to upset a high society person!? Or maybe there was some kind of accident…I'm not…really sure. He seemed, too mysterious.

"Uh...well...so..," I started out trying to make a conversation, "What do you think…might have…you know…Happened…?" I asked hesitantly. What a stupid question…Why would I ask that!? I don't even know what happened…I can't even think of what happened. He stayed silent for a while.

"Well…" he started out, "I'm not sure myself...what could've had happen…but…It must've been serious business though, I'm not too confident about knowing what happened. Hopefully, we may know soon," I looked at him blinking. Serious business, huh? I don't have a really good feeling about that kind of possibility….Just who am I? I looked back at my tattoo trying to memorize my name again. Aiko. Aiko. Aiko. The name…it doesn't really…ring a bell… It seems like a name but…I don't feel like I am tied into with it. I hope this will be alright…and that I…well, we, will find ourselves.

Akio, or so it says on his arm, was just walking fast. He had his hands in his pockets just looking forward trying to get to a place as quickly as he can. I want to go there too, a city, a village, doesn't matter. Well, unless it's a war place or some gangster place. Ah, now's not the time to be thinking about that! I bonked my head trying to push the thought away. He suddenly stopped and turned his head looking back at me with eyes of doubt. I immediately put my hands back to the side looking away whistling silently.

"Uh…I don't think now is the time to be having a concussion," he stated sarcastically. Ok…that kind of hurt. Ouch. I narrowed my eyes at him and stuck out my tongue. He only snickered and continued walking. I wonder…was my personality like this before my memories were lost, or did my memories affected my personality? So many questions that can't be answered are in my head, but what can I do? Possibly…there's someone I might know in the future, then I can know everything about my past…Family…

What's my family like? My parents…Do I have siblings? Or am I the only child? Is Akio possibly my friend before memories were lost? I mean, we did have the same tattoo. Maybe I knew him very well; maybe he was a good friend. Did I have lots of friends? All this thinking…it's getting to my head…! I just want to know…Damn you human nature of curiosity. I sighed and looked back at the back of Akio.

I wonder if he's wondering about so many things like me…Just what personality did he have, or now even. His eyes don't really tell much, he's one of those people that are pretty hard to read. Is he as mysterious as he looks like? Maybe he's just shy? No, well, maybe. Ah...I'm not sure. I think I know that I'm not really good at reading people.

"Hey," Akio said, I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at him. He was facing me with his head tilted to the right, "You seem curious about something and out of it, you're not even paying attention what you're about to walk into," he stated in a teasing way. Walk into? I looked down and saw a rock big enough for me to trip on. I blush a bit and walked around it but then glared at him. It was nice information, but he didn't need to sound all high and mighty on knowing some information I don't know…

The trip to find some civilization was endless. It's like we've been walking forever! My feet were getting tired as minutes came by. Akio didn't seem so affected by it though. I sighed through my teeth and clenched my fist. Just when are we going to find a city or village!? We didn't really talk too much, just a bit small talk here and there, but not a lot. Well, what do I expect? I just woke up in the middle of nowhere with him…!

"Yo, Aiko," Akio said. He stopped in front of me causing me to stop as well. I looked up at him as he had himself facing a certain direction. I poked my head out to see what he was looking at and saw, green? Green… the woods…!

I was filled with joy, sure it wasn't some village but, it was better than nothing. "There must be a village near there too," Akio said, "It would be a nice way to get some things there." I nodded happily and we both started to follow the woods hoping it would take us to our goal.

We were pretty tired going there, both of us, but we were desperate to live, to survive. We came around walking around the woods hoping to hear some yelling of some sort. It was pretty dark in there, but just enough sunlight to see what's going on since the trees were hanging over the land.

Yelling, screams of joy and laughter. Can it be possible? That we reached our goal, a…

"A village," Akio said stopping trying to get a better sound from it, "It's got to be."

"Phew…! What a relief…!" I said sighing out of relief, "I felt like there was no end…!" I exclaimed pushing strands of hair out of my face and to behind my ear. He nodded and continues his way, walking. We walked for a few more minutes hearing civilization grow louder and louder. So close yet so far beyond our reach.

Then, without warning, we heard a growl from the right of us… No, correction, growls. Then we heard growls from the left of us. What could it be…? "Uh…Akio…Please tell me that growl was your stomach," I stated with fear and nervousness skating across my shot a look to our right then our left revealing the animal that was coming to contact with us.

Each and every second…the animal was fading in until recognized by the eye, a wolf, not just a wolf, but wolves, a whole pack of wolves. We then looked to our left seeing the rest of the pack there. They surrounded us. They came closer by the second slowly stepping in trapping us. We tried to back up but only causing us to have our backs collide together.

We panicked; we didn't know what to do…! I closed my eyes shut not wanting to see what would happen to us. I know it wasn't the best option, but what could I do in this short time of thinking?! We can't just run away or fight…! I held both of my arms out trying to shield myself, but I already knew that it wouldn't help at all. Suddenly, I heard a splash and some kind of a whimper, no, it wasn't from Akio. It was the cry of pain from several of wolves from my side.

I open an eye, squinting, trying to make up at the image. They were…soaked? I open both of my eyes looking surprised. Where did the water come from? I look around seeing no source. The wolves on my side looked surprised and feared, they just froze. So did the wolves on the left. After a few seconds of surprised, they pushed the thought away and began to go back to what they were doing, they continued coming closer and closer, again. I couldn't take it I flailed my arms around panicking, Akio just looked at me with a nervous look and then a sudden gust of wind came, the wind increased in speed. Akio and I exchanged looks confused and realized that the wind was flowing around us sending a rushing current pushing back the wolves back.

"What...What the heck…!? What just happened here!?" I exclaimed surprised, "Where did that come from!? Is this some kind of tornado or something!? But, it's not hurting us, is it!?"

"Don't ask me!" Akio replied yelling out at the top of his lungs to be heard from the large gust of wind. The wolves just faded out back into the woods feared and scared. Akio and I turned to each other blinking wondering what just happened…

"Was that some kind of illusion or…?" I said blinking dumbfounded.

"I…don't know," he replied twitching his eye. What…What the hell!? Is this some kind of dream!? No of course not…right? Is this a test?! I can't help but panic here…! Was that someone doing that or was that…me? Akio looked at me with an insincere look in his eyes; I gave him the same look. We were confused and terrified yet relieved after being saved.

It was hard pushing the thought away, but we had to go back to the village to get back to our feet, and possibly…we could find out who we are. We continued taking our way to the yells of joy, the signs of civilization while looking around to secure our safety and to make sure we wouldn't run into anymore vicious animals anymore.

"Uh…," Akio mumbled, "I'm…not sure what just happened…Mind telling me any information that I might want to know about this "water" and "wind?" he asked facing me. I twirled a strand of my hair deep in thought trying to process the same thing. I was scared and nervous. Sure, we got saved, but that sudden power thing just wasn't normal, especially that wind. Was it from someone or possible me, or was it just a coincidence? No, a coincidence is just isn't the case, wind, going around us? What about that water too? If it was just splashed, it wouldn't hurt the wolves, surely they'll be cold, but they wouldn't cry out. Maybe it was sprayed pretty hard at them.

"Look," Akio said getting me to snap out of my thoughts, once again. I looked at the direction and saw sunlight; it must be a sign that it was the end of the forest. We walked fast up to the source of light hoping it really was a village instead of just one get together, although, that would help us too. We stepped out of the forest looking at the village buildings surrounded by kids running around, merchants, and, well, villagers.

We walk ahead looking around the village. I could tell that both of us didn't know too well what a village would be like since we lost our memories. We've had an idea of what it was, but not quite completely. Small houses, markets, bakeries, textiles, and more. It was very interesting being able to see a village instead of being stuck in the oh-so-dry place in the middle of nowhere with the sun beaming down at you with no food or water sources.

The village wasn't anything poor but not rich either. They were middle-classed, but it was small too. I assumed it was one of those villages where everyone knew everyone. We had some wondering eyes on us too as well. They must've recognized that we weren't from here.

"Excuse me…?" said a voice from behind. We turned around seeing a young teen boy. He seemed to be around the age of thirteen to fourteen, he had dark brown hair, straight, reaching down right below his ears. He was carrying a fairly large book in his right arm that had golden embroidering and it seemed to be like some kind of encyclopedia or any book where you would learn a lot from. He was dressed up pretty neat and sophisticated clothes with rectangle-shaped glasses. "I haven't seen you people around here; mind me asking what you are doing here?"

Akio and I looked at each other trying to read each other's thoughts and how to answer. He gave me a frown with confusion on what to say to him. "Oh...uh," I ran on with a start trying not to keep him wondering, he lowered his head waiting for my answer, "We actually…kind of don't know where we're at and looking for a place to get back to our health," I said hesitantly. I don't think that was the right answer, was it?

This town might make me feel nervous….but….I know that it was worth the trip to get the things we needed. For some reason…I feel this strange presence, this aura, like I'm feeling like I'm being watched…it's just in my head, right?