Chapter 2
Iruka sat up and looked around, taking in the blue curtains surrounding him, the bedside drawer beside him with a small shrine of flowers and cards, and the window overlooking a bustling village. He figured out that he was in a hospital, but he had absolutely no idea why, or where; and didn't really know what to do with himself. As he was debating whether to get up and go find someone or wait, a woman with blonde hair tied back in pigtails drew the curtain open and walked in.
"Oh, good, you're awake." She said. "How do you feel?"
"Um, I… don't know. Okay, I guess." Iruka said, assessing himself. He was a little bruised in a few places, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle.
"Good. That means the poison has been neutralised; but I don't think it's out of your system yet."
"Poison? What?" he asked in confusion.
"You were poisoned on your mission, and collapsed at the gates. Kotetsu brought you in."
"Oh…" He remembered that name. "Is that the man who had the bandage over his nose?"
"I would have thought you'd known who he is by now, Iruka!" the woman commented. "You've been working with him in the mission room for years."
"I have?"
The lady frowned, muttering something about the poison doing more damage than she thought, and walked over to the bed to examine him.
"Iruka, do you know who I am?" she asked in concern.
"Sorry, but no, I don't. I get the feeling that I'm supposed to, though…" he answered dejectedly. "Are you someone important?"
"You could say that." she said. "Where do you think you are?"
"I'm… not sure." he said, looking around. "A village, somewhere, I presume." The woman sighed.
"If I told you I am Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, would that mean anything?"
A surge of pride flooded through Iruka, and he instinctively touched his forehead, feeling a head protector tied around it. His fingers touched cool metal, and he felt the symbol engraved into it; the unmistakable shape of a leaf.
"I'm… from here, aren't I?"
His face fell when he saw Tsunade's expression - it had only become more troubled with his question. Why couldn't he remember anything important? Or even anything at all? He felt like an outsider, lost and all alone. It was like his head was filled with a heavy fog, and he couldn't find his way out. His memories were just out of reach - he could feel them, teasing and taunting him; but why couldn't he get to them? He felt tears of frustration welling up in his eyes, and clenched his fists. He didn't want to be an intruder in his own body.
"You've been away on a mission for the past few days. You were supposed to collect a scroll, but we couldn't find one in your possession. I don't suppose you know what happened to it?"
"I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head. "I don't..."
"I guess it can't be helped…" Tsunade sighed. "Since you've got amnesia, I'm going to assign someone I know you're close with to show you around the village and help you get your memories back, while I do some more research on this poison - it's very unusual..."
Someone he was close with… A silhouette formed in his head - it was a person he knew, a man with a mask. But who was it again? It was someone familiar; but Iruka couldn't tell who - he didn't know a lot about anything. He barely knew his name… Wait, a name! There was one on the tip of his tongue - someone he definitely knew; someone he associated with feelings of love. Who did he love again? Suddenly everything clicked into place, and Iruka smiled warmly as his heart fluttered excitedly. He had just remembered the man he loved.
"Please… Can Kakashi do it?"
"Hah? You remember him?"
"Of course I do. He's my partner."