Author's Note:

Hi Everyone. It's been a while since I last posted something. This is a new idea I have that spawned from the BL Manga that I so love to read. In this series there will be three stories told which will probably run for 2-6 chapters each. The first story revolves around Ren Tsubaki and Yukio Sanada. I do hope you like the story. It probably doesn't seem all that realistic, but then again, you could say the same for most romance stories as well. As you can probably tell, it takes place in Japan, so there will be plenty of references to the culture. If you're a fan of manga you'll know. But you'll still be able to follow if you've never read any. A note on names: Unless one is family, or a close friend, most Japanese people are called by their last name unless given permission by the person.

So if you like the story please let me know at mystories92@gmail.com.

Thanks

Wes

Beneath the Cherry Blossom Tree

In the center of Sunohara High School's courtyard stands a tall cherry blossom tree. It is said that if you stand beneath its branches with the one you love, when the blossoms are in full bloom, when the sun is about to set, and you whisper your confession of love to that person, your love will come true and last forever.

Fragmented Memories and Feelings

Chapter 1

Ren stood by the window in his room, looking at the street below. He could see students walking by on their way to school. The same school he would be attending from now on. They all seemed so cheerful and carefree. Did high school life really look that simple?

Sighing, Ren turned away and began to dress in his school uniform. If he didn't hurry now, he wouldn't have enough time to prepare a lunch box for himself and make it to school on time.

Thirty minutes later he was at the door putting on his shoes with a piece of toast held between his lips. His lunch box was done and in his school bag alone with his books. He stood up and looked at the mirror on the wall. He straightened his tie, pushed his glasses further up his nose, and tried to flatten his wavy black hair.

Humph! There was no helping his hair now. He needed to get a haircut.

"I'll be going now!" He said, but didn't wait for an answer, since it would never come.

Ren stepped out into the cool morning light. It would heat up dramatically later as the spring sun crossed the sky. He checked the mail box, but found it empty, and he hadn't yet subscribed to the local newspaper. Ren closed behind him and started walking in the direction of the Sunohara High School. He passed some students on the way that was walking at a more leisurely pace. He didn't like being late for anything, scowled as he picked up his pace. He arrived at the school with fifteen minutes to spare, changed his shoes for the compulsory indoor slippers. He made his way to the teacher office to present himself.

The door was open but he knocked anyway. "Please excuse me, I'm looking for Mr Jin Tachibana?"

A teacher looked up from his desk near the door. "Yes, can I help you?" Mr Tachibana was tall with brown eyes and brown and grey hair. Ren's heart twisted and he felt his eyes water. He viciously suppressed the emotion before pasting a polite smile on his face.

"Yes, I'm the new transfer student, Ren Tsubaki." He bowed.

Mr Tachibana looked shocked for a moment and then a sad expression crossed his face. "Oh, I'm sorry Ren, I didn't even recognize you. It's been so long."

Ren shook his head. "That's okay... Uncle."

"I'm sorry I couldn't make the funeral." Jin said softly. He held his hand in front of his eyes, trying to keep the tears at bay.

"Don't worry about it Uncle. Besides I couldn't make it either." Ren looked away from his distraught uncle. He firmly kept his face neutral.

"Well..." Jin wiped his eyes and took a deep breath. "Enough of that. They wouldn't us to be all gloomy. Now let me just finalize your transfer papers and then we can head to class as the bell rings. I'll be your homeroom teacher as well."

Ten minutes later the bell rang. Ren and Jin made their way to class. He could hear the noise emanating from the classroom as they neared it. Ren waited by the door as Jin made his way inside.

"Right class 2-A scum! To you seats please."

There were a series of moans from the students.

"Aww teach, do you have to be so mean?" Ren heard one of the boys say.

"Quiet Mori. Now class, welcome back from your spring break. I trust you were all as naughty as you could possibly be over the holiday. However I expect the completed homework on my desk before homeroom is over. Another fit of moaning and groaning beset the students. Jin chuckled.

"I'll be introducing a transfer student now as well. He recently relocated to Sunohara Town due to family reasons, so treat him well, and get along."

Family reasons. That was putting it mildly, Ren thought.

He saw Jin motion for him to enter. He walked in and stood in front of the class. There were a few gasps and sighs, and giggling from girls. "Wow, he cute," he heard one of the girls whisper.

Cute? He wondered.

"Good morning, I'm Ren Tsubaki. Pleased to meet everyone and I hope you take good care of me." He bowed afterward, and then looked around the classroom.

"Thank you Tsubaki. You can take a seat in the first row, second from the back."

"Thank you sir."

Ren moved to the back and seated himself. He was lucky enough to get the window seat. He could feel the eyes on him and the subtle whispers of the girls in the classroom. For some reason they thought he was cute. If only they had seen him a month ago.

He pushed his glasses higher as he heard Jin do roll call. He looked into the courtyard of the school and his breath was taken away by the sight before him.

In the center was a huge cherry blossom tree. In full bloom.

He thought this sight seemed familiar to him. But he new there was no way he would ever remember.

The bell signaling lunch time rang. Ren put his English notes away and got up to leave the classroom. Most of his classmates had already rushed out the door in an attempt to get to the schools lunch store before all the good things were sold out.

Ren kept his head lowered as he walked down the hallway to his homeroom. Some of the students watched him, but the rest mostly ignored him.

Before he reached the classroom he felt someone bump into him. He turned, intending to rebuke the person, and was confronted with a tall, lean muscled man. Ren had to look up into the boy's face. His eyes were a piercing shade of blue and his forehead was creased in irritation. His medium length brown hair was swept to the right in a choppy style.

"Watch where you're going... junior." He hesitated on the last word as he looked at Ren. Something seemed to flicker across his eyes, but Ren couldn't tell what it was.

He bowed and apologized. Clearly he would not win here. "I sincerely apologize, Senpai. I wasn't looking where I was going. Please excuse me."

He turned to walk away quickly, but felt his wrist being gripped. He was wrenched around to face the senior again. Ren's eyes widened in surprise and a brief flash of pain coursed through his body, as well as distant memory of the sensation.

The senior looked at him, eyebrows raised. "You... Haven't we met before?" He asked brusquely.

Ren shook his head. He didn't think he'd ever have wanted to meet someone like this before. "No, we haven't." He wrenched his wrist free from the senior's grip.

"Are you sure? What's your name?" The senior's eyes narrowed.

Ren scowled, "It's Ren Tsubaki. And no, I'm positive we haven't met before. Now if you'll excuse me."

Ren turned away and hurried into the classroom.

"Ren... Tsubaki... Huh?" The senior said softly as he watched the boy walk away.

"You okay, Sanada?" One of the seniors asked him.

He turned to the girl and nodded. "I'm cool."

The girl huffed. "The nerve of that kid, bumping into you and then being all rude to Sanada." Her friends standing next to her all agreed.

"No it's okay. It was partly my fault too."

Ren Tsubaki, he thought. Well, well...

Ren sat down roughly at his desk and rummaged through his bag for his lunch box. The students in the class had looked surprised when he had burst into the classroom. But they soon resumed their discussions.

That bastard! Ren thought. How dare he? He'd obviously bumped into me first, he declared to himself silently, scowling as he unwrapped the box. He snapped his chop sticks apart and started eating, all the while fuming internally. He knew he had been to this city before, but there was no way he would have met up with someone as rude as him.

He started as someone sat in the chair before him. The bleached hair was the first thing that had Ren squinting, and then the huge grin plastered over the boy's face.

"Yo! What's up man? Tsubaki right? Wow you got a nice lunch box man." He looked longingly at Ren's food.

Right, another troublesome person. He raised his eyebrow, but the boy continued grinning.

"I'm Mori by the way. Takashi Mori. And I managed to get my hands on..." He turned and grabbed something from behind him and presented it to Ren with fanfare. "Tada! A fried noodle bread roll."

Ren eyed the food item with distaste. "Marvelous."

Takashi frowned and mock cried, "So cold!" But he brightened up again.

"Mori leave the poor guy alone," a girl said as she walked up them. Her hair was long and black, tied into a ponytail with a ribbon matching the navy blue school uniform.

She looked at Ren, "Is this guy bothering you, Tsubaki?" She pointed at Takashi. "If he is I'll sort him out for you."

Ren shook his head. "It's no problem. Let him do as he pleases."

She smiled at Ren. "I'm Yuuka Kouga, class representative. Pleased to meet you." She bowed.

"Likewise," Ren replied.

"If you're having any difficulties don't hesitate to come and ask me for advice."

"Thank you, Kouga. I'll keep that in mind."

"Well then, if you'll excuse me." She waved and then moved back to the front with her friends, who began talking animatedly with her.

"Huuuh? Looks like you've become a sensation. There's always some hype when a new student transfers in," Takashi said, and then took a bite out of his bread roll.

Ren ignored Takashi and took another bite of his lunch.

"By the way, I saw you out in the hallway. Heh-heeeh, getting into a scuffle with a senior, and Yukio Sanada at that. You've got guts." Takashi's mouth was full as he talked.

So that was the guy's name. Yukio Sanada. It didn't ring any bells, but that was to be expected.

He turned and looked at Takashi. "Why are you sitting here anyway?"

Takashi grinned at Ren. "Well, I decided that I'm going to be your friend, since I'm so popular and all." He sniffed.

"Yeah, a popular pain in the ass is more like it!" One of the girls shouted from up front.

Takashi jumped out of the chair. "Hey that's no fair. Come on take it back!" The girls laughed at him.

Despite himself, Ren found himself chuckling. Takashi dropped back into the chair with a huff. "Stupid girls." His smile returned when he saw Ren laughing. "Well that seemed to work at least.

"What do you mean?" Ren asked.

"I got you to smile. You seemed to be gloomy all day, so I wanted to see you smile a bit."

Ren smiled again. Takashi seemed kind, and funny, and a bit of an idiot, Ren thought. He supposed there was no harm in befriending the goof at least.

"Then if you insist on becoming my friend, I'm calling you Takashi."

"Yay!" Takashi exclaimed, "And I'll call you Ren..."

Ren glared at Takashi.

Takashi's smiled and held his hands before him in placating manner, "Okay, okay. Tsubaki it is."

Yukio sat in the classroom after school and stared at the Cherry Blossom tree in the courtyard. All day he couldn't get one person out of his mind. The soft black hair, the eyes that was once so soulful. His lips still held the tingle of the remembered kiss given so long ago under the tree.

Those eyes seemed hard and empty now, the lips grim and tensed.

Why did that person have to return now, after two years?

He stared at the tree outside and wondered he never responded. In fact he didn't even seem to recognize Yukio. Yukio didn't know why the thought made him angry.

"Yo! What's up Yukio? You still here?" A student walked into the classroom. "Club activities are over now, so what are you still doing here?"

"Oh it's you, Kaoru."

The tall youth looked at Yukio with a scowl, "What do you mean it's only me? Tch! Cold as ever I see." Kaoru ran his hand through his spiky hair and huffed. "So what are you doing here anyway, thinking about an ex of yours?"

Yukio looked at Kaoru with a smirk, "Maybe..."

A surprised look appeared on Kaoru's face. "What! That's rare. I was actually only teasing... So who's the unfortunate gal you've axed."

Yukio stood up and grabbed his bag. "Someone from a time I chose to forget long ago." He said as he walked to the door.

Kaoru trailed behind Yukio, a thoughtful frown on his face. "I take it you were the 'dumpee', or you wouldn't be brooding about it like this."

"Shut up idiot!" Yukio said. "You should go on ahead, I have to go the teacher's office for a bit. I'll see you tomorrow."

Kaoru nodded, "Okay, see you then. And Yukio..."

Yukio turned to Kaoru.

"That person's back, right? Well... Don't let them get to you okay?"

"Thanks Kaoru, I'll keep that in mind."

Kaoru waved and hurried down the hallway.

Yukio continued on his way to the teachers' office.

Ren had just finished handing in his forms to join the calligraphy club. The doctor had informed him that it would be a great way to exercise his fingers and wrists. It would help to loosen up the tendons and help it heal quicker now.

The club leader had been happy to accept Ren's membership, as interest in Japanese calligraphy had declined in the past two years. He'd told Ren to come back the next day when their club officially started the new term. Ren actually like the art, it somehow felt like home to him, an ancient art that was uniquely Japan.

Ren was so deep in thought that he didn't see the person before they collided with each other. He stumbled back with an oomph and nearly fell backwards, but the person gripped his arms before he could.

He shook his head and apologized. Looking up into the person face, he wished he hadn't. It was him.

Yukio Sanada.

"Twice in one day. It's got to be more than coincidence." The senior looked at Ren with a raised eyebrow.

Ren frowned and shook Yukio's hands off. "No coincidence. An accident on my part."

Why, why, why did he have to bump into this guy again. He bowed and moved to pass, but the senior's hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"You had some nerve you know? You left without any calls or messages."

"Huh?" Ren was confused. "What the hell are you talking about?" He shoved Yukio's hand of his shoulder and straightened his glasses. "I don't know you!"

"Oh sure," Yukio smirked. "Your hair might be longer and you're wearing glasses, but you can't fool me."

"You... I have no idea what you are saying. Leave me alone."

Ren turned and walked away. He was suddenly swung around and shoved against the wall.

"Bastard! You don't get to just walk away," Yukio said before pressing his lips roughly against Ren's.

Ren was shocked. "What! Mnn..." His mouth was pressed firmly against Yukio's. He was stunned into inaction and didn't know what to do? His wrists ached where Yukio was gripping him.

"Sto- hnn..." He felt Yukio's tongue seeking entrance to his mouth.

No! Why was this happening to him?

He shoved his knee up between Yukio's legs. Yukio gasped and stepped away abruptly, giving Ren enough time to slip past him and run away, but not before Yukio could see the tears streaming down Ren's face.

Was he mistaken? No, he couldn't be. That was Ren. But then what was with that reaction?

Yukio adjusted himself painfully as he reached the teachers office. He felt slightly annoyed with himself for losing his cool with Ren. But when he'd seen that cold expression on Ren's face. He'd wanted to do something to wipe it off his face.

He knocked on the door. "Please excuse me, is Mr Tachibana in?"

"Ah Sanada, good you came." Jin motioned Yukio to enter.

"I brought the sheet you asked for sir."

"Good, you can leave on my desk, I was just packing up myself." Jin said, ruffling through papers on his desk.

Yukio put the sheet on the desk. Come to think of it, wasn't Mr Tachibana a relative of Ren's? Yukio thought.

"Sir..." Yukio said nervously, "are you not a relative of Ren Tsubaki?"

Jin looked up at Yukio in mild surprise. "Yes, how'd you know?"

"Well... I met Ren about two years ago, here at the school..."

"Oh, so you were a friend. I didn't know." Jin looked a little pained.

Yukio noticed. "But when we met by chance in the hallway today, he acted like he didn't know me. And I hadn't heard from him for all this time."

Jin sighed and sat back in his chair. He rubbed his forehead. "The time when the two of met was probably when he was on holiday here with his family. His mother was my younger sister."

"Was?" Yukio ventured.

"Look... Since you're Ren's friend I'll tell you, but no one else on campus knows, so you'd better keep it a secret."

This seemed really serious. Was there a reason why Ren had remained away for so long? "I promise, sir."

It took a minute before Jin continued. "The day they left for home, they were involved in an accident."

Yukio's eyes widened. "What!"

"Yeah, it was a terrible accident. An oncoming truck crashed into their car. His parents... my sister... they died on impact."

Yukio couldn't breathe. Oh my God! He thought.

"Ren's injuries were really bad. The doctors thought he'd never make it. He was bleeding internally and had multiple broken bones, including both his wrists and a couple of fingers..."

Yukio winced internally. Tears were blurring his eyes and his anger toward Ren had long since disappeared.

"Somehow Ren pulled through. When he woke up, a full two months had gone by. The result of the accident erased three years of Ren's memories."

Yukio gasped. The tears had fallen by now. He wiped them away quickly, and he saw Jin do the same. "I'm so sorry sir."

"Thank you Sanada... For the past two years Ren has been in rehabilitation. He also studied hard to catch up with school work. I had offered to take him in at the time, but the doctors said he needed to remain in an institute until he gained full use of his body. After he came out I asked him come stay here and enroll in Sunohara."

"So he's staying with you know sir?" Yukio asked.

Jin shook his head. "Unfortunately not. He agreed to move to the town, but he insisted on staying on his own."

"Why sir? He should have someone with him in case..." Yukio didn't know what.

"I know but... look. You are his friend right. Will you look out for him while his at school? His personality has changed a lot after the accident. He's become introverted and tries to do everything by himself. But his body has become weak too, so... please look out for him."

Yukio had already decided for himself. "You don't have to ask me sir, I'll do it gladly. And thank you for telling me."

"Thank you Sanada."

Yukio turned and headed for the door.

"One more thing Sanada..."

Yukio looked over his shoulder. "Yes, sir?"

"None of Ren's memories have returned at all. So go easy on him. He might treat you badly as well. So don't take it personally."

Yukio smiled at the teacher. "Of course I won't. I understand."

Yes, Yukio understood. And there was one thing he was going to make Ren remember. If his mind didn't remember, then his body surely would.