Clouds

The SUV slows as it makes its way around the circle drive in front of the mansion. That's the only way to describe the large house that sits back from the main road and down an immaculately manicured tree lined lane. The trees that surround the property are old huge banyan trees with a smattering of blossoming cherry trees. These trees look much younger, maybe 10 years or less. Omoide is reminded of his last lifetime where he lived in an area of the world heavily influenced by old Asian legends and myths.

During that life, over 100 years ago, he was known as Reiki. His ability to heal the mentally ill was renowned in the region and people traveled great distances to bring the ill to him. This troubled him greatly as many never finished their journey, that is when he began to travel all over the world, following stories of the ill and troubled, answering requests and asking for nothing in return.

Now in the modern age, money drives everything. While receiving supplies, food and favors in exchange for his services would sustain himself, it would not support the technology required to travel and help those in need. He needed to be in a profession that would allow him to continue to perform his duties as The Guardian of Memories while also treating the general population for similar conditions.

Because of his skill, and god given powers, he quickly gained the reputation of being the best in his field and this led to being in demand by some of the most prestigious hospitals and rehabilitation centers in the world. In turn, these places paid highly for his services. In the beginning, he would refused the overinflated sums that some institutions would pay him, only keeping enough to cover his living and travel expenses. The rest he would invest or sock away in various savings plans.

Due to his frugality, Omoide has amassed quite the little fortune that has allowed for him to support various programs and clinics around the world. Part of this was his desire to truly help the people of this world but it was mostly to help locate the other 98 souls in need of memory release. Trying to search them out on his own had become slightly easier as technology had evolved.  Drug therapies also evolved that would mask the symptoms making it harder for Omoide to hear the soul calling out.

Omoide was brought out of his musing by Keibiin tapping lightly on the rear passenger window. He knew she couldn't see in past the heavily tinted glass and she wouldn't be able to open the door until he disengaged the interior lock. He took another moment to check his appearance in the window's reflection. Satisfied with what he saw, he taps the release button and Keibiin opens the door.

Stepping out of the vehicle into the cool night air, he notices it feels much dryer than where he came from. The sky was clear but the light pollution from the nearby city made only the brightest stars visible to the naked eye. He draws in another breath and catches a slight floral fragrance along with a mossy woodsy scent which was something he hadn't smelled in a long time.

Omoide steps away from the vehicle and Keibiin moves around the door to reach inside and grab the briefcase. She then moves to the rear of the vehicle as the hatch opens. "Should I bring in the overnight bags or wait until we are greeted and shown inside?" She asks while keeping her hand on the hatch.

Omoide squints as he looks towards the front of the house where bright security lights flood the parking drive. "Just the case for now. I would like to check Benjimin's condition first." He begins striding towards the door just as it opens. A somewhat average height woman with long black hair, tied up into a messy bun that seemed to be fighting to get free, steps out and stops on the porch, eyeing him with her arms solidly folded over her chest.

Seconds later, a man of much more height steps out of the door but remains behind the shorter woman as if she were his shield. He leans down and whispers something in the woman's ear that causes her to look over her shoulder at his scowling face. She grabs his jaw and turns his head so she could whisper into his ear. When she turns back to face Omoide, the man drops his head and retreats back into the house when he sees him approaching the pair.

"Ms. Masen." It was a statement, not a question. He offers his hand in greeting. "I'm Omoide Bannin. It's a pleasure to meet you in person."

Sumi accepts his offered hand in hers and then puts her other hand over the top of his, "Please, call me Sumi. And thank you for coming. I didn't realize how alone we had been here until you both arrived." She said with a sigh and her eyes were glistening, threatening to spill tears. She releases his hand and steps back, gesturing towards the inside of the house, "Please come in." She says and tries to smile.

As they enter the foyer, Keibiin asks where their accommodations are. Sumi points down a hallway to the left of the entrance, "There are three guest rooms down that hallway. Choose what you like, each has a private onsen. The kitchen is stocked so you are welcome to anything and may cook as you like. There is always food delivery, but since Benji hasn't had much of an appetite, it would be best to use up what has been stocked in the kitchen so it doesn't go bad." Sumi's shoulders slump a little at that last statement but she brightens up quickly, "I will be making another run to the store tomorrow, or well, today. If you need anything, just make a list and I can get it for you."

Keibiin raises an eyebrow and looks at Omoide, "I will go through what we packed and see if anything is missing. Ms. Masen, I am more than happy to take your list and do the supply run. You look as if you could use a break or even a day off, maybe?" She looks to Omoide as he sighs and looks towards Sumi. "Ah, yes. I think Ms Shugosha and I can manage Benjimin's care for a few days while you take some time to rest. I understand from Benjimin's journal that he turned over some projects to you and I know he wouldn't want to burden you further, after you have done so much."

All of the energy seems to leave Sumi's body as she smiles weakly and nods her head, "That would be greatly appreciated. Benji is a dear friend and colleague and I am very concerned about him. He has so much faith in you to help him with this that I feel comfortable leaving him in your care. You do have my number and I also have yours so please keep me informed of any changes in Benji's condition or if you need anything, anything at all."

She smiles at both of them and slowly walks down the hallway to the right, "This way." She calls out and waves a hand, "He set up a lab where he could also sleep so that is where he is resting now."

He watches Keibiin start down the hallway on the left towards the guest bedroom suites. Omoide then turns and follows Sumi down the hallway on the right. They walk past several closed doors, some marked but most are unmarked. Sumi stops before the last door on the right.

There is a faint light that seeps under the door but no shadows can be seen. "Have you and Mr. Simkin been taking care of Benjimin on your own?" Omoide asks quietly as Sumi nods her head and opens the door to the lab where Benjimin lays quietly sleeping in a standard hospital bed in the middle of the room. Harold is sitting at a desk in the corner reading a thick book and frantically taking notes. He stops when they enter the room and closes the book, gathers his notes and leaves the room, not even looking in their direction.

Omoide's eyes follow Harold out of the room before Sumi closes the door with a sigh. "I will talk with Harold. It takes him a while to warm up to people he doesn't know." She weakly smiles at Omoide.

"I think you both should take some time away. Ms. Shugosha and I can manage Benjimin's care and I will keep you updated on his condition. Of course, I would like to see the pictures of the herbs and powders you sent to the company's lab and discuss the situation up to this point in time, if you feel up to it." He is speaking to Sumi but his eyes haven't left the bed where Benjimin seems to be resting comfortably.

He notices Benjimin looks frail. Omoide has to calm his mind and heart before he approaches the bed. At 6'4", Benjimin was always a big man and the fact that he loved to participate in contact sports had conditioned his body so it became muscled and hard, not so much he looked like a body builder, but lean and tight making it easy for him to move quickly when needed.

The Benijimin Omoide looks at now, in the bed, so still and quiet, is nothing of the man he knew back in college. His heart feels tight as guilt seeps in. Time isn't a barrier for Omoide. There is always another tomorrow and another and another, but for Benjimin, time is fleeting and Omoide should have been a better friend. But being omoidenobannin means that relationships are only a burden, one that he can't be distracted by.

He watches as Sumi walks over to the bed. She checks the monitors, the IV bag and every sensor where it is connected to Benjimin's body. She then sits in the chair next to the head of the bed and takes Benjimin's hand in hers, gently caressing the knuckles on the back of his hand. She smiles at him and lowers her lips to his ear.

Turning her head so she can see Omoide's face, she lightly whispers in Benjimin's ear, "Benji.... Benji, he's here. Just like you said. He has come to help you. Don't you want to wake up, open your eyes and see your precious Omoide." She winks at Omoide and continues to whisper, "You didn't tell me how handsome he is. Or how much he cares for you. It's in his eyes, Benji, always search the eyes for the truth." And with that, Sumi closes her eyes and gently kisses Benjimin on the cheek.

Omoide doesn't quite understand the grin tugging at Sumi's lips but he smiles at her anyway, "I see you two are very close, more than just colleagues?" He didn't mean for it to sound like a question but in the end, maybe it was.

Sumi lightly laughs with wide eyes, "Oh Omoide," she says with a bit of a teasing tone, "you really don't know our dear Benji very well at all, do you." She ends this as a statement, not a question. Before Omoide can reply, Sumi quickly moves from the bed to stand next to Omoide on her way to exit the room, "Oh, we are just friends and colleagues for sure. Benji's heart belongs to only one, it has always belonged to only one."

She leans back a little to see Omoide's eyes and he looks into hers with questioning brows. She slaps him lightly on the shoulder and continues out of the room, "It's always the smart pretty ones that are so daft in the ways of the heart. Go talk with Benji, I'm sure you can bring him out of this."

He turns and watches Sumi walk down the hallway with one hand waving over her shoulder while she continues to quietly laugh to herself. Omoide will never understand the females of this world. They are smart and tough and able to adapt to change much more easily than the males but he has never sought their company other than when their souls required it. He shook his head and held back a baffled laugh as he turns and walk towards Benjimin.

His emotions settle as he walks to Benjimin's bedside. Taking the chair from the head of the bed, he turns it slightly and sits down so he is facing his friend. He sighs and begins talking to him, "Bejinmin, hello my friend. I'm here now. It's Omoide. I'm sorry it took me so long but I'm here now. Things look stable from a medical standpoint. As for your mental health, I need you to wake up and talk to me, please." Omoide sits patiently, checking the monitors, waiting for a response but nothing changes in Benjimin's breathing or vitals as far as the monitors display.

Omoide is unsure of how to reach Benjimin in his current state. He tries another approach, "Hey Benji," the nickname feels foreign on his tongue, "Let's get some beers and relax before we have to behave like adults again!" He pats the back of Benjimin's hand a few times before he slides his hand under Benjimin's so their palms are touching.

The warmth from Benjimin's hand is overwhelming at first. It feels almost like an electrical shock wherever their skin touches. He looks to Benjimin's face for some sign of recognition but there is nothing.

Omoide lets his head drop as he closes his fingers around Benjimin's. He lays his forehead on the back of their clasped hands and begins to cry. Silently letting the tears fall from his eyes. He doesn't really understand what he is feeling. He usually doesn't get emotional over people that give in to their illness. Most of the time, it's a release for the soul and seen as a positive step in the end but, Omoide feels Benjimin's soul fighting, not wanting to let go yet.

After a while of sobbing and calling out to Benjimin, Omoide slowly slides into sleep. He dreams of past times with his friend, learning and playing together. At one point, he feels the warmth of comfort cover his shoulders and softness against his cheek.

He dreams of a warm sunny day at a park. He and Benjimin are tossing a ball around and tackling each other. It's good exercise and quite fun. After a while, they are laying under a tree lazily watching the clouds pass by through the leaves.

Omoide rolls on his side to look at Benjimin. They both smile at each other and sigh, "This is a perfect day, don't you think Omoide?" Benjimin says but his voice is a bit rougher than usual but Omoide isn't worried. "It's it. And now is the perfect time for a nap." Omoide says as he yawns and closes his eyes.

The last thing Omoide remembers from the dream is Benjimin's hand gently brushing his hair out of his face. It's warm and comforting and Omoide smiles as he drifts off to sleep.