Follow My Lead (ch6)

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY HIGH-PLEDGING PATRONS!!

This is a brief chapter entirely from Claudine's perspective. I wanted to let it be its own thing in spite of the lack of length. The final 2 chapters are longer.

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

-----------

														Chapter 6.

Claudine can't make sense of it, but when that girl – Maya Tendo – had left her hospital room, she'd felt the urge to cry out and beg her to stay.

But she didn't, because she didn't understand why that urge existed.

She doesn't know who she is, but... apparently she should.

Even upon seeing her again, though Claudine hadn't recognized her aside from the brief visit last night, she'd felt an unmistakable stirring in her heart, a profound, unexplainable feeling she couldn't make any sense of.

She still can't.

Because that feeling lingers even now, late into the night. A feeling only Maya Tendo gives her.

And she believes none of her other friends would have given her that same feeling, even if her accident had caused her to forget any of them.

Whatever feeling this is, it's only for Maya Tendo. Of that she's certain.

It makes her believe the truth in everyone's words, that Claudine did – does – know who that girl is. She knows her. She just can't remember.

And to have spoken with her, heard about all of the events they'd been through together, all of the precious memories they should share - all of the things Claudine has forgotten - it breaks her heart.

And even now, after Maya Tendo has left, Claudine feels her heart is still breaking, more and more with every hollow lonely beat.

She wants to cry. She can only imagine how awful it must be for that girl, to have been such good friends with Claudine, only to be erased from her memories in a split second.

And now, that same evening, after Claudine has had her supper and lain herself carefully down for bed, she can't stop thinking about Maya Tendo.

Why? Why can't I remember her? Why did I forget only her?

She doesn't think she would ever want to forget any part of her life, let alone a classmate and friend. So why that girl? Why had all else remained perfectly intact?

With all the thinking she's been doing, her head begins to ache. She closes her eyes and lets out the most miserable sigh, misery rooted someplace deep in her chest. Perhaps saying the name aloud might jog her memory.

"Tendo Maya-san... Tendo Maya-san..."

It's odd. Her lips form the syllables with ease and perfection, indication she's said the name many many times before. It means nothing to her mind.

But she can feel that stirring in her chest again.

That name definitely means something to her heart.

She just doesn't know what.

She pictures the face of the girl with the rose, the girl who had called her so casually by her first name, the girl whose hands had felt so comforting on her shoulders.

She tries to think. She tries with all her might to remember.

"Qu'Est-ce que c'est? What is it? What does it mean...? Qui est-elle...?"

She doesn't even realize it herself until she hears the foreign words coming from her own lips. She opens her eyes slowly.

"Eh...? What language was that just now? Is this... the language she spoke to me earlier...?"

She brings a hand to her forehead and winces. It feels as though there's an army of ants or tiny blasts of electricity churning inside her skull – sharp, tiny prickles of static and mayhem. And when she tries to shake her head to dislodge it, it only causes a dull throbbing pain in the back of her neck. It spreads to her jawline and throat, making it more difficult to breathe for an instant. Though her eyes are closed she can feel tears behind them.

"Please... I want to remember her..."

She waits. Quietly. Patiently.

But her prayers go unanswered.

She finds herself in a dark, cold place. She can't see a thing.

But she can feel air rushing up at her, blasting her skin and hair and clothes.

There's nothing beneath her feet. She's falling.

A voice cries out her name, and she feels like she should recognize the speaker, but it just doesn't make any sense in her head.

The next thing she knows, she's awake in her hospital bed again, heart racing, skin wet with sweat. She looks over at the vase of flowers, wishing the people who had given them were here instead. Her heart hurts almost as much as her head now.

"Please... Let me remember..."

A broken whisper to a grey ceiling.

She cries until sleep takes her once again.

-----------

A/N: Again, it's so strange to be writing Claudine as some... almost helpless little girl. It makes me realize just how strongly and deeply her character revolves around Maya. Take Maya away and all Claudine is is a normal girl - a forgettable character. Maya makes her who she is, gives her that fierceness and passion that makes her Claudine Saijou. Without Maya she's just another girl in the cast.