Memories ...

Land of Fire.

Konohagakure no Sato (Village Hidden in the Leaves).

At the village's northeastern outskirts , a lone house stood a bit far from the others.

The house was small and simple, made of wood and stone with a thatched roof. It was located in a quiet corner of the compound, surrounded by a small garden and a few outbuildings.

The inside of the house was just as simple as the outside. The main room was large and open, with a fireplace in the center and a few simple furnishings. There was also a kitchen, a bathroom, and one bedroom.

The house was sparsely furnished, but it was clean and well-maintained. The walls were bare, except for a few family heirlooms. The furniture was old and worn, but it was sturdy and comfortable.

A small figure could be seen sitting alone, no more than two years old, playing with a collection of wooden toys, his small fingers carefully maneuvering the pieces. His face is alight with concentration, and his eyes are focused on the task at hand.

The child dressed in simple clothes, made of rough-hewn cloth. His hair black and unkempt, But there is something about him that is pure and innocent. He is a child, unburdened by the cares of the world.

''Hotei, I'm going out to do some errands. Be a good boy and stay here in the house. Don't go outside, I will be right back''

Hotei's eyes lost concentration as he heard his mother's voice. He stopped playing with his toys and looked up at her. She was standing in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest.

''did you hear what I said'' she said

Hotei nodded ''yes Okaasan''

"Good boy," she said, then turned and walked out the door. Hotei watched her go, then turned back to his toys. He picked up a wooden block and started to play again. but as he played, he started to feel a strange sensation. It was a dull ache in his head, and it started to get worse and worse. He tried to ignore it, but it was no use. The pain was too much.

Hotei dropped the block and put his hands to his head. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on the pain, but it was too much. He felt like he was going to be sick.

Hotei lay on the floor, his head in his hands. seconds turned to minutes , minutes turned to hours, He felt like he was going to die. But even in his pain, he could feel something strange happening. It was like a river of memories was flowing through his mind, and he was powerless to stop it. It was all so vivid, so real. And yet, it was also so strange. He didn't understand how he could remember these things, when he had never lived them.

He remembered his family, his parents, who were both loving and kind, and his siblings, who were always there for him.

He remembered his house, a small one bedroom studio, He remembered the smell of a mother's cooking, the sound of a father's laughter, and the feel of siblings' hands in his. He remembered being happy.

Hotei was shocked and confused.

"Where am I?" he whispered to himself. "Who am I?"

The last recent memory he had was working for so many hours, he was very tired and wanted to stop his shift, but the hospital that day was very busy, it seems that there was a highway accident involving many cars and the ambulances all rushed to the nearest hospital available, left with no choice, he persisted even though he knew it was dangerous to operate in his condition.

Then he was called to the emergency room to save a young child. The child had been in the front passenger seat, and her injuries were horrific. Hotei worked for hours to save the child's life, but his memories stopped there.

"Did she live?" Hotei felt some guilt in his heart. Had he been more competent, or maybe if he wasn't the one operating, perhaps she could have lived.

Tick.

Tick..

Tick...

Unbeknownst to him, he was so overwhelmed that he started to cry. He cried for the child who had died. He cried for her family who had lost a loved one, He cried for himself, who lost everything.

Hotei cried for a long time. When he was finally finished, he felt exhausted and drained. He lay down on his bed and closed his eyes. His last thoughts were 'Perhaps I am just dreaming.'

Finally, after many hours, he got up and went to the window. He looked out at the sky above. It was a beautiful night, but Hotei couldn't enjoy it. He felt like he was trapped in a nightmare.

Hotei looked up again and sighed. He couldn't believe that he was here, in this strange and unfamiliar place. He remembered his past life, his family, and his friends. He remembered his work as a doctor, and the satisfaction he felt when he was able to help people. But now, all of that was gone. He was a stranger in a strange land, with no memory of how he had gotten here.

He tried to remember his last moments, but his mind was blank. He remembered working at the hospital, then in the operating room, but after that, everything was a blur.

''did I die from overwork? what a cliché '' said Hotei with a bitter smile

He didn't know, and he didn't know if he would ever find out.

But even though he was dead, Hotei couldn't help but worry about his parents and loved ones. He wondered if they were okay and if they were sad that he was gone. He prayed that they would be strong and that they would find peace.

"I'm okay," he whispered to himself '' I wish I could tell you all that I am okay and alive right now''

"but Just where am I?" said a confused Hotei as he looked around as his brain felt overwhelmed from the overlapping memories. "Did I perhaps get reincarnated in the past? It looks like a traditional Japanese house" Hotei started trying to jog his memories in hope to find answers, however his thought got interrupted by the sound of the door opening.

Hotei's mother walked in through the door, carrying a basket of laundry. She smiled when she saw Hotei, but her smile quickly faded when she saw the look on his face.

"What's wrong, honey?" she asked.

'shit I remember now' thought a flabbergasted Hotei