Naoki didn't regain consciousness until later that
evening. By then, everyone had had supper and most of them
had retired to the living room to watch television.
Tanaka and Yosho were in Naoki's room, sitting by
his bed.
Tanaka was holding Naoki's hand as he sat up with
a yelp and looked around, hauntedly. "Naoki?" She asked,
gently. "What's wrong?"
"Bad dream." He told her. "Tanaka..."
"Naoki, we're engaged. My first name is..."
"Tanaka, I know we're engaged. But how do I know
I'm not already married? How do I know someone else isn't
out there looking for me right now?"
"I can't tell you that, my darling." Tanaka told
him. "But I can tell you that we love each other very much.
Your heart must be telling you that."
"It is." Naoki admitted. "But I feel I felt some
type of deep devotion to someone else before I met you. I
have to know who that was."
Tanaka was in a bind, now. She couldn't tell Naoki
about his life as Lt. Trakal of the Galaxy Police. They'd
erased his memory for a reason. Even Kiyone and Mihoshi
avoided talking about the Galaxy Police when they were around
Naoki. But if she didn't tell him, he might postpone the
wedding, even call it off, and she couldn't bear the thought
of that.
"I have to get some sleep." Tanaka said, which was
true. The day in the city had exhausted her.
Naoki seemed to sense she was avoiding a reply and
spoke up as she reached the door. "What aren't you telling
me?" He asked.
Tanaka looked back at him sadly. "I can't tell you
that." She told him. "Please, don't ask me again. I love
you, Naoki. That's enough."
Naoki was too tired and frightened to argue.
Yosho spoke up. "Tanaka, go on to bed. I'll sit up
with Naoki for a bit."
Tanaka departed and went up to her room. When she
got there, she flopped herself down on the bed, and
burst into tears.
"What's the matter?" Washu asked as she strolled
into the room.
"Washu!" Tanaka yelped, sitting up. She brushed
a tear from her face. "I think Naoki's going to break
off the engagement. He remembers his devotion to the
Galaxy Police and he thinks its an indication that he's
already married to someone else. And I think he thinks
I'm trying to hide that from him so he'll marry me."
"Hmmm." Washu brought out her holoputer and
tapped a few keys. After a quick calculation, she looked
up. "Well, I know what the Galaxy Police Commander said,
but according to my calculations, the Universe won't end
if Naoki gets his memory back."
"But Washu..." Tanaka protested. "You promised
the Galaxy Police..."
"I only made that promise to get old lion-breath
off our backs." Washu grinned.