August 26, 1994

**Iolani POV**

Today has pretty much been a routine day...at least so far. While I'm still missing my e ipo like crazy, I'm very slowly coming to grips with the fact that he's gone...at least for the time being.

I'm still hoping he'll be back sooner than later, and that his eventual return will come with answers to all the questions his letter left me with.

One of the biggest questions I'm left with is wondering what must his real life be like. Even though I've been through a lot myself these last few months, I honestly can't envision anything being so complicated that he couldn't just open up to me about it.

Instead it appears that whatever it was seemed to be enough for him to bolt at the first opportunity once his memory returned, and now that I've had a little time to think about it, that's making me a little uneasy.

At this point, I'm not quite sure if I want to know the answer to that one...and my mother always advised me not to ask questions you're not sure you want the answers to.

As you can tell, I'm starting to feel conflicted. The only thing I know for sure at the moment is how much I miss him. The rest...? I'm honestly not so sure...

I'm doing my best to live in the moment, and there has been enough action to keep me busy. The day started with the release of some of our less injured accident victims. I'm always grateful to see this day since it means so much happiness for them and their families.

However it seems that as fast as we're discharging people this morning, more seem to be coming in as there was a recent Legionnaire's disease outbreak at one of the larger retirement facilities in town and things like that always hit older people especially hard. I swear if I see any more vomit this morning, I'm gonna be sick myself...

Luckily by the time I get a chance to look at my watch I realize it's time for lunch, so I make my way toward the staff lunch room for a well deserved break...however with my luck these days, I'm sure things won't stay peaceful for long...

__

As I walk in the lunch room I notice it's already occupied with several people I don't recognize, their attention glued to the television, leaving me nowhere to sit to rest my aching feet. Dammit! I was hoping for a little peace and quiet...

I take a quick glance to see what all the fuss is about, but all I see is some news anchor droning on in front of what looks like a warehouse. What's so interesting about this?

"Hey everyone...what's going on?" I inquire with curiosity as I head toward the fridge to grab my lunch.

"Haven't you heard? Prince is back and he's about to do a press conference..." a woman excitedly tosses over her shoulder in my general direction as I finally manage to locate my lunch. Everyone else is so riveted by the events about to unfold that it appears they didn't even notice I'd come into the room. What the hell is this woman talking about? Who the hell is this Prince anyway?

Just as I'm about to ask that very question I notice her glancing at her watch, and a look of disappointment clouding her features as she starts to stand up. "Shit! I wanted to at least see him before my break was over..." she exclaims frustrated as she slowly makes her way out of the room, her eyes locked on the screen until she vanishes out the door.

Noticing everyone's attention is still firmly glued to the television as the news anchor blathers on, and that they're clearly not interested in elaborating further, I briefly turn my attention to my lunch...but one look at my shrimp stir fry is enough to send my stomach roiling. Well, so much for that...

After placing my lunch back into the fridge with a sigh, I make my way over to sit in the now empty seat on the loveseat just the television cuts to a commercial break.

I just sit down when the woman seated beside me glances over in my direction, a look of confusion crossing her face. "Who are you?" she asks abruptly, but before I even get a chance to answer, she turns attention to an orderly sitting at the lunch table to ask, "Where did Jeannie go?" How rude!

"I have no clue. She's the biggest Prince fan I know. I can't believe she's gonna miss this," he replies earnestly.

"Me either..." she replies excitedly. Finally she directs her attention to me, "Are you a Prince fan?" she asks curious. "You must be...you're from Minneapolis aren't you?" she states matter of factly, answering her own question before taking a quick glance at her watch. What's the big deal about this Prince guy?

"You must be kidding me. It's already 1:15," she mutters to herself, before turning her attention to the orderly as she gets up from her seat. "Come on, Stu. We're late."

"You mean, we're actually going to miss this? No one in their right mind would blame us for being a little late getting back. I mean, its Prince for god's sake," the orderly whose name is apparently Stu mutters irritably, getting up reluctantly to follow the woman out the door leaving me alone in the lunchroom with the television and my thoughts.

I settle into the loveseat and turn my attention to the television as the commercials draw to a close and the camera pans over to the still empty podium, the crowd, and finally to the news anchor. I guess I might as well see what all the fuss over this Prince is about...

The camera finally pans in on the news anchor, and the first words out of her mouth were. "Welcome back. We're waiting just outside the gates of Paisley Park where 'The Artist' is scheduled to speak any moment now..." I thought this was about this Prince...wait a minute...did she just say 'The Artist'? Could it be...?

I didn't have any longer to ponder the question though, as the camera suddenly zooms toward the podium just inside the gates, revealing two men sharply dressed in grey business suits flanking a smaller statured man wearing a dark hoodie, with the hood obscuring most of his face and sunglasses.

With this man's appearance, the previously rowdy crowd seems stunned into silence. Nah...it can't be him. There's no way...

Finally the men have made their way to the podium, and the two businessmen step away leaving the mysterious smaller man standing alone by the microphone.

The camera zooms in and all anyone can see at first is the smirk on his face, a face mostly hidden by sunglasses and his hood. The tension of the crowd outside the gates seems almost palpable until suddenly the man removes both his sunglasses and the hood from his face, revealing the word SLAVE adorning his right cheek. The crowd emits a collective gasp at the sight of this as I come to a realization all my own. Oh my god...it is him! I can't believe it...

Seeing his face again makes me realize again just how much I've missed him, and I feel the already familiar tears start to glisten in the corner of my eyes.

However the way he's carrying himself now, as well as this enormous audience's reaction to him also highlights just how little I really I know about him. I can't believe this is the same man I thought I knew...

He looks a lot more like he did the first time I saw him in that souvenir shop than the man I grew to know...and love. I find this rather disconcerting, and can't help but to start choking up. How well do I really know him? I guess this is a good a time as any to find out...

I tune back in to hear him address the audience, opening the conference in his smooth baritone that I've grown familiar with over the last month.

"Is there not a time in everyone's life where they've felt like a...slave?" Huh?

The crowd emits noises of assent seemingly in response to his rhetorical question, while I'm left feeling conflicted...and utterly baffled. What the...?!

His voice suddenly booms out again, "...well, this is my time," and with this the audience cheers. Why is everyone so engrossed in this SLAVE thing...and in him for that matter? What am I missing here...?

"Now I know you've all got some questions for me, and I'm going to do my best to address all of you..." he continues, looking uncomfortable with a sour look on his face as the audience continues to cheer. It really looks like he'd rather be anywhere but there...so why is he doing this? I don't get it...

For a few moments, all that can be heard is the excited murmuring of the crowd, but eventually one voice makes itself heard over all the rest and the camera pans in. It turns out the voice belongs to a rather nerdy looking guy with a microphone in one hand, and a notepad in the other. "Tell us...where have you been this last month? What have you been up to?"

With the question having been put up there, the camera quickly zooms back onto my e ipo, and it's obvious he was expecting this question quickly because his response sounded smooth and rehearsed. "I actually just needed some time to unwind...and to come up with new material. Expect to see me releasing another album soon."

The audience cheers again in anticipation of a new album. So he's a musician then...? Guess that makes sense with all the instruments he was playing...

Another voice makes itself heard over the crowd...this time, it's a woman smartly dressed in a business suit. "But why not tell anyone you were leaving...or for that matter where you went?" From her perspective, that's probably a good question...

"The answer to that one is simple...I wanted my privacy, and didn't wish to be disturbed." But that's not what really happened...or is it? Could he have been lying to me the entire time?

I look at the ring adorning my finger with chagrin, and can't help thinking about the letter he left behind for me. What's the real story here? Which is the real him...the man that left me such a heartfelt letter, or this nervous looking man on stage?

A portly man brings up the next topic of discussion. "Over the last month there have been many unsubstantiated sightings of you all over the city, accompanied by an exotic looking dark haired woman. Is she your new muse? What do you have to say about this?" Wait a minute...are they talking about me...?

The camera zooms back in on my e ipo just in time for me to notice a gentle look momentarily cross his face, before his expression returns to the stony look he's held for much of the conference so far. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he replies coolly, and I notice tension lining the corners of his eyes as he quickly slips his forgotten sunglasses back over his face.

I can't believe this...why would he say that? He's denying ever having known me for some reason known only to him. But why? Is he ashamed of me? Is this really the same man I thought I knew? I guess this is what I get for giving my heart away so easily...you'd think I'd have learned after everything that happened with Alika...but nooo...

And with that, I can't bring myself to watch another minute of this. I grapple around looking for the remote, tears of anger, sadness, and utter confusion clouding my vision.  I finally manage to locate the remote shoved between the cushions of the couch as my hands start shaking. I fumble with it for a few seconds before I finally find the power button and the room is filled with blessed silence, save for the sounds of my sobs...at least until moments later when I hear a soft, familiar female voice asking.

"Oh my god...Iolani! Are you okay?"

**Author's Note:  I hope this chapter meets everyone's expectations, and that you're all enjoying The Artist & Lani's journey.  Just a heads up that it might be a bit longer than usual before I'm able to update again.  I've just started another job, and Musical Chairs, as well as the holiday exchange story, to be titled From Rags to Kisses both need my attention as well.  Will update again as soon as I'm able, but please bear with me.  Love you all.  #hugs**