A/N: I had no plans before to post this story early in January 2009. However, as my excitement rose due to this special day, I thought, why not post it on this day? After all, the topic is related ;)

The story was divided into two parts. Part I is Sachiko's special day and Part II is Yumi's, although the second part is very short. I'm not sure yet how many chapters this story has because I looked at the entire thing and saw that I haven't cut the scenes yet ;) I haven't opened my file since I typed it (if you had read it and could still remember, I mentioned this in Excapade B 1: Lady On Top). It's the longest Excapade I have so far. And maybe the most detailed compared to other stories of mine (though I couldn't be so sure because I barely remembers what I've written in the previous ones haha ;)

Anyway, read at your own risk!

This is a fanfic so all of us know very well that I don't own Sachiko, Yumi and co.

My 19th story! Have fun!

"Excapade (A) 04: The Gift"

---Arvendell---

Part I

Chapter 1

Fukuzawa Yumi struggled as hard as she could against the bindings on her hands. As she did it, she felt her heart drumming loudly it was almost deafening. Sweat profusely trickled on her temples, on her back, her neck, almost everywhere, making her dress clung to her petite form.

"Uhmp..uh!"

After several minutes of struggling, she realized that it was futile. Tears made way from her blindfolded eyes to her cheeks, dripping to her chin. She was scared to death.

Why? Why did someone abduct her?

She was so happy and excited when she woke up this morning. It was her Onee-sama's, Ogasawara Sachiko's, birthday, and together with their friends, they were having a dinner party at some fancy restaurant. She had dressed up with the finest dress she could find, and afford.

What would Sachiko say if she didn't show up at her celebration? Would she be disappointed at her absence?

She wanted so much to be with her. They seldom see each other anymore after Sachiko graduated high school even though their schools were neighbors.

And her parents.

Her Mom would surely panic.

Her father and brother Yuuki would be worried.

She didn't want to worry them.

'Why? Why am I in this situation?' She asked herself.

"Uhmp…uh…hmp…"

She tried to say the words 'let me go' but no coherent sounds escaped her lips. Whatever covered her lips, it was quite tight, though not too tight to hurt her really bad.

"Stop struggling. We won't hurt you," one of her abductors said.

She didn't recognize the voice. It was as if the one who spoke had a bad sore throat. If the words were supposed to calm her, then it did not have the desired effect. Her fear only escalated. Not only was she abducted but her abductors sounded scary, too!

Who were these people? What had she done to them? Did her family have an enemy that she wasn't aware of?

If this was a kidnap-for-ransom, then how much would they ask from her family? Her family wasn't rich. Her Dad might be force to loan from the bank or worse, sell their properties.

If money wasn't what they wanted, then what was it?

"By the way, you look really beautiful in that dress."

"…"

A worse idea crossed her mind. She shivered. They wouldn't rape her, would they?

How was she going to escape them?

She didn't know how many her abductors were, but there were at least three of them, and that one of them was a woman. She felt it when they bound her while she was about to ride the taxi.

The taxi.

She jerked in her sit. She realized that even the driver of the taxi was among her abductors. They had planned this, that was for sure.

"You're only hurting yourself trying to break free. I've told you already, we won't hurt you. You may even want to thank us later, you know."

Huh? And why would she thank them? They were scaring her to death. She was going to miss Sachiko's celebration. Sachiko and their friends would surely worry. Her family, too, once they found out that she was abducted.

"Let's use this on her," the other abductor said.

She felt something on her face right on her nose. As soon as she inhaled, she felt herself slacken. Before she lost her consciousness, she screamed in her mind with fear of what would happen to her and that she would die without even confessing something important to the person she loved the most.

---o---

"What's wrong, Sachiko?"

"Hmm. Pardon me. Did you say something, Onee-sama?" Sachiko asked absentmindedly to her Onee-sama, Mizuno Youko. Her mind was busy asking the question, 'where is she?' over and over.

"Are you worried about Yumi-chan?"

"She's late," Sachiko said evenly, trying to mask the worry that was starting to show in her demeanor.

"Maybe she overslept this afternoon. Or she got lost. I could already imagine her face once she arrived here," said by the person seated on Youko's left, Satou Sei.

Everyone except Sachiko giggled as they imagined Yumi apologizing profusely for being late.

"I'm sure she'll arrive soon. Let's wait for a few more minutes."

Every minute that passed that Yumi hadn't arrived escalated Sachiko's worry. She was looking at the door and then her watch frequently. Yumi was known for being late most of the time, but not this late. Something must have happened.

Sachiko was about to stand when Sei beat her.

"I'll call Yumi-chan's house," Sei said.

"I'll do it."

"No. Let me do it. I don't want the star of the night doing anything."

After giving Sachiko a wink, Sei went outside the room.

Sachiko waited impatiently. Thoughts running her mind, mostly not-so-good ones.

When Sei came back, everyone's face was turned to her expectantly, waiting for the news about Yumi.

"Well?" Sachiko asked, unable to wait any longer.

"It was answering machine. It said that something happened and that they had to go somewhere."

Sachiko sighed. Her worry increased again.

"I should have escorted Onee-sama here," her cousin, Matsudaira Touko, said.

Sachiko sighed.

"Is it alright if we wait for another 10 minutes? If Yumi didn't arrive, then let's start," she said, though she didn't think Yumi would still come. What happened must be really important that Yumi failed to inform her that she wouldn't make it.

Everyone readily agreed at Sachiko's suggestion and busied themselves talking about the updates on each other.

Minutes passed by. When the 10 minutes wait was over, they had no choice but to start the dinner.

Sachiko hardly tasted the food no matter how delicious they were. She kept a calm expression, but inside, a lot of questions were flying over her mind.

Where's Yumi?

Why didn't she show up?

What was that something that happened that required her presence?

Or did she abandon her birthday dinner on purpose?

She shook her head at the last thought.

No. Yumi wouldn't do that. There must be a deep reason why Yumi hadn't shown up. She hoped that it wasn't something bad.

"Something must have happened that required the Fukuzawas presence. Otherwise, Yumi-chan would be here. I'm sure she would tell you as soon as she could," Youko said.

Sachiko nodded at Youko.

Yes, Yumi would surely tell her. It must be something urgent that Yumi wasn't able to tell her in advance. If she knew Yumi, she would surely make up for it. She would wait for it.

A/N: To those who celebrates today, too, happy birthday! ;)

07 January 2009

12:55 PM