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Satomika's notes: without further ado…

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VERSE V: BROKEN DAWN

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When Akira rushed inside the Matsuoka residence, leaving Yuki's mother astounded and angry at him, Soujiro knew there was definitely something wrong; because Akira, no matter how tense and placid the situation is, always keeps his cool. He's the ever peacemaker of the F4!

So when he emerged silent and distant as an iceberg, Soujiro worried for his friend, and wondered if Akira had offended the Matsuokas; thus forever banned from their house resulting to no leads on Yuki.

When he tried talking to him, Soujiro only got a cold answer: "Just drop it, Soujiro. I need to talk to Makino first. Let's just head to the Doumyoji Mansion immediately."

Soujiro nodded. He knows which battle to fight, which battle to forget, and to whom the battle he would surrender. So he would trust Akira and his judgment; but never forgetting about the CD Akira was holding when he emerged from Yuki's house.

The ride towards the Doumyouji Mansion was tense and silent – Soujiro did not dare break it. It was supposed to be a happy welcome-back party for the newlyweds; but with their other friends absent from the small get-together, it was just NOT happy – totally un-enjoyable, if he would come to think of it.

But really now… what happened to Yuki…? Whatever wrong could have befallen upon her that made Akira act so… angry? I mean, he doesn't even look worried or concerned. He's angry – just angry and distant.

Upon reaching their destination, there were exchanges of stiff man hugs and awkward pats on the back. Immediately, Akira went down to business, destroying whatever good and little happy atmosphere they have.

"Makino… is it alright if I have a little chat with you…?" Akira asked tersely and seriously, his eyes momentarily falling upon the person he was referring to, but his gaze immediately slid to her husband's, making said husband's eyes narrow in suspicion.

"Eh! Akira! Why do you want to talk to Tsukushi?" Tsukasa questioned.

"There are some things I need to discuss with Makino before any of the two of you should know." Akira replied in a cold and distant manner.

"How come you go to Tsukushi first? We're your friends, Akira… We're brothers." Tsukasa pressed.

Akira pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in aggravation. "Tsukushi would know some things better than any of us would do. So will you please let me talk to your wife privately? You would know these matters soon enough if you would let me talk to her first, alright?"

Tsukasa examined his friend closely. He knows his friend rarely loses his cool. In fact, he doesn't remember Akira acting so aloof towards them – so cold… distant… unfriendly. Just like Soujiro, he knows which battle to fight, which battle to forget, and to whom the battle he would surrender. He glanced shortly at Soujiro, then peered intensely at his wife, gesturing she could go.

"Let's talk at the back veranda, Mimasaka-san." Tsukushi said softly.

Akira nodded, leading the young Doumyouji mistress outside. Tsukasa looked at them, concerned. "What happened to Akira?" He asked, glancing shortly at his other friend before shrugging his shoulders when Soujiro can only look back at him blankly.

Outside, mixed expressions of surprise, doubt, confusion, worry, and sadness clouded Tsukushi's face as Akira relayed to her what he found out as he and Soujiro seeked for Yuki.

In the end, he got nothing from Tsukushi, who, on one hand, doesn't know anything of the recent events concerning her friend, either.

As the young Doumyouji mistress and the collected Mimasaka heir stepped back into the room they came from, two pairs of hawk-like eyes were glued onto them, watching and discerning their every gesture and every utter.

Seeing his wife looking pale and ashen-faced, Tsukasa quickly drew himself to hug her, at the same time sending a ferocious glare towards Akira's direction who never even batted an eyelash, walking past him, to request something from one of the Doumyouji servants.

As it turns out, Akira requested a laptop where he immediately popped in the CD he emerged with back from the Matsuoka household; while Soujiro was left to discern the meaning behind the exchanged glances between his friend and his other friend's wife.

And when Akira pressed play and the images became vivid, everyone crowded over to him and it felt like hell just suddenly froze over.