CHAPTER 10

Both sat in silence as they stared into each others eyes.

Yuzu's thoughts were in overdrive with so many different emotions making her mind spin like a whirlwind.

She tore her eyes away from Mei and looked off to the side as she spoke.

"S….Sorry Mei, I cant"

Any last bit of hope that was in Meis heart shattered, she went to speak when…

-Ring-

Both Yuzu and Mei's phones started ringing. They both quickly answered.

"Mama?"
"Father?"

Mei couldn't really remember much after the phone call with her father. She looked down at her hand tightly clutched onto Yuzu' , how she missed Yuzu's warmth, her touch. Mei never wanted to let go.

"Mei, we are here"

Yuzu's voice quickly brought Mei back to reality.

She looked up to catch a glimpse of Yuzu's soft, caring emerald eyes. She had already opened the door to reveal her unconscious Grandfather laying on a Hospital bed.

Her Father and step-mother were already at his side. Mei let Yuzu gently guide her to his bedside where she looked down at the oldest Aihara.

Ume pulled Mei and Yuzu into a hug and rubbed their backs.

"He had another heart attack" Ume spoke as she pulled away from the 2 girls.

A few hours passed, Sho and Mei sat in silence in the room. Yuzu and Ume had left to get everyone some coffee.

Mei took in the sight of her frail looking Grandfather, his aged skin right down to his grey hair, she thought about how she could count how many times she had seen him smile on one hand since she could remember.

A few minutes later and the sound of Ume and Yuzu talking could be heard as they approached. Mei eagerly turned in her seat but her heart sank immediately as she witnessed Yuzu's hands intertwined with those of Ren.

Mei felt herself giving the tall handsome young man a death glare as he entered the room. But his next sentence made her turn towards her Grandfather with sadness in her eyes.

"Sho, Mei i'm terribly sorry about Mr Aihara, on behalf of myself and all the Hatichi family I hope he makes a fast recovery" Ren bowed respectfully, Sho quickly thanked Ren on behave of the Aihara family.

The Doctor came in to explain that he would be in Hospital for a few days and probably wouldn't awake till tomorrow at the earliest.

Mei kept stealing side glances of Yuzu, she noticed how Yuzu and Ren never let go of their hands as they talked with everyone in the room.

Yuzu's smile was so bright Mei felt like she could melt at the sight of it.

"Mei?" Yuzu called.

Mei realised she had been day dreaming and was the only one in the room as everyone made their way to the exit.

She turned her attention to the blonde standing in the doorway, one hand still holding onto Ren's as he was in a conversation with Ume and Sho.

"Do you need a ride home?" Yuzu asked as she nervously scratched the back of her head.

The events of the day had changed so quickly she wasn't quite sure what she was feeling.

"I'll bring the car around babe" Ren quickly interjected as he kissed her on the cheek and said his goodbyes.

"Thank you but i'll be fine" Mei simply stated, she wanted to be alone she wasn't in the mood to be with anyone right now.

Mei could have sworn that she saw disappointment in Yuzu's eyes before she moved to leave.

"Yuzu, are you happy?" Mei mentally scolded herself as the words left her mouth before she could register what she was doing. The words left her mouth faster then she could register actually saying them.

Yuzu turned and looked down to the hallway that Ren had just left, a smile automatically spread across her face as she turned back to Mei and gave her answer.

"Yeah, I really am Mei"

Mei searched those beautiful emerald eyes, but she knew that Yuzu was telling the truth, plus she was never one to lie.

She felt her heart constrict in pain but Yuzu's happiness was all that she ever wanted right? Even if that happiness meant not being with her.

"I see" Was the only reply she could share in the awkward moment.

The next few days passed quickly. Yuzu rang Mei a couple of times to check that she was o.k.

Mei's Grandfather was finally home but put on strict orders to lighten his work load.

"Hmmmmmmmm" Harumin looked at her best friend from across the table.

"Just Hmmmmmm? Thats all you have?" Yuzu replied as she waited eagerly for the auburn haired girl to explain a bit more.

Due to the recent emergency with Mei's Grandfather, Yuzu never got the chance to tell Harumin what had happened before she and Mei received the phone calls from their parents.

And so, now the 2 best friends were in the comfort of their apartment, Yuzu could finally reveal everything.

"I think you did the right thing Yuzucchi" Harumin knew that this was a touchy topic for the blonde.

Yuzu let out another long sigh before she spoke.

"I cant believe she asked me for a kiss, what about her husband?"

Yuzu saw Harumin's expression faulted for a second, she sat upright in her chair before she spoke.

"Harumin?"

Both Yuzu and Harumin never kept secrets from each other for three reasons. One, because they didn't believe in lying in general and two, because they could both read each other like a open book and three, well they are both pretty bad liars.

Just having Yuzu intensely looking at her as she said her name was enough to break Harumin down in seconds.

"Well, the Prez never got married"

"WHAT!?" Yuzu jumped out of her chair and slammed her hands on the table.

"Yeah, Big Sis, told me a while ago, apparently it was suddenly called off a few days before the wedding date"

Harumin eyes went wide as she saw tears starting to run down Yuzu's cheeks.

It broke her heart to see her friend so distressed. She was the kindest, most caring and loyal person she had ever met and she wanted nothing but happiness for Yuzu, she really deserved it.

Harumin opened her mouth to speak but Yuzu interrupted catching her off guard.

"Thanks for telling me Harumin, I need to get ready"

Harumin sat speechless as she watched Yuzu retreat into her room.

Before they knew it, it was already time to leave and everyone was getting ready to board the Hatichi's Private Jet.

"This always amazes me Yuzucchi, Ren really is amazing" Harumin looked around the jet as she took her seat.

"Where is Ren anyway Yuzu-onee?" Matsuri took a seat and stretched her legs out after she spoke.

Yuzu looked longingly out the window as she answered her childhood friend back.

"He had to leave yesterday to prepare a few things"

The flight was less lively then usual. Both Matsuri and Harumin were concerned for their friend as Yuzu spent most of the flight with her head phones on looking out the window.

"I'll talk with her when we get the hotel" Harumin looked to Yuzu then back to Matsuri as she spoke.

After landing the 3 girls made their way out of the airport until they heard a familiar voice.

"Yuzu, Harumi, Matsuri what great timing"

All three girls turned to see Ume, Sho and Mei walking towards them.

"Mama I thought you were staying back in Japan" Yuzu spoke in a less cheerful voice then usual.

Ignoring her daughters question, Ume asked a question of her own.

"Yuzu are you alright? You seem down" Ume knew her daughter very well.

Yuzu quickly shook her hands in front of her hands as she spoke.

"I'm fine Mama, i'll feel better after I eat something"

Yuzu took in a deep breath before she spoke again.

"Hi Papa, Mei" The last word was barely a whisper as Yuzu avoided eye contact with Mei.

'Just smile, everything is fine' Yuzu kept repeating to herself before she continued walking.

They all shared a Limousine as they were driven to their Hotel.

During the Limo ride Yuzu tried her best to act like her usual cheery self, but even she knew that she wasn't fooling anyone.

Everyone looked at one another as Yuzu nearly ran out of the Limo as soon as it stopped.

"Yuzu, where are you going? What about lunch?" Ume called out to her daughter.

Quickly turning around Yuzu answered her concerned mother.

"I just need to freshen up Mama, start without me, i'll be down soon" Before Ume could say another word Yuzu was already entering the elevator.

Standing next to the Limo Mei watched until Yuzu was no longer in sight.

"Geez something is really bugging Yuzu-onee today" Matsuri gave Mei a side look as she spoke.

"She has been like that since the other day, I should probably go talk to her"

Harumin started to make her way towards the elevator when she felt a gentle pull of the side of her shirt.

Looking down at the ground with a nervous expression Mei slowly pulled her hand back as she spoke.

"Taniguchi-san, do you mind if I go talk with her instead?"

"No way Mei yo-" Matsuri was silenced as Harumin put her in a head lock, looking at Mei she wandered if that would be a good idea.

Yuzu lay on her bed as thoughts were running through her mind.

'Things could have been different, maybe if we-' Yuzu's train of thought stopped as she heard a knock at the door.

She knew that it would have to be Harumin. She opened the door already trying to think of some kind of excuse.

"Haru, i'm fine rea-" Yuzu stopped mid sentence as she laid eyes on the person in front of her.

Neither of them said anything as they just stood in silence.

"Are you going to invite me in Yuzu?" Mei softly asked, since the blonde hadn't said a word after her sentence faded from her lips.

Quickly recomposing herself Yuzu's expression turned cold as ice.

"What do you want Mei?"

Mei was caught off guard with the icy greeting. She recomposed herself before responding to the upset blonde.

"I came to see if your o.k an-"

Mei was cut off as Yuzu turned her back to walk away as she spoke.

"NOW you wanna see if I'm o.k? Its a bit late for that." It was quiet but harsh. Mei's heart ached as she heard every word. But this was important, she channeled all her strength to continue and stepped forward.

She wanted to explain but Yuzu interrupted again with pain in her voice. Yuzu spoke quietly, and there was no denying how hurt she felt as her voice wavered.

"Why didn't you come back to me Mei?"

The raven haired girl took another step toward the woman she loved. But she was stopped in her tracks as Yuzu turned to face her.

With tears running down her face Yuzu looked straight into Mei's eyes.

Despite her tears she was still so beautiful.

"You didn't get married DID you?"

Mei's heart broke at the sight of Yuzu's tear stained cheeks.

She took in a quick breath before she tried to answer.

"I couldn't, I-"

Yuzu cut in with a shaky voice.

"You nn-never wanted me, did you?"

Yuzu brought her hands to her face, she couldn't bare the sight of Mei anymore.

Mei took another step, her face only centimetres from her blonde ex lover.

"Yuzu I-"

Yuzu felt Meis breath on her cheek, she pulled her hands down as she interrupted what Mei was about to say.

"No Mei, FIVE years! For FIVE years you just up and left me behind. You could have come back to me but you MMPH!"

Mei crashed her lips onto Yuzu's, it had been years since she felt those soft beautiful lips on her own, how she missed each touch from the blonde when…..

-SLAP-

Mei placed her hand on her cheek now turning red from Yuzu's slap.

"Don't touch me Mei, you dont have that right anymore"

Mei could see troubled anger in Yuzu's eyes 'She really does hate me' Mei thought as she tried to block out the pain from the slap.

Yuzu took a few steps back, feeling overwhelmed.

Her eyes widened as Mei stepped forward, each step she would take back was another step forward that Mei would take until Mei reached out and grabbed both of Yuzu's hands with her own.

"Let go of-" Yuzu was cut off as Mei spoke.

"I did come back to you.."

Mei looked down as she continued to speak.

"Yuzu you were the only person I wanted to see when the wedding was called off. I couldn't think of anyone else but you"

"No more lies Mei, I CANT take it"

Yuzu pulled her hands back and moved to walk away but the sound of Mei's soft voice kept her motionless, almost like time stopped temporarily.

"Your University entrance ceremony"

Confusion overtook Yuzu's expression as she wondered,'What the hell does my entrance ceremony have to do with any of this?'

Mei put her hand in her pocket and pulled out a heart shaped hair clip as she tilted her head up as if she was recalling a memory and she whispered "I still remember it like it was yesterday…"

"My hair clip how did you…." Yuzu stopped halfway through her sentence as she tried to make sense of what Mei was saying.

As if she didn't hear Yuzu, Mei continued.

"You were wearing black faded skinny jeans with your favourite orange t-shirt"

Mei smiled to herself as she visualised that day five years ago. Then, she took another step forward and placed the hair clip in Yuzu's hand as she continued her trip down memory lane.

"You wore your usual make-up, but honestly, I never thought you needed any make up. I've always admired your natural beauty. The wind was strong that day and blew that hair cilp out of your hair."

Yuzu looked down to the hair clip then to Mei before she was finally able to speak.

"Y….You were there? Then why didn't you come to me?" Yuzu's heart was aching, she didn't know weather to be upset with the ex student council president or not.

"I was going to return the clip to you, but then I saw you laughing and smiling with some friends and I thought that your life would be better without me in it"

As she said those last few words, she looked down. Before Mei knew it tears were streaming down her cheeks and to the ground.

She went to wipe them clear but a hand stopped her.

"Mei?" Yuzu looked straight into those vibrant purple orbs. In that moment, Mei could have sworn that Yuzu could see into her soul. She stayed quiet as she listened to Yuzu continue.

She stayed quiet as Yuzu spoke again.

"My life is nothing without you in it"

Yuzu felt like she had no control over her body, both her hands had found their way on either side of Mei's face and she found herself leaning closer to the raven haired girl until…..

-RING-

Both jumped at the sound of Yuzu's phone ringing.

'Really!? At all the times her phone could ring' Mei felt her heart beat racing.

Yuzu quickly answered and pulled away from Mei.

"Ren?"

Yuzu looked up at Mei, it was as if they were trying to speak through their eyes.

Meis eyes traveled to Yuzu's finger, Rens engagement ring still shining brightly.

'Yuzu's engaged, what am I thinking!?' Mei mentally scalded herself, then the words that Yuzu yelled at her earlier started to repeat in her head.

'Dont touch me Mei, you don't have that right anymore' Mei could feel more tears threatening to fall.

She felt like she was going to start hyperventilating.

Taking in a large breath, Mei turned and looked for an exit, she felt like her heart was going to beat right out of her chest. But she felt she had to leave.

"Mei?"

Mei turned to see Yuzu pulling the phone away from her ear with a concerned look on her face.

"I'll see you at lunch Yuzu"

Not giving Yuzu the chance to say anything in return, Mei made her way back to the others.

"Babe?…..Babe?….Yuzu?"

Yuzu looked back at her phone, she totally forgot that Ren was talking to her on the other side.

"Sorry Babe, what was it you said?"

Everyone had ordered their lunch and eating as they conversed with each other.

"Mei did Yuzu say if she would be down soon?" Ume asked her step-daughter as she had a sip from her beer. But before she could answer the sound of Yuzu's cheerful voice hit their ears.

"Sorry i'm late everyone, I had to organise a few things with Ren"

Everyone was surprised to see Yuzu in a more happier mood then before.

"Wow Yuzu-onee, you seem like your in a better mood then before, you and Mei must have had a great talk" Matsuri gave her usual devilish smirk and wink before she took a bite of her food.

Both step-sisters had a light shade of red covering their cheeks.

Yuzu quickly shoved food in her mouth while Mei sipped on her tea.

During lunch Yuzu learnt that Sho and Mei had come to the event on behalf of their Grandfather/Father. Ume of course came as a last minute decision requested by Sho.

Before they knew it, the time to leave for the event had arrived.

Everyone was looking stunning with Sho wearing a jet black business suit and Ume in a beautiful black dress and designer heels. Mei had never seen her step mother dress up before but the sight of her was beautiful.

Harumin was in a dark red dress, heels and accessories and make-up spot on with Matsuri in a dark blue dress and heels.

Mei gave everyone a confused expression as they all seemed to be staring at her, she went to speak but it was her father that spoke first.

"Mei, you look beautiful"

Mei looked over herself, she didn't really think much of it. She was wearing a light pale blue dress that hugged her figure perfectly and was showing skin in all the right places, her hair was half up and her heels helped to show off her her perfect long legs.

"Thank you father" Was all that Mei could reply.

"Is Mei trying to give Yuzu-onee a heart attack or what?" Matsuri whispered into her girlfriends ear. Harumin could only nod as she moved over for Mei to enter the Limo.

"Where is Yuzu?" Mei asked as she looked at the occupants of the vehicle.

"ohh Yuzu had to go early with Ren to meet some people or something" Ume flashed her step-daughter a wide smile as she spoke.

Yuzu was at the entrance with her future husband greeting everyone as they arrived.

She saw the familiar Limo pull up her jaw nearly dropped open as she saw Mei exit and step onto the long red carpet.

Both girls had locked eyes on each other immediately and neither of them planned on breaking eye contact.

Mei took each step gracefully, she could feel people staring at her but she only cared about one pair of eyes that were on her at the moment.

Mei found the sight of Yuzu breathtaking.

Yuzu was wearing a gorgeous yellow summers dress, her hair was up in a stylish bun showing off her slender neck. Everything about her ensemble from ear rings, accessories to her heels was perfect.

Mei knew that Yuzu would have put a lot of thought into this outfit and she thought that the older girl looked nothing but radiant.

Her eyes travelled up and her heart felt like it stopped for a second as she saw Yuzu's arms linked with Ren.

She thought to herself how the 2 looked like the perfect couple and that they could be models.

Ren was in a immaculate dark blue suit which complimented Yuzu's yellow perfectly, his hair was slicked back, his smile was just as wide as Yuzu's as they were greeting people.

Yuzu could see Mei, Ume and Sho approaching, she knew for sure that if she wasn't holding on to Ren right now that she would probably fall over.

"Good evening, thank you very much for coming" Ren shook hands with Sho. Yuzu and Mei were standing infront of each other.

Matsuri and Harumin were a few steps behind as they watched the scene infront of them.

"Geez they are pretty much undressing each other with their eyes" Matsuri spoke as she looked from the 2 step-sisters to her girlfriend.

Harumin felt her stomach turn, she had a bad feeling about this. Without taking her eyes off the 2 beauties in front of her she spoke.

"Its gonna be a long night"

TO BE CONTINUED….

GEEZ EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SO HECTIC AND CRAZY AND NOW IM SICK :(

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT, HAPPY READING AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.