Chapter 45

"I'm an idiot," said Tsukasa finishing his wine is one gulp.

"It's fine, it was going to happen sooner or later. I mean how long can you four not see each other for?" said Shigeru rubbing Tsukasa's clenched fist.

"Until she and Sou seal the deal?" sighed Tsukasa.

"There's this thing called divorce. If she were going to leave Soujiro for Rui she would have done it last year. If she's still in love with Rui she will eventually leave Soujiro even if they had 3 kids," continued Shigeru.

"Yea, or maybe one of the three will drop dead and get this thing over with… Sorry I eavesdropped," smirked Akira plopping himself into the available chair.

"Touchwood!" exclaimed Tsukasa and Shigeru simultaneously.

"As if you don't think this will be easier if Soujiro drops dead. He's my friend and all but seriously he's turning into a ghost of himself. Stalking Rui's movements over the past year, always hovering and shadowing her every move, like some crazed dude. What's the point he's driving himself mad with fear that she will leave him… Not without cause though. Two mills says she will leave him before the wedding," bet Akira.

"Just because Shizuka took flight again doesn't mean every woman will," said Shigeru making gooey eyes at Tsukasa.

Tsukasa leaned in to kiss Shigeru in response.

"Newlyweds…eck" spat Akira lifting the menu way above eye-level.

Meanwhile…

"Nishikado-sama, you have a lunch meeting with Mimasaka-sama and Doumyouji-sama in 10 minutes time," said the secretary.

"Mmm… what's after that?" asked Soujiro while pressing no. 1 on his speed dial.

"You have a conference call at 3 p.m. with the China branch on the new artifact procurement which should take about half an hour, and then you have a meeting with the representatives of the Hokkaido and Kobe tea-school branches at 4 p.m. that should be wrapped up in about 1 hour. Then you have a dinner meeting with the board of directors and their wives which you will be attending with Makino-sama at 6.30 p.m." said the secretary wrapping up his schedule.

"She's not picking up. Have you put the points for the meetings in my dossier? And call the house and bring my change of clothes to the office," said Soujiro getting his coat and rigidly hitting the speed dial again.

"Immediately, have a good lunch," bowed the secretary on his way out.

Why is she still not picking up thought Soujiro impatiently violently jabbing the elevator buttons.

Back at the Bridal Studio

Tsukushi stood still eyes closed hands at her sides while Rui clung to her tucking his face into her nape.

The phone rang once…twice… thrice…

"Let it ring please," pleaded Rui sensing she was about to pull away.

She stood still as he clung even tighter to her frame.

The phone went silent… One missed call.

They stood like that for another 30 seconds before the phone rang thrice again.

"Please…" said Rui hoarsely as she stood still.

The phone has rang twice and without doubt it was her fiancée thought Tsukushi, and yet here she was being held by another man in a way that can only be described as wrong even though she wasn't reciprocating the hug, she didn't push him away. She couldn't after the words, his shaking frame and warm tears on her neck. But like a year ago, she would have to push him away and this time there was a clock on it.

The phone rang again and she squirmed inwardly.

"Let go…" she said monotonously. No reaction came from him so she said again, "Let go…" It was now clear she would have to push him away, so she did as the phone rang for the fourth time.

He stood there unstable tears flowing silently as she moved towards her purse, opened it and picked up the call.

"Yes darling? No…no… Just having a bit of a difficult time getting out of my dress… mmm, you walking over already? No you cannot come up. You will just have to be wowed on the day itself like everyone else… Shigeru? She and Dom went down first, I think A is with them already… Yup, Umm hmm…In five? Yea I'll meet you out… Mmm… love you too." Said Tsukushi guiltily. She dropped the phone back into the purse and clasped it shut.

"Was the last part really necessary? Or was it just out of courtesy to me?" stared Rui at her accusingly.

"Both. This is not happening today Rui, this happened over a year ago," said Tsukushi cupping his face in her hands wiping his tears away.

"And you are over me?" he struggled getting those words out.

"No. But I am going to be, and also I'm marrying him this coming spring. For your own good I think you should come and get some closure as I become Tsukushi Nishikado," said Tsukushi plunging the last dagger. She walked back behind the wall and changed out of her bridesmaid dress.

When she came out he was still there stunned into stillness.

"See you downstairs, or not… your choice," she said picking up her purse walking towards the stairs and down and out.

All he could do was stare out the window as she skipped into the arms of his friend both of them fussing over each other.