Chapter Three

She has been pacing back and forth in her hotel room ever since they got there. The other occupants of the room are getting dizzy just from watching her. Unknowingly, she has been muttering her love's name over and over again like a chant calling the gods of old. Deep down she was incredibly happy to see Yumi—how long has it been since she last saw her? 3 months? 5? She does not want to know. All she knows is that she needs to stay away from her. 'It's for the best, my love. I don't know what I would do if my family hurts you.'

"Sa-chan, will you please sit down?" asked Suguru. "You're making us dizzy. April looks like she is going to throw up just from following you walk around." He was quite entertained to see her cousin lose her cool. He knew what happened between the two. And truth be told, he thinks Sachiko is overreacting. In his book, his Uncle Tooru and his lively wife would never do anything to hurt someone especially someone their daughter cares about. So here he was, acting as Sachiko's babysitter. He is fulfilling a promise he made to someone. He just really can't refuse his best friend.

*Thud* Thud* Thud*

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.

*Thud* Thud* Thud*

"What in the world was that?!" Still groggy from his sleep, Suguru looked at the clock next to his table. It's 2 in the morning! He waited for some time hoping the annoying banging sound would stop however it just grew intensely every minute. Pissed off that he was woken up from his slumber, Suguru pushed his blankets away to check what's causing that sound.

*Thud* Thud* Thud*

.

.

*Thud* Thud* Thud*

.

.

Clad with nothing but his boxer shorts, his chiseled body was exposed for everyone to see. Well, it is not like someone would see him in his apartment. He lives alone and his flat is on the 30th floor—no one in their right mind would be awake at this time of the night. His apartment is too high up for people to see him inside. As he opened his apartment door, there stood his best friend- her hair plastered on her face as tears flowed endlessly from those once lambent chocolate eyes.

"YUMI! What happened?" asked Suguru as the door swung wildly almost unhinging it from its bolts. Yumi collapsed in his arms as soon as he opened the door. The brown-haired girl, who once carried herself gracefully was reduced to a weeping pulp. Gone was the elegant and graceful girl that was once trained by the Almighty Ogasawara. And that did not sit well with him.

"It hurts too much, Su-chi.." once again, another bout of tears left her eyes and unable to carry herself any more, she slumped down on the floor. Reflexively, Suguru caught Yumi and carried her gently in his arms. Gently, he put her down on the bed and turned around so he can grab her some water. Before he could even leave, Yumi grabbed his arm causing him to topple back on the bed.

"Su-chi, she doesn't want to be with me anymore. She doesn't want to fight for our love," Yumi said in between sobs as she snaked her arms around the man on top of her; unfazed of his state of undress. Suguru realized this when he felt warm hands on his torso and tried to break free, but the distraught girl just tightened her grip. "I love her so much Suguru but why? I don't understand…"

There was no point trying to untangle himself from the girl he has come to love, so he reciprocated the embrace and tried to give the girl the much-needed support by being with her. "I don't know how to answer that Yumi… perhaps she's scared of what the family would do to you." He adjusted himself a bit on the side so he is not crushing the small girl in his arms. "Do you want me to talk to her? She might listen to me, but I doubt that though. We both know how she is though."

He never got a response as his best friend fell asleep, her breathing slow and her face has started to relax a bit. 'Im glad..' Suguru watched Yumi in her sleep, thinking of the time when they became really close. During those times, the Ogasawara heiress would be out of the country for business, he would call Yumi to report how her girlfriend was. Most of the time, he would join his cousin on these business trips on his Uncle Touro's request. Often, he would be their accomplice so the lovers could meet up and have some stolen private moment. Suguru would sometimes help Yumi book flights and would sometimes take Yumi to the airport himself. This setup of theirs seemed to have started their close relationship and next thing he knows they are each other's best friends.

It is funny how back when they were in high school, the younger girl would be so jealous of him. At first, he thought it was fun to tease the girl, so he made an extra effort to make her jealous. Always showing up to places he should not be there, like the Yamayurikai New Year party. Eventually, despite his intention of teasing Yumi, despite being a nuisance to her and Sachiko's budding relationship, he knew that the girl was starting to grow on him.

"Remember Yu-chi? When the Stick Girl was stalking you? I was so mad at that that I even volunteered to be your escort," Suguru smiled warmly as he reminisced those memories from when they were younger. Gently stroking the sleeping girl's hair, he continued even though the one he was talking to was sound asleep. "So you see, I'll always be your knight in shining armor. I won't let anything happen to you and Sachiko."

"Don't worry Yumi, I'll keep an eye out on Sachiko." And as he said those words, he too let sleep take its toll on him hoping that by tomorrow, everything will turn out alright.

"What was she doing here Suguru? How did she know we're in Detroit?"

"I don't know Sa-chan. Maybe… she has ESP?" he dead-panned.

"WHAT ESP?! STOP JOKING AROUND SUGURU!"

The new assistant came back to the lounge area of the hotel suite and served drinks for her bosses. "I don't know what you guys want but I brought everything I could think of." She realized how tense the room was, but she thought to herself, good thing I came back on time. Or her boss would be spitting fireballs on all of them. She has grown to like her bosses, both looked so mature as they spearhead their company's affairs but really though, they look like kids teasing around each other. April knew that in Japan, the Ogasawaras and the Kashiwagis are among the revered business families. Of course, she did her research when she accepted her job. However, both her bosses are young, probably about her age. So, she has decided, although she was advised beforehand to always act formal and professional, she will try to break the ice and just be casual with them. They are in America anyways.

She then moved to her seat next to the study table and opened her laptop silently listening to the conversation. She also thought of the girl she met at the airport. When she came back, the girl wasn't there anymore. "I wonder where she's at now?" she asked herself. Unaware that she said it out loud. Suguru stood up and looked at her quizzically but she just shyly smiled and bowed her head. She's a bit ashamed that she was caught somewhat pre-occupied. Her male boss went and grab a glass with ice and poured the Coke he got from the tray. Sitting back on the couch, he answered his cousin back, "Don't you think it's a good sign that you saw Yu-chi? Maybe this is a sign that you guys should get back together. Fight for her Sachiko! You're making the biggest mistake of your life by throwing your love away."

Silence engulfed the whole room apart from the tapping of the keyboard from around the desk. Gently at first, over time her giggles became so convulsive she was shaking with mirth. "You know Suguru, I still don't know how you got away with calling her Yu-chi," she said. "What kind of sorcery did you do for you two to become close?"

"I kissed her." He deadpanned.

"YOU DID WHAAAAT?"

And here they are again. On their way to another state. Back to the airport trying to catch the earliest flight to Los Angeles. Apart from their home base in Detroit, Sachiko can't help but think that her second home is the airport. She flies in and out of Detroit almost every other day. So for today, to escape the bustling Detroit International Airport, they will take the earliest flight and that did not suit well with her. After all these years, she still is not a morning person.

As they are walking towards the queue for first class passengers, the raven-haired woman cant help but look around the area. She spotted the café where she saw her beloved yesterday. Internally, she hopes that Yumi would be there still—asking her to come home with her. 'Who are you kidding Sachiko? Are you really out of your mind?', she thought to her self. 'What were you thinking saying those harsh words to Yumi?' She cringed at the thought of her love looking so dejected and lost but she had to steady her resolve, "NO! This is for the best."

"Sa-chan, who are you talking to?" Her babysitter asked.

She sighed disconsolately; she has been sighing a lot since she say her love. Even if they are not together, Yumi can still break the barriers she forcedly put up. "Nothing that concerns you. Besides I'm still not officially talking to you." She snapped at her cousin.

"Hahahaha! You're such a child Sa-chan." He answered amusingly. He didn't expect his dear cousin to act like a child, so unlike the almighty Ogasawara. "I was just playing. Of course, I didn't kiss Yu-chi!"

Suguru walked passed the her and their assistant April putting a bit of distance between the girls. Then he uttered something, and prepared for his own death.

". . . . . . well,"

"not officially."

After five grueling hours, they finally landed. Thankfully, it was uneventful. Sachiko has been on so many flights lately that she's not getting so motion sick as before. Her assistant April somehow reminds her of Yumi. Thinking about her brings a smile on her face. How she wished her angel were with her right now. Her cousin was a different matter, he is busy text messaging someone. As soon as they sat on their designated seats, he has been on the phone non-stop. He looked a bit worried but it's probably nothing.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Los Angeles. Our local time is 9 in the morning. Please wait for further instruction before disembarking the plane. Thank you for flying with Delta Air."

The Ogasawara Business Group were first to deplane. They got their luggage sorted and was now on their way to the transport lounge. Suguru is looking more and more distresses. He has been on his phone the whole flight trying to get in touch with someone. And now that he has got his signal back, his calls are not getting through.

He looked left and right, looking for someone. His face looking panicked. As they walk towards the lounge, he looked frantically for people's faces. No! He can't seem to find the person he was looking for. 'Where are you?' he thought to himself. Still searching the crowd for a familiar face.

The Ogasawara heiress was getting worried about her cousin. It's not like Suguru to look this much anxious. He is about the most level-head person she knows and it's unbecoming of him. She tried to help his cousin by searching the throng of people in front of her, but who was she kidding she didn't know who to look for. She still did look left and right, and then suddenly, she saw something. No! Someone! A flicker of brown hair…somewhere in the crowd. Could it be?

"Yumi?"