The Game of Love

Chapter Five: A Dozen Roses

Tsukushi looked up at Rui in surprise. She was mildly stunned by his sudden appearance. They stared at each other for a moment. He gave her a soft smile. "Hello," he said quietly. She blinked at him before saying, "Have a seat."

Rui took a seat across from her. "What brings you to Kyoto?" asked Tsukushi, appearing to be calm.

"An invitation to the Emperor's party," he replied. "You were wonderful last night."

"Oh? You saw that?" she looked down at her coffee. Her cheeks had a slight tinge of pink. "Thank you."

"I had no idea you liked music so much. You got a lot of attention last night. Tsukasa was stunned, but so were the rest of us."

"Really? Was it really so shocking for an ordinary girl like me to get this far?" asked Tsukushi sarcastically.

Rui was surprised by her reaction. "We remembered what happened when Tsukasa's mother tried to make you play the piano before," answered Rui.

Tsukushi granted him the smallest of smiles. "What are you up to these days?" she asked.

"Nothing really. I'm going to Eitoku's university. I'm the only one out of the F4 who hasn't started working in my family's company yet," he replied.

"I work all the time. I just wanted some quiet before the day really starts. I usually have breakfast with my friend, but she's my manager, so it becomes business very quickly."

"I hear you're going to school still. What are you studying?"

"English Literature, you?"

"Business and Economic."

Tsukushi was staring at him. They sounded strange. Their conversation lacked familiarity and it sounded extremely formal.

"It's good to see you. I've missed you, Tsukushi," whispered Rui finally.

*

Tsukasa woke up early that morning and spent his time going over some paperwork he had brought with him. There came a knock at the door. "Come in," he said.

Akira and Soujirou walked in. "Good morning," they said.

"Where's Rui?" asked Tsukasa.

"Don't know. I think he's still sleeping. I knocked at his door and there was no answer," said Soujirou.

"What are you doing?" asked Akira. "Don't work. It's Saturday, Tsukasa."

"Did you find out where she's staying yet?" asked Soujirou. He knew Tsukasa well enough to know that he had only woken up early to resume looking for her.

"No," he replied. "Damn it. Her security staff is good."

"That manager of hers is pretty smart, too," said Akira as he grinned.

"Can't you think of anything else?" asked Tsukasa in disgust.

"Of course, I am. I'm thinking that if I can get close to Collins-san, then she'd let us get closer to Makino," answered Akira.

"I don't think so. You saw the way she acted when Makino disappeared," said Soujirou. "She's a career woman. And her career is her."

"Okay, different strategy. We renew old acquaintanceships," said Akira. "Yuki works at my company, so she's a contact we've got. We can also cover our bases and protect her friends before your mother gets wind of this."

"I think it's a good idea. We do what we have to do to make everything stable before you start pursuing her again," agreed Soujirou.

"That's right. The old witch might do more damage to her, especially now that she's got a lot more to lose," said Tsukasa after a moment of silence. He was thinking about what to do to protect the most important person in his life. "I decided to read up more on Ringo Arisu right after I woke up."

"What does it say?" asked Akira.

"It seems that she started out performing in an acting troop. When they decided to do a production of Miss Saigon, they made her try out for the part of Kim. She was working as a stagehand and custom designer at the time. She won the part. That was three years ago. After a successful run at London University, the acting troop was asked to perform at one of the theaters there. Later she played the princess in The King and I. That's just part of her stage credits. Her manager, Sammi Collins, recorded her singing during various productions and sent the tape to the producers of Gaia Records. At the time, they were only a classical music company, specifically tailored for women performers. However, they wanted to branch out, so upon hearing about Ringo Arisu, they signed her immediately. They started in Europe and the Americas knowing those markets would be the hardest to secure. Now, Ringo Arisu will be spending one year in Japan before returning to London to work on an all Japanese album."

"Wow…you've learned a lot about her. You sound just as bad as my brother," said Soujirou.

"But, there's hardly anything about her personal life. She works too hard," said Tsukasa.

"What do you mean? That's not unusual for Makino. She's always been a hardworking. And in the music business, she started at the bottom. Do you realize that she had to learn how to play the guitar? The music business is a grueling one, especially for the performers," said Akira. "Imagine allowing people to decide whether or not they like you on a daily basis like that?"

"She works too hard. There are rumors that she has an eating disorder or something. During one of her rehearsals in Barcelona, she collapsed from heat exhaustion and dehydration. They had to take two weeks off for her recuperate. She's working herself too hard. That was last year," said Tsukasa grimly.

"An eating disorder? She's tiny. That's ridiculous," scoffed Soujirou.

"Knowing Makino, she's probably working so hard that she forgets to eat," agreed Akira with a laugh, but he stopped when he saw the look on Tsukasa's face.

"She's as stupid as ever," he muttered. Why did he worry so much about her? Tsukushi was always worrying him. He did nothing for the past five years, but worry about her. Even though, she was a success now, he still couldn't help it. He wished she wouldn't work so hard. He could have taken care of her the whole time, if she just would have trusted him enough to allow him to.

"Any luck on getting a copy of her CD?" asked Soujirou.

"No. I called the closest music store here, but her CD sold out just this morning," said Tsukasa.

"We could try other stores in Kyoto today," said Akira. "Stop working. Let's go out. If there's one bad thing you got from Makino, it's that you don't know how to stop working."

Tsukasa looked at him with annoyance. "What to you mean?! Like I'm anything like her!" he shouted.

*

Tsukushi sat there staring at Rui for a moment. I've missed you? What does that mean? Why does he always have to do this to me? He makes me feel comfortable then he makes me uncomfortable. What am I supposed to say? I miss you, too?, she thought. But that was true, she did miss him.

She opened her mouth to say something, but her cell phone rang. She glanced at the number and knew that Sammi was calling. She didn't answer. Instead, she turned it off. "Duty calls," said Tsukushi as she stood up. "I have to go now. It was nice talking to you again, Rui."

He stood up. "I'll walk with you for a while," he told her. He wanted to prolong their time together for as long as possible. "Don't worry. We'll split before I find out where you're staying. I won't even tell Tsukasa, if you want."

"You can do whatever you want. It's not my concern," said Tsukushi, but she stopped. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound so cold. Rui, I'm sorry."

She looked up at him, expecting to see him hurt, but instead he wore a smile on his face. "It's okay. I surprised you earlier, didn't I? What I meant to say was that I missed having these talks with you. We haven't talked in five years," he said.

Tsukushi felt a surge of guilt go through her. She realized how grateful she should have been to him. Everything in Tokyo had changed so much in the last five years. Her friends. Her brother. It was all so unexpected and overwhelming. Rui was still her rock and ballast. He was always there for her before. He backed her more times than she deserved. She gave him a smile.

"Please walk with me," she said.

They walked back towards the inn she was staying in. She didn't mind staying there. It was so Japanese. After living in England for so long, it was nice to stay in a place that was Japanese. She remembered feeling bouts of homesickness for more than a year after she had left to seek her fortunate in the world, but now it was wonderful to be home.

It was wonderful to be walking beside one of her favorite people in the whole world. His presence was as comforting as ever, but even more so. Knowing what was after her, Tsukushi felt safer with Rui by her side.

"Your brother has grown up a lot from the last time I saw him," said Rui.

Tsukushi paused. Her brother was the person who had changed so much from the last time she had been home. "Yes. It's like he grew up over night. I think he doesn't like going to Eirin very much," she said.

"Why didn't you have him go to Eitoku?" asked Rui. "What about your parents?"

"I bought a tradition inn in Osaka for my parents. They wanted to live in luxury, but still wanted to be of use. They don't like it when they're just doing nothing. So, they run the inn and live there. It even has some hot springs. My brother goes to Eirin because I was the one who suggested that he went there. He passed the entrance exams in Eitoku, too, but I thought it would be better for him."

"So, you haven't seen your parents either."

"No. I haven't called them yet even. I've been so busy since I got back that I keep forgetting."

"So, I suppose asking you to spend some time with me, isn't possible?"

She stared at him for a moment. Oh my God. He's serious, she thought as she looked at him. "I'm sorry," she said very quickly.

His face remained expressionless as he looked back at her. He gave her a shrug. "It's okay. Don't worry about it. You've got enough to do. I'll see you around." He had turned his back as he walked back towards his hotel and gave her a slight wave with his hand as he walked off.

"Bye, Rui," whispered Tsukushi as she walked back.

Rui walked back to the hotel at a normal pace. He was strangely elated, but at the same time saddened. He remembered what happened before with Shizuka. She had gotten really busy, too. However, Rui also remembered that all his friends were busy. He had his leisure still.

"There you are. Where did you go?" said Tsukasa as he entered the lobby.

Rui looked up at all of them. "I went for a walk," he replied.

"What did you buy?" asked Soujirou as he spotted the bag that Rui was carrying.

"Oh, something for us to listen to on the way back to Tokyo," he answered as he pulled out the CD. He handed it over to Tsukasa. "You can open it."

Tsukasa opened the wrapper and pulled out the sleeve to look it over. "It's all in English," he said.

"Of course, it's all in English," said Tsubaki as she walked in. She knew what he was holding. "I still can't get over it. I didn't notice myself."

Tsukasa looked at the pictures in the sleeve instead. He could understand what he was reading. He found that Tsukushi wrote all the songs and most of them were also composed by her. "We need a CD player," he said.

"Let's go and use the one on my computer," said Soujirou as they went back up. "Let's get some room service. I'm starving."

They all trooped up to Soujirou's room where the staff brought breakfast. Sakurako and Shiguru showed up. They were yawning as they entered. "It's a bit early for a Saturday, isn't it?" asked Sakurako as she tried to stifle a yawn.

"Oh, breakfast," said Shiguru happily as the CD started playing. "Oh, you went and got her CD."

"Rui did," said Akira.

"It was the last copy in the store," said Rui. "I figured we should listen to it together." He didn't want to tell them that he really saw her. He didn't bother to ask her to sign it because he would never be able to explain it.

"Let's have some breakfast, Tsukasa," said Tsubaki. He was distracted listening to the CD. He had heard the song before, but it was like listening to it for the first time. Her voice was soulful.

"Huh?" he asked a minute later.

"Never mind," said Tsubaki as she smiled at him.

"I supposed there's no point in asking for my CD back, is there?" asked Rui.

"No, I don't think so," said Akira.

"She really does have a good voice," said Soujirou. "It's sort of nice to connect a face with that voice."

"So, we'll go through with what we planned. We'll set everything up," said Akira.

"What plan?" asked Rui.

"We'll explain later. Could you please pass the coffee, Shiguru?" asked Soujirou.

Rui allowed himself a small smile. He really didn't feel hungry. For the first time, in a long time, he didn't really need anything at all as he listened to Tsukushi's voice.

*

"Are you taking anything serious, Tsukushi? You did it again. Why do you insist on going out without any protection?" asked Sammi as she paced back and forth in front of Tsukushi.

"I was only out for a little bit. It's not like anyone knew who I was," said Tsukushi with a shrug.

"You are so irresponsible. You don't take this seriously at all. Something could have happened to you," said Sammi as she rubbed her temple.

"Nothing happened! Just lay off!" exclaimed Tsukushi. "I know damn well what's out there. I don't have to have you lecture me like I'm a child. You're only four years old than me. But you act like my mother. I can take care of myself, Sammi. I've been doing that for a while now."

"Look. I'm sorry. It's just that I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you," said Sammi as she gave her a smile.

"I know. Why does everyone feel like they have to take care of me?"

"You just look it. You're so sweet looking. I don't know."

"You've been doing that since the day I met you," said Tsukushi. "It's still very annoying. Look, I just want some freedom before everyone starts to recognize me and I can't go out in peace any longer. Why am I saying that? I'm not even sure if I'll succeed in Japan."

"How can you say? You conquered Europe and you're gaining the Americas. Japan is your home turf. It's not going to be a problem," Sammi quickly and confidently assured her.

Sammi was the daughter of the host family that Tsukushi started out with in England. Both girls always bonded together well. Sammi was very immature to begin with, but she became responsible as time went on. She was practically the one who had launched Tsukushi's career. It was her urging and support that helped Tsukushi.

That was why Tsukushi felt guilty about not telling Sammi everything. She knew what Sammi's gut reaction would be. She would immediately leap in and try to fix things because it was her job and sacred duty. Tsukushi knew why she immediately liked Sammi to begin with. She was a lot like Doumyouji Tsubaki. Sammi's presence kept Tsukushi ground and focused. She was going to be forever grateful to her.

"Thanks for worrying about me," said Tsukushi quietly.

Sammi looked at her for a moment. "I think it's time we go back to Tokyo. Unless you want to spend the whole weekend here," she suggested.

"Let's go back to Tokyo," said Tsukushi. Back in Tokyo, she knew the layout of the land better. She could continue her work without any unnecessary interruptions.

Susumu walked in and heard everything they had said, "Okay, we'll go back. But if you ask me it's weird."

"It's normal when I go on tour, Susumu," explained Tsukushi. "I have to finish up my homework for class anyway. I'm sure you've got other things you want to do back home."

"Yeah, I do," admitted Susumu. He told his boss that he would work on Sunday afternoon. "I guess I'll go to the track and practice."

Susumu was on the Eirin's track team. In fact, he was the top long and high jumper, which also made him a good relay runner and sprinter. Not only the girls admired him because of his mysterious persona, but also by the boys because he was a great athlete. He had only joined the track team because he researched colleges all over the world and found that having some extracurricular activities would improve his chances.

Tsukushi knew this and hoped to attend at least one of his track meets, but her schedule wasn't allowing her to. She felt bad about that, too. That was why she stopped making promises to people because it was getting harder and harder to fulfill. She had so many obligations and contracts to keep.

Tsukushi had enough complications in her business life that she wanted to keep her personal life as uncomplicated as possible. She kept her circle of friends small. Her love life was nonexistent. Not that she hadn't gone out in the past five years. Sammi had set her up on a few blind dates, but none of them ever worked out. Tsukushi's career left her very little time to real socialize, let alone date.

Over the next few hours, they prepared and eventually returned to Tokyo via helicopter. Susumu was first dropped off at his apartment, which was located close to Eirin. Tsukushi and Sammi returned to the Maple Hotel.

Someone with a camera with a long distance zoom lens photographed Tsukushi as she got out of the car when they arrived. He was adding more pictures to his growing private collection of her. He watched carefully as she walked into the Maple. He smiled to himself. There was no doubt that she'd see the bouquet of red roses he had sent her along with a card.

Tsukushi walked into her hotel suite and took off her shoes. She walked over to the table and found a dozen perfect long stemmed roses. In Japan, these were even more expensive. She looked at them suspiciously. Who sent these? Was it Doumyouji? How did he know I was staying here?, she thought as she rubbed her arms. She hated the chill that was going down her spine. Or it could be worse…with a shaky hand she pulled the card from the bouquet, half expecting it to explode.

She opened the envelope and read the message on the card. She paled over as she picked up her cell phone. "Sammi. Get security up here. Now."

She started pacing, waiting for them to arrive. There came a knock at the door, which she opened after looking through the peephole. "What's wrong?" asked Sammi as the security team looked around.

"This," said Tsukushi as she handed the card to Sammi.

Sammi read the card out loud, "Welcome to Japan. These roses are for you. Where you go, I will be there. There is no way you can escape me."

"The front desk didn't have any messages about these roses. How did he get in here?" demanded Tsukushi.

"I have no idea. What did you find?" Sammi asked one of security guards.

"Nothing. There's no sign of force entry," answered one guards as the other one shook his head behind him.

"That's not good enough! Alert hotel security and get the Tokyo Police in here now!" ordered Sammi.

The security guards scrambled. Sammi looked at Tsukushi. "We should move out of here tonight and into another hotel," she told her.

"So much for having the best security in Tokyo," muttered Tsukushi.

There came a knock at the door. Ryan McCormick walked in. "Security alerted me. I'm sorry. I was away looking for an apartment for you, Miss Ringo. I should have been here," he said as he bowed.

"It's okay, Ryan. It's not your fault," Tsukushi quickly assured him. "I would just like to know how he got inside."

A cool chill ran down her spine. She felt like she was living under a microscope. Wasn't there any place in the world where she felt safe?

AN: The stalker is now formally introduced. Yes, that was he taking pictures of her. He's going to get more dangerous as the story goes forward. The next chapter we're back in Tokyo. Susumu's life at Eirin is explored more, while we meet Megumi Hiro, a representative from Hanazawa Records who will work with Tsukushi. For more details and further rantings, please go to my journal, http://kirika.ujournal.org

The next chapter is going to be interesting compared to this. I just to transition from Kyoto back to Tokyo.

Disclaimer: Hana Yori Dango belongs to Yoko Kamio.