The Game of Love

Chapter Fourteen: Track Finals

Tsukushi played out the new song and sang beautifully. Tsukasa could see that she loved what she did for a living. She seemed more natural on stage with a small audience, playing an instrument. She didn't do that for her performance in Kyoto. All eyes focused on her, but she didn't seem to notice at all.

Yuki had never seen Tsukushi perform like that before, neither did Kin-san. "She's amazing," whispered Yuki in awe.

"Yes, she is," agreed Kin-san.

The F4 watched her with appreciation. Tori was watching with his mouth open. He did the same double take that Mariko had done earlier. He looked at Susumu then back at Tsukushi. It was sinking in that it was the same girl who his rival had called "Oneesan."

At the end of the song, came great applause from the audience. Tsukushi smiled and took a bow. "Thank you very much," she said as she stepped off stage. "I'd like to also thank Hiro for helping me out."

He took a bow at the applause. The murmurs from the audience became clearer. "That's Megumi Hiro!" exclaimed one of the women in the audience.

"That must be Ringo Arisu," added someone else.

Tsukushi stepped off the stage, followed closely behind by Hiro. They walked up to Kin-san. "There you go. We've christened your new stage," Tsukushi told him.

"You guys were fantastic!" exclaimed Yuki.

"Thanks," said Tsukushi. "But you don't need to say that just because you work for the company, Yuki." She smiled at her.

"You're Ringo Arisu!" exclaimed Tori out loud, finally recovering the ability to speak coherent sentences.

Susumu stood up, but Mariko looked up at him then at Tori. "What the Hell are you doing here, Nishikado?" he demanded.

"I can't believe it! My worst rival! He gets to have a wonderful sister, while I'm stuck with him," said Tori as he jerked his thumb at Soujirou.

"You brat," said Soujirou.

Everyone stopped when they heard Tsukushi's soft laughter. Her eyes were lit up with amusement. She shook her head as she went back to her guitar case to replace her guitar. Hiro went to his saxophone case to put his sax back also. "I'm starting to think that exposure in public with you isn't that great for my rep," he said with a chuckle.

"What do you mean?" asked Tsukushi with a raised eyebrow.

"I mean, have you read the magazines lately? It says that we've been to Atami together," said Hiro with deepening laughter. He had dimple on his left cheek.

Tsukushi started to laugh as well. "I know. But I read that we were in Kyoto together. Or was it somewhere else? Apparently, I'm carrying your love child."

"Yes, but according to the press I have more than one love child," laughed Hiro.

"You haven't seen the British Press. This is nothing," said Tsukushi as she crunched up her nose in distasted. She hated the British Press.

"Yes, I've heard how awful they can be. I suppose we got off easy," agreed Hiro.

Tsukasa's fists were clutched as he watched them interact. He didn't understand most of what they were saying because they were speaking English. They were speaking at normal speed for any Westerner, but for him they were going too fast. He decided to interrupt and remind Tsukushi of his presence.

"Ringo-san. May I have a word with you?" asked Tsukasa. His tone had a dangerous edge on it. The rest of the F4 looked at him in alarm.

"Since you asked so nicely, I'd be more than happy to have a word with you," replied Tsukushi cordially. Susumu's attention was no longer on Tori.

"Wait, Oneesan--" started Susumu, but he had to stop because Tsukushi held up her hand to stop him. "It's all right," she told him.

"What do you think will happen?" asked Kin-san. "By the way, what are you doing here?" His question was directed at the F4.

"We came here tonight because Tsukasa made us. He wanted to talk to you, but I think it was so he could find her," replied Rui.

"I see," said Kin-san.

"You didn't tell me your sister was Ringo Arisu," said Tori.

"It wasn't any of your business. You didn't ask," said Susumu slyly.

Tori rolled his eyes at him. "Oh, yeah. Like I'd ask you, 'Are you related to someone famous?'"

"You should know better after all I'm going to Eirin, you moron," said Susumu. "You're still on my home turf, Nishikado." The boys were standing toe to toe with each other.

"Boys, please don't break anything. If you're going to fight, please take it outside," said Kin-san.

Soujirou decided to take this opportunity to talk to Yuki. She was chatting with Sammi. He walked up to them. "Hello again," he told her.

"Hello Nishikado-san," said Yuki brightly as Sammi went off to talk to Hiro about arranging another time to do the recording at Hanazawa Records because Tsukushi was due to leave for Okinawa soon. Yuki looked around to see that everyone else was distracted. Strange how two people can suddenly be alone in a crowded restaurant.

"Your new job seems more glamorous than your old one," said Soujirou. "I'm happy for you. Even though I didn't say it before, I'm happy for you."

"Thank you," whispered Yuki as she stood up. "You know, I've got an early class tomorrow. I need to get some rest."

"I'll take you home, everyone else seems to be really busy," said Soujirou. He didn't notice that his younger brother was now paying attention to their conversation.

Aniki...I've never seen him like this before, thought Tori. "It's okay, Aniki. I'll take a cab back home," he said.

"Are you sure?" asked Soujirou.

"It's fine. Besides, I can defend myself. You can't let a girl go home without someone protecting her," said Tori.

"I'll find my own way home on my own," said Yuki as she stood up.

"No, Aniki, you can't let her go off like that. It's dark out there. There are people who could hurt her," insisted Tori.

"Why do you care so much?" asked Soujirou.

"Um...well, if you're here, then I can't do anything to Makino. I need less witnesses," said Tori.

"You mean that Makino will one up you again and horribly embarrass you like he's been doing the entire time. And remember you did call his sister a bitch earlier. By the way, I don't think you've been introduced. Yuki, this is my younger brother, Tori. Tori, this is Matsuoka Yuki," said Soujirou, realizing that they hadn't been introduced to each other yet.

Yuki knew who Tori was before she had met him. "You're the one who keeps fighting Susumu-kun at the track," she said with a smile.

Tori's cheeks flushed when she said that. Yuki started to laugh at him. "Don't feel bad, Nishikado-kun," she told him. "It's only natural that boys fight each other. I'm sure that his sister isn't that insulted by you. Doumyouji-san has called her worst things."

"Um...I am sorry about that," mumbled Tori.

"Yes. Didn't I tell you to watch what you say or do to people, Tori?" asked Souijrou.

"Stop trying to correct me, Aniki! I'm old enough to do things without you telling me I'm wrong!" exclaimed Tori. Yuki thought it was very cute to watch them together. It was a side that Soujirou she had never seen before.

"Yeah, yeah. I get you," said Soujirou. One of his hobbies included making fun of Tori. "Yuki, let me drop you off. I'll come back and drag him home later."

"I don't need you," said Tori with some annoyance as Soujirou walked off with Yuki, only after he had ruffled his hair again.

Yuki waited until they were outside to talk to him. "Your brother seems nice," she said.

"He's a brat," said Soujirou. "He's been like that ever since he came back from bordering school."

"Really? Where was his boarding school?" asked Yuki.

"New York," replied Soujirou.

"I suppose that's normal for people like you," said Yuki. "I don't really understand how you could stand something like that, even if he is a brat. Maybe I can't understand. I'm from a different place in the world compared to you."

"What about Makinos?" asked Soujirou. "At least my family's in the same house for the most part."

"That only started after Tsukushi left. Their family moved to Osaka after she left because that's where her father found a job. Susumu stayed there until Tsukushi told him he would go to Eirin for school. Their parents chose to stay in Osaka because of their jobs."

"If they were that hard up, you could have told me. Akira, Rui, or Tsukasa could have done something for them."

"Yes, you are always so quick to offer solutions for everything, aren't you?"

"That's the way I am. I suppose I am being presumptuous," said Soujirou.

"The Makinos have always been like that. They're strong, resilient people," said Yuki. "They have to be."

"You seem to be pretty close to Susumu," said Soujirou.

"Yes, I acted as an older sister to him while his sister was away. She wanted to keep up with him, so I've been helping her do that. I do feel like he's my younger brother, too. But there's no way I could ever fill Tsukushi's shoes," said Yuki.

Soujirou noticed how much Yuki had grown over the past five years. He admired how much stronger she had become over time. She was also prettier. He thought about how much Yuki and Tsukushi had changed. Tsukushi was more contemporary in style. She could afford to get clothes that demonstrated her inner self these days. She dressed in sleek, modern clothes. She walked with much more confidence and sophistication that wasn't unlike Doumyouji Tsubaki and Todou Shizuka.

Yuki was the opposite of Tsukushi. She tended to dress more feminine. She wore more skirts and blouses. She was more traditional Japanese in her actions than Tsukushi. She was more subdued. However, she had an undercurrent of strength that commanded respect from people. She seemed much more patient than it most of the people who knew Soujirou. She was also over polite to him. She was much more nicer to him than he deserved.

For Soujirou, Yuki was always so much better than him. He felt like she deserved someone better than him. She made him want to try harder. He wasn't sure if he really loved her or not. The one thing he knew for certain was that she made him feel all right.

*

Tsukushi and Tsukasa went to a more private part of the restaurant. "Why don't we go outside?" he suggested.

"My bodyguards will follow me outside," she told him. "So, this is as good as it gets. What did you want to say to me?" She wasn't expecting him to apologize for what happened earlier. She doubted he would have evolved that much.

"I just wanted to talk to you again. It's harder to get a hold of you these days," said Tsukasa.

"Not all of us can be the boss," said Tsukushi.

The air was getting tense around them again. It was like a cycle. Very predictable.

Susumu watched them from his place. He sort of ignored Tori. Mariko watched Susumu watching his sister. Of course, she knew who the F4 was. She had no idea that Susumu knew so many powerful people. There really was more to Makino Susumu than met the eye. It was no wonder why he was so intriguing to everyone in Eirin. It appeared as if he didn't really care about anything. However, Mariko could see that he cared about his sister a great deal.

"You're working too hard. Do you get any time off at all?" asked Tsukasa.

"I once had a week off in Greece," said Tsukushi.

"But that was only after you collapsed in Spain from heat exhaustion and dehydration," said Tsukasa. "Honestly, you need someone to take care of you. You keep doing stupid things."

Tsukushi was ticked off again. She attempted to calm herself. There was no way she was going to let him get the better of her in front of that many people. She glared at him. "Like you don't have the market cornered on doing stupid things. If I recall, you've done more stupid things than I ever have," said Tsukushi.

"I'm tired of doing this. Why do you have to be like this? I went out of my way to go and look for you," said Tsukasa.

"Like that's suppose to make me feel special," said Tsukushi. "And for your information, I can take care of myself. I have been doing that almost all of my life. I don't need you take care of me."

"You are so stubborn. You want to torture yourself. You don't have to work as hard as you do," said Tsukasa. He couldn't believe she was being so stubborn. She wouldn't even hear him out.

"You bastard. You still haven't changed. You can't tell me how to run my life!" said Tsukushi as her voice got louder. She was unable to hold her temper any longer.

"Why not? Your manager and record company are doing it!" shouted back Tsukasa. There came a hush from everyone else.

Rui was watching them along with Susumu. He knew that a blow up was coming. Akira looked at Rui and they both braced themselves for the fight. It was only a matter of time.

Tsukushi stood up. She was so mad at Tsukasa. "I will not allow you to tell me what to do," she said. "You do not even have the right to throw your opinion around like it matters."

Tsukasa took a hold of her elbow. She shook him off. "You're being impossible! Why do you always have to do this?!" he demanded.

"What am I doing? You're the one who can't grow up!" she fired back.

"You can stop all this foolishness and just let me take care of everything!" he shouted.

"You're--" Tsukushi found herself lost for the right word in Japanese. So, she decided to use an English word. "You're incorrigible!"

"Don't go throwing around your big English words at me!" shouted back Tsukasa.

"You don't even know what that means, do you?" asked Tsukushi smartly.

"I don't need to know what that means. I don't like your tone," yelled Tsukasa. "And if you're so smart, you'll tell me anyway!"

Tsukushi smirked at him as her way towards the door, ignoring everyone else. She didn't care if it was a publicity nightmare. "Look it up," she said with some satisfaction as she walked out, leaving him stunned.

There was a hush in the room. Hiro and Sammi had stopped talking when the yelling started. "It was like a showdown at the OK Corral," said Hiro, first to recover his ability to speak.

"Shut up!" ordered Tsukasa as Susumu shook his head. "Who do you think you are?"

"No one in particular. I know who you are Doumyouji Tsukasa. You were the one who won the date auction with her before," said Hiro with a grin on his face. Tsukasa wanted nothing more, but to wipe that smirk off his face.

"You're a moron," said Susumu finally. Everyone whirled to look at him when he said it.

"Actually, I'd have to agree with him," said Tori. "How dare you upset his wonderful sister."

"I don't need your agreement, Nishikado. The night's pretty much spent. Are you ready to go, Mariko?" said Susumu.

"Yes," said Mariko with a quick nod.

Hiro started laughing, stopping everyone in their tracks. "You know. Ringo Arisu is a walking enigma. She isn't what she seems at all, is she? She's in layers," he went on.

"What are you talking about?" laughed Sammi nervously. "Stop."

"You seem to know her pretty well," said Tsukasa accusingly.

"I can read her. That's all," said Hiro.

"Read her?" asked Tsukasa. Akira went up to him right away. He looked at Rui to help him contain Tsukasa, but he didn't move from his spot. Soujirou was gone.

"She's too strong me. I'll give props to the man who can tame her," said Hiro with a laugh. Tsukasa looked at him with a mildly stunned look.

Susumu didn't like where this was going. Not one bit.

*

Damn him. Damn him for making me so angry. Why is it that he can get that kind of reaction out of me? He's always been like that. I know. I should know better than to let him get the better of me like that. Why? Why did I have to lose it at Kin-san's restaurant? thought Tsukushi.

"Are you listening to me?" demanded Sammi. It was already the next morning, and Tsukushi was still fuming about last night. "Do you realize how many people were there? How could you be so reckless? I thought you had outgrown that."

"Huh? What were you talking about?" asked Tsukushi.

"ARGH!" exclaimed Sammi. "Has she been always like this? Has she always acted like she's done nothing wrong, Shizuka?"

Shizuka was witnessing the lecturing that Sammi was giving Tsukushi. They were at Gaia Records. It was the last day of Shizuka's visit, but there was also going a party to see Tsukushi off to Okinawa for the movie and it was a house warming party as well. And if all went well a party to celebrate Susumu's victory. Maybe. It was amazing how time flew by.

"Tsukushi's hearing you, Sammi," assured Shizuka.

"Look, I know what I did Sammi. I really do, but I don't care. That damn Doumyouji started it," said Tsukushi. She stood up.

"Where are you going?" demanded Sammi.

"I'm going to go and get a soda. Your one sided conversation is making me thirsty," said Tsukushi as she went to the door. She opened the door and shut it behind her.

Sammi sighed and said, "Look, don't deny it, Shizuka. I know that there's something between her and Doumyouji. I know that they have some kind of unresolved past."

"They do. But, it's sort of a mess to explain, even I don't have all the details. The only person who really knows and understands everything is Tsukushi. I doubt Doumyouji understands it any better than she does," said Shizuka.

"She never tells me anything," said Sammi with a sigh. She always got the feeling that Tsukushi was hiding things from her. It was true. She never felt like she knew Tsukushi that well.

Tsukushi sighed when she got outside in the hall. She could have just gotten a soda out of the mini fridge in the room she was just in, but she had to get away from Sammi for a moment. She was tired of getting lectured at by everyone.

She put in a 100 yen coin into the slot to get a soda. She pressed the button for a strawberry one. Nothing came out. Tsukushi pressed the button again. Still nothing came. Tsukushi sighed before she started pounding the machine. "Stupid machine!" she exclaimed as she pounded it. "Oh, come on! I'm thirsty!"

A man came in. His hair was platinum blonde with went wonderfully with his ice blue eyes. He shook his head as he witness Tsukushi's attack on the soda machine. He walked up to it and hit the machine at the side. A can came down.

"What?" said Tsukushi as she got the can of strawberry soda. "How did you do that? Who are you?"

The man looked to be around her age. He gave her a sparkling smile. He was around 6'4". "My name is Dominic Stratton. I'm one of your body guards," he said. His accent was English.

"Oh...I didn't notice. I'm sorry. There's a lot of security running around here," said Tsukushi.

"It's all right. I know how you feel about having the security being so obvious. I make it a point to blend in, so I'm there, even though you don't think so," said Dominic.

"I see. So, you were part of the entourage that came with me from England," said Tsukushi, stating the obvious. For some strange reason, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "I take you'll be joining me in Okinawa."

"I'll be the head of the team that will be with you in Okinawa," replied Dominic. "Rest assured. Your safety is in my hands."

*

Susumu looked around him. He had never set foot on Eitoku's campus before. It was strange for him to be in his sister's old school. It was already later into the afternoon. He was dressed in the Eirin track uniform. For the first time, he was feeling uncomfortable because the number of people staring at him seemed to multiple as he walked along towards the track.

There were two reasons why people were staring at him: he was cute and he was the track star of Eirin. There were Eitoku girls watching him as they had done when they were Eirin. He shook it off as he got closer to the track.

This time there were more people attending the finals. Susumu knew that his sister would be coming, so he would wager that the F4 were coming as well. However, Susumu had to clear his mind to get ready for his jumps.

"Welcome to the Final Track Meet of the Season. The competition has never been hotter between Eitoku and Eirin. Each team has a titian on its side. Nishikado Soujirou of Eitoku and Makino Susumu of Eirin. These two powerhouses will be going toe to toe again. The last time Nishikado-san broke his own personal best at the high jump, but only to be beaten by Makino-san," said the commentator.

"Makino!" called out Tori.

"What?" asked Susumu.

"Looks like Eirin's side's a little smaller today," said Tori.

"This isn't our home turf. The advantage is yours, Nishakado," said Susumu.

What will it take to rattle this guy? How can he always been so calm? I don't think he's even human thought Tori as he stared back at him. "So, your sister coming?"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you? I don't know for sure. She said she'd try," replied Susumu. Both of them went to their respective sides to get warmed up and stretched for the events.

Mariko had arrived early by herself. She was expecting to watch alone, but two people showed up to her surprise. "Mariko-chan!" called out her older sisters, Hikaru. Mariko turned around and saw that their older sister, Masaki, was with her.

"What are you doing here?" asked Mariko. She was overcast in the shadows of her two older sisters who looked like models.

"We were going to ask you as well," replied Hikaru.

"We didn't know you were interested in sports events," said Masaki. "Let's all sit together."

"Okay," said Mariko with a smile.

"Excuse me, Mariko-chan. Do you mind if I sit with you, too? I'm waiting for my friends, but they're delayed," said another voice. Mariko looked up and saw Susumu's older sister.

"Who are you and how do you know our sister?" asked Masaki in a polite enough tone.

Tsukushi gave her a polite smile that threw off the Ogata girls. "My brother is on Eirin's track team. I met your sister through him," she replied.

"Really?" asked Hikaru.

"You don't have to sit with us, Makino-sempai," said Mariko quickly. She didn't want her sisters to gouge Tsukushi.

"Makino?! Your brother is Makino Susumu?" asked Hikaru with disbelief.

"Yes, I'm here to cheer him on," replied Tsukushi as she took a seat.

"So, you're an Eirin's alumni?" asked Masaki.

Tsukushi shook her head. "No, I attended Eitoku, but I didn't graduate from here," she replied.

Mariko was even more intrigued by Tsukushi's reply. She attended Eitoku before.

"Really? What year were you?" asked Hikaru.

"It doesn't matter. I didn't graduate from here. I went to St. Augustine's Academy in Sydney, Australia. That's my alumni," replied Tsukushi.

The events finally started. Eitoku took off with the lead, but towards the end Eirin managed to tie up in points. The events that Susumu and Tori were in would decide the outcome. Both boys could feel the pressure, though neither would openly display it.

Just before the last events, the F4 showed up. Tsukushi rolled her eyes at the murmurs that Mariko's sisters were making. They were commenting on how handsome they all were. Tsukushi glanced at Mariko who gave her a shrug.

"Wow, Mariko-chan. You really have good taste. He's cute," commented Hikaru as she looked at Susumu. "Too bad, he's too young for me."

"He is cute," agreed Masaki. "I don't mind the age difference," she added with a laugh.

"He got all the looks in the family," said Tsukushi.

Nishikado Tori did his first event, the long jump. He didn't land as far as he did at Eirin. Susumu beat him by half a foot. For the next event, the high jump, Susumu got to go first and landed perfectly.

Tori could feel the tension in the air. He had to beat Susumu on the last event so that Eitoku could win. He couldn't believe how high Susumu could jump. Tori had no choice, but to make the judges push the bar higher. All he had to do was make it without knocking the pole off.

He took a deep breath as he looked around. However, that didn't do him any good. Instead, he took another deep breath, then he opened his eyes again. He focused on the pole. He took off like a shot and ran down the short track and pushed off the ground. He landed on the soft pad, but he also heard a sickening sound that made his heart stop.

CLUNK!

The bar fell off and hit the ground. Tori waited a moment before getting up. He looked at Susumu who looked back at him with an emotionless face.

"Eirin wins! Eirin wins the Tokyo Track Finals," shouted the commentator.

Tsukushi smiled and clapped along with all the others. Eitoku's side let out a sigh as they all stood up. The F4 stood up. She stood up and made her way towards the track to meet Susumu.

She smiled at him. "Congratulations. I'm so proud of you," said Tsukushi as she gave Susumu a hug.

"Thanks for coming, Oneesan," said Susumu. "Are you still having that get together at your apartment?"

"Yes, but you don't have to come. You can go out with your friends," said Tsukushi.

"No, that's all right," said Susumu.

They had the conversation without anyone else paying much attention to what they were saying. Tori was walking towards them, but Soujirou quickened his pace to stop Tori from doing anything. The rest of the F4 followed.

"Hello everyone," said Tsukushi as she looked at the F4.

"What do you want?" asked Susumu. "What you're going to demand a recount?"

Tori looked at Susumu, then at Tsukushi. "Well?" asked Susumu, starting to lose his patience.

"Can I have your autograph?" asked Tori to Tsukushi as he ignored Susumu. He held out a notebook and bowed his head slightly.

Tsukushi blinked at him in surprise. "You bastard!" exclaimed Susumu.

"Um...sure. Does anyone have a pen?" asked Tsukushi.

"Oneesan!" exclaimed Susumu to her.

"Here," said Soujirou as he handed her a pen.

"What would you like me to write?" asked Tsukushi to Tori. His cheeks were red.

"Um...write anything you want," replied Tori because he was too shy to say anything specific.

"Okay," replied Tsukushi as she made out an autograph with a short message. "Here you go."

Tori took it from her and smiled. "Thank you," he managed to say.

"You know Eitoku lost the meet, right?" asked Susumu, wondering why Tori hadn't done his usual whining.

"I CAN CARE ABOUT THAT TOMORROW! I GOT RINGO ARISU'S AUTOGRAPH!" exclaimed Tori happily.

"I can't believe you," said Susumu as he rubbed his temple. Tsukushi looked around her. Her bodyguards were moving about. There came other shouts from the crowd.

"Uh-oh," murmured Tsukushi as she looked around.

"What?" asked Tsukasa as he looked at what she was looking at.

"Susumu, I think it's time we run," said Tsukushi as she tugged on her brother's track jacket sleeve.

"Why?" asked Susumu.

"Because of that," replied Tsukushi.

There were people looking straight at them. "Great, just great. Nishikado, you've got to learn how to keep your mouth shut," said Susumu.

"Why?" asked Tori, still hugging the notebook.

"Run!" shouted Tsukushi. "Why do I always have to run whenever I'm here?" she wondered out loud. Tsukasa now knew what she was talking about. There was a mob of people coming towards them. Soujirou and Akira looked surprised, while Rui looked somewhat amused.

"It's Ringo Arisu!" exclaimed someone else.

"She looks just like her picture at Kyoto!"

"Let's get her autograph."

"It's really not that bad. Isn't it part of your job?" asked Akira.

"Um...guys, they're gone," said Rui, nodding at the now empty space that the Makinos were standing in.

AN: I finally finished this chapter. Whew. I have school and I had to do lots of reading for it. So, please forgive any delays I have. For more reference to future characters, please go to my web journal at http://ayane.blurty.com. Tori is adorable, while Mariko is a weakling. I'm surprise that so many dislike her. I made it that way, so I must be doing a good job. It appears that I've added a new suspect to the mix.

For everyone else who has read the latest translations, yes, I do know what happens between Yuki and Soujirou. However, it does not effect my story because I doing the story from around volume 30 to 32. Or something like that. If there are any grammatical errors, please note I am low on sleep.

I have no idea when I'll be able to update again. We'll just have to wait and see. School's a real time bandit.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hana Yori Dango. I own this story. ^^