It was amazing how quickly time past. It was now mid-December in Tokyo. The air was getting colder as the snow began to fall on the ground. The air was also highly electrified because news came from Gaia Records that a concert was planned for Ringo Arisu. It was going to be her first real concert in Japan. It was also going to be in front of the largest crowd yet. The numbers were projected at 10,000 people.
Tsukushi was still in Okinawa, wrapping up the shoot and was more than ready to return to Tokyo. The shoot had worn her out more than she let on, but she couldn't tell anyone what it was that really worn her out. She had no choice but to continue. She wasn't about to admit to Sammi just how close the stalker was. She wasn't about to give the stalker an edge over her. But, he already had it.
She was looking forward to returning to her flat where she could feel safe again. She wondered what would happen next. She was hoping for some peace for a while. Part of her thought of pulling some kind of disappearing act and leaving behind her work for a while, but that would cause a lot of stir.
"Time for you to go to the airport," said Dominic as he knocked at the door.
"Coming," said Tsukushi, making sure that all of the things that the stalker had sent was disposed off. "What will happen to this place now?" she asked as she met Dominic on the other side of the door.
"Ryan was the one who scouted it for security purposes. It will be put back on the market," replied Dominic.
"Yes, security purposes," Tsukushi echoed. She looked around her.
"It's time to go back to Tokyo. You must be glad," said Dominic with a smile.
"Very," muttered Tsukushi, not wanting to talk anymore.
Tsukushi climbed into the limo first. Dominic took one last look at the beach house before climbing in.
*
Tsukasa was looking out his window in his office. There wasn't much to do. Ever since his father's return, Tsukasa was forced into the background. His father was like a typhoon. All Tsukasa had to do was wait for him to blow over and go away. He sighed.
His door opened, but he knew who it was. Only members of his family wouldn't think of knocking or being buzzed in first. Tsukasa turned his chair slightly. "I used to do that all the time when I was your age," said Tsutomu as he smiled fondly at his only son.
"What are you doing in here, Otousan? Don't you have something to do?" asked Tsukasa. Tsutomu's presence made him uncomfortable. He wasn't used to having his father around so much.
"I decided to see what you were up to. I see that you are thinking about other things other than work," observed Tsutomu with a playful smile, tugging at his lips.
I hope that I don't turn out as strange as this man, thought Tsukasa. "What do you want from me, Otousan? I've done everything you and Okaasan have ever asked of me. I've given up everything for this family. What more do you want from me?" he demanded, unable to keep his temper down much longer. All of it came out in a growl.
Tsutomu looked disturbed by Tsukasa's outburst. It was startling. "You have done very well, Tsukasa. Better than I would have expected. I thought that you had too much of your mother in you," said Tsutomu.
"Don't you dare come in here and insult me!" shouted Tsukasa as he stood up. "Don't you stand there pretending you never knew what happened in our family. You don't know a damn thing!"
Tsutomu's remained expressionless as Tsukasa shouted. It felt like the whole office was shaking with Tsukasa's anger. "Are you done?" asked Tsutomu as soon as Tsukasa was quiet.
Tsukasa stood up and faced him. "No, I am not done yet. I find this whole thing very funny. People think that you're a very kind and benevolent person, when I know better. It's all about appearances. I am not going to live my life like you and Okaasan. At least, she was honest enough to show to the rest of the business world that she's a cold-hearted bitch."
"Do not speak of your mother that way," said Tsutomu in a tone that was so cold it would have froze any other man straight down to the soul. He was toe to toe with his son. His son was the same height as him. His eyes were like his mother's. "Your mother did what she thought was best. You should be grateful. Look at you now."
Tsukasa started to laugh. "No. She wasn't doing what she thought was best for me. She once told me that I was the heir to the Doumyouji Corporation before I was her son. You have no idea what she did to me and Tsubaki. I'm not going to waste my life away like this," he said as went to the door of his office.
Tsutomu didn't say anything as he left. He wondered what he could do to repair the destruction in his family. He could only blame himself.
However, Tsutomu looked at Tsukasa's desk. He noticed how his son had no pictures on his desk. It could have been anyone's office because there was no real distinction. It told Tsutomu that Tsukasa not thinking of the Doumyouji Corporation as his own.
*
Tsukushi was met with an unwelcome surprise when she got off the plane in Narita Airport. There were tons of reporters taking pictures and asking questions.
"Ringo-san, your first movie shoot has been completed. How did it go?"
"Are you currently having a relationship with your co-star?"
"Ringo-san. Ringo-san! Your first concert in Tokyo has been set. Are you ready for it?"
Tsukushi couldn't take it anymore. "Get away from me!" she shouted, silencing the reporters, but increasing the flashes of cameras. "Sorry, pardon me. I am very tired from the shoot. I would like some moments to collect myself," she added as soon as the cameras were flashing.
"Excuse me, there will be another press conference in a few days to verify anything. Please allow Ringo-san some space," said Yuki in a very calm voice.
Tsukushi looked at her with a grateful smile. Sammi was also there with a ready smile. Ryan was trying to get the reporters to move, while the guards were positioning themselves accordingly. Dominic was the one who guided Tsukushi through the reporters.
"We've got to get out here," whispered Sammi.
"What's going on? You just did the press release," said Tsukushi.
"It's a big deal. There is much anticipation for your next album. This concert could make or break you before the Japanese release," explained Sammi.
"I know. I know," muttered Tsukushi. "I just barely got here. I need some sleep."
"How can you be jet lagged? You only came from Okinawa," said Sammi.
"I'm just tired, okay? I've been working nonstop. Let me gather myself. Just leave me alone," said Tsukushi in abrupt voice as she climbed into the limo, leaving the rest of her entourage wondering what was wrong. She remained eerily quiet for the duration of the ride. Yuki kept asking if she was fine, but Tsukushi lied and said she was.
Things didn't settle down until Tsukushi was back in her penthouse. She looked around. She was suspicious of her surroundings and was on constant alert. Tsukushi checked her messages on her home phone. She had told Susumu that she was returning that day, but that she would meet him later on during the week.
"Hello? Tsukushi? Are you there? This is Mama. I was wondering when you would be getting back. Your papa and I are a bit worried. We've been seeing some recent pictures. Are you okay? Don't work too hard. You look tired. You must always look your best, not just for your work, but for yourself," said her mother.
"Drink some green tea, Tsukushi-chan. It will make you feel better and take a bath in some salts," added her father in the background.
"She's heard you, Papa. Please call us when you get the chance," said her mother. "We love you."
Tsukushi stared at the answering machine, contemplating whether or not to call her parents. She decided to call them later on and deleted the message.
She was just dead tired. It was time for a nap.
*
"Tsubaki," said Tsutomu as he came home. Tsukasa had disappeared for the rest of the day ever since their confrontation in his office. "Where's your husband?" he asked, noticing that Tsubaki was playing with Reiko by herself.
"Akihoto decided to go and practice his fencing at the Tokyo Fencing Club. At first, he wasn't going to, but I insisted," said Tsubaki as she rubbed her daughter's pudgy belly.
Tsutomu smiled at the sight of his daughter and granddaughter playing together. "How did your day go?" asked Tsubaki as she smiled at her father.
Tsutomu didn't give her an answer instead, he asked, "Are you happy, Tsubaki?"
Tsubaki smiled at her father as she gathered her daughter into her lap. "Very happy, Otousan. Why are you asking me that question?"
"You and your brother a very close. How can you be happy and he not be?" asked Tsutomu.
Tsubaki decided now was a good time to tell Tsutomu the truth. Or at least give him some valuable information. "When Tsukasa was seventeen, he fell in love with a girl who was attending Eitoku also," said Tsubaki.
"Really?" asked Tsutomu.
"Yes, he really loved her a lot. He was willing to do a lot of things for her. I met her myself. She's more than a match for this family. Like, Aki, she could hold her own against us. She stood up to Tsukasa and his friends," said Tsubaki.
"I never heard anything about this," said Tsutomu.
"Of course you didn't. Okaasan met this girl on Tsukasa's eighteen birthday. You missed that birthday, Otousan. Okaasan took an instant dislike to that girl," said Tsubaki.
"Yes, I remember. By the way, what is her name?" asked Tsutomu.
"Makino. Makino Tsukushi. She comes from a poor family. She really couldn't bring much into our family. At the time, that is. It wasn't fair for Okaasan to judge her on just that," said Tsubaki. Reiko giggled as she reached for her grandfather's lap. Tsutomu obliged her and took her into his arms. She giggled as he kissed her on her plump cheek.
"Go on," said Tsutomu quietly.
"She wasn't a gold digger. Not like most of the people out there. She was a hard working girl. She was also kind and took good care of her family. She gave up spending her money on herself for her younger brother's sake. She's also as stubborn as Tsukasa. He's a better person because he knew her. She was the one who forced him to think about other people. He learned to control his temper because that was the only way he had a chance to keep her."
Tsutomu smiled at her last comment about Tsukasa's temper. Because that day wasn't a good day to demonstrate how well Tsukasa was able to control it.
"Okaasan did a lot of things to drive them apart. In the end, it wasn't her doing at all. It was the stabbing that did it," said Tsubaki.
"I know that he had a hard time recovering after that, but he was better when he left Japan to study in American," said Tsutomu as he held on to his granddaughter, who was falling asleep.
"Remember how he was almost lost on the operating table? How his brain couldn't get any oxygen? He lost some of his memories. All of those memories were of her. By the time, he had recovered them, she was already gone," said Tsubaki.
"Gone?" murmured Tsutomu.
"She went off to seek her fortune aboard. I personally think that she's better off doing that. She had a lot to prove to the world in general," said Tsubaki.
"But, Tsukasa hasn't stopped thinking of her," said Tsutomu with a sigh as he stood up with his granddaughter. "Do you mind if I put her down in her crib?"
"No. Thank you very much, Otousan," said Tsubaki with a smile.
Tsutomu carried the sleeping Reiko to her crib. He remembered vaguely doing that for Tsubaki when she was as small, but he couldn't remember doing that for Tsukasa. He gently brushed Reiko's hair away from her face and kissed her on the cheek again.
Meanwhile, Tsubaki decided to call Tsukasa. "Tsukasa, where are you?" she asked.
"Does it matter?"
"Come home."
"Why?"
"Because it's time Otousan heard everything. I've told him a bit, but you'll have to be here to explain the rest."
"Don't you dare."
"How can you stop me, if you're not coming home to do so?" asked Tsubaki as she hung up the phone. Tsukasa stared at his cell phone, silently cursing it. He looked around him. He was just walking around the city. He had stopped in front of the old dango shop where Tsukushi used to work at.
Tsukasa thought about how often he wanted to just visit her at work, but his pride kept him from going. He saw that there were two other girls working there now. He thought about how quickly time had past. Tsukasa turned around and called up a ride on his cell. He knew that he had to stop his sister from telling their father anything. He feared that Tsutomu would do the only thing he was ever good at with their family: more damage.
*
The phone was ringing again and again. Tsukushi thought of throwing it against the wall so she could sleep more soundly. It was already four in the afternoon, so she allowed the answering machine to pick up. She was afraid of it being the stalker.
"Oneesan? Are you there? I forgot to tell you that Eirin's having some parent-teacher conferences," said Susumu on the phone. Tsukushi grabbed the receiver right away.
"Susumu? I'm here," said Tsukushi as she sat up in bed.
"Oh? Why didn't you pick up? Never mind, there's parent-teacher conferences starting tomorrow. I have no idea why, but it's for all the graduating seniors. The school says I have to have someone come, but Mama and Papa are in Osaka," said Susumu.
"I know. That means I'm your legal guardian here in Tokyo. I'm the one who's paying for your schooling, so I've got more of a right to go to the parent-teacher conference than Mama and Papa anyway. When is it?" asked Tsukushi.
"Are you sure you have time? You're not just going to send someone else in your place, are you?" asked Susumu.
"No. I have time for you," assured Tsukushi.
"Okay, the parent-teacher conference appointment is at two in the afternoon on Wednesday," said Susumu.
"Do you want to have tea afterwards?" she asked.
"That will be fine. I'll see you Wednesday," replied Susumu.
Tsukushi hung up the phone and wondered what she was going to do. She couldn't spend the rest of her life hiding. Part of her wished that she was invisible. She didn't have to worry before about some stalker when she was nobody. Tsukushi's hand fell on her pendant. She picked it up and looked at it.
There were many secrets about her that most people didn't know. She didn't want the world to know her that well. Most of the reports on the news said that she was elusive and aversive when it came to personal questions. Why couldn't the press understand that she wanted to keep a few things private from the rest of the world?
The phone rang again. Tsukushi thought it was Susumu calling or one of her friends. She picked up the phone. "Hello?" she whispered.
"Welcome home, love," said the voice before hanging up. The line went dead.
Tsukushi's eyes opened wide as she looked around in the darkness of her room. Don't be afraid. That's what he wants. Don't be afraid. The voice in her head chanted again and again.
*
Tsukasa came home and found that the rest of his family was gathered together in the dining room. He decided to waste more time by going to his room and changing. He must have been taking too long because there came a knock at his door.
"Tsukasa-sama, the master says that you are to come right now," said the maid from behind the door.
Tsukasa resisted the urge to yell back and throw something against the door. There was no point in that. As long as his father was there, Tsukasa's status in the household was reduced. He finished changing his clothes. He was now out of his business suit and in a comfortable pair of jeans and a shirt. He didn't really care if the rest of them were dressed for dinner or not.
He came to the dining room and saw his father sitting at the head of the table. That was usually where Tsukasa sat in his absence. He avoided eye contact with all the people there, even Reiko who was smiling at him. He took his seat next to his father because that was the only empty table setting.
"How did you enjoy the rest of your day, Tsukasa? It's about time you took some time off," said Tsubaki in a calm, smooth voice.
Tsukasa glared at her from across the table. Tsutomu cleared his throat. The last thing he wanted was to have a fight. Aki looked at his wife, wondering what she was trying to do. He was well aware of his brother-in-law's bad temper.
"What have you been up to, Oneesan?" asked Tsukasa, keeping a hold on his temper. Reiko whimpered because she didn't like his tone.
"Stop upsetting Reiko, Tsukasa. You'll have to learn how to control your temper and your tone of voice when you have children of your own," said Tsutomu gently.
"Ha!" laughed Tsukasa.
Reiko's eyes filled with tears as she started to cry. Tsubaki reached for her, but Aki shook his head. "I'll take her out of here. We'll go for a little walk."
"What about dinner?" asked Tsubaki.
"This definitely looks like a family thing, so we don't want to intrude," said Aki as he left the room with Reiko and her bottle.
"But, you're a part of this family," said Tsubaki.
"That's okay," said Aki. I don't want to stay for World War III. It's safer for me and the baby not to be here. He thought to himself as he soothed his crying daughter. "I'll talk to you later."
"I hope you're happy. How could you make your own niece cry?" asked Tsubaki. "Oh, then again, look who I'm talking to."
"Shut up," said Tsukasa.
"What? You don't have the right to boss me around!" exclaimed Tsubaki.
Tsutomu couldn't take it much longer. He put a hand on his daughter's. "Let's stop this now. You're both in your twenties. Please try to act it," said Tsutomu.
"Why can't we just pretend the other exists like we normally do?" asked Tsukasa, not wanting to continue this meal any longer than he had to.
Tsutomu sighed as he looked straight into Tsukasa's eyes, which left Tsukasa startled. "I can only blame myself for your attitude. I really don't know much about you or your sister. You're right. However, I would like to make some amends for it," he said.
Tsukasa broke off the stare and glared at him. "It's a little too late for that."
"Well, does this have anything to do with Makino Tsukushi?" asked Tsutomu quietly. It was like he had dropped a bomb on Tsukasa's head.
"WHAT?! WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?! YOU TOLD HIM, DIDN'T YOU?" shouted Tsukasa as he glared at his sister.
"Don't yell at your sister. She explained. Is this girl even in Japan?" asked Tsutomu.
"Supposedly," muttered Tsukasa.
"What kind of work is she doing?" asked Tsutomu. Tsukasa refused to answered him.
"She's a musician and an actress," replied Tsubaki.
"Really? What a hard line of work to get into. You don't really get anything unless you're really good at it," said Tsutomu, remembering Yazagawa Kentaro.
Tsukasa didn't say anything. "Actually, she's quite accomplished, but Tsukasa doesn't like her career choice," explained Tsubaki.
"If she's in Japan, perhaps I should meet with her," said Tsutomu musingly.
"Oh, that won't be necessary, Otousan. You've met her before," said Tsubaki.
"I'm out of here," declared Tsukasa.
"Really? Don't go away, Tsukasa," said Tsutomu. "When? I've had lots of meetings this week. Most of them were businessman. The only girls around Tsukasa's age were either secretaries or assistants."
"During just recently. Think back, Otousan. You did meet another young woman this weekend. One that fits the description of Makino Tsukushi perfectly," said Tsubaki playfully. She was having a lot of fun with this. It was at Tsukasa's expense.
"Well, I did have tea with Yazagawa and the actors from the movie he was shooting. One of them was Ringo Arisu, who's been all over the news lately, but--" Tsutomu stopped. "That's her stage name isn't it, Tsubaki?"
"Yes, I was already a fan for a long time before I knew. She doesn't like to have her picture taken that often," said Tsubaki.
"She seemed like a nice person when I met her, but she didn't give any real indication that she knew Tsukasa at all," said Tsutomu. "Very interesting."
"What are you thinking of?" demanded Tsukasa as he looked at his father.
"Nothing. Nothing at all," replied Tsutomu with a smile. "However, Tsukasa, you must remember what someone does for a living defines just as much as it allows them to survive. She is a truly a graceful woman. That kind of grace is something that you're born with, even being born into a family like ours cannot do that. She really has a passion for what she does for a living. It defines who she is."
They spent the rest of the dinner in silence, but eventually they led up to light conversation. It was almost like a real family dinner.
*
Wednesday arrived in the blink of an eye. Tsukushi managed to get into Eirin's campus unnoticed to attend the parent-teacher conference. She realized that Eirin was a lot like Eitoku in the interior as well as the exterior. She had to meet with the biology teacher, Fuijsaki-sensei.
"Hello. Welcome to Eirin Academy, Makino-san. Do you mind if I call you that?" asked a kind looking man who was about Tsukushi's age.
"Hello. No, I don't mind. I'm here as my brother's sister," said Tsukushi as she took a seat. "I've never been to a parent-teacher conference. My parents are in Osaka, so they couldn't be here."
"It's completely understandable. Most parents usually send some other representative. It's rare to have a parent come. Most parents don't send other family member for these conferences," said Fijisaki-sensei.
"I am very interested in my brother's overall progress in the school," said Tsukushi earnestly.
"First of all, I would like to say that your brother is very intelligent. He does well in all of his classes. He also happens to be a very independent thinker. He tends to do things his own way and gets it done better than most of the students. However, there are few main problems."
"What kind of problems?"
"The main problem is his lack of respect of authority in general," replied Fujisaki-sensei as he opened a folder. "These are the demerits for just this school year. Susumu doesn't like to follow rules. He doesn't like to wear his uniform in the proper fashion."
"What do mean? He comes dressed in his uniform, doesn't he?" asked Tsukushi.
"Yes, he does. But, he doesn't wear it properly. It wouldn't be much of a problem if he wasn't a social leader in the school. People are following the example he is setting. And it's not just the uniform. He also talks back to the teachers and plays his MP3 player in class," explained Fuijisaki-sensei.
"I don't really see a problem. It's a little late now. He doesn't lack discipline, Sensei. He merely doesn't care much for Eirin in general. I am only sending him here because his track would be easier," said Tsukushi.
"I know. He is thinking of going to Tokyo University," said Fujisaki-sensei. "I tend to think of Susumu as a different kind of thinker. Someone who thinks against the grain. This allows him to be different from everyone else."
Tsukushi smiled as she agreed, "I'd like to think so."
"He will definitely make something of himself. However, what he will become hasn't been decided yet," said Fujisaki-sensei.
The conference wrapped up after that. Tsukushi didn't know what to make of it. She was deciding whether or not to discipline Susumu for his actions in the school. She decided not to. He was old enough to make such behavioral decisions on his own. She had to trust him to do be able to make his own choices and live with the consequences.
Tsukushi met him after school. Susumu had to walk up to the limo and found the bodyguards around it. He didn't like the guards. They made him uneasy. Dominic looked at him and nodded.
"Excuse me, young sir," said Dominic as he opened the car door. Tsukushi looked at him with a bright smile. Susumu returned her smile as she climbed in.
Tsukushi asked, "Let's go back to my penthouse."
He nodded at her. "Back to the penthouse," she ordered. "How was you day?"
"It went all right. How was the meeting? asked Susumu.
There was always some tension in the air. The tension hadn't lessened since her return. Tsukushi and Susumu couldn't communicate as they once did. Tsukushi knew it had to do with her. She wasn't projecting the air of approachability to anyone. She looked out the tinted windows of the limo.
"It went all right. You're doing very well," said Tsukushi with a smile, deciding not to even talk about the demerits. She didn't know why. Before, she would have mentioned them, but there was no point. It was enough for her to spend time with her younger brother.
The limo came to a stop and the door was opened. They both walked out of it and went inside the apartment house. Tsukushi and Susumu didn't say a word to each other as they got inside her penthouse.
"Looks like Sammi's taken care of the arrangements. I should have done it myself," said Tsukushi as she looked around. She saw that there was a table set on outside on the terrace. There was a note on the table from Sammi. It made Tsukushi unsettled. It made her wonder how many people had access to her private space. She made a mental note to have the locks changed as soon as possible.
"Looks good," observed Susumu.
"Let's have a seat," said Tsukushi. "I've been dying to find out what you've been up to since I went away. We hardly ever get the chance to just sit down and talk." Ever since the meeting, Tsukushi realized just how much her brother had changed in her absence.
Susumu took a seat after he pulled out his sister's chair for her. "I've been doing some post season practicing. It doesn't hurt. I also visited the Ogata House."
"Really? How did it go?"
"I'm too different from those people to understand them," said Susumu in a quiet voice as he traced his finger along the rim of his teacup.
"It's a different kind of world than the one we are from," agreed Tsukushi. "What else did you do?"
"Did you know that the Ogata House is in the same neighbor as the Doumyouji's?" asked Susumu.
"I didn't know that."
"How do you feel about him?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean."
"I feel indifferent."
Tsukushi watched something flicker in Susumu's eyes. She didn't know what it meant. It made her worry about him.
In this world, one had to look out for their own before others. Tsukushi's trouble was that she was dragged into another world. She wanted to stay far away from it. However, there was something in her world that was threatening to destroy and consume her. There might be shelter in the other world.
"I hate him," muttered Susumu.
It was like a pebble dropping into a pond, sending tiny ripples in the peaceful silence of the afternoon. Tsukushi looked up at him with surprise. She could never imagine her brother hating anyone. Susumu wasn't the same sweet tempered boy Tsukush remembered. He used to be like their father. He wasn't anymore. That realization startled and shook her.
She stood up and looked outward. Susumu's eyes remained where they were. "I hate him," he repeated with the same intensity. "He hurt you before. There was nothing I could do because I was weak. You left because there was no one who could protect you here. I promised myself I would be stronger."
Tsukushi walked around the table. She was now behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders. She leaned in close as she whispered softly, "I do not want you hating anyone on my behalf, Susumu-kun. It is a waste of time and energy to hate someone. I do not hate anyone. Things happen because we make them happen. There are things that are beyond our control. You are not grown up enough for me to still teach you more. You must be strong for yourself more than anything. It is my duty to protect you, not the other way around. Do you understand?"
Susumu turned his head to look into her eyes. She smiled at him tenderly as she straight up and looked over the horizon. There was a strange kind of peace in the air. Like a calm before a storm. As the sun sunk down in the horizon, the breeze came and tangled itself into Tsukushi's hair. She looked like an angel.
AN: There are more things coming up. Okay, people are not only trying to guess who the stalker is, but they are also trying to figure out who's going to die. The stalker may or may not surprise a lot of people, but the deaths and the outcomes will. There will be a lot of people affected by the outcome.
I did do some delicate foreshadowing in the last part of this chapter. A lot of people have requested that some characters not get killed. For more thought and planning go to ayane.blurty.com. Some of you have guessed as to who the stalker and who will die. The main question is what will happen to Tsukushi.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hana Yori Dango.