Charlie Collins wished that he had come to Tokyo under better circumstances. To his surprise, Tsukushi was waiting for him at the airport. He hadn't expected to see her. She looked tired, but she was alert enough to meet him. He gave her a small smile.
He had the same coloring as his younger sister. His hair was blonde and his eyes were bluish-green. He was over six feet tall and muscular. He was tanned because of the sun from the desert of the Middle East. He still hadn't shave in days.
"It's good to see you," whispered Tsukushi. He came up to her and gave her a hug.
"I've been worried about you," said Charlie. "You don't look so good. Have you slept or eaten at all?"
"Very little of both," admitted Tsukushi.
"Sammi's told me the situation," said Charlie. "Perhaps we should talk in a more secluded area."
Tsukushi nodded. "Let's go to Gaia," she said.
They took a limo to Gaia Records. Tsukushi dressed in a pair of jeans and the sweater he had given her for her birthday. They were greeted by Sammi. She smiled as she and her brother hugged. They went into the more private rec room.
"I can't get over this place. And I thought that Gaia in London was catered to you," said Charlie as he looked around. "By the way, Mum and Dad are worried about you, Tsukushi. You should call them."
"I'll do that later today," said Tsukushi. It was nice that the Collins considered her a member of their family. "I need to talk to you alone, Charlie. Sammi, please get out."
Sammi looked mildly hurt at Tsukushi's words, but gritted her teeth and left the room. "She's just going to the same thing she always does. We need a new game plan," explained Tsukushi. "I need your skills as an investigator. And I trust you."
"What is it?" asked Charlie. He found the whole thing unusual because Tsukushi usually trusted Sammi over him.
"The stalker. He's the one who did it," said Tsukushi.
"How do you know?" asked Charlie.
Tsukushi broke down and explained everything to him. She told him about how the stalker had trailed her all the way to Okinawa and how awful the movie shoot had actually been for her. She told him about the pictures and the phone calls. She didn't forget to include the roses that she had received with the card. She told him about the phone call she had received when she came home. The latest thing added to the list was the picture that was taken the day her parents died.
"He wrote the message twice. The first time was just a threat. The second time was confirmation. 'I'll take you apart. Piece by piece.' Charlie, he's everywhere. The pictures were taken from different locations. The campus at Tokyo University. Coming in and out of Gaia Records. He's always nearby. He's like a shadow," whispered Tsukushi.
"In Okinawa, you say that he could see everything you were doing? Do you know how he did it?" asked Charlie as he jotted down some notes. Tsukushi shook her head. "What about the list of people you gave to the police? Can I have a copy of it?"
"Yes," said Tsukushi. He handed her a piece of paper from his notebook. She started write the all the names. "Don't be surprise about what you find out about me."
"What do mean?" asked Charlie.
"Some of these people know me from high school. I was a different person then. Anyway, I didn't add some other suspects," said Tsukushi. "I couldn't in front of Sammi. You know what her reaction would be."
"Who else?" asked Charlie as he took the list from her.
"Almost everyone in Gaia," replied Tsukushi. Charlie looked at her carefully as he looked at the list.
"You know a lot of rich people, Tsukushi. Doumyouji Tsukasa? He's one of the richest men in Japan. He just took control of his family's holdings. Why would you put him on the list?" asked Charlie.
"It's not him. His mother," replied Tsukushi. "But I doubt you'd get very far without running into his mother."
"I'll see what I come up with," said Charlie as he added the list to his notepad.
"Please don't tell Sammi about this," requested Tsukushi as he stood up. He gave her a nod as his investigation began.
*
A few more days passed by before Kin-san called Tsukushi to tell her that Susumu was all moved in at his place. He was a little worried about the both of them. There was no reasoning with Susumu. Tsukushi thanked Kin-san for watching over her brother. He told her that Susumu had gotten a job. He was tutoring middle schoolers to test into high school.
Charlie had visited her penthouse with a progress report. He also came with a new lock for the front door. The security staff didn't know what to make of him. They couldn't understand why he was allowed access when they weren't. Sammi told them to shut up and do as they were told. Her feelings were a little hurt as well because Tsukushi was letting Charlie help her, but Sammi decided to trust them both.
It was already the 6th of February. It seemed like eons had passed from that cold, rainy day. At least for the others, but for Tsukushi the day never really ended. It was like being in an endless dream. She couldn't sleep and eat right. She spent hours alone, waiting for the day to end so she could start over again. Slowly, she was sinking into depression. She never erased the message on her machine, but listened it over and over again. She was losing weight and sleep.
Tsukushi had many bad nights because she was having nightmares. It was no longer the pursuit in the darkness that she usually had. No. The dreams were now of her being in the car with her parents. She could only imagine the terror they had been in the last conscious moments of their lives. She always woke up just before the car crashed. It was enough to make her not sleep at all afterwards.
Rui went back to Eitoku to do a lecture. He was spacing out more than usual and he was worried about Tsukushi. Tsukasa still couldn't reach her. The only one to do it was him, but he hadn't been much help. He thought of telling them about what had happened in the cemetery, but it was a private thing. He couldn't fathom the lost that Tsukushi must have felt.
As he walked towards the class, he didn't notice that someone was taking his picture, adding him to the list. This person had followed him all the way to Eitoku from his house. He had learned Rui's habits quickly just as he had with Yuki and Tsukasa. He had to know these people. They were a part of her.
He went back to his place. It was his own little private place that hardly anyone had seen. That no one had seen, except for him. He took out the roll of film. He had taken a whole roll of Rui. Now he had to develop it along with the others. He had pictures on the walls of her. He also had pictures of other people. People that were important to her.
He was going to strip everything and everyone away from him. Only then would he have her all to himself. Only then could he make her happy. He thought of only her. He wanted her all to himself. It didn't matter how much he had to hurt her to do it. He was going to make it all better afterwards.
*
Charlie's investigation had a lot of advantages than the polices or anyone else's. He had more information from a direct source. It was no wonder that Tsukushi was suspicious of everyone. Despite the security, far too many people had access to her. Also, security had proven to be ineffective. Sammi's solution of adding more security was pointless. Charlie decided to try the leads that Tsukushi had given him by making an appointment to meet with Tsukasa. To his surprise, Tsukasa agreed to meet with him.
"Welcome to the headquarter of the Doumyouji Corporation. How may I assist you?" asked a girl at the front of the offices.
"I have an appointment to meet with Doumyouji Tsukasa," said Charlie in Japanese. His Japanese was just a little better than Sammi's.
"This way, Collin-san," said the girl. She walked with him. They went to an elevator that took them to the top floor. They walked a bit more before they stopped at an office. She opened the door for him. There was a secretary waiting for them. The girl bowed and left.
"Doumyouji-sama will meet with you now," said the secretary with a bow.
He walked to the double doors, which automatically opened for him. Tsukasa was on the phone, but gestured for Charlie to have a seat. "Just get it done. I'll check up on you later," said Tsukasa as he hung up the phone.
Charlie was a little taken back by Tsukasa. He knew that he was young, but he didn't expect someone like him. He looked like he was barely out of college, but he running the business as if he had a lifetime's worth of experience. Charlie could tell by the way Tsukasa carried himself. He also admired how Tsukasa had taken off his necktie, coat, and how he had his sleeves rolled up. To Charlie, it spoke volumes about Tsukasa's work style.
"You're Charlie Collins?" asked Tsukasa. He was also surprised. He figured that Charlie was related to Tsukushi's manager, but he didn't expect someone who looked so rugged.
"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you, Doumyouji-san," said Charlie. "Although, I wish I were meeting you under better circumstances."
"I only agreed to meet with you, so that I could find out how she is," stated Tsukasa.
Charlie was a little fazed by his response, but didn't display it on his face. "How do you know Makino Tsukushi?"
"I was about to ask you the same question," retorted Tsukasa.
"I am the son of the family that she stays with in London," said Charlie. "Now answer my question."
"I was her boyfriend in high school," said Tsukasa. This time Charlie was unable to hide his surprise. He could never imagine Tsukushi dating anyone. He had never seen her go out on a date before. Once more, Tsukushi had dated one of the world's most eligible and wealthiest bachelors in the world. "How is she doing?"
"It's hard to say," admitted Charlie.
"Knowing her, she likes to keep up the appearance that everything is fine," said Tsukasa. He surprised himself sometimes. "What is it that she needs from me?" He was willing to do anything.
"I wanted to ask you if I could arrange a meeting with your mother," replied Charlie.
"Why would you want to meet with her?" asked Tsukasa. "What the Hell has she done to Makino now?"
"What do you mean?" asked Charlie.
"Makino, didn't tell you?" asked Tsukasa.
"Not really. She did name your mother as one of her enemies though," said Charlie.
Tsukasa didn't look surprised. "My mother is no longer a threat to her. Tell her that. I am the head of the Doumyouji Corporation. I will not allow anything to harm her," said Tsukasa.
Charlie didn't say anything. He believed him. Charlie trusted his instincts more than anything. He knew that Tsukasa wasn't lying. He still wondered what happened, but there was time for that. Every moment he wasted was one more moment that the stalker was getting closer and closer to her.
"Thank you for your time, Doumyouji-san. I will be sure to tell her your condolences," said Charlie. "However, she's not really up for seeing anyone."
After Charlie left, Tsukasa wondered why he even came. Something didn't feel right. He couldn't quite grasp what it was, but he knew that something was wrong. The whole thing didn't seem right at all.
*
Tsukushi decided to do what she did best. She decided to work until she was too numb to notice anything. She set to work on her thesis for her faculty advisor, even though he told her that she didn't have to turn in her rough draft. She could take as much time as she wanted, but it was either that or keep thinking about everything over and over agian until she was driven into madness.
She didn't stay at her penthouse. It seemed to be dangerous to be utterly alone. As long as she wasn't alone, the stalker couldn't touch her. She went to Gaia Records to work in her rec room. It felt safe there for the time being. The only thing she wished she could get rid of were the bodyguards. As far as she was concerned, they weren't doing a very good job of making her feel safe. She also had to find a way to defend herself.
From time to time, Tsukushi thought about what drove someone like her stalker. This person was living and breathing her. She felt like she was being watched constantly. There were too many people keeping an eye on her at any given time. She hoped that Charlie would be able to figure out something because there wasn't much she could do from her end. Not with the whole world watching her.
The reporters had renewed the campaign of asking questions until they received some kind of answer from Gaia. Patricia said that they couldn't hold them back for too long. Tsukushi was surprised that the press hadn't found out anything yet.
Either way, it felt like the world was closing in on her. She felt like she was being slowly suffocated to death. The air was getting thicker with each passing day. It started happening long before she had returned to Japan. It had been her choice, but it was starting to take its toll on her. She was going to have to do something drastic.
After much thought and contemplation, Tsukushi came to one conclusion: everyone around her was in danger. The stalker had killed her parents. She knew he wasn't done yet. He was out to destroy her. He figured out how to do it. He knew that directly attacking her wasn't going to work, but going after the people around her would. Most people around her couldn't figure that out. She distant herself from her family. Most people didn't know about her personal life. It was part of her persona as a performer. And it was might just kill her.
Yuki came in later with a tray with some tea and sweets. "You haven't eaten in days. And you haven't slept either," said Yuki. "Are you okay?"
Tsukushi gritted her teeth. It was as if Yuki was waiting for her to change status anytime soon. "Will you stop asking me, if I'm fine?!" exploded Tsukushi.
Yuki looked frightened. This time Tsukushi didn't pause to even apologize. "Stop acting like everything is going to be all right. You know how I feel. I will tell you when I feel better, but it's not going to happen anytime soon. You don't understand. No one does."
"I'm sorry," said Yuki.
"I don't want to hear that you're sorry. I'm tired of everyone telling me how I should be feeling. I'm tired of hearing how everyone is sorry. I will get through this my own way. On my own. That's the way it's always been."
"But I am here. Tsukushi, that's the problem. You don't rely on anyone else. Let me help you. Please," pleaded Yuki.
Tsukushi sighed. "I need you to go to Osaka. I haven't been able to do anything about the business there. The staff at the inn need someone to get everything in order. There is work to be there there. For obvious reasons, I cannot attend to it. I would rather do it myself, but I need you over there."
Yuki nodded. "By the way, Kin-san said that Susumu moved into his apartment," she whispered.
"I know. He should stay there," said Tsukushi. "But, tell Sammi to take some security off me and put it on my brother."
"Why?" asked Yuki, not knowing that Tsukushi's parents were murdered.
"Just do it," answered Tsukushi without looking at her. "Just make sure my brother is safe."
*
Charlie had to keep asking questions. He was uncovering various details about Tsukushi's life. She told him not to be surprised, but there were too many surprises. She knew a lot of rich and powerful people. He had no idea that Eitoku was anything like that. Of course, he understood why she didn't like to talk about her life in Japan. He was tired of running into too many surprises.
After some investigation, he was able to eliminate Doumyouji Kaede as a suspect. She was too busy a person to do anything to Tsukushi. As far as Charlie could tell, Tsukushi had severed ties with the Doumyouji family years ago. Therefore, Doumyouji Kaede didn't have to do anything more to Tsukushi.
Charlie realized that Tsukushi wasn't going to be that forthcoming with information because she was used to keeping her own secrets. No matter how much she trusted him, she wasn't going to tell him everything he needed to know. He had to get more information. The only person Charlie thought who could help him with that was someone who was closer to her.
The solution was simple. Tsukushi talked about her brother a lot. She talked about him more often than most people in her life. In fact, she was working part time jobs to pay for his schooling, so Charlie thought that they had to be pretty close. He decided to pay him a visit after Sammi told him where to find Susumu. She told him that Susumu was having a hard time with the deaths of his parents and that he and Tsukushi weren't exactly getting along.
However, Charlie was unaware of the real fallout. He knew that the truth about the accident had been kept under wraps, but he had no idea that Tsukushi kept it from her brother. He went over to Kin-san's apartment to see that two middle school kids were getting ready to leave. "We'll see you next week, Makino-sempai. Thank you for your help," said the girl.
"Thanks, Makino-sempai," said the boy. He and his sister were twins, so they both had a tutoring session with Susumu at the same time. It was very helpful for them to be tutored at the same time.
"Excuse me," said the girl as she stared at Charlie. She wasn't used to seeing a blond gaijin like Charlie around. He smiled at her gently as he stepped out of her way.
"Excuse me," said the boy as he walked passed him as well.
"Hello. My name is Charlie Collins. I'm the brother of your sister's manager," said Charlie as he approached Susumu. He was taller than Susumu, who was only 5'10".
"My name is Makino Susumu. I take it that my sister sent you over here," said Susumu with a tone that bordered on annoyance.
"No. She did not. I came here on my own. May I come in?" asked Charlie.
"Sure," said Susumu with a shrug. "This isn't even really my apartment."
Charlie took off his shoes at the entrance, not forgetting the customs that his mother made him learn. He walked into a very neat living room. He took a seat, even though he wasn't offered one. Susumu didn't offer him anything to eat or drink.
"First of all, what my sister does is her business. If you want any questions answered, go and ask her. She's the one who doesn't want anyone else answering for her," said Susumu. "Besides, what's it to you?"
"Your sister has asked for my help. I am investigating the murders of your parents," answered Charlie.
"What did you just say?" asked Susumu as his expression changed from bored to alert. He wasn't sure if Charlie was saying things correctly or not, even though his Japanese was excellent.
"I'm investigating the murders of your parents," repeated Charlie, wondering if he was using the right words.
"Murders?" murmured Susumu. "What do you mean?"
"Your parents. What? You don't know? The police have ruled it a homicide," clarified Charlie.
"I didn't know that," muttered Susumu as he stood up. The door was opened at the time. Kin-san walked into the apartment. "Tadaima. I brought home dinner," Kin-san paused. "I didn't know we had company."
"He's not company. He's going to tell me where my sister is right now. I need to have a word with her," said Susumu.
"What's going on? What did you tell him?" demanded Kin-san to Charlie, knowing that the foreigner had done something.
"He told me the truth," muttered Susumu. "Let's go."
Charlie had no choice, but to surrender to Susumu's will. He couldn't believe that Tsukushi would keep the truth from her own brother like that. But, Charlie felt guilty for betraying Tsukushi's trust, so he decided to keep the stalker a secret. He drove Susumu to Gaia Records where Susumu stormed through the front doors and kept going. He knew where she would be.
Sammi looked shocked to see Susumu burst through the door. Tsukushi didn't betray a look of surprise. She merely looked up at him. She was sitting at an armchair. He marched up to her.
"What seems to be the trouble?" asked Tsukushi.
"Murdered. You didn't tell me that they were murdered!" shouted Susumu.
"I knew you'd act like this. I was only trying to protect you," responded Tsukushi.
"You don't care. You just don't want the press getting a hold of this! You only care about yourself! You let our father die!"
Tsukushi looked up at him with an emotionless expression. Susumu couldn't take any longer. He couldn't stand being in so much pain and her not being in any.
SMACK!
Sammi and Charlie gasped. Susumu had backhanded her. Tsukushi didn't even make a sound. "This is all your fault!" roared Susumu. He turned around and stalked out of the room.
Charlie and Sammi were going to go after him, but Tsukushi said, "No. Leave him alone."
She stood up as she made her way to the door. "Wait, Tsukushi. Let me tell security that you're leaving. We need to get security to arrange a ride."
"What's the point, Sammi? I don't feel safe. More security? What has it done? Nothing. He's already hurt me. You can't protect me from that. No one can. I can only protect myself. Protect my brother. I don't want anything happening to him."
"You still shouldn't go out by yourself!" exclaimed Sammi.
Tsukushi stopped again and said, "Nothing can hurt me now. I don't care anymore. This has to end soon. Either he kills me or I kill him. I don't give a damn either way."
She walked out of the room. Sammi got her cell to call security to follow her, but Charlie stopped her. "She's right. The stalker figured out her weakness. She's pulling away from everyone else. She's trying to protect us."
"Charlie. What's going to happen next?" cried Sammi.
"I have no idea, but whatever it is. She has to see it to the end. It's her battle. She's been fighting it for a while. All we can do is pray. I'm going to go to Okinawa. There's something I have to check out. Do you still have the key to the house there?" asked Charlie.
"You mean the house she stayed at?" asked Sammi.
"Yes," replied Charlie.
"Why?"
"Because there might be some answers there. I need to check it out. It's a hunch," said Charlie.
"Then we'll go with you," said Robby along with Eddie and Sean. "We haven't been much help, but this is something we can do."
"The house in Okinawa hasn't been sold yet. Gaia has the lease to it. I think that Ryan has the key. I'll call him up to give the key," said Sammi as she dialed his office, thinking that he'd be there.
"Hello, you've reached to the office of Ryan McCormick," said Yuki.
"Yuki? What are you doing in Ryan's office?" asked Sammi.
"Oh, well Ryan had to an appointment with his physical therapist about his ankle," answered Yuki. "What is it that you need?"
"I need to talk to him. It can wait a day. I supposed. Tsukushi said that you were going to Osaka," said Sammi.
"Yes, I need to talk to the staff and pick things up. I'll see you when I get back," said Yuki.
Sammi hung up the phone. "Ryan's gone to his physical therapist. He really twisted his ankle. The doctors said if he had strained it anymore, he would have broken it. Either way the bone was bruised a bit," she said.
"I guess we can't leave just yet," said Eddie.
"That's fine. Although, I need to do some more work," said Charlie. "Excuse me."
He left the room. He started to think about how things were turning out. He realized that Tsukushi didn't trust the staff. She had good reason to. Charlie thought about it and decided it had something to do with the security. It made sense. The only reason that security would have any trouble catching the stalker would be that the stalker was an employee at Gaia. What better way to get pass security than to be part of security.
Charlie went to the office that Tsukushi assigned to him. She even supplied him access to the various parts of Gaia's records. He went through to look for anything that matched up. He decided to trace the history of the security team through out Tsukushi's career, starting from the very beginning in England.
Charlie found out that the head of security, whom he remembered from England, did not come to Japan. That head of security had a family in England and did not want to move to Japan. The second-in-command at the time was assigned the position of head of security. This person also went to Okinawa and had been around for the entire time of the shoot.
Charlie cross referenced him with other employees. Most of the people who worked in Gaia had been around for a while. However with Tsukushi, more staff was brought in from time to time. He read Ryan McCormick's work history as well. He found that Ryan had only been working for the company for a year. He was also young and single. He had graduated from Cambridge with a degree in business.
"Sammi, I need to see Dominic Stratton, " requested Charlie when he called up his sister's office.
"Why?" asked Sammi. She was a little stressed out. Tsukushi never returned to her apartment. She had gone to a hotel and called her, telling her that she would be staying there. Sammi didn't tell anyone. On top of that, Yuki had to leave for Osaka, while Ryan was still out.
"I just need to ask him a few questions about security," answered Charlie.
"You could ask Iris about it," said Sammi. Iris Beckett was now head of security.
"No, I would rather talk to Mr. Stratton," insisted Charlie.
"I'll send him up to you," agreed Sammi with a sigh.
Charlie waited for fifteen minutes, formulating questions to ask in his mind. There came a knock at his door. "Enter," he said. Dominic entered the room. "Close the door behind you."
Dominic complied. "What is it that you wanted to ask me?"
"Have a seat first. Get comfortable," said Charlie. Dominic took a seat, but didn't get comfortable. "I just wanted to ask you a few questions. That's all."
"I take you're the ringer that Miss Ringo summoned from England," said Dominic.
Charlie nodded. "I know that my sister has been a bit harsh on you. However, I do have to agree with her."
"Are you accusing me of something?" asked Dominic.
"What would I accuse of you?" asked Charlie. "Most Asians don't believe in coincidences. Neither do I. How long have you been working for Gaia Records?"
"Two years," replied Dominic.
"Where were you during Tsukushi's shoot in Okinawa?"
"I was in Okinawa. I was head of security for her. I had to be there."
"You didn't have any problems about moving to Japan from England. A good amount of the security staff didn't come to Japan."
"I didn't," admitted Dominic.
"It all fits. You know. She's a very special woman. Some of the world's most powerful and wealthy men have fallen for her. What chance did someone like you had? You were working in Gaia for months before she came in. How innocent it all started, didn't it?"
Dominic looked at him. "I know exactly what you're talking about. I am not the stalker. I'm not."
"Why would I believe you? You've had the opportunity and the time to do it all. And you failed to catch him," said Charlie.
"Your evidence doesn't automatically make me the stalker," said Dominic. "All the evidence you have is circumstantial."
"But my evidence doesn't eliminate you as the stalker," retorted Charlie calmly.
"The police wouldn't believe you. Not with all the pitiful tricks you had to pull to get that information. You're just batting at strings," said Dominic.
"You studied to be come a barrister in London University, didn't you?" asked Charlie. "You're not that much older than her. You were in the law school there when she started there."
"I didn't know she existed at the time. And plenty of people go to London University," replied Dominic. "You have nothing."
"You are a lot smarter than what you show people, aren't you? According to the records, you were in the top ten of your year," said Charlie. "Yet, you quit halfway through law school. I know how much your salary is."
"Sometimes money isn't everything. You were heir to a large company in London, yet you're just a field reporter. Why do you do it?" challenged Dominic, knowing that Sammi was the heir to Collins Limited of London. It was unusual because she was the younger sibling and female.
"We'll see. You won't be able to find her so easily," said Charlie.
Dominic's eyes widened. "What do you mean? She's gone?"
"Yes, she is."
"It's not safe out there. She shouldn't be out in the open like that. Look, I haven't just been sitting here. I've been looking for the stalker as well. I'm telling you: she's in a lot more danger. The stalker's close to his breaking point, too," said Dominic in alarm.
"You were a psychology major in Oxford, weren't you?"
Dominic stood up. "You were sent here to save her. And I'm telling you we're both wasting time. We should send someone to watch over her," he insisted.
Charlie narrowed his bluish-green eyes at Dominic's icy blue ones.
*
More days passed, and it was now the fourteenth of February. It was Valentine's day. Tsukushi had spent much of her time moving from hotel to hotel, trying to stay one step ahead of her stalker. She only text messaged Sammi, and she didn't have her cell phone with her. She had to use the phones in the hotels or a pay phones.
Sometimes she moved three times during the day. She just didn't feel safe anywhere. It was with good reason. The stalker had been following her the entire time. Sammi couldn't rely messages to Tsukushi. She couldn't rely the messages that she had gotten from Yuki in Osaka.
Charlie, Robby, Eddie, and Sean were in Okinawa. Ryan had come in for the afternoon to return the keys. He had a doctor's note saying that he still needed some time off, but that had been days ago.
Tsukushi never fooled herself into thinking she was safe. Not for a single moment did she allow her guard to slip. She was on constant alert and didn't sleep much. She stayed away from hotels and inns that didn't have much security in them or where the staff could be easily bribed into giving away information. She always stayed at a place that had a telephone.
She stayed away from larger, more expensive hotels. The security at the Maple had already failed once before. Furthermore, she predicted that the stalker would be able to find her that way much easier. Once again, Tsukushi was traveling very lightly. She only had her wallet, which held her debit card, some cash, identification, a calling card, and a rail pass. That was how she was getting around Tokyo.
It was an odd way to travel. A very unexpected way to travel for someone who was as rich as her. She only bought new clothes and changed that way, while disposing of the old ones. It was the only way she could travel lightly. The hotels and inns always had kimonos and robes for her use. She only ate every once in a while from vending machines.
It reminded her of when she was younger and had no money. Tsukushi felt very much alone, even though she was never alone. Her stalker was always nearby.
On the fourteenth, Tsukushi ended up at a smaller hotel near Kin-san's apartment. She hoped to get to his apartment and call Sammi to check up on things more clearly. It was exhausting. She couldn't take it much longer. She had to think of something. She couldn't keep running much longer.
Tsukushi exited out of the hotel, only to be stopped by someone just outside of it. Someone grabbed her arm, causing her to seize up. She was about ready to scream.
"Don't say a word," commanded Dominic.
AN: And there's my cruelest cliffie yet. Don't you just love it? I'm having a lot of fun here. I had a bit of a block in this chapter. The next few chapters will be a little shorter for the sake of suspense (although, I'm not sure how suspenseful everything is ^_^;;). Where's the rest of F4 in all of this? Um...working? I'm not sure. They'll come in later. I swear not everyone's role has been played out yet.
Go to ayane.blurty.com -- More info.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hana Yori Dango.