**Hi, it's me again. It's been a along time for me to update this one.
Sorry for that. What's up everybody. I hope all of you still reading mine.
Ashamed, that I failed to meet Mecheko in person. She was not well when I
visit her town (KL, Malaysia). I wish someday that we could meet. Last,
Drina, you are my savior. Arigato ne.**
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The next morning, Rui was still sitting beside Tsukushi's bed. He waited for Tsukushi to wake up. He gazed gently at Tsukushi's innocent face and spoke to himself, "I know that you did not mean to do what you did that day at the hot spring, but you don't know after that, I am always thinking about it." His voice was very soft, but it seemed that Tsukushi heard what he said. Her hand moved a little and she whispered something, "Doumyouji....." Her eyes still remained closed. Rui bit his lips, "Is she asking for Tsukasa??".
Akira entered the room, and gave a cup of coffee and sandwiches to Rui as he spoke, "Rui, if by tomorrow she still not up, we should tell Doumyouji Tsukasa. What do you think?"
"I have a feeling that she will wake up today, why you asking me this again?"
"Well, that rich boy called my mobile last night. I don't know how he got my number. But I said to him that we don't know anything about Makino. I lied to him, Rui. And I felt that he knew that I lied. He and Soujirou found Takki's body in Tsukushi's backyard. What is on your mind, Rui, are you falling for her huh?" Akira asked Rui that awkward question. Akira knew Rui very well; it was rare for Rui to interfere in others' problems, except this time.
Rui did not answer Akira question, instead he told Akira that Tsuksuhi moved her hand and murmured something. Rui was also glad to find out from the cat scan conducted by Junpei that Tsukushi had no serious injuries on her head. While Rui was talking to Akira, they heard Tsukushi's voice interrupted them, "Why didn't you bring me a coffee too, Mimasaka-san?" Rui smiled at seeing Akira's shocked face then Akira called Junpei to tell him that his patient had woken up.
"Finally you're awake." Rui try to act naturally. "How are you feeling?". Tsukushi did not answer. She tried to move her body into a sitting position, but she could not; she felt dizzy. Rui helped her.
"Wait, where am I and why are you here Hanazawa-san?".
"Tsukushi please don't address me as Hanazawa-san anymore. Just Rui, OK? You're at Akira's friend clinic." Rui had a big smile on his face; he could not hide how glad he was that Tsukushi remember his name as it was a sign that her brain was alright. In his heart, he would like to ask Tsukushi about what happened to her, so he knew exactly what to do to help her. But he kept all his questions inside; he would wait until Tsukushi was ready to tell everything to him.
Junpei entered the room and checked Tsukushi's vital signs, after that he said to Tsukushi, "In a few day, you will get your strength back again, but we will take out the intravenous tube this afternoon. During your recovery you are allowed to eat soft food and please follow all the instructions that I'll give, promise?"
Junpei's voice was very calm and that made Tsukushi felt peace and safe. "OK, I will, doctor."
Junpei smiled, "Just call me Junpei, I'll see you again this afternoon." Before he left, he turned around to Tsukushi and said, "If you want to leave this afternoon, do not forget to pay the bill." After heard what Junpei said Tsukushi was shocked. She had no money left.
"Look, you've make your ugly face even uglier. Don't worry Makino, we will pay the bill for you." Akira laughed.
"Thank you Mimasaka-san, I will pay you after I've recovered from this."
"Akira now, since we're on such familiar terms. After you repaid me, we will return you to your home town."
Tsukushi gasped, "Tokyo? That place, Takki..No...please help...Takki. No...." Then she collapsed again.
-----------------------
That afternoon, when Tsukushi woke up, Rui was still by her side. "Hanazawa...Rui." Rui smiled. "Gomen ne, I called you a murderer last time. I thought that you've killed my brother But I was wrong."
Akira stood behind Rui. He had brought hot tea and chicken porridge from the nurse who he met on the entrance door before he came in. Rui helped Tsukushi into a sitting position. Akira asked Tsukushi if she needed help to drink the tea, and she nodded. Tsukushi was surprised of herself that she acted very spoiled that day. Akira teased her again, if she needed help to eat the porridge. Once again she nodded. This time Rui butted in, "I'll do it." Rui grabbed the porridge from Akira's hand. Tsukushi's face was red, but she opened her mouth when the spoon was offered to her.
Rui tried to break the ice. "After you've recovered, Akira and I will accompany you to Tokyo." Upon hearing that word, Tsukushi chocked. Rui said that on purpose, he wanted Tsukushi to tell him something if he mentioned that word again.
Tsukushi swallowed the porridge in her mouth. Her eyes narrowed, "Rui, I think I will forget and leave everything behind now. It's no use for me to continue to look for Susumu's killer. It's enough for me to know that both of you are innocent." Her voice trembled and tears rolled down her cheek.
"But Doumyouji promised to help you right?" Rui kept trying.
"Doumyouji...how did you know him?" Tsukushi was confused that Rui knew her boyfriend's name.
"Well, you spoke his name while you were still unconscious. Am I right?" Rui hurriedly fixed his mistake. He was not lying though, as he had heard Tsukushi mention Doumyouji's name in her sleep. "What's wrong Tsukushi? You can tell me everything," Rui continued.
Akira tapped Rui's shoulder to warn Rui not to continue questioning her. "We better let Makino rest again for a while. I will call Junpei to take out your intravenous tube. I've already rented a little flat for three of us to stay tonight before we return to Tokyo by tomorrow. Is it OK, Makino?"
"Thanks Akira, yes it's alright with me."
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When they got to the flat, Tsukushi discovered that the flat only had two rooms. "Don't worry, that's your room over there. Rui and I will share the other room," said Akira.
"Ummm..I don't have any clothes and ...ummm," Tsukushi did not continue.
"Lingerie...that's what you meant right?" asked Akira. Tsukushi's face turned red, and Rui looked at her as he like to see her when she turned red like that. "I will not let you to wear that hospital outfit all the time, I'll go buy some clothes for you. Haha, no need to tell me your size, I already know." Tsukushi could not believe what she heard.
Waiting for Akira to come back, Tsukushi decided to take a bath. She was happy when she saw that the bathroom had a bathtub. Rui helped her to fill the bathtub with hot water. "This is your towel. Just call me if you need me," then Rui left her room.
As she lay in the tub, she felt warmth entering her body. However she remembered all the bad things over again: She opened her eyes slowly and realized that she was not in her apartment anymore. She touched her head and felt a little bump on it, "Ouch...it hurts so much." The room was big, but the light only came from the little lamp near the door. "Where am I?" Then she heard footsteps. She hurriedly pretended to sleep. Her heartbeat quicken, and she feared that people entering the room will hear her heartbeat. The door then opened..
"We will leave him with her here for a while until we wait for another order from the boss." They leave the room immediately and locked the door from outside. Tsukushi opened her eyes again. She could not believe her eyes, "Takki? Are you alright?" She dragged her body to be closer to her friend and saw a lot bruises on his face. He tried to tell something to Tsukushi, but he failed. "Ssshhh...don't speak. Don't worry, I am here." Tsukushi held Takki's body to her. She felt sorry to see Takki's condition. Takki rested his head on Tsukushi's warm chest.
The men came in again as they heard Tsukushi's voice. The same man that Tsukushi heard before, spoke to his friend, "Ha..ha...she doesn't know that this guy killed her brother, right?" Tsukushi lost her grip on Takki, and looked Takki in the eye, "Did you kill him Takki? Tell me that they're wrong. Takki, speak to me." She shook Takki's body to made him speak. He just nodded. Tsukushi moved far from Takki and shook her head, because she could not believe what had been just revealed. "No...you didn't do that."
His voice answered, "Yes, I did."
"Why...why did you do that? Why did you kill your best friend and my brother? Why Takki?"
"Because, I love you. I do it for us. I want to be your lover, Tsukushi..." Before Takki could continue, the two guys came over to him and beat him again.
Tsukushi saw it and could not stand it then," Help...Stop..Takki..please help...no..Takki...no.....I am sorry..no.."
"Tsukushi...Tsukushi...open the door!!! You've already been inside for an hour. Are you alright? Tsukushi, Tsukushi?" Rui yelled and knock the door rapidly.
**Nah, that's for now. I promised I will do it the next one fast. Just wait. But please do drop the line after you read. OK. Ja ne..**
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The next morning, Rui was still sitting beside Tsukushi's bed. He waited for Tsukushi to wake up. He gazed gently at Tsukushi's innocent face and spoke to himself, "I know that you did not mean to do what you did that day at the hot spring, but you don't know after that, I am always thinking about it." His voice was very soft, but it seemed that Tsukushi heard what he said. Her hand moved a little and she whispered something, "Doumyouji....." Her eyes still remained closed. Rui bit his lips, "Is she asking for Tsukasa??".
Akira entered the room, and gave a cup of coffee and sandwiches to Rui as he spoke, "Rui, if by tomorrow she still not up, we should tell Doumyouji Tsukasa. What do you think?"
"I have a feeling that she will wake up today, why you asking me this again?"
"Well, that rich boy called my mobile last night. I don't know how he got my number. But I said to him that we don't know anything about Makino. I lied to him, Rui. And I felt that he knew that I lied. He and Soujirou found Takki's body in Tsukushi's backyard. What is on your mind, Rui, are you falling for her huh?" Akira asked Rui that awkward question. Akira knew Rui very well; it was rare for Rui to interfere in others' problems, except this time.
Rui did not answer Akira question, instead he told Akira that Tsuksuhi moved her hand and murmured something. Rui was also glad to find out from the cat scan conducted by Junpei that Tsukushi had no serious injuries on her head. While Rui was talking to Akira, they heard Tsukushi's voice interrupted them, "Why didn't you bring me a coffee too, Mimasaka-san?" Rui smiled at seeing Akira's shocked face then Akira called Junpei to tell him that his patient had woken up.
"Finally you're awake." Rui try to act naturally. "How are you feeling?". Tsukushi did not answer. She tried to move her body into a sitting position, but she could not; she felt dizzy. Rui helped her.
"Wait, where am I and why are you here Hanazawa-san?".
"Tsukushi please don't address me as Hanazawa-san anymore. Just Rui, OK? You're at Akira's friend clinic." Rui had a big smile on his face; he could not hide how glad he was that Tsukushi remember his name as it was a sign that her brain was alright. In his heart, he would like to ask Tsukushi about what happened to her, so he knew exactly what to do to help her. But he kept all his questions inside; he would wait until Tsukushi was ready to tell everything to him.
Junpei entered the room and checked Tsukushi's vital signs, after that he said to Tsukushi, "In a few day, you will get your strength back again, but we will take out the intravenous tube this afternoon. During your recovery you are allowed to eat soft food and please follow all the instructions that I'll give, promise?"
Junpei's voice was very calm and that made Tsukushi felt peace and safe. "OK, I will, doctor."
Junpei smiled, "Just call me Junpei, I'll see you again this afternoon." Before he left, he turned around to Tsukushi and said, "If you want to leave this afternoon, do not forget to pay the bill." After heard what Junpei said Tsukushi was shocked. She had no money left.
"Look, you've make your ugly face even uglier. Don't worry Makino, we will pay the bill for you." Akira laughed.
"Thank you Mimasaka-san, I will pay you after I've recovered from this."
"Akira now, since we're on such familiar terms. After you repaid me, we will return you to your home town."
Tsukushi gasped, "Tokyo? That place, Takki..No...please help...Takki. No...." Then she collapsed again.
-----------------------
That afternoon, when Tsukushi woke up, Rui was still by her side. "Hanazawa...Rui." Rui smiled. "Gomen ne, I called you a murderer last time. I thought that you've killed my brother But I was wrong."
Akira stood behind Rui. He had brought hot tea and chicken porridge from the nurse who he met on the entrance door before he came in. Rui helped Tsukushi into a sitting position. Akira asked Tsukushi if she needed help to drink the tea, and she nodded. Tsukushi was surprised of herself that she acted very spoiled that day. Akira teased her again, if she needed help to eat the porridge. Once again she nodded. This time Rui butted in, "I'll do it." Rui grabbed the porridge from Akira's hand. Tsukushi's face was red, but she opened her mouth when the spoon was offered to her.
Rui tried to break the ice. "After you've recovered, Akira and I will accompany you to Tokyo." Upon hearing that word, Tsukushi chocked. Rui said that on purpose, he wanted Tsukushi to tell him something if he mentioned that word again.
Tsukushi swallowed the porridge in her mouth. Her eyes narrowed, "Rui, I think I will forget and leave everything behind now. It's no use for me to continue to look for Susumu's killer. It's enough for me to know that both of you are innocent." Her voice trembled and tears rolled down her cheek.
"But Doumyouji promised to help you right?" Rui kept trying.
"Doumyouji...how did you know him?" Tsukushi was confused that Rui knew her boyfriend's name.
"Well, you spoke his name while you were still unconscious. Am I right?" Rui hurriedly fixed his mistake. He was not lying though, as he had heard Tsukushi mention Doumyouji's name in her sleep. "What's wrong Tsukushi? You can tell me everything," Rui continued.
Akira tapped Rui's shoulder to warn Rui not to continue questioning her. "We better let Makino rest again for a while. I will call Junpei to take out your intravenous tube. I've already rented a little flat for three of us to stay tonight before we return to Tokyo by tomorrow. Is it OK, Makino?"
"Thanks Akira, yes it's alright with me."
------------------------
When they got to the flat, Tsukushi discovered that the flat only had two rooms. "Don't worry, that's your room over there. Rui and I will share the other room," said Akira.
"Ummm..I don't have any clothes and ...ummm," Tsukushi did not continue.
"Lingerie...that's what you meant right?" asked Akira. Tsukushi's face turned red, and Rui looked at her as he like to see her when she turned red like that. "I will not let you to wear that hospital outfit all the time, I'll go buy some clothes for you. Haha, no need to tell me your size, I already know." Tsukushi could not believe what she heard.
Waiting for Akira to come back, Tsukushi decided to take a bath. She was happy when she saw that the bathroom had a bathtub. Rui helped her to fill the bathtub with hot water. "This is your towel. Just call me if you need me," then Rui left her room.
As she lay in the tub, she felt warmth entering her body. However she remembered all the bad things over again: She opened her eyes slowly and realized that she was not in her apartment anymore. She touched her head and felt a little bump on it, "Ouch...it hurts so much." The room was big, but the light only came from the little lamp near the door. "Where am I?" Then she heard footsteps. She hurriedly pretended to sleep. Her heartbeat quicken, and she feared that people entering the room will hear her heartbeat. The door then opened..
"We will leave him with her here for a while until we wait for another order from the boss." They leave the room immediately and locked the door from outside. Tsukushi opened her eyes again. She could not believe her eyes, "Takki? Are you alright?" She dragged her body to be closer to her friend and saw a lot bruises on his face. He tried to tell something to Tsukushi, but he failed. "Ssshhh...don't speak. Don't worry, I am here." Tsukushi held Takki's body to her. She felt sorry to see Takki's condition. Takki rested his head on Tsukushi's warm chest.
The men came in again as they heard Tsukushi's voice. The same man that Tsukushi heard before, spoke to his friend, "Ha..ha...she doesn't know that this guy killed her brother, right?" Tsukushi lost her grip on Takki, and looked Takki in the eye, "Did you kill him Takki? Tell me that they're wrong. Takki, speak to me." She shook Takki's body to made him speak. He just nodded. Tsukushi moved far from Takki and shook her head, because she could not believe what had been just revealed. "No...you didn't do that."
His voice answered, "Yes, I did."
"Why...why did you do that? Why did you kill your best friend and my brother? Why Takki?"
"Because, I love you. I do it for us. I want to be your lover, Tsukushi..." Before Takki could continue, the two guys came over to him and beat him again.
Tsukushi saw it and could not stand it then," Help...Stop..Takki..please help...no..Takki...no.....I am sorry..no.."
"Tsukushi...Tsukushi...open the door!!! You've already been inside for an hour. Are you alright? Tsukushi, Tsukushi?" Rui yelled and knock the door rapidly.
**Nah, that's for now. I promised I will do it the next one fast. Just wait. But please do drop the line after you read. OK. Ja ne..**