***I am so sad that my old friend here has not have time to read my story again, I hope all of you could visit & read again. Yes, my story was not as good the other writer, & I tried to made some progress. Thank you so much to Drina, who still kind & help me. Sheen, who always drop her line even though she was busy with her story "Facade". For Mecheko who still care about me. Ezra, my fellow & Ba Yong Jun, you are a new reader but you put reviewed all my chapter, how lucky I am.***

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When they were in the elevator, on their way up to Tsukushi's apartment, Tsukushi remembered how Doumyouji used to kiss her in this elevator. It was almost as if he was there: the smell of his expensive perfume, his curly soft hair and strong arms wrapping her small body tightly. She shook with the bittersweet pain of the memories. She had decided to not see him and explain to him why they could not be together, but she knew, in her heart, that it was a wrong decision. She tried to hide her shaking from Rui by tightening her arms around her body, and shutting her eyes. It seemed to her that the elevator not moving up and it was taking an extraordinary long time to reach the second floor where her apartment was.

Rui knew that Tsukushi was suffering, and he wanted to hold her until she was better. The truth was, he wanted to be with her all the time, by her side. His heart told him to hold and cherish her but he did not dare to do so. Rui realized that all he had done with Akira for the past 3 years could have been hurting someone very deeply. He had never paid any attention, but when he saw Tsukushi & remembered her eyes when she cried about her brother...gee what a stupid job he had.

The lift door opened, Tsukushi still did not open her eyes. She just stood there until Rui's hand gently touched hers and led her to her apartment. Tsukushi knew that she was not ready to go ahead with her plan, as she felt like she was betraying Doumyouji. The voice in her head kept telling her to call Doumyouji because she needed him most now.

Both stopped in front of the apartment door. Tsukushi's eyes opened and she shivered, remembering what happened the last time when she was there. Both of them heard a sound inside Tsukushi's apartment and instinctively, Tsukushi held Rui's arm tightly. Rui immediately moved them a few steps away from the door.

Then the door opened. It was the building supervisor. He smiled when he saw Tsukushi. He welcomed her home. Tsukushi was glad that the person was only the building supervisor. He told Tsukushi the reason he was there. He had heard something noisy on the second floor so he hurried went there. He saw six men Tsukushi's apartment, and when they left, he went inside. He then picked up a mobile that he had picked up from the floor and showed it to them.

Tsukushi asked him to describe the 6 men that he saw. After the description, she was sure that Doumyouji was here, and they had not only gotten Doumyouji, but also Soujirou & Akira this time. She fell to the floor and shook her head in disbelief. She blamed herself for everything that had happened. If she did not stubbornly insist on investigating Susumu's death, all these would not have happened.

The supervisor told them that he would call for police. But Rui politely asked him to not do so. The supervisor agreed. He gave the Doumyouji's mobile to Tsukushi and left them.

Rui could not stand it anymore; he carried Tsukushi inside her apartment and asked her to tell everything to him. He really wanted to help her. Concerned that Akira was in danger too; Tsukushi could not hold back her fears and told everything to Rui.

Tsukushi finished her story without any tears. She could not believe that she had told Rui everything. Now, Rui could seal the missing link to everything; it was time for them to save their friends.

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The black VIOS entered the big entrance of a mansion. Soujirou and Akira did not know where the men were taking them, because the men had blindfolded and tied them up.

Soujirou cursed himself for being stupid enough to help Tsukasa. He felt that he would not be living any longer; the bad guy who caused this trouble would kill him. He remembered his promise to return back to his mother and how he would change his attitude toward his father and be a good man. But it was futile now.

Akira swore that he would kill Rui himself if he could get away from all this shit. From the very beginning, he had told Rui not to interfere with that silly woman's problems. He blamed Rui for falling for the wrong person at the wrong time. He said to himself he would find another partner and break his partnership with Rui. But he knew in his heart, he would never do so; Rui waws not just his partner, he was his best friend. Then he remembered that the competition had started 2 days ago and both of them were not present to confirm their participation. So he assumed that the committee had disqualified them from the competition. 'Aarrggg...Rui, where are you?'

The car stopped. One man ordered them to get out from the car. The kidnappers dragged them inside the mansion and put them in one room. They told Akira and Soujirou not to try anything funny, if not, they would be shot. A few minutes, they heard a woman voice telling the men to untie their hands take off their blindfolds. When they saw the figure in front of them, they did not know how to react. The woman was pretty, tall and wore a men jacket. She looked very masculine. They thought that she was the same age as Makino.

She walked closer to them with a worried look on her face. Then she asked, "Where is Tsukushi? Is she alright? Can you guys tell me how I can find her?" Soujirou and Akira just shook their head and kept their silent; they themselves did not know where she was.

Suddenly, someone interrupted her. "Shigeru, enough. Soon we will found out. They will call us if they make any progress with Doumyouji-san. Come on, your father will be mad if he finds out that you are talking to them. Let's go."

"But Mom?" Shigeru pleaded.

"No buts, come on. Your father's waiting for us in the dining room."

After the women left the room. Akira and Soujioru looked at each other. Soujirou was thinking hard, "I think I know them."

Akira was shocked, "What? You know them? Who are they?"

Soujirou continued, "They are the Okawahara family. But I don't get it, what is the relationship between Makino and them?" The guard told them to shut up, then he locked the room & left them.

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Akira was amazed that Soujirou knew so much about the Okawahara family. He asked Soujirou about his background, but Soujirou did not tell him the truth about his background. They talked and talked for an hour to get their minds off their hunger. But it was not working well, they still felt thirsty and hungry. Akira said he did not want to die like this; he wanted to die with dignity, not because of starvation.

While they were talking, the door opened. They thought it was the guard to bringing them water and food. However, it was Shigeru. Once again, she asked about Tsukushi, and they answered it this time. But their answers made Shigeru's face more depressed than before. Then they were surprised when Shigeru asked about Tsukasa as well. Akira told her if she wanted to know about Tsukasa, she would have to bring them food and water.

Shigeru went to talk to the guard. The guard did not want to follow her order this time, since he was afraid that Shigeru would be harmed. Shigeru did not give up, she whispered something in the guard's ears, whose face then changed. He gave his gun to Shigeru, then he locked the room and leaft Shigeru inside with the prisoners. Shigeru held onto the gun stayed a distance away from Akira and Soujirou. She did not want to take a risk that the two men would attack her.

"You don't have to do that," Akira said. "We are not the bad people here. We will not harm a pretty lady, won't we?" He teased Shigeru.

Soujirou added," Yeah, we are innocent. In fact, it is your father who kidnaps us? You better tell us what is going on actually. Are you Makino's friend? Why are you doing this to her?"

She put her gun down and started to cry. "I...I...I... Am I still her best friend?" before she could speak more, the door opened and the guard came in with a tray full of food & water. "Okawahara-san, are you alright?"

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Doumyouji woke up slowly. His sight was still blurred. He sat down first to clear up his sight. A few minutes later, he realized that he was in a hotel room. He thought that this hotel room seemed familiar to him. "Where am I? Tsukushi where are you? They will be sorry for what they have done if something happen to my Tsukushi." He got up and walked to the door. When he tried to open it, he could not as the door was locked.

He remembered that Tsukushi was with Hanazawa Rui somewhere. His heart was a little bit relieved that she was with him. He hoped that Rui would keep her safe.

*** I think you have got one little clue in this chapter. You want more???***