Chapter 5 – Just When You Think The Worst Is Over

***

Clad in a white shirtsleeves and black pants, Fujiwara Kiyoshi sat imperturbably at a corner of the family jet, his gaze focusing on the fluffy pure wool that passes by ever so quickly at the window.

Realizing he has not spoken a single conversing word since the call, Takahashi Yoshiko reckoned the call must be something of importance to be able to make the heir of the massive Fujiwara conglomerate to want to return to Japan immediately, casting all his responsibilities aside in NY.

By now, Yoshiko already knew that other than her, there's another person in this world who has the ability to make this auburn hunk beside her to look this calm on the outside yet fire burning on the inside.

Yes, Kiyoshi always had this kind of look on him when she had done something and since she knew she had done nothing recently, she surmised it must be Sakiyo.

Placing her hand onto Kiyoshi's, Yoshiko seeks to grab his attention and she knew she had succeeded when Kiyoshi turned to look at her.

"Is that Hide just now? Is it about Sakiyo?"

Kiyoshi paused for a moment before replying, "Not really."

And silence resumes.

"There's something you're not telling me." A mixture of irritation and suspicion was detected in Yoshiko.

~*~*~

An hour ago, Kiyoshi was still in his NY office, poring over the official documents that lay in a pile on his table. Then there was a knock on his door.

"Come in." Kiyoshi answered, his eyes not leaving the statistical information in his hands.

A graceful lady walks in, places a cup of coffee on his table and in pure American English accent, she says, "Your coffee, Mr. Fujirawa."

"Nikko, I thought… Yoshiko?"

Seeing the surprised look on Kiyoshi, Yoshiko gave off a puckish smile before advancing seductively towards him.

"Will your secretary do this to you?" Yoshiko giggled and nestled herself comfortably between Kiyoshi's thighs while running her playful fingers carelessly across Kiyoshi's chest.

They are about to kiss when the phone rang. Kiyoshi cursed under his breath before pressing the speaker button.

"Kiyoshi desu."

"Bad news, pal."

Kiyoshi's brows immediately wrinkled at the same time he picked up the receiver.

"What is it?" Kiyoshi then realized Yoshiko is staring at him, her eyes questioning his. Unhesitatingly, he turned to the person on the other side of the line "Wait a sec…"

"Wait for me outside while I answer this call, ok?"

Yoshiko was about to protest when Kiyoshi plant a compensate kiss on her rosy cheeks and propel her to stand up.

"I won't be long." Kiyoshi assured when Yoshiko turned to look at him at the doorway.

Before she knew it, they were on their way back to Japan.

~*~*~

"What's exactly that's happening?" Yoshiko probed, unable to hide her curiosity anymore.

Kiyoshi let out a heavy sign. "Remember the race a few months ago, the one in Switzerland?"

"Hmm… the one with Aoki?"

"Yeah. I got news that they are trying to strike back."

"Strike back? Challenge you to another race again?"

Kiyoshi laughed out loud.

"Do you think I need to make a personal trip back to Japan if what they're doing is honorable? Besides, they aren't even qualified to race with me in the first place."

Yoshiko nods, thinking what Kiyoshi said made sense. If not for her…

"So they are in Japan now."

Kiyoshi nods, "Just as I expected."

"Eh?" Yoshiko's eyes widen. "You mean…?"

"They are targeting at my sisters."

~*~*~

"Hey, isn't that Sakiyo?" Soujirou nudged Akira by the shoulders to get his attention. When Akira looked up, he saw it was indeed Sakiyo, sitting alone under the very Sakura tree, scribbling on a spiral book resting on her thighs. Soujirou cast Akira an amusing look when he notices his buddy is keeping his stare at Sakiyo.

"Don't you want to go over?" Akira shot daggers at Soujirou, knowing very well what he meant.

"That's ancient history, alright?" Akira retorted.

"Then why are you blushing?" Soujirou laughed out loud.

"Me blushing have got nothing to do with that incident." Akira grabbed Soujirou by the collar swiftly, making him decide it's time to stop his teasing since Akira appears quite affected by it.

"Okay, okay." Soujirou raised his hands in surrender. Though it's rare to see Akira flare up, he's also quite frightening when he does. When Akira released his firm grip, Soujirou find it hard to believe that he actually have to gasp for breath.

"Anyway, I'm going off, are you?" Akira directs his vision back to the girl under the Sakura tree. "I'll stay."

"Ookay…" Soujirou drawled, realizing Akira did intend to go over to the Sakura tree. "See you tonight."

And Soujirou went off, leaving Akira gazing at the composed girl under the Sakura tree.

"Yo!" Sakiyo looked up & saw Akira staring down at her a few steps away. Without bothering to return the greeting, Sakiyo rolled her eyes and continue her writing.

"What are you writing?" Akira walked nearer and realized she was drawing, not writing. Sakiyo immediately bend up her knees to allow Akira no clue of what's she drawing.

Undaunted by her actions, Akira took the space beside her by lying on his back with his hands tucked behind his head which was followed by a pair of unfriendly eyes staring at him.

Pretending not to know he was unwelcome, Akira remarks, "The weather is sure nice today." He turned to look at Sakiyo who didn't return his remarks and saw that she was still drawing, though now she appears to be more forceful with it.

"Is that Hisashi you're drawing?" Akira asked innocently, but that finally broke the silence between him and Sakiyo. Clutching the sketchbook on her chest, Sakiyo snapped, "One more word from you and I swear you'll be nursing a bruise on your way back!" Akira immediately directs his focus back to the clear blue sky, though he couldn't care less.

She's drawing a portrait of someone… a guy if I'm not wrong… who?

Akira could not decide by his fleeting glimpse. "So…" Akira drawled, "Did you kiss Hisashi on the cheeks after your confession?"

Akira immediately felt pain on his face. "Itaaii… sketchbooks are meant to be drawn, not to smack it right at people's faces!" Akira sat up, rubbing his face.

"Mine is used for drawing as well as smacking people like you!! Besides, who ask your foul mouth to keep talking? That thing between you and me is long over! Why do you have to keep raking it up? Oh! Guys like you are infuriating!" With that, Sakiyo stands up and walks away. Akira is amazed that she can natter so much within a response.

"How can you ever find a decent boyfriend with that volatile temper of yours?! Even if you can, you will drive your husband crazy in no time!" Akira shouts after her and continue under his breath, "This girl is no cute at all!"

"Hey."

"Eh!" Akira quivered, surprised that Sakiyo came by his side as fast as she walks away.

"Hmm…" Sakiyo's hands were in knots.

What is this woman up to now?

How am I going ask him if he knows I'm lying about Hideto?

"Hmm… you know…"

"What?"

"Hideto and me… you…"

"Oh that! I get it! I won't divulge anything."

"Eh?"

"I know you are playing the same game too."

"Game?"

What is this idiot thinking of?

"Don't act innocent, lady! You are seeing Hisashi behind your fiancée's back, aren't you?" Akira uttered exasperatingly while Sakiyo arched one of her brows.

It's official. He's really an idiot! But since he perceives it that way…

"Ah hahaha! You seem to have a lot of experiences on that!" Sakiyo commented awkwardly.

"I'm a one-woman man, okay. It's Soujirou." The smile on Sakiyo's face immediately disappeared.

"What?"

"Nothing." And Sakiyo turned her face to her side.

Gently touching on Sakiyo's cheeks with his fingers, Akira attempts to shift her pretty face back in front of him.

"You call this nothing?"

"Yeah. Nothing." And Sakiyo shake off Akira's hand softly.

"You can confide in me, you know, like in the old times."

Sakiyo let out a weak chuckle. "Enough about me." Then Sakiyo noticed Akira did not respond. "What?"

"Ah, nothing."

For a moment, both of them just sat there, saying nothing.

"Hey?"

"Hmm?"

"Why do you always have to disagree with Tsukasa?"

"Hmm.." Sakiyo gave it a thought. "Did I?"

Akira *fell*

"Like real you didn't! The toys, remember the toys both of you fight so hard for?"

"That's the reason for us being kids! Have you not seen kids fighting for toys before?" Akira thought about his twin sisters as Sakiyo continued her chatter. "Well, of course there are exceptions for people like Rui and Sakuyo who are from outer space."

Akira sniggers at that statement. "Maybe you're right but what about the times when you practically oppose everything that Tsukasa says and do?"

"That's because he's a nitwit." Sakiyo rejoinder in a matter of fact and when she saw Akira was in the midst of wanting to retort her, she continues, "Ok, remember there was once you guys wanna shake off the SPs that he suggested hitting on the SPs one on one?"

"Uh Huuhhh…" Akira drawled, knowing that was indeed a dumb thing to do, since they were barely four feet then. Judging from Akira's expression, Sakiyo knew he agree with her. "See? Even you know that was stupid even though you didn't dissuade him then."

"That's because he wouldn't listen!"

"Exactly. That's why I'm not wrong to say he's a baka."

"But surely you two don't need a day to bicker that out. At the end of the day, we still end up in square one."

Sakiyo emits an animated laughter. "Okay, maybe I did always disagree with that fellow."

"So you do know how to curve up your mouth…" Sakiyo looked at Akira surprisingly.

"Well, you look better when you smile. When you sulk, you look like a penguin." Akira was immediately *hit* on the head.

"Itai na! You never change!" Sakiyo grins knowingly while a thought flashed through Akira's mind. "I suppose you disagree with Tsukasa on his love matters too?" The grin disappeared and was replaced by a poker face. Sakiyo then sat her legs crossed and placed her hand on her chin, as if pondering about something. After a minute, she says, "Now that you remind me of it…"

Akira reckoned now is the critical time to dissuade Sakiyo from doing anything undesirable to Makino, it's now or never, given Sakiyo's volatile temperament.

"What I meant to say is Tsukasa and Makino went through a lot of obstacles to be able to get where they are now anddd… what?" Akira stopped himself midway when he saw Sakiyo's amused expression. "Nothing, go on."

"What's that look for?" Sakiyo just shrugged nonchalantly which makes Akira feel that Sakiyo's "nothing" meant "something".

"You should know what I mean." Akira finishes finally.

"No, I don't know. In fact, I have absolutely no idea what you are trying to tell me."

Akira kept his temper in check and slowly counts to ten in his mind.

This girl always had the ability to make me fume

"Hey! Tsukasa has found Makino, have you found yours yet?" Sakiyo leans in closer to Akira which makes him blink his eyes a little. "No? That Sae woman doesn't count? I thought you always like mature women?"

Akira gave a light pat on her head. "Stop joking around! Anyway, no messing with Makino. Keep that in mind."

"You like her?"

"Sakiyo!"

"Hmm… actually I do have a plan on how to deal with her."

"Didn't you hear what I just tell you? You'll get yourself killed in no time by Tsukasa!"

Her animated laughter is heard once again. Akira becomes *dotted-eyed*

"I know Tsukasa loves that binbou very much. I can see it from the way he talks about her."

"Eh?"

"You shouldn't be influenced by Tsukasa by being such a slow thinker."

"You mean you're not going to…?"

"I must admit that that dwarf do irritates me time and again, but not to an extent of me adding her to my wanted list. Anyway, only inane people like Tsukasa would do those kinds of things… besides, I've got better things to do than to bother myself with those binbou people."

"She has a name, okay? Makino Tsukushi."

Sakiyo repeated the name in a more sarcastic manner. "Makino Tsukushi."

"You're sure you're not going to mess with her?"

Sakiyo emits an exasperated sign. "Oni-san, that has never crossed my mind."

~*~*~

The bell signaling end of school hours rang. Boisterous chatters from students were immediately heard as they prepare to take off.

"How am I going to survive till the end of the week?" Shiori uttered, with her hand cupping her cheerless face.

"Come on, let's go." Sanako suggested, pulling on Shiori's arms but she did not budge. Instead, her eyes gesture Sanako to look her front. When Sanako turned her head to her side, she saw that Sakuyo is sleeping. Sanako slumped to the floor. "Somebody, please call the ambulance… I think I'm dying."

"Sakuyo-san…" Tsukushi coaxed, leaning down by her desk side, "Time to wake up. Class is over." But Sakuyo still appears dead to the world. Just then, a tall-looking guy appeared by the doorway. He had short neat blonde hair which looked rather charming on him. The girls who haven't stepped out of the classroom simply had their eyes ogled at him.

Shiori was the first to know his existence in their classroom. "Takeshi!!" Shiori jumped, surprised to see Sakuyo's boyfriend cum Kiyoshi's pal right here in Eitoku High. That managed to put some smile into Sanako as she moved forward to embrace him.

"I thought you are supposed to be in Germany now?"

"Supposed to do not necessarily mean I have to."

Who is this guy? Tsukushi just stood by the sleeping Sakuyo, looking at all the commotion.

"Takeshi!" Both Takeshi and Shiori exchanged hugs and kisses. Shiori was glad to see Takeshi but at the same time, suspicious. In her estimation, Takeshi wouldn't and shouldn't be here now, no matter how much he misses Sakuyo. But since he's here…

"What brings the young master of Kanazawa Corporation here?"

Ka… Kanazawa Corporation…? Tsukushi stood frozen. She couldn't believe she's meeting the heir of the biggest IT Corporation in Japan… Kanazawa.

"Well, I miss the four of you."

"Why don't you just say you miss Sakuyo?" Shiori retorted teasingly. Takeshi just flashed his picturesque smile which made the nearby girls all the more captivated. Takeshi directs his vision to Sakuyo, who was still soundly asleep on her own desk with her one hand acting as a pillow. Then he saw Tsukushi, whom he gave a polite nod before striding towards Sakuyo and piggybacks her.

"Where's Sakiyo?" Takeshi asks finally, looking at the two at the doorway, each leaning on one side.

"Couldn't find her." Sanako answered. "Her cell phone is switched off." Shiori adds.

Takeshi turns solemn. "When did you girls last saw her?"

"At the music room where she storms off…" Shiori darted her eyes to Tsukushi when Takeshi has a frown displayed across his face, implying he need more explanation. "Weell… Sakiyo has some kind of misunderstanding with Tsukushi, who is the girl standing behind you." Takeshi turned and faced Tsukushi once more, but this time his face showed no signs of friendliness displayed earlier on. He turned to the two again. "Whatever it is, let's get you girls home first. Do you want to hitch a ride?"

Tsukushi took a moment to realize he was actually talking to her. Takeshi softens his face, "Did I scare you just now? All Tsukushi could do was to shake her head.

"Don't take it personal, I'm not blaming you. It's just that I'm worried for Sakiyo. That lass gets pretty willful at times." Tsukushi nods awkwardly and lower her head a bit.

"So you still want to come along?" Takeshi asked once more in his husky yet gentle tone, making Tsukushi melt on the inside. "No, thank you. I can walk home."

Sanako and Shiori then said their goodbyes to Tsukushi and as Takeshi reached the doorway, he turned back and flashed his photogenic smile, "See you around." Tsukushi could only stare at the blank space at the doorway.

Kakoii neeee… that Takeshi guy… he's so gentle towards Sakuyo… oh!! How I envy her!! Doumyouji that fellow only knows how to shout at me… well.. Not always.. Okay, occasionally.. Okay, I'm the one who always shouts at him Tsukushi thought as she walked the same route back to her home.

"Eh?" Tsukushi was stopped by three guys in front of her. One look at them and Tsukushi knew they meant trouble.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Tsukushi took a few steps back.

"We are your friends." The middle one curved his lips to one side.

"Go to hell!" Tsukushi immediately withdraw and run as fast as her legs could carry her but she was no match to three pairs of running legs. Before she knew it, she was surrounded by the three of them again.

"Don't blame us. Blame Fujiwara Sakiyo. She's the one who ask us to do this to you." the stoutly one spoke with malice while the other two just smirked as they advanced closer to her.

"You bastards!" With one swift kick, Tsukushi hit on the stoutly one with all her might on the groins before kicking sand to the other two. She heard some swearing behind her as she took off as fast as she could. After a while, when she turned back, she saw they didn't catch up with her, which Tsukushi heaved a huge sign of relief. Bending down to catch her breath, Tsukushi wiped off the beads of perspiration that runs down her face.

"Koitsu…" Tsukushi uttered breathlessly under her breath.

After Tsukushi felt she got most of her strength back, she looked up and saw something flaming in a distance and people were running in all directions. When she got nearer, she realized her house is on fire! The fire is practically eating everything up as the fire blaze through the windows. Tons of people in the neighborhood gathered nearby to watch this dreadful happening.

"Mama! Papa!" Tsukushi cried out in despair and was about to dash into the building when she was stopped by a pair of arms.

"The fire is too strong, miss! You'll get yourself killed!" The fireman warns Tsukushi, who was insistent in going in.

"My family's in there!! I can't lose them, you get me?!!" Tsukushi tugs on the fireman's uniform and was close to breakdown. Just then, one more fire truck and two more teams of paramedics arrived and when there were in the midst of putting out the fire and reviving the saved victims, Tsukushi heard a weak voice calling her, "Tsukushi…" Tsukushi searches frantically around for the voice and finally catch a glimpse of her father lying on the ground nearby with some paramedics. His body and face was filled with smudges. Tsukushi ran to her father's side. "Papa!! Are you alright? Where's Mama? Where's Susumu?"

"Mama… Susumu…" Makino Papa was about to be down for the count when he muttered, "Sakiyo…" And he fell unconscious with Tsukushi calling after him. "Papa!! Don't scare me, Papa!!"

"Miss, your father has breathed in too much smoke. We're going to ferry your father to the hospital before it's too late." And Tsukushi just sat there, speechless as the paramedics carry her father to the nearby ambulance.

"Mama.. Susumu…" Tsukushi sobbed, emotions welling up. The environment surrounding her now is chaotic as people run here and there, each busy in their own job. Suddenly a name flashed across her mind, making Tsukushi clench her fists.

~"Don't blame us. Blame Fujiwara Sakiyo. She's the one who ask us to do this to you."~

~"Mama… Susumu… Sakiyo…"~

"Sakiyo…" Tsukushi uttered the name with hatred.

***

Hmm?? Is Sakiyo really behind this dreadful act? Will the three so-called bad eggs sent by Sakiyo let go of Tsukushi, given what she has done to them? What will Tsukushi do to counter this crisis? Will Doumyouji be by her side? And not to forget, Kanazawa Takeshi and Fujiwara Kiyoshi… why do they come back to Japan suddenly? Will they pose more problems to the cast or…?

In the following chapters, there will be more intensifying scenes between Sakiyo and Tsukushi! Stay tuned!! And don't forget to R&R!