Chapter 6 – The Confrontation (Part I)

***

Doumyouji Tsukasa searched frenetically along the corners of the emergency unit of the hospital, hoping to catch a glimpse of his girlfriend nearby. He had received a call from Soujirou, who got news from the TV that Tsukushi's house, along with some others within the building, had been badly damaged by fire and the victims were sent to the emergency unit for revival.

"I should have waited for her!" Tsukasa snapped, frustrated with the fact that Tsukushi is still nowhere to be seen.

The emergency unit itself has been flooded with the influx of patients derived from the fire, as well as medical professionals, who are running to and fro all over the place to attend to the wounded.

"Cool it, Tsukasa.." Soujirou gave a light squeeze on his buddy's shoulders. "Now is not the time to get be agitated." Akira adds with concern in him.

"I know but.."

"Makino…" Tsukasa was interrupted by Rui, whose eyes were anxiously directed in the opposite direction. Tsukasa immediately looked over his shoulders and saw Tsukushi crouching in an unobtrusive corner. Her cheeks were totally wet.

"Makino." Tsukasa hunker down to embrace a dazed Tsukushi.

Tsukushi recoiled upon his touch.

"It's me, Doumyouji. Don't you recognize me?" Tsukasa stated with a worried frown.

Tsukushi took a moment to realize the fact. "Dou.. Hmm…!!" Tsukushi broke down in tears before she could call out. Anguish welled up in Tsukasa as he held a wobbly Tsukushi in his arms.

"Everything's alright.. Everything will be fine…" Tsukasa whispered absent-mindedly with an intention to cease Tsukushi's sobbing. F2 could only look at the two helplessly while Rui just looked down.

After a while, Tsukushi's sobbing turned into a whimper and before anyone realized it, she had passed out.

~*~*~

When Tsukushi opened her eyes, she found Rui by her side. She was in one of the wards.

"You're finally awake!" Akira arose from the couch, waking Soujirou along the way.

"Where am I?" Tsukushi asked weakly, forcing herself to sit up.

"Don't move. You black out just now." Rui answered, sliding up the covers for Tsukushi.

Just then, Tsukasa walked in.

"How are you feeling?" Tsukasa then walked over the other side of the bed and sat on the space beside Tsukushi while taking hold of her hand. Tsukushi suddenly remembered why she was in a hospital. She spring up in her bed, teary-eyed at the same time tugging on Tsukasa. "Where's my father?! And my mother?! And.. and Susumu?! Where are they?!!"

"Relax, Makino!" Tsukasa pry away Tsukushi's tight grip on him. "Your family is fine! I just checked with the nurses. They are in the supreme wards."

"Really?! They are alive?! All three of them?!" Tsukushi asked to confirm that she did not hear wrongly.

Tsukasa nods while pulling her gently down the bed, "So now all you need to worry is yourself. The doc said you passed out just now because of exhaustion and being overly anxious."

Soujirou arched a questioning brow, "Did I hear it wrong? Makino's family is in the supreme wards?"

"Maybe they just run out of wards. Didn't you guys see the number of patients waiting for a vacant ward just now?" Akira commented casually, running his hands across his rather tousled hair.

"But still, it can't really explain why they end up there." Rui stated coolly, his eyes questioning Tsukasa's.

"How am I going to pay for the bills…?" Tsukushi muttered to herself in concern.

Tsukasa stood up and shove his hands carelessly into his pockets. "According to the nurses, the bills are already paid."

The rest of the cast took a moment to digest this information.

"What a way to tell your girlfriend that you've already paid the bills!" Soujirou teased finally but he stopped smiling when all eyes were on him.

Soujirou looked at Tsukasa for an answer. "Why… it's not paid by you?"

"It's been paid by a person by the name of Fujiwara." Tsukasa proclaimed with a hint of surprise in him. Tsukushi turned her head sharply at him, making him feel she was more than surprised at hearing the name of the payer.

Akira thought that does not make sense. "Don't tell me it's Sakiyo. She's in this hospital too?!"

"I'm going up to see my family." Tsukushi's tone was firm as she slides down from the bed. Tsukasa could detect a sense of hostility from her.

Rui grabbed her by the arms. "You're still weak." But he let go when he saw the slight shake of Tsukasa's head.

"I'm going to grab a drink, you guys want any?" Soujirou asked offhandedly when Tsukushi was out of the room.

Akira was the first one to reply. "I'm coming with ya." Rui shook his head.

"Get me two cups of coffee." And Tsukasa headed for the door.

~*~*~

"258, 260, 262… What is the number, Doumyouji?!" Tsukushi hollered in the hallway, with Tsukasa trailing nonchalantly behind her. He shook his head at her, "This is the fifth time I'm telling you is 268… the one right at the back."

Upon hearing the number plus the location, Tsukushi ran all the way down the hallway, making Tsukasa can't help but yells after her, "Oei!! This is a hospital, in case you haven't realized it! Be careful with that body of yours!!"

Suddenly, Tsukushi stopped in her tracks. Tsukasa thought it was weird and so he looked over Tsukushi and saw Sakiyo standing a distance not far away from Tsukushi. She was wearing a patient robe and looking at Tsukushi, who then moved forward to her. At that moment, F3 arrived behind Tsukasa.

"Hey, here's your coffee." Soujirou nudged Tsukasa by the arms to give him his coffee while he sipped his but Tsukasa just stared ahead, making F3 following suit.

Sakiyo gave Tsukushi an up-and-down scan that comprises of bewilderment and coolness when Tsukushi advanced towards her in a rather hostile way.

Folding her arms, Sakiyo started to speak, "How is Su…?"

*SLAP*

Sakiyo was given one tight whack on her face by Tsukushi, which it left a rosy swollen bruise on the left side of her face.

Soujirou spit out his coffee at once, unable to believe what he just saw.

"What is Makino doing?" Akira muttered breathlessly as he looked at Sakiyo, whose angle of face is still her side. Looking at Sakiyo in a more closer look, Akira reckoned she is just as taken aback as everyone else for till now, she hasn't even budged. Tsukasa started to make his way towards them while Rui just stared ahead, acknowledging the other witnesses at the other side of the hallway.

Shiori gasped in surprise while Sakuyo's eyes widened. Sanako just covered the widening gap between her lips carelessly to signify that she was just as surprised as everyone else. Takeshi and Hideto appeared behind them then. They too, are totally unprepared for that uneventful happening. The five of them had just come out of a room not far away from where Sakiyo is standing when Tsukushi performed that deadly act.

Shiori was the first one to react as she inched forward, shooting Tsukushi a scowl. "You are ridic…!!" She stopped herself when she saw Sakiyo raising her left hand calmly at her, implying she should stop her rebuke. This composed action made Tsukasa stop in his tracks.

Turning her face back slowly to Tsukushi, Sakiyo drawls in an unnatural calm way, "What was the slap for?"

"For my family." Tsukushi retorted, her eyes piercing through Sakiyo's. Tsukasa could see Sakiyo is holding back somehow as she nursed the slap with her tongue caressing from the inside. Just at that point in time, Sakiyo shifted her gaze at Tsukasa, who is standing a few steps behind Tsukushi. Tsukasa could not tell why she's looking at him as her face is devoid of emotions; even her gaze is as cold as ice. Then…

*SLAP*

Sakiyo strikes as fast as lighting for that slap. "Now, this.. is for your family."

It's Tsukushi's turn to be taken aback as Sakiyo walks away, shoving Takeshi and Hideto aside as she made her way down the hallway.

"Go after her." Takeshi prompts Hideto who runs after her unhesitatingly. But Sakiyo is too quick for him for she slams the door right at him. Hideto could only look back at Takeshi and co with a helpless shrug.

Shiori could feel her anger rising. "Sakiyo just saved your family's asses! And this is how you..!!!"

"Enough, Shiori! Let's go." Sakuyo interjected before she starts to walk away, with Takeshi tagging beside her. Though Sakuyo did not say anything awful to her, Tsukushi could sense that she was upset with the slap too – Her fleeting glance at her tells everything.

"Listen here and listen good." Sanako's tone was unflinching as she speaks, "For that slap, you are now the enemy of F4." Her eyes revealed nothing but enmity. "Face your worst nightmare, Makino Tsukushi."

And Sanako swaggers down the hallway, along with the others, who heard what she says. Sakuyo shoots Tsukushi another of her impassive glance, sending unknown shivers down Tsukushi's spine.

Then she felt a pair of firm hands on her shoulders. It was Tsukasa. "Let's go."

~*~*~

"The fire was so huge but Papa's reaction was fast too!! I quickly grabbed a basin and fill it with water and then I splash it into the fire!! But I forgot it has a hole in it…" Makino Papa immediately got a *hit* by Makino Mama. "If I was you, I would keep it to myself."

"Baka ne.. Papa.." Susumu laughs, but he notices his ne-chan was not laughing. Instead she just sat there, dazed.

The Makino family is in the supreme ward now, enjoying the reunion.

"Thanks to Fujiwara-san that we get to escape the fire with only minor injuries…" Makino Mama stated casually while looking at Tsukushi.

"Tsukushi, did you meet her just now? We've gotta thank her."

"Ehh.. yeah, I…uh… I've already done that…"

By giving her a slap Tsukushi adds on in her mind guiltily.

"By the way, why is she doing in our house?"

"She said she left her cell phone with us and just as we found her cell phone under the shelves, there was fire." Susumu replied, his suspicion growing.

"Wow! She was brave! She dashed into the fire to save the kids!" Makino Mama chatters enthusiastically. "Then fire got into our side and we were stuck but somehow she manages to come save us…"

"Why didn't I see you guys…?" Tsukushi mutters to herself. But Susumu answers, "I think you got ferried to the hospital already, with Papa."

"She's good neee, don't you agree, Papa? Not only she saved us, she also arranged for us to stay in such a fine ward!!! Tsukushi!!! You've gotta thank her for us!!!" Tsukushi felt all the more guilty for the slap with Makino Mama continuous praise at her.

Why didn't I think of that?! Baka! Baka! Baka!! She has paid for the bills and she was wearing a patient robe and had some bruises here and there when I saw her!!! Only an idiot is blind not to see that!! And guess what? I'm that idiot!!

"Aarrgghhhh!!!!" All three thought it was strange for Tsukushi to be scratching her head in such an aggressive way.

"Ne-chan… what are you doing?"

Just then, they heard Tsukasa and co talking outside.

"Sakiyo wouldn't resort to this kind of despicable act, you know her, Tsukasa." Soujirou was the first one to be heard. "And she said it never crossed her mind that she plans to mess with Makino." Akira was the next one to be heard. "She really said that?" Tsukasa was then heard. "Maybe it's an accident and Sakiyo somehow or another happened to be blamed by it." Akira was heard again.

"No. Makino wouldn't somehow or another slap Sakiyo across the face for no good reason. There must be something Sakiyo did.. That provokes Tsukushi…" Tsukasa surmises. "Something real bad…" Rui adds.

Thanks, Doumyouji… for knowing me…

All the while, the Makino family has been listening attentively to the conversation. The trio turned to Tsukushi surprisingly when they heard of the slap incident.

"You slapped her?" Susumu asks incredulously at her sister.

"Weelll.. There was a misunderstanding…" Tsukushi awkwardly explains. "OH MY GOD! You slapped her!! When did Mama teach you to be that ungrateful?!" Tsukushi was shaking her head at the trio, who advanced towards her. Then before she knew it, she was pushed out of the ward. "YOU ARE NOT COMING HOME TILL YOU APOLOGIZES TO HER!!"

F4 was surprised that Tsukushi propped out of the room as she slumped onto the floor.

"Well, you could stay at my house if you want to." Tsukasa stated, with a hint of playfulness in him.

Oblivious to what Tsukasa had just said, Tsukushi mutters, "What have I done…?"

"You've wronged a good person, that's what you've done." Akira remarks casually. Tsukasa shot daggers at Akira, who awkwardly looks away then.

"We better clear up the misunderstanding and we better clear it up fast." Soujirou reminded the group. "I think Sanako meant what she said." Tsukasa looked down at Tsukushi in thoughts. "We have to talk."

"Where's Akira?" Soujirou asks, realizing Akira is nowhere to be seen.

"He just turned at the corner." Rui coolly answers.

~*~*~

Mimasaka Akira stared at the door which hung a note that says, 'GET LOST!!' Taking down the note and looking closely at the forceful handwriting, Akira smiled sheepishly to himself. He turned the knob and found that it was locked. So he places his ears close to the door to detect any sounds of movement inside.

Silence.

Just then, the door jerked opened to reveal a surprised Sakiyo.

"What are you doing here?" Sakiyo asks in an obviously grumpy way.

"I just got a call from my heart that somebody wants to address her grievances." Akira quipped but he got a slam at his face for a response. Turning the knob, Akira was glad the door isn't locked. When he got a view of the inside, he found Sakiyo standing by the window. Akira waited for her to speak as she knew once she did; there will be no stopping her. But all Akira could hear is his own breathing.

So he started to prompt her. "I can see somebody is alive and well…" Akira saw a movement of her head but still, no talking.

Akira began to use the 'provoking' tactic. "Makino, that girl… shouldn't… in any case just slap you… so what if she's Doumyouji Tsukasa's girlfriend? You're Fujiwara Sakiyo, for Goodness sake! Even Tsukasa gives way to you sometimes!  And, and only you slap people and not vice versa!!"

There… it finally snapped Sakiyo's silence.

"And what did I do? I merely went to her house with the purest intention of getting back my cell phone though deep down in my heart.. deep deep down in my heart…" Sakiyo emphasized by pressing her hands down on her chest in such a way that makes Akira laughs. "I don't want to step into that part of Tokyo!! And guess what? That area was so dilapidated that it caught fire!! And, and what did I do again? I saved her neighbours!! Most importantly of all, I saved her family!! Not only did I save her family, I arranged for them to stay in the supreme wards, which they might not be able to stay in for all their lives!! And the stupidest thing I've done is to go to the nurses and says ^Charge the Makinos bills on me.^" Akira is trying hard not to laugh his guts out for Sakiyo's actions are too funny. The way she says 'Charge the Makinos bills on me.' is especially comical with the actions she made as she said that.

"And what did I get in return for being the good guy? I got a smack on my face!! And that woman dares to say, ^For my family^…"

Sakiyo gasps for breath after she finished her whining.

"I already told you not to mess with Makino…" Akira teased, resting his back on her bed. "But coming back to the point, you must have done something to provoke her."

"Huh?! Getting back my cell phone from her house is provoking her?" Sakiyo was utterly exasperated as she continues to whine, "I knew I should have sent someone over instead of making a personal trip! Or I should just get a new one!"

"What about this morning when you poured your coffee over her?"

"Excuse me, who ask that princess to stand there when my drink toppled?!"

"Anyway, that might be the cause behind her slapping you."

"Petty." Sakiyo then slumped beside Akira on the bed and nurses the rosy side of her face with her hand. Akira can't help but stretch his hand to touch her face.

"Does it still hurt?"

"A little…"

And their eyes met.

Neither of them looks away until…

"You do have a fiancé, you know…?" A voice interrupted them. Akira looked up and saw a guy lounging by the doorway, looking at them with a hint of curiosity.

Sakiyo's eyes widen. "Ken…"

***

There you have it! One more new character introduced… but if you have noticed, I've already mentioned him in my [Prologue].

Trouble seems to be come one after another for Tsukushi… will she be able to make through it like she always does, especially now, it's Sakiyo she's up against with? And why did our Doumyouji seems to be different towards Sakiyo? Coz if it's other girls who gave that slap to his Makino… well… you guys know what will happen to them…

In the next chapter, the twins' brother, Kiyoshi will have some scenes with Tsukushi, does he want 'revenge' because Tsukushi slapped his sister or…

Keep your fingers crossed!! And don't forget to R&R!!

P.S: thanks, Nur!! For coming up with the title for me;p