A/N: To me, this is a super long chapter. I hope it won't bore you guys but it is just my way of compensating for the length of time I took to update this fanfic of mine.

To p_girlz, catherine, nur and blueverry and all the readers out there, thanks again very much for your support!! Do try to drop me a review after reading this chapter yah! ^_^

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Chapter 9 – Under One Roof

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Makino Tsukushi froze. What had she done? She was wondering around in the garden a few moments ago, when she was directed here – the basement where she was told Hara-san is. Though Tsukushi was in the basement earlier with T3, she wasn't able to figure out the exact directions, given the degree of the size. Finally, she decided to make her way down the empty hallway where she found a room filled with CCTVs and circuit switches. The room is practically a surveillance room where one can see all corners of the mansion, in and out. But the strange thing is, there is nobody inside the room.

Just when Tsukushi thought it strange, she tripped over a pile of videotapes nearby and touched something that felt like switches when her hands cling onto the wall for balance. The room went black instantly, which Tsukushi, out of panic, pushed back the switches immediately when her hands found them. When the lights resume, Tsukushi looked up and saw, through the rows of CCTVs, a couple of men, whom Tsukushi believed to be SPs, are already making their way down to the basement in all directions.

The first thing that came into Tsukushi's mind is run. Without hesitation, she stepped out of the room and realized there is a sign 'No Unauthorized Admittance' hammered on the door.

Why didn't I see that earlier?!!

Just as soon as she saw the sign, she heard hurried footsteps echoing down the hallway. She looked to her left, then to her right, before coming to the conclusion that she is trapped! The SPs are coming from both sides of the hallway! She then tries to open some doors nearby but it turned out to be locked!

They sure are fast! I'm dead! I'm dead! I'M DEAD!!

Negative thoughts keep running across her mind as she helplessly watches the SPs march towards her.

"What are you doing here?" One of them asked. Tsukushi thought he looked like a giant to her.

"… Uh…"

The 'giant' SP then gave Tsukushi a scan, his eyes revealing his suspicions about her before signaling others to check out the rooms nearby.

"May I know your name?" asked the 'giant' SP at the same time he took out a PDA in his suit pocket.

Tsukushi's eyes darted nervously around her before muttering "Maakino… Tsukushi."

Just then, the rest of the SPs came back, each shaking their head to the 'giant' SP to imply they found no one. Judging from their expressions, Tsukushi surmised they are suspecting her.

H.E.L.P. HELP~! Somebody?!!

"Makino-san, we are holding you under…"

"Who's holding up my assistant?!" A boisterous voice echoed down the hallway.

"Hara-san, this girl is your assistant?" One of them asked.

Tsukushi managed to take a peek upfront.

Hara-san?! He is Hara-san?

"Ya! Any problems with that?!" the old man answered impatiently.

"No, Sir. Since it was a misunderstanding, we shall take our leave." The SPs gave a polite bow before starting to retreat down the hallway.

They are actually afraid of this.. this old man? And he helped me! Why would he do that?

When the SPs were quite a distance away from the two of them, Tsukushi thought she should thank the old man. "Thanks for your help."

"Save your thanks for Sa..." Hara-san looked over Tsukushi's shoulders and thought it was strange for the SPs to stop in their tracks in an ever sudden way. When Tsukushi looked over her shoulders, she thought they were listening to someone through their walkie-talkie. Then suddenly, the men-in-black turned to her sharply in unison and started to march towards her again.

Tsukushi faltered a few steps back, bewildered. "Eh?"

"Run, idiot!" The old man shouted, which prompts Tsukushi to run in the opposite direction.

"Hey! Stop!" The SP shouts after Tsukushi as she runs as fast as her legs could carry her.

~*~*~

Sakiyo sat imperturbably on the sofa in her bedroom, tapping her fingers away with her eyes focusing on Yuuki firmly.

"What are you going to do them after you found them?" inquired a worried Yuuki.

"The same thing I'm going to do to you."

"Sakiyo~!" There was no time for Yuuki to react as Sanako and Shiori came bursting into the room, with Sakuyo striding behind them.

The two gave Yuuki a fleeting glimpse before turning their attention to Sakiyo.

"What the hell just happened?" asked Shiori.

"We have some uninvited guests." Answered Sakiyo before letting her focus settle at the doorway. Yano had appeared at the door with Sakurako then. The two gave a subservient bow before stepping into the room. Stepping in, Sakurako acknowledges Yuuki with her uneasy pair of eyes before standing by her side. She gasps a little when she realized Sakiyo is keeping her lazy eyes on her. Yano started to speak but was stopped by a wave of Sakiyo's hand. She then turned to Yuuki with an 'is-she-one-of-you' look.

Yuuki nods hesitantly and Sakurako, as smart as she is, knew instantly that Yuuki had given away their identities.

"Yuuki-chan!" Sakurako's face was filled with surprise, surprise and surprise as she turned to Yuuki.

"I'm sorry." Was all Yuuki could say.

"Sanjou Sakurako…" Sakiyo started to drawl, ignoring the fuss between the two. "Did I get your name right?"

Sakurako gulps in sweat. "… …"

Sakiyo smirks while Sanako and Shiori looks confused. Sakuyo just took her place at Sakiyo's bed.

"What exactly is going on?" It is Sanako's turn to ask.

Sakiyo then rests her head casually on her hand. With a gesture of her head, she said, "Ask them."

~*~*~

Makino Tsukushi pants for her breath as she hides at a corner. She has been running and hiding for the past… twenty minutes? Well, she didn't know the exact amount of time she has been on the run but she felt it was like forever. She curses under her breath for she is stuck at almost all corners she had run to.

This place is so freaking big!

She was about to make her escape again when she heard some footsteps and voices nearby. Out of natural instinct, she presses herself close to the wall, not wanting her predators to catch sight of her.

"You! You! And you! That way! The rest follow me!" She heard, followed by some swift shadows passing her. After a few seconds, when Tsukushi decide the coast is clear, she stepped out of her hiding place, her eyes darting furtively around. But just as quick as the coast is clear, Tsukushi heard the footsteps coming back again, "I can't believe this!"  

Tsukushi turned to a room nearest to her. She turned the knob frightfully and was utterly relieved that it was not locked but as she was too rushing in her actions, she got her legs toppled over one another…

*Bump*

Landing onto the floor, Tsukushi realized the room is foggy.

"Itaiii…" Tsukushi rubbed her knees as she fought to stand up while waving her hands in front of her to clear her vision blurred by the steam inside the room.

But as blur as her vision, Tsukushi only managed a distance before stumbling into what she thought is a pool. She emerged from the waters immediately, only to find a naked man in front of her.

The man, in Tsukushi's opinion, though appears composed, as his arms stayed hanging at the sides of the pool, had the kind of surprised look on him.

"I'M SORRY!" Tsukushi shouted as she shuts her eyes tight while scrambling out of the pool. "Hondo ni… HONDO NI GOMEN NASAI!"

She just stepped out of the pool when…

"I think she's over here!"

This is sooo shit! I can't believe my luck!

Without thinking, Tsukushi jumped right back into the pool, splashing the waters all over. Of course, some of the waters did spill on the man's face… in fact a whole lot of it…

"We are sorry to interrupt your bath, Kiyoshi-sama. But there is an intruder."

Tsukushi heard the SP's fuzzy voice under the water.

Kiyoshi arched one of his wet brows.

"Get out."

"Please understand, Kiyoshi-sama. We believe she's hiding in here. If you could let.."

Kiyoshi closed his eyes and interjects, "You heard me."

All the SPs could do was to look at each other powerlessly. They are pretty sure Makino Tsukushi is hiding somewhere in here for they have searched all the rooms nearby. But what to do? This is Kiyoshi-sama they're talking to. The SPs then bowed politely before retreating and closing the door behind them.

Tsukushi thought she is going to pass out any sooner when she felt a tug on her shoulders, pulling her above the waters. She gasps heavily, catching for her breath but the minute she realized she is in the waters with the same naked man, she hastily stepped out of the pool and turned away with a red face. "A..arigato."

No response?

Tsukushi turned to look at Kiyoshi who was staring at her, his eyes poring idly at her. She quickly turned away upon seeing that he was still naked in the center of the pool. But Kiyoshi didn't seem to care.

"Who are you?" Kiyoshi finally voiced.

With her side still facing Kiyoshi, Tsukushi answers, "Makino.. Tsukushi."

Kiyoshi's eyes widen a little upon hearing that name. Standing up abruptly, he steps out of his Jacuzzi and slides into his bathroom robe. And that action naturally prompts Tsukushi to turn her back immediately to Kiyoshi.

"You can turn around now."

When Tsukushi turned around, she was not prepared to catch Kiyoshi standing right behind her and she stumbles a few steps back, almost missing a step when Kiyoshi catches hold of her. Tsukushi quivers a little when she fell into the firm embrace. She thought Tsukusa will kill her if he knows what is going on in her mind right now.

Ah…the fresh smell… the warm embrace…

"You sure needs some build up on those legs of yours. Come."

Tsukushi then trails behind Kiyoshi with her head low until she heard a commotion coming from somewhere front. She almost knocked into Kiyoshi again when he stopped in his tracks unexpectedly, implying he heard the din too.

It was a girl's voice. It was…

"Ignore that shrew." Kiyoshi said nonchalantly, before opening the door to his room.

Shrew? Did I hear it right? He called her a shrew?

When Kiyoshi saw that Tsukushi was having some kind of indescribable expression by the doorway, he perceives it as Tsukushi thinking it was rude of him to invite her into his room. After all, he's a guy and she's a girl.

"I didn't mean to be rude but it's the safest place from that barbaric sister of mine."

Tsukushi gapes in surprise.

Sister?! That woman has a elder brother?!

Then the familiar vociferous female voice was heard echoing down the hallway again. Tsukushi looked down the hallway and decided to let her legs make the decision.

Her legs brought her inside Kiyoshi's room within a fluttering of an eyelid.

Kiyoshi smiled in amusement and handed her a towel. While Tsukushi is drying her short brown hair, he turned to the phone that lay on an antique table nearby and request for dry clothes. Tsukushi immediately waves her hands forcefully to imply she doesn't need the clothes.

"It's alright! The water on me will evaporate sooner or later! You don't need to go an extra mile…"

Kiyoshi laugh out loud.

"… What are you laughing at?"

"You are comical girl."

"Comical..?"

At that moment came a knock on the door.

"Come in." Kiyoshi said.

Two maidservants stepped in with neatly folded clothing.

One of them started to speak. "Kiyoshi-sama, this is the clothing you requested."

"Place it on my bed and you can take your leave." Kiyoshi said tersely.

The other looked hesitant after looking at Tsukushi. Kiyoshi arched a questioning brow to her. "What is it?"

"Sakiyo-sama… she… "

"Let her throw her missy tantrums for all she wants." interjects Kiyoshi who then turned to Tsukushi. "Speaking of which, I haven't seen that elf flare up for quite some time."

Eh?

".. Uuhh.. This time is different. Sakiyo-sama looks…" She gave a fleeting glimpse at Tsukushi. ".. pretty upset."

Taking a deep breath and running his hands through his wet auburn hair, Kiyoshi turns serious.

"I know what to do. Take your leave."

When the door closes behind them, Kiyoshi looked deep in thoughts.

"Huh… I think it's because of me. Perhaps I should…"

"It has got nothing to do with you." Kiyoshi interjects as a matter of fact. Tsukushi could sense there is something between the lines.

But Kiyoshi tries to change the subject. "I heard a lot about you."

Is my memory failing or what? I thought I have never seen him before?

"From.. who?" Tsukushi asked suspiciously.

"From my sister."

Tsukushi narrowed her eyes. "Which one…?"

"The one you're on better terms with, of course." Kiyoshi said it with a boyish smile.

Tsukushi then set out her thoughts to decide which twin she's on better terms with.

Sakiyo… the word 'impossible' instantly spring up her mind. If not Sakiyo, then..

"… Sakuyo-san?!" Tsukushi voiced out surprisingly.

Kiyoshi nods his head. "You looked very surprised, may I know why?"

".. Uh.. I just thought Sakuyo-san is a person who wouldn't care less about a stranger."

Why would Sakuyo-san talk about me? She is indifferent towards me.. Why would she talk about me?

But thinking about Sakuyo inevitably linked Tsukushi to Sakiyo, which somehow makes her agitated.

"But that Sakiyo is different. She seems to care very much for strangers. It's unbelievable for someone to look so much alike yet so different in personality."

Kiyoshi emits a hearty laugh. "If you haven't realized it, Sakiyo is the one with jingles."

Tsukushi then recalls hearing the pleasant tinkling of bells whenever Sakiyo is around. "So ka…"

"Sakiyo had a bracelet on her. It comes with quite a couple of bells so that I know where she is."

"Eh?"

"It was my present to her on her 10th birthday." Kiyoshi pauses for a moment. "She is the active one. She always likes to run around and many a times, when she went missing, it always takes me a great deal of effort and time to get her back. And whenever I wanted to give her a rebuke for being such a playful lass, she would give me that kind of smile that made me stopped in my words. I used to have this thought that I'm gonna lose this sister someday if she keeps on this activeness in her."

Kiyoshi then realizes he has been talking too much. "I'm sorry. Did I bore you?"

"No, no, not at all. I can see you love your sister very much."

Kiyoshi gave it a thought.

Perhaps I love her too much to spare a thought about how she feels.

Looking at him at a closer level, I can see the similarities between the three of them.

"That's why I got her a bracelet so that I always know where she goes."

The clothes that lay on his bed then caught his attention.

"You better change into those clothes before you catch the flu." Kiyoshi said with a gesture of his head towards his majestic bed.

Tsukushi walked over to the bed and shoots a glance at Kiyoshi. Knowing very well what she meant, Kiyoshi decided to let his focus settle on the scenery outside.

After changing out of her wet uniform, Tsukushi took a moment to admire the room.

The room, made brighter with all the lights, looked almost a hundred times bigger than her home. Well, previous home to be exact. The wardrobe then caught her attention. Needless to say, the clothes he has must have mounted to hundreds, perhaps thousands, judging from the length and height. Then there are a couple of shelves that sheltered rows of books at the other corner.

He must like reading a lot.

At the other corner where an antique elegant table stays, Tsukushi saw an exquisite model car and some messy laid papers beneath it. Looking at her side, Tsukushi can't help but awe at the size of the bed. It looked so comfortable, so inviting, and so big. She couldn't help but feel a like a dwarf whenever she is in the homes of these rich people. Everything seems so upsized. Then a delicate watch caught her attention. It lay peacefully at the side table of the bed. It is a lady's watch.

If I'm not wrong, this is the Bvlgari watch that I saw in the 'For You' magazine. Ah! It is so ex! And it is here, right before my sight! Damn this rich people! Spending so much for a watch!

Tsukushi studied the watch a little.

Okay... there are so many diamonds that is making my eyes blur… wonder why people like stones like that… okay, okay! I'm one of those people!

Tsukushi took a final scan around the room and come down with a conclusion that the twins' brother liked antiques.. a lot. The room is practically filled with antiques. Antique furniture, antique decorations, antique lighting…

"I suppose you're done?" Kiyoshi said before turning to Tsukushi. "My room looks kind of old, isn't it? With all the antique stuff and such."

Ah! He knows what I did!

Looking at Tsukushi's guilty expression, Kiyoshi chuckled.

"By the way, I will make arrangements for you and your family to stay here until everything is fine."

"..Ssstay here? I.. I don't think it's appropriate. Besides, Doumyouji.. He has invited us to stay with him until we get our house back."

"I will talk to him. He'll understand."

"..Uhh…"

It's not because of Doumyouji! It's because of Sakiyo! Your sister! It's already an agony for me to see her at school.. and now I have to face her day and night!?! I don't want that!!!

Turning to the phone, Kiyoshi picked up the receiver and request for the connection. "Connect me to the Doumyoujis."

Awww… how am I going to get out of this?!

"This is Kiyoshi. May I speak to Tsukasa?"

*pauses*

"I'm doing fine… how are you?"

*pauses*

"So ka… no, I'm in Japan..."

*pauses*

A wide boyish grin then spread across Kiyoshi, making Tsukushi wonder what did the person on the other line said. "It's about time indeed.  But no, I'm not back because of that. I need to talk to Tsukasa urgently. Is he perchance at home?"

Kiyoshi then pauses again to wait for Tsukasa to pick up the call.

Doumyouji! Please say NO!

"I just touched down a few hours ago. How are things going for you, brother?"

Doumyouji… you are my last hope…!

"So ka… let's catch up some other time." Kiyoshi pauses again to throw a glance at Tsukushi. "Coz now, I need to ask your opinion about your girl staying over at my residence...blah blah blah blah blah………"

This is the moment, Doumyouji! Reject him! I know you will! Reject him! Say…

"Then it's settled then. She will stay here until everything is over."

Nnnnnnnnooooooooo………………………

"Are you alright?"

"…"

…

"Tsukushi-chan, are you alright?"

Tsukushi took a minute to bring herself back to reality. "… yah…"

Kiyoshi's brows wrinkled in amusement. The way Tsukushi answered in that high-pitched tone indicates she is reluctant to stay.

"Is it because of Sakiyo?"

Just then, the door burst open and a fuming Sakiyo came stomping in, a scowl looked ready to kill.

"You! … Argh! Let go of me, both of you!" She was pulled back by Shiori and Sanako before she can advance toward to Tsukushi. At the same time, Kiyoshi shoves Tsukushi behind him.

See that, oni-san?! That's precisely the reason why I don't want to stay!!

"SakiYO! COOL IT, WILL YOU?!" Sanako shouts at the top of her lungs as Sakiyo's struggle proved too tough to overcome.

"What do you think I will do?!! Kill her with my BARE HANDS?!!" Sakiyo shouted back, shoving their hands off before looking exasperatedly at them.

"And YOU!" Sakiyo shot daggers at Tsukushi.

!!

"What do you think you are doing here in my house? Don't you even think you'll be safe by hiding behind my br…" Sakiyo stopped herself in time to shoot an irritating glance at her brother, whose scowl matches hers. "This man's back!! Just you wait!!"

Sakiyo turned and stomps away and when she reached the door, Kiyoshi speaks, "She is our guest and she is staying here."

Sakiyo immediately froze in her tracks. Turning around with an unbelievable look on her, Sakiyo showed a 'thumbs-up sign' to Tsukushi before striding out of the room, with Sakurako and Yuuki dodging her at the doorstep.

"Sakuyo." Kiyoshi turned to look at his other sister who was leaning by the doorway with composure.

"Nani?"

"Make sure she doesn't get into trouble with any of Tsukushi's friends."

~*~*~

"Over here!" Ken took Shigeru by her hand as they seek for an exit.

They were chatting merrily when a maidservant came into the room to inform them of the uninvited guests.

"Waaiit.. Wait a sec! Let go of me!" Shigeru struggles out of his grasp as she stopped in her way, refusing to budge.

"Sorry. Did I hurt you?" apologizes Ken.

"No. it's not that." Said Shigeru bluntly. "It's my friends. I can't leave them just like that."

"But what can you do? Confront Sakiyo and demand she hand over your friends?"

"…"

When Ken saw that Shigeru was rendered speechless and looked ready to cry, he decided to soften his tone.

He places an assuring hand on Shigeru's shoulders. "They'll be fine."

Shigeru looked up and wanted to retort but was stopped by Ken. "Okay, okay! Even if they are not fine, I'll be there to make sure they are."

And Shigeru, for the first time, looked into his sincere brown eyes. "Trust me."

Somehow, Shigeru believed him. She was surprised at her own naiveté for she just got to know this guy for only forty-five minutes..? But something about him just made her at ease… and she trusted him for what he just said.

"Come; let's get you out of here before anyone notices your existence."

And they managed to escape effortlessly, given Ken's frequent visits and wit.

But unknown to them, just as they were getting into the BMW convertible, a figure silhouetted against the setting sun… watching them at the veranda as the convertible sped out into the road.

~*~*~

"The bath is ready, Tsukushi-san."

"Arigato."

"If there's nothing else, we shall take our leave."

Tsukushi modestly nods her head. When the maidservants retreated out of her room, Tsukushi looked around. This room of hers looked simple yet impressive. Just the way she liked it.

Ahhh… it's so comfortable… this bathtub is so big… and the smell, what brand of soap did they use? It smells so lovely… Ah… let me indulge this moment…

I can't sleep.

Tsukushi lay flat on the huge spongy bed. She had just taken a bath, which in Tsukushi's opinion is the best bath she has ever taken in her whole 17 years.

Maybe I should take a walk. Perhaps I'll be tired by the time I came back…

Tsukushi slides off her bed and started for the door.

Wait! What if I'm lost?!

She plunges back onto the bed, irritated by the fact that she can't get to sleep nor get out of the room. But then scenes of her having dinner with Kiyoshi and the girls floated back into her mind. No one seems to care that Sakiyo was missing at the table. At the table, Kiyoshi gave a formal introduction of himself, making Tsukushi all the more at ease with the casual humorous conversations.  All of them were chatting and laughing away as if nothing ever happened. Well, almost all of them. Sakuyo sat directly opposite Tsukushi. Throughout the dinner, all she was ever interested was the sumptuous meal in front of her. At least, that's what Tsukushi thought. Earlier, Sakurako and Yuuki were already escorted back to their homes when Sakurako insisted that she is having a terrible headache and wants Yuuki to accompany her back, leaving Tsukushi to fend for herself.

Then, the scene where Sakiyo burst into Kiyoshi's room popped up in her mind.

~"Don't you even think you'll be safe by hiding behind my br… this man's back! Just you wait!"~

She seems to be at odds with her brother. Koitsu… why should I be surprised about that? That girl seems to be at odds with everybody. But talking about her brother… Kiyoshi.. Fujiwara Kiyoshi… such a gentleman, such a charmer… such a loving brother… I wonder how one would come to hate him…?

*signs*

Tsukushi then closes her eyes, trying to get some sleep as the clock ticks away.

*11pm*

Tsukushi's eyes lay wide open.

*12am*

Tsukushi tosses and turn, trying to snuggle into a comfortable position to sleep.

*1am*

Tsukushi stared blankly at the ceiling.

*1:30am*

The line in Tsukushi finally breaks.

"Arrgghhhh!!! I'm such an idiot!" Tsukushi sat up on the bed, scratching her head in a rather rough way.

"I'm going out."

~*~*~

"Who the hell are you?"

*pauses*

"How did you get my number? What do you want?"

"Eh?! Are you nuts?! In case you haven't realized it, it's 25 minutes to two."

Sakiyo was in the dining room, alone with the lavish food in front of her.

"Whatever. I'm getting to sleep."

Sakiyo was about to press the end call button when Doumyouji shouted over the phone.

"NAN DA YO?!" Sakiyo gritted her teeth as she slams the snifter, which she was holding, hard on the table.

"Your precious Makino is asleep already. You don't expect me to go to her and says Hey, Doumyouji is here looking for you. Meet him at the bushes at the back gate."

*pauses*

"How was I supposed to know whether the hole is still there? Besides, are you sure you can crawl in?"

"What did you say?"

A shadow then caught Sakiyo's attention.

Speak of the devil

"Wait there."

*beep* Sakiyo pressed the end call button and came face to face with the devil.

Makino Tsukushi stood by the doorway in pajamas, staring back at her.

"Are you done with your staring?" sarcastically said Sakiyo before focusing on the food in front of her.

Tsukushi kept her stare at Sakiyo, who was busy gobbling her food away. In no time, Sakiyo snapped.

"What's wrong with you?!"

"Why do you always have to be so.. Irritated?"

"Why do you always have to irritate me?"

"In what way?"

"North, South, East, West, in every way! Just looking at you makes me feel so sick… you binbou."

"Same goes to you!" Tsukushi retorted but later chuckled at her own answer.

"What?"

"Talking to you makes me feel nostalgic. I know you hate me… for what, I don't know but I really have to thank you for giving me that feeling."

*Sweatdrop*

What is this dwarf talking about?

"Anyway, how's Susumu? He'll be moving in too, right? And your parents."

Tsukushi took a seat in front of Sakiyo.

"Yeah. He's pretty fine. He's under observation but I think he can be out in these few days. I don't care what you think but I feel really awful imposing you guys like this. We will move out as soon as we get our house back."

Sakiyo snorts, "Of course you feel awful. You probably won't get such royal treatment in your whole life elsewhere. And…" Sakiyo leans in. "Can you tell me how you intend to get your house back when it's already turned to ashes?"

"I have my ways."

Sakiyo let out another snort. "Hopeless."

And she stood up, wiped her mouth with the napkin and started to leave. When she was at the door, she turned and faced Tsukushi.

"You owe me an apology. Remember that."

Tsukushi grimaced at the way she said those words. It was so haughty… so exasperating… so Sakiyo.

Sakiyo smirks when she knew she had triggered Tsukushi's 'irritation nerves'. Tsukushi thought she was about to go away when she turned back again to say…

"Oh yah… Doumyouji is here looking for you. Meet him at the bushes at the back gate."

~*~*~

"The third bush from the last… 1… 2... 3… this must be it."

But where is Doumyouji?

"Yo!"

"Hmm?" Tsukushi spun around but saw no one. She thought she heard a soft 'Yo'.

"Doumyouji, is that you?"

"Who else could it be?"

"Ky..MmmMM…"

Tsukasa appears suddenly behind her, catching her in absolute surprise. But Tsukasa managed to gag her in time to stop her from crying out.

"It's me, Doumyouji."

Tsukushi heaved a huge sign of relief.

"What do you think you are doing here at a time like this, doing a thing like this?!"

"Like this…?" teased Tsukasa as he pulls her close and was about to steal a kiss when Tsukushi pulls away.

"You're so unromantic." Commented Tsukasa.

"… People can see us, especially the SPs!" replied a 'paranoid' Tsukushi as she darts her eyes furtively around.

"They won't be back until another…." Tsukasa steals a glance at his watch. "15 minutes."

"You timed them? How did you do that?" Tsukushi's eyes widen in surprise.

"Just some observation will do." Answered Tsukasa assertively. "Besides I came in by the hole. They won't know."

"Hole? What hole?"

"There's a hole under the third bush from the last which was secretly dug by Sakiyo when we were kids. She used to call it the gate of freedom."

"So ka… does she still use it?" casually asked Tsukushi.

"I don't know. That's not the issue I wanna discuss with you at this time." Tsukasa turned serious. "About you staying here…"

"Yah! I almost forgot about that! Why did you…?" Tsukushi was stopped by Tsukasa's finger on her lip.

"I haven't got much time, so listen to me, Makino."

"…"

What is it he wants to say?

"When I got the call from Kiyoshi ni-chan, I was very surprised. It's been ages since we last had a conversation. And when he said you were to stay with them, I consented without much hesitation because I know he will take good care of you. That I would be assured that you'll be safe and sound, even if I'm not around."

"What are you talking about? Where are you going, Doumyouji?" asked a puzzled Tsukushi.

"I'm leaving for New York."

Eh?!

***

I know, I know.. Kill me for separating the favorite couple but I'm trying to stay close to the original HYD storyline for Tsukasa and Tsukushi while fitting in the rest.

This is a super long chapter. I hope the ending of this chapter satisfies you. Yes, you! The one reading it right now, at this moment.

I understand I always took forever to update my fic, making the readers kind of forgot what my story is all about but I will do try to draw out some time to update regularly.

Hmmm… maybe I should see how many reviews I got for this chapter…

*arched a haughty brow* "Remember, you owe me a review."

*lolz*

Stay tuned!