Title: Changing Fates
by dytia

chapter 6: Unanswered Questions

I am in the process of reupdating past chapters. Even the earlier parts. No big changes, just grammar and some stuff. Sentences to be reworked on. Really need to work on the grammar.

Now we have come to chapter 6. This is the part I really wanted to focus on. Makino suddenly thinks that the person she really loved is Rui. Rui trying to be honest to himself but stay loyal to Tsukasa at the same time. Will he resist the temptation? Or will he put himself over Tsukasa's happiness?

Did you notice that Makino "post amnesia" personality is quiet, cowardly versus her independent, never-say-die attitude before amnesia. (Compare that to Tsukasa "post amnesia" brash, cold-hearted versus gentle, caring side in the manga). All I wanted to say is that Makino "post amnesia" is what I think we might get if she had never been bullied by Doumyouji Tsukasa. Just as Tsukasa " post amnesia" is a version of Tsukasa if he never met Makino.

I really think too much...

Doumyouji: Will I get back Makino after this?
dytia: Patience .. Tsukasa..
Rui: Tsukushi's mine... hahaha...

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" Makino... The servants are staring at us..." Ooops... Makino slowly let go of Rui. " What's wrong?"

" No nothing's wrong.. I am just so happy.."
" Makino.."
" I remember something Rui.. I can see you and me.. we were happy together." His face darkened. " What do you mean?"

" Yuo don't have to hide it now. My first memory that came back to me was our happy memories. Memories of us together. Memories of.." Her eyes slowly lit up as she said this, " my love for you."

Rui could feel as if a boulder suddenly fell over his head. It was as if he was given wings to fly yet those wings were fake and he really can't fly. What game is God playing?

" Makino.. you got it all wrong. There was nothing between us. Yes, you used to love me but things happened after a while .. We are just friends."
" No.. you are lying. I know the truth now. I can see it very vividly as if it happened yesterday. My memories tells me I love only you. That was why you were the one I remembered. That was why.. of all people.. I can remember you most."

Makino...

" Rui.. I am so happy it was you, " She slipped her hands around his waist as she fell back into his embrace. Rui held her there reveling in her sweet warmth. His hand stayed on the soft curve of her neck. Her scent filled his senses. He felt as if he was drunk on love yet his heart was overflowing with guilt. He yearned for this illusion to be the truth but do not have the courage to continue with this farce.

She loves me. Or at least thought that she loves me. I am so happy yet I know I should not. What must I do now?

* * * *

Outside Makino's apartment.

Bang.. bang...

" Ara.. Who is this stupid person want to visit at this late hour? Ara... Doumyouji-san!!"
" You... Where's Makino?"
" Onee-san? She's not home."
" Uso... Where could she go right now.. It's 3 am in the morning!"
" How do I know? She said she's going to work late."

Makino... where are you?

" Do you know any of her colleagues? Her friends at work.."
" Matsuoka Yuki-san.. but I don't know her telephone number.. and Doumyouji it is too late at night... She must already slept."

Damn..

Running towards the car, he whipped out his hand phone and shouted at it, " Wake up you dumb as... You get me Matsuoka Yuki's phone number and address right this minute.. You hear me.. NOW!!!"

Later at Yuki's house... Yuki could not sleep.

Tsukushi-chan have remembered Doumyouji. She must have went to see Doumyouji. I am happy for her yet I cannot say I really feel anything. Am I jealous? Am I selfish? Why can't I be happy for her? Is it because I cannot be happy for myself..

Nishikado-kun..

Bang.. bang... (me: sorry.. I am so unimaginative with SFX)

" Doumyouji!!"
" Where's Makino?"
" Tsukushi? I thought she was with you?" What??

" Why did you say that? Yuki.. tell me!!"

Tsukushi-chan.. I am sorry. I have a really bad feeling about this.

The next day.

Makino slowly opened her right eye.

Where am I?

She got up. Looked around. Oh now.. I remember. Hanazawa residence. She smiled at last night's recollection. Rui let her stay at his house since it was so late for a girl to walk home alone.

" Hanazawa Rui.. " As she hugged her pillow, she slowly got out of the soft, feather bed. She bathed and combed her hair. A few minutes later, a few servants came to assist her and offer her school clothes..

" How? How did you know I need this?"
" Oh.. Hanazawa-san told us that this morning you need to go straight to school so he bought you this."

How thoughtful..?

" Is Hanazawa Rui waken up already? I want to thank him."
" The young master have not woke up yet." Not yet. But we are already late for school.
" Then, we must go wake him up."

" Miss. This is not a good idea."
" Why?"
" No one could ever wake up young master."
" Then I will."

Makino confidently marched into Rui's room. My, his room was bare. It does not look like a rich man's son room. Just a king-sized bed in the middle of this huge room and nothing else.

" Hanazawa Rui.. Wake up!" She shook him really hard. He did not even move a muscle.

1st try. Failed.

2nd try.. DONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Makino got herself a huge gong and hit it with all her might)

Rui: zzzzzz....

2nd try. Failed

3rd try. Makino tickled him. On his feet. Under arm. Waist.

3rd try. Failed.

" Makino-san. It is really of no use. We have tried before but nothing we can do to wake him up. Once, we even tried to set his bed on fire."
" Did it work?" White flag....
" So, what do you usually do?"
" Nothing. He usually wake up by himself. Makino-san, if you do not want to be late, you have to go now."

Makino nodded. Reluctant to leave Rui, she gently sat next to his bed.

" Thank you, Hanazawa Rui. For the memories." And then she gently kissed him on his cheeks.

After she left the room, Rui slowly got up. Makino...

That morning, Makino felt there was spring in her step. Her heart was brimming over with sheer joy. She already have parts of her memories and she's confident that soon, she'll regain all of it back. And like Doumyouji said.. she'll return to be the old Makino he knew.

Why do I care what Doumyouji thinks? The person I liked is Rui.

When she arrived at school, she was stunned to see that the school was deserted.

I thought today we got school. But, where is everybody?

" Makino!!" she turned around.
" Mimasaka..?!"
" You must hurry. Doumyouji's at the back and he was beating up some students. He's beyond control!!"

When they arrived at the fight scene, she saw Doumyouji. She held her breath in stunned silence as she saw a heap of bloodied, crushed bodies sprawled lifeless by his foot. They were surrounded by the whole school body. she saw a group of pretty students led by a very attractive brunette cheering for Doumyouji. Cheering??

Makino could feel her blood heating up past the boiling point. Her head was empty besides on thing.

" Doumyouji you dumb ass!!!" She yelled as her fist landed right smack at his chin. " Makino?!"

" You stupid ape.. You don't go and use violence on other people just like that." Another kick in the stomach.

Sojirou and Akira cheered for Makino from the side.

A very dazed Doumyouji could only look up in wonder. " Makino.. you're back."

" Of course.. I'm back. What do you think I am? I am not some unruly dropout who's going to miss school just like that."
" I was worried about you! you just disappear like that."
" Who said I disappeared?"
" Then where did you go last night?!!"
" I was at Rui's house."

Doumyouji felt like somebody just ripped his heart out.

" All night?"
" Yeah.."
" Why?"
" Do I need a reason to stay back at my boyfriend's house?"

Snapped. He gripped Makino's neck. " Uso!!"
" Doumyouji.. what are you doing?!!!"
" Rui's not your boyfriend. I am!!"
" Let me go.. you dumb ass..." He reluctantly let go of Makino. She collapsed. Gripping her aching neck, she shouted at him, " I know what I am saying. Yesterday, a part of my memories came back. My memories with Rui.."

" Makino.."
" I remembered I was happy when I was with him. I remembered it as the happiest time in my life. I remembered that I loved him."

Doumyouji just stood there speechless. All of then including Sojirou and Akira were stiff silent.

Why you remembered Rui? Why not me??

" You.. you stupid woman.. Always like this."

As he turned to walk away, he saw Rui watching him. As he walked past Rui, he said, " I guessed you won."
" I thought you said you wanted Makino to be happy."
" I wanted her to be happy. But I rather I was the one that made her happy."

Makino ran towards Rui, " Rui.. You came."
Doumyouji quicken his steps. He had enough heartbreak for now. He could not bear to watch her with Rui.

* * * *

At the park, Doumyouji was sitting alone with his thoughts. He just sat there, all morning.. until afternoon. He did not expect to see someone he knows.

" Doumyouji.. what are you doing here?" He looked up. It was Umi.
" Go away.."
" You look sad. Are you all right?"
" What part of leave that you don't understand?"
" Did you have a fight? Your face bruised."
" Don't touch.. aahh.. it hurts.." She giggled.
" You're such a big baby. Come here.. my house is near by. I can put some medicine on that wound. Come.."

At Umi's house, Umi carefully tended on Doumyouji's bruises.

Makino never treat me as gentle as this.

" There.. all done.."
" I'm leaving."
" Wait.. How about some tea?" Doumyouji just walked out without saying anything. Umi chased after him.

They walked side by side. Umi tried to make some conversation. But Doumyouji remained silent. Umi could hardly keep up with his long strides.

" Doumyouji.. could you slow down?"
" Did I tell you to come along?"
" No.. But I am worried about you."
" Why don't you just leave me alone?"
" I can't...!!" she cried. Doumyouji glanced at her indifferently. " You really need to go home."
" I don't want to. I want to be with you."

" Why?!"
" Because I liked you!!" Doumyouji stared right through Umi. Umi, her eyes brimming with tears, threw her arms around Doumyouji. Doumyouji let her. Sobbing, Umi hugged him real tight. " I liked you from the moment I saw you back at the rooftop. I don't know why. But I can't help thinking that you're the only person I could like. So, please. Don't push me away."
" Umi.." She tipped her toes and slowly kissed him right on the lips. A long passionate kiss.

Crash.. Doumyouji heard something dropped. He turned around and saw Makino. At her feet, there was a plastic bag containing a crumpled box of first aid kit.

" Tsukushi.." Umi called out in surprise. One hand wiping away her tears. " Oh.. I am so embarassed.. of all people you're the one who saw us."

Makino gaped at him. The ache in her heart intensified, overwhelming her. Chills ran through her body as she replayed the scene she just saw. Doumyouji in another girl's arms. Kissing her.

" err.. I wanted to say I am sorry and was on the way to your house. " She looked up. And there he was. Still looking at her that way he always do.

Stop looking at me this way.

" I am sorry I interrupted you.. I could see Umi had taken good care of you. So, I think I better leave.."
" Makino!!" Doumyouji shouted for her to come back.

Pretending that she could not hear him, she just ran and ran. Tears brimming in her eyes.

What's happening to me? Why am I feeling this way? Why is it when I am with Doumyouji.. I can't control the way I feel? I cannot think....

Her feet tripped on a tree root. She fell against the cold, asphalt road. Tears flooding down her cheeks.

Painful.. it really hurts..

She is so confused.

I am in love with Rui. But why I still act this way around Doumyouji. Why? What is this strange feeling I have when I am with him? It's not happiness. But it was not sorrow.. What is it? Somebody.. please tell me...

Why should I care if Doumyouji is with another girl? He is nothing to me. Nothing.

But if this is true, why is seeing him with Umi affecting me so much? Why I felt running towards him every time he look at me with those eyes? Why?

After the accident, Makino always felt as if there was a gaping emptiness inside her. She thought it was because she could not remember her memories that she was feeling this way. But now she realized it was not so.

Does it have to do with Doumyouji? Is the answer lies with him?

She closed her eyes. Her tears came raining on the ground.

At the end, I realized.. I needed him. This violent man with gentle eyes always looking at me like I am his most precious person. Am I?

Doumyouji...

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Ooo... writing this with Full Moon o Sagashite's Eternal Snow blasting in the background. Such a sweet, sad love song. Just the thing to keep me writing.

no chapter preview this time... hihi...