Title: Changing Fates
by dytia

chapter 10: Knowing You

Oh my god.. we're already at chapter 10!! Thank you for continuing to support me. Decided to carry on with the storyline. I just noticed I accidentally uploaded chapter 6 instead of chapter 7. Gomen, yuki-chan... Thanks for pointing it out. Already gone and fixed that. Now, on with the story.

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Makino was walking down the street by herself, with a bag of groceries in her hand.

I wonder what's Rui doing now? Oooh.. felt so lonely

As she walked by a few shops, she could not help to stop. As she stooped gawking at the prices of the pretty dresses in the shop windows, she cried out loud.

" 5,000 yen for that silk scarf... ara... 300,000 yen for that Prada handbag.. It was not even that pretty.." Pushing against the glasses to take a better look, she could see a white chiffon formal dress with the price tag of 25,000 yen. Kirei ne... She sighed, " Snap out of it, Makino. It'll take 3 months of your house budget to pay for that dress." As she tell herself this, she wondered whether Rui might buy one for her. After all, she was his girlfriend.

(SD shot guardian angel banging her head) Now you're acting like some kept woman. Rui is your boyfriend, not sugar daddy.

Just at that moment, the salesgirl came and shooed Makino away. " We cannot have people like you gawking. It'll scare our customer away." Makino stuck out her tongue but just she was about to leave she saw that the salesgirl was talking to a very familiar guy. He's not supposed to be here. Surprised, she hurriedly turn to leave but as she turn, her feet tripped and Makino lost her balance. Inadvertently, she stumbled into the shop rotating door, spilling her groceries on the floor with a tomato squashed under her shoes, making a scene out of her klutzy self. Soon, she was surrounded by a bunch of angry looking, snobbish sales girls. The guy inside the store turned to look. His eyes lit up when he saw Makino.

" Tsukushi-chan!!" All of the salesgirls gaped at him. He knew this poor girl??!

" Err.. hi.. Kazuya-kun, never thought to see you here." Kazuya quickly yanked Makino inside.

" Look, Tsukushi-chan. I am buying some new shirts. Also, do tell me if you want anything, I can buy you one. But I have to ask my mother's permission first."

Makino smiled weakly at him as she surveyed the many polka dot and striped shirts in gaudy colors. " Err.. Kazuya.. Did you come with your mother?"
" Yes, how did you know? But she already went to the jewel store. Mother already picked out the shirts and told me to pick one." Then he whispered, " Mother complained that this shop is too expensive. It took her only one hour to convince the owner to sell all of this to us at cheaper price than usual."

Looking at the flashy clothes, no wonder he agreed.

" Ano.. Tsukushi.. I thought you were with Rui."
" He had some business to attend."
" That's odd. I saw him at a cafe nearby on the way here." Surprised by his words, Makino was quite tongue-tied. Then, her face lit up. " Perhaps he had cancelled his plans. Could you show me where was the cafe?"
" Sure.."

After paying for his clothes, Makino and Kazuya walked to wards a cafe by the corner of the street and sure enough, there was Rui, sipping his tea talking to... Shigeru??

" Tsukushi.. What is Hanazawa Rui doing with Shigeru? Is he two timing you?? Don't you worry. I'll take care of him."
" No, Kazuya. Let's go."
" Tsukushi!!!"
" Shhh.. they might hear us... And I don't want you to make a scene."
" But Rui lied to you."
" Yes.. " But I trusted Rui. " Kazuya, your mother must be waiting for you. We better hurry."

Makino was perfectly calm. It was weird because she'd expect herself to be angry with Rui but she was not. Is it because I trusted him so much or something else?

She thought back at the time she saw Doumyouji with Umi. The feeling she had at that time was very different from now. What was wrong with her? Her boyfriend's dating someone behind her back but she did not feel anything. Yes, she felt angry at first but it was not because of seeing him with Shigeru, it was because he lied to her. If he'd told her, she wouldn't even mind him seeing Shigeru. They were friends after all. Didn't he trust me with that? I thought he said that I was his best friend so why he lied to me?

At the cafe, Shigeru thought she heard something. " What is it?" asked Rui.
" I thought I heard Kazuya calling Tsukushi..."
" You must be imagining things." Shigeru shook her head, looking out of the window, she could see a girl and a boy crossing the street, the girl dragging the boy away. " No.. I didn't think so."
" You're evading the subject. Would you help me or not?" Shigeru did not answer. Her eyes still fixed outside. A stabbing pain in his heart, she was torn in between. Tsukushi... I am very sorry.

* * * * *

Rui did not come to school the next day. Makino did not know that so she waited all day long at the emergency staircase. But Rui did not show up. She thought of yesterday's events. Was he mad at me? Is that why he did not tell me? Or he did not like me any longer?

" Hey.. why did you skipped classes?" A deep, manly voice came out behind her, startling her. Recognizing that voice, Makino instantly jumped up and tried to run away. But the guy caught her arm. " Where do you think you're going?"
" Nowhere." Makino pulled away and pouted at him. " Doumyouji, why don't you leave me alone for a while? I am troubled enough without you adding to it."
Makino walked down the stairs leaving him behind. Doumyouji limped after her. " Can't you slow down? My foot haven't properly healed."
" Then, why didn't you just stay at home?"
" It's boring back home."
" It's boring here too." He shrugged. " At least, I can see you." Both of them blushed in unison.

" Doumyouji, could you stop doing that?"
" Doing what?"
"That.. Saying all those nonsense.. and your looks.. It makes me uncomfortable. Don't you remember I am Rui's girlfriend?"
" So.. "
" So stop treating me like I'm your girlfriend. Perhaps I was but now I have decided to be with Rui. Why can't you understand that?"
" If you think it is that easy to change my mind, I would have forgotten about you a long time ago." he replied angrily.

Makino was stunned speechless. Staring at Doumyouji's serious face, she could see that he must have liked her for so long. Something that she could not see the reason why. Don't look at me that way. His eyes always looking at her with that look, which always make her mind go blank. I could not think when I am with you.

Seeing her troubled expression, Doumyouji finally yielded. " Look.. I did not come to fight with you. I was just worried about you and with Rui missing, I thought you might got into a fight or something."
" I did not fight with him."
" Then, why are you so troubled right now? Don't tell me your landlord forced you out of your house? The burglar robbed you? Your parents got into an accident.."
" What nonsense you're talking about? It's nothing that serious." Makino reluctantly tell him about yesterday. He shrugged, " What's wrong with seeing Shigeru?"
" You're telling me my boyfriend lying to me is nothing."
" Well, since in this case your boyfriend is Rui. He would no do such a thing." He got a point there.

Doumyouji eyed her, " Don't you trust him?"
" I do!! I didn't think it was wrong for him to see Shigeru. It's just that the fact that he lied to me kind of hurt me. If he had told me, I would not even mind. But he did not tell me and Rui's just not the person I'd expect to do that."
" Then, you should trust him more." Heh..?

" You said you trusted Rui but now you felt hurt after he lied to you. That meant you did not trust him completely. Knowing Rui, he who always thinking what is best for you. He would not lie to you if it was not for your own good. So stop worrying. Nothing would happen. " Makino looked up to him. For a stubborn idiot, he does have a way with words sometimes. This Doumyouji Tsukas, always surprising me. One minute, he can be the most infuriating person in the world, another minute he'd be the sweetest guy she could ever asked for.

Doumyouji looked into her big brown eyes as if he could read her deepest thoughts. Rui's one really lucky guy. And I must be the unluckiest oaf on earth.

" Doumyouji.. I.. Ouch.. " He pinched her nose really hard. Instantly, Makino pushed him away, he let go of her nose. Makino stuck out her tongue, one hand rubbing her sore nose. "What was that for, you stupid ape?" He shrugged. " You can be very stupid, Makino. But still.. I like you." Makino was shocked, she could not even find the words to say back. With that, Doumyouji turned and walked away. Here I am telling the girl I love to go to the arms of another guy. She, who right now must be thinking only of him while I am right in front her telling her how much I love her. I must be really stupid

Staring at his back, Makino silently thought," Doumyouji, perhaps I am starting to like you too."

* * * * *

That afternoon, Makino was surprised to see Susumu already at home and was more surprise to see that Shigeru was there with him.

" Shigeru, what are you doing her? And Susumu, I thought you had soccer practice."
" Practice was cancelled and I found your friend was waiting for you outside so I invited her inside." Shigeru grinned at Makino, " I wanted to go out with you. Perhaps we could have tea. I know you do not have work today."
" But I.."
" Onegai. I really need to talk to you. It's about Rui." On hearing that, Makino reluctantly agreed.

To Makino surprise, Shigeru brought her to the cafe where she met Rui yesterday. What did she want to tell me?

" You saw us yesterday, didn't you?" Makino almost choked on her tea.
" What are you talking about?! I was not even here.. how can I see you.. I was with Yuki all the time and then I went out with Kazuya and we went shopping."
" You could not lie to me. I also saw you. " Makino was dumbfounded, she averted her eyes. Shigeru took a sip from her tea. " I know you must be angry with me. But trust me nothing happen. I was very surprised to get Rui's call yesterday saying he needed to see me. Did he tell you that he was seeing me?" Makino shook her head.
" Why did he do that?"
" That's what I thought. but I think he did not tell you because he wanted to see me to talk about you."
" About me?" Shigeru nodded. " He wanted me to make you break up with him." Makino froze. Shigeru continued, " I asked him what was he thinking? But he said that it was for your own good."
" I didn't understand. I thought he love me."

Shigeru sighed. " Perhaps that was the reason. He loved you too much he didn't want to see you hurt. He was worried that you'd be torn between him and Doumyouji when you got your memories back. He did not want you to suffer in the future. That's why he said that it's better for the two of you to break up rather than having you to decide between him and Doumyouji."
" Shigeru.. it has been weeks but I stll haven't remember anything. I don't even care whether I get my memory back. I am happy with Rui. Why change that?"
" Tsukushi, please understand Rui's feelings. He only wanted you to be happy."
" Why is everyone deciding my future for me? Why does everyone wanted to sacrifice themselves for my happiness? I don't want them to do that. I have feelings. I have brains that can think. My future is for me to decide not anybody else." She stared back at Shigeru, " Why you're telling me this?" Shigeru shrugged.
" I don't know, perhaps it was better for me if you stayed with Rui. If you were with Rui, perhaps I can finally be with Doumyouji." Smiling at Makino, Shigeru said," But I know it does not work that way. I am telling you now because I thought you were my friend."

Remembering that vision of Shigeru and Doumyouji, Makino stiffen. " You love Doumyouji, didn't you?" she hesitantly asked. Shigeru chuckled, " I knew you did not remember. I was his fiancee. You broke up with Doumyouji for a while because of me. But Doumyouji.."
Makino felt uneasy. " Shigeru, you don't have to say it.."
" You know, whatever I do, that did not change the fact that he was only thinking of you. That night when I tried to seduce him with my body, all he could say was that he was only thinking what you were doing with Rui alone in the next room." A tear came down Shigeru's cheek.

Makino reached out for Shigeru's hand. " Shigeru.."
" I forget my feelings for Doumyouji because I know I have no chance to be with him. That was why I can be happy for him even if he was with somebody else. I told Rui that unlike me, he still have the chance to be happy with you. That was why I refused to be part of his plans. Rui said it was not so." Makino's eyes widened in disbelief.
" What did he say?"
" He said even if you were with him, he saw that was not love that kept you to come back to him. It was friendship." No... he was wrong.. he was wrong... Shigeru continued," Rui said at that time he was with Shizuka, you were infatuated with him. You thought that was love. After a while, you finally realized the person that you have always love in the first place. And that was Doumyouji."
" Why does he think that? Shigeru tell me why..?? "
Shigeru did not answer.

Flash back yesterday: (Shigeru reminiscing Rui's words)
" Shigeru, we once had a basketball game. If I lose, Makino and I was to leave Eitoku. If we won, Doumyouji would leave. No matter what the outcome, the two of them would have to be separated from each other."
" What happened?"
" Doumyouji were winning but at the end he stopped the clock. We did not finish it. Makino and I could stay at Eitoku. But the day after that, Doumyouji decided that he was leaving for New York. " Rui looked out of the window, as if watching the scenes from the past unfold once more in front of him.

" I saw her running across the school yard, tears streaming down her cheeks, her anguished face etched deep in my heart. The moment she stopped in front of Doumyouji, I saw anger and sadness both at the same time reflected in her tearful eyes. There she was fiercely scolding Doumyouji for not telling her he was leaving. Doumyouji brushing her off, telling her that she did not even care if he was even alive. That she must be happy to have him leave. As she replied sarcastically, telling him that she was so happy that she wished he would not come back. At that single moment, that anger and sadness turned into hurt.

I saw her true face then. And I knew at that time, Makino were truly, deeply in love with Doumyouji. She might not realize it yet at that time but she was already loving him for a long time. Her infatuation with me clouded her eyes, she did not see the truth. Even if she saw it, she always ran away from it, not daring to believe the truth.

This is the reason even though how much I love Makino Tsukushi or no matter how much she believed that she love me, I always knew that I would never be the only person she truly love. Because in her heart, there's only a place for Doumyouji Tsukasa."

Back to the present. Shigeru stared at Makino.
" Shigeru..
" Because he knew you too much."

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Arghh.. this chapter was very exhausting to write. Poor Rui. I know Rui x Tsukushi fans would want to kill me for this but then again I did warn you guys.

You know, I always wondered why didn't Kamio-sensei pair Shigeru with Rui? I mean, they were equally nice for each other. Compared to Umi and Sakurako, I always thought that Shigeru was at least genuinely liked Doumyouji for a change. She has a good heart and was not selfish. Just nice for Rui. But perhaps it was not meant to be.

Until the next chapter. Ja ne.