Chapter 14: Moment of Truth

Whew.. so the TxT supporters really come through... Thanks for the many reviews, minna. Needed it. Like always please excuse the typos and grammar glitches. I am doing this in a rush but hopefully it's good.

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It started out like another ordinary day in Eitoku. Makino was sitting on her desk minding her own business when she began to feel something weird going on. She turned around and saw that everybody was whispering and looking at her.

Now, what in the world do they want? I have enough problems as it is.

Yesterday night, Makino cannot sleep. She kept replaying Doumyouji's proposal in her head over and over again.

Why am I feeling really bothered about this. I mean, he's nothing to me, right?

Somehow, Makino knew that she's lying to herself. Doumyouji did meant something to her. But why, she's not sure.

Then, a sudden barrage of loud noises burst just outside. Everyone went towards the window and much to their surprise, hundreds of TV reporters, cameraman, journalists poured like ants through the gates with rows and rows of media vans right behind them. TV helicopters hovered over the skyline. There was a lot of commotion as everybody did not know what was going on. " Did somebody died??" asked someone.

Outside, one of the reporters reported. " We are at Eitoku Gakuen, one of the most prestigous private high school in Tokyo where the heir to the hotel conglomerate Doumyouji Corporation, Doumyouji Tsukasa studies. This morning, Doumyouji Corporation has announced the 18 year old heir will resume the post of the President in place of his father who was reported to have a heart attack a few days before."

When they heard of that, Asai and co screamed in delight. " Whoa, Doumyouji-kun is a big company president. we must get him to be our dates for the graduation prom!" Asai exclaimed.
Sakurako roared, " Who do you think you are? Doumyouji would only go with me!"
" Not you.. Me!!" And a huge cat fight ensued.

Prom. Mmm.. how come Rui have not asked me?

Makino discreetly walked out the class. It seemed that all the teachers were busy themselves with the media reporters. Makino just want to run away from all that noise. Also, seeing those reporters were giving her really bad headaches.

It as if it was reminding me of something.. but cannot remember...

Makino managed to sneak out of the school and was walking along rows of shops.

I still do not understand why I should study in Eitoku. It is a huge torture. But Mama... arghh.. How did I end agreeing to her wishes? I must be very stupid.

Then, she chanced upon an electronics shop. Doumyouji was in the news presiding over a huge press conference.

He's going. Really going this time.

A sudden flash of memory. Of herself running down the steps of Eitoku shouting to Doumyouji that she doesn't care if he goes.

Yeah.. I don't really care if he goes. My world is much more peaceful without him in it.

Just as she was about to turn, she bumped really hard into a big, tall handsome guy wearing an oversized sweater with big brown hat covering his brown curls.

" You stupid girl, blind aa?"

I knew that voice.

" Doumyouji!!" Doumyouji stared at her in disbelief. Putting his hands over her mouth, he yanked her away

" Watch what are you saying. Reporters are everywhere." He whispered. He let go of he. Makino finally get a good look at him.

" you.. tv.. I thought.. Shouldn't you be at a press conference or something? What are you doing here and wearing that?" Pointing to that hat.
" Hey, I just bought that. Quite cheap I may add."
" Whatever? So why are you here? I thought things are really bad at your house now."
"I am going to see Amakusa."
" Who?"
" Oh yeah.. I forgot you lost your.. He's a friend of yours. Perhaps you might remember something my seeing him."
" But.. Is it a good idea for us to be seen together."
" Well.." He yanked her uniform jacket and gave her his sweater. " Now that you look less like an Eitoku school girl, let's go.Put the sweater on."
" But you.."
" I have T-shirt underneath. Just wear it."

She did as she was told. Wearing the sweater, she could smell his after-shave. She blushed. Hand in hand, they strolled along the way. They tried to mix with the background but a guy like Doumyouji, looking so tall and handsome (^-^;;;) easily became center of attention. He end up getting stares from almost every school girl they passed. On his face, he seemed to be very, very smug after he realised that. Makino frowned.

This guy.. always like this. :P Baka...

" You know, you should be proud of getting to walk like this with me. I bet half of Tokyo young female population would give all their fortune to trade places with you."
" Fat chance," she stuck out her tongue. This guy is worst than arrogant. He's.. so intolerable.

But I agreed to stay with him without questions. What in the world gotten into me?

Makino could not believe what's she's doing. But Doumyouji did say that this Amakusa guy can help her but why are she feeling all weird inside, walking beside Doumyouji. This feeling that she never gets when she's with Rui.

They entered a sushi shop. And the chef in charge look up, his eyes wide with surprise.

" Tsukushi!!" He exclaimed. Makino strangely find this guy to look very familiar.
" K..Kin-san?" she blurted out much to Doumyouji's surprise.
" You remembered me. Whoa.. They told you lost your memory but I guess you never forget your best friend huh.."

But you forgot your boyfriend. --- Doumyouji's thought. SD shot of him sulking.

" Come, I am going to make you some sushi. They say it's good."
A soft, female voice answered from behind Makino and Doumyouji, " I can attest to that fact. Kin-san's sushi are fabulous."

This girl...

" Ayano-san?" Doumyouji cried in surprise. Ayano smiled. " Doumyouji-kun." she nodded to acknowledge him. Very graceful, the very elegant Kurimaki Ayano, Tsukushi's challenger in Teen of Japan competition.

Makino uttered ackwardly, " Do we supposed to know each other?"
" Makino-san, you are also here?" She took both of her hands. " we were in TOJ competition together. Do you remember?"

She remembers the kids smiling and jumping over the huge jump rope. Ayano and her together laughing on stage.

" My memories is still in bits and pieces. But does the competition involves a jumping rope?"
Doumyouji quip grumpily," She remembers only the mundane things but forgets all the important things."
Makino glared at him, " Perhaps you are not as important as you think you are. Mr. Octopus head."

Kin-san laughed, " You two still argue like kids just like before." He put down a tuna sushi piece down the broad leaf. " Please."

Makino stuff it down her mouth. " Oishii!!! This is good!!"
" Really? Well, obviously I am going to make more of it."
" I heard you're planning to open your own place after you finish training." said Doumyouji.
" Of course. There's some problem initially but I manage to smooth it out. My brother going to take over my father's place. I guess, I am not really cut out to become a politician after all. I am happy enough as a sushi chef as it is."
" Yeah, I guess it turned out ok."
" But, you're still going." Their eyes met. Makino could feel the air between them tensed up a little bit.
Doumyouji shrugged, " It's not like I have a younger brother to pass it to." Both of them burst into laughter.
" It's something I wanted to do in return of everything my parents.. the Doumyouji corporation done for me."
" Are you going to come back to Tokyo?"

Makino suddenly held her breath. Staring at Doumyouji, both anxious and scared to hear what's the answer. Oblivious to Makino's distress, Doumyouji just shrugged and chow down the last of his sushi portion.

Kin-san saw Makino's expression changed. Grinning, he asked her, " Girls, aren't you going to finish that."
Snapped out of her daze, Makino answered, "Itadakimasu!! and hurriedly finish her meal.
Ayano noted the tension between Makino and Doumyouji. What had happen between them?

After the two of them had left, Ayano asked Kin-san about what was he thinking. " Doumyouji's leaving for good."
" Huh?"
" I guess Makino losing her memory was a big blow to him."
" Is he going because of that?"
" He's going to leave not because of her. But he's not coming back because of her."
Ayano sighed, " Well, he's making a great mistake." Kin-san turned towards Ayano. "Why?"
" Because it is obvious Makino still love him with or without remembering him."
" How did you..."
" Let's just say it's a female intuition."

* * * *

As they walked home, Doumyouji was extraordinarily quiet. Makino shifted uneasily. Realising it, Doumyouji asked, " Just ask what you want to ask and be done with it."
" How do you know I wanted to ask you something?"
" Of course I know. Every time you have that face on, you always about to ask something stupid."
" I do not do any face."
" Yes you did.."
" No I did not."
" Well, last chance. If there's no question in five seconds, I would not answer any of your questions after that. So.. Five... "
" Who said I want to ask.." "Four.." Doumyouji.. I am telling you to stop.." " Three.." " You baka.. stop this.." "Two..."
" Doumyouji... I.."
" One...!!!"
" STOPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she screamed on top of her lungs. Staring right at him, she said, " I wanted to know.. are you going to stay in New York forever?"
Doumyouji looked away, " That's none of your business."
" What about your friends.. Rui, Nishikado, Mimasaka.. your workers.. Tama..." What about me?
He shrugged, " I already talked to the others. All three understood. Like me, as heirs of huge empires, we knew our responsibilities so they knew what are I am doing. Tama and the others will stay and keep the house like before."

Suddenly.. there were noises from behind. Makino wanted to turn around but Doumyouji stopped her.
" Keep talking." He whipered.
" Who are they?"
" I don't know. But they're up to no good."

But it's too late. As they turn into the corner ahead of them, they were face to face with two nasty looking thugs. When they turned back, another three was already right behind them.

" So, the young master of Doumyouji empire is alone. Imagine how much your company would pay for us to return their much beloved heir, " said the biggest one, clearly the Master thug.

" Makino, at first opportunity, you run back and get help."
" Doumyouji, what are you planning to do? They're big, mean.. They got knives. It's dangerous. You can't defeat all seven of them."
" Seven? Haha.. I have worst odds. Just get the ambulance to take care of them bodies after I finish with them."
The Master thug laughed, " So? Young master wanted to fight eyy.. Think he wants to be a hero eyy.."

" Let me fight with you, " Makino whispered.
" No.. I am not going to let you taking a knife for me again."

Flashes of metal. Sound of crashing glass. A bloodied knife fell to the ground. His voice crying out my name.

Two of the thugs lunged at Doumyouji. Another one grabbed Makino. Makino struggled to break free.

Darkness. It was just like this. Three people were bashing up Doumyouji. He's not retaliating.

Doumyouji kicked and punched both of the thugs so hard both of them fell to the ground writhing in pain. He punched the guy who were holding Makino. The guy let her go. Makino fell to the ground. Doumyouji shouted for her to run. That guy gave a huge blow towards Doumyouji's face. Doumyouji charged against him with his head, pinning the guy hard against the wall and lashed on him repeatedly with his knee. " Makino, don't look at me!! Go get help!"

Those words.. His voice.. Images of Doumyouji, bloodied on the floor looking at her. " Makino, close you eyes. No matter what happen. Do not open it."

Another guy grabbed Doumyouji and pulled him away and another one started to kicked and kicked him on the stomach. Makino screamed. One of the guys started towards her. When he tried to grab her, Makino impulsively kicked him and punched him with all her strenght. The guy was so stunned, he collapsed to the ground.

Makino gave one last look at Doumyouji. He was wrestling against the Master thug with the other thugs cheering them on. Makino started to run, tears streaming down her eyes. She finally understood.

Words.. Doumyouji's words. " I wanted to protect you." That fateful day when she took that knife which was meant for him. She finally remembered what happen that day.

I saved him then because I also wanted to protect him. Just like he always have protected me.

Makino saw Kin-san and Ayano was about to leave the sushi place. She shouted for their help. As Ayano-san called the police, Kin-san followed Makino to the scene of the fight.

He wants to protect me because I was precious to him.

When they arrived, all five of the thugs including the Master thug were lying on the ground bloodied and smashed into bits.

" Where's Doumyouji?" Kin-san surveyed the place. Makino saw something move beneath the limp figure of the Master Thug. She rushed towards it and sure enough, Doumyouji was pinned underneath it. Yanking him out, Makino shook him trying to make him come concious. But he did not response.

" Doumyouji!!" She screamed at him. Am I too late..?

He did not stir. Makino started to cry uncontrollably as if she had never cried before. Me, a weed.. crying for a guy.. if you asked me before, I'd say I would rather die than cry for a guy but here I am crying.

Because he was precious to me.. just as I am precious to him.
Because I remembered him.. just as I remembered him.
Because.. I loved him.. just as he always have loved me.

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Yes, I actually started out following really closely to the manga storyline so yes, I started out with a TxT ending but as I write the later chapters, I started having doubts. ^-^ Don't fret. If you have noticed before, I am more of a TxT fan compared to RxT so this chapter kind of answer everything. Sorry if you were rooting an RxT ending. I have to choose one it just so happens that I think Doumyouji has suffered enough in this story. XxswtdreamerxX1, yeah, i also think that Rui's true love is still in France. ;)


Next chapter: Makino's memory back again but she's not telling anyone. Yet, what happens if her very best friend found out. Would Doumyouji leave without ever knowing the truth? Stay tune for the grand finale of Changing Fates. The last chapter coming up next.