Title: It's You I See

Warnings: Angst. Really angst. And torture…I'm a sadist, you know.

Notes: Thanks to all those who reviewed. For the speedy update, praise aisery (o dang!).


Act II: Theirs And Ours

It's you I see

When the door closes

Deserting me in a darkened room

Doumyouji Tsubaki—she could never drop that name—drove thru the drive way of the Hanazawa estate, her anger at her brother still evident. Her eyes were still shining with obvious suppressed fury, and hands that had been gripping the stirring wheel so tight for the duration she had turned her knuckles white.

"After one year you'd think he'd learned something," she muttered, not bothering to cover her frustration, as she stepped out of the convertible and handed the keys to the butler. "They've been married for a year, and they've yet to finish a quarrel the way married couples should!" She hissed under her breath, causing the butler to move at least five steps behind her. The last time he was at arm's length of this Doumyouji he nearly lost his arm—literally—and he was just opening the darned door! He's just had his first granddaughter, and he has no intention at all to go home compensated but incapacitated. Besides, his wife rather loved his hands.

So lost in thought he was that he jumped an inch or so in the air when the Tsubaki spoke. "Where is she?"

It took him a full moment to compose himself, before he bowed and answered. "With the Master. Please follow me to the study, Tsubaki-sama. I will inform them of your presence."

Tsubaki looked like she wanted to say something, but decided against it. The Hanazawa household loves Tsukushi, and even if she were to remain loyal to her brother, she knew when a battle is lost before it began.

"Tsubaki-sama?"

She started, almost snapping her neck as she met the perceptive gaze of Rui's butler. She just noticed she stopped walking, but gave a small, tentative smile. "Let's proceed to the study, shall we?"

The butler nodded. "As you say, Tsubaki-sama."

The walk towards the study consisted of many turns—through the vestibules, corridors, stairs, repeat pattern—but quiet. The last time she went here was not five years ago, and the household, though reserved in greeting as their masters, were warm, and cheerful. 'This time,' she noted, as she looked at the passing back of a servant, 'I'd say they're as good as avoiding me.'

"We're here, Tsubaki-sama."

She nearly bumped into him, nearly, and saved her grace not a moment sooner as he faced her while opening the door. She nodded briefly, some hair coming loose from the French braid her hair designer did to her hair. 'I've been nodding more times today than in the last month of my life,' she thought, amused that entering into the home of the best friend of her brother would make her so…agreeable. She entered the room, and sat at one of the plush cushions.

"The housekeeper shall arrive soon, Tsubaki-sama. Please feel free to ask what you require." He was almost out of the door when the words poured out of her mouth.

"Was she crying?" The butler's steps faltered. She continued, encouraged. "When she came in, was she crying?"

"Hanazawa-sama shall be here as soon as possible, Tsubaki-sama." Was the answer, and to Tsubaki, it was another way of saying this-is-our-home-and-you-are-not-our-master. The butler left with a resounding click of the door.

Tsubaki sighed, as she leaned back at the couch. 'I wonder when Tsukasa can aspire loyalty out of respect and profound love from our household,' The door opened again, and the housekeeper, a plump woman whom Tsubaki had known to be the housekeeper for as long as she'd lived entered. Tsubaki smiled, she's always liked this woman's smile. The housekeeper smiled back.

"Tea will be arriving shortly, Tsubaki-sama. We've prepared fruit salad as well. Is there anything else you might want?" She was still smiling.

Tsubaki shook her head no. The housekeeper bowed and left. Tsubaki, left alone in the room again, covered her eyes with her hand. 'Like Rui does.' She finished her earlier thought with a heavy heart.

==========

"Was she crying? When she came in, was she crying?"

The question kept repeating in his mind, loud and clear. 'She wasn't crying, Tsubaki-sama. She wasn't crying because she has no more tears to cry.' He turned at the corner, heading for the stairs. 'She wasn't crying, but she was broken.' First steps up the stairs, left foot forward, the right, then left…'She should be with Rui-sama,' he thought with vindication, his insides churning. 'Rui-sama could protect her, he wouldn't stand idle if he sees her getting hurt. Rui-sama would make her grow, instead of what your brother is doing, Tsubaki-sama.' He's reached the top of the stairs now, and started walking towards the final wing before the Master's bedroom. 'Can't you see, she's breaking. Slowly but surely, she's breaking, and when there's nothing left for her to break she'll fade. And when she does…'

"I wish Tsukushi-sama had chosen Rui-sama."

He froze midstep, and spun his head to where the sound came from.

"They certainly make the better pair than Tsukushi-sama and Tsukasa-sama!"

He couldn't help but note the heartfelt agreement. He smiled.

"Besides," the voice he first heard spoke again, in a conspirator tone, "Rui-sama is tons more handsome than Tsukasa-sama!"

And then there were giggles. He couldn't help but chuckle at this himself. 'Why, of course. Rui-sama is more handsome, isn't he?'

"Amaru-san!"

He turned at the sound of his name so harshly spoken, and saw two of the youngest servant girls turn almost as white as the sheets they were holding. He smiled. "Don't mind me, I'm just passing by…don't let our housekeeper see you as such, she won't be as lenient." Then with a wave he walked on, only stop on his tracks as he heard someone clear a throat.

"Won't be as lenient, Amaru-san?"

He turned, the cheery smile was replaced with a nervous one. "Makoto-san, has Tsubaki-sama been attended?"

A curt nod, then, "They're right, don't you think?"

The smile dropped now, the diving of his intestines that was relieved by listening to the acute but flimsy observation of the maids he had caught came back full force. "Yes, but they hardly know the real story behind this…" he trailed off, not finding the right word that would describe the situations of their masters.

"Arrangement? Rui-sama's sudden disappearances, but equally sudden appearances with Tsukushi-sama is hardly a surprise, Amaru-san. He's been doing this for the past five years." A pause then, "I don't see you disapproving of Tsukushi-sama."

"I don't disapprove of Tsukushi-sama."

She raised her brows, but smiled. "I know, Amaru-san. I like her, too. In fact, I—"

"We love her." Amaru chose to finish, inclining his head for Makoto to follow him. "There's just one flaw: She's not the Master's wife. She the wife of the Master's best friend."

"If friend he can be called, after what he did." Sarcasm dripped her every word, Amaru couldn't help but be amused.

"You hate Doumyouji Tsukasa?"

"No, but I have what he did to Rui-sama." She replied, voice flat and indignant. Amaru wanted to be able to say something, but Makoto already beat him to it. "These Doumyoujis should be taught a lesson; not everything has a price. There are some things that cannot be bought—it has to be earned." She turned to face him, the woman who had taken him in, taking him as the son she never had. "Don't you agree, Amaru?"

Amaru nodded, and Makoto smiled before she turned and walked back towards the kitchens. Amaru headed to his original directions, many minutes delayed. Much as the entire Hanazawa household wanted to help their Master, what can they do? Marry Tsukushi-sama and Rui-sama without their knowledge? And before that divorce Tsukushi-sama from Tsukasa-sama? Then what? Make the two live in their own world, free of anything to damage or taint the both of them? 'But that's hardly a world, and they both won't stand for it. Tsukushi-sama loves life too much, as much as Rui-sama loves her.' He gave a resigned sigh, as he stopped in front the massive doors made of the finest lumber money can afford. 'And Rui-sama wants Tsukushi-sama's happiness too much, even if that happiness is not him.' He wanted to weep, to cry, for his master that he watched grow, never asking for anything. 'And the one thing he ever wanted, he can't have. Not because she doesn't want him, but because someone he cares for wants her.' Closing his eyes as he composed himself, he took a deep breath. When he opened them, he was again Amaru, butler of Hanazawa Rui.

He raised his fist, knocked, then spoke. "Tsubaki-sama is on the first floor study, Rui-sama. She is waiting for you."