Sometimes I think I'm blind

Or I may just be paralyzed

Because the plot thickens every day

And the pieces of my puzzle keep crumblin' away

But I know, there's a picture beneath

Indecision clouds my vision

No one listens. . .

Akira, Soujiro, Sakurako and Shigeru were walking down a street.

"What are we going to do about Tsukasa?" Shigeru asked for the nth time, "We've got to do something to make him remember Tsukushi."

"You think she hasn't tried?" Akira replied. "We tried everything we could think of to cue his memory, but he just got angry."

"Obviously, you went about it wrong." Sakurako snorted, "And you let that slut Umi hang around him too much. You ever think that having Tsukushi beat the boy up, might not have been the best technique in the world… Then you let Umi get all cutesy-eyed and helpful around him. . . Like any of that is going to help!"

Shigeru rolled her eyes at Sakurako's description of Umi. "The pot calling the kettle black," she reflected silently,

"Hey wait. . ." Soujiro's eye's lit up, as an idea came to him, "That's something she hasn't tried!"

"Huh?" Three heads turned to stare at him.

"Well think about it. Tsukasa can't remember Tsukushi and refuses to admit that he could possibly have dated someone like her. And there's certainly one sure way for her to prove that she loves him and that they are, in fact, a couple. . . ."

Shigeru and Sakurako broke in laughter simultaneously. "Do you only think about one thing?" Shigeru questioned, as Sakurako shook her head, "She'd never go for it. You know what Tsukushi's like."

"Aww, but it's such a great plan." Soujiro protested. "We could at least see if she'll try it. You'd think she'd be willing to do whatever it takes to help him. . ."

"I think he's got a point," Akira, the other playboy, obviously saw the merit in Soujiro's idea. "I can see it now. . . It will go something like this. . ." Akira grabbed Soujiro, and the two jokers enacted out the scene they envisioned, while Sakurako and Shigeru watched incredulously.

Akira, as Tsukushi, spoke in a high falsetto, "Oh Tsukasa, how are you today? I missed you so much!"

Soujiro, as Tsukasa, grumbled grouchily, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Akira wrapped his arms around Soujiro, "I'm your girlfriend, you fool. Don't you remember, I'm the one who kisses you like this. . and this." Akira and Soujiro proceeded to mime passionate kissing.

Soujiro grinned, and said slyly, "Hmm. . . I think I'm starting to remember. But I might need a few more reminders—what did you say your name was again?"

"Perhaps this will help you remember a little more." Akira mimed twining even more closely around Soujiro.

At this point, the two girls, who'd been watching this performance with wide eyes, could restrain their laughter no longer. The boys broke apart, dropping their roles to ask in wounded tones, "What, don't you think that will work?"

Unable to answer for all the giggling, Shigeru and Sakurako could only shake their heads helplessly.

"But why don't you suggest it anyway," Sakurako gasped as she at last began to recover. "I'd like to see Tsukushi's response. It might help cheer her up…"

"Or maybe just get your ass kicked." Shigeru added unnecessarily. "Let's go see her anyway, she's probably feeling pretty bad right now, and she could use our support."

Nodding in agreement, the four friends set off in the deepening twilight to find Tsukushi's apartment.

As they neared the rickety building in which Tsukushi and her brother lived, they ran in to Susumu, on his way home himself.

"Hey there, Makino!" Sakurako greeted the boy, "Is your sister home?"

"Probably," Susumu replied, "She said she'd make me dinner tonight. You're welcome to come up with me and see."

The group needed no second urging to follow the boy up the narrow stairwell to the apartment.

"Ugh," Akira grimaced at the state of the building, "how can you poor people stand to live in a place like this?

"Hush!" Shigeru glared at him, "Be polite! We're here to cheer Tsukushi up! Not insult her."

"Hmph. She can't hear me yet anyway," Akira retorted grumpily, but said no more.

Reaching the landing, Susumu went to unlock the door, "Sister, I'm Ho. . . ." He started to shout as the door swung open. The words trailed off abruptly, however, as he caught sight of the activity inside the small apartment.

Peering in over Susumu's shoulder, the four people in the hallway were equally stunned by the sight that met their eyes.

"Whoa. . ." No one was ever quite sure who uttered the sentiment that was going through all their minds.

"Tsukushi?" gasped Akira, as his jaw dropped in disbelief.

"And Rui!" Sakurako snapped. Shoving past Susumu, she stalked over to the couple.

Tsukushi was blushing beet red in horror at having been caught in such a state. She started to back away from Rui's embrace, as she turned to face these unexpected visitors, and tried to straighten her disheveled clothing. She was at a complete loss for words. The stray thought flashed through her head that death might even be preferable to standing here right now, with her friends starting at her, accusation and betrayal written large in their eyes.

Rui was calmer. Other people's issues with him had never much bothered him before, and they didn't hold much weight for him now. He did wish that Tsukushi could have been spared this embarrassment. But it was no use crying over that which could not be undone. So, rather than letting Tsukushi go, he tightened his hold around her waist so that he was supporting her against himself. She felt limp; were it not for Rui's strong hands holding her up, she could almost have fallen through the floor. Still, neither spoke, as Sakurako stood glaring at them.

"How could you?!" Sakurako spoke at last, her eyes filling with tears, "How could you do this to Tsukasa! He's counting on you to make him remember! We all are! And instead you. . . you. . ." She couldn't finish her sentence, she was so furious. Waving her arm in illustration instead, she considered slapping Tsukushi. But before she could turn thought to action, Rui reached out almost presciently, and grabbed hold of her flailing fists.

"Back off." Rui glared at Sakurako, his gaze swiveling around to take in the entire group, still standing in the doorway. "You have no right to judge us. What have you done to help Tsukushi remind Tsukasa? What have you done to keep Umi away? Nothing! You spent hours with Tsukasa just yesterday, and you never once mentioned that perhaps, maybe, just maybe it was Tsukushi, not Umi he couldn't remember. And now you're going to blame Tsukushi for not trying hard enough? Don't you think she's suffered enough already? Why can't you just leave her alone!"

Akira and Soujiro had never seen Rui so angry before. They were stunned. And he'd even spoken more than one sentence at a time. But, even so. . .

Shigeru was the first to recover her ability to speak this time. "What's your excuse then, Rui? Tsukasa's your friend too. You could have told him any of that stuff you were blaming us for not mentioning."

At this accusation, Rui frowned, but answered simply enough, "I did tell him. He didn't believe me, since no one else backed me up. Apparently, he thinks Tsukushi's my girlfriend now anyway. He told me I should take care of her better. So I am. Though not quite in the way he intended, I think" Which was true, given that Doumyouji had been yelling at Rui to make his 'girlfriend' behave better and not be such a violent freak.

And still Tsukushi did not speak. She just sank deeper into herself as Rui held her up. She felt as though things would never be right again, if even her friends could turn on her so violently.

At last, Rui broke the silence once more. "Why are you all still standing there? Go home! Better yet, go tell Tsukasa that I can make his girlfriend happier than he ever could. If he wants to try and get Tsukushi back, he'd better try and remember what he forgot real fast. Because this time I'm not letting her go so easily." He really was furious at this whole situation. He knew that Tsukushi had turned to him once more only because of her utter frustration with Tsukasa's inability to remember her, and because of his cruel dismissal of her. But Rui had learned since the days of his infatuation with Shizuka. He now knew how to take care of people. And the one he wanted to take care of was Tsukushi. No matter what the others thought, he would not let her go without a fight, now that he had her. And perhaps with time, she would be happy again. . .

But for now, they could just use some time to calm down.

Susumu, catching the dangerous glint in Rui's normally placid eyes, hurried to herd the visitors back out the way they'd come, leaving Tsukushi and Rui alone again, for a few moments at least.

To be continued….