A/N: Kathleen I didn't get your email ad. It didn't show.

Chapter 8. Manipulation

Few years later since the accident…

"What?!"

A loud voice echoed in the room as the man stood up from his chair. The other person at the mobile line was momentarily quiet at his outburst.

"Y-yes, Sir. They're moving back to Japan, somewhere in Osaka."

"Osaka?"

"Yes, Sir."

He relaxed a bit upon hearing the place. At least not in Tokyo. But still…

"How about the person?" he asked.

"Still the same, Sir."

"Good. Keep an eye on them," he said as his mind think of things that he should do.

In another place, at that same time.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive, Sir. They will leave two weeks from now."

"And in Osaka you say?"

"Yes, Sir. All of them."

"And the men?"

"They're still keeping track on them."

The man heaved a sigh.

"I see. Keep an eye on them. Make sure that nothing happens to the family."

"Yes, Sir."

At least, even in that way, he could pay them for what they had done to the family, especially that person. He owed a lot from that person.

---o---

"Sachiko, don't you think it's time that you settle down? Get married?"

Sachiko stopped halfway from bringing the food to her mouth as she looked to the old man sitting at her right side.

"Grandfather?"

"What more are you waiting for? You've graduated. Your company is doing well. Although I'd still prefer that you leave it and just focus your attention to our company."

"I won't leave my company, Grandfather," she said casually as she continued eating. She saw the old man's eyes flashed in anger before it was gone.

"Then how about marrying? At least to a man who can help your father with the company seeing you don't like to work for it totally," the old man continued. Getting mad would only make her granddaughter opposed him more.

"You mean Suguru, Grandfather?" She asked evenly, ignoring the flicker of surprise in her mother's eyes or her father's expression of casual interest.

"Yes. I know you didn't want to marry him before, but both of you are still not married, so how about considering it one more time?"

Sachiko knew that her grandfather was suggesting it but underneath, she knew that it's a command. But what did it matter anyway? As long as they wouldn't force her to leave her company, she would go along with it if only to keep his mouth shut and avoid pestering her.

"I won't produce an heir with him."

The old man's eyes turned into slits, but seeing the challenging gaze in her granddaughter's eyes, he conceded. If she would agree to the marriage, the latter part would be the next step. He would just have to do it slowly. At least once she's married, one obstacle was gone, one goal achieved.

"Then don't. For now, I'm only interested to have someone that can be trusted in the company. I'm planning to retire soon."

If that's a surprise, no one at the table showed that they were surprised.

"Then I'll marry him," she said nonchalantly.

The old man nodded in satisfaction. The person on his grandfather's right, her father, was frowning but nevertheless kept his mouth shut. However, her mother started to open her mouth to say something, but her grandfather beat her.

"Let's have a toast. We will set the wedding date immediately."

Not looking at her grandfather, she interrupted the toast saying, "We will get married after a year, Grandfather."

"What?!"

This time, the old man didn't bother to hide his displeasure.

"I'm sorry. Make it two years or there will be no wedding between me and Suguru. Now if you will excuse me."

She left the three surprised people at the table. She's sure that her grandfather was mad, but she didn't care. Gone was the time when she would cringe every time her father or grandfather raised their voices to her. She wouldn't be a willing puppet of anyone anymore. She would do things at her own time at her own pace. She wasn't the person she used to be. The lost of her love hardened her, made her like this. Her only and biggest regret was that if only she was just as strong then, she probably would still have her by her side.

Sachiko made her way to her bedroom in the Ogasawara mansion. She knew that her mother would want to talk to her. She would wait for her before she went home to her own house, the house that could have been hers and Yumi. Even with Yumi gone, she still had the house built according to what she knew Yumi would like.

And her company.

She built it on her own, with Yumi in her mind, too. Instead of finishing business course, she shifted into architecture to the disapproval of the Ogasawara men. She chose architecture because she knew that Yumi's family once owned an architectural company.

She graduated the course with honors, and using her savings and loan from a bank, she built SY Architecture and Design. The company was still young and small, but it's growing. She had been devoting her time to that company and nothing else. The company had become her life, working the business to grow with shrewdness and ruthlessness like an Ogasawara that she was.

And she made sure that the company was tied to the name of the Ogasawara in case that her family tried to destroy it to force her to work at the family company. If it's an Ogasawara's business, then they wouldn't do anything to it because it would be a blow to the pride of the family if an Ogasawara business failed. However, tied as it was to the Ogasawara name, the company was only hers, and she did not and will not allow any of the Ogasawaras to interfere with it.

A knock on the door broke her reverie. She knew who it was.

"Please come in, Mother."

Once inside, her mother just stood, facing her, searching her blank face.

"Sachiko, you don't have to marry him."

"Don't worry, Mother. I'll be alright. If they think they can manipulate me around, then they're clearly mistaken. They will regret it," she said casually.

Sayako almost burst into tears at her cold, hardened daughter. Sometimes she felt like she didn't know her anymore. She had become as scary as her father and her grandfather were.

Sachiko, seeing her mother's tormented face, softened her expression and held her mother's hand.

"Don't worry, Mother. I promise I'll be alright."

A/N: Don't get me wrong. I don't hate Sachiko's grandfather. In fact, I like all the characters in Marimite (even Suguru). The only thing I dislike is the fact that the Ogasawaras have mistresses and that Sachiko is engaged to someone who doesn't love her (but I've read somewhere that she broke the engagement so it's fine to me now ;).

I don't have any complains at all! I just need to have someone who will be an antagonist and I chose the grandfather for this story, that's all.

On other topic…. Well, I think I'll just put it on my profile because it's quite long! Read it if you want. Don't if you don't like. I'm ranting again on it ;)

---Arvendell---

29 September 2008

9:35 AM