A/N: I'm sorry. I'm not really good in fighting so please bear with this one.

And, I don't really like bloody scenes so don't expect that stuff on the story.

I'd like to repeat that MSGM characters are not owned by me and that the other names/characters that appeared or will appear are just my imaginary ones :)

Another thing, please don't take the things I wrote (and will write) in the story seriously. It's only for fun. Thanks!

Chapter 19. Face-off

"Idiots! All these years and you didn't know they were there!"

He cursed once more when the person on the line apologized.

"So it was him all along. I should have known better. That son of mine is too soft, unfit to be my heir. And his daughter is just like him. Fools! Ungrateful fools!"

Finding out that it was his own son who had thwarted his plans all along about that person who took her granddaughter away from him had angered him like he did when his stupid son didn't want to kill the person.

"I want you to finish them and…"

"Pardon my intrusion, Grandfather."

"Sachiko?!"

He changed his expression from an angry one to a calm one.

"We'll talk later," he said on the phone before turning his attention to the reason of his headache nowadays. He motioned for his granddaughter to sit.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, my granddaughter?" He asked with a smile, all traces of anger were gone in his face. Only someone who knew him enough would know that the anger was still there, belied with his calm façade.

Sachiko smiled a humorless smile.

"Trying to kill another person, Grandfather? Or should I even call you that, Grandfather?"

He gave a long suffering sigh.

"You don't have respect with your elders anymore, Sachiko."

"I guess I don't. I won't beat around the bush. I know you're well-aware about the reason I'm here."

"Would you care to enlighten me, my dear? I may have different thoughts."

"Leave the Fukuzawa's alone."

He didn't respond at the direct order. His granddaughter was ordering him, telling him what to do? It was something that had never happened before. He's been lenient to her all these years. Probably it's time to reaffirm who's the master.

"Let me tell you something, Sachiko."

"No, Grandfather. Let me tell you something about what I'll do."

Sachiko had her cards laid down carefully, thanks to Youko and Sei's help. Especially Youko. Being a lawyer had its advantages. They dug deep into her grandfather's dealings in the past, and found out many skeletons in his closet. She was truly disgusted at what she found, yet it also made her satisfied because it gave her a weapon to fight him. He cared so much about his name, wealth and power, and what she found out could destroy any of those, or worst, all of those. He wouldn't like that to happen.

"I want you to leave the Fukuzawas, Grandfather. If you do that, I wouldn't expose this family's skeletons, your skeletons. But if you so much as touched even a single hair from that family, the world will know what kind of person you are. Everything you had worked for will go down the drain. Your name, your so-called honor, and your pride," she said with conviction.

The old man was nonplussed. What could his granddaughter know that could threaten him to follow her orders? He could easily twist the truth with just a phone call.

"You're still young, Sachiko, trying to play this kind of game in a man's world. You said pretty much a lot of things. I could easily counter it, and prove you wrong. But I don't like to waste my time doing those useless things. Why don't you just listen to what your old man says?"

"Attempted murder to Yumi," Sachiko continued as if the old man hadn't spoken.

The old man eyed his granddaughter with disdain. How he loathed that name. It was the root of all the things that had happened in his family.

"Really? My dear granddaughter, how are you going to prove that accusation?"

"I don't know, my dear Grandfather. Maybe Sagara Hiro's murderer can. What do you think? Did that name ring a bell?" She asked with sarcasm.

"Care to elaborate on that?"

"Sagara Hiro was one of the men my father planted to watch over Yumi's family there. I'm sure by your expression when I came here, you know already that Father had men keeping tabs on Yumi and her family just like what you're doing. I guess, Father's men are smarter than yours."

He ignored the taunt as something crossed his mind.

"What do you mean you didn't kill her?!"

"I'm sorry, Sir, but before the bullet hit her, a certain Sagara Hiro came out of nowhere and saved her. He was the one who died instead of the target. We're really sorry."

"Stupid! Only one little thing and you couldn't even touch her!"

"Twice, your men attempted to kill her, as what Father's men knew. You ordered it, because for you, it's more trouble to let Yumi live. Why you let her live for a few years only to decide later to take her life, I don't want to know anymore. It only comes to one conclusion. You're making me sick."

"Saying that won't change a thing. I'll make sure that it's the last time you'll insult the one who gave you your name, of what you are."

"I beg to defer."

The old man was quiet, staring at his granddaughter, gauging were this talk would lead on. He's getting impatient and angry, too. It was his stupid son's fault. He and his daughter would pay, he would make sure of that.

"Are you saying that you didn't owe me for what you are? Everything. If it wasn't for me, you would be just like those people you're trying to protect, depending on others, sticking like a …"

Sachiko's brow twitched. Insulting her, she would let it pass. Insulting Yumi, she couldn't.

"They are much better than you! They are much decent people than you are!"

Sachiko took a deep breath. Losing her temper now wouldn't help her. The old man's laughter didn't help, however, so she tried really hard. She was doing it for Yumi and for herself. She must not lose to him.

"As I was saying, Mr. Sagara gave his life for Yumi. Because of what he did, and the other men with him, your man was apprehended. Of course, you wouldn't want him to be traced onto you, no matter how small the connection may be. It wouldn't be good for business. It wouldn't be good for your beloved name. You ordered someone to kill him as he was being transferred to another jail. Truly, I would say that Father was a brilliant person when it came to orchestrating the death of people. First, Yumi. Next, your man. Contrary to what you think, he isn't dead yet. He will be one of my cards against you."

The old man remained impassive. Formidable, intimidating, not to mention ruthless and smart. That's who he was. That's how he had reached where he was now. However, though his face remained the same, his eyes spoke otherwise. His eyes looked like he was about to spit nails and irons, but Sachiko wasn't scared. She's equally angry, though she wasn't showing it to him, too. Not yet. And she could be formidable and intimidating, too. After all, she's an Ogasawara.

"Oh, don't forget the security men you ordered to follow me during my accident with Yumi. You had them killed in your anger. Afterwards, you ordered another to silence the one who killed them. However, you didn't make sure that it was done perfectly. Confident, weren't you?"

She gave another humorless smile.

"And that deal about smuggling, I wasn't surprise you did it."

"Enough!"

"The list could go on. Do you want me to elaborate some more?"

The old man eyed his granddaughter carefully, gauging the truth of what she said. How did she found out a lot of things about him, he didn't know. Yet. He had been always careful with his activities. It seemed someone had been working behind his back. He would find that out soon enough.

As he stared at his granddaughter, he realized something. This person in front of him wasn't the same person who used to listen to every word he said, who used to follow every order he made. He couldn't see any trace of the person he used to know but rather a person who's fully equipped in a battle, confident and brave. If what she said were true, then he would be in big trouble. But he wouldn't give up easily. He didn't grow old and reach this far only to be overcame by someone who's barely a third of his age. And to top it all, to a woman member of his own family.

"I won't give you any escape, Grandfather. You didn't think only I know those secrets. There are a lot of others already, Grandfather. I have their mouths sealed, but if anything happens to the Fukuzawas or to me, or to Mother and Father, they already know what to do. Even my friends, don't you dare touch them. You didn't think I only mourned all these years, Grandfather, did you? I worked hard, because I'm an Ogasawara, too. I have your soiled blood in mine. If you think this is just a child's game I'm playing, then think again. Give me a reason, and you will see just how much of a game this is."

The old man's face reddened with anger. Now he looked so angry that he might strangle her. He couldn't believe that a time would come that someone would dictate him. It was always him who dictated the rules, not the other way around.

"I hope we have an understanding, Grandfather. And just so you know, I won't marry Suguru anymore. I'm taking back my word. Now if you'll excuse me."

After giving a slight bow, Sachiko turned towards the door. Once outside, she let out a sigh of relief. She's glad she made it through. She was a bit worried that he wouldn't fall into her bait, but he did. Although if he didn't, then they could do it the hard way. The Ogasawaras in a family scandal, he wouldn't like that no matter how much he wanted to manipulate her. After all, hers and Yumi's freedom wouldn't affect him that much. He's the one who's going to lose more if they continue what she had started. He could disinherit her if he wanted, like she would care. She had enough money to live. She could work for herself.

She was sure that he would check what she really knew and what evidences she had on the things she told him. Well, he could check if he wanted. Everything had been set. He would have no choice on the matter.

Now, she had one problem solved.

Several days later…

Crash!!

The old man's face contorted in anger as he threw anything that was within his reach towards the door where his son just exited. He had never been this mad before.

"I'm sorry, Father. I've already made up my mind."

"You don't know what you're talking about!"

"I was never a good father. What I did before would be the last time that I would hurt her. I want her to be happy."

"You're destroying this family!"

"The family that you were talking about had been destroyed after Sachiko changed, Father. Now, I'm trying to build it again, make it stronger. I would have suggested that you do the same thing. However, I know you would not. I'm sorry. I have to go now, Father."

Damn his son for being lenient on his granddaughter!

Damn him for betraying him!

Stupid fool!

He grasped his chest as he started to feel difficulty in breathing. He tried to calm down. If he didn't act carefully now, his son and granddaughter would be the fall of him.

Fine, she could do as she pleased.

He wouldn't interfere.

He would be watching her until she realized what a foolish decision she made. And her fall would be his son's fall, too.

A/N: Next chapter would be Yumi's fight for truth and the other matters in her life.

---Arvendell---

10 November 2008

12:50 PM