Pieces of Dreams
Sequel to Fractured Dreams

Chapter 2: Key to My Happiness

Thankyou for the kind reviews. The short 1st chapter was actually because I am not sure whether ppl actually remembered the first part of the story (aka fractured dreams). Very happy that many remembered. So, without further ado – here is the 2nd (much longer 2nd chapter).

P/S: Whether this is a TxT fic or RxT fic, I haven't decide yet. But, I point out that I am a big TxT fan...

" Tadaima…"

" Oka-san.. o-kaeri.." Tsukushi looked up. " Ryuji!"

Her face practically lit up when she saw her child smiling at her. Ryu jumped down from the kitchen stool and went straight to hug her. "Papa cooked…" Tsukushi nodded and kissed Ryu's cheek. She looked up and found a young man looking awfully cute wearing a very frilly, lace apron, smiling back at her.

" Rui…" Her heart missed a beat.

This is my home…

Tsukushi pulled the boy into her arms and carried him back to the kitchen where Rui were standing.

" Didn't expect you both to be here. I thought I was the one supposed to pick up Ryu from the nursery."

" My work at the lodge finished early so I went to pick up Rui. Plus, I wanted to surprise you." Her eyes twinkled as she takes a deep breath. " I see. That surprise smells really good. What is it?"

" Curry rice. Made it from scratch. Should be almost ready."

That night, dinner was as delicious as Rui promised it to be. However, Tsukushi's mind were thousands of miles away. She cannot forget that man she saw outside the building. Her heart is telling her that it could be him but her mind says no. She wondered if it was really him. And if it was, why is he here? Did he found out the truth?

After dinner, Rui attended to Ryuji, bathing and getting him ready to bed while Tsukushi cleared up the table. As she washed the plates, she was very silent. Rui thought there was something amiss from the way she behave during dinner and afterwards. But he could not tell what exactly was wrong. When he asked Tsukushi, she shook her head and said that she's fine and there's nothing wrong with her but he knew that there's something going on.

But what could it be?

New York, a few months before that…

Tsukasa was seated in on his desk trying to finish up his latest land acquisition proposal. He have become quite an expert at it, buying and selling properties all over the world. He had a knack for it, something that his mother wouldn't expect. But then again, he was Doumyouji Tsukasa, the heir to Japan's largest hotel empire. His career is at its all time peak yet his personal life… was practically in shambles.

5 years ago, he and Tsukushi were living their fairy tale ending. The day he married her was the happiest day of his life. It was the only moment that shines in this bleak, sad life of his. But as all good things in life, that moment did not last. Like sparks of fireworks, it flickers its triumphant light brightening the midnight sky for one dazzling, intense second only for it to dissipate into thin smoke the next minute.

Now, it was only him all alone and miserable, living in his penthouse suit at the Doumyouji Grand hotel, New York. He had refused to live at his mother's mansion and chose to stay at the hotel surrounded by work.

I rather be here, a place that would not remind me of her.

Doumyouji never regret his decision 5 years ago. Makino betrayed him. It is as simple as that. But he never found that happiness that he once had with her no matter how hard he tried. That one brilliant moment. He could never repeat it again. He went out with actresses, hot young celebrities… girls who all threw themselves all over him, clamoring for his attention. In fact, Sakurako ended up becoming his live in mistress for last few years yet he find himself not have an inkling of care towards her. To him, the only woman that owned his heart was Makino Tsukushi. Despite her betrayal, Tsukasa didn't have the strength or courage to chase her shadows away from his mind, heart and soul.

He secretly yearned for her touch and her voice. He needed her to fill his empty heart and soul. Yet, he didn't dare to find her in fear of discovering that he was not needed. That she has a better life without him. A wonderful life with her child with Hanazawa Rui.

He could not face her this way. She would probably gloat after seeing his wretched existence and she would probably said that she was right in leaving him. No, he's not that foolish to grovel in order to have her back. His pride won't allow it.

This was the reason why through out these years, he drowned his sorrows in booze and women, keeping all to himself, denying the truth that he is still deeply in love with her. He refused to know what happened to her. He ended up becoming a bitter, lonely man. His friends all but what's left of the F4 deserted him. Shigure, fed up with his ways, refused to talk to him. Akira and Soujirou tried to snap him out of it but their efforts proven to be futile.

He stared at the calendar. Today was December 28. Tsukushi's birthday. Their wedding anniversary.

5 years ago, he said his vows to love and cherish till death do them apart.

This is my promise... my curse to love you till the day I die. A curse I gladly suffer.

"Doumyouji sama…" A feminine voice beckoned to him. He turned towards it. Sakurako emerged from the bathroom, her dark wet hair cascaded down her snowy white shoulders. Wearing a sexy, two piece maroon red negligee and a dab of Parisian-made perfume, she slithered her way seductively to Doumyouji's side. Doumyouji could only stare at her blindly. Always eager to please, Sakurako put her arms around him and planted butterfly kisses on his neck and cheek.

" Aren't we ready for bed?" she purred. Doumyouji shook his head.

" Not tonight."

" Why is that? I thought tonight you promised you'd do anything I ask you to…"
" I have a headache.."
" hah.. the great Doumyouji Tsukasa refusing my favours.. That is very very odd.. Unless.." She cocked her head to the side, deep in thought.

Sakurako then glanced towards the desk and saw the calendar on top of it. Finally, it dawned on her. Suddenly, she stood up and fumingly cried, " You're thinking of that bitch again, don't you?"
Exasperated, Doumyouji brushed her accusations aside.

" Sakurako, I'd told you. If you want to talk that way again, you'd better leave my suite immediately."

" I don't get you. You'd told me you want to leave her, forget her. But, night after night you kept drowning in your sorrows thinking of that ungrateful woman who two-timed you with your best friend!"

" Sakurako!"
" If you want me to leave, I'm leaving but mark my words, Doumyouji Tsukasa. If you continue like this, you'd grow old, bitter and ended up dying all alone. If that's the life you want… fine.. I had it with you…"

With that, Sakurako left the room (that is after she properly dressed herself of course).

Tsukasa laughed out loud. Funny that even Sakurako… the one that he thought wouldn't leave him (at least as long as he had money and power) had finally leave him.

Am I so loathsome to live with?

He turned around, slightly unsteady (aftereffects of alcohol), he stumbled towards the bedroom. He threw himself onto the unmade bed. Looking up, he caught a glimpse of himself on the mirror reflection.

He found himself staring into his own bloodshot eyes. Unshaven, his ragged shirt looks nothing like the Armani suit it used to be before. He, the global, multi-award winning billionaire looked more like a homeless waif. Isn't that ironic?

But no.. that was what he really is.

Without you – I am the poorest man in this world.

He wished that there was a way out of this misery. If only he could find his way back. But, he didn't think there is any way.

That is until one late afternoon, a package arrived from Hokkaido addressed to Tsukasa Doumyouji. There was no sender address. Just a short note…

Second chances are hard to come by. So take this key and with it you shall find your happiness.

Curious, he opened it and much to his amusement, he found a key.

A key to what?

The key had numbers on it. Later, Doumyouji contacted his aides whom manage to find out that the key is a key to an apartment in Hokkaido.

What will I find there?

Thinking that it was a prank, Doumyouji tossed the key aside. But somehow a few months later, he ended up in Hokkaido because of work-related business. There, he wondered whether he should find the apartment that key belongs to.

Naah… it was probably nothing.

But that nothing have led him making that trip to the Hokkaido suburbs. He went around in circles trying to find that addresss but being the same directionally challenged octopus head he is – he got lost again and again. Out of desperation, he decided to find it on foot.

He hates Hokkaido. Hokkaido is where his life ended. The place which put him in this misery. How can this place give his happiness back. He was deep in this thought when suddenly, a ball hit his head really hard at the back. Tsukasa turned around and saw a boy aged probably not more than five running away. Doumyouji shouted at him and started to chase after him. He chased him all the way down the streets but then he lost the boy.

Funny, that boy looked exactly like me when I was little.

Doumyouji stopped, tryingto catch his breath. He flipped open his phone and barked out orders to pick him up. He gave up. The key was a joke.

That is until he saw that vision of her.

Makino Tsukushi had longer hair than she used to. Unlike years before, she looked much more graceful and there was a happy glow around her. Doumyouji could not believe his eyes. Then, he quickly hid himself behind the wall hoping that she did not saw him. He continued watching her disappear into an apartment building.

Later that night, Doumyouji secretly went to the building and managed to found out her home address. Amazingly, the key that was sent to him was in fact a key to Makino's apartment.

What does this mean?

Whoever that sender is, he or she wanted to reunite him and Tsukushi back together. Does he want to? He was unsure. But day after day after that, he discreetly camped outside of her home watching her daily routine going to and from work, buying groceries.. a few times he saw Rui coming to her house with the boy from before. Later, he figured out that boy must be Makino's and Rui's son.

They looked happy.

A twinge of sadness pricked his lonely heart. He wished that he was part of that happy family picture but he knew that he most probably going to ruin it all for her.

She wouldn't want to see me again. She wouldn't want to go back to me now that she is happy with Rui.

Yet Tsukasa cannot help but continue watching her day in and day out from afar always wondering would she cast him away if he knew that he was there. Or would she let him back into her life.

Next chapter: Tsukasa's back in her life but does she want him there.
Tune in for the next chapter 3: Nobody's baby but mine