Chapter 3: Nobody's Baby but Mine

Thankyou for your kind reviews.

Zakkenayo - yes my grammar needs work. I'll edit the first 2 chapters later. Thanks for the comments. I am so bad at my tenses (as my high school English teachers once told me). I try to minimise the mistakes and proofread my works most of the time. BTW, my grammar are only perfect during exams. :D If you find any grammar mistakes that you think I should correct, you guys can post it up in the reviews for me to correct it later. But don't be such a grammar nazi... just enjoy the fic.

At the ski lodge.

Makino were sitting at the corner balancing up the account sheets while Rui supervise a few workers moving some furnitures around. They are renovating the rooms for the next winter. During autumn season, there's less visitors so they usually do their renovations or do the yearly accounts during these least busy times. Makino were proud of how the place have grown from ten family-sized ski lodges to a medium sized ski resort with a bed-and-breakfast hostel, a small ski-equipment rental shop and restaurant cum coffeeshop. From ten ski lodges, Rui managed to build five more. Then, he cooperated with the ski line operators to offer ski lessons for the visitors and trips to the mountains.

Sometimes, Makino felt guilty. If it wasn't for her, Rui would be back home in Tokyo as the president of the family firm. He would not have to work his ass off like he does now. Rui have sacrificed so much for her and Ryu. He loved her so much but yet how come her heart still had doubts.

" Makino-san.." Makino looked up. Her young cashier Erika, smiled back at her. " It's already 5:30 pm. Shouldn't you be picking up Ryu from kindergarten"
" oh.. my.. I forgot"
" I could go pick him up," said Rui.
" No, I am already finished with my work. Erika, could you help me put the account books and receipts in the office cabinets? That is if you don't mind"
" It's ok, Makino-san. Ano... here is today's registery. Do you want to check it"
" Let's see." Makino quickly thumbed through the cash machine registery... " 532,000 yen.. mmm not bad for off peak season"
" Well, that's because we are having a few businessmen coming in from Tokyo. People said they are chasing after a hotshot American billionaire said to be hiding in Hokkaido hoping to wrangle a deal from him"
" A gaijin aye.. I don't believe we had any foreigners coming in recent months"
" The billionaire is Japanese so they say"
" Weird huh... I would think billionaire like that prefer the Swiss Alps rather than our mountains. Perhaps he is homesick?" Erika giggled.
" Now enough gossipping. Rui, I am making beef stew tonight so if you can, come for dinner. Ok"
Rui nodded. " I wouldn't miss your beef stew for anything. I'll come after the workers finished loading the cabinets for the new kitchen"
" Ok..."

Rui discreetly watched Makino strolling out of the office. Her long brown hair waved erratically with the breeze. She looked as youthful as she was in her Eitoku days -- cheeky Makino who never fails to amuse him with her spirit.

I wish I can take his place in your heart.

For the last five years, he poured all of his best effort to win Makino's heart. He could tell that Makino loved him in her own way. But to Rui, it was not enough. Sometimes, when they make love, he could sense her hesitation. He tried to kiss away all of her worries but to no avail. He wanted her to love him with all her heart without any of her past memories shadowing them. Alas, she could not do it.

When Rui asked Makino to marry him and let Rui legally adopt Ryu so that they can be a family, Makino refused. She let Rui be her son's legal guardian but not as her husband. When he asked, she could not explain why. All she would say that he had done enough. " I don't want me and Ryu be a burden to you, " she said.

He wondered if Makino wanted to go back to Tsukasa one day. Perhaps that is why she doesn't want to permanently attached herself to him. Perhaps he was fooling himself and Makino were just using him. This doubts remained a barrier between them. Until he finds a way to break that barrier, he had to contend with being only her closest friend.

A loud ring from the counter's phone shook him out of his reverie. He shouted for Erika but the girl was not around.

Great, she left the counter unattended again.

Rui went to the counter and picked the phone up. A very familliar voice greeted him. A voice he haven't heard for years...

Shizuka??

Makino arrived quite late at Ryu's kindergarten. By the time she went there, the place was deserted. She started to panic as she could not find Ryu in the school's compound. Just then, a lady called out her name.

" Makino san.. Thank goodness"
" What's wrong, Takara sensei?
" It is Ryu. He got into a fight with some of the other boys." Makino gasped in horror.
" Was anyone hurt"
" A few bruises here and there"
" Ryu would never fight for any reason." Takara sensei sighed, " I guessed I was also at fault. Today, I asked the children to draw a picture of their family."

Takara sensei brought out Ryu's drawing. Makino picked it up. It was her (in stick-figure form) Ryu and Rui. Takara sensei then said, " The other kids, they said that Ryu lied and that he had no father. Ryu actually hit the boys in retaliation to their taunts. The next thing I knew, they were in a scuffle on the floor. I'm very sorry, Makino san. I should've stopped them. But those boys especially Ryu wouldn't listen. I am at loss with him. If you are not careful of that temper, he'd grew into a delinquent one day."

Makino's face burnt with embarassment. As she thought, not everyone takes kindly of a single mother like her thinking that she's not fit to raise her son alone.

" It's not your fault. I should try to put in more discipline into my son."

Takara sensei nodded smugly. " Makino-san, I know it is not my place to ask. But, the other parents were gossipping about you and Hanazawa-san. I worried that in time, Ryu would learn of it. You don't know how the kid may react. Even now..."

" Takara sensei, you don't have to explain yourself. I knew what you meant. It is hard for anyone to accept me raising Ryu by myself and the fact that Ryu's father is not married to me."

" Makino-san, I am very sorry but the other parents"

" It's all right. Perhaps I should no longer send my son here if it have caused much displeasure to other"
" Makino-san!! That's not what I meant"
" Good day, Takara sensei."

Makino hurriedly left the bewildered Takara sensei. Her eyes watered a bit.

But this is your decision.

She knew that if she married Rui, she and Ryu wouldn't be the target of these vicious attacks. But as it is, she could not bear marrying Rui knowing that her heart still torn in shreds.

I could not marry him knowing that I cannot give him the love that he deserved.

Makino finally saw Ryu squatting by the swing. The boy refused to look at her. Makino winced as she noted the various bruises on Ryu's body and face.

" You've been very naughty, young man. When we get home..."
" You're late." He yelled at Makino then proceed to stomp his way towards their home. " I'm not finished talking with you, young man!"

Ryu stucked out his tongue at her. Makino caught up with him. " Is that the way you talk to your mother"

He shrugged. Makino shook her head. " Ryu, why are you being so stubborn today? Answer me. I'm sorry that I am late but that doesn't give you the right to give me cold shoulder"
Ryu shouted back, " If sorry can solve anything, we wouldn't need the police."

Makino's heart sank. Ryu glared at her.

He's becoming more and more like his father.

" Ryu"
Ryu smirked at her then he started kicking an empty can along the sidewalk.
" Stop that..." Ryu pushed her away and gave the can a hard kick sending it flying towards the street. It hit a car that was passing by. The car immediately screeched to halt. Four men came out of the car fuming.

" Hey, lady. Look at what you've done to my car. Pay up." Flabbergasted, Makino quickly apologised.
" Ano, I'm really sorry. My son is being little naughty."
" Naughty??!! He damaged my car. If you don't pay up, I'll beat him and you to pulp."

Makino yelled back in disbelief, " Hey, it's just a scratch"
" A scratch you say. If I scratch your son's face, would you say the same?"

Ryu quickly hid behind Makino's back. Makino tried to shield him from the four thugs. She wanted to fight back but she knew that would only put Ryu in danger. The four men menacingly taunted them and started to surround them both.

Ryu hugged Makino tighter. "Mama... " he cried.
" Shhh... it's okay Ryu, Mama will protect you"
The car driver laughed. " Protect him aye.. then protect him from this."

The guy raised his hand and swung his fist towards Makino's face. Makino braced for impact. Closing her eyes, she whispered, " Rui.. I wish you're here."

Then.. nothing. She slowly opened her eyes expecting the other man's fist in front of her. Instead, she saw a stranger clad in black slamming his knees onto the thug's stomach. The man crashed onto the asphalt writhing in pain. The three others tried to attack the stranger from behind but the stranger was faster than them. He grabbed two of them and banged their heads together before punching another one's face. A loud crack was heard. Makino figured the stranger probably broke that man's nose.

The four thugs quickly retreated to their car and drove away. Ryu yelled happily.

" Kuro-san kakkoiii!!!!!!"

The boy stuck out his tongue towards the directions the thugs had fled. Then he beamed admiringly to the stranger.Makino immediately bowed in gratitude.

" Thankyou for protecting my son and me..."

The stranger nodded in response then started to walk away. Makino grabbed after his arm and said, " Don't go away. Please, let me repay your kindness. My house is nearby. At least, let me treat you to dinner. "

The man did not turn towards her. Instead, he tilted his cap further down and shook his head. He tore himself away and started walking. Suddenly, Ryu ran after the stranger. Makino could not stop Ryu as he went in front of the stranger and shouted, " Kuro-san... please teach me how to fight!!!!!! Onegaishimasu..." The young boy bowed. Makino grabbed and pulled Ryu back.

" Ryu... What are you doing...? Anou... I'm sorry my kid bothering you. You must be in a hurry. Thank you for your help..." Makino bowed repeatedly. Ryu struggled to break free.
" I want to protect Mama like Kuro-san. Kuro-san.. please teach me how to fight like you"
" You should not fight," Makino scolded Ryu.
" I want to"
" Cannot"
" can too...!!" The two started yelling towards each other. Then, all of a sudden the stranger grabbed Ryu by the shoulders effectively silencing him. The man kneeled down. He removed his sunglasses.

" Bozu.. you should listen to your mama. I do not teach naughty boys who doesn't listen to their mother how to fight. But I think if you listen to your mom really good, perhaps she would teach you how to fight. Now, be a good boy, go home."

That voice...

Ryu nodded meekly then obediently took Makino's hand. Makino just stood there frozen. Her heart racing as she watched the man stood up, put back his sunglasses and turn away. She just stared at him as the man walk further and further away.

" That man"
" Mama... do you know Kuro-san"
Choking back the lump in her throat, Makino could not answer Ryu. Instead, she took a deep breath and shouted towards the stranger. " Stop right there you octopus head!!!"

The stranger stopped.

It was him...

Dragging Ryu with her, she went to his side. The man just stood there without saying anything. Her hands trembling as she lay her hand onto his shoulder. She whispered.. " Tsukasa..."

Doumyouji did not answer her. Makino whispered his name again.. " Tsukasa..."

His heart bled a little. Slowly he took off his cap and sunglasses revealing himself. Makino gasped. " So, it was you..."

Doumyouji looked at her straight in the eye. His stare piercing to the very core of her heart as he said her name. Her heart trembled as her hand gripped Ryu's hand tighter.

" It has been a long time... Makino-san.."

Tsukasa...

A hundred miles away... In Doumyouji's mansion in Tokyo, Tsubaki were reading some letters by the balcony. Her plan already set in motion.

Rui.. I'm very sorry.

She didn't want to hurt Rui in the process but this was the only way. For five long years she waited, finally now she could carry out her plans to reunite Tsukasa and Makino. She have plotted secretly for years but only now she dared to do it.

People would say she was being greedy. She knew that she was selfish to wish only for her own brother's happiness. Tsubaki stared at the picture in her hand. It was a picture of Ryu smiling on his 4th birthday. Makino and Rui hugging him from behind. It was a picture of a happy family.

I am sorry, Makino. I have to destroy this family you have build for my own reasons. Forgive me.

Preview Chapter 4: Because of You

Will Rui meet Shizuka and fell for her again? What will Makino do now that Doumyouji is right in front of her? Will Doumyouji ever figure out who is Ryu's 'real' father?
Next time in Pieces of Dreams...