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When she woke up the next day, Tsukasa was gone. Yuki and Akira dropped by to visit, but there was no sign of Tsukasa. She called his cell and home numbers but no one answered. When she called his office, his secretary said he was either busy or not in. She repeatedly left messages, but didn't get a reply or call back. Pictures of Tsukasa with other women were splashed on covers of newspapers and magazines. 'Playboy Heir Seen Living the Life of the Rich and Famous' 'Domyouji Heir Partying with Model, Sakurako'. She asked Yuki what was going on with Tsukasa, but Yuki was just as clueless as she was. Akira knew but he didn't tell her. He couldn't let Tsukushi get hurt and he wouldn't go against Tsukasa's wishes. Tsukushi, heartbroken, cried her heart out to Yuki, not understanding why Tsukasa would do something like this. Yuki didn't know what to say to Tsukushi. The only thing she could do was take Tsukushi home when she was released. Tsukushi continued calling Tsukasa, but he continued to avoid her. Tsukushi decided to go over to the club, hoping she'd be able to talk to him. She arrived at S.M. and headed towards Akira.

Tsukushi, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be resting?" Akira asked nervously.

"I need to speak to Tsukasa, where is he?"

"I don't know, haven't seen him," he lied.

"Please, Akira," she pleaded.

"Tsukushi, please. The boss isn't himself. Maybe you should come back another day."

Tsukushi looked at Akira. He wasn't looking at her. He was looking past her. She turned around and scanned the packed club. She saw him. He had two women sitting on his lap and several more hanging around his table.

"Tsukushi, it's best that you leave. Come back another day," begged Akira.

Tsukushi ignored Akira and strode over to where Tsukasa and the women were.

"Tsukasa."

Tsukasa, shocked, looked up at the sound of her voice, "Tsukushi…"

"What's going on? Why haven't you called or visit me Tsukasa? Why are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?" she asked, tears prickled her eyes.

Tsukasa wanted to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be okay, but he couldn't. He couldn't let her get hurt again. He hardened his heart against her tears.

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. I just got bored. With you in the hospital, I decided I couldn't be with just you. I'm still young. I have years yet to be tied down," he said grinning as he pulled the giggling blonde closer.

"No, I know you're lying. Why are you doing this Tsukasa? Why are you trying to hurt me this way?" Tsukushi cried, walking closer to him.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, but how long are you gonna make me wait, huh? I'm a man, Tsukushi, I need the occasional release, if you know what I mean," he said nuzzling the woman's neck.

"If that's what you want? I can give you that," she desperately pleaded.

Tsukasa laughed, "Tempting, but I don't need you for that. I'm surrounded by beautiful women. I can have which ever one I want. So if you don't mind, we'd like to get back to what we were doing before you arrived."

"Why are you doing this? Is it me? If you want me to change, I'll change. I'll try to be better for you," she sobbed as a tear rolled down her face.

"I didn't want to say this, but you're starting to annoy me. I'm bored. I'm sick and tired of babysitting you, not being able to get physical. It's over between us. I've moved on, so you should too," he said harshly.

Tsukushi, stunned at his statement, stood there shocked.

"You're still here?" Tsukasa mocked.

She slapped him and ran out of the club. Tsukasa sat there taking in the pain from the slap. He felt his heart tear into little pieces.

Tsukasa stood up and walked over to the edge of the rail, watching Tsukushi run out.

"What the hell are you doing?" said an angry Akira, "Why don't you just tell her the truth?"

"I can't Akira, you know I can't. I can't risk her life," he said, clenching the rail with his hands.

"So you're gonna break her heart this way?"

"You think I'm feeling good right now? I'm hurting just as much if not more, but I'm gonna be hurting even more if something were to happen to her," he exploded.

Akira shook his head. "I wish this weren't happening. This isn't right." Akira went back to the bar and called Yuki to see if Tsukushi made it home. Yuki said she hasn't heard or seen Tsukushi since she left.

Tsukushi ran, it didn't matter where, she just needed to get away. She ran until she couldn't run anymore. She wandered around the docks and beach, unaware of where she was heading. She walked on the beach and sat down, watching the waves in the moonlight, crying as she thought back on her childhood with Tsukasa.

Yuki, Soujiroh and Akira went out searching for her. They called friends and businesses looking for her. Akira's friend told him he saw an upset looking girl heading towards the beach. Akira knew it had to be her and took off in her direction. He found her, chilled to the bone and pale as a ghost.

"Come on sweetie, let's get you home," he said as he lifted her from the ground.

Akira took her home and Yuki ran a bath for her. After she got out, they put her to bed.

"What's the matter with her?" Soujiroh asked.

"I don't know. I've never seen her like this before," said a worried Yuki. "But all I know is that I'm gonna kill Tsukasa."

"Settle down there, Yuki. They're going through something hard, but please, understand that Tsukasa is doing this for the safety of Tsukushi."

"For her safety?!" exclaimed Yuki. "What do you mean for her safety?"

Akira told them about the threat letters and explained what Tsukasa was doing. Yuki still thought it was wrong of Tsukasa to do such a cruel thing to Tsukushi, but if it meant keeping her friend out of harm's way, then she could understand that. For the next couple of days Tsukushi was still the same. She didn't speak or do anything. She used the necessities, ate when feed, and looked out into nothing. It was like she was there, but no one was home. Akira told Tsukasa about Tsukushi, but he didn't bend. He was hurting, but he couldn't.

"Go to her. Let her know everything will be alright. Don't let her fade into nothing," Akira exploded with anger.

"I can't," replied Tsukasa, throwing a shot of Bacardi down, welcoming the burn as it slid down his throat.

"I understand you want to protect her, but you're hurting her more than anyone else."

Tsukasa stayed silent. He wanted to go to her so bad that it was killing him. He heard Akira leave with a slam of the door. He threw the glass across the room shattering it into a million pieces as it hit the wall. Tsukasa let the tears he was trying to fight back fall. How long can he keep this up? He wished he was with her now. 'Kushi, I'm sorry. Please, wait for me.'

Tsukushi didn't know what to do. How could she go on? Yuki, Soujiroh and Akira kept her company, but she was hurting too much to let anyone in right now. She just wanted to curl up and die. 'Why, Tsukasa? What went wrong?' she wondered. Yuki walked in.

"Guess who decided to come to visit, Tsukky?" she said cheerily. "It's Rui!"

"Hey Tsukushi," he said. "How are you? Feeling any better?"

He didn't get a response. He looked over to Yuki, but all Yuki did was shook her head.
Rui came by everyday trying to cheer her up, but went home disappointed, but not discouraged. He took her out to the zoo and park and told her ridiculous jokes and bought her silly little gifts. Tsukushi felt guilty for being so selfish, started responding again. She didn't say or do much, but it was better than before. Rui came over often, taking her to dinner and on outings. Akira told Tsukasa what's been happening with Tsukushi and her new visitor. Tsukasa seethed with anger and jealousy. 'Rui Hanazawa. What the hell did he think he was doing?' But yet he didn't go to her. He wanted to tear Rui limb from limb, but he couldn't. He couldn't risk Tsukushi's life and as much as he hated to admit, with Rui there, he knew Tsukushi would be safe.

Little by little Tsukushi got better. She returned to normal, but there was a big gaping hole in her heart. She knew she needed to move on. She decided to go to Tsukasa's place to drop off his key. She knew she could've given it to Akira, but she wanted to do this on her own. To say goodbye to the past. She had to be strong… strong enough to rely and depend on herself. When she arrived, no one was there. She decided to go in and take a look around. Tears slid down her face as she walked through the place. They shared so many memories here. She went to his dresser and picked up his cologne. She can smell him, his fresh soapy smell. She let it wrap around her before she put it back. She placed the key on the counter and decided that it was time to leave. As she walked towards the door, Tsukasa came in.

Tsukasa walked up the stairs to find his apartment opened. He silently crept into the shadows to see who was in the room. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Tsukushi. He walked through the door as she turned to leave.

"Tsukushi, what are you doing here?"

"Oh… I… came by to drop off your key," she mumbled. "I was just about to leave." She started walking towards the door.

He couldn't just let her leave. Not when she was this close. He's been watching her, but he's only been watching her from afar, unable to touch her or hold her. Before he could stop himself, he reached out and grabbed her, pulling her in a tight embrace. Tsukushi shocked, didn't move away. Before she could register what he was doing, he let her go.

"Close the door on your way out," he said remotely.

Confused, Tsukushi left with a soft click of the door. She slid to the floor, not knowing what just happened. She picked herself up and went home. Tsukasa on the other side, stood there with his eyes closed fighting the urge to run after her.

As Tsukushi came down the stairs, she heard Akira and Soujiroh talking about Tsukasa.

"So what's he going to do about it?"

" I don't know, but we need to keep the security tight around here, Soujiroh. Who ever it is can attack Tsukasa at any time, with the club's increasing popularity."

"I don't like this. Does he have security at Yuki's? If something were to happen to her or Tsukushi…"

"Don't worry about that. Getting security over there was the first thing Tsukasa did. All of this would be pointless if Tsukushi got hurt."

Tsukushi deep in thought after hearing this, pieced Tsukasa's confusing attitude and Akira, Soujiroh and Yuki's strange behavior. 'So, he's avoiding me, so I won't get hurt, but he might be in danger?' Not paying attention, she accidentally leaned forward, knocking the box she was hiding behind over.

"Tsukushi! What are you doing here? When did you get here?" Akira asked anxiously.

"What's all this about Tsukasa getting attacked, Soujiroh?" she asked.

Soujiroh averted his gaze, not wanting to give away anything. She turned to Akira when Soujiroh didn't answer.

"Akira? What's going on?"

"It's…" Akira sighed, "it's nothing to worry about, Tsukushi. There's just some minor problems that we need to deal with, that's all."

"What are you all not telling me?" she demanded.

"It's not for us to tell, Tsukushi. Please, don't ask anymore from us," Akira pleaded.

"So in other words, if I want to know then I'll have to ask Tsukasa?" Tsukushi said sadly. "How can you be so cruel, Akira, to keep me in the dark, and especially when it hurts me to see Tsukasa avoid and reject me."

"I'm sorry, Tsukushi. I don't want to hurt you…" Akira started.

"That's okay, Akira, if Tsukasa is hiding something from me, then I guess I don't want to know." She gave them a sad smile and walked out the door, her suspicion increasing.

'I guess if I want to know, then I'm going to have to find out for myself,' she thought with determination in her eyes. She drove home, glancing around the area, finally noticing the suspicious plumbing van and the new "joggers" running around the area. She parked the car and waved to the "joggers", they glanced at her and jogged even faster. 'Hmm,' she thought, 'weird.' She opened the door, yelling out, "Yuki, I'm home."

"Hey Tsukushi, where'd you go?"

'Yuki, could never lie to me,' she thought. 'Let's see how much she knows.'

"I went to Tsukasa's today, and I just found out."

Yuki's eyes widened, "Uh, um, what'd you find out?" she stammered.

"He's having our place watched. He has Akira and Soujiroh raising the security at S.M. too, in case of an attack on Tsukasa. So now I know."

"Oh, he told you?"

"Uh, yeah," Tsukushi fibbed. 'Well, sort of anyways,' she thought to herself.

"Yeah, I don't know much, but Tsukasa's club that burned down was one of the first few threats. Tsukasa's had some close calls, but he managed to escape without a single scratch. The car that hit you was meant for you, but it was a warning for Tsukasa," Yuki said, shivering from the memory. "I'm glad you now know why Tsukasa's been avoiding you."

"Oh my God, I didn't know it was that serious. All along, I didn't know," Tsukushi said, shocked. "How could he do this to me? Why couldn't he trust me?"

"What?" Yuki stilled. "What do you mean? You didn't know until I told you, huh? Oh man, I'm such an idiot." She put a hand to her head.

"No, I'm sorry, Yuki, I tricked you into telling me. I overheard Soujiroh and Akira talking, but I just pieced bits together, until you told me."

Yuki went over to Tsukushi and hugged her. "I'm so sorry for hiding this from you, Tsukushi. I just didn't want to lose my best friend."

"That's okay, Yuki, I know you did it to protect me," she said as she hugged her back. "But it would have been nice to know that you all trusted me too. I know I rely on you all a lot, but how will I ever know if I can stand on my own two feet, if you don't let me?"

"You don't have to, we're all here for you, Tsukky," Yuki cried. "But I understand what you're trying to say. I know you're strong, but we all want to help you, because you've helped us all so much by just being you."

"I'm glad to have a wonderful friend like you, Yuki," she smiled as she hugged her. "More like a sister."

The girls hugged and cried for awhile, thanking whoever is up there for bringing them into each other's lives.

Later on that night…

'I have to get a hold of Tsukasa,' she thought. 'I can't let him go through this alone, but he won't let me get close to him. How am I supposed to get him to talk to me?' She looked at her cell phone. The missed call light was blinking. She flipped the phone open. Hanazawa, Rui. Then it hit her. 'The only way he'll talk to me is for me to get him mad,' she contrived. "Fine, two can play at this game," she said out loud.

Okay, I know.. this part was a boring and confusing... but I didn't want Tsukushi to be one of those main characters who was helpless and let everyone do everything for her... I know it contradicts her character in the beginning, but hey, it's my story.. haha.. jk.. dont hate me... please leave a review! Thanks!