Author's note: Wasn't expecting to update for a few months but managed to squeeze this chapter out sometime between Christmas and now. Have a great year ahead and thanks so much for your patience! Sorry, for not answering your questions this time round. Shall take the time to write more if I can ok? Thanks so much for hanging around
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Sheen: Rui, what are your New Year's Resolutions?
Rui: What resolutions?
Sheen: Didn't you make any? I thought that's what everyone does ?
Rui arrogantly: Yeah, the bourgeois. Resolutions can be made at any time and occasion as long as people (meaning himself) have the determination and ability to stick to them!
Sheen: Okay, I'm useless but I am still impressed.
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Recap of story to date:
Tsukushi's parents died in a car accident and she was left to bring up her younger brother who was diagnosed with kidney problems. She bumps into Rui (a gigolo) and Tsukasa. Shehas certain feelings for the former but is blissfully unaware of his profession. On the other hand, Tsukasa is attracted to the feisty Tsukushi and hires her as his personal assistant after taking over the firm she works in. Tragedy strikes when Tsukushi is informed that her brother's illness is terminal and there is a need for an expensive kidney transplant. Because of financial difficulties, Tsukushi is forced to moonlight as a dancer in a club. Part of her duties, unfortunately, includes entertaining VIPs.
Both Rui and Tsukasa discover Tsukushi's part-time job and react differently, the former with sympathy whilst the latter becomes jealously. As events unfold, the truth about Rui's profession comes to light and his tragic past is revealed to Tsukushi, however, this only serves to make their relationship closer. In time, his façade cracks and he expresses his more than brotherly feelings for Tsukushi, but tells her that they can never be.
On the other hand, a series of events makesTsukasa misunderstand the nature of Tsukushi's role in entertaining the clients and she becomes subject to his fits of jealously. At the same time, he is also pressured into continuing a loveless marriage with Shigeru in order to support the merger of their parents' businesses. His misunderstanding worsens when he rescues Tsukushi from being propositioned by a "prospective client".
Disillusioned with what he thinks Tsukushi is (or has become), he propositions her. Equally disillusioned with Tsukasa and the harsh reality that she is incapable of saving her beloved brother through her own efforts, she finally gives in to him. After "consummating" their relationship, Tsukasa is stunned to discover her innocence and hires a private investigator who reveals the truth.
Last chapter: Tsukasa struggles with his own guilt and the realization that Tsukushi is unlikely to forgive his transgressions. Nevertheless, he tries to make amends in true Tsukasa fashion which only makesthings worse. In the meantime, he still continues to cope with work and other events that are rapidly unfolding in his life. One drunken night, he loses control again. And the next morning, Tsukushi wakes up alone, only to see his TV appearance … …
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Chapter 17 – Revelations Part II
"And so you both have been in love since you were eighteen?"
Tsukasa's forehead furrowed for a moment as yet another irritating, overly eager reporter displayed an unnatural interest his "teenage romance". He kept his answer to an extremely short "yes" as he glanced at his watch, wishing that the ordeal was over.
"And you both got married secretly behind the parents' backs because you feared their opposition?"
Tsukushi's breath caught in her throat as she tightened her grip on the back of the sofa. Doumyouji Tsukasa … … in love? Married? Whom to? She unconsciously held her breath as she waited for his answer … …
"As I have said before, yes," Tsukasa gritted out between clenched teeth as he tried to rein in his temper.
"How did your parents react when you first told them?"
"Naturally, they were not overly pleased at being duped. However, my parents are very impressed with Shigeru and they like her. Now that they are over the initial shock, they are very delighted with the arrangement."
"Very convenient timing given the merger," stated an obviously brash and rather inexperienced reporter.
"I agree it was extremely fortunate for Shigeru and myself, otherwise we would have to continue to hide from the world." His tone was extremely cold and the unlucky reported flinched at the icy stare directed at him.
"So when will Mrs Doumyouji be back from her trip?"
"Next Wednesday."
"Will she be moving in with you?"
"She is already living with me. The will be no changes in our lifestyle except that we no longer have to be discrete," Tsukasa lied smoothly … …
Tsukushi slowly sank onto the sofa as her trembling legs started to give way. There was a loud buzzing sound in her ears as she numbly tried to process what she had just seen and heard. Tsukasa was married? He had been married for a long time and had been living secretly with his wife? She had been sleeping with another woman's husband?
A deep feeling of betrayal swept through her entire being, leaving her totally devastated. He had lied to her. No, not exactly lied but he had carefully hidden this fact from her. Did he know that she would refuse his offer if she had known that he was married? He probably did. It was bad enough to debase herself as she had done, but it was far worse knowing that another innocent woman was involved – one who was probably very much in love with her husband. Tsukushi was filled with despair and self-disgust, loathing herself for playing the role of the "other woman" - one that was condemned by society and completely contrary to all of the beliefs and principles that she had been brought up to lived by, and had lived by until now … …
She had secretly hoped that Tsukasa had done everything because he was so in love with her that he totally lost control and was temporarily insane. That was one thing which would have helped to make her hopeless situation slightly more tolerable - to believe that she was important to one person who would do anything just to have her regardless of how lacking in morality or twisted his methods were. It made her feel less of a commodity and she had hoped that perhaps even in time she might return some measure of his feelings … … With that last hope crushed and the image that she had held of her "protector" irrevocably tarnished, her entire world had collapsed leaving her with nothing.
With a choking sound, Tsukushi dashed out of the room, barely making it into the privacy of her bedroom before her body was racked by tearing sobs … …
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Tsukasa was in an exceptionally bad mood by the time the press conference had ended. He stormed into his office and slammed his door shut after barking orders at his terrified staff to leave him strictly alone for the rest of the day. He swallowed two aspirins for his killer headache before picking up his phone.
"Have my orders been carried out?" His fierce scowl eased somewhat as his butler answered in affirmative. "Okay, I want you there now and to get everything set up by noon. I will be back soon and I want lunch served at 12.30pm sharp."
He buzzed his secretary, "I want the limousine to be brought to the front in 5 minutes time and give my chauffeur the address of the florist." He pulled on his jacket left for home. Once he was in the car, Tsukasa leant his head against the cool glass pane and tried to relax as he pictured her delight when she received his surprise.
Silence greeted him when he entered the house before his butler walked hurriedly up to him.
"Where is she?"
"In her room, sir," the butler hesitated for a moment. Tsukasa brushed past him and started up the stairs. "… however, if you would excuse me for saying so, sir, I don't think she's ready yet or in the mood for any surprises," the poor man found himself addressing an empty corridor. "Lord help us all," he sighed as he made the sign of a cross.
Stopping in front of the familiar doors, Tsukasa knocked briskly and called out, "Tsukushi, are you ready?" There was no reply.
"Tsukushi?" He said more loudly.
"Go away," this time a shaky voice replied.
With an impatient sigh, he knocked again saying loudly, "it's Tsukasa."
"Go away, you're the last person I want to see!" This time the voice was raised to almost a shout and his temper flared.
"What is the meaning of this?" He yelled as he tried to turn the door knob unsuccessfully. "Damn it! Tsukushi, let me in!" He roared as slammed his fist against the door.
"Go away!" This time the voice was raised to a screech before it broke and the sound of hysterical sobs could be heard clearly through the door.
"Tsukushi?" He was alarmed now and quickly strode to the stairways. "Tama?" He shouted for his butler.
"Yes sir?" The butler almost tripped over his feet as he ran upstairs when he heard the loud tone of Tsukasa's voice.
"Unlock her door." The butler was about to warn his boss against this action when he caught sight of Tsukasa's dark, forbidding expression. With a suppressed sigh, the long suffering butler unlocked the door and slid away quietly as Tsukasa flung open the door and slammed it shut behind him.
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Tsukushi first realised that she was no longer alone in her room when the sound of her door crashing into the doorframe reverberated through the room, making her jump violently. The very next instance, the bedclothes were roughly stripped away from her and she blinked partly in surprise and partly as the harsh light that was flooding the room stung her swollen eyes. When her pupils refocused, she saw the figure of Tsukasa towering over her and quickly averted her face. The pain of betrayal was still too fresh.
The wave of rage that had swept over him receded a little when Tsukasa's eyes fell on the lithe figure that was curled up in a foetal position, and spotted the trial of tears on the pale face with eyes that were puffy and red from weeping.
"What's wrong?" His voice was gruff but the tone was gentle as he sat down on the bed next to her. As she kept quiet, he tried again, "tell me."
"You lied to me," finally a muffled response.
"What do you mean?" He frowned in puzzlement before the chilly fingers of dread started to wrap themselves around his heart … … the news this morning … …
"I watched the news this morning … …" her words echoed those in his head. "You never said you were married."
"Jealous?"
She failed to pick up the self-mockery in his voice as she whirled around to face him and shouted, "You are such an asshole!" Her eyes were shooting daggers at him and Tsukasa observed with a certain kind of detachment that she was wringing her hands unconsciously in her extreme distress.
"I thought you already discovered that when you worked under me. I was not the one who knowingly sold myself to an asshole." He regretted his words the moment they were out of his mouth, even before Tsukushi flinched as if he had physically struck her. Before his eyes, her bravado faded as she sank lifelessly onto the bed with her head bowed and her hands clutched together so tightly that they turned white.
"Our contract cannot continue." Her voice was so low that he had to lean towards her to hear what she was saying.
Successfully hiding the dismay that her words had wrought, Tsukasa said coolly, "then you will suffer the consequences of the breach."
Her head flashed up at his words, "I didn't breach the contract – you did!"
"There was nothing in the contract that said either of us had to be single, only that we both had to consent for a termination. And I do not want one," he continued calmly.
"Please Tsukasa, please," the desperate tone of her voice sent a pang through his heart. "I can't do this. Even if you feel nothing for me, think of what your poor wife must be going through. How the poor woman must be suffering for loving you!" He would have burst into ironical laughter at her deluded behaviour if the sincerity in her voice had not shaken him to the core. He reached out to grasp her chin firmly in one hand and turned her face up towards his.
"Do you mean what you are saying or are you just trying to clutch at straws to try to wrangle your way out of our contract?" His dark eyes bore into hers.
"Every word," he could see her heart through her eyes and hear the strength of her belief behind her words. For a moment he felt ashamed before he steeled himself again and released her face.
"In that case you have nothing to worry about. My marriage is one of convenience."
"But the media said … …" She trailed off when he made a disparaging sound.
"And when has the media been truthful?"
"But you admitted that you loved her … …"
"All lies," he cut her off.
"Why?"
"Because it is good for our parents' business," he bit out bitterly as he looked straight into those bewildered, guileless eyes. "The world is not as perfect as you think my little innocent," in her confusion she allowed his fingers to caress a cheek softly. "My wife doesn't care. In face, she has informed me that she would continue to have her affairs and has graciously allowed me to continue to have mine when we agreed to keep up this façade of a marriage." Taking advantage of her strange complying mood, he bent down and pressed his lips against hers.
She seemed to come out of her daze as he kissed her, pushing him away with both hands as she turned her face away, "that's what men always say … … but I'm sure she loves you … … this is wrong, I can't … … " He stumbled off the bed, caught off guard by the suddenness and force of her push.
As his face darkened at her rejection, Tsukasa swore violently and slammed his fist into the nearest object – the wardrobe, ignoring her startled cry when a loud cracking sound was heard and the wood splintered.
"Your hand … …" she was moving towards him, concern evident in her eyes as she looked at his bloodied and swelling knuckles. However, he pushed her away roughly.
"No matter how you cry or plead, I'm not letting you go do you hear me?" He roared and then stormed out of the room slamming the door, leaving a stunned Tsukushi behind him.
She was not too sure how much time had passed before a few brisk knocks on the door roused her from her stupor.
"Come in," she said softly and a maid entered the room with a smile. Much to her confusion, she was made to have a quick shower and put on a beautiful dress. Before she knew what was happening, she was sitting in front of her dresser as her hair was combed and light make-up was applied to her face. All her attempts to ask questions were not successful as all the maid would say was that all would be known in good time. When everything was done to the maid's satisfaction, Tsukushi was led down several corridors until they reached a translucent glass door. When the door was opened, the sheer beauty of the room took her breath away.
She found herself in a room that greatly resembled a glass house with huge windows overlooking a beautiful garden, and was filled with dozens and dozens of roses of every colour and every shade. There was a small pathway strewn with red petals leading up to platform where a table had been set for two. The room was filled with the lovely strains of a violin although no player could be seen. She was so lost in her surroundings that she almost did not notice two servants hurrying into the room and pulling her maid aside. After a short discussion, they left and her maid was looking increasingly nervous until the butler arrived. His appearance was also rather harried.
"I'm sorry, miss. However, the young master is feeling rather indisposed at the moment. Would you prefer to have your meal here since everything has been prepared, or would you rather have your meal in your room?"
"I'm afraid I don't understand. Was I suppose to be having a meal here?"
"Didn't the young master tell you … …" the butler's voice trailed away when he saw the obvious confusion on her face. "He has been preparing this surprise for you for quite a while, miss. We were told to get everything ready and when he arrived early today to go straight to your room, I thought he was telling you about lunch. He had been really looking forward to it … …"
Until the news of his marriage was revealed to me, Tsukushi thought as she looked at the surroundings again. A lump came into her throat as she realised how much effort had gone into the preparations. Naturally, he had a lot of resources at his command, but to take so much trouble on her behalf … … There was no way a man could do this for a woman that he treated as mere chattel.
"Where is he?" She asked the butler quietly at the end of her contemplations.
"In his library, but I wouldn't recommend that you … …"
"Take me there," her tone did not allow for any objections and with a repressed sigh, the butler obeyed. "And, please leave a medical kit outside the room as well."
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Tsukasa poured another glass of brandy down his throat. The sharp pain in his hand seemed to be somewhat receding although admittedly his mind was still relatively clear given the amount of alcohol he had consumed. A mirthless chuckle escaped his lips as the thought that his recent bouts of overindulgence must have had increased his tolerance for strong liquor crossed his mind … …
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"Are you sure you want to go in, Miss?" The butler hesitated when they stopped in front of the library. At her insistence, he unlocked the door shaking his head in resignation and informed her of the location of the medical kit in the library. Nodding her thanks, Tsukushi took a deep breath as she braced herself for the pending confrontation and stepped into the familiar room.
She paused at the scene that met her eyes. Tsukasa was resting his head on one folded arm and the other was stretched out carelessly beside an empty bottle of brandy and an overturned glass. His deep, rhythmic breathing indicated that he was totally out of it. With a little sigh partly of relief and partly of disappointment, Tsukushi went to retrieve the medical kit and set about the task of cleaning his bloodied hand and removing the splinters that she could see. She decided not to bandage his hand, not being sure if he had broken any bones. Her task completed, she put the kit away and stared at his sleeping form for another moment before heaving a sigh and walking out of the library.
If she had only looked back she would have seen a pair of dark eyes, still cloudy from drink, staring with confusion at her departing form. The fingers of one hand unfurled in a gesture to stop her departure and the lips parted for an instance before they were clamped firmly shut … …
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What on earth had happened to her? It had been a week since their last meeting and that soul-shattering kiss … … Focus, boy, focus! He shook his head as he forced his libido down and gathered his scattered thoughts - it had been eons since he lost control, probably not since he was a hormone driven teenager. Walking up to place an order for his "companion" at the bar, Ray quickly grabbed the opportunity to get some information out of the bartender.
"Oh ho, so you like our dancers, my boy?" He had to refrain himself from punching the daylights out of the bartender who was jeering at him and wriggling his eyebrows in a lascivious manner. "Well, we're not at our best today. Not since one of our top dancers suddenly walked out of us a few days ago. The boss is in a bit of a blue funk about it. He's looking for a replacement." A few more questions whilst the drinks were prepared made Ray more certain than ever that the bartender was talking about Tsukushi.
"There was a bit of scandal about it actually," the bartender leant towards Rui in a confiding manner, pleased to have such an attentive audience. "She resigned over the phone. Some cleaner heard the boss yelling. Never set foot into this place after she left with a rich son of a bitch one night. And you know the famous politician, Yamada? Yeah, he was found badly beaten up and unconscious on the floor in one of the rooms the same night she left. We figured the men were fighting over her, but naturally you know politician and their fear of bad publicity. Yamada never said a word about his attacker … …" The bartender mopped the table and added just as Ray turned to go, "strange really. She was always the quiet one of the lot – as they say, it's the quiet ones you have got to watch. But naturally the Doumyouji heir is the richest man in Japan – highest bidder eh?"
Ray's grip on the glasses tightened until his knuckles turned white as the crude bastard laughed loudly at his own joke. He reminded himself firmly that he was on a job, thus violence was not acceptable and would not resolve anything. Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down, Ray managed to walk away. When he reached his table, he found his client pouting petulantly at the length of time that he took to get her drink. A smooth lie and a few minutes of subjecting her to the full force of his famous charm was all that was needed to placate her. However, Ray's thoughts were far away even as he went through the usual, practiced motions and said the necessary things.