Disclaimer: I own nothing! Except the plot. :)
Enjoy this penultimate chapter! (I think it's penultimate, unless I go overboard writing the next one).
Family Planning
By Onkiu
Chapter Seventeen: Birthday party
Tsubaki beamed at Tsukushi's agreement (which was, in fact, more of a resignation).
Tsukushi, however, soon realised that Tsubaki not only had a habit of continuing on her own tangent after hearing only half of someone's story, but she also had a strange tendency to downplay things that did not require downplaying.
When Tsubaki said that her party was 'pretty soon', she had, in fact meant a few months later. Tsukushi ended up staying much longer than she had intended at the Domyouji residence while waiting for Tsubaki's birthday party. In those tedious months, she had tried her very best to avoid seeing Kaede at home - though it was not too hard, considering the fact that Kaede was barely at home. Domyouji's strange mood swing was, thankfully, an isolated incidence catalysed by the mirror in the maternity wear boutique, and he had reverted to being the arrogant and proud Domyouji the very next day, once again berating her for being a commoner.
Over the months, Tsukushi had carefully adjusted her stomach (with some help from Domyouji) to grow in size to match the months that had past as she patiently waited to fulfill her promise to Tsubaki. By the time her birthday party came, Tsukushi's stomach was the size of a woman nearing the end of her third trimester and about to go into labour, such that Domyouji had to get a tailor to make a special set of clothes for her ("No future Domyouji is going to wear off the rack maternity wear," he had declared haughtily).
When Tsubaki said that her party was 'just a small thing for family and a few friends', it turned out that she had meant over two hundred guests in an A-list function consisting of family members to celebrities, and close friends to politicians. Secretly, Tsukushi was thankful that Domyouji had declared that she was to not wear anything off the rack; amongst the clothes that he had commissioned the tailor to make for her, there was a beautiful gown that was worthy of being worn to such an extravagant event.
After refusing help from either the maids or Domyouji, Tsukushi struggled into the gown, managed as well as she could with limited make-up skills she had, and clogged haplessly down the corridor in her stupidly high stilettos (which Tsubaki had kindly leant her) towards the vast lawns of the Domyouji residence, which was where Tsubaki's birthday party was.
The lawns that were mown so carefully and trimmed so neatly during the day had transformed into something grand by night. Fairy lights wove their way around the trees far above the guests heads. A string quartet was playing a soothing melody in the background, complementing the chatterings and murmurings of the guests as they mingled. A long banquet table had been set out in the middle, piled with delicious finger food made by the highly acclaimed chefs of the Domyouji residence.
Tsukushi became suddenly very aware of the bulge protruding from her stomach, and felt that it would, most certainly, draw her attention. She felt even more thankful than before for Domyouji's rare foresight - it was indeed lucky that she was wearing a designer maternity evening wear, or she would have felt even more self conscious than she needed to.
Tsukushi scanned the crowds of people, trying to find the F4 so that she would have a group to blend and disappear into. There were so many people; she could even recognize some of them from TV shows and movies. Thankfully, she did not have to search long, because the F4 had found her before she could find them.
"Makino!" scowled Domyouji loudly, a slightly annoyed look on his face as he stride purposefully towards her, parting the crowds of people holding champagne glasses as he charged on. A slightly bemused Rui, and an embarrassed looking Akira and Soujiro followed hastily behind. "What took you so long?!"
"Well, sorry that it was so hard to fit into this tight dress!" retorted Tsukushi, equally as loud. The crowds were now staring at them.
Soujiro slapped his forehead, and Akira averted his gaze from the scene like two embarrassed parents watching their kids fight in public. Rui was trying to hold in fits of laughter.
"You! You-" began Domyouji, looking at her up and down, trying to think of a comeback. "... you look beautiful."
"What?!" cried Tsukushi, who was expecting something insulting, and had been working hard to think of a retort while Domyouji was thinking. She flushed up, and hissed, "Don't say something stupid like that so loudly in public!"
"What's wrong with telling the world that I think the girl I love is beautiful?" smirked Domyouji, holding out his arm to her, to which Tsukushi accepted after a moment's hesitation. "Let's go."
As they walked along, people pointed and whispered at them. Tsukushi felt even more self conscious than ever, though Domyouji seemed quite oblivious to it. She tried to assure herself that they weren't whispering about her stomach; they were whispering about the four handsome men she was with. Indeed, they were especially attractive tonight, dressed smartly in their suits. It was no wonder that they were drawing so much attention.
Domyouji lead her to the buffet table.
"Pregnant women should eat more," he declared loftily. "Moreover, because you're such a malnourished commoner, you should eat even more."
"Shut up," said Tsukushi, but upon seeing the table piled high with delicious looking delicacies, she felt that she could finally take advantage of the fake stomach and pig out without having to offer any lame excuse.
"Do you need help, Makino?" asked Rui gently. "What do you want to eat?"
"I want this," said Tsukushi, pointing at some sashimi. Rui nodded at the chef, who put it on a plate.
"And this," she said, pointing at something that looked like beef. Rui looked meaningfully at the chef.
"And this... this as well... and this... oh, that looks yummy, I want this one too... and this..."
By the time Tsukushi had finished selecting what she wanted to eat, she had ended up with two plates that carried a sample of every single dish from the buffet table.
"Would you like me to help you carry it?" Rui offered, smiling radiantly at her. "Or would you like me to get you a drink?"
"There'd be no need for that," snapped Domyouji, shoving Rui out of the way as he stood in between them. Rui had outdone him in terms of impressing Tsukushi. The old feelings of one-sided rivalry were beginning to flare up - how he wished that he had thought of being nice to her to attract her attention instead of teasing her as he usually did! "I'll carry it for her."
Domyouji grabbed the plates from Rui (having big hands, he managed to carry both plates in one hand), turned around to Tsukushi, grabbed her wrist, and said, "Let's go. I have people to introduce you to."
He marched quickly to get away from Rui's magnetism, dragging Tsukushi in tow.
"Where are we going? Who are you introducing me to?" asked Tsukushi as she struggled to keep up with Domyouji's brisk pace.
"Someone," said Domyouji vaguely. In reality, it was merely an excuse to get her away from Rui, but now that she was asking, he had better find someone to introduce her to. Noticing the fact that he was still carrying two plates, he said, "Actually, you better eat first."
He put the two plates down on one of the many tables set up across the lawn, and he and Tsukushi seated themselves at the table. The food now before her, she momentarily forgot about being concerned with the person to whom she was to be introduced to and sank her teeth into it.
Domyouji took this opportunity to make sure that Tsukushi was not to accept any more favours from Rui, and with this objective in mind, he had developed a realistic story to go with it.
Sometimes, my own genius amazes me, smirked Domyouji, feeling very proud of himself. Life is really unfair when there are some people who are as handsome, rich and clever as I am.
"Makino, you know that this is not only a birthday party, but this is also an event to attract publicity for the Domyouji empire," began Domyouji importantly, taking the opportunity for Tsukushi's mouth to be full so that she could not think of any clever and witty comebacks. "As a consequence of this, there will be paparazzi about. What would they say when they see the future Domyouji lady accepting favours from another man, and none other than the heir of the Hanazawa empire? You'll not only ruin our reputation, but you'll ruin Rui's too!"
"He was just helping me with food," said Tsukushi, in between mouthfuls. "It's not like I'm doing anything awkward with him. Even if the paparazzi see it, they're not going to be able to write anything about it."
"Yes, they will! Imagine what they could say! 'Domyouji heir's wife accepts favours from Hanazawa heir!'" scowled Domyouji.
"Yeah, and all they'll see is him handing a plate of food to me!" retorted Tsukushi.
"This is what I hate about you commoners the most! You don't understand anything about the upper medallions of society, do you?"
"You mean echelons, right?" began Tsukushi, but then she noticed Domyouji's familiar, angry face, and understanding dawned upon her. She set down her fork and knife and smirked. "Oho. Don't tell me that you're jealous?"
"Who'd be jealous about losing the malnourished commoner they love to a potent rival?" scoffed Domyouji, intending for it to be a witty comeback but unaware of the full meaning of what had slipped out of his mouth.
Tsukushi laughed, and resumed eating, having confirmed what she knew already.
"So, who were you going to introduce me to?" she asked nonchalantly, just to make sure it wasn't his mother. She remembered very well the last time he had introduced her to his mother at his own birthday party. Unpleasant would have been an underestimation of the fiasco.
"Uh," began Domyouji, remembering that he was supposed to introduce her to someone. He scanned the crowds, trying to find someone suitable to talk to, but realised that he didn't really want to speak to any of them either.
"Oh, well, he's gone. I can't see him anymore," he lied. Tsukushi, who had been scanning the crowds as well to see for herself who Domyouji wanted to introduce her to, breathed a sigh of relief. Frankly, she didn't want to join in this kind of culture. Having finished eating, she sat there contentedly with Domyouji by her side, watching the crowds mingle and guzzle champagne. It was then that she noticed someone there.
"Hey, look!" cried Tsukushi. "Isn't that Matsumoto Jun?!"
"Who's Matsumoto Jun?" glared Domyouji suspiciously, squinting at the crowd, trying to find who this person was. Whoever this man was, to get Tsukushi so excited, he was not a good man.
"He's this handsome star that I've had a crush on since junior high school! I can't believe I get to see him in person!" cried Tsukushi. "Oh, Yuki would be so jealous when she hears this! Have you got a pen and paper, Domyouji?"
"No, I don't!" snapped Domyouji, the jealousy written plainly all over his face. "And you're not going to get an autograph or any form of writing from him!"
"Why not?!" she seethed.
"No future Domyouji should be groveling at the feet of some B-list star to get an autograph!"
"Hey, he's not a B-list star, and I'm not groveling!" snapped Tsukushi.
Moreover, how can you be so sure that I am going to be a future Domyouji? That wouldn't be for a few years, at the very least! I should get the freedom to do whatever I want!
"I'm not a Domyouji yet, so I get to do whatever I want," declared Tsukushi. "And you're not stopping me."
"Fine," snapped Domyouji. "Do you want his autograph so badly?"
"Yes, I do!" she cried.
"And which one's Matsumoto Jun?"
"That man there with the curly hair," said Tsukushi, pointing.
"Wait for me here. Don't move."
Tsukushi watched as Domyouji walked towards the crowd, and tap Matsumoto Jun on the shoulder. For a moment, she feared he would punch him, but then he said something to him. Domyouji then took out a pen and paper from inside his jacket (Tsukushi had the feeling he was lying before when he said that he didn't have pen and paper), and handed it to him. Matsumoto Jun signed it with a smile, and Domyouji was soon back by Tsukushi's side.
"I don't see why you need some B-list star's autograph when you have the most handsome man in Japan as your boyfriend," said Domyouji gruffly as he shoved the piece of paper back to Tsukushi, trying to get it scrunched up in the process.
"Thank you, Domyouji," said Tsukushi, touched by his (if slightly childish) actions. Though he could be selfish at times, she realised that he had matured from the time she had first met him. Instead of only considering what he himself wanted the most - that is, Tsukushi - he had come to be considerate about what Tsukushi's feelings and what she wanted. "You know, I can't imagine you asking anything from anyone. Usually, you'd just take what you want. So, how'd you ask him for it?"
She could imagine it now. He had probably said something like, "Give me your autograph, or else I'll kill you!"
The very thought of it made her giggle.
"What's so funny?!" scowled Domyouji.
"How'd you ask him?"
"I said that my girlfriend was a big fan of yours, and that she'd really love to have your autograph. He asked me what her name was, and then he signed it," shrugged Domyouji, as if it were no big deal.
Tsukushi smiled her thanks at him and opened the piece of paper.
"To my lovely malnourished commoner" read Tsukushi. "'With love, Matsujun.'"
Tsukushi turned and glared at him, as Domyouji smirked back at her. It felt like the old times when he played childish pranks on her.
"My name is not 'lovely malnourished commoner'," said Tsukushi bluntly.
"I told him that was your nickname," declared Domyouji triumphantly, as if he won this bout, or as if this was even a bout in the first place.
"I want one that says 'To my lovely Tsukushi'!"
"How about I sign one for you?" he said. "My autograph is worth at least ten of his."
"I don't want your signature!" cried Tsukushi. She was about to continue her tirade when she noticed another one of the stars she was a fan of.
"Isn't that Takumi from Trapnest? He's even more handsome in person than on his music videos!"
"Don't tell me you want me to get another autograph!" scowled Domyouji.
"I'll get it myself!" declared Tsukushi. But seeing how annoyed and jealous he looked, she decided to give up her pursuit of her favourite celebrities' autographs because it was hurting him. After all, he had made a sacrifice on his pride and dignity by getting Matsumoto Jun's autograph for her; was it not too hard for her to give up something so minor to stop hurting him? Tsukushi knew she had hurt him deeply on more than one count before.
"Never mind," she lied. "I don't like Takumi enough to want his autograph."
Though I really want one from him saying 'My dearest Tsukushi', she thought inwardly, cringing at the opportunity she was missing out on.
"Good thing you came to your senses. I'm more handsome than them anyway." scoffed Domyouji. He then took her by the hand, and lead her back to the crowd. "Let's introduce you to some people. It's about time you made your debut properly, instead of being through some magazine."
As expected, many people soon came up to Domyouji, introducing themselves and enquiring politely about who this lovely lady with him was. With equal politeness, Domyouji introduced Tsukushi variably as his girlfriend or fiancée. It was soon spread through the people at the party that the young master of the Domyouji family was officially attached; his very own words were a confirmation of what had been printed as rumours in the media beforehand.
Tired of being introduced over and over to unfamiliar politicians, celebrities and other persons of influence, Tsukushi was grateful when Tsubaki, a familiar face, came up to her.
"Tsukushi dear! I've been looking all over for you!" cried Tsubaki, wrapping her in a hug. "How are you enjoying this party?"
"Good, thank you!" said Tsukushi, stifled in her hug. "Happy birthday, sister! I'm sorry, I didn't prepare a present because I don't know what you don't have..."
"Oh, Tsukushi, we're going to be family soon! Your presence is my present!" said Tsubaki, pulling her back and looking at her. "You look lovely tonight. The baby is getting rather big, isn't it?"
"Yes," muttered Tsukushi nonchalantly, hoping to avert the subject. She had talked about the baby bulge all night and intended not to speak of it any more..
"Anyway, I believe you have not met my husband yet? He flew in today to be with my for my birthday," said Tsubaki. It was then that Tsukushi noticed that Tsubaki was actually with another person. Her husband had such an insignificant aura about him that it was very hard to notice that he was actually there; and if he was with Tsubaki, he was more or less unnoticeable, hidden by Tsubaki's radiant presence. "Yasushi, this is Makino Tsukushi, my future sister. Tsukushi, this is my husband, Yasushi."
"Pleased to meet you," he said politely, shaking her hand.
"Nice to meet you too," said Tsukushi.
"Hello, Brother," said Domyouji, in the pleasantly polite tone that he reserved for people he needed to be polite to.
Tsukushi could now see why the feisty Tsubaki would not have fallen in love with this man initially. He was simply so plain, so demure and so boring - he looked like a typical salary man except that he was far richer than that. He did not look particularly special. He was just a polite, gentle and obliging man, one who quietly told Tsubaki that he would support her. She supposed that that was the reason that Tsubaki fell in love with him later on; he had been an unassuming pillar of strength for her during the times that she needed it.
Domyouji and his brother in law began a pleasant conversation, talking about things like the economy and other topics that Tsukushi could not understand. In the meantime, Tsubaki had once again begun checking on Tsukushi's condition.
"My, my, Tsukushi, you look absolutely gorgeous tonight!" declared Tsubaki.
"You look even better," blushed Tsukushi. Tsubaki looked as if she stepped right out of a glamour magazine.
"The little one has grown so big too!" cried Tsubaki, who had not really seen Tsukushi much over the past few months due to her various social commitments. "Do you know if it's a boy or girl now?"
"No, not really," replied Tsukushi truthfully.
"Keeping it a surprise, eh?" smiled Tsubaki, patting Tsukushi's stomach. "We had better start arranging a room for the baby, but I suppose that for now, you'd much rather have the baby with you in your room?"
"Yes," replied Tsukushi, trying to sound disinterested enough so that the topic would change.
"Excuse me," said Tsubaki's husband, giving Tsubaki a gentle tap on the shoulders. He turned and smiled apologetically at Tsukushi. "I'm sorry to break your conversation, but Tsubaki has to make a speech now. It has been nice meeting you, Miss Makino."
He gave a bow and retreated.
"Nice to meet you too," repeated Tsukushi. She couldn't help but feel surprised. He seemed more like a servant of the Domyouji household than a member of it.
"See you later, Tsukushi," said Tsubaki, giving her a wave.
She was, once again, left alone with Domyouji.
"There's one more person whom I'd like to introduce you to," said Domyouji.
"Who?" asked Tsukushi. Did he have a mysterious third sibling?
"My Mother."
"WHAT?!" cried Tsukushi. "No way! We don't need any more introducing to!"
Memories of their encounter at Domyouji's birthday party were still very clear in her head.
"I want to introduce you to her as my fiancée," said Domyouji seriously. "I want to set our relationship in stone before anything about the pregnancy being fake is exposed."
"We're not engaged!"
Domyouji sighed at how dense Tsukushi could sometimes be. He rummaged through his pocket, and then found it. It was a little velvet box. He opened it, and inside, was a stunning diamond ring.
He got down on a bended knee and said, "I knew it was stupid of me to ask you casually to marry me at that ramen shop without even giving you this. I'm going to do this seriously now. Makino, will you marry me?"
"I... I..."
Tsukushi was lost for words. Tears welled up in her eyes. A part of her, the part that needed and depended on Domyouji so much, knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life.
But inside her, another part, her independent streak, told her that she needed time before committing herself to be dependent on a man for the rest of her life. After all, she was not even twenty yet. She still had the rest of her life before her, and it had always been her dream to go to university and get a fulfilling career before staying at home full time to raise children.
A crowd had gathered around them, as Tsukushi stood there, too stunned for words, with Domyouji before her, presenting the ring on a bended knee. Tsukushi could not see them. She was too wrapped up in her thoughts.
This will happen sooner or later anyway, Tsukushi. You know that, deep in your heart, you will be with him forever.
But, I still want to go to university. I still want to have a job. If I commit myself to him now, I will probably depend on him for financial security for the rest of my life. I don't need a ring to affirm our eternal love.
Ring or no ring, you will still be with him forever. You're with him right now, Tsukushi. You still have a job, and you still go to school despite him trying to pay for your every need. Nothing will change once you get married. You will still have a job, you will still go to university. You will rely on him only as much as you relied on him right now. More than anything, you need his emotional support, you need the type of support that no one else but he can provide. You need his companionship.
You need him.
By now, Domyouji was staring at Tsukushi, worried about her hesitation.
Did she not want to marry me?
Perhaps it had been too soon to ask her.
Why do I always have to hurry things with Makino? Was I that worried that Mother will stop us before anything gets confirmed?
"Makino, I don't want to rush you. I will wait-"
"I accept," said Tsukushi quietly. The tears that were threatening to spill were now rolling down her cheeks. So many times in the past, she had cried over Domyouji out of frustration, anger, and sadness. But this time, her tears were of pure joy. It was something she knew would happen in the end; so what if it happened sooner than she expected?
Life is full of surprises.
Domyouji's face was clearly stunned at her sudden acceptance as he gawked up at her in wonder. He got up and took the ring gently from its box. He took her hand in his, and slid the beautiful diamond ring over her ring finger.
Tsukushi gazed the ring on her left hand in wonder. It was so brilliant; so beautiful, so extravagant. She probably could not have afforded this ring even in a year. If her parents knew about this, they'd probably go into retirement already.
"A toast to the new couple!" cried Soujiro, who had been watching from the sidelines. Champagne glasses were passed around and there was the sound of clinking as everyone came to congratulate them.
"They're not new!" reprimanded Akira.
As more champagne was being poured, Domyouji whispered to Tsukushi, "Let's go and see Mother now."
"Right now? Can't we wait?" said Tsukushi, wiping the tears off her face. The thought of seeing Kaede was a bit daunting, even in her current numb state of bliss.
"You're going to have to face her sooner or later," scowled Domyouji. "It's more polite if you do it now!"
"Since when did you know anything about being polite?!" scoffed Tsukushi.
Akira, who had been watching them, laughed. It was back to normal now.
"Once I tell her that we're engaged, there's no way that she can stop us anymore," said Domyouji. "Even after she finds out that you weren't pregnant."
"Let me go freshen my face first, okay?" said Tsukushi, trying to procrastinate a little further. The dried tears were now sticking to her face uncomfortably. She would have to see Kaede sooner or later, and it was probably good manners for her to go now.
She made her way back up to the Domyouji mansion, as Tsubaki's voice resonated through the lawn.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! How are we all? Enjoying yourselves?"
There was an indecipherable murmur from the crowds.
She couldn't believe that it had only been a moment ago when Tsubaki's husband had told her to prepare to make a speech. It felt like a million years. Time seemed to have frozen when Domyouji proposed to her. The ring now sat on her ring finger as a familiar and comfortable presence, as if it had always been on her hand.
"I would like to thank you all for coming. It's been a great pleasure to see you all here tonight, celebrating my years with me!"
Tsukushi walked along the tiny path flanked by rose bushes towards one of the entrances of the Domyouji mansion. The rose bushes, which had been watered during the day, were like splendid creations at night. The paths were slightly soaked from the watering that the gardeners had been doing during the day. Tsukushi made sure to trudge carefully over it, but it was too hard. The combination of a wet floor, stilettos far too high and a heavy stomach strapped to her front made her lose her balance and slip.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" cried Tsukushi, landing heavily on her posterior with a dull thud. It hurt; pain signals were shooting up from her butt towards her brain.
"... I would also like to thank you all for your - OH MY GOODNESS, is that you, Tsukushi?! Tsukushi!"
A panicked murmur rose from the crowds.
Did I scream so loudly for Sister to hear me? thought Tsukushi incoherently as she tried to get up. But it was too hard; the sheer size of the stomach weighed down heavily on her, and the stilettos made it very hard for her to leap to her feet. It was then that she noticed that her left ankle was becoming quite swollen, and it felt quite painful too.
Crap, did I twist my ankle too? thought Tsukushi. I shouldn't have worn something that high.
She made another attempt to get up, but it was too hard now that she was feeling not one but two sources of pain. She resorted to lying there on her back as some people from the party, alerted to her location from her scream, found her.
"Oww... owww..." she groaned, her attempt at getting up exacerbating her pain.
The first people to find her were, thankfully, the F4. Upon seeing her lying spread-eagled on the floor, her stomach rising from her like a mountain, Rui couldn't help but try to stifle his giggles. Soujiro and Akira made no qualms about it and burst into laughter. Domyouji's eyebrow twitched at how embarrassing yet inviting Tsukushi's position was.
"Owww, owww," moaned Tsukushi. "It hurts..."
Domyouji gawked at her, the blood dripping from his nose.
"Stop lying there moaning sexily!" he yelled, his face flushing up, stunned at how attractive Tsukushi was while sprawled on the ground in a position what many others perceived to be comical than sexy.
"I'm not moaning sexily," wailed Tsukushi. "But it really hurts!"
Domyouji, finding it hard to resist his temptations, was about to lift her up into a less compromising position when Tsubaki came rushing towards them, trailed by her husband, Tama, Kaede and a plethora of unknown supporting characters.
"Tsukushi! Tsukushi! Are you alright?!" wailed Tsubaki.
"It hurts..." moaned Tsukushi, rubbing her ankle.
Tsubaki looked from the puddle of water (that made her slip) in between her legs to Tsukushi, who was moaning in pain while bent in a position that looked more as if she was holding her stomach rather than rubbing her ankle.
It didn't take a genius to put two and two together.
"Oh my goodness! The amniotic fluid is leaking! She's about to go into labour!"
The crowd that was surrounding her gasped and murmured in surprise.
"No, I'm not!" wailed Tsukushi, who had no idea what amniotic fluid was.
"She's not!" added Domyouji helpfully. Tsubaki gave him a dirty look.
"Everyone, move out of the way, give her some breathing space! Tama, call an ambulance!"
The crowd obliged and gave her more room. Tama nodded and hobbled surprisingly quickly back towards the house.
"I don't want to go to a hospital," cried Tsukushi, pain searing her ankle and bum.
"It can't be helped, Tsukushi dear, we don't have an obstetrician at home," said Tsubaki gently, wiping the sweat that had resulted from Tsukushi's panic off her face. Tsubaki understood the sweat to be from the activity being induced by labour.
"You can't take her to the hospital!" said Domyouji helpfully.
"Says who?!" cried Tsubaki, flaring up.
"You can't, because..." began Domyouji.
"... She's scared of hospitals," said Soujiro. "Isn't that right, Tsukushi? Hospitalophobia!"
He had hoped that a big word that sounded like a scientific term would be enough to stop Tsubaki sending Tsukushi to the hospital, but clearly, it wasn't enough. Tsubaki was giving him a weird look as if he had just spoken jibberish.
"Yeah, I'm scared!" cried Tsukushi. I'm scared of being found out!
"She doesn't have health insurance," added Rui, as if that would stop Tsubaki taking her to the hospital.
"I'm sorry, Sister," wailed Tsukushi. "Please don't ruin your birthday party for my sake! Go on, continue it! Don't worry about me, I'm fine!"
"I don't care!" cried Tsubaki. "I'm not letting anything hinder the birth of my nephew!"
Tsukushi looked haplessly at the F4, trying to send them desperate eye signals. She knew they were all thinking the same thing; that is, to stop her going to the hospital at all costs, but persuading Tsubaki to do so was hard since she was absolutely resolute about Tsukushi getting the best treatment in hospital. Try as they might, the F4 were unsuccessful in stopping Tsubaki. As expected, their excuses were weak and unjustifiable.
The ambulance soon arrived, and Tsukushi was loaded into it, all the while moaning, "It hurts!" and "I don't want to go to hospital!"
Domyouji and Tsubaki got in after her, but before they left, Rui said, "Tsukasa, we will be following you. Keep in touch!"
Domyouji nodded, acknowledging the support of his friends. He gave them a grim look as the doors of the ambulance closed on them, and with sirens blaring, the ambulance drove out of the gates of the Domyouji estate, leaving the guests stunned by this new development.
"Let's go," said Rui, leading Soujiro and Akira to his car. Soujiro and Akira looked at each other worriedly, wondering whether to get into Rui's car or if they should wait for their chauffeurs. But desperate times called for desperate measures. They were heading towards where Rui's car was parked when they noticed one of the Domyouji family SPs standing at the door of a limousine, talking to someone in it.
"President, it seems like this will come to an end. We will find out the truth soon."
The man then closed the door and the limousine drove off.
"We'd better get going if we don't want the truth exposed," whispered Akira, as they got into Rui's car. "We're going to have to intercept her limousine at all costs."
"We will," said Rui, turning on the ignition.
Without waiting to be asked, Akira and Soujiro quickly buckled their seatbelts. Rui stepped on the accelerator and they sped off after the limousine.
Next chapter: Tsukushi and Domyouji are at the hospital! How are they going to put off the birth of the child? What are they going to do! Stay tuned as Family Planning draws to a close!
Yep, it's about to draw to a close. THE END IS NIGH! BWHAHAHA. I've been planning this end for a while now so I can start on something new! Keep reading my profile for updates :) Cheers!
PS: Merry (belated) Christmas! I finished this chapter on Boxing Day, but I don't know when this will be uploaded. It's NYE now... so, here's wishing that 2007 will be better than 2006!