Kyoko woke-up with the sound of her alarm on her phone. It was already seven in the morning and her phone has been ringing for quite sometime. "Oh no!" She exclaimed upon seeing that she missed thirty three missed calls from Sayuki. They were supposed to meet at 6 in the morning for their trip in Nomazu since their team were invited to do an exhibition race. The hosts expect them to arrive before noon.
She rushed to her bathroom and took a quick hot bath while coming up of an alibi to Sayuki. She called Sayuki and told her that her Rx7's tire got flat and she needed to change tires and so she would be late.
"We went ahead already." Sayuki explained. "It will be such a shame if we all come in late."
"It's okay Sayuki. It's terrible that I had to change tires before I could take a bath. I will just get there on my own, I have a GPS anyway." She said in a nervous voice. Honestly, she dislikes long-drives alone. She feels safer when their team is on a convoy because anyone can readily help when something happens to another.
She wore her shorts, sleeveless tank top and sneakers. She looked at the mirror and was worried with the way she looked. "I look rugged, and dirty." She thought. But she realized she has no more time to think of a better outfit. She grabbed her aviator sunglasses and her cap as she hurried in the garage.
She listened to the radio as soon as she get in the car. She remembered Keisuke as she drove. But she tries to get him out of her mind. "I need to focus on driving. I have a long way to go before I get there." The road was full of curves and a bit slippery because of the dew. At 7 in the morning, the path was still fogy when she reached the mountain. Three more hours of driving in a slippery and fogy mountain before she gets to her destination. What made the long drive even more difficult is that she has to follow the speed limit which is only 60 kilometers per hour.
She arrived at Nomazu before noon, feeling a little bit hungry after that long drive she just had. As she got down her car, she felt the cold air on her legs and arms and realize that she is on top of the mountain. The hotel area is filled with tall pine trees that made the place look as if it's a forest.
She headed for the hotel's front desk where a concierge greeted her and assisted her on her luggage. She mentioned the name Sayuki and the front desk officer gave the key to their cabin. She called Sayuki to looking for them.
"Kyoko, finally you're there. We were invited to have lunch at the house of Mr. Fujimori. It's a little far from the hotel. Might as well take a rest there." Sayuki said as Kyoko agreed with her.
She decided to just eat lunch at the hotel and take a nap afterwards since she felt unusually tired.
"Perhaps, I'm overworking." She thought as she entered the cabin.
The cabin has two floors where the bedrooms are located. At the first floor the living room and dinning room are located. The living room is very spacious with lots of space for big sofas that are soft as if hugging the person sitting on it. There's a gorgeous fireplace just beside a wooden rocking chair. Near the dinning area is the veranda that overlooks the forest. It is also the best place to view the mount fuji on a clear day.
Kyoko was happy upon seeing how beautiful their cabin was. She thought of what to do first upon seeing a lot of amenities in the cabin. She saw a coffee maker and a tea maker in the kitchen and was torn between drinking coffee or tea first. As she walked around, she lied down on the sofas and turned on the huge flat screen television. But then, she can't help but wanted to see her room as well.
As she entered her bedroom, she felt a little bit disappointed. She was expecting a huge bed with very thick blankets. But, instead, it was traditional bedding on the wooden floor.
"Ok, I have no choice." She lied down again and tried to rest a bit. But then she realized she haven't called Keisuke who had been calling her since morning.
"Keisuke, hello. I have arrived here in Numazu. Where are you?" She asked.
"Thank goodness you're already there. I have been calling you since morning. I was worried." Keisuke sounded really upset.
"I was driving. I couldn't answer the phone. Where are you?" She asked eagerly because she wanted to see him already.
"We are at the imperial villa." He whispered.
She was astonished and wondered what he's doing in a tourist attraction. She did not responded immediately. Perhaps Keisuke sensed her curiosity.
"I will explain later once I get there. In the meantime, you should probably eat and rest afterwards. There's a lot of events waiting for you tonight." He explained.
She decided to go to the restaurant in the hotel eat lunch since none of her companions are in there. She walked in the hallways of the hotel, seeing the mountain surrounding the forest. The breeze is cold and she realized she's wearing the wrong outfit. She decided to go back to her cabin. But as she walked towards it, she felt like she is being watched or being followed. She looked around the area but saw no one.
She is afraid to open the door of her cabin. "It's not safe." She thought. She made up scenarios in her head how another person might come inside her cabin to attack her and kill her. She decided not to change clothes anymore and head to the restaurant where there are plenty of people. As she walked, she still felt someone was there following her. She ran fast until she found a hallway with people.
She entered into a beautiful restaurant where people seem to be wearing formal clothes. Men are in their suit, women are in their corporate attire. She felt as if she looked like a piece of trash in a clean room. "Why did I ever wear this shorts and tank top? I am always in my pants and blazer."She shrugged the thought and gathered her confidence. "I have money and I can afford this restaurant, doesn't matter if I look like a trash."
As she is waiting for her food, she tried calling Keisuke. But he didn't answer. She is still afraid to go back to her cabin alone. She then called Sayuki but she didn't answer as well. She sent a message to Keisuke saying: Where are you? How long will it take you to be here? I am afraid. I feel like someone is following me. Please come immediately.
Keisuke and the rest of Project D is also at Nomazu for an exhibition game. Kyoko would be at peace if only she sees at least one of Project D's crew. But it looks like none of them is at the hotel.
"Who could that be?" She thought. "Why would a person follow me?" She's been contemplating as she drinks her tea. She's feeling a little dizzy. She thought perhaps because she's been tired of driving. She wants to sleep but she's scared to go back to her cabin. Her phone rang. She answered immediately without even looking who's on the line.
"Hello! Keisuke, thank goodness you finally answered. I'm scared. Someone's following me." She exclaimed at the top of her lungs. Her loud voice caught the attention of people in the restaurant. She noticed this and lowered her voice.
"Kyoko?" She recognized this deep manly voice. It's Aki's.
"Aki! Oh. I'm so sorry. I'm just…" She didn't finish her sentence.
"Kyoko, what's going on? Did I hear it right? Someone is following you?" Aki sounded worried.
"Yes. Someone is following me. I can't go back to my cabin." She said almost whispering.
"Are you alone? Where's everybody? I thought you're with Mako and Sayuki?" He said a little bit angry.
"I came late. So they left me. They are with our event organizer. They went out to eat." She said feeling vertiginous.
"I will come there immediately." He said in a hurried voice.
"Aki, you don't have to. It will take you four hours to get here." She's already catching her breath. She looked at her surroundings and everything looks like it's moving. She closed her eyes and collapsed on the floor.
"Kyoko? Kyoko! Kyoko!" Aki is screaming and is really worried and don't understand what just happened.
The waiter saw what happened and immediately called the medic for help. The hotel manager called Sayuki to inform her of what happened to Kyoko. Keisuke learned about Kyoko's fainting and is anxious. He called the hotel manager to ask Kyoko's condition.
"She's not yet awake sir. We called an ambulance to bring her to a bigger hospital. Your friend sir arrived and brought her to their room." The manager said.
"Friend? Who's that friend?" He said angrily.
"He's also a guest sir. He said she's with Ms. Kyoko. He said he is your friend."
Keisuke got so worried who's that friend the manager was pertaining. He thought that man must be the one following Kyoko all day long. He knew Kyoko is in danger whoever that person may be. He drove fast not minding the speed limit. He arrived in the hotel in less than ten minutes even earlier than the ambulance and hurried to the office of the hotel manager. He explained to the manager that Kyoko is alone and she's in danger.
They headed to the cabin of the man who took Kyoko. Keisuke open the door and saw the man without shirt standing in front of Kyoko who's lying in bed unconscious. It looks like as if he's planning to rape her. Keisuke immediately punch the man in the face.
"Who are you? What did you do to her?" Keisuke shouted at the man and threw another punch in the face.
The manager tried to stop Keisuke but he was too furious and strong to be stopped. Another punch landed on the face of the man to the point he's face is turning blue.
Another strong arms pulled Keisuke and stopped him from hurting the man again.
"Keisuke, leave this to the police. If you go on beating this guy you will also end up in jail." Ryosuke calmly said still pulling Keisuke's arms.
The police is with Ryosuke and they immediately cuffed the man who took Kyoko. The ambulance arrived at the same time and placed Kyoko in a stretcher.
"One family member can accompany the patient in the ambulance." The doctor told Keisuke and Ryosuke.
"I will accompany her. I am a doctor." Ryosuke said as a matter of fact.
Keisuke is still worried and angry. He doesn't seem to know what to do first. Whether he'll follow the ambulance or he'll go to the police station to find out who's that man who almost took advantage of Kyoko.
"Keisuke, calm down. You can fix this. You better go to the police station and file a case against the man. We need to know who he is." Ryosuke explained.
"But Kyoko is still unconscious. Why hasn't she wake up yet? What if something serious happened to her that's why she's still unconscious?" He said anxiously.
"The hospital will do laboratory tests to find out why she became unconscious. I will handle everything in the hospital. I will give you an update immediately. Now, do your part." Ryosuke left with the ambulance. Keisuke and Kenta headed to the police station. Again, Keisuke drove furiously on their way to the police as if he's on a race. He poured his anger and anxiety on driving. Even Kenta got scared that they might be apprehended for driving beyond speed limit.
"If only I had gotten there early. That will not happen to her." He said bitterly.
"It's not your fault Keisuke. Don't blame yourself." Kenta is pitying Keisuke for he is in a deep misery.
"I will never forgive myself if something happens to her Kenta. I should have not let her drove alone." Keisuke said as tears fell on his eyes.
"I have never seen Keisuke like this. I have not seen him cared for another person as much as he did now to Kyoko." Kenta thought. As he watched Keisuke weep. He can't find any words to say to comfort him. Kenta knew that Keisuke will only be comforted if he sees Kyoko well and healthy.
Aki arrived in the hospital in a helicopter. He knew it will be too late to help Kyoko if he traveled by land. He went to the information to ask where Kyoko's room is but her name isn't there yet. He began calling Sayuki and Mako but none of them is answering.
"Aki." A voice from behind called him. He turned and saw Ryosuke wearing his calm and poker face.
"Ryosuke. I came here for Kyoko. "I was talking to her on the phone when all of a sudden she's no longer answering. I heard gasping and people panicking. She mentioned that she's being followed." He said seemingly confused of what happened.
"She's still in the emergency room. You should see her yourself Aki. Mako and Sayuki's there. I'll go talk to her doctors." Ryosuke said coldly and left.
Ryosuke sent a text message to Keisuke as soon as he left Aki. "Do you have update on the criminal's identity and motive? Kyoko is still unconscious but doctors got samples of blood for laboratory tests and also checked her heart. Also, I have some bad news for you. Aki is here. It seems like he rode a helicopter just to get here fast."
Keisuke arrived at the hospital room where Kyoko is confined. Ryosuke greeted him with a pat on his shoulder. He approached Kyoko and touched her head.
"I'm sorry Kyoko." He said as he held her hand.
"Keisuke, the doctor found out why she's still unconscious. She was given an illegal drug that caused her to be asleep for twelve hours. These drugs are party drugs and are use to sedate women so she could be harassed freely. It's dangerous because it sometimes causes cardiac arrest. That's why her condition is being monitored." Ryosuke said.
"She won't be able to do her race tonight. Please fix it Ryosuke." He said quietly.
"I'll take care of it. I'll have Takumi take her place and I will take your place in the exhibition race." Ryosuke left Kyoko and Keisuke alone in the hospital room.
Keisuke saw a bunch of red roses on the side table of Kyoko's bed. He saw a note attached on it. It says: Get well soon. Take care. –Akihiro. Keisuke is so annoyed with Aki. So He took it and is about to throw it outside. As we is about to go out of the room. He saw Aki coming near him.
"Keisuke." He greeted him and looked down on the red roses he is holding. Keisuke did not respond and stared at Aki for a while.
"I think that is supposed to be here." Aki snatched the roses on Keisuke's hand and placed it again on the side table.
"What are you doing here?" He inquired in a tone as if taunting Aki.
"Who do you think you are to ask me such questions?" Aki replied confidently. "You are not Kyoko's boyfriend. Neither of us is. So don't act as if you have the authority over me."
"Leave." Keisuke said commandingly.
"I'm leaving not because I'm afraid of you. I just don't want to create any commotion while Kyoko is resting. I'll be back. I'm not giving up this fight Keisuke Takahashi. You don't know what kind of a man I am." Aki replied and left.
Kyoko opened her eyes at the glare of the white light of the hospital room. Keisuke saw her move a little. He is half asleep in the sofa and watched Kyoko all night. He stood and approached her bed immediately. He saw her finally awake. He was ecstatic seeing her conscious already.
"Kyoko. You're awake. How are you feeling?" He inquired.
"What happened to me? How do I end up here?" She asked confused why she's in a hospital.
"You fainted. You were unconscious for a long time."
"What time is it? Oh my gosh! I have an exhibition race." Kyoko said in panic as she tried to stand up.
Keisuke stops her. He holds her shoulder and hand as he stroked her back.
"Everything's been taken care of Kyoko. Takumi took your place in the exhibition game." He explained.
"What about your race? Were you here with me the whole time?" She's still puzzled of what transpired while she is asleep.
"Ryosuke did the racing instead of me. I'm sure he enjoyed it. So don't you worry about it." Keisuke helped her lie down again.
Keisuke explained everything to her, that she was drugged by the man who was following her while she was alone. However, the man said he had been ordered by his boss to do such thing. But he wouldn't divulge whom he's working for. Kyoko felt an upwelling fear when she realized that what happened to her could be planned by someone for a long time already. She thought, that person probably knows everything about her whereabouts. She presumed that this person most possibly wouldn't stop chasing her until he gets what he wants. She bursts in tears, as she couldn't help being terrified with the possibilities in her head. She told Keisuke about all her speculations as she wept. Keisuke, after realizing all this felt a pang of anguish and rage. He is confused on what to do first. If he's going to take care of Kyoko for now or start investigating already. One thing he's sure of. He needs to protect her now more than ever. He needs to assure her that she will be safe with him.
"I will protect you Kyoko. This will not happen to you ever again." Keisuke reassured her. He sat beside her, putting his arms around her. She leaned on his chest as she continues sobbing. Somehow she felt secure in his arms. She is certain that as long as Keisuke is by her side, no one can harm her.