A/N: Hello dear readers. I'm sorry for the long break. I've been busy in the past few months but now I'm happy that I managed to squeeze in a chapter for Invisible Bonds. This is a crucial chapter and I'm so excited because it's a prelude to ShizNat moments that I've been wanting to write. I'm excited at how everything will turn out for Shizuru and Natsuki. Please continue to support this story by writing a review.

17 The Roller Coaster

"Uhm, Sayako-obaa-sama, will Shizuru join us?" Natsuki asked while they were walking out of the airport's arrival area. Natsuki found it hard to look into Sayako's eyes so she focused on her mobile phone and pretended to look around.

"I called her several times this morning but I couldn't reach her number. That's how she is when she doesn't want tot talk. I imagine she's back to work." Sayako replied. "I'll be staying at her apartment tonight so catching up wouldn't be a problem." Sayako smiled at Natsuki and she noticed her worried expression.

Hayato was confused why Natsuki didn't choose a restaurant near the Sky Tower. Instead he is now sitting at a traditional Japanese restaurant near the Tokyo Domestic Airport. "It's quite impractical to drive for 40 minutes just to eat in this restaurant. And since when did she like traditional restaurants?" Hayato was utterly confused about her daughter's behavior. When they reached the restaurant, Natsuki told him that she'll just pick up a friend and will be back soon. Hayato fiddled with the menu given to him by the waitress who stood by the table for his orders.

"I'm waiting for my daughter. Could you serve the food later when she arrives?" Hayato said. The waitress agreed as Hayato chooses from the menu. Hayato turned his head to the entrance of the restaurant. Natsuki is obviously taking too long. Hayato grew tired of turning her head to check on the entrance so he soon busied himself with listening to the water on the nearby Zen Garden on the edge of the restaurant close to table that he occupies. The waitress looked in his direction and Hayato signaled that his company hasn't arrived yet.

"Dad."

Hayato jerked. He was startled when his daughter took a seat away from him. "Why not seat next to me?"

"Hayato."

Hayato turned around to see the source of the soft voice which he thought he was just imagining. "It couldn't be her." He was met with the sight of an older Sayako in a dark green kimono. She has a few lines below her eyes but the honey-colored hair and brown eyes are still the same as they were years ago.

"Saeko would be mad if you look at me as if I'm a monster," Sayako teased. Natsuki's head shot up when she heard her mother's name mentioned with familiarity by Sayako. It means that there are many things about their families that she doesn't know.

"Gomenasai, Sa-Sayako. I-uh, I- I was just surprised," Hayato stammered as he turned his curious gaze to his daughter and then to Sayako. "Please take a seat."

"Thank you," Sayako said as Hayato guides her to the seat right across him. When the three of them were seated, Natsuki decided to open the conversation but the waitress came and served the food.

"So, how do we do this?" Natsuki said. "Eat first? Talk first? Or eat while talking?" She was totally uncaring of Japanese table manners, a result of having lived in the States for years.

"Tea?" Hayato offered. Sayako chuckled and turned her gaze to Natsuki.

"Nat-chan, Hayato and I are childhood friends. We also went to Fuuka High together. In our last year in high school, I served as the Student Council President. Your father was the Vice-President," Sayako casually narrated. Hayato just nodded in agreement not knowing what to say since he is still unsure if it's okay to treat Sayako as he used to in the old days.

Natsuki's eyes widened. "Childhood friends? Fuuka High? Student Council President? Vice-President?" He looked at his father and then at Sayako. "Why are they telling this only now?" She was speechless at the moment and Sayako decided to steer the conversation since she knows that Hayato is still hesitating.

"Hayato, why don't you start from the beginning? I'll help you while you're at it," Sayako suggested. She filled up her teacup and enjoyed the aroma of the served tea.

"Okay, but first I want to hear what you currently know Natsuki. I'm more than surprised, stunned, to see you coming here with your Aunt Sayako," Hayato replied.

"Okay," Natsuki said. She shifted on her sear and then she related her trip to the plantation with Shizuru and how she met Sayako. Hayato listened intently all the while.

"That's how I found out that she's your daughter. She's the split image of Saeko!" Sayako amusingly commented. Natsuki smiled at the comment. "A split image of my Mom."

"Dad, remember when I was in my second year in high school at Nara, I joined a science contest in Fuuka?" Natsuki asked. Hayato just nodded. "You said I'll immediately recognize Uncle Martin's daughter because of her crimson eyes. I was surprised that you mentioned Uncle Martin's name since-," Natsuki paused before looking at Sayako. She received a nod which she took as a sign that it's okay to continue. "-after the accident, we never talked about him. I saw her but I got too afraid to approach her. I ran away from her when I bumped into her after I came out of the rest room in Fuuka. I learned that her last name is Fujino since people addressed her as Fujino-Kaichou so I assumed that Uncle Martin had adopted a Japanese surname. Recently, I found out that her full name is Fujino Shizuru," Natsuki paused. "—that's why I borrowed your magazines Dad. I was sure I saw the name somewhere but since I just came back to Japan from the States, I wasn't very familiar with the publications yet."

"Ah I see. So when you found out that Shizuru Viola is Shizuru Fujino, you made the connection," Hayato realized and Natsuki nodded in response. At that point, Natsuki noticed that her father has also begun drinking tea. Sayako and her Dad brought down their teacups on the table simultaneously. Natsuki gulped when she noticed the way they enjoy the repulsive drink out of dried leaves.

"Now, I want to know everything because my head is splitting into two," Natsuki animatedly said. "First, am I right to think that Shizuru is as clueless as me about our parents knowing each other?"

"Yes, you said you didn't talk about Martin after the accident. In my case, I didn't talk about Hayato to my daughter because I didn't want my daughter to have someone to blame on. I already did that to your father," Sayako apologetically said.

The hours passed by quickly and Natsuki couldn't believe everything that she heard from Sayako and her Dad. So that was what she was missing all this time. It wasn't until today that she felt light from the cloud of guilt that has embraced her whenever she goes. To understand that Sayako didn't mean to say the things she said after the accident, to finally hear from Sayako that it was nobody's fault that Martin has to give up his life in order to save a playful child named Natsuki, somehow, Natsuki felt warm inside. Somehow, she felt that a priceless gift that restores her broken past is being given to her. She wanted to cry and she finally, the tears did burst when she hugged Sayako after the conversation that suddenly changed her life.

"Oh Natsuki, don't cry dear. Aunt Sayako has done a lot of mistakes too. I had been harsh towards Hayato. I pushed him away because I needed to blame someone. There were too many problems during those days – my family, I mean the Fujino clan, Shizuru's schooling needs, myself too – everything was so complicated and I was young and immature. I've relied too much on Martin that I couldn't accept his sudden passing. I knew Hayato understood so I didn't take any step to restore our friendship which I threw away. But as time passed by, the years have taught me that I have not handled things properly during those dark days and Martin would have definitely said "You're so childish Sayako". It makes me laugh now. Fate has been kind to bring you to my doorstep one day. And now I get to see my best friend again. Fate has been kind, really," Sayako said as she embraced the sobbing Natsuki. She also let her tears fall freely. Hayato heaved a sigh of relief. He wanted to say something but he decided against it. Sayako has said it all right. Indeed, fate has been kind.

When Natsuki felt that she has cried enough, she gently pulled away from Sayako and wiped her tears with her hanky. For her, there is only one more thing left that needs to be resolved. She looked at her hands on her lap and thought of Shizuru. Sayako noticed Natsuki's worried face and she softly smiled. She's not sure of how her daughter would take the truth but for sure, the time has come for her to know it from her mother. Sayako was internally thankful that Natsuki called her first before spurting out anything to Shizuru.

To lighten the mood, Sayako said, "Hayato, you've handled things quite well and yet I know what Saeko would have said if she were here."

"Yes," Hayato chuckled and then she imitated her wife's action as he said "Hayato, you're so helpless without me." Sayako laughed softly before she turned her head to Natsuki.

"Nat-chan, I have so many things to tell you about your mother. But I guess you know that I have to talk to my daughter first and enlighten her about everything which I thought before were irrelevant. I honestly do not know how she would take all these. The next time you see her, remember that she already knows everything and I want you to reach out to her. She's like me in so many ways. She might shut you out. Please help her."

"I-I would," Natsuki stammered, "I-I would because-"

"—she's important to you, right?" Sayako continued. Natsuki's head shot up and she looked into Sayako's eyes searching for answers.

"Still perceptive as before," Hayato commented with a straight face.

"But you don't understand, Aunt Sayako, I-" Natsuki exclaimed.

"She does Natsuki because it's obvious, the way you talk about Shizuru with a red face like your mom when she talks about me," Hayato said with a smile.

"Oh…Thank you then" Natsuki shyly said while blushing in front of a smiling Sayako.

"Don't thank me. If she chooses you then there's no problem with me. That's an "if" Natsuki," Sayako explained strictly.

"She thinks Natsuki's arrogant like her mother," Hayato thought with a smile as he watched the scene before his eyes. Natsuki thought for a moment with furrowed brows before responding to Sayako's words, which to her, sounded like a challenge.

"I'll do my best then," Natsuki intensely said as she clenched her fists.

Sayako smiled. After telling everything to her daughter, she knew that she could leave the rest to Natsuki.

"Come by to Kyoto again sometime Natsuki," Sayako said before boarding a taxi. Natsuki nodded and she released her grasp of Sayako's hand. Hayato nodded once to send his thanks while looking at Sayako. Sayako turned to Natsuki again and said "I'll tell you more stories about your mother." She boarded the taxi which quickly joined the traffic in the busy highways of Tokyo. Hayato pulled his daughter to his side and they just stood there, smiling softly, until they both heaved a sigh.