Chapter 11: Misunderstanding

Disclaimer: Maria-sama ga Miteru and its characters are not mine. Credits to the author.

A/N: The first part of this chapter is an introspection of Nagisa Kyouya, the reason for which, I have explained more in detail in the author's notes after the story.

Kyouya couldn't sleep. He had been tossing and turning in his bed for the past hour in an attempt to grasp even just a wink of sleep. He tried counting sheep, playing his electric keyboard and checking his Facebook account, but nothing seemed to work. When he saw a ray of light by his window, he decided to scrap the idea of sleep and address the issue that's been bugging him for the past few hours. After picking up the scarf that Yumi-san left, he jogged to the convenience store at the corner of his apartment. He bought a carton of milk and downed it in one go. The cold air was biting on his skin, although it was considerably warmer compared to the previous day, but he didn't mind as he continued on his way to Yumi-san's hotel, which was just a few blocks from his place.

He was not naïve, he knew that the reason for his inability to sleep was his worry for his new friend. He had just given her address to a total stranger, a person he just talked to over the phone. It may be true that Kinta was the one who requested it, but still, he was worried. Because by the sound of Kinta's voice, it was as if he was being coerced into calling him.

His thoughts drifted to Fukuzawa Yumi-san. She surely is pretty, but that was not the primary reason why he asked her to come with him to hang out with his friends that night. It was because the first time he saw her, she caught his interest. As he looked into her eyes, he saw a person struggling to hide her sadness. She was acting indifferent, but that was just to mask her inner struggle. If he would have to guess, Yumi-san used to be a very transparent and open person. Someone who wore her heart on her sleeve. But something must have happened for her to change, and to start bottling up everything.

Kyouya would surely know, because he himself have been in the same situation. He used to be a very exuberant person. He easily got along with people and, as his friends said, he was very transparent with his emotions. If he was embarrassed, angry or happy, it would surely show on his face and in his actions. Until that fateful day when the love of his life left him to go overseas. And a few months after that, he learned that she was already in a relationship with someone else. It was then that he started to change. He became bitter and anti-social. He rarely went out and preferred to stay at home to play music on his keyboard, to read manga, or to play video games. He went to the office, but didn't speak much with anyone, unless necessary for work. Because he knew nobody would understand how he felt - the emptiness and the sadness of losing a piece of yourself that no one will be able to replace. No one would ever understand, that feeling of being broken, but still keep on living as if everything was well and fine.

He had been so withdrawn to the world around him, until his friends decided to step in and urge him to go out more. It took a while for him to get over his ex-girlfriend, but on the day it happened, it was like a breath of fresh air. He himself was surprised, because he thought that he would never get over her and get over the depression. But he did. He felt so free from the shackles of loneliness that everything around him seemed brighter, happier and livelier.

That was why he felt drawn to Yumi-san. He saw himself in her. And like him, he knew Yumi-san might need someone to pull her out. And hopefully, that someone would be him. But being with her and getting to know her these past month, he saw that she was somehow different from him, she was definitely stronger. She may still be carrying so much loneliness in that small frame of hers, but she still continue to live – to laugh, to go out with friends and to just be her usual cheerful self. And for that inner strength, she had gained his respect.

He was so absorbed with thoughts about Yumi-san that he arrived in her hotel without him realizing it. His worry for the woman surfaced once again. He ran up the stairs, thinking that taking the elevator would be slower, until he reached her door.

Yumi

Yumi's heart was filled with dread as she faced Kyouya-san. She kept rubbing her had hands together out of edginess and worry that Sachiko will see the man, and misunderstand.

This is not happening, she thought.

She knew Kyouya-san had a reason for suddenly coming to see her, but this was such an awful time for him to be at her place.

"Is something wrong Yumi-san?" Kyouya peered into her face.

"No, I'm fine" she glanced back inside again before asking "what are you doing here this early?"

"I couldn't sleep. I kept worrying about you and wondering if you have been raped or murdered. I was going out of my mind, thinking that I gave your address to a total psycho. Is she really your friend? She's not a stalker right?"

It was so like Kyouya. She would have laughed, if it were not for the anxiety she was feeling. "You're watching too many suspense movies again. Thanks for worrying about me, but she really is Ogasawara Sachiko and she is not a stalker."

Kyouya-san placed a hand on his chest and sighed. "Thank Buddha."

"Now stop letting your imagination run wild and go home to sleep. You have bags under your eyes." Hurry up and leave before Sachiko sees you, Yumi wanted to add.

"By the way, here is the scarf you left at the sitting room." As Kyouya was handing Yumi her scarf, he grabbed her hand and looked straight into her eyes. "If you ever need me, you know I will always be here for you." He suddenly said, upon seeing the worry and restlessness in her face.

Yumi was about to respond when Sachiko walked out of the room wearing a spare robe.

Yumi froze. This is not happening, she repeated again and again in her mind, as if thinking it would stop the disaster that is to come.

"You must be Yumi-san's friend. I am Nagisa Kyouya." He said as he let go of Yumi and happily extended his hand to shake Sachiko's.

Sachiko's eyes narrowed, looked at him from head to toe as if sizing him up. She then looked at Kyouya's outstretched hand, then to the scarf Yumi was holding before she walked back inside the room without another word.

"O-kay, that was awkward." Kyouya-san commented as he scratched his head. "Anyway, I'll be going now."

After closing the door, Yumi followed Sachiko inside.

"Let me explain - " she was just beginning to speak when Sachiko cut her off.

"Enough Yumi" Sachiko whispered as she started picking up her clothes and putting it on.

"What do you mean?" Yumi's heartbeat quickened, as she feared, Sachiko misunderstood.

Sachiko was shaking her head, "I've had enough of this game. Chasing you, hoping that you and I will be back together, being afraid that someone else had been intimate with you, feeling scared that someone else shares your heart and being rejected and lied to. I've had enough." She was not shouting, but her voice sounded so hollow and devoid of emotion that Yumi wished Sachiko just yelled at her instead.

Yumi was about to tell her that she had it all wrong. If she just gave her a chance to speak, she will ask the older woman to be with her. Despite all her fears, she would choose to be braver this time and choose to love her.

"I hate him" Sachiko said.

Yumi grabbed her arm, "Sachiko, he just came to see if I was alright. He was just worried."

Sachiko faced Yumi, and the look the older woman gave her made Yumi slowly let go and take a step back. "You're defending him?" Sachiko asked incredulously.

And before Yumi could say anything else in her defence, Sachiko's phone buzzed.

Sachiko looked down and saw a short preview of the message from the illuminated screen of her phone. Her eyes widened, "no" she whispered.

Sachiko

Sachiko saw and heard everything. She witnessed the tenderness in the way he looked at her as he held Yumi's hand, offering his support for whatever difficulty Yumi may be having. While Yumi just stood there, as if being touched by that man was nothing out of the ordinary. It made her heart wrench to the point that she purposefully stepped in before Yumi could reply. She could not bear to hear the words of appreciation that would come out of her former lover's lips. She did not see Yumi's expression as that man held her hand, but she didn't need to. The familiarity in the way she addressed him, even going so far as knowing that he likes suspense movies was a dead giveaway at how close they are. And that scarf? Him giving it back to her was proof that she indeed had been in his house before. Her heart could not take it anymore.

With everything she just witnessed, how was she supposed to believe Yumi's words that she hadn't been intimate with anyone before? Or worse, that no one ever had Yumi's heart, except for her? It was just all too much.

She wanted to cry. But she didn't. She couldn't, because the tears wouldn't come.

Ever since they met at the coffee shop that day, all the longing for Yumi she had suppressed for the past years resurfaced. She had been agonizing day after day about not being with Yumi. And then when she had the chance to take back the love that was hers, that same person rejected her. It was just too painful. The hope that has kept you going each day, has been crushed in an instant.

And now, even after she has braved all her fears and hesitations, Yumi had hurt her once again. It was just too much pain, she felt her heart would explode. But it didn't. Instead of being overpowered by her emotions, a wall enveloped her heart. She closed in on herself until she felt empty, hollow and unfeeling. It was just like the day when her grandmother died back in high school. When she just went through the motions of everyday, not feeling, not seeing and not hearing. She was just an empty shell.

But then, just when she thought the worst has happened to her, she received a message from her cousin.

A single emotion crept up to her – fear.

Sachiko unlocked her phone and scrolled down to see that she had a lot of missed calls from Suguru-san. She read the message again, just to make sure that she was not mistaken. She felt tears stung her eyes, but chose to hold it back.

Why now? Sachiko thought.

"What's the matter? What happened?" Yumi asked upon seeing the worry on her face. But she didn't answer her question as her phone vibrated again and saw Suguru-san calling.

"It's my husband" she said, before taking the call and walking towards the door. She knew, by the surprised look on Yumi's face, that her words stung. And it elated her, even just by a bit, that she was able to inflict pain upon Yumi.

"What happened to grandfather?" Sachiko immediately asked the moment she picked up the call.

"We are now in the hospital and grandfather is in the ICU." Suguru's voice was filled with anxiety.

"Were the doctors able to stabilize his condition?"

Suguru took a while to respond, "Just hurry. He has been looking for you."

"I will leave this instant."

"No, just wait for the driver. He should be there by now. Half an hour ago, I called one of our employees at the Nara Office and asked him to accompany you back to Tokyo. I'm guessing you haven't slept or eaten yet and you're not in the best condition to drive." Suguru said firmly, not leaving any room for argument that Sachiko just agreed.

True enough, a second later, there was a knock on the door.

"I think that's him" Sachiko said.

Sachiko put the phone back to her purse and rushed to the door.

"Sachiko wait! I am coming with you. Tell me what happened." Yumi insisted, holding her arm once again to stop her from leaving.

Sachiko looked at her coldly, "My grandfather had a cardiac arrest and was rushed to the hospital. So I would suggest you let go of me. He needs me."

Yumi reluctantly withdrew her hand.

"I should have been there beside him, instead of having this useless argument with a person who clearly doesn't value me as much as I value her."

And without another word, she left, closing the door and shutting Yumi out of her life once again.

Outside Yumi's door was a man in his forties. After introducing himself and showing his company ID to her, they went down to the car. They were already out of the hotel when she spotted Nagisa Kyouya standing by the entrance with a phone on his ear. And surprisingly, she didn't feel anger. She didn't feel anything because at the moment, she was just so devoid of emotion.

She headed to the car, took a seat in the back and they took off. He seemed to know where to go, apparently he got all his instructions from her cousin.

"Can we please hurry?" she asked.

The man nodded, "I was informed of the circumstance ma'am. I will get you there as fast as possible, but safely."

She stared out the window and saw the sun had risen and with it, the city of Nara-shi started to come to life. People were opening their shops, men and women were going to work and children were walking to school. The normality of it all seemed to be mocking her. Because life kept on going, while for Sachiko, everything had already stopped. She felt weak and tired at everything that had happened a few minutes ago. She felt helpless. She was used to being able to control, or at least plan for, most of the things in her life. But when it concerned Yumi, she felt powerless. It seemed ironic that one thing she wanted most, is the very thing she cannot have.

And as if the fate hadn't punished her enough with what happened with Yumi, her grandfather had a cardiac arrest. He may not be the best grandfather. He didn't have enough time for the family because he was either too busy with work or he was with his mistresses. But still, he is her grandfather.

She knew she was his favourite, giving her everything she wanted especially when she was growing up. When he saw Sachiko wearing jeans one time, he bought her half a dozen designer jeans. Another time when Sachiko told him in passing that she ate at a hamburger fast food and enjoyed it, he commanded that a franchise of that food chain be obtained and a store be built in the ground floor of the Ogasawara's Main Office so his granddaughter could enjoy her burger as she pleases. When she was in high school and he found out that Tooru snuck out of a wedding just to see her sports festival, her grandfather got really angry. To abate his anger, Sachiko's father agreed to give up his seat at her graduation so the old man could attend instead.

When Suguru-san said that he was rushed to the hospital, Sachiko was terrified. Her grandfather had a heart attack just a few months ago. It was so bad that it rendered half of his body paralyzed. The Ogasawaras could of course afford a therapist and they could definitely pay for the best medicine for him to get better. But with his old age, there are only a few things money can do for him. His body was too weak for arduous therapy, so he spent most of his time in his room, being attended to by private nurses. Sachiko tried to visit him as often as she could, knowing that hearing her updates about the company made him happier. The doctors said that a second episode would be detrimental. And that was the reason why the moment Suguru-san informed her of what happened, she felt scared.

All the emotions about Yumi and her grandfather were overwhelming her that finally, she felt her body shook as she desperately tried to control the tears from falling from her eyes. She felt her chest constrict as soft controlled sobs escaped her lips. She covered it with her hands to supress the noise, hoping that the stranger in front of the car will either not hear or ignore it.

Just this once, she thought. And once she gets to Tokyo, she will again be the strong and unyielding heiress everyone expects her to be. But for now, she bowed her head and allowed her hair to cover her face as tears finally fell from her eyes.

A/N: I wrote lengthily about Nagisa Kyouya, because I just wanted the readers to know why he was drawn to Yumi and why he stuck by her. I also found his thoughts as the best place to describe Yumi's inner struggle (and contrastingly, her inner strength), because the best person to articulate Yumi's sadness is a person who went through the same struggles as her. Of course, aside from Sachiko, because she has her own thoughts on their own situation.

I know this chapter is full of sadness. Even my heart felt heavy as I was writing it. But I just wanted to convey how difficult the situation is for the both of them T_T. Let me know your thoughts.