Part II: The Morning After
Chapter XV: Trust and Faith
"Doumyouji-sama," his secretary knocked, then came in, "your meeting is in five minutes."
"Don't ever come in without permission."
His secretary froze on the spot. The coldness of his voice sent chills through her body, but that wasn't what scared her, it was his eyes. They were like bottomless pits. They were cold and harsh. "I-I'm sorry." She immediately stepped out closing the door behind her. She stood there in shock. She didn't understand - he was in a good mood just a few minutes ago when he came into the office. Now he seemed like a completely different person.
Tsukasa came out of his office the cold rage emanating from him was felt throughout the office. People scurried out of his path. In a few strides he reached the conference room where the meeting was held. The men were already there ready to get the meeting started. Even though this was a merger, a polite word for a complete takeover by Doumyouji Corporation, the men were looking forward to having a verbal sparring with the young heir. Youngsters these days had no respect for tradition and their elders. They didn't care about the past, only the future and the bottom line. That's what they were expecting when they heard that the young heir was going to negotiate the terms of the merger, however Doumyouji was different. He was just as knowledgeable as his dad about Japanese culture and tradition. He knew when to charm and when to push. By the end of the first meeting everyone had been satisfied with the groundwork established that day. The subsequent meetings had been to fine tune the details of the merger. Today was the third day of their discussions and they were still nowhere near done.
"I believe the agenda today is-"
Doumoyuji cut off his lawyer. He was in no mood for games. "Discussions have gone on long enough. I will describe the terms of the merger and it will be your choice to take it or find another company." He passed out a folder with the contract in it to everyone in the room. For the next half hour he spoke uninterrupted. The people at the conference table were unable to find their voices to consent or dissent. Doumyouji looked into the eyes of the members of the other company, only a couple of them were able to meet his cold gaze and even they squirmed. "My lawyers will confirm that every thing I said is mentioned in the document and that nothing I have not mentioned will not be in there." He didn't turn to look at his lawyers to see whether they agreed. He knew they did. "I fully expect this contract to be signed by the end of the day." He turned to his secretary, "Cancel the rest of my appointments for the day," and he left without a backward glance.
The tension in the air was noticeably gone but everyone in the room was still sitting there in shock. Nobody knew how to react to what just happened so they focused their attention on the document before them. After getting the okay from their lawyers the other company signed. There were a couple of points that could have been debated but nobody seemed to think it was worth bringing up to Doumyouji.
After that was done, everyone still remained sitting in their chairs in silence, until one man bewilderedly asked, "Does anyone know what the hell just happened?" Everyone just shook their heads, even the people from Doumyouji Corp.
"He's in a bad mood," Doumyouji's secretary weakly answered.
"That's an understatement."
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Tsukasa walked out of the building into the limo waiting for him. "Home" was all he said.
Tsukasa walked into the mansion. "Where's Tsukushi?" The maids, who've been in the household before Tsukushi became bethrothed to the young master, visibly blanched. They've heard this tone before and knew that when Doumyouji was in this mood he wouldn't care who he hurt. Everyone was worried for Tsukushi's safety. They had come to love her, she treated them as friends, but they also knew that if anybody could handle him when he was like this it would be her. "She just called and said she'll be home soon," said the head maid.
Tsukasa sat down on the sofa, not noticing that the maids had left the living room.
Half an hour later Tsukushi walked in. "Tsukasa!" Her eyes wide in pleasure. "You're home early." When Tsukasa didn't move or say anything Tsukushi became worried. She sat down beside him, "What's wrong?" she asked as she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. He visibly tensed.
"Did you think I won't find out?" He stood up, no longer able to sit still.
"What are you talking about?" She stood up too.
"Am I not good enough for you? Was everything a lie?" The cold rage he held in during the office was unleashed.
Tsukushi took a step back, not because she was afraid that he would hurt her but because of the blatant betrayal she saw in his eyes. "Tsukasa, I have no idea what you're talking about. I have had just about enough of your games."
"Games!" He roared. "Is this what our relationship is to you? A game?"
"How could you say that? Stop twisting my words around. You know that's not what I meant."
"I don't know anything anymore, nothing except that you're a liar."
How could he hurt her like this? "Since the trip I have never lied to you," she whispered painfully.
"No? Then explain this." He tossed the pictures onto the antique coffee table.
Tsukushi looked at the pictures in horror. Tsukasa watched as she flipped through the pictures. You have to hand it to her, Tsukasa thought, she's quite an actress. If he didn't know better he would think that she was actually in shock. "Why?" The words escaped his lips before he could prevent it, "Haven't I given you everything? Jewels. Clothes. I gave you my love, god I even gave you my soul. Do you love him that much?" Tsukushi opened her mouth in denial but Tsukasa cut her off. "What about me doesn't compare? What more can I give you? Why do you always go back to him?" Tsukasa turned around. It hurt so much to look at her.
Tsukushi shook her head in denial, tears streaming down her cheeks. "How can you, even for a second think I don't love you? How could you think that after all that we've shared the past few months?" Tsukasa didn't move. Since his back was turned to her she couldn't even see if her words had any affect on him. She knew she wouldn't be able to budge him so she walked around to face him. She stared into his eyes. "You can't possibly believe this!"
His eyes didn't waver. "The proof is right there. How could you expect me to trust you when you did this to me before? You snuck out of our room to see him."
That night flashed into Tsukushi's mind. She knew sooner or later this would come up again, but she didn't think it would be like this. "At that time I wasn't your girlfriend. You were declaring me as some kind of property that you wanted. I never wanted to share a bedroom with you. I never wanted that beeper you gave me. I never said I love you. So how could you compare who I was then with who I am now? Remember I promised that I would never lie to you? That time in the limo. I never lied to you. I looked into your eyes and I promised. I promised." Tsukasa wavered. God he so wish it was true.
Tsukushi saw the first sign of emotion in his eyes. Encouraged, she pushed harder. "I have not seen Hanazawa Rui privately since he came back," Tsukushi said in her firmest voice possible. It was hard when she was trying to hold in her tears. "That means that those pictures are fakes. Here, look," She picked up one of the pictures. "This one here is with me and Rui whitewater rafting, but you know I'm not that strong of a swimmer. Why would I go? And I don't even have on a lifejacket! I haven't, in anyway, done anything to betray you. Please believe me." She hugged him, trying to will her love for him into him.
Tsukasa tried to find his rage, his anger, but couldn't find it. He had no choice but to hold on to her. She was everything to him. She didn't betray him, he thought with relief. He hugged her tighter. How could he have ever doubted her? If it was anyone but Rui he wouldn't have reacted as badly. He wouldn't have believed it for a second, but he couldn't forget the fact that Rui was Tsukushi's first love, not him. It burned a bigger hole in him than he thought.
Tsukushi felt Tsukasa's arms wrap around her. He was cutting off her circulation but she was too relieved that he believed her. She was so worried he wouldn't believe her. She knew his insecurity was mostly his fault, but she didn't know what else she could do to try to reassure him. Tsukushi didn't even notice when Tsukasa picked her up, sat down and placed her on his lap. She continued to cry on his shoulders.
"I'm sorry I didn't believe you," Tsukasa muttered against her hair. "I'm so sorry." Tsukasa lifted Tsukushi's chin so that he could look into her eyes. He brushed away her tears, so incredibly sorry that he was the one to cause it.
"I never did anything with Rui." Tsukushi continued to deny. She was afraid Tsukasa didn't believe her.
"Shhhh, shhh. I believe you." He wiped her tears. "I'm sorry I doubted you. I saw those pictures and I couldn't see clearly anymore. God, I love you so much it blinds me."
"Don't doubt me. I can't take this again. Last time I was dragged around in dirt because someone drugged me. You turned your back on me that time too. I don't think I could take a third time." Tsukasa had forgotten about that time. He didn't even realize how much he was hurting her by doubting her. "If you do it again I'm going to take the ring off. I can't be in a relationship without trust on both sides."
He felt his heart clutch as she said that. "No, it won't ever come to that." He covered her left hand with his and placed them on top oh his heart. "I promise you I won't doubt you again."
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That night Tsukasa stayed up. He looked up into the darkness. Tsukushi was next to him. He turned to look at her. The faint moonlight coming in from the window was enough to allow him to see her. How could he have ever doubted her? Tsukushi was the kindest person he knew. She would never have done something that would purposely have hurt another. So the question is who wanted to hurt them, or more likely, who wanted to hurt him. Whoever sent the pictures must have researched him and knew how he would react to it. He thought about his mom but that didn't make sense. She was already giving them the time to break up with each other naturally. She thought she was being cunning with the stipulation that Tsukushi graduate from college before they could marry, but the truth was he was planning just that. He wanted her to be able to stand on her own. He knew how important that was to her. At the time he was confident that nothing would be able to break them apart. He smiled humorlessly, who would've thought he was almost the person who ruined his own happiness. He would've had no one to blame but himself.
"Tsukasa? What are you doing up?" Tsukushi asked groggily.
"Sorry, did I wake you up?"
"What's wrong?" Tsukushi asked in a clearer voice. Was he having doubts again?
"I'm just wondering who sent those pictures. Why did someone bother creating those fake pictures?"
Fake pictures, Tsukushi was relieved that Tsukasa truly believed her. "Did you think of anything?"
"I thought it could've been my mother, but it doesn't seem likely. She already gave her approval. I don't think she'll try anything."
Tsukushi nodded in agreement. "What about the company? A few weeks ago you told me that one of the branches might be embezzling money."
"I haven't thought that far yet." Tsukasa gave that some thought. He was getting close to obtaining evidence to press embezzlement charges. "I think you may be right. I know when I went there unscheduled and unannounced I made some people worry. If we really did break up then the Doumyouji Corporation would be the furthest thing away from my mind." Tsukasa stared hard into the darkness of the night. "If it's them then I won't let them off easy with embezzlement charges."
Tsukushi mentally shuddered. She didn't want to know what Tsukasa would do to them. She linked her hand in his. "Don't kill them," she muttered as she drifted back to sleep.
"No, I won't kill them," Tsukasa whispered ominously.
Yay, I hope everyone liked the chapters. I worked on them throughout the weekend. Hope to give you another update soon. Remember to review!