Golden Era (Book 2)

17. Guns and Roses*

Ayuna moved through meetings and socials in a stupor.  With her mind stuck on the encounter atop the clock tower, she was counting down each minute for the day to be over. 

Back at the estate, attendants had set up tea for two in the back garden. In the wicker chair sat Ayuri, who inquired about today's pastry selections, oblivious to all that was wrong.

Without pausing to catch her breath, Ayuna marched up to her. "You lied to me."

Ayuri raised a hand to dismiss the attendants. "Unless you intend to broadcast family affairs to the world, I suggest you lower your voice."

Ayuna ignored her patronizing tone. "You lied about Fuji. Tell me, did he really forget, or is it that important to you for us to never meet again?."

"Who told you?"

"Don't worry, nobody betrayed you," sneered Ayuna. "We're in the same school, after all. Were you so confident that I won't run into him?"

Ayuri kept silent to conceal shock. She'd expected Fuji to be shut out because Ayuna's schedule was crammed full for the next week. For them to meet immediately upon Ayuna's return, it seemed fate was in their favor. 

"Truth to be told, I'm impressed," she said at last. 

"But you aren't sorry."

"Should I be? You're the one engaged."

"And I wouldn't be right now if you didn't lie."

"I lied for your own good. You need to stay away from Fuji Shuusuke—"

"So it's true: Fuji didn't forget, and he didn't move on."

"You're right, he didn't. He was waiting for Hanamachi Ayuna all along." Resting a hand on the table, Ayuri said firmly, "But you are not Hanamachi Ayuna. You're a Kamiya. You belong with Yozei Sachi, who has been your crutch and pillar ever since the Yozeis took you in. While you were in a coma, he was at your bedside every day, waiting for the flutter of an eyelid from you. He's even put his life on the line and taken bullets for you—"

Ayuna's eyes widened. "He what?"

"I guess you don't remember, and Sachi never told you, either."

"What happened to him?"

"Two shots were fired during the assault. The first was meant to take you down and the other to kill you for good. Noa and I were too far from the firing range to help, so who do you think took the other shot?"

"Sachi was shot?" whispered Ayuna.

Placing a hand on her arm, Ayuri said, "On his right arm. It's the same side that got injured from the first Mizuno shooting. He suffered tremendous blood loss and his right side was immobilized for a month. Even under these conditions, he insisted on setting up a workstation in your room. Do you know why?"

Receiving no reply, she continued, "The doctor said there have been case studies where talking to coma patients helped them to regain consciousness. And Sachi was willing to do anything that might help. He talked to you every day."

Ayuna collapsed into the wicker chair, drenched in cold sweat. Sachi had never breathed a word. It was so characteristic of him: he gave and gave but was never flashy about his love.

"Do you see why I'm on Sachi's side?" rose Ayuri's voice.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" choked out Ayuna.

"Would you have listened? Since awakening, your heart and mind have been tied elsewhere. You're practically in a trance."

Unable to look at her sister, Ayuna kept her eyes downcast.