Love & Attraction Chapter 1: Sweet Life, a hana yori dango fanfic

Summary: 3 years have passed since they've last seen each other. Domyoji came back from N.Y and they think they have totally moved on… but soon realize that they haven't. Rui falls for Makino… will she fall for him? What will Domyoji do? Will there be another chance for romance?

Love & Attraction: Chapter one: Sweet Life

The wind has gotten passionate right after the strong rain –leaving the streets of Omotesando covered with water. I find the back and forth swaying of the trees like dancing ballerinas quite amusing.

"I'm letting you go, Makino…"

That's what he said to me a week ago before he left for New York. Maybe this was really meant to happen. Maybe we were just not meant for each other… or maybe, I was meant for him… but he was meant for somebody else.

When I was an inch away from the bus stop, I heard my name being shouted. I turned to see who it was and then I saw Yuuki, my best friend since childhood. "Tsukushi, are you on your way home?" She asked and continued speaking right after I nodded. "Have you heard from Sojiro lately?" There she goes again –always asking about Nishikado. I smiled and then told her that he'd be back by next week and that he's every excited to see her. It's no surprise that they're calling each other by names now.

Months before Nishikado left for California, they've been out together most of the time. I'm really thankful that Nishikado changed a lot because of Yuuki –and there's no doubt he's falling for my best friend.

"Oh, I see." I saw her smile and gently bit her lower lip.

"I guess you really miss him…" I whispered that she hardly heard me.

"What?" She asked.

I dropped my mouth open for a while and then said, "Oh—nothing." I moved a little and she did as well. When I turned to face her, I saw her smiling face turned serious with a mark of sadness.

"Yuuki, are you alright?" She smiled slightly. A while ago I just saw her smiling and with a lot of courage. I reached for her right shoulder and touched it gently. "Yuuki?" When I called her name again, she was quite startled.

"I'm alright, Tsukushi…" She said and then she let out a smile. "Oh, here's the bus." We went inside together and sat down next to each other on the vacant space. And when we were sited, I placed my bag on my lap and opened it to check my phone if somebody left me a message. I put it back inside my bag after checking. I turned my head and saw Yuuki looking at the glass window.

I've never seen her this sad before. The first time I saw her sad was when we were four and she accidentally broke one of her favorite toy. "Yuuki…"

"Hm?" She quickly turned to gaze at me. "Did you say something?" She asked.

"Um… no—nothing. " I whispered, looked away and looked back at her again. "Are you alright, Yuuki?"

She smiled cheerfully and answered, "Yes, I was…" She paused, looked down and then continued with a smile. "I was just thinking what I will say to Sojiro when I see him." I saw her biting her lip after that.

I smiled and then said, "Don't worry too much, Yuuki."

"But—" She looked at me with sad eyes. "What if he changed? What if… he would ignore me again like what he used to do?" She bit her lips again. "I don't want that to happen, Tsukushi." She was in the middle of crying and going insane.

"Yuuki…" She bit her lower lip again and covered her mouth with one hand. She was weeping.

"Yuuki…" I didn't know what to say. I stroked her back and said, "Don't worry, Yuuki. Everything will be alright."

"I don't know why I'm feeling this, Tsukushi…" She paused. "I miss him… I miss him so much… but…" She wiped her tears away. "He—he—did not call me for a month now… And –and I…"

"Yuuki! Keep yourself together." I felt that everyone on the bus was looking at us. "Maybe he was just busy that's why he forgot to call you…"

"How come you have received a call from him, and I didn't?" She asked. "I know I have no right to act like this… Tsukushi…" She paused and wiped her tears again. "But I'm really worried… he promised me that he'll call me everyday… every hour if he could… He did…--he did call me every hour… but that was months ago, Tsukushi." She gapped. "After one several weeks, he only called me once a day… and then followed by once a week… and now…and now…" She started to cry.

"Yuuki…" Now, I'm sure that everyone's looking at us. I stroked her back and then I hugged her. "Shh, I know he has his reasons…" Or maybe he doesn't. Maybe I was wrong about Nishikado falling for Yuuki... but which is which… I know what it feels like…

We haven't talked for almost a year now. Every time I try to call him, his phone's always turned-off, sometime's it's open… but he wouldn't even answer it. I know he's busy…. But I'm sure saying hi wouldn't be that much of a time. I wonder what he's doing right now… Maybe he has found someone else… someone rich & pretty… and smarter… I don't want to think of him that way…but I'm starting to get worried…

"I know how it feels…" I suddenly whispered. Yuuki let go and asked, "Huh?" Her eyes were wide and wet with tears. "Did you say something?" She asked. "Huh? Oh… nothing." I said.

Mamma can you hear me

I'm going to be a farmer

Blowing the fields in the morning sun

I'll have a millon horses

Take me a ride when the work is done

I'm going to have a sweet life

Sweetest life you ever seen

And when the day is over

Going to go to sleep in the field of green

It's been a year since I've last talked to him. The first time he left for New York, he called me everyday… but that was only on the first year… and then the next year, he stopped calling me. A year later, Papa got a ticket for one to New York… so I went there with Rui, Nishida and Akira.

Mamma can you hear me

Daddy do you know what I mean

Mamma can you hear me

Daddy do you know what I mean

I accidentally saw Domyoji on a hotdog stand, and he looked at me like I was a different person.

Going to be a acter

Playing a part in a light of gold

Oh yes I will

I'm going to make a lot of money

Going to spend it all before I get to old

And I'm going to have a sweet life

Sweetest life you ever seen

And you know when the day is over now

I'm going to go to sleep in a field of green

"Makino…."

"Domyoji…"

"Come with me!"

"Where are we going?

"Just follow me!" ------------------------------ "What are you doing here?!"

"It has been a while since we last saw each other. How have you been?"

"Didn't you hear me?"

"I heard you. You asked me what I'm doing here."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"Papa got a free ticket to New York for 3 days… "

"So you're not here because you wanted to see me…"

"No... I mean… of course I want to see you…"

Mamma can you hear me

Daddy do you know what I mean

Mamma can you hear me

Daddy do you know what I mean

Mamma can you hear me

Daddy do you know what I mean

Mamma can you hear me

Daddy do you know what I mean

Got, got, got to have a sweet life

Got to have a sweet life

Daddy do you know what I mean

Mamma can you hear me

Daddy do you know what I mean

Now's a different story. He was part of my life… but not anymore. Wherever he is and whoever he is with… I'm sure he's happy –and I'm sure he's not thinking of me.

When I got home, my little brother Susumu waiting for me outside our house. It was not hard to tell that he has a problem. I walked to him and sat beside him. "Susumu?" I looked at him but he did not look at me. "Onee-chan…" His voice was trembling. "Onee-chan…"

"What happened, Susumu? Is everything alright?" I asked quickly, but fair enough for him to understand. "Did papa get laid?" I asked. He nodded his head from left to right and then looked at me straight in the eye –but still, he did not speak.

I hastily stood and opened the door. The place was empty.

"What…" I stepped forward, and at the corner of my eye, I saw papa and mama sitting on the floor. "Mama! Papa!" I swiftly walked to toward them and then knelt down. "What happened here? Where are our things?" I asked them, and then I turned to my father "Papa, did you get laid off?"

But there was no answer. They looked at me as if I was being hysterical. "Calm down, Makino." Mama said and then she began to laugh. "Mama!" I was beginning to panic. 'Have they gone mad? Did they sell everything?'

"Calm down, Calm down." My father spoke, but I was not sure if he was talking to me or to my mother. "We are JUST moving out." He added and then began to laugh as well.

"WHAT?!" The both of them went silent. "Moving out? Why? Where?" They looked at each other and then they started to laugh again. "Mama! Papa!"

They stopped. "Makino" Papa spoke with serious tone. "I did not get laid off, and we did not sell all of our things… we are just moving out." He cleared.

"You did not get fired?" I asked. He nodded. "Then why are we moving? And where?"

"Where do you think people go after they move out?" Mama asked, but then answered her own question. "To their new house of course! And that's where we are going." She said and then they began to laugh again.

"Why are you guys acting like this? And can you guys please answer me! Why are we moving out?" They stopped, looked at each other and then my father made a sad face. "Makino, your papa –" My mother took a deep breath and then continued, "He—" My heart was beginning to pound faster and faster. I gulped as she continued, "Remember the game your papa joined last month? The answer's 'Rubber Ducky', and he was the only one who got the right answer, that's why we are moving in to a bigger house!"

"HE WHAT?!" Did she just say Papa won…and that we are moving in into a BIGGER house? Unbelievable!

The door opened and my brother said, "Hanazawa Rui is here!"

"What?" I whispered and then looked at my smiling parents again, "What is he doing here?" I said softly, that I hardly heard myself.

"Good evening." Rui stepped inside and followed by Susumu. He bowed his head in front of us and then lifts his head again. "Sorry If I'm a bit late." He apologized.

"Rui…"

"It's alright. It's alright." Papa said smiling wide and then he stood up. Mama did the same and then they began to converse again.

"Is everything ready?" Rui asked with a simple smile written on his lips. Mama and Papa shook their heads and then Rui gave out a smile. He moved his head to see me. I was still kneeling on the floor when he looked and smiled at me. I smiled and then suddenly, my eyes widened. I quickly stood up in such embarrassment and bowed my head in front of him.

"I'm sorry…" I said softly.

"Hm?" He was startled. I didn't lift my head, but I was sure he was still looking at me.

"Here comes the truck!" My brother said almost shouting.

"Let's go?" Rui asked, and it was just then when I began to lift my head up again.

"Yes, please. " Mama said. And then they all walked out the house. Mama and Papa first and followed by Susumu. As if they were so excited that they forgot to give way to Rui first. Before going out of the door, Rui looked at me and then said, "Aren't you coming?" He was smiling. For some weird reason, I find his smile really attractive… Like a magnet pulling my feet to him. Rui is different from F3. He's simple, quiet, and kindest –and he doesn't start fights… unlike Dom—

"Makino?" I saw him looking at me again. I felt my knees weak as if his auburn eyes are melting me. I slightly bowed my head and then run to him.

TBC

A/N: Please feel free to leave comments. Arigato!