Author's Notes: Hello, everyone! Thanks for taking the time to check this out. I was so sad when the manga ended, so I decided I would try and carry out the storyline and maybe provide a little fan service to those of you who wanted more romantic scenes between Tsukasa and Tsukushi. Please enjoy this, and let me know if I have botched any honorifics.

"Your embrace is my air

How I needed you there

And all of the world and

All of its powers

Couldn't keep your love from me."

- "Priceless," by Copeland

"One thousand, four hundred and sixty days…"

"Hm? What did you say, Tsukushi?"

"Yuki, it's been one thousand, four hundred and sixty days since I've seen Domyoji. That's a long time, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's a very, very long time," Yuki said laughing. "Are you nervous?"

Am I nervous? I haven't stopped shaking for three days.

Today is the day I will finally see Domyoji Tsukasa, my boyfriend.

The bell on the door of the dango shop chimed noisily as customers filtered in and out of the store. Makino Tsukushi grabbed some newspaper and window cleaner and headed outside to polish the store windows, trying desperately to clear her head. She worked at the dango shop almost every day that Domyoji Tsukasa was gone, since her free time was no longer monopolized by the spoiled prince. As she cleaned the window, she noticed paint starting to chip on the door and the sorry state of the once stiff and clean awnings. She stepped back in amazement of how much wear the dango shop had suffered over the past four years.

She wondered the kind of wear her relationship with Domyoji could stand through the test of time.

"Yuki?" Tsukushi called as she stepped back into the shop. "Do you mind if I take off early today?"

"Of course not, you have to get ready for Domyoji tonight! Good luck, and be strong!" Yuki called, pumping her fist, clearly in fighting mode. Tsukushi laughed at her best friend's enthusiasm and left the dango shop grinning.

One thing is for sure, she thought as she started on her way home, during those long one thousand, four hundred and sixty days… not one of them went by… when I didn't think of Domyoji.

"TSUKUSHI! TSUKUSHIIIII! PULL THE CAR OVER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

Tsukushi was violently yanked out of her train of thought by shrill screaming. She turned around to see who was calling her, and she found her face planted right in the bosom of Domyoji Tsubaki.

"Tsukushi-chan, I haven't seen you in so long! You look so good, how are you feeling?" Tsubaki screamed, practically strangling Tsukushi in her chokehold.

"I'm go-"

"What are you doing right now? Tsukasa is coming home tonight, do you know what you'll wear to see him? OH! We should go shopping. Let's go shopping right now!" Tsubaki said excitedly. She peeled a faint Tsukushi off of her chest and grabbed her by the wrist. "Come on, hurry up! We don't have much time!"

"Onee-san, that's really-"

"Oh, I know a great place that just opened up next to Chanel. Driver, please take us there," she ordered as she shoved Tsukushi into the back seat of her white stretch limo.

She's as forceful as always, Tsukushi thought as she gasped for air.

"Tsukushi, are you nervous?" Tsubaki asked quietly when they were both finally settled in the car.

Why does everyone have to ask me that?

"Not really. It's just that it's been-"

"A very long time," Tsubaki finished sympathetically. She reached out and grabbed Tsukushi's hand. "I know it will be a little nerve-racking to see Tsukasa, but try not to let it get to you. I'm sure his feelings are as strong as they always were. But you're the tough weed, right? I'm sure you'll be fine."

Tsukushi smiled brightly. "Thank you, onee-san."

"Oh, we're here! Come on, let me dress you up!"

"Erm," Tsukushi said uncomfortably as she stepped out of the dressing room.

"Oh, that won't do at all. It's too big! You've lost weight around your waist, haven't you, Tsukushi? Have you been dieting?"

"No, I've just been poor," Tsukushi said as she handed the dress over to the saleswoman. Tsubaki laughed and skimmed over the racks.

"Yes! I've found it! Here, try this on," Tsubaki said, shoving Tsukushi back into the dressing room with her items.

"Onee-san," Tsukushi called over the partition after a few minutes.

"Oh no, does it not fit?"

"No… actually, it looks really nice!" Tsukushi said, stepping out of the room timidly. Tsubaki had picked out a black v-neck sweater, a flared black skirt and some knee-high black boots.

"Tsukushi! You look so sophisticated! You'll knock Tsukasa out for sure," she cheered, clapping excitedly. Tsukushi giggled a little and changed back into her regular clothes.

"Onee-san, thank you so much for everything today," Tsukushi said as Tsubaki handed her the bag of brand new clothes. "And everything always. You are always there for me. Thank you so much."

"I like you, Tsukushi, you don't need to thank me," Tsubaki said, placing a hand on Tsukushi's head. This gesture reminded her of something Domyoji would do. "Good luck. Will you need a ride to the airport?"

"No, thank you, that's alright! Hanazawa Rui will be picking me up."
"Okay, I'll meet you there, then. See you at ten."

Tsukushi walked home in higher spirits, though her hands were still clammy and her legs trembling.

What kind of eyes will he have when he looks at me? Will it be those serious eyes now that he is a businessman? Will he be smiling? Will he keep a straight face?

"TSUKUSHIIII! HURRY INSIDE! WE HAVE TO MAKE YOU LOOK DECENT FOR YOUR FUTURE HUSBAND!"

"You've got to be kidding me," Tsukushi moaned as she watched her mother wave frantically out of the kitchen window. She climbed the steps to their cramped apartment and stepped inside.

"Gyah, what is all this? Confetti?" Tsukushi yelled when she saw the state of the apartment. The floor and furniture were coated in a thin layer of confetti, and there were banners hanging from all corners of the room sporting, "TSUKASA AND TSUKUSHI! LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!"

"What's the big idea?!" Tsukushi yelled.

"Live long and prosper!" Tsukushi's father yelled drunkenly while he put up the Star Trek hand gesture.

"Papa, where did you learn about Star Trek?"

"Live long and prosper! Mama, beam me up another beer!"

"I'll beam you up another punch to the head! Although I'm afraid of making you any stupider!"

"Wah, Mama's so mean!!"

"If you need me, I'll be getting ready," Tsukushi mumbled as her parents continued to fight. Tsukushi rolled her eyes and escaped into her tiny room with the presents from Tsubaki. She placed the bag on the floor and pulled a large shoebox out from under her bed.

I haven't read these in a long time.

Inside the shoebox were all of Domyoji's letters from New York. The box was practically overflowing; Domyoji had written her at least once a month, sometimes more. She picked up the most recent letter and read to herself.

Dear Tsukoshi,

What an idiot, she thought.

I finally have the date and time I will be arriving back in Japan. You'd better be at the airport to pick me up. Also, you better not be doing anything funny with Rui, 'cause you always seem to be kissing in airports. So, cut it out.

I'm a man now, so hopefully you will love me now more than you did before. Also, now that you are a woman, I will try to love you more than I did before.

You better be there, idiot. Don't screw this up.

-Tsukasa

Reading Domyoji's letter made Tsukushi even more nervous. "I'll try to love you more than I did before," she thought. I don't know if I can handle even more of Domyoji's love. Tsukushi looked at the clock. 9:00? Aie, Hanazawa Rui is picking me up at any moment! She quickly got dressed and appraised herself in the mirror. She pulled a rubber band from her hair and let it drape loose around her shoulders. It was strange having long hair again, but with monthly trims from Rui, it grew out nicely. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Ah! It's Hanazawa Rui! I'll get it!" Tsukushi called as she ran for the door.

"AH! It's another one of Tsukushi's rich boyfriends! Hanazawa-san, please promise to take care of our finan- I mean- our daughter if Domyoji rejects her!" Tsukushi's father said to a startled Rui.

"Rui! I'm sorry, I'm ready now," she said, giving her father a quick punch on the head as she walked out the door.

"It's fine. You look nice," Rui said, smiling. Tsukushi smiled back at him and noticed Sojiro and Akira waiting by the car.

"Ah! Nishikado-san! Mimasaka-san! Are you coming with us?"

"Of course," Sojiro replied, opening the door for Tsukushi. "We're his best friends, remember?"

"Makino, are you nervous?" Akira asked as Rui started the car. Sojiro laughed.

"She's not nervous. She's the tough weed! Right, Makino?" Sojiro said, placing a hand on her head and ruffling her hair.

"Haha, right now the tough weed is looking like the floppy dandelion," Akira said, laughing at Tsukushi's green face.

"WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?! So what if I'm a little nervous? It's been a long time…"

"It's been a long time for all of us," Akira sighed. "I wonder if Tsukasa has changed at all."

Rui's car sped down the dark streets of Tokyo to the airport. Tsukushi pressed her face against the glass of the window and sighed.

Please, God, bring me to the Domyoji I remember from so long ago.