"And airports, see it all the time
Where someone's last goodbye
Blends in with someone's sigh
Cause someone's coming home
In hand, a single rose."
-"Wheel," by John Mayer
"Rui, could you please put on some music to liven up the mood in here? Honestly, it's like we're going to see a ghost," Sojiro complained from the back seat.
It is kind of like going to see a ghost. It's been so long.
Suddenly, Tsukushi felt Rui's hand brush her ankle.
"Rui, what are you doing?!"
"Looking for my CDs," he replied, his hands fully off the wheel and eyes off the road.
"RUI, DRIVE THE CAR!" Tsukushi screamed. Rui lifted his head up and noticed the tree zooming at them.
"Whoops."
Rui turned the wheel sharply and hit the brakes. The car went flying sideways into the tree, clipping the trunk. Then, POP!
"That doesn't sound good…" Rui mused. Sojiro got out of the car.
"Rui, you hit a tree and popped the tire! Unbelievable! You are the biggest moron-"
"Are you okay, Makino?" Rui asked, completely ignoring Sojiro's rant.
"I'm fine, but how are we going to get to the airport? It's already 9:55!"
"Hmm," Rui mumbled, scratching his head. "I suppose we'll walk. It's only about five miles away from here… hey, where are you running? Makino?"
It's only five miles! I can run! If I run, I won't be too late! Please, wait for me, Domyoji! Don't leave the airport! Please, wait!
Tsukushi didn't think. She didn't need any time. The car crashed, and her feet just began to move on their own. Her body became a separate entity fixed on one thing and one thing alone: finding Domyoji Tsukasa. Every bone in her body ached forward, as if her heart was running two steps ahead of her legs. Her legs were burning, her sides riddled with cramps. Her boots dug into her heels, and she could feel them blistering, but it was all a distant, minute pain. Someone was waiting. Someone had been waiting for four years.
"Miss! Miss, please! No running in here! HEY! SECURITY! STOP THAT WOMAN!"
Tsukushi flew past the security guards at the entrance of the airport and searched the overhead screens frantically.
"Arrival from Paris, arrival from Munich, arrival from Rome… Domyoji, where are you?" she panted, swiftly dodging startled onlookers waiting for their luggage. "Arrival from New York City. Gate 12C! DOMYOJI!"
Tsukushi churned her legs harder, very aware of the parade of security guards hot on her trail. She rounded the corner, yelling Tsukasa's name.
"TSUKASA! 12A, 12B… TSUKASA!! 12C!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she caught a glimpse of dark brown hair bleached mahogany by the sun, hanging in delicate tendrils over a serious face. A man stepped forth from a herd of arrivals in a black sweater and dark blue jeans. Domyoji.
"TSUKASA!" Tsukushi screamed, running toward him.
"Makino…?" Tsukasa barely breathed, dumbfounded by the scene in front of him. Makino Tsukushi was running toward him, arm outstretched, fingers out and open to catch him, and at least twenty very angry men pursuing her with great speed.
"MAKINO!" Tsukasa yelled, stretching out his arm to grab her. Tsukushi felt her fingers brush his hand before she was violently yanked backwards.
"I'VE GOT HER! THE
SEDATIVE! WHERE'S THE SEDATIVE?!"
"HOLD ON! WHAT THE HELL DO
YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! MAKINO! MAKINO…!"
Domyoji's frantic voice began to fade away as soon as she felt the sharp prick on her upper arm. With considerable effort, she turned her head toward her arm and noticed a long needle protruding from her twitching muscle. Somewhere in the distance, she heard Domyoji's voice and smiled.
He's home…
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! WHY CAN'T YOU DRIVE? WHY DID YOU TELL HER SHE'D HAVE TO WALK?"
"I was just joking. I didn't think she'd believe me."
"RUI, YOU IDIOT-"
Tsukushi groaned. Her entire body felt heavy and very, very sore. She opened her eyes and blinked stupidly at the bright lights above her.
"Hey, I think she's waking up! Tsukushi-chan, how do you feel? Are you okay?"
"Onee-san?" Tsukushi mumbled sleepily. She sat up and took notice of her surroundings. A large bed? Silk sheets? A fireplace? I must be at the Domoyji mansion. It's been so long since I've seen this room. This is Tsukasa's room.
"Domyoji," she said, looking at the man before her. Domyoji stood at the foot of her bed alongside Rui, Sojiro and Akira, his arms crossed and looking irritated.
"What happened?"
"Haha, you don't remember? You ran like a madwoman through the airport and were tackled by at least twenty security guards! It was hysterical!" Sojiro exclaimed, gripping Akira's shoulder for support as he doubled over laughing.
"Makino, why did you run?" Rui asked.
"You-you told me that we would have to walk to the airport! And we were going to be late so I-"
"And you believed him? We had another car there in two minutes. In fact, we got to the airport before you did!" Akira said, laughing as well. "We saw the whole thing!"
Tsukushi blushed deeply and all of the events at the airport suddenly came flooding back into her consciousness.
"Perhaps- perhaps I overreacted," she said, smiling and blushing. Tsubaki smiled warmly and patted her arm.
"It wasn't you who overreacted, it was the airport security! Do they really think it takes twenty men armed with sedatives to stop a running girl in the airport? Completely ridiculous. I would have knocked every one of those guys out myself if Tsukasa hadn't already jumped in there."
"Yeah, Tsukasa gave them a good beating! Whabam! I'm glad to see that the corporal world hasn't taken away your fighting spirit!" Akira said, throwing punches into the air. Domyoji just grunted and shifted his feet, refusing to make eye contact with Tsukushi.
Is he really mad? I guess I made a fool of myself. Maybe I embarrassed him. I cause so much trouble. I'm so embarrassed…
"Tsukushi-chan, are you okay now? Do you feel like the sedatives have worn off?" Tsubaki asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. Sorry for causing so much trouble," Tsukushi said quietly. Everyone but Domyoji grinned and turned to leave the room.
"Alright, let's let the lovebirds reunite. You two have fun catching up!" Sojiro shouted over his shoulder while everyone filtered out of the room. The distant laughter of her friends was abruptly silenced when the heavy door closed behind them. Domyoji remained and continued to not look in her direction. A pit formed in Tsukushi's stomach.
"Domyoji-"
"Makino," Domyoji finally said, turning to face her. His arms were still crossed, and his eyes burned with an intensity Makino could not place.
"You called my name," he said quietly. Tsukushi looked at him, mouth agape. What was he talking about?
"Of course I called your name, stupid-"
"No. You said my name. You were calling out, 'Tsukasa,'" he said.
"Oh, did I? I didn't realize," Tsukushi stuttered, a little embarrassed at the emotion she had shown.
"Makino."
"Ye-yes?"
"Did you miss me?" he asked, drawing nearer to the bedside.
"What- what kind of question is that?"
"I'm asking if you missed me," he repeated, kneeling beside her. Before Tsukushi could let out another word, Domyoji took her hand in his and pressed it against his face. "I thought about you every day."
Tsukushi's body felt like syrup. Domyoji nuzzled his cheek into her palm and lightly grazed her thumb with his parted lips.
"Makino, are you cold? You're getting goosebumps."
"Uh, no, no I'm not cold.," Tsukushi said, turning her head away from Tsukasa. If only he knew the affect he was having on her right now. "Domyoji, I'm sorry for the commotion I caused."
Domyoji dropped her hand suddenly and reassumed a serious pose.
"Yeah, what was with you today? You think that's the way I want to be greeted when I come home? To have to punch out every security guard in the airport because my girlfriend has gone nuts? What were you thinking?" he scolded, running his hand through his hair in exasperation. Tsukushi got out of the bed and turned to face him.
"Well, excuse me if I was just trying to be there on time for once in my life! I ran five miles as fast as I could to be there on time so you wouldn't leave the airport without me!" she yelled.
"Idiot, I'm used to you being late by now! I figured I would have to wait hours before you got there! Have I ever left without you!?"
"Stupid, how was I supposed to know?!" Tsukushi screamed, stamping her foot. "Ow, ow, ow, ow!"
Tsukushi bent down and gripped her feet. Her heels and ankles were spotted with bruises and blisters. Damn shoes, Tsukushi thought.
"Makino, don't overdo it," Domyoji said. He bent down, scooped her up, and dropped her right back in his bed.
"Domyoji, what do you think you're doing? I have to go home!"
"It's two in the morning, stupid. You were knocked out by the sedatives for hours. You're sleeping here tonight."
"Bu-but, my parents will worry-"
"I called your parents. They're letting you stay the whole weekend."
"WHAT?!"
"Makino,"
Tsukasa pleaded. "I'm very tired, and I don't want to fight you
right now. Please, just sleep in that bed. I'm going to shower,
I'll be back in about half an hour. I'll try not to wake you when
I get in bed."
"YOU'RE SLEEPING IN HERE WITH ME?"
"Makino."
That one word was enough. Tsukasa shot her a look that communicated he was not to be questioned. Tsukushi bit her lip despite herself and slumped against the pillows.
