Title: Still here

Rating: currently PG13, but will turn to M

Genre: Romance/Drama

Author: Idile

Chapter 2: Home

She didn't want to wake up. Somehow it just didn't seem worth it. He wasn't here. She didn't feel like going to work today either- she just wanted to sleep and cry this whole day. That sounded pathetic, but it seemed the only thing she wanted to do was exactly that. So who cares if she was being selfish and pathetic- even she was allowed to sometimes…right?

She shifted comfortably in the bed. Somehow the mattress seemed a lot more comfortable than she remembered... and the pillows were so light…there was a light breeze which made it quite cool to lie there on a hot summer morning. Wait...what else? There was a lot of free space next to her…EEEHHHHHH! Why was this bed so big?

She didn't remember her bed being THIS big. She needed to open her eyes- NOW and see if she was having hallucinations or maybe it was a dream? She fell asleep at home... that's right... she did… She remembered that clearly.

She opened her eyes frightened - had she been abducted by someone? Maybe some rich person found her on the street and decided to take advantage of her while she was out?

Tsukushi's eyes popped up as she jumped up in bed then lifted the covers nervously to check if she was still with her clothes on.

"A Nightgown…?"-she exclaimed and turned bright red. She was so preoccupied with figuring all this out that she almost overheard the husky voice behind her.

"Makino." It was stated plainly but in a way shyly, maybe too shy for someone like him to say.

She immediately turned around and her lower lip started to tremble. Afraid to move an inch she just sat on the bed frozen. Then tears started to roll down her cheeks slowly.

"..Makino..are you..allright?"- his worried voice whispered before she quickly jumped out of bed, ran to him and hugging him kissed him on the lips softly, then pulled away and stood there with her arms around a seated Tsukasa.

His eyes shot wide open as his face turned pink. His body began to tremble slightly at the sudden closeness of her body. He didn't hesitate and hugged her waist gently, then buried his head in the crook of her neck still shaking slightly.

Then she walked a few steps away from him with an angry look on her face which left him confused. Tsukushi gathered her strength and punched him for all she had in her, which caused Tsukasa to fall out of his chair looking dazed.

"That's for never calling or visiting me, you IDIOT! How could you forget me like that? A promise to return for me, ha! And you didn't even find time to call me once! And furthermore.."- Tsukushi was about to continue enraged while thinking 'the nerve of that guy! Not calling and telling he was coming home and now he expects a warm welcome from me! I'll show him I'm not some cute girl who has nothing better to do than wait for him!' but something stopped her. It was a chuckle, which soon turned into a true laugh from Tsukasa.

"Well for the visiting part, that's not entirely true."- he flashed her a smile and she looked at him with a face that said 'what the hell did he mean by that?".

"For the past month I've been secretly in Tokyo on business deals. And... the fact was…I promised to see you first of all, didn't I? Still I had so many things to do… I would only have about 4 hours a day to sleep… so I thought I'd visit you during those 4 hours."-he smiled wickedly.

Tsukushi thought for a minute. He had… been visiting her? So, those weren't dreams after all! He was there with her... all those nights and he didn't say anything! She blushed a deep red before mumbling something like "But how did you find out where I live…or how could you get into my apartment? I lock up the doors at night..."

Just after saying that Tsukasa proudly stood up and she remembered just exactly who she was talking to.

"Well… ha ha ha... you know WHO you're talking to, right? Why should it be a problem for my instigators to find an address of a poor person? hah, it was a sinch."-he beamed her a very contented smile.

Tsukushi sweatdropped. "Baka, you haven't changed one bit, have you? It's investigators, you idiot!"

Tsukasa turned red again and shouted at her "It doesn't matter! Anyhow I had the key of your apartment made so I could let myself in any time I wished."

"LET MYSELF IN? You idiot! How could I feel safe at night knowing you could ravage me in my sleep any time you liked?"- she screamed and tried as hard as she could to cover herself up with her hands.

"Anyway… I'm going home! I can't believe you took me here...and...well I'm gonna change the lock! Be sure of that!"- she screamed again and began to walk out of the room quickly still blushing like hell.

"This is … home from now on."- Tsukasa silently stated looking at her.

"Eeeeeh?"-she could only exclaim before he continued again.

"This is a house I've ordered to build for us. It's 'our' home."

"If you think I'm going to stay with you, then you're..."- was all she managed to say before he ran to her and hugged her from the back, put his head softly on top of hers and whispered: "This is our home. And I'm not going to let you run away… not after I've waited so long for you to be with me again. Not now, not ever. I'm not letting you go, understand?"

Tsukushi felt as her body filled up with warmth, a strange tingling sensation in her stomach tickled her, her heart beat so loudly, she could hear it herself. This was serious this time. No running away.

"O…okay…"- was all she could whisper as her mouth failed her. She couldn't speak, not when he talked so softly to her, comforting her, filling that empty space in her world that was there for 4 years with him gone.

The rest of the day seemed a daze. She didn't talk much, but everywhere she went, she saw him and they both blushed. This seemed as if two school kids having a crush on each other, but just too shy to admit it.

When they were having breakfast and he was too preoccupied with his food to notice it, she stole a look at him. He had changed... and for the better. He was taller- if it was possible- and even better looking. She almost caught herself drooling at him before he saw her and blushed.

"So, you've finally started to realize how handsome I am, m?"- he grinned at her.

'No, his ego hasn't gotten smaller. Well, I guess appearances can deceive..'- she mentally sighed.

"You're as ugly and arrogant as ever, you idiot."- she stuck her nose up in the air and was expecting some snort reply from him, how she was uglier than he was.

"Well, you are more beautiful than I remember."- he mumbled hoping she didn't hear, but she did. And, of course, for the millionth time that day-she blushed.

Then something started to beep. Another beep. Tsukushi quickly remembered and pulled out a pink pager out of her pocket.

Tsukasa's eyes went wide. "Is it… the one I gave you all those years ago?" Tsukushi nodded and proceeded to read the message. "You kept it? But it's so old now! It's out of date… I'll buy you a new one today."

Tsukushi shook her head. "I like this one. It was your first present for me."

Tsukasa smiled widely but still had to have a say in this. "Well, I still AM buying you a new one. You can keep this as a memory for all I care, but you have to have the best stuff if you are going out with a Domyouji."

The dark haired girl ignored his comment and only smiled. "Hey, Nishikado has invited me to go to clubbing tonight with him and Akira. Hey, he said that Rui is probably gonna be there too!" She smiled to herself and completely ignored Tsukasa to tease him a little.

"Who should I bring with me… (Tsukasa went wide eyed) I can't go alone…(Tsukasa quickly rose from his seat to look at her angrily) maybe.. (Tsukasa became red and clutched a fist)… Yuki is free tonight?"- she smiled after saying that and at the same time with a corner of her eye saw that Tsukasa was about to yell something to her.

She stuck out her tongue to him and smiled nicely. "Or maybe that idiot boyfriend of mine can come with me if he's not too busy?"

Tsukasa's face became as red as a cherry and he caught himself daydreaming at the word "boyfriend" but regained his composure and yelled back at her: "Of course the GREAT Domyouji Tsukasa has better things to do then go to clubs with his carefree friends!... but he can make an exception for Makino Tsukushi."

"Oh... what should I wear then?.. I didn't bring anything with me... well I was dragged out sleeping… maybe this is ok..?" –she looked at herself and had to admit that it wasn't the most comfortable type of clothes to go dancing in.

"Let's go."- Tsukasa stated before grabbing her arm and dragging her out to the hallway.

"Hey, Domyouji! Let go of me… I said this was fine, didn't I?"-she tried to catch her breath as he continued to drag her down the hallway in his fast pace.

"Shut up idiot. I told you two things before, didn't I? Fist of all, if you are going out with Domyouji Tsukasa, you have to look your best. Second of all...this is our home. That means I have your clothing here as well."- with that said he opened a door to a huge room filled with clothing hanging on neat hangers in the room. There were shoes and accessories too.

Her jaw dropped. Literally.

"Is… all of this our clothing?"- she looked around the place which could have filled a whole shop easily.

"Of course not."- he stated plainly and Tsukushi relaxed again. 'It must have the servants clothes too or something'

"This is your wardrobe. I have mine on the other side of the hallway. Oh, and if you take a look at your right- there's a door leading to other rooms with clothing. This is just a leisure section. You have rooms for ballroom, work, sport, beach and so on…"

Tsukushi froze in her place. 'THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY ROOMS?' How was she going to live here? She really had no idea... There were too many things for her to handle... it seemed like such a waste of money to throw out on clothes alone. But what could she say! He bought it for her and she didn't have the heart to tell him that it was a bit much… Maybe she'd tell him later.When he wasn't so excited over it.

"Well, Makino, choose something pretty. Make sure you tell me what color you choose, so I can dress accordingly."- he was going out of the room, when he remembered something. "Oh and the hair and make up stylists are waiting for you in the room on the left. Make sure you don't disappoint them. They've been quite excited to finally have a lady to work on, not only me."-he went out before flashing her a wink.

She stood there sweat dropping and looking at the room desperately. "How in the hell am I supposed to pick something out of this many?"

She tried to… but it was hard. Everything was her size, everything fit perfectly and everything was classy and beautiful. And most of all, probably expensive.

She took out a short green skirt with army patterns, a large black belt with diamonds on it, a white and black T-shirt, matching gloves to the skirt, matching bracelets on both wrists, a few rings and a necklace that looked "Domyouji" like and a pair of long black stockings and black boots.. and of course a decorated chain to fit the belt. Then she went to the room on her left and got her hair done in a funky style and received just a bit make up to make her eyes seem dark, but just a bit, not to loose her own face in too much make up.

When she was ready, she put on a purple jacket and was escorted out the front door.

When she was outside, she finally got to look at "their" home. It was huge… a lot more modern than the old Domyouji residence and it seemed cozier somehow- if big places like that ever could.

He was waiting for her in the car impatiently. "How long will she take damn it? She should know better then to let the great Domyouji Tsukasa wait for her!" – he shouted to himself before she climbed into the expensive black car. He was about to yell out "Finally!" but he lost his words when he saw her.

Right then and there he wished to do... oh so many things to her. He mentally kicked himself in the head for thinking something Soujiro would and blushed deep red. But he had to admit- her sitting there next to him didn't help one bit to get those thoughts out of his mind. So… he tried a different tactic.

"So …what are we going to do..?"- he muttered and saw Tsukushi sweat dropping.

"Well, dancing apparently."- she couldn't look up at him or move closer… she was still very shy of him, even if she did kiss him when she first saw him. He looked too damn good. Fancy, as always, but so did she this time so she'd "fit him".

"Domyouji… ano...how do I look?"- Tsukushi managed to ask him.

"You look UGLY you commoner!"- he practically roared at her. Tsukushi sat silently and angrily glared at him. 'How dare he! I dressed up for him and he...'

Tsukasa just sat there his head supported by his arm and looking out of the window with his brow twitching. 'Stupid Makino!'-he thought.-'Here I am doing my best not to jump her by how she looks...and she goes and asks me a question that reminds me of HOW SHE LOOKS!'

She just sat there 'hmph'ing him with her arms crossed until they arrived. Then Tsukasa managed to pull himself together and in a semi-normal voice asked her to take his hand. She refused, so he hugged her by her waist, receiving many protests in the way, but he didn't care. The only thing he had on his mind- was how to keep himself away from her... and it wasn't going as well as he wished.

Akira and Soujiro met up with them near the entrance and, of course, they were already surrounded by girls.

"Where is that working-girl? We asked her to meet us here at ten thirty. Agh…it's such a pain waiting..."- Soujiro hissed.

"Well, well… be patient. We diss her too many times already to be mad at her for being lade. Besides, she is a girl- she needs to make herself pretty."- Akira said calmly and then thy both burst into laughter.

"Haha ... like Makino would ever do something like that! She's not a lady ya know..."- Soujiro snickered before he was interrupted by a bang on his head. As he turned his head upwards, he saw a familiar couple. "Ma…makino! and… Tsukasa? Wow… you two look cool. "- Soujiro lifted an okay sign. – "Sure took you two long to get dressed up… I bet it will take a lot quicker to get undressed again, eh...?"- he winked at them before being smacked on the head by a beet red Tsukasa 'idiot, you're not helping me at all!'

"You could have told us you were coming back to Tokyo you know. We saw it on the news."- stated Rui blankly after appearing out of nowhere.

"So the F4 is finally reunited! We'll have to party all night to celebrate this!"- Akira happily said and all of them turned to go to the club.

A shaky Tsukasa took Tsukushi's hand and both of them walked in as well.

(ha! Tsukasa and Tsukushi moments! XDDDD Just love em together.. but keeping them in character was kinda tough... did I manage it, m? you tell me;) R&R)