Sorry for the long delay, guys! School and life got very busy very quickly but I fully intend to finish this story (and as soon as possible ). Same disclaimer: I don't own Hana Yori Dango, just this story. Oh, and some inspiration from the Korean Boys over flowers.
Tsukushi rubbed the last of sleep from her eyes as she bent to pick up the morning paper. She was humming lightly as her gaze fell on two shiny crocodile-skin black shoes. She followed the line of crisp, black pants, up a white dress shirt to land on the face of Domyouji Tsukasa. He was leaning on the wall next to her door, eyes closed and breathing relaxed.
What the hell?, Tsukushi thought in shock. The idiot doesn't contact me for a week and now he is asleep outside my door.
She cautiously tiptoed to him and poked an angry finger into his side. The lack of response provoked another poke but Tsukushi's hands gentled as she looked at his sleeping face.
Is he sick?, she wondered. Tsukushi gently placed her hands on his forehead but to her shock, she felt herself be pulled into a pair of strong arms.
"You little swindler!", she screamed, "what the hell are you doing? Where you awake all this time?".
"Five minutes. Let's just stay like this for five minutes.", Tsukasa whispered, "I just want to hold you."
Tsukushi had heard many things from Tsukasa – angry retorts, sarcastic comments, cold logic but never this soft pleading. Almost against her will, she melted into his arms, feeling how her curves lined up against his hard planes as if a delicious promise of the future.
"Mama…", a tentative voice called from within the apartment.
As if the spell had snapped, Tsukushi pulled out of Tsukasa's arms with a start.
"I'm coming, baby", she called within before glancing over to Tsukasa, "you can come in for pancakes but you better not complain."
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Tsukasa had always wondered what Makino's apartment would look like. Actually, every facet of her character fascinated him – what she liked to eat, how she slept, who her friends were, what her niece was like.
He stepped into the apartment with wide eyes. It's the size of my bathroom, he thought immediately, but its…cozy.
The apartment wasn't large but it was airy, done in shades of white, grey and splashes of red. It had warmth and a sense of home.
Tsukushi reentered the room with a bundle in her arms.
"Kiri-chan, meet Domyouji-san. He's a friend of mama's and will be having breakfast with us", Tsukushi introduced with a gentle smile.
Tsukasa and Kirara sized each other up. Tsukasa saw a toddler, rather small for her age with dark brown hair and hazel eyes reminiscent of Makino. Her hair was mussed from sleep and her hello kitty pajamas were rumpled.
What Kirara saw was anyone's guess but it must have displeased her because she let out a tiny wail and hid her face in Tsukushi's shoulder. Tsukushi kept up a constant stream of cheerful chatter, trying to push Tsukasa and Kirara together but Kirara wasn't having any of it. She hid behind Tsukushi, keeping a cautious gaze on and distance from Tsukasa.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what's gotten into her. Kirara is usually much more social. I practically had to bribe her out of Hanazawa Rui's arms last week", Tsukushi noted.
Great, the kid hates me!, Tsukasa thought morosely as he watched Tsukushi bustle about the kitchen. Just when he had managed to make some progress with Makino, there was another roadblock.
Just as breakfast was ready, the phone rang.
"Moshi-moshi. Oh, Hanazawa Rui!", Tsukushi answered.
"Ru-san, Ru-san", Kirara chattered back happily.
Tsukasa sat glumly, stabbing his pancakes as he listened to Tsukushi make plans with Rui. Suddenly, he felt a little hand on his knee and looked down into big, brown eyes.
"Do-san", Kirara said shyly as she offered his a lollipop.