Brand New Beginning - Part 5 (Finale) "Never Look Back"
By: Matsu
***
Doumyouji arrived at Makino's apartment. He banged on the door, but no one answered. He peeked through the windows but no lights were on. It was obvious she was not home. Either that or she was pretending she wasn't home.
"Makino! Open the door! I need to explain!" He called out, taking a few steps back to look at the apartment in full view.
No one answered.
"Makino! You need to listen to me! Come out if you're in there!" Doumyouji repeated again, hoping that if Makino was inside that she would let him in. But again, there was no reply.
Doumyouji looked at the door helplessly as he sat on the step of Makino's house. He would wait there all night if he had to. As long as he could tell Makino once and for all that she was the one he loved and the one he needed.
* * * * *
"Hey, hey, young man....." Doumyouji groaned as he felt someone tapping on his shoulder. He slowly opened his eyes to see the sun brightly shining on his face and a man towering over him. Doumyouji sat straight up and rubbed his eyes. The mailman gave him a skeptical smile, "Are you all right there?" He asked, putting the letters in Makino's letterbox, "Looks like you had a bad night."
Doumyouji shrugged, feeling the ache in his back and shoulders. He stood up shakily and stretched out. When he turned - he came face to face with the front door of Makino's apartment.
That's right, he remembered, I was waiting for Makino. Doumyouji back to the mailman, who was starting to head back to his van. "Chotto matte," he called out, slowly jogging to catch up to the guy, "I'm wondering whether you've seen a girl around here before - with a brown hair and brown eyes?" The man looked down in thought before shaking his head, "Sorry, can't say I have."
Doumyouji nodded slowly as he walked back. Where the heck was Makino?
Doumyouji took in a deep sigh, feeling his patience completely wear out. What time was it now? 10am? 11?
It was obvious to him now that she wasn't going to come home anytime soon and that he had to go and find her himself.
Maybe she's at school already, Doumyouji thought as he made his way down the street, Yeah, that must be it.
A yellow cab was approaching on the opposite side of the road and Doumyouji quickly indicated for it stop.
"Where to mister?" The old man asked, glancing at his rear-view mirror.
"Eitoku University," Doumyouji replied firmly without any hesitation, "And step on the gas....."
* * * * *
Makino arrived back at her apartment with James. She had seen a yellow cab drive off not so long ago from in front of her house and she wondered why it was there in the first place.
James put his arm around her shoulders and gave it a slight squeeze, "You ready?"
Makino nodded. She didn't have much to pack from her apartment anyway, since most of her stuff were still back in the U.S.
As they walked up the steps of the apartment, Makino felt almost like she had come to a sense of finality within her heart.
Maybe it was because that deep down she knew that whatever hope she had of being with Doumyouji had been evaporated and that after all this time, after all the trials and tribulations they've been through, fate seemed to indicate that they were just not meant to be...
* * * * *
Doumyouji ran through the courtyard of Eitoku University - his eyes scanning the crowd.
Where the heck is that girl? Doumyouji thought anxiously, pushing past some freshman girls, whose faces were drained of color - looking absolutely terrified at the sight of him.
But Doumyouji ignored their looks - he was too busy trying to find Makino.
"...so anyway, as I was saying. She apparently had bought last minute tickets and is leaving today...with that cute gaijin boyfriend of hers...." Doumyouji stopped dead in his tracks as the familiar annoying high-pitch voice rang through his head.
He spun around to see Asai, Yamano and Ayuhara walking down the stairs, totally engrossed in their conversation.
Doumyouji grabbed Asai by the arm firmly. The three girls turned around, their eyes widening - obviously surprised to see him. "D-Doumyouji-san," They greeted in unison, rather awkwardly.
"What were you talking about before? Where is Makino?" Doumyouji demanded, shaking Asai's arm. Asai's lips turned upwards into a smug smile, "Don't you know Doumyouji-san?" She asked, exchanging glances with her two friends.
"Just tell me," Doumyouji snapped, feeling his patience running out.
Ayuhara stepped up, raising an eyebrow, "Makino is leaving with her boyfriend for the U.S today," She replied, giving Doumyouji a skeptical look, "I thought you knew."
Doumyouji slammed his fist into the wall in front of him and the three girls jumped in shock.
"Damn it," he swore, shaking his head annoyingly. Why is Makino such an idiot?
"Doumyouji-san," Yamano cooed, placing her hand on Doumyouji's arm, "What does it matter anyway?"
Asai and Ayuhara nodded quickly, "The girl is a trouble maker, the sooner she's gone the better."
Doumyouji turned back immediately, his eyes full or rage, "Be quiet!" He lashed back at them - as the girls stumbled back in fear.
"Where is Makino now?" He demanded, this time looking at each girl.
"Their flight is scheduled to leave in 30mins. She's at the airport!" Asai sulked angrily, looking like she was about to cry.
Without any hesitation Doumyouji ran down the stairs and out of the school.
Now he had to find a way to get to Tokyo Airport. And Fast.
* * * * * *
Makino looked outside as she boarded the plane with James. Her friends were all pressed up against the airport window - waving frantically.
Makino smiled back, trying to be brave. She was going to miss them all so much.
"Everything's going to be fine, I promise." Makino glanced up to see James giving her a confident grin. She smiled back weakly, unable to keep the pang sadness from her heart.
When they settled in their seats, Makino couldn't help but look out the window at her friends once more. They were still standing there....Yuki, Makiko, Kazuya, Soujirou, Akira and Sakurako.
A small smile touched Makino's lips. That's the way she wanted to remember them - as a whole group. Together.
But something did not look right in the picture. Almost incomplete, Makino thought to herself painfully as she realized that Rui and Doumyouji were not there. Two of the most important people in her life were absent.
Makino took a deep breath before mustering up the courage to look away. It was time to move on, to start a brand new life. Sayonara Japan, she whispered to herself, practically feeling her heart shatter, Sayonara Doumyouji Tsukasa.......forever..........
* * * * *
Doumyouji practically leaped out of the taxi when it reached Tokyo Airport. He ran in, his eyes glued onto the big computer screen above, as he began to scan all the flight schedules. Finally he found Makino's one,
Flight 393, GATE 12 to SAN FRANSISCO departing in 5 minutes.
"Kuso," Doumyouji cursed under his breath. The plane was going to leave in 5 minutes and Doumyouji knew he had to find away to either stall the flight or cancel it all together.
But how? He thought frantically, looking around.
Suddenly, he spotted an information desk on the right and Doumyouji quickly made his way over.
"Hello, may I help you sir?" The young lady smiled flirtatiously at Doumyouji, leaning a little forward.
"Flight 393, is there any way I can get a last minute ticket?"
The lady gave a little snort of laughter, "You must be kidding me right?" She asked, her eyes crinkling up as she smiled.
Doumyouji shook his head, "No, I'm serious. I want a ticket on that plane."
The smile immediately disappeared from her face and lady sat up straighter in her chair, her face full of disbelief. "I'm sorry sir, but that's clearly impossible. It's 4 minutes before take off time."
Doumyouji slammed his wrist onto the desk with a loud thud, "Don't you know who I am? My family owns half of this airport, damn it!"
The lady stood up, looking more irritated by the second. "Look, sir," She said through clenched teeth, "I don't care who you say you are - but the bottom line is there are no available seats on this flight and that's final."
Doumyouji clenched his fists hard. He didn't know what to do. He looked outside the window and saw a couple of planes on the air strip already.
He had to find another way. He wasn't about to give up n everything and lose Makino again. This time he vowed will stay by her side no matter what.
"CAN ALL PASSENGERS PLACE THEIR LUGGAGES ON THE CONVEYER BELT IN ORDER FOR OUR OFFICERS TO PUT ON BOARD THE PLANE. PLEASE REMEMBER ALL LUGGAGE MUST BE CLEARLY LABELLED...."
The voice blared through the loud speakers - breaking Doumyouji's thoughts.
That's it, Doumyouji thought, feeling a surge of hope within him as an idea began to brew in his mind.
He quickly ran to the conveyer belt on the other side where people were placing their suitcases onto it and without any hesitation, jumped on.
"What the - " The man next to him cried, his eyes practically popping out of his head. D
oumyouji crouched down, feeling somewhat pathetic but nonetheless it was the only hope he had.
Within seconds, Doumyouji fell down a steep little tunnel and he landed outside on a pile of suitcases. He saw that a few of the officers were starting to load all the luggage onto a little car which looked more like a cart, to load onto the plane. Luckily they had their backs to him.
Doumyouji jumped off - trying carefully to not be noticed. He looked around quickly - seeing all the large planes nearby. He was on the air strip - but he wasn't sure which plane Makino was on. His eyes scanned the strip quickly until he saw the US airline stationed not so far ahead.
It's now or never....Doumyouji thought as he ran to the luggage cart. He jumped on and started the engine.
"Hey...! What is going on?!" The senior officer demanded, turning around.
But it was too late, Doumyouji was already driving off at full speed - which was about 60km per hour - but nevertheless, it was faster than attempting to run to the plane by foot.
Up ahead, the US airline was slowly beginning to move.
Damn, Doumyouji muttered to himself frantically, feeling the sweat beads form on his forehead, It's going to take off.
He stepped on the gas pedal as hard as he can and fortunately he was approaching the plane.
"HEY!! HEY!!" Doumyouji screamed, trying to get their attention - but the loud noise of the plane's propellers deafened Doumyouji's calls.
Come on, He pleaded anxiously in his mind, Kamisama, please let Makino hear!
* * * * *
Makino closed her eyes tightly. The pain in her heart was almost too much to bare. She could feel the plane slowly begin to move.
It's real. I'm going to leave Doumyouji forever...She realised, feeling sick and nauseous inside. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to sit in the window seat after all.
James leaned over and wrapped his hand over Makino's.
They feel smaller and softer than Doumyouji's hands, Makino thought to herself sadly, unable to keep her mind off her first love.
Suddenly, Makino snapped back into reality when she heard a faint beeping noise outside. The people in front of her were all leaning against the windows making a big fuss over something.
"My god! What's that guy doing?!" The middle-aged lady in front of Makino asked, adjusting her glasses as she peered out of her window.
"I don't know - but its crazy!" A business man on the other side replied.
"What's going on?" James asked, peering over.
Makino slowly glanced outside the window to check for herself.
She gasped. "Ehh!! Doumyouji!?!"
Her mouth dropped open and her eyes were wide with shock as she sat there looking out the window - feeling totally flabbergasted.
What was Doumyouji doing here? But most of all - why was Doumyouji driving a luggage cart at full speed in front of a moving plane?! Has he totally lost his mind? Was he crazy?!
"SORRY PASSENGERS BUT WE MUST STALL OUR FLIGHT - DUE TO A...ERM....YES AN UNEXPECTED SITUATION THAT HAS COME UP...PLEASE BE PATIENT AND OUR APOLOGIES FOR THE SLIGHT DELAY...."
The captain switched his speaker off and the plane slowly came to a halt.
Makino jumped out of her seat and ran towards the exit of the plane.
"Hold on a minute," The flight attendant called out - pulling Makino firmly by the arm. "Where are you going?"
"Look, that guy...well I think I know why he is here..." Makino replied, awkwardly.
"You mean you know that crazy man?!" The attendant exclaimed, raising her eyebrows in surprise.
All the passengers immediately turned and their eyes landed on Makino.
"I-uh- yes....I do..." She flustered, feeling uneasy and all the sudden self-conscious.
The attendant nodded slowly and opened the entrance - extending a staircase along the way, "Fix what ever you have to fix. The plane isn't expected to leave now but I'm warning you, you don't have much time." She ushered for Makino to step out, "But I do know for a fact that your friend is in for A LOT of trouble."
Makino cringed. It wasn't too hard to figure that one out.
She stepped out slowly and saw Doumyouji standing in front of the stairs at the bottom of the plane. Makino felt her breath catch in her throat.
He looked all worn out and tired, his hair messy and clothes slightly ripped but nevertheless Makino had never seen him look so handsome before.
"Yo," He piped up, giving her a wry smile, "Genki?"
Makino's mouth dropped open. That was what he wanted to say to me all this time? Yo, Genki? She thought, beginning to feel a little annoyed.
"So...," Doumyouji repeated, leaning against the side railing of the stairs. "Genki, Makino?"
Makino began to feel her blood boil.
"Baka, you could at least say something you know - instead of just standing there."
Makino clenched her fists tightly.
"Doumyouji Tsukasa!" She yelled, letting go of all the steam and anger, "Are you crazy? What were you thinking?! Did you want to get yourself killed?"
Doumyouji blinked a couple of times and then smiled, obviously very amused.
"So you do care for me..." He teased, giving her a triumphant grin.
"Stupid! Who said so?!" Makino retorted sticking her tongue out at him. But before Doumyouji could answer, Makino noticed that the airport officers were marching up to Doumyouji looking very angry.
"You are in very serious trouble young man," The old guy in a black suit said coming up next do Doumyouji, his face stern, "You better have some good explanation for all this nonsense."
Doumyouji raised an eyebrow before reaching into the pocket of his puffer jacket. Makino looked on, feeling worried and puzzled at the same time. What on earth was he planning to do now?
Doumyouji pulled out a check and with a pen he scribbled some things on it before throwing it at the air port manager. "This is for the inconvenience. Twenty minutes is all I need."
The manager eyes widened as he looked at the check, his mouth hanging open and nodded quickly, "Yes, yes of course. Do take your time, Master Doumyouji." He turned around and briskly ushered the other officers to leave.
Makino rolled her eyes. She was foolish to have thought that Doumyouji couldn't get himself out of a problem like this. Especially when money was involved.
"Look Makino," Doumyouji started again softly, making sure the officers were safely out of earshot. "I came because I want to tell you that I want to be with you."
Makino's eyes widened. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She stood there totally stunned.
"Makino, you're the only one I care for. The one I love." He continued, slowly coming up the steps, his eyes sad and pleading. "You have to know that I -" Doumyouji stopped mid-sentence, his eyes suddenly focusing on something behind Makino.
Makino turned and gasped. Standing behind her was James, his face serious and adamant. "What's going on?" He asked, his tone firm.
Makino winced. Why did these things always happen to her?
James looked at Doumyouji - his eyes narrowing. "What does he want?" He asked Makino, barely looking at her.
"I- He-..we-" Makino stuttered, her mind unable to construct a cohesive sentence.
Doumyouji stepped up, ignoring James. "Makino, listen to me," His face looked determined. "I'm not with Tomoko anymore," he added gently.
Makino took a few steps back. Doumyouji broke up with Tomoko, she thought, feeling incredibly guilty all of the sudden, He broke up with her for me.
"It's not your fault," Doumyouji continued, obviously reading her mind, "I was meant to break up with her a long time ago. But I just never brought myself to do it."
Makino looked up at met his gaze, noticing that Doumyouji's dark eyes had a pained expression in them.
"It's not fair for me, but most of all it isn't fair to Tomoko. I couldn't go on being with someone that I am not in love with."
Makino's vision began to blur as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Look, we have to go," James told Makino, throwing Doumyouji a steely glare, "Let's go back in."
Doumyouji suddenly ran up the stairs and firmly held onto Makino's wrist.
"Makino! I've made the mistake once and I'm not doing it again," Doumyouji said, his voice wavering, "I'm not going to give you up. I'm not going to let this plane leave until you give me another chance."
Makino collapsed against the railing, almost like holding onto it for dear life as her heart started to ache tremendously. She loved Doumyouji so much. If only she could tell him.
"I'm not letting this plane leave." Doumyouji repeated, with more firmness this time, "Even if I have to sacrifice my life today, this minute - I am not about to let someone that I love so much slip through my fingers. Not ever again."
Tears slowly started to trickle down Makino's face. She was simply touched by his words, his whole manner. Makino knew then, that Doumyouji and her were soulmates. She felt a bond with him - and looking at Doumyouji right now, Makino knew that the light fluttering sensation in her stomach was the feeling of true love.
She turned back to James, whose face had softened. He looked down at Makino. "Makino," he started, his voice gentle, "Go to him."
Makino stopped crying, obviously surprised by James' words.
"Stop crying," he instructed good naturally, giving her hair a slight ruffle with his hand, "You belong with him, Makino."
She turned to look at Doumyouji who looked just as stunned as she was at James' sudden change of manner.
"Look," James began, glancing at Doumyouji, "I never really liked you." He gave a sheepish grin and scratched the back of his head in his usual adorable laid-back way, "But I could tell from the first day I met you in the courtyard that you mean a lot to Makino and that she means a lot to you." James gave Makino a crest-fallen smile, "Makino will always have that special feeling towards you no matter where she is in there world. Or who she is with."
Makino shook her head, her tears beginning to fall again, "No, James - it's not -," But in mid-sentence, James put a finger on Makino's lips, indicating for her to stop.
"Shhhh," he interrupted softly. A serious expression crossed James' face. "Makino, as much as I care for you, I realize that you are better of with Doumyouji.So, I want you to go to him."
James turned to give Doumyouji a little smile, "I must admit, you're an all right guy after all. Look after Makino or I'll come back and look for you!" He added, jokingly.
James then focused back on Makino, giving her a reassuring grin, despite the apparent melancholy expression his eyes, "I'll be fine. Take care, Makino." He gave a tight hug. Makino wrapped her hands gently around him one last time before James pulled away.
"I'm so sorry James," Makino managed to choke out, her eyes meeting his briefly.
James shook his head slowly. "Don't be," he replied gently, taking a few steps backwards.
"Don't make me disappointed kids," He called out, turning around one last time before walking back into the plane, "I'm a sucker for happy endings."
Makino watched as James disappeared, still trying to recover from the situation.
When she turned around - she realized she was face to face with Doumyouji again.
"Let's go.." Doumyouji said, indicating for her to follow him down the steps.
"So..." Doumyouji began, clearing his throat nervously.
"So..." Makino repeated awkwardly, looking down as her face began to flush. "Anno..I-" Before she could finish, Doumyouji pulled her into an embrace.
Makino was taken aback, but nevertheless quickly recovered and closed her eyes slowly, savoring the touch of Doumyouji's body pressed against hers. How long it seemed since they were last together. And how right it seemed now.
"Aishiteru Makino Tsukushi," Doumyouji whispered, softly resting his head on her hair.
Makino's heart began to flutter, but it didn't stop her from saying what she have been wanting to say for ages.
"I love you too." Makino replied, a smile slowly spreading across her face. She had waited so long for this moment. And after all that's happened and all they've been through, saying these three words to the one guy she loved was definitely worth it.
The two stood there, in the middle of the airstrip, locked in a tight embrace - feeling the love between them intensify. Nothing in the world could ruin this moment. It was just the two of them. Together.
It seemed like eternity before Doumyouji pulled away. "Eh, Makino?" He asked, a tentative look flickering over his dark eyes, "This is for you." He slowly pulled a wrinkled envelope out of his pocket.
"Naani kore?" Makino asked, raising her eyebrows as she took the envelope into her own hands.
"I was meant to give it to you the night before you left for the States last year," Doumyouji explained, looking rather uncomfortable, "It's a poem."
He looked away sheepishly, his face turning all red.
Makino's eyes widened. She didn't know Doumyouji was the type to write poetry. But then again, Makino was now noticing that there were a lot of things she didn't know about Doumyouji.
That's what I love about him, Makino realised, smiling adoringly up at Doumyouji and feeling on top of the world. Besides they finally have all the time in the world to learn more from each other and grow.
Like they say, Makino thought to herself, Everyday is a blessing - a brand new beginning. Never look back at the bad times, but instead, look forward to the future and what you can do to change and improve yourself and the things around you.
"It's a bit late, I know," Doumyouji spoke up finally.
"Better late than never," she replied, her voice soft.
Doumyouji came up behind Makino and put his arms around her waist. He gently bent down and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek. Makino looked up and Doumyouji rewarded her with a loving smile - his eyes lighting up contentedly. Makino couldn't help but smile back.
As Makino opened up the piece of paper and looked down, her tears began to fall again, but this time they were tears of happiness;
" As a bright day turns into night,
As a blue sky turns to gray,
I never knew saying, "I love you"
Could be so hard for me to say.
So here, I'm writing a poem,
To tell you how I feel,
That my love for you is everlasting,
It's true, it's forever, it's real.
I know love never runs smoothly,
It has its ups and downs,
But I promise you I can make you smile,
While erasing your troubles and frowns.
And lastly, I will never forget,
The night you said to me,
'That true love lasts forever,
When you're meant to be'......"
::::::::::::::::::::::: The end :::::::::::::::::::::::