I would just like to say, that this is one of my most original ideas. I mean...I don't know...I think it's very original. Plus I've just jumped on to this whole AU boat lately. Inuyasha AU's, the Kare Kano AU I plan to write, the Harry Potter AU, but still I like to keep things interesting. I think it should be mentioned how I came up with this fic's plot.
(Jade's Thought Process)
Hmm...I should write an AU....I could write one where Doumyouji's a prince...nah...that would be too obvious....hmmm....what if they were pirates...???? WAIT THAT'S BRILLIANT!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hana Yori Dango. (I WANT THE PILLOW CASE!!!)
Warnings: Pirates, foul language, and the boat...
Boys Before.....The High Seas???
Chapter One
Makino Tsukushi walked towards the square of her village slowly. The square was not large, nor was the village but that was not what was on her mind. It was that, that particular day something big was going to happen. The annual picking.
Personally, Tsukushi thought that it was a little silly. If only they had a way to fight back against the terrible scourge of the seas, the F4 pirates. She had never seen them. No one had, except maybe the village leaders. There were so many rumors that sprang up whenever someone so much as mentioned the F4 pirates. Every year they would cause damage, like the recent burning of someone's farm and every year the village, to stop them from doing more was to supply one unmarried girl. It was the terms the F4 had set, not the village. They hd been doing it for around twenty years. Tsukushi wondered how old the pirates were then if they had been doing it for so long. So to be fair about picking the girl, all unmarried girl's names were put in a basket and chosen.
Tsukushi was glad this was her last year of eligibility. Her mother and father had already gone about arranging a marriage, which she was slightly against, but knew that was how things were. Of course her parents had found the richest man who would take her. What's his name? Junpei? Makino shook her head. Arranged marriage was better then being shoved on a boat with a bunch of pirates.
"Tsukushi!" Tsukushi looked up to see Yuuki waving frantically at her. Yuuki was her best friend, they had grown up together because Tsukushi's father and Yuuki's father shared a fishing boat.
"Hey Yuuki!" Tsukushi rushed up to her friend. The village council was busy counting out the name slips and making sure that there was indeed all the unmarried women on it.
"Tsukushi, don't laugh but..." Yuuki trailed off, her eyes becoming slightly downcast. "I'm kind of scared."
"Your always scared, don't worry, the chances of your name getting picked are very small." Tsukushi assured her friend.
"I guess your right." Yuuki sighed slightly.
"So, you two don't think you'll get picked do you?" A very annoying female voice asked from behind. They turned to see Asai, the one of the village leader's daughters. Tsukushi personally did not like the girl, because Asai thought she was something really special, and never let anyone forget it.
"What about you Asai, I think you look a little scared you'll get picked." Tsukushi challenged the black-haired girl.
"That's ridiculous." Asai laughed which grated at Tsukushi's nerves. Asai sounded like a dying cat when she laughed. "I can't wait to see your faces when you get picked. You know, the F4 eat their victims."
"They do?" Yuuki gulped, her eyes wide with fright. Tsukushi rolled her eyes.
"That's just a rumor. They also say they have magical dragons and breath fire too." Tsukushi told them in an incredulous voice. Ate their victims, sheesh!
"How do you think they keep young? They've been doing it for twenty years. You'd probably give them indigestion though. Common food usually does that." Asai had her nose in the air then.
Tsukushi resisted the urge to just punch Asai in the face. "But rotten food will have them throwing up for a week." Tsukushi countered. Asai's face clenched in anger before she turned, stalking off into the crowd.
"Tsukushi, they don't really eat them do they?" Yuuki asked, still a little frightened.
"Of course not, Asai was just being an idiot." Tsukushi told her.
"Excuse me, we are about to draw the name of the girl who will bravely be given to the pirates to save our village." One village leader yelled over the crowd. Instant silence. It's really brave of them to send some girl when they don't even know what will happen to them! "Whoever it is, will be remembered as a hero."
Tsukushi looked around the crowd. Faces of girls full of fright, faces of girls trying to look brave, Asai's nasty face glaring at her, and Yuuki griping her arm. Please don't pick Yuuki, please don't pick Yuuki. Tsukushi sat there hoping for her friend as they pulled a name from the basket. One village leader looked at it a little mournfully. She knew they did care but still wished they didn't have to put up with this terrible tradition.
Now it came as one of them took out a red tag. They would put it on whoever had been picked, they had decided it was better then just announcing the name. The village leader made his way through the crowd coming towards her and Yuuki. Yuuki was now gripping her arm so tightly that it was probably going to raise bruises. Please don't pick...Yuuki...
The leader stopped right in front of them. His hand was shaking slightly as he reached out and...
Put the tag in Tsukushi's hand. Tsukushi blinked several times, as if she was imagining it all. Wait...wait...this isn't right...it couldn't be...me... Her heart was beating and was just staring at the red tag.
"No!" Yuuki cried out, tears starting to well up. "No!" The village leader with his head hanging walked away from them. Asai came strutting towards them.
"Good riddance." Asai said snottily before walking off with a smug look on her face. Tsukushi barely heard her. Tomorrow, tomorrow, I have to....
"No...Tsukushi...you can't!" Yuuki told her. "You can't go!" Tsukushi turned to her friend, a kindly expression on her face.
"I sat there hoping it wouldn't be you. I'm glad it wasn't." Tsukushi was slightly surprised when Yuuki hugged her. Tsukushi patted her head, trying hard to be brave. Don't...don't show her your scared. "You never know, it might be an adventure."
"I'll miss you Tsukushi..." Yuuki trailed off. "Your my best friend, no matter what happens, you are."
"Silly, I know that." Tsukushi cuffed her slightly on the arm. "Remember? I'm a weed! You won't get rid of me quite so easily. I'll come back." They both knew that was a lie. No one ever came back. But they could pretend. They could pretend that she would be coming back.
"You better not wait to long." Yuuki's eyes were still sad.
"I'll be fine." Tsukushi felt fear welling up in here at the thought that she wouldn't know if she would even be alive in a few days. They don't eat people! Asai is an idiot!
"I'll come see you later, you go tell your family." Yuuki promised before starting to walk away.
"I will, good-bye." Tsukushi was still tryng to be brave and put a smile on the situation. She walked out of the square, people giving their sorries to her as she passed, others thanking her for saving the village. Their all glad it's not them or their daughters.
___________
"Tsukushi, how did it-" Tsukushi's mother ran out of the house to ask but spotted the red tag and gaped in horror at it. It could have been a snake from the expression her mother had on her face.
"Well, I guess after tomorrow, you won't have to catch fish for my dinner." Tsukushi tried to joke. Her mother wrapped her arms around her daughter.
"Oh Tsukushi..." Her mother trailed off. My mother really cares..."You were going to make us so rich after marrying Junpei." Makino felt her mouth tighten in annoyance.
"Mom..." Tsukushi almost began to lecture her mother but her dad came out of the house.
"Group hug!" Her father yelled hugging both her and her mom in a grip that could have killed a bear. "Now, why is everyone so sad?" Her father looked at them both expectantly when he released them from his hug of death.
"Tsukushi got picked." Her mother's voice cracked. Her father's face went very grave right then. Something she had never seen.
"Tsukushi, you are taking this pretty well." Her father commented. "I'm sorry we'll have to cancel that marriage with Junpei."
"You two..." Tsukushi wanted to hit both of them on the head right then. They both leaned in expectantly. "Never mind."
After that they ate dinner and everyone went off to bed. Tsukushi wished that tomorrow wouldn't come. It did though. It seemed to last all day. She wondered when they would come for her. Some girls tried to run but she wouldn't. She would go. Yuuki came and they sat in silence for awhile before Yuuki began to talk of trivial things, tried to take their minds off of the whole thing. They could tell it was there, waiting. Yuuki said good-bye and there were more hugs, more tears. Tsukushi gulped as she saw the sun began to set. The village leaders would be coming soon. Her mother and father were nervously drinking tea. Tsukushi could not bear to drink any right then. She sat at the window, looking for the village leaders.
She saw them, they were coming. Her mouth went dry and heart began to thump. They knocked at the door. Her mother and her father got up and answered it.
"Tsukushi?" Her mother sounded as though she was holding back tears. "Tsukushi, it's time." Tsukushi came off her chair shakily, going towards them. Her mother hugged her, as did her father. Then the village leaders lead her outside her house. They were going to the docks. Tsukushi thought she could see a tall masthead way far off. She was not thinking nor expecting it when a heavy blow came to her head, causing her to slip into unconsciousness.
___________
Tsukushi carefully opened one eye. Then the other one. Her head was pounding. Did they have to do that? She looked around, there was total darkness. She couldn't see anything. She was definitely in a large bed. She realized she was only wearing the slip that she always wore under her dress. Her face went red when she wondered who had taken the dress off and why.
She tried to push those thoughts away. She heard the door start to creak and she shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep. She could feel a slight rocking motion. She was on a ship that seemed to be moving through the sea. The door opened and closed. She opened her eyes wondering if she could see who it was, she knew they wouldn't be able to see her open eyes because it was too dark. She couldn't see the other person but she could sense that they were there. It was definitely a man though. The heavy steps proved that. They were walking towards her. She tried not to gulp, she tried not to breath too hard but she was sure whoever it was could hear her heart thumping. Calm down! You'll wake up the whole ship with that racket!
She could sense the person was leaning over her, she closed her eyes. She was hoping with all her might that whoever it was would not do anything...unnatural. Suddenly she felt a hand at her face. It caressed her cheek softly. It was large and slightly calloused. She kept perfectly still, trying to control her breathing. The hand lifted away and the person walked out of the room. As soon as she heard the door close she sat up panting slightly. She fell back onto the soft pillows. Her head still hurt and she was tired. She might as well sleep, she had no idea what the next day would bring.
__________
The sun was shining on her face, causing her to wake. Tsukushi opened her eyes, blinking at the light. The window on her left showed a ship deck and beyond that the sea. She looked around the room. The bed was large, more then enough for two people. The blankets looked very expensive as did everything else. Books and things. Some discarded male clothing made her gulp a little for some unknown reason.
A sound from the deck outside made her turn her head to see a young man walking along the deck. His almost reddish brown hair waving slightly in the wind, with his brown eyes looking out to see. Tsukushi could feel her breath catch a little. He had stopped and was looking over the railing.
The door burst open so suddenly that Tsukushi almost screamed. She looked with her wide brown eyes at another young man who looked a little odd. He had bright red hair, which only showed through a band that went almost over his right eye. His left eye was covered by an eye patch. The rest of his head was covered with a bandana. He was dressed in a shirt and shorts that looked rather frayed. He was also carrying a tray with what looked like breakfast on it. He looked a little silly because he was dressed like a pirate but had a huge dopey grin on his face. Tsukushi could have laughed if she was in any other situation.
"Welcome aboard The Hana!" The red haired boy announced loudly. Tsukushi stiffened. The Flower....that's the name of the dreaded F4 pirate's ship?
"The Hana?" Tsukushi wondered if it was some sort of joke. The red haired boy set down the tray before throwing his hand behind his back.
"Um, well...that's what they named the ship." The red haired boy said carefully, his grin a little less but still crossing his face. "I'm not allowed to say who though."
"That's okay." Tsukushi told him. "Who are you?"
"I am Kazuya!" He said loudly. "I'm not a pirate though. Captain Doumyouji says I'll never be one but I think that maybe one day..." Kazuya trailed off.
"Oh. My name's Makino Tsukushi." Tsukushi managed a weak smile. This was not what she had expected. Well she wasn't sure what she expected to happen.
"Well Tsukushi, like I said this is The Hana. Um, let's see...erm...I'm trying to remember my instructions. Well, you can wear anything you find in these drawers." Kazuya pointed to a set of drawers. Tsukushi did not bother asking about the other drawers. Maybe they were just there for sure.
"Thanks." Tsukushi gulped weakly. "Um, so the captain of the ship is called Captain Doumyouji?" She was trying to keep the conversation going.
"Well, there's more then one captain. I think Captain Doumyouji's their leader though. There's Captain Soujirou, Captain Akira, and Captain Rui. There's Captain Rui out there." Kazuya pointed out the window at the young man looking out over the railing. Hmm...Captain Rui...
"Okay then, what's going on? I mean why am I in this nice room?" Tsukushi finally burst out with her real question.
"I don't know." Kazuya's eye blinked. "Usually the girl has a room down below and Captain Soujirou and Captain Akira make bets over the girl. But I didn't question Captain's Doumyouji's orders. Sometimes I do and he tells me I'll never be a pirate."
"Sorry, it's just that, you know, it's not everyday you end up on a ship full of people you don't know." Tsukushi apologized and watched Kazuya's dopey grin return as he started to leave.
"Well I'll leave your breakfast and then feel free to do whatever. Captain Doumyouji didn't say to keep you in the room or anything." Kazuya waved brightly before leaving. Tsukushi gulped down breakfast, unaware how hungry she was until up to that point. Then she went towards the chest of drawers and opened them. She pulled out a nice blue sundress. It looked like it was her size and she put it on. She grabbed a brush that was laying there. She stared at it before pulling out a few curly hairs. I wonder whose these are? She shrugged before brushing her hair, hoping no one would mind. She couldn't find anything to tie her hair back with so she let it hang loose. Then she put on a pair of sandals that had been put by her bed.
She felt pretty brave, now that she had eaten and was dressed. She could face these F4 pirates. Actually she wasn't expecting all the luxury. Her house could have fit in that room. Tsukushi went out the door and found herself on deck. As a fisherman's daughter she was already accustomed to the rocking movement of the ship. It was beautiful outside. The sky was blue and the water sparkled. A cool breeze blew across her face and she stood there enjoying it before deciding to explore the ship starting with the deck. She looked up to see a lookout post high above her. She wondered if anyone was in it. She blinked as an object fell out of it. It almost landed on Tsukushi but she stepped aside and a book hit the ground. It could have killed her however. She bent down to investigate.
"Thinking of You?" Tsukushi read the title out loud as though it was a question. She picked it up and shook it at the lookout post. "HEY! You could have killed me down here!" She yelled at whoever it was up there. No response. She opened the book. It was more like a diary except full of poetry. Two different people writing in it too. Looped and delicate script showed a woman and short, slightly untidy writing spoke of a man. Tsukushi could tell it was rather personal and closed it as she heard something drop on the deck. She turned to see Captain Rui looking at her. With his hand resting on one of the rungs, she realized he had just climbed down. Meaning it was his book.
"That's mine." Rui said. His voice was rather blunt and sounded almost like he was three hundred miles away.
"This thing almost killed me!" Tsukushi told him slightly angrily. She handed him the book.
"Whoops." Rui's short answer was all he gave before climbing back up the ladder rings.
"Hey! Wait!" Tsukushi yelled after him but he was already in the lookout post. That guy is so....so...
"Rui don't be such an unfriendly guy!" A male voice teased. Another one laughed as if on cue. Tsukushi turned to see two other young men. One with wavy hair to his shoulders and another with short dark hair. They were both looking at her a little curiously.
"So, this is why Doumyouji's been so weird lately?" The one with dark hair walked over to her and bent over studying her face.
"Doumyouji's so weird. First he treats girls like a disease and then he makes a big deal over an ugly one?" The other one with his long hair commented.
"Um, excuse me?" Tsukushi couldn't believe those two. She might not be an especially beautiful girl but she did not think she was all that ugly. Just kind of plain.
"I'm Soujirou, Captain Soujirou." The one with short dark hair told her.
"And I would be Captain Akira." The other one announced and they both looked at her expectantly.
"I'm Makino Tsukushi." Tsukushi said trying to sound a little more confident.
"Maybe you know why Doumyouji's been so weird?" Akira raised his eyebrows at her, waiting for a reply.
"I've never even met this Doumyouji!" Tsukushi told them sharply.
"Told you!" Soujirou's smug grin made her wonder what they were talking about. Akira made a face before handing Soujirou some gold coins. Why is everyone on this ship so strange?
"Let's go, she's boring." Akira said out loud as if commenting on the weather. The two walked off together leaving Tsukushi with her brow twitching in irritation. She decided that had enough of the deck and started exploring the rest of the ship. She got into a long hallway. There were several doors, leading to other richly furnished rooms. Tsukushi then came to a door and opened it slowly. She peeked inside. There was a table and a wonderful desk. Bent over the desk was yet another young man. His hair was dark and curly, he looked a little annoyed as he wrote something furiously in a book. Is this Captain Doumyouji?
"For the last time, Akira, no we are not trading her in for a new one!" The angry voice came which made Tsukushi shut the door and try to hurry away. She tripped over her own feet, making a loud thudding noise. "That's it!" She heard the man's voice angrily yell. "Kazuya, if you can't stop thundering through this ship you'll-" His voice cut off as he opened the door and saw her sitting on the ground still. His dark eyes widened at the sight of her.
"I wasn't thundering." Tsukushi protested as she stood up and dusted off her skirt. "I fell down."
"Some of us are working. Just because you have nothing to do..." His smug look irritated her.
"Gee, I'm sure your working so hard. Planning on what village your going to burn down?" Tsukushi challenged, putting her hands on her hips. She had been holding in a lot of anger.
"Your lucky we don't turn this ship around and burn down your village." He countered.
"Stupid..." Tsukushi tried to think of something good to say. "Stupid Octopus Head!" She roared. His face went a little weird, almost as if he had been struck by those words.
"Did you just call me...Octopus Head?" He asked her, his eyes looked a little dangerous. "You don't know who your talking to. I am Captain Doumyouji and if I order you to be thrown overboard, then you can bet it will be done."
"Gee, I'm shaking." Tsukushi's sarcastic reply seeming to irritate him that much more. " Well I'm Makino Tsukushi."
"Tsukushi?" Doumyouji tried her name out in a question. "A commoner name for a commoner. You can go now."
"Well maybe I'll stay." Tsukushi said stubbornly.
"Fine stand out in that hallway." Doumyouji said before slamming the door behind him.
"I will!" Tsukushi yelled back before stomping off, making as much noise as she could. That guy was so annoying! She hoped she wouldn't run into him too much on the ship.
___________
Tsukushi sighed as she walked into her room. She ate dinner with all the captains and the whole time Akira and Soujirou sat there trying to find out what was wrong with Doumyouji and why they had to have such an ugly girl on the ship. Doumyouji sat there glaring at the two of them, or glaring at her. She would glare right back, holding back the urge to stick out her tongue like a young child. Rui had sat there ignoring all of them, picking at his food. He looked bored out of his mind. She was ready for bed then. She began to undo the buttons on the back of her sundress right before the door opened.
"AHHHHH!" Tsukushi screamed before hurling a nearby book at the intruder. It was Doumyouji. He had very cross expression on his face and looked down at the book wryly. "I'm undressing in here you pervert!"
"Like I'm interested in that." Doumyouji replied coldly. He walked right in and sat down on the bed.
"Did you not hear me? Get out of my room!" Tsukushi ordered, trying to keep her dress up around her while pointing with her index finger at the door.
Doumyouji looked up at her. "Who said it was your room?" Then he proceeded to start to take off his shoes.
"What are you talking about?" Tsukushi asked him, in slight frustration. "Why are you undressing?" Her face went a little red when his hands began to unbutton his shirt.
"Damn woman, I'm trying to get ready for bed! This is my room." Tsukushi's mouth dropped open in surprise. She turned around as he started to actually take off the shirt. Her face went even redder.
"You...you won't look while I change will you?" Tsukushi braved.
"Hmph!" The annoyed noise left Doumyouji's throat behind her and she bravely started to take off her dress.
"Nice slip." The comment made Tsukushi spin around to find that Doumyouji was looking away at the wall.
"You said you wouldn't look!" Tsukushi almost stamped her foot.
"I'm not looking, I was just joking." Doumyouji seemed so calm about the whole situation. Tsukushi made double sure he wasn't looking before taking off her slip and putting on a white nightgown made of silky material that she found in the drawers. She sighed.
"Okay, you can turn around." Tsukushi bit her lip, half expecting some remark from the curly-haired boy. She realized that Doumyouji was only wearing a pair of under-shorts and went bright red in the face again. She stalked over to the bed and grabbed her pillow putting it on the ground.
"What are you doing?" Doumyouji jumped up grabbing the pillow and putting it on the bed.
"Well, aren't I sleeping on the floor?" Tsukushi asked.
"I didn't say you had to." Doumyouji shrugged.
"Well, we can't both sleep on the bed." Tsukushi folded her arms and then saw that Doumyouji was only shrugging again. She gaped. "That's not proper...."
"I told you I wasn't interested in that." Tsukushi was glad to see Doumyouji go a little red in the face, it made her feel better. "So you can sleep in the bed with me or I'll sleep on the floor."
"Why don't I just sleep on the floor?" Tsukushi was surprised by his suggestion.
"What kind of man sleeps in a bed when a woman sleeps on the floor?" Doumyouji snorted. Tsukushi wasn't sure what to do. She was half tempted to make him sleep on the floor but then he was being nice about, well nice for him.
"Well...I guess...as long as you don't try anything, we can both sleep in the bed." Tsukushi finally answered. Doumyouji actually rolled his eyes at her. I should have made him sleep on the floor. What a prick! Tsukushi got into bed first and then watched Doumyouji slide into bed next to her. She had thought the bed was bigger earlier but it seemed it was kind of small as Doumyouji was right next to her. "You better not hog the blankets." She said quietly.
"Their my blankets." Doumyouji protested before going silent. The tension in the air was starting to grow as Doumyouji turned off the oil lamp. It was now all dark in the room. Doumyouji tried to get comfortable next to her and accidentally brushed a hand on her chest. Tsukushi hit him in the face with her pillow.
"I wasn't doing anything." Doumyouji said crossly.
"Whatever, just keep to your side of the bed." Tsukushi told him, trying to sound just as cross. There was silence for a few moments.
"Tsukushi?" Doumyouji's voice wasn't angry anymore, surprising Tsukushi a little.
"What?" Tsukushi asked.
"Good night." Doumyouji said before going silent for good. Tsukushi was quiet for a little while.
"Good night." Tsukushi finally said before turning her back to him and falling asleep.
_______
Gee the romance is killing me. Oh well what will happen next?
Will Doumyouji and Tsukushi be able to not kill each other? Will Doumyouji be able to not kill Soujirou and Akira? Will Rui be able to not kill anyone? Will Rui pay attention to his surroundings? Will he ever be more then half awake? Will we find out what was up with that book? Will Kazuya ever become a real pirate? Will we find out who named the ship? Will we laugh when we find out? Not to mention Makiko! Stay tuned!