Yeah well I decided to put up yet another chapter…thanks for the reviews my friends. Lizzy, I dunno why chapters wouldn't be working 'cause other people have read them but as we know, fanfiction.net is always deciding to randomly not work. You'd think they'd fix that…Oh well. I'm glad everyone is liking the story and hating Kaede.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hana Yori Dango.
Warnings: How about this? -_-!--------My disapproving face. ^_^-----------My happy face.
Boys Before..............The High Seas???
Chapter Twelve
Tsukushi woke up and was surprised to find that Doumyouji wasn't in bed. He usually was still sleeping whenever she woke up. Tsukushi looked around the room. Maybe he's hiding or something?
"Tsukushi!" Shigeru, who had apparently not left her room yesterday, came running into the room.
"What?" Tsukushi felt a little alarmed.
"Um...well...I don't think you should look out your window." Shigeru told her. Tsukushi made a confused face.
"Why not?" Tsukushi asked. Shigeru shook her head without saying any words. Tsukushi sprang out of bed and looked out the window. There was the sea. But that wasn't important. Tsukushi saw a movement right down in the lawn in front of her and she gasped.
Kaede was standing there. Doumyouji was laying on the ground, two men beating on him. Tsukushi felt her eyes go wide.
"You shouldn't have looked." Shigeru's tone made Tsukushi wince slightly. She was watching the beating go on in horror.
"Why..." Tsukushi trailed off, tears coming to her eyes.
"I don't know." Shigeru replied, obviously feeling like she had done some terrible crime. Tsukushi did not know what took over her. She ran past Shigeru as fast as she could. She was still in her nightgown and earning strange looks from servants as she seemed to fly down the stairs.
Doumyouji! What are they doing to you? Tsukushi ran through doors to the outside of the castle and ran towards Doumyouji as he was getting beaten. Just as she passed Kaede, she felt a foot trip her. She landed on her face. Two guards came and held her back as she struggled. "What's going on? What are you doing?"
"You should know. For showing such a display in my husband's presence, you should be beaten. However, Tsukasa has taken the punishment upon himself." Kaede explained a slight smile twitching at the corners of her mouth. "All because of you, is he is being hurt. All you seem to do is cause pain." Tsukushi knew by her words what she was trying to do.
"Doumyouji!" Tsukushi yelled out. He has to fight back, doesn't he? Get up Doumyouji!
"Tsukushi?" The voice croaked out before another sharp blow caused silence.
"Your his mother! His mother!" Tsukushi yelled at Kaede. Kaede calmly walked over and slapped Tsukushi's face.
"Oh, you think now you little whore that you are protected. Tsukasa has had many girls come to his bed. You are just one of many." Kaede's voice started to plant a seed of suspicion in Tsukushi. She shook her head. She's lying.
"Well you aren't as smart as you think you are. Doumyouji and I haven't even done anything." Tsukushi told her, sticking her chin out defiantly. She turned her head. At the window on the first floor was a face watching her. Is that Doumyouji's father? What is he doing? She saw the sad expression crossing the man's face before he turned and disappeared.
"Soon you will go to his bed and then you'll know." Kaede sounded like a snake in Tsukushi's opinion. Slithering about and hissing things.
"Know that your the biggest liar of all time? Or that all you want to do is kill anyone else's happiness?" Tsukushi asked, her voice was low.
"I'm lying? Ask any one of the servants. Come boys, that is enough. Tsukasa has learned a lesson here." Kaede backed away before the men walked away from Doumyouji's body, that was just laying in the grass. The guards let go of her and she ran towards him.
"Doumyouji?" Tsukushi ran over to him. He did not move at all. She bent down, kneeling next to him. She put his head in her lap. "Wake up." She whispered softly, unable to take the anguish. Tears were starting to well up. A tear landed on his face and slid off.
"Hmm..." Doumyouji opened his eyes. He saw Tsukushi crying and reached up to touch her face. He was obviously in pain but was trying to suppress it. "Why are you crying?" He wiped away her tears with his thumb.
"Why? Why did you just let them beat you? It was supposed to be me..." Tsukushi let her head drop. "It was supposed to be me..."
"I'm supposed to protect you. Did you think I would sit there and watch you take a beating? Guards wouldn't be able to hold me." Doumyouji coughed a little. He had bruises all over. "If you help me get up, I think I can make it to our room." Tsukushi put his arm around her neck and tried her best to help him get up. They carefully walked towards the castle. Tsubaki came rushing out. She looked pissed.
"It was mother wasn't it? I saw father in the hall..." Tsubaki's voice broke a little. "Tsukasa, he was crying. I've never seen him cry."
"Father? Why?" Doumyouji asked his sister.
"He saw." Tsukushi said. "I saw him watching in the window." Her head sank a little. "This is all my fault."
"Don't say that! That's what that bitch wants you to think!" Doumyouji told her fiercely. "Your only fault is that sometimes...you snore."
"I do not!" Tsukushi protested immediately before laughing a little. Doumyouji was trying to get her to laugh.
"Honestly you two..." Tsubaki shook her head in wonder. "Let me help you out Tsukushi. My brother here weighs about three tons."
"Do not." Doumyouji muttered weakly but let Tsubaki put his other arm around her shoulder. They got him up the stairs and into the room. Tsubaki pulled out a bottle and handed it to Tsukushi.
"Make sure to rub this into his wounds." Tsubaki whispered before turning and leaving. Tsukushi turned to look at Doumyouji. He was lying on the bed and he looked like shit. She came over to him.
"Take off your shirt and turn over." Doumyouji started to protest. "Now!" He stopped but was obviously having trouble with his buttons. Tsukushi sighed before helping him. Once they had gotten his shirt off, Tsukushi poured out some of the stuff in the bottle.
"What are you doing?" Doumyouji asked her, sounding a little worn out.
"Returning a favor." Tsukushi started to rub the liquid into his back. Doumyouji made a quite satisfied noise in his throat.
"Mmm...'s about time..." Tsukushi was quite pleased that Doumyouji couldn't talk well. It sure made up for the time when she couldn't get a coherent sentence out with him massaging her back.
"Shut up." Tsukushi told him quietly while going about her task. She heard no more complaints from Doumyouji.
* * *
Rui opened his eyes that morning to be greeted by the only sight that brought him real joy. Shizuka sleeping against him. They had not spent one night apart since he had come back. Some days they tried to stay in bed for as long as possible, trying to see if no one would notice.
Shizuka snuggled into him. She needed him. That alone made him wonder what on Earth he had done to deserve his reason for living. Before Shizuka, life was a blurry gray monotone. He did not have friends, did not respond, and shied away from any affection. Then Shizuka had come.
Shizuka with her talk of squirrels and flowers. Shizuka with her silly songs and her smiling kindness. She never once gave up on him. Never told him that he was not worth the time. Anytime he had tried on purpose to get her to shun him, she would smile sadly and shake her head. Every time she had done that it brought him pain.
"Shizuka..." Rui whispered her name in her ear. Her big eyes fluttered open. They just stared at each other. "If you marry..."
"Shhhhh. You know I won't marry. Unless my husband's name is Hanazawa Rui." Shizuka put a finger to his lips. She started to trace his lips with that finger. "And only if he will kiss me." Rui obliged. There was nothing so sweet as the kisses they shared. Rui did not want her to go. She would have to get up eventually, someone would send for her. He desperately wanted her never to go. His kiss became more intense. He needed her.
"Shizuka, don't leave me." Rui whispered sadly as she ran her fingertips softly down his chest.
Shizuka leaned over to his ear. "Why would I? You might not think it yourself Rui, but there is no one in the world more amazing then you." Rui started to kiss her with more hunger. Quickly their embraces were even more passionate. Their naked flesh singing sweetly to each other.
If you leave, I would die.
* * *
"Okay thanks for doing this Kazuya, really it's a big favor." Tsukushi smiled at the red haired boy.
"Of course Captain Tsukushi!" Kazuya saluted her which was a little embarrassing but he scampered off. Sakurako was putting some boxes off before wiping the sweat off her forehead.
I have to find another female to help, do I? If there's anyone that owes me a favor...
"Hey Sakurako, why don't I get you something cold to drink?" Tsukushi offered, her eyes full of innocence.
"What do you want?" Sakurako asked suspiciously.
"Okay, I need another girl to help me with something. I can't explain it right now. I don't know exactly when I'll need your help but-" Tsukushi was cut off by Sakurako.
"No, absolutely not." Sakurako shook her head.
"But Sakurako..." Tsukushi began to plead. "I really need your help."
"Forget it." Sakurako protested putting her hands on her hips. If anyone walked by they would be able to tell that Sakurako was a girl.
"Why not?" Tsukushi demanded, also putting her hands on her hips.
"I could lose my place on the ship! I'm pretty sure they don't want a girl on there! I mean even though Doumyouji is in love with you...I could accept just being able to be close to him." Sakurako looked rather melancholy. Tsukushi realized that she couldn't protest to Doumyouji's being in love with her. It was true.
"I've got an idea." Tsukushi smiled suddenly.
* * *
Tsukushi entered the sitting room where Doumyouji, Soujirou, and Akira were sitting around laughing about some random subject. Tsukushi cleared her throat loudly and Akira turned towards Soujirou.
"We didn't make a bet over that!" Akira protested.
"I didn't say anything." Soujirou defended. Doumyouji rolled his eyes at the two before turning towards Tsukushi.
"Hello Tsukushi." Doumyouji greeted her.
"Um, hello." Tsukushi felt a nervous about this now. "I want you guys to meet someone."
"Who?" Akira looked up with interest. Tsukushi opened the door all the way. Sakurako looked great. Her hair was fluffed out into pretty waves and she was wearing a dress that complimented her figure nicely. She was wearing light make-up.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Soujirou's grin could only mean one thing. "I've never seen you before, I would never forget such a beautiful woman." Tsukushi felt the urge to laugh but used all her will to suppress it.
"Hey, she kind of looks like Sako." Doumyouji had his cocked to one side as he studied Sakurako.
"Now that you mention it..." Akira rubbed his chin. "Maybe she's related to him?"
"This," Tsukushi gestured a hand towards Sakurako. "Is Sakurako."
"The name fits perfectly." Soujirou flirtatiously smiled at her. "I am Lord Soujirou."
"But you also may know her as Sako." With three completely dumbfounded faces staring at her, Tsukushi could no longer suppress her laughter.
"It's....Sako?" Akira scratched his head in confusion.
"Sako's a girl?!" Doumyouji looked as though Tsukushi had told him the sun didn't exist.
"Um...yeah..." Sakurako cast her eyes demurely to the ground.
Soujirou looked by far the most horrified. "There was a beautiful girl on the ship and no one told me?"
"Well she's not on the ship anymore." Doumyouji folded his arms, to show that he had made his judgment.
"Doumyouji, are you aware that technically, I am the captain of our ship still?" Tsukushi asked him. He sent her a wary glance. "Which means what I say, goes. Sakurako, you are still a crewmember."
"I agree with that." They all turned to see a high backed chair, but other then the voice they couldn't tell if someone was in it. All of a sudden Tsubaki's head popped up. "I don't believe I lifted the duty off Tsukushi."
"Oh that's just..." Doumyouji looked miffed.
"Hey, um, Sakurako, do you want to go walk in the gardens? Their pretty at night you know." Soujirou did not seem that fazed about Sakurako as much as Akira and Doumyouji were. Sakurako blinked at him.
"Sure...I guess." Sakurako's face lightly blushed. Tsukushi had to smile as Soujirou lead Sakurako away.
"I guess I should be getting back to my room." Tsukushi told them before turning and going out the door. From the sound of the footsteps behind her, she knew Doumyouji had followed her. She turned around, but it wasn't Doumyouji. She did not know who it was. He had blonde hair and blueish-marble eyes. Who is this?
"I'm sorry, I just..." The blonde haired man apologized. "Was walking through. You must be the Lady Tsukushi I've heard so much about."
"I'm not a lady." Tsukushi told him. "I'm just plain Tsukushi."
"Ah, I see. I am the Lord Thomas." The blonde-haired man introduced himself. She stuck out her hand to shake his. He grabbed her hand and kissed it. Thomas smiled up at her and she blinked at him in confusion.
"Yo." Doumyouji's cool voice made Tsukushi turn to look at him. The last time she had heard him say that he had been so angry. He wasn't looking at her but instead glaring at Thomas.
"Ah, Lord Doumyouji, I hear you've been having adventures on the sea. That sounds like quite the journey. Especially since you brought back this beautiful lady from across the sea, as I am told." Thomas did not seem to see the look on Doumyouji's face.
"I'm not-" Tsukushi was cut off by Doumyouji.
"Yes, I did bring her here. You'll have to excuse us though, we are going to our room." Doumyouji looked pretty pissed off. He thinks this guy is interested in me? No way.
"I hope," Thomas began, "That we are able to speak again, just plain Tsukushi. Maybe over dinner sometime at my estates?" Doumyouji looked like he might murder someone. She suddenly hoped that he didn't go berserk. Only she was around and she couldn't hold him back from killing someone.
"I don't know." Tsukushi how one was supposed to answer a question like that. She would feel bad just turning him down, but she didn't really want to go.
"You think about that, my dear lady." Thomas leaned in and whispered that last remark before turning and striding away. Doumyouji looked angry.
"Who was that?" Tsukushi asked Doumyouji.
"Lord Thomas, father just died, leaving him the owner of his estates." Doumyouji informed her. He was silent for a little bit. "Are you going to eat dinner with him?" The question was a little quiet.
"Of course not! I don't know that guy." Tsukushi told him. Doumyouji is jealous. As if I could just be swept away by some idiot who I just met!
"Good." Doumyouji sighed. "Let's go upstairs." Tsukushi nodded. They walked up to her room and through the door. Doumyouji and her started to change into their night things.
It was amazing how well Tsukushi had come to trust Doumyouji. She did not say anything about not looking because there was no need. It was little things like that, that she took for granted. Doumyouji had become far more considerate since she had first met him. For example, he never left clothes lying on the floor in her room. He always made sure to remember to pick them up. He didn't leave bed until she got up in the morning, no matter how long he had to wait.
But it wasn't only little things. It was big ones too. After all when it came down to it, she owed Doumyouji her life. He had saved her from that assassin, although he did go berserk later. It was for the rage that welled up in him when his mother had insulted her. He took her honor very seriously. Doumyouji had taken the beating meant for her because he could not stand to see her get hurt. He protected her as much as he could. Suddenly popping up in a place without any warning. Tsukushi liked that.
Doumyouji was waiting for her to come to bed. Every night was just the same. Tsukushi would crawl into bed, sometimes, Doumyouji would put his arms around her, because he simply liked to hold her. It was okay with her, since it never felt like any pressure when he did that. Then he would say I love you and she would say good night. Just like the night before and the night before that. It was the kind of thing you grew accustomed to.
She crawled into bed. It was one of those nights where Doumyouji just had to hold her. He put his large arms around her, making her feel safe and warm. She took a deep breath, it was filled with Doumyouji's scent.
"I love you." He told her. Just like always. She smiled before opening her mouth.
"I love you." Wait, what did I just say? Tsukushi felt her heart began to pound. What happened? Maybe no one noticed. Maybe Doumyouji was too tired or too worn out. Yes, he wouldn't say anything and-
"What did you say?" Doumyouji loosened his arms so that he could look at Tsukushi's face. AHHHHH! What? What do I do? I mean...Tsukushi felt herself staring into his intense gaze. She knew right at that moment that what she had said was true.
"Um...erm...well..." Tsukushi felt tongue-tied. After all, it was her first confession of love in her entire life.
"Please..." Doumyouji trailed off, his voice was soft. "I have to hear it again."
"I love you." Tsukushi felt as though every ounce that hadn't been used on the sudden announcement went into that one. Um, why isn't he saying anything? Oh no, what if he just decided- Her whole thought process went right out the window. Doumyouji was kissing her. Why hadn't she realized before? It was obvious now that she thought about it.
"That's what I thought." Doumyouji pulled away from her. His hands went to her face.
"Oh well don't you just know everything!" Tsukushi teased him. He was smiling in a way that was expressing more then happiness. Bliss. That was the only word for it.
"You don't know..." Doumyouji seemed to be having trouble with his words. "What this means to me."
"You might be surprised." Tsukushi joked a little. Doumyouji went in for another kiss. Her arms wrapped around him. Her fingers went into his curly locks. They were so soft. They broke after a little bit. Doumyouji happily settled himself into a very intimate embrace, so that they could fall asleep.
Doumyouji put his mouth to her ear. "Remember when I said you could pass for a boy?"
"Are you sure you want to be bringing that up now?" Tsukushi snuggled a little closer to him, even though she really couldn't.
"I was lying." Doumyouji admitted.
"You don't think I could pass for a boy?" Tsukushi turned her head a little in curiosity.
"Too pretty." And that was all he said, before they both went to sleep.
* * *
So I know what your thinking. This sure gives you a lot more then the anime. Man, I'll tell you, during that Canada trip, I was like sitting there chanting that they wouldn't just fall asleep when he found her in the snow. But alas, they did. Oh well. He was still a dashing hero in my eyes.
Will Doumyouji be one happy camper from now on? Will everyone else find out about Tsukushi saying I love you? How will they figure it out? Will Kaede ever stop being a bitch? Will Doumyouji's dad stop being sad? Will Sakurako and Soujirou hit it off? Will Tsubaki reveal why she was so conveniently hiding in that chair? Will all the plans go as planned? What exactly are the plans? Is some phase of Rui and Shizuka's plan involve them having sex? Why isn't Shizuka pregnant from how many times they must have done it? Will Doumyouji decide that he needs to beat out Rui? Will he convince Tsukushi that he needs to? Will Thomas keep hitting on Tsukushi? Will Doumyouji kill him? Perhaps with a pillow? Not to mention Makiko! Stay tuned!