It's funny how I always say "Well after this next chapter I won't post for a few days…." **Ten minutes go by** "Damn my fans are so nice though waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." I hope you enjoy this chapter! I guess it's safe to say Caramel that I feel the love…wow…three times, I must be getting good at this writing thing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hana Yori Dango! Those who lay eyes on my pillowcase shall not live to tell about it!
Warning: Cussing, kidnapping, and no…strangely no paper airplanes…
Boys Before…….The High Seas???
Chapter Fourteen
"WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?" Doumyouji punched a hole in Tsubaki's wall. The others did not bother to tell him to stop. Akira had accidentally gotten punched in an effort to get him to stop. Tsukushi was missing. That was all they knew.
"Tsukasa, please…I don't think that's helping." Tsubaki told her brother. Doumyouji irritably flopped down on the couch. He grasped the sides of his head with his hands in frustration.
"I have to do something! She could be hurt! She could be dead! Gods, if it's that…" Doumyouji shook his head. "I should have gone with her!"
"She just disappeared." Shigeru contemplated. "I know she wouldn't run away so there's only one conclusion."
"Kidnap." Rui stated. "I think I could name some people who were behind it."
"We shouldn't jump to conclusions but Kaede has been unusually quiet lately." Tsubaki spoke up. "I know if we accuse her, father will never believe us."
"Can we think of anyone else who might have done it? Or at the least could be involved?" Shizuka asked them, looking at them as if they held the answers.
"What about…who was that again that Tsukushi was getting bothered by?" Tsubaki frowned slightly when she couldn't recall it.
"Lord Thomas?" Doumyouji suddenly got a whole new light in his eyes. "I'll kill him!"
"Tsukasa, we don't know if he's involved. Besides, do any of us even know where Tsukushi is? They probably have her hidden pretty well…" Shigeru chewed on her lip thoughtfully. "We should scour the whole castle!"
"No. I think that whoever kidnapped her might be willing to kill her if he thinks he could be caught. We must not do anything that could attract attention." Rui told them all. "We might just have to wait to see if we can't get any clues on her whereabouts."
Doumyouji got up and walked out of the room without any warning. Tsubaki called after him but he didn't hear her. He walked purposefully to Tsukushi's room. Doumyouji walked through the door and almost half expected to see Tsukushi bounce up and greet him. She was there though. She was just gone.
He laid down on her bed, it smelled like her in his opinion though Tsukushi said she thought it smelled like him. He inhaled slowly a few times. Doumyouji knew that if anything happened to her, he would probably just lay down and die. After he killed whoever did it. Tsukushi with her bright smiles and sunny demeanor. Even when Tsukushi was angry or trying to be stubborn, she was the only thing that he wished to see. He remembered the way her face went red when he had gotten to close to her on the ship. How Tsukushi kissed him on the cheek at the ball. How she sounded the first time she admitted her true feelings for him. How he gladly would do anything to get her back.
Doumyouji felt so helpless. What was he supposed to do? How could he find her?
"I'll be right back!"
He groaned slightly at the pain in his chest.
"I'll be right back!"
Why hadn't he insisted more? Doumyouji felt as though somehow, it was all his fault. Tsukushi was gone…
* * *
Tsukushi groaned as she opened her eyes. She should have known she'd wake up with a headache, just like the time that the Village Leaders had hit her over the head so long ago. She looked around the room. Tsukushi decided she was still in the castle. There was a small window to her right. She was completely tied up. Surprisingly she wasn't gagged though.
"HELP!" Tsukushi yelled as loud as she could. It hit her by the way the sound was going that no one could hear her. No one was coming either. Tsukushi wriggled her body over to the window. She could see the sea out there, and in front of her, parts of the castle that she recognized, she was high above everything. Tsukushi realized she was up in one of the towers.
Tsukushi's mind tried to rationalize ways to escape. The door on the opposite side of the room would have been optimal but probably impossible to get through. There was no handle on this side. She couldn't throw herself out the window, which would result in her death. She couldn't warn anyone else either.
"This sucks." Tsukushi said outloud. There was a few books on shelves but she decided that wasn't really any help at all.
"Oh my." Tsukushi looked up as someone entered the room. Not just anyone, but Lord Thomas himself. "You seem to be all tied up."
"What the hell is going on?" Tsukushi wanted some answers and she was going to get them whether this guy liked it or not.
"That is truly no way to talk to one of your captors. I could kill you." Thomas seemed to be smirking at her and Tsukushi tried to wriggle free of her bonds.
"Well go ahead then." Tsukushi stuck out her chin defiantly. "And when Doumyouji kills you-"
"Doumyouji will have no idea what happened. They're all still trying to puzzle it out. By the time they figure it all out, we'll be long gone." Thomas smiled at her. "We'll take you back to your village, you should like that."
"Why?" Tsukushi asked him.
"That's what my employer wants me to do. She was very specific." Thomas replied.
"Kaede?" Tsukushi spoke the name with great suspicion.
"I didn't see her." Thomas shrugged. "I hate to keep you tied up like that but since you decided all my earlier attempts, I decided you might try to escape or attack me. Both will get you nowhere."
"So your just gonna keep me up here?" Tsukushi asked.
"That is the plan. In three days we'll be leaving." Thomas told her. He leaned over her, grabbing her chin with one hand. He examined her. "You are very pretty…"
Tsukushi spat in his face in retaliation. "Keep your hands off me." Tsukushi moved her head so that his hand wouldn't be touching her anymore.
"Ha! You're so spirited! I like that." The look on Thomas' face did not make Tsukushi feel anymore comfortable. She waited in silence before he finally just left the room.
Tsukushi wriggled towards the window again and looked out. She wished she could yell loud enough so that she would be heard.
Doumyouji, please come find me. I only have three days…
* * *
Doumyouji sighed as he trudged about the castle. It had been two days since Tsukushi had gone missing and he felt like a wreck. He hadn't been able to sleep at all. He knocked right into a maid without seeing her at all. He turned absently to her.
"Sorry." He muttered. The maid got up and brushed herself off.
"That's okay sire. You don't look very well, should I send for the doctor?" The maid inquired.
"No." Doumyouji shook his head before going on. There was no way to find her. No way. They searched almost all of the castle grounds very secretively. Tsukushi didn't seem to be anywhere.
"Hey 'Kasa! Come here." Shigeru's head was sticking out of the door of Tsubaki's room. He didn't bother to tell her not to call him that. He went inside to see all the others. They all had assorted expressions of woe on their faces.
"Doumyouji, we can't figure out what to do. You haven't been much of a help you know." Rui said in an accusing tone and Doumyouji blinked at him in confusion.
"I've been helping…" Doumyouji defended himself.
"If you call moping about like a little kid, helping!" Shigeru snapped at him. The others were all giving him the same look as if laying blame on him.
"It's really your fault in the first place Doumyouji." Tsubaki told him. "You let her go and you were supposed to protect her." Doumyouji felt confused and his blood was beginning to boil slightly.
"Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if Tsukushi didn't want you to find her!" Akira chimed in. Doumyouji felt his anger rise up. He was going to hurt someone if they didn't stop it.
"Shut up!" Doumyouji yelled at them. They started to laugh at him, viciously.
"Maybe Tsukushi eloped with Thomas. After all, who was more of a man?" Shigeru suggested in a cruel tone. Doumyouji clenched his fists before slamming one into the wall next to him.
"Stop…it…" Doumyouji trailed off, his brain was starting to cloud over as he started to see red in his vision. He was going berserk and he knew it.
"Tsukushi always was the harlot!" Shizuka made it sound like gossip. "Why she threw herself at Rui, didn't she?" Doumyouji couldn't take it anymore. He let go. He just let go of everything.
* * *
Rui turned to see the growling Doumyouji with his blood shot eyes. Everyone turned to Rui with an alarmed expression. The reddish-haired boy through a piece of clothing at Doumyouji. A piece of Tsukushi's clothing. Doumyouji sniffed it hungrily in his animal-like state. He started to sniff the air around him and took off.
"Was that smart?" Shigeru asked slowly.
"Maybe we should follow him…" Akira suggested and they all got up, running after the half-berserker.
"You always have the most interesting plans!" Shizuka told Rui as they ran.
"Well I knew it would work." Rui smiled a little. "Basic animal instincts."
"No one doubts that! Doumyouji is on an absolute rampage." Akira yelled. Doumyouji ahead of them bolted right into a lady without even stopping. Doumyouji seemed to be looking for the prize, fascinated with the scent that had been handed to him.
"We'll have to apologize about all those terrible things we said!" Tsubaki who was ahead of everyone shouted over her shoulder. "I hope he understands!" They winced as Doumyouji knocked over yet another person. The person standing next to them was staring appallingly. It was Lord Doumyouji himself. He began to chase after them all.
"What's going on?" Lord Doumyouji called out.
"Doumyouji's berserk!" Soujirou replied. He cleared his throat, not slowing down at all, holding his hand out towards Akira who sullenly gave him money, while keeping pace.
"So the plan now is to just follow him I suppose?" Shigeru asked Rui.
"He should lead us straight to her." Rui nodded.
* * *
Tsukushi laid her head against the wall, trying to see if she could fall asleep. Tomorrow would be the third day and then she would be taken away. Doumyouji might even think her dead and then she wasn't sure what he'd do.
The guard at the door opened it up and Thomas came in, looking rather arrogant with a tray of food. Tsukushi tried to close her eyes and pretend she was asleep so he'd go away.
"Wake up Tsukushi…" His irritating voice caused her to open her eyes.
"What do you want?" Tsukushi snapped at him. Her stomach seemed to be growling for the food on the tray.
"I've come with your meal and your being rude? Perhaps I'll come back when you're in a better temper." Thomas started to get up. Tsukushi made a small noise of protest that she hadn't meant to. "No?"
"Just let me eat." Tsukushi said weakly. Thomas put the food in front of her and untied her hands. He drew his dagger and began almost to play with it. Tsukushi hungrily ate the cold food as if it were her last meal.
"Tomorrow we are leaving." Thomas told her. Tsukushi finished off her food and drank the cold water in thirsty gulps. She did not answer him though. She wished he would go away.
A noise outside caused them both to look out the door. "AHHHH!" The guard screamed, pushing the door open in an attempt to get away from something. It was like an animal, howling as it got through the door. It accidentally pushed the door shut. The guard had fallen inside the door but Tsukushi could tell from the blood that he was dead. The growling continued as something stepped into the light of the one candle Thomas had brought in with him.
"Doumyouji!" Tsukushi exclaimed happily but then noticed his eyes, his red eyes and held her breath. Thomas brandished his dagger and stepped forward to challenge the half berserker. Doumyouji's attention turned to the man and did not hesitate to close a hand around Thomas' neck. He squeezed so hard that above and below the squeezing mark seemed to explode from the pressure. Doumyouji dropped the body with haste and heard as she scuffled slightly in the room.
Doumyouji crawled towards her much like an animal would if stalking its prey. Tsukushi hoped he did not kill her. Doumyouji would never be able to take it if he did. He pounced on her. She tried to wriggle free of her bonds but it didn't work at all. Doumyouji had her trapped.
He found the mark on her neck very interesting. He ran his tongue over it a few times. Tsukushi prayed that someone would help her. Doumyouji began to tear at her clothes and the ropes that tied her down. He kissed her, bruising her lips once more with his harshness. Tsukushi began to cry. She wanted him to stop it. He wouldn't though, not as he was. A tearing noise announced that he had just ripped through rope and several layers of cloth.
Tsukushi felt her limbs go free but knew there was no way to escape Doumyouji now. He had her all pinned down as he tried to get his own clothing off. Tsukushi cried out as he went for her underwear.
* * *
"Okay so the one guard is inside the room and he had the key?" Tsubaki asked the others in an incredulous tone.
"Well, I didn't know that would happen!" Rui defended himself.
"No one is blaming you dearest." Shizuka patted his hand comfortingly. Lord Doumyouji began to search his pockets.
"I know I have it some place…" Lord Doumyouji reached into his breast pocket. "Ah yes!"
"What is it?" Tsubaki asked.
"A master key!" Lord Doumyouji held up the small piece of metal just as they heard a cry in the other room.
"Hurry up sir!" Shigeru yelled frantically and Lord Doumyouji ran towards the door as fast as he could.
* * *
Tsukushi knew it was about to happen. Doumyouji had successfully torn his clothing off. He was going to force her into something and not even know it. His animal-like mind driving him didn't understand her tears at all. The door burst open and several people came running in.
"Do something!" One yelled to the other. Tsukushi tried to make out whose voice it was but wasn't sure. Another one took the tray that her dinner had come on and bashed Doumyouji over the head. He fell over on top of her. Tsukushi could have almost laughed. She wriggled carefully away from him even though she shouldn't be taking the chance. She curled up into a small ball, she wasn't wearing anything but shredded clothing.
"I'm so sorry!" Tsubaki threw her arms around Tsukushi. "It was the only way to find you!" A heavy coat dropped down on Tsukushi. She looked up and almost thought it was Doumyouji for a second. Then she realized that it was Doumyouji's father.
"You provoked Tsukasa into going berserk?" Lord Doumyouji asked the others. They all nodded sheepishly. "That was just about the stupidest thing you could have done."
"Well we couldn't think of anything better to do." Shigeru defended them.
"Stupid…but it did work. Just don't try it again!" Lord Doumyouji scolded them. "Are you alright?" His kindly voice asked Tsukushi, kneeling next to her. Tsukushi wrapped the coat around herself.
"I-I'm fine…" Tsukushi said still shaken by what almost occurred.
"Good." Lord Doumyouji got up. "Let's find a servant to come. We better not move Tsukasa for a while. We need blankets up here. I should stay up here for when he wakes up, you all need to go to bed."
"I want to stay." Tsukushi spoke up. "You can go to bed sir." Lord Doumyouji looked at her in surprise.
"Are you sure?" Lord Doumyouji asked her.
"Yes. Just send some blankets please." Tsukushi couldn't explain why she wanted to be there when Doumyouji woke up but she did all the same. Lord Doumyouji nodded his head in understanding and all the others left. Tsubaki apologized again and told her to tell Tsukasa that they hadn't meant what they said. Tsukushi blinked at them wondering what Tsubaki was talking about.
Blankets came up and Tsukushi carefully wrapped them around Doumyouji so he wouldn't get cold. He wasn't wearing much. Tsukushi rolled herself in a blanket and laid down next to Doumyouji. Everything would be better in the morning. Tsukushi fell asleep, not realizing how tired she was.
* * *
NO MORE! Why do I always have to yell? Yeah weird chapter to write. **Scratches her head** Oh well um, please review. Not that I really have to ask 'cause you guys do such a great job of it already.
Will Rui stop coming up with plans? Will Lord Doumyouji make it a law that your no longer allowed to provoke Doumyouji into going berserk because it ends very badly? Will Tsukushi wake up and something else will be wrong? Will we learn more about the kidnapping? Will Kaede be involved? Will Kaede die the same slightly gory death that Thomas died? Was everyone glad that he died? Will Akira and Soujirou have a bet about the kidnapping? Will Rui and Shizuka disappear for a few chapters so that they can have uninterrupted sex? Will Sakurako and Kazuya ever show up again? Will the plans that were forgotten in the confusion re-surface? Will the plans work out to their full doomyness? Will I go to bed now that it's midnight and I have school tomorrow? Will Doumyouji and Tsukushi's life be more important then my own? Will I be able to prove that? (Get working on those charts Teresa!) Will everything work out? Will everyone help out poor Lord Doumyouji? Will someone hook him up with a lawyer? Not to mention Makiko! Stay tuned.
By the way, the whole time I wrote this chapter, I listened to the sad piano song that plays whenever anything has gone wrong in the Hana Yori Dango universe. (So kind of Kaede's theme. ^_^!) ^_^.----- IT"S NURIKO!!!