Disclaimer: NigHtEyeZ does not own Hana Yori Dango.
AN: Ohayo! How are you today? __ Hope you are ready for another chapter! Go for it!! As usual, love your reviews! Thank you for the supports!
**Sacrifice Your Love**
Chapter five
Domyouji Tsukasa had never felt this trapped before. He was cornered with one last choice. Which he'd rather die then to do it. But things had come to an end that even dying can't solve any problem. He had to tell the truth. He had to break Tsukushi's heart.
~*~
Tsukushi sat down on the luxurious couch, fiddling her fingers nervously. Her eyes darted around the familiar living room as she waited for her fiancé's arrival. Rui had informed her that Tsukasa's mother had left this morning and Tsukasa wanted to talk to her. So here she is, inside the Domyouji mansion, nervous for no reasons at all.
A silly smile formed on her face. After weeks of waiting, Tsukushi was finally going to be together with her fiancé again. She was so deep inside her thought that she did not notice the door opening and Tsukasa stepping in. Tsukasa was looking at the daydreaming woman in amusement. He did a light cough to get her attention.
"D-Domyouji!" Tsukushi blushed. She knows he had seen her silly, daydreaming face just now. Oh the shame!
"Yo." He took a seat in the armchair opposite her and grinned. "What were you thinking about with that stupid smile?"
"That's none of your business!" Everything seems normal. But Tsukushi noticed something was not right. Tsukasa had taken the seat opposite her, not beside her like usual. Is it her imagination or does he sound cold towards her? [Chill! Maybe he just wants to have a good look at you. Don't get paranoid Tsukushi!] "Rui said you wanted to talk to me. Why must it be so formal? Can't you wait till I move back here?"
Tsukasa did not answer her straight away. He took his time to look at the woman he loves, making Tsukushi uneasy again. When he finally took his eyes away from Tsukushi, he heaved a sigh and stared at the coffee table in front of him. "No, I can't wait. Because you aren't moving back here and I want to talk to you about… your family."
Tsukushi frowned. Why was Tsukasa acting so weird? But she was more interested in the topic of her family. "You mean to say that I'm moving back to stay with them?" She wasn't really eager to see her family, three people that she doesn't recognize. And that means she had to leave Tsukasa, the only person she wants to rely on.
"No." Tsukasa answered before pausing again. He chewed on his lower lips, and ran his fingers through his curly hair while keeping his stare at the coffee table. It was as if he didn't know what to say next. When he finally looked at her, Tsukasa warned her beforehand. "What I'm going to tell you soon ain't any good news, don't blame me for not telling you earlier."
Tsukasa spoke each and every word slowly and clearly, all the suspense was killing Tsukushi, but she breathed in a breath and prepared for the worst. Tsukasa dropped the bomb after she nodded her head in reply. "Your family…"
His voice trailed off. Just when Tsukushi was about to open her mouth to tell Tsukasa she doesn't want to hear anymore, he continues in a quiet voice. "…were involved in a tragic car accident a week before you disappeared. They drove off a cliff and their bodies were never found."
[Family? Accident? Bodies never found??] So this was the reason why Tsukasa did not bring her to visit her parents. They were already dead.
Tsukushi did not know what she was feeling. She can't even remember the features of her parents nor her little brother. But they were her closest blood-relation members. Sure she was shook up by the news, but she controlled her emotions, only staring intensively at her fingers. It turned bright pink due to her pressing it together too hard.
"I don't blame you, Domyouji." At least she still has her loving fiancé to stand by her. She won't survive if Tsukasa was gone too. The mere thought of Tsukasa dying could make her cry. The couch sank a bit as Tsukasa sat beside her, taking her hands in his, comforting her gently.
When she was stable enough to talk, Tsukushi asked the man beside her. "I don't understand. Why can't I stay with you?" She felt her hands turn cold when Tsukasa released them. He stood up and then studied her before smiling a fake smile.
"It doesn't matter, just forget about what I've said." He walked towards the door. "Wait there. I'll be back." As his hand touched the doorknob, Tsukasa hesitated. Closing his eyes, he was determine to tell Tsukushi everything and not running away at the last second. "Makino."
Tsukushi looked at him with eyes full of sadness, was she prepared to take the second bomb? "Do you know how Yue became blind?" Tsukushi shook her head. She always thought Yue was born blind. "She had a car crash a year ago."
She can't help but gasped in surprise. "I'm sorry to hear that." Poor Yue… to think Tsukushi was jealous of her when Tsukasa gave her extra care. Tsukasa leaned his back against the wall beside the door.
"I was the driver."
Tsukushi's eyes widen. "Eh?" Were her ears playing tricks? Tsukasa didn't say what she thinks he had said, did he?
Tsukasa shoved his hands inside his pockets. As he lowered his head, a lock of his curly hair came down his forehead. With seriousness in his eyes, he blurted out more of the truth. "I was the reckless driver that made Yue blind."
"She was hospitalized and I've visited her sometime. You never knew about her existence since you were busy working and I didn't tell you." Tsukasa confessed. "In case you don't know, she is the daughter of the biggest oil plantation in Japan." In other words, Yue was darn rich. "Her family had the power to sue me, or even put me in jail."
"As you can see, they didn't. They only had one condition to set me jail-free."
"And what was the condition?" All these time, Tsukushi kept quiet. The uneasy feeling overwhelmed her. She doesn't think she'll enjoy what she's going to hear next. Tsukushi could see that Tsukasa was having a hard time confessing, but she wasn't in the mood to be merciful now.
So, Tsukasa dropped the third bomb. "You are not my fiancée, Makino. Yue is."
He continues to speak, not daring to look up at Tsukushi. Lying to her all this time had been pure torture to him. "I guess you ran away when you've found out I was engaged with another woman."
"What about the rings?" [Please, oh god please… Let this be a dream…]
"That's not an engagement ring. I've gave it to you as a present of our anniversary a few years ago." To tell the truth, Tsukushi was not the only one with a heart breaking. He doesn't want this to happen. He had wanted to be with Tsukushi. Only her.
Tsukushi buried her face in her hands, taking her time to swallow all the hard truth Tsukasa told her. She was wrong all this time. Tsukasa never belonged to her. "Why did you lie…?"
Pictures flashed by in her mind. The time Tsukasa stood in front of her, in the rain, stretching out his hand. The time, he gently rubbed her head with a dry towel. The times he gets jealous of any other man who touched her. The way he dreamily looks at her as his lips kissed hers. It was all faked.
"I don't want to lie anymore." He didn't answer her question but kept telling her unspoken truth. "Yue came to New York that day. That's why I'm didn't spend time with you, I had to accompany her. Akira, Soujirou and Rui know about this. So they were surprised when you told them you were my fiancée." The word 'fiancée' came out more like a choke.
"Answer me, Domyouji. Why did you lie?" Were all his sweet, gentle words a fraud? Was he kissing and hugging her when his mind was thinking about Yue? It hurt Tsukushi. It hurt her when Tsukasa finally answered her question.
[Got to be cruel to be kind.] "For fun."
"What?" Tsukushi's blurred mind was suddenly clear. Tears that almost poured out halted from hearing this answer. She had imagined him telling her many kinds of excuses for lying to her, telling her that she was his fiancée when she wasn't. But she had never expected Tsukasa to lie for fun.
"Fun?" She repeated. All at once, she felt the energy draining away from her body. Tsukushi supposed she should get angry. She should scream and yell at Tsukasa. She should cry. But she didn't and couldn't. Just because she still trust him. Tsukushi believes that Tsukasa loves her after all those hurtful lies he told.
She stood up from the couch and walked over to Tsukasa. Standing in front of him, Tsukushi had to raise her head slightly to look at his face. She stopped the urge of wanting to wrap her arms around his waist and to cry freely onto his seemingly warm chest. She wasn't weak.
"I don't care if you lied for fun or that Yue is your fiancée. Tell me one thing. What am I to you right now? Right this second." Tsukushi spoke with a tone so calm it even scares herself. "Do you feel anything for me? Do you… love me?" Uncertainty flooded her. Tsukasa gazed at her for quite some time. Was that tenderness she sees flashing by his black orbs?
"Don't you understand?" He replied with a toneless voice. "Everything I did since I've found you in New York was for fun. I stopped loving you from a long time ago."
Tsukushi felt another weight of dread adding onto her already broken heart. She shook her head slowly; her eyes and nose were red from holding back her tears to long. She wondered if the curly-haired man leaning against the wall was actually someone else, not her Domyouji Tsukasa. He was hurting her.
"How could you do this to me? You bastard! Making me fall so deeply in love with you and telling me you don't love me at all! Is it really that fun playing with my feelings?!" Tsukushi paused, trying to find a trace of reaction in Tsukasa's face. There wasn't any. She felt her cheeks turning hot and knew she was about to breakdown.
This was it; she couldn't stay in the same room with Tsukasa any longer. Tsukushi had to hide, had to find a place so she could curl up and lick her wounds, any place without Tsukasa in it. She pulled open the door and halted. Turning to face Tsukasa one last time, she spoke with a bitter smile.
"I know I should hate you, but I couldn't. No matter that you had lie to me or how disappointed I am now…" Tsukushi placed her hands on Tsukasa's shoulders. She stood on tiptoe and planted a kiss directly on Tsukasa's lips. A small, light, tender, sweet kiss that almost melt Tsukasa's harden heart. But she ended the kiss too soon. Stepping back from him, Tsukushi wiped a single trail of tear running down her cheek with the back of her hand.
"I love you." She whispered hoarsely and went out of the room.
Tsukasa stayed in his position for a while. The room was cold and quiet. Ever so slowly, he pulls his right hand out from his pocket and touched his warm lips. He swallowed his saliva. Suddenly, he felt angry and was in need of something to punch. He found himself punching the wall with his bare fist. With every punch, he cursed out colourful vocabularies.
[You are not my fiancée, Makino.] Hurting Tsukushi equals hurting himself.
After a few hard punches, the white wall was coloured with bright red marks from Tsukasa's fist. But he couldn't feel it. What he had done to Tsukushi had hurt more.
[I stopped loving you from a long time ago.] Lying to Tsukushi equals to lying to himself.
His breathing was ragged, he finally stopped because he knows nothing he do could get back his rights to love Tsukushi again. Leaning his back against the wall and sliding down to sit on the floor, Tsukasa shut his eyes and muttered out the forbidden words.
"I love you too, Makino."
~*~
Tsukushi flung herself on the hard bed and stared up at the ceiling. She had been in the same position ever since she came back to Rui's place, thinking of how funny her life is. To be precise, she had lost quite a number of important things. She lost her precious memories, her family and her Tsukasa.
She did not cry. For to her, crying means she had accepted the fact that Tsukasa and her were never meant to be. She refused to accept that ridiculous fact. Closing her eyes, she could only see Tsukasa's solemn face. How expressionless he was when he said he stopped loving her. [He was lying.]
The proof of his love for her could be seen in many ways. Was he really stupid enough to think he could fool her just by saying he did not love her? Tsukushi understands the situation Tsukasa was in. He had to take Yue's hand in marriage if he wanted to stay jail-free.
There was only one simple way to solve this of course. Yue. She had to find Yue.
"Stupid headache!" Tsukushi sat up and roughly massaged her temples. Why did everything have to become so complicated? Her eyes caught her small cell phone lying motionless beside her. She picked it up and pressed a few buttons. This phone was a gift from Tsukasa. He gave it to her after that night he was sick, saying if she gets sick one day, she wouldn't have the trouble contacting him. That was how sweet Tsukasa is.
Tsukushi rubbed the transparent screen with her thumb. "Domyouji…" She whispered the name listed on her phone. Her thumb went numb; she wants to press the call button.
"Ah!! What am I doing?!" Tsukushi tossed the phone back onto her bed again and lay flat on her back. This was all wrong. She shouldn't be in Rui's guestroom tonight. She shouldn't be alone. She should have been in Tsukasa's room, with the man himself. Tsukushi sighed and hugged a pillow to comfort herself. [What went wrong?]
~*~
Tsukasa stared blankly at the name on his cell phone. 'Makino.'
If pressing the call button and talking to her could heal his pained heart, then he would call her. No matter the consequence. He was about to press the call button when his cell phone ranged. Looking at the caller's name, Tsukasa quickly answered his phone.
"What do you want?" He asked in a somewhat toleration tone. Tsukasa crossed his legs and played with the silver ring hanging on his neck. It was the ring with Tsukushi's name carved on it. He suddenly wondered if Tsukushi had taken her necklace off. [She should have.]
"You only want to hear my voice?" Tsukasa sighed in defeat. "Anything else before I end the call?" He wasn't in a mood to be nice today. Closing his eyes and rubbing his temple, Tsukasa resisted the urge to yawn.
He suddenly opened his eyes wide and shot up from his armchair. Holding the cell phone closer to his ear, he yelled in disbelief. "Yue, what do you mean we're having a pool-side party to celebrate our engagement??!!"
~*~
Tsukushi made herself as small and as unnoticeable as she could. Well she couldn't possibly do that as standing around her were Soujirou, Akira and Rui. The three men stood out from the crowd and they were attracting many attentions of the women and of course business men who want to have a 'good' relation with their company.
She could sense that Soujirou and Akira were trying to skip around the topic of her current relationship with Tsukasa, careful not to step on her pained spot while making up funny or weird comments of their surroundings. Rui just stood unsteadily beside her, yawning a few times before staring blankly back at the crowd. Tsukushi appreciated them accompanying her but… Her eyes unwillingly swerved to the direction opposite the huge, elegant swimming pool.
There stood Tsukasa and Yue, as close as they possibly could get. Yue was wearing a low-cut, golden yellow coloured gown that almost sparkles under the romantically lit night sky. She wore no accessories but a pair of simple pearl earrings and her light brown sunglasses gave a unique touch to complete her outstanding feature. Yue is beautiful.
Her long, slender arms clung onto Tsukasa's as they talked to another young couple. Tsukushi recognize that smile on Tsukasa's face. It was his 'fake' smile. He only shows it when he's dealing in an unwanted problem and his fists aren't the solution. Somehow, it occurs to Tsukushi that the pool-side party wasn't his idea. She found out that she couldn't take her eyes off Tsukasa. With the formal clothing he's wearing now, Tsukasa looked twice as dashing as he usually was.
Tsukushi pressed her lips together. She wanted to be in Yue's position. She wanted to be the one snuggling so tenderly next to Tsukasa. Then Tsukushi saw the golden rings on each of Tsukasa and Yue's finger. A slight pang of betrayal slammed her chest. Soujirou was asking her something, she replied, not knowing what she had said. Tsukushi opened her handbag, fishing inside until she touched her cold silver ring.
Tsukushi wondered sadly if he had taken off his silver ring or maybe he had thrown it away already. [He should have.] She continues her 'Tsukasa-gazing' activity. It was not in her plan when Tsukasa move his view away from the couple and stared across the pool directly at her. Their gazes were locked for a second.
She swears Tsukasa had been avoiding her for the whole evening. But now, from a distance, they watched each other. It would take a fool to not notice that Tsukasa yearned to be with Tsukushi. "Tsukushi?" Soujirou patter her shoulder, breaking her fragile contact with Tsukasa.
"Yes?" Tsukushi averted her eyes to concentrate on Soujirou. Her face was red and she had no idea why her heart was thumping away. One single eye contact from Tsukasa was all she needed to get nervous and jumpy. Tsukushi suddenly felt like crying. Her love was so close yet so far. She wanted to scream his name and call him a baka.
"We're going inside to get some beer." Soujirou eyed Tsukushi's outfit in a way that made Rui step on his foot 'accidentally'. The simple tight fitting red dress was actually a gift from Tsukasa. It was new and Tsukushi never thought this might come in handy one day.
As Soujirou yelped and cursed Rui, Akira had his arm around Tsukushi's bare shoulders casually. "This freaking party doesn't serve the real thing. Wanna tag along?" Tsukushi muffled a laugh when Rui 'playfully' shoved his elbow against Akira's waist. The poor man winced and held the place where Rui had struck. Rui placed himself in between the two playboys and Tsukushi, half glaring and half lazily staring at the men.
"Thanks for the offer, you guys go ahead." Soujirou and Akira shrugged. They told her that they'd be back soon and ask her not to miss them too much. For the first time since she arrived at the party, Tsukushi laughed aloud. Ushering them to be on their way, Tsukushi noticed that one person stayed behind with her.
"Aren't you going?" Tsukushi asked Rui. Somehow, he seemed moody tonight. If Tsukushi was right, she thinks that Rui is having a lot of trouble with his work. And now, he was worried for her. This was just unfair to him. Tsukushi wanted him to have a good time and relax. What best way than getting drunk with your best friends?
"No." His answer was short, simple and clear. Rui glanced at the other side of the pool and caught Tsukasa looking at Tsukushi red-handed. She had her back towards Tsukasa though. "Will you do anything to get him back?"
The question at first doesn't make any sense to Tsukushi. Then she realized Rui was talking about Tsukasa. "What do you mean?" She searched in Rui's clear blue eyes and as usual, can't find any answers. A butler bumped her, almost making her fall. Rui held her arms to keep her stable. "Rui, what do you mean?" She asked again not realizing the awkward position she was in.
"Will you sacrifice anything for Tsukasa?" Rui leaned close to her ear, Tsukushi held her breath and wonders whether to struggle away from Rui. She did not. "Your heart, soul, body…" He paused while unconsciously leaning closer until his lips brushing her earlobe. "… your love?"
Tsukushi was still blushing heavily when Rui let go of her and took a few steps back. He turned and followed the way Soujirou and Akira had gone. "Rui!" He stopped and looks back. Tsukushi clutched her fists before replying. "Yes. For him I will."
~*~
Tsukasa was fuming away as he noticed Soujirou almost drooling just by looking at Tsukushi's outfit. He grinned evilly when Rui stomped Soujirou's foot. [Good going!]
Next it was Akira. Tsukasa's eyes was on flame when the long haired man's arm around Tsukushi's small bare shoulders. Didn't he told them not to touch her?! Tsukasa made a mental note to 'remind' both Soujirou and Akira later about keeping their hands off Tsukushi. He almost clapped his hands and yell bravo as Rui shoved Akira.
He thought he could finally ease his mind when the playboy duo left and went inside the mansion. The worst was yet to come. Tsukasa saw Rui looking at him directly. "Tsukasa?" Yue broke his contact and asked him a few question. When Tsukasa lifted his head again, he swears what he saw made his blood boil. Rui had both hands on Tsukushi's arm; he was leaning very close to her face. Tsukasa can't see what they are doing. [They better as hell not be kissing!!!]
He let out a metal sigh of relive when Rui walked away. Tsukushi called Rui, making Tsukasa tensed again. Rui smiled and continue his way, leaving Tsukushi alone. Tsukasa was dying to hear their conversation. But he bet they weren't talking about him. [Wait… what am I doing?]
Yes, that's right. Tsukasa turned away from Tsukushi, putting all his attention to the woman who was holding his arm tightly. He had already promise himself that no matter what happens, Tsukushi was none of his concern anymore.
~*~
"Ano… Yue?" Tsukushi nervously sat down beside the beautiful woman, Tsukasa was nowhere to be found. She had been observing the pair and being jealous quite a few times until she felt like leaving the party. Seeing her chance had come, Tsukasa went off to chat with some elder men as Yue rested herself on a chair.
"Who's there?" Yue turned to face Tsukushi. She reached out her arms, successfully touching Tsukushi's hand. As if recognizing her voice, Yue smiled happily. "Tsukushi? Is that you Tsukushi? I'm so glad you came!"
Hearing Yue's sweet voice welcoming her, Tsukushi wanted to run away just then. She felt very guilty of what she was about to ask. After a few exchange of questions, Tsukushi requested to ask a personal question, which Yue smiled and nodded her head in reply. "How did you know Domyouji?"
The atmosphere froze. And Tsukushi knew she had said the wrong thing. Just when she wanted to apologize, Yue spoke. "I was involved in an accident, Tsukasa visits me often in the hospital." She did not mention that he was the one who caused the accident. That reflects her kindness. "It is kind of funny, I didn't like him at first… but bit by bit I fell in love with him."
She blushed. Tsukushi admires the cute girlish blush that she could never do. "My parents decided the engagement with Tsukasa's parents a year ago." Yue brushed a strand of her hair back. "Tsukasa did not agree. I've heard he had a very close girlfriend that time."
Tsukushi's heart started to pound she listened attentively. "He strongly refused to be engage with me. I also heard the person he loves is a poor women who lost her family in a car accident. Tsukasa asked for her hand in marriage several times but she did not accept him. I really wonder why. Later on, I heard the woman silently left him. Tsukasa went into a strange stage for a certain time."
"What strange stage?" Tsukushi asked quietly, images flashes through her mind. Her pieces of memories, how fiery and strong her relationship with Tsukasa had been. It was gone in a second. But Tsukushi was sure, they were very deeply in love even when Yue appeared.
"It was pretty bad. Tsukasa only has two moods at that stage. Anger made everyone scared of him, he gets into fights and hurts himself badly. After that he was in depression. He refused to eat, drink or sleep. Thank god it was finally over when Rui came over and had a private conversation with him."
Yue frowned. "It was all that woman's fault. She had cause Tsukasa so much pain. I hope she gets what she deserves wherever she is now. How could she be so cruel to Tsukasa?"
[Yes, how could she hurt Tsukasa?] Tsukushi thought sadly. She excused herself from Yue. Walking through high-class people, her mind was swirling with new questions. What happen that year? Why did she refuse to marry Tsukasa? Why did she leave him? What had Rui told Tsukasa? There must be a reason… *SMACK* "Ita!"
"Hey! Watch it!" Tsukushi frowned at the person who bumped her yet yelled at her. Her frown decrease into nothing, her eyes widen with surprise as the person stared back in equal shock. "Makino?"
"Domyouji… sorry." She apologized softly before lowering her gaze to the ground. Tsukasa opened his mouth to say something, but he shuts it immediately. They stood like that, cherishing each other's presence silently.
"It's okay. Just be careful next time." Tsukasa rubbed the back of his head before making his way towards where Yue is. He stopped as Tsukushi held his shirt. "What is it?" Try as hard as he could, Tsukasa can't seem to stop the gentleness coming out in his tone. "I'm busy." He added coldly. [Got to be cruel to be kind.]
"I wasn't apologizing because you bumped into me." Before Tsukasa could protest saying it was HER who bumped into him, Tsukushi apologized again. "I'm sorry for whatever I did to you before I lost my memories."
"I don't know what are you talking about." Tsukasa wanted to pull away from her. He was at the edge of doing something stupid, such as pulling the woman into his embrace and kissing her savagely right in front of all these people. He wanted to walk away but Tsukushi held the fabric of his shirt firmly in her hands.
"Wait! I have to talk to you." No she doesn't. Tsukushi had nothing to talk to Tsukasa. She just wanted him to stay with her. Even it is for a while.
"Let go!" Tsukasa yelled while struggling to free himself. He was careful not to hurt Tsukushi or push her too hard. "Makino let go of my shirt!"
"No!! I'm not letting go until you listen." People started to watch them playing tug of war. She was at the verge of tears when Tsukasa kept yelling and pushing her away. [He doesn't want me around him…] What she did next might be the most foolish thing she ever done.
Tsukushi hugged Tsukasa. She hugged him right in front of thirty or so pairs of eyes. "I don't believe that you don't love me." Good thing her voice was loud enough for only both of them to hear.
What Tsukasa did next might also be the most foolish thing he ever done. He struggled to push Tsukushi's hands away with too much strength. Somehow, one way or another, Tsukushi lost her balance and fell. *SPLASH* Right into the pool situated behind her.
A couple of people laughed, Tsukasa wanted to kick their asses into the pool but resisted the tempting urge. "Makino!" [Great, you are so dead. She's going to HATE you for this!] "Makino! Are you all right?!"
The blurry figure inside the light blue water struggled furiously but Tsukushi's head did not come to the surface. "Makino!!!" Tsukasa remembered the pool wasn't that deep… or was it? He relaxed a little when she popped out from the water surface. "Baka! You scare…"
He then noticed something was wrong. Tsukushi had sunk into the water again and didn't come up the second time. There was no more movement to be seen. [She can swim. I know she can swim!] But then another thought came. [Maybe she had a cramp… what the fuck are you doing up here?!!]
Tsukasa snapped out from his thought and jumped into the pool.
~*~
Tsukasa went inside his room, dripping wet and in his arms laid an unconscious woman in the same wet condition like him. "Domyouji-sama, please, let us take care of her." There were maids, butlers and outsiders who was busybodies peering inside his room, none dared to take a step into the room though. After gently placing the woman down on his bed, Tsukasa went back to the door.
"I understand your kindness." Tsukasa said sarcastically. "But you'll only make things worst." With that, he slammed the door hard and locked the bolt. He hurried to the wardrobe to search for a towel. Good thing there was one left. Rushing to her side, Tsukasa lifted her lifeless body so she was leaning upright against his chest.
He started to dry her. Rubbing her hair, arms and legs. It was an easy job since she was wearing little garment. He cursed silently, the men had their eyes glued to her wet body when he saved Tsukushi out of the pool. He wished to tear their eyes out of their sockets. Tsukushi was his and his to look at only. "Stupid woman."
Studying her pale features, Tsukasa can't help it but to hug her tightly, hoping to give her warmth and at the same time comforting himself. Her shallow breathing put his guard down. Tsukasa gently planted a kiss near her earlobe. "You've scared me, baka."
"And you're hugging me too tightly, baka."
Tsukasa almost had a heart attack from Tsukushi's sudden words. He stared at the mischievous grin on her face. "Y-you…" He stammered while pointing an accusing finger at her. His surprise quickly was replaced by anger. "You faked it, didn't you? You didn't drown in the pool, you just want me to get wet and worried?!"
Tsukushi tilted her head and had a hurt expression on her face. "I wouldn't have done that if you didn't push me into the pool!"
"I did not! It was an accident!" He defended himself. "Besides, who was the baka who kept pulling on my shirt?"
"Baka??" Tsukushi felt like strangling him. "None of this would happen if you'd just listen to what I have to say!"
"Fine! What do you have to say, oh great one?" Tsukasa sat further from Tsukushi, rolling his eyes upwards.
"I…" Tsukushi paused, in lost of words to say. She didn't have anything to say to Tsukasa at the first place. Sure there are many things she wanted him to know. But those were her feelings and expression, which she couldn't describe it with words.
"Well?" Tsukasa crossed his arms and stared smugly at her. He had not expected her to crept over and wrap her arms around his neck. He had not expected her to bury her face at the crook of his neck. He had not expected her warm body pressing close to his with only their wet clothes blocking skin contact. "Don't do this to me, Makino." [Don't give me this sweet torture.]
Tsukasa held her arms, intending to push her away. But this only made Tsukushi hug him even tighter. "Why don't YOU stop doing this to me? Don't tell me you don't love me." She whispered. "Please Domyouji."
Tsukasa closed his eyes and allowed themselves to stay like that for nearly a minute. His arms had found their way to Tsukushi's back, he hugged her as if never letting her go. "Tsukushi?? Are you inside there with Tsukasa?" The door was being banged and knocked several of times. They ignored it at first, not wanting the moment to be gone.
"What do you think they're doing inside? It's so quiet." What seems to sound like Akira asked. A few whispered could be heard and finally booming laughter erupted. Tsukasa and Tsukushi sweat dropped, they knew if standing beside Akira was Soujirou, the rumors might get out of hand. It was Tsukushi who finally broke their embrace.
Getting up from the bed, Tsukushi made her way towards the door. Tsukasa raised his hand, wanting to stop her. When he suddenly realized there wasn't any reason for her to stay. He kept quiet.
"Tomorrow, nine, The Coffee Shop." Tsukushi said before unlocking the door. Tsukasa lifted his chin, indicating he doesn't understand and she was sounding like Rui. "I'll meet you there. Come if my guess is right, you still have feelings for me."
"I won't go." Tsukasa said without hesitation. He regretted his big mouth as Tsukushi was taken back by his words. "I won't go." He shook his head to add the effect.
"I hope you will." Tsukushi unlatched the lock. "Because I'll be waiting."
~*~
The bell of The Coffee Shop tinkled, indicating a person stepping into shop. The woman wearing a dull expression brightens up as she excitedly glanced at the newcomer. She had been waiting for someone. The clock hanging on the wall was exactly nine o'clock.
She told herself that if he didn't come, she would stop hopping for his love. If he didn't come, she would stop loving him. If he didn't come, they were over forever. This was his last chance; she won't wait for him anymore. Her life would go on without him.
Tsukushi smiled at the person who came in. "Why are you wet?"
The person frowned. "It just started raining. Can't you see that? Baka."
Her smile widens. "Oh… I see."
The man wiped the trails of rainwater running down his forehead. "Let's go."
She nodded her head. "Can I ask you a question first?"
The man did not reply her.
Tsukushi wondered why she couldn't stop smiling. "Why are you here, Rui?"
Rui stared at her blankly before answering. "Because I heard you call. Here." He pointed at his chest, where his heart was supposed to be. Tsukushi responded by giggling like she had heard a funny joke. Her laughter died down when Rui roughly pulled her into his embrace. "Don't cry, it's a new sweater."
Tsukushi bit her lower lips, trying her best not to let tears wet his sweater. But she knows with this warm chest, she can't hold her tears any longer. "Meanie, your sweater is already wet by the rain." She managed to choke out before hugging Rui and letting her tears out.
Rui patted her back softly. "You're right." Outside was dark as rain continues to pour. Tsukushi had waited from morning nine o'clock till night nine o'clock. She deserves a chest to cry on.
"He didn't come… Rui. Domyouji… didn't come for me…" Tsukushi sobbed louder. She was determine to let out everything, for she would cry for Tsukasa no more.
"I know." Rui could only give her the comfort as a friend, he could never provide the same type of love Tsukasa gave her. One thing worse than losing your love one is watching your love one losing her true love.
~*~
Standing in the rain, he wonders if the water rolling down his cheeks were raindrops or salty tears. People hurried by him, entering The Coffee Shop for shelter. He guessed most of them are thinking what was an idiot like him standing stonily outside the shop.
Well this idiot certainly has lots of reasons for acting like an idiot. For one, he had been outside since nine in the morning standing till nine at night. For two, he was currently watching the love of his life being hugged by another man. For three, he was punishing himself for making his love cry again.
Closing his eyes, visions of Tsukushi came into his mind. He had watched her grow up. Loved her at the very beginning. Learned how money can't buy her love. Trusting her. Fought for her. Promised to protect her forever.
So many love given and received, yet it was going to end here.
Domyouji Tsukasa walked away. "Sayonara Makino."
End of Chapter Five
AN: Hmm… I don't really think this is any good part. I know it's pretty depressing. =.=;; *Sigh* In case you're wondering, Tsukushi did not noticed Tsukasa outside the shop. *Damn!* Please review and tell me what you think about it. It would be a big help of typing the next chapter. Let me tell you a secret, I grin myself silly when I read your reviews!(^o^)
Thank you notes:
blue: I'm so sorry I had to break them up! Really, really sorry! It was a last minute decision that Tsukasa and Tsukushi stopped being together. Erm… at least Tsukushi didn't (directly) run into Rui's arm! Thank you for being the first reviewer!
ThePinkSpider: You're funny! *Hugz* Thank you for waiting patiently and I sincerely hope you have enjoyed this chapter too. (Okay, so chapter five ain't that good.) But it's long too! _
Shopps: Thank you for loving the story!! Think positive, at least Rui and Tsukushi did not end up together (yet). And Tsukasa and Tsukushi do care for each other even when they had to be apart. That's the touching thing about the pair.
Fad[i]Ng`aWaY: You're welcome! It's a really cool nick you got there! Who? Evil? Me? *Smiles innocently* To answer your question, OLD HAG KAEDA is going to make her grand appearance in the next chapter (If I manage to squeeze her big butt in). So the love triangle has become bigger with Yue, Tsukasa, Tsukushi and Rui. I'm not sure if Tsukasa should fall in love with Yue too. It may be a challenge for Tsukushi… oh well? Thank you for such a nice review! Love it!!
aquasam: That's sweet of you to say Rui should be Tsukushi's guardian angel. I totally agree on Tsukushi and Tsukasa's pairing! But I'm also wondering what might happen if this turned out to be Rui and Tsukushi's pairing. *Shudders* That's scary. I think Yue's going to be one not very popular character in this fic. Addicted to my story? Why, thank you so much!! I'm really glad you like it. ^____^
Sam: Like the new surprise in this chapter? It is kinda cruel to break T & T up. But as said, 'got to be cruel to be kind'. It might be a little confusing why is that said, you'll find out later though. ^_~ Thank you for reviewing!!
babypookie: I had no idea what was I thinking when I wrote that as the last sentence, I guess it just felt right… *Grins menacingly* Rui is being more than bad, he's gonna get even!! Anyways, thank you for the review!!
abc: Scary? Ahaha… I think it is. I truly hope Tsukasa and Tsukushi could end up together but… *Hides evil grin* Happy ending is normally not that advisable in a fic. Thank you very much for telling me how you think! *It helps, really!*
Joan: I bet you were ready to read the great break up between T & T. And now you know what is Yue's role in this fic. Next, you could possibly wonder if Tsukasa and Tsukushi are ever going to be together. Just to let out a little secret. The truth is not completely out, there's a last, most important truth that Tsukushi is going to find out in the next chapter! *Fidgets excitedly* Thank you for the wonderful review! ^_^
Jeslene: Did you cry? I hope you are not really crying. I'll feel even bad for the break up. And have confident in yourself, my story is not so bad but yours is quite good too. *Hugz* Although I suggest you to write a bit more detail. Well, thanks for your review, I appreciate it!
kmf: Haha! I wish Tsukasa and Rui could come after me too! ^o^ Ano… the part where Tsukushi left Tsukasa and lost her memories is not stated in the manga of Hana Yori Dango. It's a part of my fanfic. What really happened in the manga was Tsukasa losing his memories and Umi being the third person. I hope you get to read the manga soon! I own 33 episodes of Hana Yori Dango's manga and I just love it! Thanks for reviewing!
chris: Wow!! You almost guessed it right! Yue wasn't going to marry Tsukasa but she is his fiancée! I'm impressed! ^__^ But there's more for you to guess. Thank you for reviewing and guessing the story!
Haruka605: Hehe, is this soon enough? I worked my butt off to get this out as soon as I can! *Gives self metal pat on the back* Thank you so much for the review! _
XxSwtDreamerxX: Is this consider as a 'good' part? *Rubs chin and thinks thoughtfully* Well, I have no idea too! *Laughs out loud* I hope you liked this chapter and thank you for waiting patiently!
Ruth: Thank you for reviewing!! And about Tsukasa and Tsukushi ending up together… erm, we'll see about that later. *Hides in the dark closet from writers block* I know… I'm weird. -_-;;
Blue Flame: Thanks for saying it's an awesome story! *Smiles* And of course I'll continue!! ^__~
NigHtEyeZ: Chocolate, anyone?