Title: Flower Garden (A Hana Yori Dango AU)
Author: Yih
14: Rising Atmosphere (January 16, 2003 to January 21, 2003)
During the entire tour, Akira and Shizuka held hands. Though this was a very minor step in Akira's dating experience, it was a huge leap with Shizuka. Even though dozens of guys had chased after her like crazy, she'd never returned anything but affectionate friendship. Holding hands with her was the first step of a many step progressing process to make her his.
The tour actually hadn't taken long enough in Akira's opinion because before long they were heading back to the main house to collect the necessary possessions needed to take a dip into the hot springs. The only delightful prospect was that Tsubaki had also specifically chosen this spot for the give rooms and the five private hot springs made for couples!
The only drawback to the privacy was that a wall separated the hot spring into a boy side and a girl side. What was even worse was that Tsubaki suggested as they were walking back to the hot springs she'd shown them earlier, "How about we go as a group to the larger hot spring?"
The girls wholeheartedly agreed, excited to catch up between themselves. Tsukasa looked relieved that he didn't have to be alone with Shigeru yet, especially after that embarrassing episode when he'd grabbed her and held her like that. She must think that he liked her! What an awful thought! However, Shigeru and Akira both exchanged a disappointed look between the two of them. They wanted to be alone with their respective partners. Both barely managed to stifle their signs of disappointment.
"WAIT!" cried out Tsukushi, who was running up the steep stairs. "Are you guys going to the hot springs?" The group nodded. "Please wait for us!" So the group stopped their descent up and waited for Rui and Tsukushi to join them on the second tier of stairs that led to the hot springs. "We're so sorry for missing the tour!" she exclaimed breathlessly and apologetically. "We overslept!"
Tsubaki grinned and waved her hand in a 'it's okay' manner. "I let you two oversleep. You guys looked far too cute to disturb." Tsukushi blushed, while Rui had an indifferent expression. "So are two going to join the group in the hot spring?"
Tsukushi was about to answer, but Rui spoke first, "We want to go to a private hot spring."
She was sure that he saw the jaws that dropped all around them from what his words sounded like. But as was typical for Rui, he ignored his atmosphere. "Umm," she mumbled, wanting to say something that'd make the words not suggest what the rest obviously seemed to think. They all had such dirty minds!
"Tsubaki, can you give us the general directions?" Rui requested politely. All Tsubaki could do was point to the path that led to the private hot springs, though inside she was jumping up and down ecstatically with excitement at the further progression. Rui was making a move, that was more than she could say about Tsukasa and Shigeru though! "Let's go, Tsukushi," he urged, taking her hand and tugging.
The rest of the group watched with stunned features as Rui pulled Tsukushi with him up the path. Tsukasa wished he was in Rui's place; Shigeru hoped Tsukasa wasn't going to get melancholic again; Soujirou couldn't believe Rui was moving faster than he was; Sara thought it was entirely too cute; Akira wanted to be the one going to the private hot spring; and, Shizuka was delighted that Rui and Tsukushi were patching things up. Tsubaki grinned. Everything was going perfectly to plan, even better than she'd planned.
~
When Tsukushi discovered that there was a boy side and a girl side, she wanted to make use of the separation situation that they provided, but Rui shook his head. "Why not?"
Very pointed he stated, "You fainted the last time you were in a hot spring. And if you're on the other side, how am I suppose to save you?"
"Fine," she muttered because she did feel light-headed when she was overheated, "but we're definitely wearing swimming suits then."
There was a keen disappointment in his eyes at her terms. "There isn't a changing room," he declared, surveying the area around the quite divine looking hot spring. "Besides, it'll take too long to go back down and up."
A horrified expression was on her face. "Then you can go, and I'll sit here and wait for you," she said amicably instead. "How about that? Isn't that a good idea?" He shook his head, it was not. "Why not?"
"Because," he enunciated carefully, "you promised to go to the hot springs with me if I woke up. You aren't going to break your promise are you?"
He was using those pleading eyes on him. Whoever said Rui was innocent hadn't seen the manipulative side to Rui, the part of himself he used to get her to do what he wanted when she didn't want to and he did. This was a perfect example of it. She sighed. Those pleading eyes, she wasn't up to denying him. Besides, she had promised him.
"I did promise you," she remarked, turning a distinctively crimson color as she said this. "But you have to close your eyes!" She was thankful that the water was murky, which meant as soon as you got in, he wouldn't be able to see much of anything.
Flashing her one of his heart melting grins, he, being the strange and unpredictable boy that he was--- had absolutely no qualms about undressing in front of her! When she realized what he was doing, she closed her eyes quickly, horrified at his lack of modesty. She heard him chuckle, which only made her blush even harder.
"I'm done and it's safe," he told her. "Are you going to come in or not?"
She opened her eyes and true to his words, he was quite safely in the murky water, which still didn't disguise his slender, yes muscularly toned body. "Yes, but you have to close your eyes."
"I've already seen you naked," Rui remarked in a matter of fact voice. "Besides when we get married, we're going to have to see each other naked. Maybe even sooner than that, " he murmured wistfully.
She threw her towel at him and told him to close his eyes, which he reluctantly did as she beckoned. Even with his eyes closed, she wasn't sure he wouldn't peak so she told him to turn around, which he did without any further protest. From the look he'd given her at that request, she knew he was humoring her.
She slipped into the hot springs eventually and went to precisely the opposite spot before she declared, "You can turn around and open your eyes."
The first thing he said when he saw her over there was, "Are you going to stay there the entire time?"
"YES!" she exclaimed. "You are being such--- such a boy!"
He chuckled, which only made her glare at him. "Yes," he replied, "because I am a boy, very much a boy."
It was then that she noticed that his eyes weren't clouded over with sleepiness as they normally were but with passion and desire... for her. It made her heart skip a beat, the gaze he had made her feel unbelievably hot. She was certain that her whole body was blushing, right down to her toes.
"Rui..." she whispered softly.
He closed his eyes and said huskily, "Tsukushi, will you come to me?"
~
Tsukasa was entirely annoyed with Tsubaki for allowing Rui and Tsukushi to go to a private hot spring by themselves. There was no telling what they might do! It wasn't that Rui would force her that he was worried about. He was worried about what Rui could get Tsukushi to do with her free will and her full consent!
To make things worse, Akira and Soujirou were moping on the boy's side of the hot springs because they hadn't been able to go to a private hot spring. Tsukasa could only imagine why they wanted to go and that only made him think more of what Rui and Tsukushi could be doing privately. IT MADE HIM SO JEALOUS!
What made it even worse was that he couldn't do anything about it either because he was stuck here and they were far from him. He knew better than to try and leave because that'd only make his sister mad at him again, something he sincerely wished to avoid. After all, if his sister got upset at him, he could only imagine what torture she'd put him through. That made up his mind. He'd just have to bear it.
On the girl's side of the hot springs, they laughed and giggled as they conversed together. "I'm so glad Rui and Tsukushi made up," Shizuka remarked. "I was afraid that Rui'd never make a move and he'd lose the most important thing to him. Tsukushi is stubborn, he should know that. But she's also a girl, she can't go chasing after a guy when it was the guy's fault. Besides, she needs prodding to be able to see."
Tsubaki nodded. "Quite right. She finally realized her mistake last night, but I was afraid that they wouldn't make up until at least the end of the trip. It happened far faster than I was expecting it to. Surprisingly, Rui made his move quickly."
"Good thing to," Shizuka replied. "I was worried about how they'd get back together. Now, I don't have to worry and they have the perfect opportunity to be alone with each other."
Shizuka and Tsubaki shared a triumphant smile while Sara asked, "How long have those two been dating?"
Their shared smile turned into a full blown grin. "They haven't really been dating. Their parents kind of arranged and put them together with good reason. If things were left up to them, they'd take forever to do anything. This is definitely a great arrangement," Tsubaki remarked.
"From the way those two act together, they really seem like they've been dating for a long time," Sara commented. "To tell me they just started dating is unbelievable."
Shizuka nodded. "They should have been dating years ago. But both of them are far too slow at doing anything. This trip of Tsubaki's was a stroke of brilliance."
"It was, wasn't it? For all of us," Sara said abruptly, blushing immediately after she said it.
Tsubaki grinned. "The intentions of this trip is to get all, ALL the couples together." She shot a meaningful look at Shizuka. "It's not only an opportunity for Rui and Tsukushi."
~
His voice was soft and alluring, tempting. She wanted to go to him, but at the same time, she was scared of what would happen if she went. She could only stare at the calm beauty visible on his face, feeling guilty that she couldn't do his one small request. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "I can't."
He opened the doorways to his soul, no anger or reproach in them, only a keen disappointment. "It's okay," he stated softly. He held his hand to her. "Will you take my hand?"
She took his hand. She expected him to pull her to him. But she forgot that was something that Tsukasa would do but never Rui. Rui used his words, Tsukasa used his strength. They were two far different people, yet close friends. Instead, all Rui did was hold her hand, rubbing her knuckles gently. Time seemed eternal in this tender and soothing moment, passing by so quickly that all seemed lost, yet not.
The entire time was spent holding hands, staring into each other's eyes. Most of the time they did not speak, but when they did--- it didn't spoil the moment. "When did you start liking me?"
"A long time ago."
"It's the same with me," she remarked. "Is it weird for me to like you the first time that I saw you?" He shrugged. "And the more that I got to know you the more that I liked you, even despite your oddities."
He broke out into a smile. "Is it weird for me to like you because you were the first one to bring me out of my shell?"
She shook her head. "No."
He squeezed her hand. "Good."
~
Typical Rui. She smiled as she saw him hanging upside down from the monkey bars as was normal for him. He was forever doing that, even now that he was much older as was she. They were no longer in elementary school anymore, yet he still did it. That was part of his childhood, yes, and it was also an integral part of him.
"Why do you always hang upside down?" she asked. He didn't open his eyes and he didn't answer her. "Why do you never answer anything I ask you?" He opened his eyes. "Why do you hang upside down?" she repeated, thinking that he hadn't heard her.
"I heard you the first time," he replied bluntly, closing his eyes again.
She took a deep breath, trying to be patient. But she was losing it as she tended to do when she was frustrated to the point she couldn't take it anymore. It wasn't that she'd ask that particular question before, it'd been many others before that were unanswered. "If you don't answer soon, I have to go," she told him.
And so she sad down and waited for about half an hour, the longest she could drag it on. Faintly, she heard her driver calling for her. She gathered her books. "I've got to go, Rui. Bye."
He opened his eyes and got off the monkey bars, calling out to her, "Tsukushi, will you be back tomorrow?"
She stopped, turned around, and nodded. "Yes." Then she whirled around and continued to walk away.
"Tsukushi," he said again and she stopped as he knew she would, "I'll tell you tomorrow."
That made her smile, and she skipped off, happy again. As he watched her skipped off, he too smiled. Yes, she was the one he could trust in.
~
Luckily after about an hour of soaking, the girls decided that that was enough of that. The bad thing was that they'd entirely forgotten about Tsukushi and Rui, but there was someone who definitely hadn't forgotten. "What about Rui and Tsukushi?!" Tsukasa cried out.
Tsubaki grinned. "I'll get them." Tsukasa scowled. "You have to escort Shigeru back," she reminded him, pushing Shigeru to him. She waved before setting out to climb the steep steps to the more private hot springs. She had to say, it was hard and exhausting to climb, especially when she hadn't found them at the first hot spring. She found them on the hot spring on the next level.
What she saw was well worth the effort to climb those many many stairs. Her eyes popped open when she saw them holding hands, Rui leaning toward Tsukushi as she was leaning forward to kiss them--- they were so close to kissing. From what she could discern, they both seemed to be nude in the water. Interesting. A very good thing she'd come instead of her brother. She could only imagine how he'd react.
Inside of her mind, she was mentally cheering them on. But in her fervent desire to see them kiss, she got to close and Rui saw her, thus pulling away from Tsukushi. "What, Rui?" asked Tsukushi.
"Tsubaki's here," he stated in a calm voice, the passion totally fading from him. As was typical for Tsukushi, she blushed and when she turned around, her face was a crimson red.
Tsubaki had the grace to look sheepish because after all she had been spying on them. After all, what else could she be doing crouching behind a bush with her head peaking over? Definitely spying. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I didn't mean to intrude. I just wanted to tell you that we've all headed back for dinner. Do you two want to join us?"
"Of course," Tsukushi responded with a kind smile, "we'll be there in a few minutes."
Tsubaki smiled and waved before descending down the winding stairs down to the house. After she was gone, Tsukushi turned around and told Rui, "Close your eyes and turn your back to me."
He broke out into an amused smile, but he did what she requested. "Tsukushi?"
"Yes?"
"I won't push you."
~
In his room, Tsukasa was again pacing up and down the length of his room while Shigeru watched with amusement. "You know, your wasting your energy. If you're going to mope around like that, you should plan on how to win her back instead."
He whirled around. "Why are you trying to help me?" he growled out. "Isn't it better for you if I can't get her, if I pace here up and down with my misery?"
Shaking her head, she explained why, "I don't want a guy that doesn't like me most. So if you like Tsukushi, I'll help you. I like her, too. If she chooses you freely, then I'll be happy for both of you. We can just be friends, that's fine with me."
"Really?" he queried, can't believing what she was saying.
She took his hand and held it tightly. "Truly."
~
Once Soujirou and Sara were along again, they sat on opposite sides of the bed, not knowing what to say to each other after the change of their relationship that had happened earlier. During the entire time they were at the hot springs, all he wanted was to be alone with her. Now, that he was alone with her, he was afraid. He was a one week guy in relationships, and he knew she wasn't a one week type of girl.
He was terribly afraid. She had been his dearest childhood friend. He didn't want to lose her as a friend, and yet maybe she was the one? He was the only one of the F4 that wasn't serious about a girl. Akira was absolutely crazy about Shizuka; likewise, Rui and Tsukasa were about Tsukushi. He was the only one without, maybe it was Sara who was the one he'd been waiting for.
All the F3 liked childhood friends, maybe he was the same, and Sara had kissed him back, hadn't she? Or had he simply been holding her too tightly and it made it seem like she was kissing him back? Then again what if--- what if their relationship didn't work out and she ended up disliking him, hating him like his other x-girlfriends? That he couldn't take a chance on.
"Jirou, is something wrong?" Sara asked with concern echoing in her voice.
He shook his head and grinned. "Nothing's wrong."
~
Standing by the fading evening sunlight, Shizuka was looking gorgeous as she normally was. But no matter if she was less than her usual beautiful self, he'd still be captivated by her, still enamored with her because he was in love with her. He didn't know how long, but it'd been for quite a bit of time that he'd felt this way. He'd tell her one day, but not today.
She glanced back at him. "Will you watch the sunset with me tonight?"
He nodded. "Yes."
~
They'd been thinking over the past half hour of how Tsukasa might win TSukushi in an honest manner over Rui. Over that time, they still hadn't come up with a good plan of action yet. Eventually, Tsukasa got impatient and exclaimed, "I can't think of anyway to win her! Rui understands her better than me! Rui never argues with her! Rui always listens to what she has to say! I can't compete with him!"
"Of course, you can't," Shigeru remarked, which made him scowl. But before he could protest, she continued, "You can't compete with Rui by trying to be a better Rui. You can only compete with Rui for Tsukushi by being yourself, Doumyouji Tsukasa. Because you aren't Rui, you are Tsukasa."
"But..."
"But nothing. If you can't charm her by being yourself then there's nothing else you can do," Shigeru murmured. "By yourself, Tsukasa, don't you want to get her by your own self?" He nodded. "Because that's your best chance, I believe."
~
Outside of the rooms, Tsubaki grinned. What lovely surprises she had planned for them. She ought to pat herself on the back and do this full time. It was just perfect! It was just too ingenious! Oh, what a mastermind she was!
Author's Note: What does Tsubaki have in stored for them? (something extremely clever that I still have to think of!) Wow, is the story coming to an end? Do you guys want me to wrap this up soon? Because I could be as far at 75% done for as little as 33% done (which is DAMN scary). There are quite a few twists I could do, my problem is that my interests in it is bound to die sometime soon. And I would like to finish it. If you keep reviewing and generally commenting on what you like and what you don't like that'd be great. It's nice when you tell me that you like it and that you want me to continue, but you could you tell me more than that? Comments on why you like it, which pairings you especially like, which is the most creative, which is the most weird, which you like the least is how I can make this fanfic better!
Author: Yih
14: Rising Atmosphere (January 16, 2003 to January 21, 2003)
During the entire tour, Akira and Shizuka held hands. Though this was a very minor step in Akira's dating experience, it was a huge leap with Shizuka. Even though dozens of guys had chased after her like crazy, she'd never returned anything but affectionate friendship. Holding hands with her was the first step of a many step progressing process to make her his.
The tour actually hadn't taken long enough in Akira's opinion because before long they were heading back to the main house to collect the necessary possessions needed to take a dip into the hot springs. The only delightful prospect was that Tsubaki had also specifically chosen this spot for the give rooms and the five private hot springs made for couples!
The only drawback to the privacy was that a wall separated the hot spring into a boy side and a girl side. What was even worse was that Tsubaki suggested as they were walking back to the hot springs she'd shown them earlier, "How about we go as a group to the larger hot spring?"
The girls wholeheartedly agreed, excited to catch up between themselves. Tsukasa looked relieved that he didn't have to be alone with Shigeru yet, especially after that embarrassing episode when he'd grabbed her and held her like that. She must think that he liked her! What an awful thought! However, Shigeru and Akira both exchanged a disappointed look between the two of them. They wanted to be alone with their respective partners. Both barely managed to stifle their signs of disappointment.
"WAIT!" cried out Tsukushi, who was running up the steep stairs. "Are you guys going to the hot springs?" The group nodded. "Please wait for us!" So the group stopped their descent up and waited for Rui and Tsukushi to join them on the second tier of stairs that led to the hot springs. "We're so sorry for missing the tour!" she exclaimed breathlessly and apologetically. "We overslept!"
Tsubaki grinned and waved her hand in a 'it's okay' manner. "I let you two oversleep. You guys looked far too cute to disturb." Tsukushi blushed, while Rui had an indifferent expression. "So are two going to join the group in the hot spring?"
Tsukushi was about to answer, but Rui spoke first, "We want to go to a private hot spring."
She was sure that he saw the jaws that dropped all around them from what his words sounded like. But as was typical for Rui, he ignored his atmosphere. "Umm," she mumbled, wanting to say something that'd make the words not suggest what the rest obviously seemed to think. They all had such dirty minds!
"Tsubaki, can you give us the general directions?" Rui requested politely. All Tsubaki could do was point to the path that led to the private hot springs, though inside she was jumping up and down ecstatically with excitement at the further progression. Rui was making a move, that was more than she could say about Tsukasa and Shigeru though! "Let's go, Tsukushi," he urged, taking her hand and tugging.
The rest of the group watched with stunned features as Rui pulled Tsukushi with him up the path. Tsukasa wished he was in Rui's place; Shigeru hoped Tsukasa wasn't going to get melancholic again; Soujirou couldn't believe Rui was moving faster than he was; Sara thought it was entirely too cute; Akira wanted to be the one going to the private hot spring; and, Shizuka was delighted that Rui and Tsukushi were patching things up. Tsubaki grinned. Everything was going perfectly to plan, even better than she'd planned.
~
When Tsukushi discovered that there was a boy side and a girl side, she wanted to make use of the separation situation that they provided, but Rui shook his head. "Why not?"
Very pointed he stated, "You fainted the last time you were in a hot spring. And if you're on the other side, how am I suppose to save you?"
"Fine," she muttered because she did feel light-headed when she was overheated, "but we're definitely wearing swimming suits then."
There was a keen disappointment in his eyes at her terms. "There isn't a changing room," he declared, surveying the area around the quite divine looking hot spring. "Besides, it'll take too long to go back down and up."
A horrified expression was on her face. "Then you can go, and I'll sit here and wait for you," she said amicably instead. "How about that? Isn't that a good idea?" He shook his head, it was not. "Why not?"
"Because," he enunciated carefully, "you promised to go to the hot springs with me if I woke up. You aren't going to break your promise are you?"
He was using those pleading eyes on him. Whoever said Rui was innocent hadn't seen the manipulative side to Rui, the part of himself he used to get her to do what he wanted when she didn't want to and he did. This was a perfect example of it. She sighed. Those pleading eyes, she wasn't up to denying him. Besides, she had promised him.
"I did promise you," she remarked, turning a distinctively crimson color as she said this. "But you have to close your eyes!" She was thankful that the water was murky, which meant as soon as you got in, he wouldn't be able to see much of anything.
Flashing her one of his heart melting grins, he, being the strange and unpredictable boy that he was--- had absolutely no qualms about undressing in front of her! When she realized what he was doing, she closed her eyes quickly, horrified at his lack of modesty. She heard him chuckle, which only made her blush even harder.
"I'm done and it's safe," he told her. "Are you going to come in or not?"
She opened her eyes and true to his words, he was quite safely in the murky water, which still didn't disguise his slender, yes muscularly toned body. "Yes, but you have to close your eyes."
"I've already seen you naked," Rui remarked in a matter of fact voice. "Besides when we get married, we're going to have to see each other naked. Maybe even sooner than that, " he murmured wistfully.
She threw her towel at him and told him to close his eyes, which he reluctantly did as she beckoned. Even with his eyes closed, she wasn't sure he wouldn't peak so she told him to turn around, which he did without any further protest. From the look he'd given her at that request, she knew he was humoring her.
She slipped into the hot springs eventually and went to precisely the opposite spot before she declared, "You can turn around and open your eyes."
The first thing he said when he saw her over there was, "Are you going to stay there the entire time?"
"YES!" she exclaimed. "You are being such--- such a boy!"
He chuckled, which only made her glare at him. "Yes," he replied, "because I am a boy, very much a boy."
It was then that she noticed that his eyes weren't clouded over with sleepiness as they normally were but with passion and desire... for her. It made her heart skip a beat, the gaze he had made her feel unbelievably hot. She was certain that her whole body was blushing, right down to her toes.
"Rui..." she whispered softly.
He closed his eyes and said huskily, "Tsukushi, will you come to me?"
~
Tsukasa was entirely annoyed with Tsubaki for allowing Rui and Tsukushi to go to a private hot spring by themselves. There was no telling what they might do! It wasn't that Rui would force her that he was worried about. He was worried about what Rui could get Tsukushi to do with her free will and her full consent!
To make things worse, Akira and Soujirou were moping on the boy's side of the hot springs because they hadn't been able to go to a private hot spring. Tsukasa could only imagine why they wanted to go and that only made him think more of what Rui and Tsukushi could be doing privately. IT MADE HIM SO JEALOUS!
What made it even worse was that he couldn't do anything about it either because he was stuck here and they were far from him. He knew better than to try and leave because that'd only make his sister mad at him again, something he sincerely wished to avoid. After all, if his sister got upset at him, he could only imagine what torture she'd put him through. That made up his mind. He'd just have to bear it.
On the girl's side of the hot springs, they laughed and giggled as they conversed together. "I'm so glad Rui and Tsukushi made up," Shizuka remarked. "I was afraid that Rui'd never make a move and he'd lose the most important thing to him. Tsukushi is stubborn, he should know that. But she's also a girl, she can't go chasing after a guy when it was the guy's fault. Besides, she needs prodding to be able to see."
Tsubaki nodded. "Quite right. She finally realized her mistake last night, but I was afraid that they wouldn't make up until at least the end of the trip. It happened far faster than I was expecting it to. Surprisingly, Rui made his move quickly."
"Good thing to," Shizuka replied. "I was worried about how they'd get back together. Now, I don't have to worry and they have the perfect opportunity to be alone with each other."
Shizuka and Tsubaki shared a triumphant smile while Sara asked, "How long have those two been dating?"
Their shared smile turned into a full blown grin. "They haven't really been dating. Their parents kind of arranged and put them together with good reason. If things were left up to them, they'd take forever to do anything. This is definitely a great arrangement," Tsubaki remarked.
"From the way those two act together, they really seem like they've been dating for a long time," Sara commented. "To tell me they just started dating is unbelievable."
Shizuka nodded. "They should have been dating years ago. But both of them are far too slow at doing anything. This trip of Tsubaki's was a stroke of brilliance."
"It was, wasn't it? For all of us," Sara said abruptly, blushing immediately after she said it.
Tsubaki grinned. "The intentions of this trip is to get all, ALL the couples together." She shot a meaningful look at Shizuka. "It's not only an opportunity for Rui and Tsukushi."
~
His voice was soft and alluring, tempting. She wanted to go to him, but at the same time, she was scared of what would happen if she went. She could only stare at the calm beauty visible on his face, feeling guilty that she couldn't do his one small request. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "I can't."
He opened the doorways to his soul, no anger or reproach in them, only a keen disappointment. "It's okay," he stated softly. He held his hand to her. "Will you take my hand?"
She took his hand. She expected him to pull her to him. But she forgot that was something that Tsukasa would do but never Rui. Rui used his words, Tsukasa used his strength. They were two far different people, yet close friends. Instead, all Rui did was hold her hand, rubbing her knuckles gently. Time seemed eternal in this tender and soothing moment, passing by so quickly that all seemed lost, yet not.
The entire time was spent holding hands, staring into each other's eyes. Most of the time they did not speak, but when they did--- it didn't spoil the moment. "When did you start liking me?"
"A long time ago."
"It's the same with me," she remarked. "Is it weird for me to like you the first time that I saw you?" He shrugged. "And the more that I got to know you the more that I liked you, even despite your oddities."
He broke out into a smile. "Is it weird for me to like you because you were the first one to bring me out of my shell?"
She shook her head. "No."
He squeezed her hand. "Good."
~
Typical Rui. She smiled as she saw him hanging upside down from the monkey bars as was normal for him. He was forever doing that, even now that he was much older as was she. They were no longer in elementary school anymore, yet he still did it. That was part of his childhood, yes, and it was also an integral part of him.
"Why do you always hang upside down?" she asked. He didn't open his eyes and he didn't answer her. "Why do you never answer anything I ask you?" He opened his eyes. "Why do you hang upside down?" she repeated, thinking that he hadn't heard her.
"I heard you the first time," he replied bluntly, closing his eyes again.
She took a deep breath, trying to be patient. But she was losing it as she tended to do when she was frustrated to the point she couldn't take it anymore. It wasn't that she'd ask that particular question before, it'd been many others before that were unanswered. "If you don't answer soon, I have to go," she told him.
And so she sad down and waited for about half an hour, the longest she could drag it on. Faintly, she heard her driver calling for her. She gathered her books. "I've got to go, Rui. Bye."
He opened his eyes and got off the monkey bars, calling out to her, "Tsukushi, will you be back tomorrow?"
She stopped, turned around, and nodded. "Yes." Then she whirled around and continued to walk away.
"Tsukushi," he said again and she stopped as he knew she would, "I'll tell you tomorrow."
That made her smile, and she skipped off, happy again. As he watched her skipped off, he too smiled. Yes, she was the one he could trust in.
~
Luckily after about an hour of soaking, the girls decided that that was enough of that. The bad thing was that they'd entirely forgotten about Tsukushi and Rui, but there was someone who definitely hadn't forgotten. "What about Rui and Tsukushi?!" Tsukasa cried out.
Tsubaki grinned. "I'll get them." Tsukasa scowled. "You have to escort Shigeru back," she reminded him, pushing Shigeru to him. She waved before setting out to climb the steep steps to the more private hot springs. She had to say, it was hard and exhausting to climb, especially when she hadn't found them at the first hot spring. She found them on the hot spring on the next level.
What she saw was well worth the effort to climb those many many stairs. Her eyes popped open when she saw them holding hands, Rui leaning toward Tsukushi as she was leaning forward to kiss them--- they were so close to kissing. From what she could discern, they both seemed to be nude in the water. Interesting. A very good thing she'd come instead of her brother. She could only imagine how he'd react.
Inside of her mind, she was mentally cheering them on. But in her fervent desire to see them kiss, she got to close and Rui saw her, thus pulling away from Tsukushi. "What, Rui?" asked Tsukushi.
"Tsubaki's here," he stated in a calm voice, the passion totally fading from him. As was typical for Tsukushi, she blushed and when she turned around, her face was a crimson red.
Tsubaki had the grace to look sheepish because after all she had been spying on them. After all, what else could she be doing crouching behind a bush with her head peaking over? Definitely spying. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I didn't mean to intrude. I just wanted to tell you that we've all headed back for dinner. Do you two want to join us?"
"Of course," Tsukushi responded with a kind smile, "we'll be there in a few minutes."
Tsubaki smiled and waved before descending down the winding stairs down to the house. After she was gone, Tsukushi turned around and told Rui, "Close your eyes and turn your back to me."
He broke out into an amused smile, but he did what she requested. "Tsukushi?"
"Yes?"
"I won't push you."
~
In his room, Tsukasa was again pacing up and down the length of his room while Shigeru watched with amusement. "You know, your wasting your energy. If you're going to mope around like that, you should plan on how to win her back instead."
He whirled around. "Why are you trying to help me?" he growled out. "Isn't it better for you if I can't get her, if I pace here up and down with my misery?"
Shaking her head, she explained why, "I don't want a guy that doesn't like me most. So if you like Tsukushi, I'll help you. I like her, too. If she chooses you freely, then I'll be happy for both of you. We can just be friends, that's fine with me."
"Really?" he queried, can't believing what she was saying.
She took his hand and held it tightly. "Truly."
~
Once Soujirou and Sara were along again, they sat on opposite sides of the bed, not knowing what to say to each other after the change of their relationship that had happened earlier. During the entire time they were at the hot springs, all he wanted was to be alone with her. Now, that he was alone with her, he was afraid. He was a one week guy in relationships, and he knew she wasn't a one week type of girl.
He was terribly afraid. She had been his dearest childhood friend. He didn't want to lose her as a friend, and yet maybe she was the one? He was the only one of the F4 that wasn't serious about a girl. Akira was absolutely crazy about Shizuka; likewise, Rui and Tsukasa were about Tsukushi. He was the only one without, maybe it was Sara who was the one he'd been waiting for.
All the F3 liked childhood friends, maybe he was the same, and Sara had kissed him back, hadn't she? Or had he simply been holding her too tightly and it made it seem like she was kissing him back? Then again what if--- what if their relationship didn't work out and she ended up disliking him, hating him like his other x-girlfriends? That he couldn't take a chance on.
"Jirou, is something wrong?" Sara asked with concern echoing in her voice.
He shook his head and grinned. "Nothing's wrong."
~
Standing by the fading evening sunlight, Shizuka was looking gorgeous as she normally was. But no matter if she was less than her usual beautiful self, he'd still be captivated by her, still enamored with her because he was in love with her. He didn't know how long, but it'd been for quite a bit of time that he'd felt this way. He'd tell her one day, but not today.
She glanced back at him. "Will you watch the sunset with me tonight?"
He nodded. "Yes."
~
They'd been thinking over the past half hour of how Tsukasa might win TSukushi in an honest manner over Rui. Over that time, they still hadn't come up with a good plan of action yet. Eventually, Tsukasa got impatient and exclaimed, "I can't think of anyway to win her! Rui understands her better than me! Rui never argues with her! Rui always listens to what she has to say! I can't compete with him!"
"Of course, you can't," Shigeru remarked, which made him scowl. But before he could protest, she continued, "You can't compete with Rui by trying to be a better Rui. You can only compete with Rui for Tsukushi by being yourself, Doumyouji Tsukasa. Because you aren't Rui, you are Tsukasa."
"But..."
"But nothing. If you can't charm her by being yourself then there's nothing else you can do," Shigeru murmured. "By yourself, Tsukasa, don't you want to get her by your own self?" He nodded. "Because that's your best chance, I believe."
~
Outside of the rooms, Tsubaki grinned. What lovely surprises she had planned for them. She ought to pat herself on the back and do this full time. It was just perfect! It was just too ingenious! Oh, what a mastermind she was!
Author's Note: What does Tsubaki have in stored for them? (something extremely clever that I still have to think of!) Wow, is the story coming to an end? Do you guys want me to wrap this up soon? Because I could be as far at 75% done for as little as 33% done (which is DAMN scary). There are quite a few twists I could do, my problem is that my interests in it is bound to die sometime soon. And I would like to finish it. If you keep reviewing and generally commenting on what you like and what you don't like that'd be great. It's nice when you tell me that you like it and that you want me to continue, but you could you tell me more than that? Comments on why you like it, which pairings you especially like, which is the most creative, which is the most weird, which you like the least is how I can make this fanfic better!