Disclaimer: The characters from Hana Yori Dango aren't mine and they never
will be. So don't sue me!
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Part 1: Around the World
Chapter 1: The beginning
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"I have to get off the boat. I still have to go to school. I-"
"Makino," Tsukasa interrupted, "Stay with me."
"I-" Tsukushi stopped, she was about to reject him but she heard Rui's voice in her head. 'Be honest with yourself.' Tsukushi took a deep breath, "Okay."
Tsukasa's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. He grabbed Tsukushi and swung her around.
Tsukushi screamed, "Put me down!"
"No! I'm never letting you go." Tsukushi stopped screaming. She thought of all the times he said he'd follow her wherever she goes. She thought of how she felt when she saw Shigure practically naked on top of Tsukasa. She thought of the time she said goodbye to him in his home. She understood they lived in different worlds and that there'd be no future together, but then why did she feel so sad leaving him? Every step she took away from Tsukasa threatened to break her resolve. All she wanted to do was run back into his arms and hear him say 'I'll protect you' but she kept on walking. In the end she couldn't stay away, she walked back into his arms. "Doumyouji," Tsukushi looked into his eyes, " I never want to leave you again. I love you."
Those simple words warmed his heart like no fire ever could. They hugged each other tightly, neither wanted to let go. They separated only to look into each other's eyes. It was one of those rare times when their hearts were one. They kissed and kissed, until the sound of people clapping snapped them back into reality. They jumped apart, their faces instantly turned beet red.
"A couple in love. it's rare to find that nowadays in our society (referring to high class society), a woman commented.
"Doumyouji-sama, your mom called and left you a message." Tsukasa narrowed his eyes and Tsukushi braced herself for the harsh words. "She said, have fun." Both Tsukushi and Tsukasa had a puzzled expression, question marks over their heads. Tsukasa was the first to recover.
"You did it Makino! You changed the way she thinks about you." Tsukasa swung her around again. Tsukushi was still dazed. She couldn't believe Doumyouji's mother would let them go that easily, but she didn't care. She didn't want to lie to herself anymore; she knew all she needed now was Doumyouji. She put everything out of her mind and concentrated on the present.
"Doumyouji, where are we headed?"
"We're traveling east, so first country would be America."
"America ka?" Tsukushi recalled all the times both she and Tsukasa said they'd go there. Tsukasa said he'd go to New York after the basketball game and Tsukushi said she'd go study abroad in Boston.
Tsukasa interrupted Tsukushi's thoughts, "But before then we'll be on this boat for a week. Come on, I'll show you around. This boat is very different from the one we were on last time." Tsukasa grabbed Tsukushi and gave her a tour. Tsukushi felt bewildered. Everything was so grand. There was a mall, a casino, a pool, and so much more.
"Doumyouji? How many levels are there on this boat?"
"I think 10."
"10?!? We're going to sink! There is no way a boat can support so many levels." Tsukasa laughed and Tsukushi hit him. "Don't laugh! I'm serious."
"I know. That's what's so funny." Tsukushi hit Tsukasa again.
"Makino don't worry. It's perfectly safe. And even if there is an accident there's enough lifeboats for everyone."
"Oh yeah, I feel SO reassured now."
"Didn't I promise you I'd always protect you? As long as you're with me you'll never come to any harm." The confident tone in his words removed all of Tsukushi's fears like nothing ever could.
But Tsukushi didn't know how to respond so she switched the topic. "Look it's so late already, I'm starving. Let's go eat dinner." Tsukasa accepted the subject change and brought Tsukushi to the dinner hall, where he had a booth prepared for them. It was a small red booth. There were three tall candles in the center, red roses and a chilled bottle of champagne on a small stand near the table. The atmosphere was so romantic that Tsukushi didn't know what to say. She didn't expect Tsukasa to do something like this, didn't think he had a romantic bone in his body. All he knew how to do was give orders. When she sat down she came to a horrible realization, this wasn't meant for her. This is all for Shigeru. She just barged in. The doubt was seeping into her skin. Her only thought was she didn't belong here.
Tsukasa ordered dinner while Tsukushi was lost in her thoughts. When he was done he turned back to Tsukushi. "Makino," Tsukasa flicked his finger at her forehead, "Don't think too much, you'll get wrinkles."
"Hey! It's better than not thinking at all, like someone." Tsukasa's eye twitched and you could see a vein showing on the side of his forehead. Tsukasa was going to retort but Makino had her head down and was back into her own thoughts.
"I didn't prepare this for Shigeru."
Makino's head shot up. She tried to conceal her thoughts from Doumyouji. She laughed nervously, "What are you talking about?"
"They arranged everything. My mind was blank. I couldn't focus, and I didn't care about all this. I prepared all this for you and only you."
"Masaka, you didn't have time. I was with you ever since I came on the boat."
"You went to the bathroom."
Tsukushi had a look of disbelief. "You prepared all this in a few minutes?"
Tsukasa was embarrassed to be questioned as to why he did all this for her, so he shrugged, "Doesn't take much, only a few calls. There are a lot of advantages in being a rich man." Tsukasa paused and then said, "Does that make you feel better?"
Tsukushi blushed, "Wh-What are you talking about?" Tsukushi stumbled. She was embarrassed that Doumyoji knew what she was thinking.
"Don't lie Makino. I knew what you were thinking once you sat down."
Tsukushi sighed, there was no point in denying it now. Instead she asked, "How'd you know what I was thinking?"
"I'm starting to understand how your brain works. It's different from all the other rich girls, but like any woman you're also given to jealousy." Tsukasa smiled wide. He was very happy Tsukushi was possessive about him too.
"Don't kid yourself! Why would I be jealous?"
"Because you love me."
That shut Tsukushi up. She didn't know how to reply to that. He was right. The feeling she didn't want to acknowledge when she saw Doumyouji and Shigeru together was jealousy. She didn't want to see any other girl in his arms. It scared her to think he had become so important to her. She had always relied on herself, being the oldest and in a poor family she had no one else to rely on. She was alarmed at the power she had given Doumyouji. He could hurt her like no one else can. She always put people at a distance; it became second nature to her. She never told people too much about herself, not even her best friend Yuki, because she was afraid of being hurt.
Tsukushi didn't want anyone to have power over her. Maybe that's why she thought she liked Hanazawa Rui more than Doumyouji. Rui never demanded anything of her. He was always there and she could always withhold herself without him questioning her. But with Doumyouji it's different. He wants all or nothing. He doesn't demand it by giving an ultimatum but there's something about him that compels her to tell him everything. Maybe that's why she was so fearful of him in the beginning. A guy who confesses his love with such ferocity and simple mindedness expects a lot in return.
Tsukushi looked up and saw Doumyouji talking to the waiter. She didn't hear what they were saying. Tsukushi looked at Doumyouji's face and thought of all the times he professed his love for her and realized if anyone was going to hurt her she'd rather it be Doumyoji.
Tsukasa finished talking to the waiter and turned his attention back to Tsukushi. He saw Tsukushi staring at him and narrowed his eyes. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
Makino instantly averted her eyes, embarrassed to be caught gazing. "Iie."
Tsukasa was about to say more when the food came. "Wow, you ordered so much," Tsukushi said.
"Well you said you were hungry."
"Yeah, but even so I can't eat so much."
"Doesn't matter, eat what you want."
"Nobody ever indulged me like this," Tsukushi whispered to no one in particular, but Tsukasa heard.
"There'll be plenty more chances." Tsukushi smiled.
From there on they talked about everything, ranging from their past stories and philosophical debates, which surprised Tsukushi who thought Doumyouji didn't know anything. The one topic they avoided was the future. They both realized it was too uncertain and that these five months might be the only time they can enjoy each other's company without worries.
It was 11 when Tsukushi yawned. "Sleepy?" Tsukasa asked.
"Yeah, I didn't get enough sleep the previous night." Tsukushi didn't have to say it was because of Tsukasa's wedding.
"Come on, I'll take up to your room." They walked up to the top level. Tsukasa gave Tsukushi the keys to her room, which was right next to Tsukasa's. He kissed her on the forehead and said good night. She went into her room feeling relieved and disappointed. Relieved because Tsukasa didn't try to press her but disappointed because he didn't. She didn't know what she would've done if he went a step further than kissing. She didn't want to analyze her feelings. They were too complex. Tsukushi went to take a shower and saw it was extravagant as Doumyouji's then she plopped on the bed. She looked around the room and saw that adjacent to the French window was another door. She knew without thinking that that door connected her room and Doumyouji's. Strangely it made her feel safe knowing that he was only a door away. She closed her eyes and had a peaceful sleep, one she hasn't had ever since she left him.
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I hope you liked reading it as much as I liked writing it. Please review! I'll write faster if you do. ^^
************************************************************************
Part 1: Around the World
Chapter 1: The beginning
************************************************************************
"I have to get off the boat. I still have to go to school. I-"
"Makino," Tsukasa interrupted, "Stay with me."
"I-" Tsukushi stopped, she was about to reject him but she heard Rui's voice in her head. 'Be honest with yourself.' Tsukushi took a deep breath, "Okay."
Tsukasa's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. He grabbed Tsukushi and swung her around.
Tsukushi screamed, "Put me down!"
"No! I'm never letting you go." Tsukushi stopped screaming. She thought of all the times he said he'd follow her wherever she goes. She thought of how she felt when she saw Shigure practically naked on top of Tsukasa. She thought of the time she said goodbye to him in his home. She understood they lived in different worlds and that there'd be no future together, but then why did she feel so sad leaving him? Every step she took away from Tsukasa threatened to break her resolve. All she wanted to do was run back into his arms and hear him say 'I'll protect you' but she kept on walking. In the end she couldn't stay away, she walked back into his arms. "Doumyouji," Tsukushi looked into his eyes, " I never want to leave you again. I love you."
Those simple words warmed his heart like no fire ever could. They hugged each other tightly, neither wanted to let go. They separated only to look into each other's eyes. It was one of those rare times when their hearts were one. They kissed and kissed, until the sound of people clapping snapped them back into reality. They jumped apart, their faces instantly turned beet red.
"A couple in love. it's rare to find that nowadays in our society (referring to high class society), a woman commented.
"Doumyouji-sama, your mom called and left you a message." Tsukasa narrowed his eyes and Tsukushi braced herself for the harsh words. "She said, have fun." Both Tsukushi and Tsukasa had a puzzled expression, question marks over their heads. Tsukasa was the first to recover.
"You did it Makino! You changed the way she thinks about you." Tsukasa swung her around again. Tsukushi was still dazed. She couldn't believe Doumyouji's mother would let them go that easily, but she didn't care. She didn't want to lie to herself anymore; she knew all she needed now was Doumyouji. She put everything out of her mind and concentrated on the present.
"Doumyouji, where are we headed?"
"We're traveling east, so first country would be America."
"America ka?" Tsukushi recalled all the times both she and Tsukasa said they'd go there. Tsukasa said he'd go to New York after the basketball game and Tsukushi said she'd go study abroad in Boston.
Tsukasa interrupted Tsukushi's thoughts, "But before then we'll be on this boat for a week. Come on, I'll show you around. This boat is very different from the one we were on last time." Tsukasa grabbed Tsukushi and gave her a tour. Tsukushi felt bewildered. Everything was so grand. There was a mall, a casino, a pool, and so much more.
"Doumyouji? How many levels are there on this boat?"
"I think 10."
"10?!? We're going to sink! There is no way a boat can support so many levels." Tsukasa laughed and Tsukushi hit him. "Don't laugh! I'm serious."
"I know. That's what's so funny." Tsukushi hit Tsukasa again.
"Makino don't worry. It's perfectly safe. And even if there is an accident there's enough lifeboats for everyone."
"Oh yeah, I feel SO reassured now."
"Didn't I promise you I'd always protect you? As long as you're with me you'll never come to any harm." The confident tone in his words removed all of Tsukushi's fears like nothing ever could.
But Tsukushi didn't know how to respond so she switched the topic. "Look it's so late already, I'm starving. Let's go eat dinner." Tsukasa accepted the subject change and brought Tsukushi to the dinner hall, where he had a booth prepared for them. It was a small red booth. There were three tall candles in the center, red roses and a chilled bottle of champagne on a small stand near the table. The atmosphere was so romantic that Tsukushi didn't know what to say. She didn't expect Tsukasa to do something like this, didn't think he had a romantic bone in his body. All he knew how to do was give orders. When she sat down she came to a horrible realization, this wasn't meant for her. This is all for Shigeru. She just barged in. The doubt was seeping into her skin. Her only thought was she didn't belong here.
Tsukasa ordered dinner while Tsukushi was lost in her thoughts. When he was done he turned back to Tsukushi. "Makino," Tsukasa flicked his finger at her forehead, "Don't think too much, you'll get wrinkles."
"Hey! It's better than not thinking at all, like someone." Tsukasa's eye twitched and you could see a vein showing on the side of his forehead. Tsukasa was going to retort but Makino had her head down and was back into her own thoughts.
"I didn't prepare this for Shigeru."
Makino's head shot up. She tried to conceal her thoughts from Doumyouji. She laughed nervously, "What are you talking about?"
"They arranged everything. My mind was blank. I couldn't focus, and I didn't care about all this. I prepared all this for you and only you."
"Masaka, you didn't have time. I was with you ever since I came on the boat."
"You went to the bathroom."
Tsukushi had a look of disbelief. "You prepared all this in a few minutes?"
Tsukasa was embarrassed to be questioned as to why he did all this for her, so he shrugged, "Doesn't take much, only a few calls. There are a lot of advantages in being a rich man." Tsukasa paused and then said, "Does that make you feel better?"
Tsukushi blushed, "Wh-What are you talking about?" Tsukushi stumbled. She was embarrassed that Doumyoji knew what she was thinking.
"Don't lie Makino. I knew what you were thinking once you sat down."
Tsukushi sighed, there was no point in denying it now. Instead she asked, "How'd you know what I was thinking?"
"I'm starting to understand how your brain works. It's different from all the other rich girls, but like any woman you're also given to jealousy." Tsukasa smiled wide. He was very happy Tsukushi was possessive about him too.
"Don't kid yourself! Why would I be jealous?"
"Because you love me."
That shut Tsukushi up. She didn't know how to reply to that. He was right. The feeling she didn't want to acknowledge when she saw Doumyouji and Shigeru together was jealousy. She didn't want to see any other girl in his arms. It scared her to think he had become so important to her. She had always relied on herself, being the oldest and in a poor family she had no one else to rely on. She was alarmed at the power she had given Doumyouji. He could hurt her like no one else can. She always put people at a distance; it became second nature to her. She never told people too much about herself, not even her best friend Yuki, because she was afraid of being hurt.
Tsukushi didn't want anyone to have power over her. Maybe that's why she thought she liked Hanazawa Rui more than Doumyouji. Rui never demanded anything of her. He was always there and she could always withhold herself without him questioning her. But with Doumyouji it's different. He wants all or nothing. He doesn't demand it by giving an ultimatum but there's something about him that compels her to tell him everything. Maybe that's why she was so fearful of him in the beginning. A guy who confesses his love with such ferocity and simple mindedness expects a lot in return.
Tsukushi looked up and saw Doumyouji talking to the waiter. She didn't hear what they were saying. Tsukushi looked at Doumyouji's face and thought of all the times he professed his love for her and realized if anyone was going to hurt her she'd rather it be Doumyoji.
Tsukasa finished talking to the waiter and turned his attention back to Tsukushi. He saw Tsukushi staring at him and narrowed his eyes. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
Makino instantly averted her eyes, embarrassed to be caught gazing. "Iie."
Tsukasa was about to say more when the food came. "Wow, you ordered so much," Tsukushi said.
"Well you said you were hungry."
"Yeah, but even so I can't eat so much."
"Doesn't matter, eat what you want."
"Nobody ever indulged me like this," Tsukushi whispered to no one in particular, but Tsukasa heard.
"There'll be plenty more chances." Tsukushi smiled.
From there on they talked about everything, ranging from their past stories and philosophical debates, which surprised Tsukushi who thought Doumyouji didn't know anything. The one topic they avoided was the future. They both realized it was too uncertain and that these five months might be the only time they can enjoy each other's company without worries.
It was 11 when Tsukushi yawned. "Sleepy?" Tsukasa asked.
"Yeah, I didn't get enough sleep the previous night." Tsukushi didn't have to say it was because of Tsukasa's wedding.
"Come on, I'll take up to your room." They walked up to the top level. Tsukasa gave Tsukushi the keys to her room, which was right next to Tsukasa's. He kissed her on the forehead and said good night. She went into her room feeling relieved and disappointed. Relieved because Tsukasa didn't try to press her but disappointed because he didn't. She didn't know what she would've done if he went a step further than kissing. She didn't want to analyze her feelings. They were too complex. Tsukushi went to take a shower and saw it was extravagant as Doumyouji's then she plopped on the bed. She looked around the room and saw that adjacent to the French window was another door. She knew without thinking that that door connected her room and Doumyouji's. Strangely it made her feel safe knowing that he was only a door away. She closed her eyes and had a peaceful sleep, one she hasn't had ever since she left him.
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I hope you liked reading it as much as I liked writing it. Please review! I'll write faster if you do. ^^
