Here's more!

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Part 1: Around the World

Chapter 5: Ryoko's Day Out

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[Knock Knock]

Ryoko got her bag, opened the door and saw Tsukushi and Doumyouji.

Tsukushi made the introductions and they walked off the ship, to eat breakfast in France. At first Ryoko didn't say anything. She didn't know what to do. Tsukushi understood so she initiated the conversation.

"Ryoko? We're going to go to Eiffel tower and other places around. Is there anywhere you want to go?"

"Iie. I don't know much about France."

Tsukushi smiled, "Neither do I. Let's take this chance and do everything. Who knows when we'll be back."

"That's true, since you two are poor you probably won't have another chance to come here."

Ryoko was surprised at the rude comment. She looked at Tsukushi since the comment was also referring to her. Tsukushi drew a fist and you could see a vein on it. She punched Doumyouji.

"Baka! You're always on your high horse." They started bickering at each other.

Ryoko didn't really understand it. He had just insulted her and she hit him. Ryoko thought, "what a weird couple." Then she laughed.

Both Tsukushi and Tsukasa turned to look at her. "Gomen gomen. You two are a really good couple. You argue like you're married."

Tsukushi and Tsukasa blushed. Then all three laughed. Ryoko felt less awkward hanging out with them. Doumyouji would often tease Tsukushi and Tsukushi would make fun of Doumyouji's bad Japanese. They were really cute. Funny, Ryoko thought, Doumyouji acted like a rich kid but he was willing to do all the normal things like eat food from vendors on the street or just walk around. The rich people she sees are always in their car even if it's only a block away. She thought having legs were wasted on them.

Ryoko had feeling that Doumyouji wasn't like this before he met Tsukushi. She found little resemblance of the man she saw on television a few years ago. She looked at them again. She felt very happy. They were perfect for each other.

They took a lot of pictures. Everywhere they went they took at least 5 pictures. Many were snapshots. With Ryoko in charge of the camera she took a lot of pictures of them fooling around. The times when they were bickering, one where they were eating each other's ice cream, and just a few more when they were goofing around. Doumyouji helped Tsukushi and Ryoko take a lot of pictures too.

Night came really fast, and Ryoko was disappointed the day had to end. She hasn't had that much fun in a long time.

They had dinner and afterwards brought Ryoko back to her room. Ryoko hugged Tsukushi, "Thank you. I had a really fun time."

"I'm happy you did. Let's do this again." Ryoko looked at Doumyouji. She felt bad that she was intruding on their time together. But Doumyouji nodded. Ryoko smiled at him. She broke her hug with Tsukushi and said, "Okay. I'll be waiting." She turned to Doumyouji again. "It was nice meeting you."

"Same here. Any friend of Tsukushi's is a friend of mine."

Ryoko smiled. She was surprised at how easily he accepted her. "Arigato."

They said their goodbyes and Tsukushi and Tsukasa went back to their rooms.

"So what do you think of her?"

"She's nice."

"That's what I thought, but I was afraid I was wrong. I've never had troubles making friends until I went to Eitoku. There I didn't know who wanted to be my friend or who wanted to use me. And it's gotten even more complicated since I'm with you."

Tsukasa stopped walking. "Tsukushi, do you regret it sometimes? Being with me? Things aren't going to get easier."

Tsukushi turned to look back at Tsukasa. She was surprised he had a concerned face. He always has a confident face on like there's nothing he's afraid of. But right now he looked so vulnerable. She couldn't bear it. On impulse she hugged him. "I hate not knowing who to trust. I hate suspecting people of having ulterior motives and sometimes I wonder why I can't have an easier life, but," she looked in his eyes, "I've grown to need you too so I don't regret it." Tsukasa lifted Tsukushi's head up and kissed her.

Tsukasa was the first to break the kiss. He didn't want to but he knew Tsukushi wasn't ready. "I won't try to do anything further. I can't think of anyone else but you, so I'll just have to wait. I'll let you make the first move, until we marry." Tsukushi blushed. If she weren't already in love with him she would've fallen in love at that point.

They reached her room and stopped. Tsukushi hugged him and whispered "Thank You." She went into her room, closed the door, and leaned against it. Tsukushi thought, I love him so much that it's painful.

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