Chapter 6 – The punch..

Tsukasa will remember Tsukushi in this chapter..

Tsukasa: Yay! Finally!
Rui: *narrows eyes* Tsukushi is mine!
Angel: Read on and see..

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tsukasa's P.O.V:

Rui looked at Soujiro, clearly annoyed. "Her name is Makino Tsukushi."

I sat up, not trusting my ears. Tsukushi?! My Tsukushi was here?! In Eitoku? Happiness filled me, satisfying a deep longing I had had since Kushi had left.

"Who? Say her name again!" I cried eagerly.. if not forcefully.

Rui's puzzled eyes focused on me. "Her name is.. Makino Tsukushi. Why?"

KUSHI! It was really her! My ears had not deceived me! I almost leapt up in joy, a big grin spreading across my face. Tsukushi was back.. Why had she not called me? Not told me she was back in Japan? It had been eight years since I had last seen her. Was she still the petite and skinny girl? I could still remember our farewell like it was yesterday.

* Flashback *

Tsukushi looked up at Tsukasa, her vision half-blinded by her tears. "Tsukasa.." she managed out in a voice, broken with sadness.

"TSUKUSHI! WHO HAS BULLIED YOU?! TELL ME!" his hands clenched into fists, "I will.."

"No no no.." she sobbed, "Tsukasa.. I.." Somehow the words remained caught in her throat. "I have to go to Australia."

"WHAT?!" his loud exclamation resounded in the few metres surrounding them.

"My family's business is not well.. We have to leave Japan." She said, her voice void of emotions. It didn't seem like it was her talking anymore. The voice seemed alien in her ears.

"But my mother can help you!" Tsukasa cried desperately, "Please.. Don't leave Kushi.."

"I'm sorry.." she choked before walking over to the limo. Perhaps she shouldn't have said goodbye.. then maybe it would've been easier.

"Tsukushi!" he cried, "I won't forget you.."

Tsukushi sobbed as she got into the limo, she turned around to see Tsukasa running frantically after her.

"Tsukushi! Call me.." he shouted before his breath finally ran out and he stopped, watching her limo drive away into the distance..

* End flashback *

I headed for the door, prepared to meet Tsukushi again.

"Tsukasa.. where are you going?" Akira asked. "I thought we were going to the pub?"

"I'm not interested!" I answered. What could be more important than meeting Tsukushi again?

"Tsukasa.. you really shouldn't bully Tsukushi anymore." Rui's quiet voice spoke.

Bully her? How could he say that? Tsukushi.. my first and only love. Then I stopped as realization hit me with a thud. I had been bullying her before. Would she forgive me this easily? I suddenly felt very stupid. How could I have not recognized her yesterday when she yelled at me? But then.. I had been very angry at that time. The humiliation had been almost too much to bear. I had given her the red tag.. would it be too late to take it back?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tsukushi's P.O.V:

It was almost too much to bear. Even though I had been cautious of their tricks, I never knew they would stoop as low as to cheat during a test. They had thrown little pieces of paper of me and the teacher had accused me of cheating. Was even the teacher involved in this red tag game?

Tsukasa.. you are really great. You have managed to make everyone in Eitoku listen to you!

A crazy smile lit up my face, he would pay for doing this to me.. Did he even know I was Tsukushi? One thing I was sure of.. the old Tsukasa would never do something like this. Had he really changed that much?

Slowly, as the bell rang, I packed up my books, still thinking about Tsukasa. The cheeky and friendly boy I had grown up with.. had he really changed into the tyrant and bully that he now was? It seemed hardly possible.. but I would have to see for myself.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Still Tsukushi's P.O.V)

I walked slowly into the cafeteria again. Tuesday. This was really starting to become a routine to me. As I walked towards an empty table, I spotted the annoying guy I had met yesterday. Surely he was the cause of all this red-tagging. Imagine what a shock I got when I heard one of his friends call him Tsukasa. That's right. Doumyouji Tsukasa, my childhood friend. I gasped and stared at him. Now that I realized.. he did bear some resemblance to Tsukasa.. in fact, there could be no doubt about it, it was Tsukasa. How could I have not recognized him before? I giggled as I remembered the way he had looked yesterday when he was arguing with me. So I had offended the leader of F4.. no wonder I had been given the red tag! But Tsukasa.. when did he become such a spoilt brat? It was no wonder I didn't recognize him, his arrogant behaviour.. so unlike the fun-loving boy I had known. I received a further shock when I realized that Rui was sitting next to him. Rui.. my 'friend' was part of F4 too?

No wonder there was that big reaction this morning.. A member of F4 helping me get to class.. Right, so believable, Tsukushi! No wonder that @#$% Asai said all that crap.

Then Rui saw me, I grinned at him. Then after giving him a knowing glance and a wink, I walked up to Tsukasa and punched him in the face. The look of surprise and anger on his face was so comical! Oh well.. he deserved it. After those hours of torture I had endured because of his stupid red tag.. the punch was nothing. Besides, I had hit him often when we were kids. What was the big deal?

I looked expectantly at him, waiting for his reaction. I already knew that everyone in the cafeteria was surprised at my punch. As Tsukasa's eyes looked upon me, his face softened and it turned to a look of pure joy. Had he really missed me that much?

"Kushi!" he cried before wrapping his arms around me.

"Get off me you idiot!" I shouted before running out of the cafeteria.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rui's P.O.V:

I was sitting in the cafeteria with F4 as usual when I saw Tsukushi heading our way. I could see her surprised look that I was sitting there. I had almost forgotten that she didn't know of me being a member of F4. Then she grinned at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes. I should've known she would do something daring.. but I never knew she would punch Tsukasa! Although no emotions showed on my face, I was clearly surprised. I expected Tsukasa to get angry and start shouting at her.. But it never came. Instead he softened as he looked at her and shouted, "Kushi!" before hugging her. It came as a shock to me – Tsukasa who had never been interested in any girl before.. was now hugging his so-called "enemy"? The Tsukasa who had no friends other than F4 was embracing a stranger? It was almost too unbelievable. Then the thought struck me. Perhaps they knew each other?

"Get off me you idiot!" Tsukushi shouted at him before running out of the cafeteria.

If they were friends… then why did she say that? The expression on Tsukasa's face amused me very much, still this did not penetrate my mask. It seemed the only ones who could make me smile were Shizuka.. and Tsukushi, though I had only known her for 2 days..

Tsukasa stood stunned, staring after Tsukushi. After a few seconds, he too ran after her.

I wonder what is happening between those two?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

hehe.. Making Rui so confused…

I wonder what will happen between Tsukushi and Tsukasa when he catches up with her.. IF he catches up.. hehe.

Still haven't decided whether to make this a T/T fic or a T/R fic

Depends on what readers I have.. More Rui fans or Tsukasa fans.. hehe

Thanx 4 reading!!

* Angel *

Oh yes.. and *sigh* sadly, the time has cum 4 exams again..
and i REALLY need to study!
so probably no updates until the weekend
sorri!! =(