Standard disclaimers apply here.
BIG MACHINE
Chapter Two: Cheers!
Three AM
***
'I can't believe this. I'm late for class!' Tsukushi said to herself, walking briskly down the hallway to the computer laboratory. 'Note to self, learn to say no to friends.'
She was accompanying Kazuya, an old friend back in preparatory school, in the library. Although she hasn't eaten her breakfast that morning and also skipped her lunch that afternoon and she was VERY hungry, she just couldn't refuse any of her friends. She was a stupid martyr like that.
Now she was exactly six minutes late for her computer class. 'Another note to self, don't fall asleep in libraries.'
Tsukushi was fast rounding the corner when she saw someone turning the same corner toward her but only too late. They collided into each other, sending Tsukushi's books to the floor.
"I'm sorry," Tsukushi quickly apologized without even looking up to the person's face. She knelt down and hastily picked up her books.
She was surprised to find a hand offering her book to her. That's when she finally looked up.
And dude, was she ever stunned at meeting him once again.
"Tsukushi?!" Soujirou exclaimed, totally and obviously surprised to see her, who was just equally shocked as well.
"H – Hey," Tsukushi stammered. She couldn't seem to take her eyes away from his astonished face. She could hear her own heart beating fast against her chest in illogical uneasiness.
"Long time no see, imoutosan," Soujirou greeted her with a big smile and with the long buried familiarity he used to call her, a few seconds after getting over his surprise. He helped her finish collecting her thrown books and then they both stood up.
"Uh – Thanks," Tsukushi could only say weakly. She seemed to have a hard time believing that Soujirou was talking to her.
Soujirou shook his head slightly. "I didn't know you're studying here too."
"Well… I – uh…"
"Did you just transfer?"
"No…"
"Since when did you start here?"
"First year."
"Really?"
Tsukushi meekly nodded.
"You're not a transferee?"
She shook her head.
"No?" Soujirou asked, confused. "How come I never saw you here before?"
Tsukushi stared helplessly at him, clueless at to what to say. 'Because I'm avoiding you and I don't want to be seen around you. Er… will that work?'
"I guess… our schedules always contradict. You know I'm pretty busy with stuffs," Tsukushi decided to say. She wasn't looking directly at his eyes. She was still reeling from the shock of actually seeing him and talking to him.
"Hmm… Guess so. Still I know you know that I'm studying here. You should've came to me anytime before," Soujirou said, a small hint of hurt in his voice.
Then, he tilted his head to one side and examined her from head to toe and back again. And smiled.
"It has been a really long time since I last saw you Tsukushi. And when was it?" Soujirou wondered, trying to rack his mind for the memory of the last time he had been with his childhood friend.
"Last time I remember, you were wearing that trademark pigtails of yours and chocolate was all over your face," he mused, grinning at her. "I see you still haven't gotten over your obsession." He tugged on one of her braided pigtails.
"Hey!" Tsukushi let out a small smile. She then decided that Soujirou, even though grew up very drastically and apart from her, hasn't changed his childlike and cheerful ways. She got to admit, it was kinda contagious.
She looked around the hallway and was greatly relieved to find it empty. Everyone was in their respective classes by now. So she shouldn't worry much about others seeing her with an F4.
She let herself relax around him, even for a bit. This was Nishikado Soujirou, her best friend and surrogate big brother back in her childhood years.
She smiled up openly at him, letting down her guard.
"Last time we saw each other was when I was leaving for US. You were crying your heart out when I said goodbye to you in front of our house," Tsukushi said, amused at the memory.
Soujirou raised his brow. "Now I remember. You were going to New York to continue your studies there. And at that point I really see it as utterly pointless since you have no friends there at all."
He laughed. "I even tried to tie you up in a tree but your mother found us out." Then he frowned. "But I didn't cry my heart out. You were the one who did!"
Tsukushi chuckled. "You weren't the macho type of guy yet back then like you are now. Oh come on, admit it Soujirou. You were such a crybaby before."
"That's because you're a great influence," Soujirou retaliated with a wide smile.
"That makes the two of us," Tsukushi said, smiling back.
He grinned and once again tugged on her hair. "I'm glad you haven't changed at all," he commented, oblivious to her nervous stammering a minute earlier.
Tsukushi's smile faltered a bit at his comment but she automatically cheered up again for his sake. This was the first time she and her old closest friend would meet again and she wasn't going to destroy this meeting because of her reclusive ways.
"I can see YOU changed a lot, oniichan," she said, using the name she used to call him. She brightened up more when his eyes lit up and his smile widened at her familiarity.
"I missed that." He paused, staring at the smiling Tsukushi in front of him. Then he quickly added, "I didn't really change. I just grew up."
"It's the same thing. You're much naughtier now."
"How come?" Soujirou asked, feigning innocence.
"I know your playboy antics, oniichan. Don't you think being a Nishikado and all will let you escape the rumors."
"What rumors?"
Tsukushi shook her head and looked at him with a reprimanding look. "The Soujirou I know was impish, sure. But the Soujirou standing before me now is WAY too playful. Women's hearts aren't toys…"
"Hey," Soujirou started with a frown. "They're the ones who come to me and not vice versa. So it isn't MY fault if they go crying back to their mothers' wombs. Besides, everyone knows I'm the no-strings-attached type of guy." He shrugged.
She sighed. "Still oniichan, it isn't nice."
"And who ever said I am nice?" Soujirou grinned mischievously.
Before Tsukushi could say anything further, they heard voices coming from one near corner down the corridor. She instantly froze.
However, Soujirou didn't see how she stiffened. He turned to look to where the deep voices were coming from. "I'll introduce you to my friends, Tsukushi."
Her eyes widened at his statement and she immediately felt panic freezing her on the spot. She racked her brain for another excuse.
Male voices and footsteps were coming nearer.
She has to run away. Now.
"I – I can't, Soujirou. I – Uh… I'm running late for class. See you around," Tsukushi hurriedly said then dashed towards the other end of the hall, away from Soujirou and the nearing voices.
Soujirou was left there, staring back at Tsukushi speechlessly. He was quite confused. 'Oh well. Tsukushi really IS a perfectionist student. Always has been,' he thought.
"Yo Soujirou," the familiar voice of Tsukasa echoed through the hallway. "You talking to someone? We heard another voice earlier—"
"Most probably another of Soujirou's latest chicks," Akira interrupted. "Is she the hot redhead you're eyeing earlier?"
"No." Soujirou shook his head. "Acutally, she's—"
"Are we going or not?" Rui butted in.
"Right. C'mon, let's all head down to The Pit. I'm hungry," Tsukasa said.
"It isn't even lunch time yet," Soujirou said, looking down at his watch.
"Your point?"
Soujirou shrugged.
***
It was already quarter to ten in the evening and the F4 didn't come back to school after heading to some bar-restaurant for lunch.
Rui, Tsukasa and Soujirou were watching Akira with fair amusement. Their friend was again on his tactics with a new woman in a sexy revealing red dress at the table on the far side of the room, across from theirs. The three watched as Akira made a toast with the woman, who was shamelessly wearing a gold band in her middle finger.
Tsukasa rolled his eyes. "I thought we're going to be complete tonight."
"We are complete Tsukasa," Soujirou said. Then added, "Well, earlier anyway."
"You should be used with Akira already," Rui commented before taking a sip from his margarita.
"Actually, I'm surprised Soujirou here hasn't followed Akira's steps yet," Tsukasa said.
"Hey, I resent that," Soujirou protested, frowning at Tsukasa.
"What? You deny going after women?"
"No. I deny going after MARRIED women," Soujirou corrected. "Told you I don't do them."
"Right. Big difference," Tsukasa muttered. He took a long drink from his tequila, not minding the burning taste down his throat.
"There is. Akira goes for older ones while I dig for the younger ones," Soujirou said. He leaned back on his chair, observing the crowd in the bar. Actually, he was looking for even just one good-looking lady that just might satisfy his needs for the night.
"Younger ones who have boyfriends," Tsukasa added.
"At least they're not married."
"Just committed."
"They're different."
"How?"
"A husband is legal while a boyfriend isn't. They're easier to dispose."
At that, Tsukasa shut up. He saw no point in trying to argue with the playboy who has his mind closed about relationships. Oh hell. All of them didn't have any stable relationship, except from Rui whose girlfriend was currently staying in France.
Tsukasa diverted his gaze to his silent friend. Rui was the most odd among them. He was the quiet one in the group. He rarely spoke and Tsukasa swore that there were some days wherein Rui hardly uttered a word at all. Tsukasa shook his head mentally. Due to his quietness, he was very secretive, hardly opened up to them and sometimes they even wouldn't know his problems if they wouldn't hear it from his family or his girlfriend. But Rui, even being the "autistic" guy that he is, was still their friend and a very loyal one at that. Even though he's mostly silent, he's very observant of the things around him. The rest of the F4 were grateful to have Rui around because he's usually the peacemaker of the group. With just one statement he could calm all of them down.
But Rui, even with his extreme silence, has a steady girlfriend, which none of them has. He often wondered how Rui and Shizuka were doing it. It must be quite agonizing for Rui too to be always missing his girlfriend. Long-distance relationship was something Tsukasa never liked.
Tsukasa then turned to Soujirou and was quite surprised to find his seat empty. His eyes automatically went to the bar stand. Lo and behold, there was Soujirou dazzling a pretty lady in a micro-miniskirt and backless top. 'Slut,' Tsukasa thought.
Though, he never voiced out thoughts like that in front of Soujirou and Akira. Those two might be the popular ladies' men and they may change on different women so quickly like they were choosing their wardrobes, but Tsukasa knew that they were still quite sensitive men under those deceitful cheerful masks they wear everyday.
Soujirou, being the eldest son, had the most pressure among the three Nishikado children. Tsukasa had met his friend's father and he could easily say that the man got great power and control, not only over his businesses but also over his family as well. Soujirou wasn't saying anything, but his friends knew the expectations and demands of his father. It wasn't clear whether Soujirou really wants to be the future owner of their corporations or not, for he was saying nothing about it.
Now Akira's story was entirely a different matter. Only the Mimasakas and the rest of the F4 knew of Akira's father's mistresses. Tsukasa could barely understand the old man. His wife, Akira's mother, was classically beautiful and very generous. But Tsukasa guessed it was her tremendous kindness and submissiveness that put her husband to bed other women. He, along with Rui and Soujirou, knew that Akira hates his father greatly for what he was doing. Based on that fact, however, Tsukasa couldn't learn to understand how come Akira was doing the same thing his father was doing, adultery.
Maybe Tsukasa would understand someday of the complexity of his friends. Or maybe he would never find out.
For Doumyouji Tsukasa believed that he lives a simple life. He eats everyday, lives in a mansion, has many maids obeying his every order, goes to school and cuts classes without any complaints from the professors, drives terribly cool wheels, sometimes has girls clinging in his arms too… Basically, he's grateful that he's wealthy, famous, feared, and attractive. What more could he ask for?
Well maybe for the company of his family who were rarely in Japan. His sister, newly married, moved to Los Angeles with her new husband and would probably live there for the rest of her life. Their father was somewhere in England and their mother was doing business in China, last time he heard anyway.
Like he cared.
'I don't,' Tsukasa assured himself. With that, he took a very long and straight drink from his glass, emptying it quickly.
Suddenly, loud voices were heard all over the bar. Everyone started to stare at the commotion involving none other than Akira himself.
Tsukasa sighed. Rui said nothing. Soujirou, who has just arrived back at their table, smirked.
"What the hell are you doing with my wife?!" the man, most probably in his forties, yelled at the very much composed Akira.
Akira looked at the jealous husband without any interest, as if expecting him to show up at any time soon that night. He then averted his gaze to the wife, who was staring at his raging husband with widened frightful eyes.
"Too bad your spouse finds out about us, honey. You won't get a taste of me," Akira drawled lazily.
"Bastard! She will never get a taste of you and neither will you." The man quickly swung his fist toward Akira. But Akira, being one of the notorious and most feared F4 (which obviously the man didn't know), was quick and reflexive. Another thing, he was used to these scenes so it is true to say that he was expecting the man's attack.
Akira quickly ducked low then hit the man hard in his stomach. The man doubled over, clutching his abdomen and had this astonished look in his face. Not wasting any second, Akira swung his knee to the man's face and swiftly sending a strong kick, throwing the man backwards and toppling over a nearby table.
"Mimasaka Akira," Akira said at the downed man. The man, hearing the name, widened his eyes in shock. "Don't ever forget that name."
Then Akira turned back to his friends' table but stopped when he saw them standing and watching him with serious expressions on their faces. He made a face. "What? You don't trust me enough to put that asshole down by myself?"
"Be grateful. We're just watching your back," Tsukasa said with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes scanning the staring crowd.
"Let's order more drinks," Akira suggested, noticing that their bottles and glasses were half empty.
The F4 sat around their table again, so very casually like nothing out of the ordinary happened. And everyone started to mind their own businesses again, just sending the four gorgeous guys discreet looks.
"By the way, your chick ran away when you and her husband started fighting," Soujirou said to Akira. He mentioned for the waiter to buy them more drinks.
"Like hell I care. I'm honestly disappointed to find her as bubbly as the girls you're dating Soujirou," Akira admitted.
But his friend just grinned. "Got a good time with that knuckle and knee in working?"
Akira laughed. "You said it."
"Well I'm disappointed too you know. I'm actually craving for some fists tonight myself," Tsukasa commented.
"You're all too violent," Rui said calmly.
The others laughed.
"Rui, we're just maintaining our reputation," Soujirou said with a mischievous smile. He waited for the waiter to fill his glass up with vodka then he took a sip.
"So people will know their places," Tsukasa added. He nodded towards his friends in a toast then brought the glass to his mouth.
"And people will never forget our names and faces too," Akira butted in.
Rui let out a rare smile. He put up his glass in the air and the other followed, their glasses touching each other and making a clink sound. "Cheers."
"To the victory of my fight earlier," Akira said.
"To every people in Japan fearing our names," Soujirou said, mocking a smug look.
"To the F4," Doumyouji simply put in.
They took their drinks.
***
Author's Notes:
Thanks so much for the reviews for the first chapter and for pointing out my mistakes. I'm grateful for them. You made me so happy. ^_^
Thanks to shirlynn, vic~vic~vic, fresh8, Rinoa223, amyza, peridotpearl, and Kousagi-chan!
Review more!