Author's note: Standard Disclaimers apply…I'd be rolling in money if I owned HYD but I'm not, so don't sue me!
Got another chapter out, Yay! I wonder if this one is any good. I don't think I'm that good at the lovey-dovey stuff I think I excel in torturing my characters. Thanks for the review guys it keeps me inspired and makes me want to get as many chapters done as I can so keep em coming.
********************************************************************************************
Hold me tightly
Chapter 4: Mei You Ni – Without You
Rui remained behind while his friends walked somberly back downstairs. Listening intently, he could have sworn he heard Doumyouji talking or more like arguing with someone inside the room. What surprised him more was that he thought he heard and all too familiar female voice arguing back.
Or maybe it was just his imagination. As crazy as Doumyouji might seem to the others a part of him wanted to believe Tsukasa. He wanted his friend, Tsukushi back.
Walking down towards the living room to join the others he realized how much Tsukushi had changed him, even Shizuka couldn't break through his icy demeanor like Tsukushi did. Her innocence and strength more than any else showed him how even though you experience hardships, as long as you are true to yourself then that's all that matters.
Standing by the door of the living area, Rui looked around at the group of friends. Yuki and Soujiro talking intimately on the window seat, Akira retelling the others stories about Tsukushi and Tsukasa, which left Shigeru rolling on the ground with laughter. Rui walked over to Shizuka and a rare smile appeared on his face as said to himself, 'I'm sure I'm not the only one that you changed Makino. Thank-you.'
********************************************************************************************
Tsukushi stood before her grave, the wind whipped her arms and legs but she felt nothing. She just couldn't believe that her body was lying in the ground. Her eyes lifted to the tombstone and her eyes widened with astonishment…
(Flashback)
'You're…real?!' repeated Tsukasa.
Tsukushi bowed her head low, 'I know its hard to understand but I'm really here.'
Tsukushi kept her head low as she pondered just how she was going to explain the situation to Tsukasa after all she hardly understood what was going on herself.
Doumyouji stood watching the person in front of him. She sure acted like Tsukushi; every time there was a problem she'd try to bear it all. And in those situations she always over-thought the situation when to him it was always so simple.
Scratching his head he wondered, So how do I 'rationalize' this situation? Chances are I'm just hallucinating again. 'Right except now your voices and invisible people were taking form,' he argued with himself. Well, if I am going crazy at least it's Tsukushi that I see and she's with me again like before.
A faraway look crossed Doumyouji's face. Snapping himself out of his daydream he tossed the towel in his hand to the nearby chair and made his way to the bed, not before picking up a few stray beer cans off the floor and emptying them in the bedside bin. He would never admit it but anything that Tsukushi simply asked of him he would do, even menial labor.
All the while Tsukushi was still pondering how she was going to tell Tsukasa what happened to her after she died. She was brought back to reality by Doumyouji's voice, 'So are you just going to stand there all day?'
'Huh? Oh…umm no.' she answered lamely as she sat across the bed from Doumyouji.
'Listen Doumyouji…'
Doumyouji suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace. Like before her entire body felt like it was on fire but this time she also felt sparks of electricity cut at her hands and face. Unable to take the pain much longer she quickly pulled away from Doumyouji, hoping he wouldn't take it the wrong way.
She checked herself over for bruises and cuts while Doumyouji sat quietly watching her. Confused and relieved that she wasn't visibly hurt she looked up to see Doumyouji staring at her.
'So why does it hurt when I touch you?' he asked casually.
Tsukushi sweat-dropped, 'If it hurt then why did you keep holding me?!'
'Because I wanted to. So are you going to explain what's going on here or not.'
Tsukushi sighed, 'There he goes again. It's always so easy for him, he could do something and not think about the consequences. When you're rich I guess there's no such thing as consequences?'
'It's hard to explain when I hardly know myself,' Tsukushi began when she realized Doumyouji was still waiting for her answer.
She began her recount of her encounter with Gabrielle, but made sure to leave out the part about Doumyouji half killing himself.
'Hmmm, Gabrielle? Archangels?' Doumyouji said unbelievingly when she had finished her story.
Leaning back into the bed, Doumyouji surveyed the girl before him intently.
Tsukushi blushed when she saw her boyfriend openly stare at her. Maybe he doesn't believe me…heck I wouldn't either. But how do I convince him.
Just then Yuki stepped into the room with a tray of food in her hands.
The others where probably tired of his mood swings and strange comments to volunteer to send up Doumyouji's food and good old Yuki accepted the task ungrudgingly.
It suddenly occurred to her.
Turning back to Tsukasa, who was still watching her with the utmost interest, 'Tsukasa ask Yuki how we meet each other. If she says that I found her hiding from some bullies in the girls toilets when we were in primary school then you'll know that's its really me. No one but Yuki and I know that story.'
Seeming unconvinced, Doumyouji faced Yuki as she placed the food on the table beside his bed, 'Yuki…'
'…Yes, Doumyouji-san?' she answered shakily after a pause
'How did you and Tsukushi meet?'
Yuki's eyes widened in shock but she soon regained her composure, it wasn't out of the ordinary that Doumyouji wanted to know more about Tsukushi now that she's…
'Well?!' Doumyouji interrupted her thoughts.
'Don't be such a brat! You'll scare her away.' Tsukuski yelled at him
Seeing a vein appear on Doumyouji's forehead Yuki quickly told the story about how Tsukushi had found her in the girl's toilets when they were 8 years old.
Laughing she added, 'You should have seen her race off when she heard what those bullies were doing to me. Tsukushi never told anyone that it was because of me that put those bullies in their place but from then on everyone avoided getting on Tsukushi bad side eventhough she was nice most of time.'
'So she was always violent then?…figures I could never get her to act lady-like if I tried.' Doumyouji added casting a side-ways glance at his girlfriend. He could almost feel the anger vibrate through the room, and knew the only reason she wasn't pummeling him right now apart from the pain she would inflict upon herself, was because her friend was in the room. This could be fun he thought to himself as he smiled mischievously.
'Well I'll leave you to your meal'
'No wait!' Doumyouji practically yelled he quickly calmed himself down and continued, 'What else can you tell me about Tsukushi?'
'I think that's enough for one day.' Tsukushi said as she got off the bed and walked over to Yuki, 'Don't think I don't know what you're up to Doumyouji Tsukasa.' She finished as she placed her hands on her hips.
'…Err actually you can tell me some other time, I'm kinda hungry now. You can leave' he said as he waved his hand to door.
After Yuki left, Tsukushi grabbed a pillow and threw it at Tsukasa's head hard, well as hard as you can throw a pillow.
'She's not your servant so don't treat her like one.'
Ignoring Tsukushi he said, 'Okay, I believe you I guess' he then began to inhale the food Yuki bought for him. It was cold and tasted undercooked, what kind of chef does Rui have here anyway?
'It's not half as nice as the food you made me.' He almost choked when he realized that he had just spoken that thought out loud.
Tsukushi though a little taken aback, smiled at him. A smile that left him breathless.
He was still sitting on the bed with a goofy smile on his face when Tsukushi said, 'What I still don't understand is why it hurts so much when we touch each other. I felt like I was being burned alive.'
'Its probably part of the deal, you know since you coming back unbalances the natural order of things.' He replied as he munched on his food.
Tsukushi eyes widened, 'You, might actually be a smart guy. I can't believe that never occurred to me.'
'Of course you wouldn't and was the 'might be' really necessary?' he retorted in an arrogant tone.
'Why you!' Tsukushi said as she tightened her fist.
Doumyouji's expression suddenly changed and he said, 'Besides, that pain,' he closed his eyes before continuing, 'was nothing compared to losing you. To hold your dying body in my arms, seeing your lifeless body in the coffin and watching as they lowered you into the ground.'
Tsukushi gulped, she hadn't realized that they had already buried her body. I guess the few brief moments with Gabrielle were much longer here in earth.
'How long was I…'
'5 days, 15 hours and 6 minutes,' he answered before she could finish, 'But every second without you felt like an eternity.' As he finished he moved towards Tsukushi.
'Doumyouji…' Tsukushi whispered as he moved his body closer to hers.
Doumyouji placed his hands on either side of Tsukushi. 'I'm trapped!' Tsukushi panicked. Looking up into his eyes, Tsukushi felt herself shiver, the intensity in his eyes were overwhelming. It was as though he was letting his soul bare for her to see.
"Tsukushi."
Tsukushi struggled to breathe regularly, her throat suddenly felt incredibly dry but she inhaled deeply and tried to sound as calm as she could as she said, "H…Hai, Doumyouji."
After what seemed like the longest few seconds in Tsukushi's entire life, Tsukasa inched closer to her face. With every hot breath she felt on her face she could feel her cheeks becoming hot also.
Tsukasa smiled that adorable smile of his, and Tsukushi felt her heart race, 'He's so handsome,' she thought to herself as a similar smile appeared on her face.
"I love…"
At those words Tsukushi felt her heart, that was a moment before racing a mile a minute stop.
Doumyouji kept that innocent smile on his face but internally he was laughing, he loved seeing the power he had over his girlfriend's emotions. Not that Tsukushi didn't have the same effect on him but he rarely saw her blush just by the close proximity of the bodies.
His smile changed to a mischievous one as he said, "I love…that dress."
Turning he lied down on the bed next to Tsukushi, and closed his eyes.
The seconds ticked past and Tsukushi remained silent. But slowly her face turned an even darker shade of red before she tightened her fist and punched her boyfriend squarely on the jaw sending him flying off the bed and onto the floor.
Tsukushi massaged her fist as she watched Tsukasa pick himself off the floor. 'Sure it hurts like hell but he deserved it,' Tsukushi said to herself as she folded her arms over her chest where too much skin was showing.
'And here I thought he was going to…' she shook her head angrily and fell back onto the bed.
Rubbing his jaw sheepishly, Doumyouji lied himself down beside Tsukushi. This is what he missed the most. They're routinely arguments and inevitable make-up afterwards of course he laughed to himself.
Tsukushi tried to sleep but she felt restless so after a few minutes of tossing and turning she decided to get up. She almost made it out of the bed when Doumyouji grabbed her arm.
She winced in pain and turned back to look at him.
'Don't go. Don't leave me alone again.'
Wriggling her hand out of his vice-like grasp she reassured him that she wasn't leaving him she just wanted to check on the others downstairs then she would come straight back up.
'So just get some rest ok?'
Doumyouji nodded in reply though he pouted as he closed his eyes.
'I love you Tsukushi'
'I love you too…Tsukasa' she watched as his pout was replaced with a child-like smile and she couldn't help but smile also, she never could stay angry with him.
(End flashback)
********************************************************************************************
Tsukushi kneeled in front of the white marble tombstone and as her fingers passed across the tombstone she read, 'Here lies…Doumyouji…Tsukushi…beloved wife, daughter and…friend'
Hearing someone approaching from Rui's house she turned and saw Rui himself approaching her.
********************************************************************************************
Author's note: Thanks guys so much. Sorry if I didn't mention you some of you guys earlier but it sometimes takes the fanfiction site a while to upload the review but luckily I checked my mail and wow people actually like my stuff which is still a shocker. I'm especially flattered when I get comments from Cuppajava cause I adore her work. But I like to hear from all of you so thank-you for taking time to review my story. Did you think this chapter was ok? Or are you guys losing interest.
Zackire: * laughs * keep reading you'll see what happens
Black Armoria: Hey, how are you? I'm so flattered that you're so interested in my story, Thank-you! I absolutely agree with you TXT are the best couple…but you never know what's around the corner. I'm evil I know.
Lovedoves: Hi! I'm always glad to hear from new people. As for your comments you'll have to wait and see like everyone else J
XxSwtDreamerxX: I agree completely, Rui and Tsukushi have a special bond I even added a little monologue by Rui at the beginning because of your comment, it was much shorter before. :P
Purebloodwitch: I have so many ppl crying in my reviews, guess I better give you guys some fluff and comedy in the next few ones.
Yumez: *laughs * well that's the way it should be but I couldn't resist Tsukushi beating up Tsukasa the image was just too funny to give up. I hope it didn't come across too as being to lame.
CoRal-bLuZ: Thanks, I'm so glad you like my fanfic and I hope this chapter keeps you entertained until my next installation.
Deserted: *blushes * I'm gonna get a big head if you guys keep complimenting me. But please review this one I have a feeling that it won't go down as well as my other chapters. This one was hard to write and didn't exactly end up the way I wanted but I did my best.
Syvonair: Thank-you for reviewing my 2nd chapter and there's no need to apologize * laughs *.
Bee Bop: Here's another chapter for you : )