Disclaimer: I do not own Hana Yori Dango.
Chapter 18: As Yuki Says Goodbye
To: m_tsukushi@hotmail.com
Fm: matsuoka_yuki@yahoo.com
Dear Tsukushi,
Greetings from Canada! I just wanted to drop you a line to let you
know that I'm doing fine here. Ever since my arrival a week ago, I've
been pretty busy, enrolling at my new university and looking for a new
job. You have no idea how happy Ma and Pa are now that I've finally
given in to their wishes. Toronto is beautiful, but I still think
it's nothing compared to Tokyo. I'm trying to get by despite the
language barrier (I've signed up for classes in both English and
French), but other than that I'm fine. I do miss you and Kazuya
though. Maybe you guys can visit me here someday.
How are you and the band doing? Please don't forget to say hi to the
guys for me, especially Jiro. I hope you all are doing well.
I really have to go now. I'll write again as soon as I get settled in
my new life here. Take care always.
Love, Yuki
Tsukushi gave out a sad sigh as she leaned back on her chair at the internet café after reading Yuki's e-mail. Her friend had left a week ago to join her family in Canada, and she sorely missed her. Her mind flew back to three weeks ago, when Yuki first informed her of her decision to leave.
:: flashback ::
"Hey, Kushi, guess what?" Yuki tried to muster a weak smile as she pulled Tsukushi aside. It was the second week of the band's three-month run at Frenzy, and as usual, Tsukushi went to the club before it opened for the night, so she'd have time to catch up with Yuki and Kazuya.
"What is it?"
"I'm leaving for Canada in a couple of weeks."
"What?!"
"I said, I'm leaving for Canada in two weeks."
"I heard what you said. But why? Didn't you just tell me recently that you were planning to stay put here in Japan for the meantime? You said you're still having too much fun here," she said almost accusingly.
Yuki shrugged as she smiled wistfully. "Maybe the fun just ran out."
Tsukushi narrowed her eyes as she spoke. "Does this have anything to do with Soujiro? Did that jerk do something to you?"
"No, no, Tsukushi," Yuki shook her head vehemently. "Don't blame Jiro. He was nothing but a gentleman to me." Yeah, every bit the gentleman, she thought bitterly. Like the gentleman he is, he politely turned me down even after I practically threw myself at him and offered him my virginity the other night. "Look, Jiro has nothing to do with my decision to leave. My father has gotten fed up with all my excuses for wanting to stay here and has threatened to come here himself and haul me bodily to the plane." She threw up her hands in the air. "It's not like I have a choice."
"Oh Yuki," Tsukushi embraced her friend sympathetically. "You know I'm gonna miss you, don't you?" she asked as she broke the embrace. She had gotten teary-eyed at the thought of losing one of the very few true friends she had.
Yuki tried to make light of the situation by tugging playfully at Tsukushi's ponytail. "Stop it. You're making it sound like I'm gonna die," she said in a shaky voice as she smiled through the tears that had made their way down her face. "It's just a plane ride away. Who knows, maybe you can visit me there soon. Or maybe I can come back here for a visit."
"Yeah," Tsukushi sniffed. "And we can always keep in touch via e-mail and phone calls." Tsukushi didn't completely believe Yuki's explanation that Jiro didn't have anything to do with her decision to leave suddenly. The sad look in her eyes and the way she avoided Soujiro that night told her otherwise. One way or another, her playboy band mate had hurt her friend. And this belief caused Tsukushi to give Jiro the silent treatment. From that night, she only spoke to him whenever necessary.
Soujiro noticed Tsukushi's sudden coldness towards him and knew Yuki must have told her something about what happened between them. However, he kept his silence and hoped Tsukushi would eventually understand why he did what he did.
It wasn't only Soujiro who noticed. Yuki noticed it too and asked her about it the following week. "Hey," she began as she pulled Tsukushi to the restroom. "What's up? Why are you ignoring Jiro?"
"For the same reason you're ignoring him, Yuki. Look, I know he hurt you, even if you deny it. I can sense it because you go out of your way to avoid him. He hurt you and I hate him for that."
"Oh Kushi," Yuki sighed. "You've got it all wrong." Tsukushi still didn't believe her, she could tell by the look on her face. "Okay, you're right, he hurt me. But not in the way you think." She took a deep breath and braced herself for what was to come. She had hoped to keep the whole story to herself because she was so ashamed, but now she saw it was necessary to let Tsukushi know what happened. She couldn't have her condemning Jiro because of her misplaced beliefs.
"Jiro and I went out on a date the night my father had forced me to finally give in to their wishes. I informed him about it. He was saddened but he told me that he understood. When he brought me back to my house that night, we kissed. Things got pretty hot and heavy," Yuki blushed at the memory. "But just like all the other times before, he pulled away before we got carried away. I got mad and asked him why. Wasn't I woman enough to satisfy him just like all his other girlfriends before me? He said I was special, and he respected me. Maybe it was the thought of leaving him soon that drove me crazy. I asked, no, demanded that he treat me just like all his other girlfriends. I wanted him, Kushi. I practically threw myself at him and told him I wanted the 'full service,''' she laughed humorlessly. "Would you believe it? And he turned me down. He told me I deserved someone better than him, someone who didn't slip in and out of relationships week after week. He broke off with me that night. Said I'd thank him later, when I finally found the right guy for me." Yuki exhaled noisily as she leaned back on the cold tile wall of the ladies' room. "So there. Jiro did hurt me, but not in the way you thought. I guess I really ought to be thankful he didn't take advantage of me that night."
Tsukushi, who had been listening quietly all this time, went to her friend and gathered her in her arms. "Oh Yuki. I'm so sorry." And she held Yuki for the next few minutes as the other girl sobbed in her arms.
When the sobs had subsided, she helped Yuki fix herself up, before they left the ladies' room. She sat back down at the table her band mates occupied, and Yuki, whose shift had already ended, bade her good night.
At the table, Jiro, who was seated beside her, asked her softly, "Is she okay?"
For the first time that week, Tsukushi looked him in the eye and nodded. "She'll be okay." In a way, even though Soujiro did hurt Yuki, she was glad he did it because he didn't want to take advantage of her. He did it to prevent her from getting more hurt later. He was right. Someday, when Yuki found the right guy for her, she would thank him.
On the morning of Yuki's flight to Canada, Tsukushi and Kazuya were there at the airport to see her off. As Kazuya was hugging Yuki and bidding her a tearful goodbye, Tsukushi spotted a familiar figure standing behind a pillar, doing his best not to be seen. Soujiro did not notice that he too, was being observed, as he watched Yuki walk off into the cordoned Immigration area after waving goodbye to her friends.
:: end of flashback ::
A glance at her watch showed Tsukushi that her lunch break was almost over. She left the internet café and walked back to the record bar, her mind still on Yuki and Jiro, and how sad it was that things couldn't work out for them.
*******************
A/N: Did this chapter confuse you? LOL, don't worry, I got pretty lost too while I was writing Yuki's and Jiro's break-up story. Not sure if I made much sense there. Bottom line though is Yuki had to leave. It's necessary to my plot, you'll find out later.
I'll be taking a break from writing this story for a couple of weeks or so (might be even longer if my husband pushes through with his vacation this month). I need to go back and reassess the story and figure out where I want it to go. Hope you'll all still be here when I get back. ^_^
ToinKs: Congratulations for being the only one on this site to guess where I got last chap's ramen scene, hahaha! Oh, and if it's Jerry you've been imagining instead of Tsukasa, that means my writing is effective, LOL. Kasi it's also Jerry I'm thinking of when writing, hehehe!
inasakuramoon: Hey there! Welcome aboard and thanks for reading.
Shopps: Hi! Haven't heard from you in a long time. Thanks for your kind words! I'm glad you're still reading this.
Sailor Angie: Hey Angie! As always, I knew I could count on your reviews to bring a smile to my face, although you overpraise me, haha. Yes, this'll definitely go beyond 20 chapters 'cause I still have so many ideas for this story, I just need to take some time to organize them in my head. I knew you'd like the last chapter (about the gig) 'cause I put in lots of T&T moments in there. Thanks for your continued support of this fic. Needless to say, you're one of those people whose reviews I count on for inspiration and insight.
XxSwtDreamerxX1: Girl, you really flatter me! I'm so glad you re-read the last chap. Oh, and this is extremely belated but a big, big thanks to you for re-reading my first fic some months back. I read your review 'bout that but I never got to reply to it. Thanks again.
Otakuchique: LOL, Tsukasa's sneaky in the manga and anime? I think that's the first time I've heard him described as such. He always came across to me as a clueless, arrogant idiot... although I didn't have the heart to write him that way in this story. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
cherub girl: I'm glad you liked the song! Thanks for your encouraging words, and I hope I manage to keep your interest.
cristine mae: Aw, na-flatter naman ako. Thanks for checking ff.net regularly for my updates. I'm glad you liked the last two chapters.
See you all next update! Hope you wont forget me, LOL!
Chapter 18: As Yuki Says Goodbye
To: m_tsukushi@hotmail.com
Fm: matsuoka_yuki@yahoo.com
Dear Tsukushi,
Greetings from Canada! I just wanted to drop you a line to let you
know that I'm doing fine here. Ever since my arrival a week ago, I've
been pretty busy, enrolling at my new university and looking for a new
job. You have no idea how happy Ma and Pa are now that I've finally
given in to their wishes. Toronto is beautiful, but I still think
it's nothing compared to Tokyo. I'm trying to get by despite the
language barrier (I've signed up for classes in both English and
French), but other than that I'm fine. I do miss you and Kazuya
though. Maybe you guys can visit me here someday.
How are you and the band doing? Please don't forget to say hi to the
guys for me, especially Jiro. I hope you all are doing well.
I really have to go now. I'll write again as soon as I get settled in
my new life here. Take care always.
Love, Yuki
Tsukushi gave out a sad sigh as she leaned back on her chair at the internet café after reading Yuki's e-mail. Her friend had left a week ago to join her family in Canada, and she sorely missed her. Her mind flew back to three weeks ago, when Yuki first informed her of her decision to leave.
:: flashback ::
"Hey, Kushi, guess what?" Yuki tried to muster a weak smile as she pulled Tsukushi aside. It was the second week of the band's three-month run at Frenzy, and as usual, Tsukushi went to the club before it opened for the night, so she'd have time to catch up with Yuki and Kazuya.
"What is it?"
"I'm leaving for Canada in a couple of weeks."
"What?!"
"I said, I'm leaving for Canada in two weeks."
"I heard what you said. But why? Didn't you just tell me recently that you were planning to stay put here in Japan for the meantime? You said you're still having too much fun here," she said almost accusingly.
Yuki shrugged as she smiled wistfully. "Maybe the fun just ran out."
Tsukushi narrowed her eyes as she spoke. "Does this have anything to do with Soujiro? Did that jerk do something to you?"
"No, no, Tsukushi," Yuki shook her head vehemently. "Don't blame Jiro. He was nothing but a gentleman to me." Yeah, every bit the gentleman, she thought bitterly. Like the gentleman he is, he politely turned me down even after I practically threw myself at him and offered him my virginity the other night. "Look, Jiro has nothing to do with my decision to leave. My father has gotten fed up with all my excuses for wanting to stay here and has threatened to come here himself and haul me bodily to the plane." She threw up her hands in the air. "It's not like I have a choice."
"Oh Yuki," Tsukushi embraced her friend sympathetically. "You know I'm gonna miss you, don't you?" she asked as she broke the embrace. She had gotten teary-eyed at the thought of losing one of the very few true friends she had.
Yuki tried to make light of the situation by tugging playfully at Tsukushi's ponytail. "Stop it. You're making it sound like I'm gonna die," she said in a shaky voice as she smiled through the tears that had made their way down her face. "It's just a plane ride away. Who knows, maybe you can visit me there soon. Or maybe I can come back here for a visit."
"Yeah," Tsukushi sniffed. "And we can always keep in touch via e-mail and phone calls." Tsukushi didn't completely believe Yuki's explanation that Jiro didn't have anything to do with her decision to leave suddenly. The sad look in her eyes and the way she avoided Soujiro that night told her otherwise. One way or another, her playboy band mate had hurt her friend. And this belief caused Tsukushi to give Jiro the silent treatment. From that night, she only spoke to him whenever necessary.
Soujiro noticed Tsukushi's sudden coldness towards him and knew Yuki must have told her something about what happened between them. However, he kept his silence and hoped Tsukushi would eventually understand why he did what he did.
It wasn't only Soujiro who noticed. Yuki noticed it too and asked her about it the following week. "Hey," she began as she pulled Tsukushi to the restroom. "What's up? Why are you ignoring Jiro?"
"For the same reason you're ignoring him, Yuki. Look, I know he hurt you, even if you deny it. I can sense it because you go out of your way to avoid him. He hurt you and I hate him for that."
"Oh Kushi," Yuki sighed. "You've got it all wrong." Tsukushi still didn't believe her, she could tell by the look on her face. "Okay, you're right, he hurt me. But not in the way you think." She took a deep breath and braced herself for what was to come. She had hoped to keep the whole story to herself because she was so ashamed, but now she saw it was necessary to let Tsukushi know what happened. She couldn't have her condemning Jiro because of her misplaced beliefs.
"Jiro and I went out on a date the night my father had forced me to finally give in to their wishes. I informed him about it. He was saddened but he told me that he understood. When he brought me back to my house that night, we kissed. Things got pretty hot and heavy," Yuki blushed at the memory. "But just like all the other times before, he pulled away before we got carried away. I got mad and asked him why. Wasn't I woman enough to satisfy him just like all his other girlfriends before me? He said I was special, and he respected me. Maybe it was the thought of leaving him soon that drove me crazy. I asked, no, demanded that he treat me just like all his other girlfriends. I wanted him, Kushi. I practically threw myself at him and told him I wanted the 'full service,''' she laughed humorlessly. "Would you believe it? And he turned me down. He told me I deserved someone better than him, someone who didn't slip in and out of relationships week after week. He broke off with me that night. Said I'd thank him later, when I finally found the right guy for me." Yuki exhaled noisily as she leaned back on the cold tile wall of the ladies' room. "So there. Jiro did hurt me, but not in the way you thought. I guess I really ought to be thankful he didn't take advantage of me that night."
Tsukushi, who had been listening quietly all this time, went to her friend and gathered her in her arms. "Oh Yuki. I'm so sorry." And she held Yuki for the next few minutes as the other girl sobbed in her arms.
When the sobs had subsided, she helped Yuki fix herself up, before they left the ladies' room. She sat back down at the table her band mates occupied, and Yuki, whose shift had already ended, bade her good night.
At the table, Jiro, who was seated beside her, asked her softly, "Is she okay?"
For the first time that week, Tsukushi looked him in the eye and nodded. "She'll be okay." In a way, even though Soujiro did hurt Yuki, she was glad he did it because he didn't want to take advantage of her. He did it to prevent her from getting more hurt later. He was right. Someday, when Yuki found the right guy for her, she would thank him.
On the morning of Yuki's flight to Canada, Tsukushi and Kazuya were there at the airport to see her off. As Kazuya was hugging Yuki and bidding her a tearful goodbye, Tsukushi spotted a familiar figure standing behind a pillar, doing his best not to be seen. Soujiro did not notice that he too, was being observed, as he watched Yuki walk off into the cordoned Immigration area after waving goodbye to her friends.
:: end of flashback ::
A glance at her watch showed Tsukushi that her lunch break was almost over. She left the internet café and walked back to the record bar, her mind still on Yuki and Jiro, and how sad it was that things couldn't work out for them.
*******************
A/N: Did this chapter confuse you? LOL, don't worry, I got pretty lost too while I was writing Yuki's and Jiro's break-up story. Not sure if I made much sense there. Bottom line though is Yuki had to leave. It's necessary to my plot, you'll find out later.
I'll be taking a break from writing this story for a couple of weeks or so (might be even longer if my husband pushes through with his vacation this month). I need to go back and reassess the story and figure out where I want it to go. Hope you'll all still be here when I get back. ^_^
ToinKs: Congratulations for being the only one on this site to guess where I got last chap's ramen scene, hahaha! Oh, and if it's Jerry you've been imagining instead of Tsukasa, that means my writing is effective, LOL. Kasi it's also Jerry I'm thinking of when writing, hehehe!
inasakuramoon: Hey there! Welcome aboard and thanks for reading.
Shopps: Hi! Haven't heard from you in a long time. Thanks for your kind words! I'm glad you're still reading this.
Sailor Angie: Hey Angie! As always, I knew I could count on your reviews to bring a smile to my face, although you overpraise me, haha. Yes, this'll definitely go beyond 20 chapters 'cause I still have so many ideas for this story, I just need to take some time to organize them in my head. I knew you'd like the last chapter (about the gig) 'cause I put in lots of T&T moments in there. Thanks for your continued support of this fic. Needless to say, you're one of those people whose reviews I count on for inspiration and insight.
XxSwtDreamerxX1: Girl, you really flatter me! I'm so glad you re-read the last chap. Oh, and this is extremely belated but a big, big thanks to you for re-reading my first fic some months back. I read your review 'bout that but I never got to reply to it. Thanks again.
Otakuchique: LOL, Tsukasa's sneaky in the manga and anime? I think that's the first time I've heard him described as such. He always came across to me as a clueless, arrogant idiot... although I didn't have the heart to write him that way in this story. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
cherub girl: I'm glad you liked the song! Thanks for your encouraging words, and I hope I manage to keep your interest.
cristine mae: Aw, na-flatter naman ako. Thanks for checking ff.net regularly for my updates. I'm glad you liked the last two chapters.
See you all next update! Hope you wont forget me, LOL!