Part II: The Morning After

Chapter IX: Graduation II

"Hanazawa Rui..." Tsukushi whispered.

Rui walked down the aisle. He stopped when he reached the stage which was three feet above ground. He raised his right foot and stepped on the edge of the platform. A hand reached out in front of him. Rui looked up and saw Tsukasa grinning. Rui clasped Tsukasa's forearm with his own, Tsukasa did likewise and pulled Rui up.

The principal cleared his throat, "Ahem. Now that everyone's here, let me present to you the graduating class of 1997."

The audience applauded. "Please wait for the graduates in the courtyard. They will be out shortly."

While the audience was filtering out, the graduates talked on stage. The girls wanted to talk to the F4 but they didn't dare. It was an unwritten rule that if the F4 were together then you couldn't talk to them.

This began four years ago, a few weeks after the beginning of the school year. One of Soujiro's fans approached him in the cafeteria, where he was sitting with Rui, Akira, and Tsukasa. She brought him home made cake. She was so nervous and focused on Soujiro that she didn't even notice Tsukasa coming up next to her. If she did she might have avoided the embarrassment. Tsukasa grabbed her cake, opened it and dumped it on her head. She looked up at Tsukasa, shocked that he did such a thing.

"I'm sorry," Soujiro said. The girl turned around to see Soujiro looking at her pityingly. "We don't like to be disturbed when we're together."

"Leave." Tsukasa said. His frigid tone sent chills down her spine. She looked into his eyes and wished she hadn't. They seemed to stare through her soul. She scrambled out of the cafeteria, leaving a trail of cake crumbs. There were mixed reactions from the onlookers. Most of the girls thought she deserved it for trying to approach the esteemed F4; the men looked on with pity. No one dared oppose the F4. Everyone knew that the F4 had the power to hurt them, both financially and socially.

The girl transferred out of school the next day, both terrified and humiliated. Ever since then no one else has dared approach the F4, especially when Tsukasa was there. Overtime the girls learned that Soujiro and Akira would always respond to advances, Rui would walk away and Tsukasa was the one to stay away from. Approaching him only had one result: to be red tagged. But there would always be a couple girls each year, foolish enough to think they could be THE one. Who would've thought that it would be a dirt poor girl that Tsukasa fell in love with?

However, there were still three eligible bachelors. Rui didn't show up with Shizuka. The girls wanted to ask him so many questions though they stayed where they were, content at eavesdropping.

"I thought you weren't going to come back for graduation," said Akira.

Rui shrugged, "It was a last minute thing."

"How long are you staying?"

"Permanently."

Akira and Soujiro exchanged looks. There was a lot more to this, but they didn't want to ask with so many people listening in.

"Why the hell not?! Did something happen between you and Shizuka?"

Soujiro and Akira face vaulted. Trust Tsukasa to be candid. He doesn't know the art of subtlety. Ever since they were kids Tsukasa never beat around the bush. What he wanted, he always went after. It was both an admiring trait and an exasperating one.

"Nothing happened. I just left."

Tsukasa opened his mouth to ask for more details but Soujiro placed a hand on his chest. "Let's talk about this later." Soujiro eyed the crowd. Tsukasa followed his gaze and saw everyone staring at them.

"What the hell are you looking at?!?" Everyone instantly averted their gaze and quickly started their own conversations.

"Graduates, you can go now," said the principal.

Everyone walked out to take pictures with friends and family. The F4 left through another exit to avoid the crowd. There was no need for them to take pictures. A graduation celebration ball was already scheduled for the evening by the F4. There would be plenty of time for pictures then.

When the F4 got outside, Tsukushi, Shigeru, Yuki and Sakurago were already waiting for them.

"Congratulations," the four girls said.

Soujiro grinned and said "Thank you," for everyone.

Tsukushi looked at Rui. What should she say? She wanted to know why she was back but she didn't want to pry, so she said the only thing that came to mind. "Welcome back Rui."

Rui looked her in the eyes, his expression softened. "Tadaima (I'm back)." (AN: It didn't seem right to say I'm back in English.)

"Where is Shizuka-sempai?" Sakurago asked.

"In France."

"When are you planning on going back?" Shigeru asked.

"I'm not." Like before, Rui didn't explain. The air was thick with tension.

Sakurago, oblivious to it, opened her mouth to ask more about his relationship with Shizuka. Soujiro stopped her by saying, "So where are we going?"

"How about the amusement park?" Tsukushi immediately suggested.

"That's a great idea," Shigeru said, "Let's go."

They got into the stretch limo that was waiting for them. Yuki looked around, amazed. This was the first time she got into a limo. There were refreshments and an entertainment center.

It wasn't Tsukushi's first time in a limo. Being with the F4, it was their popular means of transportation when they were together. "I can't believe we're going to the amusement park in a limo." Tsukushi was exasperated. They were always flaunting their wealth.

"What else would we go in? Of course we arrive in style."

Of course, Tsukushi rolled her eyes. She expected that kind of answer. And of course they would never consider walking. It was only a 30-minute walk. She didn't even dare suggest it, knowing that they would be appalled by the notion. After all, why walk when there's a car, especially when it's a limo. That's what they would probably say.

"I can't believe they made me sit through that," Tsukasa said in an indignant tone. "The speakers were as boring as hell."

"I'm just glad we decided not to wear the school uniforms," said Soujiro, "Akira and I were considering it this morning, but we opted not to."

Tsukasa scoffed, "I'll never wear that ugly thing. Nobody can make me."

Tsukushi was suddenly disappointed, although she tried to not show it. She always wanted a normal relationship, meaning a uniform date. To her it was sweet and NORMAL. Inwardly she sighed. She knew what she was getting into when she started dating him. Tsukasa would never be normal. And, she supposed, that was one of the reasons why she loved him. Still, she liked the illusion that they were a normal couple, doing normal things like going on dates and calling each other at night, not going to balls and riding in limos. She looked at everyone, and realized that she was the only one uncomfortable. Yuki was also amazed by the limo but she didn't feel uncomfortable, probably because she was too surprised. And she was also kept occupied by Nishikado-san.

It was then that she understood that what she wanted in a relationship wasn't really normal, at least not in their world. What she wanted was what she was used to. How she wished she were back in the cruise. She looked down at her left hand. The gold ring shined brightly in her eyes. How was she going to fit in their world? Taking special classes wasn't going to change who she was, a girl with no wealth or social status.

Tsukushi mentally shook herself. There was no point in regretting a decision she had consciously made. She turned her attention to Rui. He was staring outside the window. He didn't appear to follow the conversation. He had a far away look. Tsukushi wondered what had happened in France. When Shizuka came to pick him up he was so happy. It seemed like such a fairy tale ending. Now he was withdrawn, like he used to be. What had happened?

Before Tsukushi ponder further, the limo stopped. Tsukushi got out last. Tsukasa held out a hand to help her out. The gold rings in their hands clinked, and although faint she felt oddly reassured by the sound. She could conquer her fears and banish her doubts as long as he loved and supported her.

Yay! I finally got a chapter out. o.O the suspense! What happened between Rui and Shizuka in Paris? And how will Rui's homecoming affect Tsukushi's and Tsukasa's relationship? Review! All criticisms are welcome, of course I prefer positive ones