Summary: AU of HYD. Tsukushi, Tsukasa and Tsubaki are siblings. Tsubaki the eldest, Tsukasa the middle, and Tsukushi the youngest. Tsukasa has always been jealous of his younger sister, for some reasons.
A/n: Don't expect me to update fast after this one since, like all other football crazed fan all over the world, I'm watching the cup. GO BRAZIL! 2006 World Cup Germany: A Time to Make Friends. Then, after world cup finishes, don't expect me to update fast as well, as I gotta study for a make up exam, damn molecular genetics.
Chapter 9
"What does my heart say?" asked Akira. "I don't know, kaa-san."
"I mean, Tsukushi's different. Yes, totally different," continued Akira. "She's unlike my mateur women, she's fresh."
"Fresh?" asked Mrs. Mimasaka. "As in?"
"As in, she's experienced, but virginal, yea, that's it," answered Akira. "But, she's, I don't know, I seem to see her in quite a few different lights."
"How?" asked Mrs. Mimasaka.
"When I first met her, she was with her parents, and I was with the F3, she was this sweet girl, all smiley, very polite, a typical obedient daughter," Akira started. "You could see that her parents really love her."
Mrs. Mimasaka nodded, and motioned Akira to continue.
"Next, I saw her with the rest of the F3, we kidnapped her from Eirin. Tsukasa was mad at us and her, and he yelled at her, and she, the smiley obedient girl, yelled back at him," Akira continued. "She walked out of Starbucks, despite the fact that she can't really speak Japanese!"
"Okay, so, she's not really that obedient girl that you thought, eh?" asked Mrs. Mimasaka.
"Yes. Rui walked out to make sure she didn't stray all that far, I guess, I don't know, but basically he had a day out with her, and according to him, she's a typical female, fun to be around, and loves to walk," answered Akira.
"Rui also mentioned she look great in halter tops and short skirts," chuckled Akira. "I guess they went shopping."
"You haven't brought me and your sisters shopping for ages," pouted Mrs. Mimasaka.
Akira glared, Mrs. Mimasaka smiled and said, "Continue,"
"Third time I met her was at the children's park. I don't remember what she wore, and it seems that I burst her nice solitude," continued Akira. "She was thinking of the future, of who she would be with one day, of her life."
"I told her, at 16, she's too young to find love, and that damn chit actually turned the tables at me, when she said, at 17, I'm too young to screw around!" Akira finished.
"And?" prodded Mrs. Mimasaka.
"Well, I told her, I don't know whether I should cobble her or kiss her, and she, that chit, actually flirted with me!" answered Akira. "And it's all flirtation, she was seducing me, mother!"
"Ok, so you kissed, and after that, what happened?" asked Mrs. Mimasaka.
"Nothing, we made out the night away, only kissing happened, intense kissing, until I sent her to the Domyouji mansion at the wee hours of the morning," answered Akira.
"But I never expected Tsukasa to witness me playing tonsil-hockey with his sister," continued Akira. "He was very furious. He was acting like this protective brother, when all of us knew he harbor a grudge against Tsukushi."
"Soujiro mentioned that to him, and then, Tsukasa told us, me, about Tsukushi choosing me,"
"Choosing?" asked Mrs. Mimasaka. "Explain a bit on that, please, Aki-chan."
"Well, Tsukushi's marriage is not going to be arranged, kaa-san, but it would please Domyouji Kaede if she choose someone of our background," Akira explained. "And according to Tsukasa, she chose me."
"Ok, and then, did you meet Tsukushi again?" asked Mrs. Mimasaka.
"Yes, she was with her best friend and ex-flatmate, Amakusa Senosuke," answered Akira.
"Amakusa Senosuke?" asked Mrs. Mimasaka. "The son of that politician, and member of the Amakusa Group Clan?"
"Maybe, he goes to Eirin too," answered Akira. "And his marriage is arranged already too."
"This time, Tsukushi's very cute, she teases us, teases him about missing her, I would consider her behaviour with her best friend flirty, but not seducing," continued Akira. "And I think Amakusa knew about me kissing her, because he asked me, 'Mimasaka, what do you think of 'my' Kushi?'."
"What do you feel when you saw her being cozy with her ex-flatmate?" asked Mrs. Mimasaka.
"I don't know. If she was my girlfriend, then, I'd say I'm jealous. I guess, due to my ego, I told her I get pretty bored easily with younger girls," answered Akira. "That did it. She took her things and stomped out, and again, Rui went to catch up with her."
"Did any of the F3 comment on this?" asked Mrs. Mimasaka.
"Yes, Tsukasa, despite hating her, said that I shouldn't have said that, and Rui told me that she clearly has feelings for me," answered Akira. "What do you think?"
"I think, she may have some feelings for you, I don't know, but are you sure Rui doesn't have feelings for her?" asked Mrs. Mimasaka.
"I don't know about Rui," answered Akira.
Hanazawa Mansion
Hanazawa Reiji just got a phonecall from Todou Aki of Todou Enterprises.
"It seems that, the plan to arrange my daughter's marriage to your son has to be vetoed out, Reiji," said Todou Aki.
"Why is that, Aki?" asked Mr. Hanazawa Reiji.
"My daughter went and married one of her modelling friends in France!" answered Mr. Todou Aki. "She married a gaijin."
"Then, why aren't you doing anything about it?" asked Mr. Hanazawa angrily.
"That girl insisted that I can't do anything about it, she says she's pregnant," answered Mr. Todou. "I'm sorry, Reiji."
After the phonecall, Mr. Hanazawa was just, stunned.
Rui pondered about him and Tsukushi. What does he really feel about Tsukushi, is it crush or something like that, or is it just a brotherly affection? He didn't know.
"Shizuka's still in France," he said to himself.
Sure, he loves Shizuka, he still does. Speaking of Shizuka, it's been a while since he heard from her.
Just as he was about to call Shizuka, an unidentified number called him.
"Moshi moshi," he said, as soon as he picked up the phone.
"Rui?" asked the person in the phone. "It's Shizuka."
"Hey, Shizuka," answered Rui. "How are you?"
"I'm married!" replied Shizuka, happily. "It was spontaneous, I met him, and it was love at first sight for both of us!"
"Well, congratulations," Rui offered, controlling his voice as to not sound so shocked about Shizuka's sudden nuptial.
"I hope you can come here when I give birth, Rui, I'm pregnant," Shizuka dropped the bomb.
"Double congratulations, then," answered Rui. "Well, I can't promise you, but I'll try to make it to Paris when you are about to give birth."
"Thank you, Rui, you'll always be my good friend, hey, my husband's calling me, talk to you soon," said Shizuka and hung up.
Rui dropped the phone. Shizuka's married! To make matters worse, she's pregnant!
Meanwhile, in the Amakusa household, Kin was having problems with Akiko as well.
"Yes, Akiko, I don't have feelings for Tsukushi," Kin told her on the phone, after repeatedly assuring her about earlier that day.
"But, Senosuke, Yuri saw you and Tsukushi holding hands!" muttered Akiko.
"Yes, your friend saw us holding hands, I did hold her hand, but more like hold her arm, we didn't lace our fingers or anything," Kin assured her. "Tsukushi and I have a platonic relationship."
"Look, Akiko, in a relationship, the trust should be there," continued Kin. "Even if you don't trust Kushi, you should trust me, do you?"
"Of course, I do, Senosuke," answered Akiko. "But I don't know why I don't trust you with Kushi."
"Then, would you trust me if I tell you Kushi likes one of her brother's friends?" asked Kin.
"Really?" asked Akiko, a bit hopeful now.
"Yes, she told me about it, and she's sad, that's why I dragged her out of school just now," answered Kin.
"Senosuke, call me 'koi'," said Akiko suddenly.
"What?" asked Kin, who's so surprised that Akiko asked him to call her that. Hesitatation was evident in the tone of his voice.
"You are not ready, are you?" asked Akiko. "I thought you love me."
"I do," answered Kin. "I love you, and I trust you to believe in me, even though I don't really say a lot of sweet things to you."
Frustrated, Kin told her, "Listen, Akiko, how long have we been seeing each other and know each other after knowing about this arranged marriage thing?"
"why, since our childhood," answered Akiko.
"When did you become friends with Shimizu Yuri?" asked Kin.
"Almost the same time," answered Akiko.
"No, Akiko, you met me before you met Shimizu," replied Kin. "I am your fiance, Akiko"
Kin sighed. He's tired. Akiko's never been like this before. She's so jealous of Tsukushi.
'I guess hearing about the female best friend is very different from actually seeing the female best friend,' he thought.
'But seriously, what do I feel about Tsukushi?' he asked himself. 'Am I also trying to make myself believe I don't feel anything by telling Akiko that?'
Tsukushi was lounging in her private sitting room when one of her maids told her that Hanazawa Rui wanted to see her.
"Bring him here," instructed Tsukushi, while reading a book.
A while later, a brooding Hanazawa Rui entered Tsukushi's sitting room.
"Hey!" greeted Tsukushi, and placed the book away.
Rui sat on the floor next to the couch where Tsukushi's currently lying on, but didn't reply her 'hey'.
"What's wrong?" asked Tsukushi.
"Shizuka got married," answered Rui, and lied his head on Tsukushi's flat stomach.
Tsukushi didn't know what to say. She only found out about Rui's obsession with Shizuka the first day she was out with him.
Tsukushi placed her hands on Rui's hair, and she could distinctly hear his muffled voice, saying, "And she's pregnant."
"Oh Rui," she murmured. "It's ok, you can cry in front of me."
And Rui cried.
Domyouji Corporation
"Are you still going to bring Tsukushi to New York, Kaede?" asked Domyouji Tetsuya.
"I'm not too sure, but probably, yes," answered Mrs. Domyouji. "Why?"
"Her head bodyguard told me that apparently there's trouble between her, Amakusa Senosuke and Amakusa Senosuke's fiancee, Usami Akiko," replied Mr. Domyouji. "Not only that, somehow a night ago, she was seen with Mimasaka Akira by one of the bodyguards."
"So, it is advisable if you bring her with you," explained Mr. Domyouji.
"I suppose it is due to the trouble involving Amakusa and the fiancee," thought Mrs. Domyouji aloud. "I think the fiancee misunderstand the friendship between Amakusa and Kushi."
"Kaede, I've seen photos of those two together in London," said Mr. Domyouji. "The young Amakusa is in love with our baby, but Tsukushi didn't notice his affections."
"She either didn't notice or pretend not to notice, Tsukushi's not as thick as Tsukasa," countered Mrs. Domyouji. "Since the young Amakusa has a fiancee."
"Are you sure Tsukushi's not as thick as Tsukasa?" scoffed Mr. Domyouji. "There were some reports from the head bodyguard stating otherwise."
"Whatever you say, Tetsuya," replied Mrs. Domyouji. "But can I please see the reports?"
"Whatever for, Kaede?" asked Mr. Domyouji.
"I want to prove to you that Tsukushi's not as thick as Tsukasa," answered Mrs. Domyouji.
Domyouji Household
Rui still has his head near Tsukushi's body.
Tsukushi thought how Rui could sleep while sitting down.
She thought back on the day she asked Rui whether Akira would ever settle with younger women.
Flashback
"No, Kushi, he can't," answered Rui.
"Why?" asked Tsukushi.
"Akira has a mother complex," explained Rui.
"I know, Aneki told me," replied Tsukushi. "I just don't think you'd tell me the same thing."
"I mean, if he does have a terrible mother's complex, then why did he make out with me?" asked Tsukushi.
Rui was silent after that. It seemed that he couldn't give an answer to Tsukushi.
"Kushi, I don't want you getting hurt, okay?" asked Rui. "Just, forget Akira."
"How can I forget Akira when he was all I could think of?" asked Tsukushi. "I mean, none of the guys, except you and Nishikado match up with him!"
"You are only sixteen," replied Rui.
End of Flashback
She can't believe all these problems that she encountered once she moved back. There's Akira, there's Kin and Akiko, who now have problems in their relationship, which Tsukushi guessed, was probably due to Akiko's lack of trust on her, and now, there's Rui.
'What do I feel for Rui?' Tsukushi asked herself.
end of chapter 9 - please read and review.
A/n: Sorry for that cliffy, I just don't have any idea how to continue it, my mind is on Italy's match against Ghana, which is going on at the moment.