Disclaimer: I don't own Hana Yori Dango. Please enjoy and review!

AN (10/02/06): Re-edited and revised chapter 4.

A Simple Misunderstanding
A Hana Yori Dango Fanfiction
By Maho-chan

Chapter 4

Things were not going well and Tsukushi could not figure out why.

She had acted exactly as she had planned to and had expected Tsukasa to be surprised but also pleased. Instead he was staring at her stonily and barely breathing.

Concerned, Tsukushi said his name, reaching her hand out to him.

"Domyoji." She smiled at him, hoping to melt his expression.

He didn't take her hand and instead continued to stare at her face coldly. He seemed almost pained.

Suddenly Tsukasa turned on his heel and marched out the front door and into the darkness outside.

"Domyoji?"

Tsukushi stared after him in shock, her hand still outstretched. She paused for several moments, feeling confused and unsure of what to do or where to go next. Looking back towards the stairs, Tsukushi noted in her mind that everything had gone well. She hadn't tripped, she hadn't broken her act, she'd even smiled and spoken with poise, although it was very hard not to succumb to the tension of acting in that way. Looking at Shizuka for reassurance, Tsukushi realized she was still holding out her hand. Dropping it to her side and realizing the silliness of her position, she laughed nervously and said to Shizuka and Rui.

"I guess we should go!" Tsukushi spoke with false enthusiasm, awkwardly waving her arms and motioning towards the door. Shizuka smiled at her sympathetically and poked Rui in the side. Rui nodded then said in an even tone "You look very nice today."

"Thanks!" Tsukushi said, feeling her stomach drop. Tsukasa had looked so odd just then. And he hadn't answered her when she spoke to him.

Taking a deep breath, Tsukushi re-examined what had happened. Tsukasa had looked strange but that didn't necessarily mean anything bad. Maybe he was just shocked by her appearance. He was probably waiting for her outside, ready to tease her like he always did.

Everything would be all right, Tsukushi thought. Tsukasa was always being strange. Maybe he was hungry and that was why he didn't speak. That had to be it, he was most likely mad because he wanted dinner. Tsukushi suppressed the feeling that something was wrong and instead convinced herself that there had to be good explanation for Tsukasa's behavior. Willing to try again and give him the benefit of the doubt, Tsukushi moved forward to accept her black shawl and purse from the maid that waited by the door. Arranging the shawl around her shoulders, Tsukushi quickly stepped out the door.

The night air was cool and Tsukushi shivered a little. Barely warmed by her thin clothes, Tsukushi blinked as her eyes adjusted to dimness of the courtyard.

The gravel crunched beneath her shoes as Tsukushi walked towards where Tsukasa was waiting. Barely glancing at him, Tsukushi was mesmerized by what was next to him instead.

Long, sleek and black, it glimmered in the courtyard lights.

"Is that a motorcycle?" She asked, looking to Tsukasa for confirmation. He nodded, looking away from her into the darkness. Tsukushi reached out her hand to stroke the smooth metal, taking a few tentative steps forward. Unused to walking in such high heels, Tsukushi let out a little cry as her shoes caught on the small rocks beneath her and she began to tumble forward.

"Tsukushi!" Shizuka cried out in alarm as Tsukushi fell.

But suddenly Tsukushi found herself being pulled upwards by the waist as a pair of warm arms encircled her. As Tsukasa helped her regain her balance and held her against him so that she wouldn't fall again, Tsukushi felt his hard chest against her back. Turning her head to look up at him, Tsukushi tried to hold his gaze.

Tsukasa looked away from her again and muttered "Be more careful, you idiot…you'll hurt yourself."

Tsukushi blushed and nodded. Encircled within his arms, Tsukushi felt a twinge that she couldn't quite place. He felt so warm. And even though they usually didn't hold each other in public, at this moment it felt very comforting instead of strange. Leaning into Tsukasa, Tsukushi allowed herself to enjoy their closeness. This was much better in comparison to the tension and worry she had felt only moments ago. Tsukushi pointed to the motorcycle and said in a quiet voice "I can't believe you are going to ride this motorcycle."

"Not just me, you and me." Tsukasa replied. As he spoke his lips brushed her sensitive ear and Tsukushi shivered and turned her head to look at him again.

As Tsukushi caught Tsukasa's gaze, this time he didn't look away. As they stared at each other a flurry of thoughts and realizations barraged Tsukushi's mind. The feel of him against her back and rumble of his voice in her ear had become very distracting. The twinge that she had felt before was now a slow recognizable heat spreading all over her body. Shizuka, Rui and the rest of the staff that had come to wait upon them were staring at Tsukasa holding her in this compromising position. And they were going to ride a motorcycle in a few moments. He was going to drive. She was going to…

She was going to have to swing her leg over the thing and…straddle it.

In a flimsy dress that had huge slits on the sides.

With her legs pressed against Tsukasa's legs and her arms wrapped around his waist, holding him close as they sped off into the night.

Suddenly feeling panicked, Tsukushi pushed away from Tsukasa and moved a few steps away from him. Tsukushi nervously fiddled with the clasp on her purse. Maybe she could distract him from his plan to ride the motorcycle. Maybe they could take the car. Maybe he was joking.

"Domyoji, do you even know how to ride a motorcycle?" Tsukushi asked, not wanting to believe that they were really going to ride it.

"Of course." Tsukasa stated matter-of-factly. "This is my motorcycle. I ride it all the time."

"Oh? And why have I never seen you ride it before?"

Maybe she could distract him by fighting, Tsukushi thought. Raising her voice louder, she stepped even further away from him and said in a loud voice

"I think you are joking. You don't really know how to ride a motorcycle." Tsukushi laughed then, not noticing how Tsukasa's expression darkened.

"Makino." Tsukasa growled "I know how to ride a motorcycle."

"Well, why should I believe you?" Tsukushi said, looking down at her dress and absently dusting it off, noting how it shimmered a little in the dim light. "You've never shown the motorcycle to me before."

This had to work, Tsukushi thought to herself as she adjusted her shawl. There was no way she was getting on that thing.

Tsukasa glared at Tsukushi, feeling very cross with her behavior. He had finally begun to relax after practically saving her from a head injury a few moments ago. He had felt like things were back to normal when he allowed himself to hold her for a few moments, only to have her turn around and coolly mock him about his abilities.

She was taunting him!

Feeling affronted, Tsukasa placed his hands on Tsukushi's arms and pulled her towards him. Annoyance reigned supreme as Tsukasa ignored the pleasurable sensation of touching her soft skin and squashed the urge to kiss her.

"Makino." Tsukasa growled her name and leveled her with an angry look, not caring that she stared back with an expression of alarm. He couldn't believe how different she was acting.

Just when Tsukasa had thought things might be getting better, might be getting back to normal, Tsukushi had taunted him. And she had spoken in a haughty tone of voice as she primped and adjusted her skimpy dress! Where was his "no brand" girlfriend tonight, the one who always spoke sincerely and never played meaningless games? She wasn't teasing and joking, she was outwardly insulting him.

And Tsukasa had had enough.

'Let's just get through this stupid night.' Tsukasa thought to himself, losing interest in rising to the challenge of defending himself against her words.

Wanting his cute, funny girlfriend back in exchange for the vexing temptress before him, Tsukasa took the black helmet from the handrails of the bike and thrust it towards Tsukushi.

"I never showed it to you before, because it is dangerous to ride motorcycles and I didn't want you go to get hurt! But since you don't believe me, I'll show you. Get on, we are leaving."

Ignoring the unsettled expression on Tsukushi's face, Tsukasa swung his leg over the seat and then motioned for her to put the helmet on. Turning to Shizuka and Rui, he barked "We will meet you there." Realizing that Tsukushi hadn't moved, Tsukasa turned back to her with his meanest glare.

"Get on." He bit out. Tsukushi looked startled then scrambled to put on the helmet.

Angry at her, angry at himself, Tsukasa revved up the accelerator. He felt her legs press against him as she settled herself into the seat and threw her arms around his waist. Her fingers grabbed onto his jacket and he felt her tremble a little as he kicked off the stand and sped off.

Tsukasa heard Tsukushi let out a cry of surprise as he accelerated faster and took the curve of his driveway with a smooth, sinuous turn.

And then he was speeding out into the darkness of the street, the engine purring underneath them, her body pressed against the length of his.

AN: In reality, for safety reasons, Tsukasa should be wearing a motorcycle helmet when he rides the motorcycle. For some reason it doesn't seem to work into the image in my mind, so I have left it out. Also, the motorcycle helmet would probably ruin Tsukushi's intricate hair style, but in the story it has no effect.

So let's say that because this is fiction, Tsukasa is completely safe without his helmet and Tsukushi's hair magically does not get messed up. :)

PS: Everyone, remember to wear your helmet when riding your motorcycle! Safety first!