Disclaimers: I don't own HYD or the song "Everytime We Touch" by Cascada.

Back to the present…

Tsukushi dressed in a simple cream and gold knee length, spaghetti strapped dress, with gold heels and a matching gold purse. She put on light make-up, and styled her hair in a wispy loose bun. She was a nervous wreck. 'Why am I nervous?' she chastised herself. 'It's only Tsukasa, for goodness sakes!' Exactly. Only Tsukasa. The man she loved forever and is taking her out on a dinner date. The doorbell rang announcing that her ride was here. She grabbed her shawl and checked her hair and make-up before going out to the limo awaiting her. She arrived at a 5 star restaurant, Le Eiffel. The driver opened her door, allowing her to step out. Inside she saw Tsukasa waiting at a private table. He stood up with a smile as he saw the host ushering her to the table. She drank in the sight of him. He wore an open collared white shirt, made from the finest material with black slacks that molded into his muscle toned body.

"You look beautiful, Tsukushi," Tsukasa said enamored.

She blushed with pleasure and replied, "Thank you, Tsukasa. You don't look bad yourself."

They sat down and opened their menus, scanning to see what appealed to their eyes. The waiter scribbled on his pad when they ordered meal, bowed and left the couple to chat in privacy.

Her dinner date didn't go as she expected. They politely talked about what they've been doing in the past 3 years. Tsukushi graduated school and is now a successful songwriter coming up in the music industry business and Tsukasa still ran the Domyouji business, but has also expanded his business in dance clubs. There was a big gap of silence as Tsukasa finished. All the questions Tsukushi had in mind, completely vanished.

"So, Kushi, are you seeing Hanazawa now?" Tsukasa asked, breaking the silence.

"No, we're just friends," she replied, "and you, Tsukasa? Are you seeing anyone right now?"

"Not at the moment, no." He paused before saying, "I want you to stay away from Hanazawa, Tsukushi."

Tsukushi laughed, "I think I'm old enough to take care of myself, Tsukasa."

"I know you can. But you don't know him. He's a playboy. You need to steer clear of him."

"Aren't you the same, Tsukasa? I don't see you lacking female company," she stated.

"Don't put me in the same category as him. This isn't about me, Kushi. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Thanks for worrying, but I've had my share of heartache to know not to fall for the first good looking guy I meet," she said tightly.

They finished the rest of the meal in silence. Neither one knowing what to say. Tsukasa drove her home and walked her to her door.

"Well, thanks for dinner," Tsukushi said turning to leave.

Tsukasa grabbed her arm.

"Tsukushi, wait. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply earlier that you couldn't take care of yourself."

"It's ok Tsukasa, it's kind of hard to believe that I made it on my own. I used to have you to take care of me," she said with a sad smile.

"Tsukushi…"

Tsukasa raised a hand to cup her face, rubbing his thumb on her cheek. Her heart started beating faster. She looked up into his brown eyes, catching a glimpse of pain and desire, before he lowered his head to kiss her.

The porch light flicked on and the door opened.

"Oh, sorry," said a surprised Soujiroh.

"Oh, uh, I didn't think you two would be home so soon,' said an embarrassed Yuki, "come on Soujiroh, I'll walk you to your car."

There was an awkward silence as Tsukushi and Tsukasa watched Yuki and Soujiroh walk down the pathway.

"Well I should get going. I'll call you."

"Yeah, thanks for dinner. Goodnight, Tsukasa."

Tsukushi watched Tsukasa walk away. He suddenly turned around and walked back up to her, and gave her a swift kiss on mouth.

"You still have me. Goodnight."

Tsukushi stunned at what just happened, watched him walk down the path to his car. He waved as he drove off. She reached up to touch her lips with a smile as she watched his tail lights fade away.

The next day Tsukushi's hope of being with Tsukasa completely deflated when she saw a picture in the tabloids of him with a blonde model. 'I'm such a fool. Why did I let myself fall for him again?' she chastised herself. Upset, she turned to music for comfort. She sat at the piano and started to play a song she wrote.

(a/n: This is a fast song, but I heard the slow version sung by Yanou, so just keep in mind that its a slow song.)

I still hear your voice, when you sleep next to me.
I still feel your touch in my dreams.
Forgive me my weakness, but I don't know why.
Without you it's hard to survive.
Cause every time we touch, I get this feeling.
And every time we kiss I swear I can fly.
Can't you feel my heart beat fast, I want this to last.
Need you by my side.
Cause every time we touch, I feel this static.
And every time we kiss, I reach for the sky.
Can't you hear my heart beat so I can't let you go.
Want you in my life.
Your arms are my castle, your heart is my sky.
They wipe away tears that I cry.
The good and the bad times, we've been through them all.
You make me rise when I fall.
Cause every time we touch, I get this feeling.
And every time we kiss I swear I can fly.
Can't you feel my heart beat fast, I want this to last.
Need you by my side.
Cause every time we touch, I feel this static.
And every time we kiss, I reach for the sky.
Can't you hear my heart beat so I can't let you go.
Want you in my life.

"That was beautiful."

Tsukushi gasped, quickly turning around the see Rui standing in the doorway.

"I'm sorry, am I disturbing you?" Rui asked as he walked into the room.

"No, I'm just playing for fun. What are you doing here?"

"I was heading home and being close by I thought I'd come ask to see if you'd like go grab dinner."

"One: you live on the other side of town, and Two: I'd love to," Tsukushi said smiling.

"Great, I'll wait for you to change."

Tsukushi ran upstairs to change. 'Rui Hanazawa,' she thought. 'He hasn't changed at all.' Of course he grew up from a boy to a man, but he still had that easy going, open personality that drew you to him. She remembered the first day she met him.

5 years ago…

"Hey Tsukushi, what about this one?" Yuki asked as she held up a dress in front of her.

"That's so cute! You should go try it on."

"It's not for me silly! It's for you."

"No, you should try it on, Yuki."

"Oh, come on, Tsukushi."

"No, plus I have tons of dresses in my arms already and they're expensive! I can't afford any of them."

"Well we should just try them on for fun."

The girls were shopping for Yuki's father's company party. Yuki invited Tsukushi months ago so Tsukushi had been saving for this night. They gathered the dresses they picked and ran towards the dressing room, excited to try on each outfit. The girls ran in and out of the dressing rooms to admire each other.

"Yuki, thanks for inviting me. I've never been to one of these things, but I'm really glad that you invited me."

Yuki smiled and grabbed her hand, "You're my best friend. Of course I'd invite you."

Tsukushi smiled. 'I'm so lucky to have a friend like Yuki. Thank goodness we ran into each other on the first day of middle school,' she thought, fondly recalling that day they literally knocked heads while looking down at their class schedules.

"Tsukushi, I'm going to go grab that dress from the wall so you can try it on. I think its totally cute! Be back, okay?" Yuki yelled as she walked pass her dressing room.

"Okay," Tsukushi replied.

Tsukushi noticing someone walking outside of her door, reached out with her hand opened, "Okay, Yuki give it to me. I'll come out to model it for you after I'm done." She took the dress and frowned. She didn't remember the dress being white, nor it being this soft and silky. "Was it this one, Yuki?" she called out. She didn't hear a reply, so she shrugged and tried it on. The white silk glided down her body. She looked at herself in the mirror admiring the way it looked on her. It was beautiful. "Okay, here I come." Tsukushi opened the door and twirled out, coming face to face with an amused boy sitting in the dressing room chair. Tsukushi screamed with surprise as she covered herself with her arms. The boy started to laugh. Yuki and the store assistant came running into the dressing room.

"Tsukushi, what happened?!" Yuki asked glancing back and forth at the boy and Tsukushi.

"I- he- I thought- you-" Tsukushi stuttered as she pointed back and forth at the boy and Yuki, with one hand, face flushed with embarrassment.

"What's the meaning of this young lady?" the store assistant demanded. "How dare you scream at Mr. Hanazawa. You also took the dress he bought also! Leave the store immediately!" She turned to him, bowing and apologizing. "I'm so sorry, sir. I forgot to remove them from the store when you came in. Please forgive me."

"That's okay. I gave the dress to her to wear. You can go now," he said to the assistant. She quickly bowed and walked away. "You look great, by the way."

Tsukushi flushed. "I'm so sorry. I thought you were my friend. I'll take it off. I'm sorry."

Tsukushi ran into the dressing room and changed. She came out with the dress trying to smooth out any wrinkles she may have caused.

"I'm so sorry," she apologized.

"That's alright. I think you look a lot better in it than my friend will anyways."

"Wait. Your last name is Hanazawa? As in the Hanazawa of Hanazawa Corporation?" Yuki said.

"How did you know?"

"My dad works for one of your companies. We're shopping for the company party this weekend."

"Oh I see. Well now that you know who I am, who are you two lovely ladies?" he said, looking at Tsukushi.

"I'm Yuki Matsuoka and this is my friend, Tsukushi Makino."

"Charmed," he replied as he brought Tsukushi's hand to his lips. "I'm Rui Hanazawa."

Yuki glanced at Tsukushi with an amused look as her friend's face flushed red.

Riiing Riiing Riiing… Rui's phone rang.

"Excuse me, ladies," he said as he walked out of the dressing room.

"Oh my goodness! He was totally digging you!" Yuki exclaimed.

"Shhh… gosh, not so loud! He just felt sorry for me and tried to ease my embarrassment by being nice," Tsukushi replied as she patted her heated face.

"No way. He kissed your hand."

"Oh Yuki, he probably just does that to all the girls he meets."

"Uh huh. Why didn't he give me one too? Ooh.. Tsukasa will be so jealous when he finds out," Yuki giggled.

"Yuki, get over it. Tsukasa doesn't see me that way."

"Uh huh, that's why every guy who like you miraculously avoids you the next day."

Tsukushi rolled her eyes at Yuki. "Come on, lets go. I feel like I could die right now," Tsukushi groaned.

They walked out into the store to find Rui gone.

"Wouldn't it have been great to have been able to buy at least one of these dresses?" Tsukushi sighed as they walked out the store.

"Excuse me."

Tsukushi and Yuki turned around.

"You forgot your package."

They looked at each other in surprise. "We didn't buy anything."

"Oh, yes, I know. Mr. Hanazawa instructed me to give this to you," she said as she handed Tsukushi the box. She bowed and walked back into the store.

"What? Uh… what is it?" Tsukushi said stunned.

"I don't know. Open it."

Tsukushi opened the box to find the dress she tried on earlier. "Oh my…" she gaped.

"It's gorgeous, Tsukky. I told you he liked you!"

She stood there dumbfounded. Yuki, grabbed the tag on the dress. Her eyebrows shot up.

"Wow… he must really like you Tsukky. Look."

Tsukushi almost dropped the box. '$5,000 dollars,' she thought. '$5,000 dollars! Oh my God, this dress cost $5,000 dollars!'

"Well, Tsukky, my love. It looks like you got yourself the perfect dress," Yuki grinned. "Now, for the perfect shoes."

They shopped around for the rest of their items. Thanks to Rui's generous gift, Tsukushi was able to buy shoes and accessories.

"Come on, Tsukky, let's go take some pictures at the photo sticker machines!" Yuki said as she dragged Tsukushi towards the booth.

"But Yuki, look at my hair," Tsukushi laughed, "it's a mess."

"So what? It's not like it's a studio picture. And anyways, we need a picture to remember the day you found your Cinderella dress," Yuki joked.

The girls ran into the booth, put money in the machine, and made faces as the machine took their photos. Laughing and having fun, they didn't notice Yuriko and her friends coming up behind them.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here girls. Two ugly little rats trying to take pictures. Don't break it now," she sneered as her friends laughed.

"Shut up, you ugly pig," Yuki shot back, "I didn't know the mall allowed animals here."

"Why you little bitch. You don't know who you're messing with," Yuriko said as she grabbed Yuki by the collar.

"Leave us alone, Yuriko. We didn't do anything to yo-," Tsukushi started to say before she was shoved to the ground by Yuriko's cronies. Her bags flew everywhere.

Yuriko shoved Yuki away and turned to Tsukushi. "Don't think that you're Miss High-and-Mighty, just because Tsukasa is babysitting you. You're nothing. He only feels sorry for you, because you were such a little retard back then."

"You don't know Tsukasa, so don't talk about him like you do. You're just jealous because he doesn't like you, even when you threw yourself at him."

Yuriko raised a hand to slap Tsukushi, but was stopped by a hand that crushed her wrist. Tsukushi looked up to see Rui.

"Ow, who the fuck do you think you are, asshole?" Yuki screamed with pain as she confronted the person holding her wrist.

"I don't think you want to know. I suggest you and your trashy friends get out of here."

"Come on Yuriko, the security guards are coming," said her friends. Yuriko shot daggers at Tsukushi and yanked her hand away. "Don't think this is over, bitch," she said as she took off.

Tsukushi took the hand that Rui held out. Yuki collected the stuff that fell out of the bag.

"Thank you, Mr. Hanazawa."

"Rui."

"Excuse me?"

"Call me Rui," he smiled.

Tsukushi blushed. "Okay."

"You okay Tsukushi?" Yuki asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay."

"God, I hate Yuriko. I swear, she needs to get beat," Yuki fumed.

"Hmm, steer clear of those girls next time. Later."

Tsukushi and Yuki watched as he started to leave. "Thanks, again!" Yuki called out.

Rui waved without turning as he walked off.

"Isn't he cool?" Yuki said, elbowing Tsukushi with a wink.

"Yeah… oh no! I forgot to thank him for the dress!"

"Don't worry about it. You'll see him at the party remember?"

She did see Rui again at the company party, but to her disappointment, he was dominated all night by his date. Their eyes met across the room and she rolled her eyes and giggled when he winked at her. She didn't get the chance to thank him at all.

Back to the present…

Rui took her to an upscale restaurant in the middle of town. The host sat them down in an intimate window seat.

"This is really nice," Tsukushi said, glancing around at the silver and olive green interior.

"Yeah, I kinda been inhabiting this place for awhile now. They have a great pasta dish."

"I can tell you don't cook," laughed Tsukushi.

"Yeah, I'm not too great. I'm a pro at reheating though," joked Rui with a laugh.

His laughter died and instantly turned into a scowl. Tsukushi looking at Rui's expression turned around to see what was wrong. Her heart sank as she saw Tsukasa with a leggy brunette hanging on his arm walking in the restaurant.

Tsukasa glanced around the restaurant and met her eyes. 'Tsukushi?' He looked over to her partner and saw Rui. Anger coursed through his veins. 'What the hell is she doing here with him?' Frowning with displeasure, he started towards them, but felt a tug at his arm.

"Tsukasa, where are you going? Our table's over here."

'Damn!' He forgot about his sister, Tsubaki. He was supposed to take her out to discuss the opening of the club in L.A. He looked over to Tsukushi again. His eyes narrowed in on Rui holding Tsukushi's hand. 'What the hell is going on?' Tsukasa fumed.

"Tsukasa?"

"Sorry Tsubaki, lead the way."

Tsukushi felt foolish. Seeing Tsukasa and his date was like a slap in the face. How could he kiss her the night before and see another woman the day after? 'But it's not like we're dating, so he's free to do whatever he wants,' Tsukushi thought painfully. She felt Rui hold her hand.

"Hey, you okay? Wanna go somewhere else?"

"I'm okay. We don't have to leave," Tsukushi said with a half hearted smile.

Dinner was strained. Both parties unable to enjoy themselves, Tsukasa distracted by Tsukushi and Tsukushi having no appetite due to seeing Tsukasa and his date.

"You don't like the food?" Rui asked worriedly

"Oh, no, it's not that. I just don't have much of an appetite. Sorry," Tsukushi apologized.

"That's okay. Wanna get out of here?"

"Sure."

Tsukushi and Rui both got up to leave. While paying, Rui noticed Tsukasa looking. He casually placed his arm around Tsukushi's waist pulling her in to kiss her forehead. He looked over to Tsukasa triumphantly and received a murderous glare back.

"What was that for," Tsukushi questioned.

"It was thanks for not letting me eat alone," teased Rui.

"You're so silly Rui. I'd be happy to keep you company whenever you like," Tsukushi said, oblivious to what just happened.

Tsukasa saw them get up to leave. He saw Rui put his arm around Tsukushi, kissing her on the head, then look over triumphantly. Tsukasa saw red. 'Who the hell does this bastard think he is?'

"Tsukasa? Tsukasa? Tsukasa!" exclaimed Tsubaki.

Tsukasa snapped back to Tsubaki. "I'm sorry Tsubaki, what were you saying?"

"You haven't heard a single word I said. I'm assuming you'd rather be elsewhere," Tsubaki said impatiently.

"I'm sorry Tsubaki, I thought I saw someone I knew."

"Well, fine. Like I was saying……"

Rui dropped Tsukushi off saying goodnight from the car. Tsukushi walked up the path not noticing the man in the shadows.

"Where have you been?"

Tsukushi jumped at hearing Tsukasa's voice. "Tsukasa. You scared me. What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you. Where have you been? You left the restaurant hours ago."

"That's none of your business Tsukasa. Why aren't you with your date?" Tsukushi shot back, opening the door.

"I took her home," Tsukasa said, following her in.

"So you thought you'd come over to chat?" Tsukushi asked sarcastically as she threw her key and purse on the table.

"Yeah, what were you doing with Hanazawa? I thought I told you to stay away from him."

"For your information I can see whom ever I want. You're not my father or my brother."

Tsukasa stared at her. "That's right. I'm not your father or brother."

He started walking towards her. "What are you doing Tsukasa?" she asked nervously as she backed away. She kept going until her back hit the wall.

Tsukasa put his hands on the wall trapping her. "What I should've done three years ago."

Okie dokie... please review!