Saw a New Morning

Tsukushi remained in Tsukasa's arms silent. His arms were so comforting to her, so warm and she felt like nothing could hurt her if only he was there. She didn't know how to react to those words. She loved him for sure, but she wasn't sure what kind of love it was.

Turn down the lights, turn down the bed

"I feel so warm and protected when I'm with him" Tsukushi thought, "it must be love. I feel so content when I'm with him." Inside of her, a thought about the lost long Martian nibbled her thought "then what is he?" she questioned herself but just pushed it away as some kind of nuisance created by her childish self, and just hugged Tsukasa tighter.

Turn down these voices inside my head

Lay down with me, tell me no lies

Tsukasa was frozen of what has come out of his mouth. How could have he said that? But the most surprising thing was Tsukushi's reaction, instead of pushing him away, she pulled him in closer, and he just held on to her, as if this was the last moments of his life.

He didn't care, if Tsukushi would realize what has happened just now and throw him against the tree. He did not care of what will happen next because he would be content dying the next minute.

Just hold me close, don't patronize Don't patronize me

Tsukasa held on to Tsukushi, as it was his last hour. He held her as if he was in the middle of endless ocean and she was the boat helping him survive. Tsukasa knew he had to let go but couldn't, he wanted to convince himself that Tsukushi really loved him like a simple man. However, somewhere in the back of his mind he felt that she didn't feel anything more than sympathy or sibling love. Nevertheless, he let himself indulge in this precious moment.

'Cause I can't make you love me If you don't You can't make your heart feel something it won't Here in the dark in these final hours I will lay down my heart, and I'll feel the power But you won't, no you won't And I can't make you love me If you don't

Tsukasa closed his eyes and breathed in Tsukushi's scent, so sweet and intoxicating. How he wished that she would look at him, and tell him those silent three words. Tsukasa looked down on her, and their eyes met. He shut his eyes to make the moment last longer, he wanted to be lost in this dream forever.

I'll close my eyes, then I won't seeThe love you don't feel when you're holding me

The young man knew that soon he would have to let go, and go on as normal if that ever could be. It didn't matter how much he wished that things would change. That finally Tsukushi could start to see him just as a man, and not a brother.

Morning will come and Ill do what's rightJust give me till then to give up this fightAnd I will give up this fight

He didn't want to give up, he should fight for what he believed in.

Tsukushi was at complete loss of her feelings. Tsukasa was so familiar to her, his smile, his laugh, his weird habits, the way he ate, the way he walked was all engraved in her memory. She thought about it all inside her head, and started questioning herself of how she could ever survive without those little things, those little nuisances that Tsukasa did every day.

"This must be love" Tsukushi thought "it can't be anything else. I need him always here by my side; otherwise, I won't be the same. I need him by my side forever, I must love him. I know it."

Tsukasa stood up, pulled Tsukushi gently along with him, and quietly whispered:

"Let's go, Tsubaki will be worried about us" Tsukasa's gaze met Tsukushi's, and he felt himself start to blush. Instead of falling apart to pieces the young man just gathered his composure and gave her his hand. Tsukushi slowly took his hand and stood up. Tsukasa waited for her to get up, and as he gazed upon her the moments seemed to last a fleeting eternity. He started to blush a little bit as he gazed upon Tsukushi. He turned his face away, and started slowly walking, feeling her hand clenching his tight, as if he was her life, her only way to survive. After few steps Tsukasa noticed that Tsukushi was walking strangely, he swiftly turned to her and asked her:

"Are you ok?"

I'm fine, it's nothing serious.

Tsukasa lowered his head and saw that Tsukushi's skirt was ripped and her ankle was sprained.

"Silly, why didn't you tell me?"

It's no big deal. Tsukushi winced.

"No big deal! You sprained your ankle," Tsukasa bellowed, and bent down, then gently touched her ankle and lowered his voice "it must hurt."

Only a little bit. Tsukushi put her fingers closely together and tried to hide the pain.

"Don't lie to me" Tsukasa said in a low yet demanding voice, then without any warning he stood up and picked her up – bridal style. One of his arms holding her heads, while the other one holding her back.

Put me down! Tsukushi demanded and tried to spring out of his hold.

"Stop struggling" Tsukasa sighed "there's no use I won't let you go. Plus you are not heavy at all, so don't worry about it ok. Just sleep I don't want you to get a cold, too."

Tsukushi quit squirming, and let Tsukasa's strong arms carry her. She trusted him, with her life, even though he could be stupid sometimes and careless, he wouldn't let anything bad happen to her. She thought once again about what Tsukasa has said to her earlier and pondered on what is more important Tsukasa or a boy from twelve years ago, who probably forgot their promise already. She decided to think only one-step at a time, without rushing into the future, and the future was Tsukasa and she.

"Tsukasa and Tsukushi" Tsukushi thought "Tsukushi and Tsukasa. That has a nice ring to it."

Tsukushi smiled and thinking that thought, sleep won it over.

Tsukasa tried hard not to stare at Tsukushi, and look at a path ahead. But it was so hard sometimes, and he would just steal a look, and then he would say just another moment. Without knowing he would be staring at her, and when he would realize it, he would start to blush, something that he has almost never done before.

"She's so beautiful," he thought and he reminisced about his words in the forest. "She didn't reject me, that's a good thing. Is it really? What if she didn't want to hurt me? Or what if she didn't want to hurt me?" his mind was battling itself. "But what if she was at a loss for words. She must have been. I didn't giver her time to reply! That must be it!"

He finally mustered the courage and spoke:

"About what I said earlier. I mean it, I really mean it. I love you, I have loved you ever since we were kids. You don't have to say anything right now… I know it's a shock, but I really mean it. I said it from my heart, so don't take it lightly. I know what I'm saying is weird, but I didn't know how to say it to you, and today is just came out. I'm sorry… I'll understand everything, so don't be afraid of me ok. I love you and I want you to be happy, so won't you give me a chance, give us a chance" Tsukasa finished. He waited for her to move, but nothing happened. He looked down upon her and all he saw was her eyes tightly shut, and a smile upon her face.

"Hey! You're asleep!" he yelled. That always-worked Tsukushi could never resist giggling, or clenching her fists together. But she just remained still.

"Damn it" Tsukasa cursed "how could she fall asleep on me! Maybe on the other hand it's better that she didn't heart that. Maybe we can just forget it and move on like normal" Tsukasa tried to convince himself but then it hit him "No I won't back down anymore, I'll prove it to her, and make her love me."

Tsukasa gently looked and Tsukushi, and smiled. He didn't know what time of night it was but Tsubaki was waiting at the door, and as soon as she saw them both in sight ran out and asked:

"What happened?"

"I'll explain it to you later."

Morning came and Tsukushi opened her eyes. Suddenly she realized that she was in her bed, and someone was holding her hand, and snoring a little bit. She sat up on the bed and looked down, and Tsukasa was sitting on a chair beside her bed, his head on a bed, mouth slightly opened. Within seconds he rose, stretched, and said:

"Good morning Tsukushi!"

Good morning!

"I'll be right back" Tsukasa left the room, and then came back with a platter filled with yummy breakfast rice and a cup of tea "Ta da."

Wow!

"It's for you, for a good start of day! Eat up you need energy, so you won't get sick!"

For what occasion?

"Don't complain idiot just eat!"

Tsukushi ate the breakfast, as Tsukasa was watching her eat with a soft smile upon his face; she always had a weird expression on her face when she ate. The expression was so serene she looked like an angel to him. Tsukushi rose from bed and went to change.

Let's get started for today's business!

Tsukushi and Tsukasa both hurried to start their long day, filled with constant surprises

MEANWHILE

"Hello" Umi answered, stepping out of her bedroom, her blond her flowing, her long legs, striking every step as she walked by. She was beautiful as beautiful as the sun.

"Come meet me at the restaurant down by my office at lunch" Rui said coldly as always. He was walking to his car; his long and slender figure couldn't be unnoticed by anyone else. He was handsome in his own unique way, his light brown hair stood out amongst everyone almost as much as Tsukasa's crazy messy hair that could never go straight.

"Hey, that's kind of mean talking to your girlfriend like that" Umi complained in a squeaky voice she always talked in. To some it was utterly cute but to Rui it got on his nerves quite a lot, thus he preferred short conversations and silence as much as possible.

"Time is money"

"Hey, you don't have to be so stingy" Umi whined in what she thought was a super cute voice "you know you should have said hi my love, hi my honey bear, hi my wonderful girlfriend, or at least a hi!"

"Just meet me where I told you to" Rui was tired of this complete nonsense and just pressed the end button and said to his driver the directions to a new place.

"Hey, poky bear you shouldn't be so mean to me" Umi started but all she heard was a "beep, beep" from the other side of the line and she sighed, "oh well."

She strolled down the stairs and got ready for her work.

Rui was slowly walking down a jewelry store, carelessly walking around the store with seemingly with no interest. He spotted a small ring with a small plastered on top of it, it was glittering in red as it was made from pure ruby.

"I'll take this," Rui coldly said.

"It will be" the cashier started.

"Doesn't matter charge it on this."

Rui took the little box with a ring in it and started to work.

LATER THAT SAME DAY

"I hope she likes this" Tsukasa looked at his palm and smiled at himself "she'll love this! She should!" Tsukasa put the little package in his right jeans pocket and marched off happily.