Disclaimer: I do not own any of the HYD characters. But if I had a choice of whom to own.. I'd love Tsukasa!
---------------------------------------------------------------Chapter 5
The Beach
Right in front of her, Tsukushi could see the clear blue water and the shining sun. She stretched out her arms upwards and calmly took in the sight of the bright sun.
Tsukushi looked to her left and saw the rest of the bunch look fully at the beautiful sight before them. "Ahhh! This is relaxing you guys!" She screamed with enjoyment.
A yawning Rui replied, "I guess, come on we're going this way." He led the group along with a confused Tsukushi down the path towards the docks where the ship awaited them.
"Where are we going? This is the beach. I see a good spot over there! Come on," Tsukushi made a motion towards the wide open spot on the sand.
Akira stopping her in her tracks, "no, not here," he calmly said with the slightest hint of disgust. He held on to Tsukushi's wrist and half dragged her to the dock.
They slowly approached the dock and this enormous ship
"When you said beach, I really thought we'd be on the beach, not on a cruise ship!" Tsukushi exclaimed.
"Uh, we did tell you we were going to be on a ship today, did you really think we'd sunbathe on the beach along with the rest of those people," Soujiro said in disgust.
Completely annoyed with that remark, Tsukushi started ranting on and on at Soujiro, "incase you're forgetting Soujiro, I'm one of THOSE people you're referring to! It's quite rude that you would even say something like that in front of me. If you even considered me as a friend you wouldn't say those types of things! Why can't you just lay…"
"Lalalalalalalala!" Soujiro spoke up overtaking Tsukushi's voice, "why can't you take a joke! I was just joking, you know, something you say to either annoy someone or make someone laugh! Damn, Tsukushi, you're lacking a sense of humor."
Taking the fighting position, Tsukushi pointed a finger at Soujiro and screamed, "me! Lack a sense of humor, don't play with me Nishikado Soujiro! You're full of humor that I don't even know why I ever take you.. or as a matter of fact, I don't understand why Yuki ever took you seriously!"
Eager to push her buttons even more, Soujiro casually replied, "hmm, maybe it's because I have that factor that can satisfy any woman. Of course you should know now that you and Tsukasa have done it. Oh wait.. you didn't get the chance to, ever the hard working virgin, had to get sick that last time you two could have your first lovely passionate sex…"
"Iiyeh! Baka! Shut up!" Obviously even more agitated than before, a vein popped on the side of her head. Her once angelic face turned a scarlet red as she looked like she was about to charge towards Soujiro and kick his fragile little behind.
At the sight of Tsukushi's friendly vein, Soujiro knew he was in for it. He tried to make a quick turn and run towards the walkway leading into the ship, but just as he was almost at the top of the walkway, Tsukushi caught onto his collar and held on tight.
"Why yoouuuu little punk! I should throw you in the water!" Tsukushi wailed.
Realizing the predicament he was in, Soujiro tried to escape Tsukushi's grasp. After a few attempts of shrugging her hands off of him, he finally succeeded. He broke into a run towards the entrance, unfortunately for him, he tripped over himself and went diving into the water.
"Ahhhhhh!" Soujiro screamed as he went into the water.
At first, a smirk formed on Tsukushi's angry face and then a few second into staring at Soujiro splatter about, she was on the ground laughing. "Ahahahaha! That's what you get, punk!"
Meanwhile, the rest of the group finally reached the bottom of the walkway, bewildered with the scene before them.
"Uhhh.. Soujiro, are you all right?" asked Shigeru.
"Do I look alright? Help me get out of here, there's seaweed stuck to my shorts!" he screamed as he tried to find a way back up to the main ground.
"You shouldn't have done what you did. You know how Tsukushi gets," Rui plainly said.
"Whatever, just get me out!"
Up on the top of the walkway, Tsukushi just stared down at a soaked Soujiro struggling to get out and continued to laugh loudly with no sense of mercy.
Akira and Shigeru managed to find a rope and threw it down for Soujiro to grab.
Once Soujiro grabbed onto the rope, Akira along with Shigeru tried to pull him up.
Akira looked back at a sleepy Rui and a laughing Sakurako, "hey, do you guys mind helping us out, he's pretty heavy."
"Uh, no, I don't think so. I'm too pretty to do such things. Rui go help them," Sakurako motioned for Rui.
"Damn it! Get me out!" Soujiro screamed of frustration.
Rui shrugged and grabbed onto the rope. "This is hard."
After a few attempts, they finally got an annoyed Soujiro back onto the ground.
Gasping for air, Soujiro exclaimed, "I'm going to get that Tsukushi!"
Up on the entrance of the ship, Tsukushi looked down at a soaked Soujiro and continued to laugh. "Yeh alright!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A bikini-clad Sakurako and Shigeru lay facing down in an attempt to get a fair tan. Sitting on the next chair, Akira exposed his chest to the warm sun, while sipping on his wine, enjoying the scenery before him. As for the other three, they were huddled in one corner of the ship, the portion that had a roof over it.
"A..ano.. Soujiro.." Tsukushi began.
Soujiro sat on a chair with layers of blankets wrapped around him. Chattering, he spat out, "what now Tsukushi?"
"Uh.. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to laugh at you so much. Are you okay?"
"What do you think? Do I look alright! Hell if I do! I can't even enjoy anything now!" Soujiro almost screamed.
"Well you brought it upon yourself," Tsukushi said as a matter of factly.
"Whatever, just leave me alone," Soujiro replied, "I'm in no mood to argue. I don't want to end up in a worst state than I'm already in."
Looking at a pitiful Soujiro with his layers of blankets and teeth chattering along with Tsukushi making an attempt to apologize, Rui couldn't help but chuckle.
Soujiro glanced at Rui, "what are you laughing about?"
"Oh nothing" was all Rui said before he got up from his seat and started to walk away.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Akira saw Rui get up, "hey, where are you going?"
Rui spoke over his shoulder, "going to sleep. Don't bother me, let me know when we're leaving. You kids enjoy the sun."
"Uhh.. this is all we're going to do today!" Tsukushi exclaimed.
"Guess so," was all Akira could muster. He then returned his attention to sipping his drink, the two girls oblivious of what had happened continued to enjoy tanning, while Tsukushi was left to stare at a pathetic Soujiro.
"I know you want me to shut up…" Tsukushi peered into Soujiro's face, "but do you want me to take you to one of the rooms to rest. You look like crap and being exposed to the wind would only worsen you."
Seeing another opportunity to get back at Tsukushi, Soujiro decided to take it, "I didn't know you think that way of me Tsukushi, feeling lonely?" A smirk formed on Soujiro's face, "but since you're offering, why not. Let's just keep it a secret. Okay?"
"I seriously don't understand you. Even at a time where you're most vulnerable, you would still enjoying poking fun at me." With her eyes narrowed, Tsukushi continued, "I'll leave you be this time, but don't think I'll let you off the hook next time. Hmph!"
She got up and walked away, leaving Soujiro alone. His eyes followed Tsukushi where she made her way towards the rest of the group and plopped down on the chair next to Sakurako and Shigeru.
'She'll never change.. no sense of humor. Crap, I should've brought Suki with me. At least she would've helped me feel better' Soujiro thought to himself grimly as he was left all alone, still freezing his butt off.
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"What a day!" Tsukushi exclaimed as she plopped down on her bed. She was exhausted from what had transpired that day. She picked up a mirror that was on the desk next to the bed and looked at her reflection.
'Not so bad Tsukushi,' she thought to herself as she peered at a darker version of herself.
Tsukushi turned her head to the right, where a picture of Tsukasa and herself hugging each other lay.
'I wish you were here. The trip wouldn't have turned out like that.' She grimly thought to herself.
I remembered that day as though it had been just yesterday. It was a candid picture that seemed to turn out better than most of the other pictures we took. Normally, the pictures would come out with one of us having a forced smile on, or a lump on the head caused by an earlier argument. But this one, it was different. We had a picnic with our friends and Tsukasa came up from behind and wrapped his arms around me. At first I was surprised but gradually became at ease in his arms. I looked up into his eyes and couldn't help ourselves from smiling, knowing that we were finally open with our feelings for one another. Without us knowing, Sakurako took a picture of us and it wasn't until we developed the film that we saw it.
She reached out for the picture and held it up, running her delicate fingers over Tsukasa's face. 'I love you.'
With that last thought, she fell asleep hugging the picture.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------Thanx Aznduz, holly, Lokigirl, and Fushigi Venus for reviewing! I hope you guys enjoy what I have. I'll be on spring break and I'm almost done with the next chapter. ) Please R&R!
---I'm still writing the events while they're both apart, but a few more chapters and they'll finally meet again---
Holly: It's possible it's a rumor, but I read it on d-addicts on the discussion thread for Hana Yori Dango (Meteor Garden Manga) Jdrama, page 77 & 78. Well, I hope it's true though.