No Empty Promises Chapter 1: No Empty Promises, a hana yori dango fanfic

Disclaimer
As much as I would love to own the gorgeous Doumyouji Tsukasa and the awesome Nishikado Soujirou... they all belong to their original mangaka. The original Hana Yori Dango and the characters. TT
I do stake claim on the plot though, so no stealing, or I'll bite. RAWR

Rants
I ran out of muse for my story, and was reading HYD, when the idea for my favourite couple suddenly popped out, hence... this one-shot. I might write an epilogue for it, or I may not. It depends on my mood really. xD

But for now... enjoy this one! R&R pls? -passes out marshmallows-

"Sou-kun?"

Yuki looked up from where she sat at the library, and was surprised to see Nishikado Soujirou there. Not that she didn't want to see him there. In fact, the moment she set eyes on the handsome man she had had a crush on for the past 3 years, ever since she met him through Tsukushi, Yuki had never been able to keep her mind off of him. Now, Tsukushi was safely married to Tsukasa, and though she didn't see her much anymore, she did glean off from their once in awhile conversations that Doumyouji Tsukasa was still being Doumyouji Tsukasa. But Yuki knew that Tsukushi would never be able to leave him, and vice versa. They were made for each other.

Nishikado Soujirou, on the other hand, was more complex. Yuki had made her feelings for him obvious, and in the past year, she found him calling her at the most odd times, and most of the time sounding rather stressed. Yuki knew the reason. If Yuki had heard the rumors correctly, it seemed as if Nishikado-san has been having health problems lately, and from what she had heard from Soujirou when he spoke to her, it seemed as if juggling a diploma in business and art, as well as trying to handle his father's huge corporate at the same time, was taking a toll on him.

Around 2 months ago, Yuki had jumped from calling him Soujirou-san, to Sou-kun, and to her surprise, he had no objections, and didn't even correct her when she continued called him that, which was what she called him now, when she saw him appear next to her. They had mostly spoken over the phone, and this was the first time in 3 months she was seeing him. "Daijoubu? You look tired." Yuki immediately commented, jumping up from her seat to look closely at his heavy eye-bags and pale features, before pulling out a chair, and gesturing for him to sit.

Soujirou sat down heavily, and closed his eyes for a moment, as he leant back on the seat. He knew Yuki was worried, but he was tired. Tired of everything. The business required him to stay up late in the night, his school work needed him to get up by 7 in the morning, his mother was busy taking care of his sick father, and his staff needed to run the household. Soujirou knew, he couldn't be selfish, but sometimes, just sometimes, he wished there was someone to take care of him.

Of course, that was one of the reasons why he turned to Yuki. He had no one else. Tsukasa was busy with a newly pregnant Makino, and Tsukasa being Tsukasa, even if Makino was barely 3 months pregnant, he was already furnishing a whole new wing for the baby. Rui was finishing his studies over in Australia, a bachelor in music, and Akira too, needed to look after his father's business, but at least the guy had his girlfriend Momoto to turn to. But Soujirou was left on his own, with only Yuki. Not that he didn't like the girl, in fact, he liked her a little too much for his liking. After the huge fiasco with his first love, he had no wish to mess things up by giving promises he can't keep again. Call it a fear, call it a fear, call him a wuss if you'd like, but Nishikado Soujirou liked his playboy life just fine.

But as he looked at Yuki, her dark eyes gazing at him, a worried light in them as she silently watched, sometimes he just can't help but want to give her more. In Soujirou's heart, she deserved more, much more then anything he could ever give her. She was kind, sweet, unquestioning and willing. He wanted to give her more, wanted to let her go, but at the same time he couldn't let her go. He knew he was being selfish by calling her every now and then, and by restraining her, but the thought of her with some other guy made him die inside.

"Sou-kun?"

"Daijoubu, Yuki-chan. I'll be fine after a while." He replied to her worried question, and managed a small smile. But he knew he had to give an explanation. Even if he didn't want to give one, that was the least he could do after selfishly keeping her for himself yet not giving her what she deserved. Taking a deep breathe, he tried to get rid of all fatigue in his voice and mind, before he sat up again, and crossed his fingers in front of him, before speaking. "I'm just tired, Yuki-chan. Otousan needed to get sent to the hospital again last night, and I was tying up some loose ends with a new deal. I didn't go to sleep at all, and I needed to rush to the college this morning to finish up some last minute discussion for a presentation. I actually just came from it."

"Sou-kun…" Yuki repeated his name again, but this time not a question, but more like a sigh. She hesitated for a minute, but when she saw Soujirou close his eyes and lean his head back again, the image of forlorn fatigue he presented just broke Yuki's restraint. Her hand closed around the hand he had placed on the table, and she gave it a gentle squeeze, biting her lip, before she commented. "Daijoubu des, Sou-kun. It'll be alright." She tried to encourage, her eyes earnest and hopeful when Soujirou opened his eyes, and looked at her. At her gaze, he smiled. Her warmth never failed to touch him.

But he couldn't risk it. No empty promises.

"Gambeteh, Sou-kun. Yuki will be here to help you." She said again, and Soujirou's gaze softened, looking at her. That was another thing. Sou-kun, the nickname he allowed her to use, was for her, and only for her. She didn't need to know that, but Soujirou knew that. His ex-love had called him Jirou, but almost all his friends after that had called him Jirou. But Sou-kun was only for his Yuki. "Yuki-chan… arigatou." He said softly, but as he did so, he slowly slid his hand out from her reassuring grip. He didn't want to, he swore, but he couldn't risk it. Not now. He saw the disappointed look in her eyes, and he wished like hell that he wasn't the one who placed it there, but nothing could sway from the truth that he did.

"I'd better go now. I need to go and see Otou-san, before going back to college for a class."

Yuki looked at him as he stood up, and smiled, nodding. "Go. Take care of yourself, okay?" she reminded gently, and Soujirou wanted so badly to reach out and just hug her, to just hug her and let all his troubles melt away. No empty promises. "I will. Ja." Soujirou said, and waved, before walking away.

Yuki let her gaze follow his departure, and sighed as soon as he was out of sight. She knew he was tired, and she knew that as a 20 year old, barely of age adult, he shouldn't be withstanding all this pressure. But what could she do? As of now, she was nothing to him. Perhaps a friend, but nothing more. But college was ending, and Yuki has had numerous offers, most of them overseas. As she watched the spot where he had stood before, she couldn't stop the wistful look that crossed her eyes. Would it be worth her staying in Tokyo?

It's the end of the school year, finally. He'll be getting his diploma after the next semester, which will last for around 6 months, and after that he can fully concentrate on his father and the business after that. Soujirou stepped out of the school compounds, and stretched, for once not bothering if he looked like a cat in the sun. He had one less thing to worry about for the next 2 months, maybe he could get enough rest by then. After working for 20 hours per day and only 4 hours of sleep, he deserved it.

Speaking of deserving something… Soujirou took out his cellphone, and smiled as he dialed Yuki's number. The amount of times he had went over to her when he just needed someone to hold his hand, just someone to pour out everything to. He wouldn't know what to do if Yuki left. For the past month, after that time in the library, every time he went to Yuki, she would just silently hold his hand, and each time, even though no words passed through them, Soujirou was grateful, because he knew Yuki was there. Always there for him. Even though each time he left with only a smile and a thank you, Yuki never turned him away.

He knew he should feel pathetic, he should beat himself up over it. He was using her and he knew it, but Soujirou couldn't let anyone have her. Just thinking about her in someone else's arms killed him. He loved her. But he couldn't make promises. Promises he can't keep. No empty promises. He repeated to himself, one last time before he pressed the dial button, as he entered his waiting limo, and smiled when he heard her answering voice. "Yuki-chan?"

"Sou-kun, I need to talk to you. Can we meet this evening?"

Soujirou was a little stunned when he heard her words. What was it? Did something happen? Worry immediately pooled in his chest, and his knuckles gripped. If anyone had hurt any of his family, Soujirou could easily ask Akira to help him. But if anyone had even touched Yuki, that person was going to pay dearly. Not only physically, but mentally as well. "What's the matter?" he asked, unable to restrain himself, yet got a very peculiar answer. "I'll tell you later. Ueito Park."

"I'll come pick you up."

"No need. Just be there."

But Soujirou decided to go and pick her up anyway. Night was fast approaching, and he didn't like the idea of Yuki walking to Ueito Park alone. Thus 10 minutes before their allotted time to meet at the vast park of Tokyo, Soujirou arrived in his car at the bottom of Yuki's apartment. But he was met with the most shocking sight. A flight cargo van was in front of the entrance, and Yuki was handing a huge box to the movers, a smile on her face as she seem to thank the worker, before signing a receipt. Without wasting a second, Soujirou got out of his car and briskly walked over to Yuki, catching her by the elbow just as the van moved away.

"Sou-kun!" Yuki gasped in surprise when she saw him. "Yuki-chan, whose moving?" Soujirou immediately asked, not even realizing his grip was starting to get a little hard from his racing panic. Was she leaving? Impossible, she had another year of… No wait! This was her last year of college! Baka, Nishikado Soujirou! How can you be so caught up with yourself, you didn't even notice! "Sou-kun… Itai…" Yuki starting saying out of clenched teeth, as she tried to wrench her arm out of Soujirou's grip. Finally realizing he was bruising her, Soujirou loosened his grip immediately, but his dark eyes never left her flushed face.

"Yuki-chan?" Soujirou asked again, his apprehensiveness obvious by now. Yuki looked up at him, at his rather anxious looking face, before sighing. "I'm moving, Sou-kun. I accepted a course in biotech, and its in the United States."

"Why?"

"Why should I stay?" Yuki asked in return, and Soujirou kept silent. He couldn't ask her to stay. Asking her that would mean making empty promises, and that's the one thing Soujirou abstained from at all cost. Yuki waited for a minute longer, before she sighed, and looked up at Soujirou's eyes with disappointment and wist. "I'm going to the US, Sou-kun. Take care of yourself." Yuki finally said, and she brushed her fingers briefly against his cheek, letting her gaze linger on his a minute longer, before turning and entering her house.

Through all this, Soujirou kept quiet. She was leaving? She was leaving? Reality couldn't sink in, it seemed. He stared dumbfounded, at where she had went up for 2 minutes or more, before what had happened finally made itself clear in his head, and a sudden pain shot through his chest. He couldn't ask her to stay. That would be worst then the selfish act he had been keeping up for the past year and a half. So what is he supposed to do?

Standing in the middle of the bustling Narita Airport, a main hub in Tokyo for transits and oversea traveling, Yuki seemed rather forlorn. Her family had came to send her off, but now she stood alone, for she had practically begged them to go home earlier. She didn't want to face more tears, and definitely no more of her mother's bawling. Going away from her home her whole life was bad enough. Having to comfort someone else when you feel bad enough inside was worst.

But leaving Nishikado Soujirou behind was probably the hardest part of all.

Sighing, she looked up at the silver, futuristic ceiling covering Narita Airport, and sighed. 3 years. It was going to take 3 long years. And Yuki wasn't even sure if she was going to get enough funds to visit Tokyo in this span of time. She was surviving on a scholarship there. Just for her three meals, she has to work as a part-time waitress. To get a plane ticket back to Tokyo for a visit? That chance seems practically nil.

"Yuki-chan!"

Her eyes widened, and she turned around in surprise when she recognized the voice. Sure enough, she saw the form of Nishikado Soujirou, his dark hair windswept and his black trench cloak flying as he ran towards her. "Yuki-chan! Don't leave, please!" Soujirou said, the moment he reached her. His hands grasped hers tightly, and Yuki's eyes widened when she saw the intensity in his words, the honest desperation in his tone. "You're the only reason I'm still sane right now. If it wasn't for you for the past 14 months, I'd have drowned in all the stress and pressure. I love you, Yuki-chan. I need you. Don't leave. Please." Soujirou pleaded. Actually, by now, he wouldn't mind if he had to get down on his knees and beg her to stay, all he knew was that he needed her by his side. Forget promises, forget his vows. All he needed was Yuki and he had the world.

Yuki looked up at him. His desperate tone, his pleading face, all that told Yuki that he wasn't kidding, he was for real. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she managed a small watery smile, but slowly pulled her grip out form his tight grasp, before letting her hands fold gently over his. "I love you, Sou-kun. I always had, and you know that." Yuki said, and Soujirou let himself hope, just a little, that she wouldn't go. But her next words dashed all his hopes. "But I have to go."

"Yuki-chan-!"

"Sou-kun, listen to me. I promised my family, and I already sent the college my confirmation cash. With the diploma I get there, after I finish the course, I can give my family a better life."

"I can give your family a better life! You don't have to go! Just stay with me, and they can have all they want."

"I want to do it myself, Sou-kun. I'm not going to use your money."

Soujirou's lungs deflated, as her words sunk in. His hopes dashed, and his heart sank. 3 years… "Wait. You love me?" he suddenly asked, his head perking up. Yuki gave him a dubious look, before rolling her eyes. "It took you 4 years to realize that?" she asked incredulously, before shaking her head ruefully again, before her hand went up to press a palm against his cheek. "I love you. I've always loved you, Sou-kun. Ever since the first time I saw you, and you know that." Yuki said in a soft voice, and her smile turned warm, tender even, as Soujirou pressed his hand against the one she had on his cheek.

"Then come back to me. Promise me you'll come back to me." Soujirou said hoarsely, trying to force down the lump that was forming in his throat as the other hand went to wind themselves around Yuki's free hand. He was grateful when she didn't move away this time, but his emotions shot sky high when he felt her own fingers twining around his. Yuki smiled, and nodded. "I'll always come back to you." She whispered.

Looking at her, her eyes which brimmed with vibrant love for him and only him, Soujirou felt like his heart was about to explode, and before anything, he took her chin in his fingers, and tilted her head up, leaving her questioning "Eh?" unanswered, he swallowed the muffled, surprised half-gasp, half-groan Yuki elicited, as he pressed his lips against hers. Yuki groaned when she felt his lips against hers, and before she knew it, the palm that had been on his cheek had wound itself behind his neck, and she felt his hand on the small of her back, pressing her against him as the other hand of hers wrapped around his waist, their kiss turning passionate as their lips meshed together.

A full minute later, they broke apart, Yuki's cheeks flushed, Soujirou's expression contented, and a little smug, he gave a chaste kiss on her forehead, before pulling her closer to him, and burying his head in the crook of her neck, kissing her one last time on her shoulder, before whispering in her ear. "Come back to me."

His breathe on her earlobe sent tingles up her spine, as Yuki wrapped her arms around his neck, and leaned against his shoulder. She nodded at his command, and pressed a kiss against his cheek, and another one against the edge of his neck, she giggled when she heard Soujirou growl in protest, obviously annoyed at the fact that they were in the middle of a busy airport. "Only you." Yuki whispered in response, and kissed him one last time on his cheek, before she pulled away, much to Soujirou's reluctance.

"I have to go now."

Soujirou's grip tightened on where he held her hand, and Yuki sighed, and leaned in closer, pressing one last, chaste kiss on his lips, before forcefully wrenching her hands away from his. "I'll be back, I promise."

"I'll come and visit you."

"Promise?"

"Promise. No empty promises. Not for you, my Yuki-chan." Soujirou replied, as he brushed his fingers against her cheek lightly, and leaned in to kiss her cheek. Yuki's gaze softened, and she laughed lightly, before looking over her shoulder at the departure lobby, and then back at Soujirou. "I really should go now, Sou-kun."

"Come back soon, my Yuki-chan." Soujirou replied, and watched silently, as she walked away, and disappeared through the entrance of the departure lobby. When she disappeared, Soujirou gritted his teeth, and clenched his fists. No empty promises. Not anymore. Not for my Yuki-chan. He thought to himself with reassurance. For his Yuki-chan, he'll never disappoint her. For his Yuki-chan, he'll be willing to do anything. As long as she came back to me.