Well, this is my second intent of a fic of one of the mangas I loved the most: Hana Yori Dango. I really enjoyed the story and the Dorama but until now I can't help to think that Rui and Tsukushi deserved to be together. So, this is the first chapter of my version of the story…I hope you enjoy it! Review if you do! Thank you very much for reading!
(Also, this is based on the manga, not the doramas…)
-*-*Flashback 1*-*-
"If you're the girlfriend of one of my best friends, then you and I can be friends forever." Rui said.
"Hanazawa Rui, did you know that I liked you?" Makino asked with a cute smile.
"Of course. You're going to be late for class."
-*-*Flashback 2-*-*
"What did you come here for?" Doumyouji asked with cold eyes.
"Huh? What do you mean…" Tsukushi was confused "I came to get you, of cou-"
"I'm not going back. (…) This has nothing to do with the old witch. That's what I've decided. I'm staying here. Dropping out of school was also of my own free will. Go home."
-*-*Flashback 3-*-*
"I came here with everyone's support, so full of myself." Tsukushi sighed "Oh, what about you Hanazawa Rui? Why did you come? It really is a surprise."
"I came because I was worried about you. I was worried that you might be off crying somewhere."
-*-*Flashback 4-*-*
"Ha…Hanazawa Rui…Um…just now…"
"The kiss? I just suddenly felt like doing it."
"You-you felt like it?"
"Yeah, is that a problem?"
"Y-Yes it's a problem! It's weird! Friends don't do that sort of thing with each other! Besides, I'm just like your pet, right? You should save Kissing for someone you love!"
"Ahh, a pet. You actually took that seriously. (…) I don't really understand myself… Why did I do that?" He pondered the idea for a bit "Maybe it's love? I see. That must be it."
-*-*Flashback 5*-*-
"Let's go back to Japan. Let's go back together." Rui told her.
The faint dream I've seen so many times. The smiling Doumyouji, and the words I've waited more than anything to hear—Why is this person the one who's saying them?
-*-*End of flashbacks*-*-
This woman was once again in front of her, proud as always.
"I will grant you one thing you desire. Hurry up and say it, I don't want to owe you anything. Go on."
One thing I desire…?
"…I made a promise with him. I want him to forget it. Just tell him that and he'll understand."
"Very well. I'll tell him" and with this, Doumyouji's mother left.
"Why didn't you ask her to let Doumyouji do as he pleases?" Rui asked her.
"Because it's not my place to. He said it was something he had decided himself." Tsukushi contained her tears and turned to her friend, no, her savior "Hanazawa Rui, I know I've said it many times, but thank you, so much."
"Quit saying that" he said with a smile on his face. Then, he got closer to Tsukushi and kissed her forehead. A very well-known beat made Tsukushi's heart hurt. "You and I have a connection when it comes to airports. Whether I'm in trouble or you are."
"You mean that time when you went after Shizuka-san to Paris?"
"Uhuh. You supported me back then. This time, I'm going to support you." Rui checked his watch "It's about time. Let's go to the departure gate."
"Okay" they haven't even taken one step while turning to go to when they saw Doumyouji standing in front of them.
"What are you two doing?" he asked.
"Tsukasa, I'm taking Makino home with me now." Rui answered.
"I can tell that by the fact that we're in an airport. But before that"
Ah, he saw the kiss. Tsukushi thought. Her bag slipped from her hands.
"Rui, what are you trying to pull here?"
"I love Makino."
Her heart started to beat fast again. Less than two days ago she had decided to go look up for her curled haired boyfriend, but when he rejected her, he left a deep wound inside o her. And now Rui came and said something like that.
"I had intended never to say anything about it. You're my friend and all…I thought that if things went well between you two, then that would be enough for me."
It happened too quickly, before Tsukushi could realize it, Doumyouji threw a punch towards Rui's face. Rui barely dodged it but couldn't help to get a cut in his cheek. What she wasn't prepared for, was for Rui's answer. An accurate, strong and loud blow fell on Doumyouji's face, leaving him and her both with their mouths open.
"What are you doing! That's what I'd like to ask. What the hell are you doing!? You leave Makino all alone in a place like this. How can you call yourself her boyfriend! Is that how you protect her? If it is, then I guess I misjudged you. You're the worst."
Doumyouji was dumbfounded.
Doumyouji, I wondered how I would react when I saw you again. I came here with such a strong will and I was thrown back by your cold eyes. But now that I see you, I feel sorrow and a big void inside of me. I don't want to go through this all over again. I'm sick of this story repeats itself all the time.
"Makino, if you want to stay, then stay. Decide for yourself." And saying that, Rui turned around and started walking for the departure gates section.
She looked at Doumyouji and then Rui. Her bag was on the floor, the book in which she was keeping the flowers that Rui bought for her had fallen. In that exact moment she took a decision for herself, something she hadn't done in a long time.
"Doumyouji" she got closer to him "forget about we promised each other that last time. Please, just forget it."
"Makino…" he stared at her with extreme sadness, but it was already much too late.
"Then, I think that's all. I'm leaving!" and giving him a smile, she turned around to catch up Rui.
Rui noticed the moment Tsukushi caught up with him and felt something flicker from within. He couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, but it fel a lot like pride.
After walking for a while, he talked.
"Is this what you really want?"
"Yes, it'll be fine, but…there's something I would like to ask you, Hanazawa Rui." She stopped walking and Rui turned to see her, Tsukushi looked troubled "Is something extremely selfish and I'll understand immediately if you don't want to do it."
"What are you talking about?" She didn't answer so Rui decided to wait for her.
"Take me far away" Tsukushi finally said after a long minute "I don't have the strength to go back to Japan in this moment, I don't want to face the rest of the guys right now, it's been enough with these last few days. I know how this sounds, and I know it's crazy but-"
She stopped because she saw that Rui had pulled out his cell phone and seemed not to be listening to her while talking in English to someone on the other line.
It's obvious, my request is insane. She thought
Tsukushi turned around and decided to get out of there. She will go alone anywhere, it didn't matter anymore. Suddenly, she felt someone grabbing her by the shoulder.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"What?"
"Didn't you just asked me to take you far away? I just changed our flying tickets."
"Hanaza-" Rui covered her mouth his hand.
"Thank me again and I swear I'll drag you back to Japan."
Tsukushi nodded and smiled.
"I'll have to make a strong money withdrawal of the ATM right now, if not, they will be able to catch up to my credit card when we pay for something."
"It's not necessary to spend that much money."
"Makino, this is the first time you've have asked something for yourself and you think we ain't gonna celebrate? Come one, be a good girl and disregard the fact of the money just this time. Alright?"
"Alright" she said with a smile on her face.
Rui paid the change of flights to Hawai, register their bags and together they took a luxurious plane to Hawaii. Tsukushi had never been there, but as soon as she saw the scenery, she thought it was beautiful. The sun, the sea, the sand, the smell, the people, the music…everything looked like it had escaped from a dream.
"I was right"
"About what?" asked Rui.
"I should've waited until my honeymoon to come here."
"What?"
"My dream has always been to come to Hawaii after I got married, for my honeymoon. In the movies they always portray it as the perfect place for couples."
"You think? I've been here millions of times."
"You rich people." she laughed "Don't you have any romantic dream? At least one?"
Rui remained silent while he thought for a bit.
"If you love the person beside you, it doesn't matter whether you're in a cabin or in Hawaii, right? What's important is that you're together. I think the best thing you can expect is to spend the rest of your life with the person you love."
Tsukushi stared at him with tremendous surprise. Was this the same Rui she'd known in the emergency staircase? The same Rui that hated to talk to strangers and spoke only the necessary with friends? After Tsukushi found out he went to New York because he was worried about her, her heart had begun to hurt with every beat when he said things like that. What's more, Rui had kissed her again, with the sole explanation that the most probable thing was that it was out of love. Was that possible?
"Makino, we should go check-in the hotel." His voice put her out of her reverie.
"No, let's not go to that hotel."
"Hmm? Why not?"
Tsukushi looked up and saw more than 20 stunning floors standing in front of her in what surely was a five star hotel.
"If Nishikado or Mimasaka try to find you, they'll do it easily by checking in the usual F4 places and will come to ruin everything."
She was right, Rui haven't thought about that.
"Then…what do you propose?" He asked.
"Isn't there any good place to sleep nearby? But that doesn't have a database that can be tracked down through your satellites or something?"
"Mmm…I don't know. Let's ask around and see."
After leaving that zone of the island -one of the most luxurious ones by the way- they found many lodgings, hostels and pensions that offered shelter to foreign people for a modest amount of money. It didn't have the luxuries of a five star hotel, but the necessary ones to have a good stay.
"Are you sure you can stay in a place like this?" Rui asked, clearly not confident.
"Why not? It'll be an adventure; it's the first time I'll do it. It'll be like the cleaning in the restaurant, although I don't think you'll get a tip this time." Her excitment, smile and reasons were enough to dispell his doubts.
They entered, then, a big pretty house where there were all sorts of foreigners: French, Polish, Canadian, Latin…they didn't feel bad at being the only Japanese in the area and the fluent English that Rui spoke, help them through the registry. Their landlady was a woman of burned skin, slanted eyes and strong accent, but she had a great smile and seemed pretty nice.
"I do have a room for two left, but with separated beds." she told Rui after checking her book.
"There's no problem, we'll take it."
"What is she saying?" asked Tsukushi.
"That she only has one room left available."
Tsukushi blushed furiously when she heard this.
"Don't worry, it has separated beds."
They went upstairs to the third floor and searched for their door. Upon entering, they found a cozy bedroom with a full bathroom and a beautiful view to the sea from a large window.
"Well, it's not as small as I thought it would be." Rui said
Tsukushi was still standing in the middle of the room with her luggage in hand, a little bit flushed and not knowing what to say.
"Makino?"
"Ehh…yeah. It's nice, huh? Wow, have you seen this beautiful view? If it didn't have this thick curtains, the sun will wake you up earlier that you would like to. But, if you want, I can sleep in this bed closest to the window so it doesn't disturb your sleep, I know that you suffer of low blood pressure in the mornings, right? Besides-"
"Makino…" Rui interrupted her. Tsukushi tried to held his gaze but couldn't. Rui noticed this and left his things beside on of the beds before going to her. He put his hand under her chin, lifted her face and stared deeply into her eyes "Why are you so nervous?"
"What makes you think something like that?" Tsukushi could feel herself trembling slightly.
"Whenever you're nervous you start chattering like a parrot. If you don't like me being here I can look for another room in a closeby lodge" he offered.
"It's not that!" Tsukushi dropped her bag and grabbed his shirt "It's…not that, Hanazawa Rui…I know that for you maybe it's normal and logical to say and do the things you think of, but right now, as I told you before, I'm very vulnerable." Her eyes filled with tears "I love Doumyouji, it's not something that's going to fade overnight, but you…you were always the person with whom I felt the best. It sounds silly, right? If you continue to behave like you did in the airpo-"
Rui said nothing, but drew her close to him and kissed her. Tsukushi tried to push him off at first, but he pinned her to a wall and kept her there until she responded to him. It felt so good to share that moment, it made her heart beat faster, her legs waver a bit and her mind go blank…
After a long while, Rui finally let her breathe.
"I know you're still in love with Tsukasa" he told her as he held her close "I'm not a fool, but what I told him in the airport is true, I love you. I'm not sure in what moment my feelings for you started to change…you're a strange girl, you know? But you were always giving the best of you, while I was a rich boy that got everything he wanted because of the family he was born into. Many times I felt embarrassed in front of you, I bet you didn't know, right?" Tsukushi nodded "Listen, I'm not asking you to go out with me, I'm just asking you to do whatever you want to do in this trip, anything at all. There'll be plenty of time to face reality when we get back, but for now…I'm here. Use me as you see fit."
"Hanazawa Rui! I couldn't…!"
"You can, and you will" He kissed her hair, her forehead, her eyelids, her cheeks and her lips "If you need a hug, a kiss, comfort, company; don't doubt to ask" he said with a mischievous smile dancing in his lips. Tsukushi couldn't help letting smoke escape from every pore of her body.
"It'll pass thousands of years before I ask you something like that, rich brat!" she said as she scampered to hit him.
"Hahahahaha! We'll see about that!" He answered with a strange warm feeling in his chest. He had never offered something like that to anyone. Was it fair that he was taking advantage of the situation to spend time with her? To kiss her and hug her every time he wanted to? Was he betraying Tsukasa by loving his girlfriend like this?
"Makino, would you like to take a stroll down the beach with me?"
"Mmm…okay."
Rui extended his hand out and waited. It all depended on her, she could grab his hand or reject it, he will only do what she allowed him to do and he will shut the doubts inside his chest. Hope was something dangerous and, without realizing it, it had begun to grow inside him at an astounding speed. Tsukushi didn't look at him directly, but placed her fingers in the hand that was extended in front of her and strangely, she felt as if that was home, as if that was the right place for her.
Rui squeezed her hand and like this, they left the room together.