Ok well, chapter 7 is up. I hope you guys are all happy about this because I wasn’t sure if I was going to update at all what with all the exams coming up. I was lucky to have finished the Rui scene ages ago because I wanted to make sure I didn’t forget what I’d imagined.

Tsukushi got out of the limousine reluctantly, not wanting to enter the mansion after what had happened the previous night. It made her feel embarrassed and nervous just thinking of the blood and the glass embedded in her leg.

At the hospital while Tsukushi was surrounded by friends and family a nurse came in with a scowl and told them all to leave except family. When Hiroshi stood up to leave a flicker of recognition crossed the nurse’s face but it was gone before Tsukushi had the time to properly decipher it. Everyone said good bye and good luck before they left and Hiroshi’s mood jumped from anxious to extremely happy. It made Tsukushi’s feelings hurt.

A while later Tsukushi’s family left to catch up on some sleep as they had been up for more than 24 hours. Being beside their daughter’s bed didn’t help much to relieve their tiredness. Once they left Tsukasa sat down in the only chair in the ward and bowed his head. Tsukushi watched him with pity then she sighed.

Now they were back at the mansion, late at night and Tsukasa was standing next to Tsukushi, who was leaning on a crutch. Tsukasa sensed his future wife didn’t want to go inside so he blushed as he urged Tsukushi forward. Tsukushi limped slowly to the house. Tsukasa would have settled for carrying her bridal style but he didn’t think Tsukushi would appreciate it.

But she did, very much wanted him to hold her as her leg killed.

A few minutes later they were both in Tsukasa’s room, standing very far apart with Tsukushi near the door, poised to escape if Tsukasa was up to something again. She knew her chances were very slim as her leg was encased in a bandage and she was relying on ugly crutches as a support.

Tsukasa stood next to the window, feeling a bit stupid.

“Hey, just sleep in the bed; I’ll sleep on the sofa.” Tsukushi softly nodded in reply as Tsukasa pulled out a pair of pyjama bottoms and strolled to his own bathroom to get changed. Tsukushi quickly sat on the bed and changed into a pair of pyjamas. Then she slid into bed, taking care of her wounded leg. She turned to lie on her side, on the right side of the bed.

Tsukasa remerged from the bathroom, with naught but navy pyjama pants. He took a pillow from the bed and placed it on the sofa then he pressed the button on the intercom by his door. When an unknown voice answered Tsukasa asked for some blankets. Tsukushi watched the scene on the bed, feeling sorry for Tsukasa. Because she had run from him, he was giving up his bed for someone he loved.

Tsukushi sat up just when the door knocked and Tsukasa answered it. A maid handed Tsukasa the blankets, bowed then left. Tsukasa unfolded the blankets and threw it over the sofa. Tsukushi cleared her throat. Tsukasa looked up.

“Tsukasa, forget about the sofa, just get into bed.” Tsukasa blinked once before answering.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, it’s alright, I forgive you.” Tsukushi patted the area beside her and lifted up the covers. Tsukasa slid into bed obediently and watched her get comfortable. They lay there, face to face, watching each other. Then they fell asleep within minutes of each other.

HYD

Three weeks later after the glass accident, Tsukushi’s wounds healed perfectly except her leg, which still had a shiny red line. Her cheek healed so well you couldn’t see anything at all. The renovations at the house weren’t done yet and so her family were still living at her fiancé’s house. But it was not with its perks. Instead of silence, there were disasters after disasters. Tsukushi thanked the god that her future mother in law was not there, and wouldn’t be for another week.

The disasters included a fried bathroom, a battle on Wii that went too far as to breaking the machine itself, a few (and by a few, I mean a lot) glasses were broken, the happy in laws of the Domyoujis spilled red wine onto the carpet and they had to move to another room, so the carpet could be replaced. There was a lot more disasters but there were too many to name.

But even in the midst of all the accidents the mansion itself was buzzing with activity and excitement. The excitement mainly stemmed from Tama, the head maid and Tsukushi’s family. All the maids except Tama were busy scouring the whole mansion, every millimetre of it before the upcoming engagement party, taking place in a week.

Tsukushi and Tsukasa now were as comfortable as could be, sleeping next to each other in Tsukasa’s bed. They hadn’t gone further than kissing and Tsukushi was glad of that, but she had a feeling Tsukasa wanted it. She had wanted to put it off a bit further.

Meanwhile Yuki was sitting on the park swing, worried about one thing and one thing only. Hiroshi. He was late for their date. He was never late before, so what caused this change? Yuki was about to leave for Hiroshi’s house when he came running to her, looking a bit pale with dark circles under his eyes.

“Hiroshi! You look horrible! What’s wrong?” Yuki asked worriedly. Hiroshi dropped onto one of the swings and panted.

“I’m just so tired; I couldn’t sleep last night for no reason.”

“That’s not good; I hope you sleep well tonight.” Yuki fingered his gorgeous hair. He smiled weakly.

“Sweetie, you don’t look well, maybe you should go home. We can do this date another time.” Hiroshi stood up abruptly then he swayed a bit. Yuki caught him by the elbow.

“Are you ok?”

“Yes! Please don’t worry about me, I want to go out with the one I love, you.” Hiroshi pleaded. Yuki blushed deeply. She struggled with herself for a few seconds.

“Then let’s go!”

HYD

The engagement party was finally here and everyone was located in one part of the house, getting ready for the party, or beautified (in Tsukushi’s parents case.) Tsukushi and Tsukasa were in his bedroom, arguing. Tsukushi wanted to help out with the maids preparing the party area but Tsukasa wasn’t having any of it. They argued for close to half an hour before they had to part ways in the house and get ready for the event.

Tsukushi’s mother was dressed in a floor length deep blue gown with a square cut on her chest. Her brother and father were dressed in Armani tuxedos in grey that seemed identical. Tsukushi was forced into yet another designer gown which made Tsukushi very mad. She hated it when people brought her things, it made her feel uncomfortable.

She had to wear a long strapless pale mint green dress with silk chiffon over it. It had a satin ribbon around the waist that was tied into a bow on the back. The dress was too long but it fluttered along the ground as she walked in her pale silver heels studded with actual diamonds. She hoped no one threw it out. She was also adorned in jewellery with diamonds and pale aquamarine.

Tsukushi’s only aunty and cousin were also being dressed up in finery. She was so excited to see her cousin for the first time in a few years that she spent the whole day hanging out with her than with Tsukasa.

Soon her family were sent into the ballroom and Tsukushi was stuck in the parlour with Tsukasa. She was hungry and thirsty because she hadn’t had anything to eat since lunch time. Tsukasa said they had to be fashionably late. Well, she didn’t care if she was early or if she drove a tractor into the party. All she wanted was food.

In the meantime Yuki arrived at the mansion by a Hummer limo. She got out of the limo with her hand on Hiroshi’s elbow, beaming at whoever was there. Cameras flashed around them as they entered the mansion in attire brought with the Domyouji money. Yuki wore a rose pink (picture a nude lip gloss, brownish pink) dress in a halter neck style, with an uneven hem with the higher part bunched up at the hip with an antique gold brooch with pink stones arranged as a flower.

Hiroshi wore a suit that belonged to his uncle, which was a dark purplish grey. He arranged his hair in a suitable fashion. That was a lie, it was still messy but it made Yuki croon at it when she looked at him.

A while later the rest of the F4 entered the mansion, waving at the camera men as if they were celebrities. Obviously they were. When they got inside Soujiroh saw Yuki standing with Hiroshi as they chatted with each other and Susumu. He suddenly felt furious when he saw Hiroshi giving Yuki a soft kiss on the lips. Yuki blushed so much that her face looked like the strawberry red drapes behind her.

Lately he had been feeling jealous of Hiroshi. He felt himself being rude and disrespectful to others around him. There was a reason as to why this was so. He had fallen in love with Yuki. Simple as that. It took another guy to win Yuki’s heart to make him realise that and he hated himself for it. Now he was considering joining with Rui on the newly formed ‘Unlucky in Love’ club.

Suddenly the lights dimmed and a limelight narrowed onto the top of the stairs. Music started playing and Tsukasa and Tsukushi appeared at the top steps. Tsukasa was smiling cheerfully at his friends and family while Tsukushi smiled shyly.

A couple of hours later, give or take several minutes, Rui plucked a cracker off a place and munched on it, scanning the room. He was bored at the party. There was no one to speak to since Soujiroh was full of jealousy because of Yuki and Akira was currently flirting with a woman he did not know. Rui grabbed a glass of champagne and downed it quickly before stepping forth for the seafood part of the buffet.

He grabbed a plate and started loading shrimp onto it, some black caviar and a bunch of sushi. He stepped to the side and almost bumped into a girl with really long blond hair.

‘Wait, what? Blonde?’ Rui looked up to and his gaze locked with the girl’s for a millisecond. He could tell she looked American, with blue eyes and light blonde hair. He decided to strike up conversation in English out of boredom.

“What do you think of the party?” Rui started in English.

“Huh?” The girl looked up from the seafood platter again. She was confused, Rui could tell. Maybe she didn’t hear him properly, since it was so loud.

Her hair was very long, reaching down to the small of her back, It was styled in soft curls and parts of her hair was braided and pulled back into a large filigree clip that was in the shape of a flower. She was very pretty, but her side bangs framed most of her features and she wore a pair of rectangular rimless glasses. She was also short, a head below his shoulder. She had pale skin and her eyes were slightly slanted.

She wore a baby blue V neck dress that was made of silky material that flowed down to her knees. She wore a white pair of strappy stilettos and carried a white clutch. She had on short blue drop earrings and a silver chain around her wrist. Rui could tell the chain wasn’t new because the shine was gone.

“What do you think of the party?” Rui asked again, this time a bit louder.

“I…don’t…get…what…you’re…saying,” The girl said slowly, as if she was weirded out by a Japanese looking guy in grey speaking a language she didn’t know at all. She suspected it was English.

“Huh? You speak Japanese?” Rui asked, astonished.

“Duh, yes.” She turned to face him.

“So you don’t speak English?”

“Of course not,” she snapped at him, feeling a bit annoyed by this idiot.

“B…but you look American,” Rui stammered as he blinked. His heart was suddenly beating really fast.

“Well, thanks for that!” She snapped again and slammed the plate onto the table and began to walk away. Rui mentally cursed himself and set his plate down. He hurried after the blonde haired girl. He was intrigued by her uniqueness. He placed a hand on her shoulder and tugged at it. The girl turned around, about to scream at him. Her mouth opened as she tried to think of something to say.

“Hey, I’m sorry, it was rude of me to immediately think you were American.” Rui started as the girl closed her mouth. She was well aware of a few people staring at them. “Well that’s not precisely my fault, you do look American, but I didn’t mean to make you angry somehow.”

“Um, sorry, I’m to blame here, I’m in a bad mood today, since I was forced to endure hours of poking and prodding when I hate it when people touch me, and I kinda hate it when people don’t talk to me because I look American.”

“Oh I see, but there’s just one question I wanted to ask,” The girl chuckled as she heard that.

“You wanted to know how I look American but speak Japanese?” Rui gaped at her in disbelief. “See? Everyone wants to know that. It’s a long story, but to make it short, I’ll tell you if we go outside. It’s too loud here.”

“I agree, let’s go that way, there’s a balcony.” The girl nodded and followed after him. Rui opened the glass doors and they went in. Rui closed the doors and sat down next to her on one of the wrought iron chairs painted in white.

“Ok, here goes. My mother’s Japanese and she married an American man, a teacher here, teaching English. They moved to America and they had me there. Just before I turned two my father died in an accident involving a semi trailer. My mother brought me over here because without my father we wouldn’t have enough money to live so yeah. I was raised here. Voila, my life story.” The girl’s glasses glinted in the light.

“Oh, I’m sorry about your father.” Rui ducked his head. The girl played with the bracelet on her hand. He could tell it was very precious to her.

“It’s ok, it happened a loooong time ago,” The girl waved her hand. Rui nodded. They chatted a bit more then decided to go inside, since it was getting cold. They stood around, talking about books until Tsukushi came over and draped an arm around the blonde haired girl’s shoulders.

“There you are Kiara; I’ve been looking for you everywhere! Ah, I see you’ve met Hanazawa Rui.”

“Hanazawa Rui? The one you were talking about ages ago? The one who you had a massive-mmpf” Tsukushi’s hand covered Kiara’s mouth. Rui grinned as Tsukushi blushed softly. Kiara struggled against the mouth muffling and clawing the hand off.

“So what have you guys been talking about?” Tsukushi prompted, releasing her hold over the girl’s mouth.

“Just the usual, books and family… so how do you guys know each other?” Tsukushi glanced at both Kiara and Rui then started chuckling.

“You really didn’t notice? You know how I was telling you how I was really excited about my cousin coming over from the other side of Japan? Well this is her!” Tsukushi grinned. Kiara smiled meekly at Rui as she wrapped an arm around her cousin’s waist.

“Are you serious? You guys are cousins? That would explain the short tempers,” Rui stated. Kiara snorted and crossed her arms.

“I’m not that bad! Anyways, she’s worse! Honestly she was suspended from high school twice! Wait I think it was three times! And because of that she got expelled.” Tsukushi teased her cousin.

“Really? How did you get suspended three times?” Rui was interested in the newcomer now. Kiara glared at her cousin.

“You didn’t have to mention that, it makes me sound like some kinda rebel or something!” Kiara hissed at Tsukushi then diverted her attention to Rui.

“The first time I got suspended was for a really stupid reason. Maybe it’s not as stupid as I think it is. I called a teacher some words that I wouldn’t use. I was angry because the teacher made really harsh comments on my assignment. Besides, that teacher had it in for me. I hated her, she deserved being called a fat mole” Rui stared at her astonished.

“The second time, a girl called me a prostitute because I often hung around with guys, who were mostly what the drag queens would call ‘nerds’ so I resorted to violence and…and I…well I slapped her then made up a rumour around the school that she ‘stuffed her bras with chicken fillets’

“The last time… I was at school and one of the guys at my school cheated on my best friend so I punched him. Two of his teeth fell out.” Kiara smirked. Rui started laughing out loud, doubling over as he clutched his sides. Tsukushi grinned at her cousin then she nudged her in the ribs.

“What?” She asked Tsukushi as she started at Rui in disbelief.

“Bonus points on that one, he rarely ever laughs. Spends most of his days depressed.”

“Oi I do not!” Rui rebutted. Tsukushi grinned then suddenly she beamed as someone entered the scene. Domyouji Tsukasa. Kiara wondered how her cousin would be getting married so soon. It was so odd, getting married at such a young age; she’d rather marry in her late twenties.

Rui could feel something inside him change. He didn’t seem to love Tsukushi. His heart didn’t race when he saw Tsukushi approach. In fact she seemed like a sister to him now. Rui was confused about his feelings. When Tsukushi dragged Kiara away, leaving Rui with Tsukasa his heart sank and he stood there staring at the spot where the blond haired once stood. Tsukasa pushed him to jerk him out of his depression.

“What?” Rui murmured at Tsukasa.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, nothing’s the matter. Oh, by the way, you’ve got nothing to worry about,” Rui smirked downheartedly as he made a big drama of crossing his arms.

OK, it’s done, I hoped you all liked it. I’m so happy I got 5 reviews for the last chapter; let’s get the same this time ey?

The climax might take place in the next chapter or the one after that. I believe there will be two different climaxes happening. Keep your eyes peeled for some drama. :D

I’m gonna take the time to answer all the reviews here…

Thanks for all the definitions on Japanese words, they are much appreciated.

Sheen Shan: Even though you wanted Soujiroh and Yuki to be together, it is currently Yuki and Hiroshi. But not for long…I’m not telling you why or how.

Anime07: I’m so not changing the plot to make Tsukasa stay in NY because I feel he and Tsukushi must stay together.

FilmMaker: It’s harsh for Yuki and Rui as they were unlucky in love but that’s not the case now. Rui is having feelings for someone else and Yuki loves Hiroshi. Yuki tends to fall in love quite quickly and easily doesn’t she? Also there is more to Hiroshi than meets the eye. I have left cryptic clues for you so that you can figure out the mystery yourself. How does that sound?

Oh by the way…I’ll be posting the cast of Boys Over Flowers, an American version to Hana Yori Dango.