Boys Over Flowers Fan Fiction ❯ Four Of Hearts ❯ Chapter 2 - Upping The Ante ( Chapter 2 )

 

DISC: I do not own Hana Yori Dango or its characters. They are the property of Yoko Kamio. I make no profit off this story, and will remove it up the written request of Kamio-sama.

 

 

 

"Hm," he stated drowsily as they broke apart for air. "That's weird."

 

Rui had just kissed her. Hanazawa Rui had just kissed her. Her! Okawahara Shigeru. The girl no one wanted. Too much. She breathed out the first word that came to her lips. "What?"

 

"They look like plums, but taste like cherries." His voice was soft and thoughtful, and she couldn't help but notice that his eyes were very focused on her lips. "I didn't expect that." Unconsciously, his tongue lightly licked at his lips - as if trying to capture the last of a very pleasurable taste.

 

"Wh- What?" Shigeru's eyes had never been wider in her life. Was he making fun of her? Was this a joke? Her voice was practically a whisper. "I don't... Wh-what?"

 

He smiled just a bit. A flustered Shigeru was much quieter than the normal Shigeru. Plus, she was very cute the way she was sitting on his lap, her hands still on his shoulders, blinking in amazement. Her almond-shaped eyes were chocolate - with just a hint of honey in them. And much bigger than most girls' eyes. Not bigger than Tsukushi's, but definitely prettier. How did he never notice how pretty they were before? The sparkle of mischief still present even in her drunken confusion.

 

"Rui... Did you... Did you just kiss me, or am I really really drunk?"

 

He chuckled. She fit really nicely in his arms. Of course, there was a reason had never noticed *that* before. Because he'd never held her before. She was usually too rambunctious. And he'd been so busy thinking about Shizuka or Tsukushi, he'd never even considered. "It has to be one or the other? Not both?"

 

"Wh..What?"

 

His smile grew more languid. Tsukushi was happy with Tsukasa. And that... was truly a good thing. The lazy smile grew even broader as he stated, "You're really drunk, Shigeru."

 

She stared at him. The meaning of the words sank in. Of course. Hanazawa Rui wouldn't kiss her. She was just drunk and imagining things. Because Rui was, in some ways, even better looking than Tsukasa. And Rui would never fit with someone as feisty as she. He seemed somewhat stoic and lethargic. But once his emotions took over, once roused, he was fiery hot.

 

Never mind. He hadn't kissed her, and if she continued down that thought trail, she'd be wishing he had-

 

"And, I kissed you."

 

She blinked three times and then stared into his sea-green eyes. "What?" A soft breath was all the sound that came out.

 

He smiled at her as she tried to process the information through the alcohol-induced fog filling her brain.

 

"But... why?"

 

"Because they looked like plums,” he repeated slowly. “I thought they would taste good."

 

"P-plums?" None of this was making sense. And she could feel the hardness of the man beneath her - his firm thighs on her butt, his broad shoulders under her palms. He was beyond desirable. She'd known him for two years now, and he was steadfast, and proud, and noble. And he'd backed away after he discovered he was in love with Tsukushi the same way she'd backed away from Tsukasa. The two of them had both done everything within their power to make sure that the one they loved ended up happy.

 

Of course, his actions were usually a lot more sensible than hers. Because he was a lot more sensible than she. So... why on earth would he be kissing her. It didn't make sense. "But... I don't taste like plums?"

 

He shook his head no. "Cherries."

 

"Oh."

 

Was that good or bad? Cherries. Were cherries good or bad? It must be bad, right? Because he kissed her thinking she would taste like plums and she didn't.

 

He pulled her a bit closer, and tapped her lips as he said, "They look like plums. But taste-" he leaned in and licked her lower lip before continuing, “like cherries.”

 

She couldn't help it - she moaned. What the hell was he doing? Did this mean he liked cherries?

 

Did this mean he liked HER?

 

Her eyes fastened onto his mouth, then jerked up to peer questioningly into his eyes. She gasped at the heat she saw there in the second before he claimed her lips again. This time her lips separated as she moaned again, and he let his tongue dart inside playfully. It was nice how soft she was - and yet how firm in all the right places.

 

And cherry was his favorite flavor.

 

 

****

 

Back at Tsukasa's…

 

****

 

 

“How the hell could I have cheated? You dealt!” he yelled.

 

“I don't know. But…” She couldn't believe it. How could he have gotten so lucky? She now had to do anything he said for the whole weekend? It was unthinkable - what would he have her do?

 

And yet somehow, it was liberating. This weekend was no longer her responsibility. It was all up to him.

 

“You honestly think I'm that low that I'd cheat?!” He pushed back from the table, his hands clasping the edge as he bent toward her, the muscles in his arms and chest flexing as he strained to contain his anger. “What kind of guy do you think I am?”

 

And that was the question. Here she was, with the man she loved. Why was she behaving like this? She trusted him - he'd proven how trustworthy he was again and again. And she *wanted* to be here with him. “No,” she backpedaled, “That's not it…”

 

Stalking across the room, he grabbed her discarded clothing. “You don't trust me. Just forget the whole thing.” Unceremoniously, he dumped her clothes on the table and turned his back. “If you don't trust me, then it's pointless anyway.”

 

She watched as he walked toward the door. What the hell was she doing? She wanted this. She asked for this. Sure, she was scared, but where was her pride? Was she really the kind of woman who let her fear rule her and force her to welsh on a bet?

 

“Tsukasa, wait!” she called and he paused as he heard the sound of her chair pushing back. She'd be standing there in just her bra now. He closed his eyes and refused to turn and look, but his heart was pounding so loud, he was amazed that she couldn't hear it. And then, he felt her hand on his bare arm. “I do trust you,” she whispered.

 

“And,” swallowing hard as she blushed a deep magenta, she forced herself to continue, “a bet's a bet. I'll do anything you say for the rest of the weekend.”

 

He turned to look at her, surprise evident on his face. And what he saw took his breath away for a split second. In the next second, blood shot out of his nose and he passed out.

 

To prove she would honor the bet, she'd removed her bra.

 

****

 

Meanwhile, back at Shigeru's…

 

****

 

When he broke the kiss this time, her eyes were still closed and she was panting slightly. Her hands had moved during the kiss, one resting between his shoulder blades, and the other on the back of his head, holding him to her. Now, they were grasping his shoulders like a lifeline. Eventually, she caught her breath, but still her eyes remained closed tightly.

 

One hand stroked up her side, but still she refused to open them. "Shigeru," he called, but they didn't open. "Shigeru, why do you have your eyes closed?"

 

She scrunched them tighter and shook her head.

 

Rui cocked his head to the side curiously. "Shigeru, open your eyes."

 

She shook her head again and replied, "No."

 

A bemused expression lighted on his face as he said, "Come on. Open your eyes and look at me."

 

"No. I don' wanna."

 

"Why not?"

 

She shook her head more firmly in response.

 

"Am I that horrible to look at?"

 

Her closed-eye expression softened and she said, "Rui. You *know* you're super hot."

 

He sat up taller, startled. The possibility that she might like him too hadn't really occurred to him. All of a sudden, the reality of what was occurring struck him. He liked her. She was smart, and fun. She was completely loyal and headstrong. Actually, if he thought about it, she was like a mix of Tsukushi and Shizuka. Almost as headstrong as Shizuka and almost as brash as Tsukushi. Prettier than Tsukushi. Not as pretty as Shizuka. More... Real. She was... really, she was quite... She could be just right for him.

 

But what if she didn't like him like that? Could he really stand to lose his heart a third time?

 

His voice was more tremulous, more vulnerable as he said, "Then why won't you look at me?"

 

The change in tone pulled the response out of her before she could censor herself. "Because if I open my eyes, then I'll wake up. And I don't wanna. I *like* this dream."

 

He smiled wanly. "But I like looking at your eyes. They're pretty."

 

"They are?" Without thinking, they popped open to look at him. He nodded at her, his eyes very warm. Then she realized what she'd done. "Damn it! Now you aren't going to kiss me again!"

 

She wanted him to kiss her again? His eyes twinkled as he replied, "So why don't you kiss me, then?"

 

Her eyes widened for a second. This wasn't how dreams usually worked. Usually, once she realized she was dreaming, if she just refused to wake up, the dream would reassert itself. It was quite nice. Kept her from missing out on the good parts.

 

It just took a little bit of control and then she could live out her fantasies while asleep. When she first figured it out - back in high school, it was Tsukasa who would kiss her. A few times it had been Souijiro or Akira - but those were dreams where she was just having fun, not being seriously romantic. The one time back then when it had been Rui, she hadn't been able to maintain control and stay asleep. Because Rui was Tsukasa's best friend. And at the time, it had felt too much like betrayal. Or maybe too much like growing beyond. It was just too intense.

 

She didn't recall having any dreams like that since Tsukasa went to America, though. Certainly none where Rui was kissing her.

 

And never in her dreams had anyone ever asked her to initiate.

 

She looked at him, considering. She'd tried to initiate with Tsukasa and that had been a miserable failure. But... of course this was still a dream.

 

Plus, Rui and Tsukasa were very different people. Tsukasa only focused on the immediate. And he rarely could be considered thoughtful. Whereas Rui was contemplative by nature. Okay, they both could be somewhat selfish - but really, that seemed to go hand-in-hand with wealth. Did she really know anyone who wasn't self-centered at the core, other than Tsukushi?

 

"You want me to kiss you?" Her voice was halfway between skeptical and seductive, then took a turn toward contemplative. "I've never had a dream where I took what I wanted." And then back to sultry as her fingers started tracing his collarbone, "It might be pleasant to take you." With that, she leaned up toward him, her lips lightly brushing against his.

 

Soft. My god, her lips were so soft. And as she leaned up, parts of her shifted - she was so warm. No hot. Dear god, she was fire. And she tasted so good.

 

Unthinking, his hands started mimicking what hers were doing, pushing clothing aside to allow the skin of her fingers to dance along it, sparking every nerve-ending into jittery desire.

 

Pulling from her lips, he kissed down her neck to the juncture of her shoulder, where he began to nibble. Light suction coaxed moans from her lips and the sound was intoxicating.

 

She continued to attempt to divest him of clothing, and as she pulled his sweater over his head, the break in direct contact caused him to wonder at the unexpected turn of events. Who would have ever thought that he'd start falling for his best friend's arranged fiancee?

 

Falling for her.

 

He was really...

 

They'd spent so much time together this past year. But still, he never noticed how much he enjoyed being with her. Every day. He'd never truly considered her. And she was so hung up on Tsukasa that it had seemed it would take a miracle for her to find someone that would be worthy and make her happy. But now, a few drinks later...

 

She was sitting in his lap, and kissing him, and he was smitten with how much he truly wanted her to be there. If he was going to try again, she's the one he wanted to try with. Who would have thought that sake could bring such clarity?

 

The idea to drink the pain away may have been...

 

But wait. Oh. Shit. She was drunk. Maybe she didn't know she was kissing HIM. Maybe she thought she was kissing Tsukasa.

 

Could she really be *that* drunk?

 

Either way, wasn't making a move on an inebriated girl considered a scummy thing to do?

 

The sweater off, she leaned in to return the kisses to his neck that he'd just given her, but he pulled back, blinking at her as he tried to sort out in his head what to do next. Her crestfallen expression decided his course.

 

"Shigeru, we've both had too much to drink." His words were clear, and he punctuated them with what he hoped was a comforting pat on the shoulders.

 

She pouted at him. "I knew things would be bad if I opened my eyes. Now you're just going to tell me that the only reason you want to kiss me is cuz you're drunk and can pretend I'm Tsukushi." She pushed off his lap and curled up in a ball. "Why couldn't this dream turn out to not be another fucking nightmare?"

 

Rui's brow drew down as he looked at her, shrivelled into herself. "That's another reason to stop now before I can't. You keep saying it's a dream. And..."

 

"And what?" she spat over her shoulder at him.

 

"And it's not!"he blazed at her, his eyes filled with intensity. "Listen, Shigeru. When you're sober... I want to taste your lips when there's no sake to dull the flavor. When I know you *want* it to be *me* kissing you."

 

She sat up and looked at him, but couldn't say anything in her surprise.

 

 

****

 

And then, back at Tsukasa's…

 

****

 

“Stop hitting me, you crazy commoner!” The words were out of his mouth before he even realized his precarious position. The woman he loved was on her knees next to him, leaning over and slapping his cheeks. And she was completely naked.

 

Was he dreaming again? She was never naked in his dreams. The most he got was her in her underwear - like at that shack in Canada. And she never had such a look of concern and worry. Her eyebrows were pinched together, forming a single wrinkle in her forehead. But at his words, the worry melted into relief and she smiled.

 

Like sunshine. He couldn't help but smile back at her. She was glorious. His hand reached up to cup her cheek and she leaned into it.

 

And then she punched him in the shoulder.

 

“You big jerk!” she cried, and then threw her arms around him, mumbling into his shoulder, “Don't scare me like that.”

 

Immediately, his arms encircled her, reminding him of her unclad state. Searching his brain, he remembered the poker game, her refusal to accept defeat, and their bet. Oh, that last bet was brilliant. He was the amazing Domyouji Tsukasa, brilliant number one genius. She was naked and holding him. And all he had to do was pass out to make it happen. He would have to remember that for future use.

 

Pressed up against him, he could feel her smooth skin. His hand stroked down her back. “Sorry. I was just… you're just so beautiful.” As she blushed, her skin warmed to his touch. She looked up at his words, and he pulled her up to sit in his lap so that he could kiss her.

 

His lips on her own - she had missed this so much. Soft and gentle, yet hungry - so hungry - his kisses perfectly reflected her own need.

 

How he had longed to have her in his arms, and now, the fire from his kiss returned to him, fanning his own flames higher. Her tongue begged entrance, which he willingly gave, tasting the light sweetness from the green tea they'd been drinking while playing poker mixed with the spice that was all Tsukushi.

 

Her hands found their way to his hair, holding him to her and teasing his scalp with a soft massage that tantalized more than it distracted. Breaking for breath, he continued kissing down her cheek, suckling lightly on her earlobe, flicking it with his tongue before warming it with his breath as her murmured her name, “Tsukushi.”

 

Without thought, she moaned his name in response, “Oh, Tsukasa,” pressing kisses to his shoulder and neck. Her hands moved up and down his bare back - god, his skin was so silky smooth. And the underlying muscles were firm, showing his incredible indomitable strength. Strength that proved itself as he lifted them both from the ground, carrying her toward his bed.

 

He tossed her onto it and she bounced. Now out of his arms, undistracted by his nearness and kisses, the realization the she was completely nude hit her like a blow to the head. Squeaking, she quickly grabbed a pillow to cover herself.

 

He'd been watching her, drinking in every inch of her beautiful form from the second he released her. She was so perfect - so Tsukushi - right down to how she squealed in embarrassment. “Don't,” he commanded softly. “I want to look at you.” His eyes were filled with awe as he looked at her.

 

“Hentai,” her comment was reflexive, and the tone made that clear. As did her own eyes, taking in his physique as he stood in front of her. The pillow was still grasped tightly in front of her, however.

 

Chuckling, he responded, “Are you going to try to weasel out of our bet? You promised to do whatever I said, all weekend,” he taunted her by raising his eyebrows and wagging a finger at her.

 

“And… you want to… look at me,” she queried, her blush reasserting itself. He nodded and she swallowed hard and then took a deep breath. Scrunching her eyes tightly shut, she pushed the pillow away from her, baring herself to his gaze - and looking like a woman awaiting the firing of a death squad.

 

She was beautiful. And she was adorable. And, “Mine,” he breathed, chuckling lightly at her embarrassed determination. Eyes never leaving her form, he walked over to his discarded shirt, picking it up and walking around the bed so that he was now behind her. Wrapping the shirt around her he whispered in her ear, “Would you feel more comfortable with something to wear?”

 

She nodded, not opening her eyes, but pulling the shirt around herself.

 

“Okay, you can wear my shirt.” She opened her eyes to look up at him and he continued, “For now, anyway. After all, I wouldn't want you to catch a cold.”

 

The reminder of what had happened the last time they'd been together struck her heavily and she turned to him, taking his face in her hands. “I *definitely* do not want to catch a cold, Tsukasa.”

 

Which left him the one blushing for a change.

 

 

****

 

And back again at Shigeru's…

 

****

 

She'd been staring at him for minutes now, just distant enough from him that he felt the loss of her body heat keenly. Unthinking, he wrapped his arms around himself, rubbing to make up for the missing warmth. He knew better than to try to touch her again. She didn't really want him and painful as it was, he knew from experience that the quicker you accept reality the less it hurt in the long run.

 

Her eyes had been searching him, trying to make sense of it all. Had he really just said he wanted to be kissing her?

 

Oh, sure, they'd been spending a lot of time together. But she'd never noticed how much fun she had with him until tonight. And surely, if he'd been interested in her, wouldn't she have noticed something? Or was that an unfair assumption? If she hadn't figured it out `til now, then maybe he, too…

 

A quick, decisive nod announced that she had come to a decision, and then she began to stand up. One hand on her hip, the other reached down to where he was sitting. He watched her sway for a second, but there was no indication she might need a landing pad again. Still, there was no reason for him to move, to take her hand. That would involve physical contact, and he wasn't sure that was a good idea right now. Especially not with her standing there in her bra. Instead, he remained stubbornly seated.

 

She thrust her hand toward him again impatiently, as if to say, “Come ON!”

 

He knew he was pouting a bit, but he was drunk, so who cared if he was behaving childishly. He shook his head no and closed his eyes.

 

He was being such a pain. Didn't he trust her? If he didn't want to follow her, then… then…

 

Damn, this was too frustrating. The sake was making capturing a thought more difficult than… well, than standing.

 

Her hands on both hips now, she stamped her foot loudly. Startled, he sat upright, his eyes popping open to see what was going on. “Hmph!” she breathed and then quickly spun. Swaying dangerously, she half-stalked, half-stumbled toward the door.

 

The way her forehead scrunched up as she scowled at him was actually adorable. But then she spun away from him, through the door and down the hall. He watched her follow a treacherous drunken path, bumping into the walls on opposite sides of the hallway. Unconsciously, he stood to follow her. She was too drunk to leave alone - she might get hurt. Plus, who knew what she had in mind next.

 

Following her turned out to be easier than he'd anticipated. He seemed to be pretty good at holding his sake. As he entered the hallway, though, she turned through a doorway. Where was she running off to?

 

Rounding the corner, he attempted to brace himself for whatever she might be up to. But somehow, catching her shirt with his face was something he was completely unprepared for.

 

“Oof!” He peeled the offending garment off his head and tossed it to the side. Only to be hit in the stomach with her jeans. Was she pelting him with random items out of her closet?

 

He looked up and swallowed hard. How had she managed to strip down to her underwear so fast? Well, that explained the attack of the clothes.

 

“Shigeru,” he began and she looked up from pulling off her second sock and smiled at him beatifically, sending shivers down his spine. She padded over to him and smiled up at him, her fingers trailing up the front of his chest, drawing lines of electric fire.

 

“I'm gonna wash my face, then go to sleep. When I wake up,” her finger traced lightly down his cheek, “I'll be sober.” He blinked and she was walking away from him, the seafoam lace emphasizing her lean muscles flexing perfectly with each stride.

 

She continued speaking as she crossed the room, “Make yourself comfortable, because the servants are all off for the night, and if you're too drunk to kiss me, you're way too drunk to drive yourself home.”

 

Well, he couldn't argue with that. Of course there was always the option of a cab - or calling his own driver. But that would make her upset. And an upset Shigeru was likely to get loud. And possibly jump on him. Which would put him back where he was a few minutes ago.

 

“Don't worry,” she called over her shoulder just before entering the bathroom, “I don't snore or thrash in my sleep. And I'll cook you breakfast myself in the morning.”

 

Shrugging, he began undressing, pulling off his shirt and then stripping down his pants until he was left in nothing but his plaid boxers. Crawling into the bed, he knew sleep wouldn't be long in coming. It never was, for him. Still, this might be the first time in his entire life where he was looking forward to waking up and seeing what the new morning brought to pass.

 

When she came out of the bathroom, still in nothing but her matching seafoam lace bra and panties, he was sound asleep. At least he hadn't snuck out and left. Now all there was to do was wait for morning. Lying down next to him, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Goodnight, Rui. Thank you for not leaving. You don't have to love me - when morning comes, I'll just be thankful that you cared enough to stay. Thank you for that.”

 

Her whispered thoughts did not carry or echo. Sighing, she curled up and waited for sleep to take her.

 

*****

 

And back at Domyouji mansion…

 

*****

 

Her courage was emboldened by his reactions toward her - his blush endearing him to her even more. The fact that he was nervous, too, made her own nervousness seem less.

 

“I mean it, Tsukasa. I'm nervous. I mean, you're going to go away again, and you may not be able to come back to me-” he made a move to interrupt and she stopped him by holding up her hand. “No, don't. It's true, there's no guarantee for the future. But… if I had to live my life knowing that I had a chance to be with…” she swallowed and looked away for a second as she gathered her courage to speak what she'd never admitted easily, “with the man that I love, and that I was too chicken to take that chance, then I would… I could never forgive myself for that.”

 

She smiled up at him and whispered, “I love you, Domyouji Tsukasa. With all my heart.”

 

And what could he say? Words would be meaningless. He kissed her, pushing her back onto the bed to make room for himself.

 

His kisses rained upon her, starting with her lips, moving up to her temple, down her neck. He nibbled at her throat, licked a trail along her collarbone. His fingers glided over her skin, underneath his shirt. She made a move to take it off and he stopped her. “No. I like it on you.” And then he was back on her, his mouth lighting a fire within her breast, beneath his ministrations.

 

Her nipples were tingling - he had yet to pay any attention to them and already they were tingling. Her hands were struggling to find something of him that she could touch, stroke, return the pleasure he was giving her.

 

Part of her brain realized that she was naked and being kissed from head to toe by the richest bachelor in Japan. But for once, she wasn't embarrassed. In fact, she was puzzled as to why she had been afraid of this before. He was kissing her all over and every place his lips touched ached for him to touch there again.

 

When he finally latched onto her breast, sucking on it, kissing the tip, scoring it lightly with his teeth, her head flung back and she moaned his name. The sound threw his actions into a fevered pitch. He couldn't taste enough of her - he wanted her, all of her. He wanted to show her how much he loved her, how much he'd missed her. He kissed down her belly, marveling at the smoothness of her skin. She wasn't a model - no, she was real. And she was his. Finally, at long last, she was his - the only thing he'd ever truly wanted. The only one he'd ever met who deserved more love than even he had to give.

 

He would never deserve her, but he didn't care. He'd take her anyway. She was the only reality that made sense to him.

 

And then his lips reached down to her curls, and she pulled back, suddenly afraid. “What's wrong,” he murmured, his voice soft, cascading softly over her.

 

“I… I don't…” she stuttered out her fears and embarrassment, “it's…” She gestured down to her nether regions and tried to explain. All her life, this was the area you don't talk about, don't touch. It was where bad things came out of you. She'd never really imagined that anyone would want to kiss her down there. And now…

 

He smiled comfortingly at her, and let his fingers walk where his mouth had been intent on going previously. As they gently tugged at the curls, sending shivers through her, he latched onto her breast again, sucking moans out of her. Light electric touches through her folds caused her eyes to roll back. Exploring, he found the little nub of pleasure that she'd never experienced - only heard about - alternating light touches with firm flicks.

 

Her breath began to come in gasps and pants. “Tsu- Tsu- Oh! Oh!” He smiled, releasing her breast and kissed his way back down to his original goal. This time, she was too distracted to pull away. His fingers had begun to plunge into her as his mouth latched onto her pearl, sucking and licking at her as she vibrated underneath him. Soon, he felt her muscles tighten around his fingers and a light bite to her clit sent her completely over the edge, screaming his name for all the world to hear. “Tsukasa!”

 

He lightened his attentions as she fluttered back to reality, then crawled back up to lie next to her.

 

“I love you, Makino Tsukushi,” he whispered into her hair. “Forever.”