[Hana Yori Dango] The First (but Never the Last)
Title: The First (but Never the Last)
Series: Hana Yori Dango
Rating: K+
Character: Soujirou/Yuuki
Word Count: 728; Short short
[Written for citynextdoor; October 2006 - The Big City Challenge (Paris)]
“I’ve never been to Europe before,” she was saying.
“That’s why I should take you.”
“Nishikado-san-”
He held up a map of Italy. “Venice? Unless you’re uncomfortable traveling in boats all the time.” In his other hand, he held another stack. “Then there’s Germany, England, Belgium, Switzerland, France…”
“France?” She asked against her will.
“France.”
“Eiffel Tower?”
He nodded with a small smile. “Eiffel Tower. City of elegance, history, and fashion. Paris.”
She questioned him with a look. Why all of a sudden?
He answered her in words. “Because I can, Yuuki-chan.” And because you deserve the better.
.
The plain ride was nearly half a day long. They were by the small plane window and it was her first time in first class. He vaguely thought about how he could show her so many things; he was taking her to a foreign country and he could do so much more. He could buy her a thousand-dollar necklace and a pair of white gold earrings, get her a dress that would suit her eyes. But she wanted to go to Paris and that was what he planned for her.
He fell asleep on her shoulder sometimes and she found the situation to be odd. Weren’t girls supposed to sleep on guys’ shoulders rather than visa versa? But his hair smelled like mild shampoo that reminded her of fresh dew. She let him stay that way until he awoke; and when he opened his eyes, she pretended to be asleep for minutes at a time.
They had exotic food, things like escargot and lobster pieces. She tried not to show her surprise and he grinned, teaching her how to eat the food in the ‘right way.’ He didn’t seem arrogant to her, but far away in a land that was so unlike hers.
He taught her simple French phrases. He even went far enough to verify his pronunciation with other passengers and she laughed then, her smile clearly in her gaze.
(One of the things she learned how to say was “je t'aime.”)
.
The streets in Paris were narrow and small, it was almost impossible for many cars to get by. But Yuuki enjoyed the traffic, if not the occupied atmosphere of the city itself. She knew better than to expect everyone in Paris to be fashionable and rich, and she was right; the people were citizens living in a town named Paris and that was all it was.
He, on the other hand, seemed to be observing the ancient buildings of the capital and pointed out to her the carvings and old decorations on nearby structures. “Look at that one,” he said, the fire in his eyes flickering like a child in midst of a forest. She was more distracted by the way he was absorbed than anything else, but nodded and gave considerable looks to what he wanted her to see.
Perhaps visiting the city with him wasn’t the best thing to do. Yuuki wondered if the trip would have been easier on her own.
.
She only realized on their fifth day of touring Paris that he was taking her to ordinary places. They visited regular cafes and shops to browse the merchandise. On other days, they walked by river Seine and rode on the ferry with other visitors. It was almost as if he was trying to be typical and common for her because she wasn’t luxurious enough-
“And who told you that?” He asked, still smiling against the wind on the boat.
“Nobody needs to tell me.”
He turned to her. “If you didn’t hear it, then forget about it.”
.
On one of their last days in Paris, she told him she wanted to go see the Eiffel Tower up close.
“A human’s neck won’t be long enough to see the top,” he replied with mildly shocked eyes.
“This is probably the last chance I’ll get to see it, so I want to, if that’s okay.”
Less than an hour later they were at the top of the tower and she didn’t have the time to ask him why they got past all those other people in line, because she could hardly breathe. She held onto his arm and looked down at the city in awed silence, her eyes shining.
He leaned over and whispered, “Never say last. Always think, ‘first.’”
Series: Hana Yori Dango
Rating: K+
Character: Soujirou/Yuuki
Word Count: 728; Short short
[Written for citynextdoor; October 2006 - The Big City Challenge (Paris)]
“I’ve never been to Europe before,” she was saying.
“That’s why I should take you.”
“Nishikado-san-”
He held up a map of Italy. “Venice? Unless you’re uncomfortable traveling in boats all the time.” In his other hand, he held another stack. “Then there’s Germany, England, Belgium, Switzerland, France…”
“France?” She asked against her will.
“France.”
“Eiffel Tower?”
He nodded with a small smile. “Eiffel Tower. City of elegance, history, and fashion. Paris.”
She questioned him with a look. Why all of a sudden?
He answered her in words. “Because I can, Yuuki-chan.” And because you deserve the better.
.
The plain ride was nearly half a day long. They were by the small plane window and it was her first time in first class. He vaguely thought about how he could show her so many things; he was taking her to a foreign country and he could do so much more. He could buy her a thousand-dollar necklace and a pair of white gold earrings, get her a dress that would suit her eyes. But she wanted to go to Paris and that was what he planned for her.
He fell asleep on her shoulder sometimes and she found the situation to be odd. Weren’t girls supposed to sleep on guys’ shoulders rather than visa versa? But his hair smelled like mild shampoo that reminded her of fresh dew. She let him stay that way until he awoke; and when he opened his eyes, she pretended to be asleep for minutes at a time.
They had exotic food, things like escargot and lobster pieces. She tried not to show her surprise and he grinned, teaching her how to eat the food in the ‘right way.’ He didn’t seem arrogant to her, but far away in a land that was so unlike hers.
He taught her simple French phrases. He even went far enough to verify his pronunciation with other passengers and she laughed then, her smile clearly in her gaze.
(One of the things she learned how to say was “je t'aime.”)
.
The streets in Paris were narrow and small, it was almost impossible for many cars to get by. But Yuuki enjoyed the traffic, if not the occupied atmosphere of the city itself. She knew better than to expect everyone in Paris to be fashionable and rich, and she was right; the people were citizens living in a town named Paris and that was all it was.
He, on the other hand, seemed to be observing the ancient buildings of the capital and pointed out to her the carvings and old decorations on nearby structures. “Look at that one,” he said, the fire in his eyes flickering like a child in midst of a forest. She was more distracted by the way he was absorbed than anything else, but nodded and gave considerable looks to what he wanted her to see.
Perhaps visiting the city with him wasn’t the best thing to do. Yuuki wondered if the trip would have been easier on her own.
.
She only realized on their fifth day of touring Paris that he was taking her to ordinary places. They visited regular cafes and shops to browse the merchandise. On other days, they walked by river Seine and rode on the ferry with other visitors. It was almost as if he was trying to be typical and common for her because she wasn’t luxurious enough-
“And who told you that?” He asked, still smiling against the wind on the boat.
“Nobody needs to tell me.”
He turned to her. “If you didn’t hear it, then forget about it.”
.
On one of their last days in Paris, she told him she wanted to go see the Eiffel Tower up close.
“A human’s neck won’t be long enough to see the top,” he replied with mildly shocked eyes.
“This is probably the last chance I’ll get to see it, so I want to, if that’s okay.”
Less than an hour later they were at the top of the tower and she didn’t have the time to ask him why they got past all those other people in line, because she could hardly breathe. She held onto his arm and looked down at the city in awed silence, her eyes shining.
He leaned over and whispered, “Never say last. Always think, ‘first.’”