(Monday, 4.30pm~ Tsunami's house, Okinawa)

(Tachimukai)
Today I finally got rid of my old life, and started a new one with my boyfriend.
Life finally seems to be sorting itself out.
I dreaded having to say goodbye, to Riku, to Natalie, to Alice especially; it all felt too soon, too fast...but I just couldn't bare to stay in that apartment any longer. I needed to be with Tsunami. I just want to be with him.

I've put the place up for sale, so hopefully we can get some money when someone buys it- it was pretty nice all things considered, small but nice.
But I'm glad to be leaving it.
Alice cried. I felt really bad when I told her I was going. She's been with me through thick and thin, she was the first friend I made in Tokyo, and I know I'll always miss her delicious cookies.
But it's for the best.
'It really is for the best y'know? A fresh start, no more pretending, no more hiding, just being unapologetically yourself...'
I could finally be me.

I know that Tsunami recently moved, but I haven't seen his new place yet. I used to go down and visit him, that was before Shannon decided to make it her personal mission to keep me and my boyfriend apart. Ever since then Jousuke's always been the one to come visit me instead. He still lives by the beach, which is a given for him, I'm looking forward to waking up every morning with the sun pouring in through the windows, the sweet smell of the sea... Jousuke's perfect body....I went a little red as my thoughts ran away, 'steady now Yuuki'.
Luckily I don't think my boyfriend noticed.

"Oh, turn the radio up Yuuki." His voice brought me out of my thoughts and I smiled at him, turning up the radio as he sang along, carefree as anything. I just watched him, completely mesmerised, wishing I could feel the peace he felt. It was still warm, the Sun's rays casting his skin a deeper shade than usual as he half-sang, half-lip synced to Stevie Wonder. He bobbed his head in time with the music and I couldn't help but laugh, he was such a goof. "Is that it?" I asked as the truck began to slow, we were pulling up to a house that sat all by itself, far away from the clusters of red tiled houses we'd passed on our way here. A little corner of peace in an otherwise chaotic world.

Tsunami grinned, coming to a stop and taking a moment to push his sunglasses up onto the top of his head before switching off the engine. "Yep. Home sweet home for me, and for you!" He mused, grabbing my hand and kissing it sweetly before getting out of his side. I chuckled and followed suit, my feet hitting the soft grass below. I took a deep breath; the saltiness of the sea, deep and rich, it smelt like a summer holiday. Like good memories.

"It's been a bit of a labour of love really, this place." Tsunami said with a chuckle as he began removing the tarp he'd used to cover all my boxes and suitcases. "Taken me a few months but it's basically finished now."
I turned to look at the place I'd be calling home for the foreseeable future; it was in the same traditional Okinawa style as the others we'd passed, aside from the many colourful surfboards that leant up against the outside wall. He bundled the cord up in his hands before throwing it back in the bed. "It was pretty dilapidated and overgrown when I first got it, and the garden was like a jungle. I think they said it hadn't been lived in since the 80s so it was a bit of a mess but it's all good now, my parents helped me out massively and their neighbour's a handyman so he helped bring it up to the 21st century."

I nodded, wondering how much money he'd put into this place- though I suppose he can afford it. I was eager to go inside now, see what he'd done to the place. I wanted to get some of my stuff unpacked today before it got too late as well, not fancying the thought of having to do it all myself tomorrow when Jousuke's got work. I looked up hearing a sweet melody playing from a seashell wind chime on the door, it brought a smile to my face. I heard my boyfriend chuckle. "You know you can go inside if you want, I can bring this stuff in." He offered, trying to throw the keys to me but I refused, not wanting to just sit back while he did all the work.
"We'll do it together."

He grinned another one of his signature grins at me, grabbing a suitcase and hoisting it out of the pickup bed. 'Ugh he's so strong.'
I jogged over to give him a hand.

We didn't need to hire a van or anything, since all my stuff fit in the back of his purple pickup truck. It's not as though I had that many possessions since space was at such a premium back in Tokyo, and I'd left all the big furniture behind since I had no use for it anymore. Tsunami was a real help, and he brought along Tobitaka too- he came round with all these cardboard boxes for fruit and veg he was going to throw out. He was a real machine when it came to maximising space, he even brought a label maker with him and everything- meanwhile he kept scolding Tsunami for packing things whichever way he wanted. It was nice to have them both round, it kind of felt like a party or something.
I got handed another box, smiling when I saw the label on it: Picture frames and photo albums- I couldn't wait to put all those up.

Once everything was finally out of the truck we went inside.
Well, I took one step in the door before being alerted to the sound of something coming towards me at a great speed.
There was no time to react before it leapt at me, pinning me to the ground. It barked at me and licked my face as I tried to get away but it was just too heavy. I heard Tsunami laughing heartily "C'mon Poppy, my boyfriend's not a chew toy, be nice to him now!" He said between laughs before finally managing to pry the heavy dog off of me. "Awww who's a good girl? Yes that's right you are! Yes you are!" He cooed, ruffling her jet black fur. "You want the stick Pop? Go get it!" He said, throwing what I assumed was a stick into the distance somewhere before giving me a hand up.

"You could have told me you had a dog Tsunami." I said, trying to wipe the slobber off of my face, Tsunami smiled and hugged me tightly "I wanted it to be a surprise! I just got her a couple weeks back, my parents had been looking after her while I was in Tokyo." He replied happily, I felt kinda bad. "Um well...It's just, I'm...not too good with dogs."
Tsunami looked at me like I'd just told him surfing was banned or something. It's not as though I hate dogs or something, I've just not really been around them much so I can still get a little nervous, especially when they're as big as her!
"But, Poppy's just a big softie, she'd never hurt a fly! She used to be search-and-rescue dog!" He said pouting at me. I sighed and was about to say something when the certain black Labrador known as Poppy, bounded towards us.

I cowered behind Tsunami who bent down and petted her head lovingly "See, a big softie!" I wanted to believe that, but she'd pancaked me just a few moments ago. My boyfriend suddenly grabbed my arm, pulling me down next to him "Go on, give her a little stroke." I was really nervous, and tried to back out of it but Tsunami grabbed my hand, holding it tightly, I instantly felt calmer; he smiled sweetly at me before gesturing to Poppy who was sitting patiently in front of me, wagging her tail. I gulped and closed my eyes, stretching my hand out and stroking her slowly. I opened my eyes to see her barking happily at me, enjoying the attention "See I knew she'd like you straight away."

"I'll let her play outside so we can unpack." Tsunami said, still chucking at my behaviour. Poppy jumped around happily at him before he opened the back door, picking up a chew toy and hurtling it through the sky, the dog chasing after it merrily. I peeked out from behind him and gasped at the size of the garden- if it could even be called a garden- it just kept going and going!

The closest thing I'd had to a garden in Tokyo was a few cacti and a some herb pots on the windowsill. There were more surfboards in the garden too- surely too many for one person-on a rack to the side, a pair of swimming trunks and a wetsuit drying on a washing line that stretched across the width of the garden.
"She's a really active dog, so this place is great for her, plus it's so quiet out here so I can always hear the sea." He explained and I instantly understood why he probably got a dog- it would be lonely out here by himself. I placed my arms around his middle, resting my cheek against his back. 'Well, he won't be alone anymore.'

His house was still quite traditional-looking on the inside: all one floor with tatami mats and a spacious, open feel to it. But it didn't feel overly traditional, it definitely had a feel of 'Tsunami Jousuke' to it. The decor was all beach and sea-themed, blues, emerald greens and stunning turquoises, pale yellows and white. I walked into the bedroom as Tsunami brung my things into the house.
There was a large window which was open slightly, pastel blue curtains blowing ever-so-slightly in the breeze. There was a little bird on the window sill, a kind I'd never seen before. "Hello there." I whispered gently and it tipped its head at me before flying off.

There was a big glass jar of seashells by the bed and I opened it, fishing a few out to look at them.
"Those are just clay casts." My boyfriend's voice came from behind me, making me jump a little. "My dad made them from ones I collected on the beaches when I was a kid, since you're supposed to throw old shells back into the sea to degrade."
"I couldn't even tell the difference." They looked like real shells. "Your dad's pretty talented." I said with a smile, he returned mine, wheeling in my two suitcases from the hallway. "I'll let him know. We can put your clothes away first if you want, I made some space for you."

"Here?"
"Yeah that's perfect." That was the last of the pictures up, and I couldn't be happier- a large framed photo of the two of us enjoying ourselves at the beach last year. It was one of my favourites, we both looked so happy there; I'd been keeping it (and all the others) in the safety of my bedroom should my parents arrive one day unannounced- which of course they had. I tried not to think about it. Look at our happy faces instead.
"Ah this one is...crockery." Tsunami said, ripping up the tape on a pineapple box.
"What's left of it at least." I replied.
He put them away as I reached into the bottom of the box, pulling out my most favourite cookery book, the one with all the dishes Jousuke loved to eat.

I placed it in the bookshelf alongside all my books and my dvd collection that Tsunami and I had been slowly making our way through before looking at the time, it was already 6.30pm but we'd unpacked almost everything. I felt a hand on my back "Should we leave it here for tonight babe? I'm kinda exhausted."
I nodded in agreement, my stomach rumbling its' own say in the matter. "Yeah, let's." I reached up and brought his face down to meet mine, connecting our lips. "I'm so proud of us."

After a quick dinner of melon, bamboo and cabbage stir fry with pork I flopped down on the sofa trying to get my breath back "I'm so...tired." I muttered before feeling my boyfriend join me on the sofa, cuddling up to me and kissing my forehead "I love you so much Yuuki, I'm glad we're finally doing this." I smiled, kissing him on the lips and hugging him tightly.
"Hey, you wanna go down to the beach with me?"
Even though we were tired it really sounded like a wonderful idea; it would be nice to visit the beach when there was nobody around.

I quickly changed my jeans into shorts and headed out with my boyfriend. It was sunset, and the sky looked so beautiful, Jousuke grabbed my hand and took me on a short walk to the beach front; it was completely deserted once we got there, the only sounds being the waves and the sounds of our beating hearts "Wow..." Was all I could say as Tsunami stood triumphantly in front of me "Shall we?"

It was so lovely, we played in the sea, splashing each other, chasing each other with Tsunami picking me up over his shoulder at one point and 'attempting' to carry me down the beach-yeah that didn't go so well. I sat on the sand, trying to get my breath back whilst simultaneously laughing at Tsunami complaining about how his 'awesome plan' didn't work. He looked at me and smiled, resting his head on his hand, staring at me. "W-what?" I asked and he just shook his head "Sorry it's just I love it when you laugh, you sound so cute when you giggle like that." I blushed, playing with a strand of my hair.

He slowly leaned towards me, kissing me lovingly on the lips before wrapping his arms tightly around me. "I'm so lucky to have found you Yuuki, so damn lucky." I smiled "I couldn't agree more."

((Sorry this was short but I just wanted to sneak a bit of happiness in there before any more bad stuff started happening again!

ALSO don't forget to check out 'Beautiful Monster' by CityOfFragments:) ))