He finally appeared in front of Makino. The suit looked really well on him and everyone at the prom looked at the strange couple. After Domyouji yelled about the dress not being worn and Makino telling him that it was ripped, she finally told him, "Domyouji... I... won't go to New York. So in four years, when you have become a really good man and come back... I'm willing to make you happy!" The man smiled towards her, "That's a declaration of war, isn't it? You just try it." Then, they both went into a loving embrace. Everyone at the Eitoku prom was set on staring at them.

Tsubaki and Tama stood in front of Domyouji Kaede, "Mother... after four years... what do you plan to do with Tsukasa?" Kaede responded to her daughter emotionlessly, "Even if he is my son, this is business. After four years, even that child should be able to tell what he should and shouldn't do. I'll entrust it to him." Tsubaki and Tama stood there with tears of joy in their eyes, and then Tsubaki jumped to hug her mother. "Stop it Tsubaki!" snapped Kaede.

The next day, Domyouji parted, and in the sky left a message for Makino, 'Love Tsukoshi' She looked at the sky in disbelief, "That baka. He spelt it wrong. What's a tsukoshi?" Hanazawa-san then stepped out, "Makino! The tea's ready!" "Okay! Coming!" she replied stepping into the house with her friends inside. Sanjou-chan looked at Makino, "Makino-sempai! Sit next to me!" Makino gave a half-hearted smile and sat down next to her friend. Doing her best to keep fake cheerfulness about her, Makino picked up her cup of tea and started to sip it. "It's hard to believe that Tsukasa actually left." Nishikado stated. "Aren't you happy Soujirou? We finally don't need to baby-sit him, and he's becoming a true man because of Makino-san." Mimasaka replied. Makino continued to sip her tea, trying not to hear the guys speak. Hanazawa-san stood in the corner of the room, watching Makino sip her tea. He knew that she wasn't all right, but he decided to play along with Makino's scripted behavior. "Oi, Makino! You've had the cup up to your mouth for ten minutes now. Aren't you going to place it down?" Nishikado stated. "Hahaha! This tea is just so good that I can't put it down!" Makino bluffed as she placed the cup on the table. "... So, would you like more?" he asked. Standing up suddenly, "That's alright! I just remembered that I need to go to my part-time job! Bye!" "Hey, you're dating a billionaire now, you don't need to work." Mimasaka responded. Stopping dead in her tracks, Makino looked at Mimasaka-san, "You're wrong. Domyouji-san isn't going to just deliver money to our house. We have to live for another four years on our own. And with all the hype at my house, both my parents are probably not going to work because they'll figure that Domyouji will take care of us." Mimasaka looked down, "I didn't think of that..." Makino then turned around, "See you all later"

Running out of the house and heading towards the dango shop, Makino thought of what happened yesterday at the prom. 'I can't believe that I actually said all that stuff. I guess that I'm getting soft in my old age.' Shaking her head back and forth she then walking into the dango shop, "Yuuki-chan!" "You don't have to pretend Tsukushi. It's only natural that you'd be sad today." Makino shook her head, "That's wrong. I'm really happy today. (Even though he spelt my name wrong)" "Really? Well, if you're doing all right then I'm glad. So are you going to tell me all about it?" "Huh? All about what?" "The prom of course! I've never been to one and I'm very interested in hearing all about it!" "Yeah... I'll tell you."

After the shift was over, Makino left and went home, "I'm home." "Tsukushi, take a look at this!" Mama mentioned handing Tsukushi an envelope. "What's this?" she asked as she opened the envelope. "Wha-? What on earth is the meaning of this?" she yelled taking out a large portion of yen out. "Isn't this great Tsukushi-chan? Domyouji came by her to see your Papa and I and handed us this envelope." Mama stated happily. "No... No no no! We can't accept this!" Tsukushi yelled. "Why not? He gave us a very good reason why to accept it." "I don't wanna hear it!" Tsukushi yelled as she placed her hands over her ears and rushed into the bathroom. RING RING

"Domyouji-san!" Mama answered her new cell phone; "Tsukushi just got home. She seems to be missing you so much that she's locked herself away in a room. Aha, that girl really is dense! I'm sorry that we didn't raise her correctly." Tsukushi quickly ran out of the bathroom and grabbed the cell phone from her mother, "Eh? What's this? When did you get a cell phone?" Mama went outside to take a short walk while the lovebirds talked on the phone.

"I bought everyone in your family cell phones. Since we're all related now, I figured that speaking to my beloved Mother, Father and Younger Brother would be necessary." Domyouji stated in the phone. "Ehh? Are you kidding? We're not related at the moment! You can't say that you are! Also, what are you doing giving us this large sum of yen!" "Oh that? It's a monthly thing that I'm sending to make sure that my family can survive." "What? Are you saying that we can't survive without you?" "That's right. Why, Mother, just a moment ago claimed that you were so sad without me that you were pouting in a locked room." "I WAS NOT POUTING! I can most definitely survive without you for four years! And my family doesn't need the charity!" "It's not charity, it's a gift that the room is giving his in-laws." "Huh? Room? How can a room give a gift?" "Groom! Didn't you hear the 'g'!" "Stop acting smart. Are you really going to do alright in New York?" "Is that a question to ask your husband? HAVE A BIT OF FAITH IN ME!" "Husband?" Tsukushi questioned, "Just because you're coming back for me in four years doesn't mean that you can call yourself my husband yet!" "We're betroffed moron! Of course I can refer to myself as husband!" "It's betrothed, and technically I turned down that proposal, so we're not engaged quite yet!" "You... How can you say such things!" "Maybe if you did a real proposal like normal humans I'd agree! But I don't even have the ring to prove..." She quickly covered her mouth. "Ring, eh? A real proposal? Are you saying that I'm not capable?"

Susumu walked in the front door at this time, "Hey sis, who're you talking to?" Tsukushi ignored Susumu, "That's right, you're not capable! When you asked me to marry you, it sounded more like a statement than anything else, and it wasn't romantic at all! When I was younger I always dreamed of the perfect proposal!" She covered her mouth again, 'what's wrong with me? I'm letting things that I shouldn't say out.' At this time Susumu realized who was on the phone and snatched it from Tsukushi, "Hello brother-Domyouji! Are you in New York already?" Tsukushi didn't even realize that the phone was taken from her and she just stood there thinking to herself.

The next day, Tsukushi's phone rang, "Hello?" she answered while wandering off the bed. "It's Hanazawa Rui... are you free today?" "Yeah I am free, why?" "The guys and I wanted to hang out with you today. I'll come pick you up." Hanazawa hung up the phone and looked at Nishikado and Mimasaka, "I have a girl to pick up. I'll see you two in a few minutes."

Hanazawa then made it to Tsukushi's house and knocked on the door. Tsukushi came out and looked at Hanazawa, "So where are we going?" "You'll find out." he stated pulling her into his car. "Ahh! No Hanazawa-san! Please do the speed limit! If Domyouji finds out that I was killed, who knows what he'll do to you!" "Are you saying that I'm not doing the speed limit?" "THAT'S RIGHT! SLOW DOWN! YOU'RE GOING 30 OVER!" Hanazawa smiled and turned the car and eventually stopped in front of a lake. "We're here." Nishikado and Mimasaka approached them, "Perfect Rui." "Well, I'll be taking off now. See you all later." Hanazawa stated as he rode off after Makino exited the car. "Hey! YOU TRICKED ME!" she yelled out as Hanazawa drove away. "Makino, come with us." Mimasaka-san said. Tsukushi didn't know where she was, so she just followed them, "You know, if you do something strange, Domyouji will come back here and beat you up." Nishikado looked at Tsukushi, "Who'd want to do something strange to a girl like you?" Tsukushi glared a little bit, "We're here" Mimasaka responded. "Umm... that's nice, but what is this place?"

Tsukushi looked around. There was nothing but trees around her. "Is this a joke!" "Of course not Makino. Why would we joke?" Nishikado responded. "Then tell me what's going on!" Mimasaka looked at Nishikado who nodded then looked at Tsukushi, "Well, yesterday, we got a phone call from Tsukasa, and he told us that you claimed that you two weren't engaged." "Well technically it's true!" "Be that as it may, we came here to send you on retreat." "Retreat? WHAT ARE YOU FOOLS THINKING! I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO ON A RETREAT! I HAVE TO WORK!" Nishikado shook his head, "That's where you are wrong. You don't need to work. Tsukasa told us all about the money that he's sending to your house monthly." Tsukushi glared, "I still can't go on retreat! My family will call the cops!" "You're wrong again..." started Nishikado, "...we told your folks that we were going to send you on a retreat to help you prepare to become the best bride for Tsukasa. They were jumping for joy." "Stupid parents..." mumbled Tsukushi. "Anyway, what the heck am I supposed to do in a place like this! There's only trees and grass!"

"That's what you need to figure out on your own. If you go through the retreat correctly, you'll be able to find the answer." Nishikado stated as he and Mimasaka turned around and started to walk away. "HOLD UP! Where are you two going!" she yelled. "Oh, we're leaving. We can't stay in a place like this." Mimasaka responded. "WHAT! YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE ME HERE BY MYSELF!" "That's right. Take care Makino." Nishikado said as he and Mimasaka climbed into the limo that they just called over.

"Damn them... What the heck are they thinking? Even Hanazawa Rui was involved in this scheme! What did I do to deserve this!" Tsukushi started talking to herself. "If you go through the retreat correctly, you'll be able to find the answer." Those words suddenly echoed in her head. "I don't get it. There's nothing here. How can I come up with a way to go through the retreat correctly! Oh! I know! I'll just call Domyouji-san and have him talk to them about what a stupid idea this is!" She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Domyouji's number. Once she placed the phone to her ear, she heard absolutely nothing. She then glanced at the phone, "Dammit... no signal! What do I do now!" She stared at a tree and pictured the images of the guys on it. She then punched her hand into the tree. "Ow! That hurt! But I'm so mad! If I see them anytime soon, I'm going to give them a piece of my mind!"

It started to rain suddenly and Tsukushi sat under the largest tree that she could find. Yet, it didn't help. Within seconds she got soaked. "Dammit."

"KANPAI!" yelled Nishikado and Mimasaka as they cheers champagne together. "So, how do you think Makino is holding up by herself?" Mimasaka asked. "She'll be perfectly fine. She is the woman that Tsukasa chose after all." Nishikado responded. Hanazawa looked out the window; "It's pouring. What if she gets sick?" In unison Nishikado and Mimasaka responded, "Fools don't catch colds!" "..."

Hanazawa was about to leave when the two guys stopped him, "Where are you going Rui?" "Nowhere." "That's a lie. Remember, we all promised Tsukasa that we wouldn't get involved in the plan to make Tsukushi a better woman for him." "True, but dropping her in the middle of the woods... is that really going to make her a better woman?" "Probably not." Mimasaka responded, "knowing her, she'll end up turning into a strange animal." "! ANIMALS!" shouted Nishikado, "I forgot! All sorts of wild animals roam out there! Tsukasa will kill us if she gets hurt!" "We should go get her." Hanazawa stated. "But it's raining. There's no way that I'm going to get wet searching for Tsukasa's girl." Mimasaka stated. "Second that." Nishikado answered. "... I don't like the rain either." Hanazawa agreed. "Then in that case, we'll check on her when the weather lets up!" Nishikado and Mimasaka said in unison. "... How about we call her?" Hanazawa said picking up his cell. "Good idea." Mimasaka responded.

After a good 10 minutes of trying to get through on the phone, the guys all gloomy. "Tsukasa is going to kill us." Mimasaka stated, "he said to make sure that he could call her during the day." "..." Hanazawa stood there and then turned on the television. "That's right, we are under a flood warning! It's hitting very hard in the area of..." the news lady stated. All the guys' eyes widened, "This isn't good."

"Those bakas! What were they thinking placing me in a place that floods so easily!" Tsukushi stated sitting on a branch of a tree that's about ten feet away from the ground. "If this is their idea of a good retreat, they are BAKAS!" She stared at the ground from the branch. The water was rising pretty quickly, but she knew that she would be all right. She is after all the famous weed of Eitoku.

RING RING It was really late in the night. Nishikado was out with the girl of his choice and picked up the phone, "YOU IDIOT! I TOLD YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT I COULD CALL HER!" Domyouji yelled. "Huh? You can't reach her? Maybe she turned her phone off." Nishikado claimed trying to sound as convincing as he could that it wasn't his fault. "WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT! I TOLD HER THAT I'D CALL HER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY!" "Maybe she figured you'd call in the middle of the day, not the middle of the night." Nishikado responded, "Oh, I have another call. Bye Tsukasa. CLICK Hello?" "The rain stopped. I'm going to find her." Hanazawa said into the phone then hung up. "HUH? Rui hold up!" Nishikado stated, but it was too late.

Now 3:30 am, Hanazawa rented a canoe and then started to row in the area where the guys left Tsukushi.

Tsukushi was long gone from that branch. It was so slick that she fell and her clothes ripped on the bark of the tree. The water was now 6 feet and she couldn't do anything but swim her way to safety. 'I'm going to murder those guys when I find them' she thought to herself as she swam as best as she could. "MAKINO!" Hanazawa yelled repeatedly as he rowed through the woods. "MAKINO!"

Tsukushi couldn't swim any longer. All of her was drained. No energy left for anything. She then started to sink into the water.

"MAKINO!" Hanazawa yelled as he saw some air bubbles popping up from the water. He quickly jumped into the water and fished out Tsukushi and placed her into the canoe. "Damn, she's not breathing." Hanazawa immediately started to give Tsukushi CPR. "cough cough Hanazawa?" Tsukushi came to her senses somewhat. "I'm glad that you're ok. I've been searching for you for a good 3 hours." He quickly hugged her, "I was afraid that you were a goner." "What happened? I don't remember everything..." she stated trying to place all the pieces together. Suddenly it all clicked, "I'M MAD AT YOU HANAZAWA! YOU, NISHIKADO, AND MIMASAKA! YOU ALL SENT ME IN THIS STUPID DESERTED PLACE!" Suddenly, she collapsed.

"MAKINO!"