Rated: M... well this part isnt really bad, but what the heck, might as well rate it M so I don't have to do it later!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hana Yori Dango.
Saint Mary's Orphanage… 13 years ago…
Living in Saint Mary's wasn't such a great place… especially for 8 year old little girl, Tsukushi Makino. Orphaned by the death of her parents and with no other living relatives, she was sent there for care. She was a quite and timid little girl so she didn't make friends fast. The other children thought she was weird because she didn't talk or attempt to play with them, so they just left her alone. She didn't mind. She was used to being alone. Her parents never really cared for her. She was an 'accident child' as they liked to tell her often. Partying, drinking and gambling was what her parents lived for until the day they ran the car into a tree at 70 mph. Tsukushi ate alone, played alone, and slept alone. Her only companions were the Sisters at the orphanage. They all opened their hearts to the little girl with the big sad eyes upon meeting her. Only with them did little Tsukushi talk and laughed. But not everyone ignored her or liked her. There were a group of girls who thinks they were in charge when the nuns of Saint Mary's backs were turned. The leader of the group, Yuriko, hated Tsukushi on sight. She didn't have a reason. She never had a reason to hate someone. She just likes to bully people smaller than her. But Tsukushi Makino irritated her. She never begged to be let go or defended herself from Yuriko and her gang. Yuriko wanted to hurt her… no, she wanted to break her. She wanted to make the little mute cry and beg for mercy.
"Hey stupid… hello? Are you deaf?"
The little girl in pig tails just kept walking, carrying her basket, not wanting to stop to get harassed by the older girls. Who knows what they'll do to her this time. She hasn't been there long, but it didn't take Yuriko and her gang long to corner her, hit her, make fun of her, and push around. Today she wasn't planning on getting hurt. She just kept walking, picking up her pace.
"Hey retard, are you deaf? You think you're better than us? We heard about you. Your dad was drunk and your mom a slut. We know how they liked to trade partners every now and then. It must be hard not knowing who your daddy is." The older girls laughed as they pushed her head with their hands.
She ignored it, silently singing to herself as she kept walking. 'Just a couple more feet and I'll be safe in the kitchen,' she thought. One minute she was walking and the next she felt large hands pushing her from behind, forcing her to fall to the ground.
"Aw, look at the little retard, she fell," cackled the older girl. "You're so clumsy… but then again, what can you expect from a retard?"
Tsukushi grabbed the basket and began picking up the bread rolls and flowers that fell, ignoring the girls. Yuriko saw what she was doing and purposely stepped on her hand, holding it there. Tsukushi grimaced at the pain, but refused to cry out, not wanting to give Yuriko the satisfaction of seeing her hurt.
"Does that hurt, little retard?" Yuriko sneered.
Seeing that she wasn't going to answer, Yuriko slapped her. "Does it hurt, retard?"
The blow reeled her head back. 'That hurt,' she thought. Her eyes started to sting with tears.
"Aw, look. The little retard cried," laughed Yuriko and the other girls.
"What's going on here?"
"Tsukasa, honey! Where have you been? It's been forever since I've last seen you here," Yuriko said in a disgustingly sweet voice.
Tsukushi looked up to see an older boy with black, curly hair and brown eyes starring at her with pity.
"I asked you what was going on here, Yuriko," he said.
"Oh, nothing Tsukasa, she fell, that's all, right girls?"
"Yeah, she did, we were just helping her," Yuriko's cronies agreed.
"Is that true?" he asked Tsukushi.
"Oh the little re—I mean the little girl doesn't speak," Yuriko said smugly.
Tsukasa looked at Yuriko with a bored look.
"I saw what happened, Yuriko, I'm not stupid."
"But Tsukasa—"
"Leave her alone, Yuriko. You and your friends are really catty and I don't like that, understood?" he said with arms folded across his chest.
Yuriko gave Tsukushi a dirty look promising that their encounter was far from over.
"Sure Tsukasa, honey. Let's go girls," she said as she brushed passed him.
Tsukushi knew who he was. Tsukasa Domyouji. He was the heir to the Domyouji World Finance Group. They were the richest and most powerful family in Japan. They funded the orphanage and paid a visit every year, other than Tsukasa who came every weekend. She first saw him sitting in Mother Sachiyo's office with his parents. She came in with Sister Shizuka, bringing tea and biscuits for the guests. She glanced at the boy with curiosity. His hair was neatly combed in an array of curls, his clothes looked brand new and his shoes were so shiny you could see yourself in them. She looked up to see him looking back at her with smile. She could feel her cheeks heat up. She tugged at Sister Shizuka's apron so she could be dismissed. She practically ran out the door when she had permission to leave, with her heart pounding. She tried to avoid him when he visits, but always looked for him when the weekends came.
She stared at the ground, wishing he would hurry up and go away. She didn't want him to see her like this. She heard him walk toward her, and then a pair of shiny black shoes appeared in her view.
"Hey, why are you still sitting there?"
'Just don't talk and he'll go away,' she thought.
"Hey, didn't you hear me?" he said as he nudged her foot.
'Go away,' she thought.
He plopped down in front of her face, surprising her.
"I know you can talk, I've heard you singing in the kitchen," he said.
She flushed with embarrassment. 'He's heard me sing?'
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up."
He pulled her to her feet, dusted her skirt then bent to pick up the basket.
"I think they're still edible, so you won't get into too much trouble."
'Why is he helping me?' she wondered as she looked at him picking up bread rolls and flowers.
"There you go. I think that's all of it." He handed her the basket. "You might want to put ice on that," he said as he touched her cheek.
"Well, I'll see ya around," he said walking away.
'Say something, he did save you.'
"Um…" He kept walking not hearing her. 'Say something!'
"Hey…," she said as she ran to grab his shirt. He turned around surprised.
"Huh?"
"Um… thanks," she said in a small voice, "Here." She picked up a flower holding it out to him.
"What's this for?"
"For helping me," she said shyly.
"So you can talk, huh?" he teased, taking the flower. She blushed.
He looked at her and in a serious voice said, "Let me know the next time anyone mess with ya. I'll protect you."
Tsukushi looked at him, eyes widening in surprise. No one has ever said they'd protect her. She nodded and he walked away waving with one hand. "Later."
Okay, I know that wasn't so great, but this is my first time writing! Please let me know what you think!