Title: Butterfly
Author: Looney Connoisseur
Disclaimer: I don't own Hana Yori Dango nor any of its characters. Capise!
Summary: Tragedy and change happens, Makino's family as they receive a letter from her grandparents that forever alter their lives. (Tsukasa Makino) R&R.
Author's Notes: Makino father died in a car accident two months ago and she does not have any siblings. Her mother is a decent person. The time frame of my story is just before Makino got tortured by her classmates.
This is my first fanfic so constructive criticism is appreciated.
If you don't know the meaning of a word, look it up on the dictionary.
CHAPTER ONE: INSIGNIA
Prologue
Tsukushi's mother was in the middle of their small living room, reading a letter and her face held an expression of seriousness. For a second Tsukushi could almost swore that she could see tears forming in her mother's eyes but a high pride seemed to hold them back. Her parents have been receiving quite a few letters lately from an anonymous address, since six months ago. Although her parents had been quite secretive as to what the contents of those letters are, she has never been interested until now.
Makino decided not to bother her mother although she was really curious as to what was the content of the letter she was reading. She decided that she will just talk with her mother about her plans to transfer to another school another time. She knew her mother was financially in trouble with her studying in an expensive school and in light of her father's recent death. Problems seem to be raining down on her. She went to work as usual. While she let time pass in the bakery her mind was thinking of a solution to her problem with Tsukasa. She knew that if she tried to talk to him it would make matters worse for her. She was expecting the worst tomorrow she knew that the anger of Tsukasa will not easily subside.
Makino lay on the white covers of the hospital bed covered with bruises. It was a good thing she escaped only with minor injuries considering the amount of torture she suffered from the hands of her school mates.
Rui got there in the midst of time just before she hit a pole while being dragged by a car. She tried to ask him where Tsukasa was because she wanted to explain but she was too tired to even try to keep her eyes open. The next thing she could remember was hearing the sound of an approaching ambulance.
Her whole body was sore from the bruises she got from being dragged by a car. She noticed a deep cut on the back of her left shoulder just beside her birthmark, of all her wounds this seems to sting the most. She tried to comfort herself but it was no use. Time after time her bruises would stop aching but with the comfort came the memories of her torture and Tsukasa.
"Why didn't he believe me?", she asked herself.
She knew that she already gaining affection for Tsukasa, that's why she wanted so much to explain to him that she was innocent. But there was no use even if he did ask for an explanation, and even worst was that he blamed her immediately. She cried until her last ounce strength left her already weak body.
When she woke up she saw her mother beside her crying. It was the first time she saw her cry, for Tsukushi her mother was a strong person and the source of her everyday strength and seeing her like that seemed to drain the life still remaining in her. Her mother struck her as a person with a strong personality; she knew that ever since her mother was a child she had to be strong for herself because of the early death of her parents, after finishing her studies which was sponsored by the orphanage to which she was staying in she worked for her own money and struggled to be able to support herself.
What had she done? Suddenly her actions struck her hard on the face. She never thought of the effect this would have on her mother. It must have been hard for her mother to see her in a hospital bed a few months after the death of her father in a car accident.
"I'm so sorry Tsukushi." Her mother said.
"What happened to me was not your fault; I never have and will never blame you." She hugged her mother in an effort to calm her down and to her relief it seemed to be working.
"It's just that... I wanted to prove something ..."
"What are you saying mom? You were trying to prove what to whom?" Tsukushi was getting suspicious as to what her mother was talking about. Her instincts told her this had something to do with the letters her parents have been receiving these past few months but morals stopped her from confirming her doubts. Patiently she waited for her mother to continue.
"About six months ago your father's parents started to contact us."
"But I thought they were dead. I even remember dad telling me that they were nice people when I was just a kid"
"They're still alive and they live here in Tokyo."
"But why did you have to lie to me?" She was angry because her parents deceived her.
"We wanted to protect you. We had no choice. We wanted you to live a normal life"
She trusts her parents and she knows that they have never wanted anything but the best for her but she really wants to know the truth as to why they had to lie to her. As a child, she remembers that talking about her grandparents was a taboo topic and every time she tried to ask she would be given the same answer, "they are nice and kind people", they said. She loves her parents but somehow she felt betrayed.
"I met your father while I was an intern in the office that his family owned. I first met him when I accidentally spilled coffee on the shirt of my boss. He saved me from the rage of my boss and getting fired. After that he invited me for a cup of coffee. I knew I owed him at least that so I agreed. From that it went to lunches to dinner parties. We started seeing each other as more than friends even before we knew it."
" One night he called me up and asked me to go to the park a block from my house, at first I thought it was some kind of emergency so I ran to the door in my evening gown and robe as fast as my feet could take me. When I opened the door, lo and behold to my surprise there he was on my door step on his knees holding flowers and a small red box. My heart seemed to skip a beat at the sight of him."
"In that small little box that he was holding, there lay a small and simple ring, its diamond was not as big one I as a child dreamt to wear yet its simplicity seemed to content me more than a big one ever will. Music was playing in a small radio he had brought and it played our favourite song."
"And when he asked me to marry him, he was crying like a child and it moved me so much. After I said yes, he rose to his feet and kissed me gently on the lips, and after that while he was hugging me he whispered to my ears that he was the luckiest man in the whole world. Of course I told him he couldn't be more right. It was the best day of my life. I was with the man I love and he was asking me to be his wife."
"I was introduced to your grandparents by your father as his fiancé. They got mad and even though they treated to disinherit him he didn't break up with me. He said he didn't care about the money and that I was more important to him. They even tried to pay me off. When your father knew about this he asked me to elope with him after that we had no connection with his parents until a few months ago"
"I got pregnant after our marriage. Your father and I lived a simple life. Yes, it was hard to start from nothing but your father supported us well, he had always been a hard working person even though he came from a rich family and a very wonderful husband and father."
Her mother was crying. She to comfort her mother but she doesn't know what to do.
"So what do they want now? Why did they write?"
"They wanted to apologize to your father and they wanted to see you. But your father kept firm on withholding you from them." It didn't sound like something his father was capable of doing, Tsukushi though to herself.
"Could I go and see them?"
"Yes, if you want to, I think they would really be happy to see you and I have already forgiven them years ago."
"Mom one more thing" Tsukushi said.
"I'm leaving Eitoku"
At a cab...
Her grandparents house was as big or if not bigger the house of the domyougi's. She rang the door bell and immediately a guard in his mid forties appeared out of nowhere.
"What is your business her young lady?" the guard ask her in warm tones.
"I'm here to see Mr. and Mrs. Makino" she replied polity.
"Are you expected?"
"Actually no, I was kind of hoping to talk with them about some private matters. Are they at home?"
"Yes they are but I am not sure if they would receive you." He said.
"Oh! Thank you anyways."
She was so disappointed that it showed in her face, as she was turning her back to leave the guard called out.
"Wait, but there is no harm in trying right. What is your name? I'll try asking if they would receive you."
"It's Tsukushi... Tsukushi Makino." she said trying to get her surname out correctly.
The guard gave her an inquiring look the continued with his business and check if the Tsukushi's will receive her from the guard house.
"Come I will escort you." She heard the guard called out as h was opening the door to let her in."
"Thank you." She said
As they reached the front door of the house she saw a old woman waiting for them.
"I'll take her from here Mike." The woman said.
"Well take good care of her." Mike said. After that he turned and walked towards the guard house.
"Follow me miss."
She was guided to a maze of corridors to a room in which she was asked to wait.
"Would you want anything miss, perhaps tea or some juice."
"Juice would be fine thank you "
"The maid servant left through the same door in which they came in."
She was looking around the room when she saw a portrait of a young lady in her early twenties hanging above the fire place. The lady was a perfect example of class, beauty, elegance and of youth. Suddenly she heard the door being opened and she thought this was the maid bringing her the juice which she had asked for.
She was mistaken it was a woman in her late sixties. She looked so familiar.
"Please take a sit" the woman said.
Makino sat down and tried to make herself comfortable even though she felt like a nervous wreck. The woman sat close to her in a one sitter chair on her left.
"Are you Tsukushi?" the woman asked in low tones.
"Yes I am."
I am alive again therefore I refuse to live like a dead person.
Sorry for all those who have been waiting... my apologies and gratitude will be forever yours..