So... I know I've promised to publish this one 14 days ago, but I failed to do it. I'm sorry. Really REALLY sorry for that.. I got one week full of exams and could do nothing about it.
To my dearest reviewers Matsujun Lover, Jane, Aktaiy, Anime07, Loveboysoverflowers, Book Digester and Topaztok, I wish this chapter can payoff u'r lovely reviews. The next update will be sooner, I promise. Well, hope u enjoy this one.. Meet the mothers and review please! ^.^


Holy Mother's War

Chapter III: MEET THE MOTHERS

"Oh yes, Madam, I'm telling you the truth."

"No, no, I'm not doubting your source credibility, Kareika-san… I'm doubting my twenty years credibility of a mother, who doesn't know anything about her only son and heir…,"

"It's not your fault, Madam. You have done the very best to fulfill all young master's needs as his mother-- "

"--But I didn't even know he's in love!"

It's not everyday you see Hanazawa Ashita lost her flawless serenity on the surface like that. That beautiful face and marble eyes suddenly glinted with both sadness and happiness, as she looked and flipped all over again those photographs on her white granite desk.

"I can't believe someone has the power to make him get over Shizuka... I can't believe it. This girl is a gift from heaven, Reika… Look at these pictures, he's smiling whenever she's around..," She looked at them over and over again.
He even laughed, my Rui can laugh.

"That one is their favorite secret escape, Madam, the emergency stairs." Kareika continued the additional information as her Madam seemed to be unable to stop staring and caressing those photographs until their colors blurred from the sweats in her hands.

She was taken aback at one of those words. "Secret? Why should they meet secretly?" What's he afraid of? Is he afraid of me? Oh my--

"I'm sorry, Hanazawa-sama, but it seemed that that girl is already a girlfriend of young master's F4 friend, Doumyouji Tsukasa-sama." Reika was planning to dish this one at the very last minute, maybe the last minute before her Madam starting to lose consciousness and went to bed. Everyone knew who Rui inherited his sleeping manner from.

But she was all woken up now.

Her heart throbbed in despair. Confused and stabbed, she looked down at those photographs. "It can't be…no…no, Reika, look at this… They seemed to be so much in love, they laugh together… they're happy…they... they laugh…" Hanazawa Ashita couldn't help it. It was a very rare occasion to see her beloved son laughing that happily, that genuinely, and her secretary's last explanation was just harsh and unacceptable.

Reika could only stand that sight for so long. "I'm sorry, Hanazawa-sama, but I believe there are still many other girls queuing—"

"—does Rui love her?" She cut it. Raising her head, she stared at Reika right in the eyes. "Kareika-san, answer me. Does my son, Hanazawa Rui, love this Makino Tsukushi?" The determination was clear in her eyes, even clearer in her tone.

"Yes, Madam. He loves her."

That angelic smile came back all in a sudden. "Well then… What should we worry about?" Despite of her twelve years of dedication to this family, Kareika was still startled by such scene; the talent to switch on and off a perfect calmness in mere seconds that only a Hanazawa could manage. "Invite her to Japan Corporate Gathering this Saturday. She will be Rui's date to that event. Give her a VIP reservation and prepare our best car and chaperon to pick her up on the day." Reika took out her PDA, placed that order on the top priority of her to-do list.

"Will do, Madam." She bowed down and turned back to leave the room as she smelled the wanna-get-some-sleep-now alert in her Madam's eyes.

"Oh, Reika-san?"

Her black-pearl necklace swung as she turned back right away. "Madam?"

"Get her a stunning dress. A white one. She would like it."

With a second bow, Reika left the room. Being as speedy as she always had, that last task was already done before she even reached the main gate outside.


Please make sure again the size is right. This is an order from Doumyouji Tsukasa.

Nishida wrote those two last sentences with his PDA with such incredible speed that only a Doumyouji Corporate Head Secretary could manage, or so he thought, before rushing out from his limousine door to open another door for his Great Madam, Doumyouji Kaede.

"I will inform Tsukasa-sama to take lead of this afternoon meeting," Along with other two SPs, he helped his Madam to walk out from the limousine with great effort and caution, caution to kiss his life goodbye if this woman suffered one tiny scratch from walking from the car to her room.

"I can walk by myself." That line was so simple, but the command resonated so fast to those men's fingers; they released their grip less than one second altogether as if been electrocuted by 1000,000 volts lightning.

Last spring, the newspapers exaggerated the three-day fall of one giant corporate's stock price by writing a "Doumyouji Hits The Ground" sensational headline. Today, a real Doumyouji was hitting a real ground.

Those poor men were in the middle of counting how many seconds of dear life they had left, when Kaede lost it.
"ARE YOU MORE IDIOT THAN MY SON??! Who told you to let go that quickly?? …….Nishida, transfer them to Africa." The two SPs startled; they could not believe their own ears. Thank God… We'll have much more pleasure serving those starving lions and crocodiles than this one, they thought, as Nishida glared them in the eyes, knowing exactly what they were thinking.

Hearing his name mentioned in a 'not-so-friendly' way – well, if that 'idiot' word was said in Makino's voice it would be bearable, though – Tsukasa snapped and rushed to the front door. "Oiyy, OLD HAG!! Do you have to expose my idiocy far to AFRICA –" He stopped when he saw what happened in the yard. His evil mother was kneeling on the ground, nursing some bruise that stained her perfect forehead, while Nishida and all SPs were pinned in their positions, too afraid to make another fatal mistake by touching her now.

In a situation like that, a normal son should be running to help his normal mother and get her into the house immediately. But this is a Doumyouji family, a Doumyouji Kaede, and a Doumyouji Tsukasa.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA…….. So, you're also going into some kiss and suddenly he released his grip on your mouth, right??" He couldn't believe the same accident repeated in less than five minutes on the same yard, and Makino wasn't the only one had a heart to do such things - though in his mother's case, everyone would have the heart to.

Kaede couldn't understand a word her moron son was saying. Actually, none of the living creatures there understand. But she let it go. Her son said all stupid irrelevant things in daily basis.

"My apology, young master," Nishida stepped in to break the silence. "Kaede-sama is having a severe headache since this morning. Would you take lead of this afternoon meeting with the Manhattan Bank? I've prepared all the details for you."

"He will do it." Giving that famous deadly glare Tsukasa was too much familiar with, she sentenced from her still-kneeling position on the ground.

"Heh, go dream about it—"

"Or you're not going to the gathering." She threatened. Tsukasa had no original intention to attend this event, truthfully. He wasn't afraid of his mother either; he never was, from the very minute he was born to this world. But he already promised Makino that she would be wearing that beautiful blue dress she liked so much, and promised himself that he would be the one escorting her and enjoying that scene, not some pervert old guys who'd surely be jumping into her that night!

He grabbed the folder from Nishida. "Let's finish this crap." With a bow, and an approval to leave from his Madam, Nishida followed his young master into the house, leaving Kaede with those SPs in the front yard.

She made it eventually, rose to her feet without any help of her SPs. A Doumyouji should always be able to stand on his own, on her own. But as the headache went worse, she realized there was a limit somehow. "I can rest, finall – "
She jerked her head down when she realized something was stuck right under her heels, a thick sheet of pa – ….. a photograph.

....... ........ .......

The headache was reaching her lungs now.

Oh. my. God.


"For the F4's sake it's tomorrow, Soujiro, and you haven't got any date??" Mimasaka Akira was really surprised that his Casanova friend had a very unusual bad luck this time.

"Not having one doesn't mean not having enough applicants queuing, gentlemen.. Relax, I'm working on it." Soujiro took out nine photographs from his fur coat pocket, flipping them and contemplating hard on each before moving to the next one. "Mmmh.. I'm tired of blondie…I'm going red this time." He showed Akira the two last remained photos in his hand, asking for advice. "Burgundy, or this red-light one?"

"Burgundy. Bring that red-light and you'll give Tsukasa's mom her headache back and your ass a kick out," His advice was full with a real warning.

"Okay.. Settled then." Soujiro grabbed his cellphone and texted the said burgundy-haired sweetheart; asking if she wanted to be his date on the event tomorrow. He didn't have to read his inbox thereafter, everybody knew her answer already. Soujiro grinned as he imagined her squealing for winning such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and rushing for malls and counters to hunt for dress this very second.

He looked over Akira who had just finished talking through his phone. Yes, talking, playing with his hair, smiling. Like a love-struck fool.

"Eehmm…," he prepared for the first fight in the day with the yakuza heir. "And.. who's the lucky lady that's most likely going to be caught by her husband in that gathering this time?"

Akira turned. Then he made his pace, slowly, before sitting calmly on the sofa. He crossed his legs while broadcasting him the headline of the day. "MATSUOKA YUKI," He puffed. "And no, she doesn't have any husband. Yet."

Even Rui woke up with that.

"WHAATT???! YU-Yu-YUUKI??! Yuki as in…as in Yuki Yukii??! Can't you get some – some b-better girl?? I mean.. woman? Older, experienced one?? Ehheheeh… Well.. It's not my business or whatever, you know.. I just.."

"Yeah, you're right. It's not your girlfriend or whatever," Akira retorted.

"I said 'not my business or whatever' !! Business! Not girlfriend! They're totally different in spelling, you fool!"

"Hooaaaahhhhhhhh….. so loud, Soujirooo… If you wanted…mmmh her.. to be red-headed.., hoaaahhh…say it. Akira.. will.. do.. mmmh.. the hair mmmcolouring…" Rui then went back to his sleep, leaving his two friends just like that.

"??!!???!...W-who said anything about hair you — "

"So that's why u're so mad, heh? Because she's a blondie? Dude.. I know Yuki veeery well.. she wouldn't color her hair red no matter what. She'll look like that freak Veronica – wait, Vero.... Viro.... ahh what was Shigeru's costume that time…
Vic –Victoria!! Yeah.. that FREAK Victoria vampire in Twilight!"

There was no way Akira would forget that; his inauguration ceremony as the new yakuza leader was messed up as hell when a freak girl wearing a big curly red wig and a fang stormed in and jumped to the stage. How come the most powerful yakuza group in Japan hold ceremony in a same building at the same time with that movie premiere??

Soujiro snorted. Who the hell this dickhead think he is – 'knowing Yuki very well'??! Cchhh…

"Aahh, guys, I'm leaving. Gotta find something decent to woo my blondie tomorrow.." He chuckled, tantalized Soujiro with his ever-so-innocent smile. "See ya!"

Soujiro waved him goodbye.

See your lesson tomorrow, he promised.


Saturday, The D-day

"Oh I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm soooo dead this time! Aaaarrghhhh…!!"

Makino was frustrated. She woke up in the afternoon from a bad dream— or a perverted one, it was, if she dared to admit that she was the one anticipating that dream in the first place – repeating one intimate moment in a beach that reminded her of the existence of a picture.

She had searched frantically throughout her whole apartment for that stupid photograph; probed her skirt pocket over and over until five holes from her nails were successfully created in it, asked her entire neighbors, traced down the street, walking paths and even shook every tree grew in the neighbourhood. All to no avail.

She was on her way to continue the investigation to the rooftop, when someone knocked on her door.

What's that baka thinking?? It's still 2 o'clock!! What kind of idiot picking up his date five hours ahead the schedule?

The knocks became a little louder.

"Comiiiiing!!" She ran to the door and unlocked it as quick as she could. "What're you thinking, baka! Do you know what time it is—"

A striking woman was standing outside her door, bowing. She was tall and slender in an elegant white blazer, beautiful with a pair of intelligent dark eyes and a perfect olive skin, her dark brown hair was cut short above her neck where a beautiful black pearl necklace hung into, and she had these two seducing long tanned legs those would make any girl turned green from envy around her. Makino was reminded of Catherine Zeta Jones the second she saw her.

"I apologize sincerely for disturbing, Miss.. I'm here to deliver this invitation and this dress," She handed her a large box wrapped in white decorative paper tied with a big gold ribbon; it had a black exclusive-looking card attached on it.

Makino gulped. "I— I'm sssssorry… I didn't know Doumyouji… had... a new…"

"The car is ready downstairs," She cut with her stunning smile. "But you don't need to hurry, Miss, please take your time. After you've done with the dress, the make-up team and hair stylists will help you to finish up. The car will be ready to take you anytime at your convenience..
Now, if you would excuse me, is there anything else I can do for you, Miss?"

Makino couldn't say a thing. How come I never saw this woman before? She's so beautiful, so elegant, charming, calm, polite, so… perfect.
Right.. A new perfect secretary
for Doumyouji.

A slight pang of jealousy hit her.

"Aaahh.. no, no, no, it's okay..!" Makino shook her head frantically. Oiyy how can you think like that! Look at her.. She's probably older than his sister! "I… I'll take a shower first then. T-t-thank you for everything," She bowed and nervously replied.

With a bow, Kareika left her and walked down the stairs, smiling all the way to her waiting car on the street outside.


UN-BELIEVEABLE.

Makino was almost choked to see her reflection in the mirror. There was no trace of that poor 'weed' left in the girl who's standing before her right now.

"This… is… me ??" She couldn't believe her own eyes. She saw her own self turned into a stunning princess in a beautiful broken white chiffon dress, a long one with a seducing long cut from her right ankle up to her thigh. The dress suited her very well; it exposed her every curve perfectly. It was sleeveless and stringless; there was a black fur line bordering above her breast, and the vertical line in the middle of her back peeked out through the braided corset-like strings on her back. A pair of long white gloves completed them, along with the white Jimmy Choo stilettos strapped around her ankles below.

Her make-up was flawless. They used pink and grey color mostly, with a slight touch of glittery silver, and her lips was so cute in that glossy pink color. Her hair was curled and pulled up into a bun, while all the locks were loosened in a tempting way, hung down above her neck. Two diamonds were hanging on her ears. A Cinderella, she smiled.

"Wheeeew…. My, my… I bet you're going to be veeery busy tonight," The team coordinator teased her, proud of his faultless work.
"Well, I guess Mr. Hana— Aaah I mean..... I— …I guess we're done! Haah…ha..ha.." He laughed nervously as all of his teammates bulged their eyes at him. "Ehmm....... Are you ready to go, Miss?"

Makino drew a deep breath and nodded. Truthfully, she still wanted to spend more time admiring her new look in the mirror, but she also couldn't wait to ask something to Doumyouji; something wrong from the very first time that dazzling woman knocked on her door today…

She was downstairs now, on her way to the waiting limousine at the apartment gate. Something was suspicious and yet familiar about that car, but she still couldn't find why. As the chaperon opened the door for her and she entered the limousine, she sat tight and looked around the car interior; the uneasiness grew more annoying and more, and it had just hit the pit of her stomach already.

I'm just a little too nervous, she assured herself. "I'll be doing just great," she talked louder than necessary to herself and raised her fingers to touch the Saturn necklace Doumyouji had given her. That jewel could always give her a magical strength whenever she needed it the most. She lowered her head slowly, staring intensely at the ruby pendant. "What a spoiled boy... buying a pricey ruby just because he likes red so much—............"

The reality set in, and she realized suddenly what that wrong thing is.

Doumyouji never like white. He hates white the most of all colors. Why did he give me all these white things then?

As the white limousine turned left at the street corner, a young man in blue uniform knocked hysterically on the apartment landlord's door. A fifty-year old man came out, greeted him. "Yes, what kind I do for– "

"Miss Makino… Miss… Miss Makino Tsukushi," he managed to say between his difficult breathing. "I got a delivery for her,"

"Oh, I think she's just—"

"— please, this is an emergency, please!! My life IS AT STAKE FOR THIS!"

The old man's response was only pointing towards the corner of the street.


So, this is Chapter 3..hehehee.. Chapter 4 will have moooore surprises, I promise. ^_^
As you can see, Kaede was still allergic of Makino here. What will make her 'fall' for Makino and jump to fight Ashita in the battlefield? Seeing Makino that gorgeous in the party, do you think Rui will sit tight like he always had? And the worst one... What will Tsukasa do to settle the score? Check all of them out in the next chapter next weekend. See u guys..!