Disclaimer: I do not own Hana Yori Dango, nor its characters. (Stupid therapist! Denial is healthy!!)

Tsukushi walked from the train station Monday morning, her bag swinging through the cool, crisp air. The sun was shining, a gentle wind breezing around her, creating a rosy glow along her cheeks as she headed for the familiar tower of steel and glass.

A grin stole over her face as, unbidden, memories of the weekend sprang to her mind. Tsukasa and Susumu had decided that they needed to bond and Tsukushi was aghast to learn that they had chosen to do it at her part-time job at Kin-san's restaurant, Susumu having filled Tsukasa in on the details regarding her second job. He had lectured her non-stop on too much job stress and a heavy workload until they got to the restaurant. And met Kin-san. And developed an instantaneous, unyielding dislike for the genial fellow, which, to Tsukushi's amazement, turned out to be mutual. In the end, poor Susumu spent most of the day ducking from the various insults Tsukasa threw Kin-san, while Kin-san threw back more polite versions.

Tsukasa had dropped her off at her dorm, informing her that they would also be spending the next day together, without Susumu and her annoying "chief" boss. The next morning, as Tsukushi had walked down the stairs to where Tsukasa was waiting for her in the dorm foyer, she heard clusters of excited whispers. Curious, she had hurried her steps to find many of her dorm mates squealing over Tsukasa. Dressed in jeans, shirt with blazer and a skull cap on his head, he looked like a college kid: a very handsome, inpatient college kid. As soon as he had seen Tsukushi, he had grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out as she had teased him for being embarrassed by the girls' blatant interest.

They had spent the day at the amusement park, (her choice) and then a five star French restaurant at night (his choice). Tsukushi had an absolute blast, as they easily fell back into their previous pattern. Bicker, fight, throw verbal taunts at each other…she had more fun that night than the whole of the month. And for all that he yelled at her, she knew Tsukasa felt the same, as she caught the delighted grin on his face each time he wasn't looking.

Tsukushi entered the D. Corp. building, heading for her floor on autopilot, her thoughts focused on how wonderful she felt. "You are in serious trouble, Makino," she muttered to herself as the elevator stopped on her floor and she stepped out onto her floor. "This crazy over a rich brat like Doumyouji Tsukasa? At least Susumu had no idea who he was. I do not want to think of what will happen if Mama and Papa find out," she thought, placing her bag down on her cubicle desk. But even thoughts of her avaricious parents could not suppress the smile on her face.

Megumi saw her and came over to her cubicle. "Wow, someone looks very bright this morning," she commented.

Tsukushi grinned, "I just feel great."

Megumi nodded sagely. "I've been putting Korean Ginseng in your tea. It must be kicking in," she said as she laid a steaming mug in front of her.

Tsukushi shook her head, "Oh, if you only knew," she thought, hiding her smile.

"So, Tsukushi-chan, it seems that the Junior Boss calmed down," Megumi said, leaning against Tsukushi's cubicle wall.

Tsukushi took a sip of the tea, "Junior Boss?"

"Doumyouji-san," Megumi explained. "It seems nothing happened this weekend. I think his mother threatened him something awful."

Tsukushi grinned at her again. "Maybe he worked out whatever that was bothering him."

Megumi scoffed, "Him? You're telling me that Doumyouji Tsukasa has problems like the rest of us?" She shook her head skeptically and went back to her cubicle.

"Yeah, imagine that," Tsukushi whispered to herself.

About an hour passed and Tsukushi became so engrossed in her current project that she barely registered her name being called.

"Makino-san?"

Tsukushi looked up to see one of the Accounting Managers beckoning to her.

"Hai," she said promptly, leaving her desk to the offices in the back. He gestured for her to precede him into his office and shut the door. Tsukushi looked at him curiously, but he merely motioned for her to sit in one of the chairs across from his desk.

"Makino-san," he began, sitting very straight in his chair, hands folded on his desk. Tsukushi felt a sliver of trepidation at his serious and extremely business-like attitude.

"Calm down," she told herself, "you haven't done anything wrong…. I think."

"Makino-san," began her manager. His posture was formal, arms crossed on his desk and Tsukushi imitated him, sitting ramrod stiff in her chair. "Your time with us here is coming to an end."

Tsukushi bowed her head. "Hai," she replied. "I want to thank you for such a valuable learning experience." And indeed it had been: she had learned more the short time that she had been interning than in her years at school.

Motokare-san beamed at her. "It's been a pleasure to have you. Actually, the other managers and I have discussed your situation. Your work here is excellent as well as your grades at Tokyo University." He cleared his throat and if possible, looked even more serious.

Tsukushi felt a ball of dread coalesce in her belly. "There's a 'but' coming…" she was unable to suppress the wretched thought.

"We would be honored, Makino-san, if you considered an offer to join Doumyouji Corporation as an Assistant Manager here in Accounting," he said bowing deeply over his desk.

She sat immobile, dazed by what had just been offered to her. Even though one of the primary purposes of her internship was job placement, she was still shocked that it had actually happened. "Kami-sama, this was one of my dreams," she contemplated nostalgically. "To finally be able to be independent. And not broke."

She thought then, of the years of struggle and hardship. Of the many days and nights she had worried over her grades, her family. Tsukushi sighed. In reality, she knew that she was merely changing one set of worries for another, but still, to have reached what she had wanted for so long…

Tsukushi took a deep breath. "Sir, it is my honor to accept," she said, returning his bow.

As Tsukushi closed the manager's office door, she saw that most of the others had left for lunch already. She went to her desk to check for any messages and found none. Replacing the phone in its cradle, she turned to leave for lunch when she saw a familiar figure coming towards her.

"Mimisaka-san," she said, smiling tentatively. She knew Tsukasa had told him about them, but she wasn't sure if Akira held any bad feelings against her. After all, the last time she had seen him, she had pretty much sworn off seeing Doumyouji Tsukasa ever again.

He strolled up to her, hands in his pockets, the look in his light eyes solemn.

"So, Tsukasa told me the news," he began.

Tsukushi bit her lip. "And?" she asked, unable to read his expression.

"I think both of you are crazy-to make such a big deal over a silly argument. That's the problem with virgins: too hormonal to think straight." he said, clucking his tongue in mock sadness.

Tsukushi rolled her eyes.

His demeanor changed, becoming serious. "It will be hard," Akira said, the amusement in his eyes fading. "I understand your reasons more than you think, but…" he paused a moment. "Tsukasa is too stubborn," he finished with a rueful grin. "Anyway, you're stuck now," Akira drawled, "but are you sure you know what you're doing?"

She gave him a direct gaze. "No," she said gently. "But, I can't…" she trailed off, remembering Tsukasa's face through the pouring rain, what had been written in his eyes. In that place…in the rain. She shuddered a bit.

"I can't go through that again," she said, straightening her spine. "I won't be a coward and run from things even before they begin." She looked up at him, "But that's not to say I don't need help. Because he--we need you Mimisaka-san."

"Of course you do," he scoffed arrogantly.

Tsukushi smiled at the return of his unmitigated confidence. "But underneath, is a depth of friendship and trust that no one could ever break," she thought, fondly. Aloud she said, "Thank you, Mimisaka-san. We wouldn't even be this far without you."

"You're too good for him," he said, sauntering away. "But at least he can make up for it by providing the looks and the money in your relationship."

"Hey!" Tsukushi shouted, but he was already entering the elevators and merely waved back. She shook her head wryly.

Tsukushi walked through the floor, a plastic bag in hand, heading straight between the desks to his office. Having made her decision to be with Tsukasa, she refused to let their relationship be a secret that they had to hide. She had to face her fear head on, she thought, her grip on the bag tightening.

Yet as she reached his door, she couldn't help but feel immense relief that Hiro was absent. She was going to have to explain everything, but at least not today. With a light knock, she opened the door to see Tsukasa by the floor length windows comprising one entire side of his office.

"Well, I don't care what I said last week. I told you what I want this week and that's exactly what I expect to see on Friday." He turned from his study of downtown Tokyo and saw her by the door.

"I have to go," he ended abruptly, pulling out his mobile earpiece and tossing it onto his desk.

She quietly shut the door behind her.

"Did you get my message last night?" he inquired, striding to a halt right in front of her. He was in his shirtsleeves, his curls a bit ruffled as if he had been running his hand through them. She noticed the lines of fatigue on his face.

"I did. Actually, um," she hesitated. "Oh Kami, what was I thinking," she mentally cringed, hiding her bag behind her.

But Tsukasa heard the rustling and peered around her to investigate. "What's that? Is it for me?"

"It's a bento," she said, as he grabbed the bag from her hands and drew out the colored box. "Just something to keep you going since you will have to work late tonight," she finished hurriedly. He stood still for a long time, so long that Tsukushi felt herself flush.

"If you don't want it, I'll throw it out," she said, trying to pry the box from his hand.

"No. I want it, you made it for me," he replied, as if that explained everything.

"Oh, well. I have one for me too. Do you want to eat together?" she asked tentatively.

He looked down at her. Suddenly, she found herself being kissed by him.

"You are so cute." He grinned at her red face and sat down on the floor space between his desk and the door, gently tugging her down along with him.

"Baka," she grumbled. She handed him a pair of chopsticks as he perused the contents of his bento intently.

"What's this?"

Tsukushi looked up to see Tsukasa holding a piece of shrimp imperiously. "It's shrimp."

His brows raised so high they almost hit his hair. "This is shrimp? It's so puny and…," he waved it a bit in front of him then popped it in his mouth. "OK," he said in blank surprise.

Tsukushi snorted, "Shocked that common food is not all that bad?"

He gave her an evil look, "Well, you're common and I put up with you. Might as well get used to the food you cook."

She scowled at him, "Keep it up and I'm taking it back." She almost laughed aloud at the alarmed look on his face.

"No!" he said, shielding his bento with upper body. "You gave it to me, you can't take it back! You'd be an Italian giver!"

"That's Indian giver, aho! And I don't want it back," Tsukushi replied, rolling her eyes at his childish antics. "Scion of one of the most powerful families in Japan and he's scared I'll steal his bento," she thought with some incredulity.

They began working on their bentos, a companionable silence between them.

"You have a big project?" she asked, munching on some salad.

"No," he grumbled. The slight red that appeared in his face took her aback. "I have more work now since the last three weeks I wasn't really doing that much."

"Ah," she smirked.

"Shut up! It was your fault," he complained.

"Ohh, poor Tsukasa! Well, I'm feeding you to pay for it," she teased and fished an unagi roll off her box. "See, I'm even willing to part with my food to make you feel better." Beaming widely, she extended her chopsticks, with the unagi roll in between.

Tsukasa smirked at her. "You can't resist me," he said in a satisfied tone, and grabbed her hand to lead her chopsticks to his mouth.

"I have some news I have to tell you," she began gently as his mouth closed over the roll, his face inches from her own.

"Doumyouji-san, I found the spreadsheets with the…." The door opened so suddenly that Tsukasa's hand was still on hers, her chopsticks hanging between them as they both turned to the interruption.

Hiro stood there, arrested at the sight before him. Tsukushi pulled her hand from Tsukasa's grasp.

"Hiro," she breathed.

His eyes widened. "Uh, I'm sorry." He looked uncomprehending, as if his vision had somehow conjured the image before him. "Um…I guess…uh. Excuse me," he finally stuttered, backing out rapidly. The door closed with a bang.

"Hiro!" Tsukushi exclaimed and started up.

Only to find herself pulled back by a grip on her arm. She turned back to see Tsukasa's hand on her arm, his head bowed over the floor, not looking at her.

"Don't go. Don't go after him."

Tsukushi's gaze softened. "Tsukasa," she lifted his head up to meet her eyes. "He's my friend-I never told him what was happening. I have to go to him now."

"Please," she started, running her hand over his, "please believe in me." She bent over and kissed him, softly, tenderly. His lips clung to hers as she moved away.

Tsukushi felt the ironclad grip on her arm release, though the look in his eyes didn't change. "Come back soon, or your food will get cold." He watched as she left him, heading for the door.

"Baka, it's a bento," she called back, hurriedly leaving the room. The door closed quietly after her.

After a few moments, Tsukasa picked up a piece of tamago from his bento between his chopsticks and examined it. "I am so whipped," he told the egg.

A/N:

Some translations:

bentosimilar to a lunchbox

unagieel

tamagoegg