Title: Changing Fates
by dytia

chapter 1: Confrontation

This is a what-if story. What if it was Makino who was stabbed and lost her memory instead? What happen when she met Umi? What if Rui suddenly decide to woo the amnesiac Tsukushi? What poor guilt-stricken Doumyouji will do? The storyline still follows Hana Yori Dango the manga plot. To those who haven't read the manga up to this point or don't like spoilers, BEWARE. And if you do not understand some parts, just ask. I might put up a brief summary of events leading up to the story. This piece needs you to be familiar of events leading to the stabbing incident as detailed in volume 29-30 of Hana Yori Dango.

Hana Yori Dango and its characters are owned by Yoko Kamio-sensei. I don't own it, I'm just another demented fan girl.

The parts in italics are the character's personal thoughts.

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As Makino, Shigeru and the rest of the F4 descended from Shigeru's ship, they were surrounded by reporters. They were swarming towards them. All of them were pushing against each other so that they could get a piece of Doumyouji. Doumyouji's sudden disappearance have caused chaos with speculations abound that he had been kidnapped by terrorist which obviously was grossly exaggerated. Nowadays, an interview with him, the heir to the biggest corporation in Japan, would be the scoop of their lifetime. Doumyouji Tsukasa on the other hand, did not pay any attention to them. In his head, he was busy thinking of what he will say to his mother when he finally meets her. How would he tell her that he decided to leave the Doumyouji family to live with his beloved Makino? How would she react? How would he survive without all the luxury he grew up with? Could he really live as an ordinary guy? All this questions spinning in his head started to annoy him. But all his doubts vanished when he took one look at Makino.

Makino as if sensing this turned around towards Doumyouji. Their eyes met. A sudden peaceful feeling came over him. He smiled at Makino.

There he was smiling at me. Always looking at me with those eyes. This man who had promised that he'll leave behind the whole world for me. A decision I know that was not easy for him. A boy who lived all his life in luxury decided to leave his rich family behind for the poor, simple me. I was late in realizing how precious he was to me. Deep down in my heart, I know I do love him. But my fear of crossing that line.. my uncertainty of why he chose me .. my doubts of my feelings towards him.. always stopped me from saying the things I should.

And then I saw, that glistening metal behind him. That man in Doumyouji's shadows were holding it against his back. That shining metal. Everything was in slow motion as I realized what was happening. I could not let him take away Doumyouji from me. I remember I was running towards Doumyouji, shouting at him to step back. I think, at that time, I pulled him towards me and at that very moment, I felt this sharp stabbing pain in my right side. My hands were stained with blood. My blood. I remembered Doumyouji's embrace as my legs gave in. His warm body against mine. I felt so peaceful and safe in his arms. I could hear him calling me. But his voice was fading away. I tried to answer but I felt like all my strength have left me. I tried really hard to stay awake, but I just couldn't.

I started to see visions of me.. my friends.. happy memories…me and Rui in the emergency stairs.. me and Yuki working in the dango shop.. Kazuya, Nishikado and Akira on the yacht waving at me.. Doumyouji smiling his usual boyish grin at me.. His hand clasping mine.. really tight. It was as if he couldn't let me go. It was as if he couldn't let me die.

In real life.. Makino was fighting for her life. She had lost her consciousness. The knife had punctured her lung and she could not even breathe. Doumyouji scooped her up and pushed through the sea of reporters. The F3 punched and kicked the reporters who were in Doumyouji's way while Shigeru frantically called the ambulance. All the way to the hospital, Doumyouji never left Makino's side, even during the operation to save her collapsed lung. Hanazawa Rui tried to make him stay calm but calm is certainly not a word you can use to describe Doumyouji right then.

Tsubaki Doumyouji flew all the way from LA when she heard the news. But even his sister's presence could not relieve the anger in Doumyouji's heart. Yes, anger. He's actually very furious with himself for not being able to protect Makino. He was particularly enraged by the fact that Makino was the one trying to protect him. " I always tell her that I'll protect her from everything. From my mother. From the world. But now, obviously I failed."

A warm hand rested on his shoulder, " It was not your fault," said Tsubaki.

" She took the knife that was meant for me. How could you say it was not my fault?"

" Tsukushi-chan knows what she was doing. All her life, she tries to protect things that dear to her. Her family, her friends.. She loved you very much. Protecting you, the person she love is the best way she knows."

" Idiot. She always this stupid. Always looking out for other people."
Tsubaki shook her head. " But this idiocy was also the reason why you loved her."

The two siblings did not realize that they were being watched. Doumyouji Kaede rushed to the hospital when she heard about the incident. She cannot believe the nerve of that poor girl. But she was thankful to God that her dearest son was not hurt. Sighing in relief, she turned around to leave only to be confronted by Hanazawa Rui.

" Oba-san.." he cried out…

" Hanazawa Rui, you…"

" Rui!!" Tsubaki called out . " Is that you?" Doumyouji Kaede hurriedly covered Rui's mouth and pulled him aside. By the time, Tsubaki opened the door and looked around, there was no one.

On the roof of the hospital, Doumyouji Kaede were talking face to face with Hanazawa Rui.
" What are you doing here? Isn't it enough you made Tsukasa and Tsukushi's life a living hell. What do you want now? Make sure that Tsukushi's dead?"

" I'm only here to make sure that Tsukasa's all right. What happen to Makino is none of my concern."
" She's dying there to save your son's life. Don't you feel anything in return? What sort of mother are you?"
" You have no right to say what kind of mother I am. You don't know me."

Calmly, Rui replied. " No.. I don't know you. But I know Tsukushi best. And that's why I won't let someone like you treating her like this."

She chuckled to herself. " What is so special about this girl that made you all fight against me? She is just another poor, insignificant girl whose family does not amount to anything. Why Tsukasa cares so much about her? What does she have that can make you, him and the rest of your pathetic little friends to turn against me? Me, the most powerful woman in Japan. "

" As long as you think that way, you will never understand why."

Rui turned around to leave but to his shock, he found that he was face to face with Doumyouji. An anguished Tsubaki was right by his side. Her arms holding onto the infuriated Tsukasa, stopping him from charging towards their mother. His eyes full of hatred and his voice dripping with sarcasm.

" I know I'll recognize that foul smelling perfume of yours anywhere."
" That is not the way you talk to your own mother, Tsukasa."
" Oo.. so now you are my mother. Where were you when I truly need a mother? Why were you pushing me away when I long for your attention? What are you?"
" Tsukasa, you better calm down," Tsubaki tried to hold Tsukasa back but Tsukasa pushed her away.
" Onee-san.. Tell me how can I calm down? This mother of mine still thinks that I am her meek little boy who will always follow orders. She still thinks that she has the right to decide about my future happiness when she never even once cared whether I am happy or not right now."
" Tsukasa.." Tsubaki cried. She stepped forward to stop Doumyouji from saying anything more but she was stopped by Rui. " Let him be. The time has come for him to confront her."
Tsubaki glanced towards the towering Tsukasa. His fingers crumpled up into a tight fist. His face wore a fierce, determined look which clearly spelled out his boiling rage underneath..

" The Doumyouji family have provided for your happiness from the day that you were born. Now you wanted to throw it away for that poor gal."
" What happiness? From the day I was born, I never knew happiness."
" We gave you the best in everything."
" And does that supposed to make me happy?"
" Do you think you can be happy living an ordinary person's life? Can you even survive it?"
" I don't know. But as long as I am with Makino, I can be happy."
" That girl. It was always that girl. Forget her. Come back to our family. Your family. "
" I won't! That girl. She was the only one who can make me happy. Something that my own family cannot give me. And this is why I decided to leave the Doumyouji family."

Tsubaki shrieked in disbelief. " Tsukasa.. No, it cannot be. You are crazy." Tsukasa held her in his arms. " It'll be all right, nee-chan."

Doumyouji Kaede froze. She cannot even start to believe what she heard. She did not realize Tsukasa would take such a harsh decision. To leave the family.

" Is that really your decision?"
" Yes."
" What can I do to change your mind? Tsukasa, you cannot do this to me."

" Yes, I can. Today, I was supposed to be dead if it was not for her. So, I want you to treat me just like that. As if I am dead. I don't want to be a part of the family any longer."

" No, mother.. Tsukasa, listen to me. Don't be foolish. " exclaimed Tsubaki.
" Onee-san.. you said you don't want me to repeat your mistake. That you wanted me to fight for the person I love. I am fighting for Makino. Today, I failed to keep my promise to protect her. I am not going to fail again. Only if I leave the family, I can protect her. So, this is my decision."

Doumyouji Kaede stared at her defiant son. It was as if for the first time, she could see her son the way he truly is. This strong willed man who were a stranger to her eyes. Where was that scared little boy she cared for before?

Flashback: Tama was calling from Tokyo telling her that the young master is ill. But Domyouji Kaede was in an important meeting and could not get away. " Madam, he is really scared."

" But I can't come. You must take care of him."
" But he needs his mother."
" The company needs me too."

Afterwards, Tama brought a little stuffed bunny to accompany the young master. A gift from the absent mother who longed to be with her son but circumstances would not let her be with him.

Looking very thoughtful, she was forced to remember Makino's kindness towards her during that time in New York. And now, she also owed her son's life to her. But, to let Tsukasa go, she couldn't do that easily.

" Tsukasa, I cannot let you leave the family. You are the only heir. I am doing a grave disservice to the Doumyouji's family if I let you off like this"
" I don't care."
" Then, how about if I make you a deal."
" I am sick and tired of your promises. I do not trust you. "
" This time I promise I am going to keep it. On my honor."
" Okay, I am listening."
" I am giving you one year. One year, you can consider me dead for one year. I won't bother you. I will not intrude in your life. You are free to do whatever you want for one whole year."
" No questions asked?" Gritting he teeth, she nodded. Doumyouji glared at her refusing to believe what she just said. " Really. You expect me to believe it just like that. So, what's the catch?"

Just then, a sudden gust of wind shook them. A Doumyouji Corp helicopter descended from the sky and landed on the helipad nearby. Her assistant came by and said that she must leave for New York for an important meeting with a rival company. She nodded and turned towards Tsukasa. " There's no catch. One year and then, I'll be back for you."
" Why is this change of heart? I don't trust you."
" Let's just say, this is a gift to Makino from the Doumyouji's family. In return of saving your life."

As the helicopter sped away, Tsubaki wrapped her arms around her dearest brother. " You won."
" If I won, why do I feel like I am the biggest loser on earth?"

From afar, Hanazawa Rui was joined by Sojirou and Akira. Akira reported that Makino's vital signs have stabilized. All that is left is for her to wake up. And both of them already contacted Tsukushi's parents back in the village. They will arrive tomorrow morning.

Sojirou remarked that Tsukasa took lots of guts to confront his mother like that. " Amazing what love can do to you."
" For a guy who think a girl is fit to be loved only in a week, I do not expect you to understand that."
" For a guy who wrecked other people marriages, I do not expect YOU to understand."

As the two baka hito argued with each other, Rui remained silent like always. In his mind, he saw Makino smiling at him and telling him never to give up. "Rui, I will always love you forever. Forever, we will be best friends."

"Yes.. you and I… Best of friends always," he quietly said to himself. A quaint sorrow clouded over his thoughts.

In Makino's mind, she was wandering alone. "Where is this place? This empty place. Where am I? Why am I here?" She saw a man with no face beckoning her to come towards him. She ran towards his arms only to fall over a dark abyss. And there she was falling and falling…

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Hehe.. how was that? This is my first Hana Yori Dango fic. Reviews please.