Disclaimer: I do not own Hana Yori Dango

"When did you get here?" Tsukasa seemed not happy to see his mother. Tsukushi felt another problem was going to happen, and the event in her house was diminished from her thoughts. She eyed Tsukasa's mother carefully, and by the way the lady stands and present herself made Tsukushi think of only one word to describe her...powerful.

"Is that how you welcome me? We haven't seen each other for a year and you're not happy to see me at all?" Domyouji Kaede raised an eyebrow to his son. She sighed heavily and opened the folder in her hands. She then told Tsukasa and Tsukushi to follow her in the living room.

"You haven't answered my question yet."

"Very well, I got here just minutes ago. I was alarmed of the news that you're going out with somebody other than your fiancée. Am I right, my son?" Kaede turned her gaze to Tsukushi, who was standing silently beside Tsukasa.

"I guess Shigeru have already told you, that I broke the engagement off. I'm dating Tsukushi, and I see no problem with that." Tsukasa tightened his hold of Tsukushi's hand.

"Oh no, Shigeru haven't told me a single thing. We haven't been in contact since the engagement party. Let's just say I have my own ways of knowing what you're up to this past few weeks." Kaede settled herself on one of the couches and motioned the other two to sit across her. Tsukushi sat quietly and looked down when she saw Kaede's cold expression.

"What does it matter to you? You never cared for me and Tsubaki ever since we were young, so why care now?" Tsukasa looked hurt when he said this, but quickly hide the emotion in his eyes.

"Don't go telling me that I never cared for you! All the things that I did were for your own good. And marrying Shigeru is one of those, you have a good future laid before you Tsukasa, don't go wasting your time on a riffraff." Kaede looked at Tsukushi and smiled at her wickedly. Tsukushi felt the anger building up inside her, but controlled herself. She's still Tsukasa's mother.

"My future, or the future of the company? I'm picking up the idea, mother. And if you're talking about Tsukushi, she's not a trash like other girls who know nothing but to be great pains in the ass." Tsukasa defended roughly, making his mother stood up.

"Mind your language! Is that what you get from hanging out with this girl? You don't even know if she's of a good family! Now tell me if she's not a trash, and don't be a disgrace Tsukasa, we had worked hard to maintain our reputation. I wouldn't let a girl like her to ruin everything in this family!" Kaede's loud voice came echoing in the almost empty mansion. Tsukasa's hands balled into fists and his booming voice shocked everyone in the room.

"Disgrace? You don't even know what the word means! You're forcing me to marry somebody against my own will, you had controlled almost everything in this house, now you tell me what is disgrace?! And family? I'm afraid we don't have that here, I have no family but Tsubaki, Tsukushi, and F3. I even wonder why do I call you mother, you never understood my feelings." Tsukasa said everything in his mother's face frankly. Kaede was surprised about her son's behavior, and slapped him real hard.

"Don't go lecturing me about disgrace! I know exactly what it is, and going out with this girl is the most appropriate meaning for that. You want to know what I mean? Read this, and find out for yourself. You might want to reconsider Shigeru after reading Ms. Makino's history." Kaede threw the folder and Tsukasa opened it, with Tsukushi peering beside him. But before Tsukasa could read what's inside, Shigeru busted through the door and came to greet Kaede.

"Auntie, I just received the news that you're here! Nice to see you again!" Shigeru approached Kaede and hugged her briefly. Then she noticed Tsukasa and Tsukushi and her smile was replaced by a scowl.

"Ooh, I didn't know you're here! How's it going bitchy?!"

"You were the one who attacked Tsukushi's house, weren't you? You threatened her last week and you did that horrible threat in her room!" Tsukasa was going to lunge at Shigeru if Tsukushi hadn't stopped him. Shigeru on the other hand was shocked but an idea came into her mind.

"What the hell are you talking about? I didn't attack her! And if I would attack her, I wouldn't just threaten her, I'll have her dead right away! But what could this mean? Uh-huh, somebody other than me is trying to get you...isn't that nice? If I could only meet that person, then we could talk about plans on making you suffer! Goody!" Shigeru laughed and nodded her head a few times. Kaede smiled at the corner of her mouth and turned to the envelope Shigeru was holding.

"You have something for me, my dear?" Kaede asked and Shigeru gave her the envelope and Kaede opened it. A laugh escaped her mouth as she looked at Tsukushi.

"Why if it isn't another set of your family background, Ms. Makino. Thank you Shigeru, but I already have mine prepared. They were about to look at it, mind to stay for a while to witness a shocking scene?" Kaede asked as she sat down once again and took a sip of her coffee. Tsukasa re-opened the folder and read the contents of the documents. Tsukushi couldn't believe her eyes, all the papers contained her bio-data and some proof of their family businesses.

"You see, Ms. Makino's mother left his father when he could no longer support them, and clung herself to a wealthy businessman by the name of Arthur McKennin. Her mother never filed for divorce, but just left her husband taking young Ms. Makino, 6,with her. Her mother took the name McKennin, and was introduced as Lady McKennin of the McKennin Enterprise. Ms. Makino's father knew about this, and he sought custody of his children. Lady McKennin didn't like the sound of this, and bribed Mr. Makino $100 million just to leave them, on which he did eventually. However, Lady McKennin didn't know that Mr. Arthur had a first wife before her. Lady McKennin got angry and asked Mr. Arthur to choose one of his wives. Mr. Arthur picked her instead of his other wife, but he regretted it. 2 years after living together, Lady McKennin left with another guy and left Ms. Makino with Mr. Arthur, on which the poor businessman took the responsibility gratefully, as the eight year-old Ms. Makino has grown fond of him and acknowledged him as her father. Mr. Arthur changed Ms. Makino's name to Tyler Kiesha, and gave her his last name, presenting her as the sole heiress to the McKennin Enterprise. Now, tell me my son, would you take a slut's daughter for a wife? Who might take her steps after her mother and leave you bitter with your children?" Kaede looked at her son expectantly. She was sure that her son was going to listen to her. But she was surprised by Tsukasa's reaction.

"So, where's the catch? I didn't get the punch line of this stupid document." Tsukasa looked at his mother questioningly, then to Shigeru who had her face in total surprise.

"What it means, my son...is that Ms. Makino is the daughter of a slut, who kept on clinging into other men to support herself. I believe in the saying 'like mother like daughter', so I wouldn't doubt it if Ms. Makino will do the same to you." Kaede was getting impatient of her son's lack of understanding, she wanted her son to leave Tsukushi and get on with her plans for him.

"You believe in that quotation? Well, I don't. And stop judging Tsukushi as if you know her too well. I love her and there's nothing you can do. I'm ready to fight for her, and I'll make sure she won't go to another man's arms." Tsukasa held Tsukushi close to him, and Tsukushi felt relieved. She was trying to push her past at the back of her mind and she felt thankful that Tsukasa didn't care at all, as long as he loves her, and she loves him.

"And what makes you so sure that she wouldn't leave you? Huh, huh? Answer me?!" Shigeru was getting mad, her first plan didn't work. Now she's worried if her other plans would.

"I'm going to make her the happiest woman on Earth. I'll give her all my love, because she's my everything." Tsukasa honestly told her mother and Shigeru. Kaede stood up and scolded her son to knock some piece of mind in him.

"You don't know what you're taking about! You can only say that because you're still in the first step. Wait until you experience all the hardships, let's find out how far can you go in fighting for her. Don't blame me if she leaves you after she's done with you." Kaede warned her son, but it was Tsukushi who spoke this time.

"You don't have to worry about your son, I'll never leave him. I'll fight for the two of us, even if that means until the end of the world. I love him, and there's nothing you can do to keep me away from him." Tsukushi shot back, that was the first time she spoke in the whole conversation. Tsukasa smiled inwardly, this was the second time she confessed her love for him in front of other people.

"You're brave. Let's see what you can do for ea---Tsukasa, where do you think you're going?" Kaede yelled after her retreating son, Tsukasa had Tsukushi on one hand and they were walking to the door out of the living room.

"Chill mother. I'm still your son when I get back anyway. And don't even think about those nasty plot of yours, I'll be forced to turn myself against you." Tsukasa left with Tsukushi, leaving Shigeru and Kaede with mouths wide-open.

"That girl is going to suffer in my hands."

"Same here, auntie. Same here." Shigeru said as she made her leave out of the mansion. Time to set up my real plans, she thought.

"Tsukasa, thank you." Tsukushi smiled as she turned her head to her left. She studied his profile as Tsukasa looked at her.

"Thanks for what?" Tsukasa didn't know what she was talking about.

"For believing in me, for fighting for me." Tsukushi smiled as tears rolled down her cheeks. Tsukasa wiped off her tears and smiled to her.

"It doesn't really matter who you are, as long as I love you, and you love me. I'll do anything." Tsukasa ruffled her hair.

As long as you love me
By The Backstreet Boys

Although loneliness has always been a friend of mine,
I'm leaving my life in your hands
People say I'm crazy and that I am blind
Risking it all in a glance
And how you got me blind is still a mystery
I can't get you out of my head
Don't care what is written in your history
As long as you're here with me

Chorus
I don't care who you are
Where you're from
What you did
As long as you long me
Who you are
Where you're from
Don't care what you did
As long as you love me

Every little thing that you've said and done
Feels like it's deep within me
Doesn't really matter if you're on the run
It seems like we're meant to be

Chorus

Bridge
I've tried to hide it so that no one knows
But I guess it shows
When you look into my eyes
What you did and where you're coming from
I don't care
As long as you love me baby

Chorus to fade

"Tsukasa?" "Hmm...?"

"I love you." Tsukushi said firmly as she held Tsukasa's hand. Tsukasa's smile couldn't be contained; he was overwhelmed by the happiness inside him.

"I love you too, Tsukushi."

Psyren that's what Shigeru was talking about...thanks for reading!