Disclaimer: I don't own Hana Yori Dango. This story is rated M and is set after vol. 36 of the manga.

AN (10/02/06): Chapter 2 re-edited and revised.

A Simple Misunderstanding
A Hana Yori Dango Fanfiction
By Maho-chan

Chapter 2

Of course, Tsukushi had given her consent. She was practically defenseless against the persuasion of Shizuka who she admired so much and hoped to be like someday.

Tsukushi gazed into the mirror as Shizuka wound her long brown hair into an intricate style that left her looking less and less like herself and more like a model she had seen on the cover of a fashion magazine.

With her face masked in make up and her hair done, Tsukushi realized that she looked older, and surprisingly, haughtier.

Tsukushi also noted, with an unexpected sense of satisfaction, that she actually looked cool.

Shizuka applied the last touches of Tsukushi's lipstick with a small, fine brush. Tsukushi suppressed a giggle. The strokes felt both ticklish and nice to her at the same time. Shizuka nodded to herself with satisfaction when she was finally finished. Walking over to the closet, Shizuka pulled out an evening gown in a color Tsukushi would never have considered for herself. Holding it up, Shizuka nodded to herself again. "This will be perfect." Tsukushi stood and opened her mouth to protest.

"Shizuka, I…I can't wear that!" Tsukushi stammered, looking at the crimson sheath of cloth as though it might bite her. "It's too…I would look…no, it has to be another dress!" Backing up slightly, Tsukushi stumbled on something and fell backwards, landing on her bottom. Staring up at Shizuka who still held the dress, Tsukushi said nervously. "I can't wear it. I can't."

"Tsukushi." Shizuka began soothingly, first placing the gown on the bed then moving to crouch down in front of her. "I chose it especially for you because I thought you would look very pretty wearing it. Why do you think you can't wear it?"

Tsukushi blushed, unsure of how to explain.

Reaching her hand out to help Tsukushi stand, Shizuka continued, "The dress is perfect for you. You will have everyone at the party eating out of your hand, so to speak."

Finally finding the courage to speak, Tsukushi said in a confused voice "Eating out of my hand?" Tsukushi looked at the dress and thought about those strange words.

"Are there going to be animals there?" Tsukushi finally asked, having no idea what Shizuka was talking about.

Shizuka's soft laughter rang throughout the room.

"Tsukushi, it's an expression. I meant that by wearing this dress you will impress everyone and they will all want to meet you."

Tsukushi moved forward and fingered the soft material of the gown, contemplating the possibilities.

Desirable.

Beautiful.

Cool.

A chance to be something she normally felt she was not.

Could she do this? Should she?

Tsukushi recalled words that occasionally still haunted her.

"No matter how you act, you've got no chance with the F4. They're in a different league than you!"

"How did that poor unattractive girl ever get Domyoji-sama to be interested in her? She must have tricked him somehow."

"You are really his girlfriend? You look so plain."

Tsukushi sometimes thought about those words spoken long ago and every time she did, she felt a little twinge of pain. Even though Tsukasa always looked at her as though he cherished her even when she looked her worst, Tsukushi still remembered and wondered.

She knew Tsukasa thought of her as "cute". But did he think she was beautiful?

She was poor. And she wasn't born beautiful like Shizuka. Maybe those people had been right. Maybe she wasn't equal to Tsukasa when it came to this.

A few more silent moments passed, various emotions clouding Tsukushi's expression. The idea that Tsukasa might not think she was beautiful and that they might not be equals made Tsukushi feel uneasy. Narrowing her eyes at the dress, Tsukushi thought "I can't believe I care so much about what that idiot thinks of me. But if he didn't think I was beautiful...if he was somehow secretly disappointed in me..." Tsukushi blinked, suddenly feeling upset.

Noticing this, Shizuka came up behind Tsukushi, clasped her shoulders and turned her around. Shizuka said in an understanding tone of voice, "As a fellow girl, I think I know what you are thinking. Trust me, he and everyone else be impressed."

Still distracted, Tsukushi nodded. She had promised to attend this party and play the role of Tsukasa's cool and fashionable girlfriend. She had no idea if Tsukasa thought she was beautiful, and if he didn't, wearing this dress might change his view of her. And Shizuka had taken the time to prepare her hair and choose her outfit. Surely it would be rude to let all that work go to waste. Tsukushi gathered her determination, reached out her hand and picked up the gown then moved towards the bathroom to put it on. Shizuka said to Tsukushi's retreating form, "I'll be getting ready in the next room, just call me if you need anything."

The tiles were cold under Tsukushi's bare feet as she entered the bathroom and closed the door. Contemplating the dress, she felt panicked again. Even though she wanted to help them with the party and prove something to Tsukasa, there was no denying that the outfit was incredibly provocative. Maybe she could wear something different and get the same effect. Reaching for the doorknob, Tsukushi suddenly remembered Shizuka's expectant face. She stopped and pulled her hand back, letting out a sigh. She had already indicated that she would wear this outfit and she knew there was no getting out of it now.

Gently placing the dress on the counter, Tsukushi took a long look at herself in the mirror and contemplated what she was going to do tonight.

She would be playing an important role that would make something happen in Tsukasa's favor, Tsukushi mused as she removed her clothes and unzipped the soft gown. She slipped the silky cloth over her hips and fixed the straps over her shoulders. Even though she felt nervous, she could think of it like playing a part, like being an actress. Everyone knew that she was still the same "weed" underneath the make up and glamorous clothes. Nothing would change that.

And then there was the matter of finding out if Tsukasa would look at her differently after this. She wanted to know, was she attractive to him? She wanted him to think that she was beautiful and tonight might help him to see her as such. Tsukushi wondered how Tsukasa would look when he saw her tonight. She would no longer be the poor, plain girl, but instead the woman that she had always secretly hoped to become. Even if she couldn't be this beautiful all the time, just once she wanted to see a change in his view of her. For once she wanted him to see her in a way that she never thought he did, what with their incessant arguing and teasing back and forth. She wanted him to take her seriously, as his girlfriend and as a woman.

Tsukushi thought about how she would act tonight. She would be cool and collected like Tsubaki, and show a little of her intensity with confidence. Tsubaki always commanded respect wherever she went and Tsukushi remembered how Tsukasa had raved on and on about how beautiful his sister was when she had first met him. Tsukushi thought she would also be regal like Shizuka. There was no doubt that the F4 thought of Shizuka as exceptional. And that included Tsukasa. Thinking about other high society girls that she had met, Tsukushi added calm and just a little bit aloof to her mental list.

It might not work, the whole plan might fail. And Tsukasa might laugh at me for wearing this and nothing will change, Tsukushi thought. Squaring her shoulders, Tsukushi reminded herself that she could at least try. Nothing was gained without trying. Exciting the bathroom, she then slipped on her shoes, smiling slightly when Shizuka told her how beautiful she looked.

It's a just a role. It isn't real. But it's something I have to do. I have to know.

Keeping her goals foremost in her mind, Tsukushi straightened, walked out of the room and prepared to descend the stairs to the foyer.

AN: The first quote is from vol. 2 of the manga, when Tsukushi is confronted by her classmates and they show her the magazine article about Shizuka.