Disclaimer: As everyone knows, I do not own the characters from Hana Yori Dango/Boys Over Flowers. However, I do own Neko, my OC. (Yay! I own something! Mine! Don't touch!) It's still not worth suing me; I am but a humble fan.

Thank you, Kamio-sensei!

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AN: This is completely AU. Not canon! Things are different--deal with it! Don't like, don't read!

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Tea and Saké

A Hana Yori Dango FanFic

By Janice Rips

Chapter 2: Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!

The party was already in full swing when Tsukushi and her friends arrived. Neko answered the door clad in a white peasant blouse, embroidered vest, calf-length skirt and huaraches. "Buenos tardes! Welcome! Mi casa es su casa!"

"I what?" Tsukasa said with a scowl.

Soujiro sighed and rolled his eyes. "She just said 'Make yourself at home' in Spanish. She wasn't saying anything about you... or about fine china, for that matter."

Tsukasa blushed while Neko laughed and Tsukushi muttered, "Idiot."

"Oh yeah? Well, I bet you didn't understand what she said, either," he growled back at her.

"Don't mind them, they're always like this," Akira confided.

"Wow! You look like a girl!" Kazuya exclaimed.

"I assure you, I'm 100 woman," Neko retorted.

"I think he means you look nice," Tsukushi apologized. "Kazuya, grow up!" she hissed.

"Oh, thanks! Makino-san, I wish you had been here when Asai arrived. She actually asked me where my brother was! She was so put out when I told her that I'm an only child."

"You're right, I wish I had seen that," Tsukushi laughed. "Neko, this is Matsuoka Yuki, my best friend. Is it okay that I brought her along?"

"Of course, pleased to meet you. Please, everyone, come inside."

Inside, there was a buffet of Mexican dishes, an open bar, Tejano music playing in the background, and everywhere... teenagers: eating, drinking, dancing, making out. The whole school had indeed shown up, and quiet space was at a premium. Neko wandered off to play hostess and make the rounds of the party, and the others went in search of food and drinks.

When next she checked in on them, Tsukushi and Tsukasa were bickering earnestly but seemed to be enjoying themselves, with Yuki and Kazuya cheering Tsukushi on. Then she saw that Asai and her friends had cornered the F3. Akira and Soujiro looked strained, and Rui was half-asleep. Neko decided a rescue was in order. "Hanazawa-san, can you come here a second?" Rui opened his eyes, nodded, and lumbered to his feet. "You guys can help, too, if you would be so kind," she said. Akira and Soujiro shot her looks of gratitude, and followed.

"How can we be of service?" Rui asked, curious.

"I need you to come do tequila shots with me," she grinned, "and I need to piss off Asai. Grab whoever you want to bring along, and meet me on the terrace."

Neko was giving some instructions to a waiter when Soujiro and Akira showed up, each with a girl on each arm. Right behind them were Rui, Tsukasa, Tsukushi, Yuki, Kazuya, and another girl, Sanjo Sakurako, who seemed to delight in flirting with the F4 and insulting Kazuya.

The waiter took a quick headcount, disappeared, then returned with bottles of tequila, a bowl of cut limes, saucers of coarse salt, a mess of shot glasses, and a basket of hot towels. Akira turned to Neko with a grimace of distaste and asked, "This isn't going to be that 'eat-the-worm' game that some people are so into these days, is it?"

Neko recoiled in horror. "Ew, gawd, no! That's mezcal, not tequila. The stuff is unrefined swill, you won't find it in my house. And the only time in my life that I've knowingly eaten an insect was when my dad made me eat witchety grubs with one of our clients in Australia. Ugh, that's just nasty!" Neko shuddered.

"So, what did you think of the grub?" Rui asked.

"Please, I don't want to remember," she replied.

Akira looked greatly relieved. "So, what do we do?"

"First, everyone take a towel. You're going to want clean hands for this. Now, I'll pass around the tequila," she said, sending a bottle in each direction around the table, "and you pour yourself a shot. Then you rub the lime here, by your thumb, and dip where you just rubbed in the salt. Then you either do the shot, then lick off the salt and lime, or you can do the salt and lime and then the shot. Your choice. Repeat as desired."

The bottles kept circling the table, empties were replaced by the discreet waiter, and soon most of them had either left the table or passed out under it. Finally it was down to Neko and the two playboys.

"Damn, 'Kira, thish girl can rilly drink!" Soujiro slurred, a silly grin plastered on his face.

"D'ya think you c'n outlasht her, 'Jiro?" Akira wondered.

"Don't count on it, boys," Neko answered for him, "I'm a Saké master. I breathe alcohol fumes at the brewery all winter long. I can probably out drink anyone at this school," she boasted proudly.

"Oh, right. Now shee r'minds us," Soujiro said, slumping to the table.

Akira leaned over close to Neko, a slightly lop-sided smile on his face. "You're cute."

"And you're drunk," she countered. "Besides, from what everyone tells me, I'm years too young for your tastes."

"I dunno, you look pretty good to me," he leered, leaning closer still.

"Look, Mimasaka-san, let me get your driver to take you home to sleep it off, before you do something you'll regret."

"Okay, Neko-chan. Rain check?" he begged.

"Let's see if you feel the same way once you sober up," she admonished.

Neko had the limo drivers collect their charges, made sure any remaining guests were safely bedded down in the guestrooms, left instructions with the staff to handle the cleanup, and trudged to her rooms. Locking herself in, she threw herself down on the bed. The party was a huge success. So why did she feel like crying?

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AN: Apologies for the short chapter, minna-san. I've been sick with some sort of viral thing the past few days--102.2° F / 39° C temperature, aches, chills, general misery...