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 12: Settling in on Maru

The flight to Maru was uneventful, the girls chattering happily, oohing and ahhing over the lights of Tokyo as evening fell, the boys shaking their heads in amusement at the girls. Finally the helicopter set down and the pilot cut the engines, the rotors spinning slowly to a halt. The door opened, and a nut-brown little man met the quartet, his black eyes blazing fiercely from a face like an old boot.

His face was transformed by a brilliant smile as Neko launched herself into his arms. "¡Tio Miguel! ¡Hola!" she shouted.

"¡Hola, Niña! ¿Que pasa?" he grinned.

"¡Muy bien! Really well! Where's Tia Lolly?" she asked.

"Where else? In the kitchen, arguing with 'Tonio," he laughed.

"If I had know he was going to turn into such an arrogant little snot, I would never have encouraged Dad to send him to culinary school," she sighed.

"Pah! Don't worry, they're having fun," Miguel smiled. "So, are you going to introduce me to El Gallo, El Gato, and La Pequeña?"

"Tio Mig, you are so evil! Okay, okay. El Gallo," she pointed to Tsukasa, "is Doumyouji Tsukasa, El Gato," motioning to Rui, "is Hanazawa Rui, and La Pequeña es mi amiga, Makino Tsukushi," she said, pulling Tsukushi from the helicopter. "And this," she explained to the three teens, "is my honorary uncle and head of the ranch, Miguel Ramirez. His wife, Dolores, also known as Tia Lolly, is head of the household staff, and their son, Antonio, is our chef. You'll meet them when we go inside."

Miguel offered the boys a firm handshake, kissed the back of Tsukushi's hand (ignoring Tsukasa's outraged protest), grabbed everyone's luggage and headed for the house.

"Neko, what was that all about?" Tsukushi asked, puzzled.

"That? Oh, that's just Mig's way. He gives everybody nicknames," Neko assured her.

"Okay, you. Explain," Tsukasa demanded, glowering.

"Geez, Doumyouji, chill. It's all in good fun," Neko retorted. "Tsukushi, in Miguel's mind, is La Pequeña, the Little One. Rui-san was stretching and yawning when he got out of the 'copter, so he's El Gato, the Tomcat, because he looked like a sleepy cat. And Mig called you El Gallo, the Rooster, probably because of your hair and the way you strut around. You should hear the things he calls me sometimes," she grinned. "I've been the Vixen, the Gecko, even the Little Mule. Today it was just Little Girl, which he calls me all the time. C'mon, folks," she called over her shoulder as she headed to the house, "let's get you settled in your rooms, so you can freshen up before dinner."

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Rui glanced over his room. He noted the featherbed, the ocean view, and the large screen TV and shot Neko a thumbs-up before disappearing inside. Doumyouji, however, was another story.

"What do you mean, my room? I want to room with Makino! What possible reason could you have to give us separate rooms?" he fumed.

"Now just slow down, Doumyouji, cool your jets. Before you get all riled up, let me show you your rooms." Neko led them down the hall, Tsukushi blushing, Tsukasa sulking and glaring. She stopped in front of a door. "Frankly, I don't care which room you sleep in, but a woman needs some privacy, somewhere to change her clothes, or to just take a break from everyone and everything, including her overbearing boyfriend," she said with a straight face, then stuck out her tongue at him.

Tsukushi giggled. She couldn't help it, they really did fight like siblings. Tsukasa whipped his head around to stare at her. "Oi, Makino!" he complained.

"Gomen, Doumyouji, but it's too funny! Let's just go see the rooms, ne?" Tsukushi grinned up at him.

Tsukasa gave up. "What the heck; okay, brat, lead the way."

Both rooms were nicely appointed, the California-King-size beds promising a comfortable slumber to even the tallest guest. Tsukushi murmured appreciatively over the titles in her bookcase, but to Tsukasa, the nicest feature was the shared balcony. Or perhaps the shared bath. Suddenly things didn't seem so bad after all. After receiving a curt, "I guess it'll do," from Tsukasa, Neko left them to get ready for dinner.

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They met in the dining room about fifteen minutes later. Neko introduced them to Tia Lolly, a small woman with a big attitude and a pleasant, motherly air.

Having met Miguel and Dolores, Neko's friends were shocked when Antonio came out of the kitchen to greet them. Fully as tall as Neko, he dwarfed his parents by comparison. He swept Neko into his arms and swung her around, but when he leaned in to kiss her, she turned her head. "So, mi prima bonita, you still won't let me steal a little beso?" he teased with a wink.

"Debeso?" Tsukasa asked, confused.

"No," Neko answered, "not a belly button, a kiss." And, turning back to the man holding her, she said, "'Tonio, a kiss on the cheek should be enough for someone you think of as your 'cousin'. Besides, you know I'm not into casual kissing."

Rui cocked his head at her quizzically. "Really? That's odd, I was sure Soujiro said--"

Neko shot him a venomous look, hissing, "There are numerous reasons I won't marry Nishikado-san, not the least of which is that he gossips like an old woman. And if you value our friendship, Hanazawa-san, you'll drop this subject. Right now."

Rui backed away, hands held out defensively. "Okay, Neko, it's dropped."

Tsukasa looked at Rui and mouthed, 'What happened?'

Rui held a 'shh' finger to his lips and mouthed back, 'Later, okay?'

Tsukasa looked puzzled, but nodded his willingness to wait for an explanation.

Meanwhile, Neko extricated herself from Antonio's arms and asked him, "So, Chef, what's cooking?"

"Everything's ready except the finishing touches on dessert," he assured her, "thanks for having the pilot radio ahead with your ETA."

"Thanks, 'Tonio," Neko smiled, "we're looking forward to it." And it was worth the wait--tossed salad with mandarin oranges in a sesame-ginger dressing, cedar-planked salmon, filet mignon wrapped in bacon, sautéed wild mushrooms, golden fried polenta, and, to finish, chocolate mousse with fresh whipped cream and strawberries.

Tsukushi tucked in to dessert with her usual abandon, Tsukasa with a little more decorum, and Rui opted for just berries. That is, until Neko flung a spoonful of whipped cream at him. A whipped cream fight between Rui and Neko ensued. Tsukushi and Tsukasa tried to ignore their childish antics, until a dollop of whipped cream landed in Tsukasa's hair. "Damn it, Rui!" Tsukasa leapt on top of Rui and they began tussling on the floor, as the girls leaned against each other, laughing uproariously.

Finally, hearing the commotion, Lolly came out of the kitchen. She assessed the situation, clucked disapprovingly, then announced, "As soon as you put a stop to the shenanigans, Nicoleta, I'll be glad to bring out the teapot." Neko waved her hand weakly, and Lolly turned on her heel and went to fetch the tea. She returned with the tea things... and several hand towels, which she handed out to the sheepish teens.

After Earl Grey tea and conversation, Rui headed off to the hot spring, Tsukasa and Tsukushi retired to their rooms, and, after seeing everyone off to their respective destinations, Neko headed out to the stables. That's where Rui tracked her down after his bath.

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AN: Hello, everyone! It's been awhile. Illness ran rampant through my household, with every person getting something a little bit different from the next one (sinus infections, pneumonia, Strep throat, influenza, bronchitis). We are all finally on the mend, and I can get back to my computer again.

Author Rant: My apologies to those who feel this is too out of character, but I did warn everyone that this is an alternate reality. I write them as I like them, and if you don't care for my take on things, well... do you see that door over there? The one with the big red letters that say E...X...I...T? Yeah, that one. You just go through that door (click the link marked Home) and guess what? You don't have to read my stuff! Not ever again! And don't let the door hit you in the tush on the way out. Rant over.

As for anyone else who may have been waiting and, dare I hope, looking forward to my posting again, here we go! Welcome back! And special thanks once again to SarahNThachter, who was nice enough to proof some of the stuff I typed in fever dreams, with nary a complaint. Big Hugs!!!