"I can't do this!" Tsukushi complains to Karin at the engagement party. The party is in the largest conference room in the Maple Hotel that is owned by Kaede Doumyoji.

"Yes you can. You just need to calm down and be yourself."

"That's what you say. The minute you stepped into the hotel your maturity shot through the room. You are the perfect lady in here. Just look at what you're wearing." Tsukushi looks up and down at Karin's full length dress. The halter top cuts low on the neck and her back is exposed. Tsukushi's sleeveless dress is the same length but not as revealing with a shall draped over her arms.

Karin laughs, "I'm just wearing this to make Akira on edge. I want to know where his eyes are and to keep them on me. I would tell you to go mingle among the crowd but if you want, there are small personal rooms off of this one that you can use to gather yourself before Mr. Doumyoji makes his entrance along with his speech. I have to go now. I see my parents have found the Mimasaka's and I better make sure they don't say anything stupid to one another." Karin gives Tsukushi a reassuring smile before leaving.

Tsukushi slides through the crowd of people. No one seems to notice her or know who she is. She reaches the edge of the crowd and finds one of the private sitting rooms Karin had mentioned. She opens the door and slips inside closing the door behind her. Tsukushi sighs and leans up against the door. She walks into the dark room. The only light in the room comes from the moonlight shining through the open window.

A shuffle from the couch startles Tsukushi. It is then that she notices the older gentleman sitting on the sofa. "I'm sorry; I didn't know someone else was in here. I'll leave right now."

"No, no, that's alright. Please stay if you wish. I just needed to get away from the party for a while." The man is wearing an elegant suit with a red rose boutonniere.

"Thank you, I too just needed to get away from the party."

The old man smiles, "It seems you have something else on your mind as well. I've been to my fair share of these types of gatherings. If it's anything I can help with, please don't hesitate to ask."

Tsukushi fiddles with her fingers. "Well, you see, I'm nervous about meeting someone important tonight. I'm not sure if he's going to like me or not."

"Oh, so you're the bride to be." He chuckles deeply.

Tsukushi blushes. "Yes, I am."

He leans back into the cushions. "I am guessing you are nervous about meeting your future father in law, am I correct?"

"Yes, I want to know what kind of person he is. Is he like Mrs. Doumyoji or is he like Tsukasa or Tsubaki or something all his own. I hope he's not like Mrs. Doumyoji though." Her hands flail around in front of her as she realizes what she just said. "Oh! Please disregard that last comment. I didn't mean it."

He laughs his deep laugh again. "No, Kaede is not someone who is easy to get along with. She knows how to run her business but she does not know how to properly deal with people she works with. I don't think her husband could be just the same as her. His business methods are a little different then hers. You can always tell a person's personality by how they run their business."

"Thank you, I feel better now after talking with you." She hesitates as she decides her words. "Sir, it seems there is also something that is bothering you. If you want to talk about it as well, I am willing to listen."

He smiles, "I think you already have helped me. You should go out and mingle, as they say. Have your fiancé introduce you so you meet people now that you will meet again later."

Tsukushi bows in thanks. "I think I will do that. Thank you again for the advice and I hope everything works out for you as well."

"I think it will."

Tsukushi leaves the room and squeezes through the crowd once again to find Tsukasa. She finds him standing in a group of business CEO's.

He pulls her next to him and quickly introduces her to everyone before talking with her to the side of the group. "Where have you been? My father is about to arrive. I thought you might have run off somewhere."

"Technically I did but I just needed to clear my head one last time but I am alright now. I got some great advice from a kind old gentleman."

Tsukasa is about to reply when he is interrupted by an announcer introducing Mr. Doumyoji. The audience claps as Mr. Doumyoji takes the stage in front. Tsukushi is too shocked to let her mouth fall open like it should from the surprise as the older man with the red rose boutonniere walks up to the microphone.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We are all gathered here today to celebrate the engagement of my son and Miss. Tsukushi Makino who will be married in three days. I have to admit, I have heard some good and bad things about Miss. Makino from friends and family alike. There are two worries I have. Is she good for Tsukasa and is she good for this company? My daughter Tsubaki tells me there is no better person for my only son then Miss. Makino." He pauses to take a breath. "Marrying into the Doumyoji family also means marrying into the company. With my own observation I have found that Miss. Makino doesn't have the quite the right skills necessary for a trade, contract, or merger with another company. Instead, Miss. Makino has exceptional expertise in the most important rule in business, people. A company is based solely on the people who run the company. If you do not understand the people who run the company, you can never hope to understand the company itself. I believe Miss. Makino can lead this company with encouragement of the people who make up the company. So I would like to personally welcome Miss. Tsukushi Makino to the Doumyoji family."

The audience claps once again as Mr. Doumyoji comes down from the stage. Kaede is at the bottom of the stairs waiting for him. The couple slowly make their way across the room to where Tsukasa and Tsukushi are waiting, shaking hands as they go by. By the time Mr. and Mrs. Doumyoji are next to Tsukasa and Tsukushi, Kaede's lips are pursed together, not wanting to say anything about her husband's speech. Mr. Doumyoji shakes Tsukasa's hands and kisses Tsukushi on the cheek.

"I would love to stay and talk more but I have more people to meet and greet." The Doumyoji's turn around the way they came. Mr. Doumyoji turns his head back over his shoulder. He presses his index finger against his lips in the "Shhh" sign and winks at Tsukushi.

"What was that about?" Tsukasa asks her.

Tsukushi just shakes her head refusing to answer. "Come on, I want you to introduce me to some more people."