Hello good people, thank you for gracing me with your presence, now, as a forewarning Doumyouji and Makino may be a little (or a quite a bit) OOC.I don't own Hana Yori Dango or the characters therein.Thank you.

Chapter 1

Tsukushi Makino looked down at the sleeping Susumu and wiped away a tear then looked down at her tattered pajamas and second hand futon. Their one room apartment was cramped and their roof was leaking again.

Her homework stacked next to her, her digital clock flashed 2:00 am. She still had to finish her calculus because she'd gotten home at around midnight after her double shift earlier. They paid extra when you worked double, not to mention she'd gotten some free food for her and Susumu. She had to buy him some new shoes for the winter.

Casting a glance at her ratty old sneakers she sighed, he came first. She was already draining away their money because of her school. Ever since her scholarship ran out they'd hit a relative rock bottom.

She worked four jobs now and she also asked for extra homework hoping that it'd make up for her shabby writing. She had to write by candlelight since she didn't have enough for electricity.

Tsukushi, the weed, cried every night.

She didn't know how much more the two of them could take. Susumu had come home yesterday covered in bruises. When Tsukushi asked he said nothing, just cried silently on his big sisters shoulders. And today as she looked at him she saw fresh cuts on his face and back. She was able to clean out the dirt in the wounds but there was nothing else she could do.

If she took him out of school then what? Not that she didn't seriously consider it but she knew that if she did not only would she get in trouble with the government for not educating a child in her care but it'd be house arrest and she couldn't protect him later when he had to go to school.

At the moment (her calculus put on hold) she was looking through some applications for other schools in the area.

There was the school up the street but that place didn't have a good reputation. Nezumi High seemed to be high up on the list but it was very expensive. Hitsuji was their best option but it was near the school Susumu was going to now and he might run into the kids that did this to him. Inoshishi might be better choice but it was more expensive.

Not by much but still… then again she could sacrifice her car money for it.

She was saving for a car so they didn't have to take the public transportation everywhere. And if she had a car she could pick up Susumu after school so he would be safer then busing it home. But the car could be put on hold till he was put in a good school. Filling out the application she set to work on her homework.

The next day was Saturday but Tsukushi couldn't stay home and sleep in, she had to go the Dango Shop and open up. Hurrying to the bus stop she was almost there when a red sports car blocked her way "Hey Makino come on. Were going to my boat. Take a nice cruise."

Tsukushi looked at the driver and saw her boyfriend Doumyouji Tsukasa grinning at her. His three friends Akira, Soujirou and Rui all looked at her expectantly.

Looking at her watch she saw she had only twenty minutes till the Dango Shop had to be opened.

Tsukushi smiled at her boyfriend "Sorry Doumyouji but I have work today."

Soujirou smiled at her again "Tsukasa called in sick for you."

Tsukushi paled, that money today was going to go to Susumu's application fee! "You what!? Doumyouji! You can't do that! I have to go today."

Tsukushi hurried past him and his too expensive car, "Makino! Hey come on! What's one day?"

Tsukushi again wondered why she even had a boyfriend in the first place. That was the third time this month he did that, without telling her! How could he be so insensitive? And he kept offering her money too! It was bad enough they both knew she was poor; he didn't have to rub all that money in her face. Couldn't he just be supportive without trying to help? That would be nice.

When she reached the Dango shop and saw that a sleepy Yuki was opening for her. "Yuki! I'm here I'm here."

Yuki turned and looked surprised "I thought you were sick. Oh wait … Doumyouji?" Tsukushi nodded.

Yuki sighed shaking her head.

"I don't see why he does that. Doesn't he know some people has to work for a living?" Tsukushi raged.

Yuki patted her arm "Tsukushi…. He grew up surrounded by people who only worry about the latest styles, he doesn't understand."

Tsukushi put on her apron "I know, I guess I have to bear with, after all, he does try to help me."

Yuki laughed "Yeah he does, and you turn him down all the time. Why do you? It won't hurt to loan a little bit. He won't miss it."

The bell rang and Yuki greeted the old man. While she helped him Tsukushi rearranged the display at the window. Tsukushi put a hand to her back; her bending over her homework all night had strained her back to the point where she could barely stand up straight.

"God Tsukushi, you really have to take a break now and then. By the way, where did Doumyouji want to take you?"

Tsukushi stretched "I think he said something about a cruise boat pool."

Yuki nodded and picked up a cup, filling it with coffee from the coffee maker "Why didn't you go."

Tsukushi sat down in one of the chairs "Pay day's in few days, I need every bit of it for Susumu's entrance fee."

Yuki grimaced "He's still getting beat up."

Tsukushi nodded unable to speak, her lower lip trembled "I don't see why he's getting beat up. He's such a nice kid! Why would someone do that?"

Her friend drew her into her arms "Tsukushi… it'll be okay alright. I'm here if ever you need anything. So is Doumyouji."

Tsukushi pulled away and wiped her eyes "I know Yuki. I'm sorry I got all weepy."

Yuki grinned, "It's okay, hey, no one deserves to have a good cry like you do. You are too guarded girl. Cry all right. It'll make you feel better."

Tsukushi nodded noticing someone was coming towards the store she wiped her eyes and fixed her apron "Come on. Work time."

Tsukushi pulled her hair back and fastened it with pins, she had just got off work from the Dango Shop and now she had to go to another job at a burger joint. She made a point of looked refresh, ready and willing to work whenever she went to one of her jobs. Right outside she took a deep breath and put on a smile. Walking in she forced her smile to get bigger when she saw one of her workmates "Hi Tara."

Tara smiled back "Hey Tsukushi. You look good today."

Tsukushi just shrugged "It's a nice day."

Tara grinned, "I know, too bad we can't spend it relaxing eh?"

Tsukushi laughed thinking of Doumyouji's offer "Couldn't have said it better myself."

"I agree" a too familiar voice said from behind her.

Tsukushi's hands clenched into fists as her eyes rolled skyward, cursing all the gods she believed and didn't believe in, she turned to face her ever present boyfriend. "Doumyouji what are you doing here?"

She eyed him and saw his hair was still slightly damp "We were on our way back from the boat and we saw you walking over here, Soujirou is throwing a party, come on. Let's go."

Tsukushi shook her head "No way, I got work."

Before Doumyouji could say anything though Tara cut in "But you said to me you were planning to go to Chris's party."

Doumyouji's eyes narrowed "She did?"

Tsukushi whirled at Tara and made a 'no! Don't' movement.

Tara nodded "Yeah. She was going to leave early I think."

Tsukushi drove the base of her hand into her forehead, 'oh God!'

Doumyouji frowned "Makino…"

Tsukushi rubbed her temples and sighed, "She's lying Doumyouji. I'm going to work today because…well it's not important to you. Just let me work in peace."

Doumyouji shook his head "No way, I want to meet this Chris."

Tara smiled "He's in he back."

Tsukushi groaned "Well he's dead now."

Doumyouji smiled sweetly at Tara "Could you get him for me?"

Tara smiled back at him and went to go get him. A few minutes later Chris came out, sadly enough he did like Makino and she sort of liked him, but she loved Doumyouji "Doumyouji! Don't hurt him!"

Doumyouji patted Tsukushi on the head and pushed her gently to Tara "Stay there." Chris looked up at him "Can I help you?"

Doumyouji walked up to him and grabbed him by the collar "Do you hit on Makino?"

Chris' eyes widened "Who the hell are you?"

Doumyouji laughed softly "I'm her boyfriend. Now," he pressed him against the counter "do you hit on her."

Chris shook his head, nodding Doumyouji let him go "Good, keep it that way."

Tsukushi walked up to him and stomped her foot "What the hell was that?" Doumyouji just grabbed her arm "Come on. Let's go."

Tsukushi shot an apologetic look to the dazed Chris as her boyfriend hauled her out of the burger joint.

She pulled out of his grasp "I have work Doumyouji. I can't go."

He rolled his eyes "Don't tell me you work here too."

She crossed her arms "I work here."

He shook his head but then he brightened "Have you ever worked as a secretary?" Tsukushi thought for a moment "I worked as one for Susumu's old school for volunteer hours why?"

He looked at Chris "Are you the boss?"

He nodded, still shaken.

"Well she quits. She has a new job."

Tsukushi flamed "I said I won't work for you Doumyouji."

He waved his hand "Not for me. You'll be working for Akira. His old man made him in charge of one of the schools he's funding. I think it's the Nezumi High."

Tsukushi paused "Nezumi High?"

She gulped, not wanting to get hopes too high "But that's a full time job."

Doumyouji laughed "Don't you think Akira couldn't pull some strings? He's funding the place. Without him it'll burn to the ground."

She nodded and gulped "I'll be making twice the amount I'm making here."

Doumyouji laughed again "Actually like five to seven times if I get my way but that's not important. Now you're making enough to party with me."

Tsukushi was still in shock, she'd be making 80, 000 yen a week. She could put Susumu in Nezumi and she'd have the power to protect him… Without thinking she reached up and kissed Doumyouji "Thank you. You have no idea how much I needed that." Doumyouji grinned, "Well I told you I was a good kisser."

She blushed "The job Doumyouji. The job."

He sweat dropped "Right. No problem. This is the first time you accepted my offer. Do you realize that?"

She nodded and looked at the car in front of her and the three handsome amused faces. She backed away from Doumyouji her face growing redder by the moment.

Akira studied her "So you going to be my new secretary?"

She nodded "I hope you don't mind."

He stared at her "Are you kidding? You're the hardest working person I've ever met." She slid into the front passenger seat and ignored Akira. What was she supposed to say to that?

The party turned out to be a swimming party, a way for Soujirou to check out the girls in only bikini's… and sometimes less. Tsukushi, like always, wore a one piece but no one minded really, except Doumyouji that is.

For the first time in a long time she was feeling better about herself, she had a new, better paying job and her brother could be moved to a nicer school where she could protect him. When strong arms encircled her she smiled and held on tight "Thank you so much. I really needed that job."

Doumyouji smiled into her hair, "No problem Makino."

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