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The Engagement
A Hana Yori Dango Fanfiction
By Maho-chan
It's finally time for Tsukasa to propose to Tsukushi and everyone wants to be a part of his plans! How will Tsukasa propose?
Disclaimer: I don’t own Hana Yori Dango. But I do love the story very much. :)
AN (2001): Thanks as always to Rita for editing and posting this on the HYD Project website for me! And thanks to my friend who gave me information about snowboarding.
AN (6/21/06): Here’s the second chapter of The Engagement, which first written in 2001 and was re-edited and revised on 6/21/06. Please enjoy! I’ll be working on continuing this story and hope to have more new chapters very soon.
The Engagement
A Hana Yori Dango Fanfiction
By Mahochan
Chapter 2
Tsukasa smiled happily as he dug around with his right hand in his coat pocket. In his left hand, he still held the open ring box, the diamond glittering in the sun. He pulled out a familiar toy and held it up to them, pressing the button that activated it. Sojiro and Akira stared as the small green and black screen flashed the katakana "Will you marry me?" in their faces.
"You aren't…"Sojiro started weakly.
"Here's what I am going to do," Tsukasa said excitedly, "I am going to take her to Hokkaido, to go snowboarding with me…"
Imagination sequence
"HAHA Makino, I bet you can't do 360 on your snow board."
"Oh yeah, just watch me! See that was a 360!
"That was just lucky…You can't compete with a real expert like me!"
"You, AN EXPERT? Well, I bet you can't do a 720!"
"I can do a 720! Easily, just watch!" Tsukasa took off down the hill,
proceeded to attempt a 720, and managed to bury himself in a pile of snow,
after failing to complete the turns. "OOF! OW!"
"Baka!" Giggling, Tsukushi slid down the hill to go help him up, as Tsukasa
emerged from the snow looking very annoyed and cold. "Let's go back, I could
use a hot chocolate…Race you to the lodge!" She said, still laughing at
Tsukasa as he attempted to brush the snow out of his hair and off his clothes.
Watching her giggle, Tsukasa scowled at her and then realized that a race was
exactly what he had in mind. He grinned slyly at her, thinking about how to
put his proposal into action. Tsukushi watched him expectantly, smiling at
him with amusement, as she watched his facial expressions change with his
thoughts.
"You're on! Let's bet on what I get when I win." Tsukasa agreed gleefully.
Tsukushi gave him an incredulous look and said loudly "What you get? WHEN
YOU WIN? You mean when I win! Alright you're on!"
They moved to stand side by side, both poised to slide down the hill.
Realizing the best way to initiate his plan, Tsukasa turned to her and said
in a serious voice "Makino, if I win this bet, you have to say yes to any
question I ask."
Tsukushi instantly turned bright red "Any question you ask?" Images of them entwined, naked in their bed back at the lodge flew to her mind.
"No no. Um, let’s make a different bet." She looked away, babbling agitatedly, startled by the idea of what the question might be. "I'm not really interested in that right now. And we don't have to bed, I mean bet. I don't want to race anymore! No thank you , I am going now. See you back at the lodge!"
Tsukasa grabbed her arm as she turned to go, observing her face, which was as red as a tomato.
"MAKINO."
"What?" Tsukushi looked back at him, staring nervously into his eyes. She started breathing hard, imagining looking into those intense eyes as he leaned in to give her a kiss, her naked body pressed to his and then…
"ECCHI!"
"I am not!"
"OH? Explain why your face is so red?" He grinned at her as she stammered defensively and blushed.
"BAKA, stop freaking out. I promise not to ask anything that you won't be ready to do, ok?"
"I don't believe you."
"NANI?"
"You heard me!"
"I am not going to force you to do anything! This is ridiculous! Its just a silly bet! Makino, c'mon. I promise!"
Tsukushi considered this, her face still bright red. "FINE. What do I get if I win?"
"The same, I'll do whatever you ask." Tsukasa said smiling innocently. Inside he was a nervous wreck.
‘I have to win this! Our entire future together is at stake!’ Tsukasa thought as he anxiously watched Tsukushi ponder his words.
"Ok, then." She begrudgingly consented, still blushing furiously.
Tsukasa breathed a sigh of relief and placed his hand in his pocket. He clutched in his fingers what was at this moment the most important thing he had ever purchased in his whole life, then said "On you mark, get ready…"
"Set."
"GO!"
Tsukushi and Tsukasa took off down the snowy hill, going as fast as they could. They were tied for most of the race, but at the very end, Tsukasa managed to maneuver around a curve a little bit faster and gain the lead. They arrived at the lodge shouting and laughing, Tsukasa barely winning the race. Exhausted, Tsukushi fell backwards into the snow, closing her eyes and giggling. Tsukasa laid down next to her, and they both attempted to catch their breath, enjoying the softness of the snow underneath them and the bright blue sky above.
Tsukasa nervously cleared his throat, then said,
"About that bet…"
Tsukushi immediately turned red "What bed, ugh, I mean bet?" she asked, trying very hard not to freak out.
"I want you to answer this question for me." She looked at Tsukasa, confused, as he pulled out a familiar object from his pocket, the tiny screen that had saved her life once and was the most sentimental out of all of the various toys she had collected.
"Here." Tsukasa said, placing the toy in her hand.
"Domyoji, why did you bring this here?"
They were still laying in the snow, looking at each other.
Tsukasa smiled excitedly at Tsukushi and said, "Turn it on."
She hesitated.
"Makino turn it on! Do it!"
"I don't want to!"
"WHY IN THE WORLD NOT? Just turn it on!"
"No! What if it says something ecchi?" She sat up, clutching the tiny screen in her hand.
"YOU are the hentai one not me! MAKINO TURN IT ON! JUST DO IT DAMMIT!"
Tsukasa also sat up, having become extremely angry as well.
"No, STOP YELLING. I will not turn it on! I am out of the bet!"
"WHY can't you trust me?"
"I trust you; I just don't want to turn it on!"
"You're just being stubborn! Makino turn it on!"
"No, I don't want to!"
"You are an idiot." Tsukushi looked at him in horror as Tsukasa grabbed her hands, his eyes filling with tears.
"PLEASE?" He whispered.
"Domyoji?"
Realizing that this was more serious than her uncontrollable fantasies of what they would be doing as a result of the bet, Tsukushi turned on the little screen.
She watched in surprise and then shock as the katakana "WILL YOU MARRY ME" flashed over and over into her disbelieving eyes. Tsukushi stared for a long time, her mind filled with a million emotions all at once. Tsukasa still held onto her wrists, and she could feel his hands shaking as he looked down at the screen with her.
"…" Tsukushi's eyes filled with tears, she couldn't speak, her emotions completely out of control.
Her shocked state was broken by Tsukasa nudging her chin upward with his fingers so that he could see her expression.
He swallowed nervously, took a deep breath and said, his voice trembling.
"Makino Tsukushi, will you be my wife?"
She raised her eyes to meet his and was awed by the look of love she found awaiting her. There was no doubt in her mind as she cleared her throat and answered in a clear voice that also shook with emotion.
"Yes."
End imagination sequence
"That is how I am going to do it, I guess the only help I need from you guys is to hint about marriage to her beforehand, so that she starts thinking about the idea. I need you both to help her mull it over before I ask. You know she always has to think things out before hand. So are you going to help me?" Tsukasa looked at them expectantly.
Sojiro was the first to recover by shouting:
"TSUKASA! This is the most important moment of your relationship with Makino, and you are going to ask her to marry you with a toy?" Sojiro yelled. "You can't do it that way, it isn't romantic enough!"
"What do you mean?" Tsukasa looked at the toy quizzically. "This has had an important role in our relationship. I thought it would be nice, since it has so much sentimental value." He stared at Sojiro, bewildered.
"Ok, first of all, we need to get rid of that toy!" Sojiro grabbed it out of Tsukasa's hand and stuffed it into his pocket.
"Hey give that back!" Tsukasa yelled trying to retrieve it from Sojiro.
"Here's what you should do." Sojiro turned to Akira and grabbed his hand. "You should take Makino out to a fancy dinner, and then for a cruise on your yacht. As you stand on the deck, gazing up at the stars, you take her hand, look into her eyes, and say 'All the stars in the sky couldn't compare with your beauty, Tsukushi. You are the center of my life, my universe.'" Sojiro leaned towards Akira as he said this.
Tsukasa muttered "NOT AGAIN." Looking annoyed and a tad bit nauseated, he watched yet another role-playing spectacle put on by two of his best friends.
Sojiro wrapped his arm around Akira's waist, held him close, then tipped him into his arm so that Akira was leaning completely into his embrace. "You kiss her deeply, then say," Sojiro leaned into Akira until he was almost nose to nose with him "I love you so much. Will you be my wife, Makino?'"
"Yes! Oh, yes Domyoji!" Akira said in a high-pitched voice, looking into Sojiro's eyes. "Of course I'll marry you!"
Sojiro followed this by saying in a deep voice "Makino, since we are engaged now we definitely must do IT. I want you!"
"I want you too! I love you! Let’s go do IT now!" Akira said excitedly, still feigning an extremely unrealistic imitation of Tsukushi's voice.
"Right here?"
"Why not? I can't wait any longer!"
They both looked toward Tsukasa at that moment. "And then you make passionate love with Makino on the deck of your yacht." Sojiro said, accidentally releasing Akira, causing him to fall backwards onto the ground and utter a very audible "Ouch!"
"Oops, sorry Akira." Sojiro said helping him up. "See that is how you should do it! Isn't it a great idea? THAT IS SO COOL! I have never done in on the deck of a boat, you'll have to tell me how it goes." Sojiro gave Tsukasa a satisfied grin.
Tsukasa looked at him in horror, and then fear as Akira snapped his fingers and said "Wait, I have another idea!"
"Oh no. Please no." Tsukasa moaned, covering his eyes and shaking his head.
"You come to Makino's house early in the morning before she goes to work and sneak up to her as she is asleep in bed. You kneel beside her and then wake her up by stroking her cheek with the petals from a rose, and as she wakes up, you gently take her in your arms. Then you give her a passionate kiss. She'll say…"
"Domyoji? What are you doing here?" Sojiro said in a high-pitched voice.
"I wanted to surprise you. You look so beautiful. Makino, I have been up all night thinking." Akira unsuccessfully mimicked Tsukasa's deep voice. "You are the most important person in my life and I can't spend another day without you. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"You want to marry me?" Sojiro attempted to sound sleepy and squeaky, and succeeded in sounding terrible.
"Be mine forever Makino!"
"Yes, Domyoji! A thousand times yes!"
"Then you kiss her deeply, and as you do this, slip the engagement ring onto her finger. Makino will look at it in surprise and be so overcome with emotion that she give you an even more passionate kiss! And then into her futon you go!" Akira said enthusiastically.
"Wow, a futon, another experience that I need to have. That is a great idea Akira!" Sojiro said in awe.
"Isn't it though?"
"I still think my idea is more romantic"
"Hey, the rose idea is much more romantic! And down to earth!"
"But what about doing it on the boat under the stars? That idea is much better, it really gets girls going when you are out at the ocean with the moon shining in the sky. Anyway, if Tsukasa wants to finally get her into bed, he should be as romantic as possible. Sweep her off her feet you know?" Sojiro said.
Neither noticed Tsukasa's red angry face emerging from under his hands as he looked over at them.
Akira rubbed his chin, contemplating the options. "But will Makino be swept away so easily? She is such a worrier! Really, he would have gotten her years ago, if she wasn't such a thinker! Tsukasa should be more aggressive about it. Or else he'll have to wait another year or so until they are married!"
"You are absolutely right! We have got to think of an even more romantic idea! Tsukasa's virginity is at stake! It has been way too long, they need to just do IT! For our sake and for theirs! I can't stand watching you guys anymore, how much more tension can there be between you until you both snap?" Sojiro asked loudly.
Tsukasa clenched his fists.
"Tsukasa, you should just do IT. And this is the best opportunity!" Akira said determinedly.
"Definitely." Sojiro agreed, nodding. "Um, Tsukasa, why are you making that face?"
Tsukasa advanced on them menacingly "Is sleeping with women all you two have on your minds?" He roared as he punched Akira and Sojiro, causing them to rub their cheeks and stare at him angrily.
"We were just trying to help," Akira said defensively.
"I am not about to do anything to force Makino into a situation she is not ready for! I love her, and that wouldn't be loving to her, trying to seduce her into my bed! She isn't ready and I will wait until she is. I would appreciate." Tsukasa's voice became lower and angrier. "If you both would refrain from talking about my girlfriend in this way."
Sojiro and Akira stepped back a bit as Tsukasa angrily walked over and grabbed the toy out of Sojiro's pocket, putting it back in his jacket. "And as for your ideas, I see nothing wrong with asking her to marry me my own way." He said stubbornly.
"But Tsukasa, you have to be more romantic than that! Are you our leader or aren't you? You have to be more suave! C'mon, let us help you, we have more great ideas!" Sojiro said excitedly, trying to coax Tsukasa into a better mood.
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice.
"TSUKASA! SOJIRO! AKIRA!" A peppy female voice shouted.
The F3 turned around and looked for the source of the voice. Running, no bouncing, towards them, was a familiar figure with a head of short blond hair holding several small binders in her arms.
"Oh no!" Sojiro muttered, looking around nervously. "Quick, we need to go now! SHE'S coming!"
"She has something in her hands; I hope it isn't what I think it is." Akira was looking around for an escape route also.
"What is with you two, since when were you so afraid of Shigeru?" Tsukasa asked, giving them an odd look.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Sojiro hissed at him. "Monkey girl has a new fiancée! I had to look at pictures of him for an hour and a half the last time she managed to corner me! Apparently he is an American, an heir to a fortune in oil from Texas. He is very rich, and very handsome." Sojiro rolled his eyes at this comment. "And his name is Jonathan. She is head over heels in love with him, and has about ten billion new pictures of him every time I see her!"
"At least you get to see pictures of the actual man! The last time I saw her, all she could go on about was the fact that last time she visited him, he gave her a horse! So instead of seeing and hearing about the guy himself, I had to listen to stories about a horse for an hour! If I see one more picture of that animal, I am going to scream!" Akira said, breathing heavily. "She had the weirdest pictures of it too, sleeping, running, eating, you name it!"
"She has been gushing about how romantic this Jonathan is for weeks! Tsukasa, I can't believe she hasn't sat you down to listen to stories about him yet! Where have you been? He sends her flowers every day, makes her CDs to listen to of his favorite music, and as far as I can tell he has as much energy as she does!" Sojiro said waving his hands in the air exasperatedly.
"Sojiro is that possible for someone besides Shigeru to be that intense?" Akira asked, attempting to imagine another person with that much energy.
"Apparently so, he took her to some American amusement park called Great America. The pictures she has of them upside down on some of those rides makes me motion sick." Sojiro said weakly. "Geh, I am nauseated just imagining it."
"Tsukasa, you have to save us. Hide us. PLEASE!" Akira pleaded.
"Actually, I heard about this from Makino. I don't see what is wrong with hearing about her fiancée. Good for her! She deserves a guy like that! What's wrong with listening to her stories?" Tsukasa was truly glad when he heard that Shigeru had found happiness. After the whole business with their previous arranged engagement, he still felt bad for disappointing her. Learning that Shigeru had found love with a man that treated her well and made her happy lifted a huge weight off Tsukasa's mind.
"You are only saying this because you haven't seen the pictures or heard the stories yet. You'll see!" Sojiro said, still frantically trying to think of an escape. "Ok, I think we should just run for it!"
"TOOOO LATE." Akira moaned as Shigeru reached them, gasping for breath.
"There you guys are! I have lots of new pictures, and a new animal too! This time Jonathan bought me a puppy! He sent the puppy on a plane from Texas, it arrived last week, and it is so cute! I even sleep with it!" Shigeru squealed, then continued on " His name is Fluffy and he is a pure bred German Shepherd! Jonathan said that when Fluffy grows up he will be really huge, and good protection from guys trying to pick up on me! Isn't Jonathan great? He is always so worried about me, he calls me every day! Tsukushi came over yesterday and she loved playing with Fluffy. Tsukasa, you should definitely get Tsukushi a dog. She likes them so much! Well, it's decided, you three must come over to my house to see it! You'll die, it is so cute." She piped happily.
"Oh and Tsukasa, I brought my other albums for you to see, you missed seeing my pictures the last time I was over at Tsukushi's apartment. When Jonathan comes to visit, I want you guys to meet him. He is so sweet! I have lots of stories to tell! And look, I have a ring! Jonathan proposed to me even though we have an arranged marriage! Got down on his knees and asked me to marry him, as we watched the sunset! It's definitely love." Shigeru said, waving her left hand in Tsukasa's face, her whole being bursting with excitement.
Unfortunately, Tsukasa hadn't heard anything pass the word PUPPY.
"D-dog?" Tsukasa stammered, looking a very distinct shade of blue. "C-count me out." He tried to say this as gruffly and as dignified as possible.
"Tsukasa?" Shigeru said confusedly, as he backed away from her in fear.
"Tsukasa, are you alright?" Akira whispered worriedly into Tsukasa's ear "You look a little pale."
"Shut up, I am FINE!" Tsukasa shouted, shaking the open ring box in Akira's face "Why would I be scared? And of all things, A DOG? Fear? Me? No way!" He laughed loudly, waving his hands in the air in nervousness. "I am fine with dogs, I just don't like them! Not everyone likes furry animals, or animals at all. It's a valid choice! And why do I care if people think that is odd, I do my own thing anyway. Dogs are a waste of time if you ask me!"
"Somehow, I get the feeling this bothers him more than he is letting on." Akira said to Sojiro and Shigeru, who both nodded in agreement.
Shigeru, having a very keen mind and good powers of observation, suddenly realized that there was something glittering in Tsukasa's hand as his agitated movements and tirade about dogs continued. Tipping her head to the side, she attempted to focus in on the object. Shigeru stepped closer to him and while jumping up and grabbing his wrist, she asked, "Tsukasa, what is this?"
"What?" Tsukasa asked, surprised out of his nervous ranting and raving.
Shigeru pried the box out of his hands "Is this what I think it is?" She pulled the ring out and held it up, to read the inscription on the inside of the band, which said:
Tsukushi, I love you always. Tsukasa.
"IT IS! KYA!" Shigeru screamed out loud, running around jumping up and down. "Oh my God, Oh my God, you are really going to ask her, this is so great, I can't believe it, I am so excited!" She stopped, grinning. "This so cool, wait till I tell Sakurako and Yuki! They are going to flip! Have you told your sister yet? How are you going to deal with your mother though? How are you going to ask Tsukushi? I can't believe it, I am so happy for you!" She threw her arms around Akira's neck and squeezed until he was wheezing for air.
"Aren't you happy for him you guys? Tsukasa, let's have a double wedding! I can see it now." Shigeru continued to babble excitedly, not noticing the unhappy look forming on Tsukasa's face.
"Uh-Oh," Sojiro and Akira said in unison, as Shigeru detached her arms from around Akira's throat. She continued talking and twirling the ring in her fingers, contemplating the kind of dresses she and Tsukushi should wear to their double wedding.
"Shigeru." Tsukasa strode over to her and pulled the ring out of her hands, as she looked at him in surprise. "You are not telling anyone! If you do, you will be sorry! I haven't asked Makino yet, and I don't want anyone else telling her before I do! Do you understand?"
"Aren't we grumbly!" Shigeru replied, amused. "C'mon Tsukasa, I want to help! PLEASE." She said, batting her eyelashes and giving him her cutest look. "PLEASE? I have good ideas! I'm one of her best friends too!"
"NO."
"Please?"
"NO."
"Pretty please?"
"NO! Stop with the looks will you? I said no!"
"Shigeru, it is no use, he said that he wants to use his own idea. He doesn't want any ideas from us," Sojiro said. "I keep telling him to be more romantic about it, but he insists on using that strange toy that he bought Makino when they first started dating. You know, the one that flashes Katakana and you can program to say whatever you want? That toy. Can you believe it? He really needs our help."
"Tsukasa, you aren't really going to use that toy are you?" Shigeru said in a worried voice.
"Yes I am going to do it, IT IS romantic! Believe me I know romance."
"But it's not even close to as romantic as the yacht!"
"Or the waking her up with the rose."
"Tsukasa, I have better ideas than that, you have to listen! Let me help you! C'mon!" Shigeru whined. "PLEASE."
"NO, now are you guys going to help me with my plan or aren't you? Because if you aren't then I am leaving"
"Fine, we'll do what you want." Akira said sadly. All three let out a complacent sigh.
"Well, at least let me look at the ring some more, it is really very pretty! Tsukushi will definitely like it. Where did you get it?" Shigeru said optimistically, reaching out her hand.
"No." Tsukasa scowled and held the ring up and away from her.
"Why not? Tsukasa, Let me see it!" Shigeru stood on tiptoes and tried to reach his hand.
"Shigeru, stop it!"
"I want to see the ring again!"
"No! I said NO!"
"But I don't understand, why not? Why can't I look at it again?"
"Because I said so!"
Tsukasa, intent on keeping the ring from Shigeru hurriedly began to walk away from her.
Shigeru would not be dissuaded however, she was intent on getting what she wanted, which was to help two of her best friends get engaged in a wonderfully romantic way and to look at that ring again!
Determination was in her eyes as she started jumping around Tsukasa, trying to grab his arm and pull it down so she could get the ring. Tsukasa responded by holding it higher and giving her a cold look. Shigeru kept trying, and so a very intense game of keep away ensued, drawing a lot of attention from other students on the quad.
"I am not going to hand you this ring. You might break it, or bend it or something."
"I will not. Just give it to me!"
"STOP IT, will you?"
"You're the one that needs to stop! Just let me see it, I won't hurt it."
Running faster, Tsukasa and Shigeru ran circles around a very bewildered Sojiro and Akira. The chase was quickly turning into a brawl as Shigeru punched Tsukasa in the stomach, trying to get the ring. Sojiro and Akira burst into laughter as Shigeru ran away gleefully and Tsukasa doubled over in pain.
"Ouch!" Tsukasa shouted "Shigeru what is your problem? Punching people. Stupid Monkey Girl!"
Shigeru narrowed her eyes at the term "Monkey Girl" and proceeded to roll her sleeves up, and clench her fists.
"Alright now I'm really determined. Tsukasa, you're being silly. LET ME SEE THAT RING."
The game became more intense, with Shigeru punching him whenever she could and Tsukasa maneuvering the ring away from her, shouting curses at the top of his lungs.
Finally tiring of the game , Tsukasa turned away from her, an idea forming in his mind. Bending over a bit, he juggled the ring and ring box, then slipped the ring onto one of his fingers.
"Now you can't get it! HAHAHA!" He laughed maniacally, looking at Shigeru in triumph. He showed her his hand, with the small ring firmly attached.
Shigeru, Akira and Sojiro stared at Tsukasa in astonishment.
"Ne, Tsukasa, aren't Makino's fingers small? You have pretty big hands. How did you get the ring onto your finger?" Sojiro asked tentatively.
"…" Tsukasa was speechless as he considered these words.
"…"
"…"
"NANI?"
Tsukasa looked down in horror at his hand, then frantically tried to pull the ring off.
After a few minutes of agitated pulling, the angry red color began to return to his cheeks. He turned to the three of them and shouted "IT'S STUCK! Damn you Shigeru."
Shigeru just stood there frozen in shock as Tsukasa charged her like an angry bull.
"Shigeru." Akira said seriously as he put a hand on her shoulder, shaking her out of her shocked stupor. Shigeru turned to look at him, her eyes very wide.
"Run!"
AN (6/21/06): Definitely To Be Continued, with many more Hana Yori Dango characters making an appearance:)