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THE LONG RUN

- Period where inputs can… change

(E. Dictionary, 2009)

Prologue | OPEN SEASON

Why had it come to this point? For all Mikan could remember, she doesn't know.

It was a bright sunny morning for a chase. A certain brunette outstretched her slender body after she got up from her bed few minutes ago. A tall lean figure stood beside her, a presence she was so familiar with even with her eyes closed. She took up several shallow breaths, letting the sun kiss her fair skin and the wind bathe her with its gentle stroking breeze, before she opened those closed orbs. Her hazel eyes immediately landed on a set of deep blue pools that seemed to send her a teasing stare of mock challenge. The yellow forest extended infinitely ahead of her. Her lips curved into a playful smirk, taking that challenge head on. She knew him too well that by this time she was sure she's going to finally beat him.

It was already past noon when they both returned from their long run. Mikan was pouting from the endless teases she had received from Ruka. Nonetheless, she let it all slip moments later. As the lad came closer to her and protectively hugged her waist, she nestled her head in the warmth offered by his strong-built chest. Somewhat, she felt protected in that position, safe from anything and anyone. The way he held her, it was more than enough to prove it all. Mikan smiled, contented.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you," Ruka started, impishly looking at the brunette as he tried to break their contact. She raised a quizzical brow as the lad heaved out a deep nervous breath.

"I may have been from the clan of the West, but I felt like I've known you for a long time, Mikan," he went on, grabbing both of her hands tight as he tried not to break the eye contact. The tone of his voice turned semi-serious, hoping he'd convey the right messages to her and that this was the right time for it.

"What I'm about to tell you is not just beneficial to both of our clans, Mikan. Know that I have put great thought about all of this. I'm not doing this just because of the tradition, and to create a strong ally against the rumored betrayal of the north. Rather, I want to do this because I want to protect you. So…" Ruka paused as he let go of her right hand. He gently stroked her cheeks, much to Mikan's surprise, before he proceeded to her silky chestnut hair.

"… I just wanted to do this as humanly as possible. Mikan, will you marry me?" he knelt down, holding a golden band he magically retrieved from the back of her head.

"R, Ruka," she managed to croak after a long hard-core silence, still looking at his azure orbs to see if there was mockery in it. But his eyes showed none but conviction to his words. A tear unknowingly peeped its way down her rosy cheeks.

He had finally said it, Mikan thought –the words she longed to hear from the very beginning. A warm fuzzy feeling had build up slowly inside her being, arousing her senses from the euphoric hormones. And then, a thought hit her, exciting her every cell and tissue. The thought of a mate, her mate –Ruka. Though the feeling was mainly generated from the talks of the older females of the group, still, it never occurred to her it was as electrifying as this. The thought of being bonded, of claiming him as hers, of being one with the man you so love in the name of the Holy One –of marriage. She couldn't help but smile.

Mikan dropped herself on the ground. There was a happy beam etched in her face.

"Yes! Yes, I do," her answer came.

"For richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, in joys and in sorrows

To love and to cherish…"

- Solemnization of the Holy Matrimony

Two days had passed and the celebration of their holy union was finally tonight. People would give them their best wishes whenever they'd meet either of them walk along the corridors. Izumi, Mikan's father, couldn't be happier too after hearing the news of their wedding.

At this very moment, Mikan was walking towards her own room to prepare for the later celebration. It was only a few steps from her cabin when she bumped into her friends, who she hasn't met for quite some time already. "Congratulations, Mikan-chan," Anna greeted her the moment she made contact with the brunette. Mikan simply smiled at Anna before her gaze switched at the shoulder-length brown-haired girl she was with.

Anna elbowed Yuri who was clearly not in the mood of congratulating their friend. But upon the force of Anna, she gave a displeased look before she turned to Mikan. "Congratulations," she said flatly. Mikan forced a smile. An uneasy silence then ruled among the three late teenage girls, a chilly atmosphere of which they all knew why.

"See you both in the ceremony later. I best be on my way," Mikan waved before she took the initiative of walking away, sighing to herself upon the not-so fortunate encounter.

The three of them were supposed to be best of friends, along with Ruka. But almost two years ago, before Ruka returned to his homeland after a visit, he had confessed to Mikan about his feelings for her. The brunette, having the reciprocal love for the lad, immediately gave him a yes. When the news spread throughout their relatives that they were finally going out, Mikan had noticed that Yuri had been distant to her since then. Since they were living within one compound, it was quite easy for it to be realized.

"Why, Anna? Tell me, why? I'm pettier than her! I'm even much closer to him than her. Yes, I know she's Izumi's daughter and all, but why? Tell me, why Ruka chose her over me?" Mikan overheard the opposition of a voice she knew so much –Yuri. From her tone and the uncommon breaking of her words, Mikan knew she was crying.

"Shhh… Yuri, you cannot make the decision for people. Ruka… had his reasons," Anna whispered, trying to calm down their best friend.

Mikan knew of the love triangle within their friendship circle. All those times, she knew. After all, being more than an ordinary human, it was quite easy for their kind to smell someone's hormones or emotions. Only the thoughts were hard to decode. Nonetheless, even knowing that fact, Mikan's interest towards having a strong and handsome partner never faltered. After all, it is in every one's nature to choose the best for themselves. And for her, it was Ruka. Tradition ruled in her blood and her thoughts told her having Yuri was a challenge in her part.

Mikan sighed whilst looking in front of the mirror. Her stomach began to churn from the uncommon feeling of nervousness. Well, if there was one thing Mikan hated… This would be it –realizing she was agitated and scared. Though tonight's celebration would mark her victory, a part of her instinct told her of a possible danger. And she hated worrying, especially if what worried her is something unknown. It made her and everybody else who could smell her presence think she was weak.

"I need a walk." She thought it was the best way to do to calm herself.

The celebration doesn't start until eight in the evening, when the moon fully overtook the sun in the sky. By the time Mikan decided to roam around, it was still quarter to seven. This meant she still got more than an hour to spare.

Meanwhile, one shadow crept inside the cabin not far from where the brunette stood. Yuri was still on her usual clothes –white tees and skinny jeans –totally showing her disinterest in joining everyone for tonight's celebration. She crookedly strutted her way towards Ruka's cabin, careful not to be seen by anyone. A beer bottle was in her hand.

She kept yelling, "To hell with the party," oblivious that a certain person was headed to her direction.

Her mind was clouded by her desire to take revenge. As she drank the last drop, she tossed the bottle away before she rubbed her mouth with the back of her hand. She only sought to have a little bit of fun, wanting to have what she wanted before someone claimed it away from her. Her heart was filled only with darkness, devouring even her mind with thoughtless actions.

At the sound of the door chimes, Ruka turned around to see who his next visitor was. He stood next his body-length mirror with his wedding tux on. He thought that it was just the same group of guys who came to wish him the best. Most of them were friends and allies from the clan. But as he turned around and caught sight of her messy figure, he was proved to be wrong.

"Yu-"

"Ruka-kun! Why, Ruka-kun?" Yuri asked as tears began to fall out of her eyes. She hastily went to his direction after she saw him look at her. She grabbed his collars then shook him uncontrollably. Her hasty actions gave him no room to react. "Why, Ruka-kun?"

"Yuri, you're drunk!" he tried to scold him. But, alas, she didn't seem to hear his words.

"Tell me, Ruka-kun! You don't love Mikan! I know you don't! Tell me you don't!"

"What are you talking about? Of course I lo-"

"NO! You don't love her. I heard you talking to your father a long, long time ago. When both of you went here, uncle explained to you that you would marry Mikan someday. But then, you were hesitant back then. You don't love her! You were only forced to! The stupid council arranged it for you against your will," she yelled as she gripped his black jacket tightly.

"H-How-?"

"You don't have to hide it from me. I just want to hear the truth," she replied. Her tears slowly subsided. She started to calm down a bit. The direction of her gaze was towards the floor, as if finding it interesting.

"I, I have to marry Mikan," he stated with a sigh, making Yuri smirk beneath her bangs in satisfaction.

The next thing Yuri did was much to Ruka's surprise. She did not try to kiss him, nor did she pry a little longer. She just let him go before she elegantly sat in his bed. All evidences of her being drunk suddenly drained down. Her breathing turned normal and her appearance softened.

"So, let me get this straight. You only agreed to marry her but you don't love her?" she asked for the last time, somewhat looking sober and un-drunk. No answer came from Ruka's lips but a mere sigh. But seemingly, this simple action of his was enough for the cunning seductress. The curve on her lips widen in glee.

When it seemed that only the croak of the frogs could be heard, Yuri crossed her legs and faced at the direction of the windows. Her happy face was then replaced with an expression of faked surprise.

"Oh, Mikan, it's quite shocking to see you here!"

Upon hearing her name mentioned, Ruka froze in his place before he turned towards where Yuri looked.

Mikan was indeed standing past the open window. Her eyes began to sting. After hearing this unexpected confession, his early words of confession and love to her proved to be false –a joke to make her believe he was a great man.

I have to marry Mikan. Those words began to replay in her head. Why does it have to be an I have to? Why can't it be because he wanted to? Or he wished to? Was marrying her a matter of his obligation to his parents? To the clan he had planned to rule? Then, what if it wasn't? Would he even still ask her hand in marriage? Does he even love her? Sour and bitter tears began to fog her gaze.

With Ruka looking at her, she couldn't bear see his unfaithful eyes –those same eyes that showed her fake convictions. After she looked at the two people close to her, and hear the truth, she no longer had the strength to face them both. Due to the treachery they did to her, she no longer find it easy to find the word trust in her heart and to the people around her. She cupped her mouth; trying her best not to fall, or thrash or scream for explanations.

The solemnity of the night was her only answer.

Ruka took the first move to break the awkward silence moments later.

"Mikan," he spoke, looking at her with a terrified expression. There were both shame and persuasion in his voice.

He knew that what he did, and what he said totally hurt her. But he didn't mean to say it that way. He loved her –that was a fact. But what nerve does he have left to say it after those hurting words came rushing out of his mouth without him ever knowing? What right does he have left to have her when right in front of her very eyes, he unintentionally said something that broke her apart?

Mikan, that's not what I meant. I swear to God. Please listen. He wanted to scream. But after seeing those eyes, he knew she would never give him another chance.

"Mikan, please listen," he pleaded. However, Mikan already lost her interest in listening to more of his lies.

She turned around and boldly ran towards the forest. Her anger and sadness overpowered her fear of the dark. She transformed into her wolf form, vaguely aware that Ruka was following behind.

"Mikan, let me explain!"

"No," she said. But her words came out in a whimper-like, roar-like sound. Rain started to pour down from the grey skies, bathing the whole forest and softening the whole earthen ground beneath her paws. Her emotions surged out of her inner being, somewhat propelling and giving her the strength to run faster than her usual pace. Ruka's figure turned to a blur behind her. With the pouring rain, the foggy surroundings and the muddy ground, she no longer had any idea where she was going. She didn't even thought of the possible danger.

And in an instant, SNAP!

BANG! BANG!

The sound of the bullet rang throughout the deafening silence of the forest. And Ruka heard it perfectly. He stopped in his tracks, too angry, guilty and remorseful of what he did. He looked at the dark skies. With his remaining strength, he let out a loud howl as the raging evening sympathized with him in his loss.

Prologue Ends | TO BE CONTINUED

As some of you noticed, I edited a few things here and there. Please review.

#1: After hearing an unexpected confession, she fled from her wedding with no direction in mind, not knowing her life hangs on a piece of thread -at the hands of a group of notorious hunters. Trust –will she ever find that one thing she lost?