Chapter 2: After a Mission

Mikan was limping a little. She tried hard not to show it, but it was all too obvious to Hotaru and Ruka, who knew her too well.

"At the rate Mikan's going, she won't be able to live long enough to pay back the rabbits she owes me." Hotaru said tonelessly.

Ruka stayed silent. What Hotaru said and what she felt was too different things, as he discovered through the years. Especially when it comes to Mikan. "I'm worried about her too." Ruka said.

Hotaru glanced at Ruka, surprised by his answer. It began as a subtle change, but not subtle enough to have gone unnoticed to Hotaru's discerning eye. So it's true. Hotaru thought. People do start showing their true nature as age plods on.

Ruka Nogi was fifteen years old. He had grown from a dashing, bashful boy to a cool, silent young man. The only thing that hadn't changed was his fierce protectiveness for his best friend, and the passion he felt for Mikan. But this Ruka was different from the boy the whole class had teased mercilessly back in elementary school. He no longer stuttered or blushed furiously at the sight of Mikan's belly button. His experience with the dark side of the Academy and how it had affected hisfriends had rid him of all innocence and idealism.

It's just about time. Hotaru thought, leaving Ruka to catch up with Mikan.

"Mikan."

Mikan looked behind her to see Hotaru, walking fast to catch up to her. Not that she needs to. I'm slower than a snail, the last mission really did me in.

"Hotaru-chan!" Mikan tried her best to smile, which in retrospect, wasn't at all that hard when Hotaru was around. She loved her best friend so much. It was incredible to think that five years had gone by since Narumi had first saved her from those thugs on the day she had come to the Academy in search of Hotaru.

"Mikan."

"Hotaru?"

Hotaru had that look in her eye again. Mikan was about to flinch when she noticed Ruka, just a few steps behind them, his eyes boring into hers. An uncontrollable shiver ran through her body. Hotaru noticed Mikan's reaction and bit back a smile. She patted Mikan's shoulder lightly.

"What, no baka gun today?" Mikan asked weakly, still confused by her reaction to Ruka's stare.

"Don't tempt me, baka." Hotaru said coldly, hoisting up her Deer Hoof gadget. Poor Mikan, still as dense as ever.

It's happening. Ruka thought to himself, furiously battling down the blush that threatened to spread across face. She's finally seeing me as someone more than... Ruka-pyon.

"Ruka."

Ruka paused and slid a cool look over at the dark figure leaning lazily against a Sakura tree. "What, Natsume."

Natsume fought back the wave of jealousy with all his power. He had seen the way Mikan had reacted to Ruka's stare. She had never done that before. His eyes settled on his best friend, the one person who had always stood by him when everyone thought he was nothing but a monster and decided to let it go. "Let's go to class."

Ruka's eyes softened. "Why bother Natsume? You're a genius, and I'm pretty sharp myself."

Natsume smirked and shoved away from the shade. "For Polkadots. I want to set her hair on fire."

"Not today, Natsume." Ruka said harshly. "She's injured from one of those god awful missions Persona got her to do..."

"Especially today, Ruka." Natsume said, his eyes dark with an unidentifiable emotion. "Especially today."

--

This is my first fanfic. Please review, so that I'll know if I should continue. Thanks.