First, I want to thank all those who supports this story.

Lanel

Wyntta

Dalayb

Mikanlucia728

I thank these 4 people from the bottom of my heart. Please continue doing so. And for the rest of you who are reading but not reviewing, please do, it makes me happier...

Disclaimer: Do I have to say it? Fine. ... EventhoughIwantto.

"Listen here, you better tell me right now or I'll make you suffer." a young brunette had her dagger on the middle aged man's neck.

The man gave a pleading look to someone who were leaning against the wall not far from him. "I wont stop her if she tries to kill you" the boy said without so much as a glance.

Mikan drew her dagger closer to the man's neck. "Okay, okay! I'll tell you! Just please, don't kill me."

The dagger was slightly removed away a bit from his neck. "Speak. Where is he?"

"I don't know!"

"Tell me what you do know." her tone had no mercy in it. The boy could only watch.

"I-I, 10 years ago, he told me, to deliver a package to a house near a lake."

The girl unknowingly drew the dagger more closer to the man's neck and it almost bleed if it weren't for man's action of leaning away from it a bit. "That's all! An-and, after that, he gave me 1 million yen for it. That's all I know."

"Do you know what he looks like?"

"No. He wore a cloth that hides his face from mouth to chin and he wore a glasses with a hat on that day. H-he said, if I don't do as he said, he'll kill my wife and I. I swear, I didn't know it was a b-bomb! Please, forgive me." the man was stuttering so bad, its a wonder and gratefulness that he didn't wet himself.

Mikan dropped the dagger and sliced up the rope that were tying his hands. "Scram" She turned her back and Natsume drew closer to her.

When the man's hands were finally fully free, he took off without a single glance back.

Mikan and Natsume just stay quiet inside the empty room. "Natsume, do you think he knows that I'm searching for him?"

"Probably."

"Hm...well, that man just proves that the bomb was send on that day to my house. If he wanted to kill my mother, why did I survived?"

"Maybe, he was so sure you wouldn't get out of the house even though it was raining."

"Yeah, maybe. Hey, do you think some other people are involve in this?"

"Maybe. If it was a group effort, he might have inform all the other members that we're onto them so that make's it harder to track them if there is 'them'."

"True...Hey, Natsume, could you-"

"I'll look into it." and he walk towards the door and into the light.

Mikan was staggered but regained her composure and catch up to his side. "Thanks."

"Hn" his emotionless face turned to a smirk. Mikan, of course, didn't miss that but she chose to ignore it and just went into Natsume's car.

During the ride, the both of them didn't say anything. Mikan was thinking about everything that she gathered up until now and Natsume knew better to shut up. Wouldn't want his life to go by, right? He knows that even though he was stronger than most men, Mikan were stronger than most people so that make him value his life more now.

It was a short ride from the town where they interrogate the man and their apartment. Believe or not, Natsume manage to convince Mikan to let him stay in her apartment because 'It would be much safer' for her.

They argued about it for days but Mikan finally gave up when Natsume put his stuff inside her house anyway so to save a lot more arguments that were about to come, she lets him stay. To be fair, the rent was divided and they don't share a room.

Natsume slept inside the guess room/ his room and they lived 'happily ever after'. Sort of. If Natsume could just stop calling her Polka, everything would be almost picture perfect but Natsume kept on doing it because he knows Mikan will always response to it.

When Natsume finish parking the car at the parking lot, he and Mikan got out and walk their way to their apartment.

Natsume took out his key —they have their own keys— and opened the door. Mikan went in first —she always does— and found her sofa already sit on by 2 people.

Mikan's eyes just got bigger and bigger and her jaw dropped on the floor. Natsume looked calm because he wasn't surprise that they were there.

"H-Hotaru...Ruka..." and she immediately jumps onto them and gave a giant hug!

Ruka was blushing but not so much. His crush on her were long gone.

Hotaru manage to crack up a smile and Natsume could swear there were some tears at the corner of her eyes. Maybe its the light, he shrugged.

"Hotaru, I've missed you so much, you have no idea." just like with Natsume, she had always been watching the duo for 10 years since she left from afar.

Hotaru gently smacked her head. "Baka, I do have an idea."

Mikan let go and she just continue sitting between her and Ruka. The tears stopped but haven't dried up yet. Mikan hastily wiped them with her sleeve.

While she was wiping her tears, she accidentally saw a ring on Hotaru's wedding finger. Something dawned up in her and she looked at Ruka's wedding finger. There was a ring there too. Identical rings.

"How long?" she asked, knowing Hotaru knew what she meant.

"For a week month now. The wedding's in another 2 month."

Mikan blinked. "Wow, so fast. What's the rush?"

"Ruka was the one who wanted it to be"

"He-hey! It wasn't m-" Hotaru quickly put her hand on his mouth. Ruka stopped resisting and Hotaru removed her hand. Something tells Mikan it was Hotaru that wanted the wedding to be fast. It was just a guess but judging from Ruka's reaction, it was close to the truth. Or maybe it is the truth?

"You're gonna become my maid of honor." Hotaru's words made Mikan snapped out from her thoughts. "Its not an option. If you resist, I'll shoot you with the much improved Baka Gun and Baka Cannon." Hotaru smirked.

Mikan just laughed it off. "Okay, okay. I'll become your maid of honor but no fancy dress, okay?"

"No. I'm going to sell your pictures on the dress so, no."

Mikan sweat dropped. Looks like her best friend was still blackmailing. She turned to look at Ruka and saw his face darkens. Looking back, he had always been her target. Poor Ruka, he was still now, she guessed.

She turned back and didn't say anything else. When Hotaru Imai says something, its final. No argument, no 'but's or 'if's or 'no's. Her words are final.

Especially when she's keeping you embarrassing picture on hostage.

Natsume who had been watching since the beginning sat on the empty couch that faces the the trio. "Oi, Polka, stop sitting between those two. You're an interference."

Mikan grabbed one of the pillows and throws it at Natsume .He caught the pillow in his hand with ease. and snorted. "Don't call me Polka! The names Mikan! M-i-k-a-n!" Even so, she still got up and took the empty couch beside Natsume.

...

"Whatever, Peaches."

"YOU PERVERT!" she throws another pillow at him. He had his eyes close and he still manage to capture it. He even yawned...

After a while of silence, the chance to tease her more were to good to pass.

"Its not my fault. You were the one who showed it to me." with this, Ruka was blushing like crazy. Hotaru who saw this glared at Ruka and he bowed down his head to look at the floor.

"I didn't show it to you! You peeked!" This time, she throw the remote control for the television behind the drawer behind her. He had his eyes close and he still manage to capture it. He even yawned...

Ruka on the other hand was blushing even more harder.

Hotaru who noticed this decided that its enough. She aimed her Baka Gun at Mikan and her Baka Cannon at Natsume and fired.

Mikan and Natsume barely dodged it. Smoked were coming out from the end of the Baka Gun and Baka Cannon. She got those two side by side in front of her face and blew off the smoke.

…

Awkward silence. Again.

Mikan was getting uncomfortable. "Um...Hotaru, how did you know I was here?" she guessed the answer already.

"From Hyuuga of course." and she was right.

Mikan gave a short glare at Natsume. He returned it by smirking at her. Mikan rolled her eyes at him.

"Oh, well, since Natsume told you, he must have told you everything, right?" her voice dropped. The air was tensed.

"Yeah, he did. Mikan, no matter what you want to do, all of us are behind you. You're not alone. Besides, that what best friends are for, right?" Hotaru smiled, really smiled this time,

Mikan got up and went to hug Hotaru again. 'Oh well, just today.' Hotaru thought as she let herself become Mikan's handkerchief for her tears.

"Thanks, Hotaru-chan." She lets go and give a brief hug to Ruka. Hotaru just let her be but that doesn't mean she wasn't jealous even though she knew Ruka gave up on Mikan years ago.

Natsume tried hard to ignored it and continued looking calmly at the trio —secretly, mostly at Mikan which Ruka notice and just smiled at it as his best friend's obvious jealousy.

Mikan who sensed jealousy pouring out of Hotaru, let go of Ruka as quickly as possible. Now, Ruka smiled at his fiance's jealousy. Hotaru saw this and just blushed as she shot him using her Baka Gun.

Ruka who's gotten used to it over the years just embrace it with a 'thud' on his head. Thank god Hotaru didn't put its power to max like she did with Natsume and Mikan or he would have gotten worse than a 'thud'.

Mikan looks at the clock above Natsume's head. It was 1.17 in the evening. She got up and said "Sorry guys, I have to go to work. You guys make yourself at home. Natsume, its your turn to do the cooking. Save some for me for when I come home."

Before she could walk away, Hotaru grabbed her wrist and pulled her down back beside her. "What job?" she asked, skeptically.

"Nothing. I just work as a waitress at a restaurant. No need to worry, Hotaru." she added, seeing Hotaru's eyes slit. "The workers there are very nice. The customers are nice too. Well, most of them are" the last part was almost unheard.

The Blackmailer Queen looked sharply at Natsume. "You, go tell the manager she's quitting and make sure he pays her"

She looked at Mikan next. "You, stay home and let Hyuuga pay everything"

Mikan sighed. "Hotaru, I'm fine. Don't worry. Besides, you know I like to be independent. I cant let Natsume pay for everything."

Hotaru thought about the 'everything' for a second and gave another glare at Natsume "You, go find a job for her. A safe job" the last one was definitely for Mikan.

Mikan just smile at her best friends worry. "I'll be fine, Hotaru. If anything happen, I can take care of myself. I guarantee you."

Hotaru looked as if she didn't heard any of it. Mikan sighed again. Hotaru had always been over protective of her since she was a little kid.

"Hotaru, I have to go now, okay? Remember, I got a rent to pay." she reminded her as she free herself from Hotaru's clutch.

Hotaru let her go but said to Natsume "You, go with her. Anything happens, I'll make sure you suffer."

Natsume shrugged and got up. Without Hotaru telling him to, he had always followed Mikan to her work place and watch over her from the shadows. Hotaru guessed this but she just wants to make it official.

Mikan didn't give any comment and went straight to her room to change to her uniform though, they could swear they heard her mutter "Great, now I've got a babysitter..." and that was the end of it when she slammed her door closed.

So, while waiting for Mikan, Hotaru decided to torture her knight in shining armor more. She taped the small, round table in front of her. "Hyuuga, I'm thirsty. Make me some tea."

Natsume glared at the Blackmailing Queen AKA his best friend fiance. "No."

"Hyuuga, I suddenly have the urge to sell this picture to your fan club today. I'm sure I'll get a high price for it." Hotaru slowly took out a picture from her purse.

It was a picture of Natsume smiling while holding a strand of hair of Mikan's just now when she momentarily sat beside him.

Hotaru raised her right eyebrow. Natsume groaned but then got up from his chair to the kitchen. "Fine."

"Make sure 2 spoon of sugar. Only." was her parting line.

No answer...

To fill up the silence, Ruka asked "Hey, Hotaru, when did you capture the picture?"

"Before he said 'Whatever, Peaches'." the blush came back but it was faint.

"How did you capture the picture?"

"Secret"

"Why didn't I see it?"

"Dunno."

"hmm...I see." the sound of the door creaking made the duo looked towards the sound. Mikan had finish changing into her uniform and was getting out.

She was wearing a white, kind of flowing dress that ends a bit below her knees. There was a ribbon neatly tied behind her. The sleeves hugged her from the shoulder to the elbow nicely —not tight and not too free—( what's the antonym for tight?)and her hair was tied to a high pony tail with a red ribbon behind her head.

She looked like a sweet, little angel, Hotaru and Ruka thought.

Mikan looked around the living room with a shoulder bag on her. "Where's Natsume?"

Natsume got out from the kitchen. "Hyuuga, where's my tea?"

He didn't answer and just continued walking towards the door and onto his car. Mikan glance behind at the duo to say "Make yourself at home. Be back before dinner." and she closed the door after putting on a delicate high heel shoes.

Hotaru got up and went to the kitchen. To her surprise, tea was already poured and 2 slice of blueberry cheese cake were there with the forks and spoon already neatly beside them.

The blackmailer smirked. Hmm...Looks like Hyuuga is capable of being a gentleman after all.

Together, the couple sat down —Ruka followed her— and enjoy the alone time they're sharing.