Summary: Because time cut short is the cruelest thing of all... and she was going to stop it from happening again. No matter what. Time-travel R&R

Iridescent
The property of certain surfaces to change color as the angle or view of illumination changes

Chapter 2

"I've been thinking..."

"Oh boy."

"Shush, meanie. I've been thinking about the war. Like, was it worth the destruction and deaths it caused?"

"...it was necessary."

-O-

Hotaru found them several hours later.

Narrowed violet eyes studied the two who were sleeping soundly, a strangers back up against a tree and Mikan right next to him, leaning against his shoulder for support and a place to rest her head. Trash littered the area, and a soft wind that had managed to make it through all the trees blew an empty wrapper towards her feet.

They were almost... cute.

She didn't waste any more time however, as the sun would be setting soon and they needed to get out of the forest as soon as possible.

She stepped off her ride, Invention 16: Giraffe-and-go, and took careful steps towards them.

'Who is this boy, and why is he with Mikan?' she wondered.

When she'd heard from - a tight frown curled her lips - her brother that the idiot was missing, she'd gone to search for her immediately. Her best friend had just collapsed, and teachers assurances that they would find her or not, she wouldn't just leave her out there alone.

Upon asking a shaken looking and grumpier than usual Natsume Hyuuga if he'd seen the girl, he'd growled at her and told her that he "didn't give a damn where that stupid polka-dot was."

So Hotaru took that as a "no" and moved on.

Carefully, so as not to startle her, the inventor reached a pale hand to Mikan to wake her, when suddenly a grip of steel was clamped around her wrist.

Sharply she looked to the boy - who was he? - and saw a single, piercing storm-gray eye pinning her in place.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you..." he murmured, and Hotaru wasn't quite able to suppress the small shiver and slight widening of her eyes at the ice in his gaze and steely tone. "She's had a long day. Leave her alone; she needs the sleep."

"Who are you?" she managed, and was secretly glad she'd been able to keep her voice level.

"Yuki," he answered simply, and grinned wolfishly at her as he slid his second eye open.

"How do you know that idiot sleeping on you?"

"Recent friends, I suppose."

"Why are you two out here of all places?"

"I was helping ochibi-chan out. She needed it."

"Hmph. Looks more like you two went out on a little snatching-spree."

Hotaru nudged a can with her foot.

"Maa... maybe at first," Yuki admitted with a smirk.

"But...?"

"That's up to her to tell you."

Hotaru studied him for a moment before jerking her arm out of his grip and taking a few steps back.

"Wake the idiot up," she snapped. "She needs to get back to the hospital to make sure she's fine."

Yuki mocked her with an indulging smile before nudging Mikan.

"Priiiincessss," He murmured with a mischievous grin. "Wake up~ Your prince charming is here to take you home~ Or well. Something like a prince charming, I suppose."

He looked at Hotaru dryly, who merely rose a single eyebrow in response.

Mikan mumbled something to him but didn't move.

"Helloooooo? Do you need a special kiss to-" here he snickered and Hotaru rolled her eyes, knowing where it was going but not bothering to interrupt, "-break the curse and wake you up?"

The time-traveler seemed to be waking up now, but Yuki continued on anyway.

"Okay!" he declared loudly, hooking her neck with an arm and drawing his face closer to his. "You aren't up yet so I guess that you do need a kiss then~"

Mikan's eyes fluttered open then and she mumbled a sleepy, "wha?" before noticing the face that was just centimeters away from hers and the way that Yuki's lips were almost-

Mikan shrieked.

"Ow!" Yuki hissed, rubbing his cheek with a pout where the now standing girl had decked him.

Hazel eyes were furious as she glared at him and hissed out a stream of insults that made Hotaru's eyes go wide and Yuki chuckle in amusement.

"Now, now, Mikan. I was just-"

"Being a pervert!"

"-joking with ya!" he continued as though uninterrupted.

She just sputtered at him before her eyes narrowed and suddenly her lips slid into a very tiny grin. Yuki looked at her warily.

"Just a joke, hm?" she asked softly.

Hotaru watched in amazement as her Mikan practically strutted her way toward the fallen Yuki and slid a finger under his chin to tilt it up toward herself. Her smile widened into something sultry as she tilted her head ever so slightly to the left.

"What a pity," she purred at the now reddening boy below her. "I'd thought that we could've, ah..."

She leaned down to whisper something into his ear that Hotaru couldn't heard but must have been something, what with the way that Yuki's face went cherry red and he began to babble nonsensically.

'What the hell,' Hotaru wondered. 'Since when did oblivious Mikan- No. Since when did any ten-year-old act like this so easily?'

She must've hit her head when she fell, the inventor concluded.

Hotaru was broken out of her reverie by the sounds of hysterical laughter and the defensive stutters of Mikan and Yuki, one who could barely remain upright due to her giggles and the other who was now standing but remained cherry red.

"I... don't even want to know," Hotaru decided aloud, and Mikan froze and looked up at her upon hearing her voice, all the previous airs she'd put on diminished.

She seemed almost hesitant as she straightened up and took three slow steps towards her. Something... dark seemed to be swirling in her eyes, and for one long, horrible moment, her face contorted into the most pained expression that she'd ever seen on Mikan's face before clearing up so quickly Hotaru wasn't entirely sure if she'd seen it at all.

Hotaru frowned. She was acting very odd today.

"Hotaru? Is... is that you?" Mikan asked hopefully.

Hope.

There hope in her expression. Her voice.

Why hope?

Why wouldn't it be her? Why would she seem afraid that it wasn't, or ever believe otherwise?

Why was there also a very clear amount of fear?

The girl took a moment to swallow and take a breath because whether she showed it or not, she was worried about her.

'What's wrong with you?'

"Tch. Of course it is, you big idiot."

Mikan laughed at this and ran to her best friend, and the other breathed in relief because those emotions were gone now and she was Mikan again.

"Hotaru!" she cried happily, launching herself at her best friend and nearly knocking Hotaru over when they collided into a hug.

"Oi," the other girl muttered, hugging Mikan back. "Why did you run out earlier today? Are you okay?"

Mikan pulled back to look at her in confusion before smiling sweetly at her.

"Of course I am!"

'No. No you are not.'

Mikan giggled and hugged her again.

'If you're okay, then why are you shaking?'

Small hands gripped at her blazer like it was a lifeline, and Hotaru found her pulling Mikan closer to her.

'Why are you shaking, Mikan?'

Yuki watched on with narrowed eyes.

-O-

She was pronounced healthy and ready to go by a flustered looking doctor that Mikan didn't remember and was told to take it easy for the next few days.

Mikan assured him that she would (a total lie) before leaving with Hotaru and Yuki in tow.

...Why was he still following them?

"Eh? 'Cause I'm bored, I guess," he said with a shrug when asked.

Mikan rolled her eyes.

Children could be so...

"Whatever."

She was still hanging onto Hotaru's arm when they entered the cafeteria, and though no one stopped outright to stare at them, Mikan didn't miss the many mutters and looks that she gained while walking to the front of the line.

News (and rumors) traveled fast in places like this. She'd almost forgotten.

"D'ya need somethin'?" Yuki asked one boy with and intimidating snarl when he stared for too long, and Mikan smacked him lightly on the arm when he shot off in fear.

"Oh, leave him alone, you big dummy. He's just a kid; they stare sometimes."

A snort.

"Yeah, because you're definitely not a kid yourself."

Mikan ignored him, because, well, she wasn't and he simply did not know that, and asked for and received her dinner with a tiny frown, eying the single bowl of nori sprinkled rice and miso soup with annoyance.

"Nothing but the worst for the cute little no-star, eh, Mikan-chan?" asked a voice from behind and to Mikan's surprise and delight she saw her two senpais standing behind her, twin grins on their faces.

"Tsubasa-senpai! Misaki-senpai!" she cheered as she quickly mimicked a koala, hanging off Tsubasa's neck as she chattered happily to him.

"Eh? You're energetic," Misaki observed, mouth forming a slight O shape. "Guess you're okay after all. See Tsubasa-baka? She's fine!"

The shadow Alice pouted at her and complained, "You were just as worried! Besides, she's my new cute little kouhai; I wasn't just going to leave her hanging if she needed help. SA is a family after all."

His word made the time-traveler smile warmly.

'Dear god, I haven't seen these two in ages. Especially Misaki,' she thought to herself. 'They're so... young looking now!'

She tightened her hold around Tsubasa, unwilling to let go of someone she thought of as an older brother just yet. He was smiling and happy, a lightness that had disappeared once Misaki was killed - Mikan shuddered ever so slightly at the memory - present and alive. Everything had gone so downhill after his girlfriends death; Mikan was sure that Misaki dying is what ultimately killed him in the end. But here he was, never having even tasted war yet: Happy. Warm. Breathing.

She would keep it that way no matter what.

They all ended up eating together, Hotaru making snide jabs and comments at Yuki for the most part - and Mikan was wondering what was up with those two, seeing as though they seemed to have some kind of instant rivalry thing going on - while Mikan spoke with everyone, sitting in Tsubasa's lap as she picked off his plate that he was generously sharing and Misaki listened with a fond interest.

She couldn't even describe how wonderful it was to see everyone getting along so easily and perfectly was. It was just so... natural to be together and be having a good time, even if not everyone was present.

Mikan wouldn't have had it any other way.

-o-O-o-

She lay in her tiny no-star bed with closed eyes. Yesterday had been a very long one...

Absent minded, she realized that she'd missed her trip to Central Town, but at least it was Sunday and she had a full day to rest now.

"I wonder how late it is?" she mused softly, feeling lazy now that the stress of the future had lifted and she knew she could fix all of it.

She didn't bother to check.

"By my watch? I'd say it's like... way past breakfast time. 'Cause I don't have a watch, but that was totally hours ago 'n all."

Mikan's eye twitched and very, very slowly, she sat up.

'Please don't let that be who I think it is...'

She opened her eyes.

Yuki smiled cheekily at her.

"Yo!"

"..."

"..."

"Yuki?"

"Yes, Princess?"

"What the hell are you doing in my room?"

"Ah..." Yuki look down and scratched his head sheepishly. "That's a good question, isn't it?"

Mikan just looked at him and he rolled his eyes.

"I jus' wanted to know if you were goin' t'end your hermitage soon and eat lunch or somethin', 'cause I'm bored and you're not doin' anythin' anyway and I'm not doin' anythin' either so I thought we could eat together. Yeah?"

"And that requires you breaking into my room?" Mikan asked in disbelief.

"Well, yah. Doy. How else was I supposed t'talk with ya?"

"By knocking on my door and waiting for me to answer it...? You do realize that boys aren't allowed in the girls' rooms, yes?"

"Eh. Knocking, breaking in... same ol' same ol'. Rules were made t'be broken, my dear."

"No. No, not really."

He ignored her.

"So, how 'bout it, my cute little BFF?" Yuki asked with a grin.

"BFF? We just met yesterday!"

"And the stars dictated that best friendship was inevitable, yo!"

'When I came back, I was so not planning on spending the first few days with... with some strange kid who took a liking to me for no apparent reason,' Mikan thought with a tired sigh. 'He's not bad or anything, but still. So odd. Why had I never met him before?'

"You're unbelievable! Get out of my room, you weirdo."

"Oh! Woe is me, for the ladies' words doth burn so!" Yuki cried dramatically, clutching his chest as though he'd been stabbed in the heart. He threw an arm to his forehead as he stumbled back, and crumpled to the ground with a poorly acted cry of pain and the sorrowful words of, "Alas, it seems as though our meeting this day was not meant to be! Farewell, cruel world!"

Mikan crawled to the edge of her bed with a smile filled with dry amusement, watching as he drew out a very cheesy and very typical death scene where he almost died three times, breathing harsh and pain fake, before dying "for real" with a final, teary good-bye to the world and all its inhabitants "who I like... don't hate tha' is" he told her in a serious stage whisper before returning to his theatrics. He held his heart once more before flopping around like some kind of deranged psychopath possessed in his "final death-throws" as he personally narrated, before finally - finally - coming to a stop.

For a long time, there was only silence.

"...So that was a lot longer and more drawn out than necessary. I'll admit it was amusing though," Mikan giggled finally, bringing the back of her hand to her lips to try and muffle the sound. "Very amusing."

Yuki peaked an eye open and grinned at her before sitting up.

"Thank you, thank you! I'll be here till... well. Till I graduate, really. Wow. So. About lunch?"

"Hm?"

"Come with me, Princess?"

Mikan looked at his flourish pose which was reminiscent of yesterday. He held a hand to his chest, the other reaching towards her as he was down on one knee, winking at her and trying to smile in what Mikan supposed he meant to be "attractive" or "princely" but only achieving "Grade A Idiot". Sadly enough, she was sure that that was what he had been going for anyway.

Even sadder? It worked.

'What the hell,' she decided. 'I hung out with him yesterday, and I suppose I can do it again today. I can get to planning tonight and it will give me a little more time to relax before I get down to business. He's fun at least.'

"You're a real piece of work, you know," Mikan said bluntly, but grabbed onto his hand anyway.

He stood up and smiled at her.

"But that's why y'love me!"

"Uh huh. I totally love the odd stranger who has taken to stalking me immediately."

"Hey! We're buddies now, and it was only because I had to!"

Mikan laughed.

"I know, I know. Now get out so I can change. I'll be out in five minutes."

"Yes, your highness. Your friend Hotaru and two girls with pink and blue hair are waiting outside too by the way. And can you believe it when they said it was their natural hair color? Natural!"

"Because you're hair isn't abnormal at all."

"It's not."

"Uh huh."

"It's real!"

"Whatever you say, Yuki. Now can you get out?"

"Fine Princess. I'm goin'! I'll await for your return loyally outside the door!"

"Thank you, my dear knight," Mikan retorted with a wink.

He left her room, snickers ending with the sound of her closing door.

Staring at the closed piece of wood, she rolled her eyes.

"That kid sure is something," she murmured.

Mikan walked to her dresser and pulled out a simple but cute looking sleeveless turtleneck sweater - red - and khaki shorts. Pulling on a pair of sandals, she walked into her small bathroom and began brushing out her hair from the messy pigtails they'd been in all night.

She had pulled them back into neat and smooth tails and was about to leave when she stopped to really look at herself. She looked like Mikan: ten-years-old, a newly found Alice. A child.

But she wasn't.

She was Mikan Sakura: veteran fighter. A dangerous Alice. A catalyst: broken, lost, fighting again... and she was only twenty-two.

Such a childish hairstyle didn't suit her.

She pulled the ribbons from her hair with a lost looking gaze and fingered the locks mindlessly; pulling it this way and that while looking at the long waves in the mirror with a sad smile.

It didn't suit her at all.

It was too childish.

Too innocent.

"And I... am neither of those."

Mikan took a step back, something seeming to come over her as she gazed at her reflection with pained eyes. She hated it. She really, really hated it; this her she was seeing: sweet and innocent when she was anything but.

She saw nothing but a liar.

And Mikan... she wanted that to change.

'Ne, Natsume?'

She went back to her room, and pulled open a drawer.

'Are you watching me right now?' she wondered.

A pair of scissors, handles black and blades gleaming silver, shone there.

'Are you seeing me even from the future?'

Mikan walked back to the bathroom.

'Are you proud of me?'

She brought the scissors up.

'Disappointed?'

Opened the twin blades.

'Are you happy with what I plan to do?'

And closed them quickly.

'Do you approve of what I'm going to change?'

She repeated the process.

'Ne, Natsume?'

Again, and again.

'I'm doing this for you, you know.'

And again.

'Because I love you.'

She set the scissors down.

'I'm changing everything for you.'

And smiled.

"That's better."

'Ne, Natsume?'

She turned away from the mirror.

'Watch me.'

And didn't look back.

'I'm going to change everything...'

Mikan turned the door handle slowly, and swung it open.

'For you...'

"I'm ready, everyone."

'...And for me.'

"M-mikan? Wha...?" Hotaru whispered.

'Watch me.'

"Let's go to lunch, hm?"

'Ne, Natsume?'

She fingered her chin-length hair with a warm smile.

Somehow, she felt... lighter.

It looked just like her mothers did before she died; the mother she'd barely gotten to know.

"Your hair..." Yuki murmured in disbelief. "Why...?"

Mikan just smiled.

"I needed a change."

'I can do this.'

"Let's go everyone."

o-O-o-O-o

The weaver stopped their work a moment to smile down at the events below them.

Carefully measured were a long length of silver-grey thread, bubble gum pink, midnight blue, and a shining amethyst color.

Carefully, they began to be woven into a detailed circle, the center of which was an orange star.

Thick stripes of white and silver-grey competed with red that made up the whole of the tapestry and the bands of black began to seem a little less noticeable...

The weaver continued their work, and a picture began to form.

-O-o-O-o-O-

A/N: I will edit this when I can think. I'm aware this chapter is... lacking.

So. That awkward moment when you were very late for an update, and it was because you're half dead.

I burned the entire palm of my hand: first and second degree. Which would happen to me considering its the most sensitive and therefore the most painful part of ones body to burn. Typing... still hurts. I look part mummy... *sniffles*

Here's your chapter! Over nearly 4,000 words for you guys... *breaths deeply* Please review for me. Or the chapter, I guess...

I'm going to go cry in a corner now. I bid you all adeu until next time! I hope it will be soon, but with my luck who knows?

Please review!