Author's Note 10/13/06 – Hey people! Another update! Ideas keep on flowing into my head. Thanks for all the reviews people, you know who you are! Anyway, hope you like this chapter!

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Chapter Three: Cherry Blossom

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"I don't know why I let you talk me into this" Natsume grunted, as he and Mikan walked to the park. He had to admit to himself and nobody else, that she looked quite okay with what she was wearing. Her brown hair was let down and she was wearing a yellow dress and blue shoes…he grunted and turned away from her and continued smoking.

They got to the park. The scent of flowers and trees flew in the air. Natsume almost gagged at the scent of "happiness" while Mikan inhaled the fresh air and exhaled with satisfaction. "Natsume, find a spot where we could have the picnic"

"Why don't you set it up by that trash can?" Natsume smirked with sarcasm.

"Oh shut up, Natsume. I think I can smell the scent of a cherry blossom tree. Maybe we can set up the picnic there"

She followed the scent of the cherry blossoms, and when the scent was already set to her level of satisfaction, she put the picnic basket down and felt for the mat. She laid it on the ground and took the food out.

Natsume watched as she put out a container of tempura, rice, chicken teriyaki and many more others that he couldn't name since he was distracted by the delicious presentation.

"I made it myself" Mikan smiled with pride as she took out the chopsticks.

"Well better have the paramedics ready in case I have food poisoning"

"Oh shut up, Natsume" Mikan responded, taking his hand and placed chopsticks on it. "Now eat" she smiled.

Natsume sampled each of the meals Mikan prepared. He had to admit that it was certainly delicious, compared to cigarettes at least. He hadn't had this kind of meal for ages, and he missed it but he was too stubborn to go to a decent restaurant and order a meal since he spent too much time drinking.

The tempura and the sweet tasting chicken teriyaki melted in his mouth, the fish that she had prepared wasn't bad either.

"Is it yummy?" Mikan asked, after ten minute's of silence.

Natsume grunted.

"I made dessert also. It's strawberry custard, is that okay with you?"

He grunted once more.

Mikan shrugged and took out the strawberry custard. It looked tempting. It was strawberry pink with a white creamy surface and a strawberry on top. He hesitated and took the strawberry custard, it was better than the food at the bar he always hung out in. He finished it in ten seconds and put it aside.

"It seems to me that you enjoyed it" Mikan grinned.

"Well, it's okay. Considering it was made by a blind person"

"Hey! I put a lot of effort in to that!" Mikan said, making a fist at the boy. He smirked at the way her face flushed with red when she would get pissed off. She cooled down and smiled weakly.

"Natsume, what made you become a rebel?" Mikan asked, out of the blue.

"Why are you asking? It's none of your business!"

"Oh come on! Please tell me! I'll tell you why I became blind!"

Silence.

"Why are you a rebel?" Mikan questioned.

"I forgot why, damn it" Natsume responded. Honestly, he really forgot. The only thing he remembered was walking into a bar and drunk the night out. Every night, that was his routine – to go into that same bar and drink the hell out, it never helped and that just made the condition that he was in (although he didn't know what condition he was in) much more miserable.

"Why are you blind?" the boy asked, turning to Mikan.

"A truck hit me" Mikan smiled, recalling that day. After that incident, she couldn't remember anything else except that memory. Hotaru and some other friends had to help her remember her past memories. But whenever she tried to remember something, that day of her brush with death always popped into her mind. And whenever she thought of that, it was bittersweet. She had no idea why she felt no anger or regret…

Natsume gulped. For some reason, he didn't know why he had a connection with that truck driver.

"So, who are your best friends – Natsume?" Mikan said, changing the topic.

"I had a best friend, Ruka. Although we haven't talked since I started smoking, drinking and drag racing. He's the goody-goody boy. Ugh. He disgusts me"

"Maybe the reason why you keep on drinking and such, is that because you have no friends…"

"Oh shut up. Don't act like you know me so well"

"Well sometimes, I feel that we've known each other for a long time"

"Psshhh. Whatever"

Mikan smiled as she put back the plates and the empty containers of food back into the picnic basket, then she felt a smooth brush against her arm. It was a cherry blossom. She inserted it in her pocket. She didn't know why but whenever she talked to Natsume, she remembered a cherry blossom.

FLASHBACK

Mikan's POV

I woke up from bed, I looked at my six-year-old self at the mirror and walked to the living room. Grandpa was there watching television and sipping tea.

"Good morning, grandpa!" I said cheerfully, giving him a hug. I noticed that there was a small note on the floor.

"What's that?" I asked, pointing at it.

"Oh…one of your friends came here and told me to give that to you…then he left without a word. He looked sad and angry"

I picked the letter up and opened it:

Mikan

I am going to Tokyo. I'm sorry.

I threw the note aside, I can't remember who wrote it. But it felt like that person was held precious in my heart for a long time. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I ran back to my room, I ripped the note apart and cried my eyes out and fell back to sleep again.

When I woke up, I saw that the writer of the note had stuck a cherry blossom petal on the paper. I picked the cherry blossom and cried again.

END OF FLASHBACK

I opened my eyes, I felt a tear stream down my cheek.

That was the first time I had recalled that memory. I looked around for Natsume, he had already left, I felt the cherry blossom petal that I placed in my pocket and another tear rolled down my eye.

And as I recalled that heart breaking memory, I think I know who wrote that letter.

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Author's Note 10/15/06: Hope you like chapter 3! In each chapter, a new memory unfolds. Although I won't spoil anything for you, dear readers! Just keep reading! Hope you enjoyed chap 3!