Chapter 3

"SUGOIIIIIII!!!"

Mikan Sakura continued to admire the elegant interior of the hotel for the last 20 minutes since they arrive there. Passer bys began to snicker at her childish behavior. She looked like a five year old who just entered a Barbie museum. Just that, she looked like a Barbie doll herself.

"U-uhm, honey. Do you want to go to your room?" her blonde boyfriend asked. Though he tried to suppress it, sadness is apparent with his azure orbs. Mikan can't help but notice.

"No. I still wanna stay here at the lobby." She said crossing her arms, making her look like a stubborn child.

Ruka just smiled in relief and pressed his back on the tan sofa. Going to her room would end everything. He's becoming selfish he knows that. But could anyone call him selfish after what he's about to do? For all they know, he could be awarded the number one most generous martyr that's ever walked the planet.

He wasn't supposed to be here. It's against the game's rules. But stubborn as Mikan is, she never stopped clinging to Ruka until they arrived at the hotel. Besides, Imai firmly ordered Sakurai to get her ex bestfriend to the hotel whatever it takes. Even if it cost him his lifetime salary. Of course with that said in an utterly cold tone, the poor accomplice couldn't help but sweat drop and loosen his necktie.

"I'm gonna miss you honey." Ruka said as he squeezed Mikan's soft hands. He's definitely going to miss this.

The brunette smiled sweetly to her boyfriend. Oh how she loves him! It's just going to be one weekend and he's acting like they're gonna be separated forever. Well, she feels the same though. Spending the whole weekend with a total stranger and without any communication with Ruka. That surely sucks.

"Me too honey." And gave him a sweet peck on the lips.

Just then, a herd of photographers was suddenly blocked outside the hotel caught their attention. The couple saw it through the mirror and wondered if a celebrity just arrived.

"Ruka! Look! I think it's Britney Spears!"

But just as the rotating door of the hotel opened Sakurai arrived with a very formal stance. He looked like the manager of this hotel! Mikan's attention was side-stepped and she suddenly wondered if he was lying about the "working in the bank." He's too polished for it.

"Miss Sakura, it's time to go to your designated room." He said bowing a little.

While Mikan was talking to Sakurai, Ruka noticed two things that simultaneously happened:

A familiar raven haired couple entered the hotel who, seem to be the ones the paparazzis were swarming at.

Just as the couples set foot on the lobby, Sakurai appeared in Mikan's face.

'So it's on.' He thought to himself. It's indeed time.

He looked at the raven haired guy. The guy that had been his bestfriend since their diaper era. He looked more menacing with that dominant stance and crimson eyes. Eyes that hold nothing but emptiness. Ruka could tell the reason. He sincerely missed his old bestfriend though. They've been through a lot ever since they were little.

He was forced to stay away from Natsume for the mere reason Ruka's family isn't rich and influential. "Rotten potatoes" as Natsume's father calls them. But that absurd reason didn't stop their friendship. Being young bratty boys, they had their ways. Sneaking out.

Ruka smirked at the reminiscence. He then switched his eyes to the elegant woman beside him. She's beautiful and cold-looking as ever. But something in her eyes that defines anxiety. She has her hands entwined with Natsume. This though, didn't alarm Ruka. He was informed by Natsume long about this. Being forced into this ridiculous charade.

Soft hands suddenly broke his reverie. Sad auburn eyes met his gaze and he, out of the blue, felt panicky. The words "it's over, time's up." played in his head constantly.

"I gotta go honey." She said sympathetically.

Her words took another meaning to him.

Just as she was about to stand, Ruka held her shoulders firmly and forced her to sit down. His eyes were hidden beneath those flaxen bangs.

"Ruka honey? What's wrong?" She asked as she cupped both his chicks and gently raised his head.

Sakurai felt the need to turn his back to them for privacy. He sympathizes for the boy.

His ocean blue eyes were swimming with red. But there are no sign of tears. Little did she know that he's restraining all the pain he's feeling. All he wants this instant is to be overcome by numbness right here right now. But doing so is next to impossible as Mikan, the very reason he's swimming with emotions is within reach.

"Mikan honey, promise me you'll take care of yourself ok?" he said as he forced a smile. His eyes boring to hers.

"Of course. You too honey." Then placed her lips on him for a second.

"I love you."

"I love you too. See yah hon." She smiled

"Ok."

'Farewell..'

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"What are you staring at Imai, don't tell me you've fallen head over heels for me." said a raven haired guy, whose stoic expression never wavered throughout his joke.

"Go shave your arse cocky idiot." retorted his "fiancé."

"I was merely thinking of how things turn out to be…"

"Turn out to be what?" asked Natsume.

Hotaru heaved a sigh before whispering, "Complicated." Her fiancé just shrugged and looked out through the enormous window in their suite. Knowing his fiancé, giving indirect answer is her way of letting emotional distress disperse. What confuses him now, is what the bloody hell is she worried about?

Okay, their wedding is 3 months away. And the way he sees it, they're not the loveliest of the loving couples (duh). This effing charade is merely for financial reasons only. And let's not forget that this stupid charade ruined a couple of lives 4 years ago. Not to mention the girl he ever loved, well, still love. It was the darkest of his already dark life.

4 years earlier….

Blood splattered everywhere. His white knuckles stained red with rage. Broken ornaments were scattered on the smooth marble floor.

"I'm shorry Master Natshume, it wash your father'sh ordersh." claimed the beaten assistant whose jaw was brutally disarranged due to the potent punches that came from his infuriated young master.

Natsume grabbed the man's blood stained tux. "I could've talked to Mikan myself if it weren't for your wagging tail and saliva drooling trap hole. You could've just warned me about his plan and saved some people's tears you smart ass!" Eyebrows furrowed to the fullest, his crimson eyes shouted "murder" that left no one mercy.

"I-i didn't know it wash your w-wedding invitation. I shwear young mashter! He shimply handed me t-the envelope and commanded me to give it t-to mish Shakura." Oh how the poor man knows he'll die in a matter of seconds.

Natsume jabbed him another blow on the nose for mispronouncing Mikan's surname before storming out of his chaotic room. He's just so filled with anger he can't think clearly no more. His eyesight was blurred with darkness and with the thought of Mikan's face as she read the damned invitation.

He's losing Mikan. No, he already lost Mikan. His father's venomous threat played in his head like a broken piece of shit and it frustrated him more. If the darn old man wasn't fated to be his biological father, God knows what brutal things he'd do to him.

"That Sakura is a rag to us Hyuugas. The girl is no good for you! For goodness sake are you blind?! I mean son, can you spot the very huge difference?! You better end this affair with that girl or she and her family's going to…."

God! Can one murder hurt?

He ran out of their mansion before the idea of skinning everyone he lay his eyes on including his own father hit his steaming head.

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Ding dong ding dong ding dong ding dong ding dong ding dong………..

'Dammit! Why isn't anyone answering the fucking door?!'

"Mister? Who are you looking for?" An old woman came up behind him and asked, as she sees him bombarding the poor house's doorbell.

"The Sakuras, where are they."

The old woman almost had a heart attack as he turned around and faced her. His brows are still furrowed deep and his shirt is stained with blood. It's like he committed a homicide and decided to murder the Sakuras next.

"Oh! U-uhm… They no longer live here son, I'm sorry." the old woman replied with huge eyes, obvious that she's scared of the menacing teenager she's talking to.

"What?!" Somehow, he expected this. The shock came from the idea of never seeing her again.

He looked menacing as ever. He's raging so bad it's impossible not to sense his body heat.

Anxious for her life, the old woman half ran, tried as fast as she might but all her body and aching back could manage is to limp for her life.

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"Hey you skanky old man!"

"Ah,ah,ah.. Natsume my son your mother and I did not raise you into such an elite to have that vulgar manner. Perhaps that girlfriend of yours contaminated you?"

Rage, anger, disbelief. These emotions filled the raven haired lad and sanity is what only keeps him from ravishing the old man in front of him. Both having the same color of orbs, hair, skin color. Anyone would be insane not to think they are not related by blood.

"What did you do to her and her family?" Natsume said with venom in his voice.

"I just did what is right for you my son."

"Right thing for me? Or right thing for 'YOU'?" he retorted.

"Let's face it my son. You both live in a totally different world. You were raised as a 'Hyuuga' and she was raised as….merely a 'Sakura'. Do you intend to muddle our family name with those kind of people?

The difference between you two is inevitable. Who knows what that girl and her family were up to. They might be just after our…."

"OH SHUT THE HELL UP!"

Expensive wine glasses came flying to the wall with a loud thespian sound.

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about! You don't know them! They're much defined as humans than you are! All you care about is riches, money, fame! You don't even know what a family is!"

Natsume was panting hard with rage as he finished. His still bloody knuckles clenched firmly.

"Since I was little, I never felt what it's like to be loved by your own family….And I got it from the Sakura's." he looked up and met his father's shaken eyes.

"You took away my family you MONSTER." His voice was deep and full sadness but the venom within his words are more dominant.

With that he left the room with a slamming door. Leaving his own father bewildered. Since then, Natsume was put in probation. Never having to leave his room for months. Until almost losing his own sanity and his voice. He had never spoken a word throughout his torture months. No one dared to help him, for his father's words are firm as neck chains. One foul move and the knuckles will harden around your neck. He was later then hospitalized for a long period of time.

After all of it was over, his father threatened to do a nasty job with the Sakura's if he was to meet them or even talk about them. He was later on engaged with the Imai Corp. heiress Hotaru. Whom, is Mikan's bestfriend. Just like Natsume, Hotaru was threatened by her family and was forced to cut any connections she had with the Sakura's.

They were forced to act like a couple in all these years as to prove media and other praising companies that they are not forced with each other. Hotaru may not show any emotion through all this time. But Natsume knew well enough to see her puffy eyes every morning.

Natsume went with the flow of his new acquired life.

But he pledged to God, that never in his life will his love for Mikan Sakura…waver.

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