Hello, I am back. I know I do not update often, but bear with me.

Meanwhile, back at Mikan's side…

It was nearing 5:30pm now. Mikan was waiting outside the hall for Ruca.

He went in his room half an hour ago claiming he was going to take 10 min to get ready. He said he needed to buy some supplies for himself, as he had come to Mikan's home in a hurry.

Mikan then proceeded to invite him to the party Atatsuki had declared solely for the two of them.

Our dense Mikan went as far as promising Ruca to take him to the 24/7 shop nearby. When Ruca said he didn't want to intrude, Mikan picked up a grocery list and said that she would buy groceries at the same time.

Poor Atatsuki, it started off as a friendly walk in the park between him and Sakura, to a shopping experience for Ruca and Mikan.

Nonetheless, Mikan was still left waiting for him till 5:35pm, when she couldn't contain herself anymore. She was a patient girl, but even patience has its limits.

She went up to the folding door outside Ruca and Natsume's room and rapped her knuckles on it.

"Are you coming Ruca? Or should I go ahead of you? It's fine if you're busy."

No reply came.

"Ruca? Are you there?"

She heard a muffled voice, as if it was coming from somewhere far far away.

"Something came up Sakura san, I am going to have to ask you to take Tsubasa san with you." Ruca gritted out.

Sakura had a gut feeling that something was wrong with Ruca's reply. She felt angry, she had waited outside for half an hour, only to hear that he won't be joining her. And, this was after they had decided to solidify their plans.

"Oh I am not having this…" she whispered angrily under her breath. The only people she couldn't stand were those that broke their promises, and ones that had attitudes.

"I am coming in!" she announced without asking for his opinions.

"No!" Ruca responded just as she started sliding the door open.

She had another gut feeling, this one was telling her to stay out of the door. But, she never listened to anyone, not even her gut feeling. And, she was feeling more and more curious every second about Ruca's abnormal behavior. And they always say, 'curiosity gets the cat'.

She slid the door back the whole way, and the site that met her left her flabbergasted.

She saw animals, and tons of them. The whole room was a wreck, and it looked like a forest fire raged through, there were burn marks everywhere.

"R-Ruca are you there?" she called out, still in shock.

"I am here" came a small voice from in between a flock of puffy sheep.

"What's going on? I- where did these sheep come from?"

"I can explain…."

"Hurry up Ruca pyon, it's already past 5:40pm."

"What did you call me Sakura san?"

"Ruca-pyon…..Ruca pyon…. Have I called you this before? I feel I have….."

"Have you Sakura san, do you remember me?"

TO BE CONTINUED…..