Chapter 11- The Reason

Ruka stepped inside the room and disgustingly looked at his best friend.

"Don't look at me like that." Natsume said without looking at him.

"I can understand you more than anyone else Natsume, you know that…but now you have gone too far." Ruka said hardly.

Natsume kept silent.

"Aren't you going to defend your side of the story?" Ruuka said sternly.

"What's the use?" Natsume put the covers over his face.

Ruka went and snatched the blankets off his face.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you…" Ruka snapped.

"What's your problem?" Natsume was irritated.

"I should be the one asking you that question." Ruka said.

"I'm tired…we can talk tomorrow." Natsume pulled back the sheets to his neck.

"I'm not buying for that." Ruka said.

"I said I don't want to talk about it now." Natsume was being stubborn as ever.

"And you're getting on my nerves!" Ruka was getting irritated.

"Fine! Spill it out…but it better be something worth my time." Natsume said not looking at Ruka.

"Why did you do that? That was so cruel!" Ruka asked seriously.

"You don't have to get yourself involved with it." Natsume said.

"I have to." Ruka answered.

"Why?" Natsume looked into his eyes.

It was the hardest question Ruka has encountered and it was time for him to answer it.

Ruka held his breath. "Because I…I…" he was hesitating.

"You like her, don't you?" Natsume brought out what Ruka can't say himself.

"I…Yes…" Ruka looked down.

"Then you've just answered your own question." Natsume said.

Ruka was puzzled. "What? I don't understand what you're trying to point out."

Natsume was silent. "I'm afraid I can't answer that one." He shrugged.

Ruka was suddenly brought to realization. Of course! Why didn't he get it before?

"So you're giving her up for me?" Ruka asked.

Natsume was speechless.

Ruka laughed sarcastically. "What a good friend you are, Natsume!" Ruka said with sarcasm.

"That's you're way of showing thanks?" Natsume asked calmly.

"Mikan is you're friend too! Doesn't she mean anything to you?" Ruka asked.

"She means everything to me!" Natsume exclaimed unable to control his emotions anymore.

Ruka was held speechless…

Mikan stopped running and braced herself against the cold corridor walls, catching her breath…and weeping silently. She angrily wiped her tears.

'She was an idiot for thinking that maybe he felt the same way! A total idiot!'

His cruel words pierced her heart one by one. He need not to be so harsh, she can understand if he didn't feel the same way, but he could've at least broke it to her gently.

A light shone on her face. "I thought I'd find you here…" it was Hotaru.

Mikan was glad to see her there. She has always been there…always.

Mikan hugged her tightly. "You're crying your eyes out again…don't you ever run out of tears, you little idiot?" Hotaru was smiling.

"I guess it's just how I react every time I get hurt." Mikan forced a smile.

"I guess I don't have to ask you how it turned out." Hotaru said.

"He…he didn't…he didn't feel the same way!" she spat out those cursed words.

"That's just so like Natsume…" Hotaru sighed, shaking her head.

Mikan was puzzled. "Wh-What do you mean Hotaru?" she asked.

"You didn't think he'd actually entertain that, did you?" Hotaru asked with a knowing smile on her face.

"I…I didn't expect anything, I just wanted him to consider my feelings…that's all. I didn't need an answer…" Mikan reasoned out.

"I think we better find a better place to talk. I don't want to get a suspension for sneaking out you know." Hotaru pulled Mikan's hand towards her room at the end of the hall.

Ruka and Natsume were both overcame by silence. Wrapped in an eerie moment of not knowing what to say.

"If what you just said is true…why hurt her like that?" Ruka asked breaking the silence.

"Days from now, I will become nothing but fertilizer. Did you think it would make her feel better if I told her what I really feel? She'd feel the pain twice…" Natsume looked down.

"You don't know how it kills me to see her cry like that. It tears me apart…to see her stupid face all wet with tears. But I thought that if maybe I'd treat her coldly, it'll be less painful for her to accept my fate." Natsume explained not looking at his best friend.

"But Natsume…" Ruka started but...

"And you like her too, don't you? You are the last person I wanted to hurt…you're my best friend, Ruka." Natsume looked at him in the eye.

"That may be true…but you cannot change things like that Natsume. You can't force her to like me just because…just because you won't be around. You can't change her feelings, not like that!" Ruka said.

"Of course it hurts me to find out that she chose you… that in the end, she picked you. But I know very well how much you've loved her ever since, Natsume…I am not blind." Ruka added.

"Ruka…" Natsume was about to say something.

"Stop pushing every one away" Ruka said.

Ruka turned to the door and opened it.

"Stop denying…just give up before it's all too late…" Ruka said.

"Ruka…" Natsume called.

Ruka turned around with a challenging grin on his face…

"Just want to tell you that I'm not giving up on her that easily…got that?" Ruka said with a challenging tone.

Natsume smiled. "Bring it on, pal."

Mikan hugged her pillow tightly and recalled her conversation with Hotaru a while ago.

"He wouldn't want you to waste your time on him." Hotaru said softly.

"Why is that?" Mikan asked puzzled.

"Since he's doomed, he thinks it's better if he told you off, that way, you'll take his death easier."

"I don't understand."

"Don't try understanding or you'll melt you're brain, idiot." Hotaru said

Mikan pouted.

"He thinks it's better this way. He doesn't want to share his burden with you…a hopeless martyr that Natsume." Hotaru shook her head.

Mikan was silent. 'Oh Natsume…why take it all by yourself' she thought with pity and worry for him.

"And Besides, He's the last person to want to break his best friend's heart." Hotaru said.

Mikan was puzzled. "What?"

"I didn't get that one quite clearly." Mikan said.

Hotaru sighed and for a moment, Mikan thought she saw sadness in Hotaru's eyes.

"Hotaru?" Mikan waited for more of Hotaru's words but Hotaru stood up.

"Let's call it a night…I'm tired." Hotaru opened the door and signaled her to leave.

"But…you haven't finished yet…" Mikan said.

"Let's talk about it some other time. You can leave now idiot." Hotaru said.

Right after Mikan got out, Hotaru shut the door immediately.

Mikan sighed.

"And Besides, He's the last person to want to break his best friend's heart."

What did Hotaru mean?

Just then realization dawned to her…Natsume's best friend…Ruka? Ruka has feelings for her? No way! There's just no way! Mikan immediately shook the idea off her head as she blushed. She hugged the pillows tightly, cursing herself for entertaining that thought.

Tomorrow, she thought. Tomorrow, she'll talk to Natsume again…force him to talk to her…no matter what it takes. With these thoughts in mind, Mikan drifted to sleep.

In the dark, Hotaru lay in bed, staring up the ceiling…something glistened in the moonlight peeping through…tears?

Sorry guys for another boring chappy! Waaaaahh…I can't seem to get enough inspiration these days…sigh. Okay, now you're allowed to judge Natsume…hehehehe. Mikan is determined to clear things out with him…and Hotaru? Why are you sad? It's a secret? Awwww…Not fair! I think it's pretty obvious…up to you guys to read between the lines…hehehehehe…I know it sucks but please do review…thaksies!!!!