SONG/S FEATURED:

Thunder by Boys Like Girls

Turn the Music Up
Written by: Aminatsu032

I fold the paper carefully and was about to put it in the gold box when I heard the door shut loudly behind me.

I immediately whirl around in surprise.

"Hotaru!" I said in a breathless voice.

She was looking at me sharply, as if telling me I shouldn't have come inside without her permission.

VERSE TEN:

"W-wait, Hotaru! L-let me explain!" I said haltingly. The truth was I didn't know what to say. I knew it was my fault all along.

I heard Hotaru murmur something, but I didn't quite hear clearly so I stayed silent.

"I said get out!" she said in a loud voice that immediately caused me to run out to the outside.

I continued running and running when I bumped into Anna and Nonoko. I felt my tears rolling down my cheeks, and I was pretty sure they asked me why I was crying. But now all I could hear was Hotaru's voice ringing endlessly in my head. Knowing that, I continued running and eventually became tired and rested on the tree nearby, crying my heart out.

From afar, I could hear music…but the lyrics I couldn't grasp that tightly.

"Today is a winding road

That's taking me to places that I didn't want to go, whoa

Today in the blink of an eye

I'm holding on to something and I do not know why I tried

I tried to read between the lines

I tried to look in your eyes

I want a simple explanation; what I'm feeling inside

I gotta find a way out

Maybe there's a way out"

I cover my ears. No…I didn't want to hear anything anymore. Somehow I feel I shouldn't have entered her world. What was I thinking?

"Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer

Do you know you're unlike any other?

You'll always be my thunder, and I said

Your eyes are the brightest of all the colors

I don't wanna ever love another

You'll always be my thunder

So bring on the rain

And bring on the thunder

Today is a winding road

Tell me where to start and tell me something I don't know, whoa

Today I'm on my own

I cant move a muscle and I cant pick up the phone, I don't know

And now I'm itching for the tall grass

And longing for the breeze

I need to step outside, just to see if I can breathe

I gotta find a way out

Maybe there's a way out

Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer

Do you know you're unlike any other?

You'll always be my thunder, and I said

Your eyes are the brightest of all the colors

I don't wanna ever love another

You'll always be my thunder

So bring on the rain

And bring on the thunder"

But still, I want to know who Hotaru is. There might be a reason why her eyes are always that cold…

"Yeah I'm walking on a tightrope

I'm wrapped up in vines

I think Ill make it out but you just gotta give me time

Strike me down with lightning

Let me feel you in my veins

I wanna let you know how much I feel your pain

Today is a winding road

That's taking me to places that I didnt want to go, whoa

Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer

Do you know you're unlike any other?

You'll always be my thunder, and I said

Your eyes are the brightest of all the colors

I don't wanna ever love another

You'll always be my thunder

So bring on the rain

And bring on the thunder

Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer

Do you know you're unlike any other?

You'll always be my thunder

So bring on the rain

Oh baby bring on the pain

And listen to the thunder"

I hear applause as the music faded. But who cares? My world is now crumbling—all because of this absurd personality of mine.

"Mikan?" I raise my head. My eyes were still blurred of the tears in my eyes. It was Ruka who called me. He knelt in front of me and looked at me with such concern. Behind him was Natsume who was looking away,

"What's wrong?" Ruka asked. Clearly, I couldn't answer him. If that letter was really supposed to be for him, I shouldn't tell him. Still, I had to tell someone who could explain to me everything about Hotaru and Ruka's past.

I glance at Natsume who was still looking away, and then I look back at Ruka again and wipe my tears. "It's nothing. I just felt like crying."

"Hn. Yeah, right," Natsume finally spoke, looking at me blankly.

I frown for some reason. I guess I was a little sad because it seemed that he never really cared.

I stand up, Ruka's blue-gray eyes still looking at me. "I'm going," I said flatly, walking away. I prayed neither of the two would follow—especially Natsume.

X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X:X

"Good Lord, Mikan! Your eyes are all red!" Yakako said handing me a chair to her clinic. She was working today, too, the first years were having interaction with other schools.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I dunno," I answered simply.

"Nothing?" Yakako pouted, "Is it Natsume?"

I shook my head. "No," I said. "It's…Hotaru."

Yakako's purple eyes grew soft. "Tell me…"

I was silent for a while. I had difficulty of remembering all the things that have happened earlier. "She…got angry at me."

"Why?"

"I…"—I paused—"did something I shouldn't have. There was…a letter." I was surprised how emotionless and unanimated my voice was.

"A letter?" Yakako echoed, confused.

"Yes," I told her and continued in a whisper. "I think it was for Ruka."

Yakako looked up and then back to me with a small smile. "Why don't you talk to her?"

"No!" I immediately boomed, standing up from my chair.

Yakako frowned and sighed. "Then ask Ruka."

I thought for a while and then sat again. "I can't do that, either," I said in a low voice.

Yakako extended her hand and smoothed my messy auburn hair. "Mikan, dear," she started, "there's still one person you can ask."

I breathed. Nothing seemed to enter my mind at this moment. She really can't keep me guessing to who it was.

I stood up from my chair again. "I guess I'll be going."

Yakako's expression was still caring. "Can you manage?"

I nodded and walked out of the clinic. Mom was away in some distant place again, and so, I was going to be alone. Sometimes I loved the fact that I have the whole house alone…but sometimes I hated it.

I raised my hood and headed to my empty home. The door opened obediently with the key as I stepped in. I went to the kitchen and drank water before I sank myself in my bed.

One person I could ask? Now who could that be?

I closed my eyes slowly and fell asleep.

-xx-

My eyes flipped open. It was morning. I sat up, suddenly realizing that I haven't changed my clothes since I came back the afternoon before. It was a good I brushed my teeth before I left. I stood in front of my closet and scanned my clothes. My mind was now functioning clearer than yesterday.

I picked my brown shirt and blue jeans and got changed. I looked myself in the mirror and slowly combed my messy hair. I didn't feel like tying it in pigtails today.

I went to the kitchen, got the milk and cereal and poured both in my bowl. I ate absentmindedly, trailing from one incident to another. I remembered the first day I became a member of Stellar, the day we met Cross, that incident yesterday, Hotaru's expression in that incident yesterday, what Yakako had told me…and then back to when Natsume and I were composing for the song.

I dropped my spoon.

Wait…Yakako had said, "There's still one person you can ask."

I stood up and blurted out his name. "Natsume!"

I big smile formed in my face as I ran outside the house and got my bicycle, headed to Natsume's apartment. Of course, I wore my pink helmet so that no one would notice who I was right away.

'That's right!' I thought. 'Natsume has been Ruka's best friend! So that must mean he knows!'

I parked my bike with the motorcycles and ran to the elevator. I pressed '4' on the keys and walked out the moment I was there.

275…275…I stopped in front of his door and pressed the doorbell impatiently.

The door opened slowly, but the chain stopped it halfway. Natsume's ruby orbs peeped to look who it was and then he rolled his eyes at my expression.

He shut the door again and I could hear the chain being removed when he opened the door.

My eyes nearly bulged out of my face. "For God's sake, Natsume! Why aren't you wearing anything?!" I yelled turning around right away.

"Stupid! Are you creating as scandal? I am wearing something!" he defended, getting annoyed.

I turned my head slightly. Oh, yeah—he was wearing his faded jeans. "Then why aren't you wearing anything above?" I pressed.

Natsume crossed his arms in irritation. "Why, did I expect you to be coming here early in the morning?"—he glanced at something inside his apartment—"at six?"

I rolled my eyes and heard him walk away. I turn around and saw the door left open behind me. I waited for a few moments before I stepped in.

"Lock the door," he ordered from his room.

"What?" I asked with emphasis. Yes, maybe I had something in mind.

Natsume got out of his room all dressed in his orange sweatshirt, with a glass of water in his hand. "Well, someone may barge in, right?" He drank his water.

"Hn." I turned around and connected the chain. I faced him again, with my arms crossed.

"And may I know the reason you're here?" he asked, calm and composed.

I sighed and walked to his couch. I sat comfortably before I spoke. "I need to talk to you."

Natsume raised an eyebrow, his expression curious. "About?"

I paused. "Ruka…"—I paused—"…and Hotaru."

Natsume chuckled. "Well aren't you a snooping little missy."

He went to his kitchen to place the glass of water in his sink. When he got back, I continued, "Look, I'm not after gossip. I just need to know."

He leaned at the wall across to where I was sitting silently.

"Please…" I begged.

Natsume shrugged. "Depends on what you want to know."

"A letter…" I whispered.

"What letter?"

"I found it in Hotaru's place," I said in a soft voice. "It said, 'I'm sorry' because of some decision and then at the end…'I love you'."

I looked at him, my eyes pleading. "I found it accidentally and Hotaru…well she…" I trailed of.

"Was that the reason you were crying yesterday?"

That surprised me. He actually remembered!

"S-sort of…" I mumbled.

Natsume didn't say anything, waiting for me to continue. "She saw that I read the letter and she got furious."

"Well you shouldn't have read it in the first place. It wasn't yours," he told me.

"I know!" I snapped. "I know I shouldn't have, but I wish to know Hotaru better!"

Natsume shook his head. "I won't tell you anything." He walked away to his room.

I followed him immediately, trying to keep up. I reached for his hand to stop him. "Please," I said in a soft voice. "Please, Natsume."

"No," he pressed.

I let go of his hand and looked down. Damn it! I was crying again! "Please," I said in a broken voice.

He was quiet for a while. I didn't know if he was watching me or looking away. "Give me a reason to why I should tell you."

I wiped the tears from my eyes. "Hotaru…she seems very lonely. I want to know…because I want to find a way to free her from her misery."

"Natsume," I looked at him in the eye. "I want to understand so that I would know what to do to make her happy."

Natsume looked away. "Then get out of her life."

I took Natsume's hand again, this time involuntarily. "Please, Natsume. Trust me. I'm begging you."

Natsume was quiet in thought. Finally, he sighed in defeat. "Fine then."

A small smile swept across my face. "Thank you," I whispered.

Natsume just looked away, pulling his hand from mine.

I suddenly blushed at the realization to what I was doing.

He walked to his apartment's living room and sat on his couch. I followed him after when I managed to breathe normally again.

I sat across him as I waited.

"Ruka," he started, "is the son of the most respected song writer in all of Japan. His mother was very sickly, and was often confined in the hospital. One time,"—Natsume paused, looking for the right word—"his mother's sickness grew worse. She was fighting for her life, the doctors said there wasn't any more chance left for her. Ruka called his father, but wouldn't answer his phone. It was his assistant who answered after a long moment of trials, 'Mr. Nogi is busy. He said he won't be needing calls at the moment.' Still, Ruka insisted, saying that his mother was dying, but his father still wouldn't answer."

I listened to Natsume carefully, trying my very best to absorb every word he was saying.

"It wasn't long before his mother died," Natsume continued. "Ruka was so angry he left the house and lived on his own. He managed to earn money by singing or playing in events. He still went to school. But even though he insisted his father need not to pay his tuition, he still did. It was then he received a letter from INBS."

"And you met him there?" I asked.

"Yes," Natsume answered. "He met Imai there, too. Back then we all knew her as the little girl who hated the most admired composer. Of course, Ruka was curious to why she did. He made friends with the distant girl, not letting her know she was the son of Mr. Nogi. They eventually became close and it was then Ruka and Hotaru composed songs for each other in contests and events."

I frowned. So Hotaru was in love with Ruka after all.

"It suddenly came to the time when Ruka gave her the last song he composed. He decided that if she accepted it, she would tell her everything about her father. But it was also the wrong timing. Before Ruka was able to give her the song, she told her the reason she was so angry at the older Nogi—it was because he stole the composition of her father, who was working for him. He took the song and claimed it as his own, without even giving credit or money to Imai's father. Her mother was tired of being so low and her parents got divorced, eventually destroying their family's life."

"And what happened?" I asked, when Natsume fell silent.

"Knowing the risk he would take," he said, "he gave her his last composition. Imai accepted it, but when she knew, she stopped going to school for so long. When she came back, she became more distant from the others ever more than before."

"Is the last composition with her?" I asked, taking a deep breath.

"I don't know," Natsume said.

Then it suddenly hit me—"Does Ruka have a copy?"

Natsume must've been surprised with my sudden reaction. "Yes, it's with me. He asked me to keep it—"

My face lightened up. Right then, I knew what to do. This last composition…I'll do my best to make it better for them.

"Thank you, Natsume!" I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and skipped out of his apartment.

Yes. Finally, finally I'll be able to make Hotaru happy.

-VERSE TEN/END-

Author's Drabbles—

MUHAHAHAHA!! Double update today! See? SEEE?! It was worth it sacrificing that stupid field trip! (sobs!) Or so I wish I'd come. :(

Reviews make me feel better. :D
-Faye-chan. XD-