Mikans decision

Mikan was running as fast as she could with her injuries towards the place where she knew her enemy brought their prisoners. She knew where it was because she had been there before as a prisoner. That time Hotaru had helped her out, but this time it was different. She knew it was foolish of her to be doing this with her injuries, but there was nothing else she could do. She had to get Natsume out of there. She knew that they would probably be waiting for her, but she had to make it somehow.

When she reached the facilities where she knew Natsume was being held she stopped for a moment to catch her breath. Her side was pounding painfully but she ignored it and looked around for a way in. She spotted an open window and started to casually move towards it. She reached it without interruptions and climbed inside. She was in a completely dark room and while she strained her eyes to find the exit all the lights went on. She blinked at the light and then found that she had walked right into the trap. She was in a big room and in the other end stood a bed. Her heart took a leap when she saw Natsume lying tied on top of it and started running towards it. Suddenly she heard him yell.

"Mikan! Don't come here, get out of here quick! That girl is..."

He was cut off by an emotionless voice that made her cold inside.

"So you've finally come Mikan. I knew you would, you've always been such an idiot."

Mikan stared at the girl in black that was standing in front of her. Her hood was lowered and Mikan met the violet eyes of a person she had believed to be dead.

"Hotaru..." The words were no more than a whisper, and she saw her former best friend smirk at her.

"Long time no see Mikan. I'm surprised Persona let you leave."

Natsume looked in terror at the expression on Mikans face and tried once more to call out to her.

"Mikan! You have to leave! You can't do this in your condition!"

One glance at her told him that his yelling was in vain. She didn't hear him. He couldn't say he was surprised, he knew that she had thought her best friend to be dead. He listen intently at their conversation. Mikans voice was strained when she spoke.

"You knew I would come with or without Personas permission. Now, I'm here, so let the kid go."

"Hah, did you really think we would let him go if you came here? How wrong you were."

Natsume looked at Mikan in horror. Had she really come with the intend to exchange herself for him? He saw the grim look on her face and suddenly realized something that made him feel like slapping her. Apperently Hotaru had seen it too, because she suddenly got a look of surprise on her face.

"Wait, that wasn't your intention at all, was it Mikan?"

Her face drew together in a grimace before turning towards him.

"If that is your intent, then I might as well let the boy go first. I believe you don't want him to see this."

Natsume followed Hotarus moves as she came over to the bed where he laid and cut off the ropes that bound him. He quickly stood up and rushed over to Mikan.

"You're not planning to do what I think you are, are you?"

Mikan looked at him with soft eyes. She knew that he had figured it out, but she was not going to give him an answer.

"Are you okay kiddo? She didn't hurt you?"

"Answer me! Are you?"

She sighed. She had to make him leave soon.

"I'll be fine, I promise. You just hurry back to the school. Persona should be at HQ, he'll take care of you."

She could see the devastation in his face at her words, but she turned her face towards Hotaru instead. She didn't want him to see the look in her eyes right now. Inside her swirled a mix of feelings. She was hurt and betrayed and that overtook everything else. Soon she was not going to care that he was there. She met Hotarus eyes and saw that her eyes were cold as ice. It was much colder that she remembered it, but it was still the same Hotaru, wasn't it? Her Hotaru.

"Go. Now."

She didn't turn to look at him when she started to walk slowly towards her former best friend.

Natsume looked at her with tears in his eyes. He started walking towards the window but stopped right under it when he heard her next words.

"I want your word that Natsume will be unharmed, now and in the future. He was dragged into this because of me, and will have no reason to get involved with you after today."

"You have my word."

Natsume stared at Mikan in horror. It was as he had thought after all. She was intending to exchange his future safety with her life!