KK: So, I finally finished chapter 14. Sorry it took so long. I decided to dedicate this chapter to papaya1212, who has given me so many reviews, thank you! And to Little Miss Dancer Girl, for all of her support.

Chapter 14: Mikan's Past

Hotaru sat back in her chair, "Well, for starters, do you guys know Yuka and Izumi Yukihira?"

"Yeah, everyone knows them, they're famous soccer players," Ruka answered.

"And, what happened to them?" Hotaru asked.

"They died in a car accident, "Natsume replied, irritated, "What does this have to do with Mikan?"

"It actually has a lot to do with Mikan," Hotaru replied, "They were her parents."

"What?" Ruka and Natsume shouted at her, in union, causing everyone around them to stop and look.

"Shut up," Hotaru hissed at them, "You guys are dragging attention to us."

Natsume sighed and asked, "Okay, continue."

Hotaru smirked at him, "Well, Yuka and Izumi didn't really die in a car accident."

"What do you mean?" Ruka asked.

"Newspapers lie, you know," Hotaru explained.

"So what really happened?" Natsume asked her, interested.

"If you two stop asking questions and actually let me explain, then I will tell you," Hotaru replied, irritated.

Natsume and Ruka both shut their mouths, and looked at her. Hotaru sighed, "Well, that's better."

She looked up at them and continued, "When Mikan was five she got kidnapped. But the weird thing is she remembers nothing from that incident. I mean, she knows she was kidnapped, but she didn't remember who kidnapped her or why."

Hotaru took a deep breath and continued, "When Mikan was eight she mostly forgot about the incident, and resumed her happy-going, cheerful mode. Then Mikan came home one day from school, and she found a note on her window sill. The note said, come find me, or else you will lose someone you love."

"So what did she do?" Ruka asked.

"Mikan didn't do anything. I don't blame her though, Mikan was really scared; she was afraid she who get kidnapped, again." Hotaru explained, "So she threw out the note and never thought twice about it. That was her mistake."

Hotaru sat back and looked up at the sky, "The next day, when Mikan was walking home from school, she saw fire trucks and police cars parked in front of her house. She wondered what was wrong, so she ran over to her house."

Natsume, who had been quiet while listening to her story, finally spoke up, "So, what happened?"

"Her house was on fire," Hotaru closed her eyes, "with her parents still inside. Mikan was about to run into the house when a policeman grabbed her by the arm. She turned to him and screamed at him, she said, 'let me go, my parents are still in the house!' the policeman just shook his head and pulled her back while he told her, 'you're just a kid, let us handle it, there's nothing you can do.' Then he ran into the house, Mikan stood there tears, streaming down her face. She looked so hurt and helpless."

"After her parents died, Mikan went through depression. She wouldn't smile, wouldn't eat, and wouldn't do anything. She tried to commit suicide, various times, but always got caught and failed. She was so miserably, she actually thought there was no more meaning to life and decided to do look for her kidnapper."

Ruka sucked in a breath, "S-So, what happened?"

"Mikan found him, eventually. And guess who that kidnapper happened to be?" Hotaru asked the boys.

Ruka merely looked at Natsume, who in return shrugged. Hotaru sighed "It's really obvious; it was Yuka and Izumi's most rivaled player."

The boys answered at the same time, "Reo Mouri."

Hotaru nodded, "He wanted to get rid of Yuka and Izumi, once and for all. He thought that he could use Mikan as bait to lure them, but when that failed he just decided to kill them."

"So anyway, Mikan went to him, but since, Yuka and Izumi were already dead, he had no need for her. So he beat her up and tortured her. She was beaten up so badly, that she couldn't even move. After Reo was finished with her, he left her on the street, during a big thunderstorm."

"That's why she so afraid of lightning," Natsume said.

Hotaru nodded, "When the ambulance finally came to find her. She was practically half-dead. After that, Reo was found and arrested. He got a life sentence in jail. But, even so, Mikan was still unstable. She never went out anymore. She never talked to anyone, not even me."

"Then how come she's so happy now?" Ruka asked.

"Because someone changed her," Hotaru replied.

"Who?" Natsume asked.

"That's gonna be another long story, I'll save that for another day," then she looked at the boys, "And you two should save enough money, so you'll hear it."

Hotaru was about to leave when Ruka grabbed her wrist, "Wait, I have one more question."

"What?" Hotaru turned to look at him.

"What kind of guys does Mikan like?" Ruka asked, while blushing.

"None," Hotaru answered simply.

"What are you talking about?" Natsume looked at the ice queen.

"Plus, even if Mikan has her eyes on someone, I would never allow it," Hotaru replied, "I will never hand her over to someone; unless I'm 100% sure he will take care of her. I won't let her go through that again…" Hotaru jerked her wrist out of Ruka's grasp and walked away.

"Go through what again?" Ruka shouted after her. But, by then she was too far away to hear him.

"Ugh, I better start saving my money, for next time," Ruka said, as he sat back down in his chair.

Suddenly, the boys heard a familiar voice, "Onii-san!"

Natsume looked up and saw, none other, than Youichi running up to him.

"Hi, onii-san, what are you doing here?" Youichi asked, as he placed himself on Natsume's lap.

"Just sitting," Natsume replied, patting his little brother's head.

Natsume turned his head so he could see Mikan as she posed in another dress. He saw Sumire say something to her, which made Mikan smile and blush. It was actually hard to believe that when she was young she didn't smile or talk.

"Hey, onii-san, are you staring at Onee-san?" Youichi asked, as he followed Natsume's eyes to Mikan.

Natsume whipped his head around as his face started to turn red.

Ruka took close note of this, "Natsume, you like Mikan?"

Natsume jerked up to look at Ruka, "What makes you say that?"

"Well, you're always looking at her and listening to her, even though you say she's annoying." Ruka replied, in a matter-of-factly voice.

"Well, what do you think?" Natsume eyed his friend.

"I thin- no I know you like her," Ruka answered his voice, cold.

"And if I do?" Natsume smirked at Ruka.

"There is no 'if', Natsume," Ruka glared him.

Youichi just sat quietly as he watched the two boys arguing. "Okay, fine you got me, I like her, okay?" Natsume glared into Ruka's blue eyes.

"See, I knew it," Ruka said, "But, there's no way I'm gonna hand her over to you."

"I don't need you to hand her to me, I'm gonna get her on my own," Natsume replied, his voice bitter.

"I'm not letting her go without a fight," Ruka replied, "No, wait scratch that; I won't let her go at all."

Just when Natsume was about answer Ruka, Youichi started laughing.

"What's up with you?" Natsume raised an eyebrow at him.

"You guys are hopeless," Youichi replied, "Everyone knows Onee-san loves me the best."

Natsume and Ruka's jaws dropped open. "You think she would like a brat like you," Natsume gave him a soft whack on the head.

"Don't get jealous just because she loves me more than you," Youichi replied.

"Like hell, she would like you more than me," Ruka growled at the little boy.

Natsume and Ruka looked at each other and then busted out in laugher.

"Look at us, fighting with a kid," Ruka said.

"How could we sink this low?" Natsume asked no one in particular.

Youichi pouted, "I know she loves me, and I love her too."

"Maybe as a kid, but never as a man," Natsume patted his head.

"Yeah, she does, she loves me like a man!" Youichi shouted, "And one day we're gonna get married!"

That made Ruka and Natsume laugh even harder.

"In your dreams," Ruka said, as he wiped away a tear.

"She does love me, you guys are just jealous!" Youichi shouted at them.

Natsume looked at his little brother, "Don't you at least think you're a little too young for her?"

"No, we're gonna get married, after I get older, "Youichi looked at his brother, "And if you're nice, then maybe I'll invite you to the wedding." With that said Youichi jumped off his brother's lap and stomped off.

After he left, Ruka turned back to Natsume, "but really, I ain't letting you have her."

Natsume cracked his knuckles, "Let the games begin."

-KK: Well, plz tell me what you think. Plz review, B.H. ^.^