I've finally updated! I'm not that busy anymore and I'm not going to make excuses. The real reason I updated late is because I don't know what to write. Sigh. That feeling when you know what will happen but you don't know how you will write it. Psh. Hate that feeling so much. Anyway, I was finally able to write the 25th chapter and hopefully this will answer some of the unanswered questions.

«—•^~+=*o*=+~^•—»

Beyond the dark clouds lies a bright starry sky.

—Mikan Sakura to Natsume Hyuuga

«—•^~+=*o*=+~^•—»

Chapter 25: Beyond The Dark Clouds

(Recap)

Understanding dawned upon the older Hyuuga as he tried to piece it all together but there is still something he doesn't understand. "That girl? Why would you kill another one of our kind just for a mere human? I mean, I understand the part where Mouri's mate is hunting on your territory which is forbidden but wouldn't you normally capture that intruder and report it to me and the council? Why did you kill Reo Mouri's mate?"

Natsume didn't answer.

"Nats—" Whatever Ioran wants to say was interrupted when he heard Natsume sniff the air and frowned. "What?"

Natsume sniffed again.

"Natsume. What is it?" Ioran asked, bewildered at his son's actions.

Natsume's eyes widened and in a split second was outside followed by his father. Natsume looked around as if searching for something. "What are you looking for?" he asked though he quickly catch on as soon as he voiced his question.

"Where is the girl?" Ioran looked at his soon only to find him already gone.

"Damn." Ioran cursed. Now that he knows the girl has some other connections with their kind other than being his son's blood slave, he couldn't possibly lose sight of the girl. He still has questions that needed to be answered.

He grabbed his phone and searched his contact for the best person to call. He dialled the number and waited for the said person to pick up and he didn't have to wait long.

"Hotaru."

(End of Recap)

(Natsume's POV)

Damn. What is this?!

One minute I was talking to my old man then I started losing her scent. I went out of the meeting room and searched for her at the place where I told her to wait but she wasn't there. I could smell her scent still lingering in the air and it must mean that she did wait for me. What made me grit my teeth was the other scent that stayed. A familiar smell. Mouri.

There were others as well and Mouri's was faint but it's still there.

As soon as I realized what's happening, I sprinted using my speed as a vampire to my advantage but I still couldn't trace her. It's as if she just vanished but that would be impossible. Argh! What am I thinking? Of course it's possible! I can create fire out of nothing so it won't be shocking if she was teleported somewhere.

I still couldn't think straight.

But... maybe I was a little bit thankful. Oi. I'm not saying I'm thankful she disappeared. Who the fucking hell would?! I'm only thankful because I didn't have to answer my old man's questions. I don't have any answers to them anyway. But that doesn't matter right now. I have to find her.

"Damn! Mikan, where are you!" I hissed as I ran around the city to find her but not even her scent was left.

As time stretched longer that she's missing and I continuously searched for her, the more scared I become. Yes, I'm scared. I hate to admit it but I'm scared. Afraid. Thousand of scenarios entered my mind and I can only force them in the back of my mind and focus on finding her.

It was almost sunset and I still didn't stop. She's been missing for five hours already. I stopped in my tracks and my eyes traced the setting sun. It would have been more interesting to watch if she had been here. The color red, orange and yellow mixed together could have been more beautiful but I can only see that usually beautiful mix of colors as dull.

"Is it really the right time to watch the sunset while your girl is missing?" My old man appeared beside me. I didn't glance at him and continued watching the sunset.

"She's not my girl," I answered back.

I couldn't see his face but I knew he just raised an eyebrow at me. "Oh? Then why are you desperately looking for her?"

I knew what he's pointing on. "Because she's my fri—"

"Friend?" He interjected. "You know, you can lie to the whole world but your eyes cannot."

My eyes narrowed, "The hell are you talking about?"

But he continued as if I didn't spoke, "I knew from the very first time I saw her at your birthday party. Something in your eyes changed when you saw her. There is this—I know this is gay but—glitter in your eyes among the number of emotions I saw in you when Mouri presented her to our kind."

I looked at him blankly. "That's gay."

He hit the back of my head before yelling. "I KNOW! YOU LITTLE PRICK!"

I glared at him while rubbing the back of my head. If I wasn't a pureblood vampire, my skill would have exploded. "And you ask me where I got the attitude. Tch."

It was his turn to glare at me. "Don't change the topic," he warned.

Oh. Busted.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I shrugged.

I saw him shook his head while muttering. "Stubborn kid."

He handed me his phone while I raised an eyebrow at him. He gave me a look and I could only sigh. Whatever. It's not like I'm going to lose anything. I grabbed the phone from him and looked at whatever it was he wants me to see.

"For someone like Natsume Hyuuga to lose his composure over a human girl's disappearance that he didn't even stop to think about the situation fully and charged blindly is something I never imagined I'd see." He said.

My eyes widened. Why didn't I think about it before? Damn. So stupid!

"Yeah. You're so stupid."

I scanned the map and memorized it in a second. I saw a red beeping dot miles away from where we are. Yeah, this has to be it. This is where she is. "Shut up," I told him. I was about to give his phone back when it vibrated again. MMS from my freaky cousin.

"See what it is," my father said as he leaned closer to see. I didn't need to be told. If this is about polka, I wouldn't even think twice.

Watch this.

-H.I

I played the video and as soon as it started playing, I wanted to burn the phone to ash but I know doing so wouldn't change a thing. It was a video of Mikan. They were beating her up. It was a miracle that she was even able to stay conscious for two hours of beating. Not just any normal beating. A beating from a vampire.

How did I know she was able to stay awake for two hours? There was a freaking wall clock behind them as if it was there to mock me further. I took note of the place they were in. They were in some apartment building. That explains the wall clock. The furnitures were cleared so they can do whatever they want without interruptions.

I watched as she was kneed in the stomach and punched in the face while still keeping the now broken mask on her face that could only cover the upper half of her face. Her bleeding mouth was left uncovered for us to see the blows it had received.

Three guys surrounded her and kicked her then held her up only to land another blow to her stomach again. They were still not satisfied, they hanged her up with the ropes tied to her arms and legs and left her for a while. When they came back, they threw a bucket of water into her which I know stung her wounds. All throughout the video, not once did I ever hear her scream in pain but it was evident that she was hurting because of the wound she made on her own lips due to biting it so hard.

The video ended with a close up view of her face. Her lips were moving and another wave of emotions washed over me as I recognized what she was muttering. I tossed the now deformed phone to my old man and sprinted to where she is. I didn't check whether or not my old man followed. All I wanted was to go to where she is and end her suffering.

Wait for me, Mikan. I'm coming.

(Normal POV/ Third Person POV)

Natsume ran like he never did before.

Luckily, it didn't take too long for him to reach the place. And as expected, it was an apartment building with eight floors. He looked around for something he could use to jump to the second floor and found a tall tree that almost reached the third floor.

Good enough.

Natsume climbed the three with ease and jumped over to the second floor. He stood in front of the first door on his right and let his nose search for her. I can't smell her here. He did the same thing to the four more doors but he still couldn't find her scent. He tried the third floor but the result is still the same and that remained true with the four floors above. Last, the eighth floor. One of these doors is the room where she is.

Natsume started with the first door near the staircase but it's still the wrong room so went on till the third door. His senses flared as he neared the third door. The smell of blood burned his nose and he knew this is it. The blood, although it was faint, belongs to Mikan.

He kicked the door open and expected that all those inside would be alarmed at the sudden intruder but what met him was an empty room that looks exactly like the room from the video. He eased as soon as he was sure that there is no other presence in the room but him. But that also means that Mikan isn't being held here anymore.

"Natsume..."

That voice. There's no mistaking it. It was hers.

He ran to where he heard her voice and as soon as he opened the door to the room, he heard it again.

"Help me, Natsume!"

His head snapped to the direction of the veranda where he heard her voice and as he did so, he saw a chair tied to the edge and someone sitting on it. Someone with waist-length brown hair that has a tint of color black that was obviously dyed. He walked towards the veranda to check if it's really her but as soon as he took his first step, the rope gave in suddenly and the chair fell, bringing the girl along with it.

And his heart skipped a beat once again.

He ran to the veranda in an attempt to grab onto the chair or the girl but it was too late, the chair was already halfway to the ground when he reached the edge. Faster than the speed of a vampire. Like it was made to be that way. With no second thoughts, he jumped after the girl who already reached the bottom. He wish it wasn't her. He wish he was wrong to think that it was her.

"MIKAN!"

Just thinking about it... It was unexplainable. The emotions he was feeling. He had never experienced it before. He was worried, scared and many more mixed emotions. He could even hear his own heart beating. A loud thumping. It was almost unbearable to listen to. He landed on all fours like he had only jumped a few steps on the stairs. He checked the girl and he unconsciously let out the breath he didn't know he was holding.

It wasn't her.

A growl came out from his throat as soon as he realized that he was late and missed her again. He brought out his own phone and contacted his cousin without wasting any second. He went back to the room to find anything that will lead him to her.

Hotaru answered at the first ring.

"They moved her."

"I know. They managed to move her while you were on your way there. I don't know why but her signal disappeared a few times for two to three seconds." Hotaru replied. Natsume listened carefully while glancing at the wall which has blood prints that is obviously intentional.

Aside from the blood on the wall, the rope on his feet and the still wet floor that tells him they left not too long ago, there were no other clues that points to her. "What do you think?"

"My guess is that her signal is weakening and it might be because she was too far from my location or there is something that hinders my tracker in receiving signals. But I highly doubt it's the first one since the tracker I installed on Mikan covers the whole country and it would take at least three hours to get her out of Japan, and of course I meant, in vampire speed" she continued.

They're playing with us. That much was obvious.

"She's still here," he mumbled to himself. "Where is she?"

"I'll send you the map." After saying that, Hotaru hanged up and normally, Natsume would be pissed off but now is not the time to think of such trivial matters.

Natsume scanned the map she sent him. He hoped he make it this time. He wanted to see her again. See her safe. He didn't know why but there is this rush he was feeling. Rush to see her, rush to save that annoying woman.

Natsume shook his head.

This was not the time to think about those things. He turned around to leave but stopped when he stepped on something that cracked. He looked down and saw her broken mask. He picked it up and crushed it turning it to dust under his fingers.

They're going to pay for all this. They will. He won't stop until all those who dared lay a hand on her becomes ash.

(Mikan's POV)

I woke up to a continuous rough taps on the cheeks. (a/n: lighter than a slap but more painful than a simple tap on the cheeks.)

I opened my eyes slowly to see the face I loathe the most at the moment and I will probably hate forever. Reo Mouri stared at me with a serious expression. One would think that an antagonist would probably smirk or grin at this moment when he sees the object of all his hate is suffering and tortured in front of him but this is different. This is reality.

"You're finally awake."

And despite my current situation where I was tied to a chair, I had the urge to roll my eyes. "No shit... Sherlock..." I just had to say it even if I have difficulty in breathing.

His serious front collapsed as he laughed at what I said. "You still didn't change, kitten. Still feisty as ever even though you're under the influence of Alice. My Alice."

I felt my eyelids dropping as I felt tired and sore everywhere. He seemed to notice it too. "Open your eyes and look at me," he ordered and I did as I was told involuntarily. Why? Why did I do as he said? There was something in his voice that made me oblige to his command.

"Good girl." I growled when he patted my head like a dog.

"W-what... do you... want... from me...?" I asked with difficulty.

"Your life," he said so casually. Like it was the most natural thing in the world to ask for.

"Like I'll give it... to a freak... like you..." He laughed once again. Seriously, what's so funny?

"Funny, isn't it? Like déjà vu. You were sitting like a pathetic little bitch that time too while I gaze down at you. Only difference was, at that time, I only wanted you as a mere tool to get what I wanted. You had the chance to live, even a little bit. But now..." He bended his knees to reach my level.

A smirk formed on his pretty face, "I want your lives. Yours and his."

I frowned. What the hell is he talking about? Our lives, mine and whose? Déjà vu? Does he mean that this happened before? And—What did he call me a while ago? Feisty... kitten? Kitten...

"You should get used to this. That monster do worse than this."

What was that? The voice. That voice in my mind. It sounded like his voice. This man in front of me. It was his...

"Woah there feisty kitten. I need a favor you can't refuse."

A pain in the head suddenly striked me. I winced as headache pounded my head. "Ow!"

"Your alice is still resisting, huh? I don't know why you have a power that only the purebloods and a few noble vampires have while you are clearly human but I believe there's an explanation for that. That's what I'll find out." He kept on talking to himself but the throbbing pain in my head made it hard for me to understand what he said.

He held my head with both hands on my cheeks and looked straight to my eyes. "Forget everything. You are no one. Forget everything you remembered."

His voice and words made the throbbing worse tenfold. I was panting again. "I am Mikan... Forget... No! I am... Natsume... Hyuuga's blood... slave... Don't forget... I can't... forget... I must not... I am... Mikan."

"Forget," his ordered. His voice, hard and commanding.

"No!"

"I said forget everything! FORGET." He's yelling now and I find it all the more harder to resist. My eyelids started to close again and my eyesight started to blur as I felt my little bit of strength leaving me. I mumbled the same word. "No..."

The last words I heard before I fell completely unconscious was, "Forget."

—

I don't know how much time passed but the only thing I can remember was being beaten up in an apartment. Remembering that, I felt my body ache all over and I was too tired to even open my eyes. And so I didn't. I was aware of the presence with me but I didn't care who it was. I'm too tired to do anything. Too weak.

"MIKAN!"

I was suddenly very awake but I still didn't open my eyes when I heard that familiar shout from somewhere followed by a laugh. I felt the person with me shifted his position. "Time to face the boss of this game, Hyuuga."

"MIKAN!"

He sounded desperate. I wanted to open my eyes but I still don't have the energy to do it. The calls began to get closer, nearer to where I was. Something tells me that I should feel something by hearing this voice but I felt nothing. I don't feel any emotion right now.

"He's finally here." The person with me muttered in excitement.

As soon as he finished speaking, I heard the door slam open and another presence stepped into the room. I felt his rage when he entered. It was all over the room that it was impossible not to be felt. Is this what happens when you can't see or even open your eyes? All your senses turns sharper especially your hearing.

"You kept us waiting, Vampire Prince Natsume Hyuuga." There was mock in his tone as he addressed the newcomer.

"Give her back!" He growled. A bone-chilling growl that made me shake.

"Now where's the fun in that? After all this effort to kidnap her, I'll give her back just like that? Tsk. Tsk." He clicked his tongue and the next sound I heard was a snap of a finger and the many footsteps entering the room. I heard struggling.

"Mouri, you damn fucker. What the hell did you do to her!"

I heard a laugh followed by a few snickers from those who recently entered the room.

"Mikan! Open your eyes. I'm here. Let's go back." The deep and angry voice turned into gentle when he said "Mikan", my name. Who are you?

"It's no use calling out to her. She only listens to me, Prince Natsume." The one who I think is Mouri, Reo Mouri said arrogantly. "Watch."

"Open your eyes." At that command, my eyes automatically opened slowly and the scene in front of me became clear.

Reo Mouri stood beside me and in front of us was the vampire prince held back by who I think are Reo's men. He looked like he was forced to kneel with one of Reo's men holding his arms to his back and the rest stood behind.

The vampire prince, Natsume Hyuuga stared at me. I don't know why but despite his emotionless expression, I felt he was relieved, worried and beyond mad. Something dangling around his neck caught my eye. It was a gold moon-shaped ring with a glowing orange stone shaped like a Sakura flower.

Reo seemed to notice it too. "That necklace..."

He turned to me raised the necklace hanging around my neck to level my face. He looked at Natsume's necklace then back to mine. "How can there be two necklaces?" He asked, disbelief in his voice.

"That's none of your business," the prince muttered.

"Doesn't matter. I'll get it from you two after this anyway." Reo let the pendant fall back to my chest. I wonder why I have something like this.

Reo snaked his arm around my head and tilted it. I didn't protest. "Watch carefully Prince Natsume as I feast on your precious girl." I saw Reo grinned revealing his fangs before he buried his fangs on my neck.

I winced.

While enduring the pain on my neck as this parasite continued to suck my blood, my eyes went back to the prince. His eyes were wide for a second before he started screaming for Reo to stop. He pulled his arms from the grip of Reo's men but they still managed to prevent him from running to where we are.

"MOURI! STOP IT! DAMN. GET AWAY FROM HER!"

As seconds passed by, I felt myself weakening but still, Reo didn't stop.

"DAMN YOU MOURI! STOP IT. DON'T TOUCH HER!" He continued screaming and struggled to run to us but it was difficult when Reo's men tried to stop him.

"Natsu...me..." By now, I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I was too weak to think properly. I lifted my hand and tried reaching for him. He stopped struggling and screaming when he saw me. He probably heard me call him and now he is looking at me, startled.

I felt Reo pull back and leaned closer to my ears. He whispered, "I'll kill him after I kill you. I will kill Natsume Hyuuga."

I froze as vision and voices filled my head.

"I'll kill him. I'll kill your bastard boyfriend. I'll kill Natsume Hyuuga."

"No. Don't." My hands flew to my head and Reo stepped back.

"I'll kill him after I kill you. I will kill Natsume Hyuuga."

"Please. Don't." I whispered over and over.

"Are you starting to remember? Forget it. Forget it all." Reo said to me.

I shook my head violently. "Shut up."

"I'll kill him. I'll kill your bastard boyfriend. I'll kill Natsume Hyuuga."

"Forget."

"I'll kill him after I kill you. I will kill Natsume Hyuuga."

My eyes started watering. "Shut up. Shut up."

"What's the matter with her, Mouri? What did you do? Mikan! Mikan!" I heard Natsume said frantically. I knew he started struggling again.

"Forget everything, Sakura!" Reo's voice raised. Making me want to submit to his orders but at the same time I want to resist more. At the same time, I don't want to do as he says but it was hard. It's hard to resist his voice, his command.

"Let go of me!" Natsume snarled at Reo's men before he punched and kicked Reo's men away from him. "MIKAN!"

"FORGET EVERYTHING!" Reo screamed at my ears and I could only scream back.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! NO! NO! NO! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! LEAVE ME ALONE! AAAHHH!"

My eyes caught the light that bursted after my screams. I was aware that Natsume was fighting Reo's men but when I looked, they were nowhere near Natsume as fire encircled the place where Natsume was standing on. And it was no normal fire. His fire has never been normal but seeing this made me think. Why?

Natsume glowered. "Get away from her!"

His fire danced when he spoke. The black flame and grew bigger and wilder as his anger grew stronger. It was black. That's what's made me ask. Why did his naturally beautiful orange red flame turned cold black with sparks of blue? And did I just imagine the fire form a black cat around Natsume? And most of all, how did I know all this when all I knew about him is his name?

"So this is what happens to your Alice when your blood slave gets tainted. Your flames turns black." I glanced at Reo and I saw that the playfulness and arrogance was gone from his face. He was beside me in an instant while holding my neck.

"But would you still use it while I'm holding your girl? Burn me and I promise you that before I turn to ash, her head had already been separated from her body, her neck crushed under my fingers." Reo smirk evilly and Natsume could only glare at him.

"Bastard." Natsume muttered.

Reo laughed. "Like last time. All you can do while I have her in my hands was to yell. Really pathetic, little prince. But it's not like you have a choice, right? Now, watch me as I drain her blood."

His fangs once again pierced my skin without removing his hand on my neck. I choked everytime his grip tightened and it will come loose and tight again. I felt something warm on my stomach and I glanced at Natsume. He was looking at me too, his eyes looked like they were speaking to me.

After a while of staring at each other, Natsume broke our eye contact and turned his eyes on Reo. A ball of black fire appeared inches from Reo's face startling him and making him back away from me. As soon as Natsume's eyes returned to me again and as soon as I saw the come-to-me look, I ran to him. I don't know him but I felt I trust this person more than anyone.

His fire parted to let me in and he caught me in a hug. I felt the longing from his hug. Acting only by my instinct, I hugged him back. I buried my face on his chest and heard his fast-beating heart. Faster than a normal human's heart. I wanted to stay in the warm comfort of his hug forever. Before I completely got lost in it, his hold loosened and his body tensed again.

I looked up at him to see he was staring at the place I ran from. I followed his gaze and saw that Reo had recovered from the shock and is currently glaring at us. "KILL THEM!" He yelled.

At his order, Reo's men who previously backed away in fear of getting near Natsume's fire, lost all their fears and attacked us like puppets manipulated by the puppeteer. I looked back at Natsume when his hold tightened and I saw the exhaustion from his face. He was breathing hard as his eyes locked on the enemies.

"KILL THEM!" Reo yelled again.

More enemies attacked us and I feared that Natsume wouldn't be able to keep up this wall of fire. Just as I was going to panic, the door opened again and revealed three raven-haired people, two blondes, a green haired girl and a boy with silver hair. Shock all over their faces.

"Natsume! Mikan!" Hearing our names, they must know the two of us. I don't have the energy and time to force myself to remember them. The only person I feel I can trust without doubts is this person holding me.

Natsume's head turned to their direction and he let out a relieved sigh. I saw one of the blonde nod his head and before I knew it, I was pushed to their direction. The other blond caught me before I fell completely.

"Mikan! Mikan, are you alright?" He asked.

I frowned. "Who are you?"

They all looked at me in surprise and their faces told me they were thinking of "Not again."

When I realized that they will take too long to recover from the shock, I looked back at Natsume. He was breathing harder now. I wanted to go back to him but the other blonde who nodded his head before, spoke. "Don't go back there, Mikan. He doesn't want you to get hurt."

I turned to him and grabbed his arm. "Then help him. Help him please!"

"We want that too but going near him will only kill us. We're still waiting for the right time." He explained.

When will that right time be? When he's exhausted his powers? When it's already too late?

I tried standing up. The blonde who caught me earlier helped me. We watched as Natsume fought Reo and his men. I wanted to do something but I don't know how I could help. I knew that if I tried, I would only make things worse.

The things that happened after that, I couldn't understand much. Natsume's fire flickered. It was slowly disappearing showing that he's already too exhausted. The enemies viewed this as a chance and attacked but Natsume's fire started up again and they were pushed back again. There was a particular man that caught my attention.

He was the only one apart from Reo who didn't attack when the fire disappeared. He was hiding his arm and observing quietly. My eyes widened when he put his arm in front of him. His arm turned into a long sword. I guess it was his power.

"NOOOOOOOO!" I screamed as I pulled myself out of the blonde's hold and ran to Natsume. He turned to me just in time to catch me when I crashed on him and we were thrown into the ground. I heard them shout our names but all I could think of was this man's safety.

I heard fighting around us but I didn't care. I hugged him tightly, refusing to open my eyes. His shaking hand went to the back of my head and pulled me closer to him. At the next word he uttered, I cried.

"Hey, polka."

I cried because memories flooded in my head. All those things I forgot because of Reo's alice, I remember them. I remember Hotaru, my freaky best friend. I remember Ruka-pyon, the kindest and most charming person I ever met. I remember Koko, that playful man and I remember Sumire, that beautiful permy. I even remember Ioran Hyuuga. Natsume's father, an amazing leader. I remember Aoi and Youichi.

I remember that I am Mikan Sakura. I remember him. He's Natsume Hyuuga. The guy I like. Yes. I like him, maybe even more than that. It took me a long time to finally realize it but now I know.

"Shut up, pervert!"

I laughed. And judging by the slight shake of his chest, he was laughing with me too. We remained in the ground while still in that position. We were both too exhausted to move.

"Ne, Natsume. I remember now." I said after a while of silence between us.

His arms went around my body. "That's good then."

I smiled as I finally felt peace after all that happened.

"Yeah."

(Normal POV)

Mikan slowly opened her eyes to see white.

"Thank god you're awake."

Mikan turned to look at the one who spoke and saw Hotaru sitting beside he while holding her left hand. She wandered her eyes around the room and saw that they were all there. Ruka was standing behind Hotaru with his hand resting on her shoulders, Koko and Youichi sat at the couch while Aoi and Sumire is on the right side of her bed.

She tried to sit up and the vampires near her helped.

She opened her mouth to say thanks but she realized her throat is too dry to speak normally. "Water please." And as expected, her voice sounded like a strangled frog.

Sumire handed her a glass of water and she must admit, it was not enough. "More please." She smiled while they laughed.

"Here." Sumire handed her another. After drinking all of it, she sighed. Pleased. "Thank you."

"How are you feeling?" Ruka asked.

"I'm fi—" she stopped mid sentence when she remembered. "Natsume! Where is he?"

"Hey! Hey! Calm down. He's right there."

Mikan turned to the direction Koko was pointing at and she let out a breath when she saw him sleeping in the bed next to her. Unlike her, he was wearing his casual clothes while she wore the usual hospital gown and he looked far better than her. All wounds he received from the fight vanished from his body without a trace while hers would take a few weeks before they disappear completely.

"Um.." Mikan forcefully looked away from Natsume to look at Ruka. "Yeah?"

"Do you... finally remember us?" He asked warily.

"Uh.."

Ruka's shoulder dropped. "I knew it! You still don't remember us. Ugh.."

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

They all looked at the person laughing after Ruka's disappointed show. Koko almost rolled on the floor laughing while the others looked at him with a frown. "What?" Ruka asked.

"Hahaha! Oh man! That was epic you little liar! Hahaha!" After he said that, another laughter joined Koko's. A laughter they all longed to hear for a long time.

Their heads turned to the laughing Mikan.

"What? What?" Ruka still looked confused while Hotaru blew in an attempt to cover her own laugh. Sumire and Aoi too started giggling. Youichi looked amused and he bit his lips to prevent the smile from forming.

"I'm sorry Ruka-pyon. That was a joke. I remember everything!" She said between her laugh.

Ruka blinked. Joke? It was a WHAT? He sighed and sat at the corner of the room like a ball, sulking. Laughter resounded the room and that one laugh stood out. Mikan laughed so much. It felt good to finally laugh after days of not having any emotions.

After their laughing session, they told Mikan about the what happened after she ran to Natsume.

"After you shouted and ran to Natsume, all alice in the room were cancelled out. Reo's voice pheromone, Natsume's black fire and the man with the long sword. All of it disappeared. Hyuuga-sama is currently having a discussion with the council about Reo Mouri's punishment. He was caught after we fought him and his men."

Mikan nodded.

"How about Natsume's fire? Why did it turn black?"

They all looked at each other before hesitating whether they should tell her or not.

"What?" She frowned.

"Because another fucking bloodsucker drank your blood." They all turned to the who who answered and saw Natsume sitting up. They had to give him some donated blood to help his recovery but without drinking Mikan's blood, his recovery is as fast as a human's recovery.

"Natsume!" Mikan's face visibly brightened.

"Hey." He was still pale but not as pale as before.

"Let's give them some privacy." Hotaru announced and went out of the room followed by the rest of the vampires.

When they all left, Mikan broke the silence. "Are you okay?"

"Ask yourself that, polka."

Mikan frowned. "I know I'm okay so I'm asking you."

Natsume chuckled at her response and Mikan's eyes widened in surprise to hear his chuckle. "I'm fine, polka."

Mikan rolled her eyes. "Will you please stop with the polka, polka, polka?"

Natsume stood up from his bed and went to hers. He sat beside her. "Nope."

Mikan glared at him before her glare turn into a grin which confused him. "Okay fine. I'll let this pass since I remember someone calling me by my name over and over again."

Natsume looked away. "Tch. Shut up."

Mikan giggled before she hugged him. His shoulder to her chest. She leaned her head on his shoulder. "I miss being me." She closed her eyes and sighed. "I miss you."

"I'm awesome like that." He commented making Mikan hit him at the back of his head.

"Ha-ha. I laughed two times." She said sarcastically while she rolled her eyes.

"So you're counting laughs now?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Whatever!" She said while doing her 'bleh' thing with her tongue.

"Very mature."

Silence followed after that. A comfortable silence. A silence Mikan broke. "I was scared." She admitted while looking down at her hands. "I thought you'd never come."

Natsume stared at her but she refused to meet his eyes. "I was scared too." This made her look up. "I was scared that I may be too late."

Mikan frowned again. She just can't wrap her mind around what he said. Natsume? Scared? "Really? You're not joking, are you?"

Natsume showed her his usual poker face. "Do I look like I'm joking?"

Mikan shook her head.

"You just answered your own question. Dummy." She ignored his statement and asked another question instead. One of the things that bothered her.

"What do you mean by what you said earlier? Why did your fire turn black after Reo drank my blood?"

"You're my blood slave. You can't let anyone else drink your blood apart from me or else my alice would be affected." He explained.

"You know, after everything that happened I realized two things." Mikan started looking straight into Natsume's eyes as he did the same.

"What?"

She smiled sweetly. "One, beyond the dark clouds lies a bright starry sky."

Natsume raised an eyebrow. "Don't go poetic on me, polka."

PAK!

"What the hell!" Natsume cursed.

"Shut up and listen carefully because I won't ever repeat this again." Mikan glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest.

Natsume sighed. "Fine."

"Second..." She stopped to breathe.

"What?" This impatient jerk.

"I like you, Natsume!"

End of Chapter

Finally done and finally... MIKAN CONFESSSSSSEEDD! If anyone isn't satisfied how she confessed please inform me. I won't get angry. I'm not that satisfied either. It just went like that.

Reply to the reviews:

Feli-La: Thank you for always reviewing! :) About the mutants well, here it is...

Mutants - Vampires who were used and experimented on by human scientists in an attempt to overpower the Pureblood Vampires.

Micchie: Your review made writing this worth it. ;)

freespirited309: She got her memories back and more! Thank you for giving time to read this story of mine. :) I really appreciate the effort to review.

XxJMLxX: HAHAHA! Ikr. That's my fashion too. Well, except for the mask. Hehe! Goodluck on your story too! That Bitch Cinderella. :D

The Guest Who Tried To Guess: First of all, I am very much glad to have you inspired but I say that you're not the only one. :D Due to all the reviews and what you just told me, I tried hard to finish this chapter faster even though it's hard to put my ideas into words. Thank you too and good luck with your media thingy. ;)

xxxusui0918xxx: Yes, I don't know you but I am very much excited to know you more. :) Thank you for that compliment. I'm flattered. Wiiie! Oh yeah, I'm a filipino too! 8D Summertime... so ineeeeeet~!

-MitsukaiYuki