AN: In this chapter we see Natsume and Hotaru squabble over Mikan...but who will be victorious? Thanks to my reviewers BubblySunshine190, Crimson Darkness, Haruhi-chan131, Tanyaita and De Entertainer (your definitely right about him using Mikan). Glad you guys liked the SumirexKoko moment, I definitely had to lighten the mood a little so I'm really glad you guys enjoyed their exchange. I love Sumire, she's really fun to write, so expect a little more from her.

"Look! Look at him!" Narumi's mother demanded, slamming her palm down on the Principal's desk. "My beautiful son," she cried out passionately, "they have ruined his face."

It had been four days since his run in with the group of vengeful ex-boyfriends and the first day he had been at school since. The minute she had seen him, Narumi's mother had set to work simultaneously trying to heal his face and preventing any scarring. Naru couldn't say he wasn't grateful for it. His mother knew what she was doing when it came to things like this and he certainly didn't want a whole bunch of scars on his face for the rest of his life.

Largely due to her expertise Naru's black eyes had faded from their dark purple but were still framing his eyes. All his other facial bruises however had quickly progresses through the healing stages so now all that remained was the strange yellow tinge of where they had been. His split lip was smaller but still painful and very much visible. His nose had scabbed over but that was as far as the improvements had progressed.

The grazes that had dominated half his face were healing quicker than he had expected them too and although they were still there now he doubted they would still be around by the end of the next week. His scratch marks however had barely changed. They were the source of his mothers greatest anxiety in regards to scarring, but she had worked diligently on them and so he was hopeful.

"Calm down Mama," he said, putting an arm around her to halt what seemed to be a never ending stream of French vulgarities. Narumi was glad his Principal seemed to have no idea what she was saying, he definitely wasn't going to explain it to him.

"Madam," the Principal started, relieved he could finally get a word in. "The students have been suspended, we will review their role in this attack individually to determine whether there are grounds for expulsion but assuredly some of them will be expelled."

"You should have expelled them before they attacked my baby!" she fired back, slipping back into her native tongue.

After her heated response the fiery woman had demanded her other son be sent to her and had stormed through the school gates, both her sons trying in vain to calm her.

Ruka and Narumi sat in their living room, neither one saying very much. As soon as they had returned home their mother had set to work on her elder son's face. She had applied her various ointments, crèmes and balms along with some sort of strange facial bandage that she had produced from god knows where but so far it seemed to be doing the trick so he didn't question it. She refused any help from her staff, insisting on doing it all herself. Narumi had began to wonder who was more vain about his looks, himself or his mother?

When she had left her sons alone Ruka had sat near his brother but had dropped his head in silence. Narumi wanted very much to talk to him but his lip was painful and it hurt to talk, not to mention he doubted he would be able to anyway with this crazy bandage on his face.

He clapped his hands together to get Ruka's attention before moving his hand in a writing motion, signalling he wanted a pen and some paper. After locating these items Ruka waited anxiously as Narumi wrote his first message.

I'm fine.

"How can you say that," Ruka said softly after he had read it, "you look awful Naru."

Don't say that too loudly, Mama thinks I'm going to turn into Quasimodo or something.

Ruka couldn't help but laugh but it was shortened by his misery. "Who were all those people?" he asked, returning to his softer tone.

I slept with their girlfriends.

"Oh, right," Ruka stammered.

Narumi snatched the notebook back and added, They had forgotten about it until I reminded them.

"Why would you do that?" Ruka was becoming confused.

I was trying to make everything right. I needed to make things right.

"I don't understand," Ruka said sadly.

I had made a list and I called everybody on it. The girls on it I had slept with and the boys, I had ruined their relationships. I was sorry. I wanted to say sorry.

"So why did they beat you up if you were sorry," he asked naïvely.

Because sometimes sorry isn't enough.

He reached out for Ruka's hand and shot him a regretful look with his large amethyst eyes. Seemingly the only thing on his face that had managed to retain all of their original beauty.

"Why did you even apologise? I mean surely some of these happened a long time ago," Ruka asked, he was trying to understand why his brother would behave in such an obviously reckless way.

I wanted to show you that I was sorry, I can change. I can love people Ruka, despite what you may think.

Ruka's previous words echoed in his ears. 'You could never even comprehend what it is to love a girl properly...nobody loves you. In fact I don't even know if anybody could even like you...I don't love you Naru'.

"Did you do this because of me? What I said to you?" he asked, hoping hadn't been the cause of this, however indirectly.

Narumi turned away from him, the pen and paper lay abandoned.

"I-I-I didn't.." he took a deep breath before continuing, he was feeling guilty as hell. "I should never have said that to you," he managed to say.

Naru rolled over and reached for his pen before writing, I deserved it.

"No!" Ruka cried, "you never deserved this."

Narumi raised a hand to silence him. I don't know if I deserved a beating, probably, but I deserved to hear you say you never loved me. I didn't deserve to have it, I was a really shitty brother to you Ruka. I'm so sorry, but I know I can love Ruka. I love our parents, I love my friends and I love you. I can love.

He was desperate for Ruka to understand him, but he needn't have worried.

"I know," Ruka said, dropping the paper to throw himself at his brother. "I love you Naru."

And so it didn't matter anymore that his face had felt like it was on fire for the past few days, or that Ruka was unknowingly pressing against the very painful bruises on his chest because his brother had forgiven him.

His only regret was getting Reo involved in all of this.

"A double date?" Mikan asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling.

Natsume grunted a little, clearly not happy that Mikan was getting so excited about spending time with anyone but him. He was further annoyed by the unbridled affection she showered upon her best friend. Affection she could have been sending his way.

"Oh Hotaru," Mikan continued dreamily, "this is the happiest day of my life."

"Can't you control your woman?" Hotaru shot at Natsume, now trying to escape Mikan's enthusiastic embrace.

Natsume snorted with laughter, but nevertheless easily pulled Mikan back into his own arms.

"Hotaru!" the rejected girl cried sorrowfully, "why do you resist my love?"

Hotaru covered her face with her hand, playing up her exacerbation to cause further amusing reactions from her best friend and was completely unsurprised when Mikan began to beg forgiveness. She was about to accept her apologies when Mikan was silenced by Natsume's kiss.

Natsume was easily able to spot that the cold girl was toying with his girlfriend's emotions, as it was one of his own favourite past times, but he had no patience when somebody else tried it. Even if it was her own best friend. He fired a look to his violet eyed adversary, 'don't mess with her'.

Hotaru's eyes narrowed at the challenge.

"Mikan, come here!" Hotaru demanded, pulling Mikan's hand away from the boy she was resenting for kissing her innocent and vulnerable friend so publicly. Had he no decency?

"I thought you told me to control my woman?" Natsume responded lazily, still holding Mikan by her waist. He pulled her back against him and rested his head on one of her shoulders before nipping at her ear playfully which caused her to giggle.

"You really want to do this right now Hyuuga?" Hotaru asked, cocking and eyebrow.

"What? Afraid you'll lose?" he replied coolly, his face contorting to an amused smirk.

"No chance," Hotaru fired back quickly.

"What are you guys..? Argh Natsume!" Mikan cried as her boyfriend suddenly scooped her up and started walking away with her in his arms.

"That's not playing fair!" Hotaru called out after them.

"Sorry Imai!" Natsume called back, "This one's mine!"