-thx for reviews..... I don't own marmalade boy....or the characters...so there shouldn't be people suing me....though I wish that I did own the characters...but anyway....on to the story- song in the story is called My Happy Ending, by Avril Lavigne

Together or apart? Chapter 4- The card

Leeaant

Miki Where am I? Why am I here? Why don't I know where I am? Total darkness surrounded Miki. Everywhere I look, it's dark. I see a tiny white dot, but what is it? Miki walks closer to it. The white dot grows larger. I see all of these beautiful things...but why? The picture slowly moves away, but Miki makes no attempt to run after it. It suddenly shatters, like a breaking mirror. I know exactly what that is...it's all the happiness I've ever had. It's pretty much all of the time I've ever spent with Yuu. Why'd he have to leave me...why? Don't leave me Yuu, don't, please, no!

Miki's eyes opened slowly. Her vision was blurred, but the image slowly grew clearer as each second passed. She looked around her room. She was dressed in all white, and the room was white too. There were 2 vases full of flowers of all kinds. There was a card on each vase. She took one card from one of the vases.

Dear Miki,

Remember that we all care about you, and love you. You better get better soon! We're always here when you need us. Get better soon! We'll have a big party one you can get out of the hospital, and come home. When you come home, we'll cook your favorite meals, and everything. We can't wait for you to come home.

Love always,

Chiyako, Rumi, Jin, and Youji.

Miki opened the other card on the second vase.

Dear Miki,

We hope you get better soon. Instead of sending you many bouquets of flowers, we all decided to send you one really big one. We hope you get better soon! We can't we until you get better enough to play tennis again. Remember if you have a tough time, we can all help you get through it. We all love you, and we want you to get back on your feet soon. Everyone wants you to come home soon. Whenever you are able to get out, we'll have a huge party so that we can all have fun!

Love always,

Meiko, Ginta, Arimi, Anju, Miwa, and Suzu

Miki noticed there was a last and final card. It was the most beautiful one she had ever seen. Flowers were at every corner of the card, and a huge heart was in the middle. Across the heart it says in beautiful script, Get well soon. A stuffed bear was holding the card up, and in the stuffed bear's arms, was the perfect selection of flowers. Miki started to open the card, but then a nurse came walking in. Miki quickly put the card down.

"Hello Ms. Koishkawa, how are we feeling today?" the nurse, Mrs. Yamabuki, opened the curtains. It was a beautiful day outside. The sun was shining, and there wasn't a single gray cloud in the sky. "You're a very lucky young lady. You've only broken 2 ribs, and you sprained you knee. You must have a very hard head! Don't worry, I'm just kidding you. Oh by the way, you have some visitors waiting to see you!" Mrs. Yamabuki walked away.

Rumi, Youji, Jin, Chiayako, Meiko, and Ginta walked into her room. Miki was a bit surprised that Yuu wasn't with them, but soon she just smiled at her visitors. Miki started to get up, but was soon lying back against the pillows in pain. Her ribs were broken, but she could barely move.

"Miki, are you all right? Don't forget your ribs are broken!" Meiko said with a horrified look on her face.

"I'm alright. You don't have to worry about me," Miki lied. The pain she had was almost unbearable. She could barely breath, let alone talk, but she wanted to make it seem like she was all right.

"Oh sure you are, Miki," Meiko said with a sarcastic voice. "I brought you some clothes, and some good food. Just incase you don't like the hospital food in here. I'm just so glad that you're all right, Miki. I'm just sorry to say that none of us here have seen Yuu. We haven't seen, or heard from him since 5 nights ago. We're pretty sure that he went to America to get his mind off of things, but don't worry, Miki. We'll find him as soon as possi-"

"Meiko...I never want to see him again! Not ever...I don't want to see him. Not after what I have done, or what he has done to me," Miki had tears rolling down her cheeks. She was trying so hard to hold back her anguished tears. She was in enough pain already with her ribs, but thinking of Yuu just tore a hole in her heart. "I want my life to return back to normal. Like it was when I have never met him. I never, ever, want to see him again. He's hurt me so much. I just, want my life to return to normal.

"I want to forget was love is. I never want to endure this pain again. He's been toying with me, for so long. He doesn't even love me Meiko. He loves Anju." Miki wept silently. Everyone just stared at her, tears coming to their eyes. If only Miki knew what happened. Everyone was staring silently at the floor. Their throats closed.

Meiko finally got the lump out of her throat. "Miki, you're being so foolish now. Um... don't' say all that stuff. You love Yuu more than anything in the world... Right?"

"Yea Miki, she's right. You love Yuu more than anything else in the world. You love him more than Meiko and me. I know this Miki; I'm one of your best friends. I mean, all you talk about is him..." Ginta fell silent after that.

"Miki, calm down...ok? We love you so much. Yuu will come back, I know he will. All of us care about you so much, we all hate it when you're hurt," Chiyako's tears were spilling already. Jin just hugged her looking at Miki.

"You guys...all of you, You all don't understand. I NEVER WANT TO SEE HIM AGAIN!" Miki held her chest tightly. When she screamed, her ribs hurt too much. "I don't want to see him again, not ever. He's hurt me too much. I can't face again. It's like, I was never meant to love.... Right Meiko? You know what it's like, except you got your love back. You actually got Nachan back. I just don't think I want to get Yuu back. Youji, Chiyako, I'm so sorry...Mom, Dad...I'm sorry too, but can you all please leave? I want to speak to Meiko and Ginta alone right now." Miki felt so tired, but she forced herself to stay awake. Youji, Rumi, Chiyako, and Jin left the room, asking no questions.

Sigh"Meiko, you weren't there, but I hope you know how I feel right now. I mean, you've dealt with this pain before. Maybe I'll tell you later, but I have a favor to ask you both." Miki laid back down on her pillows.

"Miki, you know we'd do anything to help you. We'd get you anything you wanted, or do anything you'd want us to do." Ginta sighed. He never felt sorrier for Miki. Meiko was sitting on the edge of Miki's bed. Tears almost spilled, but they soon fell. Tears were just rolling down her cheeks.

"Don't cry Meiko," Miki smiled faintly. "All I want you to do, is to get Anju for me. I just want to speak to her. Maybe a few questions to ask too." Miki's ribs hurt much more than before. Maybe because she was devastated, she had a broken heart, and her ribs were broken.

"Miki, we'll get Anju. Hey, Miki, are you all right? Oh my God Miki! Hold on tight, we'll get you a nurse as quickly as possible." Meiko was crying much more than before. Ginta and Meiko ran out of the room to get the nurse. Miki just slowly closed her eyes, and fainted in pain, and misery.

Miki opened her eyes slowly. Meiko and Ginta were at the side of her bed looking down at her. Their brows were lined with worry. Everything seemed hazy just like when she woke up a couple of hours ago. At first Miki thought she was dreaming, but she knew she wasn't. When her vision grew clearer, a dark silhouette was standing in front of the lamp. She could only see a shady figure, but she couldn't see the face. When the figure came closer, Miki's eyes just grew blurry with the tears growing in her eyes.

"Um, hey Anju. How have you been? How's your cat, Anubis...right?" Miki stuttered. "I have some questions...I hope you don't mind. First question...Why didn't you tell Yuu...that you loved him? If you have told him sooner, none of us would have had to deal with all of this. You two would be in love with each other, and I would be with...someone else. I just don't understand." Miki was gasping for breath by now. She was trying to ignore all this pain, but it didn't work.

"Do you even know what happened before you showed up? Well? Don't you remember? DO YOU?!" Miki cried so much. Tears stained her face. Her nose and cheeks became red.

"Gomen, Gomen nasai. Miki, I just couldn't hold it back any longer. I don't' know why I couldn't hold back. I just couldn't...not after 15 years," Anju had tears slowly spilling onto her face.

"It's funny, that on the same day I become engaged to Yuu, you meet us in the park. It's so funny," Miki laughed. Her shoulders shaking up and down. Tears just wouldn't stop falling from her eyes. Meiko, Ginta, and Anju watched her. Obviously in disbelief. How could anyone laugh after what happened? Miki was in so much pain, she just couldn't believe it. Her head hurt a little bit, her ribs hurt like the flames in hell, and her heart was broken. Her heart hurt the most, it felt like something was missing, a part of her was gone. There was a huge hole in her heart, and it couldn't be mended with just her friends and family at her side.

"Miki, you don't understand how sorry I am. I'm sorry. I won't go near him again...I'll only see him, if you allow me to. Is that alrigh-" Anju suddenly collapsed at the side of Miki's bed. Her hand, clutched her heart, she was grasping it tightly as if she was in incredible pain.

"M...Meiko, Gi...Ginta...what happened to Anju? Oh my god! Get the nurse!! Quickly!" Miki screamed. "Oh God, please make sure Anju is safe! Anju hold on...don't worry. Meiko and Ginta are coming in with a nurse!"

A nurse suddenly came bursting in with Meiko and Ginta. Helpers took Anju out of Miki's room, and brought her to emergency. Miki laid on her bed, wondering why she collapsed like that. Miki knew something, but she couldn't place it. Ginta left to see if Anju was going to be all right. Meiko stayed behind with Miki.

"God, please make sure Anju's going to be all right. Make sure she lives. Please God...please. I beg you." Miki wept silently. She wanted to make sure Anju was going to be all right. Meiko hugged Miki and tried to console her, but Miki just continued to weep.

Miki soon stopped crying, and she looked around for a tissue. Meiko just wiped away Miki's eyes with her sleeve. Miki noticed the bear, card, and the best assortment of flowers. She picked up the card, and started to read it. Her eyes soon grew wider and wider as each second passed.

"Miki? Hey...Miki? What's the matter? Is everything all right?" Meiko was worried about Miki. She has practically never seen her like this. The only other time was when Miki saw Yuu at their school.

"J...j...j...just r...r...read the le...let...letter," Miki trembled as every word came out of her mouth. Meiko took the letter, and started to read it. Her mouth was opening wider and wider as she read more and more.

Ginta soon came into Miki's room. Meiko was sleeping on a chair, and Miki was holding the card. "Hey, Anju's gonna be alright for now. So what are you all up to?" Ginta asked. Miki held up the card to Ginta, and he started to read.

Dear Miki,

By the time you read this letter, I'll be on a bus...I need some time to think about things, so I took a vacation. You can keep the ring I gave you, but you can choose to leave it in my room until I get back. I will propose to you again, and I'll accept any answer you choose. I love you so much, Miki...and I hope you love me too. I think we just both need some time apart right now, it's for the best.

I don't know when I'll be coming back home, but it'll be about 6 weeks. Miki, I'd give my life to protect you. I care so much about you more than anyone or anything in the world. I just wish you could understand that. After the accident, I guess I just need time. It was a hard decision to make, but I'll be home soon. You can call me on my cell. Just dial the number XXX-XXX-XXXXX and I'll talk to you. I'm positive that you'd want me to be gone for awhile. I know you too well. You'd just throw a giant fit, and start crying.

I love you...so much. I just hope that you'll say yes when I propose to you. Of course I'll find the perfect time to propose, not when I just come home. My bus is here now, I'll just give this card to my friend to drop off at your hospital.

Love always,

Yuu

Ginta stared at the letter in shock. The whole time they have been looking for him, he's been in Japan the whole time. But how could he leave Miki like this? That's just wrong. Ginta suddenly stared at Miki. She was just staring at her hands, the ring still on her finger. Ginta walked over to Miki, but she just shook her head. She needed time to think about things.

Ginta woke Meiko up 10 minutes after waiting for Miki to talk. They both said their good bye's to Miki, and walked out. Miki didn't want to be alone right now, but no one was there to comfort her, like Yuu used to. Miki suddenly had tears in her eyes, and she didn't even try to stop them from rolling down her face.