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MM: Hey guys! Another message from Hana no Uta. Well, as you know, Youichi's Birthday Present (this story) is about to end and as my first FanFiction, I'm very happy that I'll be accomplishing this story. :) Anyways, I'll be posting the very first chapter of my new story, From Anime to Anime really soon... maybe after Chapter 19 has posted... or maybe sooner. Anyways, just keep your eyes on Gakuen Alice FanFiction Archive for From Anime to Anime, or check out my profile for its summary. :)
But don't worry guys… this story is dedicated to my reviewers who reviewed me in this story. And by reviewer, I mean including you! I just thought that I have a lot of reviewers and I don't know how to thank you so here's my story and I dedicate it to you. :)
Chapter XVIII – Hidden Behind Those Tears
A shocked Natsume was found, kneeling on the rug while holding his unconscious son. He was terrified to see him so cold, yet still breathing. The television was on, so it's no wonder how he ended up like this.
He pulled out his cellphone from his pocket, and quickly dialed the emergency number. He had to save his son.
The ambulance arrived as soon as possible and took the little boy and put him on a stretcher. They delivered him to the ambulance, and Natsume followed them. He held his son's hand… it was freezing, and that made him more nervous than ever.
After they've boarded the ambulance, Natsume felt like dying. He had a flashback of his wife Maya, who was once killed in a fire. No… he can't loose Youichi. He may have lost Maya, but never Youichi.
OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO
After her long slumber, Mikan woke up at the moment Youichi was rushed to the hospital. Mikan was unaware of the situation yet. She slouched at the couch and turned on the TV. Still, she wasn't aware… until Hotaru ran towards her, panting.
"Hotaru, what's wrong?" Mikan asked with a curious face.
"Your boyfriend's on the phone." Hotaru replied while holding her cellphone and handing it to Mikan.
Mikan grabbed it, "Hello" she said
"Mikan, bad news," she recognized that voice… it was none other than Ryu. "Youichi… he… had a stroke."
She displayed a terrified face from the moment she heard Ryu's words. "What" she murmured.
"He's now at Endo hospital. He's now unconscious." Ryu cried out.
"Oh my god…" Mikan said as she turned her phone off, grabbed her coat and bag, and went to the door.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Hotaru asked, but Mikan didn't respond to her words. She knew what she had to do, even if it defies the rules.
She went outside the hotel, got a taxi, and drove all the way to Endo hospital. She wanted to see Youichi… there's no doubt about it.
It started to rain when she arrived at the hospital. Her brown skirt got wet along with her long sleeved yellow shirt.
"Oh shoot, I forgot to bring an umbrella." Mikan said as she rushed going inside, and reach the counter. "What room is Hyuuga Youichi?"
The nurse looked in the record book, and then replied, "I'm sorry ma'am, but no one could see Hyuuga Youichi."
"Please," Mikan said, "I'm his mother."
The nurse looked at Mikan. "You're not really his mother. You're just faking. You're not really Maya Hyuuga, but why do you want to see Youichi?"
"Because… even though Youichi isn't my biological son, he's still my son… in my heart." Mikan replied. "I've been really close to him that I sometimes forget what my real job is. If I don't have the right to see him, I'd rather be with the devil than to not see Youichi."
Mikan's words touched the nurse. It somehow, made her awful about Mikan's situation. "Your situation is hard, yet you want to see him no matter what." Silence was there for a while, and then she told her, "Room 618. Hurry up!"
Mikan's face lightened up and she smiled. "Thank you very much!" she said as she bowed her head, and took the elevator.
Arriving at the 6th floor, Mikan ran to Room 18, where Youichi is. While running down the corridor, she saw Natsume at the hall in front of Youichi's room. She hid from him, since she doesn't want to be in trouble. Luckily, Natsume left to get coffee and go to the restroom, so she ran going inside Youichi's room.
She opened the door in silence, and saw a sleeping Youichi, tucked in bed with dextrose beside him. Mikan was shocked to see Youichi, looking cold and unhappy.
She entered the room in silence, and shut the door quietly. Mikan sat down at the chair near Youichi, and held his hand tightly like a mother would. Suddenly, teardrops began running down her face.
"Youichi…" she uttered as she tries her best not to cry, but she kept on weeping. "Honto, gomen ne."
Natsume came back afterwards. He was about to open the door, until he heard someone mourning. He wanted to see who it was, but he recognized that person when he heard her say some words. He began to listen:
"I know I'm not related to you… but you became a part of me." Mikan said as she continues to cry. "I wanted to tell you for a long time that I'm not your real mother, but time passes by so quickly that I wasn't able to tell you because I was afraid that I might hurt your feelings. And now, it hurts me even more when I'm leaving you. But I'm sure Natsume will take care of you. Your father is a great parent, but you don't know that. Even though his lie may fool you, it was for your own happiness. Truthfully, I haven't been really happy until I met you and Natsume. My heart is overflowing with joy whenever I'm with you.
"I try not to be a burden, but I know that I'm in pain too. I wish that those days we've been through together will always be in your heart. And someday, if we see each other, please don't refer to me as your mother or an imposter, but refer to me as Mikan, the girl who loved you even for a short while.
"Yet, I'm so sorry for the trouble I've caused you. If it wasn't my want for money, you wouldn't be put into this situation. But I don't regret those days we've been together. I want to hold your hand forever, hoping that we can journey this world together, not as strangers, but as mother and son."
As she cried and cried, Youichi begins to gain consciousness. He saw Mikan, crying while holding his hand so tight. Since he had a stroke, he can't speak.
But… "M-m-mo-mo-th-the-ther." Youichi uttered. Mikan's looked at Youichi, and realized he woke up.
"Youichi," she said. A smile grew on her face. "Good…" she said as she continues to cry while she was holding his hand.
After a few minutes, Mikan went out of the hospital room, leaving Youichi on his own. When she was outside, she saw Natsume, sitting on the bench near Youichi's room, holding a cup of coffee in his hand. She was discovered, and she didn't know what to say.
They looked at each others' eyes. They had a slight connection since the eyes were the pathways to the soul.
OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO
Mikan took her clothes; put them inside her luggage in preparation for her flight for America. She was tired of packing, since she had a lot of clothes. She turned off her laptop and put it inside her laptop case. She breathed out like she held her breath for a long time. Hotaru came beside her. "Are you sure of this decision, Mikan?"
Mikan froze that moment. She's still hesitating on whether she should leave for America, or stay in Japan. Anyways, she doesn't have a reason to stay in Japan anymore. No one's there to take care of her. Hikari traveled to France 3 days before Mikan's departure, and Anna and Nonoko were too careless to take care of Mikan. Mikan can come back for Tsubasa's tombstone, but she has nothing to do in Japan anymore.
On Natsume's case, he couldn't forget that day when Mikan and he talked.
Flashback:
"Why are you here?" Natsume asked, facing the wall in front of him while taking a sip of his warm coffee.
"I heard Youichi's sick so I came here to visit." Mikan replied
Natsume stood up and looked at Mikan. "I don't know who you are. You don't have any right to visit Youichi because you're not related to him in any way. Don't even use your excuse as Maya. Everyone knows who you are and you should know that you're Mikan, the writer. Not Maya, the wife of Natsume Hyuuga." Natsume said as he walked to Youichi's room.
"Natsume," she caught his attention, "I'm leaving for America in 3 days."
Natsume was shocked, yet he can't show to Mikan that he's terrified. "So… what should I do about it?"
"…and I'm never coming back. Even if I need to visit Tsubasa, I've realized that he's just living in my memories, and I can't bring him back to life. But I'm going to America because I don't have anything to do here in Japan."
Natsume gave a smirk. "Do you think that I'll stop you in the airport and tell you to not go, just like your other stories?" Natsume laughed afterwards, "Don't make me laugh. Because I never loved you… and I'll never will. You don't mean anything to me and I'm nothing to you. So get out of my sight."
Mikan was shocked to hear those words. Tears were overflowing in her eyes. She looked at Natsume with a terrified face, and said, "Just as you said---I don't mean anything to you, and you mean nothing to me. If that's what you think, can solve the problem, let it be. I don't need you anyway.
"…but Natsume, I just want to let you know that during that time when I was working with Youichi; during that time when you and I spent each time together, I fell in love with you." Mikan walked away afterwards, "You were just too ignorant to notice it." Then, she left without saying another word.
Natsume watched her heading to the elevator. He also saw a teardrop flowing on Mikan's cheek. His eyes widened---he thought that he was too cruel to say those words to Mikan. But it seemed like he didn't regret saying it. Yet, why does it feel like heartache to him? Why does he feel so bad about it?
End of Flashback
Natsume feels so frustrated. He has a lot of problems clouding his mind. But he can't find any answers to it.
He was grieving, alright. With his career in the toilet, his son having a stroke---he can't take it anymore. Fortunately, there was someone in the hallway; his shadow was seen since it was really bright. Natsume noticed this, and looked at his left; it was none other than Ryu.
Ryu sat down near Natsume. He wanted to have a talk with him.
"So… how's life now?" Ryu asked, opening his can of beer while handing a can to Natsume.
Natsume accepted the beer. "You're the smart one. I guess you can tell it just by looking at my face." Natsume said as he takes a sip from his can of beer.
"Not only with your face. Also with the tone of your voice," Ryu replied as he takes a sip of his beer.
"I feel so confused. I've never opened up to a person before. And if I tell you, I might feel better." Natsume answered as he looks at Ryu. "It's like… you're the only friend whom I can trust."
"Then as a friend, let me give you some advice." Ryu continues, "Why can't you be more honest with yourself?"
Natsume widened his eyes. Ryu continues to give him a lecture. "If you solved the problem clouding your heart, you can solve the problem clouding your thoughts."
Natsume gave a short laugh. "You're really smart, Ryu."
Ryu gave a laugh. "Well, what are you waiting for?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are you going to let her slip away just like what happened to her?"
Natsume gave a sneer. "Like I'd follow that idiot."
"You never changed Natsume…"
Still, he hesitated on whether he should go to the Airport already. But as Ryu said, "If you solved the problem clouding your heart, you can solve the problem clouding your thoughts." Natsume felt something.
"Are you seriously going to let her go?" Natsume faced Ryu. "True love is never too late."
Ryu smiled afterwards. Then, in a blink of an eye, Natsume ran going to the stairs and went outside to get a taxi… and go to the airport.
Ryu chuckled. "It's true that a girl can change a guy's heart. But I never expected that Mikan can change the once cold hearted guy Natsume to an open-minded, gentle man. She's no ordinary girl… she's the absolute girl."
While waiting for her plane, Mikan got a snack from the snack bar. She got some Nara Pickles. Then, she gave a chuckle. "An unforgettable kiss from him; just because of Nara Pickles. Blame the Nara Pickles for containing alcohol."
Her face lighted up for a moment, but then, it made her heart ache whenever she thinks about Natsume.
She ate it along the way, and sat down near Hotaru.
"What are you eating?" Hotaru asked, with arms crossed
"Nara Pickles. You want some?" Mikan asked.
"I don't eat alcohol. And I'm not the type of girl who wants to get drunk."
"Fine," Mikan continues to chow down her snack.
On the other hand, Natsume already arrived in the airport. Problem is that the airplane has arrived.
"For those who're heading to Boston, please prepare because your plane has landed."
"I guess this is it." Mikan said as she gets her laptop and suitcase, and left the Nara Pickles at her place. Mikan and Hotaru fell in line too.
Natsume took a look at the board; he saw "BOSTON: BOARDING". He panicked at that time, and then ran in search of Mikan.
Security guards tried to block him, but he didn't care. He continued to run. He was inspired by Mikan… he was able to change because of her. And the truth is that… he loves her too.
To be continued…
Guys… I'm going to stop this for a while. Sorry for the long update though… Please review!
And this is the preview of the next chapter:
"Mikan, please don't go."
"I thought that we don't have anything to do with each other? And plus, you're just nothing but---."
"I just want to say that you were the one who made me happy in times of loneliness. You were the one who made my life meaningful… and you're the one whom I'm destined to be with."
-----And because I love you guys, I'll add another preview-----
"Mikan Sakura, I don't want to lose you again… but will you… marry me?"
End of Preview…
Kind of exciting, eh? Please review and I'll try to update as soon as I can. There are only 2 or 3 remaining chapters left so… I just want to say THANK YOU!
ARIGATO GOZAIMASU!
Keep Smiling,
Hana no Uta :P