hey! i know you guys have been waiting for ages but i hope i made this long enough, hehe...anyways you guys have to waite a lil longer coz i got exams and i'm lucky to be playin now...so bb for now and hop you like it...ja ne!!

Chapter 2: Silver Rain

I was going to tell him. I can't believe it. I just know it. I knew it for a long time but she was lying to herself. He told me that he would meet me under the Sakura tree tonight. This was the perfect time.

Listen and you can hear,

Someone humming a familiar song.

Like sacred nectar, like a dream,

Let me sleep surrounded by it…

Nothing could have made me happier than having the chance to tell him. I stood in front of my mirror, admiring three hours of hard work. My coif was waved down my shoulders, showing the fruits of the 'curling-to-perfection' course I took on the internet that made my eyes burn like hell.

I was dressed in a white peasant shirt and a pair of light blue fitted denim jeans. I prayed he wouldn't push me away this time. This time, I'll make sure I always stay by his side.

I remember when Ruka told me the message…

Flashback

As I walked through the hallways, I heard someone call my name faintly. "Mikan!" I turned and saw Ruka-pyon running towards me. A thin sheen of sweat covered his skin. Obviously he had run quite a distance to find her.

"Hi, Ruka-pyon!"

"Mikan," he said breathlessly. "I…," gasp of breathe, "…have…," inhale, "…a…," breathe, "…message…," pant "…from…," BREATHE MAN!! "…Natsume!" He breathed hard, holding onto the wall for support as he gasped for air, breathing like there was no tomorrow.

"Really?!" I said quickly. Too quickly. So quick that Ruka-pyon glanced up to look at me suspiciously. "Oh, I mean, uh, is he hurt?"

"No," he said, a slight smile playing on his lips. "He wants you to meet him at the Sakura Tree tonight at eight. He said no matter what, he will meet you there."

"Oh, okay!" I said brightly. Before Ruka could say the rest of the details, containing goodness-knows-what, I had disappeared, running to my room.

End of Flashback

Now, I stood under the Sakura Tree, waiting. He wasn't waiting. No rush. It had only been a few minutes. I'm sure he'll be here soon. I just know it…

Little did I know…

I was so wrong…

Why is the world being washed away in contradictions and helplessness?

At sunset,

we always watched the madder-red clouds together

but you can't be with me anymore

Ruka's P.O.V.

Natsume and I hid behind some bushes with a view of the Sakura Tree and its occupants, or rather occupant. "I can't do this, Ruka," he said quietly, his bangs, which for some reason he refuses to cut, hiding all the emotion he would ever dare show in his eyes.

"What are you still doing her anyway?" I asked.

"I'm, uh-…"

"Stalling?"

Natsume didn't answer but just looked away. "You are stalling!" I exclaimed.

"Ruka..." Natsume tried to reason but I held a hand up to silence him.

"No, Natsume," I interrupted. "Don't you 'Ruka' me. It's high time Mikan get what she deserves. You." I heaved a sigh. "You'd better do this, Natsume. Don't screw this up this time. She deserves to hear this from you and you deserve to finally have your happy ending." I began to walk away then paused. "By the way, has Persona and the Academy finally let you off the mission hook?"

The flame caster smirked. "I told the guy that I broke my leg on the last one. No missions for now."

I chuckled. "All the better. You now have time to tell Mikan how you feel. And if you manage to screw this up, I suggest you transfer before Hotaru gets to you." This made the flame caster choke a little as I smiled. I disappeared into the brush.

Natsume's P.O.V.

I returned his gaze to the waiting brunette.

I had to do this! I must do this! I can do this!

I…can't do this.

Who was I trying to kid? How could Mikan ever like a guy like him? Then, he saw him. Andou Tsubasa waltzed up to her and swung his arm over her shoulders. She giggled. Ruka was so wrong. She wasn't here for me. She was here for Andou.

I began to walk away. Above, rain clouds began to gather and lightning cut across the sky.

Mikan's P.O.V.

I know he's coming. Even in this pouring rain, I will wait. No matter what. I know he will come. I'm still waiting. One hour later and he hasn't come.

Maybe he's late?

Maybe he's on a mission?

Maybe's he's just trying to decide what to wear?

I just saw Tsubasa-sempai. He was on his way to tell Misaki-sempai his feelings. I wonder where Natsume is and if he'll ever do that for me.

The rain has started. It's been four hours and its midnight. I don't know why I'm still waiting. But I know he is…I just know it…

I'm lying to myself. I knew he wasn't coming but I didn't want to deny it. To deny the fact that maybe…maybe he didn't love me. No…I don't want to hear it…no!

Then I saw Ruka. His face spoke volumes of concern. "Where's Natsume?" he shouted over the rain as his umbrella warded off the drops of rain.

"He's not with you?"

"No."

"Is he on a mission?"

"No. Persona gave him time off."

Then it dawned on me. He stood me up. My eyes pricked. I dashed from the blonde, to where I don't know. I couldn't believe that I didn't realize it. I just stood there like an idiot, waiting for something that would never some.

When the silver rain began to fall, I thought that it was a part of me

and I dried my tears

The shooting stars that cascaded,

On your body, on your shoulders,

Was amrita

As the rain kept on coming, I felt the rain on my face. They tasted oddly salty. I didn't know why. Then, I collided with something soft yet hard. I looked up and found myself in the hallway, Tsubasa and Misaki looking concerned at my red rimmed eyes. By now, I must have been hysterical.

"Mikan," Tsubasa-sempai said. "Are you alright?" I shook my head, tears resembling the raindrops that had drenched me.

I buried my face in his chest, Misaki trying to comfort me. He carried me like a big brother would. Before my world darkened, I felt myself falling deeper and deeper into the sorrow that had manifested itself into a single sentence that shook my emotions and strangled my life.

He doesn't love me…

--,--,--,--,--,

Natsume's P.O.V.

I am the biggest coward in the world.

I left Mikan under the tree, waiting for me. I knew even if she was an idiot, she would at least get out of the rain that started. Right?

I walked into class 3-A. For Ruka, Imai, Koko and I, we ended up in the same class, whereas, the idiot, Yuu, Mochu, Anna, Nonoko and Sumire ended up I in class B, much to the idiot's chagrin. As soon as my presence was felt, the noise level plummeted to nothing.

Imai looked up and I met with purple irises that blazed with fury and stained with the evidence of lack of sleep. She glared, shooting icicles that were painful and hard to burn even for me. She stood and strode to me.

SCAFF!

I was thrust to the floor by the power of the impact. "She didn't deserve what you did to her," she snarled at me. She walked out and disappeared behind the doors of the classroom.

Your heart can feel the nights

when the earth itself is crying

If your wounds are hurting you,

shoot your wish as an arrow up to the sky

As I walked to my seat, I couldn't help but feel holes burning in me. Then, my world turned to ice as I felt Ruka feeling somewhat…disappointed. "You've done some low things in your life, Natsume," he said quietly, "but this has to be the lowest ever."

"So I stood her up, so help me!" I burst. "What's the big deal?

My best friend looked at me, disgusted. "The big deal is, you did more than just break her heart. You didn't just stand her up and kill her! You landed her in the ICU and living on life support!"

"What!?"

When the silver rain began to fall, I thought that it was a part of me

Please stop the passing of time

The sound of raindrops echoes across the horizon,

something definite that,

in those days, was amrita

"She has a case of hypothermia and pneumonia. I didn't even think that was possible! But, what is really disappointing is that she's recovering from the hypo and pneumonia but her whole system has completely shut down. Everything. Her breathing stopped, her heart, her whole body." Ruka paused. "And Koko told us something. She's been saying something in her head. The only thing we could get from her."

"What?"

" 'He doesn't love me' is all she's been saying."

"It's my fault."

"I have to admit…this time…it is…"

When the silver rain began to fall, I thought that it was a part of me

and I dried my tears

Shooting stars cascade straight down

and become the rain that falls on you...

amrita

A/N: okok...did you lyk it...??? if you did, please review so i can smile even if i fail my exams!!!