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CONTINUATION FROM CHAPTER NINE

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Flashbacks…

""Can we ride some more, Natsume?"

"But we've rode on it seventeen times. I'm getting sick of this and this stupid carnival" I said, staring at the merry-go-round that was before me. It carried lots of kids our age, and it turned like there was no tomorrow. The merry-go-round…it's kinda like life. It goes on and on, you're riding it and there comes to a point when it stops. It's a stupid ride. It makes me angry.

"Natsume! Please can we ride some more?" she cried.

"Only if you shut up"

"Deal!" she said, shaking my hand. I took hers and we rode the stupid merry-go-round again.

"Natsume, this is my last chance to be with you – you know. You told me you're going to Tokyo."

"Can you stop being cheesy?"

"But it's true! You're my best friend, Natsume!"

"I told you that we can only ride the merry-go-round if you shut up"

"I'm sorry…"

XXX

"We're going to Tokyo already?!" I said, my dad nodded solemnly as he continued drinking his coffee and reading the paper.

"Yeah… so you better pack your bags already, Natsume" Hikari said as she placed the fine china and utensils inside a box.

"But we weren't supposed to leave until Wednesday!!"

"The hospital which gave dad the offer said that if he can come today because we need to fix the apartment, there's a patient waiting for him and the head doctor said that he needs to interview him on his background and such…" Hikari replied.

"You want me to help you pack your bags?"

"No. It's okay"

I entered my room and took out my bag that I usually use for travels. I opened my closet and dumped all my clothes inside. I stared at the picture frame on my desk. It was a picture of her and I sitting on a bench. I placed the picture frame inside and wrote on a piece of paper:

Mikan

I am going to Tokyo. I'm sorry.

I inserted the piece of paper into my pocket and continued packing the rest of my things. After a few minutes, we loaded the bags into the car. "Dad, can we stop by Mikan's house?"

"We don't have time" my dad responded, glancing at his watch

"Dad, Mikan is his best friend" Hikari told dad. He hesitated and we stopped by her house. When I arrived, her grandfather told me she was still sleeping but said he could give her a message. I handed the telegram to him and left without a word. Not knowing what she could say, not giving any way to contact me… address, telephone… I left in such a rush.

XXX

A few years passed by, I was becoming lonely. I was becoming pissed with life as well. People in my new school weren't nice. One day, the leader of the rebel group at school said I have much potential after I shouted at my teacher. He took me to this bar in the dark and gloomy places of Tokyo.

It was my first time, I looked like some newbie – facing punks, drunks and drug addicts was a whole new world to me. I hate to admit it but I felt scared. The bartender offered me a bottle of beer. I refused, but my classmates forced me into drinking.

The beer gave me a strange sensation. It began to get blurry and my feet seemed to lift up off the ground. Memories of Mikan had disappeared and what I saw before me, were my new friends. I gave a sly grin and asked for more. They applauded in approval.

From that day on, my mind focused on beer. My new friends introduced me to smoking and they showed off their flashy motorcycles and cars to me. I was brainwashed. I barged into my dad's room and told me that I wanted one. I was seventeen for God's sake. But he said no. I got pissed off.

As I walked angrily across the street and saw a truck driver, I bought a bottle of beer and kicked him out of the vehicle, I drove across Tokyo. I sped across the highway, and grinned with satisfaction. I was so dumb. Thinking that pleasing others would make a better person out of myself…

The cars stopped. People were crossing across the pedestrian lane. I was beginning to feel impatient. I remember a brown haired girl dashing across the road, I grunted with impatience and stepped on the accelerator, I felt a bump and a scream. "MIKAN!" shouted someone, I looked back and I saw nothing, except a pool of blood on the road… I shrugged and finished my bottle of beer. Then I turned to the front again, the truck was speeding towards a bank.

I pulled the brake, and it just snapped off. I panicked, I was too dizzy to open the door, the truck rammed itself against the bank wall.

The next thing I knew, I heard machines and doctors. I opened my eyes and my father was sitting down, sleeping. I was in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), with bandages wrapped tightly and casts on my legs.

"Natsume?" Hikari said, walking up to me.

"Who are you?"

"You ran over a girl, Natsume. I hate to say it but she looks like your best friend from before"

"Best friend?"

"I guess its better that I won't tell you or else you'd end up feeling guilty. Do you want a glass of water?"

XXX

Well, sorry Hikari but I know now – whether or not you told me. Damn everyone who lives in the planet, especially Mikan! Yea, I admit it. I care about that frikkin dimwit – A LOT!!!!

My cell phone rang.

"Natsume?"

It was my dad.

"Yea. What the hell do you want?"

"It's Mikan. She was found across the street…collapsed"

This couldn't get any worse, could it?

END OF CHAPTER NINE