Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to Tachibana Higuchi.
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Love Games
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Chapter Six – Best Friends and Big Brothers
"Why can't you and Natsume get along?" Sumire asks, leaning down to pick up the dish cloth. Mikan is sitting on the kitchen's island, being bored over her mind.
"Because we can't. We both share you, we're jealous that one from us gets your attention more than the other one."
"You're jealous that I'm dating Natsume?" Sumire asks, turns around to face Mikan and raises her eyebrow.
"Yes, correct." Mikan claps her hands together and slides down the kitchen table. She walks closer to Sumire and hugs her. "I don't want to share you."
"You're such a possessive best friend, Mikan Sakura."
"I know, but you still love me, don't you? You love me more than Natsume?" Mikan asks, stepping back from the hug. She looks in Sumire's herb green eyes.
"I love you as a friend, of course. But don't think that I daydream about you, being naked."
"Ew," Mikan makes a face, "Too much information."
Sumire laughs and pushes Mikan more away from her.
"Go, loser, I have to wash the dishes." Sumire waves her to move out the room. Mikan laughs and shows her thumbs up.
"I have a date with Ruka, wish me luck."
"Do you ever need it?"
"Maybe I'll get luck today." Mikan winks and laughs.
"How long you haven't seen him?"
"About one week. He's busy with work. I'm busy with college."
"You should get a boyfriend who's from our college."
"There's no need. I don't want to be the one who cheats in relationships. I want to have a beautiful first, real relationship with Ruka." Mikan explains, smiling at Sumire. "I think I have found my soul mate, Sumire."
"You're still young, Mikan. Don't fall too much with Ruka."
"Trust me, it's too late."
-;-
Mikan walks outside the apartment building into a heavy rain. She opens her umbrella and runs down the street. She laughs as the water from the puddles splashes on her legs, making her knee high socks wet.
She stops under one shop's roof, waiting for the taxi to come up.
Natsume walks past her, taking a glance at her as she nods at him. That's how they always do. They acknowledge each other outside their house but they never speak like close friends. Sometimes, she wonders if they are even called as friends.
The taxi stops near her and she jumps in it, telling the driver Ruka's address. She leans into the taxi's back seat's leather material. She closes her eyes and breaths out, the early autumn cold made her fingers cold.
When she's finally in Ruka's apartment, he asks her to live with him.
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The hot cup of coffee lingers in her hands. She smiles at Sumire and tells her the news she got from Ruka. He wants her to live with him. Sumire's eyes widen and she starts to shout out few phrases in joy.
Mikan laughs and hugs Sumire. She knows that she will miss her, living with Ruka. Both of them promise each other that they will meet every evening. Sumire breaks down in tears and Mikan calms her down.
When Natsume comes home from his job, Sumire tells him the news about Mikan. He smiles and says that he will miss their every day bickering. Mikan laughs out and agrees.
The day she leaves is rainy. The rain is pouring down, leafs have been blown down from the trees on the pavements and ground from the strong wind.
She runs out with Sumire and Natsume to put her belongings in the taxi. Before she steps in the taxi cab, she hugs Sumire and Natsume. She steps in and waves at them. When Mikan drives away in the taxi cab, she smiles and puts in her ears the earphones from her Ipod.
When the taxi cab stops in front of Ruka's apartment house, Mikan pays the taxi driver, jumps out and takes her luggage out from the taxi's trunk.
She thanks the driver and smiles when she notices that Ruka is waiting for her with umbrella.
"Hey," she smiles, hugs him and kisses his cheek. He smells so good. Just thinking that she will have him now the whole time makes her heart beat get quicker.
He carries the luggage and gives his umbrella to Mikan. They walk in the apartment house and she's greeted by the pale walls of the main hall and kind of rusty elevator.
When they walk in Ruka's apartment, Ruka puts Mikan's luggage on the floor and takes her hand to lead her to the kitchen. There she sees a meal that is served for her. They eat happily and talk with each other. After the meal Mikan and Ruka washes the dishes and both go to bed and take a little nap. After the nap they both enjoy their presence and embraces.
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The seasons change and now the streets are covered in white sheet of snow. Mikan comes home from university at the evening, while Ruka is taking night shifts in his job.
Sometimes Mikan feels lonely in the empty apartment. That's why she calls Sumire and Natsume over. They usually bring some more people with them, that's why it's always fun when they're with Mikan.
The days pass in a blur and every weekend comes with joy. In the weekend Ruka is free, which means that they both can spend the time together. That's when no one from them leaves the bed.
Once Sumire asked her if she doesn't get bored with the same old routine. Mikan told Sumire that she didn't have to worry. She felt fine and good with Ruka. She never wants to change it.
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It happens in one dark night.
Mikan is sitting in front of Ruka's computer when she hears a sound from her kitchen. She shrugs it off and keeps on chatting with Sumire.
Then again, she hears how the dishes are dinging. She stands up and goes to the kitchen. In her way to the kitchen she grabs Ruka's black umbrella. It's made from metal and if there is a killer, Mikan could attack him.
As she opens the door, she's surprised to see a girl, standing in front of the fridge and looking for something.
The girl looks up and smiles, "You must be Mikan."
"Who are you?" Mikan asks, not putting the umbrella down.
"Ruka told you nothing about me?" the unknown girl pouts and closes the fridge. "My name is Aoi, I'm Ruka's friend."
"And how did you get in?"
"I have this apartment's spare key. You see, Ruka is my so called big brother. Actually, he isn't my brother. I have a real brother but we don't keep in touch anymore. Ruka takes care of me when I don't have enough money. I work at the closest supermarket here and they don't give me my salary in the right date, that's why I usually parasite his fridge." She smiles at Mikan with her dazzling smile. Only now Mikan notices the color of her eyes.
"Gosh, your eyes."
"Yes, I know. They make me wonder if I'm a freak or a biological mistake." Aoi smiles at Mikan but her smile fades when she sees her frown.
"You're not a biological mistake, Aoi. It's wonderful that you have such an extraordinary eye colour."
"Don't give me this bullshit, please. I'm not seven, nor fourteen."
"How old are you?"
"I'm nineteen. Don't think that I'm still in child's mind. Life has been a bitch for me. I had to face some bad stuff when I was fifteen. All thanks to my best friends. They were assholes." Aoi curses, looks up and smiles at Mikan. "But you shouldn't know that. I think I will have to give you back the key. It looks like Ruka won't have any time for me. It's sad but I will get over it, hopefully. Was nice to meet you, err-"
Mikan smiles and ends the sentence for Aoi, "-Mikan."
"Right." Aoi nods, puts her hand in her pocket, pulls out a key and gives it to Mikan, all the time smiling. "Bye, Mikan. See you later."
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"Aoi was here." It's the first sentence Mikan says when Ruka steps in the apartment at the morning. His eyes are blood shut and he smells as sweat.
"What she needed?"
"She said that she won't come here again because now you have me." Mikan raises her eyebrow in questions and Ruka smiles.
"It's a thing Aoi likes to say to everybody, who has been once here. Don't worry, after one week she'll be back." He says, taking off his coat and shoes. He buttons open his shirt and throws it somewhere. "I'll take a shower, want to join me?"
Mikan looks at him and sees his seductive smirk. That bastard, he knows that Mikan loves showers.
"Of course, you know me." She says, walks closer to Ruka and caresses his naked skin. "I missed you."
"Same, babe." He whispers, leans down and puts butterfly kisses on her face. After that, he drags her in the bathroom.
oOo
Sumire opens her apartment's door and lets Mikan in.
"Come in faster, outside is too cold." Sumire whines and closes the door when Mikan steps in. She looks around the corridor for some changes. The only changes she notices are in the photo wall. In the middle of the pictures is now a photo of Mikan, Sumire, Ruka and Natsume.
"Wow," Mikan mumbles, taking off her coat and boots and putting her suitcase down, "A new picture in the photo wall and you didn't tell me anything?"
"I should have?" Sumire makes a face and Mikan laughs. She can always cheer Mikan up, no matter what. "What did you want to talk about, babe?"
"Ruka is going on a trip for business. He left me alone in his apartment. I thought I would get bored there, that's why I want to live with you guys for this time." Mikan turns around and points to her suitcase, "It's okay, right?"
"Did you take other stuff with you?"
"Yes, they are in the outside's corridor."
"Bring them in." Mikan smiles and goes outside the apartment to bring in her luggage. When she steps in, she smiles at Sumire and thanks her.
"What are friends for?" Sumire whispers in Mikan's ear when she hugs her.
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A/N – I'm sorry for not letting Mikan stay in Ruka's apartment.
~I Love Sugar