Disclaimed
=pRiCe RaNge=
Natsume
I woke up hearing someone shouting at me. "Hyuuga-sama! Hyuuga-sama! The little miss is awake! Hyuuga-sama!" Little miss? SAKURA! I got up immediately. I fell asleep on the sofa in the living room after I contacted Imai. I wonder if she is really awake or still in a daze. As much as I hated to admit it, I cared about her. I ran to my room where she was sleeping. When I got there she was sitting on the bed staring at the bracelet she held in her hands. The way her hair fell on her face was dazzling but the look in her eyes were filled with immense hurt. I wanted to hold her but my pride told me not to. I hated my pride right now. I stood at the doorway looking at her. "Natsume-kun, I feel like a worn rag doll." She said in a dead voice. She called me Natsume. Usually I would get mad at someone who used my first name without my say-so but the way she called me was like seeking comfort. I wasn't sure if I knew how to comfort anyone. I would try. For her. I risked my pride and neared at the gigantic bed. "Natsume-kun why does the world hate me?" She wasn't crying she was just robotically saying these things. It was like she lost her soul. I sat on the bed. "Natsume-kun I tried to be good again. I promise I did." What she said didn't make any sense anymore. "Shh." I told her as I gathered her in my arms. I rocked her in my embrace. We sat there like that for what seemed like hours. Then I heard her sobs. It killed me to hear her cry again. It's better than nothing I told myself. She clutched my shirt like her life depended on it. "Natsume-kun I didn't mean to be a disappointment to everyone…I just wanted to make them happy…" She cried and I held her. Sometimes she stopped crying. Most of the time she didn't. She would just let me hold her. I didn't hear her talk much after her last emotional outburst.
It has been three days since she that night. Mikan(She wanted me to call her that even though I didn't want to.) stayed at my house. She was like a lost and wounded puppy. She didn't let go of my hand if she didn't need to. The sudden closeness was weird for me but if it would help her to recover I won't object to it. Last night she wouldn't sleep without me by her side. So I had to stay there until she fell asleep. She didn't speak to anyone except me and the head maid Riu. When Imai called Mikan wouldn't speak to her. Today was Monday so we have classes. Mikan didn't speak even to me the entire morning when I told her that we would have to attend school. "They have to see that you're okay. They're all worried about you." She nodded but still didn't speak to me. I doubt she would speak to anyone.
Riu got her ready for school since Mikan wouldn't move unless she was told to by either me or Riu. Mikan avoided all mirrors so she didn't maintain herself. Riu was the one who dressed her. It was like Mikan was one big Barbie doll. Riu dressed her like a little girl. Mikan was in a pink floral dress that reached above her knees and had baby pink leggings underneath. "She said she wouldn't wear anything that would possibly show her underwear." Riu explained. Her hair was in two braids on both sides of her shoulders. She had red high heels on. Even though she looked 'Ahem' beautiful she still looked down. She approached me and she held my hand again. If this goes on my hand will fall of. I said to myself. Since she wouldn't let go of my hand I had a driver take us to school.
As I predicted she didn't say a word when we got to school.
I dropped Mikan off at her first class. She looked at me like she would die if I left her there. I thought she wouldn't let go. Then she hugged me in a swift motion then sat in her chair. Without looking at anyone. She stared out the window where she could see the Sakura tree. I hope she would be okay.
When it was lunch time I saw Mikan sitting alone at a bench. When she saw me she immediately stood up and walked up to where I was and clutched my hand. "Look at Hyuuga's new arm candy." I heard someone nearby say. I approached the freak who said that and hit him square on the jaw. "Come on." I told Mikan as we walked away from the jerk. Mikan let go of my surprisingly hand and went to the guy I hit. "Gomenasai" She said and bowed. Then she ran back to me and held my hand again. This girl is getting weirder by the second. I said to myself.
CAFETERIA
RUKA
Hotaru and I saw Mikan and Natsume this morning. "She went back into depression again." Hotaru thought aloud. We were there during High School when Mikan was first like that. "You need to talk to Hyuuga. I bet he's confused right now." Hotaru said in a worried voice. I nodded.
Beep…Beep…
Natsume, We need to talk.
About what?
Mikan.
Where?
I'll just go to your house after your class.
Sure, see you then.
Beep.
HYUUGA RESIDENCE
When I got to Natsume's place Riu said he was still out. "Oh, I'll just wait for him to get back." I said as the middle aged maid gave me a beverage. "Arigatou Riu-san." A couple of minutes later Natsume arrived. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Mikan didn't want me to leave. When I left her at her place she was depressed again." Natsume explained while he massaged his temples. "Hotaru and I saw you together during lunch." His face twitched. "I told her that you guys wanted to see her but she wouldn't let me. She kept saying that she would only disappoint everyone more." Natsume said in an unsure voice. "We know. That isn't the first time she was like that." I told him cautiously. Natsume sat in the chair in front of me indicating for me to go on. I sighed. This was going to be a long story…
High School-Sophomore Year About Four Years Ago
Mikan, Hotaru, Ruka and the others were a 'group'. Mikan was always the little girl of the group. Then during the start of the semester Mikan bloomed into a beautiful lady. Every guy in the school wanted to know her. Every guy courted her but Mikan who was completely dense only wanted friendship. She was the 'untouchable flower' in our school. Then a few months later an foreign exchange student came to our class. He had brown hair that curled on the ends and blue eyes that captivated the heart of every female student in and out the high school. The student's name is Xavier Stratford. Xavier was introduced to the group by Anna. That was when Xavier and Mikan first met. It was love at first sight. It was like they completed each other. They looked even more beautiful together then when they were apart. They even had a fan club. It seemed like they were never apart from each other. The group saw their love grow. Mikan was always on cloud nine. She and Xavier exchanged gifts for even the smallest occasions. Their gifts to each other always had something to do with Sakura trees. It was their sign of love for each other. During Valentines that year instead of the boring old chocolates Xavier received a single silver earring shaped like a Sakura blossom and Mikan received a silver charm bracelet with pink diamond sakura blossoms as charms. They wore each other's gift like it was meant to be there. Some gifts and celebrations were even more extravagant. Mikan was still living with her parents so she saved all her money and Xavier was belonged to a wealthy family so money was no object to him. The monthly school magazine always had an article or two about them. Like 'The Sakura Couple Goes To Hong Kong To Celebrate 5th Monthsary' or 'X+M carved on Sakura Tree on Campus. Sakura tree Paid for by the couple themselves' It was obvious that they were celebrities during that time. They were the perfect couple. Then Xavier wrote a poem in the magazine each month for Mikan, His Sakura.
It was now senior year. The power couple was still as strong as ever. The first two weeks of senior year were okay. Then everything went downhill for Mikan. Mikan's parents divorced. She was going from one parent to another until she said she wanted to live alone. Then Mikan's fan club turned on her they said she didn't deserve Xavier. She was still holding herself together because her cornerstone was still there, Xavier.
Mikan and Xavier were sitting at 'their' Sakura tree. "Cherry Blossom, If I left would you be okay?" Xavier asked Mikan in an unsure voice. "I don't know and I don't want to find out." Mikan said as she hugged her boyfriend tightly and kissed him on the cheek. A month later Xavier left. No one knew why he left or where he'd gone to, except Mikan. Mikan was broken in every way. She clung to Hotaru everywhere. She wouldn't talk to anyone but Hotaru. Everyone started hating Mikan because of rumors that said it was Mikan's fault that Xavier left. Mikan spent every moment of her spare time under the shade of the Sakura tree.
During graduation Mikan celebrated alone. Hotaru told her that she needed space to breath. Mikan looked for a blank notebook and started writing. Every feeling she coped up inside was being written on that notebook. Mikan was still depressed as ever but at least now she had a way to express what she felt.
One rainy day Mikan went out to meet with Xavier's sister at a restaurant. "Xavier told me to give you this." She said handing Mikan a pink envelope. Sakura petals. Mikan was hurt all over again. Mikan left the restaurant because she was afraid of breaking down in front of Xavier's sister. I'll be fine without him. Mikan told herself. While she was walking she read the letter.
My Cherry Blossom,
I'm sorry for leaving that way. I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye to you face to face. I'm now in California. My parents want me to study college here then take over the family business. My time with you will forever be the most precious days of my life. You are the most beautiful, caring, innocent and emotional being that I will ever know. You will always have a place in my heart Sweet Blossom. Please for give me for what I will say next but I think you should know. My parents arranged a marriage for me here. Even though I objected to it there was nothing I could do. They were going to hurt my friends there and you. You especially, so I could do nothing but oblige. I am deeply sorry. You'll always be special to me but I have to devote myself to this engagement and my family. I won't be coming back, ever. I won't look for you. So please let me go and move on. Love again. As much as I know you don't want to hear this. Time will teach me to love the person I have to marry. She's good for me. Time will also lessen my love for you. I hope it does the same for you.
Embracing reality,
Xavier
Mikan's tears were hidden by the pouring rain. "At least the clouds understand what I feel." She said as she crammed the 'move-on letter'. She didn't realize she was crossing the street when…
RAIN
…
…
…
…
BLOOD
…
…
…
TEARS
SOMEONE CALL 911! SOMEONE'S HIT! IS THERE A DOCTOR HERE! … Mikan tried getting up but there was sever pain in her rib cage and her head. "He's not ever coming back…'cough'…so its better for me to leave too…'cough'" Mikan whispered to the clouds. Then she felt that she was being lifted. " 'cough' Ruka-kun…'cough' "
"What happened to her?" Hotaru asked Ruka. "She was hit by a car. A witness said she wasn't looking when she crossed the street. That she was reading something." Ruka informed Hotaru. "That Idiot!" Hotaru screamed. "Wait what could she have been reading that couldn't wait until later." Hotaru knew that Mikan wasn't the type to be reading unless required to or unless it was something written by… XAVIER! "Where's her bag?" Hotaru asked the now confused Ruka. He handed the hand bag to Hotaru. She dumped all the contents on the floor. Cherry lip gloss, keys, cell phone, money…a piece of pink paper? Hotaru opened the crumpled thing and read it silently. She grew redder by each word. She slammed the piece of paper on Ruka's chest. "How dare he! How dare he hurt her again! That jerk! Doesn't he know how hard her life is right now!" She approached the still unconscious Mikan and held her hand. "She's so fragile and everyone keeps breaking her." Hotaru said with misty eyes.
After Mikan woke up she changed suddenly. "I want to date again. I don't care about that jerk face anymore." Mikan said in a cheerful voice. Every one thought she had gone crazy. "You don't have to do this Mikan-chan." Anna said. "Its not that I have to, I want to." She said happily. Then after that she became a 'play girl'. She dated and 'loved' a guy for a month or two then brakes up with him then dates another guy and another guy and so on.
END OF HIGH SCHOOL STORY
"So that's why we think she's like that now." I finished. "Hn." Was all Natsume said. My best friend seemed to be affected my Mikan. For Natsume that's an improvement but as for Mikan. We can't say what's best for her anymore. "Anyway, she'll hang on to you unless you tell her off and if you do she'll feel rejected and guilty all over again. Believe me, Mikan going crazy is as bad as Hotaru going crazy." I told him. Natsume twitched. "But why won't she speak to Hotaru or any of you guys?" Natsume asked me. "Because she thinks that if she hangs around us with her in that situation she'll be causing trouble for us. She won't listen if we try to explain. MIkan is as stubborn as a rock when she decides these things." I sighed. "Well I better get going Natsume. Hotaru told me to talk to you and to tell you to take care of Mikan for her. She said she'll pay you back someday for this." I smiled then left.
End of Chapter.
Sad chapter. I'll try to liven things up. R&R