A/N: HABLADIBLABABLADIBLAAAAH! Yes. That is how I feel. I haven't posted in forever, so I don't blame you if you feel like shooting me. Because, well, I've been obsessed with two things lately. One, my nuzlocke. Two, Harry Potter.

HOW EPIC WAS THAT ENDING? Saw it at midnight… ha. Anyways…

My goodness.

Um. A couple things. Hikari Hikuru has two parts left, including this one. Banished has like two parts left. And the request for Lady Alice21, well… referring to my banter above, would it be okay if I based your request off of J.K. Rowling's Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump. It'd be a one-shot. But if that's not what you want, then just say so or something.

I dunno. I'm seriously stressed right now! Anyways, thanks if you read all of this…

On with the show!

Hikari Hikuru 5

Hikari was floating. And a strange darkness surrounded her. But it wasn't uncomfortable. On the contrary, she thought the silent peace to be quite nice. And when she breathed in slowly, she could detect the slightest hint of rose in the air. It was her own little paradise, away from the outside world. And she never wanted to leave.

There was a mumble of slurred words, and Hikari strained to hear the speaker clearly. Finally, the slurs became individual and Hikari could hear someone whispering a familiar set of words.

"Flower strong and brave.

Live up to your name.

Such a pretty rose.

All goodness that you know.

Pure at light itself.

As caring as an elf.

As graceful as a fairy.

Bringing rest unto the weary.

Such a pretty rose.

All goodness that you know."

Hikari smiled sadly and realized that she would have to leave her small paradise. So she breathed in deeply and opened her eyes.

~o0o~

At first, the world was blurred, and she could only see a smear of purple and tan. But as her vision became focused, she could see that Shinji was standing over her, unusual concern etched on his face. Shinji exhaled in relief and patted Hikari's head.

"You're okay." He whispered, smiling softly.

"Shinji?" Hikari grumbled, confused at the Prince's uncharacteristic kindness. "No. Who are you and what have you done with Shinji?" Hikari demanded, bewildered. She just sighed, shaking her head, deciding that she was in a dream, and tried to sit up. But her body was weak and it protested her efforts, so she remained lying down on what she assumed to be a bland hospital bed.

"You almost died." Shinji said bluntly. Yet he took her hand and ran his fingers through her hair.

"I must have died, because this is fake. You are not nice. You don't like me. I have died." Hikari decided and pushed Shinji away from her with the little strength she had.

"The Black Ash. It almost killed you." Shinji nodded to her. "You lived, though."

"Oh." Hikari mumbled in realization. Shinji was thinking about Sakura, who died of the Black Ash a couple years ago. "I'm sorry." She mumbled.

"So Reiji told you, eh?" Shinji asked, smirking.

"Yeah." Hikari whispered. "Sorry."

"Don't be. At least you lived. For some strange reason, I might add. There was no medicine to cure you. And yet you lived. You see," he whispered sadly. "The whole time the doctors ran around you frantically, I could only see you as Sakura. And I knew that, you had to live. I couldn't have the only two people that actually tried to talk to me die. So I knew, that when you woke up… that we would have to make this whole arranged marriage thing work."

"Wow." Hikari mumbled in disbelief. "Talk about a change of heart."

"Not exactly a change of heart, but a change of mind. That kind Prince was buried somewhere deep inside me. But my mind was set on hating you. You reminded me too much of the girl I once loved. Somehow you managed to bring that kind Prince out. I don't know how." Shinji confided to the bed-ridden bluenette.

"I must rock." Hikari laughed, watching with fondness as Shinji rolled his eyes.

"And we will make this work." He glared at her, but somehow, his eyes just weren't as cold as before.

A/N: SHORT. VERY SHORT. Next is a epilogue of sorts.

Yeah, Shinji is OOC, but hear me out. You see, in this little story, Shinji wasn't bitter when he was a kid. The reason he turned so was because the girl he loved died. Then, girl that reminds him of his lost one comes along and BAM! The meanness gets worse. But aforementioned girl makes him act like once used to. Ergo, a happy Shinji ^^

Ha. Sucky explanation, huh? DEAL WITH IT!

See yas next time!