Ai: I'm back! Sorry for the long hiatus!

Mikan: Thank goodness! I thought you may have forgotten about us!

Natsume: Tch. Better make a good chapter to make up for the absence.

Ai: Will do everyone!

Natsume: Hurry up.

Ai: Eager to see Mikan?

Natsume: Shut up. You don't even own us.

Ai: But I own the plot.

Chapter 2:

I disliked him even more now. Who does this guy think he is? What a rude jerk.

"And who might you be?" I inquired. The guy completely discarded his blank façade;shock was written all over his face. He looked over at Misaki expectantly. She gave him a tiny nod signaling that I really wasn't pretending that I had forgotten him or something.

"Well then little girl," he said, "I'm Natsume Hyuuga. Remember that."

"No," I replied bluntly. Despite my calm expression at the moment, I was having a full out internal battle inside. All of my history notes came to me. Natsume Hyuuga. Ninth son of Emperor Rei. After Rei died, he ended the Shokuho period and began the Edo period in 1600… If he really was the Natsume Hyuuga, then I was talking to the next freaking shogun of Japan.

Focusing back on Natsume, I noticed that he was looking at me with disbelief. Take that, you egotistical jerk. I smirked and got up from the ground. Dusting myself off, I slipped through him and his guards to get outside. I still needed actual proof that I was in the late 1500's. This all had to be a joke. A sick joke.

Of course, the sight that awaited me outside didn't comfort me one bit. I recognized that the castle I was in was the Himeji Castle, but the scenery around the castle was completely different from what I was used to seeing. Instead of the skyscrapers I could usually see, there were only forests and the occasional wooden house. The air was much fresher than I could remember, and the sky was so blue that it almost hurt my eyes. My mind refused to accept reality. I willed my legs to go faster and faster. There's bound to be a way of leaving. Once I'm out of this place, I'll see that I'm still in the modern day world. I'll realize that this was all a dream.

After twenty minutes of running around, I finally gave up. I had used up all my energy, and I was also very lost. Sure, I had gotten out of the physical castle, but I now found myself in the castle's garden. This place was like a maze. There was a garden nearby, and I decided to rest in there. With each step I took, I came to realize the truth even more. I really wasn't in the modern world anymore. Tears blinded my vision once again and I just plopped down on the ground sobbing. My family. My friends. Kei. They were all gone. I would never see any of them again.

Then, I felt a hand tap my shoulder. I wiped my tears away quickly before looking up. My breath caught in my throat as I saw the most magnificent pair of cerulean blue eyes. The owner of those eyes was equally good-looking. I averted my gaze, suddenly feeling very embarrassed. My hair was probably a mess and my eyes were without doubt red and puffy from crying.

"Mikan?" the guy asked. I still refused to look at him. "Mikan! It really is you! You're okay now. I'm so glad. You had us really worried you know."

Right. The old Mikan was sick and dying, huh? I wondered what kind of relationship she had with this guy.

"I don't know who you are…" I was getting real tired of repeating that over and over again.

"Wh-what? A-are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I say. "I just don't know who you are. I… lost my memories." The guy was stunned. He just stood there like a statue. I didn't know why I told him I lost my memories. I guess I had just accepted the truth. Whatever the case, it would be best if I continued to be this old Mikan that everyone had known. If I came out and said I came from the future, I could be imprisoned or sentenced to death.

The guy still looked absolutely shocked, so I decided to snap him out of it. "Maybe we can start over?"

He recovered slightly. "I'm Ruka Hyuuga," he said as he flashed me a bright smile.

"Mikan Yuki- I mean, Mikan Sakura. Nice to meet you Ruka-pyon!"

Ruka looked at me quizzically, "Ruka… pyon?"

I nodded. "Yup. You remind me of a cute rabbit! I hope we can be good friends."

His eyes widened slightly and I swore I saw a slight blush color his cheeks. So this is the famous Ruka Hyuuga, huh? Half-brother of Natsume Hyuuga, became the most important advisor to the shogun. I can't even count how many articles of his we've read in history class. Maybe this whole time traveling thing isn't that bad…

"Well Mikan, if you only just recovered from your sickness, what are you doing out here? You need to be resting!"

Now it was my turn to blush from embarrassment. "I kind of got lost…" I murmured under my breath. Ruka burst out laughing.

"What? I lost my memories and can't remember this place at all!"

"Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I just found it cute. It's something you would have done before…" he frowned a little. "Before that happened."

"Did something happen to me?"

Ruka glanced at me warily. "It's nothing. If you can't remember it, then there's no need bringing it up again."

I shrugged, dropping the topic immediately. He seemed relieved and the smile was back on this face. "So, do you want me to walk you back to your room?"

Smiling gratefully, I pushed myself off the ground and began to follow Ruka's lead. As we were walking, I really took a look at my surroundings. While I was still running around like a crazy person trying to find an exit, I had missed a lot of stuff. For one, there was a nice little lake not even ten feet away from where I was. There were brightly colored koi fish swimming below the surface, enjoying the nice weather. Everything was tranquil and nice.

"So Ruka-pyon…" I began. "Can you tell me more about Emperor Rei? How many years has he ruled for?"

"You want to know more about Father huh… Well the first thing I can tell you is that he is very sly. It'll do you good to stay away from him."

"Okay. I will."

"As for how long he's ruled… I can't even remember myself. All I know is that his health hasn't been so good as of late."

There was something Ruka wasn't telling me, but I got what I wanted so I let it slide. Based on my readings, Emperor Rei's health began to deteriorate around 1595. That means it should be five years or less before Natsume takes the position of shogun. So I guess that's what fate decided for me. I'm going to live in feudal Japan and die as Mikan Sakura. The rest of the walk back to my room was pretty eventless. Both Ruka and I were occupied with other thoughts.

Before I knew it, he stopped walking and pointed to the door in front of us. "We're here."

"Thanks. For bringing me back."

"No problem. If you need anything, come find me. You can ask one of your ladies-in-waiting to take you."

"Sure. Um… I guess I'll see you."

Ruka took my hand and gave it a small squeeze before walking away. Taking a deep breath, I turned to the door and slid it open. I hope Misaki wasn't mad at me for my outburst. However, it wasn't Misaki I saw sitting on my mat.

"What are you doing here, Hyuuga?"

The prince's eyes twitched in annoyance.

"Listen little girl. I'm not going to sit here and tolerate your rudeness."

"I don't like you."

Well that came out of nowhere. Natsume looked pretty upset and an awkward silence swallowed us.

"Why?"

"Well…" the question got me thinking. Why did I hate him? I haven't even had a full conversation with him before. That's when it hit me. Natsume reminded me of Kei. Kei was also charming and good-looking. He had a big ego, and always thought that he was better than everyone else just because his parents owned a successful business. I didn't want to be involved with someone like that. I had no doubt that Natsume probably did it with half the women in this castle. Still, it wasn't like I could tell that to him. "I don't hate you."

"Liar."

"Excuse me?"

"You just told me you didn't like me. Now you're telling me you don't dislike me. Besides, you're terrible at lying."

"There's a lot going on right now. I really don't have time to sort out who I like and who I don't like."

"You know…" he said slowly. There was a look in his eyes I didn't like. It reminded me of the way Kei would look at me before trying to… make a move. "I don't think I ever really paid attention to you." Natsume finished. I was frozen in shock. Fear shook my body. He leaned in closer. Without a second thought, I kneed him in the stomach.

Natsume gave a menacing growl as his hands went to his stomach. I could only get in one sigh of relief before his face was centimeters away from mine.

"What was that for?"

"I… I'm not someone you can just screw around with!" My eyes were watering, and I was on the verge of crying. I turned around quickly.

"… I know."

"Can you please leave? I… I'm not feeling well."

There was a short pause before I heard Natsume stand up. He walked over to the door and paused again. I refused to turn around. He must have gotten the message because a moment later, I heard him step out and the door slide shut. When I could no longer hear any footsteps, I collapsed on the mat and buried my face in the blankets as I let my tears flow.

~!~

Ai: So… yea.

Natsume: I don't even know how to react to this.

Ai: That's not important. I'm just happy I finished.

Natsume: I feel like somehow I'm the villain.

Ai: You do seem like the villain here…

Natsume: Tch. And whose fault is that?

Mikan: Natsume, you pervert!

Ai: Yeah! Natsume! Why are you such a pervert?! Don't you know not to bully sweet Mikan here?

Natsume: Are you really trying to blame me?! Let me remind you again. You. Wrote. This. Chapter.

Ai: Hehehe... Review please!