Finally back from my trip and my thighs hurt like hell whenever I try to sit because I have been walking A LOT. So now I am exhausted and my brain is not working right, but I have finished the 17th chapter and its here for all of you ^_^

Pernicious

I have to get the Hyuuga Company by whatever means necessary. I can't let that little nobody get the best of me…

"This isn't what you want"

His stupid voice is ringing in my head again. Of course this is what I want! More money and power than anybody else!

"It isn't you"

Darn Ryuji Karashima! Get out of my head! I'm not the same person you once knew. The girl you grew up with disappeared a long time ago. She has been replaced by this ugly repulsive monster that tramples on people's feelings, just like I did to you five years ago.

I can't look back to how I once was, this is my future now and I can't let anyone jeopardize it. I'll get rid of anything that's in the way, starting with that Sakura girl.

It wouldn't be hard to get her out of the way now that I have acquired the necessary contacts. I dialed the number and brought my phone up to my left ear.

"Hello, this is Shizuoka Rumiko. I have something to request…" I trailed off as I felt a smirk form on my lips "I want Sakura Mikan to transfer to the German branch as early as possible"

Pernicious

"Are you sure? That soon?" I heard Misaki's voice as I was about to approach her office. She sounded a bit surprised and sad. I wonder what kind of news she had that made her a bit down. I knocked on the door of her office and heard her hang up the phone.

"Come in" I heard her say giving me permission to enter her office.

"Hey Misaki-san, I just finished these papers so I'm here to drop them off" I said as I walked in with a stack of papers in hand.

"Ah, Mikan! Thanks for the good job!" said Misaki jumping a bit at the sight of me, it seems she wasn't expecting me. I walked over to her desk and placed the papers there.

"Is there something you want to say?" I asked as I noticed the edgy look in her eyes. She sighed and gave a small smile.

"Well I wasn't expecting to see you so soon after receiving the news" she said making me wonder what she was going with this.

"I just got a call from the main office. They just informed me that your relocation has been moved up" explained Misaki.

"Really? When?" I asked, she took a deep breath.

"Next week" she said, for a moment I was stunned. The original date had moved to a month earlier. I recovered from my momentary shock and acted like normal.

"Oh really? So soon" I said as I forced a smile. Misaki looked at me sadly.

"I'm gonna miss you so much!" said Misaki, I nodded. I gonna miss everyone in the office. After working here for so long it feels like everyone is my family.

"You should call or email us often okay?" said Misaki.

"Save it for the farewell party Misaki-san" I said, she nodded "Is there anything else I can do for you? Before I leave that is"

"Nope, it's fine. I think you should go follow up on your accommodation and other things" she said as she shook her head.

"Okay" I said as I bowed and exited the office. I wonder why the date was moved so early. Now I have to tell my co workers, Serina, Hotaru, Ruka, Karashima-kun and…maybe even Natsume. If I ever have the chance to see him this week, maybe I would tell him. I guess it would only be fair after all. As I went back to my work space, I told some of my co workers what Misaki had told me. They all felt a bit sad that I was leaving but they wished me good luck and planned a farewell party before I would leave for Germany. Now I have to tell the others. Guess I'll arrange a date or something.

As I arrived in the lobby of my apartment building, I saw Serina in the lobby as always. She saw me come in and smiled at me.

"Hey Mikan, how was your day?" she asked as usual.

"It was fine" I answered then I proceeded to tell her about my relocation to Germany.

"Oh really? You're leaving?" she said with a sad look "I feel sad that you won't be staying here much longer then"

"Yeah, me too" I said, I'm gonna miss her. I got along with her so well these past few years "When I come back here, I'll be sure to give you some souvenirs"

"I just want you to be well while you're in Germany" she said giving me a reassuring smile "At least you'll get a promotion there. That's good!"

"I guess" I replied, I feel somewhat indifferent about that. Sure a higher position would be nice, but it's not like I really wanted it badly like some other people. I finished talking to Serina in the lobby and went to my apartment and checked my flight and accommodation in Germany. Now that I think about it, there wasn't many days left before I leave Japan. Of course I would definitely come back here for Hotaru's wedding, but I'll miss this place. Maybe I should spend the rest of my week soaking up all the favorite places and things I like to do here.

I decided to call Hotaru and arrange a meeting with her and Ruka this week. We decided to meet tomorrow at a favorite café of mine near my office. I would tell her the news then. After that call with Hotaru, I was now fiddling with my phone. I was battling with myself with who to call: Kirishima Ryuji or Hyuuga Natsume? Why was I choosing between them two? For some reason this feels like if I call either of them first, it's like I'm choosing who I want to date. I should call Kirishima right? But why is Natsume suddenly coming in between my thoughts? I think it's perfectly logical to call Kirishima first but why does one part of my brain keep pulling out Natsume from my file of thoughts?

I was still staring at my phone when it suddenly beeped making me drop it on the floor. Great, I hope there was no damage. I picked up my phone and it was still ringing, thankfully. When I looked at the screen, my heart almost stopped. It's Natsume, was this some kind of trick? Did he know I was debating about calling him or not? Is fate playing with me? Okay, I stop with these theories on my head and just answer it. At least this saves the trouble of calling him.

"Hello?"

"Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to meet the day after tomorrow for some coffee" he said, he sounds so happy go lucky right now while I feel a bit sad. Maybe even guilty but I don't want to identify with that right now.

"Yeah sure, I could use some coffee then" I said.

"Great!" said Natsume, we decided on the place and time and finished our little chat. I then decided to call Kirishima. I set also set up a date with him later in the evening.

Pernicious

I saw him inside the café we agreed to meet at. He saw me and smiled; he waved at me while I waved back and walked over to the table he was occupying.

"Hey" I said as I sat down.

"What's up?" he had his arms crossed on the table.

"Did you already order?" I asked Kirishima, he nodded. He seemed to notice the sad look in my eyes as he asked a question.

"Is there something you want to say?" he asked, I told him about my move to Germany. He was a bit sad but he wished me well and wanted me to be happy. It was great talking about it with a level headed guy like him. Kirishima was a really good guy; he was kind, gentle and considerate. It made me think how he would know a woman like that Rumiko character. They seemed to have such contrasting personalities.

Since I was going to Germany anyway, I decided to ask him about it.

"Kirishima-kun, actually on that day you picked me up I heard you and Rumiko know each other" I said, he had a serious look in his eyes then he smiled reminiscently.

"Rumiko and I are childhood friends, we grew up together" he said while gripping on his cold glass of ice tea.

"Oh, I see" I looked at him warily, he was smiling but I could tell something was a bit off "Did anything happen between you two?"

"Well she wasn't always like that" he said, staring off into a distance "There was a time where she was just fun and carefree. It's just her family business that's made her all pent up and frustrated. They wanted her to become someone she didn't want to be" For some reason he seemed to be in a momentary lapse. I've never seen him this dazed before.

"Um, Kirishima-kun" he blinked and smiled like he just came back to reality.

"Sorry! I seemed to have space out! Hahaha!" he laughed like he saw something funny. It became a bit awkward after that but thankfully we were about to finish our meal and go off our own ways. It was already evening when I was walking home. I could smell the fresh river scent right next to me and gazed at the glittering city lights. There a cruise ship passing by with passengers enjoying the night with drinks and music. It reminded me so much of Odaiba and his lingering scent, the way he held me. I wonder what his reaction will be when I tell him. Would he get angry? Upset? I'm leaving him and I don't think I will ever have the chance to see him again. A dog was suddenly barking snapping me out of my reverie; I continued walking the way home under the dimmed lamp post lights.

Pernicious

I was sitting in a café with Hotaru and Ruka, I was about to open my mouth to say something when they did the same.

"You guys go first" I said, Ruka nodded at Hotaru.

"Mikan, remember when I last visited you and got a bit paranoid about the whole hangover thing?" why would Hotaru mention that? Sure it was a bit out of character for her and Hotaru isn't stupid, but I didn't really think much about it.

"What about it?" I asked, for the first time in my life I've seen Hotaru a bit slightly edgy. Whoa! What could make this ice queen…edgy?

"I took some markers myself that day and…" Hotaru was about to continue but was cut off by a hyper overexcited Ruka.

"We're having a baby!" he said with a bit too much joy that he slammed both his fists on the table causing other people to look at him surprised. I was surprised myself, to think Hotaru would let Ruka-

"Stop that! You're irritating me and the baby!" said Hotaru as she glared at her fiance, Ruka sweat dropped and kept to himself.

"As I was saying before this idiot almost destroyed the furniture, yes I am pregnant" said Hotaru as she calmly drank her tea "And Mikan, you better not be getting any stupid ideas of how this happened or else I will pull one my most highly efficient upgraded baka cannons on you and make sure you fly all the way to the Pacific ocean"

"I hope the child does not pick up your sadism Hotaru" I said as I shivered at the thought. Makes me wonder what the kid will turn out to be when he or she is an adult.

"I already started reading pregnancy and parenting books and already made sure that both Hotaru and the baby can be as healthy as ever!" said Ruka excitedly as he pulled out one of the many childcare books he brought with him. Did he bring the store or something? While Hotaru just had an apathetic look on her face. I guess Ruka had to be excited enough for two people, what would you expect from Hotaru?

"If it's a girl I'm deciding between Hikaru or Horuka. You know, as a mixture of our names right? And if it's a boy-"

"Before he bores both of us any further with his house wife talk was there anything you wanted to talk about Mikan?" said Hotaru interrupting Ruka's babble.

"Um well, first of all congratulations on your baby! I wish all of you including the baby well"

"Especially the baby, with two parents like these" I thought while trying hard to imagine Hotaru and Ruka as parents.

"And I'm moving because of work" I said as I noticed the look of surprise on both of their faces.

"Really? When and where?" asked Hotaru.

"Germany. Next week. It's sooner than I thought, that's why I had to call you guys right away" I said as they looked a bit sad at the news "They need a new editor there so they're sending me"

"I see, but you are coming to our wedding right?" asked Ruka, I nodded.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it. I'm the maid of honor after all" I said as I smiled.

"Good cause if you didn't turn up I would be rolling some heads" said Hotaru bluntly with a straight face. I take that as a sign that she will miss me…and the hormones.

"Does Natsume know?" Ruka suddenly ask, I shook my head.

"I'm meeting him tomorrow"

"I see"

"Mikan, take care in Germany" said Hotaru.

Pernicious

Oh yeah, did you see the book cover I made? I actually made that in a hurry, keke. Gotta love this new feature. So if you some updates of the progress of this story:

Twitter – twitter(dot)com(forward slash)mapledumplings

Tumblr- mapledumplinghobbies(dot)tumblr(dot)com