Guess what? I finally found time to update! I'm really sorry I've been taking so long, it's just my homework seems to be holding me back...
I'm sorry… I never wanted you to see me like this… my childhood crush, will you still be the older brother I never had? Be my Nii-sama.
Mikan took a sharp breath inward and closed her eyes, she couldn't remember the last time she had ridden a subway. When she closed her eyes it was like she could become ten again; in her mind she could visit the Central Town, she could almost taste the howalon she had loved so much. She always had a difficult time recalling the flavor of howalon, which caused her to have a mad craving for it.
"What are you smiling about, Sakura?" Ruka-pyon's voice brought her back to the present. For a second she thought his appearance might be the affect of Gulliver's candy, she had to remind herself that her Ruka-pyon was all grown up now.
"Howalon," Mikan answered honestly, "I can't quite remember how it tasted."
"Well I'm sure we can always get some for you, I could always take a short break from my job and go to the central town." Ruka told her, almost laughing with relief. He had half expected her to have zoned out into some happy memory of Natsume that bring her back to the state he'd found her in. Not good.
"Really?" Mikan asked, wide eyed. "I've been dying to have some since I left the academy!"
"This is where we get off," Ruka stated as the subway skidded to a stop. Nervously, Mikan climbed out of the train, her head was filled with guesses at who Ruka-pyon would be dropping her off with. No, he wouldn't… would he?
"Sakura, SAKURA!" Ruka called her out of her guessing, "Take an umbrella, you're getting soaked!"
"Ah? Okay Ruka-pyon," Mikan took the umbrella obediently. "Wait, I thought you had two umbrellas?" Mikan told the bond man, who was now getting very wet. "I can't let you catch a cold!" Mikan cried in displeasure. "We can both use this one," Mikan offered up some space under the umbrella, and Ruka gladly took it.
"Can I at least get a hint at who you're dropping me with?" Mikan begged, to be honest not knowing was really starting to get to her. Ruka chuckled and shook his head. "Pu-leeeeze!" Mikan continued. "I'll do aaanything for you if you tell meeee!"
"Really?" Ruka was caught off guard by this; Mikan giggled at his surprise, wondering if he would take the bait. "Anything? You'll do anything?" Ruka was dumbfound.
"I promise." Mikan told him sweetly. She was now very curious about exactly what he wanted her to do. This is Ruka-pyon, Mikan reminded herself, he wouldn't make me do anything crazy. Mikan didn't know just how wrong she was.
"Fine, I'll tell you." Ruka gave in and Mikans face lit up. "You're going to be staying with Tsubasa and Misaki; they got married a year ago, and Misaki is four months pregnant."
"That's wonderful!" Mikan exclaimed grinning like an idiot. "Does she know if it will be a boy or a girl?"
"No, they want a surprise," Ruka told her with a small smile. "Looks like they've been waiting for us," Ruka pointed to the porch of the house directly in front of them.
There sat Tsubasa, and it looked almost as if he hadn't aged at all. The only visible changes Mikan could see were the absence of the black star which had sat under his left eye and that he seemed to have grown a few inches. Looking at Tsubasa was like going back in time; Mikan's memories of the special ability type class. It took Mikan a minute to release time had changed.
"Long time no see, Mikan" Tsubasa greeted Mikan jokingly, his mischievous smile glued to his lips.
"Tsubasa-sempai! It's been forever!" Mikan cried, half laughing, she was glad to be strong enough to greet him with a smile.
"I'm not your sempai anymore, you know." Tsubasa told Mikan with a chuckle and held her in a tight embrace.
Ruka's POV
There she is. I can almost see her coming through, the girl I love. But is it really her? Forgive me…
Ruka was pleased with Mikan's recovery; he hadn't thought she could become her old self so fast! If her appearance hadn't of changed over the years Ruka could've almost mistaken her for her ten-year-old self. I hope she doesn't turn back now, Ruka thought.
"Ruka-pyon just told me you're going to be a father! Congratulations!" Mikan told her old friend. Crap! What if Tsubasa thinks I'm getting her confused with her ten-year old self! Ruka cringed, realizing that if Tsubasa came to that conclusion he might be a bit right.
"Gave in did you, Ruka?" Tsubasa turned to look at the blond man, smirking.
Deciding to take it in a joking manner, Ruka rolled his eyes. "She just kept begging…" Ruka paused, "Speaking of which, she'll probably start again if you don't get Misaki-san out here; because I'm sure Sakura is just dying to talk to her about the baby."
"Oi Misaki!" Tsubasa called "Mikan's here!" Within a minute a somewhat tired looking Misaki appeared at the door, a smile crept across her face.
"Mikan! It's been forever!" Mikan gently wrapped her arms around Misaki, careful of her swollen belly; Misaki however, embraced Mikan so tightly she almost took Mikan's breath away.
"I always knew you and Tsubasa would get married some day!" Mikan exclaimed. "And now you're even going to have a child! That's so great!"
"It's good to see you haven't changed, Mikan." Misaki laughed, her crimson eyes spackling. If you had seen her a few days ago… Ruka thought hoping with all his heart that Misaki was right. Tsubasa shot a confused glance at Ruka; Ruka understood this, just a few days ago he had told Tsubasa about the death of Hiroshi, so of course the cheerful Mikan was strange to him.
"I'll take you to your room," Misaki told Mikan. "I'm sure those two have things to talk about." Misaki is perceptive, Ruka thought as the two women disappeared into Tsubasa's house.
"So what's the cause of Mikan's transformation?" Tsubasa cut to the point, looking Ruka in the eye.
"Honestly I don't know, two days ago she just told me she'd give living another try…" Ruka's voice trailed off.
"I understand," Tsubasa lay a hand on Ruka's shoulder. "Just promise me Ruka," Tsubasa paused, "promise that you'll remember that however much it may seem that she hasn't changed, Mikan is not the girl from our childhood anymore."
With all his heart Ruka wished he could make such a promise, but he felt that this was a promise he could never be able to keep. "I promise I'll try my hardest to remember," he paused. "It's just that I'm already getting the Sakura from childhood and the current Sakura confused."
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