A/N: This was a spur-of-the-moment piece. Which means it would not be as good as Winter's Caper. But please tell me how you you find it. PLEASE? But here it is, enjoy! Hope you like it! Please review!

*Hugs to all readers and reviewers!*

ANONYMOUS REVIEWS ARE ACCEPTED!

COMING HOME

Ren Arwydd

Maybe there's darkness in these times,

It's not fairy tales that Ruka's clinging on to. It's more like gypsy charms, four petal clovers and snowdrops that he's seeking for but all he can find is broken mirrors, endless rows of ladders and bouquets of black roses. He would be lying, not wholly at least if he said his concern for Mikan was personal. Natsume's not faring well, he's slipping down a mountain that he's finally reached the top of. He's merely existing now, without the comfort of her eternally beaming smiles and chiming laughs.

Maybe it's time to pack up,

Mikan is still struggling. Still coming to terms with the fact that it is possible she's finally lost her way, lost her soul, lost her heart. She's still hoping though, praying that salvation's finally going to land in her palms, kneeling at the feet of stars because they are the only conceivable saviours she can hold on to. She's crawling, creeping, tumbling her way to home. It's not an easy walk, it's not expected to be for she's keeling in agony, falling into pits of misery and clambering out of it only for the whole thing to rewind. But it's nearing the end of the exodus.

To move on,

"Natsume, you have to take a break," Sumire sits opposite him.

"Natsume, c'mon you need to get out. It's killing you, sitting here and watching her lose her way. It's pulling you into the same cesspit too." It's all hot air and empty syllables though because he doesn't listen. When has he ever obeyed what anyone said? He's got to believe that it's all gonna end because if it doesn't, how does he go on?

I never meant to leave you,

They can't find anything concrete, nothing solid to hold on to. All they find as they delve deeper and deeper into this whirlpool, is the vague shadows, formless spectres and underlying currents of dark things. They can't do anything more, Hotaru realises one day. That's the day she curls up in a small ball after breaking Amanatsu into worthless rubble, what it should have been from the start. What's the point of having the imitation when the real thing's slowly ripping up your remaining tatters of hope?

Yuu and Koko's not willing to give up. They have gone the opposite road and this is driving them mad. If she does not come around soon, everyone's going to lose sanity. That's already happening, what the heck, it feels better slowly losing it, because it means losing the ability to feel.

But I didn't realise it till it's done and gone,

He's sitting beside her in her favourite spot. The half dead clearing the Dangerous Abilities used to use as a training ground. It's not what you would expect of her to like but she told him that it held an affinity for her.

"Isn't it rather depressing?" he asked her a long, long time ago.

"Maybe. But I don't see that. It's also the place where you get the best view of sunsets and the best place when it's winter. It's essentially as if all that beauty hides all this..."

I promised though,

Mikan is not sure. But she can finally see the end of this harrowing road that she started on. Just maybe things would be better. Natsume can feel her fingers curl around his. And he doesn't dare look up.

"Natsume."

That one word's convinced she's back for good.

I will come home.

A/N: About what happened to Mikan, that's a little tidbit for you to interpret and speculate. After all, it's a form of exercise for those little grey cells eh? I am working on it right now, but tell me what you come up with.