Disc: I don't own G.A.

One small crack does not mean that you are broken, it means that you were put to the test and you didn't fall apart.

Fourth Encounter: The Extinguished Fire

Mikan heard a beep from the other line and she met Ruka's curious gaze.

"Is that Natsume? Are...you two going out?" Ruka asked. Mikan resisted the blush creeping up to her face and she shook her head.

"We just hang out... like a lot," Mikan told him, not completely sure about her answer.

Ruka gave her a playful look, and he suddenly smirked. That irked Mikan and she raised one eyebrow to him.

"You two like each other though, so why aren't you going out yet?" Ruka asked. Mikan completely blushed at the 'yet' part of his question because not too long ago, Mikan was so fixated on keeping her friendship with Natsume.

"I...," Mikan trailed off and jumped in shock when the banging started. This time it was not Ruka who was doing the abusing to the door, but someone from the outside.

"MIKAN?"

She heard the yell from the other side of the door and Mikan's eyes sparkled in recognition. She walked up to the door and answered his call.

"I'm getting you out of there. Wait a second," Natsume said, his voice reverberating through the wall.

"Yes," Mikan softly responded.

The lass didn't know why, but Ruka was suddenly staring at her with eyes distant and searching. The fellow suddenly smiled at her, and she tilted her head to the side with scrunched up eyebrows.

"What?" she asked.

She thought that maybe Natsume was getting a teacher and to open the door by the sound of the shuffling of shoes outside, getting farther and farther away from the door. Mikan's attention was then shifted to Ruka who suddenly spoke.

"Natsume sure is lucky. You know, Sakura-san, the first impression I had on you was that you were quiet and you were probably the type of person who's hard to get along with. But, now I feel like it is changed. Right now, while waiting for Natsume, you're dazzling; there's a glow in you and your smile is clearly meant for that special someone," Ruka said.

The red tint on Mikan's cheeks deepened and she looked away from the lad. She stared at the door, the only barrier preventing her from seeing Natsume.

"You're right. I was exactly that type of person, and I know that it's only been half a year since I met him, but he changed me in so many ways. Not only him, but also Anna, Nonoko, Hotaru, and," she paused and looked at Ruka, "and you."

Ruka's eyes widened slowly in surprise and Mikan didn't know how her smile to him was affecting him.

"Mikan, step back," Natsume shouted from the other side.

Mikan did was she was told and the door swung open. Natsume was sweating, and Mikan couldn't help but feel like this guy really cared for her. He must have ran all the way here, the brunette thought.

"Are you guys okay?" Natsume asked and he looked at Mikan and Ruka alternatively.

"Yeah, you're my savior, bro," Ruka walked up to him and clapped Natsume's back. Natsume just shrugged it and both of them laughed.

"Thank you," Mikan told Natsume. He walked closer to her and he clasped her hand together with his. Unbeknownst to them, their blond-haired guy friend was staring at them, outside of the doorway.

"Who would have thought that I would fall for that smile?" Ruka mumbled to himself. A sudden realization that he got his heart broken right when he fell for a girl, had hit him.

25th. The date that Mikan was waiting for. She was cooped up in her room, staring at the window. It was dark, but there was some lights outside. She wished that tomorrow it would snow, because she loved winter season because of it.

Crash!

Mikan knew what it was. It was just outside of her room, which was inconveniently right across the dining room.

"Why?! Just go to hell! I don't need you in my life, nor in that child's life! You're a scum! Don't ever come back!"

"Really?! If it weren't for me, you and that child would have already starved to death! You can't even find a steady job because of your rotten personality!"

"How dare you!"

Mikan plugged in her earphones and put the music in full blast. She didn't care if the payment would be her eardrums, but as long as she could escape her reality even just for a few hours, she would gladly pay for it. Her parents' fights were getting worse to the point that all of their appliances in the house have already been destroyed into pieces.

"I want to leave...," She murmured to herself.

Her door bounced open out of the blue, and her mom was a mess. Her hair was not properly brushed, and she was fully red in rage.

"Wh-what?" Mikan asked, fumbling for her earphones and pulling them out. Her mom looked like a beast looking for its prey, and Mikan hated that look the most. It was full of hate... and regret. And Mikan knew what they were: regret that her married the man outside of her room, and regret that her mom had given birth to her.

"You," her mom pointed a finger on her, almost poking her forehead, "tell you stupid father to straighten himself out. Tell him that he is supposed to be a responsible man and not a goddamn idiot who always helps his family."

Mikan's dad barged into her room too, and the brunette realized that she was trembling. She ignored them for god knows how many years, and now they were actually to the point that they would fight in front of her and also involve her in it.

"I supported you and that child!" Her father shouted to them. He then continued on, "I paid the hospital bills and everything for that accident from two years ago!"

"Will you shut up and get out?" her mom screamed to her dad.

"Wait," Mikan choked out. She was so confused and she felt lost all of a sudden. Accident? Two years ago? What the hell? Mikan couldn't organize her thoughts.

Her mom looked at her, suddenly tensing up, and this time it wasn't a look of hate. Not only her, but also her dad, both of them were looking at her.

"You shouldn't have said unnecessary things," Mikan's mom said, grinding every words out of her mouth.

"What accident? Are you hiding something from me?" the brunetted asked, her voice suddenly cracking.

"Nothing. You don't have to worry about it. It was just your dad bumping into another car. No big deal," her mom told her. Mikan knew that it was meant to shut her up, but she couldn't do it. She'd been too quiet all these three years that she was with them, after leaving her grandma that brought her up in Hokkaido.

"You two are selfish. You're all going on and on about yourselves, and you even took me from grandma. At first, I thought you were going to be some nice parents after not meeting you for twelve years, but I was wrong. I completely fooled myself and got my hopes up, because I didn't know that you two are such a mess. I didn't know that you will only drive me to the point where I started to think that it might be better if I ran away!" I yelled out at the top of my lungs. I didn't realize that I was already crying and that they were staring at me with wide-eyes and mouths open. They obviously have not expected me to speak like this, because I've been taking all their crap silently in my own little room.

Her dad suddenly looked at her with misty eyes. Her mom held her dad's arm, as if trying to stop him from doing or saying anything. Mikan prepared herself for the worst, because she knew that she wouldn't be able to get out of this dispute without any scolding from her parents. But she didn't see it coming; she didn't know that the words that her dad would utter the next second would change her life, completely.

"You were in a car accident two years ago," her dad spoke. It didn't sink in yet. No, it wasn't easy because it felt like a boulder was suddenly weighing on her shoulders. Slowly, but precisely on hers. Mikan's eyes were focused on her bed sheet, drops of tears came out from her eyes and splattered on the cloth. Her mom got up and leaned onto Mikan's dresser.

"I'm sorry that we hid it from you. We never meant to hurt you, but we're not used to you yet," her dad's voice trembled, apologetic that Mikan didn't recognize him.

"What do you mean 'not used' to me? I've been living with you two under the same roof for three years already!" Mikan answered, clearly frustrated because she didn't know what was going on anymore.

"You were in a car accident and... you forgot everything." That statement echoed in her head like a broken cassette tape. Mikan's head spun and she could only see blurred images because of her watery eyes.

"Y-You mean... I had... an amnesia?" Mikan's question seemed alien to her. It was as if she was asking a kid how old she was. The news was like an early Christmas gift for her, and she cursed the messenger for it.

Her dad didn't answer and Mikan clamped her mouth from sobbing loudly. Her shoulders shook and she looked at her mom, desperately hoping that she would contradict her dad like she always does.

"I'm sorry. We're really sorry. I didn't know how to bring up a child like you and we don't have the courage to reveal what happened two years ago," her dad said and his voice was getting hoarse.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Mikan asked. She didn't know whether they heard it or not, because her voice came out small.

Her mom, this time, was the one who stood up in front of her. Mikan's hazel eyes followed every trail of her mom's worry lines. She always thought that there was something beneath those hateful eyes. For the first time, Mikan saw her mom cry.

"You're not... our child. We never had one."

And just like that, Mikan's world crumbled into pieces. The life in her eyes distinguished in one blow.

25th. The awaiting day. Natsume put his hands into his pockets and smiled when he saw the gentle snowflakes landing everywhere around him. She would love this, he thought. It was the day that he has been waiting for, and he even prepared a present for Mikan. After working part-time job, Natsume finally bought the thing that he wanted to give Mikan on this day.

He heard footsteps, and around this cold day, there should be no one in the park besides from him and the person that he has been waiting for. He immediately looked at the gates of the park, but it was just a lady walking her dog in the neighborhood. He looked at the time on his phone, and it was already twenty minutes past two, their supposedly-meeting time. Natsume became increasingly worried and horrid thoughts clouded his mind.

"She's too clumsy for her own good," Natsume grumbled a bit, but he was really agitated. He then fetched out the small box from his pocket. It was his Christmas gift and his birthday gift for Mikan. This day was very special for him, because he thought of how this day was definitely confession time. Today would be the day when he would tell Mikan about his feelings and ask her out, and the day when he would tell her how he knew her from the very start.

I have to thank her for saving my life that day, Natsume thought. The lad couldn't just stand still and he decided to walk out of the park. He thought of how Mikan might be lost or how she could be stuck in a ditch or something because the girl had the ability to space out on the most crucial times.

There were people everywhere, and the cafes were full, buzzing with heightened excitement. Natsume suddenly felt fidgety, and a cold feeling settled in his chest. He shook it off, and proceeded on his stroll.

His phone rang in his pocket, and he fished it out, just to see Hotaru calling him. He unconsciously clutched the small box in his hand. She might be calling me to tell me that Mikan got held up by her parents or something, the lad thought.

Natsume answered it and asked, "What's up? Did Mikan call you? She's like half an hour late already. She's definitely going to get some punishment later."

He was expecting some snicker from the motherly-Hotaru, whom he found out to be someone completely different from being 'motherly', but it didn't come. There was only silence and Natsume had to laugh to ease the tension.

His chest tightened up and the hand holding his phone had slightly trembled. He didn't know whether it was fear, but he certainly didn't like the feeling.

"What's wrong?" he finally asked Hotaru again.

"Do you love Mikan?" Hotaru asked from the other line. The tightening in Natsume's chest was unraveled for a moment there.

"You're just asking that?" he asked, sighing in relief.

"Well, do you?" she asked monotonously. The fellow didn't know if Hotaru really cared for Mikan, but based on her true personality, she was more like a tsundere; she was someone who deeply cares for someone, but will not show it unless necessary or in some other way.

Natsume knew that he could be honest to this woman, and he answered, "Yes, I do." It came out as easier than he thought it would be, but it didn't stop him from blushing madly. That sounds like a wedding vow, he thought.

"I never saw this coming at all. I'm sorry... Natsume, Mikan is...," Hotaru suddenly started sobbing uncontrollably on the other line and the pang in Natsume's chest continuously stabbed his heart.

"What...," he trailed off.

"Mikan is gone."

Early Christmas Chapter.. I'm sorry that it has to be this way, but yes, everything happens for a reason. This story, i tried to make it realistic by putting pieces together from real life situations and creating this story. Some people can relate to this story, feel free to talk to me about things and I'll listen to you guys :D Now, we have to watch for what's going to happen next! Stay tune and MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone :)

Let's support Natsume and Mikan! See you next chapter!

Truly yours,

CrimsonHazelEyes