I'm so sorry for the delay, but I made it extra long for you guys! I hope you will love it! Please review! Now without further ado, enjoy the chapter!

Sincerely, SilverMeaning of Life and Love

Chapter 3- For better or for worse

It has been a week since our honeymoon. We barely left the bedroom, I wouldn't have minded exploring the cruise ship, but Natsume was very persuasive about staying in bed. The last night of our honeymoon was difficult and even painful, but we made it through. We made it, together.

...

Flash Back

I was sound asleep until someone bit down on my neck.

"Ow," I jumped and faced my vampire.

"I'm glad to see you're awake," Natsume licked his lips as his eyes traced my naked form.

"Eyes up here!" I scolded.

He chuckled, "I'm sorry, you are just so tempting. I couldn't help myself."

I giggled. "Come on, let's take a shower. It is our last night; we should spend it with our friends. We need human interaction."

"I can provide you with human interaction." He winked.

"I don't need any more of your type of human interaction." I smirked.

"You don't mean that." He grinned.

"I do, actually." I stuck out my tongue.

You're going to regret that," he warned.

I dashed for the bathroom, next thing you know I was pinned down. He winked at me. "I told you, you would regret it." He said seductively.

I shivered and grinned. "I'm not regretting anything; I got you right where I want you." I kissed him and led him to the bathroom.

I turned on the shower head and faced him. I bit my lip seductively. He watched me. I grabbed his shirt and ripped it away. I sighed as I saw his strong muscles. He chuckled, while I continued to observe him. I pulled off the remaining clothing that was keeping us apart. I smiled, happy to see my work was complete. I pulled him for a kiss and then we fell in the shower. It was blissful; absolutely perfect. The way he moved was magical; his kisses were intoxicating; his eyes were hypnotizing. I was at the perfect place on earth.

After our extremely "relaxing" shower, we decided on seeing our friends.

We decided to match for captain's night. We chose red. Natsume smirked as he put on his dashing tux. What really drove me insane was his sexy, crimson, silk tie. I couldn't help my fingers as I reached over and tied it for him.

I felt self-conscious as he watched me with awe. "You know, I've always wanted to help you dress. I love being your wife. I'm able to do these little insignificant gestures for you. I'm happy." I beamed.

He chuckled and pulled me close. "You have no idea how much I've wanted to hear you say that. I love being the only person that can hold you like this. I love being the person to see all your sides. I love being with you every moment of every day, and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world."

I smiled and kissed him slowly and fully on the mouth. "I love you so much." I turned to my beautiful crimson dress. It was low cut and tight around my hips and held my breast in place. I modeled in front of the mirror and was proud of my decision. Now it was time for makeup. I put a simple stroke of eyeliner and a bit of blush for my pale cheeks and a striking red for my lips. After that, it was time for jewelry. I decided to go with nice diamond earrings. I had a simple black choker placed on my neck. My hair was cascading in small tresses down my back. Once I twirled around the mirror, I turned to Him. He stared at me with those eyes that make me fall to my knees and make me hot all over. I controlled my breathing and stared evenly to his eyes of fire. He licked his lips and presented to me his angelic smile.

"You look beautiful." He took a step forward.

"Well, Mr. Hyuuga, you look absolutely dashing, tonight. " I took a step forward.

"Well, I'm glad my wife approves" He grinned.

Every step was agonizing torture. The slowness of our steps was making my heart race. I need him closer, closer, oh so much closer. I need his body covering mine. The way his hands send electricity everywhere and to my very core was otherworldly.

We finally reached each other and then the magic faded. Everything faded. All that came to mind was the shortness of his life, as well as mine. I faltered in my smile and I hoped he didn't notice. I ran into his arms and held him still. I made sure he didn't move, that way he couldn't see the tears pooling at my eyes.

"You're crying aren't you?" His voice broke.

"No, I'm not. I'm just so happy to have this time with you." I lied.

"We haven't even made a month and you are already lying to me." He pulled away and faced me.

My heart broke into a million pieces. The gaze, his gaze, was filled with anger. "I'm not lying. I'm happy to be here with you. Why can't you believe that?" I pulled away from him.

He grabbed hold of me and sneered, "This is why. You are pushing me away. You don't do that when you are 'happy to be with someone', especially when you are married to him."

I pulled him close and stared evenly to his eyes. "I am happy. I am so happy to be with you that it hurts. It hurts, knowing that our time is limited. It hurts knowing that once you are gone I have nothing left to live for. It hurts knowing that once you are gone I won't be able to hold you in my arms, or kiss you and touch you like I can do now. Loving you is a double edged sword. Your love is my life and yet it will cause me pain in the end. "I confessed.

His eyes were in pain. "Being with me, is causing you pain? he questioned.

"No, it's not. It's the thought of living without you, which is causing me pain." I whimpered.

"I see. I need some time alone. I'll catch up with you soon. "He turned away.

I reached for him, but I knew he needed time. I grabbed the door handle. "You know this isn't easy for me either. " He confessed.

I pulled open the door and paused, "I know." I walked out and headed for the deck.

I faced the moon. Her evenly gaze met mine and chastised me. The moon, so lovely and kind, welcomed me with loneliness. Voices spoke to me. They accused me of his condition, they accused me of stealing him away, and they accused me of his misery. Tears trailed down my very cheeks and held the pieces of my soul. I wiped them away and faced the ocean. The overbearing ocean held my sadness deep within itself. The waves crashed just like days each one hitting harder than the next. I held onto the railing and released my anger. I screamed at the world. I cursed at our beloved God for putting him in my path. I cursed Him for taking away the one person I have ever loved. I cursed him for my loss. I cursed him for everything.

I felt a hand rub soothingly on my back. I knew who it was in a matter of seconds. I turned my tear streaked face to face a porcelain doll. Hotaru grabbed hold of my arm and led me to the bathroom. "What happened? Why are you crying and where the hell is Hyuuga?" She growled.

I splashed my face with water and grabbed a towel that was on the door hanger and wiped away the entire make up. "We just had a little disagreement. He said he need some time alone, so I'll be waiting for him." I sniffed.

She fixed my hair and makeup and sighed. "You know I was worried this would happen. Just know that if he ever hurts you, I will kick his ass so hard he'll land on the moon. "

I chuckled. "Hotaru, you really know how to make a girl laugh." I pulled her into a tight hug. "What would I do without you?"

"Other than wiping your buggers on me, I'm guessing not much." She smirked.

"Let's go hang out with our friends!" I cheered.

We crossed the deck and headed up to the dining hall. It was a wonderful sight. The ceiling held wonderful golden chandeliers; the stairs had a pattern of gold and red. The waiters waited and watched us pass by. I smiled and the beautiful dining hall presented itself to me. The tables were made of glass and the table cloth was red and silky, holding the allure of royalty. The chairs made of Mahogany really pulled the room together. I gasped as the lights flickered and the walls glowed with blue and silver. Little stars decorated the dining hall. It was a wonderful sight. Hotaru lead me to our table and all my friends greeted me.

Ruka grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close. Hotaru smiled and hit him in the gut. He chuckled and looked up at me. "Hi Mikan, I didn't think Natsume would let you leave the room, especially dressed like that. " He winked.

I smiled. "Well, he couldn't keep me away from you guys forever."

Koko popped his head up and grabbed me from behind. "How about a dance with your best bud?" He grinned.

"How about you take your hands off my wife!" a mysterious voice growled.

I froze up. I turned and saw my husband stomping his way towards us. Koko pulled away and raised his hands up as to show he wasn't a threat. My Natsume pulled me away and I was staring at his back. He was glaring daggers at Koko and surprisingly, he disappeared.

Natsume turned to me and his face was etched with anger. I prepared myself for the worst. I grabbed hold of his hand and headed toward the deck. I released his hand as I approached the railing, hoping he wouldn't scream. I gazed at the moon and the stars and realized, one day he would be up there watching me. I felt drops on my hands and touched my eyes. I was crying. I was crying because I knew one day he would be gone. I didn't hear him, but I could feel his presence. He stood behind me for a while, and I knew he didn't know if I would let him hold me. I sighed and turned and I bumped into his strong chest. I took a deep breath and glanced up, and gasped as I stared at his tearful face. I pulled him close. I sobbed into his neck. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I'm happy to be your wife; it's my one true dream. I'm happy to hold you, kiss you, and love you, like I will always do." I babbled.

He tightened his hold on my waist and he slowly pulled away from me. "I know you love me, but I don't want you to be in pain because of me. I just thought that this would be what you wanted-a life with me-but I guess I was wrong." He turned away. No, no, please! Don't do this. Don't close your heart to me.

"Don't shut me out! Don't push me away. Don't do this. I love being with you. I love being the person that you share your life with. Don't ever question my love for you. Don't leave me behind. Don't leave me. Don't leave me when you are still here." I couldn't stop myself. My tears continued their routine. Every bit of love and misery were formed into words. I willed him to turn. I could see him stop in his tracks. "Don't turn away from our love. Don't turn away from me. Don't leave me." I fell to my knees. I held onto my chest. Every bit of pain surrounded my heart. I couldn't stop it. I closed my eyes, hoping the pain would subside. Please, believe in me. Please, believe that we are meant to be. Please, believe that I will always love you, and only you. Please, love me. Please hold onto me. Please.

Arms encircled my tiny figure. Those arms provided me with warmth and love, just the thing I need. He came back. He still believes in us. I feared it was all a dream. I feared I was delusional, in order to cope with my loss. I peeked and sure enough, there he was. He smiled and kissed me. His lips were tender yet urgent, like we could describe the need to be close to each other. I love you so much. Forever, no matter what. The sweetness of our kiss made me giggle. I wiped away my tears and there he was watching me with concerned eyes.

He pulled me into his arms once again. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for making you cry. I'm sorry I ruined our last night." I hushed him with my finger.

"Don't say such nonsense. We needed to have this fight. We needed to face our issues. We've been throwing ourselves into sex in order to avoid the issue. We were delaying the inevitable. We needed to be honest with each other as well as ourselves," I smiled softly.

"When did you become so wise?" he smirked. He kissed my hair and took off his jacket. I gave him a questioning brow. "You are crazy if you think I'll let you sleep like that. You're lucky there aren't any perverts here. "

"Is that excluding present company?" I teased. I pulled his jacket close and took a sniff. He smelled incredible, it was indescribable. He grabbed hold of my waist and pulled me over his shoulder. I giggled, "Put me down!"

He carried me onto a lifeboat. He slowly and carefully placed me on the life boat, and then he settled himself in. We watched the starry sky above us. With one hand around my shoulder and the other one points to the starry sky. He turned to me and smiled while giving me facts of the constellations.

I nestled closer and felt completely at home. He is my home, my life, and my dream; he is my future. The stars faded and so did he.

My eyes closed and he was gone. I cried, "Natsume, where are you?" I ran around the darkness, hoping he would be near. I stumbled on a root and fell face first to a tombstone. I slowly read the inscription, it read: Natsume Hyuuga, a loving a husband, a man known to never give up and easy to love. No, no he can't be dead. He can't be. He was just here. There is no way he could be dead. I need more time. I need it. Please give him back. I need him back!

"Mikan? Mikan! Wake up!" my eyes snapped open. I looked around and found that we were still on the lifeboat. I turned to my husband, whose eyes were filled with worry. I grabbed hold of his neck and sobbed. His arms encircled the small of my back and I felt at peace. "I had a nightmare. Please make me forget." I cried.

He pulled away and cupped my face. His lips slowly brushed mine. It was sweet and urgent, yet comforting. It was home. Everything about him was home. My home.

We pulled away and welcomed the sunrise. "Another wish fulfilled." He grinned.

I smiled, "To watch the sunrise?"

He shook his head. "To watch it with my wife." He smiled softly.

So... How did I do?! Did you like it? Please review and see you next month! :D