~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
The Final Bow
Ten…
"Honestly?" Yuka hollered as she stuffed Mikan's things one by one into her luggage. "I don't know what to do with you, young lady! Everyday, everyday!" she shouted as Mikan silently looked outside her window. Violent droplets of ice showered noisily against the pavement.
"Everyday, I'd find your bedroom empty, wondering where you are!" she heard her mother say angrily but none of her words actually registered in her busy mind. Today was the day. She might as well be dead. "You might have been assassinated! Do you realize?"
Mikan mumbled a small 'I'm sorry' that she really didn't mean.
No, she wasn't sorry. She was far from sorry for running away everyday. Those two days were the happiest she ever felt. Everyday, after she sneaks out of her house arrest, she could almost feel her freedom in her hands. It feels as if she could be anyone, do anything and be everywhere.
Too bad that today's the end of it.
"Well, at least today's the end of it!" she heard her mother say as she heaved a big sigh. Melancholic silence prevailed within the room, only the pitter-pats of snowfall reaching their ears. "I'm gonna miss you so much, Mikan." She heard her mother's voice crack.
She knew that she was trying her best to stop the tears from falling and that her screaming was just a mask to hide her real sadness. The brunette was sad too, in so many levels that she could hardly speak.
It feels as if her heart is being ripped to shreds and she can't do anything about it. Should she claw it out? Stab it with a knife? Should she jump off a building just to drown out that pain?
But instead, all she ever did was let it out, sincerely.
"I'll miss you too, Mom." She whispered, afraid that she might cry too. "Very much."
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Nine…
He was still in his bed, feigning sleep. In fact, he was thinking of a hundred of ways to get out of this stupid situation. Can he pretend that he was sick?
He certainly can. He definitely feels sick – sick to the heart and sick to the stomach. Why wouldn't you when the one you love is set to fly in a plane far away from you and you are arranged to be married to a girl you despise at the same day? Oh, did he mention that it was also at the same time?
He wouldn't even be able to see her go.
As he says his vow, it kills him to know that a few miles away from him, she's going to be gone forever.
"What are you still doing in your bed, sweetheart?" a disgusting voice asked Natsume. Why didn't he hear her come in?
The prince grunted as he turned his back on her, burying his head deep within the pillows, hoping to block her existence completely. Apparently, pillows don't work well against her. Figures.
"Shut up." He muttered, absolutely irritated. Her voice was the last thing she wanted to hear, especially in an early morning like this. "And get lost."
He heard her feign a hurt gasp as he can well imagine that she must have her hand on her chest for special acting. "Is that what you should be saying to your bride?"
Natsume rolled his eyes as he clenched his teeth in a desperate attempt to stop himself from punching her on the face. He's not gay, after all. And this bitch's a girl so calm down, Natsume.
He glared at her through his sheets, and then smirked just for the heck of unnerving the strawberry blonde girl. "Is this what you really should be doing?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, puzzled for a moment.
"It's unlucky to see the groom before the wedding." He said in mockery. "I guess that's just one more engagement that won't be working well with me." He snorted as he turned his back on her once more before he heard her stomp angrily out his room.
"I hate you, Natsume!"
He snorted. "Then don't marry me." He whispered.
At least he can count on the snow to fall heavier.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Eight...
"Mikaaaaan," Nonoko and Anna wailed as they cling to their friend. "Don't goooo. Please?" they begged her as Izumi lugged Mikan's bags inside the car. The man had been quiet for three days now, most probably sick to the heart.
The brunette smiled at the twins as she breathed a lungful of air. This is obviously hard on her. It's not as if she really wanted to go. It was never her choice, anyway. The country practically wants her out.
"You know I can't." she smiled sadly. "But I'll definitely miss you." She hugged both of them tightly. If she can, she'd never let them go. She just really feels so alone right now and it's never gonna be near enough to make her feel otherwise.
She stands there and coldness envelops her like a mean little cocoon. She shudders just being outside, or anywhere at all, in fact. Her insides are freezing and there is this unsettling panic inside her, like a loud silent noise.
"Of course we'll miss you too." Anna said, teary eyed, the sides of her lips unvoluntarily tilting downwards. "Always take care, Mikan. Don't forget to eat properly, okay?"
"And call us if you're lonely." Nonoko continued. "We'll always want to talk to you. Tell us lots and meet new friends. Don't be sad."
The brunette laughed as she nodded, her vision already blurring from the tears that have escaped her eyes. She sniffed loudly as the three of them smiled at each other like idiots, with water pouring down their eyes.
Finally, Izumi wrapped one of his daddy arms around his daughter and smiled at the twins. "Well," he said quietly. "I suppose it's time to go now. Have you said your goodbyes?"
The three nodded as the twins handed their farewell present to Mikan. "We're pretty sure you'd need it someday." They said as Mikan nodded and went to ride their car.
"Are you ready, Angel?" Izumi asked his daughter grimly.
The brunette simply nodded but before she went inside the car with her Mom, she couldn't help but to look around, hoping to see a raven-haired girl looking at her stoically, probably with cold words that can only come out of her mouth.
But nothing.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Seven…
"Hotaru," Tsubasa said as the six of them sat inside the parlor in their traditional clothing. Each one of them looked so exceptional and beautiful in everyone's dresses. If only their emotions can match the merriment of the event. "You can go if you want to. Hell, I know you want to."
The lass simply looked at her brother nonchalantly and sighed as she shook her head. "Just shut up."
Tsubasa shook his head as he shrugged hopelessly, slumping in the couch near Ruka who had been silently patting his bunny. Today was a very difficult day for them. It wasn't just Natsume and Mikan who were suffering from everything.
Even them who can see everything from the sidelines but do nothing feel just as frustrated and anguished as the two – if not more. Each time, they would ask themselves what they could have done and what stopped them from doing so. And each time, they would feel miserable.
"Can't we really sneak out?" Aoi asked innocently. "Just for a little bit?"
Misaki smiled at the little girl. "I know you want to see Mikan, Aoi. But we really can't. There are guards surrounding the whole Palace."
"Actually," Youichi butted in. "There are more since they realized that Onii-can's been sneaking out for two days now. The security's tighter."
"It's basically impossible to sneak out." Ruka mumbled as he looked outside. "Even the hounds surrounding the perimeter were replaced. I can't tame them."
They all sighed.
"Well," Tsubasa said as he closed his eyes. "I guess there's also that." He grinned.
Misaki sighed. "Yeah. That's our only hope. We could count on that."
"But that's…"
"…the only way." Hotaru finished quietly. But everyone can hear the determination in her voice.
And that's enough to assure them.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Six…
"Today's finally the day." Kaoru said solemnly as she and her husband peered down at the unmoving body of the ex-Empress.
Ioran nodded as he looked at his mother. Seeing her like this – lifeless - scares him every time. She hadn't been the warmest mother to them but it's still something seeing your life bringer in her deathbed.
"It's finally time to wake her up, Onii-sama." Miyabi mumbled as she wrapped her arm around her brother, also looking at Youko.
The Emperor nodded as he extended his arm for the syringe which contains the antidote to the medicine that has put Her Majesty in this artificial comatose. Hiyori, who was beside Dr. Harada, promptly handed it to her younger brother.
"Where's Lisette-nee?" Ioran asked as he received the drug.
Hiyori simply smiled at her brother sympathetically. "'Not her mother, not her problem.'" She quoted sadly.
Ioran sighed. "I guess she's still carrying those scars from before."
"Just let her be," Kaoru consoled her husband. "I'm sure she'll come around. Besides," she continued. "Someone has to take care of the children while we are gone."
Miyabi snorted. "Yeah," she muttered. "You wouldn't expect Sebastian to oversee the make-up session, would you?"
And somehow, that put small smiles on everyone's faces albeit the situation. It's at times like these, when the rain pours so heavily in their lives that they seriously need even the tiniest ray of sunshine.
Too bad they're sending the sun away to America.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Five…
People gathered around the venue watchfully, despite the unfortunate weather as each hoped to see a glimpse of the Prince and his bride. This is supposed to be a merry day for Japan. After all, weddings like this only happen once in a few decades.
Classes were even cancelled and today was considered a holiday because of the big event. If people weren't out in the streets for the Royal Parade, then you can bet that they were watching the festivity inside their homes on flat-screen TVs.
Truthfully, two days ago, the nation didn't know what to do with the sudden news that the ex-Empress was dead and that the murderer was Mikan. They loved the girl – everyone adored her and her only haters were the girls who wanted Natsume for them selves. But even so, deep inside, they didn't expect the brunette to be capable of killing anyone.
Besides, there wasn't even a Royal Funeral for the body. What did they do to it? Incinerate and then spread to the sea on their way home from Okinawa? There weren't even reports or interviews about the matter. News just kept on flooding the public without any evidence.
They said that the brunette was put on house arrest and will be exiled. Even the punishment was questionable but no one dared to point it out due to the fact that no one can really believe that everything is true.
And then suddenly, it was announced that the wedding was advanced five days early, thus today, December 27, to this person named Koizumi Luna. Japan clearly is in shambles and they have no idea what is happening.
They just hope that everything will be cleared today.
"Do you, Lady Luna Koizumi, take Crown Prince Natsume Igarashi – Hyuuga, to be your lawfully wedded husband in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, till death do you part?" the priest asked Luna.
She smiled brightly at him. This is finally the day – the day she acquires everything she ever dreamed of. "I do." She replied.
Natsume clenched his hands tightly as the priest asked him the same question. What would he possibly say? Does he take this bitch to be his lawfully wedded wife? Hell no. In sickness and in health? He'd rather she falls sick right away. For richer and for poorer? Oh please. He bets she simply cut off the text in her head to richer.
"Do you, Crown Prince Natsume Igarashi – Hyuuga, take Lady Luna Koizumi to be your lawfully wedded wife in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, till death do you part?"
Natsume looked at the priest as he looked at him expectantly. The answer to everything he asked him was 'no'. He never imagined his wedding to be this difficult. He knows that he has to say 'I do', for the sake of the whole country but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Luna jabbed him with her elbow as she threw him a meaningful look.
"I…"
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Four…
"The couple are now answering their vows to each other here in…"
The Yukihiras are currently inside the airport, waiting for Mikan's departure. Everyone is silent as news of Natsume's wedding blared from all directions. It was awkward for the family, not knowing what to do when they know that Mikan's being hurt in ways more than one.
She was silent, simply sitting there, staring as the airplanes arrive and depart one by one. The brunette hasn't uttered a single word since she rode the car. When asked if she needed anything, she'd quickly shake her head and go back to her trance.
Honestly, the couple doesn't know if their daughter's going to be all right. All along, they believed that this was what is best for her. But now, they weren't so sure anymore.
"Mikan," Yuka approached her daughter. "Do you want these?" she asked as she held her palm to the brunette, showing her pair of earphones.
The brunette smiled at her mom and shook her head. The older brunette, on the other hand, simply sighed and looked worriedly at her husband. He, too, was looking at his little angel sadly.
"Alright, alright!" Izumi cried loudly, startling the two brunettes. "No time to have such a long face!" he pinched his daughter's cheeks as she winced. "Or else I'm going to call you horse-face! Do you want that?"
"P-Papa!" Mikan struggled. "S-stop."
The blond man laughed. "Alright. Oh, wait a minute." He muttered as he faced the other direction. "WOULD YOU PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP WITH THE NEWS! WE ARE TRYING TO SAY GOODBYE TO OUR DAUGHTER HERE!"
"PAPA!" Mikan screeched in horror, redness quickly taking over her face. Goodness! What do you do when your father screams so loud in a public place? Everyone's already looking at them!
Can't the brunette just spend one of her moments in private, without anyone's attention on her?
"There!" Izumi said proudly, a big goofy grin painted on his father face.
Yuka thwacked her husband. "What did you just do?"
The man raised his eyebrows at his wife. "I'm trying to cheer our daughter here."
"I think that was a bit overboard, Uncle." Shu chuckled a little bit as he looked at his cousin. "I think you should cheer up a little too, Mikan. Even if it's very difficult right now." He smiled.
The brunette simply smiled at her cousin and sighed. How is that even possible?
"Alright," Izumi started loudly again. "Listen to me, Mikan." He called, capturing not only his daughter's attention but his whole family as well. "Are you ready to go to America?"
Mikan smiled awkwardly at her Dad. "Oh Papa, I don't think – "
"Okay!" he cut off. "That's a good answer. You're ready. Mikan, you're going to go to America. You're going to study well there, okay? You're going to live there with Shu. You're going to make a lot of friends and Anna and Nonoko will surely visit you."
"Papa – "
"You're going to be happy!" Izumi continued certainly. "You're going to graduate! Have a good work! You'll meet a very handsome American guy and he will be kind to you and he will never ever leave you alone!"
"Papa!"
"His family is gonna love you! Because you're very beautiful, Mikan. And you're kind and you're all they are going to ever wish for in a daughter-in-law. You're going to be happy, Mikan. Do you hear me?" he breathed heavily. "You're going to be happy." He repeated as he hugged her daughter tightly. "So please be happy, Angel." He whispered.
Mikan hugged her father back as she smiled at her mother and cousin.
She's going to be happy, even if she's far from being that right now, someday, for sure. She will be.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Three…
"I…"
"I object!" a voice boomed loudly through the ceremony. Natsume looked abruptly at the source of it and tried his best to stop his jaw from dropping down the ground.
"I object." She repeated in cool determination.
The priest looked at her in confusion as if she spouted words in a different language. Actually, almost everyone in the place obviously has no idea what's going on.
One by one, Natsume watched his cousins and sister stand up beside Hotaru, the same expression written on their faces as they expressed the same sentiments. The raven-haired prince can hear the gradual murmurs and confusion of the crowd.
"What do you mean, Your Majesties?" the priest asked.
Hotaru replied coolly. "You didn't ask beforehand if there was anyone who objects to this wedding. So I'm saying it now. I object."
The priest's eyebrows knitted together as he looked around for any signs as to what he must do next. This was clearly not a part of the script. Even Luna was starting to stir beside the prince.
"You know," Tsubasa clarified with his carefree smile. "The part where you say, 'Anyone who objects to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace.' Yeah. You didn't say that."
"W-well," the priest started. "That's because - "
"What do you think you're doing?" Luna muttered, containing her obvious anger. "Have you forgotten why I'm here?"
Misaki placed her hand on her hips. "To steal Natsume away from Mikan? Yes, we pretty much covered that."
"Bitch." She spat.
"Back to you!" Misaki winked.
"Ha…hahaha," Luna laughed hysterically. "You're crazy. You're all crazy! Do you realize what you're doing? You're breaking the contract. That means – "
"Your Ladyship…"
"Shut up!" Luna burst.
Youichi smirked in amusement – a smirk that Natsume would've been proud of had he not been disoriented at the moment. "You do realize that he's on your side, right? He's trying to wed you, you know."
"Whatever." The strawberry blonde girl hissed venomously. "That's not the point! The point here is you're breaching the contract that was done. With this, Kuonji-sama can – "
"Can do nothing."
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Two…
"You – " Luna choked as gasps resonated in the place.
The ex-Empress grinned manically at the lass. "Are alive." She said. "I've been finishing your sentences, lately, Luna. I hope that doesn't mean we've become the best of friends." She grimaced.
Tsubasa laughed. "Wow. Since when has grandma gained some sense of humor? Is that a side-effect of the drug?" he joked.
"Drug?" Luna echoed. "You cannot do this, old woman! The contract!"
"Is no longer in effect." The ex-Empress answered. "Another sentence I have finished." She mused as she faced the priest. "I object to this wedding as well. This is unlawful. I cannot take a murderer as a granddaughter-in-law."
Luna scoffed. "Mikan is the murderer! Kuonji-sama – "
" – is on his way to the jail."
"Another point for Grandma." Youichi side-commented. "Whew."
Natsume watched his grandmother head for the podium, agape. What the hell is happening? But she's supposed to be dead! And why isn't anyone else surprised about this? Has there been something going on behind his back?
"Before I explain anything else," she said, the microphone carrying her voice across the nation, as she looked at Natsume straight in the eyes. "Go."
But the Prince simply stood there, staring at his grandmother, not a single word registering in his consciousness. Go? Where?
Suddenly, he felt a jab against his rib.
"What are you waiting for, idiot?" Hotaru asked him impatiently. "Come on!"
"Where?"
Aoi pulled his sleeves. "Onii-chan," she muttered, still pulling him. "Stop being so stupid for a minute!" she huffed. "There's no time!"
"What?"
"Oh darn it, Natsume." Ruka muttered as he pushed his cousin, dragging him as they began to run. "Mikan's leaving in 30 minutes and we're a mile away from her! Move your ass, dummy!"
And as if being splashed with cold water, everything clicked together in the raven-haired lad's head at the sound of Mikan's name.
Before they know it, they were already racing down the Shrine to the nearest van – car napping or no car napping.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
One…
"OH MY GOD TSUBASA!" Misaki screeched as she tried to stick to her seat. "DRIVE CAREFULLY! WE'RE DRIVING TO SEE MIKAN, NOT HEAVEN! GOD!" she screamed as her fiancé weaved through the thick traffic, honks of angry drivers in the background.
"I'm trying!" Tsubasa replied. "But it's the best I can do to get to the airport on time without flying!"
"I think I'm about to throw up." Youichi muttered sickly as he clutched to his seatbelt. Even Aoi was already paling and was turning green.
"What are you wearing?" Misaki asked Hotaru despite the racket they were in.
The lass's face was covered with an egg-shaped helmet with holes for the eyes, nose and mouth. "It's shock-proof." She replied. "Egg helmet for only 4000 yen."
"I don't think this is a good time for your sales right now, Hotaru." Misaki replied as she clutched to the handle inside the van, praying for her life.
"Watch out!" Natsume screamed as they almost hit a bicycle. Did his life just flash before his eyes?
"Tell me why we didn't just take the private jet!" Ruka screamed as he hugged his Usagi-chan who is already petrified.
"…"
"Drat."
"Damn it, Tsubasa this is your fault!" Misaki screamed again as they avoided a car in an intersection. "Oh god. I think I lost my heart somewhere."
"Don't worry babe, it's still with me."
Misaki blushed as she smacked her fiancé in embarrassment. "Keep driving – whoa!"
"Okay. Hold on!" Tsubasa exhaled, relaxing. "We're here."
"Thank God I'm alive."
"RUN!"
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Play.
"Mikan, honey," Yuka told her daughter as she was just about to board the private plane. They were already ascending the stairs to the plane when the young brunette took a final look around just to check if anyone else is coming. The place was empty. "Come on, they might not come." She continued. "There's this w – "
"I know." Mikan smiled then set her sights on the inside of the plane. "It's okay."
"Okay then, let's go." Yuka said as they continued to climb the stairs.
Coldness crept inside the pit of the brunette's stomach as she settled herself in her seat beside the window. She had hoped for them to come even during the last minute. And she was totally disappointed not seeing anyone in a hurry to see her off right now.
She never even said goodbye to the lot – Tsubasa, Misaki, Aoi, Youichi, Ruka and even Hotaru. She never saw them again after she left the Palace.
No, she's not mad at them for not trying to see her. Mikan didn't expect anything from them. After all, they might not even know what happened to her. But those letters. What did those mean? Were they just empty words sent to her to ease her worries?
She really wanted to see Hotaru. She's her best friend. She knew the plan. She could have snuck out to check if the brunette was doing okay. But she didn't. Mikan knows that she was the one behind Natsume's successful sneak out but didn't she think that Mikan also wanted to see her?
"Please fasten your seatbelts. We are about to take off."
Mikan sighed loudly as she looked out the window. That'll be the last glimpse she'd be taking of her motherland. Right now, she has no idea how much she'll be missing it in the next few years.
"MIKAN!" she heard someone cry. And for a moment she couldn't believe what she just heard. Actually, she couldn't see where that came from but she knows that voice. She would know that voice anywhere she goes. "MIKAN!" It came again.
And this time, she saw her like she's never seen her before. It was Hotaru, running towards the plane screaming her name! Mikan couldn't believe it! Never in her life had she seen her best friend in such a manner.
The brunette abruptly stood up, a wild joyous smile on her face.
"S-stop!" she cried.
"Mikan," Shu called. "What's the matter?" he asked in confusion.
"STOP!" Mikan repeated again, this time heading straight for the pilot's room in a panic frenzy. "PLEASE. STOP!" she said as she opened the door, startling the pilots.
"But we are just about to take off, Miss." They explained.
"No!" the brunette said, out of breath from excitement as if her heart is about to explode. "No, please. Just for…just for ten minutes. I promise this will be quick. Just please." She explained as Shu arrived behind her.
"Mikan." He called calmly. "What's going on?"
The brunette quickly faced her cousin and pleaded. "Please Onii-chan. Hotaru's here. She called my name. I have to see her. Please."
Shu sighed and nodded as he looked at the pilots. "Please delay our flight just a little bit. This is important."
"But sir."
"Please."
And the engines stopped. That was her cue to run.
"HOTARU!" Mikan cried as she almost slid down the plane's stairs to meet her best friend, hugging her as they collided. Tears were already flowing on her cheeks and she doesn't care. It just feels good to have her best friend with her right now. "I thought you'd never come, dummy!"
Hotaru said nothing and simply hugged the brunette tightly, her fast beating heartbeat the only response that she could give. She feels as though she ran a marathon just to say goodbye.
Finally, the brunette broke out of the hug. "Say something!"
The raven-haired girl simply smiled at her best friend and patted her head gently. "You already know what I want to say." She said. "But there's someone here who wanted to see you." She pointed to the five others who tagged along.
Mikan's heart must have swelled five times larger at the sight of the five people she thought she'd never see. One by one, they hugged her and said their final goodbyes.
Youichi came first with a scowl. "Old hag." He started which made Mikan laugh. "Always lock your door there in America." He said. "Or I might creep on you again." He grinned, making Mikan laugh more as she cried. "Do you even know how to speak in English?" he asked her.
The brunette slapped the boy's arm. "Of course I do!" she replied in fluent English, surprising the fourteen-year-old boy.
He grinned at her. "Then I'm sure you'll be okay. Take care, old hag." He hugged her.
Next came Aoi who was already overflowing in tears. Laughing, Mikan wiped the dampness on the Princess' cheeks and consoled her.
"B-but I don't understand why you still have to go!" she cried. "I mean," she sniffed. "Can't you s-stay? With us?" she cried.
Mikan simply smiled at the little girl and looked her in the eye. It was painful for her, seeing those crimson eyes. She reminds her so much of her brother. "I'm sorry Aoi-chan." She said seriously. "But I really have to go. There's something that I really must do in America. Besides, I can't stay with you anymore. I can't enter the Palace."
"Yes, you can!" she cried stubbornly. "You're supposed to be a Princess! We all know about it!"
Mikan just smiled and hugged the girl. "Don't worry. I'll miss you very much."
"There, there. Come here, Aoi." Misaki patted Aoi's back, hugging the girl as she cried. The strawberry blonde girl smiled at Mikan. "You're really gonna go?" she asked.
The brunette just nodded, still smiling. "Can't help it."
"I'm not going to stop you." She said. "Because we all have difficult choices that we have to make and I know this one is yours. I just hope that you'll be happy wherever you go and that even though it's very painful," she continued. "Please don't forget about us."
"Never." Mikan replied. "I never will."
Misaki smiled at Mikan. "Stay strong, Mikan-chan. You know you can always call me, right? I give mean advice." She laughed as she gave one last hug.
"Ruka-pyon!" the brunette greeted as she timid French boy approached her.
He smiled at her as he held his rabbit, Usagi-chan in his arms. "Mikan-chan." He breathed. "I don't have much to say. Just that, I was really glad that you came to the Palace. I hope you don't regret coming, either. I know it gave you a lot of unpleasant memories but I want you to know." He said. "Before you came, I thought everything was so dark inside – like it's a prison. But everything changed when you started to live inside." He explained. "It changed for the better, because of you. Thank you."
Mikan didn't know what to say. She was speechless. She didn't think that she made a lot of impact in their lives at all for coming to the Palace. Did she really do a lot of change?
"Here." Ruka put Usagi-chan in Mikan's arms.
"W-what are you doing, Ruka-pyon?" Mikan asked in surprise. Is he giving her Usagi-chan?
"You should have him." Ruka said. "He likes you a lot. And for you to remember us wherever you go."
"But – "
"Take it." He said as he shrugged. "I know he'll be in good hands."
Mikan sniffed, hugging Ruka. "Thanks, I'll take care of him! Definitely."
"Ora, ora!" Tsubasa broke in as he sighed playfully. Mikan grinned at the sight of him. He's as lively as ever. "Well," he shrugged. "That was all very touching. Unfortunately, Mikan-chan, I don't have any animal to give you as a parting gift." He laughed.
The brunette crinkled her nose in an attempt to hide her laughter. "Don't worry. Usa-chan is enough." She laughed. "But thanks for the thought, Tsubasa-nii." She grinned at him.
He approached her and ruffled her hair, as always. "Alright! That's the spirit, Mikan-chan!" But as Tsubasa put his arm around Mikan and pointed somewhere, a familiar figure emerged out of the shadows, almost knocking Mikan off her feet. "But you know, I do have a surprise for you. I hope you like it."
"What are you doing here?" she asked him incredulously.
He simply raised his perfect eyebrows at her. "Sending you off, duh." He replied sarcastically.
"What about the wedding?" she asked him dumbly.
He rolled his eyes. "I ran off – runaway groom." He joked.
"Natsume!"
"It doesn't matter, idiot!" he screamed in desperation. "Why can't you just be thankful that I'm here?"
"Don't call me an idiot!" Mikan shouted back, startling the poor bunny, which escaped from her arms. The brunette quickly chased after it only to find that it has led her to Natsume.
When she finally picked him up and stood up, she was already in front of the prince, making her melt.
"Fine," he whispered because there was already no point in shouting. "Can I just call you mine?"
She breathed. And she stared at him. And she smiled.
This is definitely her Natsume.
"What?" he asked her.
"You know that's not going to make me stay."
"No," he answered. "But this might."
He whispered as he kissed her, melting all her insides and turning her knees to jelly. He kissed her like she's the sweetest thing on the world and he kissed her as if she never wanted to let her go.
All of those, in just one kiss.
"Well?" he asked as their foreheads kissed. "What's your answer?"
She cried. "I'll miss you very much, Natsume."
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Sad stories are often the best ones. Because happy ones don't always come true.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
End.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Thank you for all those who have supported I am Yours since the very beginning! I'm happy to have finally reached its ending – after almost four years!
Thank you, thank you!
And for the last time, please review! But before you do, I want you to accept my last gift.
Please collect all the scattered bold letters inside this chapter and be guided accordingly.
REVIEW!