Chapter Four: Catching Up

"Hotaru, why don't you talk to him? I know you want to," Mikan said, nudging Hotaru in the shoulder, to which the latter replied to with a grunt.

Mikan pouted.

Hotaru sighed. "Mikan, there's a bigger problem than needs to be solved right now."

"Oh, never mind that," Mikan said, as if she had recovered fully, but Hotaru knew that it would take a whole lot more for her to forgive and forget.

"There are a lot more things more important than my love life, idiot."

Mikan giggled.

The two were currently in Hotaru's room, having left the clinic thirty minutes ago, using the reason that Hotaru was tired and needed rest. But resting was the least of Hotaru's problems right now.

'How do I get Mikan to apologize?' She knew that Mikan did nothing wrong, but knowing Natsume's thinking, Mikan apologizing will just be the right recipe to make Natsume apologize too.

'And two lovebirds apologizing make a reunited couple.'

Or so Hotaru thought.

"Natsume?" Ruka answered his phone, bewildered. Of all people, his best friend was the least that would call him in this kind of crisis.

"You're where?" Ruka asked, his eyes widening. "You're going to what?"

Natsume was urging—or in more properly, commanding him to meet up at a certain place. It was no surprise that he wanted to meet there of all places, but at this time, it almost seemed impossible for Natsume to be there.

But Ruka, being the good and supportive best friend he is, put down his phone and headed for the bus stop, where the next bus would take him to his destination.

"You know," Subaru said, smirking at the guinea pig in its cage. "You're not so bad when you're locked up in your own prison."

Hotaru had come back with a small cage a few minutes ago and put her little pet in it. Then she assigned her brother to look after it, while she and one of her friends went to her room to catch up.

"My sister, the paranoid." Subaru then directed his attention to the book he was reading, while another eye kept watch at the small rodent.

He had always been a master of multitasking. Being the president of a company did have its downsides and Subaru usually found himself juggling three to five tasks at a time. And it didn't help that most of those tasks had deadlines in a few days.

So, sitting here, a good book in his hands, watching the animal that had given him lots of trouble earlier was no sweat. All he had to do was feed him every few hours and check every few minutes if the furball is still alive, breathing and not out of its cage.

So far, the animal has been much behaved and Subaru had actually thanked him a few times—mentally.

"Onii-san."

Subaru looked at his right, where the stairs was and he saw his sister and her friend there, apparently prepared to leave.

"We're going out." Hotaru Imai said, matter-of-factly. "I need you to take care of Buster."

"I thought his name was Buzz?" Subaru asked, amused that an Imai had made a mistake.

"Whatever. Just watch over him." Hotaru replied, not amused at all.

"Haven't I been doing that for the last few hours?" Subaru answered, leaning into the comfortable chair he had positioned himself on just to stop it all. They looked like they were in quite a hurry.

"Fine. Take good care of Bean."

Subaru swore she was doing it on purpose now.

Tokyo, Japan was beautiful at night. Different colors lighted up the different buildings and there were people all around him, tourists and natives alike admiring the view. Of course, there was also the Rainbow Bridge which undeniable lived up to its name by lighting up its pillars with colors of red, white and green every night.

But Natsume Hyuuga was the least bit impressed. It took a whole lot to get him to be captivated. His mind wandered off to Mikan and how she looked when he broke up with her. Her beautiful face presented a frown and tears were flowing down from her little brown eyes. She had left him quickly with that look on her face.

'A smiling face would suit her better.' Natsume thought, and then realized what just came across his mind.

He scolded himself for thinking such things. He was supposed to forget her. She was supposed to be nothing to him.

'But I can't. She's still everything to me.'

"Natsume!"

He saw Ruka running toward him, apparently tired. His face was a mixture of different emotions as he jogged up to Natsume.

"Ruka," he greeted.

"Did you really mean what you said earlier?" Ruka asked, quickly getting into business.

"I wouldn't say what I don't mean, Ruka." Natsume replied indifferently. "You of all people should know that."

'I just hope this works.' Hotaru thought, recalling her earlier conversation with Natsume Hyuuga.

"I need you to bring Mikan to that place," He had said, his face void of any emotion, but Hotaru knew that he had finally lowered his pride a little bit.

'If only he had lowered it a little bit more,' she had thought.

"I will." She had replied. "And if you're not there, I'm really going to kill you."

"Hotaru?"

Hotaru snapped backed to the present. Both of them were at her private car, being driven by Hotaru's driver and Mikan was sitting beside her, not knowing what awaits her at the place where she and Natsume had their first date.

"Where are we going?" She asked, tying her hair into a ponytail.

"You don't need to know," Hotaru answered, her mind focusing on how to execute the plan.

She peered at the windows and saw the Rainbow Bridge not too far. She recalled how Mikan had been so happy after her date with Natsume here. She even believed that he was the one and Hotaru had allowed her to hug her that night, only because she was so happy.

'That Hyuuga.' She thought. 'If he doesn't get Mikan to stop being like this, I'm going to make him wish he never meddled with her heart.'

"Miss Imai, we're here."

Bam!

Subaru Imai had just dropped his bowl of popcorn, upon seeing the place where his little sister's pet should have been. He stared at it, scanning every corner, making sure it wasn't hiding somewhere there. Then he suddenly felt sick, his stomach churning and his mind thinking of what she could do to him later if he doesn't find it.

Because Hotaru Imai's pet guinea pig is missing.

Subaru wouldn't want to be there when she found out it was missing. But then again, if she found out, he would be dead already, so he won't be physically there.

"Crap," was the only word he had mustered, because the next second, he was on his elbows and knees, calling the guinea pig's many names.

"Hotaru—that's—" Mikan said, before turning around in vain hope that the limo was still there.

Unfortunately, fate was not on her side today. The car was gone, probably by Hotaru's order, in case she wanted to escape. She spotted it a good distance from them and in a few seconds, no one would guess it was ever here save for the tracks.

She groaned. She had recognized the guy not too far from her and she really didn't want to see him right now. She felt her left eye twitch in anticipation of the tears that were coming.

Hotaru patted her shoulder. "Let him talk first. If it's really horrible, I'll take care of him."

Mikan tried to smile, but she couldn't, because tears began falling down her face, as she recalled Natsume holding her while she looked over the river below.

"I'm so weak, Hotaru," Mikan said. "Maybe that's why he broke up with me—why is he here? Is he going to break my heart again? Hotaru, my heart can't take it anymore."

"He's not going to, Mikan."

"Then what—"

"If you just shut up and follow me, you'll figure it out." Hotaru cut her off, aware of the two pairs of eyes on them—one, a deep shade of crimson and the other, a light aquamarine blue.

Hotaru led the way and Mikan followed, though a little hesitant. Her hands clutched at the hem of her shirt.

Ruka's eyes were directed on Mikan and she swore she saw a little bit of pity in them. Natsume, in the meanwhile, was looking far away, as if in a trance.

"Hyuuga, Nogi." Hotaru greeted, her voice void of emotion.

Natsume nodded and Ruka smiled.

"Mikan," Natsume said, earning her attention.

'The walls have been broken.' He thought. 'There's no turning back now.'

"Ow!" Subaru said, groaning as he hit the chair—which seemed invisible until just now—above him.

His futile attempts to find the little animal had awarded him with five bumps, four on his head and one on his hand.

Subaru had not been spoiled when he was young, but he had never ever earned five bumps in fifteen minutes.

"This little furball—once I find it, I am going to torture him so much that—" He was cut off by a small squeaking sound to his right.

He turned his head and found him. He let a little grin break out on his face.

Subaru Imai was face-to-face with his prey.

Mikan sat in front of Natsume inside a small café. Ruka and Hotaru wanted to stay outside for reasons Mikan can understand, but not appreciate.

She allowed herself a little peek at him and felt anger. She bit her lip, closing her eyes and breathing slowly. Even deep breaths couldn't calm her down.

"Mikan." Natsume called for the second time that night, missing the affectionate nickname he used to call her. "I'm sorry if I caused you pain. I didn't mean to. But I can't keep doing this."

Her breath hitched at her throat and she muffled a sob. How he could make her cry with six words was unknown to her. He always had a way with words. He could make her happy with a phrase. He could make her sad with a sentence.

Maybe it was because she cared too much.

"Are you sure they'll be okay in there?" Ruka asked, looking back and forth at the door and at the bridge. "What if something happens? What if one of them loses their temper? What if—"

"Would you stop worrying and have faith in them, Nogi?" Hotaru snapped, obviously getting angry.

She ate a bite out of her chocolate cake, taking a few seconds to critique its taste in her head. He couldn't believe how she could eat at a time like this. Her best friend could have her heart broken when she gets out and she's eating a friggin' cake!

"But—It's unbelievable, Imai! Natsume wanted to—"

"I am quite aware what Hyuuga wants to do. I can't believe his best friend can't believe he can fess up."

Ruka was guilty, but he still couldn't believe it. "The last time Natsume was forced to say something he didn't want to say, he burned down a farm. And that was when he was in the third grade!"

Hotaru rolled her eyes. "Surely, Natsume wouldn't be as childish as he was at that age."

"Yeah, but—" Ruka was cut off by the familiar scent that invaded his nostrils.

Hotaru held up a donut to him, having finished her cake. The sugary glaze almost made him forget what was going on inside.

"Donuts, Nogi? I bought a dozen."

Mikan stared at Natsume. She was no longer mad at him. She no longer wanted to see him kneel in front of her and beg for her mercy. Instead, she desperately pleaded fate to give her some—even just a little—courage to talk.

She was tongue-tied and he knew it.

Instead of taking advantage of her temporary inability to speak, Natsume was quiet.

"I want to you to know—that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the things I said that day that may have hurt you. But you and I know that I have no feelings for you anymore. I don't want to hurt you—I really don't, but a one-sided love in a relationship won't work. "

Mikan felt like crying again, after recalling everything he said. She knew it, but she never wanted to admit that Natsume didn't like her anymore.

'Hotaru said that he won't be breaking my heart tonight, but why is it being crushed all over again?'

The silence was like venom, slowly killing the two of them. Both of them felt it, but none of them wanted to break it.

"What if Natsume says the wrong thing?" Ruka chided, interrupting their little meal.

Hotaru didn't expect that. She expected him to either just kiss her senseless while she's talking or actually apologize. She expected him to bury his face in his hands at a lost for words. She expected him to shout, then speak softly.

But she did not expect him to say the wrong thing. She didn't even know he was capable of that.

If Natsume says the wrong thing, then they were in big trouble. Big, big trouble. Knowing the place of pride in Natsume's mind, he could have done that. She couldn't believe she hadn't thought of it.

"Imai?" Ruka called.

She didn't budge. She was in an unbreakable trance and Ruka soon found out after waving his hand in front of her face for a few seconds.

"Yup, she's gone." He said, taking a bite in a rainbow-sprinkled donut with chocolate filling. "But if Natsume says the wrong thing, then Mikan-chan should've run out crying by now."

Hotaru's head shot up. Ruka was surprised, so he dropped his donut.

"Oh, no. That was—"

"We're going in," Hotaru stated, closing the box of donuts in her lap.

"—my favorite." He was about to say, but completely forgot about the donut on the floor.

"Excuse me, what?"

But it was too late. Hotaru had already opened the door and was walking inside.

'Who knew that a five pound creature could bring so much chaos?' Subaru thought.

The guinea pig had scratched the curtains and broke one of the expensive glasses they kept in their cabinets. The dirt marks on the floor also seemed like its doing. Subaru hoped it hadn't reached Hotaru's room yet.

"Buster, Bean—whoever you are—if you don't come out now, I'll be dead, so you better—"

The guinea pig appeared and it was dirty all over. It looked even worse than this morning, when it was brought to the clinic. The guinea pig crossed the room and Subaru tried to catch it, to no avail. It went to the kitchen and Subaru suddenly knew what this was all about.

"Mikan…"

Mikan sat, teary-eyed. She didn't want to cry. She didn't want to show everyone how weak she was. She didn't want to show Natsume how weak she was.

They were alone and the next moment, Hotaru and Ruka was sitting beside them.

"Hyuuga." Hotaru said, "What did you tell her?"

The tension in the room increased and Ruka looked back and forth from Hotaru to Natsume. This was not going to end well.

"I told her what I felt." Natsume answered, matter-of-factly.

Hotaru shot a look at him that did not look pleasing. "You weren't supposed to do just that. You were supposed to tell the truth. You were supposed to tell her that you—"

She stopped herself, unable to continue. Ruka lowered his head, feeling like he shouldn't be there.

Mikan blinked. "There was more?"

Natsume sighed, before continuing, "Fine. I cheated on you."

Mikan's eyes widened. She looked at Hotaru then back at Natsume, bewildered. She knew it couldn't have been so shallow, but she didn't expect Natsume to cheat on her.

She couldn't talk, so he continued, "It was a one-night stand. Sumire Shouda. I had a bad day at work—"

"There's no excuse for that," Hotaru mumbled, cutting him off.

Natsume scowled. "I was just depressed, okay? I couldn't face you after that."

Hotaru pretended to cough, but muttered in between, "Like the coward he is."

There was silence and Ruka got up to get a glass of water, but something told them he isn't going to return for a while.

Mikan looked up at Natsume. "So you wanted t-to break up with me instead?"

He didn't answer.

It didn't matter. At the end of the night, she took him back.

"This is so stressful," Hotaru said, rubbing at her temples.

Ruka was quiet beside her, feeling a bit awkward. Natsume had volunteered to take Mikan home, since he wanted to talk to her which conflicted with Ruka's previous plan to go with him. Hotaru had taken the liberty to take him home and now they were in her limo, driving toward his house.

"I just arrived here and now this is happening." She continued.

Ruka wasn't sure if she was talking to herself or to him, so he didn't answer. He checked his phone, although he already knew that he wouldn't be receiving any message.

Hotaru sighed beside him and he felt like he wanted to apologize. And so he did.

She looked at him and replied, "For what?"

He wasn't sure either. "Uh, I don't know. It's just that—Well, as you said, y-you just arrived and you see your best friend heart broken and—"

"It's not like it's your fault." She cut him off, not liking where this conversation was going.

They were quiet until they reached his house. They bade their goodbyes, but not before Ruka asked her out to lunch the next day. Fortunately, she was free and accepted his offer. She secretly looked forward to it and she knew that he did too, though not as discreetly.

"Ah, welcome home, Hotaru." Subaru greeted, a smug smile on his face.

She scrutinized his face in her mind. "Where's my guinea pig?"

Subaru's grin widened and he walked toward the living room, motioning for her to follow. There was the little guinea pig, not in its cage but on a clumsily folded blanket, sleeping.

Hotaru stroked its fur and it perked up instantly, looking up at her. She then carried it carefully with the blanket and made her way upstairs.

"Hey," Subaru stopped her. "Don't I get a thank you?"

She continued walking, muttering a small thank you, before proceeding to her room.

Subaru smiled then went to bed.

The next day, Ruka arrived at Hotaru's doorstep, feeling a bit foolish. He was a little late because he forgot he had a check-up with a ferret at eleven, but he was here now.

He knocked after realizing she had no doorbell. "Hotaru?"

He heard footsteps and in a few seconds, Hotaru Imai stood in front of him, looking great in a simple purple blouse and white pants. They had decided to go to Anna's bakery to catch up. Ruka almost thought she would deny the offer since it wasn't at a five-star restaurant, but surprisingly, she had said yes.

"Good afternoon, Ruka." She greeted, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

Ruka smiled. "Good afternoon, Hotaru."

And then they went to their date. For the first time in a long time, Hotaru had fun. And Ruka was happy.

A/n: Oops. This isn't the ending yet. ;) The next update may take longer and I apologize in advance. I'm also sorry for not updating for a while. I hope y'all can forgive me. :)