I DON'T OWN GA

All Mikan could think about was getting Ruka back. She fared Hotaru would intercept all plans she made now, and in the near future, to get the blond boy back. She had to be smart when making all plans.

"You're not getting Ruka back," said Hotaru. It was very surprising how much she knew Mikan.

"What are you talking about?" Mikan asked feigning innocent.

"Don't play dumb Mikan. I know you want him back but you're not getting him," stated Hotaru.

Mikan started to stutter, "Wh-Why not?"

"Because I'm right for him and you're not."

"How would you know that?"

"I've heard how you talk about him Mikan and I've seen how you look at him and I know that what you're feeling isn't a fraction of what I'm feeling."

"I love him!" Mikan exclaimed.

"No," said Hotaru. "You love the idea of him being your prince charming and your life ending in a happily ever after."

"How would our relationship have lasted this long if we didn't love each other?"

"Because both of you were fooled by society that it was really what you wanted," replied Hotaru. She seemed to have the answer to everything and Mikan didn't like that.

"What makes you think that you love him?" asked Mikan. She was sure Hotaru wouldn't have an answer for that one.

"The fact that I betrayed my best friend for him. The fact that the guilt of hurting you, the person I love the most, wasn't enough to break us up," replied Hotaru.

Mikan wasn't sure how to respond to that. She loved Hotaru like a sister and, though it wasn't very obvious, Hotaru loved her too. She knew that Hotaru was right but she just wasn't ready to give up on Ruka.

"Listen," began Hotaru. "Whoever it was that you cheated on Ruka with, go ahead and date him. I'm not saying that you and this person will live happily ever after but he might get you one step closer to finding your one true love. I'm convinced I've already found mine, and there is nothing I want more than for you to find yours."

With that Hotaru stood up and made her way to the door. She paused before her hand reached the door handle. "Don't try calling Ruka," she warned. "He won't answer."

Two Weeks Later

"So, have you spoken to Mikan lately?" asked Ruka as he sat with his girlfriend, watching her do numerous activities on her computer. It was as if she was always busy. All the blueprints for her genius inventions were stored on her computer, and, like any good artist, she always took time admire, remodel, and improve all her art work. He often wondered why she was still in college. What business does a genius twenty one year old like her have in such a small town?

Hotaru shook her head, engrossed in whatever blueprint she was revisiting.

Ruka hadn't heard from Mikan either. For the first two days she called him every hour and, since Hotaru ordered him to ignore them, left the same voicemail on his phone. "I miss you," the voicemail would always say. "I'm sorry." She always sounded like she wanted to add more but then thought better of it and turned off the phone.

"When I spoke to Natsume, I think it was three days ago, he said that hadn't heard from her either," said Ruka.

Hotaru looked up surprised. It hadn't taken her very long to find out that Natsume was the one Mikan cheated on Ruka with, but why they haven't been in contact puzzled her.

"Natsume says that every time he goes over to her house she's always busy," explains Ruka. "And she's been avoiding everyone at school too. Should I be worried?"

His girlfriend looked back at her computer screen. Mikan wasn't just some machine whose movement she could predict. "Hand me your cell phone," she ordered.

Ruka willingly held out his phone. Hotaru, taking the phone, dialed Mikan's number. It rang without an answer.

Hotaru sighed. Obviously Mikan wasn't answering her cell so she tried the home phone. On the second ring one of Mikan's maids answered.

"Ruka?"

"No," Hotaru replied. "It's Hotaru. Where's Mikan, I need to talk to her."

"She's busy," said the maid.

"I don't give a crap," Hotaru snapped. "Give her the phone."

The line went silent. Hotaru smirked, thinking that she would get to talk to Mikan. Unfortunately, it was the same voice that spoke.

"We don't know where she is."

"What do you mean?" asked Hotaru. She could hear the seriousness in the maid's voice. This was no joke.

"She left two days ago leaving a note that said, 'I might be back.' I've been hiding that from everyone telling them that she wasn't in the mood to talk or see anyone. I don't know how long I can keep this up." The maid's voice broke.

And Hotaru sucked in a breath. "I'll find her!" Hotaru said. With that she ended the call. She jumped off her bed and grabbed her coat. "Come on, Ruka," she started. "We need to find Mikan."

Ruka gave her a confused look, but there was no time to explain, she would have to explain in the car.

Mikan looked at the man in front of her. "Listen honey," he started to stay. "You can't stay here all night." He was in his thirties with a potbelly and mustache that looked like some sort of dead animal.

She was sitting in an old, cozy café drinking coffee and reading a newspaper. Truth be told, she had no idea where she was. She had given the bus driver thirty dollars and told him to take her anywhere. She couldn't take it anymore. There was no pain. She didn't regret cheating on Ruka. What kind of person was she?

"Okay," she said. "I'm just waiting for my friend to get out of the bathroom, and then I'll go."

The man nodded, seemingly content with the answer. A minute later a tall dark figure came over and rested his hand on her shoulder.

"You ready?" he asked.

"Ready to what?" She questioned curiously.

"Go," he answered.

"Do we have to go home?"

"Never."

"My parents are going to be worried, Hotaru and Ruka are going to be worried," she said as they made their way towards the door. As soon as the cold air hit them she shivered and held on to her companion. He was always a good source of warmth.

"Then why'd you leave?" he asked.

"Because back there, Ruka is my prince. He and I should've had two kids, a golden retriever, and a baby blue house with the white picket fence. But I don't love him…" she paused to take in her surroundings. They were in an empty town in the middle of nowhere. All they had was the clothes on their backs, two hundred dollars in cash, and, most importantly, each other.

"I love you," she finally said. "Let's find a home somewhere, where you are my prince."

Natsume looked down at her and smiled. They had a hard road ahead of them but at least they had each other.

"Sometimes," he said, his voice distant and dreamy, "cheaters do win."

A/N: Was this totally unexpected? It was to me. I changed the ending at the last minute. I know it's been forever since I updated (any of my stories really) but I finally have an updating schedule together. Anyway, this is the last chapter of Cheaters. If you want an epilogue I will write one. No sequel for this, sorry :( Anyway, review please!

~Jay~