Because of You

AN: This is a one-shot of MikanxHotaru. Don't worry, there's no fluff in this (if it did, I would've rated it, right?). I was so moved by the episode about Hotaru's brother that I decided to write this. NatsumexMikan fans may find this quite disappointing, so if you don't like it, don't read it. I'm only writing this for fun... HEHEHE...

AN2: The words in italics are in Mikan's POV, or thoughts, or mind.

AN3: Again, don't like it? Then don't read it! I'm not forcing you guys! Flames are accepted, death threats are not.

---

"I'm so nervous...," was the only three words Sakura Mikan would utter again and again as Tobita Yuu desperately tried to fix her hair piece (she moved too much). Today was the day, the day where she would swear eternal love to the man she loves in the presence of God. It was so hard for her to control her emotions, and Yuu's presence didn't make her feel any better.

"Don't worry," said Yuu happily to her. "Everything's going to be fine. The ceremony's only a few hours long."

"But I'm so nervous!" Mikan yelled back desperately. "What if I screw up? What do I do?"

"C'mon-"

"Hey guys."

A broad smile made its way to Mikan's face as the first man entered the dressing room, carrying what seemed to be a live rabbit.

"Ruka-pyon!" she greeted cheerfully. "You look so handsome!"

"T-thanks," Ruka replied quietly. "How're things in here?"

"Glad you came in," Yuu replied. "She's been saying the same three words to me again and again until you came in."

"What?"

"I'm so nervous... I'm so nervous!," Yuu said, imitating Mikan's very worried voice, making his two friends laugh out loud.

"Anyway," Ruka said. "Why don't you go to the hall, Iincho? You're the wedding planner. You should be there."

"I guess," Yuu replied, getting up from his seat. Before closing the door and leaving the room, he turned back to the two and said, "And stop calling me 'Iincho'. We graduated years ago."

"Are you really okay?" Ruka asked as soon as Yuu was gone.

"I'm just nervous that I might make a mistake in front of the altar, that's all," Mikan replied, looking down on the floor.

Ruka heaved a sigh. He slowly approached Mikan and kneeled in front of her, trying to get a better look at her face. His eyes widened a bit.

"That's not what's bothering you, is it?" Ruka asked as he tried to wipe away a visible tear from her eyes. Mikan looked at him with gratitude. He was the only one who knew what happened. Not even his husband-to-be knew about what she was carrying inside of her.

---

It was just a few days ago. It was a normal day, as usual. Nothing was different that day.

"Is that so?" she asked me after I gave her the news.

"Yeah! Isn't it great?" I replied happily to her. I thought that she would be happy for me. I thought that she would give me her blessings. I thought that, maybe it was just no big deal to her.

I was wrong.

"You're breaking your promise?" she asked without even looking at me. My smile faded right away. My promise? I would never...

"I'd never forget that!" I said right away, desperation in my voice. "As I promised in Middle School, I'll never ever leave your side, Hotaru!"

"Then why are you doing this?" she asked calmly. "This is the same as breaking your promise."

"I'm just getting married to Natsume, Hotaru," I explained. "I'm not leaving you!"

"Liar."

"But-"

"Idiot."

"Hotaru!"

"I'm not going to be at your wedding day. Goodbye, Mikan. Be happy."

---

"I don't know what to do, Ruka-pyon," Mikan sighed, as tears were flowing down her face uncontrollably. "I love Natsume. I really do, but to have lost Hotaru because of him, to have lost my best friend in the whole world for him, to have to be separated from the person who always cared for me, even when she didn't really say it in words, it just... It just feels so sad..."

"Are you sure you want to go through with the wedding?" Ruka asked as he tried to comfort her.

"Of course," Mikan replied right away. "I can't back out now! What will Natsume think of me? Besides, Iincho put a lot of his time in preparing my wedding. It'd be a waste to just let it go."

"If you're sure," Ruka said. "But even Natsume wouldn't be happy if he found out that you have mixed feelings about your special day."

"I know," Mikan replied. "So please Ruka-pyon," she said as she held his hand tightly in her own delicate ones, "don't tell Natsume about this. Please."

Ruka smiled. As much as he hated keeping secrets from his best friend, he replied, "Sure."

---

"Are you okay," Natsume Hyuuga asked right away to his wife-to-be as soon as she approached him through the aisle. She looked sick, as if all the color from her face has been drained.

"Of course I'm fine," Mikan said happily. "Don't worry about me."

"Who said I was worried?"

"You still can't change your way of expressing your emotions."

"Oh, give me a break."

---

The ceremony went on as planned. The cathedral music, the echoes of the priest's voice, they weren't enterting Mikan's head. Her heart felt heavy. Something felt so wrong in her. It was her, their special day, yet her heart didn't feel delighted. Something wasn't there. Something was missing.

It was her voice, her insults.

Her love for her.

"Do you," the priest bellowed, "take this young lady to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Natsume glanced at Mikan with his eyes full of sorrow before answering the priests with the words he never wanted to say on that day.

"I don't."

A series of loud gasps came from the crowd as soon as they heard Natsume's answer, one coming from the priest himself.

Mikan still wasn't listening. She hadn't realized what had happened until Yuu yelled it to her.

"What?" she asked. "But, Natsume?"

"Go to your dressing room," Natsume said right away. "She's there."

Mikan's eyes widened, and tears were forming in her eyes once again. "But-"

"I can't marry someone who doesn't love me wholly," Natsume explained. "Sorry."

"Natsume," Mikan had yelled after she threw her arms around Natsume, who answered her back with a tight embrace. This was probrably the last time he'd ever hold her in his arms.

"Thank you."

"Just go already before I change my mind."

She frantically ran through the marble halls. Her heart's burden has been lifted, all thanks to Natsume, that she couldn't help but cry.

At last, she reached the door to her dressing room. Without a moment to lose, she burst in the room, and directly into the arms of her beloved best friend.

"Mikan," Hotaru muttered.

"I guess I kept my promise after all," Mikan said happily.

Hotaru gave a small smile, and replied, "Idiot."

---

"Hey Ruka," Natsume said when the two of them were getting ready to leave the cathedral.

"What?"

"How about you and I get married?"

"WHAT?"

AN: Haha! What an ending! Anyway, please review.