Thanks for all the reviews:

Kylee-cat

Serenity012

sapphireangel09

Lena

Smiley0016

SHINeeLover

Lolita-chi

QuietShadowz - no its not a sequel, but a stand alone. It just ended up having touches from my other fics, as well as being a teeny bit confusing.

anon - lol thanks. You say that, and i end up writing a tiny epilogue. oh irony.

Author Note: So, thanks to everyone who reviewed my story, added it as a favorite or even as an alert. I am so glad that people read my work.

Its not related to any of my other stories, but it does somehow have have touches from them. Still, its a standalone.

Epilogue:

Mikan stood at the crumbling stone altar, clad in a simple white gown made of the finest silk and embroidered all over with images of trees and flowers. Natsume stood in front of her, dressed in a white suit, his vest embroidered to match her dress.

Ruka cleared his throat, to make them look at him, rather than each other.

"At this sacred altar, do you, Mikan Sakura, take this man, Natsume Hyuuga, to be your husband for the rest of your lives?"

"Yes." Mikan answered. They had chosen together to change the vows to 'the rest of their lives' rather than the previous 'till death do us part' at her insistence.

"At this place of worship, untouched by any ill or lies, do you Natsume Hyuuga, take this woman, Mikan Sakura as your wife for the rest of your lives?"

"Yes."

Natsume raised her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss across her knuckled before slipping a wedding ring studded with diamonds on her finger. Mikan smiled, tears shining in her gaze, before flipping his hand over and slipping a male version of the same band on his finger.

"You are now bound in matrimony." Ruka intoned, making Mikan grin.

"What happened to kiss the bride?" she asked.

"That comes now." Natsume told her before proceeding to do just that. Mikan was laughing when he let her go to catch her breath.

"I'm scarred for life." Aoi muttered to Ruka with a fake pout, since he had left the altar and come to her side.

He wrapped an arm around his wife, chuckling. "Want me to kiss you and make it better?"

"Then father will be scarred for life as well. I am not that vengeful. Yet." She said haughtily, even though she did reach up and kiss his cheek.

Ruka shook his head, and turned to congratulate the new couple that was finally done making out, and stepping off the altar.

"Congratulations." He and Aoi said at the same time.

"Gratitude." Natsume answered.

"Thanks a lot!" Mikan beamed, and then they grinned at the dissimilarities of their responses.

"Now let's go to have a party!" Mikan said happily.

Natsume nodded, and then with one final look at the crumbling remains of a temple of a bygone era that was now hidden in the middle of a forest, they vanished only to appear in a suite above Mikan's club where the huge reception was taking place.

...

"I still can't believe I'm married." Mikan murmured as she danced with Natsume, her arms wrapped around his neck, and her head resting on his shoulder.

"I'll keep reminding you."

"Good."

Natsume chuckled, and she reached up and kissed his throat.

"I have a wedding present for you." He said softly, tilting her head up so that he could look her in the eyes.

"Yes?"

Natsume uncurled her arm from around his neck and held her hand in his until she could see her wedding ring glittering in the muted light.

Mikan raised a brow.

"I placed a spell on it. It has a core of magic in it, and it will keep recharging itself from me. The most basic thing it will do is to protect you as a shield from physical or magical harm."

Mikan waited. She knew there was more.

Natsume smiled self depreciatingly.

"It allows you to call me to your side. No matter where I am, the moment you think of me, and want me next to you, I'll be instantly teleported at your side. No more running away, love. Never from you."

Mikan knew that tears had slipped down her cheeks, but she could not say a word, even though she had so much to say. So many ways to tell him that she loved him, that she forgave him, that she trusted him. He seemed to understand, and his bright smile made her heart soar.

"Love you, wife. Now I'll prove it to you."

"You just did." Mikan's smile was as bright as his, and just as full of promises for the future yet to come.