The One
"Hey, this guy is really cool," Mikan commented, awestruck at the photo of a raven-haired boy displayed in her Teen's Magazine cover. "But he's too… now what was the word…?" She imploringly wondered as her nose wrinkled cutely.
"Formal?" Anna offered absent-mindedly from the floor beside Nonoko.
"Yes, formal." the brunette agreed, her eyes still glued on the cover. "He's too formal…and stiff. I mean, he's seventeen years old and he's wearing a tuxedo! Pfft, like who wears tuxedos these days? It's not even prom season." she muttered smugly, amused.
"Of course he's formal and stiff, he's the prince of the country. How do you expect him to look? Wearing hoola-hoops around his hips while doing tango?" Hotaru replied sarcastically.
"I never said tha- wait what? Prince? I thought we're democratic?"
"We ARE democratic Mikan," Nonoko answered, causing the brunette's eyebrows up in confusion.
"Then why do we have a prince?"
"Because we have an emperor and his son's title is prince?"
"Okay, whoa! Hold your horses! You're saying that we are democratic and we have a prince not to mention an emperor? Are we on the same page? We're still in Japan right?" Mikan tried to clear up and process whatever information her best friends are trying to choke her mind with. But seeing as how her brain won't digest things, she's guessing that it must be suffering from a severe indigestion.
"I guess so…"
"But Mikan didn't you visit the Imperial Palace like, 3 years ago? How come you don't know we have an Imperial Family?"
"That was a palace? I thought we were just visiting the National Museum!" the brunette defended. Her mind feels like it's been shaken up-side-down and grilled overnight that nothing makes sense. How could she not know that the museum was a palace?
BAKA BAKA BAKA
"OWWW!" Mikan pointed a finger at Hotaru who just had the pleasure of battering her with the Baka Gun 2000, while she aided the throbbing part of her skull. "You really should stop doing that."
"Yeah, you're right. Because I keep killing whatever live brain cells you have left."
"Hey!"
"Mikan-chan what's that article saying about the Prince anyway?" Anna interjected, trying to keep the room as cool as possible. Mikan's eyebrows instantly knitted into one as she read the article aloud.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE NATSUME HYUUGA NOW READY FOR BETROTHAL
Who is the lucky Cinderella?
His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince Natsume Hyuuga, son of the reigning monarch His Majesty Emperor Ioran Hyuuga and Her Royal Highness Empress Kaoru Hyuuga, recently turned seventeen last week with his globally-acknowledged party. As per royal tradition, public announcement was made, declaring the Crown Prince finally ready to meet his princess-bride-to-be. However, despite this graciously-accepted declaration, there will neither be auditions nor balls to be held for the Crown Prince to choose his future wife. Instead, the Imperial Palace will follow the tradition of letting the Crown Prince pick his choice through the video tapes of young ladies who have paid courtesies before the Royal Family through the years. So those girls dreaming to be the future Empress, consider yourself lucky if you have visited the Imperial Palace because this might be your lucky lifetime!
"Well that didn't make any sense." Mikan said after a while. "Who marries at the age of seventeen?"
Hotaru shrugged between clanks of metal. "When you're a prince, age doesn't matter in marriage. In fact, he's lucky he had to wait until seventeen, or even choose his bride. If I were the emperor I'd just tie him down to a rich conglomerate or politician's daughter." Stopping to look at Mikan, she dropped her equipment, evil glints sparkling in her purple orbs. "Although, things might get more interesting from here on."
She smirked and everyone just had to swallow.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
"Father, what does this mean?" A certain crimson-eyed lad demanded as he slammed the poor magazine against an expensive oak desk, disrupting the peace in the palace at the same time.
Natsume Hyuga was leisurely reading his newly-released set of mangas when his hand stumbled upon a smoothly-covered reading material, which was slightly bigger than his usual 2D-invaded books, only to find a double of himself staring back at him handsomely in a tux. What he failed to understand was how the word 'marriage' was glued onto his photo - more so when a crazy article alleged his so-called marriage.
To put it simply, he had no idea what the hell the foolish Teen's Magazine was yakking about. Not until he met with his father, anyway.
"I believe I taught you how to read fifteen years ago Natsume." His father replied smartly behind his enormous office chair so that he was facing the view outside the window instead. If there is anything to remember about the present Emperor is that he loves adding a dramatic feel to the situation.
"But Father-"
"It is written quite clear in that article is it not? To tell you the truth I do praise that magazine for phrasing the matter very briefly and concisely that even the simplest of minds can understand that you will have to be married."
"Well then I guess I do not have the simplest of minds because frankly not even a single word in this piece of junk rings a bell." he replied sourly. Natsume may have planned a lot of things in his life but marriage in any way was not a part of them. Even when he's drunk.
"On the contrary, the sound of wedding bells is already ringing in my ears, Natsume. It shall take a matter of time before you hear them joyously clanging in your heart. Here, take these videotapes to your room and choose my daughter-in-law to be." The Emperor laughed mirthfully.
"Father, you can't just-!"
"Oh, but I can Natsume. Now off you go before I call your mom. You know how she can be so…pushy." despite he calm voice of the Emperor, heavy twinkles of evil made their way visible in his eyes that Natsume had no choice but to angrily snatch the tapes from his father's desk and leave the silent tantrums of his footsteps echoing along the corridors.
His father smiled evilly. Ioran Hyuuga can certainly smell the scent of his well-baked plot out of the oven, ready to be served on a silver platter.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Light humorous chuckles resounded inside the enormous chamber of Natsume as his cousins, Tsubasa Andou and Ruka Nogi successfully dug a joke mine out of his failure to convince his father against the idea of matrimony.
"Let's face it cousin," Tsubasa was saying, his arm wrapped around Natsume's shoulder, who was itching to swat it off. "You're about to be tied-down to a complete stranger."
"Not if I can help it," he responded grudgingly.
"About that," Ruka started in his own innocent way. "Can't Natsume just say he didn't like anyone in the video tapes? That way he doesn't have to marry."
"Like that would happen. The moment that happens, my cunning old man would have chosen my wife through raffle draws."
Tsubasa shrugged then smirked. "If you ask me, I don't mind you giving justice to those hearts you broke by settling down..."
"Shut up." Natsume glared dangerously at his cousin.
"Fine, fine," the other raven-haired lad raised both hands in complete surrender. "Kids these days…" he muttered "Let's go get you a brand new heart to break! You too, Ruka! Come on!"
"Sigh" Seriously? Ruka thought, these kids need to grow up.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
"I'm telling you Hotaru, I don't need a new wardrobe, for god's sake! And I won't be marrying anyone. How many times do I have to tell you that I want to marry at 26, have two kids, four dogs and live in a cottage near the beach with a simple guy and a simple dream? Which of those words translated Mikan will marry a Prince soon? Do you even understand me?" Mikan yelled scandalously inside a famous café, successfully earning everyone's attention.
"Crystal clear, Mikan." her best friend replied stoically from her perch as she tapped her iPad. Heaven knows what evil plan she's hatching this time but she is pretty sure it lies among these words: Mikan, marry, prince, soon.
"Oh, yeah? Which of those words did you exactly understand Hotaru?"
"Let's see…" the latter replied busily. "I'm pretty sure I understand the words: Mikan will marry the Prince soon, have two kids and own a cottage near her private beach while owning four Dachshunds at the same time. And that is, if she marries the Prince."
"But she won't! I'm telling you. It's impossible okay, quit dreaming!" Mikan retorted for the nth time. She can't believe her best friend's setting her up with the Prince of the State! "Wait a minute, Hotaru. Oh my gosh! I can't believe this!" she chirped happily.
"What?"
"You're finally a normal girl! You know, gushing with your friends and teasing each other with cute guys. Oh, I'm so proud of you!"
Hotaru stared at her as if she were a deranged lunatic on the loose. "I'm not, idiot."
"Yes you are!"
"No."
"Then why do you keep on teasing me about this royal guy?"
"Because," she drawled on. "Being associated with royalty is equal to green precious papers. AND I love green precious papers. But first we need you to look like anything except a honking pig, in which you are. Come on."
"I AM NOT A HONKING PIG!"
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
"So, which bar will we go to, N'tsume?" Tsubasa enthusiastically inquired between gas pedal and brake pedal. It's been a while since they hung out in disguise especially since last time he was accused of being the father of a five-year old girl named Ringo. Like seriously? 5 years? He wasn't even tall enough to pass the PG13-rated movies then. And he was fourteen.
"We're not going to any bars today."
"We're not?" he echoed.
"Where are we going, Natsume? Don't tell me you're running away? With us." Ruka said worriedly.
"No, we're going to the mall."
"Mall?"
"You heard me!" He snapped.
"Hey, Natsume, watch out-!"
!
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
"Dummy, watch out-!" Hotaru tried to warn her best friend who was apparently too busy retorting to her previous statement that she didn't notice a sleek black driving at full speed.
!
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!"
"Miss, are you okay?" a male voice asked, full of concern.
"Of course she's not, stupid." Hotaru answered. Although devoid of any expression, if one digs deeply through her orbs, you'd see fear mixed with worry in it. But of course, the ever-so composed lady would keep everything at bay. "Hey, dummy. Can you get up?" She was saying now.
"Owww…yeah, yeah I'm fine. Was the ca-"
"Don't you know how to cross streets properly?" the guy who just went down the car wearing black cap and shades asked angrily. Dumbfounded because of his rudeness, Mikan took a step backwards unintentionally, being steadied instead by the blond guy.
"Excuse me?"
The guy smirked bemusedly. "Or didn't your parents teach you to look right and left before crossing?"
"Now that's downright rude mister!" Mikan yelled furiously. Never would she let a mere stranger speak ill of her parents. "Don't talk my parents into this! You are the one who was not looking!"
"Me?" Natsume couldn't believe this girl. She was clearly the one walking across the street busy yapping that she didn't notice the lights were still red.
"Get your facts straight, little girl. Next time tell your mommy to hold your hands before crossing the street." He scoffed, ready to get back to the car.
"Just who do you think you are, you self-righteous pig? You rude idiot, moron, du-"
Natsume removed his sunglasses in dismay and glared dangerously at the brunette, "Make sure to know who you're dealing with, little girl" He hissed venomously.
"Come on, Ruka"
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Tsubasa whistled. "That was quite a show you pulled up there, couz. People were staring at you" he chuckled.
They're now watching the video tapes, lifelessly paying attention to the girls being featured. Tsubasa would hoot at random moments when he sees someone interesting while Ruka was faithfully watching the whole slideshow. Natsume, on the other hand, can't seem to move on from the angsty brunette he almost ran over hours ago. There was something different about her that piqued his curiosity.
"Natsume!" Ruka exclaimed in such an alarming tone that his cousin was snapped to reality. "Look!"
There on the screen was a photo of a brunette with a sunny smile and sparkly hazel eyes. She was staring right at the raven-haired lad. She was unmistakably the same brunette he met hours ago and with whom he felt a sudden urge to play. Only, this brunette on the screen looks 3 years younger.
An evil smirk spread across the handsome face of Natsume, a sign that things around the palace were about to spice up.
Snapping his fingers as if he discovered the formula to eternal life, he said: "She's the one."
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~