Hiii there! Originally, this was for NatsumeSeries Contest #2, but I decided to make it longer! This is my very first story so I'm basically new here :D
8/22/2010: This is the revised version of the very first chapter. Some how, I thought that the old first chapter was a bit sloppy in the beginning, so I rewrote it and edited in a few parts (Including changing the titles and stuff).
Song Pick: Stop and Stare by One Republic
Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice does NOT belong to me. It belongs to Tachibana Higuchi-sama for creating such awesome characters. (It is basically pointless to post a disclaimer on every single chapter after this. The point is, it's not mine).
:-:A Fateful Meeting:-:
:-:A Gakuen Alice Fanfiction:-:
:-:Chapter 1:-:
It's every girl's dream to get married before 30. Isn't it?
Well you know what? I only have five more years before that. Five more years. My romantic life…ahem…isn't the ideal fairytale girls' dream. I've dated various people. But none of them seemed right, you know? And so, I've had the infamous record of breaking up with them in a matter of days. I always say, "I'm happily single! I don't need a boyfriend!" and then I nervously laugh it away. But the real truth is, I want to love and be loved back. Maybe…I just haven't found the right person yet.
I've always wondered: Is there really true love in this world? Are the legends about your soul mate and finding your other half true? Is romantic love…really all that sweet and fluffy stuff? Or is it full of heart break and pain? I was about to know.
I'm Mikan Sakura. 25 years old.
Annnnddddd jobless.
This is my story.
:-:Mikan's House; 9:23 AM; Mikan:-:
I was dreaming. I'm pretty sure I was.
My dream was about wrestling a fat dude (And he was really ugly too. His fat wife was carrying his man purse too.) in the Sydney Opera House and actually winning against him. AND he was a foreigner! (Or, rather I was a foreigner) EPIC DREAM EVER!
But then, flooding sunlight hit my eyelids with heat and it made it impossible not to wake up. You know those mornings when you feel so tired and you felt like something bad was going to happen that morning, you wished you just stayed home instead?
Yeah, I felt like that.
You know what the term for that was?
That's right. I felt like crap.
"Miiiiii~kaaaaaannnnn!" A light soprano voice floated into my room. "Breakfast! Blueberry pancakes!"
Or maybe not.
I leaped out of bed, fell down the stairs, and actually bled from a cut I didn't know existed until I applied Germ-X into my hand. That was smooth.
"You okay, Mikan?" Mom asked in a light blue plaid apron. "It smells delicious!"
"Yeah, it does!" I quickly sat at the dining table and hungrily devoured the first pancake in a matter of seconds. "Hey mom, I gotta go to a job interview soon so I can't go shopping with you again. Sorry."
Mom ruffled my hair lightly. "Silly. I'm okay if I go alone." The chair protested against the floor as she pulled it out in front of me. "Actually, I need to talk about something with you."
"Hm?" I grunted. A lopsided blueberry pancake hung out of my mouth, waiting for her to continue.
"Well," She picked up a glossy fashion magazine nearby, flipping through the pages. "I'd like to introduce you to my best friend's son. His name's Natsume."
I abruptly stopped eating my pancake, nearly choking myself. I spat it out and took deep breaths. I looked at my plate again. Ughh…I'm not gonna eat that again…wait what'd she say again? "So you want me to go on a blind date?"
Her footsteps leaped off the chair and went to grab her cup of cappuccino. "Well, hypothetically speaking, yes. To be exact, you're engaged to him."
It took me quite a moment to process what she was saying. Exact...engaged...him? WHAT? NO! THIS COULD NEVER HAPPEN!
"MOOOOOOOMMMMM! Come on, really? I got engaged to a person I don't know? NO WAY! Those happened 500 years ago!" I slunk back into my chair and laid my head back on the seat.
"Mikan, you just lost your job because you got into a fight with your boss about whether roses or lilies would go with the banquet halls, right?" Mom said with an exasperated sigh. "You should really consider this engagement, Mikan. You're already 25 and you lost your job more than the designer purses that I have. He owns a really beautiful wedding shop too. Besides you work in the profession so you should really consider it."
"Mom, as much as I love you, I can find a job where I can last for at least a long time. And about the engagement, please cancel it," I begged. I knew that even if it was an engagement, that Natsume guy wouldn't be happy, and I wouldn't be happy either. Love just doesn't work like that. I wouldn't be happy marrying a guy I didn't know.
I heard a distinct smirk. I looked up to see my mom smiling. "I'll cancel the engagement, only if you can hold a job for four months. Four full months, got it? And no feigning illness okay?"
"Ughhh fineee!" My hands reached for the nearest paper within proximity. I quickly skimmed through the "Help Wanted" section in the newspaper to pick out a random address. My hand randomly circled an ad and wrote down the address on a Post-it note, "I'm going to apply for a job here mom!" I proudly showed my mom the random address I circled in red pen.
"I'm going now!" I ran up the stairs to change my clothes that were right for a job interview. If I managed to hold this job for four full months, then the engagement was going to be canceled and I didn't have to worry about it! Cue happy Mikan dance!
Other than that, mom's right. I really need to get a stable job. Joining the wedding profession was my dream when I was a little girl. Those beautiful dresses and flowers in the churches, I really loved it all. My dream was to grow up and make a once in a life time moment for people so I could see smiles on their faces. So, this random address may be my chance to hope and success! The address I wrote down sparkled in a new light while I smiled at the memory. I just hope this boss is different from those snobby other ones.
Skipping happily back down the stairs to give my mom a wave goodbye, I grabbed my purse and made a go for it. "You just watch mom! I will hold this job longer than you think I can!" I shouted as I ran out the door, closing it with a slam.
That's right! To pursue my dream and cancel that dreaded engagement, I HAD to do this. I quickly approached the remaining vehicle that was parked in the driveway, and ignited the engine. Yes, I HAD to finish this job-whether I liked it or not. I sighed and drove away from the peaceful heaven that was known as my home.
"That girl really is something isn't she," Yuka said absentmindedly while picking up the thrown newspaper on the ground. "It seems like they're going to meet today." Circled in red, were the words "Hyuuga Fantasies".
:-:Hyuuga Fantasies; 9:35 AM; Natsume:-:
I'm REALLY thinking of changing the store name soon.
Every damn couple comes here because of the store name and thinks, "Is the wedding planner a girl?" Just because the store is named "Hyuuga Fantasies", doesn't mean the owner's a girl! I was getting fumed by the minute. At least Aoi would understand. She was the one who put me in this profession in the first place.
:-:Two Years Ago; 7 AM; Natsume:-:
"Aoi, where the hell are we going? You know people are still sleeping at this time of day! I secretly doubt you're even human by doing this!" I said as she pulled my arm into a bridal shop. Hell, it was seven in the morning. Where did she get all this energy from?
"But onii-chan! Mom's out on a business trip so I figured no one else would come but you! You know how mom is! She will ramble on and on about which dresses are the best! I just want to go in quickly and go out! I'm only a bridesmaid anyway. Now hurry, all of my friends are waiting for me!" Aoi said as she dragged me in. I was suspicious of a conspiracy but that thought was pushed away when we went in. The instant we came in the shop, the girly perfume made me walk as fast as I could out the door. A hand grabbed me back and I gave Aoi the death stare.
"I'm sorry onii-chan. But I have to do this," Aoi said as she grabbed a rope from her bag. In seconds, I was already bound in a chair. "What happened to the innocent Aoi?" I grumbled as I was forced to attend the wedding meeting.
She gave me that phony smile and said, "She disappeared when onii-chan refused to play tea party with me and crashed my tea set," Aoi said as she tightly tied the last knot on my chair.
"You still remember that, even when you were only six?" I asked when I tried to struggle. Damn, it was tight. Was she staying up late those few nights just for this? She always looked like a raccoon whenever she woke up recently.
"Aoi?" A bunch of girls stepped out from the curtains that concealed them. We turned our heads to find a bunch of ordinary looking girls in those high class dresses. In an instant, I knew the damn perfume was heading my way. I tried to struggle out of the chair with all of my might before my life was over. Seeing that I was making no progress, I scowled and turned my head in the other direction.
She ran past me to hug her friends, who were staring…straight at me. Damn it, there's no escape this time. My hands found their way to the knot and they started pulling the rope. Dang! It was tight too!
"I'm sorry I'm late! Anyway I brought my brother here!" she said to the crowd of girls. Half of them were still staring with their mouths agape, while the other half were listening to her while looking at me.
"Geez…I knew there was a conspiracy," I murmured under my breath. One girl snapped out of her trance and announced, "Alright then. Let's get started shall we?" Due to her complex white layered dress, I could tell that she was the to-be bride. I sneezed as the perfume inched closer. The tight knot still didn't give leeway.
The girls reluctantly moved from their standing positions and started with the meeting. Seeing Aoi's happy face made me tune into their discussion once in a while, and most of the time I was cursing myself for giving Aoi the house keys.
In the end, I contributed the most ideas without even knowing it. When it was over (and when I finally untied the last knot), Aoi calmly pulled out a chair beside me. I was ready to stand up to run out of the store when Aoi spoke.
"Onii-chan, I think you should be a wedding planner," she said without hesitation.
"What?" I was taken aback. I never really thought about my career path. It was just me that lazed around all day. True, I had acquired a business degree at Alice College, but it didn't count toward anything. I just continued with life after college, not knowing what to do. I paused with the ropes in my hands and she continued.
"You made my friend really happy with your ideas. I'm sure she'll be happy. But onii-chan," She looked at me straight in the eye. There it was. The same crimson puppy dog eyes…"I want you to make other couples happy too. I want other people to know that once-in-a-life-time experience. And if you can make other people happy, then Aoi can be happy too. And when it's Aoi's turn to get married, I can get a once-in-a-lifetime experience planned by my brother." She concluded with a bright smile that I've rarely seen before. A once in a life time experience, huh…
"Onii-chan?" Aoi asked as I slowly stood up.
"I'll do it," I said faintly and furrowed my short eyebrows. "But I'll only retire until you're going to get married." That was my goal, and I intended to finish that goal until Aoi got what she wanted. Hell, I was bored with playing video games all day anyway. Being in control with a "Once-in-a-lifetime" experience might even be...as exciting as beating a boss in a video game. But I was never going to admit that to Aoi, even if someone killed me 1,000 times. Besides, I could even get money just by having ideas and working it out. It didn't seem that hard.
The next few months were like hell as Aoi and my mom excitedly decorated my store with frilly lace and satin curtains. All of it was creeping me out, but I learned how to adjust to it. They arranged everything: from the grand exterior to the little corner that no one would even look at. Aoi even came up with that shitty store name that I was getting all pissed about. I could care less, just as long as that money keeps rolling in.
And now, as much as I won't admit it, I really need an assistant. Mainly, to take care of the mountains of paperwork that was piling up. The last assistant was slacking off while the paperwork was building up. The easiest thing to do was to fire her. Take a load of crap off of my mind and I'm happy. The only thing I wasn't happy about was the work I have to take home everyday.
Then, she came along and changed everything…
:-:Outside of Hyuuga Fantasies; 9:37 AM; Mikan:-:
"Hyuuga Fantasies? Sounds like a name a girl would give to a store," I said aloud as I stood outside the elegantly decorated wedding shop. In the display floor to ceiling length window were the newest designs of bridal dresses on mannequins. There were also yellow roses in the glass vase and a crystal chandelier that gave a romantic feeling. My intuition told me that I was going to like working here. I pushed open the silver handle and walked into my success. Or, so I thought.
As I entered the store, I noticed three carpet stairs leading up to the main floor. I was standing on the bottom with white marbled tiles. There were other numerous rooms from my view. I put up my extra super bright smiley face and singsonged, "Hiii I'm Mikan Sakura! I'm here for a job as an assis-"
"You're hired," A low voice interrupted as my short song died.
What? Is it possible to get hired in only nine seconds?
I slowly opened my eyes to find to dark, raven haired guy in a grey vest and a crisp white shirt. His crimson eyes were what pulled me in the most. They were stunning, almost the color of blood. The immediate thought that popped into my head was, "What? I thought this store was owned by a girl!" I covered my mouth and discovered that I spoke my thoughts out loud.
"Never mind, you're fired," The red-eyed guy said immediately with a "Don't-piss-me-off-or-I'm-going-to-shoot-you" kind of look. My left eye twitched at him.
What? Was it possible to get fired in nine seconds too?
"H-H-Hey, wait a minute! I was here solely for the purpose of a job! I can't get fired in nine seconds!" I protested. I wasn't going to lose this fight, right after I had just been fired!
He opened his mouth to make a blunt comment when a gorgeous girl stepped out from the lavender satin curtains. She was almost the exact same as him, but her face was kinder than her brother's, so I assumed. "Onii-chan, why are you doing this again? You should hire that girl! I see potential in her," she said with a wondering eye at me.
"Well I don't," He said bluntly with his poker face. "I just fired that ugly girl so she should just go somewhere else." My anger was rising up. Who was he? Saying I have no potential and I was ugly? That's clearly disrespect for all girls! I was fuming by the second.
"Well then, as a decorator of this store and as your sister, I will hire her," she said boldly as she placed her hand on my shoulder. "You're in need of an assistant anyway. I can't even climb past the mountains of paperwork in that is in that empty room!"
M-M-M-M-Mountains? What?
"Hn," he grunted. His grunt was taken as a yes from his sister and she dragged me past the lavender curtains and through the halls. "H-H-H-Hey wait a second! Don't I need to fill out an application and go to an interview or something?" I said as I was being dragged.
"Oh no, you don't need to do that because I've already hired you! It's not like you need to go on probation or anything either. By the way I'm Aoi Hyuuga, the younger sister of the boss that owns this place, which was the person who just fired you. Sorry, onii-chan can be like that sometimes, but please bear with him," Aoi dragged me to a darkly lit room.
"Are there any windows in here? I thought it was morning!" I commented as I wandered around. As I went into the dim room, I tripped over something heavy. As I raised my head up, I saw mountains and mountains of paper. "So you weren't kidding about the work, huh?" I said as I stared, not even noticing that the pile of papers in front of me that was going to tip in my direction!
"This room does have windows. Or at least it had before the papers covered them-HEY WATCH OUT!" Aoi shouted at the door frame.
"Wha-!" I turned my head in her direction to see someone rushing towards me. Then the room became blurry as I heard something fall over. Luckily, I was able to dodge the stack of papers by sidestepping to the left. Someone else wasn't so lucky.
There was Aoi, sprawled across the floor, struggling to move under the weight of the papers on top of her. On her face was a red bruise the size of a fist.
"Aoi! Are you alright? I'm sorry!" I jumped in next to her to see if her bruise was okay and lifted some of the papers off of her. "Ughhhh" was the only sound I could get out of her while I helped her sit up and placed her back on the wall. Her hand instantly went to her wound and rubbed it softly. She muttered, "Are you okay Mikan?" with a faint smile.
"I'm fi-," I began, relieved, when I noticed a dark presence behind me. My head whipped around to find her brother glowering at both of us, and my nerves froze. He was as scary as hell with those frightening crimson eyes!
"Aoi," His voice towered above us. He knelt down to help her up with his back facing me. "I-I'm sorry Aoi," were the last words I could utter before he cut me off, again.
"That's enough." He stood up with Aoi's head on his shoulder. "Your job for this week is to finish all those papers, overtime or not." And with that he left me stranded in a dark room to finish the humongous stacks of paper.
What a great day to start my new job. I met a hardhearted boss and accidentally caused harm to his dearest sister. I quietly picked up the stack of papers on the floor and sighed to myself. This was the least I could do to makeup for Aoi.
Gosh, I knew it. I should've stayed home today.