Summary: Natsume's feeling very high, and he's more or less no longer himself... Add that to an innocent Mikan, who didn't even know how he really feels about her. Will she finally know the meaning of love this time? Or will she regret it?
Can you do me a fervor?
Chapter 1
The last dance
It was a fine night at Central town…
The night sky's littered with billions of gleaming stars and the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation for the coming event: The Last Dance.
The Last Dance was a special event wherein people who want to remember each other and create a bond between them dance together before the grand torch. Each year, Alice academy celebrates this festive occasion by preparing games and activities to commemorate the event.
This year, however, it was an especially important event for Mikan Sakura, who just turned seventeen that year.
"Mikan, you're already seventeen!" her friends told her, "That's only one year before you reach your maturity, and you still act like a child."
"Huh?" Mikan replied quizzically, unable to understand what they meant.
Her friends sadly nodded to each other, "She needs some learning to do before she can even grasp what we're talking about here." the other whispered to her friend.
She nodded in silence, "Yeah, about time that she finds out Natsume's---"
"Natsume's what?"
The familiar voice cut through the conversation and silenced the surrounding crowd. Excited yet discreet murmurs and buzzing arose from the gathered people as they watched Natsume Hyuuga emerge from a clear space, wearing an elegant black tuxedo that finely matched his handsome features. Ruka followed behind him looking just as handsome in his white tux.
Seven years of staying in Alice Academy and they had been adequately molded into good-looking men, each with their own characteristic development and hauling effects on the females.
Mikan saw the two and started to greet them both when Natsume barged in, "Ruka," he said to him, noticing him turn rigid again.
He knew why he acts that way a year ago; he needn't be reminded.
"If polka-dotted panties interest you that much, you can stay." He told him curtly without looking at him, "I don't need to waste my time being with this idiot."
As if the first remark hadn't have its effect on Mikan, who stood before them with her mouth open in shock, he added to the insult with a discourteous leave and passed right beside her.
Mikan's friends exchanged a worried look as they saw her face low and unmoving, the typical indication of an upcoming attack.
She was starting to convulse in anger, shame or both.
"Stop." A hand held before Natsume extended. It was Mikan's.
The young man flatly looked at her with his crimson eyes, seeming to possess its own luster. The people gathered around were starting to stir in agitation, aware of what may possibly ensue.
They have more or less gotten some news about what occurred between this two, and what they were seeing right now could probably mean trouble.
-
It was a year ago, that night at the same last dance festival…
Mikan and Natsume's relationship with each other have ascended into another level. His insults only came rarely then and it was mild and inoffensive. He was starting to treat her nice and...just slightly special, which when compared to his other relationships except for Ruka, can already be considered a major miracle. This has never happened before as far as people who knew Natsume know, and this show of affection indicated only one thing: something will happen soon---something that will shock everyone.
And then… it did happen.
That night, on the same festival, due to a series of conspiracies, Mikan somehow found herself alone during the Last Dance. Everyone had their own secret watching place as they observed what Natsume's move will be. Eventually, he appeared suddenly and sat beside Mikan, who greeted him in the usual amiable way.
"Why aren't you dancing?" his tone was indifferent as he asked her without looking.
"Hotaru and Ruka's no where to be found." she said casually, "I don't see anybody I know to dance with…"
Natsume said nothing.
From somewhere around the bushes and dark corners, the spectators tensed and kept their ravings to themselves at Mikan's outright innocence… it made it especially bad because it was Natsume she was spewing her innocence with. But the young man just sat there and watched the dance.
After a while, Mikan asked, "Don't you have anyone to dance with, Natsume?"
This time, Natsume looked at her directly, hoping that even in this gesture he'll be able to pass his message through. "No, I don't have anybody to dance with."
Mikan smiled to herself, "Then we're the same!" she said and went on watching the dance.
Another moment passed… and nothing.
From the bushes, someone whispered out loud, "Damn it, what's with the shell! Break through!"
"Look, the guy's hopes are crushing in!"
"Out of the way!" Sumire's frustrated voice suddenly emerged.
She came out of her hiding place, and gathering some of her members, strode to where Mikan was, who was already starting to bid a hopeless Natsume goodbye.
"Damn idiot! As president of his fan-club, it's my priority to ensure Natsume's happiness----regardless the consequences…" Sumire's mind started reasoning and arguing with herself, "…and that stupid idiot once-one star dared REJECT him?? Ooh yes, she's going to pay…"
"Hi Mikan! Who's your partner for the last dance?" Sumire butted in with her loud catchy voice.
Mikan smiled before replying, "Oh hi Sumire! You're here too!"
From the bench Natsume was left alone. His crumbling pride and honor was visible in his appearance as it tried to regain its shattered ego to no avail. He of course knew where everyone really was, and that only worsened the situation.
Sumire saw that, and motioning the girls to be silent, handled the problem with her loud voice, "OH, isn't that Natsume your partner??" she looked extravagantly to the corner, hoping to indicate the young man sitting alone on the bench.
He looked like he was ready to leave and disappear.
But Mikan still showed no signs of recognition like a true numbskull.
She saw a howalon booth by the corner and exclaimed,
"Howalons! I never thought I'd see those here!" she left for the booth without a word.
By the time Mikan got hold of the Howalon box, Natsume was gone from his place, leaving the surrounding people with mixed emotions, disappointment in the lead. Those who knew were aware that it was over; whatever had clung to maintain Mikan and Natsume's friendship was broken and tossed away… but Mikan didn't know that----
-
---but this time, she was going to find out.
In fact, maybe she already knew.
Natsume looked at the girl then to her outstretched hand that blocked his way. His left hand twitched as if having an uncontrollable itch and then started to spark with fire, when before it happened, Mikan's hand grasped it tightly and nullified it unknowingly.
"You're going to dance with me." She said forcefully and began dragging a shocked Natsume out to the square where hundreds of couples danced merrily.
The others can only stand and watch.
-
"You're going to dance with me, whether you like it or not." Mikan was saying grimly as she dragged Natsume out to the square, but midway along he jerked and let it go rudely.
Mikan turned and saw the impudent smile on his face. She suddenly knew he wasn't going to come off so easily.
"Come on, I'll show you what you wanted all along. This is it, isn't it?" she challenged.
Natsume only smiled impudently. "Hmpf, what do you know?"
"What?"
"Tell me..." he turned his back on her, his voice speaking low and sarcastic, "How can an idiot like you know anything about love?" he started walking away, leaving Mikan puzzled and frustrated.
"What do I know about 'love'..?" she said aloud to herself, then shouted to Natsume's diminishing figure, "I'm not an idiot, you moron!"
Mikan made her way to the square where Hotaru and the others was, trying to think about what he just said… Maybe she can ask her best friend about it.
What did she know about love?
-
"What the hell did you do with that disintegrating FUME??"
"Oh-my-god! I left it! I left it on the northern forest!!"
The two seniors conversed low by the bushes near the high school division building. Both were wearing black tuxedos that allowed concealment for them as they hid low by the shadows.
The taller one who asked the latter hit him on the head, "Do you have to shout?? Shut up!"
The slimmer one who was wearing eyeglasses still seemed agitated, "I LEFT it!!" he wheezed in a controlled effort to lower his voice, "I left iiitttt! I left IT in the northern forest! In the uppermost part of the north-ern fo-rest!"
"Yeah, exactly." The taller one said, "You have to repeat it."
"I le—ft i—t… OW!" the slimmer one shut up completely when the other slapped him hard on the back.
"I don't know about you, but I don't want to get caught. That's why we're getting out of here." He stood up and strode away without waiting for his companion.
"Wait!"
The two slipped quietly into the night and returned to the square, where the people were happily enjoying themselves.
-
Movements from the bushes marked Natsume's entrance to the Northern forest--- the only real place he goes to celebrate this so-called 'Last Dance'…
Even though he was given access to the square a year ago to attend the event, this place was really the only place where he truly felt he belonged during times like this where everyone have the freedom to express their happiness and not fear anything.
Those privileges belonged to people who didn't have to hide their past because it was so dark.
He, on the other hand, was part of a different category… He was one of those who were destined to be kept forever in hiding because he happened to possess something that was going to harm others, as bad as it was. It already became a part of him anyway, so much that he no longer minded.
He walked the length of the place, familiar with its twisting pathways and shortcuts, the night critters dwelling in the night and the comforting silence it creates around the place… for some reason, there was something different here tonight, but with the events occupying most of his mind and concentration, he simply didn't care.
"Mikan…" he said her name to himself in hopelessness. Sitting himself by the tree with the great view of fireworks, he let himself go deep and think what he usually can't when he's with normal people.
The stubborn, inborn-innocent Mikan Sakura… she who always insists to release him from his darker side of the world to rejoin her people and her ideals… Natsume was thinking and let himself smile.
"The big idiot. And she's not even aware how stupid she really is..." Natsume thought , remembering her reaction, "Just hauls in people without really thinking about what will happen to her… She---"
There was a sudden clinking sound beside him.
Natsume just had enough thought to look beside him when the spidery machine dropped on its eight legged metal feet, released a latch on its head, and then expelled gaseous fumes directed on Natsume's face.
He struggled and gagged at the strong smell, trying to get away from it. But the fumes diffused to the entire area and before long, he inhaled a whole lot of it to fill his lungs.
Natsume collapsed on the ground, unconscious.
-
a while after Natsume left Mikan…
Hotaru and the others were gathered in a group, conversing about something when Mikan came.
"Hotaru, Nonoko, Anna! You're all here!" she said.
The girls look at her somewhat sadly. By and by, suddenly they each had a reason to leave.
"Oh there's Misaki-sensei!" Anna giggled, "Got to go! See you later, Mikan."
"Anna wait!" Nonoko went after her.
Soon only Hotaru and Mikan were sitting on the table. Mikan felt uncomfortable, and she didn't know why… she had a feeling they all knew what happened, but they're keeping their opinion to themselves and she was struggling to find out about something…
"Hotaru…" Mikan began uncertainly.
The raven-haired girl continued to sip her iced tea as if no one said a word.
"Hey… Hotaru. Can I ask something?"
Still no reply.
"Can I…" she started to say, "How can I know…how to love?"
Hotaru nearly choked on her drink. When she regained herself, she looked at Mikan, who continued, "Or even know how to love someone? Or even know when a person loves someone?"
Hotaru considered her best friend for a while, staring at her confused face with her prying indigo eyes… and then she went back sipping her tea.
"You're confusing yourself." was Hotaru's advice.
"What?"
Hotaru looked at her again, "And don't tell me 'how'. You should know that." She finished, as if that settled everything.
Mikan felt utterly hopeless she simply deduced that everyone was in low spirits and didn't want to talk to her, so she stayed quiet…
"Loving someone doesn't always have to come with awareness…" Hotaru said suddenly, her blank quality of a voice lacking emotion, "Sometimes, it just comes." She looked at her, "When you're in love, you'll know. It's that part when you give yourself for others without expecting anything in return."
Mikan perked up from her gloomy state. Though not sure how to interpret Hotaru's mysterious advice, she felt happy that someone was concerned.
"Mikan, can you do me a favor?" her bestfriend suddenly asked.
"What is it?"
"Can you be aware of what people indirectly expresses to you?" she was saying as if scolding her, "Sometimes, what you see isn't always what you think they are."
"Huh?" Mikan replied, unable to understand what she truly meant, "Sometimes appearances are not true?"
Hotaru stopped sipping her tea to look at her friend, "Mikan… sometime… when you get yourself in trouble, you'll remember what I said."
"Hotaru!" she could only say. Not knowing what else to talk about, Mikan stayed quiet for the rest of the night, until the announcement began.
The speaker went on stage before them and was heralded by lights and alice effects. He stood before the microphone and began, "Good evening to one and all. Tonight, in this special occasion, I'm going to present the results of the poll for Mr. and Ms. Alice Academy for this year!"
A loud round of applause and excited cheers cut through the crowd.
The speaker continued, eyeing everyone, "Shall we move on with the announcement?" he waited for the crowd to agree and, receiving more than what he expected, he continued, accompanied by drum rolls.
"Oh I forgot! Before that…" he cut through abruptly, "As a special feature for the upcoming Valentines day and commemoration for this very productive year, we are going to give a one week holiday vacation to the winners, plus a one chance to choose someone of the opposite sex to accompany them. The trip will be made in an exclusive private island owned by the academy..."
When he finished, a new sound broke through, and the crowds were excited, intrigue and envious at the same time, their clamoring growing stronger by the minute. The secretary came and handed him an announcement.
"The administration would also like to extend their appreciation to the efforts of senior students who made all the production and convenience possible! Heads of the Latent, Special Ability, Somatic ability, Technology group and last but not the least the dangerous ability class!" he paused as the secretary handed another rolled up paper, "Ah, here are some of the bright ones! Tobita Yuu, Anna, Nonoko, Kokoro, and all the students under the Special Ability class, who all excelled splendidly in this year's events. The following mentioned tonight are all granted with the special vacation tour, accompanied by some of the best teachers of the school."
Squeals of delight coming from the mentioned ones resounded around.
The announcer wasted no time. As the drum rolls began to echo again, he spoke in his high voice, "So this year's Ms. Alice Academy is none other than…. Hotaru Imai!!" at the mention of the name, the spotlight immediately zoomed in on Hotaru's place and the applause was deafening.
"Hotaru, you're so lucky!"
"You get to choose someone! That's so romantic!"
"None of this has ever happened before! Congratulations!"
Her supporters and friends thanked her while she sat in silence, continued to sip her tea.
The announcer continued when the noise died down, "And can everyone guess who'll be Mr. Alice Academy this year?" he trailed off mysteriously.
The surrounding people gave out names and erroneous guesses. After they made their own wishing, a secretary handed the special piece of rolled-up paper containing the name of the winner.
He began to read it, "And so, this year's Mr. Alice Academy----"a long pause ensued as the announcer controlled his features from contorting into amazement, then, "Ah, we have a new one!" he finally said, "Natsume Hyuuga!"
This time the noise that erupted was uncontrollable. Some were swooning, some were secretly fearful, but most of them were exhilarated.
This was going to be one controversial event…
At the tables, Mikan felt her heart momentarily stop and began to pound in her ears. She had a bad feeling about this…
The spotlight zoomed in but couldn't find Natsume and continued to search around confusingly. The crowd soon hushed down and began to search.
"Oh where is Mr. Hyuuga?" the announcer remarked when from the backstage came a low, disturbing voice.
"Right here."
From the gloom of the shadows emerged Natsume, and the announcer involuntarily took a step back at the sight, as if on an impulse. He first thought he was seeing a different man, but upon taking note of the one star on the collar of Natsume's black tux, he knew he was not mistaken.
But still…
"Congratulations, Mr. Hyuuga!" the announcer held out his hand but instead, Natsume shot him a smile that made his skin pricked with goosebumps. He withdrew it immediately like one who would withdraw his hand from highly toxic waters.
He looked at the delirious crowd instead.
"Winners will submit their chosen partners by the administration building… and be sure to bring your partner with you! Have a happy trip! That is all, good night."
Mikan found herself looking at the stage where Natsume was.
He was staring directly at her…
And she's certain he was a different man.
Mikan was suddenly very sure who he'll be choosing.
-
Author's Notes:
So… what will happen now? 'fervor' means 'a feeling of great warmth and intensity', and it's related to what will happen later on. :D just find out. Don't forget to review!!! By the way, this is not 'lemon/lime fic'---whatever that means.