Seconds of Sorrow

Hi there!! This my very first fanfic so pls. be kind..but i wholeheartedly accept constructive criticisms..and sorry for the layout of my story..since i'm a beginner..i don't really know how should i manipulate the functions here..so bear with me..thank you!!

uhm..Rated T just to be safe..

" I've tried to be best enough for you.. though I know you hate me like dirt..but still I ended up the worst.., as what you always say."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Oh..the hell.. i can't believe it, I'm stuck with someone like you!" Mikan pouted.

" Same to you," Natsume replied nonchalantly.

" You know what, if not for the sake of our mission, I won't even bother to stay!" she retorted.

" Then, forget the hell mission and go away, I don't need you.." he rejoined.

" As if I need you, you arrogant brat!" Mikan was now balling her fist. In any moment she could erupt explosively just like an active volcano.

Mikan and Natsume are famous to be enemies, the tandem you would fear to know and meet. Even though they're already grown-ups.. actually 18 years old..they still have those childish fights, those endless scuffles..that really makes them popular..,in the case of Mikan since Natsume, even without those, he's indeed famous. It's like the whole terra will be destroyed when an argument between them is started. But their parents simply can't help it. There is no space for the fact that they're best friends yet their children are the complete opposite. So, they built a plan for the two to somehow appease with each other. That is accomplishing a mission, killing Persona, who has been the rusty knife in their life. A consequence will be bestowed up them if they will not work together and if they won't cease those fights. But the consequence is yet to be known.

Tired of hearing the screams.. particularly of Mikan…she decided to appear intentionally. After all, she has known the two very well for she is the mother of Mikan, Yuka Azumi.

"Mikan, dear, how are you doing?" she asked sweetly.

Mikan was shocked. Natsume well..half-shocked .

"oh, well..uhm..mother, I'm . Natsume and I are fine,"she managed to stutter.

Grinning sheepishly of what was currently happening, she also decided to show herself since she hasn't appeared for quite a long time..actually for a week only. She is the mother of Natsume, Kaoru Igarashi.

"Natsume, how's your day, son?" she asked gently.

Natsume thought " Of all times, why now? Tch.i really can't understand them."

"With her.."he glared at Mikan.. with the expression don't-dare-believe-this.. "it's nice," heaving out a sigh of irritation.

Hearing this..the two persistent mothers were already satisfied and so they opted to leave.

"Well, that's nice to hear! See you later!" Yuka giggled.

"Alright, children, take care, bye!" Kaoru said in a high-pitched tone.

The two had their elbows cross and off they disappeared.

"Oh, that was so close," Mikan sighed in exhaustion of pretending while feeling her forehead if she got fever or what.

"It's better if they found out," Natsume smirked, ready for another set of babbles from the annoying girl beside him.

"Are you insane? We would be dead for good!" she snapped.

"No, I won't, you'll be," he said coolly.

"Oh, you sucking brat!!" she erupted like real volcano and there she ran..slamming the door shut, with the intention of making her despicable partner's ears bleed.

The night came awkwardly with them fighting relentlessly over small things. For example, in the canteen, Mikan bought her lunch..let's say..chicken curry(know that? ) and then she proceeded to her table with Hotaru. Then Hotaru remarked that chicken curry is really that famous. Mikan, out of curiosity, she asked why Hotaru said it. Then, Hotaru simply raised her index finger pointing to someone and said "because he's also eating it.."and then Mikan followed the direction and saw Natsume not really eating but merely playing with the spoon and the curry. Mikan dashed to Natsume and confronted him, why on earth is he eating food like what she's eating? why the hell is he playing with food? doesn't he know food is meant to be eaten?..and why the heck is he smirking and not heeding her sermons? And because Natsume is really a nonchalant cool guy, Bang! Their 101st fight started!

Now, it's time for their mission but to both of them it doesn't necessarily mean that they have to put aside their skirmishes.

" Ne, are you ready?" hoping for a good answer cause she herself is not yet ready.

" Why don't you ask yourself?" Natsume retorted. What could Mikan expect? Natsume never said anything good when she's with him.

"I'm more than prepared!" she boasted though hesitating.

"That's good, so you won't be a nuisance," he said not looking at her.

"When did I become a nuisance?!?" she rejoined.

"SSh..shut up.."he whispered.

He pointed to the dark, below the tree where they were hiding. Shadows were seen. They knew it.

"Persona…c'mon..let's get him.." gaining her confidence and valor..if she really do have any..

Before Natsume had the chance of admonishing her, she jumped off and confronted Persona.

" Hey, you evil guy! Stop right there!" she shouted.

"What do you want white kitty?" he said gently though with looming malice.

"Excuse me, I have a name. well, I want to.._"then she pulled something out of her pocket..a dagger or a knife..any weapon you can think of that can kill such a human.

"kill you!..Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Uh-oh, Persona dodged it easily. He is the trainer of Natsume so it is expected of him. If Natsume is a black cat and very fast-moving, then the same with Persona, even faster. But for me, Natsume is still the best! (agree or disagree?)

"You mokouka..face your death," he threatened her with an aura emanating anger.

Before his fingers lay on her, to destroy her, to corrode her body, Natsume jumped serving as boundary or let's say barrier between the two.

Without any tinge of concern.. apparently, Natsume snapped to Persona.

" Hey, stay back! Don't tell me you're getting coward this time, huh?"

" Why the hell?" he just can't simply understand why on earth can he be called coward when he almost killed Mikan if not for Natsume acting like a barrier between them.

Natsume keeping his composure ever, his face not revealing his true emotions,,that is he's concern of Mikan. He can't stand a day without Mikan being there to be bullied by him..only him. Or he just can't survive living a heck day without Mikan and her smile? Either way.. he's concern.

" Sure you want to hurt that crybaby, huh? That only proves you're weak, a paper!" he smirked.

" Geez,don't tell me you're saving your girl, since when did you learn to have one?" he teased him.

Again, not spilling any telltale sign of his emotion, Natsume continued to speak as if he were just merely playing along with the joke of Persona..

" Hn. Hell no. Not a part of my plan. But finishing this mission can help me be freed from her so I just have to…kill you!"

Persona, in a second, managed to avoid Natsume's attack..yeah..blazing attack. He went behind Mikan, ready to touch her soft porcelain skin. Natsume twirled only to see the imminent danger ready to strike Mikan at any moment.

Mikan, on the other hand tried hard to tussle but she felt deadbeat not physically but with the current situation they were in.

" Try to take a little step forward and she will be dead," Persona tipped-off.

" Tch. What a bother. You can kill her now if you want to, I don't need her. But I'll be punished to death if I let you do that," staying calm but inside..he was not certain if he was really scared at that time for Persona might comply to what he said. But yeah, he did mean it anyway.. a bit.

After digesting and abridging all what Natsume said, Mikan felt irritated. She came to a conclusion. She knew what words were running in the wheels of Natsume's mind " I hate her," oh yes..now she knew it.. he hates her.. so much..that he could even give her to death. He made her feel unneeded. She was hurt. Hurt? Emotionally hurt? Well, not yet.

Mustering all the courage she had that time though diminishing, she muttered under her breath.

" You just watch, Natsume."

Then she used her right elbow to punch Persona's stomach, twiddled and kicked his chest. Oh, but this was all a lie, it never happened because just when she pushed her elbow toward him, Persona had grabbed her arms and Mikan as well as Natsume knew it right away, what was next, Mikan would be eaten by Persona's Corroding or Death Alice. That would be her end.

Stunned, Natsume can just watched with his dilated eyes.

"Oh..hell..no"

The next scenes were really spurs-of -the-moment.

Without thinking, without hesitating, with his reflex action, with the adrenaline rush and with his concern of Mikan, Natsume threw five balls of scorching flame to Persona. Scorching not only because they're balls of flames but because this is the right adjective to describe Natsume's anger towards Persona.

Persona dodged the others but one ball had fortunately hit him on his right arm, he flinched.

" You, two, remember this day! I'm gonna make you pay!"

Persona can only curse them as he disappeared into the darkness.

Seeing that everything was finally okay, temporarily. Mikan decided to approach Natsume.

" I hate to say it..but thank you for------"

She was cut off by Natsume. As much as he wanted to be thanked..especially by Mikan, he shouted at her. .anger and concern were mixed up. What was the result? Unrevealed.

" You are really a complete idiot," he remarked.

" Wha-what?" annoyance was obvious in her voice but analyzing her tone..deeper.. hurt was starting to spring.

Ignoring the fact that Mikan was now misunderstanding his feeling.. his real feeling.. the feeling of anxiety for Mikan could have died there right infront of his eyes, he still chided her.. he never cared if she would be angry or what..if she would hate him or not. To him, words matter more than actions.

" You're nuts, you don't even know how to use your brain. You recklessly jumped and confronted him even without a plan!! Are you suicidal? Now, you see what happened, he slipped away. And hell to think, I even wasted my efforts on stopping him to touch you."

Natsume thought " And hell.. you even make me say a kilometric line..you even make me feel concerned..geez.."

Ok.. Mikan heaved out a sigh..for her..that was a sign of defeat against Natsume. It was her fault, she knew it but she needed not to hear that from Natsume, he needed not to emphasize it.

" Oh..but at least, you hit him because of me,"

She was simply running out of words.

" Can't you be more rational? Try making sense for once..polka!!"

"What at least? Was that even a benefit? That at least could have cost your life…"

He continued letting out words appearing to Mikan as invisible swords.

" Tch. How on earth can I finish this mission, if you are my partner? You're ruining my night."

Mikan couldn't help but to be submissive, it was her fault anyway..her imperfection..her stupidity.

"Sorry..sorry..i won't do that again..Natsume," bowing her head.. a curve line bended downward was etched on her face.

" Oi..do you even know what's the point of saying sorry? I hate this, being with someone annoying and dumb like you. You-are-the-worst!" accentuating the last four words.

With that he walked away, hands tucked inside his pockets. He sighed.. he had never been a brute guy but just because of her..that vexing girl there whom he left standing facing the ground known for her idiocy..(for him) he had said those harsh words. He never meant them anyway… but a part of him told him he meant it..

Oh crap..now he was getting confused just because of that girl again! Of all sensible reasons, why she? How on earth?

Mikan kept on musing the ground. Yes..the ground.. why can't people just muse the sky instead the ground when they're disappointed or dejected? Is ground more interesting to look at than the sky? I doubt. But in the case of Mikan, it is. She had never felt so guilty and so ashamed of herself. And worse, she had never admitted a downfall..especially against Natsume. Now, she was thinking.. why the heck do they have to be partners..of all possible twain…? Why do they have to do the same mission? And more importantly, why does she have to care? Why, does Natsume even care?

Now.. thanks for reading.. i need your help..so kindly review this chapter.. whether you liked it or not..

thank you!!