Chapter 1
Scarred Hearts
Mikan stared impassively outside the window. The view from the five star hotel room she was staying was breathtaking. The harbour near the city was scattered with big magnificent boats and yachts, frolicking against the sea. The setting sun gives the whole city a beautiful and incandescent appeal. Everything appears to be small against the towering height of her hotel room. And this is where exactly she has been for the past three years, at the top of the pedestal with the world beneath her feet.
The off shouldered red gown she was wearing made her skin look pale and creamy. Its daring cut emphasizes her fashionably thin frame, its tight bodice exposing an ample amount of cleavage. Her long auburn hair is in a complicated chignon, long diamond earrings dangled in her ears. Her lovely face is heavily made up, her large expressive eyes look troubled at the moment. Perfectly manicured hands touched the expensive diamond necklace against her throat. It felt cold against her bare neck.
Christopher Fujioka has just given it to her moments ago. He has been her most ardent suitor for the past three years. He was the one who discovered her and introduced her to the world of modelling. He is a very handsome half American and half Japanese who is 2 years her senior. He is tall, blonde and blue eyed. He is kind, gentle, good tempered and has always been patient with her; everything a woman would want in a man. And he is the exact opposite of the man she first fell in love with.
Christopher hinted again his intention of asking her hand for marriage. She never really thought of settling down, until now. She's getting tired of modelling. It was never really her kind of scene. And she is almost a hundred percent sure that she can eventually love Christopher back. Everybody is telling her what a perfect couple they would become. She knows a thousand girls out there are dying to become the wife of Christopher Fujioka. According to her close friend, Permy, she would be a fool to let him go.
Brown eyes stared painfully at the faint white scar on her left wrist, a memory from the past. She tried to kill herself once, seven years ago, shortly after she graduated from Alice Academy. The scar reminded her of what a fool she once has been, for love. She thought bitterly. She shut her eyes tightly as unwanted memories flooded in, hoping to black out the pain.
An 18 year old Mikan paced relentlessly in Natsume's room. She was worried about him. Its way past midnight and yet he hasn't come home. This has become quite her habit, waiting for him to return from one of his missions. No matter how rude he is to her or how much he shouted at her, she will always be waiting for him, to mend his wounds and comfort him through his pain.
The dark figure landed neatly on the window. He walked and fell on his bed exhaustedly. He was lucky this time. He got away unscathed from a dangerous assignment. He feel a little weak because he over used his Alice.
"Natsume! Are you all right?" Mikan asked anxiously.
"Why are you here again, idiot? Didn't I tell you not to come here anymore?" He barked angrily at her.
"I just want to make sure that your okay."
"I'm fine. Now will you please leave me alone?"
"No! I'll check first if you're really unharmed." Mikan replied stubbornly. She took a lot of time and inspected his arms and legs for any sign of bruises and cuts.
"Your still so stubborn, little girl." Natsume said exasperatedly, his lips curving into a reluctant smile.
"No, I'm not. I'm just concerned!"
"Why are you so concerned?"
"Because..." Mikan felt her face flushed. She's been asking herself the same question.
"I told you to stay away... It's no use trying to be close to me." Natsume announced coldly.
"But I want to be with you!" Mikan blurted unthinkingly. She gasped and covered her mouth, her face turning red with embarrassment.
Natsume stared at her face intently, a myriad of emotions storming into his crimson eyes. He lifted his hand and touched her cheeks gently. "Idiot. Do you have any idea what you're saying?"
"I'm not a child anymore, Natsume. Stop treating me as one! Whenever I'm with you, I feel different. My heart is pounding like crazy whenever you are near. It's so intense that sometimes... it scares me." Mikan whispered. Tears started streaming down her cheeks.
"Then you are even a bigger fool, to risk that kind of feeling to someone like me." Natsume turned away from her and started walking towards the door.
"No! Please don't leave me..." Mikan cried and hugged him from behind. She felt her body trembled with unknown fear.
Natsume clenched his fist tightly, a storm of emotions fighting inside of him. Staying away from her and hiding his feelings is something he grown accustomed to. But Damn! He is truly surprised that she fell for him. An indescribable elation burst inside of him. Is it possible after all? For someone like him to be happy in spite of his past?
He grabbed her roughly and kissed her hungrily. Mikan moaned and started kissing him back. It's unlike anything she ever felt before. Just the mere touch of his lips against her own makes her whole body trembled with need. It felt so good, it's like all this time, her whole life is incomplete, and now, she was finally able to find that missing part.
He stopped abruptly and nestled his forehead against her. "You do know that both of us are fools to be doing this?" He asked thickly, his voice rough with passion.
"I don't care." Mikan looked at him with love brimming in her eyes.
"You can still walk away. You don't have to stay here with me. My life is unpredictable, Mikan. Everything is uncertain. For now, I can only offer you this moment."
"Then let's make this moment unforgettable..." Mikan whispered lovingly. She grabbed his neck and began kissing him again.
She never really thought that they would part. She thought that they would be together forever, for he is her one and only love. They have plans and dreams, and they decided to get married after graduation. And yet on the day of their graduation, he broke her heart. He callously told her that he's finish with her. He thought he can stay with her but he said passion is not enough. And that is all he felt for her, nothing more. She cried and begged for him to change his mind. She even told him that she is still going to wait for him no matter what.
A month has passed and still no word from Natsume. She is crossing the road, so deep in her thoughts that she hadn't notice an out of control bus speeding towards her. She was hit and rushed to the hospital. When she woke up, they told her she lost her baby. She was three months pregnant at that time and she didn't know it. And to make matters worse, the accident caused her a lot of internal complications. She wouldn't be able to have a child of her own again. She cried and mourned even more for her unborn child. She was hospitalized for months, and she was even diagnosed with depression. All those time, no word came from Natsume. Not even a single letter. Everybody tried to look for him but failed. A murderous Hotaru swore to kill him if ever she encountered him again.
One night, depression finally took a toll in her. She took a knife and sliced her own wrist. Ruka found her in time and was able to save her life. She was ashamed of her impulsive action. But she doesn't regret it, because it made her stronger. It made her the woman she is now. The continuous love from her friends made her want to live her life again. Before she left the hospital, she left a box of her old stuff to her favourite nurse. She doesn't want to see them again. She decided then to leave all of her painful memories behind.
She continued college after that. And soon after she graduated, she met Christopher. He is already a famous photographer back then with an amazing eye for beauty. He convinced her to become a model for one of his exhibition. And the rest... is history.
She intends to leave everything from her past. It's time to start anew. She needs one last reassurance before she makes up her mind. She picked up the phone and dialled the number. It's a collect call to Russia.
"Hello, Hotaru?"
"Mikan, how are you? I saw your new cover in a magazine. You are way too thin. You should eat more, you know!"
"I'm a model, Hotaru! I'm supposed to be thin. Anyway, I'm considering Christopher's offer. I think I'll agree this time if he ask me."
"It's about time. I like Christopher. I'm happy for you."
"Thank you, Hotaru. That's all I want to hear, your approval."
They chatted for a while and then Mikan hang up the phone. For the first time in years, a bright smile on her face. She took the red purse that matches her gown from the dresser. She's ready to leave for the ball. And tonight, she's going to make Christopher the happiest man alive!
Natsume wearily climbed out of bed. His body is still weak and satiated. He felt warm hands encircling his waist.
"Natsume, please don't leave me yet. You never spend time with me!" The beautiful red head pouted at him. She is naked except for the thin blanket covering her.
"I have to go. You could leave me now." He replied coldly while untangling her arms from his waist.
"But all we ever do is make love! I want to talk to you too..."
"We don't make love. We have sex. That's different." He took out his check book and signed a check. "Here, buy yourself something nice."
Her eyes widen with the huge amount. "Thanks, Natsume! Just call me whenever you need me." She immediately collected her discarded clothes then left.
Natsume shook his head in disgust. Women in his life are all the same. They only want him to pleasure them in his bed or for his large bank account. It's not exactly like he cares. He only wants them for selfish and physical reasons as well. He took out his tuxedo and put it on. He hasn't changed much in the past seven years. He still has the same dark and unruly hair, same piercing crimson eyes. He is taller, his body more muscled and leaner. He has raw sexual magnetism that makes women flock to him wherever he goes. They simply find his handsome looks and devil-may-care attitude irresistible.
After he graduated, he was literally sold to the highest bidder. He remembered being furious at the academy after doing a lot of work for them. He hoped that they were going to let him go. Persona laughed at his face harshly, saying what a fool he was. He can never be free. He is destined to have this kind of life, he said. He even called him a lucky bastard! At least he will be able to get out of the Academy. Persona threatened for him to obey or else he's going to hurt the one he loves the most. It nearly killed him when he broke up with Mikan. But he knows that he can't really do anything about it. It's his fate. He left on the day of their graduation to America and trained there immediately.
The US government bought him for a very hefty amount. The Alice Academy auctioned him as a skilled assassin. They treated him with much kindness than the Academy. He was paid a million dollars for every mission. He has more money that he could ever wish for. He was able to provide for his father and Aoi the life that they deserved. And the good part, he was able to bargain with them. He would serve them loyally for ten years, and after that, he's free. Three more damn years, and he can finally be free.
He stared moodily outside his yacht. He still thinks about her even after all these years. Every woman that he bedded, he imagines them to be her... Mikan. He hadn't seen her for seven years. Half a year after he went to America, he had a momentarily lapse of weakness and returned to Japan. He found out that she was hospitalized because she was hit by a bus. She already checked out when he arrived. He returned back to America without even seeing her. He was too afraid and cowardly. He reasoned that he wouldn't be able to stay with her anyway; he has a contract to finish.
The first time he saw her on a magazine was 2 years ago. He remembered feeling his heart swelling with pride and love. His eyes roved hungrily at her picture. She changed so much already. The beautiful and confident woman staring back at him is not the Mikan he used to know. He researched about her after that. The rumour said that she is almost engaged to be married to a man name Christopher Fujioka. He felt bitter regret after that. And then anger... he distinctly remembers that she said she will wait for him. He knows he is such a fool to hold on to such a promise. She probably doesn't remember them anymore. After all, what they had is almost nothing but an affair, a bittersweet love affair.
He tied his black bow tie loosely into his neck. He has a mission tonight. He has to attend a charity ball in order to locate one of his targets. He put on his gold Rolex watch and handmade leather shoes. He left his gleaming yacht and walked carelessly towards the parking lot. He climbed into a red Ferrari and starts the engine. He doesn't know why, but he has a feeling that something good is going to happen to him tonight.
I just watched the anime Paradise Kiss. And I love it! No, I hate it! No, I love it! Talk about mixed emotions. The anime got me depressed for quite some time now, and I just have to get it out of my system! It's just so sad that I almost cried in the end.
The plot is NOT based on Paradise Kiss, this is my own idea. I just want to write a gakuen fan fiction that will emanate that kind of emotion. Hence, I come up with title, A Bittersweet Love Affair. Don't forget to Rate and Review.
To my readers for the perfect ending, don't worry, I'll upload the new chapter next week. I'm still not finish with it, it's a very hard chapter to write. Please continue to support my work! Thanks...
