DISCLAIMER: I own Gakuen Alice when I drool and snore…..
A/N: Yeah, I deleted the first chapter and I'll do some changes because I think my story is lame. Or was it I'm stupid not to allow anonymous reviews in the first place? Gomene (^_^) Well my first fanfic or should I say my first revise fanfic… Bear with me, o-ne-gai!
Summary: Natsume Hyuuga, an aristocrat, willingly signed his life off in serving and protecting his country because of the deal he made with his beloved fiancé but after the brutal war he was left blind, a person considered useless during that time. What's the deal all about? Who will take care of him now that he is blind? Where does Mikan Sakura fit into? Where does his fiancée gone into?
Warning: Typos and Grammatical errors are my forte in making story so yeah I'm sorry again.
MASQUARADE
CHAP 1: APPLYING OR WAS IT FORCING?
A lady around 25 years old was sitting on the sofa beside her was her luggage. She has the looks of a prim and proper schoolmistress with the thick lenses of her eyeglasses and the hard demeanor that was shown in her face plus the severe braid of her auburn hair. Across from her was another lady and a gentleman; the gentleman had gentle blue eyes and soft golden locks while the lady beside him had scrutinizing amethyst eyes and ebony black hair that reaches her nape if only she is not wearing a dress you can't tell whether she is a handsome man or a beautiful lady. They are currently at the guest area of the Hyuuga Manor. The gentleman and the lady beside him were the head staff of the Manor. Ruka Nogi, the loyal butler of the Hyuuga's. Trained to be one since he was a child, the best friend of the heir of the Hyuuga's. Sitting beside him was Hotaru Imai, the genius housekeeper of the manor, her relationship with Ruka is unidentified, and rumors said that she was the long lost cousin of the heir but since she works in the manor it is not clear if she was or she was not. If you are curious who is the other young lady facing these two then she is…..
"So tell me Sakura-san, do you have any experience?" asked by the ever gentle butler.
"I believe that you can find them in order in the letter of reference that I gave to you a while ago, Nogi-san." Answered by a strict and disciplined voice of the young woman named Mikan Sakura, yes the prim and proper schoolmistress alike is Mikan Sakura, the one applying for the job.
"I think she is right, Nogi. Why don't you read it yourself instead of letting her saliva becomes dry explaining it to you, we both know that you are literate enough to understand what is written in there." Hotaru Imai emotionlessly said, making the poor butler blush from embarrassment and yes, the stern and strict lady sweatdropped from her words, even when she show hard demeanor, she is a gentle creature; making her pity the butler and so she averted her gaze from the two people and observe the mansion.
As I said, they are currently residing in the guest area but in Mikan's view they are in a horror mansion wherein all the curtains which may I add to be in black color where blocking the windows making it impossible for the light to enter, even if she hate it she prays that it works on her advantage while Ruka was busy reading her letter of reference. The beautiful sunshine of the April cannot reach the mansion, thus making them use candles. Mikan frowned unconsciously, why do you ask? Simply because she is applying to be a nurse of the heir of the Hyuuga's and it is not good, not to be able to feel the warmth of the summer sun. Even when she has a cold facade, she is warm and cheerful inside. It irritates her- the gloomy feeling of this place- as if someone had died recently and the whole manor cannot get over with the loss that they felt. As if they are not performing their duties well because she can see spider webs at the side part of the ceiling or maybe the manor has financial problems, thus having small staff of people to maintain the place. It is impossible; how come they offer large amount of money to be the nurse of the heir if they cannot afford staff for maintenance purposes; she thought. She was pulled out from her deep thought by the gentle butler, who apparently recovered from the embarrassment.
"So, ummm…. Sakura-san, can you give me a summary of all this letter of reference" Afraid that the butler be in sticky situation again she answer rather hurriedly…
"I serve as a governess for the Shouda's this last two year, but during the war I resigned and help the ones who is in need of my service" after saying this, Hotaru gave her a sharp glance, knowing to well what does it means she added "Of course by taking care of the one who were injured and helping in the ration of foods."
"Actually Sakura-san you are too young for this job maybe we can choose a more experience…" Ruka said but before he can complete his statement… "I don't see other applicants, beside your age are near mine so I don't see any problem" answered by Mikan.
Before Hotaru can intervene, yet again they hear crashes of glasses from the other wing of the mansion together with other materials being smashed into pieces as if some sort of beast was free from a cage. Hotaru suddenly stood up and grab Mikan's hand dragging her to the balcony. Ruka, as Mikan noted becomes pale and Hotaru being Hotaru emotionlessly drags her to the balcony, but you can see in her eyes the panic. Mikan's gaze swung from Hotaru to her luggage.
"Come on. Hurry up, get in the Balcony." Hotaru ordered.
"Wait my luggage!" Mikan protested. Hotaru glared at her and look at Ruka.
"I'll send it to you together with the carriage going back to Springfield." Ruka said.
"Hurry up!" Hotaru demanded, but before they reach the door through the balcony they heard colorful oaths and swearing together with scratch noises in the door as if a cat was trying to enter the door through the use of the door knob, which make them stop in their tracks. After three times of trying the door swung open, revealing a tall young man-not a beast- that occupies the space in the frame of the door. Mikan, noted a few things about the man; He is not wearing a proper attire from the feet that doesn't wear any boots or shoes only socks, pants that hugs every muscled thigh of his leg and it seems that he spent an hour in fumbling the buttons of the shirt that's why it was crumpled and making them see his well-built body. There are outgrown hairs in his jaw. Finally, when she looks up, she sees the face of the supposed beast. No it was not a beast it was a gorgeous and handsome young man with misty crimson eyes and hair like that of the ravens. She was admiring his good looks when his voice boomed out the room, making them paralyze in their places.
"There's a woman in here! What is this, didn't I tell you not to advertise again. Are you on this again huh? Imai? Or was it you now Ruka, siding with this witch, Answer me"
After a minute of silence.
"You said it yourself, Hyuuga, there is a woman in here. What do you think am I? You even tell me that -though not acceptable for my taste-am a witch implying that I am a woman." Hotaru said monotonously making Mikan admire the woman in front of her.
"I don't have time playing mind games with you, Imai." he said while walking towards them "So if I were you tell me the truth or I'll – "before he can finish his sentence he tumble down due to the ottoman that he couldn't see making him fall to the floor face first. Ruka try to catch him but failed to do so; Hotaru melts in the shadow shaking her head, not knowing if it is disappointment, an expression to hide her worries or because of the gasp escaped from the lips of what she tried to hide from Natsume.
Yeah, you've got that right the man facing the floor was none other than THE Natsume Hyuuga, the only son and heir of the Hyuuga's. After the war, he was left blind and chose to live in the outskirt of the town also known as the place where he grew as a child and create childhood memories- the Hyuuga Manor. It was believed that in here he can recover in his blindness.
Ruka, although didn't catch him, he helps him to stand up. Making him stand in place where there is no furniture and object that he can break into pieces.
"Who is she Ruka?" Ruka looked even paler than before but before he can stammer an answer, Mikan bravely save Ruka from explaining.
"She is Mikan Sakura. She is applying for the job that she saw in an advertisement. She will help you to adjust in your circumstances. She is going to be your nursemaid. " Mikan bravely answer even though her palms sweat inside her gloves.
"Not again." Natsume growled
"Again?" Mikan burrowed his brows, obviously confused by the statement.
"Oh! I see neither Ruka nor Imai bothered to mention your predecessors, let's see. " Ruka wipe his sweat while Hotaru remains at the background, knowing all to well that Hyuuga will throw tantrums again. She is willing to intervene when the right time comes, but for now she wants to see how Mikan will react on this kind of circumstances.
While walking back and forth in front of Mikan, his stride is long and exactly four steps to each side. He continues his speech.
"The first nurse that they get for me named Nobara. She is a timid girl and doesn't talk too much; she is as deaf as blind as me. We make a good combination, we do. I'll shout directly in her ears and she'll guide me. She doesn't even have the chance to get her salary; she just screams and run away from here after an hour or so." He said while tapping his forefinger in his chin. He stops and looked in the direction wherein he believes the location of Mikan.
"Another was old Hii, she has the longest time in here about 5 days but decided to live after collecting her wages, suggesting to Ruka not to find a nursemaid but a zookeeper."
"Imagine that…" Mikan murmured enough for both of them to hear, Natsume nodded.
"Lastly there is Luna the Hag, insisting that we make a good couple and said that even if I'm blind there is nothing to worry about because she is there. She makes me set the hounds on the run so that she'll never comeback, so where do you fit into?" Natsume stops facing back and forth and look at the direction wherein he believes Mikan was standing.
"I told you, didn't I? I'll be your nurse and I'll perform the duties that I am required to perform." Mikan said calmly eventhough the insides of her was in chaos, not knowing whether to pity her predecessors or Natsume.
"You mean singing lullabies while you tuck me in the bed, teaching me to count and feed me. Or giving me baths when I cannot do i-"
"Hyuuga that's enough! " After Hotaru shouted that, Natsume Hyuuga stopped talking. He sketched a bow to the sofa at the left behind Mikan and said. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, I bid you a good day and good life, Ma'am" Even if the voice is perfectly calm you can hear the clipped tone of him and with that, Natsume turn on his heel and make his way to the door wherein he scratches it three times before opening the door knob. On his way, they can hear materials being broken again. After the noises faded away…
"I guess you hear him, right? Even if I hate to ask for an apology I have to do so. So in exchange I'll pay-although against of my will- for your transportation back to the Springfield" Hotaru bitterly offered, making Mikan sweat dropped.
"What Hotaru really wants to say is that forgive us for not telling the truth earlier. I suggest that you should stay the night in here because a lady shouldn't be seen travelling at midnight without any chaperone." Ruka offered.
"You don't need to bother yourselves with that because I'm planning to stay here, I'll take care of your master, and can you please show me my bed chamber so I can rest for now and start my duty tomorrow." Mikan determinedly said. Making the head staff glanced at each other. After exchanging eye contacts with one another like having telepathy, they both looked in Mikan's direction.
"Very well, Sakura-san, you can start tomorrow." Hotaru said calmly "I expect you to last longer, do you understand?" she continues while narrowing her eyes at Mikan.
Mikan gulped but managed to answer the question without stuttering. "Yeah"
"Come now, I'll take you to your room, Sakura-san." Ruka said while carrying her luggage.
"Yes, and please call me, Mikan because starting today I'm in your hands" Mikan smiled at them for the first time, making both of them admired the cheerful side they just saw in the prim and proper school mistress alike.
A/N: Actually this is the real ending of the chapter 1. Hahaha you can see that Natsume didn't act like the usual snob and arrogant man here, more likely a sarcastic and cynical man and Mikan has contradictory personality like a cheerful inside and a cold demeanor outside. Hahaha guess who was having a masquerade. Again sorry for not enabling the anonymous reviewers in my profile, if there is any that is.
{.} Review counts a lot, I want to know my writing skills and where do I stand up in the field of literatures and grammar so yeah I'm begging and drooling for a constructive criticism but not a flame, don't be harsh on a first timer like myself.