Insertstupidnamehere asks: Mikan, has Natsume ever bought you anything? Complimented you?
Well, as you know, Natsume is very stubborn, but I can usually get him to buy me something pretty easily….
We were strolling through the streets of central town, hand in hand. The air was crisp and perfect, swirling with bits of amber and gold. Fall was here and it was coming in at full swing. I was chattering away about something or other, when I noticed a Howalon stand. I dropped Natsume's hand and sped over to the line, so that nobody could take my place.
"Oi, Polka!" Natsume called, slightly annoyed that I had just run off. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm getting my howalon!" I chirped back happily. The line slowly moved forward and I realized that Natsume had disappeared. I sighed in disappointment but continued to bounce up and down to see when the line moved forward.
Finally, FINALLY, it was my turn to the front of the stand. I cheerfully stated my order and then dug my hand into my pocket, searching for the rabbits required to purchase this mouth-watering treat. The gruff howalon stand worker plopped the box of fluffy pink howalons in front of me. I was still searching for my money, but now my eyebrows were furrowed in concentration as I started looking all over for the money I needed. The worker rubbed his five o clock shadow and barked, "Hey, woman, there are others in line. Hurry up."
I realized as horror and devastation was injected into my veins. My hazel eyes filled up with tears and they started to sneak down my cheeks as I stared longingly at the box of howalons. For some fantastic and great reason, God decided to send Natsume back to me right at this moment. I turned to him and slight concern covered his face before he masked it up. He swiped away one of my tears and asked in his deep, but rich voice, "What's wrong?"
"N-N-Natsume!" I cried throwing my arms around the slightly startled boy. He stumbled back before he recovered and patted my head, not sure of what kind of comfort he was supposed to be giving me. "I don't have any money to pay for my howalons!"
Natsume immediately pinched his temples as he realized what I was crying about. "I don't care. Let's go." He tried to grab my hand and lead me away, but I stubbornly snatched it back and pointed to the howalons, and then folded my hands together in a pleading manner as I looked at him with puppy dog eyes. "Please Natsume! I'll love you forever and ever and ever if you just buy them for me!"
"No." he stated bluntly and turned to walk away again. I lunged forward and grabbed his elbow and made him face me again.
"Please Natsume!" I begged him.
"No."
I didn't want to do this, but I decided to break out the big guns. I filled my eyes with tears once again, and then turned away. BUT, not before Natsume could see what I was doing. He tried to turn me around. "Polka, what's wrong?"
My box of howalons still sitting on the counter was motivation enough to continue this act. The line was moving forward, but without me, and I WANTED THAT BOX. I traced a pattern on the Howalon shop's wall as I responded sullenly, "Nothing."
He clasped his hand on my shoulder and tried to turn me around again. "Seriously, Polka. What's wrong?"
I turned to face him, with big crocodile tears in my eyes. "You don't love me."
Natsume's face was shocked and then turned a very light shade of red. He moved closer to me and mumbled. "Yes I do."
"No you don't!" I said stubbornly, crossing my arms. "You won't even buy me that tiny box of howalons. If you can't even do that for the person you supposedly, "love"," I crossly put finger quotations around the word to emphasize my rant. "Then there's no way you love me!"
Natsume sighed and just disappeared again. My eyes widened. He must be a phantom. Does he have two alices, like me? He suddenly came back, but holding the box of howalons. My mouth dropped open and I tackled him in a hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled, pushing me off and shoving the box into one of my hands, and then interlocking his fingers with the other. "I don't want to hear it."
I smiled secretly to myself as Natsume dragged me through the crowd. I could probably get him to buy me anything, but for now, I'll just be content with my howalons and his warm hand around mine.
And that was what happened! As for the complimenting, Natsume rarely compliments me flat out, but the one time he did, I remember with crystal clarity…
I was so excited. Natsume was going to take me out on a date for our second year anniversary. I had requested the help of Permy only, because she knew what she was talking about, and I didn't feel like paying Hotaru on such a special day. I was more than prepared, and getting ready to leave my room and meet up with my stoic but slightly soft boyfriend.
"I hate to admit it," Permy gave me the once over and nodded approvingly. "But you look pretty good. I think Natsume might actually say something about it this year."
I blushed slightly and twirled around, my dress rising slightly. "I can only hope."
I had tried extra hard this year. I was determined to get a compliment out of the stubborn boy. I had put on a dress he bought me, (see? It's not hard to get Natsume to buy me things ). It was a scarlet red strapless dress that stopped about mid-thigh. I loved it because it was so carefree and pretty, because it showed off my nice shoulders and long legs. Permy had curled my long caramel brown hair so that it now cascades in a waterfall of curls down my back. I was also wearing small red heels, but I was already worried about that. Combine those with my natural clumsiness; I can only see disaster in the future.
I wobbled out the door, feeling a little less than confident now because of my chosen footwear, and then stumbled outside where Natsume was waiting for me. He turned to see me and I could feel his eyes sweep over my body which made me shiver with happiness.
He looked gorgeous as usual, with his messy raven hair and piercing crimson eyes. He was just wearing khaki shorts and a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I closed my eyes and asked, feeling a silly smile spread across my face. "So how do I look?"
"Not awful." When I opened my eyes in disappointment, he was already walking away. I hobbled over, almost falling twice, and finally reached him. God, I never realized how long his strides were. I clung to his arm and laced my fingers with his. He gave my hand a quick squeeze, but when I glanced at him, his face was emotionless as usual. I sighed but kept walking; at least he was being nicer than usual, though I did tell him that he had to be.
Natsume ended up taking me to our Sakura tree. There was a fuzzy black blanket spread out underneath it with a spread of food underneath it. The sun was setting and just emanating a rusty glow that bathed everything in the area in its warm rays. I squealed and ran over to the area and immediately started gushing about how great everything was, and I turned around and thanked Natsume by throwing my arms around him in a hug. He hugged me back but not before setting me down and explaining all the foods he made.
We (meaning I) ate until we were stuffed full of Natsume's delicious cooking. I decided I needed to burn some of these extra calories, so without thinking about my heels, I started dancing and doing cartwheels around the area. I was reminded all too quickly of my shoe choice once I failed to land on the tiny heel area and collapsed on the ground, moaning as I felt my ankle throb under my fingers. Natsume was at my side immediately, picking me up and rolling his eyes at how stupid I am.
"Seriously," he scolded me, "why would you wear such dangerous contraptions when we already know how clumsy you are, Polka?"
I huffed, feeling kind of hurt. I looked down and muttered under my breath, "Because I wanted you to compliment me."
"What?" Natsume shook his head as he tried to hear what I said.
"I wanted you to compliment me," I still refused to look up at him, and stared directly at my folded hands. Natsume set me back down on the blanket and started to remove my heels as I continued to talk, my voice rising slightly. "You never say anything nice to me. You never say anything to make me feel better about myself…"
Natsume continued to silently listen to my rant as he massaged the ankle I landed on. When I was finished and breathing heavily because of how much air it took for me to release my anger, Natsume stopped rubbing my swollen ankle and leaned forward, incredibly close to my face and breathed. "You look stunning tonight." And then he pressed his lips to mine.
I guess he doesn't compliment me that often, but it only makes it that much more special when he does.
And that's what happened! I hope that answered your questions! If you have another question, feel free to ask me! I love you all (and howalons!) and see you the next time somebody asks me a question!
- Mikan
