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A/N: Yeah, Mikan is something of a personal attendant. She chose to serve Ayame of her own free will so yeah. On to the new chapter.
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Chapter 2: The Hyuuga Heir
"Good morning, Hyuuga-sama."
"Good morning, Hyuuga-sama."
The workers in his company greeted him as he strode by. The marble floor clicked as he walked and he gave a short nod to them, walking towards his office and ignoring the looks the female staff shot him.
Natsume Hyuuga was an eligible man. He was blessed with attractive features, raven locks with the distinct crimson eyes that every Hyuuga bore, partnered with intelligence and craft. Even for his nonchalant attitude and stoic features, women left and right vied for his attention and affection, and men tried to befriend him.
Some would say he had everything, that he was lucky to have these kinds of things. He couldn't find himself to see it the same way.
All his life people clamored for his favor and attention solely because he was the heir to the Hyuuga industries. Trying to win his favor, flirting for his affection, he was disgusted at the same time disappointed.
Nobody saw Natsume, all they saw was Hyuuga name he carried.
Opening the door with a click, he went inside. Settling himself in front of his desk and putting on his reading glasses, he picked at the stack of papers.
"January seven…" He trailed off, opening a drawer.
A picture caught his eyes. Momentarily stopping, he reached out for it, looking at it. His eyes darkened with pain as he absently ran a finger through the picture. A girl with long, brown hair smiled at him through the picture.
Yes, she was different from the others.
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"Hyuuga." An exasperated sigh.
"Give me your first name. Geez, you suck at introductions, you know that."
"You know my last name already, isn't that enough? Why would you want to know my name?"
"Well duh! I know you're the Hyuuga heir and frankly speaking I don't really care. I want to be friends with you, not your status. I mean, how on earth do you play with a status?"
"…Natsume."
"Huh?"
"My name is Natsume, polka dots."
A warm smile. "Let's be friends, Natsume!" A small smile in return.
"Wait, what do you mean pol- Oh damn it, you pervert!"
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XXX
"I apologize, Hyuuga-sama. We are still unable to find her whereabouts." The man bowed. "You may leave." He dismissed and turned. The man bowed again and left his office. Natsume stared outside the window blankly, not seeing the numerous cars and the tall buildings.
Two months.
"Mikan…" He murmured. "Where are you…?"
She's been missing for two months already. The woman he loved and proposed to, his fiancée,
Mikan Sakura
And she disappeared without a trace a month before their wedding.
He remembered the day with bitterness. She had left for a short trip with a driver and a maid, he had been unable to accompany her.
"Don't worry about me, Natsume!" She winked at him. "I'll be back before you know it."
Even if he had sent "special" escorts who had been fond of her, he couldn't shake the feeling of dread he had.
The driver and the maid had managed to come back, but where hospitalized due to heavy injuring. Bloodied cuts and open wounds were found on them and Natsume panicked. If these two who were specially trained in combat came back like this, what of her?
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"Emergency!"
The driver halted the rushing nurses and the maid followed suit.
"H-Hyuuga-sama, forgive us. We have failed to return w-with Sa-sakura-sama…" The driver spoke in a broken tone, chest heaving as the nurse protested.
"You have to-!" Natsume gave her a sign to let them be.
"A-ambush…It was an am-bush…" The main continued, eyes glazed, coughing a bit. "B-but S-sakura-sama is alive…we have made sure of that."
"F-forgive us…we do n-not know her whereabouts, Hyuuga-sama."
Natsume nodded in appreciation.
"Thank you…both of you…for keeping her safe." The pair smiled at him weakly before surrendering to the blackness, the nurses rushing to the emergency rooms.
Natsume gritted his teeth. The position of the fiancée of a Hyuuga was dangerous and Mikan was no exception to the rule.
"I wasn't able to protect her…" He hissed.
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He already sent out the best search teams to look for her, to find anything about her well being and all returned with the same news:
"We were not able to find her."
He felt cold and sick. The escorts said that she was alive but what if she was taken in by malicious people? What if she was being abused? What if she was already…
Natsume stopped his thoughts from going any further. He would not give up. Natsume Hyuuga never gives up, no matter what the situation is.
I will find you, Mikan.
XXX
"Good day to you, Ritsu-sama and…?" The brown haired man with the ever present smile tilted his head to the side. Nadeshiko gave a smile and bowed. "I am Nadeshiko. Welcome to the Ritsu estate, Yome-sama." She greeted. He blinked then nodded.
"Come, follow." Ayame said, walking with Nadeshiko closely behind her.
Amidst the cool surroundings off the Ritsu estate, a business deal was made. Nadeshiko carefully poured tea and offered sweets to the visitor.
"Please have some, Yome-sama."
The ever smiling business man inclined his head in gratitude. "Thank you, but Koko is fine. Yome makes me feel too old." He told her before accepting the sweets. He looked around the estate, feeling awfully out of place in his gray suit. "Ritsu-sama, your estate is absolutely lovely. It preserves the traditional feel." The amber eyed woman nodded in response. He looked at Nadeshiko and smiled. "And Nadeshiko-san here is lovely too." He complimented and thought for a split moment before adding, "Ah, but of course, you're lovely too Ritsu-sama."
Ayame chuckled lightly. "Your skills in flattering are the same as your father's, Kokoro-san. You do not know how to make one properly." She stated and chuckled again when he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"Well, I must be on my way, Ritsu-sama, Nadeshiko-san. I thank you for your time." He said, standing up. They escorted him and waved good bye until his car disappeared out of the gates.
Nadeshiko immediately offered her arm to Ayame and the old woman looked at her. "You noticed, Nadeshiko-san?" She inquired and she nodded. "Yes, Ayame-sama. You have not been able to sleep properly last night and I was afraid that you would collapse a while ago. Your hands were shaking when you lifted your tea cup, Ayame-sama." Nadeshiko stated worriedly. "I shall escort you to your room, please retire until then, Ayame-sama."
"Thank you, child. In a few days time, I'll be all right. I'll have to cancel the meeting with the Hyuugas tomorrow." Ayame murmured, accepting her proffered arm.
Something clicked in Nadeshiko's mind.
Why does the name 'Hyuuga' sound familiar? A little after she escorted Ayame to her room, she stayed in the garden.
"Why does Hyuuga sound so…" She wondered until her a sharp pain clouded her head. She clutched it as short memories rushed in.
Crimson eyes.
"Hyuuga."
Raven locks.
She opened her eyes warily. "What…was that?"
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End of chapter 2
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