chapter two.

Surprise, surprise

The next day, Mikan is running through the halls again, this time at a slower pace and she is double checking the corners before taking them above the recommended speed. A part of her hopes she runs into the stranger again because, for the most part, she wasn't lying when she implied he had a face like no other. That, and she could use a little calm demeanor as the firm was hectic earlier that day and Mikan is already behind in her notes. But, and it comes as no surprise, Mikan doesn't run into him that morning.

Rather, Mikan makes it in time for class. Not only does she make it in time, but she is early enough to get a seat in the front row and exchange a few words with her professor. Her professor is a small, elderly woman who has a knack for asking questions about the seemingly redundant. She could have the class talking for hours about the existence of a piece of fruit, which was indeed what she did the day before. But, as a philosophy major, Mikan found the conversation to be enticing. She enjoyed the idea of taking something so simple that we hardly ever thought about, and thinking about it in abstract ways. Because she then put that into the perspective of law and could proceed with arguments no one would ever think of formulating. This is why her professors believe she would someday be the best of the best.

Anyways, Mikan talks to her professor for a couple of minutes before the bell rings and the last of the students file in. Professor Langley begins with talking about law, as this course is indeed about law and not fruit. She also makes a strange announcement. "Rather than diving into the material," she states, "I've invited a former student of mine to discuss philosophy in law based on experience. That will take up about the latter half of the class, so for now we will precede the presentation by talking about the word interpretation."

The conversation was long, and to some it was grueling, but Mikan continuously took notes as she felt her eyes light up at the subject. This was what Mikan lived for, and she wanted to scream when the double door opened and subsequently shut in a loud manner, enough to bring her professor to a screeching halt.

"You're early," Professor Langley says, and Mikan assumes that it is the guest speaker that is walking slowly down the lecture hall stairs. For a while Mikan doesn't turn around, she simply looks over her notes and circles terms she should probably make flashcards out of, but it's when she hears the guest speaker reach the bottom level that she receives the feeling of someone staring directly at her, so she looks up and almost chokes.

It's him. That guy from yesterday. He smirks when she makes eye contact with him, almost as if he knew she was going to be in that specific class, and he approaches the professor. Professor Langley pats him on the shoulder even though she is roughly about half of his size, and he greets her politely with a singular nod. Professor Langley then goes on to introduce him to the class, but even though the professor is looking at the entire class, he isn't. He is looking at Mikan, and Mikan tries not to let a blush creep up onto her face but she can only hold her breath for so long.

Natusme Hyuuga was his name, and he was a remarkable prosecutor in the area, so remarkable that the government had requested his services on several occasions. But, not being one who took a single political science course, Mr. Hyuuga declined every single offer. Heck, if Mikan looks past who this guy is, she knows she would see the epitome of success but she just couldn't get what she said to him the day before out of her head. And, from the looks of it, neither could he.

Mr. Hyuuga looks like he is having the time of his life, watching Mikan squirm under his gaze. Fear and embarrassment was radiating from the poor girl and all she wants to do is run from the lecture hall and never return. But she doesn't because she knows if she can just survive these last thirty minutes, she will never have to see him again. That is, unless her professor invites him back again which wouldn't be very often… Mikan hopes.

And so, the lecture continued and no one suspected a thing, not that they would have any reason to. Mr. Hyuuga talked about the education she received, the jobs that he had done previous to his current position which was partner at a firm in New York—so he's not from around here, Mikan thought to herself. At some point during his presentation, Mikan stopped seeing him for who he was but for what he had done, and the change in her demeanor made that obvious. No longer was she trying to hide from his penetrating gaze, but rather she leaned forward and soaked in every word.

The bell sounds before Mikan is ready to let go of such an intriguing presentation, but she begins to put her things away regardless. She plans to go straight to the library and study until her next class, but she is stopped when Professor Langley calls out to her. Mikan freezes, knowing exactly what is coming.

"Natsume, I would like to introduce you to my best student!" Professor Langley beckons Mikan over and, in an awkward fashion, Mikan grabs hold of Mr. Hyuuga's hand and shakes it. Again, she feels him squeeze her hand a little bit more than necessary but this time she knows that it is no accident. Professor Langley continues, not realizing the way Mikan looks everywhere but at Mr. Hyuuga, and Mr. Hyuuga only looks at Mikan. "Natsume here is looking for a student to help out at a project he is starting here at Boston and, Mikan, you were the first to pop into my mind. I can't offer this opportunity to anyone else but you!"

Mikan swallows. "Oh," she stammers, "Well I—"

"I know, I know, you already have something working out for you in the mornings, but I think that's something you and Natsume should discuss. After all, it's all about building that resume."

"Yes," Mr. Hyuuga responds in a way that is anything but unambiguous. "And a recommendation isn't out of question." Is it getting hot in here, Mikan thought to herself. "Think about it. My office is right beside Karen's, and I will be there long after the department closes."

For what seems like far too long, Mikan looks into Mr. Hyuuga's eyes and holds them. Rather, he holds hers with an unspoken conversation in which he is inviting her to make her move. He won't push it, that much is becoming obvious, so he is leaving the decision-making power up to Mikan. But before Mikan can even decide whether she should accept or not, Mr. Hyuuga backs away, looking at his watch, and announces to his audience of two that he has a conference call he has to make. He turns to Mikan and nods, saying, "I hope you will drop by later today. I do want only the best of the best."

Professor Langley bubbles with excitement, but Mikan knows exactly what Mr. Hyuuga meant by want and it hadn't anything to do with the area of professionalism.

Just like she had promised herself, Mikan finds herself in the library making flashcards of the words she had indicated earlier, but her mind most obviously travels elsewhere when it finds even a second of freedom to spare. Her mind draws pictures of Mr. Hyuuga's intentions, of his eyes digging sensual holes into her skin. She imagines his warm breath on her body, sending chills down her spine. She pictures his strong arms holding her, his perfect build molded against her, his—

Enough.

Mikan closes her book so aggressively that some look up in concern. She pays no heed to them as she shoves all her books into her backpack and sets her sights on the Philosophy Department. She needs to stop this once and for all: the inappropriate images, the subliminal messages exchanged right in front of her professor—even thought that was just once but once is more than enough. But, more importantly, she wants to reclaim her dignity. Never has she thought of such misconduct, and never before has she been okay with such misconduct. No. This isn't her. The girl that is going to demand professionalism is her.

The Philosophy Department isn't too far from the library—which Mikan thought was a great accidental advantage—so she finds herself entering the stairway before she has even processed what she wants to say. She's on the second floor before she can regain her confidence. She is at his door before she decides whether she wants to do this right now. She could just stop by the next day, after she has discussed everything with her roommate who already knows of the encounter she had with Mr. Hyuuga before she knew he was Mr. Hyuuga. But by the time she begins to consider this option, the door is opening and another fateful collision almost happens.

Mr. Hyuuga catches himself by grasping the doorframe, and Mikan can see that it doesn't register to him that it's her until a couple of seconds pass. When his eyes settle and visibly soften, that's when she knows that he's gotten the wrong idea.

He begins to move aside when Mikan stammers out, "I can't work on the project with you." She says it loud enough in case any other advisors or professors are still in their offices. Of course, she checked on her way in and found no one, their offices all dark for the rest of the day, but just to be sure. "I already have a previous commitment and—"

"Previous commitment," Mr. Hyuuga repeats thoughtfully. "Wasn't it you that said—"

"With Mr. Narumi at his law firm. In the mornings… like Professor Langley said..." Mikan trails off because she knows Mr. Hyuuga isn't buying it even though it's the truth. That and her clerkship has nothing to do with what he his invitation. Mikan takes this moment to lean in and whisper, "You should just—you know—forget about what I said yesterday. Mr. Hyuuga." She adds the last term as a sign that he is indeed her superior and she isn't the type to do… this.

Mr. Hyuuga nods, and leans against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "Natsume will do." Mikan scowls. Is he missing the point? "And I will forget each and every word."

"Right," Mikan responds stiffly. "Thank you."

"In fact," he stated thoughtfully. "We can forget ever meeting."

Mikan hesitates. "We can, yes."

There he goes again with the humming, Mikan observes as she looks up and into his eyes. She always makes a mistake when she does this, especially now that his eyes seem to be expressing the exact opposite of what he had said. Her knees grew weak almost instantly, and all bets were off the table in that moment.

Suddenly he leans forward, and Mikan's eyes dart up and down the hall and finding no one. His lips stop just beside her ear, causing her face to warm. "If that is what you want, why aren't you leaving?"

And such is the story. That is the story of how Mikan's entire resolve was compromised, ending with her looking into Natsume's eyes with the kind of determination that intimidated him. He grabbed onto her hips and, with her, backed into his office as Mikan made him promise:

"I was never here."

If you were to look closely, you would see the smallest of smiles adorn Natsume's lips just before slanting them over Mikan's, saying,

"Yes, ma'am."

Was that rushed? I think that was rushed. But its too late, and I will add much more love and care to the sequel! Yes, that's right, there is going to be a sequel! I actually thought of the sequel first, but I needed to get this out first so you had all the information on how they met.

Anyways, I'm not sure what it will be called but I will indicate in the summary that it is the sequel to this one.

Thanks for reading, my lovelies, and I will speak to you soon.