Chapter Two: First Impressions

Natsume strode through the packed streets with a scowl on his face. It wasn't that he was angry, he was actually in a pretty good mood, Natsume just always had a scowl on his face. It was just something he did since he was a child.

Speaking of children, Natsume thought as he entered a schoolyard full of cheerful, screaming children, all but one, that is. The only boy who stood dutifully by the wall and watched other children play with a bored expression was a popular gossip topic with the mothers around here. He was an alice. He had a dangerous alice, as well. His unique ability to control evil spirits spread fear to those who knew him, making him very lonely. His name was Youichi and he was Natsume's nephew.

"Youichi, we're going," Natsume called out. His nephew smiled and immediately ran to him. Natsume grinned as Youichi clung to his leg. Youichi was one of the only people who could ever make Nastume smile so effortlessly.

"Yes, Uncle Natsume," replied Youichi. Natsume reached down and took his 4-year-old nephew's hand and walked off, earning more dreamy sighs from the gossipy mothers by the swing set.

Natsume ignored the stares. He always did, unless he was in a bad mood or one of the staring girls were actually interesting (and by interesting, he meant good-looking).

"Uncle Natsume," said Youichi, "More bad guys came to get me yesterday." Natsume froze and looked at him with worried eyes. Youichi didn't notice. "They had scary black masks on and there were… Four of them, I think," he rambled on about what they looked at, not knowing that the more he spoke, the more furious Natsume became. "I don't want to go to Alice Academy, Uncle." he finished quietly.

Natsume frowned. He crouched down so that he was nearly at the same height as Youichi. "Youichi, I promise that I will never let them take you away, as long as I can. So don't be afraid anymore, okay?" He knew that there was only so much he could do to protect him, but also knew that it would reassure Youichi and ease him greatly. But he would truly try his best to keep his promise. He would do anything to protect his nephew.

The pair continued walking down the cluttered street. Natsume listened as Youichi told him a bit about his day like any other kid. As he was just about to reply to him, he felt something collide into his chest. He released Youichi's hand as he and the thing that hit him fell and tumbled to the ground. Natsume opened his eyes and took in everything at once. His back and butt were both sore and ached horribly. The thing that had bumped into was a person-a girl, actually. And most horribly, everyone nearby was staring at. Some people were even laughing.

Humiliated and enraged, Natsume roughly pushed the girl off of him and stood up. "You hopeless bitch. Can't you even walk properly?" He glared at her. "I've met three-legged dogs who walk with more skill and grace than you," he said, furious. Never in his life had he been so embarrassed. He had never fallen backwards so clumsily before.

He supposed that he had encouraged Youichi to get mad at her, too, for the small boy walked up to the girl and said, "Idiot." Natsume nodded his head in approval.

Natsume grabbed Youichi's hand and was about to leave the stupid girl in her misery when the young woman raised her head, revealing two vicious-looking eyes.

"Who the hell do you think you are!" she spat angrily.

Natsume would've replied but he was too captivated by her face to do or say anything smart.

"You don't just call people bitches and make fun of them because they bumped into you, you bastard. I'm sorry for tripping and bringing you down with me and everything, but that's it."

He wasn't listening. Natsume was too busy watching how her soft curls bounced when she made the slightest movement and how nicely her bangs framed her face. It was like they molded themselves around her perfectly heart-shaped face. The girl's eyes looked so spectacularly fierce, Natsume thought he could look into them forever.

"And what about your kid! Do you think you're being a good role model for him? I really do hope he doesn't grow up to be as rude and inconsiderate as you." She crossed her arms and turned to walk away.

Natsume was surprised. No girl had ever gotten this angry at him, even if he deserved it. Shockingly, he liked it. It was refreshing to finally have met someone who'd yell his ear off without a second thought. Plus, she was cute when she got mad.

As she started to walk away, Natsume knew he couldn't let her have the last word. No matter how cute she was, his pride wouldn't allow it. He said the first thing that came to his mind.

"Well it's about time."

He knew it was worth it when she froze and abruptly turned to look at him with a confused expression. Smirking, Natsume turned and walked away, pulling Youichi with him. The crowd made way for them, apparently impressed and amused at the sudden turn of events. Everyone expected the girl to collapse and cry. Well she sure shocked them, she barely even blushed at the special (however unpleasant) attention Natsume was giving her.

Natsume grinned, remembering her hilarious expression at what he said. He certainly wouldn't mind bumping into her again.

Youichi suddenly grabbed Natsume's pant leg and tugged. Natsume looked down. Youichi was pointing to an old fashioned bakery called, Sakura's Bakery. There was a window with a wide assortment of baked goods and sweets. Strangely, the stuff that the bakery sold were things that one could only find in Central Town in Alice Academy.

Natsume decided to check it out. "You want to go in there, Youichi?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer. Sure enough, Youichi nodded. "Alright, let's go, then." So the two headed towards the famed bakery, both for completely different reasons.


Sakura's Bakery was bigger than anyone could expect. It was huge. The store was packed with goggling customers pointing at cakes, cookies, and other things that Natsume wasn't even sure had normal names. Everything here was beyond strange.

Some pastries giggled while you ate them, but others just got mad and would try to bite you back. Natsume winced when one bit him after he tried it as a free sample. He found some orange cookies that asked him about his day and wondered if there was anything they could do to comfort him. Youichi discovered candy canes that sang Christmas songs and a few even brought out presents to give to him when he smiled. Another weird thing they sold was a cake that re-grew when you bit out of it. In front of it was a sign that read, I'm happy to be eaten over and over again, but please understand that I expire after one month and am not immortal. It seemed that most foods had signs similar to this one.

Natsume had to admit that he was impressed by the western-styled ginger bread village. There were about five housed-all different-which hosted a few ginger bread men/women each. There were even candy gardens and backyards. The ginger bread people walked around, wore clothes, talked, and basically lived normal human lives. Natsume overheard one ginger bread man trying to lead a revolution against the humans, which they called 'biggins." Natsume guessed that it had something to do with their size compared to the palm-sized ginger bread men.

"I'm telling you, those biggins are going to kill us all!" the crazed cookie claimed.

Another ginger bread person (a girl, apparently) sighed dramatically. "Come on, Gramps, no one is going to eat us. Just go back inside and stop thinking before you hurt yourself."

Natsume dragged Youichi away from the village. He snatched some sample candy of a chocolate train that circulated the bakery and gave them to Youichi.

They continued to roam around the shop for about half an hour until a large series of shelves behind the counter caught Natsume's eyes. Stacked on the grand shelves were red boxes in three different sizes and tied with pink ribbons. There was a sign above them, too.

Howalons.

He remembered them from Central Town in Alice Academy. The soft, fluffy pink candies were one of the only things he actually liked at that stupid school. How could this bakery have the recipe to make Howalons? How in the hell do the bakers even make all these things that they sell here?

There must be an alice working here, though Natsume. It was the only explanation. He wanted to find out who it was, even though he already had a feeling who.

"Youichi, I'm going to buy you the best candy I've ever tasted." With that, he took Youichi and waited in the long line up at the cashier.

When they finally reached the cashier, Natsume's eyes widened in surprise. Standing right in front of him was Nonoko, a girl who went to school with him since he was taken there. Unlike most people, Nonoko didn't annoy him especially, so he didn't mind her company too much. What he did mind, however, was how she was here, working at a bakery and not at some lab, doing some sort of experiment and making fluorescent coloured liquids sing.

"Natsume!" she greeted. "I haven't seen you in years. How are you?"

"What are you doing here? This place doesn't fit you." he said, having no need for pointless welcomes.

Nonoko laughed. "I know what you're thinking, but I only work here on my spare time or when I feel like it. I'm actually a chemist. I just come to Sakura's Bakery because Anna and Mikan work here."

So it was Anna who was making all this food. I knew it, Natsume smirked victoriously. He was rarely wrong. "I'll take a small box of Howalon and this damn candy cane Youichi has here."

Nonoko smiled. "I knew you'd buy Howalon. How Anna figured out the recipe is still a mystery to me." She crossed her arms and thought for a few seconds. "Okay, that will be 1 850 yen. Sorry about the price, but this stuff costs a fortune compared to other sweets," she said.

Natsume shrugged and handed her a credit card.

"Sorry, our cash register caught fire the other day and broke. We don't get a new one until tomorrow morning," Nonoko said apologetically. She also seemed a bit embarrassed, but he just figured that she was responsible for the broken cash register.

"Fine, then I'll come back later to give you the money I owe you." he said with a careless wave of his hand. He didn't carry around that much change.

"We don't do that anymore because Mikan trusted some guy and he practically robbed us 50 000 yen. She was devastated."

Natsume looked down at Youichi. He had a disappointed look on his small face. Youichi looked up at Natsume hopefully. "I'll do whatever you want, just give Youichi the damn Howalon."

"I'm sorry but I-"

"Hey Nonoko. I forgot Misaki's candy box for her kids. How are you holding up?" a feminine voice came up from behind him. Natsume didn't bother to turn around to see who it was, though; he was already preoccupied.

Nonoko laughed, "Don't you always forget something? But good timing, my friend over here wants to buy some Howalon but doesn't have enough 'change' on him to do so. He says if we let him have the candy now, he'll come back later and give us the money," she finished. "So, what do you think, Mikan?"

Natsume heard 'Mikan' walk up from behind him. "I don't know…" she said, uncertainly. "You remember what happened the last time I did that for a customer." Her voice was familiar…Very familiar…

"But I've known Natsume for years," Nonoko protested, "and when he says he'll do something, he will do it." She cupped a hand to her mouth and whispered, "Plus, I know he's got a lot of money, so that's not an issue."

Curiosity finally got the better of him. He turned around to see just who 'Mikan' was. He took an abrupt step back, accidentally dragging Youichi with him. He knew her. She was the cute girl from earlier today, the one who actually yelled at him. Mikan was the one who had so effortlessly captured his attention while other women tried their best for just a glance from him.

Apparently, Mikan recognized him, too, because she jumped back and pointed at him, shouting, "You!"

Silence filled the bakery. Nonoko and Youichi looked back and forth from Mikan to Natsume.

"You two," began Nonoko, "know each other?"

"You're that asshole from before!" Mikan glared accusingly at Natsume.

He just smirked and replied, "And you're that polka-dotted one from earlier."

Mikan blinked in confusion. Rolling his eyes, Natsume looked down pointedly at her waist. Her eyes followed his.

The girl gasped. "You saw my underwear! You moronic pervert!" Mikan ran behind the counter and hugged an uncomfortable-looking Nonoko, who awkwardly patted her back.

Natsume snorted. "You should consider yourself lucky, most girls dream about talking to me, yet you're here whining about it."

"I am not whining!"

"Tch." Natsume stubbornly turned his head away from the two girls.

"That's it, no candy for you!" Mikan snatched away the small box of Howalon. She grinned victoriously at Natsume who scowled.

Maybe pissing her off wasn't the best idea… He winced when he saw Youichi's heartbroken expression. Natsume squeezed his hand comfortingly. Youichi looked at Mikan in despair.

Mikan's eyes widened. She watched Youichi's expression as he looked down sadly. Mikan sighed. She went to the shelf and put back the Howalon box. Natsume's frown deepened. She then moved over and grabbed the biggest Howalon box she could find and walked over to Youichi.

"Here you go." Mikan bent down and gave Youichi the box of Howalon. "It's the least I can do after upsetting you. Consider this an apology gift." She noticed the candy cane in his hand and laughed. "You can keep that, too. It seems to have become attatched to you."

Youichi opened the box of Howalon. He marveled at the sight of the fluffy, pink puffs and quickly put one in his mouth. Natsume smiled slightly as Youichi's face flushed with happiness and he beamed.

Surprising everyone, Youichi stood on his tip toes and gave Mikan a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Auntie," he said cutely. Natsume raised his eyebrows. Youichi had never called any girl 'Auntie' before.

Mikan blushed and gave him a hug. "You're very welcome." She stood up and added, "You can come here whenever you like, I'll always have something special for you, okay?"

Natsume saw Youichi smile once more. He hadn't smiled this much in a long time. That settled it. Natsume was definitely bringing him here more often.

"Thank you, Polka-dots," said Natsume. He nodded to Nonoko and left with Youichi, but not before he smirked at Mikan's scowl.


On the way to his apartment, Natsume asked Youichi, "Why did you call that girl 'Auntie?'"

Youichi looked at him and said in a monotone voice, "Because one day she will be, Uncle Natsume. She will be my Auntie."

Natsume looked at him confusedly, but shrugged and quickened their pace. He would let him think that if he wanted, because he was quite sure that that would not happen.

Natsume unlocked his door and stepped inside. He let go of Youichi's hand and let him go to the tow room he had had built just for him. Natsume personally never really entered that room, unless it was to drag Youichi out of it.

He walked into the living room and was about to plop down on the couch when he noticed it was already occupied-by his four stupid friends.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Natsume demanded. He knew he shouldn't have given Ruka that spare key.

"Natsume," Yuu began after a few moments of silence, "You know we all care about you."

Ruka nodded. "We only want wants best for you."

His other friend, Tsubasa, joined in. "That's why we're all here."

"Except me," commented Koko, "I just wanted to see how all this turned out."

"What the hell is this? An intervention?" Natsume was astounded. All his friends nodded solemnly. "What the fuck about then?" he asked after he sat on the other sofa.

"It's about the way you treat woman." Ruka was looking at him with those stupid blue eyes of his that always had the ability to make him feel guilty.

"They are not objects, Natsume. You can't just pick them up and drop them whenever you feel like it. Not only is it barely human, but it's not good for you to be like this." Yuu criticized.

Natsume rolled his eyes. Yuu had always nagged him about his treatment of women. "Why do you guys even care? It's not like I'm hurting any of you," he argued.

"We just think that you'd be happier if you were with someone who genuinely cares about you just as much as you care about her," reasoned Tsubasa. Natsume just wanted to rip that damn, blue hair right off of his stupid fat head.

"I don't need anyone like that. I'm fine like this." Natsume retorted gruffly.

Koko grinned slyly. "He probably doesn't think he can handle the same girl for the rest of his life, let alone a couple of weeks."

Tsubasa caught on. "Oh yes, that's right. I don't even think he can pull that off without cheating on her."

"And that means no kissing or sleeping with other girls. It'll be just you and her," Ruka finished with a mischievous grin. He flipped his blonde hair to the side.

"Stop playing with your hair, you gay perv," Natsume told Ruka, who scowled.

But the scowl vanished and was replaced with a smile. "So basically you're admitting that you can't stick with the same girl for a couple of weeks."

Koko laughed, "I told you. I bet he's afraid of commitment."

Tsubasa looked at Natsume. "So it's true, then? You are afraid of commitment. Or maybe it's just women in particular…If you just like the sex, maybe you should stick with men, like our old friend Narumi," he taunted.

"THAT'S IT!" Natsume roared. "I'm not afraid of commitment or women and I'll prove it." He sighed. "I'll stick with one woman for two weeks."

Ruka nodded. "And you have to be faithful. So that means no making out with other women or anything."

Tsubasa said, "And we get to pick the target for you to date. Who knows? Maybe you'll end up being as happy with her as I am with Misaki," he added with a wink. "So, who should we pick as the target?"

"I'm kind of against all this…But if it's just to make Natsume stay with the same girl…" Yuu was brutally ignored.

Koko took one long stare at Natsume and grinned. "I know exactly who the target is."

"Who?" Ruka and Tsubasa asked.

"The girl from the bakery who is supposedly so 'frustratingly cute.'"

This resulted in Natsume hitting Koko over the head several times for reading his mind and telling everyone about it. Before he knew it, everyone (besides Koko who was groaning in pain on the ground) was surrounding him, asking him questions.

"Is this true?"

"It probably is, since he hit Koko so hard."

"Do you really like her?"

"What's she like? She must be something special to have caught your attention."

"What's her name?"

"Mikan…" Koko managed to say from the ground.

WHACK!

Natsume growled at Koko. "I thought you would've learnt your lesson by now, idiotic bastard."

"Mikan, eh?" Tsubasa rubbed his chin. "Hmm…I think we should meet her one day. What do you think guys?"

Ruka and Yuu nodded their agreement.

"Then it's settled,' Ruka concluded. "Natsume, you're going to ask Mikan out and make her your official girlfriend for the next two weeks. I don't care how long it takes to get her to go out with you, but the bet doesn't start until the day of the first date."

Natsume glared him and stormed out of the room.

Ruka chuckled. "It's gonna be a hell of a two weeks. This is going to be good."

At that moment, he didn't know just how right he was, and just how hellish the next two weeks would really be.


Author's Note: It's done! Plus, it's way longer, too, so I hope that'll make you happy. P.S. Sorry for the harsh homosexual comment. There might be a few more things like that. I remebered that I forgot to edit my writing and found a few spelling and grammar mistakes. I also changed Kitsu to Narumi, I figured that would fit a lot better. There might be more changes like that in the future.

I want to thank

xxCRIMSONCHERRYxx (Don't worry, I don't intend on being that mean to Mikan)

MEOWsasha

nikiluvsyou

Claerine (I hope this chapter answered your question)

Rinchan24

XxfreedreamerxX

and finally,

DAngelHime

for reviewing my first chapter. Thanks guys! I take all of you're reviews and suggestion into consideration ;) I'll probably update the next chapter in a few days. ENJOY!