Owned
By Nanaho-Hime
Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice but I do own the lyrics to Double F's and Citrus's songs :) First one here is entitled permanent damage.
Phase 1
Ruka stood nervously outside the door of the apartment he shared with his band mates. He was clearly stalling for time, and he fidgeted and shifted in place overly, fascinated with the empty mailbox. Natsume couldn't help but smirk, at his usually gentle friend's distress.
"Take a deep breath Ruka," Natsume put a hand on Ruka's shoulder, hoping to be slightly comforting, "it'll be easier once you tell Koko, Kitsuneme, and Mochu."
Ruka groaned, and went slightly paler than usual. Hotaru's plan was good, but it required a lot of acting and a lot of lying and he wasn't particularly adept at either. Step one of the plan would be to hint to their closest friends that something was going on, confess their feelings so to speak. Hotaru was already one step ahead, and had hinted at a special someone in her blog, but since Ruka had been out of the loop he had to do it the old-fashioned way.
"Take a deep breath, and do it, they won't laugh though I might."
Ruka stared at the door to their apartment as though it was the biggest obstacle he's had to face in his 16 years of living. He took a shaky, half-hearted breath and opened the door. Mochu, Kitsuneme, and Koko were parked on the couch playing videogames. Natsume, the good friend that he was, marched to the front of the room and blocked the television.
"Aww, Natsume, give us a break," Mochu whined, trying to bend far enough to see the screen again.
"Yeah, no more practicing," Koko nodded earnestly.
Natsume glared, "Shut it you morons, Ruka's got something important to say."
Ruka, who had not been expecting an introduction, stood gaping like a fish, and then turned to glare vehemently at his so called best friend. Mochu, Kitsuneme, and Koko shared similar looks of astonishment, before obediently dropping their controllers and turning to face Ruka, uncharacteristically attentive.
"Spit it out Ruka," Kitsuneme grinned slyly. Why the hell was he being sly?
Ruka made sure not to focus in on his friends but on the window behind them, "There's this girl…"
There was an immediate, unanimous leap, and the three boys clambered/fell off the couch in the mad rush to surround him.
"No way…"
"For reals?!"
"Finally!"
Ruka couldn't help the glimmer of irritation from passing over his visage. It was so endearing, really, that his friends kept such a close tab on his love life.
"Who is it Ruka?"
Ruka could have torn his hair out with the way Natsume was teasing him. Oh, he'd have his revenge on his crimson eyed best friend. At least his relationship with Imai was fake, but it was crystal clear how Natsume felt for the lead singer of Citrus, even though Natsume himself had not realized it yet.
"Yeah, yeah who is it Ruka?"
Now was the moment of truth. At least he would be able to enjoy the looks of incredulity and disbelief on their faces.
"It's Imai. Hotaru."
Surprisingly enough, their animated faces fell. Koko even had the nerve to roll his eyes. Ruka's blue eyes flitted to each of his friends faces, more confused than they were.
"Well that's a shocker."
The sarcasm dropped like a lead weight on top of Ruka's head, and Natsume had to stuff his fist into his mouth to prevent himself from laughing.
"What do you mean?" Ruka blinked stupidly.
Mochu and Kitsuneme had returned to their video games and Natsume was leaning against the wall of the apartment, the slightest of grins on his face. Koko had thrown his arm around Ruka's shoulder, and nodded sympathetically at his romantically retarded friend.
"Well, I'm sorry Ruka, but you two are kind of obvious about it."
Ruka's mouth dropped open, discretion thrown out the window. Natsume had snorted and Koko took it as a signal that he was right in his assumptions.
"See, even Natsume agrees, I mean the sexual tension is so freakin obvious, and you guys just don't stop flirting."
Ruka's face was comical in its distinct horror. Natsume looked like he was going to explode with suppressed laughter at his friend's expense. Mochu and Kitsuneme stopped the game, to turn and nod solemnly with Koko.
"Koko's right," Mochu agreed, "Every time she walks into a room you look like you want to shove her against a wall and kiss her senseless."
"We all know you want to jump her," Kitsuneme called out, his mouth full of left over pizza, with the manners of a true mongrel.
Ruka looked as though he had been sucker punched. Evidently speechless, he abruptly turned and stalked off to his room. The slam of his door went unnoticed by his three band mates, but Natsume, clearly pleased with his friend's reaction went in pursuit of Ruka. Ruka sat on his bed, visibly fuming, his headphones stuck into his ears.
Natsume sat down on the bed, an innocent expression on his face. Ruka, almost violently, pulled a headphone out of his ear.
"Tell me again," Ruka's voice was frighteningly benign, "Why the hell we keep such stupid people in the band?"
Natsume leaned back against the wall, a grin on his face, "Well, they're good musicians."
Ruka snorted and thrust his headphone back into his ear. Natsume could hear the sound of their latest hit blaring out of the headphone. He sighed and pulled the headphone out of Ruka's ear. He placed the headphone in his ear, and closed his eyes, appreciating his own voice.
"You ready to meet the girls at the club?"
Ruka groaned, and pinched the bridge of his nose, "As ready as I'll ever be."
OOO
"Too sexy," Hotaru dismissed the dress Mikan was wearing with a flick of her wrist, "You can't pull off sexy, you're too cute."
Mikan frowned. Hotaru had explained phase one of the plan back in the warehouse. It was too dangerous, speaking in their rooms. There was always the chance that a CEO would hear. They were going over to the Alice Club, where Hotaru would be confronted by Ruka. They would go out to the back, while luring out Shizune, another top paparazzi who worked with Hotaru. They would then try to get Shizune to get a scandalous picture of them.
Mikan and Natsume were supposed to dance exclusively with each other, and they were supposed to drink together. Shizune would most likely take pictures and Hotaru would write about the sudden closeness in her blog.
They were preparing for the festivities in the room they shared with their other bandmates. Anna, Nonoko, and Sumire were tagging along. Hotaru had agreed for the sole reason that it would seem strange if they didn't come. The band rarely traveled separately.
Anna was adorable in a white denim mini skirt, and a pink halter top. She had her hair arranged artfully atop her head, and she wore silver hoop earrings. She played the drums very well for a girl of her size.
Nonoko wore a navy blue tank top, and a faded denim skirt. Her hair was tied off to the side, and she wore silver dangle earrings and silver stilettos. Nonoko pulled off sexy better than Anna did, and the keyboardist wore red lipstick as opposed to Anna's pink lip gloss.
"I'm thinking white, short, because she's leggy, but not low cut because she's got no chest."
Hotaru nodded at Sumire's fashion input, but Mikan glared at both of them. She did not appreciate the cross examination of her features.
Sumire had opted for a royal purple off the shoulder top, and a black denim mini skirt. She wore gold hoop earrings, purple eye shadow, and black stilettos. Sumire was a talented bassist but she was the most volatile of the group.
"Alright, I've got it."
Hotaru wore a black mini dress with little back and smoky eye shadow. She doubled as guitarist and manager for Citrus. She'd managed to produce a white mini halter dress from the closet.
"I think this'll work."
"I second that."
"Thirded"
"And passed."
The girls worked on Mikan's make-up and hair. Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders and her make up was simple. Mikan was famous for the innocent image the company had created for her. It was part of the reason why Hotaru was so sure her plan would work.
When they had finished they were ready to leave. Paparazzi were always around, and they had to look fabulous if they were to save their images from their vicious claws.
Hotaru lagged behind, and took a hold of Mikan's arm.
"Are you ready?"
Mikan nodded, not at all sure that she was.
OOO
"Why did we bring them along again?"
Ruka was still clearly put out with his band mates when they arrived at the Alice Club. Kitsuneme, Mochu, and Kokoro were already on the dance floor, dancing with girls from other branches of the company. Natsume had settled it to a seat at the bar, his tequila in hand.
"Because it diverts the attention away from us."
"Isn't that the opposite of what we want?" Ruka settled into the seat next to Natsume.
"We want paparazzi attention with the girls, we do not want company attention solely on us, if we bring Koko, Kitsuneme, and Mochu it just looks like we're hitting the clubs."
Ruka nodded, and ordered water with a lemon slice. Natsume grinned. He knew his best friend couldn't hold his liquor to save his life.
When the girls finally arrived, it was as though a magnetic affect had taken place on their band mates. Koko immediately waltzed over to Sumire, offering her a hand, an impish smile on his face. Sumire stepped on his foot with her stilettos and Koko howled. Mochu was dancing with cute little Anna, and Nonoko was doing her best to ignore Kitsuneme, who was trying to get a negative reaction out of her. Natsume felt internally grateful for his idiot friends' unconscious help. Mikan and Hotaru were alone now. Mikan smiled and waved at all her acquaintances while Hotaru ignored them completely.
"What the hell is she wearing?" Ruka flushed, trying to mask it behind a scowl. Natsume was too busy being upset with the length of Mikan's dress, much too short, she was garnering too much attention from the male population.
As if on cue Hayate sidled up to Hotaru, a smile on his face. Hotaru pointedly glanced at Ruka and then turned back to smile sweetly at Hayate. Hayate looked as though Christmas had come early and Natsume silently commended Hotaru on her acting skills.
He peered out of the corner of his eyes at Ruka who looked nauseated at the sight.
"You know what you have to do."
Ruka released a pained sigh, "Yeah."
"Well, then I'll leave it to you."
With that Natsume rose from his seat and made his way over to Mikan. She was standing awkwardly off to the side, her arms crossed over her chest, unsure of what to do with herself. He sauntered up to her a playful, smirk on his face.
"What do you know, polka dots is a wallflower,"
She flushed at the age old nickname and scowled at him. He leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Now, now you love me, or did you forget?"
She turned a new shade of red, but forced out a half-hearted giggle. It was almost painful.
He tilted his head, studying her. Imai had outdone herself, polka dots was really irresistible.
"What are you looking at?" she whispered furiously, flustered and embarrassed.
Natsume was really having too much fun with this. He offered her his hand, his red eyes alight with amusement. Mikan reluctantly took his hand and he led her out onto the dance floor.
The song was one Natsume was very familiar with, one of their first hits.
You're off on the dance floor
Makin my heart soar
But you'll never notice me
You'll never see me
You've got your little lies
I've got my goofy disguise
And you'll never notice me
Never see me
Is it because I'd do anything to make you smile?
Is it because you've been into bad guys for a while?
Hey girl I'm not a bad guy
But maybe for you I'll try
Cause I never want to see you hurt again
Never want to see you cry again
Want to see you shout again
Cause that's the only time you ever see me
You'll never notice me
Never see me
Never know I'll be whatever you need me to be
It would seem you've done some Permanent damage
Leaving me waiting for a love that'll never happen
Permanent damage
Permanent damage
On everything I've ever needed
Everything I've ever dreamed of
I just want you to see me, notice me
"See, Double F, my very own Fanning the Flame has way more hits."
Mikan frowned, "We're getting there."
They danced in silence.
"It's a good song."
Natsume smirked, "I know."
Mikan rolled her eyes, "Who wrote it?"
"Koko."
Mikan was visibly surprised, "Really?"
"Yeah, for a girl."
"Sumire?"
Natsume shrugged.
Her eyes softened, "That is so sad, and so sweet."
"Yeah, well my vocals aren't so bad either."
Mikan punched him on the shoulder, and he snorted; the closest thing to a laugh he could muster. Somewhere, in the corner, Shizune was taking pictures a mile a minute, pretty sure she could sniff the story of the century.
"We need to talk!"
Shizune, turned away from the music industry's golden couple to see Ruka Nogi shouting at Hotaru Imai, Hayate in the middle. A juicy story was awaiting her if the mild-mannered Ruka Nogi was shouting. She stealthily maneuvered past the crowd, keeping a close eye on the angry Ruka and the angrier Hotaru.
The two had paused in the alleyway at the back of the club. Hotaru had her back pressed against the wall and she was glaring viciously at Ruka who was glowering down at her. They were much too close to be casual acquaintances or friends. It would seem as though she had found Hotaru's mystery man.
"Do you want to piss me off?" Ruka roared, louder than he usually did.
"Don't be self centered Nogi," Hotaru nudged her foot against his, a signal telling him to calm down; "I'm just dancing."
"Don't play with me Imai."
This acting was easier than he thought it would be. He was used to yelling at Hotaru.
"You're the one who doesn't want anyone to know!"
"That doesn't mean you go grinding with any guy you want!"
"Are you jealous?"
"Hell yes I'm jealous!"
There was a pregnant pause, and then Ruka leaned in toward Hotaru, making sure Shizune had a clear view from her place at the back door. Hotaru threw her arms around his neck and stood on tip toe to kiss him deeply. They heard the clicks of the camera, but ignored it, giving Shizune the chance to get all the footage she needed. When they pulled apart, both held on to each other.
"Is she gone?"
"Yeah."
Ruka immediately let go of her, slightly dazed and more than a little bit embarrassed. It irked him that Hotaru seemed completely unaffected. She smoothed the wrinkled in her dress, and adjusted it so it was no longer twisted to one side.
"Do you think she got the footage?"
"She better have," Ruka scowled, "Because I'm not doing that again."
Hotaru rolled her eyes, "Oh stop your sniveling Nogi, you know you liked it."
Ruka spluttered and stuttered as they made their way back to their respective apartments, in the hopes that Shizune would deduct that they had left the club together.
Phase 1 Completed
A/N: Quite a few people wanted me to continue this fic. I was going to delete it, but I decided to keep going at least for the time being. So even though it's really late I still continued right?
Reviews are, as always love, and make the author smile :)
So if you would?