*DISCLAIMER – I don't own Gakuen Alice, Prince of Tennis and Daa Daa Daa, it solely belong to each of their own creators. *
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Chapter 1 – Uncanny Day
"France!" I shouted as I slammed my hands on the table, frustrated.
"Well, yes honey… I am after all, the senior commissioner in ITF (International Tennis Federation) and we're going to prefer for the upcoming French Open, you know that don't you?" my mother Yuka Sakura, a woman with shoulder length layered brunette hair and auburn eyes said.
"Yeah, I know that, but why are you sending me to Japan…To the other side of the world?" I shouted out of frustration. My rival is here, somewhere in America, for crying out loud!
"Stop whining young lady and face the fact that I can't leave you alone here in America… that's why I'm sending you to my acquaintance's house in Japan, and it'll also be a good way to visit your mother country. That's why I already sent your baggage containing your basic necessities. I also enrolled you to Alicia Gakuen… I heard they have high standard tennis there.
"I also got you, your own golden card, be wise on spending okay? So, all you need to be bringing is your satellite protégé mini notebook (laptop) and your cell phone so we stay on contact, and your tennis equipments…
"Hmm... All you have to do after you arrived at Narita Airport in Chiba is to take a cub to Tokyo Station via Higarashi-Kanto expressway, then take a train from Tokyo station to Yurakucho station, then a bus to Hibiyakoen street, then find the Igarashi residence. See, it's that simple, then tomorrow morning you have to go to Alicia Gakuen for you first day of—" before my mother continued to blabber things I retorted back.
"You always decide things on your own! I won't go!" I shouted as I stomped my way to my room.
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Even though I said that firmly, here I am in Japan. After taking the train, I'm trying to find the right way to find the bus station to take me to Hibiyakoen Street. Ugh, who the hell invented this train station with 4 gates to exit!
A raven-haired guy wearing a white Fila cap(which hides his eyes), gray American style jacket, dirty white shorts carrying a black tennis bag with red dragon markings design; heading towards a brunette girl with waist-length(super long) auburn brown braided pigtails wearing black sun glasses(which hides her eyes), blue blouse with a white bolero and a denim mini skirt, who also carries a black tennis bag with Sakura petals design and a white shoulder bag. The brunette girl was looking left to right as the white-capped boy made his way towards her.
"Ne, which way is it to the Hibiya bus station?" the boy asked lowering his white cap.
"Huh? Aah! The bus station, I'm also heading there so...Wait! You're also a tennis player what a coincidence!" The brunette started with the boy a few meters away from her.
"Which way is it?" the boy asked impatiently.
"Ah! Sorry, I just... exit there" the girl bowed and pointed to the left gate.
"West Gate... right, thanks" the boy said as he disappeared into the crowds.
"Eh? West gate, didn't I point to the East gate? Hibiya station is located at the East... Wait a minute!" the brunette girl mumbled and then looked up, looking for the boy whom she gave wrong directions.
"Oh no..." she sighed, "Why would he ask me…? This is my first time here for Pete's sake! Why me of all people!" the girl said out of frustration which earned her unnecessary glances from other people.
"Gomen, Mr. Impatient-white-capped-boy, who also plays tennis like me… Sorry!" the brunette girl bowed down the direction of the west gate, the direction she pointed a while ago.
Igarashi residence was it?
Hmm... Igarashi, Igarashi, Igarashi... Igarashi, Igarashi…
I kept on repeating the name of the residence as I concentrated in looking at the plates of each and every house in this neighbourhood.
Igarashi, Igarashi, Igarashi... Igarashi, Igarashi... Igarashi!
Alas! I found the house!
I looked up only to see a set of a long stairs leading to an old temple gate.
A Temple...?
I looked at the name again—Igarashi.
I've been deceived!
Waa! Darn you Oka-san (mother), you're getting my payback later on.
I climbed up the stairs to the main entrance of the temple.
"Is anybody here? Hello?" I knocked but nobody answered, so I left my tennis bag there at the entrance but brought my shoulder bag which contains my other important things.
I took a detour to the back of the temple.
Surprisingly, the backyard lawn was spacious. To the far right side there was a built-in tennis court and next to it was a vacant lot and near the back door of the temple to the left side was a well-maintained Japanese garden with a small bridge over the pond and a grand Sakura tree standing on a man-made hill.
"Sugoi (Amazing)…" I muttered under my breath, "What a beautiful place…Though there still isn't a trace of a single soul albeit the fact that this place is this well-maintained."
Hmm... Maybe in the main temple…? So I ended up exploring the whole surrounding area of the temple, then came to where I started the main entrance. Ah!
"Umm, excuse me..." I said to the old monk lying on his back beside the temple's bell wearing a glimmering white robe?
"Who...are...you" the old monk in white said eerily and turned his green face with to me. I staggered back ready to sprint for it down the stairs. I've come to an alien-invaded temple!
"Ara! Are you Mikan-chi? What's wrong?" the old green-faced monk in white said in a bit feminist tone.
"...it's nothing…! Sorry! Sorry!" I said a little flustered and embarrassed for my own reaction.
"Waa! It's really you Mikan-chi! You have gotten taller and more beautiful since the last time I saw you! You're still very cute though!" the old green-faced monk in white as he jumped out from his position and clomped and ogled at me.
"Eh?"
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"Mikan-chi, It's seems you have forgotten. I'm Nat-chan's father, Narumi; you were his classmate at 3rd grade, right? And speaking of my imbecile son, he'll be coming here from America, and he should be here right now...
" Well that doesn't matter for now, this is your first time in Japan and in my house so it's only natural to be nervous. So, here is your room Mikan-chi," the now not green-faced monk in white said as he led me around the house less the main temple and the led me to the room I'm staying for the time being.
Well the room wasn't that special; it's a Japanese style bedroom and is pretty spacious. It has a tatami floor, wooden cabinet, shelf, study table and a pink king-sized pink futon rolled up on the side near my 5 huge bags of luggage. Wow, Mom really didn't exaggerate when she said basic necessities.
"Arigatou," I said as I observed my new room.
"You travelled a long-distance, you must be tired. If you like, you can take a bath or something before dinner, I'll leave you be" Mr. Narumi the monk in white said before he slid the door closed.
Well, a bath sounds nice...
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I sighed.
I've come to a strange sort of place. Well, that doesn't change the fact that the tub is quite comfortable and the place is super maintained and cared. I should get out by now, before the steam affects me. I stood up and reached for the towel.
"I'm back!" the main entrance door banged open followed by loud steps getting closer to the bath. Getting closer? I immediately wrapped myself in tow—
The bathroom door was banged open by a raven-haired guy with crimson red orbs, wearing a black American-styled jacket and dirty white shorts which made the bathing brunette girl with knee-length auburn brown hair and chocolate brown orbs who has nothing on but a towel, stunned.
Eyes widening, sharp intake of breath, face loses color then blood rising which cause the face to be beat red, well, that was their reaction. After a few seconds.
"Eh?" the first on to recover was the raven-haired boy who lost all his composure said.
"PERVERT!" the brunette girl with the late reaction shouted and a water dipper came flying to the paralyzed raven-haired boy which made him run wet out of the bathroom.
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"Oyaji(Old man)!" the wet raven-haired boy called out as he was running down the hallway to the dinning room.
"Who is that?" the raven-haired boy who was beat red asked firmly a little out of breath at the old monk in white robe in front of him.
"Oh, what seems to be the problem?" the old monk asked calmly.
"Stop messing around! There's a strange girl in the bath!" the raven-haired guy said, as the monk just blinked.
"Oh, you met Mi-chi already? Aw... I was planning on surprising you. If you just didn't rush to the bathroom after just coming back from America, by the way what took you so long? That aside, starting today mi-chi's gonna stay with us" the monk declared with a goofy smile on.
"Who was...that?" I whispered while I was trembling hard as I was trying to wear my bathrobe which was futile with my shaking hands.
I'm not sure but, I think...
...he saw...
... I don't believe this!
I apologize Mi-chi, this is my only son, the I told you that was coming from America today—" Narumi, the monk in white tried to ease the tension between the calm raven haired guy and the flushed red brunette girl who were seated across each other with both of them looking at opposite directions.
"Huh?" escaped the mouth of both teenagers as they notice the 2 black tennis bag near the entrance. One has a red dragon markings and the other with pink Sakura petals. Remembering something, they both narrowed their eyes at each other; crimson met auburn.
"You're Mr. Impatient white-capped boy, who also play tennis like me, who I gave wrong directions to!"
"You're the girl with super long hair, who's not cut to be a tennis player, who gave me wrong directions!"
Both the brunette girl and the raven haired boy said respectively while pointing accusing fingers at each other.
"He/ She look familiar" Both teenagers thought as they narrowed their eyes at each other.
"Ehem... as I was saying—" Narumi was yet again cutted.
"Raven hair, crimson eyes, the attitude..."
"Auburn hair, chocolate brown eyes, the voice..."Both think of each others specified characteristics. Then it hit them,
"Nat-chan?"
"Polka dots?"Both of them exclaimed yet again, though their eyes twitched at the nickname.
"I have a name you know, you annoying conceited egoistical smirking grunting pervert bastard jerk! It's Mikan! Not polka dots! M-I-K-A-N!" Mikan retorted out of instinct.
"To hell with that name(Nat-chan)!" Natsume also retorted.
Then their eyes widened.
"It's definitely you" Both of them concluded at the same time, nodding their heads.
"Ara! It seems you guys already remembered. Well Nat, say hello to Mi-chi" Narumi said.
"I'm not going to listen to this kind of conversation" Natsume nonchalantly said as he looked away.
"Aren't you going to explain yourself?" Narumi asked which cause a vein to pop out on Natsume.
"Now see here! You always tell me things when it's too late! Living with that kind of girl is depressing!" Natsume exclaimed as he pointed at Mikan.
"Oi! What do you mean by that kind of girl?" Mikan asked menacingly.
"You! Just wait and see till I beat you(in tennis)!" Mikan shouted as she too pointed a finger.
"Try me" Natsume cockily said, and then a glaring contest commenced.
"Ha! Ha! It's okay Mi-chi, as long as I'm here you don't have to worry" Narumi said trying calm down Mikan.
"Oyaji, what about that trip of yours to France? I thought you're absolutely going this time?" Natsume asked smirking at his father.
"Even if I want to go , I can't without permission from ATP, and I really wanted to go at least once before I die. Last week I'm supposed to get a call from Monsieur Gen—" Narumi said but was cutted yet again by a ringing phone.
"Moshi, Moshi?(Hello) Oui?... Monsieur Gen!... Que? J'ai obtenu enfin la permission? ...B-bien !... Je comprends, je ferai des préparations tout de suite! (Yes?... Monsieur Gen!...what? I finally got permission?...A-alright!.. I understand, I'll make preparations right away!)"
When the French call ended Narumi was smiling ear-to-ear, the exact opposite of the expression on Mikan and Natsume's face, who understood the conversation crystal clear.
"Oyaji!" Natsume said menacingly.
"Gomenasai!" shouted Narumi as he sprinted to his room.
"Wait right there, Oyaji!"
"Oji-san(a term used to address middle age man)!"
"Waa!"
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"Oyaji! Open up or I'll have no choice to break in!" Natsume threatened as he banged at Narumi's door multiple times.
A few minutes later, the door slightly opened and Narumi's head popped out. Narumi looked at Mikan then slammed the door opened and scrambled at Mikan's feet.
"Mi-chi...Please help me grant my life long dream! You'll be fine with Natsume! Even if I'm not here, he cares for you more than anyone else—" Narumi started but was smacked on the head by Natsume.
"You're so useless Oyaji! Who would care for this loud mouthed Idiot?" Natsume said with a vein popped on his head.
"Eh, But—
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"There's money in the safe. I'll leave everything to you, take good care of Mi-chi, okay? Stay safe! Ja!(Bye)" was the only thing Narumi said before he went away.
Natsume sighed and then closed the door, before heading towards the dinning room.
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'What should I do? I'm here with Natsume, alone. Alone with a boy for crying out loud!' Mikan thought as she glanced at Natsume from time to time as they were eating supper, which Natsume didn't mind.
"You could have said 'No', you know," Natsume said in a 'for-your-information' tone.
"Eh?" was Mikan's smart reply, before they continued eating in silence.
"I apologize," Natsume said out of the blue which made Mikan choked her food.
"Eh? It's my first time hearing Nat-chan the Natsume Hyuuga apologize" Mikan said teasingly with the hint of mockery, which earned her a glare from Natsume.
"Let me finish, I apologize for my selfish father, he always—"
"Nah! It's okay, I understand' Mikan cutted Natsume, as he raised his eyebrow in question.
"Just don't make any more weird misunderstandings" Natsume smirked.
'Annoying conceited egoistical bastard,' Mikan inwardly cursed Natsume as she glared at him.
"Thank you for the meal! I'll be going ahead," Mikan said as she finished eating.
"Hn.." Natsume replied.
"Oyasumi," Mikan said before leaving the dining room though one word(is it even a word?) didn't escape her sharp ears.
"Hn," the annoying grunt.
'Ugh... that annoying grunt again... Saa! But it's nice to hear it once again" Mikan thought as she smiled softly.
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'... Tomorrow, I'll call Mama and find another place to stay. France, that's right! It should be about afternoon there' Mikan thought as she got up her futon and went to find Natsume's room, to ask for the telephone.
"Nat-chan, where is the telephone located..." Mikan asked as she slid the door open, only to find Natsume in the midst of changing.
"Pervert! Why don't you have any cloths on?" Mikan shouted as she closed her eyes clearing her head from the image of a shirtless Natsume. Luckily a T-shirt came flying towards her covering her beat red face.
"That's why I don't want to live with a girl!" Natsume said as he finished dressing.
"Fine then!" exclaimed Mikan as she angrily stomped off.
'I know you loath girls but I didn't know you'll think of me as one of their kind' Mikan angrily thought.
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"Now what are you doing?" Natsume asked as he was following Mikan, who was carrying her tennis bag and her shoulder bag; stomping to the main entrance.
"I'm leaving" Mikan said firmly.
"Sigh... it's dangerous for a girl like you to go out at this time of the night, I understand If you hate it that much I'll leave before tomorrow," Natsume said as he blocked Mikan's way.
"It's fine, because I'm leaving" Mikan stubbornly said.
"You're noisy, its fine I'm leaving," Natsume argued as he continued his way to the door. He opened it only to be pounced at by something, which surprised the hell out of both.
"Kyaaa!" Mikan screamed.
"Sheesh, quit screaming, you're going to make my ears bleed... It's just a cat, polka" Natsume said as he ruffle the fur of a Himalayan cat, as Mikan calmed down she saw the cat and her eyes widen.
"Is that Karupin?" Mikan exclaimed as she remember the little kitten they saved in 4th grade.
"Hn," replied Natsume, as the cat just meowed and looked at Mikan. Sensing a familiar aura, Karupin the Himalayan cat went of Natsume and went to Mikan.
"Aw... you remember me!" Mikan said as she kneeled down and picked up the cat.
In the end I decided to stay. Ugh, what an annoying day...
First coming here in Japan and almost gotten lost,
Arriving at a temple,
Meeting a strange feminish monk who was my rival's Dad,
Having my rival see me with nothing but a wet towel,
Finding out my rival was the person I gave wrong directions,
Having his dad gone for France, living both of us here
And I realized it all too late!
Grr...Inhale, Exhale. Take a deep breath and control your temper, then smile. Done!
Sigh. Better get some sleep tomorrows the first day of school. Wonder who'll I meet?
Yawn... better sleep and forget about this –Uncanny day.
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SNEAKPEAK for CHAPTER 2
"Aah! Which way is it to the Alicia school, Mom was talking about? Left or right?"
"What's a beautiful girl like you doing in a place like this?"
"Oh, so that explains it, I see you haven't gotten over that blessing of yours-"
"Duck!"
"Nice going Nat-chan, you just missed your target"
"Let me just make things clear, —"
"I don't know you and—"
"You don't know me,"
"Glad to hear that we agree,"
"Oi! Oi! Arai! That southpaw(left-handed) guy knock it down ten times without a miss, and beat each one of us in a 1 set match in five minutes!"
"If I hit it 100 times, will you give me 1,000,000 yen?"
*I'd like to acknowledge this chapter's Beta Reader, Kanata Saionji. Thank you very much!*
Please leave a review T_T
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