Chapter 2 - Changes
It is night time and Mikan was too excited due to the Star promotion to sleep so she started packing her things to move to her new room.
"I'll be able too be near Hotaru again, although she does spends mot of her time in the laboratory – sigh – but I wont give up! My plan will work, as long as I can keep awake."
She held up a paper with some scribbles and drawings on it
"Teheh, let's see first I make sure Hotaru isn't in the lab, then I steal the extra password card she keep hidden in Amanatsu, then I'll sneak in to the room and get in to bed with her. AHHH my sweet Hotaru, we will be together once more, like old…"
"What are you doing at this hour polka dots?" says a red eyed boy standing behind her
A very shocked Mikan tries to hides the piece of paper very quickly but isn't able to seeing as the boy had already ripped it out of her hand and started reading it.
"Give it back!" he moves around quickly while she is jumping trying to catch it
"Huh, I didn't think you would be that kind of girl"
"EH! What do you mean by that, what kind of girl, let go! That's mine! How did you get in anyway"
"Oi don't grab on to me like that we're going to fa…" - Too late. They both fall on the floor, Mikan on top of Natsume making their lips slightly brush Mikan stand up shouting with a rose red blush
"Wahh! Gomen!"
Natsume stands up and heads towards her and looks deeply at her.
Mikan starts to remember the incident at the winter ball and as if she was in a trance she couldn't take her eyes of the raven haired boy. He came closer and closer and Mikan started to close her eyes "What am I doing? Move baka, you can't kiss him, he's Natsume, I don't love him, do I?"
"Mikan, daijobu? I heard a lot of noise so I came see what was ah…. Sorry I'll leave" says a very blushing Ruka that walked in on the scene
"Chotto matte Ruka-pyon nothing happen…" but Ruka had already gone in to his room.
"I'm going back to my room, matta ashita!"
"Matte Natsume…"
"Nani?"
"Remember the winter ball, on top of the Sakura tree, when we kis…"
"You should really see how that guy is, he's probably misunderstood the situation"
"Natsume..."
In the meantime Ruka was sitting on the floor against the door, panting, blushing furiously.
"Why did I run? They weren't doing anything, right? OH WHO AM I KIDDING NATSUME LOVES HER! And she never showed any signs of loving me" At this time he started to shed tears "But I never told her anything, about how I felt that is, how could I know how she feels I? have to…"
"Ruka-pyon" someone shouted, knocking furiously on the door
"Ruka-pyon, open up will you!"
"…" Ruka stood up cleaned his face and opened the door
"Mou, Ruka-pyon, what happened, why did you go away?"
"I didn't want to interrupt your little conversation with Natsume" he answered with a very serious tone
"What's the matter? We weren't doing anything, just talking; you could have joined us instead of running away."
"In the middle of the night?"
"…with an open door. What's with you these days I haven't seen you around, not even with Natsume it's like you've been avoiding me, I thought we were friends!"
"What if I don't want to be JUST friends!?" at this time his face was a bright red as he couldn't take it anymore.
"Ruka-pyon, I…"
"Just go to bed, tomorrow's a big day and you need to get some rest." And with this he shut the door in Mikan's face and once again sat on the floor, crying…
On the other side of the door stood a very shocked Mikan trying to figure out what was going on. The words her friend told her where pounding inside her head.
"What if I don't want to be JUST friends!?" what's with him these days he's not his usual self. "In the middle of the night?" suddenly an image of Natsume's face appeared and then her kissing him on the floor. Why did I have to think about that baka! Why was he looking at me like that? And why did I want to kiss him? I don't get anything!
"For now I'll just go to bed! Ruka-pyon is right I need to have a lot of strength for tomorrow. It's gonna be a big day"
The next day
"Kyaaaaa!!!! I'm late! I'm late!!!! How can I earn a Special being late! I have to hurry"
A screaming Mikan could be heard throughout the entire school while she was running to get to class on time then suddenly…CRASH she went against someone!
"Gomen-nasai! Huh, Natsume?" she looked down and saw a hand grabbing her shirt Pafu Pafu (uhm well not the shirt but you'll get it soon enough )
"They've gotten bigger since last time Hana-kara" (for anyone who doesn't know "hana" is flower's in Japanese, he's referring to the flower pattern (kara) on her panties)
SLAP "Hentai" She screams after getting of him.
"Nani, you're the one who fell over me and wasn't looking where she was going!" He says while standing up
"You could have not commented!"
"Come on let me help you" he offered a hand with his face turned the other side while blushing slightly
He's become kinder she though and held his hand. He pulled her up and held her gently against his body. While looking at him she saw a side of Natsume she had never seen before, his eyes weren't cold anymore she felt warm when being held by him
"What are you spacing out for? You're gonna be late if you don't hurry!"
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Aren't you coming to?"
"Nah! I'm sleepy I'm gonna take a nap on the Sakura tree"
"Skipping classes again Natsume?"
"Just the first period. I couldn't sleep last night…"…Because of you! He thought
"I guess I kind of understand you I wasn't able to sleep either, but just this once"
DONG DING DONG DING ( just try to imagine it)
"AHH!!! LATE! SOOO LATE!"
At the classroom
"Ohayo!"
"Miss No-star-turned-special-star is late!" said the furious teacher with a frog on his back
"Ack! Jin-jin first period I had forgotten!"
"What's that?" Sparks where starting to come out of the teacher's so called wand
"Sumismasen, it won't happen again, Jinno-sensei"
"I hope not, you're a Special now don't make me regret agreeing the upper's decision! Now get to your seat."
A smile was o Mikan's face, knowing that even Jin-jin had taken a liking to her
"What are you smirking for? Get to your place!"
"HAI!" said a very happy Mikan!
"And Mikan…"
"Hai?"
"Congratulations on your Special Star, go trade your three stars for special during lunch hour."
"Hai!"
And so went first period, second, third and eventually last and still no sign of Natsume.
Mikan quickly packed her things as soon as the bell rang and rushed off!
"Mikan, aren't you going to have lunch before getting the star?" said Inchou right before she left the classroom
"She must be really happy about the star thing huh?"
"She isn't going for the star" said Hotaru overhearing Inchou
"No? Then where is she off to in such a hurry?"
"There are things worrying her, things much more important than lunch or the star."
"What's more important to Mikan than lunch?"
Outside:
"Natsume! Natsume! NA-TSU-ME! Where are you!"
As soon as she reached the Sakura tree Natsume jumped off yawning
"Mou! Natsume why didn't you go to class! You said you would come after first period!"
"None of your business!"
"I was worried sick I thought you had gone on another mission! I-I thought something had happened to you baka!"
"Even if I had gone on a mission I would still be alright!"
"No you wouldn't you know what using your Alice does to you!"
"I told you! It's none of you business!"
"Of course it is! I'm your friend and I worry!"
"I just overslept that's all! Don't go worrying after others when you don't need to, you'll make me worry! You're the one that needs protecting after all!"
"But I'm not the one using my Alice until it kills me! I want you at my side I DON'T WANT YOU DYING AND LEAVING ME ALL ALONE!" at this point Mikan was crying. What am I saying? Suddenly Natsume hugged her.
"Mikan no baka! I won't leave you, I don't need protection, I just need your warm smile when I get hurt or your stupid actions to make me laugh when I'm sad and about to give up! I just need YOU!"
"Natsume…"
In the corner of the building Ruka that had followed Mikan thinking she was going to get her star was saddened by the sight of his love hugging his best friend
I knew it would come to this I just never wanted it to happen,I guess. She doesn't love me she loves Natsume! But although I should let her go I don't want to it would be too painful! I want her for myself! Am I being selfish? I want her by my side so I can make my dream come true together with her!
"Arigatou Natsume, you're a good friend" he then heard as he saw Mikan softly pull away from the embrace "You want to come with me get my star?"
"Not really!"
"Come on!"
"NO!"
"Hidoi!"
"I just don't feel like it"
"I guess I'll go alone then"
"Fine by me"
"What do you mean fine by you"
""I mean…
As they continued to argue Ruka looked at the sky from the corner of the building
"Arigatou Natsume, you're a good friend" She thinks of him as a friend? So ka? Than that means I still have a chance right?
His thoughts were interrupted by a very noisy FLASH
"This picture will sell great A dazed Ruka special card for the 4th card collection of Ruka. I think it will be worth at least 3000 yen (or 300 rabbits depending whether you read the manga or saw the anime)"
"Imai-san what are you doing here? I saw you go after Mikan and I thought I might get a good picture of you blushing or dazing or something embarrassing like that."
"Give me that!"
"No, only if you catch me"
And she ran off to get on the scooter, but this time Ruka caught up to her and grabbed her shirt. She struggled to get loose but then the shirt tore. It opened up and left Hotaru holding just a bit of cloth in front of her
"Ah! Gomen-nasai! I didn't mean…"
"That's enough! Keep the stupid picture, have the camera as well it wasn't even worth it" with her back turned on him she said in a very serious tone while throwing the camera on the floor. When it hit he floor it opened and Ruka noticed there wasn't any film in it. Why did she fake taking a picture of me? When he looked at Hotaru he noticed that there were tears in her eyes.
"Imai-san"
"I have to go change shirt, leave me alone"
"Matte" As he said this Ruka took off his jacket and put it over her shoulders "I can't let you run around the academy with only that on, it was my fault after all." Hotaru blushed
"Come on I'll take you to your room"
"A-Arigatou." She said while slightly sniffing
This isn't the Imai I know, she's normally so strong. Yet now looked so…defenceless I wonder why every one's changing
Is everyone really changing or is it Ruka? Are his feelings changing? If you really want to know keep on reading next chapter will be up soon. Keep reviewing so I can make my stories even better and don't lose my will to write cause I'm kinda lazy ;;