HEY EVERYONE. I'm VERY sorry for holding chapter two back for about a month. I've been busy with school and slacking off with writing the fanfiction because I got lazy... also I had exams during the last week of January. BUT NO WORRIES. Exam's over and semester two just started. So I still have plenty of time.
So anyway, it seemed that chapter one had A LOT of comments, more than I had expected. THIRTEEN reviews! Woot! Thank you readers for reading and leaving a comment! ^^ It's very much appreciated. -bows- Let's go check out the reviews shall we?
natsumikan15-Thank you for reviewing and liking my stories. I still think that my stories are average. Haha. Also, thank you for the luck for my exams. I did well. (:
Crimson Princess Yuuki-Haha thank you! Sorry for the long wait!
Angel445566superb-Haha, chapter two out. ;)
cjmej123-Ohhh, my stories complicated? ^^ Awesomee.
behind-those-crimson-eyes-awww, thank you for loving my story even though it was only the first chapter. XD I hope you will still like it after a few more chapters.
xXBlackTenshiXx-I know what you mean. DX Reading so many fanfictions when waiting for a sequel really sucks because you forget the prequel.
Jessica-Thank you. :)
natsumikan0909-Update for chapter two complete! ;)
AniME AddiCtz-Haha, thank you for the welcome back greeting. :) And yes, I know, many dislikes it when Mikan cries because of Natsume. But what can she do? :P
keraii-it's good... SO FAR. ;) But not sure about the afterwards. :P
shainingu etowa-ru-It's okay! :D I don't expect people to review EVERYTHING. ;P One is good too. ^^ Thank you for reviewing.
s0rRoWfuLaNgeL012-When the reader doesn't know and can't think of the next part, it's a good sign for the author. :D I guess we'll just have to see what happens in the later chapters.
natsumexmikan 123- :D Thank you for liking my story. ^^
*gasp* finally done all reviews. ANYWAY, enjoy chapter two! :)
Chapter Two
Mikan's Cloudy Heart
"What's wrong with that girl?" Hotaru asked Ruka as she looked at Mikan.
Once Mikan had gotten back to her dormitory, she started unpacking without saying a word. Not a cheery 'Konnichiwa Hotaru!' just a straight face and walked to her luggage. She unzipped it and took out every clothes neatly, placing them on the ground. Hotaru was already done unpacking by the time the two of her friends had entered the door. She walked over to the drawer and placed all her clothes in there.
"We saw Natsume today at the café. He was with Koizumi Luna, his girlfriend. The thing that really got her was that Natsume acted as if he doesn't know her and even said he doesn't know her. It seemed he didn't remember her at all or never thought about her," Ruka explained quietly being sure not to let Mikan hear. Mikan got up from her crouched position and wiped a sweat away, sighing. Ruka and Hotaru watched her move back and forth from luggage to places where her stuff belonged. It was silent for half an hour while Mikan was unpacking. No one said a thing.
When Mikan was finally done, she placed her luggage in the closet and looked at Ruka and Hotaru. They looked back at her, no, rather, stared at her without a smile.
"Hai?" Mikan asked as she tilted her head watching them with a confused look.
"Spit out what happened baka," Hotaru said to her directly without asking if everything was okay. Hotaru was the same Hotaru as she was in Gakuen Alice; a blunt person, very blunt indeed.
"Eh? What are you talking about? I'm fine," Mikan forced a smile which looked natural, "see?"
"I told you to never lie to me 5 years ago, and you're still lying to me?" Hotaru said sternly.
"Hai… gomenasai," Mikan stopped smiling and dropped her head. Ruka sat on Hotaru's bed while Hotaru walked over to Mikan and started patting her on the head to comfort her.
"Now, what happened?" Hotaru asked once more, knowing Mikan would tell her this time.
"I saw Natsume and it seemed he never thought about me once while he was in the States. That's all," Mikan turned her head and looked out the window, "now if you'll excuse me, I'd like some time alone."
Mikan left the room, leaving Ruka and Hotaru behind. She closed the door behind her and stood in front of it. She sat down and leaned against the door with a sigh. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and then a door closed. Sounded like her next door neighbour whom she never met yet. She didn't bother opening her eyes to see who it was. Until her name was called.
"Sakura… iie, Mikan, what are you doing on the ground there?" the voice said. Mikan looked up and saw her new friend.
"Oh, hello again Luna, I live in this room with Hotaru, do you live in that room?" Mikan asked her.
"Hai, it seems we're neighbours! Yoroshiku as your neighbour Mikan! I just finished unpacking and I'm off to meet Natsume in a Sushi restaurant for dinner, would you like to come? I'm sure Natsume wouldn't mind," Luna said.
"Haha, Arigatou, demo I think I'm just going to go for a walk around," Mikan told Luna. Mikan smiled at Luna warmly, although it was more of a forced smile again. Luna looked at Mikan and blinked a few times. She then took out her high tech, expensive, limited, cell phone that made Mikan drop her jaw.
"Hello? Natsume, is it alright if Mikan eats with us?" Mikan heard Luna ask. Mikan shook her head no vigorously and started waving her hands in a 'no' motion.
"It's fine! I don't need to go!" Mikan mouthed.
"Nani? Doushite? Demooo, Mikan looks sad, onegai?" Luna pleaded. Mikan still kept shaking her head no and waving her hands no.
"Hontoni desu ka? Yay! Arigatou! Ja, matte ne!" Luna hung up and looked at Mikan who drooped on the ground.
"You really didn't have to Luna-chan," Mikan said, unhappy that she had to go see Natsume, the person she least wanted to see.
"Eh? Why not! We're all friends, so come, stop drooping on the ground," Luna held out a hand which Mikan only looked at. She got up on her own, hunching her back.
"Are you sure you won't mind me tagging along?" Mikan asked emotionlessly.
"Of course I don't mind, Natsume didn't want you to, but I convinced him!" Luna said, happy that she could help a friend, although Mikan didn't want it.
I figured he didn't want me there… perhaps that was why I asked not to go with you Luna… Mikan thought to herself. She dropped her head when they entered the elevator and sighed. Luna looked at her friend, smiled, and patted her on the back as if telling Mikan everything's fine.
DING! The elevator went when they reached ground level. Luna and Mikan stepped out of the elevator and made their way to the Sushi Restaurant. Mikan decided that she'll at least pretend to be fine in front of Luna and Natsume just to show she was fine. She didn't want everyone to crowd over her just because they were wondering what had happened.
"So Mikan, why are you upset?" Luna asked out of thin air.
"E… eh? Why do you think I'm upset?" Mikan shot back.
"You seemed upset when I saw you in front of your room," Luna asked.
"Oh, iie, I was just tired because I had finished unpacking my stuff too," Mikan replied. She smiled at Luna to show that she was fine and she really didn't have to go with Luna to the Sushi restaurant.
"Oh, it's alright, you can still come eat with us despite your mood. By the way Mikan, what are you aiming to be in the future and Ruka? I'm going to be an actress, Natsume's going to be a doctor," Luna replied.
"Natsume's going to be a doctor?" Mikan asked confused. Is it really alright seeing he's a little rough and all...
"Yep! He's really smart, so I told him that he should become a doctor, I think he'd make a great one, don't you?" Luna asked. Mikan smiled and nodded hesitantly.
"Well, Ruka's aiming to be a vet and I'm aiming to be a teacher for kindergarten, I love little kids," Mikan replied.
"I think you'd make a great teacher Mikan! You're always cheerful and happy!" Luna said.
That makes only one of us… I'm not cheerful or happy at all right now. Mikan thought. She smiled and started laughing uncertainly. The rest of the way Luna was asking Mikan questions while Mikan only gave short answers. She didn't really feel like talking at all.
"Ah, we're here!" Luna pointed ahead at a really big and fancy restaurant. Mikan stared at it for it was very huge and eye catching. Luna led Mikan in and searched for Natsume. She spotted a raven haired guy looking out the window and knew that was him. She dragged Mikan along by her shirt and made her way to Natsume. Natsume looked up when Luna stopped right in front of him.
"Oi, that took you so long," Natsume said sternly.
"Gomen, Mikan was drooping around," Luna said, sitting in the seat beside Natsume. Mikan took the seat in front of Luna near the window.
"Konnichiwa Natsu, ah… Hyuuga-san," Mikan nodded her head in politeness towards him. Natsume nodded back.
"What do you want Mikan?" Luna asked.
"I'll just order salmon sashimi, that's it. I need to go back to the dorm to cook dinner. Ruka was supposed to eat dinner with us and Hotaru's too lazy to cook, Ruka's the guest too," Mikan said.
"Oh, Hotaru's back?" Luna asked as Mikan nodded her head, "What is she aiming to be?"
"Not exactly aiming, more like is, but wants to do deeper into study, an inventor," Mikan replied. Luna nodded her head. The waiter than came and took all the order, after a few minutes their food was brought back. Mikan's meal compared to Luna and Natsume's was really small. She had a small plate of salmon sashimi with 6 pieces and the other two had dishes of sushi, sashimi and everything.
"Itadakimasu!" they all said.
"Oh! Natsume dear, I want to go shopping tomorrow," Luna said.
"Nani? Again? You went today!" Natsume said.
"Yeah, but there's a huge sale tomorrow! Pleaseee?" Luna begged.
"No," Natsume objected.
Luna leaned towards him and with puppy eyes said, "Onegai?" Natsume looked away from her gaze because he didn't want to give in. Luna shook his arm lightly.
"Okay, okay, we'll go tomorrow!" Natsume gave in. He placed his head on his face.
"Yay! Thank you! You're the best," Luna laughed and hugged Natsume, "you want to come Mikan?"
Natsume suddenly turned his head and looked at her. Although Mikan was looking at Luna, she could feel Natsume staring at her hoping she would go, for some reason. But she couldn't stand that she's see Natsume with Luna.
"Uhm… n…no, it's… alright. I'm going to uh… stay in the room with uh… Hotaru and maybe go around with Ruka," Mikan said, quickly looking down and popping her sashimi in her mouth.
"Oh, that's too bad, so anyways Natsume, I need a new top to go with the new skirt we bought today," Luna said. Natsume sighed. Mikan watched them through her bangs with the fork in her mouth.
Whaaa, they look like a really fitted couple. I knew I shouldn't have come… Mikan looked back down and found a tear had dropped from her eyes to her plate. Mikan's eyes widen and wiped the tears around her eyes with the tissue beside her.
"Mikan? Are you crying?" Luna asked with concern in her voice. Mikan froze on the spot. She stuffed that last sashimi in her mouth, clearing her throat.
"Ah, no! Of course not, I'm finished my meal, gochisousama! Thank you for the meal, I'll be leaving now!" Mikan shot up from her seat and ran off swiftly before letting them see more tears roll down.
"She sure ran off quickly, at least she wasn't crying," Luna said, shrugging. Natsume looked over at where Mikan was and saw tear stain on the table cloth and a few drops on the plate. Natsume knew she cried.
"Okaiedi!" Mikan yelled when she came in the door to her room. By then, her eyes had already dried up. She walked in the door wondering where Hotaru and Ruka went. There was a note left for Mikan by the two of them.
Mikan, we went out to eat. Not telling you where, you took too long coming back and we were hungry. Enjoy your meal by yourself; by the way, Ruka was kind enough to cook for you. –Hotaru
Mikan lifted the cloth that was covering the food wrapped in plastic. The food looked really delicious. It was rare for people to eat Ruka's cooking because he only cooked for himself, but Ruka was a good cook alright, or so it seemed. The only time they ever ate his cooking was for Mikan's 18th birthday. Ruka had baked a cake on his own. And that cake was delicious.
"Itadakimasu!" Mikan cried happily and started eating the food, "Mm, oishi!"
Halfway through eating, she suddenly stopped. It was all quiet… She suddenly felt so alone. She noticed she didn't turn the light on when she came in the house because she was curious as to where her friends went. The only light that shone was the moon that had risen a few minutes ago; the moon that had shone down at her food. The whole room was dark otherwise. Mikan placed her bowl of rice down on the table to the side. She placed her head down on the table, thinking about Natsume and Luna. Flashbacks of what happened 4-5 years ago came back to her. How she knew Natsume was only toying with her feelings and meant nothing that day they confessed to each other. How Natsume never replied to her mails at all, and finally, finding out it was because he had a girlfriend.
To tell the truth, she didn't hate Luna at all for taking the guy she loved. She held no grudge for Luna. In fact, she liked Luna because she was kind. Mikan felt the brightness Luna had in her; she thought Luna seemed like a really cheerful girl as well. No worries or anything. But putting that aside, her heart still hurts from 4 years ago. True that all was forgotten when Kiyoshi entered her life, but Natsume just had to show up in her life again. All the painful memories had been brought back to her.
Mikan closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She was well aware that she was crying again. She wasn't surprised; she let her tears fall from her eyes and fall against the wooden table. She heard the door opening and talking from behind her back. She didn't try to wipe the tears away; instead she let them keep flowing out from her.
"Why is it so dark? Is Mikan not back yet?" Hotaru's voice rang. Hotaru flipped on the lights and saw Mikan on the table, motionless, with unfinished food on the table. Ruka, who was beside Hotaru, ran to Mikan.
"Mikan!" Ruka called out.
"She's not dead is she?" Hotaru asked, expressionless. They heard a sniffle. "That answers my question."
"Are you… crying Mikan?" Ruka asked. He got a nod as an answer from Mikan. Another sniffle was heard from the girl. Hotaru picked up the dishes that Ruka made and placed them together and then she put them in the fridge. Mikan lifted her head up and cried on Ruka's chest instead. Ruka, at first, threw his hands back in surprised, but then knew that was not how he was supposed to act. He placed a hand on her back and the other on her head and started patting her head.
"He… Luna… she saw me outside and took me… to… to a su… sushi res… restaurant. She… said… that he… didn't want… me to go… go eat with them. And then… then when… when Luna… when she invited me… to go shopping… with… with them tomorrow… Natsume… he… he looked… at… at me… hoping i… I would go… but I reject because… because I couldn't stand it… and… and… I really think Natsume forgot me!" although Mikan stuttered a lot because of her need to gasp for air from her crying, Ruka understood what she was saying and was patient for her to finish her sentence. Hotaru on the other hand, was annoyed, both by Natsume's attitude and Mikan's need of gasping for air.
"Oi, be quiet baka. I'll go deal with him tomorrow, okay? I'll deal with him personally. I'll make him regret that he made you cry."
"No… no Ho… Hotaru!" Mikan stuttered on her words.
"Mikan…" Ruka said sadly.
"I'm fine… my heart just feels a little heavy, like it's filled with clouds. I'll be fine after crying it out, trust me. I think… hic… I think I'm just going to head for bed," Mikan said as she got up.
"I'm going to punch that guy tomorrow," Hotaru said emotionlessly. She wasn't feeling happy that Natsume had hurt Mikan's heart again.
"Ho… Hotaru! Mikan said not to! She'll be even more upset if you do," Ruka told Hotaru. Hotaru knew she would get upset if she really did punch Natsume, so she had to dispose the thought.
Mikan changed into her pajamas and headed for her bed. She got in and sighed. She took out her diary.
Dear Diary,
I feel like my heart has been cracked open again. That stupid Natsume; this is the second time. Does he hate me that much? Maybe I should cut all possible connections that I have to him since he doesn't want to see me. I still have Kiyoshi, Hotaru and Ruka after all. But there's Luna, I made a new friend and I'm going to have to cut my connection with her since she has something to do with Natsume. Ugh, see Natsume! Because of you people suffer! I guess I'll have to keep my connection with him. –sigh-
I'm going to go sleep Diary. It's nice to let your feelings out to someone… or thing. Haha.
-Mikan
She reread what she wrote, closed it, and turned off the light. Her heart still feeling heavy filled with clouds and she did what she told Ruka she would do. She cried her heart out and had eventually fallen asleep. Hotaru and Ruka closed the door quietly when they stopped hearing sniffles and had knew Mikan fell asleep.
"She'll be fine, I sense something good's going to happen tomorrow," Hotaru told Ruka.
"I can never quite figure out how you can sense these things Hotaru," Ruka laughed. Hotaru shushed him and he stopped.
"It's a sixth sense. Now, you should be getting back to your dorm with Yuuichi-kun," Hotaru told him as she escorted him out the door.
"Ugh, Miyanaga-san. I hope my stuff are alright. Oyasumi Hotaru!" Ruka said.
"Oyasumi," Hotaru said and closed the door.
AND THAT, my fellow readers, IS CHAPTER TWO. Again, i'm sorry for the long wait! *bows and hopes to be forgiven* And ANOTHER WARNING. ^-^' Like chapter two, I can almost guarantee to you that chapter three might take a month too, or more. :( I'm sorry readers, it's not that I don't want to... really... honestly.. sorry!
ANYWAY, no previews for you guys! HAHAHA... that sounded harsh... or mean... but i was joking, here's your preview!
Preview of Chapter Three
"Ne, what do you want to eat?" Hotaru had asked Mikan, who never replied since she froze, "Mikan?"
At the sound of Mikan's name being called, the other customer turned his head to see who he was sitting beside.
"Mikan?" the customer had said.
WHO IS THE MASK STRANGER? Ok no it's just a customer. Not a mask stranger. Haha. WELL, maybe you can leave a review to tell me who you think it is. Could it be our long friend, Narumi-sensei! It sure would be swell to see him in the story again, no?
So that's for you to ponder over. :) UNTIL NEXT TIME FOLKS! Which would probably be a month, hopefully not.
XOXO,
Amulet-berriie
