Disclaimer: I do not own GA or any of its characters.
Thanks a lot for reviewing:
nightrain12345 - lol thanks a lot! I'll look forward to more reviews then :)
pwenie - it'll all be revealed, and YAY! i got you read a vampire fic!
Claerine - lol.. i m trying to make him creepy.. and its harder than i thought ;) good to know its working.
mellisagOrman - Thanks :)
YuiKudo - Thanks! and I will :)
sapphireangel09 - Thanks :) yeah i like that sentence a lot too!
Kylee-Cat - Thanks :) and i am working on the next chapter of Shalom 2 now, thanks to you. I should have replied to the PM... GOMENASAI!
babee-angel - Thanks for the review and the note is below.
papaya1212 - lol, thanks for the review.
xXpiex - i will keep that in mind.
TheXCrimsonXAngel - thanks
Kuroichibineko - sweet? really? I dunno... maybe in this chapter.
Smiley0016 - aww thank you :)
Lena - yay! thanks and here is another fast update for you!
princess shalott evermore - thanks, and i dunno who her husband is yet. decide on someone and then switch. sigh.
vina03 - updating soon ;)
weemeex - Thanks Lauren :)
XxXBloodyAngelSakuraXxX - Thank you :)
Author Note: Here are some facts about Twilight and The Vampire Diaries.
1. The Vampire diaries was published in the 90's, way before Twilight ever came out.
2. It is pointless to compare the two series of Books, since they are VERY different. Its like comparing Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. You can do it, but it's not like the two storylines have anything in common but magic, or in this case, Vampires. And just like HP and LOTD, the Vampires are completely different.
3. The TV show for TVD is actually just loosely based on the books, and even that is VERY VERY different from Twilight. It is comparable, since it is not as different as the books are, but is different enough that comparing the two is kinda pointless. Trust me.
Now, that being said, at one point of time, I adored the Twilight books, and I have seen the first two movies. They are pretty good. I have not read the TVD books, but I have read their summaries so I do know what I am talking about (Wikipedia is God). I do thogh absolutely LOVE the TV show for TVD and that was what finally got me to write a vampire story when years of reading vampire books, and watching movies and reading manga and watching anime couldn't.
I promised someone I would clarify the whole thing, and I did. Let's not mention this again. Please.
Chapter 3
"Mikan what are you doing here at this hour?" Anna asked surprised, stepping aside to let her in.
"I need your help." Mikan said as she walked into her friend's house.
"Of course. What is it?" Anna asked, leading her to the couch and then sitting down next to her.
"I need you to talk to him, and convince him that we are having a girl's night here tomorrow. Get him to agree to let me spend the night here, with you. Please." Mikan begged.
"Okay, I'll do it. Now will you tell me what's going on?" Anna said taking her best friend's hand in her own. Mikan explained the entire situation.
"I know I should not have said yes. Natsume understood just fine, but he's different, and it's not like he is interested in me. It's nothing like that at all, but you know him. He would never allow me to go anywhere with a guy. Please Anna, Natsume is worth the lie." Mikan was pleading.
"It's fine sweetie. Let's call him right now." Anna smiled and picked up the phone.
"I don't know why but I thought you'd be late." Mikan said before she could stop herself, and then she clapped her hand on her mouth, blushing. She had arrived at the cafe 10 minutes early to find him already waiting outside for her.
"It's a lady's prerogative to be late. A man better be on time. That is what my father always said and it worked for him quite well." Natsume said with a smile.
"He is a smart man." Mikan smiled, walking with Natsume to his car. She was so glad that he had been waiting outside the cafe and so she had not had to go inside. The less people saw her, the better it was for her.
"He was." Natsume said stopping next to a limo.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Mikan said sincerely.
"Please, don't be. It was a long time ago." Natsume said calmly, opening the door. Mikan was surprised at the gesture, but she slipped graciously into the car.
"Do I look all right?" Mikan asked self consciously, noticing Natsume's tux, while she was wearing a simple gray silk dress.
"You look gorgeous." Natsume replied.
Mikan gave him a disbelieving look and Natsume suddenly laughed.
"If you could see the look on your face. You look great, and you will be just fine. I will make sure of it." Natsume was obviously amused now.
"All right." Mikan said looking somewhat pacified.
"Trust me; and while we're at it, I promise I'll make sure you enjoy your night out." Natsume said with a sincere smile.
Mikan smiled, finally relaxing. They were silent the rest of the way, but Mikan was feeling quite cheerful by the time the car came to a stop. Somehow his very presence seemed to soothe her, and silence with him was peaceful not oppressive.
Mikan took Natsume's hand and stepped out of the limo. "It's very..." Mikan stopped.
"Ostentatious. You can say it." Natsume smirked, placing her hand on his elbow.
"Yeah. I can see why you wanted to avoid this." She said even as she smiled.
"Here is our host." Natsume said, looking quite amused.
"Mr. Hyuuga, I am so glad that you could make it, and my greetings to your lady." The Mayor gushed.
"Of course." Natsume inclined his head, and that was that. Mikan gave the mayor a smile but left it at that.
"Please come in. There are quite a few people who are very interested in finally meeting you." The Mayor said calmly recovering himself from Natsume's cool response.
"Thank you." Natsume said softly, and then they were in the doors.
"You're famous." Mikan observed.
"No. I avoid being famous. I'm the other horrible thing." Natsume said, leading her deeper into the huge room.
"What's that?"
"Rich."
Mikan burst out laughing. Natsume gave her a mock-serious look, before picking flutes of champagne for both of them.
Mikan took the glass, took a sip, and pulled a face.
Natsume raised both eyebrows at her expression. "I'm picky." She said as she handed the glass to a passing waiter.
"What would you drink then?" he asked, taking a sip of his drink.
"If we are talking wines and their relatives, then I only like Ice wine." Mikan answered.
"Like? Shouldn't you say that you only drink Ice Wine?" Natsume teased.
"You try saying no to wine at every occasion you go to. Nobody serves Ice Wine." Mikan pouted.
"All right what else?"
"Humm, it's been too long actually. I don't remember the last time I actually drank alcohol just because I felt like it. I used to enjoy all sort of mixed drinks, no matter what they were based on; rum, vodka, gin or tequila." Mikan shrugged.
"Fair enough. Let's at least get you your ice wine tonight." Natsume smiled.
"You're kidding!"
"Our dear host is here again. Please smile." Natsume said even as he sent a text.
"Mr. Hyuuga, would you like to step into my office for a little while please?" The Mayor asked politely. "I am sure your date would understand."
"My date can accompany me." Natsume replied coldly.
"Mr. Hyuuga you do know what is at stake here." The mayor said delicately.
Natsume just looked at him. That was all he did, but the man wilted under his look.
"This way." He said finally.
Mika looked up at Natsume but his expression was forbidding. He seemed to realize that, and he placed his hand at her lower back. His touch was light, careful, and Mikan moved closer to him unconsciously because of how careful he was. His careful touch cotradicted his expression completely.
After they had entered the office, Natsume seated Mikan on a single sofa and then calmly perched on it's arm. Mikan saw the Mayor blanch at this sign of affection and realized that the Mayor's offer of leaving her outside had seriously offended Natsume on her behalf. She felt something tight loosening in her chest at the thought that he cared so much.
"Mr. Hyuuga, I'd like you to meet Mr. Blake." The Mayor said calmly, before taking a seat behind his desk.
"Mr. Hyuuga it is an absolute honour to finally meet you." Mr. Blake said, shaking Natsume's hand.
"Thank you." Natsume said quietly, but his eyes were narrowed.
"We wanted to speak to you in regards to the Houres project. If you back us on it, then we will have the approval we need from the Senate. Our city needs this Mr. Hyuuga." Blake said seriously.
"You know what Mr. Blake, I'll give you a second chance. My lady, has been completely in the dark about this project. Tell her about it. Convince her that it is a good idea for this to happen. If she agrees with you, then I'll make it happen." Natsume said dispassionately.
"Of course." Mr Blake said, and then he started explaining the whole thing to Mikan. To his surprise though, wherever he started to gloss over, or whatever he wanted to rush through, she would catch. She asked questions that poked all the right holes.
Halfway through the discussion, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." The Mayor called and to his surprise he did not know the man who entered with a tray in his hand.
He brought it straight to Mikan. Mikan looked at the glass and then at Natsume who just smiled. Her ice wine was here. Mikan sipped the wine and listened to the rest of the project.
Natsume never said a single word through the whole thing.
"I believe you when you say that this project will do a lot of good to Savielt Mr. Blake, but only if some changes are made to it." Mikan said once he was finished presenting his case. She then went on to list the changes she thought should be made. There were five.
"I understand Madam, but those are some major changes. I cannot do all that, even with Mr. Hyuuga's backing. I have my other financers to think about." Blake said, trying to convince her.
"This was never a negotiation Mr. Blake. I told you to convince my Lady and you did. Make the changes she proposed and I will back the entire project. You won't need anyone else to finance you." Natsume spoke for the first time since he had involved Mikan.
"Of course." Mr. Blake smiled a brilliant smile. "I will see you tomorrow at your office?"
"Come to the Manor at noon. That would work better." Natsume replied.
With a final nod, and another brilliant smile in Mikan's direction Blake left the room.
"That was very generous of you Mr. Hyuuga." The Mayor stated once the door had closed.
"Thank you Mayor Ellwood." Natsume stood up, but Mikan slightly shook her head.
"I'll see you at the party." The Mayor said taking the hint, and then he too left the room.
"You just made the decision to give 760 Million Dollars to a project based on what I thought?" Mikan said, giving Natsume an inscrutable look.
"Not what you thought; I can't read your mind. I based it on what you said, and if the project had come to me with the changes you made, then I would have backed it right off the bat."
"Natsume this is serious!" Mikan exclaimed.
"I am being serious. You're not an airhead and you did not just let him blow you away. I could have chosen to not back this project and I made my own decision based on your discussion. Now stop taking this so seriously. It's just not that big a deal." Natsume shrugged.
"But..." Mikan sputtered.
"No buts. I promised that you would enjoy this night." Natsume stated, pulling her to her feet. Mikan was shaking her head as he opened the door and it was sheer luck that she saw the man across the room before the man saw her.
Mikan pulled Natsume back into the room and slammed the door behind them.
Natsume scowled as he realized that Mikan had gone deathly pale, and her hands were shaking.
"Mikan?"
"O... Outside... th... there is a... a man. He's f... friends with m... m... my hus.." Mikan could not even say the word, she was shivering so bad now. Natsume's eyes narrowed but before he could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Mikan's eyes widened and he saw her panic escalating.
Natsume wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into an alcove to the side. Mikan was pressed into his arms, her palms resting flat on his chest, but she could not make herself look up at him. She would not meet his eyes.
Natsume stayed still, listening to the conversation taking place outside the door. When the door opened, Mikan stiffened, but he knew who it was, and that she had nothing to worry about.
"There is no one in here." The Mayor stated, looking straight into Natsume's eyes. Then he turned on his heel and walked out of the room, closing the door and locking it behind him.
Natsume felt Mikan go weak, but he held her up with just one arm while he lifted the other to cup her face in his hand, and made her look at him.
"You did not tell your husband." He stated quietly.
"No." Mikan whispered.
Natsume leaned down and gently kissed her forehead. "Thank you for doing this for me."
Mikan gave him a shaky smile and he gently set her back on her feet.
"Now we need to escape." Natsume said, walking over to the window and calmly peering out.
"We do?" Mikan squeaked. They were on the second floor.
"Of course we do. First we need to go wherever you are supposed to be tonight, and you need to call your husband from the landline there. Once your alibi is set, then, I am going to fulfill my promise." Natsume said opening the window.
"What promise? And I appreciate the thought, but this is the second floor." Mikan said worriedly.
"I promised that you would enjoy your night, and so far I have failed spectacularly." Natsume said motioning her over.
"It's all right. I understand. What are you thinking? We are not climbing down from here." Mikan said giving him a very worried look.
"We're not."
"Thank heavens!"
"I am, and I'll carry you." Natsume said easily, and before she could protest, he had slung Mikan over his shoulder and was climbing out of the window.
Mikan stilled and she stayed completely still all the way down. Natsume very carefully placed her back on her feet.
"That wasn't so bad, now was it?" he teased, but to his surprise Mikan hugged him tightly.
Natsume could hear her heart pounding, feel the blood rushing through her. He had ignored this all through the night, but she was in his arms now, and it was almost too much. Almost.
"Shh, you're safe." He murmured gently even as his fangs lengthened.
Mikan finally let go, looking away from him. She was not used to hugging positive strangers, or truth be told, hugging anyone, just to feel safe.
"Come on." Natsume wrapped his arm around her waist as he led her to the back door, through the garden, where the limo was waiting for them.
He opened the door and Mikan slipped in gratefully.
"Where to?" Natsume asked, and Mikan gave him the address to Anna's house.
"Thank you." Mikan said quietly.
"Whatever for?" Natsume asked as he poured her a glass of ice wine.
"For being so understanding. For climbing out of a second storey window with me thrown over your shoulder. For thinking up and following through with my alibi. For not ending the night there, and bringing me to your house and serving me more of my favourite wine." Mikan said and he smiled.
"It's my pleasure." Natsume said, sitting down on the same couch as her but giving her plenty of space.
"How do you do it?" Mikan asked even as she drank the entire glass in one go.
Natsume raised the bottle so he could pour her more wine. "Do what?"
"Always know exactly what I need, and then be nice enough to give it to me?" Mikan asked, downing the second glass in one go as well.
"If you want to get drunk, we need to switch to something else. It takes a long time to get drunk with wine." Natsume said calmly changing the topic.
Mikan raised her eyebrows and then nodded. "I want to get drunk."
Natsume smirked as he stood up and pulled off his jacket. He had taken off the bow the minute they had left the party and entered the limo. "What you need for that is Tequila. That is all there is to it."
Mikan watched as he pulled out a bottle from behind the bar. She decided to join him there rather than stay on the couch. Natsume placed the shot glasses on the bar and poured the shots with as much finesse as any bartender.
"To getting drunk." Natsume grinned, raising his glass.
"To oblivion." Mikan said, and together they both downed them.
"You both came here four hours ago and she was freaking out. Now you come here and she is freaking drunk. What the hell?" Anna snapped even as Mikan sort of collapsed on her couch.
"She wanted to be drunk." Natsume shrugged.
"But he hates alcohol. If he found out then..." Anna said unhappily.
"Her husband? She is an adult. I understand not telling him about me, but drinking or not is Mikan's own choice. It's not like she is an alcoholic." Natsume snapped.
Anna looked startled.
"I apologize. None of this is your fault." Natsume said sincerely, realizing that he was taking it out on the wrong person.
"It's okay. I used to say the same things and then I met him. Look, I... You... seem to care for Mikan. As a friend to Mikan, even as a fellow human being, believe me you do not want to get her into trouble with him. I could not believe it when she wanted to do this, but it's been so long since she has wanted to do anything that I played along, but he's..." Anna stopped there, looking helpless.
"Talk to me Anna. If he hurts her..." Natsume said softly.
"He is scary but he hasn't hurt her. Physically. I... It's not something that can be explained at my doorstep at 3 in the morning when you are half drunk. Maybe I could see you sometime?" Anna asked.
"I will be here tomorrow morning." Natsume said quietly before heading out.
Anna glanced at Mikan, who was now asleep on the couch, after she closed the door.
"You seem to have found a good friend. You were right, he's worth the lie." She murmured, before she covered Mikan with a blanket and then headed off to bed herself.
