Chapter 3: The Final Verdict

Natsume had just finished his breakfast meeting with Wakako. As always, he got the proposal on the wrap easily although he finished earlier than expected. He is currently heading to his family's manor. After a few minutes, he was standing outside their marvelous gate with the name "Hyuuga" printed in an elegant and cursive way with the letter printed in gold. He was greeted by two level 3 vampires.

"Welcome back, Hyuuga-sama." Both the guards greeted him.

"Hn." Was only Natsume's word and headed to the mansion. Based from the menacing atmosphere given off by the mansion, a highly-appreciated and powerful family of vampires lived there, the Hyuuga family of vampires. They are the highest-ranked vampires of the Southern section therefore making them the representatives during the Vampires Association meetings. Natsume enters the mansion and heads to his father's study room. There he saw a man sitting on his chair, his back facing Natsume. Natsume could clearly see that he was finishing some files.

"Father, what did you make me come here for?" Natsume said straightforwardly. The man was surprised at the voice and it made him turn around. The man was Ioran Hyuuga, the current CEO of the Hyuuga Corporations.

"Welcome back, Natsume. Been a while, hasn't it?" Ioran greeted.

"Hn."

"Still got the habit of saying short words, huh?"

"What I can do with it? Anyway, why did you call me here? It better be important or else…"

"Yes, yes, I know that pretty well. Anyway, let's just wait for Kaoru and Aoi. They're about to come back."

"Where did they go?"

"They had to make a few calls. I know that's frequent for Kaoru but to Aoi… I don't know why, though."

"Aoi is an owner of a popular boutique and department store, right? She's probably talking with some of her clients."

"I guess you're right."

"…"

"Natsume, I want to ask you something."

"Hn"

"Are you still into Seraphim?"

Natsume glared at his father. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, besides being the Vice President of the company, you are a model in Harada Entertainment. Knowing you, I guess you already know that she is also working there."

"What about that?"

"Are you still into her? You know that we vampires of the Southern section aren't that good at socializing with humans. And there is a great possibility that she is a human. A human, Natsume."

Ioran specially emphasized the word "human". As we all know, vampires drink human blood. And—according to Natsume—if Seraphim is really a human, it would only mean that he can harm her in a way he doesn't want to.

"I know that, Father. And I already told you that I will stop pursuing her if I find out that she is really a human" Natsume said with hurt in his voice. 'Hopefully, I wish she isn't… If only she is a vampire.'

"I know that you knew that. But, I do hope that you will fulfill your part of the promise. Natsume, I know how arrogant you can be so I'm already telling you beforehand."

The door opens suddenly, revealing two girls looking absolutely alike, except that the other one is much older and has longer hair than the younger one. Both of the ladies have enticing crimson-blood eyes.

"Oh, Mother, Aoi. Nice seeing you here." Natsume greeted them first. The older lady approached him and ruffled Natsume's already-messy hair. "Nice seeing you here again, Natsume! Just when was the last time you visited?" Kaoru asked while ruffling Natsume's hair.

"Since your unnecessary party which was a week before." Natsume said in a monotone voice with a hint of annoyance. Kaoru chuckled and went to her husband's side and kissed him on the cheek. Meanwhile…

"Nii-san!" Aoi runs towards her brother and gives him a nice and warm bear hug. Oh, how she missed her brother!"Nii-san, how are you? Any changes with that egoistical bastard attitude of yours? Nope, that's wrong. What I meant was 'any progress?'" Aoi asked with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"Are you picking a normal fight with me or do you want me to send you to the depths of the underworld and suffer? And also, you forgot to put 'handsome, gorgeous, marvelous and one-of-a-kind' before the word egoistical." Natsume replied sarcastically. "Ugh! You never really change, do you? And, FOR YOUR INFORMATION, you are not any of what you just described to yourself. So, shut up because I can already see that your egoistical attitude has surpassed the Twin Petronas Tower being piled on top of one another. Congratulations with that!" Aoi retorted back. 'I know I'm gonna win this. Besides, everyone knows that he's not that talkative and he'll never be.'

"Okay, you two. Stop it with the arguing. We have gathered here to inform Natsume about the important news and not to see you two bickering around."Kaoru informed them as she sat on one of the comfy armchairs in the study.

"Yes, true enough. Natsume, just like what I asked you earlier, are you still into Seraphim?" Ioran asked in a serious voice. Aoi and Kaoru averted their eyes to his making them meet his. Natsume knows for sure what their gazes mean. They want him to say 'no' although he knows he'll never be able to do so especially when Seraphim gets into the topic. Kaoru cuts in. "Natsume, answer with only a 'yes' or a 'no'."

'Dammit! What's with these people? Can't they see that the answer's so obvious?'"Yes, I am. The answer was pretty obvious." Natsume answered bluntly. Well, what else do you expect of the great Natsume Hyuuga? "Natsume, we all know that. But, we also want you to know something quite important." Ioran said.

"I know that it has something to do with Seraphim. What is it that you want?"

"Natsume, dear. You are already seventeen and you know that you are now of age, right? You also know the tradition between the vampires when they come of age, don't you?" Kaoru asked gently."The vampires who are of age shall be betrothed to another vampire whom the parents have approved for their youths. Am I right?" Natsume said in a bored tone.

"Nii-san! You must not take this easily!" Aoi scolded her brother. Natsume ignored this and went on thinking some things over. Then, he realized something. "That's right, Natsume, just exactly as what you have thought."Kaoru said in a calm way.

"Just who the hell is this person that I'm betrothed with? I swear, if it is Shouda, she'll disappear and form into ashes in no time." Natsume said heatedly, with a great amount of frustration building up inside his mind and body.

"Oh, don't worry. You're in good hands. You probably know the Yukihira Family from the North?"Ioran told him. "Of course, I know them. Why do you ask?" Natsume said coldly. "Nii-san! Have you become stupid? Oh God! This one is an impostor! Where is my brother?" Aoi said sharply. Natsume chuckled with this one. His own sister, thinking of him as an impostor? Way to go. "Nii-san, you don't really know?" A few minutes of silence answered the question.

"WHAT! DON'T YOU KNOW THAT THE YUKIHIRAs HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BETROTHED TO YOU?" Aoi asked in wildness. She can't believe that her brother was so stupid. "No, I didn't. Why should I know? I'm not the social type of person and all of you would've figured that out by now. Anyway, what is her name?"

"Hmmm… Interested already? First time, aren't I right?" Kaoru smirked. "Just so you know, I'm not interested with her. I was just asking for her name so that I can have a background check on her." Natsume informed them."Oh, about that, you won't be able to do that. Their lair, as well as private information, is not available to anyone who is not part of the family. Well, you'll be one of them soon, though." Kaoru said haughtily.

"Then, I won't be able to access into their computers." Natsume said in a statement rather than a question. "—nor can you hack. Their computer holders have vast knowledge when it comes to computers."Natsume nodded."Okay, I get it. I'll find out anyway."

"Natsume, one more thing: I give you permission to look for Seraphim, only, until you are married. I will rescind all the betrothal things if you prove to me your love for Seraphim. That way, I'll be able to cancel some things and let you live on your own."

Natsume nodded and was about to leave when –

"Natsume, treat her well. She's very delicate, that Lady Mikan Yukihira."

With those words echoing in his mind, he left in a huff.

"So, what do you want to tell me, Mom?" Mikan asked eagerly. She's really excited about the news. Hotaru and Ruka sweatdropped. Mikan won't ever change. "First, promise me something." Yuka started. "Okay~ I promise!" Yuka and Izumi looked at each other and then, Yuka nodded at Izumi. Izumi seemed to understand because he looked at her side and smiled warmly.

"Mikan, dear. What would you feel if we engage you to someone?" Izumi asked gently. "I can't do anything, right? As if I can do something to break the vampires' tradition…" Yuka and Izumi smiled.

"What if you don't know him at all?" Yuka asked harmlessly. "I'll get to know him after I meet him, right? I clearly trust our network to be able to do something as simple as that." Mikan said in a I-don't-mind voice. Hotaru sweat-dropped. 'Can this girl be denser? She acts as if it's okay for her.'

"Then, that settles it. We'll talk again later, Mikan." The couple stood up and was about to leave when –

"Auntie, would you mind telling us his name? 'I'll make some background research about his identity.' Can you tell us who he is?" Hotaru asked Yuka as she readied her advance-than-the-present cell phone. "Oh, right. I almost forgot! I mustn't tell anyone of his name. Well, Hotaru-chan does know him, though." Yuka winked at Hotaru. Hotaru's facial expression changed into a dumbfounded one.

"No way, Auntie. You're letting Mikan get engage with him? I will not allow it. NO WAY, Auntie." Hotaru insisted. Indeed, she knew who that lucky guy is which was supposed to be betrothed to Mikan. "We can't do that, Hotaru-chan. It has been decided already and it cannot be changed." Izumi told them.

"But surely, Auntie, I do hope that that guy is someone who is good enough for my cousin. You know how I love my cute cousin so much." Ruka tried to imply. "Oh, of course. Don't worry, Ru-chan. She's in good hands." Yuka replied at him. Ruka smiled as he heard this. Knowing his aunt, she'll never let Mikan be handed to people she doesn't trust.

"Darling, I still have a meeting before 11. I think I'd better go." Izumi informed Yuka as he stood up from being seated on the comfy armchair. "I should go with you. I'll buy Mikan something nice for Saturday night."

"What do you mean, Mom? What will happen on Saturday night? Is there anything special that should be celebrated?" Mikan asked with a sign of obliviousness scattered on her face.

Yuka shook her head lightly. "Nope, none at all. Just get ready yourself for Saturday night. You will meet the Hyuuga Family." Yuka and Izumi leave quietly using teleportation. Meanwhile, Mikan stood there astounded.

'Weird. How come the family name Hyuuga seems familiar to me? I think I heard it before… But, where? I really need to investigate…even if I have to squeeze it in my busy schedule.' Mikan thought. "Mikan, when are you going to go back to school?" Hotaru interrupted her thoughts. "Oh, I think I'll be able to do so this Monday. I really think that I should go back already or else the professors will surely fail me for this year. I need good grades in order to get in Alice Academy, right Hotaru?"

"Yeah. You'd better do that. Mikan, we'll take our leave."

"Sure, Hotaru! You must have been very busy. Sorry, if I took up your time. Thanks for visiting me."

"Mi-chan, are you alright? I mean, with the sudden news of you getting married." Ruka asked, concerned. "Oh, I'll be fine. Don't worry, Ru-chan. Oh, and by the way, take care of my bestfriend. I can't promise you that I'll still be tamed if you dare break her." Mikan taunted her cousin playfully. Ruka, seeing his cousin smile, smiled too. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of her."

"I see. Then, you should be going. You might be late for your appointments. And as for me, I'll go back to my room and prepare for next weeks' quizzes. Hotaru, just fax my notes. I'll get it as soon as I can."

"Well then, bye… Mikan, always remember to think twice before making a decision." Hotaru and Ruka leave the Yukihira Manor, leaving Mikan all by herself, thinking. 'I have to do something.'