I'm trying my best to make this story good. Please forgive me if it doesn't and if it bores you. Please give me your opinions of this story . Sorry this is kind of rushed, so I didn't really revise it back. Please tell me if you spotted any errors. Enjoy! =D

Disclaimer: Pretty much self-explanatory.



未来のため

"What do you mean by this?!"

"I'm sorry…"

"Sakura, it's not like I'm condemning your work, but you have been slacking off recently, haven't you?"

"I'm terribly sorry, Aoshi-san. I'll submit a new report as soon as possible." Mikan apologized wholeheartedly.

"Do not disappoint me again." Aoshi heaved a sigh.

"Yes sir, if you'll excuse me."

-

"Sakura-chan, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You don't look too well. Should you take a day off?"

"I'm absolutely fine. Sorry for making you guys worry.."

"If you say so… Don't overwork yourself kay?"

"Mm! Thanks a lot." Mikan smiled a little as she looked at the clock.

'What a day…'

-

Ting tong!

'Mikan-chan? Are you in there?'

"Hai! Coming!" Mikan called from her room. Who's so early?

-opens door-

"Eh? Naoko-chan? Why are you here?... with your luggage?" Mikan ruffled her hair while ogling at the humongous pink luggage at the entrance of her apartment.

"Ohayou Mikan-chan! From today onwards, I'm moving in your apartment! Yoroshiku onegashimasu!" Naoko greeted with a smile.

"Huh? What? What do you mean?" Mikan practically had the shock of her life.

"Actually you see… Uh… I think I'll explain to you later. Can you bring this in? I'm going to work for now. So see you after work! Ja!" with that said, Naoko scrambled to the elevator and got on, leaving a clueless Mikan and her own luggage.

"What? No way…" Mikan asked herself, obviously puzzled and confused.

-

Brr Brr…

Just then, Mikan's cell phone vibrated, indicating a call, thus snapping her out of her flashback.

Caller ID: Imai Hotaru

-flip-

"Sakura speaking."

'Hey Mikan. About the meeting I said earlier on, Nogi said it'll be held next week Tuesday, 6pm. Are you fine with it?' Hotaru spoke from the other line.

"Yeah, I guess so… You're going, right?"

'Of course. I'll pick you up then. Ja.'

"Eh eh! Wait!"

'Yes?'

"Will… Will he be there?"

'Hm… I don't know. See you then.'

-flip-

Mikan sighed in exasperation. It's been a week since Hotaru contacted her. Bad things come one after another huh?, she thought as she heaved a sigh again.

"Sakura. Slacking off again?" came a husky voice from Mikan's left. The latter was startled by the call of her name and literally jumped at the sudden calling as she replied Sorry in a rather loud tone. She then quickly scrambled to her laptop and typed a new report she promised to her boss.

-

"Hey Mikan. It's 5pm already. We're going for happy hour, are you coming with us?" a colleague nudged Mikan, who was working her head off on the report. She's been thinking deeply the whole time, causing her to lose her concentration in typing the said report.

"Ah! I'll pass this time. Enjoy yourselves!" replied Mikan gleefully as she continued tapping at her laptop.

"Alright. See you tomorrow!"

"See you." Mikan bade her colleague farewell as she sweated in completing the article.

-

"Alright! It's done, finally!" Mikan cheered and silently praised herself for the great work she had done. Her thoughts were then interrupted by a sudden clap, a clap which echoes throughout the whole office. Her eyes quickly turned towards the direction of the sound. Eh?

"Great work Sakura." a calm and masculine voice spoke as the clapping died down. "You sure took your own sweet time in completing such a simple report huh?"

Mikan's eyes immediately shot back to her wristwatch, which ticks at exactly 8.30pm. Whoa, that late? Without realizing, Aoshi was quietly approaching the brunette, who was busy printing out the articles and clipping them neatly.

"I-I'm so sorry!" called Mikan as she did the finishing touches on the report, that is putting them securely in a file. Done!

With that said, the twenty-year-old stood up abruptly. "Aoshi-san! Her-" her eyes grew wide open as Mikan saw her boss stepped closer to her. A little too close, that is. Then she realized, she's the only one left in the office, alone, with Aoshi. Alone… Mikan shuddered at the thought and quickly disregarded the wild guesses flowing in her mind.

"Hey…" Aoshi took off his spectacles and inched closer towards the brunette. Both of his blue orbs glowed a shade lighter as he smirked. "As far as I remember, you were rude to me on the phone last week, right Mikan?" The latter immediately froze at the call of her first name. His tone was flirtatious, almost teasing.

"Uh, Aoshi-san… I'm sorry about that… I was not feeling well then… But… You're too close…" Mikan fidgeted as she attempted to escape from the scene, from her boss to be specific. Aoshi wrinkled his forehead and appeared annoyed and a little surprised when the auburn-haired girl refused to look him at the eyes. His eyes grew shades lighter, and soon it became the blue sky color.

"Kazuki. Call me by my first name, Mikan." the brunette grimaced at the call of her name, again. She stiffened even more when Kazuki suddenly tipped her chin with his fingers, while he placed his other hand on Mikan's table, as if trying to trap the brunette with his body. As the boy's face inched closer to hers, a stupefied expression etched across Mikan's face. Her auburn orbs glowered a little under the dim room, making her prettier than ever….

"Did you ever know that you're so darn beautiful?"

…in someone's opinion, that is.

And that was the last straw. Horror etched across Mikan's small face as she unconsciously widened her mouth slightly at the flirtatious and strange behaviour of her chief. Where did the usual cheery Aoshi-san go? Mikan thought silently as she pushed the file containing the report against her boss' chest. Just then, her stomach suddenly grumbled due to the lack of food… or dinner. Silence enveloped the two beings as they both looked at the direction of the sound.

Suddenly, Kazuki burst into a fit of laughter as he removed his hands from the table and wore his spectacles again. He adjusted them briefly and proceeded to place his hands into his pockets while Mikan blushed of her embarrassment. "You're interesting, Sakura. Let's go. I'll treat you dinner." His eyes' color returned to its normal pale blue.

"Uh… Aoshi-san…" Mikan spoke timidly as she got hold of her handbag.

"It's Kazuki. Let's go." Kazuki grabbed Mikan's hand and dragged her out from the office. The hallway was dark and dim and as the lights flicked a little, Kazuki pushed a button on the elevator controls, his other hand still clinging onto Mikan's.

"Uh… I can walk by myself, you can release my ha—"

THUD!

"—hand… Huh?" both Mikan and Kazuki turned their heads towards the direction of the noise. A ghost? Mikan shuddered at the thought as she moved closer to her boss. But what she hadn't realized is that her boss is also backing away as he grabbed her hand tighter.

From the dark, faint but squashy footsteps could be heard. They were shallow and barely audible, but it echoed throughout the whole halfway. "Aoshi-san…" whispered Mikan. She trembled as the footsteps became clearer and clearer, indicating it was nearing them.

As the footsteps became almost sharp and clear, Mikan shut both of her eyes tight, in case she happen to see something really scary appearing from the dark. She prayed silently for the elevator door to open before anything supernatural happens. Supernatural wasn't her thing after all.

Suddenly, Mikan froze when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. Her breathing stopped as she slowly open her eyes. "Sakura. It's just the janitor. Don't be afraid."

"Huh? Janitor?" was Mikan's response as she looked questioningly at Kazuki, whom blue orbs were looking sharply at the other side, and Mikan's golden brown orbs followed suit. Then realization hit her, "Oh… A janitor…"

The janitor was clad in a blue uniform, black boots and a blue cap, which partially covered his face. He was arranging his cleaning tools such as brooms and dustpans when he realized the couple's presence.

"I'm sorry if I've startled you. The broom fell and I was just picking it up. My apologies." was the janitor's apology with his husky voice.

"Oh. It's okay. Though I suggest you should at least fix the lights as well, right Sakura?" Kazuki looked at Mikan knowingly when the lights kept on flicking.

"Yes sir. I'll change the bulb as soon as possible. Sorry for the inconvenience caused." the janitor said as he bowed quietly at the couple.

"Okay okay. You need not to bow." Kazuki sweatdropped at the formality of the janitor.

Ping!

"Ah! The elevator is here. Shall we?" ushered Kazuki to Mikan who was quiet throughout the whole conversation with the janitor.

"Oh! Yes, of course." responded Mikan. She was actually spacing out as she was deep in thought about something. She then stepped into the elevator, followed by Kazuki.

As the elevator door was about to close, the janitor slowly retreated from his bow, revealing an unexpected sight for Mikan. His eyes were fixed on Mikan until the elevator door closed completely.

Mikan bit her lips as her hand twined with Kazuki's tightened, which she of course, didn't realize. Ruby eyes…

Kazuki felt Mikan stiffened when her hold tightened. "Sakura. Is there a problem?"

Mikan, being spaced out, didn't respond to the boy's question and tightened her hold on his hand. And when it is too tight… "Ouch! Sakura! That hurts!"

"Ah? I'm sorry! I didn't realize I took your hand by accident!" responded Mikan as she released Kazuki's hand when she heard his sudden shriek. Kazuki blew his hand gently to ease the pain due to the tightened hold of Mikan's hands.

"It's okay… Are you fine? You don't look well." asked Kazuki when he saw Mikan lowered her head and tightened her hold on her handbag. "Well, it's okay if you don't want to tell me. But I'm not going to cancel our dinner date tonight."

"Eh?" answered Mikan when the elevator door opened with a 'ping'.

"Let's go." nudged Kazuki, "Where do you want to eat? Japanese restaurant? Korean style?"

"Huh? Um… I'll take Japanese-style." replied Mikan as she continued to space out on her own. Ruby eyes…

"Okay… I'll go take my car. Wait here." Kazuki said as he walked towards the car park, leaving Mikan alone outside the building.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

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(It was supposed to write Mikan, indicating Mikan's POV. Sorry.)

Aoshi-san went off to fetch his car while I waited for him at the entrance of the building where we both work. The night was cold, and I couldn't resist the temptation to gaze at the night sky.

"Ah… Full moon…" I murmured to myself as I admired the gleaming stars, which were as if dancing around the moon, cheering on the occasion of the full moon. The huge star, looked as if it was so near that I could just grab it and place it on my palm, but when I stretched my hand towards it, it was much bigger than my spread palm. Ah… The irony…

I laughed at myself silently as I continue to count the stars outspread throughout the sky with my fingers. The sky was clear from clouds, revealing numerous stars which myself couldn't even finish counting.

I tilted my head a little towards the tall building behind me. The lobby was dark, indicating that it is closed during these hours. Dark… It was sort of describing my past. Black, dark, complicating, sad.

But somehow rather the whole atmosphere reminded me about who I am today. The night was bleak and sad, the bell chimed rhythmically while the autumn wind blew past me gently, causing me to shiver at little. Indeed, everything was as if trying to describe myself— someone who is lurking in the darkness, living life cautiously to prevent one's identity to be exposed, and as such that the word 'happiness' didn't exist before in my life. A loner, perhaps, but I was not one like this.

"Oi."

I straightened up myself immediately. The icy tone startled me as I was gazing dreamily at the sky. The clear sky at night didn't fail to amaze me as the stars sparkled proudly at the endless sky.

"Ah hey. Natsume."

I tapped the seat next to me, signalling the raven-haired lad to sit on the grassy land with me. The grass was soft and comfortable, in such a way that you'll just fall asleep if you lay there long enough.

"What are you doing here? I thought I saw you drooling though." asked Natsume as he proceeded to sit beside me, then lying on the grass. He hid his hands behind his head as he looked at the night sky.

"I could ask the same of you. And no, I'm not drooling." I scowled at the remark as I followed him and lied on the grass, watching the stars together.

"Hn. I'm just bored." was his short reply. He then closed his eyes and enjoyed the tranquillity of the surrounding. Indeed, the good thing about this place is the peace it gives us whenever we feel troubled or when we need solitude. This, in fact, had made me grow a liking on the Sakura Tree, and I believe Natsume feels the same way too. However it is, unfortunately, not blooming anywhere soon since it's almost the end of Autumn.

Right… Winter is approaching fast, so does our Graduation Day. We're eighteen already, and Natsume's birthday has just passed a week ago.

I opened my eyes and gazed at the sky again, amazed.

"Ne Natsume?" I broke the silence enveloped between us as we enjoyed each other's presence.

"What?" I saw Natsume frowned as he opened his eyes, revealing his charming crimson red orbs. He looked at me expectedly from the corner of his eyes.

"What are you going to do after we graduate?" was my question. I could feel Natsume stiffened prior to the question.

The fire-wielder closed his eyes again and kept quiet. He appeared to be deep in thought, and after a few minutes, he said something that I've never expected. Multiple possible answers filled my mind as I waited for his answer. But that, is something I never thought he'll say.

"Who knows? I might be dead even before we graduate." was his unexpected reply.

Though the answer appears to be simple and short, and that it might be predictable for some, I was expecting for him to say something about his future or something. I frowned at the reply and kept quiet. I stretched my hand vertically up towards to sky, as if I was trying to grab the stars, another hand I used to support my head as I lay straight on the grass, and once again, silence enveloped us both.

Suddenly, Natsume heaved a sigh and straightened up himself in a position in which he's half-sitting and half-lying. "Look. I'm sorry. But I really don't know what will become of me in the future, even tomorrow."

I chose to keep quiet as I continue to play my fingers on the air, fervently counting the number of stars sparkling in the sky while ignoring the lad's statement.

Then, I heard Natsume sighed again, a little softer this time. Suddenly he took hold of my playing fingers and pecked my hand gently, and I froze at the sudden act. "I'm sorry." Natsume whispered as he released my hand. He then stood up and walk away from the Sakura Tree, leaving me in a state of shock, and my hand dangling mid-air.

And it was disappointing when he acted like nothing happened the next morning. He did his usual routine, teasing and making fun of me. I silently scolded myself for hoping for the impossible, but drops of tears were still shed that day.

My reminiscing thoughts were suddenly interrupted when I felt my cheeks warming up and it was wet. Shoot. I cried with noticing I did.

I quickly wiped off my tears when I suddenly sneezed. Right… It is mid-Autumn now. Winter is approaching fast and the wind is getting colder day by day. I sneezed again and silently blamed myself for not bringing a sweater with me despite the cold weather. I quietly prayed that Aoshi-san would come around with his car before I actually catch a cold. I was biting my lip as the wind blew across my skin. Mind you, I wasn't wearing my usual uniform as it's a Friday today, and it's a rule for the workers in the bank to wear smart-casual attires on Fridays to promote hospitality for the customers. Therefore, I'm clad in a simple peach brown-colored circle-patterned dress and a dark brown pair of boots wrapped around to my knees to match my dress. You could say that I look like a teenager going for a party.

After a few seconds, Aoshi-san's car is still not here, and not long after, I started sneezing again.

"Ahh-choo!" I tried my best not to sneeze too loudly, then suddenly I felt a fabric covering my shoulders, giving me warmth, and instantly I stopped sneezing.

"Eh?" I turned my head abruptly, only to see the janitor I saw awhile ago. I freaked out a little because he was covering his face with his cap, again. "Err… T—Thanks…" I murmured as I hold on the jacket tighter. It was a black leather jacket, an expensive one it seems, and I wonder where did the janitor got it from.

"You'll catch a cold wearing like that, my lady." spoke the janitor politely. The latter then took a broom from his cleaning tools and swept the dead leaves around the floor, which very much likely indicates the season.

"Yes… Thank you…" I whispered and bowed slightly at the janitor. Just then, Aoshi-san's vehicle stopped in front of the entrance. "Ah Sakura! Sorry for making you wait!" Aoshi-san came out from his car and ushered me into the vehicle.

"Have a great time." the janitor spoke again before I entered the car as he bowed while holding on to the broom. I stared at him, and even after the door is closed by Aoshi-san, the janitor is still bowing, so I couldn't get a clear look of his face. How mysterious…

-

Just as Kazuki was about to speed off, the janitor retreated from his bow and straightened his uniform. Taking on the opportunity, Mikan scanned his face carefully, especially his eyes. But she was rather disappointed when she saw the janitor's eyes were blue, not ruby. She sighed and proceeded to buckle herself with the seatbelt.

-

"Thanks a lot for the meal, Aoshi-san." Mikan said as she bowed at Kazuki, in expression of her gratitude. They are currently at the entrance of Mikan's apartment, and they had just finished their Japanese-style dinner.

"It's my pleasure. But Kazuki please?" smiled the lad as he stared knowingly at the brunette.

"I'll pass. Thanks again for the meal! See you on Monday!" Mikan bade farewell and ran towards the security room.

"Ah wait! Sakura!" called Kazuki as he brought a black jacket out from his car. "I suppose this is yours?"

Mikan stopped at her tracks and looked back at Kazuki. The janitor's jacket… "Um… Yeah! Sorry I almost forgot." she ran back to the car and took the said cloth.

"But don't you think it's kind of big for you?" asked Kazuki while passing the jacket to Mikan. The brunette sweatdropped, and bade her boss farewell for the second time, and brought herself to her apartment through the elevator.

Ping!

The elevator door opened when it reached the 14th floor. When Mikan stepped out from the elevator, horror struck her as she saw a sleeping lady in front of her apartment. Shoot! I've totally forgotten about Naoko-chan!

"Hey Naoko-chan! Naoko-chan. Wake up!" whispered Mikan as she shook the lady gently.

"Huh? Mikan-chan?" Naoko said tiredly as she rubbed her eyes out of sleepiness. "MIKAN-CHAN!!!"

"Shhhhh— You're gonna wake the neighbours!" Mikan snorted as she searched for the keys to unlock the lock on her metal door.

"It's 11pm now! Did you know how long I've waited for you?" Naoko scowled when she recalled she had no keys to enter Mikan's apartment and that she had to wait all night for the brunette to return home, not forgetting to mention that her blood is more or less sucked by stubborn mosquitoes. Her cell battery drained out when she tried to contact Mikan. Terrible luck, you could say.

"Sorry Naoko-chan… I've totally forgotten about you… Have you eaten?" Mikan walked into her apartment while Naoko threw herself on the leather couch.

"No… Do you have instant noodles?"

"Yeah I have. In cups though. You want it? I'll make one for you."

"Thanks a lot!"

"I should apologize. By the way, you hadn't told me the reason you're moving in into my house. What happened to the house you rented?" asked Mikan while she poured hot water into the cup of instant noodles.

"That's a long story to begin with. Long story short, the place I was staying is too far from my working place. And second, I didn't pay the rental for the last three months."

"Huh? Then what did you do with the money you earned every month if you didn't use it to pay your rental?" Mikan asked questioningly as she passed the cup of noodles into Naoko's hands.

"Thanks—Ouch ouch! It's hot!" whimpered Naoko when she touched the cup filled with hot boiling water. "I kinda spent it on shopping…"

Mikan sweatdropped. "Oh well. Looks like you have no choice. But let me clarify this, since you're moving in, you have to pay half of the expenses of this house."

Naoko giggled. "Of course. I wouldn't let my dear Mikan-chan suffer alone. Besides, this is one pretty house. You took great care of it" commented the girl as she slurped the noodles into her mouth.

"Thanks for the compliment. Well, this is one expensive house to start with. I can't afford to mess it up since I'm staying here alone."

"Oh…" was Naoko's reply while she looked around the apartment. There's one single bed at the left corner of the apartment, a television set and sofa signifying the living room, a small kitchen and a bathroom built just beside the kitchen. A simple house, you could say. Although it appears small, but it is actually quite spacious, compared to Naoko's rented house.

"Oh yeah, you'll be sleeping on the futon until you buy a new bed for yourself. My bed can't possibly fit in two people." explained Mikan as she came out from the bathroom, wearing pyjamas. She then proceeded to take a clean wrapped futon from the cabinet and spread it beside her bed.

"Okay… That, has to wait till end of the month, when I get my pay." Naoko commented as she threw the plastic cup in the rubbish bin. She then changed her clothes into pyjamas. "Sorry for troubling you, Mikan-chan."

"Nah. It's okay. As long as you pay for the expenses as well." joked Mikan as she tidied her clothes, including the black jacket. The brunette stared at the jacket as she recalled the scene with the janitor.

"Hey Mikan-chan? Whose jacket is that? It certainly doesn't look like yours, though."

And that, startled Mikan as she tried to find an appropriate answer that would not make Naoko start teasing her, again.

"I—It's…"

"It's your boss' right? That Aoshi Kazuki guy?" Naoko interrupted Mikan before she could say anything.

"Huh? Aoshi-san?" was Mikan's blunt reply.

"Ah never mind. I'm too tired to butt into your matters. I'm gonna sleep now. Oyasumi."

Mikan sighed in relief when Naoko really tucked into her futon and slept right away. 'I hope she doesn't snore…' thought Mikan as she off-ed the lights and tucked herself into her sakura-patterned blanket.

"Oyasumi, Naoko-chan."

-

Somewhere…

"Tch. I hate wearing contacts." a husky voice cursed as he took off the liquid-like object from his eyes, revealing dark maroon orbs. He then took off his uniform and his blue cap, beads of sweat seen trickling down his slightly tanned face. He swiftly brushed off his sweat and fixed his messy long raven hair. 'What a day…'

未来のため



Author's Note:

Whoa! This is so long! Over 4000 words! Please read and review!^^ Check my profile or PM me if you want to talk or be friends with me~ I don't bite ya? XD See yah~