This was very difficult to write, but I like it. :)
Chapter Four
The Most Impossible Adversary
"What are you doing?"
The dangerous tone of Natsume made the curious Ruka, Yuu and Hotaru straighten up. The three had pressed their ears against the door of Hotaru's room, trying to make out what Natsume and Mikan were talking about.
Their persistence proved to be mostly useless, however, as a top star student's room was designed with the utmost consideration for the privacy of its owner. Regardless of this fact, Hotaru was hardly the sort to give up, and the three remained as persistent as hell. They refused to leave the door, even when all they could hear was Mikan's indistinct yelling.
Ruka and Yuu froze. "Uh…" They glanced at each other, too stunned to come up with a decent lie. Neither of them had been prepared to be found out, and definitely not when they had the blackmailing queen with them. "We were… uh… you know… looking at the door…"
Natsume stared intently at them. "With your ears ?"
In contrast to the two young men with her, Hotaru didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that they had been caught. "We were eavesdropping," she answered, bluntly honest. "Now move out of the way. I have to get inside and talk to that idiot." She walked past Natsume, opened the door, and went inside her room. The Black Cat merely grunted, rather admiring the cool way Hotaru evaded more of his questions.
Ruka's and Yuu's jaws fell. How could Hotaru leave them just like that? "Wait, Hotaru!"
Natsume was now looking sternly at them. "Well?"
"Uh, I think I hear the math club calling me. I must have forgotten I have a contest today," Yuu said, laughing awkwardly as he started to take a few steps back. "That's totally forgetful of me. I guess I gotta run, so…. I'll see you guys later!" he added, and walked away from them as casually as he could.
"There's no math club!" Ruka protested, yelling after Yuu.
"Believe me, there is now!" Yuu replied as he rounded a corner. In a moment, he was gone from Ruka's and Natsume's sight, leaving the blond young man paler than usual.
Ruka couldn't believe it. How could his friends leave him at a time like this? They were in this together, weren't they? Just how was he going to explain himself to Natsume? "Uh… Natsume… we – err, I… I mean – we meant no harm – we were just very curious… I – "
Natsume just grunted. "You don't have to explain yourself, Ruka."
Ruka's shoulders dropped. "Oh." He felt himself panic, knowing that it would be utterly awkward if he didn't say anything. And so like an idiot that he usually was, he grappled at the air for words, refusing to let silence rule over the two of them. "So – " he muttered, unsure how to start. "Is Mikan okay?" He nearly smacked himself when he realized how stupid the question was. He just brought up the topic that he was trying to avoid in the first place.
Natsume nodded. "She was screaming at me, so I guess she's okay," he said. He paused, raising his gaze so that their eyes met. "I told you I'd explain everything," he said, with utmost earnestness in his voice.
Ruka stiffened, suddenly feeling a lump in his throat. He had been silent ever since they left the lunchroom, partly because he didn't have anything to say, but mostly because he was putting everything together. It hadn't been difficult, and truthfully there was no need for Natsume to give an explanation for what he had done.
That, and Ruka wasn't too sure if he really wanted to hear any of it. Not now, at least.
The young man stared at his friend, cursing himself for being an idiot. He should have known better than to think that Natsume would put off the 'explanation' till another time. Natsume was Natsume, and he did not withdraw from something as important as this one. This needed to be talked about, and it had to be done now.
As it would happen, Ruka was Ruka, and not Natsume. Unlike his friend, who possessed an effortless confidence and was always straightforward, Ruka was more indirect, and he refused confrontation. He could never find it in himself to be as upfront as his best friend. Somehow, he would always find a reason to restrain himself from saying too much.
This time, he knew it was exactly because Natsume was his best friend, first and foremost.
And so Ruka shook his head, and gave a smile instead. "You don't have to explain, Natsume."
Natsume was visibly surprised to hear this, and he stopped. "Ruka – "
Ruka shook his head, forcing his smile widen just a little. "It's all right. I know you have your reasons for doing what you did. You don't have to explain yourself to me."
Natsume's jaw clenched, a hint of frustration evident in his expression. "Look, Ruka," he muttered, looking as though he was going through an internal battle with himself. "I know you like her – and I don't plan to take her away from you." For a moment or two the words seemed to leave him, and he inhaled sharply. "It's just that for the time being, she's mine."
Ruka blinked, Natsume's words sounding so earnest it rendered him wordless. He watched as his friend walk away, his fists clenched at his sides. It was only when Natsume was gone from his sight that Ruka finally let out the breath he didn't realize he had been holding. He found himself leaning against the wall, breathless from the sudden torrent of emotions in his chest.
"Natsume…"
۞۞۞
Mikan was still lying on the bed when Hotaru entered. Her friend was lazily touching her lips, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. "Mikan. Get off my bed," she muttered, wondering what sort of trance the idiot must be in.
Mikan looked over to Hotaru, her brown eyes wide with wonder. "You'll be proud of me, Hotaru. I actually picked up something from watching you blackmail Ruka," she cracked, although the cheerfulness in her voice seemed forced.
Hotaru frowned at her. "Stop smiling if you don't feel like it," she muttered, sitting on the bed beside her friend. "Get up or I'll charge you for using my bed." She watched as the threat worked its magic, and Mikan sat up with a pout. "So what should I be proud of you for?"
A genuine smile fell on Mikan's lips at the question. "I got Natsume to pay me fifteen rabbits a day, in exchange for pretending to be his girlfriend," she said, sounding quite proud of herself.
Hotaru felt her eyebrows rise, impressed despite herself. "Not bad for an idiot like yourself."
Mikan grinned, knowing that it was the closest she could get as a compliment from a certain Hotaru Imai. "Uh-huh. I even laid out some rules for us and told him to put our agreement on paper or something, but he only said there wasn't a need to because it's just a game." She furrowed her eyebrows, as if trying to figure out an abstract idea that refused to be understood. "The game of let's pretend."
Hotaru stared hard at her. The game of let's pretend? "I hope you realize what you got yourself into, Mikan," she said, making Mikan pause.
The brunette bit her lip, an expression of worry overtaking her features. "I only agreed to be his girlfriend because I had no choice," she muttered. "Those girls already know me as his girlfriend, and he didn't seem to have any plans of taking back anything that he told them." She raised her eyes to Hotaru. "It wouldn't have made much difference if I hadn't agreed, right?"
"I suppose not," Hotaru said. Natsume wouldn't have let Mikan say no, anyway. "So what did he say his reason was for introducing you as his girlfriend?"
Mikan narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, somehow getting the sense that there was more to her friend's question than what was being said. "He said it was just for show, to get rid of his fan girls." She scowled when she remembered her conversation with Natsume. "He said I was a distraction, so they'd give him some peace and quiet."
Hotaru paused, and for a moment or two Mikan almost thought that her friend was finally worried for her. After all, fan girls were not to be taken lightly, and dealing with them could be absolutely fatal. But instead, Hotaru asked: "Did he tell you what his reason was for kissing you?"
Mikan blinked, her cheeks turning scarlet at the question. "H-He said it was only because the girls wanted proof," she said, suddenly feeling unsure of herself. Why did it sound like there was something more about her stolen kiss that she didn't know? She frowned, realizing that despite the seven years that they had known each other, she couldn't really say that she knew who Natsume truly was. He was so detached, so calm, so spontaneous.
He was a big puzzle – and she didn't have all the puzzle pieces.
"How uncreative," Hotaru only said, to which Mikan only smiled, unsure what to say.
"You know," she said, thinking out loud. "I really don't understand why he chose me, when he could have chosen so many others." She grinned as a thought occurred to her. "Like you, Hotaru, for example. I mean, it would be easy with your inventions – "
Hotaru darted her a sharp look. "Don't even think about it, you idiot."
Mikan flashed an uncertain grin, realizing that seeing Natsume with Hotaru would seem rather off. "Sorry," she grumbled sheepishly. The two rarely spoke to each other, and the only reason they seemed to acknowledge each other's existence was because they were both somehow connected to her.
Without a word, she let herself collapse onto the bed once more, too caught up in her musings to remember that she would be charged for doing so. "Natsume told me I was different," she said, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Hotaru looked over to her, feeling almost curious. "And what do you think he meant by that?"
Mikan grinned up at her best friend, scratching her head. "I don't really get it, Hotaru."
The next thing that she realized was the pain as Hotaru's Idiot Gun smacked her right on her face.
۞۞۞
"That scheming little… just you watch, Morisato!" Miyuki Kagami furiously whispered to herself, stomping down the hallway without a care to anyone else around. The conversation with the fan club president still left her very upset, and while she knew that Mina was deliberately mocking her to make her feel so, she still couldn't keep her temper from flaring up anyway.
Mina Morisato could simply be so infuriating.
"That arrogant witch! Who does she think she is!" Miyuki growled. "Just because she's the president doesn't mean she can order me around! We're both three-star students, and I'm still the vice-president of the club!" She felt her strides slow down upon the words, until slowly she came to a stop. "Vice-president, huh."
The Official Natsume Fan Club had been founded seven years ago, in response to the arrogant Sumire Shouda's Natsume-Ruka Fan Club. It had started with only about twenty members, and the number had increased only modestly for many years following its establishment. Just like any organization, it was composed of several committees, including its own executive committee, which had the task of making critical decisions for the club.
Members of the executive committee consisted of the president and the vice-president, among several others. Following a democratic rule, members of the club would elect these officers every year, to replace the graduating incumbents.
Miyuki had signed up for the club with the full intention of becoming president. She was grossly fascinated by Natsume Hyuuga, especially considering his reputation as the most prominent member of the Dangerous Ability Class; and she didn't think there would be any harm in joining a club that was exclusively about him.
Dedication was one of the most important things that the club valued, and the chief positions like president and vice-president were most usually taken by those who proved themselves committed to the club and its undertakings. With her eyes on the prize, Miyuki had ensured that the time she had spent on the club – from the moment she had signed up for it to last two weeks before the elections – would be productive. She involved herself in the activities, no matter how silly they could be sometimes; and immersed herself in the rare facts and trivia about Natsume Hyuuga himself, and of course, the Dangerous Ability Class.
It would later prove, however, that Miyuki's efforts were a big waste of time.
Two weeks before the elections of officers, the incumbent president, with the approval of the executive committee, declared that for this year, the two main positions would be appointed instead of elected.
Miyuki had been stunned, especially having been all set for the campaign period and the elections. She would have protested against it, but without a pause the incumbent officers had then proceeded to announce her as the vice-president. In the same breath, as if to render her completely voiceless, Mina Morisato was heralded the new president of the club.
"W-What?" Miyuki sputtered as she felt herself being pushed to the stage for a short recognition. Around her, the present members seemed unconcerned toward the recent development, and were instead cheering her on.
"You deserve it, Miyuki!" some of them even cheered, to which Miyuki only blinked. She glanced over to the quiet Mina Morisato standing to her far right, her expression dead and unchanging despite everyone's applause. It was only until their eyes met that Mina's features seemed to come alive, and she gave Miyuki a smirk.
"I look forward to working with you, Miss Vice-President," she said, her eyes seeming to flicker with a hint of dark amusement.
Miyuki had only stared at her wordlessly at the time, feeling quite certain that the whole thing was a big mistake. It had to be – because how exactly could a member of barely two months be appointed as president? Mina had transferred to the Academy only four months ago, and while she immediately signed up for the club and was present in most events, Mina gave the impression that she was simply bored. She didn't even seem to be interested in Natsume.
Miyuki had intended to contest the decision of the executive committee, only to be surprised when she realized that no one else seemed to have a problem with it. Even her friends in the club had given her an incredulous look when she expressed her dissenting opinion on the matter, telling her how they thought Mina would do well as president.
The lack of support had put her off, but she was not Miyuki Kagami if she would be dissuaded so easily. Unaccompanied, she walked up to the incumbent president and vice-president instead, who hadn't seemed amused by her boldness.
"You don't see it, do you?" the incumbent president asked as she stirred her coffee. She propped up her chin in one hand, staring at Miyuki from across the room with a bored expression on her face. "This is exactly why you're not the president, Miyuki."
Miyuki stopped, unsure what to make of the words. "What do you mean?" she asked tentatively.
"Mina is calm and wiser than you," the vice-president said, her eyes strangely glazed over. "It's for this reason that she will make a better president than you, who lets your emotions wreck your rational thoughts."
Miyuki flinched at the memory, remembering how she had forced a smile upon the remark, despite the drastic buildup of anger in her chest. They were telling her that she was immature – and there was simply no way she would do something so silly to prove them right. In a voice that was strained to keep herself from expressing her fury and indignation, she thanked them for their time and excused herself. She had then stepped out, only to be greeted by Mina who was waiting outside the room.
The young woman was leaning against the wall, her head tilted up towards the ceiling. "Emotions wreck rational thoughts," she murmured, her hands clasped together behind her. She lowered her head and met Miyuki's gaze, a spark of challenge seeming to flash in her eyes. "Throwing away the vice-presidency, Kagami?"
Miyuki had glared at Mina quietly, and knew then and there that she wouldn't let the other girl win this game so easily. "You wish," she snapped. "I'll see you around, Miss President."
Miyuki sighed, still recalling how difficult it had been to swallow the fact that she would only be second to Mina. She barely knew the girl, having ignored her prior to their appointment. Mina hadn't seemed too keen on what the fan club was doing; she mostly acted like a spectator watching for her own amusement. That the incumbents actually chose her to take over such an important position in the club and that no one else protested against the decision was still beyond Miyuki.
Even now, after several weeks of working with the girl, Miyuki still couldn't find it in herself to be friends with Mina. She found the dark-haired alice too aloof; too mysterious for her taste. Besides, Mina didn't seem like she was interested in making friends either.
Miyuki's thoughts were interrupted when she felt someone tap her shoulders. She turned around and found herself staring at several members of the club, all of them having a resentful expression on their faces. "Natsume's girlfriend?" she greeted, which only seemed to make them frown deeper.
"He kissed her!" one of them whined, and Miyuki cringed.
"That's what I gather," she said.
"You weren't in the lunchroom today, were you?" one girl asked, and handed her a picture. "Here. That's what happened earlier."
Miyuki looked at the photo, feeling her jaw tauten when she realized how the shot perfectly captured the kiss. "So he did kiss her," she murmured, memorizing Mikan Sakura's plain features as she spoke. The girl looked so painfully simple it almost hurt. Miyuki hadn't been expecting for Natsume's girlfriend to be so… ordinary.
What has become of the world, exactly?
"It's so disgusting," one of them muttered with distaste. "What are you going to do now, Miyuki?"
She inhaled, trying to calm herself before speaking. If there was one thing she learned from the annoying Mina Morisato, it was that it was much better to make decisions when you were more calm and composed. "Introduce myself, of course."
۞۞۞
"They should find another hobby," Natsume commented as he and Ruka made their way past clusters of students. Since they left their rooms, the two had been receiving assuming stares from all around them. It made Ruka uncomfortable, while it annoyed Natsume immensely.
"You can't blame them. These girls like you. Yesterday you just announced that you have a girlfriend. It must be a shock," Ruka said quietly. Yesterday's conversation with his friend still bothered him like hell, but he was forcing himself to forget all about it. Natsume was behaving as though nothing had happened, so Ruka had no other choice but to do the same.
"Tch." Natsume narrowed his eyes and stopped walking.
"Natsume?" Ruka asked, confused. He also stopped, his gaze following where his friend was looking at. All he saw where a bunch of giggling girls, and he frowned. "Is something the matter?"
Natsume grunted. "Nothing. Let's go."
۞۞۞
Mikan wasn't even halfway to her classroom but she already wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She had left her room barely ten minutes ago, and the murmurs and curious glances had not once halted. It was less than twenty-four hours after Natsume announced to everyone that she was his girlfriend, but to her it already felt like an entire lifetime. Everyone's stare made her feel quite cursed, and remembering yesterday's stupid deal with Natsume told her that there was no lifting it anytime soon.
Maybe I should have asked for more than fifteen rabbits a day… she thought with a grimace. What I'll be posing as is worth more than what Natsume's going to pay me!
She glanced around hopefully, trying to block out the other students' disapproving stares as she tried to find at least one familiar face. "Where is everyone?" she murmured desperately, mentally scolding herself for ignoring the good sense that had told her that she should have gone to Hotaru's room first. Hotaru wouldn't have let anyone get away with insulting her best friend; and Mikan highly doubted that anyone would have the nerve to offend her in the genius' presence.
She bit her lip. The demeaning remarks were all around her, and the hate was just too much to bear, even for her.
You're different.
Mikan frowned, remembering what Natsume had told her. He said it was the reason he had chosen her to be his 'girlfriend'; and while she still didn't understand what he must have meant, it still sounded... nice. It was still something to hold on to, amidst all this hate around her.
She heaved a sigh. "I'm different," she whispered, and frowned when she realized that Natsume should have gone to her room to fetch her. After all, wasn't it his unwritten obligation, as her boyfriend? Considering their unusual circumstances, he should have known better than to leave her all by herself.
And to think he promised he'd never leave me with his fan girls! she thought restlessly.
"Mikan Sakura?" a female voice called out, interrupting Mikan's thoughts and prompting her to stop.
Standing opposite her was a girl who looked just about her age, an easy smile gracing her lips. Her dark gray hair was parted in the middle, its wild, straight locks reaching her waist. Her long bangs fell around her face, framing her pretty features in a messy cascade. She was wearing the same uniform as Mikan, indicating that she was also a senior. "I'm Miyuki Kagami," she said, offering her hand as her sharp violet eyes caught hold of Mikan's.
Mikan stared at her. Who is this girl? she thought, reluctantly accepting the girl's hand. "I'm Mikan Sakura," she said, feeling strangely riveted by the girl's eyes. Miyuki's gaze was smoldering and intimidating, giving the impression that she knew something that she shouldn't.
"I'm honored to meet Natsume Hyuuga's girlfriend," Miyuki said, although her tone seemed to suggest otherwise. Her handshake was firm, her stance confident. She eyed Mikan belittlingly as she took back her hand and crossed her arms over chest. "Although, I have to admit that you're not at all what I expected."
Mikan frowned at the remark and parted her lips to retort, but Miyuki beat her to it. "I've worked with Natsume before, so I know him, and I thought I'd get to know his girlfriend."
"Really?" Mikan asked, genuinely surprised this time. Natsume wasn't exactly one of the friendliest persons in Alice Academy, and she had always had the impression that he'd rather set other alices on fire than mingle with them. He hardly talked to people, and while girls were obviously dying to speak with him, he just never seemed to have the time and patience to deal with them.
Miyuki gave a casual shrug. "Uh-huh. It was during – " She stopped in mid-sentence, seemingly distracted as she looked past Mikan. "Speaking of the devil," she said, her eyes narrowing as an amused smirk crept over her lips.
Mikan whirled around, her eyes lighting up when she saw Natsume. The young man was walking toward her, a hand inside his pocket as he regarded the rest of the population with annoyance. "Natsume!" she called out, making him halt his tracks when he saw her. She started for him, only to stop short when Miyuki darted past her to get to him first. "Huh?"
Miyuki took her place beside the flame caster, glancing back to Mikan with a dark smirk on her face. "It's been a while, Natsume."
Natsume nodded. "Miyuki," he greeted curtly.
The next thing Mikan realized was Natsume throwing his arms around Miyuki in an embrace.
…to be continued…
Merry Christmas, everyone! :)
Hilaire
12.25.07
EDIT: Please go to lingeringdream(dot)webs(dot)com for more information about TGOLP. It's important, so please go there and meet the OCs for yourself. :)
