Disclaimer: I do not own Alice Academy/Gakuen Alice
Chapter Three : The proposal
Natsume looked up and two unknown intruders burst into his office. But as he saw the auburn hair and that same grey business suit, recognition hit him like a bucket of cold water. This was the same woman he had bumped into this very morning.
" Huh! " gasped Mikan. " It's you! " cried a shocked Mikan. " What are you doing here?! Where is the head of the 'Meade' magazine? I demand to know the truth! "
Natsume just stared at her as a slight smirk spread across his face.
" Mikan?" whispered Sumire. " ...He is the head."
Mikan didn't seem to hear what Sumire said. She kept talking.
"You there why are you smirking like that...you pervert...I demand to know where Natsume Hyuuga is..."
Just then Nonoko burst into the office, gasping, and getting hold of a blabbering Mikan said,
"I'm so sorry Mr. Hyuuga...I was talking to you and when I looked up she was already sneaking in...I'll just take her away now...it won't happen again Mr. Hyuuga..."
"Let go of her hand Miss Nonoko and you may leave now" said Natsume's cool voice.
Nonoko was still pulling at Mikan when the words registered to her.
"Umm...sorry Mr. Hyuuga..." and with that she left, utterly confused.
All this time Sumire and Mikan stood awed and speechless as the absurdity of the situation in front of them continued. Mikan found her voice at last and started to speak.
"Mr... umm...Mr Hyuuga...I...I'm really sorry... I didn't realise that you...are the head of the Meade Magazine...I...was..."
"Take a seat Miss..." Natsume enquired.
"Mikan. Mikan Sakura. Head of the ARA." finished Sumire.
"Uh yes...Mikan" with that Mikan extended her hand at Natsume, "and this is Sumire, my friend and secretary."
Natsume, still smirking and ignoring Mikan's hand, started to speak in his cool voice.
"So Miss Mikan Sakura..."
"Please call me Mikan." interrupted she.
"So what is it that honours me with your presence, if you will let me know now." continued Natsume.
"It's the animals...the animals of the zoo are starving...they have no one to look after them...the caretaker is out of town and he didn't leave anyone in his place...don't ask me how he can be so irresponsible but that is the truth and now its all his fault that the innocent animals are suffering...so I thought that we..."
"Hold on Miss Mikan what do you mean 'we'??" asked Natsume.
"Well we the people at ARA with your kind help..."
"What the hell do you mean by that? Why would I want to help you...what's there in it for me?" queried an amused Natsume.
"Well you see..." Mikan said carefully, "the zoo is a vital part of the town and the animals there...well the innocent animals...people love the animals...and so if your magazine could publish an article with some snapshots about the current misfortune of the animals, people could be made aware of the conditions in the zoo..."
"Why come to me then...why not go to the local newspaper?" asked Natsume.
"Well...not everyone is a fan of the newspaper...whereas your magazine is a craze and also since its an international magazine...we could raise fund from overseas as well so you see..."
"What do I get from all this?" Natsume asked.
"Mr Hyuuga, not everyone in the world is so selfish and..." for a moment Mikan lost temper, "...I mean sorry...well as for your benefit the ARA will name the project after you and we could pay you...though it wouldn't be much, we'll try..."
"Forget the payment," snapped Natsume, "although there is something you can do..."
"I'm sorry Mr Hyuuga I don't think there's anything more that we..." interrupted Mikan.
"You have to come to dinner with me tomorrow night and you got the deal." was Natsume's words.
"But...how is that related...and I don't want to g..." Mikan protested.
"She'll be happy to," said Sumire smiling charmingly at Natume, "and thank you Mr Hyuuga."
With that Sumire pulled Mikan out of the office and left.
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Natsume sat in his office lost in his thoughts. Now why did he invite that Mikan girl to have dinner with him? Not girl, he corrected himself. But an enchanting woman...she was too lost in her world of starving animals but man, what a beauty...those all big, innocent brown eyes staring right through him, the part of him that he showed to no one. He had learnt his lesson from previous experiences...bitter experiences...all girls were after his money and that was all. It was surprising to know that Mikan didn't even recognise him. Mikan. The name felt so good to his mouth...he wondered how she tasted...watermelons? What's wrong with me today??? Natsume cursed under his breath and got to work at the new collaboration with their rival magazine.
Although a certain Mikan Sakura just wouldn't let him concentrate...
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Mikan got to her no nonsense green pick up with Sumire. She was utterly mad with Sumire for accepting that dinner invitation.
"Sumire why the hell did u have to accept that invitation from that rude, snob, Natsume Hyuuga?" demanded Mikan.
"Well Mikan if you would just stop and listen to me. That Natsume said he would accept our proposition if you accepted his invitation...and didn't you see the way he looked at you...ok ok don't tell me, I just know you didn't. Listen Mikan he absolutely, positively is interested in you. So what's wrong with having dinner with the dashing Natsume Hyuuga after all?" finished Sumire.
"Well I don't care how he looked at me...if we get the deal then its fine..." muttered Mikan thoughtlessly, "...hey that means we got the deal!! WooHooooooo!!!"
Mikan is always so slow to register...thought Sumire affectionately and smiled to herself.
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On reaching their office they found Mikan's half brother Ruka Nogi waiting for them. Although a half brother, Mikan and Ruka were extremely close and loved each other. They had the same passion about animals and together they worked to make the world a better place for all creatures in it. On seeing Mikan, Ruka went up to give his sister a hug and kissed her on the cheek.
"Hey Mikan what's up? I came back after a visit to the zoo and i heard that you were out...where were you the animals at the zoo need us now more than ever!"
"And so we went to do something about it." said Mikan smiling, "we went to meet the head of the Meade Magazine, Natsume Hyuuga."
"What?!? You went to meet the Natsume Hyuuga?? But how is he related???" asked an astonished Ruka.
"Well we went to ask him for a coverage on the current situation of the local zoo." continued Mikan.
"And he agreed to it?!? probed Ruka.
"Well, after some persuasion, he did...he asked to go to dinner with although I have no idea why!"
"What!!! Sis you should think again, he does not have a good reputation with women...he's a cassanova and I..." tried Ruka.
"Well dear brother I thought about it and there's no other way he'll agree to...so it's fine with me as long as the work's done...so don't worry!"
Worried was exactly what Ruka was. He knew his sister was innocent and naive but she was gorgeous as hell and kind and giving. Although she didn't realise it...so Ruka decided to do a little research on his own on this Natsume Hyuuga...
After a little search on google, he came to know a little about Natsume Hyuuga. He was alone except his sick grandmother, hates publicity and reporters, has a way with women all thanks to his God-gifted good looks. Never takes a woman seriously. Not the least bit friendly...and that was all he could find.
Then why is he so interested in Mikan? thought a worried Ruka. What will he gain from it??
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Next morning Mikan worked hard and wrote letters to several zoo management officials about her thoughts. It was late afternoon when Sumire entered her office.
"You're still working? Did you already forget that you have a date tonight?? asked Sumire.
"What date...date?? What are you talking about Sumire, I have never gone to a date... are you mad...me going to a date?!?" blabbered a stressed Mikan.
"Mikan! Stop and listen...you have dinner with Natsume Hyuuga...tonight!"
"Huh...oh yes I forgot all about it. Thanks for reminding me." with that she went back to her work.
Sumire went over to Mikan and got her out of her overloaded desk. Mikan protested but Sumire took her purse and put away the work sheets. She then took Mikan to her car and drove her home.
"Exactly why are we in such a hurry...??? And I thought we are going to that darn invitation... but where are we supposed to go actually, I forgot to ask the location... did he mention??..why are we going towards my home? Is he coming to my apartment... its such a mess and I don't have anything to offer him, I forgot to go to the supermarket yesterday...
" Wait Mikan, when did you last stock your refrigerator? " Sumire interrupted.
" Last month... I think... something like that" Mikan mused thoughtfully
" What the hell have you been eating all this time?"
" Oh, this & that... I don't really know actually... whatever's available..." mused Mikan.
"Gosh! What am I gonna do with you!?"
After stopping for lunch at a nearby cafe, Sumire asked Mikan what she planned to wear at the dinner that night, realising that she probably didn't own any kind of evening dress except for her business suits.
" I guess I'll wear...um...Sumire I honestly don't know what to wear. I haven't thought about it. I think I'll just wear my usual business suit... its not like a date you know so...
" What about the pretty russet dress that Ruka gave you for Christmas last year?" Sumire cut in.
" Well of course I could never wear that...its too...I don't know what but its just not right for me..."
"Sure it is and will look lovely on you." At this Sumire got up and and pulled Mikan towards the car with her. On the way Sumire stopped at her apartment and came out with a bag in her hands.
"What's in the bag?" asked Mikan.
"You'll see..." was all that she said.
On reaching Mikan's small and neat apartment, Sumire went in and took out the russet dress from the far corner of Mikan's wardrobe. The dress had a simple cut, yet elegant and fell just below the knees. The dress had a shallow neck which spread across the shoulders neatly. Sumire smiled and took out the pair of matching high-heeled sandals from the bag which she brought with her.
"I could never wear that Sumire..." wailed Mikan.
Sumire was about to say something when Mikan's cell phone rang.
"Hello..." Mikan replied.
"I'll pick you up at 7pm. Don't be late." was Natsume's cool voice.
"How did you know..."
There was a click and the line went dead.
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After persuading Mikan to wear the dress and the sandals Sumire went back home leaving Mikan to get ready. Exhausted after a tiring day Mikan went for a shower before she got dressed. She took a long shower and feeling more relaxed, got out in her bath robe when the door bell rang. Mikan looked over the wall clock to see that it was not even six pm. She frowned to herself and went to answer the door. She opened the door and gasped.
"What are you doing here at this time!?" exclaimed Mikan with a hand clutching at the collar of her robe.
Natsume ignored her and went straight inside and sat down on the couch. He looked at her lazily and replied:
"I had some errands which I finished early."
Mikan didn't know what to say. She looked at him and studied him closely. He wore a navy suit over crisp white shirt and looked gorgeous as hell with his rumpled raven black hair. She saw him stare at her with his fingers brushing his hair, smirking at her rudely. She suddenly realised that she was in her robes and began hurrying towards her bedroom stammering behind her.
"Mr Hyuuga...I... uh... will be...will be back soon...please make yourself at home..."
Natsume sat at the couch looking back at her. Man what a woman. He mused to himself. Her auburn hair looked even darker when wet and fell in wet tendrils across her shoulders. Her pink girly robe clung to her wet body in an intimate way. Her skin glowed from the hot shower and she looked so vulnerable...Natsume was lost in his thoughts when he heard sounds from across her room. He could make out the sound of a hair drier as she dried her lustrous hair...
He looked across the neat living room. The apartment was small but tastefully decorated. Animal pictures and medals awarded to the ARA hung at various corners of the walls. At the corner was a desk neatly piled with papers and worksheets and a laptop. He could make out a small kitchen on his left.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting Mr Hyuuga but I couldn't go any faster..." said a gasping voice from across the bedroom door.
Natsume looked up to find a gorgeous girl stumbling with a pair of high-heeled sandals which he could understand she was not used to. Her hair, shining like gold was twisted over her head hurriedly and the tendrils of her hair fell loosely over her face. Her cheeks were flushed and reflected the colour of her russet dress. He looked at her legs which seemed to go on forever. He got up and strode across the room towards Mikan. He took her by the arm and gently pushed her towards the couch. Kneeling down, he took her delicate foot in his hands and began strapping the sandals for her.
Mikan had a strange fluttery feeling at the bottom of her stomach and for a while she didn't know what to do. She looked down to find his hands touching her feet and she felt something that she had never felt before. Natsume got up when he was done and smoothed his suit. He strode towards the door and stood by it waiting for her.
"Shall we, Miss Sakura?" drawled Natsume gesturing with his hand.
Mikan stood up clumsily and walked slowly towards the door. Just as she was crossing the door, she stumbled at her welcome mat when a pair of strong hands grabbed at her waist. Mikan looked up to find Natsume's face close to hers. She straightened, shocked at being so close to him.
"Why wear things you can't even handle.."
Mikan bit back her anger and tried to change the subject.
"So...where are we going...you never mentioned." she tried, forcing a smile.
Natsume didn't answer but took her arms and together made their way to his car. Mikan stared at the silver lotus in front of her. She tried to comment on it but refrained from it. After they got seated she tried again,
"You didn't answer by question Mr Hyuuga..."
Natsume revved up the engine to drown her voice and starting the car, replied:
"At my place..."
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Hiya people!!! This is Oni the authors's elder sister...this chapter is written by me. I do hope you all will enjoy it and please people let me know...don't forget the reviews!! take care all...love ya!!