Disclaimer: I don't and can't own Gakuen Alice even if I wanted too. It belongs to Tachibana-sensei.
Hey there guys I present to you the sixth chapter of Eternity.
Please enjoy~
~Eternity 6~
MIKAN'S POV
We just finished eating our foods and I could feel Hotaru's gaze at me. Nervousness filled my system, I don't want them to find out that Natsume and I haven't been well this past month. With their own problems to solve, how could I burden them with mine? I faked a smile at her direction before excusing myself to go to the bathroom.
What should I do really? Tell them? I've tried hard not to let them know but am I really making the right choice? What other choices do I have? I sighed while staring at the large mirror.
"Mikan" I looked through the mirror and found out it was Hotaru. I gulped, so she followed me here? She means business. I faked out a smile and she frowned.
"Stop smiling that smile idiot," She said coldly, I averted my gaze from her.
"I know you're hiding something and it must have something to do with Hyuuga," she continued.
"What do you mean Hotaru? And I'm a Hyuuga now too," I said innocently, trying my way out even though I know it's futile. Once Hotaru notices something, she would never let it go until she finds out what it's about.
"Cut the crap, Mikan, You know who I'm talking about, you were deliberately stirring the topic away from him when we were talking," she said while staring at me, hard. I bit the inside of my cheek.
"I.. I don't know what's going on anymore, Hotaru," I replied quietly. Seeing as Hotaru made no movement, I continued on.
"He changed, It's like I'm seeing a new version of my husband, we barely talk anymore, and when we do, it's like I'm the only one happy, he stays emotionless as ever, unlike how he used too, and I just don't know what to do anymore," I cried while wiping away the tears that build up somewhere in my speech.
Hotaru hugged me while I cried. If the situation wasn't like this I'd be so happy because Hotaru hugged me, but I'm too saddened by how things are going with Natsume and me, to actually feel happy about it.
"What did I do wrong Hotaru?" I sobbed.
"You did nothing wrong, Mikan," She whispered gently while rubbing my back. As I continued to cry in Hotaru's arms, I summarized what was happening for the past months in my life. Hotaru was deeply listening to my outbursts, but I can see it in her eyes she was ready to murder my husband.
After I finished bawling my problems out to Hotaru, and boy it felt good. I was so sure I was going to regret telling Hotaru, but I didn't. Even though it's just a little, I'm relieved that I told her. Sensing that I was calming down, Hotaru immediately released her hug. I pouted, Hotaru would always be Hotaru.
"Fix yourself up, we've been here for too long they might actually think we're eaten by toilets," Hotaru said indifferently. I gaped at her, did the stoic Hotaru Imai Nogi just joked?
"Are you going to fix yourself up, or I'll shoot you with my baka gun?" She coldly muttered while glaring at me. Remembering how it feels to get hit by the said gun, I quickly nodded and started fixing my face up.
"I'll wait outside baka," She said making her way to the door. She was about to go out when I stopped her.
"What now, baka?" She said impatiently.
"Thank you, Hotaru, for cheering me up... and I know you really want to knock some sense in Natsume but please don't, I.. I want to settle our own problems," I said softly. She eyed me for a second before sighing.
"Fine, but don't think it's free, I'd send you the charges later on," she said replied. I genuinely smiled at her, and she went out of the restroom but I swear I could see a tiny smile on her face. After fixing myself, I went out of the restroom.
NATSUHIKO'S POV
Throughout the whole meal, I've been glancing at Mom's direction. I can notice that she's nervous whenever Aunt Hotaru and Uncle Ruka mention dad. She would divert the topic cleverly, Uncle Ruka might have not notice but Aunt Hotaru did. I sighed, so mom didn't want them to know about dad. I thought mom would let auntie know but I guess I was wrong. I was snapped out of my reverie when I felt someone pinching my arm.
"What?" I muttered while glaring at Shizuka.
"You've been spacing out quite often, is something wrong?" She asked worriedly.
"Nothing's wrong, rabbits," I replied. She stared at me blankly before sighing.
"I give up, I can never seem to figure you out whenever you're like that," she said dejectedly. I smirked in reply.
She glared at me for a second before talking about her life in France. I pretend I was listening to whatever she was saying when I heard mom excused herself to go to the restroom. Mom. She quickly stood up and left the table. Auntie Hotaru looked at her direction before saying she too needed to go to the restroom, so Auntie Hotaru knows something's up.
"Since we're done eating, I'll go and start-up the car, you guys just wait for them okay?" I heard uncle Ruka said while sighing.
"Okay, dad!" Shizuka replied cheerfully before continuing her colorful life in France, and I tried to listen but damn, I was getting sleepy.
"Ahh! Ko, you're not even listening, I'll go to the washroom!" Shizuka snapped while standing up. Crap, she'll ruin auntie's chance to corner mom. Sorry, Mom I know you want to get away from auntie, but you need someone to let it all out. I know you'll choose to confide in auntie rather than me.
I quickly grabbed Shizuka's hand.
"Na-natsuhiko, what's wrong?" Shizuka manage to stutter. I stared at her blankly. What now? I managed to stop her, I need something to keep her mind occupied for a while.. but what?
"Argh, what do you want really? you grab my hand, stare at me without saying anything, You're confusing me, I'm go-"
"Do you have a boyfriend?" I blurted.
"Bo-boyfriend!" Shizuka stuttered while blushing madly. Shit, of all questions why this one?! Nice job, Natsuhiko. I inwardly slapped myself.
"Ahh, knowing you, you probably don't have one cause you're so childish," I said dismissively. Nice save, Natsuhiko, now she won't suspect much. She glared at me and slapped my hand away.
"Hey! For your information, I have a lot of suitors! I just don't accept," she said angrily. Hey, this is working well.
"Why? Is there someone you like?" I asked teasingly.
"Yes! I do have someone I like! As a matter of fact, he's-" Shizuka suddenly stopped and blushed hard. What? Why did she stop what was she about to say?
"He's?" I asked with an eyebrow raised.
She just stood there, blushing heavily. She has someone she likes? I'll burn that guy to crisps if ever I find out who he is, Shizuka is mine. Argh, my brain is corrupted, shizuka's not mine, I just want to protect her, cause probably the one she likes is an idiot who's just after her looks, yes that's it.
"Who is it?" I muttered dangerously while looking straight in her eyes.
"It's none of your concern, you idiot ko-kun!" she snapped, slumping on the chair and burying her head in her arms.
"Oi, answer my question," I said coldly, while sitting beside her.
"Why should I? and why do you want to know?" she retorted, slightly blushing while looking at me sharply. How cute. Wait now's not the time to admire, what should I say? I was about to reply when I heard someone say.
"Shizuka, Natsu?" I looked behind and saw that it was mom and auntie. Whew, thank you mom!
"Shizuka, are you alright? Why are you red?" Mom asked shizuka worriedly. I felt like someone was looking at me, and I found out it was auntie. Shit, she's like killing me with her eyes! I stared back blankly. Trying to act nonchalant as possible.
"I'm fi-fine, auntie, it must be the heat," she said stuttering while waving her hand.
"Where's your dad?" Auntie asked after breaking her eye contact with me, I released out the breath I didn't know I was holding.
"He's waiting in the car mom," Shizuka replied.
"Well, what are we staying here for, let's go," Auntie said coldly while making her way to the door along with my mom.
"Come on, rabbits," I said while standing up.
"I know, I know! I'll demand for the answer next time!" She said while bolting her way through the door. If you do remember that is, I thought chuckling lightly while making my way out of the restaurant.
NATSUME'S POV
I was now at my office, doing my regular work while thinking what I should do with Luna. Honestly speaking, I've been dancing on the subject for awhile now that it has been affecting my usual work pace. Usually, I can finish a stack in an hour but now, an hour has already passed and I'm still halfway through. I groaned, I need to clear my mind.
I have 4 days, to settle this but why do I get the feeling that something bad is going to happen if I don't do something about this now? Of course you get that feeling cause if you wouldn't settle it, you'll lose mikan, worse your family. Who the fuck wants that? Not me for sure. I was interrupted with my thoughts when someone knocked on my door.
"Mr. Hyuuga?" I heard a girl's voice.
"Enter" Glancing at the person who entered my office, I realized that it was my boss' secretary.
"A letter was addressed to you Mr. Hyuuga," she said respectfully after bowing. A letter? She then give the letter before excusing herself to do her own work. Opening the letter, I skimmed throught it. Mr. Hyuuga, the new flight details for passengers Mrs. Mikan Hyuuga and Natsuhiko Hyuuga.... what? Gripping the letter, successfully making a crease on it, I stormed out of my office.
"What's the meaning of this?!" I angrily roared, bombarding his office. He just continued signing off the damned papers. I gritted my teeth and slammed my hands on his table.
"Answer me!"
"Whatever you're so angry about don't lash it on me," he said while getting another paper to sign.
"Don't fucking play innocent, how the fuck did you change mikan's flight details!" I furiously spat while throwing the paper I was holding at the table.
"Why are you so angry at what I did? I'm doing you a favor aren't I? You'll be seeing your wife earlier than expected, aren't you happy?" He replied coolly, dismissing my question.
"Why are you even meddling in somebody else's business!" I retorted. He finally stopped signing the paperwork and glared at me.
"Why? Afraid that you wouldn't settle things with your mistress before your wife arrives?" He mockingly said. Yeah, Natsume why are you so anxious about him changing your wife's flight details? He's right you should be happy instead you're acting like a fucking criminal on the brink of getting arrested.
"What? Did I hit home?" He sarcastically continued. I grabbed Ken's collar, making him stand up, and glared at him dangerously.
"If you're going to punch me, just do it," he casually said while looking at me blankly. Let him go stupid. He's not just your friend, he's also your boss, if I was in his position, I would have fired you already or demoted you to a lower position, my rational thoughts countered. I gripped his collar harder before throwing him back to his chair.
"How the fuck did you even change it?" I asked coldly.
"Do I have to remind you that the free ticket passes you have earned came from the company, a reward for an employee who has served well the past months, so of course I have the power to change it, cause it's the company who'll be paying for it," he explained. I mentally hit myself for forgetting that Ken was the one who gave me the free ticket passes, it seems that a lot has been going on that I forgot about it.
"If you don't have anything else to say, then feel free to leave, don't worry I won't do anything against you, also, Mikan already knows about the change, I already informed her," Ken said while going back to signing his papers. I bet he did that intentionally so I couldn't... couldn't what, Hyuuga? Couldn't persuade your wife to take a late flight? I immediately went out, slamming the door hard mind you, and made my way back to my own office.
MIKAN'S POV
We were halfway home with Hotaru and the others. Ruka was busy driving, Hotaru was in the front seat fiddling something in her phone, Natsuhiko was busy looking outside with Shizuka's head on his shoulders. Oh how cute, I thought. I was gazing at the window when my phone rang. I glanced at my screen curiously, an unknown number, it looked like an international number, similar with the one Natsume's using. Thinking that it might be related to Natsume, I immediately answered.
"Hello, who's this?" I politely answered.
"Mikan, it's me Ken"Ken? Ken Hanazuno? As in the boss of Natsume, our childhood friend?
"Ken, the boss of Natsume? Ken Hanazuno?" I asked to double check if it was really him.
"Yes, I can't believe you forgot about me, Mikan," he said while chuckling.
"Oh my gosh, Ken, I'm sorry! and you're not using your number so I didn't know, " I said apologetically.
"I know, I was just teasing you, and yeah, I'm using my company phone, the one the you call is my personal phone" I see so that's why, wait,Why is he calling me? Then it hit me, did something happen with Natsume?
"Why are you calling? Did something happen with Natsume?" I asked worriedly. At the mention of Natsume, Hotaru and Natsuhiko snapped their heads towards my direction. Ruka glanced at my direction briefly, cause he was driving.
"No no, nothing happened, don't worry," he said cheerfully. Thank goodness, I sighed.
"The reason why I'm calling is that, your flight has been moved to an earlier date, which is tomorrow," he informed. What we're going there tomorrow already? I gaped.
"I hope you're packed already, Mikan" It's not a joke right? Does Natsume know about this? Why the sudden change? I can't help but think that maybe Natsume's excited to see us, so he moved it on an early date. I can't help but grin at the thought.
"Mikan? Mikan? Hello? Are you still there?"
"Yes, yes, I'm still here ken! And yes, we're packed already," I replied merrily.
"That's good, well, I need to go now, paperwork, see you tomorrow! Oh I'll send you the details through email"
"Oh, sure! See you tomorrow," I replied and he hanged up. I looked around and I was met with Hotaru's sharp gaze and Natsuhiko's curious one.
"Natsu-kun, we're going to China tomorrow," I said excitedly while hugging him tightly.
"Mom, stop, you're hugging me to death!" Natsu replied, squirming while keeping Shizuka still. I let him go and smiled sheepishly. Oh, Natsu-kun you're just so cute sometimes! It seems that Shizuka is a heavy sleeper too, I wonder whom she got that from? I thought, giggling.
"You're going to China?" Ruka asked confusingly. Oh yeah they didn't know, and I didn't exactly tell Hotaru that I would be going there when she confronted me.
"Yes, oh Hotaru, don't look at me like that," I gleefully said when I noticed Hotaru glaring at my direction.
"You didn't tell me that exactly," she said, still glaring. I just giggled nervously.
"Natsume got free plane passes for two people, so Natsu and I are going, it's also Natsu's birthday-graduation all in one present," I explained. Ruka nodded in understanding while Hotaru just remained silent.
"It's sad though, Minami and Mimi isn't going to come with us," I continued, slightly frowning. I saw Hotaru's eyes twinkled for a bit when I said that, or was it just my imagination?
"Hey mom, what time are we leaving tomorrow?" Natsu asked.
"I'll look at the details on my email later, when we arrive—"
"And we're here," Ruka informed while parking in front of our house.
"Oh, I didn't notice, well, you guys should go in for a cup of tea or something first," I said while going out of the car and entering our house, Ruka, Hotaru, Natsuhiko, and a now awake Shizuka followed behind.
"Well, make yourselves at home!" I said while going through the kitchen to prepare for the tea.
NATSUME'S POV
I read the letter again, looking at the new flight details of my wife. It seems they'll arrive here tomorrow. Nice going, Natsume, you just stood there, barking like a senile person at your boss, for something you shouldn't really be angry about. The only reason you're like this is you're feeling pressured, that the time you have to settle things is lessened to what? less than a day?
I groaned in frustration, instead of the 4 days that I initially thought to settle things, it has been reduced to less than a day. It seems the gods really like to see me in despair, or I did this of my own accord? I just dug my own grave? I ruffled my hair. Come to think of it, if I haven't cheated none of this would had happen. I'd be excited to see my family in flesh, not that I'm not excited, it's just overwhelmed by the anxiety I'm feeling right now.
It's now or never, Natsume. If you fail to break up with Luna now, the chances of settling the matter before your family arrives would go down the drain. Worst case scenario would be Mikan meeting Luna, which would result to disaster, or worse, your family leaving you. You better get your act straight now. My train of thoughts were interrupted by my phone ringing. Without bothering to check who was calling, I answered.
"Hyuuga speaking," I said monotonously.
"Natsume!" A familiar girl voice said.
"Luna?"
"Are you busy?"
"No, why?" I replied glancing at the stack of paperwork. I could always finish it off, and it's not like I can keep focused when my mind's occupied with all of these.
"We need to talk," she seriously muttered. Good, cause I need to talk to you too.
"Where?"
"The usual place we eat, bye," she said before hanging up. Hn, with what's happening, I guess the gods are planning to help me.
Oh how wrong I was.
End of Chapter 6
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
For all those who read and reviewed in my previous chappie, I give you my thanks!
I'm really sorry for not updating regularly. I'm pretty busy with college and I don't often have the time to check my story but I'll try to update this atleast monthly? or every two months? or whenever I do have free time. I guess, college is really taking it's toll on me. Also, exams are just around the corner but I still updated this cause I felt bad D: after not updating for so long.
I was actually planning to update last february, but something came up and it was long forgotten. Another thing was that, I lost my chapter drafts so I had a hard time remembering what did I wrote. It added to why a long time had passed before I uploaded and to be honest I know for sure that some of the parts here aren't on my original draft. ._. so just meh for me. :T
If I won't upload in two months... I'll probably put this story on an official hiatus, until I manage to get some break. That's all for now, thank you :
Reviews are very much appreciated. Also, this chapter is not beta-ed so if you spot on some mistakes, I'm sorry.
Well that is that, Ja! See you next chapter! :D
-Raku-chama-